A romantic YA novel from debut author Jasmine Donaldson
The People I know by Jasmine Donaldson (Mary Eagan Publishing)
Nineteen-year-old Lyla Strafford has escaped to her Aunt Caroline’s coastal home for the summer. With a new job at the local café and a small circle of emerging friendships, she hopes for a fresh start.
At a party, she meets Theo — bronzed, charming, and clearly as taken with her as she is with him. Their first date, a Christmas carnival, feels promising… until it isn’t. Perched atop the ferris wheel, Theo gently asks about Lyla’s sister Ruth, and Lyla spirals into a panic attack. They head home early, and Lyla is convinced she has wrecked her chance at romance. She isn’t ready to speak about Ruth. Not yet.
When a life-threatening incident forces past trauma to resurface, the story begins to peel back the truth. Snippets, flashbacks, and vivid memories gradually reveal what happened to Ruth — and the heavy guilt Lyla has carried ever since. Surrounded by caring people who slowly earn her trust, Lyla learns to forgive herself and reclaim her future.
This is a story about first love, friendship, grief, courage, and the complicated, tender work of letting go.
Lyla is an engaging, proactive teen protagonist — finding work, stepping outside her comfort zone, forming genuine connections, and finally facing the moment that defined her past.
This accomplished debut comes from 25-year-old librarian Jasmine Donaldson of Warkworth, Auckland. A lifelong reader and young adult fiction enthusiast, Jasmine works at Mahurangi East Library and loves being surrounded by books. She has spoken about struggling to find stories that held her attention as a teen — a challenge that inspired her to write the book she wished she’d had. The People I Know marks her first novel.
“The books I enjoy most are character driven, with everyday people facing their own problems. When I wrote this, I wanted to include everything I love in a story: good character development, a sprinkle of mystery, and a dollop of romance.” Jasmine Donaldson
ISBN: 978-1-0670875-5-5
RRP $30.00
Reviewed by Maria Gill
