Things We Have in Common by Tasha Kavanagh
Yasmin would give anything to have a friend… And do anything to keep them.
The first time I saw you, you were standing at the far end of the playing field. You were looking down at your brown straggly dog, your mouth going slack as your eyes clocked her. Alice Taylor.
I was no different. I’d catch myself gazing at the back of her head in class, at her thick fair hair swaying between her shoulder blades.
If you’d glanced just once across the field, you’d have seen me standing in the middle on my own looking straight at you, and you’d have gone back through the trees to the path quick, tugging your dog after you. You’d have known you’d given yourself away, even if only to me.
But you didn’t. You only had eyes for Alice.
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Author’s Bio
Tasha Kavanagh lives in Hertfordshire with her family and three cats. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia, has worked as an editor on feature films, including ‘The Talented Mr Ripley’, ‘Twelve Monkeys’ and ‘Seven Years in Tibet’ and has had ten books for children published under her maiden name Tasha Pym. ‘Things We Have in Common’ is her first novel.
My Review
5 stars
Yasmin is a teenager that is socially awkward and gets bullied because of her size. Her father passed away and she is having a difficult times dealing with this and compensates by eating, must to the disgrace of her mother. But one day she sees popular girl Alice and becomes obsessed with her. Yasmin is stalking her and collecting things left behind like hair bands and candy wrappers. Yasmin starts having made up conversations and fantasies of Alice and her.
Then Yasmin sees a man walking his dog, she calls him you, and decides that he is a pedophile and planning on targeting Alice. But the creepy part is Yasmin is not going to report him to the police until Alice disappears so she can be the hero that saves Alice. So, Yasmin starts stalking you. She finds someone that shares the same interests as her but she still has the fantasy that she is going to harm Alice in some way. Then Alice really does disappear.
This is a delightfully, creepy story. I had a like/hate relationship with Yasmin. I feel sorry for her because she lost her father and how food seems to fill the void. I loved how her size was portrayed without making it a focal point. I understood her being socially awkward and creating events in her mind. But when she started obsessing with Alice then you that took things to another level.
Yasmin becomes that creepy stalker that starts role playing the hero. And although she has found a kindred soul, she is still thinking about how he is going to kidnap or her Alice just so she could be the hero and get Alice’s love. If that wasn’t bad enough, the ending will have you screaming. I didn’t not expect it and can say I both hated and loved it.
It’s hard to believe that Things We Have in Common is a first book for Tasha Kavanagh. It flows, keeps you engrossed, and leaves you wanting more. Tasha is a rising star in my opinion and going to be a great addition to my keep shelf.
I received Things We Have in Common from the publisher for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
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