I just read this one and it is a wonderful collection of stories about love. It won the Carnegie Award, the Burnley Book Award, and the Globe-Horn Honor Book Award; that’s why I borrowed it! It really is quite an enjoyable book, as it shows all different kinds of romances, and all kinds of outcomes. Here’s what it’s about:
Jess, and 18-year-old girl, is going to go away from home for the first time. As a goodbye party, the whole family gathers and tells stories of their young love-life. The stories include her grandparents’ Bridie and Jack’s forbidden romance; her grandma Dorothy’s sad tale; her parent’s meeting and her own tales of life.
It’s a… nice book. Yes, pleasant, I suppose. Not very exciting, but good for people who like sweet stories. I would give it 7.5 stars because it’s quite average. I would recommend it for children over 12 because younger kids might think love lives are difficult, when actually it isn’t. So, yep, that’s my rating. Hope it helps!
K
(Note: I actually recommended it for 12+ but wrote it as 8+ accidentally. Luckily, the real author Berlie Doherty reminded me about certain chapters so I could fix it. Check her out at her official website.)
The Empty Notebook 
Thank you very much for your positive comments K! I’d just like to add that I wouldn’t want the book to be read by children as young as 8 – the chapter about Danny could be harrowing for a young reader. It was really intended for teenagers.
Hi, Berlie!!!
Oh my gosh, are you really the one and only Berlie Doherty?!
Thank you so much for your appearance on my blog!
Oh, yes, I forgot about that chapter…
Thank you for the advice!
Maybe 12+?
Love,
K