I recently reviewed Mazey Eddings’ audiobook The Plus One, which was an adult romance. So I was intrigued by this young adult novel, Tilly in Technicolor, and have to say it was even better than The Plus One. Read on!
Blurb: Tilly in Technicolor is Mazey Eddings’s sparkling YA debut about two neurodivergent teens who form a connection over the course of a summer.
Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. Working as an intern for her perfect older sister’s start up isn’t exactly how Tilly wants to spend her summer, but the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.
Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him. Plus, he has everything he needs: a best friend that gets him, placement into a prestigious design program, and a summer internship to build his resume. Everything is going as planned. That is, of course, until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite―feeling things for her he can’t quite name―and starts to wonder if maybe he doesn’t have everything figured out after all.
As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Bookshop.org (independent book store source)
Once branded as lazy, flighty, unambitious, Tilly has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, which has given her a new lease on life but hasn’t totally managed to un-stress her mother who still tries to micromanage Tilly’s life and make her feel bad about her choices, or lack thereof. Now Tilly has a chance to get away for the summer, maybe find herself, who she wants to be, and what’s possible thanks to her very successful sister whose startup has given her an internship in Europe.
On the flight, Tilly’s seatmate is an unapproachable British young man, Oliver, whose constant donning of noise-cancelling headphones is supposed to keep Tilly out. Unsuccessfully. But during the seven-hour flight Tilly feels they have a connection and does something she’d never expect herself to do. When he doesn’t respond, she’s humiliated, but at least she’ll never have to see him again. Or so she thinks in Mazey Eddings’ delightful Tilly in Technicolor.
Mazey Eddings’ empathy for Tilly and Oliver shines through on every page making this book a wonderful read. But more than that, she extends the same empathy for Tilly’s supposedly perfect sister and her constantly exasperated mother, showing that everyone has something going on in their lives that doesn’t show on the surface, that deeper understanding is always necessary.
As is communication. That may be one of the biggest themes in the book. How people communicate. Or don’t. How important communication is to getting along and understanding. How just talking through issues can make a relationship prosper–any relationship, whether romantic, platonic, or familial.
While a sweet romance develops between Tilly and Oliver as they discover who each other is, Tilly also receives validation for what she’s always thought her talents were. She’s given an opportunity to work using her talents.
Uplifting, cheery, and empathetic. Tilly in Technicolor satisfies.
Many thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for a copy.
