Everything Beautiful by Simmone Howell

I believe in Chloe and chocolate.
I believe the best part is always before.
I believe that most girls are shifty and most guys are dumb.
I believe the more you spill, the less you are.
I don't believe in life after death or diuretics or happy endings.
I don’t believe anything good can come from this.

 

Riley Rose is big, beautiful, brash and bad. And she’s not happy about being sent to Spirit Ranch – a Christian camp located in the Little Desert. As soon as she arrives, Riley is planning her escape. She can’t handle the feel-good mantras, chirpy camp counsellors or the endless series of team-building games. But then she meets Dylan, ex-poster boy for the camp, now a paraplegic. Dylan is dark, angry and vulnerable. Together, Riley and Dylan turn the camp upside down, forcing everyone to reassess their ideas of belief, love and faith. Everything Beautiful really is everything that is beautiful: funny, sad, poetic, moving, wonderful.

Everything Beautiful is longlisted for the Gold Inky