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Wonderland

(London Trilogy #3)

Juno Dawson

3.82 · Rating details · 1,142 ratings · 198 reviews

What happens when you fall down the rabbit hole? The compulsive must-have follow-up to CLEAN and MEAT MARKET from bestselling author Juno Dawson

Alice lives in a world of stifling privilege and luxury - but none of it means anything when your own head plays tricks on your reality. When her troubled friend Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with finding her. On the t ...more

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Paperback, 282 pages

Published May 28th 2020 by Quercus Children's Books

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Jun 11, 2020 Kai rated it it was amazing

Shelves: queer, owned

"Heavens, being trans is complex. I honestly wonder what cis people do in their heads all day long."

Wonderland was a wild ride. And one of the best I've ever been on. It was long past time that I picked up a book by Juno Dawson. I've only read Proud so far, and I've been making heart eyes at her London Trilogy for a couple of years now. I was a bit scared because I wanted to like her books badly. And I'm relieved and happy to say that I loved it.

Okay here's what you're in for: a pansexual & tran "Heavens, being trans is complex. I honestly wonder what cis people do in their heads all day long."

Wonderland was a wild ride. And one of the best I've ever been on. It was long past time that I picked up a book by Juno Dawson. I've only read Proud so far, and I've been making heart eyes at her London Trilogy for a couple of years now. I was a bit scared because I wanted to like her books badly. And I'm relieved and happy to say that I loved it.

Okay here's what you're in for: a pansexual & trans girl crashing a super secret and super lavish high society party for the crazy rich. Loads of cursing, sex positivity, and a cast of queer kids including bi, lesbian and gay characters. Frequent drug use and bathtubs filled with alcohol. But also a trigger warning about an attempted rape, sexual abuse, self-harm and a suicide attempt.

I told you it's wild and it may sound heavy but Juno's humour always lightens the mood. And despite the chaotic nature of the book, the plot was well-structured and the characters had depth...considering most of them were rich snobs. It was honestly such a fun read and I so enjoyed how unapologetically queer everyone was, especially the main character. It all just works: the book is political, it's a contemporary with mystery/thriller elements and a heavy dose of Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. And it's so quotable too!

"It get's a bad rep, but the closet has kept me safe thus far."

"There are no lows to which British cuisine will not stoop."

"I quietly relished the fact that I thought I was "passing" as a cis girl. It's a guilty badge of honour and I don't want to lose it. Heavens, being trans is complex. I honestly wonder what cis people do in their heads all day long."

"We do not stan a passive bystander. I judge people by the company they keep."

Oh and I have another favourite but it's too NSFW for Goodreads. Just imagine me cackling when you get to that elevator scene.

What else is left to say? Read the book, friends. Read it.

Find more of my books on Instagram ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Thebooknerd90 added it

UPDATE

The publisher removed the Diabetes joke with immediate effect from the ebook and will be removing it from the next print run. This is a fantastic outcome, I am so thankful the author and publisher have listened and have amended it.

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Jun 14, 2020 Bookphenomena (Micky) rated it did not like it

I'm deeply disappointed by the throwaway jokes at the expense of serious health conditions in this book. This is discrimination. People die everyday in the UK of both diabetes and asthma. Think again please Juno Dawson about throwaway dialogue for a quick joke. Publishers and editors also have a responsibility here. ...more

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Jun 16, 2020 Ivana - Diary of Difference marked it as to-read

Shelves: tbr-jar

I have received an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Sep 17, 2020 Janna rated it did not like it

Shelves: read-in-2020

this was literally something a 13-year-old could've written on wattpad ...more

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Jun 23, 2020 Aoife rated it really liked it

Shelves: bisexuality, trans-characters, diverse, favourite-author, kindle, ya, ya-contemporary, brilliant, fairytale-retelling, ravenclaw

I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Attempted date rape, mental health decline (bipolar episodes/hallucinations/ intrusive thoughts), suicidal ideation, talk about previous suicide attempt and witnessed suicide. A lot of drug use and casual sex.

When Alice ends up finding a mysterious invitation to an elite party called Wonderland in her search to find the missing Bunny, she knows she must go and ends up in a world of trouble and highly pri I received this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Attempted date rape, mental health decline (bipolar episodes/hallucinations/ intrusive thoughts), suicidal ideation, talk about previous suicide attempt and witnessed suicide. A lot of drug use and casual sex.

When Alice ends up finding a mysterious invitation to an elite party called Wonderland in her search to find the missing Bunny, she knows she must go and ends up in a world of trouble and highly privileged teenagers. Avoiding ending up on social media site Caterpillr, getting high with the Tweedle twins and being followed around by a mysterious girl she calls Cat is a lot of work - and Alice has her own issues to be dealing with, and keep hidden as well.

Juno Dawson honestly can't do any wrong. Once again, she brings forward a character who is so likeable yet tough, and has so much depth to her. I really enjoyed following Alice through her time in Wonderland (the part takes place over a long weekend so the pacing of the novel is fast which I also liked) and her thought process around different things. All of Alice's fears and then the joys she takes by plunging over the edge were all so sharp and kept me gripped to the end.

There was also some fun mentions and cameos of other characters from other Juno Dawson's books in this one. Lexi from Clean is mentioned a few times, as Alice's school crowd ran with her or knew of her, and Felicity from Margot & Me is actually Alice's therapist which was a small scene but it was SO lovely seeing Felicity again!

Alice is a transwoman, and is pansexual in this book, and I really loved seeing this representation and how Alice talked about her gender identity, and the ups and downs she's had to go through and then also her slow realisation on her sexuality and realising she is also pan. She has sexual relationships with both men and women in this book, and we love to see it! There were some real discussions about the daily upkeeps and things trans girls have to think about when they have transitioned but haven't had an operation such as tucking and I haven't seen that I a book before.

I also loved how accepting everyone was and really do think and hope that the way most people react when Alice confirms she's trans, is how people will continue to react in the future and it won't actually be a real deal. And Alice's realisation that she can meet people who are attracted to her and the genitalia she has, or doesn't have, doesn't actually make a difference to the desire and the sexual relationship she can have with people.

There was one small chapter in this book which was a bathroom scene, and a list of questions Alice was asked about her trans identity and it was so much but also so enlightening. It was exhausting to read and I really wish people, certain people who shall remain nameless, could read such a chapter and realise the type of questions the trans community deal with on a daily basis when all they want to do is urinate in peace.

The Alice in Wonderland references and connections in this book are very in your face but I really liked it, and it was just a fun thing throughout the book. And even though the connections were really obvious, I still felt clever when I connected them up with the classic tale.

I really felt like Alice had a lot of growth in herself and her confidence in her own identity and continuing to travel the world as a proud, beautiful woman and not being afraid to step up and be seen.

Juno Dawson's books are YA but are aimed at mature teenagers rather than 13/14 year olds and I love that. I really feel like Juno understands the teenagers who are reading her books and created characters that while are going through so much, can be really relatable and are good people. She knows that teenagers will understand and be able to handle the darker parts of her stories and doesn't condescend or try and cocoon them in fluff and bubble wrap like precious beings that could break at the slightest mention of a penis or popping pills.

Juno Dawson remains one of my favourite writers and I CANNOT recommend her books enough. ...more

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Jul 31, 2020 Berry rated it really liked it

Shelves: trans, ya, queer, fantasy, owned

See, this book is one I'm not sure how to swallow. It's a good, witty, funny and clever book who says all the right things. Not only about gender, but about feminism, morality, money, and status. It has a lot going for it. Alice, the main character, is exactly what you'd expect your cynical, brilliant and beautiful though she doesn't know it mc to be.
It was the first time I read an actual description of a sex scene(s) that features a trans person, and I couldn't be more grateful for them. It's See, this book is one I'm not sure how to swallow. It's a good, witty, funny and clever book who says all the right things. Not only about gender, but about feminism, morality, money, and status. It has a lot going for it. Alice, the main character, is exactly what you'd expect your cynical, brilliant and beautiful though she doesn't know it mc to be.
It was the first time I read an actual description of a sex scene(s) that features a trans person, and I couldn't be more grateful for them. It's so rare to have respectful and positive descriptions of trans sexuality, and as I was once told by a good friend of mine - how will we know our sexuality is even an option if the only examples for it we see are objectifying and fetishizing? Which, btw, is also something this book discusses.
One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is the language - which absolutely delicious... it was practically a character in itself. The parallels to the original Alice in Wonderland are smart and very current, and not only preserves the original criticism but adds a new, relevant layer that tears apart our generation and our odd, obsessive need for social acceptability.

Theoretically, it's all there. This book has it all. So why am I not over the roof screaming for all of you to read this? because it's a great book, I'm not going to deny it. What bothers me was how it was all too right, too clean. Even the dirt, the chaos, the irony, they were all pristinely put. Something was lacking and I can't place my finger on it, I just feel it. Maybe it's that I was reluctant to read anything by Juno Dawson since I first saw her book This Book is Gay. There's something so presumptuous about it, so unbelievably arrogant, and I know it's rather old and both her and our society had changed in the almost 7 years that passed since it was published, but it made me question everything in this book as well. It's not fair, and I know it... but ‏c'est la vie.

Now, this book should be coated with trigger warnings in 26 pt, bold upper case letters, back to cover. There's a lot of talk about depression, mental illness, self-harm, and suicide. There's also an attempted rape, sexual abuse, and overly detailed drugs and alcohol abuse.
Now comes my next question, what does it mean for our readers? I didn't need those triggers, but I know for a fact that most people do. But, that obviously doesn't mean this book shouldn’t be read. What does it mean though? I need to be very clear on this because this is part of why I struggled with this book so much - the mc of this book disregard her mental health problems for half the book. It would border on comical if it wasn't so infuriating. I kept waiting for her to realize how much shit she was in just so it was crystal clear that all of that blase attitude is just a coverup for how fucking scared she was all the time. And it came, thank the goddess, otherwise, this review would’ve looked very different.

Final words? Yes, read it. Be careful though, and be critical. This book is funny, sharp, and very much needed, but it's not something that will go smoothly down your throat. ...more

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Jun 12, 2020 Laura Trenham rated it it was ok · review of another edition

After loving Meat Market and Clean for their portrayal of controversial topics, I was keen to read Dawson’s latest instalment. Unfortunately it was not for me. Marketed as an Alice in Wonderland retelling, we watch a trans girl go to a party, take lots of drugs and stuff happens (nothing of great importance). The diversity in the book is great and I loved the inclusion of a trans character but I felt there was a lack of character development and the plot was absolutely non existent. I feel the a ...more

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Jan 08, 2020 Cora Tea Party Princess marked it as to-read

I don't think I can put into words how excited I am for this book.

A Playlist for Clean by Juno Dawson

Review: Clean by Juno Dawson

Review: Meat Market by Juno Dawson
...more

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Jul 26, 2020 Dominic Loxley rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbt

I really enjoyed this book. I myself am transgender though i’m trans masculine, but I could relate a lot to Alice and various parts of this book.

It’s the sort of book that I find better when you know nothing about it, though perhaps the trigger warnings at the beginning help (ie. mental health issues, self-harm, sexual assault and drug use).

If none of those triggers effect you when reading, I definitely recommend this book

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Jul 19, 2020 Christian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: released-2020

What a spectacular, triumphant, smart little book. Don't miss out, is all I'm gonna say. ...more

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May 27, 2020 Karen Barber rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Wonderland is a riot of hedonism, mental health issues and privileged people trying to keep their positions of power. It’s bonkers, and at times reads like we’re following someone on a bad trip. I felt myself pausing for breath at times to gauge whether people could ever be as awful as they are here...and I think they probably can.
In Wonderland Juno Dawson takes us on a journey with Alice, a transgender girl who becomes worried when a friend of hers (Bunny, no less) goes missing. At her exclusiv ...more

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Jun 07, 2020 Nicole Sweeney rated it really liked it

Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.

Juno Dawson is one of those authors that I’ve always wanted to try but never got around to. When I heard about Wonderland, a story inspired by Alice in Wonderland I knew I had to give it a go. The story follows Alice, a young girl living the life of luxury thanks to her mother’s successful career as a crime writer. When her friend Bunny mysteriously vanishes, Alice will do anything to find her. While searching she discovers an invitation to Review originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.

Juno Dawson is one of those authors that I’ve always wanted to try but never got around to. When I heard about Wonderland, a story inspired by Alice in Wonderland I knew I had to give it a go. The story follows Alice, a young girl living the life of luxury thanks to her mother’s successful career as a crime writer. When her friend Bunny mysteriously vanishes, Alice will do anything to find her. While searching she discovers an invitation to Wonderland, the most elite party of the year. Determined to find Bunny, Alice pushes herself from her comfort zone and goes in search of her friend, but what will she find down the rabbit hole?

Alice in Wonderland was one of my favourite books growing up and I was so intrigued to see how Juno Dawson worked the original into this modern tale. I completely loved this book, it was addictive, intriguing and full of subtle and clever hints towards the book I’ve loved for so many years. The story explores a world of excess, tackling a whole host of difficult topics like mental health, finding yourself, relationships, family and wealth. Dawson has weaved a clever tale and one that will stick with readers after they’ve finished reading.

The characters in this book are truly fascinating. Our main protagonist Alice is brilliant – she’s sarcastic, clever and incredibly stubborn. I loved watching her go on this journey, and discover so much about herself. Likewise I thought Cat, Bunny and Paisley were really interesting characters, each well developed and fully fleshed out. Alice meets some strange people during her journey, all of whom seem to be dealing with difficulties in their past.

Wonderland is a dark tale, full of alcohol, drugs and sex. It’s definitely not for younger readers but it’s a perfect gripping thriller for older YA fans. It completes the London Trilogy, featuring a few nods towards Lexi Volkov from Clean. Each of the three stories can be read as stand alones but if you’re looking for an addictive contemporary series to binge read, this could be just what you’re looking for. ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Katy Noyes rated it really liked it

Shelves: audible-review-copy

Alice updated for relevant issues, themes and groups. Clever stuff.

It would really help for a reader/listener to know Carroll's original, or the regular references will be wasted. The updating feels fresh, smart and is full of memorable characters, often playing on traits and lines from the children's book.

Alice now is a teenager, and the White Rabbit is her missing friend Bunny. Visiting Wonderland by invitation, she find it a sensualist days-long party where norms and expectations go out of th ...more

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May 31, 2020 Shan( Shans_Shelves) 💜 rated it really liked it

Shelves: queer-reads, diverse-reads, lgbtqiapd-plus-young-adult, lgbtqiap-plus-author, qf, young-adult, q-protagonist, sapphic-rep, dark-reads, thriller

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Rep:Trans Female pansexual protagonist, MC with mental illness , gay side characters, lesbian side characters, bisexual side characters, Ownvoices for Trans representation.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Wonderland was one of the wildest books I’ve ever read and I loved it. With our main character Alice, we are brought on a journey to Wonderland- a annual party held by very, VERY rich teenagers- while she desperately searchers for ...more

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Sep 29, 2020 Summer Lambert rated it really liked it

This is not a book that I would normally read. I’m very much a crime and thriller kinda person. Someone uploaded this book on to my social media and recommended it, I’m not sure what made me choose to read it but I’m glad I did. I wasn’t sure on the ending but I loved the rest of it. Alice was a really likeable character and I would recommend this book to anyone that likes Skins, misfits etc.

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Aug 02, 2020 Kirsten Moody rated it really liked it

Let's be honest, I do love an Alice in Wonderland retelling.
Make it address alot of serious issues such as mental health, drugs, suicide and a transgender main character. I couldn't put it down.
This book is amazing in the way it talks about modern day challenges while still having it intricately linked back to the original Alice in Wonderland story.
Not only does Juno Dawson address important subjects but also does a brilliant rendition of the classic story with all the elements in there, even a ...more

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Jun 24, 2020 Roelien rated it it was ok

Shelves: own-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 25, 2020 Amy Rush Da Silva rated it it was amazing

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: Self harm, suicide, mental health, sexual assault, murder and drug use.

When her friend, Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with trying to find her. On the trail, Alice finds a mysterious invitation to ‘Wonderland’ – the party to end all parties for the most elite. Thinking she will find Bunny there, Alice sneaks in and finds herself in the twisted underworld of privileged teenagers and their lif I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: Self harm, suicide, mental health, sexual assault, murder and drug use.

When her friend, Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with trying to find her. On the trail, Alice finds a mysterious invitation to ‘Wonderland’ – the party to end all parties for the most elite. Thinking she will find Bunny there, Alice sneaks in and finds herself in the twisted underworld of privileged teenagers and their life of drugs, sex and hedonistically. Alice, being all alone and without her medication starts to trust no one, and is soon on the radar of a new enemy.

There is a reason why Juno Dawson is the queen of YA and it’s because of her gritty, addictive stories which pull you in almost straight away, and Wonderland was one of those. I knew I was going to be in for a ride when I started reading, but I wasn’t expecting the ride to be so full of twists, turns and intrigue. Honestly, I didn’t want to put this book down and devoured it in a day and a half.

Wonderland is a twist on a beloved classic and I was all for that! As someone who loves the original Alice in Wonderland, I was intrigued to see how Juno played with it to make it into its unique creation. I must tell you, it was amazing! It definitely had the craziness of the original but it was certainly a lot trippier. At times it felt like I was taking the drugs, but I feel that that was the way Juno wanted you to feel when you were reading it. All the Alice in Wonderland references, were also, brilliant. I got such a kick at trying to match up the characters in Wonderland to the characters in the original, and to say some surprised me would be an understatement. Wonderland really is Alice in Wonderland with a gossip girl style twist.

Juno’s books are known for dealing with some pretty dark topics and this was no different. Topics dealt with in Wonderland ranged from self harm, suicide and mental health to sexual assault and drug use. I must admit, that in this book some of these topics get pretty graphic at times and this may put people off reading a bit. However, what I took away from it was that things like this are happening in real life and that we all need to be more aware of how harrowing it can be, to be on the receiving end of them. I think these issues were dealt with very well, but you may want to bare these in mind when you first start reading. What I also found interesting was how privilege, luxury and corruption were dealt with. To see these rich teens go down a path of almost complete and utter self destruction was something that I found fascinating to read about. Money doesn’t always mean happiness, it can mean going down a dark path to reach the top.

Alice, was such a complex character that I found myself captivated by. Firstly, I loved loved the fact she was trans, as we definitely need a lot more Trans rep in YA. Her thoughts about her body, and the way it looked also stood out to me. It felt like we were getting deep into her mind, and body issues aren’t spoken about enough in books with a trans character. Also, the way that Alice is sexualised is something that did shock me. You did get deep into the way the trans community can be treated, and it was pretty troubling to read about at certain times. Nevertheless, this will also, hopefully raise awareness of this issue and I do have my fingers crossed. What I also love about Alice was her voice; the snarkiness of it and the fact that I agreed with a lot she had to say. When things within the story take a dark turn, her voice does change ever so slightly but this makes you feel all of her confusion and pain. Alice is certainly a character that I’m not going to forget for a long while.

Wonderland was a compelling, engaging read which does show you how gritty the world of privilege and luxury can be. Its addictive, trippy style and intriguing, thrilling plot will certainly pull you in and leave you mesmerised. ...more

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Jun 13, 2020 Jane Louise rated it really liked it

Following a *certain author’s* comments about transgender people a couple of weeks ago, I decided to show my support for the trans community by seeking out books by trans/non-binary authors and/or which feature trans/non-binary characters. I don’t read a huge number of young adult novels, but this one appealed to me immediately - a retelling of Alice in Wonderland set among London’s uber-rich, featuring a trans Alice and written by a trans author? Yes please!

It should be noted that this is the t Following a *certain author’s* comments about transgender people a couple of weeks ago, I decided to show my support for the trans community by seeking out books by trans/non-binary authors and/or which feature trans/non-binary characters. I don’t read a huge number of young adult novels, but this one appealed to me immediately - a retelling of Alice in Wonderland set among London’s uber-rich, featuring a trans Alice and written by a trans author? Yes please!

It should be noted that this is the third book in Dawson’s London trilogy, the previous two being Meat Market and Clean. Although some of the characters overlap, this is a stand-alone book and you do not have to have read the other two to enjoy it (I hadn’t).

Alice Dodgson lives a comfortable, privileged life in London, thanks to her mother’s career as a successful crime novelist. She attends one of the country’s most elite schools, although she’s something of a loner, and doesn’t have many friends. When one of the girls from school she does care about, Bunny Liddell, disappears, nobody else seems concerned - it’s not the first time Bunny has done a vanishing act. But she had told Alice that she was in trouble, and so Alice is worried. The only clue she has to Bunny’s whereabouts is an invitation to a party known as ‘Wonderland’, which turns out to be a weekend-long exclusive bash for the richest rich kids of them all - to which Alice, as nouveau riche, is definitely NOT invited. But she is desperate to find Bunny, so she tumbles down the rabbit hole anyway. Can she find her friend before the Queen of Hearts says “off with her head”?

This was an absolutely wild ride - I gobbled it up in one afternoon! I loved the dark and trippy 21st century Wonderland Dawson creates, set in a crumbling, isolated country mansion full of drugged-up rich kids. The plot is utterly bonkers, but at the same time believable - it cleverly makes the point that the uber-rich do live in a kind of ‘Wonderland’, a bubble divorced from reality in which actions do not have consequences. My favourite thing was spotting all the Alice in Wonderland characters cleverly reborn for the 21st century - the Tweedle twins are YouTubers, the caterpillar is a permanently stoned app developer, the March hare is a gay French man, and the Queen of Hearts is the ultimate mean girl.

Alice is a fab character - multi-layered and relatable. She is a transgender girl - born male, because “some lazy angel, desperate for a fag break, scribbled the wrong gender on my destiny forms.” I am not myself transgender, but I imagine that the character of Alice truly captures what it must feel like, no doubt due to the fact that Juno Dawson is herself trans. I imagine that Alice’s discussions of her gender dysphoria and how she feels about her body would be a comfort to any young trans girls out there going through the same. But Alice is also going through things that any young person will relate to - discovering her sexuality (she’s bi/pan), feeling comfortable in her own skin and stepping outside her comfort zone. She's got a good sense of humour, too - I loved her snarky asides.
I also really liked the mysterious “Cat”, who looks out for Alice as she journeys through Wonderland, the well-meaning Maxim Hattersley, and even Paisley, the Queen of Hearts herself, who is really just a lonely little girl. I don’t know if Dawson is intending a sequel to this, but I would be really interesting in reading another book about these characters!

The book covers some pretty dark topics - Alice has had serious mental health issues, and has self-harmed and considered attempting suicide in the past. The book also features drug use, attempted date rape, parental abandonment issues and the sexualisation of trans girls by older men. But all of the above are dealt with in a frank and genuine way, without sensationalism.

All in all, a clever, engrossing and imaginative reworking of a classic tale for the 21st century, with interesting reflections on gender, identity, sexuality and privilege. I really enjoyed it and will definitely be seeking out more of Juno Dawson’s work in the future! ...more

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Nov 18, 2020 Beth Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: owned-books

Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

I haven’t read any of Juno’s fiction before and I was super excited for this. It was really intriguing and sounded wacky. I heard Juno read aloud from it back in February/March and I was so drawn into it, I knew I had to pick it up. I’ve had my copy since release, as I was lucky enough to receive a proof! However, I have only just managed to pick it up as part of our non-binary November readathon. I wanted to mention that I Thank you to the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

I haven’t read any of Juno’s fiction before and I was super excited for this. It was really intriguing and sounded wacky. I heard Juno read aloud from it back in February/March and I was so drawn into it, I knew I had to pick it up. I’ve had my copy since release, as I was lucky enough to receive a proof! However, I have only just managed to pick it up as part of our non-binary November readathon. I wanted to mention that I haven’t read the other two books in the ‘series’, but as I understand these are standalones that have cameos in each one.

The concept of this book was amazing and I really loved the idea. It is a modern reinterpretation of Alice in Wonderland which follows Alice, who is a trans girl in a private school, and her friend Bunny, who is missing. The way this was written was incredible clever, with interwoven quotes and references to the story which I loved. The setting was a very exclusive party for the high class students of the school, called Wonderland. Alice managed to sneak into this following finding an invitation she found in Bunny’s locker. I loved the scenes travelling ‘down the rabbit hole’ to the party and the party itself. It was magical and reminded me of something out of Willy Wonka.

In fact, the setting was probably my favourite part. It felt fantastical and was, again, very clever. I also loved the discussion of gender and sexuality, with Alice discussing her own journey of being transgender and pansexual. She is very open about her body and sex-positive, and I feel like these discussions will be really important to some readers. I really felt for her and some of the things she had to go through felt exhausting.

But unfortunately, that’s where my love ended for this book. A lot of it actually felt quite problematic for me and I just felt slightly uncomfortable reading it. I personally didn’t enjoy the casual sex/sleeping around, as I just didn’t relate to it and how Alice felt. I also felt like the excessive drug use just wasn’t for me. I understand that because of the nature of Alice in Wonderland itself, it was kind of needed in terms of retelling the story, but it also didn’t sit right with me in terms of normalising a lot of this stuff for young people.

CW: Attempted date rape, bipolar episodes/hallucinations/ intrusive thoughts, suicide, drug use, casual sex.

★★★
3 out of 5 stars

-Beth

May your shelves forever overflow with books! ☽ ...more

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May 07, 2020 Yolanda Sfetsos rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-contemporary

I've read several Juno Dawson books and she never disappoints. Her stories are always fresh and raw, honest and very addictive. So of course I wanted to check out her latest release with the very cool cover.

Alice attends a posh school and is smart enough to get good grades, even though she rarely bothers to turn up to class. She's a loner and is constantly bored with the world around her. She doesn't have many friends, seems mostly detached from her family, and is tired of her mind playing trick I've read several Juno Dawson books and she never disappoints. Her stories are always fresh and raw, honest and very addictive. So of course I wanted to check out her latest release with the very cool cover.

Alice attends a posh school and is smart enough to get good grades, even though she rarely bothers to turn up to class. She's a loner and is constantly bored with the world around her. She doesn't have many friends, seems mostly detached from her family, and is tired of her mind playing tricks on her.

So when a girl she recently connected with disappears and she's the only one asking questions, Alice decides to investigate. And falls down a rather bizarre rabbit hole...

I loved this! From the moment I started reading, I knew I was in for an awesome ride.

Alice's voice is so addictive and totally snarky. She really spoke to me. Her inner thoughts had me laughing, nodding in agreement, totally loving her upbeat narrative. Until she hits with the serious stuff. The things that made my heart hurt and vision blur because I felt every word through her honesty and confusion.

There's so much emotion packed into this lovely package. I wasn't surprised, because Juno has such a talent for injecting her writing with so much heart and soul.

I also enjoyed this strange and screwed up version of Wonderland that she stumbles on. She encounters some very weird characters along the way. Some are enigmatic, others alluring, several downright scary, but all of them help her get one step closer to her goal.

Her adventure might begin by chasing a Bunny down the rabbit hole and finding a cocktail of drugs, sex, alcohol and secrets, but it ends with finding out several hard truths about herself.

Wonderland is such an intriguing and trippy experience into an unknown place full of interesting characters and plenty of unexpected twists and turns. It's a heartfelt story about one girl's struggle to fight all the darkness threatening to consume her, while discovering the inner strength she didn't think she possessed.

Oh, and did I mention it also deals with several serious issues and features a bunch of messed-up characters? There's really something for everyone here.

I seriously loved this book. A lot! ...more

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May 26, 2020 Rebecca Barber rated it really liked it

Shelves: ya-contemporary

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy to review.

Before I start, I would like to mention that there was a trigger warning at the start for self-harm, sexual assault, mental health issues and drug use, but this book also contains references and flashbacks to suicide, murder, incest and transphobia. From being aware of Juno's previous books going in, I did expect heavy content, but just be warned that this book is very heavy going.

Wonderland is a dark contemporary twist on ...more

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Aug 07, 2020 Charlotte rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, own-a-physical-copy, lgbtq, signed, contemporary, young-adult, mystery, anticipated-2020-releases

Juno Dawson seems to have a talent for writing characters -- especially in the "trilogy" (Clean, Meat Market, and Wonderland) -- that I (and I'm sure a lot of people) cannot relate to in the slightest, in terms of living with a huge amount of wealth. But I've never once feel alienated by her books. They're always so fascinating to get a glimpse into the life of people on the "other side" - the ones who live lives that I can only just imagine.

Wonderland, just like Clean and Meat Market, sucked me ...more

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Mar 23, 2020 Laura Reed rated it really liked it

Juno Dawson is an author I follow like she is the White Rabbit. Having devoured Clean and Meat Market, reading Wonderland was a no brainer. Wonderland is a Skins-esque retelling of Alice in Wonderland, which is completely fully realised and references the original story in a truly magical way.

Sure some of the references are obvious, the main character’s name is Alice for starters, but the majority of the references reveal themselves slowly and unexpectedly. I found myself chastising me for not ...more

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Jan 23, 2021 Triston rated it it was amazing

Another 5 Star!!
Another Brilliant Story!
I absolutely loved Wonderland, and I cannot explain to you how amazing these books are!
Clean, Meat Market and Wonderland are probably some of the best books I have ever read in my life!!
Wonderland was another timely and important story, dealing with themes such as Gender, Dysphoria, Mental Health, Self Harm and just like the previous two books in the London Trilogy, it's a candid and harrowing exploration of privelage!

This was probably the most enjoyabl ...more

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Jun 05, 2020 Claire rated it really liked it

This was definitely a compelling read. A unique and modern take on Alice in Wonderland, which I really enjoyed.

Whilst exploring topics such as privilege, power and gender it also didn't shy away from harder hitting subjects like drug use, mental health, self harm and sexual assault.
Following transgender Alice on a journey to find her friend Bunny it felt at times like we were following someone on a bad trip from drugs. Was everything happening real or was it the come down from the drugs Alice t ...more

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Jun 20, 2020 Amelia rated it really liked it

Shelves: lgbtq

Another modern day retelling of Alice in wonderland. Whilst I thought I was going to get bored of this book very early on I’m happy to say I was wrong. If you know the original story of Alice in wonderland you’re going to very easily see where this book is heading but that’s okay because it’s done well. I will drop one star because I did feel there was a lack of originality that added little to the story In this case.

Loved the modern day take on Wonderland itself and how all the characters are a ...more

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Jun 10, 2020 Medb O'Gorman rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this version of Wonderland I think it was so clever of Juno to turn Wonderland into a party. There were some characters I loved and others that really annoyed me but I think that's the whole point of it all. Aspects of Wonderland were really well done but I found some were unnecessary. I love the relationship Alice had with certain characters and wished that her story was explored more. The ending was super cheesy but in an unexpected way. Overall I loved June's version of Wonde ...more

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Jun 17, 2020 Luisa rated it it was amazing

Being Alice's in wonderland my favourite book, I couldn't help but really appreciate all the small details and references to the original book. It was an amazing and intricate way to explore gender, privilege, and mental health. Alice's feelings and thoughts are so well described that I could feel them as if they were my own. I did get lost in the pages and I can't emphasise enough how much I loved it ...more

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About Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson

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Previously wrote under the name James Dawson

Queen of Teen 2014 Juno Dawson is the multi award-winning author of six novels for young adults. In 2016, she authored the best-selling World Book Day title: SPOT THE DIFFERENCE.

Her next novel is the beautiful and emotive MARGOT & ME (Jan 2017) which will be followed by her adult debut, the memoir THE GENDER GAMES (Jul 17).

Juno also wrote the bestsellin ...more

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London Trilogy (3 books)

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Quotes from Wonderland

“Did syphilis rot your brain?’ Paisley glowers at her. ‘If I see anyone touch a phone, I’ll break the phone and then their fingers in that order. Is that clear?” — 0 likes

“We’re not in Kansas any more, Toto. Or maybe we are, the USA has highly questionable gun laws.” — 0 likes

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Preview — Wonderland by Juno Dawson

Wonderland

(London Trilogy #3)

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