Review: Claire Hennessy – Nothing Tastes as Good

Nothing Tastes as Good
Claire Hennessy

Annabel didn’t know what to expect when she dies, but it wasn’t coming back to fix another girl’s life. Julia is fat and initially that’s all Annabel can see to fix. Slowly Julia teaches Annabel about other things in life, while Annabel helps Julia in her own ghostly helper way.

I really like how the story develops with only hints of Annabel’s problems. It keeps the reader interested, and then invested in both of the characters. Julia too takes some time to get used to, and most of the time I found myself sympathising with her and wishing that she had more guts!

Gavin is actually surprising bright in picking up clues. He’s slow (a bit like all teenage boys it seems), but Julia is pretty good at hiding things.The theme that comes through is the importance of having friends, real friends, to help you survive the most stressful periods of your life.

There is a lot of negative body shaming here, but at the same time it is balanced out by what Annabel can see going on in other’s heads. There’s also the sensitive references to rape, or potential rape. Approach with caution if you are easily triggered, but enjoy anyway because of the ending.

I’m going to take a leap here, and give it 5 stars. I have a feeling that I’m going to want to read it again when I want something with a complicated ending and complicated real feelings that have conclusions.