As has happened previously, Kinsella proves that she is a sensitive writer with a lot to say beyond her popular ‘Shopaholic’ series, and I’m glad that she takes a break from Rebecca in order to give us some great pieces of fiction.

“Finding Audrey” is written for the YA audience, with our protagonist being a young woman with a bit of an unusual situation. After some bad experiences at school, Audrey is diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, and is house bound for most of the novel, as she learns to readjust to society.

Audrey has a familiar teenage voice, but one that is funny and intelligent. She has a varied number of hobbies and interests that she partakes throughout the book, and exhibits a desire to be her best self, which makes you want to go on that journey with her.

As her therapist provides Audrey with challenges in order to continue to progress with her health, we follow Audrey through her camera lens as she documents her family, a close friend, and the world around her. She slowly begins to interact more in front of the camera, and forms lasting relationships with those she meets.

I couldn’t help but imagine Audrey’s mum as a faux Rebecca Bloomwood in a few years (they do share a few hysteric traits, as you’ll soon see) but that’s where the similarities between the books end. Kinsella approaches the topic of bullying beautifully, and whilst at the beginning you’re dying to find out what excactly went wrong for Audrey (human nature to want all the gossip I guess), the method in which her past is managed is beautiful, and makes the message even stronger in the end.

There is a little bit of an element of “The fault in our stars” about the novel, especially with the relationship between Linus and Audrey (they’ve even got their own ‘Okay’ moments in there) and so that can be a little bit of an eye -roll for some readers, but other than that the book is strong in its message and the characters are sincere and likeable. Short and sweet, with a great message for young readers.