While in real life the prospect of falling in love with someone, them reciprocating and then living happily ever after together might be quite appealing to many of us, as readers we like our romances to follow the old idiom the course of true love never did run smooth. Whether it be a classic pairing like Lizzie and Darcy or a more modern one, although we most likely want the lovers to be united at the end of the book, we take a great deal of pleasure in watching fate throw all manner of obstacles in their way. Whether it be unhappy connections, a lack of fortune or any of a variety of other reasons, we don’t want love to be easy and what could possibly make a blossoming relationship any less easy than one half of the couple being dead. In this new YA read from Sue H. Cunningham, author of the brilliantly funny Totally Deceased, we meet not a ghost as we did in her debut read but a celestial guide – a departed individual whose job it is to care for those crossing from life to afterlife in a romcom that is at times utterly hilarious and at others heartbreaking and deeply thought-provoking. Jam-packed with deliciously dark humour and full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing up until the very end as to whether or not our lovers will have their happy ending, this is a romance like no other and one that I enjoyed enormously. It is 1899 when our story opens and for 16-year-old Evvy, everything is about to change when her short life comes to an end. Carrying out a final, altruistic deed in her last few minutes, she quickly discovers that this has been enough to earn her instant promotion to Cloud Nine – the elite afterlife area populated by those who have gone above and beyond on Earth. Although to all intents and purposes her new surroundings appear to be as close to heaven or paradise as any of us might be able to imagine, over a century later Evvy eventually finds her existence somewhat boring, and in need of relief from the constant perfection that surrounds her, volunteers to train as a celestial guide. Finding herself under the supervision of experienced guide Perkin, Evvy travels back down to modern day Manchester to learn the demands of her new role until the day comes that she is ready to go solo. Unimpressed when she is sent to what she sees as an easy job in one of the city’s hospitals, Evvy sits by the bedside of her charge to wait. When a young man pushing a book trolley comes past and tries to collect the book that Evvy has accidentally dropped, she automatically speaks to him and is startled to discover that he can see her when he replies – something that should be impossible as he is not scheduled to die. Returning to the hospital, Evvy again bumps into the young man – Tom – and the pair of them quickly start to flirt with one another. But with Evvy dead, Tom looking to have a long life ahead of him and any contact between them strictly forbidden, is theirs is a romance doomed to failure before it’s even begun? There are those who say that death is no laughing matter, and this book is quite possibly not for them, but for those of us who have a dark sense of humour, this is a very funny read indeed. Evvy is a great protagonist – one who most certainly didn’t lead a blameless life before she died and who finds the constraints of Cloud Nine quite challenging after a while, as many of us would if every need was met in the most idyllic of surroundings. What starts off as her trying to fill her empty days by taking on a new role, soon becomes something else when she meets Tom and falls in love for the very first time, but she quickly ends up in all sorts of scrapes as she tries to hide the fact that she is dead from him. He – of course – is deeply frustrated by her odd behaviour and as we watch the two of them gradually falling for one another, we can only watch and wait to see if things will work out. Along the way, there are several deaths that happen in a variety of ways – as they would in real life – but even for those characters who appear only briefly in order to provide a plot point, there is generally a very real sense of respect for the human condition and its many frailties. Whether or not you believe in life after death, there is much to think about as the story progresses and while there is a content warning at the start of the book, this is not a read that mocks those who are dying or have died but is at times quite celebratory and joyous. Although there is nothing that makes the book unsuitable for those who have yet to reach the 14+ age group I’m going to recommend this for, I do think that those who are younger than that may well lack the emotional maturity to deal with some of the content of the book – please be aware of this if you are putting this in the hands of those in KS3. Having now enjoyed both of the author’s YA titles, I will most definitely be keeping an eye out for whatever she writes next.

Another super-fun supernatural YA from Sue Cunningham, which I had been keenly awaiting after Totally Deceased and which did not disappoint. Main character Evangeline was unceremoniously booted from this mortal coil over a hundred years previously, having landed on the wrong end of a blade meant for her older brother. This noble act of self-sacrifice at the last second of an otherwise less-than-entirely-moral life (as a Victorian pickpocket working the streets of Manchester) meant that she was promptly elevated up the heavenly ranks to ‘Cloud 9’, the VIP section of the afterlife, which appears to be a lot like a 5* all inclusive Caribbean resort (albeit with more saintly nuns). However, boredom sets in after a few decades, and Evvy ends up joining a group employed to chaperone others on Earth who are about to die, with extra points if you can boost them up a level or two. (The downside of this strict segregation of the Afterlife is that many devoted couples or loving family members end up separated from each other – no good deed goes unpunished after all.) Nobody back in the land of the living should be able to see her until they are a few hours from death, so how come she keeps bumping into hospital volunteer Tom, who has very definitely noticed her? A really enjoyable read once again.

I enjoyed this book so much! It's SO original and feel good and sweet and funny. I loved the characters from different eras hanging out in the afterlife — just as much a delight as in the BBC's #Ghosts — and Sue’s vision of life-after-death is so fun and full of incredibly imaginative ideas. Evvy is a cool character (I love how she’s kept up with current fashions throughout the eras) and the Manchester setting — both Victorian and current — are refreshing. All in all, it’s a wonderful, playful, cosy book..highly recommended for some feel-good escapism for young teens upwards!

This delightful supernatural rom-com follows Evvy who dies an accidental hero at 16 years old, earning her a place on cloud number nine - the most luxurious of the 9 Heavenly clouds people go to after they die. It's while doing her afterlife job as a type of guardian angel that she meets 17 year old Tom a living teenager who volunteers at the hospital where she often works. The living can't see or hear her until they are close to death. But Tom can. Evvy doesn't want to spoil their developing relationship by telling him she died in the 1800s.Misunderstandings, hilarity and humour ensues. As they get closer, more problems occur, and it becomes harder to make it work. Add a serial arsonist, a colourful cast of after lifers, a flawed afterlife rule book, and a wonderfully created afterlife to their forbidden romance - and you have this very enjoyable YA novel. Highly recommended for teens and adults.

Cloud Nine takes an ingenious concept and elevates it to new heights in this life-affirming, heart-warming sparkler of a book. I loved Totally Deceased, which is an underrated YA gem that built wonderfully on its clever premise. Cunningham delivers that same dark humour and wonderfully drawn characters in this speculative YA romance. She clearly has a talent for spinning fantastic yarns out of ideas that just grab you immediately. This had the irreverent humour and existential considerations of The Good Place, with all the classic hallmarks of a great YA contemporary romance. It stands out from the crowd and is infused with so much heart. Evvy is a large part of that – leaping off the page instantly. She has an arresting voice that captivates you and endears you to her very quickly. I really enjoyed her development and personal journey over the course of the book. Her experiences as a guide really change her outlook and intersect with the central mysteries well. At the same time, this also has several mysterious plotlines that are well-paced, with stakes of literal life and death. Evvy is desperate to crack the case with plenty of grit and determination, as well as a keen eye. I liked how out of time she felt at times and how her background as a Victorian thief informed how she moved through the world, even now. Her comments on how everything had changed were great. There was a deep-seated weariness that Cunningham touches on. The concept of the afterlife becoming boring in its perfection was fantastic, with the growing unrest about the separation of the levels. That throughline was heart-breaking and added a moral dilemma I had never considered before. It speaks to the way grief continues to throw new challenges your way, perhaps even after death. Cloud Nine is a hilarious heartwarmer of a book that combines fantasy, romance and mystery into an irresitible story.