BOOK REVIEW: FLOORED

Title: Floored
Author: Sara Barnard, Holly Bourne, Tanya Byrne, Non Pratt, Melinda Salisbury, Lisa Williamson, Eleanor Wood
Publication: 2018
Genre: YA
My Rating: ★★★★
 Favourite Quote: "The world seems bigger to me now than it ever did before. I might feel older and sadder than I used to, but for the first time i'm starting to feel a lot like myself." 

"When they got in the lift, they were strangers: Sasha, who is desperately trying to deliver a parcel; Hugo, who knows he's the best-looking guy in the lift and is eyeing up Velvet, who knows what that look means when you hear her name and it doesn't match the way she looks, or the way she talks; Dawson, who was on TV, but isn't as good-looking as he was a few years ago and is desperately hoping no one recognizes him; Kaitlyn, who's losing her sight but won't admit it, and who used to have a poster of Dawson on her bedroom wall, and Joe, who shouldn't be here at all, but who wants to be here the most.

And one more person, who will bring them together again on the same day every year."


Floored is a story about six teenagers who are from different backgrounds- socially, economically and sexually and they all meet for the first time in a lift. After a shocking incident occurs in that lift, their lives become linked. Every year the six of them meet and on one day each year, we get to watch their lives unfold.  

 This book is a collaborative novel written by seven UK young adult authors with a really interesting premise. I must admit, at first I was a little dubious as to how seven different authors could create a story together that didn't feel like it was glued together randomly, however they actually pulled it off well and the skill and craft that went into this story is actually pretty impressive.


"So here we have them: the swot, the fraud, the dutiful daughter, the child star, the fangirl and the asshole.  The six of them assembled in an awkward circle, trying not to stand too close to one another in the small lift, and failing."

There isn't a proper plot in this book. It's not a story; rather it's a journey and it's a journey about friendship. We get to delve into the life of 6 different POVs as they grow from teenagers to young adults. Through the novel feelings are hurt, mistakes are made, hearts are broken, ambitions change and relationships change, develop and fall apart. All of these dynamics are explored, and I think for me, this is what makes this book great. Despite their different personalities and lifestyles, their bond grows stronger as each year passes, even though they are all heading down different paths.


"I'm laughing because...well, who knew it was so easy? To stand up for myself; to not be silenced; to tell my own story how I want to tell it."

Another thing I love about this book is the diversity of the characters and the character development that comes with it. Each has some sort of issue that is affecting and breaking them and they have to find a way to get through it. They're all strong in their own individual way and the individual voices really shine through (which can be difficult if you're reading six point-of-views).
Let me briefly introduce you to our six main characters:
 1) Kaitlyn- a fierce, funny and formidable girl but underneath her tough exterior, she's having to deal with a life-changing disability. I admire Kaitlyn for her constant ability to stay positive in such upsetting situations.
2) Velvet- a pretty, bright and insecure girl who worries about what everyone thinks of her, all whilst having to deal with being from a poor background with an often neglectful mother.
3) Hugo- your stereotypical posh, rich boy. He's snobby, arrogant, ignorant and horrible to anyone who he thinks is lower than him- that being the five strangers he meets in the lift. I must admit, Hugo is my favourite character, despite his cruel behaviour because he develops the most and he makes me laugh-out-loud and believe it or not, he becomes very loveable. I found myself rooting for Hugo the most.
4) Sasha- a kind, caring, quiet girl who's the glue that holds everyone together, despite feeling like the misfit.  She wants to broaden her horizon but is scared to leave lonely dad behind.
5) Dawson- the "no longer classed as handsome or dreamy" ex- child-star who's acting career has flopped and who is confused about his sexuality.
6) Joe- A  kind, smart sweetheart of a boy who wants to work in the film industry and worries about his mum who's memory is quickly deteriorating. 

"Maybe disappointment does lie in the gulf between what you would do for someone and what they will do for you, but she knows then, in that moment [..] that she needs to stop focusing on what she's willing to do for other people and start focusing on what she's willing to do for herself.”

I enjoyed watching each character grow up and the way they changed when you least expected some of them too. I admire the authors for making each character so diverse and the issues they go through and the way they think are very relatable to both teenagers and young adults. What's also wonderful about this book is that it felt very current- I particularly loved the fact that they all kept in touch first through email, then facebook messenger and then over a Whatsapp group, showing how social connections evolve through the years.

"That's the thing about this lot-we may not have much in common beyond what happened in that lift, but there's something comforting about our limited shared history that lets me take a break from my everyday life for a bit."


The reason why this book is short of five stars is because of the yearly jumps. The events in the story only take place on one day over six years which means that one, despite liking all the characters it was difficult to have a real connection with them because we don't get an in-depth view into their lives and two, the jumps mean there's very little time to get used to the status quo before it shifts again and you're brought into a new situation. Other than that, I was still rooting for each of them to live the best lives possible.


"We've all changed loads, you know. Everything's changed loads. Maybe I do have a hero complex. Maybe that's my job, in our crew: the hero. And Velvet's our conscience. Sash is our heart. Joe is our rock. You're our bruiser. And Hugo is...Hugo is Hugo."

I absolutely loved the ending, and I must admit, I had a little cry. It was emotional knowing how their lives were at the beginning of the book and their relationships back then compared to how they are at the end. I had one of those proud mother "look how far they've come" moments and I found myself re-reading the chapter when they first met. They became part of each other lives but by the end they become each other's lives and that's really heart-warming. 


From unrequited love to making stupid mistakes these unlikely friendships grow and evolve in a moving way. Floored is a great story with memorable characters, an honest outlook on life and the ups and downs of relationships and friendships. It shows you how friendships aren't always perfect and how true friends will always have your back through the good and bad times. It really goes to show how much of a difference a year can make. I experienced a whirlwind of emotions from reading this collaborative novel and I really urge you to read it too!