Jai has great emotional insight, even at 16. Sometimes it's a curse. Especially when she's mixed up in this chaos. This time it will involve a death.

 

Hi,

I'm so excited to give you a real look inside this amazing true story. We can all relate to the ups and downs of being a teenager but throw all of this into the mix and you've got real trouble. 

True Love Kills

 

A girl begins a journal to battle her depression but instead, documents a murder.

Inspired by a true Sydney story

It all goes down inside.

 

Sydney, 2008.

Jai lives alone with her mother and is prompted to begin a diary to deal with her gloomy, obsessive thoughts. Her world is shaken further when beautiful and headstrong Laura breaks into her circle of friends. Laura meets Xavier, a wild boy with dark hair and brooding complexion. The result is more explosive than anyone could have imagined.

 

Why do people have to hurt others? What makes people do the things they do? You may think you have your friends figured out, but do we ever really know anyone? Do we ever really know ourselves?

 

Jai knows things.

             A foreboding feeling follows Jai to school. She meets up with Cin, one of her best friends but when they go into their class, there’s no sign of the teacher. Her small group of friends are there. Five of them, diverse in personality and culture but all entertaining in their own right. Miss Freeman enters with a new student, Laura. She is strikingly beautiful but there is something about her that Jai can sense. Laura is bitter, or angry, Jai can’t quite determine. Not yet. Why has she changed schools?

             Laura is put in with her group. They must show her the ropes. Before long, headstrong Laura is proving that she doesn’t follow the rules. Trouble has followed her but it’s everyone else’s fault. Soon, Laura is practically the head of the group, much to Jai’s consternation. Jai does not trust her and Laura seems to know it. Why can’t the others see it?

              It’s the beginning of a set of complex, often amusing, sometimes combative, interpersonal relatiosnhips between all six girls, always shifting.

            After school, at the train station, other teenagers from the nearby boy’s school banter with them as always. Laura turns more than a few heads, one in particular. Xavier. The boy with the dark eyes and brooding complexion. Their eyes meet. He targets her. It’s like a flame meeting a petrol tank. There is an instant attraction, but their union will bring nothing good for anyone around them. Their relationship starts with chaos at the mall. Making out in the library. Petty theft at a local shop follows, getting drunk and eventually mild drugs. Laura’s home life seems reasonably stable but she gets away with blue murder. Is that why she is the way she is? Are there not enough boundaries or is it the lack of attention? What about Xavier’s home life? Are people born bad or are they created? We soon get the insights.

Where it happens.

           Meanwhile Cin must deal with her mother’s illness and sexual pressures from her boyfriend. Antinio brags about her new love life but no one has met this mysterious person. Also, Jai has been receiving some unwanted attention online from someone she doesn’t even know. Or does she? Social media in 2008 is proving to be a challenge, something the adults know little about.

           Xavier’s temper is proving to be a real problem and frightening for those around him. Jai does not like him and for good reason. He’s soon involved in a fight at his school which results in a student being badly hurt. Trouble follows this kid like the wind.

            Laura doesn’t care. She’s only in the moment. All there is, is her love for Xavier and to hell with anyone who gets in her way, including her family, including her new friends. She’s soon rubbing some of them up the wrong way. Cin is no pushover. She doesn’t like her friends being disrespected like that. There’s a real battle now for leadership of the group. Neither will back down. It will culminate in a physical clash.

           Meanwhile Laura’s widening circle includes people outside of school, some much older. One is an eighteen-year-old named Johnny. It’s obvious he likes her but despite his age, he’s out of her league. Besides, she’s with Xavier but there’s no harm in flirting, right?

          With each passing page, there’s a tightening of the tension, with each dilemma coming to a head. In the middle is Jai, documenting each and every situation, wishing she was outside of it but unable to avoid being a part of it. Being a teenager is tough but it shouldn’t be this hard.

            For one individual, it will cost them their life.

 

‘Puberty Blues for the Digital Age.’

 Coming soon. 

Anthony J. Langford Books | Australian writer

All books now on Sale, just in time for Christmas!

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Debut Novel - Bold Literary fiction

Debut novella

    

Second Novel. Highly controversial. Obviously 😉

 

Two novellas in one book

    Anthony J. Langford Books | Australian writer

    

Stories and Poems on Connection, many based on real people and events.

Debut Story Collection

Debut Poetry Collection

Anthony J. Langford Books | Australian writer

I really hope you can support this book, in any way. Even sharing the word, these posts, anything. Word of mouth is the best form of getting the word out. And I can't afford to pay for promotion. The book alone will set me back. But it's an important book. I think it's my best. It's universal. It was written at my writing peak. I'm so proud of it. Much of it is true so I can't claim ownership for all the content. However, Jai spoke to me. It's like she wrote it and dictated it to me. She's a very strong emotional force but with all the fallibilities of being a young person. I admire her so much.

Peace

Anthony