Whilst I really enjoyed Royals by Tegan Bennett Daylight, How to Survive 1985 didn't hit the mark with me. I found it to be repetitive and all too conveniently plotted for my liking.
I found the book to be very preachy. There were multiple statements about everyone being white and homophobic in 1985, and this just isn't true.
The story is narrated by Shannon who, in 1985, meets up with her future mother, Julia, who readily accepts Shannon's explanation that she is from the future.
There is also a statement about not having food courts.
" 'Do you have food courts?' Julia shook her head. 'In 2025, every mall has a food court...."
There were food courts in shopping centres in the 70's!
Shannon remarks that she has never seen a Katies store. Katies only closed its doors this year.
"The shops themselves were next level, only next level down. There was one I'd never seen before called Katies."
These inconsistencies put me off the story.
There were many references to events in the first book, Royals. If you haven't already read Royals my advice would be to skip this one and go read Royals. At least the teens actually learnt something from that experience.
The story features underage drinking, stealing and shoplifting.
My rating: 2 / 5 ⭐⭐
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia
Publication date: 30th April 2025
Series: Royals #2
Genre: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Source: Courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley
My review of Royals:
#howtosurvive1985 #bookreview #ausbookbloggers #netgalley #simonandschuster #youngadult #timeslip
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