"This is a truly special book, one that captured my heart from the very first line...THE ASTONISHING THING feels like a bit of a miracle and we all could use a miracle." --Holly Chamberlin, author of Seashell Season and Summer With My Sisters

→ finished ← Claustrophobic and agoraphobic, Alaska Gouramie doesn't leave the house much. She whiles her days away nurturing her goldfish, Gordon. Her life is passing her by. Elver Harrison James is scared of fish. He won't go near the pond at the bottom of his garden. He will do anything to stay away from those water-loving freaks. Alaska's mother forces her to leave the house. It's just a trip to the park, no big deal. Until Alaska falls in the pond. And Elver is the only one around. Teen Fiction #118

❝Oh, what's wrong, love? Too shy to speak?❞ © copyright recklesslou 2014-2015

She was the person you passed in the hallways; the one you sat next to in class. Who you used to have a crush on. She felt a thousand miles away from you, with her perfect life and her bright future. Then one day she was gone. What had went wrong? You didn't know, until you found a picture album that belonged to her.

I was named after the little mermaid, thought to be strong and brave. A name worthy of a princess, my mum used to say. But I didn't trade my voice for the handsome prince; I just never had it. I've always been the shy youngest sister, too afraid to raise her voice and make herself heard. I don't have the tail and I don't have the personality. I can sing, but no one ever hears me. I guess I only I have the red hair although it's not even naturally red. So how can I be part of his world when I can't even tell him my name? I better never meet the handsome prince, it'd be doomed to fail. So no, I'm not like the little mermaid, I'm just little shy Ariel. -:-:-:- BOOK #2 in the Aware Princess Series flower: Daisy, it symbolises "Innocence, loyal love, simplicity."

Yes, I lost my father and he was the best man in the whole world. Yes, I have a stepmother who is a witch and whom I hate most passionately. Yes, I have two stepsisters that are a pain in my arse and who lost their brains when they were little. Yes, my life is like a cliché from a bloody fairy tale, but you know what is missing? The fucking Prince Charming! And where is he? Nowhere to be found! Probably he's dancing in his palace with a stupid and empty-headed Barbie. Arsehole. Who needs him, anyways? Certainly, not me. I'm almost Cinderella, but you can call me Ella. BOOK #1 in the Aware Princess Series flower: Gladiolus, t symbolises "Strength of character, honour, conviction."