Amelia Westlake (2018)
(Amelia Westlake Was Never Here: North American edition, May 2019)
WINNER: Readings Young Adult Book Prize 2018
WINNER: Ethel Turner Prize for Young People’s Literature, NSW Premier’s Literary Awards 2019
Short listed: Queensland Literary Awards 2018
Short listed: Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards 2019
Short listed: Indie Book Awards 2019
Short listed: Australian Book Industry Awards 2019
CBCA Notable Book 2019
Short listed: Gold Inky Award 2019
White Raven International Youth Library title 2019
Entertainment Weekly’s top 10 YA books of 2019
Harriet Price has the perfect life: she’s a prefect at Rosemead Grammar, she lives in a mansion, and her gorgeous girlfriend is a future prime minister. So when she risks it all by creating a hoax to expose the school’s many problems – with help from notorious bad-girl Will Everhart, no less – Harriet tells herself it’s because she’s seeking justice. And definitely not because she finds Will oddly fascinating.
But as Will and Harriet’s campaign heats up, it gets harder for them to remain sworn enemies – and to avoid being caught. As tensions burn throughout the school, how far will they go to keep their mission – and their feelings for each other – a secret?
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‘Witty, warm and deliciously subversive.’ Melissa Keil, author of Life in Outer Space
‘After her Ampersand Prize-winning debut The Flywheel, Erin Gough’s second novel has been eagerly anticipated. Amelia Westlake has been worth the wait. This is a brilliant social satire with a feminist vibe and two strong main characters whose voices alternate telling the story … Gough has created a clever, engaging feminist romp for readers aged 12 and up that is utterly unputdownable.’ Angela Crocombe, Books and Publishing
‘A playful, but powerful feminist romp that perfectly captures the Australian school life of young adults. This is such an important book and it’s undoubtedly one of my favourite YA books of the year.’ Tracy Hwang, Readings Teen Advisory Board
‘Funny, smart, romantic and uplifting, Amelia Westlake will steal your heart.’ Nicole Hayes, author of One True Thing
‘A delightful, timely romantic comedy of two opposites attracting, connecting and fighting for justice together at a private girls’ school. I fell in love with Amelia Westlake.’ Justine Larbalestier, author of Liar and My Sister Rosa
‘Sharp-witted and unapologetically queer, with an opposites attract romance I absolutely adored.’ Malinda Lo, author of Ash and A Line in the Dark
‘An adorable love story, plus a feminist plot to take down institutionalised misogyny at a stuffy prep school … Yes please. I loved everything about this book.’ Sarah Watson, creator of The Bold Type and author of Most Likely
‘It’s a breath of fresh air to get a tale that examines privilege and how to foment meaningful change without ever losing sight of its own charms.’ Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly
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Find Amelia Westlake on Goodreads
Buy Amelia Westlake from Readings
Buy Amelia Westlake Was Never Here from Barnes and Noble
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The Flywheel (2015)
WINNER: Ampersand Prize
Short listed: Gold Inky Awards 2016
Short listed: CBCA Book of the Year (Older Readers) 2016
Long listed: Indie Awards 2016
White Raven International Youth Library title 2016
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Seventeen-year-old Delilah’s crazy life is about to get crazier. Ever since her father took off overseas, she’s been struggling to run the family’s cafe without him and survive high school. But after a misjudged crush on one of the cool girls, she’s become the school punchline as well. With all that’s on her plate she barely has time for her favourite distraction – spying on the beautiful Rosa, who dances flamenco at the tapas bar across the road.
Only her best friend Charlie knows how she feels about Rosa, but he has romantic problems of his own. When his plan to win an older woman’s heart goes horribly wrong, Del is the only one who can help Charlie stay out of jail.
All this leaves Del grappling with some seriously curly questions. Is it okay to break the law to help a friend? How can a girl tell another girl she likes her without it ending in humiliation and heartbreak? And – the big one – is it ever truly possible to dance in public without falling over?
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Find The Flywheel on Goodreads
Buy The Flywheel from Readings
Buy Get It Together, Delilah! from Barnes and Noble
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‘It doesn’t matter if you’re gay or straight, it’s got what I love in novels; great characters, relationships, a strong funny voice and a great sense of place.’ Melina Marchetta
‘Gough’s book is tough and textured, and it doesn’t shy away from exploring the acute awkwardness that comes with trusting your true self to others.’ Sydney Morning Herald
‘Every now and then a book comes along and leaves you with an indescribable bubble of excitement that you don’t know how to express but you just want everyone else to experience. The Flywheel was one of these books for me’. The Tales Compendium
‘Romance fans will find the up and down relationship of Rosa and Delilah dreamy.’ Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
‘Eminently readable prose; a relatable narrator; and a realistic, grounded lesbian romance will leave readers cheering for Delilah to find her way.’ Booklist
‘Celebrates individuality and community.’ Australian Book Review
‘I felt every flutter and embarrasment that Delilah does in the presence of the utterly crush-worthy Rosa Barea.’ Inky’s Choice
‘If you feel you’re not in the target group of this book, read it anyway. If you’ve ever had a gay friend, wondered – even for the shortest moment – about your own sexuality, or remember being a teenager, then this book is for you…This is one of those books that I wasn’t aware I was missing out on, but am so very glad for having read it. I can’t help but feel that this might well be the Looking for Alibrandi of this generation.’ 100% Rock Magazine
‘A tender-true story of girl meets girl, falling in love and finding your feet.’ Alpha Reader
‘What else can I say than this book is perfect? The style was simple and elegant, the characters complex and vibrant, the relationships so realistic.’ Readcommendations
‘Basically, I could see why this won the Ampersand Project. It is completely and utterly awesome.’ Loony Literate
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Other editions of The Flywheel