It Sounded Better in My Head, by Nina Kenwood

Natalie is 18 and living in that tense interim period between receiving Year 12 results and getting Uni offers. At the start of a series of big life changes her parents announce their separation, throwing her a curveball. Excessively introverted and self-conscious, Natalie’s last couple of years at school have been made bearable by her friendship with Lucy and Zach. But she has become something of a third wheel since they coupled up. Navigating an unexpected romance is difficult when you have zero experience and your family and friends are not totally supportive. But Natalie’s humour sees her through extreme anxiety and her tendency to over analyse everything. Occasional flashbacks explain her loner status and underline the true pain many teens experience from literally feeling uncomfortable in their own skin. A deceptively simple tale of teenage angst, the tongue-in-cheek style disguises a note perfect depiction of vulnerability and growth.