Book Review: "Coming of Age" by Gretta Mulrooney

Martina is a thirteen year old girl still reeling from the death of her father in a car accident. Struggling to share her grief, and finding it increasingly difficult to talk to her mother, she is all too eager to spend the summer with her Grandfather in London as he cares for a block of astonishingly grant apartment blocks owned by a series of very wealthy characters.

Unexpectedly, Martina strikes up a friendship with the regal and elegant elderly Cecelia Buchanan, a woman who is all too eager to encourage Martina's artistic talents, becoming her unoffocial patron. However, where Cecelia goes, the young musician Luca is never far behind. Living the life of luxury with the old woman, rumours are rife about his real intentions. Martina though, sees only a handsome young man and her first real crush.

As events unfold, Martina tries her hardest to ignore the warning signs that Luca might not be all he seems, and it is only when the book reaches its conclusion that she comes to understand her naivety. It is a shocking moment for her as she makes the swift and painful transition to adulthood.

The story is well told and the writing is good, however, the book failed to grip me as I'd hoped. Unfortunately, as a reader I was all too aware of where the story was going and didn't share in Martina's point of view. I felt this detracted from the power of the novel's ending.

All in all, it was a pleasant read and the characters were well crafted, but it wasn't as strong a novel as I had hoped it would be.

Thanks to the publishers for providing me with a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Buy the book: COMING OF AGE a gripping novel of loss, friendship, love and growing up