Floored ARC Book Review

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So I originally heard about Floored at YALC last year where I was lucky enough to pick up a sampler and it left me really intrigued to know more. So I had been eagerly awaiting the release of this book and was so happy when my request for the ARC was approved!

Rating: 4/5

So if you haven’t heard of Floored then here is the synopsis taken from Goodreads:

When they got in the lift, they were strangers (though didn’t that guy used to be on TV?): Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he’s the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn’t match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn’t as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who’s losing her sight but won’t admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shouldn’t be here at all, but who wants to be here the most.

And one more person, who will bring them together again on the same day every year.

This book was written by 7 of the top UKYA authors; Melinda Salisbury, Eleanor Wood, Lisa Williamson, Non Pratt, Tanya Byrne, Holly Bourne and Sara Barnard so I was really interested to see how they would all manage to write one book that would flow well. And let me tell you they certainly succeeded! The story was cohesive and flowed and had a great group pf characters who felt real.

So this book revolves around 6 teenagers who have absolutely nothing in common except being stuck in the same lift. This is where the story begins and through this one thing that binds them their whole lives are affected and changed by it.

It was really interesting to see that the story is set over several years so we really do get to see how they progress and change as they get older. Each of them is affected by what happens in the lift and they end up staying in touch with each other because of it.

The book more character focused than focusing on the story development. There is a story but it completely revolves around what is happening in the lives of each of the characters. So this book was really different to books I normally read but I really enjoyed it.

I loved how through each characters unique situation and living circumstances they wove very real issues for us as teenagers and young adults into the story. From social class, financial situations to dealing with chronic illness.

The one theme that went throughout is the strong friendship bond that developed between them. That no matter how little they saw each other they were always there for each other. It reminded me of some amazing friends I have met through being part of the book community even though I don’t actually get to meet them.

I did find reading the story a little confusing at first as there is six points of views but each character has a unique voice so it became easier to distinguish between them. I personally loved Hugo’s character development best. He went from a spoiled rich boy to someone who actually cares about others. But my favourite character was Kaitlyn who has been recently diagnosed with stargardt disease. As someone who was diagnosed with a chronic illness in my late teens I really related to her even if mine is not the same as hers. I loved how despite struggling with it she persevered to get to where she wanted to be.

I think the only think I wish I got more of was to see more into their lives we only get glimpses that they discuss when they meet each other. I would love to have got a more in depth look into their lives.

So I would recommend reading this book and it’s out today so you can now go buy it from the shops!

If you read it let me know what you thought! Who was your favourite character?