We’re proud as punch of our marketing manager, Nina Kenwood, and her brand-new debut Young Adult novel (and winner of the 2018 Text Prize) It Sounded Better in My Head. If you love warm, big-hearted, hilarious and painfully relatable stories about growing up, first loves and that strange period in between school and uni, then It Sounded Better in My Head is the book for you.

Readings staff are absolutely loving It Sounded Better in My Head – read on for some of their wildly effusive thoughts!

‘This book is a rare gem; a simple story told with an utterly authentic and humorous voice that portrays with great empathy the insecurities and confusion of young adulthood.’ – Angela Crocombe, Readings Kids shop manager (read the full review

‘Is there anything more agonising than first love, young love, any love? Nina Kenwood is the artist that will remind you of the roller-coaster of it all, even if you have just texted your partner to buy milk. It Sounded Better in my Head is a wonderful story about the importance of friendship, confusion and anguish and why some obsessions need to be considered from every possible angle.’ – Chris Gordon, events and programming manager

‘It’s at once profoundly moving and delightfully funny – I found myself wanting to stop strangers on the street just to read out choice lines to them.’ – Georgia Brough, digital content coordinator

‘It’s difficult to talk about It Sounded Better in my Head without sounding ridiculously hyperbolic – but it can’t be avoided. I’m a sucker for a protagonist with a great narrative voice and from the first page, I was ready to hear anything Natalie had to say to me (which is fortunate, because she proved herself to be hilarious, vulnerable, lovable and about to have a doozy of a summer). I inhaled the entire book on a V-line train all the way to Ballarat and back, and they were some of the most enjoyable hours of my life.’ – Leanne Hall, children’s and YA specialist

‘ It Sounded Better in my Head is a wonderfully funny novel that perfectly captures that awkward time between being a teenager and a fully fledged adult. I truly loved reading this addictive, unforgettable book.’ – Ellen Cregan, marketing and events coordinator

We asked our departing Teen Advisory Board to tell us what they thought – read their thoughts here. It Sounded Better in my Head is available now.