Us in the Bright Lights (Zanni L Arnot, Lothian)

Zanni L Arnot returns with Us in the Bright Lights, a romantic adventure that builds on the promise of her YA debut, A Guide to Falling Off the Map. Arnot takes readers to the exciting streets of London, where Stevie, an 18-year-old Australian girl, has just lost her best friend, Bella, in a tragic accident.

Determined to honour her friend’s bucket list, Stevie embarks on her first-ever solo trip, where she makes two new friends whose messy lives make things fun and interesting once again.

The heart of the story, however, lies in Stevie’s quasi-romantic relationship with Theodore, a boy who works in an art gallery and plays in a band. Even though they seem perfect for one another, there is a problem: Theodore was Bella’s long-distance crush.

Us in the Bright Lights reminds readers that there is no right way to grieve a loved one. This is a story about friendships that last, and love that takes risks.

While the novel has vivid settings and a diverse cast, moves briskly and offers plenty of emotional appeal, some cultural details feel broadly sketched, particularly in the way characters’ backgrounds are inferred.

Stevie’s journey to self-discovery is rich with complexity and shows how home can be in more than one place. Arnot’s strong voice and pacy short chapters will appeal even to reluctant readers aged 12 and over, as well as to fans of Biffy James’s Completely Normal (and Other Lies) and Gabrielle Tozer’s The Unexpected Mess of It All.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Nadia Heisler is a CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) writer originally from Brazil with a background in journalism. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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