Truth Or Dare Review

Rating: 5/5

Source: May Illumicrate sub box 

How far is too far when it comes to the people you love? 

Claire Casey hates being the centre of attention. But if it means getting Sef Malik to notice her, it's a risk she's happy to take. Sef is prepared to do anything to help his recently disabled brother. But this means putting Claire's love - and life - on the line. 

Because when you're willing to risk everything, what is left to lose?

For anyone who is thinking of reading Truth or Dare but isn't quite sure what they're getting into, think of the book Nerve by Jeanne Ryan, or the film adaptation if you like. Two young and hopeful YouTube noobs, Sef and Claire, begin a journey to raise money for Sef's brother who was unfortunately irreversibly injured in an accident.

It's a really touching story about brotherly love, new relationships and then the harsh realities of hopeless situations and internet fame. A lot of things are covered in this book that I almost don't know where to begin. 

Yousef 'Sef' Malik is a drama student and wannabe daredevil who will risk anything to save his big brother Kam, in spite of there being no way to actually save him. Sef is living in a fantasy world for a large portion of the book, believing his dares and the money raised will be able to turn back the clock on the tragic events. The reality being that the money will merely help sustain this new world.

Claire Casey is recovering from her stint of internet fame when a viral video of her boobs is shared online, she doesn't really want to be back in front of the camera but she'll do it for Kam. And for Sef.

There's a great amount of diversity in this book. Yousef Malik, as you may deduce, is one of the few main characters who isn't of white heritage that I've read about this year, which is really terrible to think about. The subject of racism is discussed, we're even forced to accept that our beloved Sef has long since come to terms with how he's treated.

Next up on the 'why this book is so amazing' list is another character, Seren, Claire's best friend who is Asexual and Aromantic. I'll admit I didn't know what Aromantic was, it's not being interested in any kind of romantic relationship -not just uninterested in sex, and we also get a really important insight into why respecting what people identify as, is necessary -again something I have never really experienced.

When I was reading the book there was only one thing I didn't like so much, which was having to go back to the start of the story right at the climax of the book. I've read a lot of books with alternating characters between chapters but I appreciate that doing each chapter perfectly from one POV and then another wouldn't have worked either. We do get some more pieces to the puzzle when reading Sef's half of the story but I was much more engaged when we caught up to where Claire's half of the book left off.

Truth or Dare still gets a perfect because of how much I enjoyed the story and the characters. I'd recommend to any YA fans because this book just covers so many things I'm sure you'll find your niche within it, and also to anyone as obsessed with YouTube culture as I am -you might not look at your favourite YouTubers the same way again.

Thanks for reading! 

My review is technically over but I want to add an extra little note. This book intrigued me initially because I myself am trying to raise money for a charity that helped someone I love through the toughest time of their life, and is still helping so many people now. If you'd like to know more about my fundraiser, click here to read my post about it, or here to see the fundraiser page.