Christine Pillainayagam Books

The first in a set of three novels written around the character Ellie Pillai, Christine Pillainayagam draws on her own experience as a first generation immigrant to Sri Lankan Tamil parents, as well as her love of music, to craft a unique tale of friendship, love and betrayal.

Ellie feels like an outsider, she doesn’t regard herself as pretty, talented, academic or sporty, unlike her two best friends who excel at both but would not give one another the time of day. Even her Mum appears effortlessly stylish, something which Ellie has not inherited. Being 15 means that GCSEs are fast approaching and her parents are keen to see her excel, but Ellie has a secret, a big fat burning lie that she has been hiding for over a year and she knows will devastate them. If only she can improve her grades before they find out.

As if that wasn’t complicated enough, her mind is constantly filled with the soundtracks of her life as she lives, eats, breathes music. Just one more thing she thinks no one else can ever really understand… Can Ellie reinvent herself? Does she really need to?

Wonderfully warm and witty, each character is crafted with love and care, for any teen to realise that even those who appear to have it all together (the “popular” girls, the fun teacher, the hip parent) all still have their own insecurities and internal battles. The crossover between the different cliques – that are recognisable from any school – are tenderly woven and throughout it all the stories are further enriched by a soundtrack that leaves you completely absorbed.