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From Brisbane to Tokyo while in Orlando, Florida: A Heartfelt YA Novel with Romance, Friendship and Mystery
A guaranteed 'cannot put this down' first love mystery novel. For fans of Jenny Han, John Green and Kasie West, From Brisbane to Tokyo while in Orlando, Florida is a gorgeous debut about falling in love, second chances, friendship and also finding yourself...as well as the fellow high-schooler you're secretly messaging.
New state. New school. One message that launches your fresh start...
A MUST-READ YA novel that will send you on a roller-coaster of emotions, laughs and tears.
From being recently released from hospital to moving to a new school in Florida to now also being bullied and constantly alone there, junior student Hayden Mallard wishes for things to be different. But then, one day, on the school's social media platform, posts about music from the alias Tokyo catch his attention. He becomes intrigued by this account and, when in a moment of desperate need, reaches out to them. They soon begin to email one another...becoming secret pen pals. And that's when everything changes...
As Hayden is pushed out of his comfort zone, he is diving head first into the world between boyhood and growing up. Loneliness, family drama, making new friends, high school parties, volleyball, crazy golf, traumatic loss, difficult situations and young love...all while searching for the identity of this mysterious Tokyo, who he cannot stop thinking about.
With all these new yet stressful experiences, and a series of unresolved past events, Hayden must try to balance everything together and act all is fine...for he fears nothing more than his mental health getting worse and returning to how bad he was earlier in the year.
This heartbreaking page turner novel is for teen readers, the YA BookTok generation and also those who have lived through the sometimes chaotic times known as the 'teenage school years'. This will make you laugh, cry, and even scream at times - whether that's from anger, sadness or excitement is up to you. But this Young Adult novel will also make you recall all those fun moments, those crazy adventures with your friends and those high school romances...at a time when your world is wild, free and changing and life is yours for the taking.
A YA Pen Pal First Love Mystery Novel with Romance, Comedy and Drama!
New state. New school. One message that launches your fresh start...
A MUST-READ YA novel that will send you on a roller-coaster of emotions, laughs and tears.
From being recently released from hospital to moving to a new school in Florida to now also being bullied and constantly alone there, junior student Hayden Mallard wishes for things to be different. But then, one day, on the school's social media platform, posts about music from the alias Tokyo catch his attention. He becomes intrigued by this account and, when in a moment of desperate need, reaches out to them. They soon begin to email one another...becoming secret pen pals. And that's when everything changes...
As Hayden is pushed out of his comfort zone, he is diving head first into the world between boyhood and growing up. Loneliness, family drama, making new friends, high school parties, volleyball, crazy golf, traumatic loss, difficult situations and young love...all while searching for the identity of this mysterious Tokyo, who he cannot stop thinking about.
With all these new yet stressful experiences, and a series of unresolved past events, Hayden must try to balance everything together and act all is fine...for he fears nothing more than his mental health getting worse and returning to how bad he was earlier in the year.
This heartbreaking page turner novel is for teen readers, the YA BookTok generation and also those who have lived through the sometimes chaotic times known as the 'teenage school years'. This will make you laugh, cry, and even scream at times - whether that's from anger, sadness or excitement is up to you. But this Young Adult novel will also make you recall all those fun moments, those crazy adventures with your friends and those high school romances...at a time when your world is wild, free and changing and life is yours for the taking.
A YA Pen Pal First Love Mystery Novel with Romance, Comedy and Drama!
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2024
11 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 10, 2025
This book made me feel like I was fifteen years old and discovering John Green for the first time. I remembered exactly how it felt to be a teenager - lost, unsure and just deeply confused at how to find my place in the world. I loved the idea of two characters meeting and growing a relationship via anonymous email and the title of the book begins to make so much more sense as you read further. This book read very similarly to Looking For Alaska by John Green, touching on sensitive topics such as mental health, eating disorders and the feeling of inadequacy that comes so frequently with being human. I loved Hayden’s character and the unique relationship he built with everyone around him. This author is an auto buy author for me from now on and I cannot wait to see what he writes next. Highly recommend everyone who is or has been a teenager to read this book.
November 8, 2025
I felt like it was trying hard to reheat the perks of being a wallflower’s nachos at many point but it do have that extra layer of the anonymous letters that I did enjoy. And the struggle of mental health was very real and written well.
May 2, 2025
So good! Had multiple nights of forcing myself to go to sleep and not stay up till 2am to finish it! Honestly so many twists and turns keeping me interested. Really enjoyed this :)
January 23, 2026
3.5
This is not a mystery. This is every sad teenage story you’ve already read or seen in the 21st century rolled into one. If you’ve read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you’ve read this book. If you’ve read 13 Reasons Why, you’ve read this book. If you’ve read Simon vs. the Homosapiens, you’ve read this book. If you have seen any of the film or series adaptations of those books, you have seen this storyline or pieces of it. This is not to say it was bad. You do genuinely feel for Hayden, as anyone who was the outsider growing up would, and I think it has the potential to be something worthy of the new generation of teenagers and YA readers. But it was such an amalgamation of everything that’s already out there, it was a little hard to pull focus.
This is not a mystery. This is every sad teenage story you’ve already read or seen in the 21st century rolled into one. If you’ve read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you’ve read this book. If you’ve read 13 Reasons Why, you’ve read this book. If you’ve read Simon vs. the Homosapiens, you’ve read this book. If you have seen any of the film or series adaptations of those books, you have seen this storyline or pieces of it. This is not to say it was bad. You do genuinely feel for Hayden, as anyone who was the outsider growing up would, and I think it has the potential to be something worthy of the new generation of teenagers and YA readers. But it was such an amalgamation of everything that’s already out there, it was a little hard to pull focus.
June 6, 2025
A brilliant story, touching on numerous important topics, that everyone can relate to but don't always choose to speak about. The way the characters use anonymous emails to flirt and develop a relationship will be relatable to many no doubt.
The story keeps you guessing, the more you read, the more you want to know! Just when you think you might know what will happen, the story pulls you in another direction, which increased the rate at which I read the book!
Looking forward to reading what the author produces next!
The story keeps you guessing, the more you read, the more you want to know! Just when you think you might know what will happen, the story pulls you in another direction, which increased the rate at which I read the book!
Looking forward to reading what the author produces next!
February 6, 2025
Captivating read touching on many topics; from mental health themes to finding love and friendship. The book follows the highs and lows of Hayden’s life and how he grows, how he is introduced to new music which helps him through the difficult times and helps him deal with his emotions.
A deeply moving and emotional read, cannot recommend this book enough.
The more I read the more engrossed I became and couldn’t put it down! There were many themes which kept it interesting and exciting!
A deeply moving and emotional read, cannot recommend this book enough.
The more I read the more engrossed I became and couldn’t put it down! There were many themes which kept it interesting and exciting!
February 25, 2025
Not my usual genre, young adults, but found this novel compelling. Themes of first love, peer and family relationships, mental health and acceptance. Told in a contemporary way involving social media platforms and music, all helping to make it so relevant to young adults today. Mix in lots of twists I couldn't guess correctly, especially at the end, makes this a real page turner. Was hooked from page one. Great read.
February 1, 2025
A wasn’t able to put this book down! From start to finish it had me guessing but also developing a love for the characters involved, learning their backgrounds and what has made them, them! A perfect read that touches on important subjects whilst also keeping you on the edge of your seat!
February 1, 2025
This was a beautifully written book full of hope, angst, suspense and friendship. I completely fell in love with the characters, the plot and the story. It deals with some heavy topics in an honest way. I did not see the ending coming either, which I love in a book. Would completely recommend!
August 31, 2025
I loved this book, I wasn’t expecting much cause other books I’ve gotten through stuff your Kindle days are not that good 😅 but this one really exceeded my expectations, there were a lot of plot twist that I enjoyed and I really didn’t see them coming.
February 27, 2025
Congratulations on your first book! This was extremely moving. I could really feel his emotions through the writing.
Very well written, the characters were all relatable and overall a great read.
Very well written, the characters were all relatable and overall a great read.
May 9, 2025
3.5⭐️
May 15, 2025
I unfortunately DNF'd this at like 50% I think itll just be a soft DNF so I may come back later to it
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews