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No Filter
This is the story of THAT SUMMER … the one when everything changes.
Emerald has grown up in a privileged world – the beloved daughter of a wealthy family, friends with all the right people, social media addict. But Emerald's family has secrets – and when Emerald finds her mum unconscious on the bathroom floor, no one can pretend any more. Now she's being packed off to stay with her grandma in Ireland while her mum recuperates and her dad just works and works and works.
Grandma's big, lonely house is set back from the beach, and there's no phone signal or wifi. It's going to be a long summer ... Until she meets Liam.
When you're falling in love, it's hard to tell someone everything. Even if you've got nothing to hide any more. And when secrets and lies are all you're used to, how do you deal with real love – brave and true – with no filter?
The fresh, funny and poignant debut novel from Orlagh Collins, a bright new voice in YA fiction. Authentic, down to earth and sweepingly romantic all at once, No Filter is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Emerald has grown up in a privileged world – the beloved daughter of a wealthy family, friends with all the right people, social media addict. But Emerald's family has secrets – and when Emerald finds her mum unconscious on the bathroom floor, no one can pretend any more. Now she's being packed off to stay with her grandma in Ireland while her mum recuperates and her dad just works and works and works.
Grandma's big, lonely house is set back from the beach, and there's no phone signal or wifi. It's going to be a long summer ... Until she meets Liam.
When you're falling in love, it's hard to tell someone everything. Even if you've got nothing to hide any more. And when secrets and lies are all you're used to, how do you deal with real love – brave and true – with no filter?
The fresh, funny and poignant debut novel from Orlagh Collins, a bright new voice in YA fiction. Authentic, down to earth and sweepingly romantic all at once, No Filter is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
355 pages, Paperback
First published March 6, 2018
32 people are currently reading
2011 people want to read
About the author
Orlagh Collins
2 books96 followersIrish. Lives in Somerset with husband, kids and a crazy cockerpoo, Mildred.
Loves strong coffee and 80's teen movies. Swears like a sailor. Also makes films.
Loves strong coffee and 80's teen movies. Swears like a sailor. Also makes films.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
May 26, 2017
The book was just the epitome of Summer! From the pastel-shaded cover, to the candyfloss sweet romance and even, in true British spirit, the rain! I loved getting to explore my favourite season with Emerald. She is on the cusp of understanding herself and this poignant time in her life, full of firsts, made the season seem even sweeter!
I also appreciated how authentic this tale appeared. The multiple social media excerpts that were included felt accurate and candid, rather than forced by someone with no understanding, which I often find when authors try to embody a teenage protagonist. No such worries here, though! Nothing about the character or the narrative felt anything other than real life, and I was truly lost in my own unreality whilst reading this book.
The plot progressed on an expected trajectory, which I enjoyed but delivered no surprises. That is until the bombshell Orlagh Collins decided to drop towards the end of the novel! Shocked doesn't even come close to my feelings at that time and the delivered twist altered any remaining preconceptions about the plot.
This was such an authentic-feeling tale, inspired by and evoking the feelings of first love and the reckless teenage spirit. Two people are depicted strengthening both themselves and their bond by overcoming the struggles that dominate their lives and finding out who they really are on the other side of it. This is a book about learning to find your way in the world and it captures the essence of that, perfectly - no filters needed.
I also appreciated how authentic this tale appeared. The multiple social media excerpts that were included felt accurate and candid, rather than forced by someone with no understanding, which I often find when authors try to embody a teenage protagonist. No such worries here, though! Nothing about the character or the narrative felt anything other than real life, and I was truly lost in my own unreality whilst reading this book.
The plot progressed on an expected trajectory, which I enjoyed but delivered no surprises. That is until the bombshell Orlagh Collins decided to drop towards the end of the novel! Shocked doesn't even come close to my feelings at that time and the delivered twist altered any remaining preconceptions about the plot.
This was such an authentic-feeling tale, inspired by and evoking the feelings of first love and the reckless teenage spirit. Two people are depicted strengthening both themselves and their bond by overcoming the struggles that dominate their lives and finding out who they really are on the other side of it. This is a book about learning to find your way in the world and it captures the essence of that, perfectly - no filters needed.
February 24, 2018
Rating - 1 star
I hate giving 1 star reviews but I truly can’t give any more to this book. The only thing that I liked was that it was set in England/Ireland as I live in England and have friends who live in Ireland.
I’m not going to write a full review because I kinda don’t want to. This book was really bad.
- girl hate which needs to just stop
- plotless... like really what is the point of this book
- the characters were so cringe and cliché
- everything was so bad and just cringe
- they ‘couldn’t stop thinking about eachother’ after meeting for 10 minutes and hardly even speaking
- has the cringe lines in like ‘she was the only one in the room’ STOP please
- rich people complaining about having a summer holiday in ireland??? why
- just everything about it was so cringe
Honestly, I properly read like the first 150 pages but then i just completely lost interest and skimmed the end.
I hate giving 1 star reviews but I truly can’t give any more to this book. The only thing that I liked was that it was set in England/Ireland as I live in England and have friends who live in Ireland.
I’m not going to write a full review because I kinda don’t want to. This book was really bad.
- girl hate which needs to just stop
- plotless... like really what is the point of this book
- the characters were so cringe and cliché
- everything was so bad and just cringe
- they ‘couldn’t stop thinking about eachother’ after meeting for 10 minutes and hardly even speaking
- has the cringe lines in like ‘she was the only one in the room’ STOP please
- rich people complaining about having a summer holiday in ireland??? why
- just everything about it was so cringe
Honestly, I properly read like the first 150 pages but then i just completely lost interest and skimmed the end.
April 30, 2017
“If you could be anything in the world, Liam Flynn, what would you be?”
DNF@70%.
There’s no other way to put this: this book was very poorly written.
It was chockful of typos, awkward sentences, stilted dialogue, and badly used verbs. (I swear, if I see the word ‘roars’ one more time, I will scream.)
There is only one reason why I got so far into the book: courtesy. Since the publisher was kind enough to give me a digital ARC of the novel, I felt the least I could do was attempt to finish the novel before I said anything negative.
But, holy shit, do I have a lot of negative things to say.
This book was a rollercoaster, and not the good kind. It was the wtf-how-did-we-even-get-here kind that makes you wonder if you just accidentally skipped a page or fifty.
At one point, they're literally in the middle of an argument, they’re all up in each other’s faces yelling at each other and all of a sudden he’s hugging her and making declarations of love - which is all very nice, but that is not a healthy way of resolving conflict.
A few chapters in, and I was honestly convinced that both Emerald and Liam were certifiably insane. Like, he’s literally in the middle of work and a customer is asking if she can remove a tack from the noticeboard, when he notices Emerald’s card and this actually happens:
I look up at yer woman. ‘It’s bloody real!’ I cry out, closing my eyes as my carriage whips off down the track at ninety miles per hour. I clutch the card tight to my chest and smile like Charlie Bucket with his golden ticket.
You can argue cultural difference here, but the last time I checked, it is not normal human behaviour to start screaming in the middle of a conversation.
And speaking of conversations, let’s move on to dialogue. Because, oh, the dialogue.
Now, I’m well aware that this might stem from my complete unfamiliarity with Irish slang, but honestly - when it reaches the point where I fail to understand entire conversations, that’s when you know things have gotten a bit too far.
But even putting that aside, whatever dialogue that hadn't been rendered incomprehensible by the overuse of slang was completely stilted and awkward. Here’s a scene of Em and Liam at a party, when Em’s went and made the excellent decision of taking drugs (because that’s what the cool kids do! #messages).
“When am I going to…?”
“Come down?” She bows her head for yes and I think this through for a minute. “Properly?” She nods again. “3 a.m., ish.”
“No!” she grunts through her clenched teeth. “I’m too high…I can’t…”
Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert on recreational drugs, but I’m pretty sure that is not how someone behaves when they’re high. And the morning after, from Em’s POV:
What the effing holy f**k was I thinking?!?!?!
Asterisks. Multiple punctuation marks. Now, I'm all for stylistic choices in prose, but lady, what are you doing.
But enough about the general writing style. Let’s move on to the next issue I had with this book: social media.
I’m a media student. I literally take classes on this shit in university, so maybe I’m being overly nitpicky about this. But this is a problem that regularly arises in novels, and since YA novels frequently involve a middle-aged author writing for an entirely different (and, incidentally, highly dynamic) age group, they are often the biggest and worst offenders.
But I simply cannot stand when authors reference social media without having a freakin’ clue what they’re doing.
Don’t get me wrong: this is not about me defending social media. It’s about me defending the fact that if you’re going to diss it - or, actually, if you’re going to make any sort of mention of it at all - then please, do some research.
It is incredibly off-putting when a group of popular kids are depicted as using Instagram in a way that’s so - and I don’t know how else to put this - uncool.
Here’s a sample of one of the Instagram captions:
‘#tbt GLASTO!!! SIKKK START TO SUMMER WITH MY BAE!!!!!!!’
It’s 2017. Teenagers don’t type like that. Nobody - at least, nobody over the age of twelve - types like that.
And don’t even get me started on usernames: ‘0o_kittykatz_o0’. And this girl is supposed to be popular. What. Even.
Here’s a tip: if you’re going to try and imitate twenty-first-century teenage-speak, don’t use MySpace as a reference.
And here’s a part where Em takes a selfie of the pair of them at night:
“Can’t see much,” I say, examining our two barely recognisable faces, silhouetted together against the night.
“Watch this,” she says turning to me.
She hits a small square at the bottom of the screen and I watch our faces burst out of the dark. “Hey, I like it now!”
“You do?” she asks and I nod. “Hail filter, bringer of light!”
Let’s get this straight - this is a regular, attractive eighteen-year-old male with friends and a social life, and he does not know what a filter is. He is referring to the filter icon as ‘a small square’. Last time I checked, this was Dublin, not freakin’ Mars.
(And no, I’m not even going to bring up the fact that the main character - a normal, functioning, popular teenage girl - uses default Instagram filters. Nope.)
I could literally write an entire essay on this, but it really doesn’t matter at this point.
So, TLDR; this book just isn’t very good. But keep an open mind, turn your brain onto silent, and maybe you’ll enjoy it. (I didn’t.)
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2017
Beautiful writing, and really wonderful to see Instagram as the focus! And I liked the distinction between the dialects and how that it came through in the prose (in spelling etc.) but it got a little too Romeo and Juliet at the end for my liking!
January 24, 2018
Wealthy girl meets working class boy and a clichéd romance ensues. I actually didn't mind it. It was interesting and I enjoyed the Dublin accented dialogue and slang. Entertaining but unfortunately needed substance.
April 6, 2018
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Social media has trained us to "filter" our lives. Picking the parts we want people to see, and carefully projecting the desired image. Emerald had become an expert at filtering her life, but when her mother almost died, Em learned that she was not the only one in her family, who was hiding things.
I so loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I smiled a whole heck of a lot. There was a bunch of "weighty" stuff explored, but the two things that stood out for me in the story were the family dynamics and the romance.
Em was struggling with her home life. Her father actually did her a favor by sending her to stay with her grandmother, because Em finally had someone taking care of her. It was quite lovely seeing the bond between Em and her grandmother renewed, and Gran was a pretty special lady, who had been paying for the sins of her son for some time. I was really happy she and Em were able to find some comfort in each other.
Liam had a pretty decent home life. He had an incredible mother, a nosy, but loving sister, a baby sister, who he adored, and a dad, who eventually grew to understand his son a little better. Sometimes it was really intense in Liam's house, but this family had been through a lot. They lost a lot, but they always had each other.
Now for the BEST part - the romance. This was a first love romance, which is one of my favorites. There is just something about seeing people feel those things for the first time, and sharing all those experiences that are so new with each other. I swear, I was smiling like a fool.
I was so grateful that this story was told in alternating points of view, because it was fantastic being in Liam's head. He was just such a sweet cupcake of a boy, and I was instantly in love with him. I also enjoyed seeing Em drop the filter and be legit with Liam. Being with him gave her things that she was looking for and things that she needed - love, support, and the freedom to just be. She was able to bare her soul without judgement, and Em needed someone like Liam in her life more than she thought she did.
There were a bunch of other things I really liked too:
•I love Ireland, and was happy to spend time in this Dublin seaside town.
•I was fascinated by the slang. I learned a lot of new words.
•I was pretty thrilled with choices Collins made for Em's family. I needed that more than I thought I did.
•A grand gesture!!! Anyone who knows me, knows I get all soft and mushy from a grand gesture.
•The ending left me so happy and satisfied.
Overall: A lovely story of first love, which left me drying my happy tears.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Social media has trained us to "filter" our lives. Picking the parts we want people to see, and carefully projecting the desired image. Emerald had become an expert at filtering her life, but when her mother almost died, Em learned that she was not the only one in her family, who was hiding things.
I so loved this book! I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and I smiled a whole heck of a lot. There was a bunch of "weighty" stuff explored, but the two things that stood out for me in the story were the family dynamics and the romance.
Em was struggling with her home life. Her father actually did her a favor by sending her to stay with her grandmother, because Em finally had someone taking care of her. It was quite lovely seeing the bond between Em and her grandmother renewed, and Gran was a pretty special lady, who had been paying for the sins of her son for some time. I was really happy she and Em were able to find some comfort in each other.
Liam had a pretty decent home life. He had an incredible mother, a nosy, but loving sister, a baby sister, who he adored, and a dad, who eventually grew to understand his son a little better. Sometimes it was really intense in Liam's house, but this family had been through a lot. They lost a lot, but they always had each other.
Now for the BEST part - the romance. This was a first love romance, which is one of my favorites. There is just something about seeing people feel those things for the first time, and sharing all those experiences that are so new with each other. I swear, I was smiling like a fool.
I was so grateful that this story was told in alternating points of view, because it was fantastic being in Liam's head. He was just such a sweet cupcake of a boy, and I was instantly in love with him. I also enjoyed seeing Em drop the filter and be legit with Liam. Being with him gave her things that she was looking for and things that she needed - love, support, and the freedom to just be. She was able to bare her soul without judgement, and Em needed someone like Liam in her life more than she thought she did.
There were a bunch of other things I really liked too:
•I love Ireland, and was happy to spend time in this Dublin seaside town.
•I was fascinated by the slang. I learned a lot of new words.
•I was pretty thrilled with choices Collins made for Em's family. I needed that more than I thought I did.
•A grand gesture!!! Anyone who knows me, knows I get all soft and mushy from a grand gesture.
•The ending left me so happy and satisfied.
Overall: A lovely story of first love, which left me drying my happy tears.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 23, 2018
I loved this premise and had seen some promising reviews, so even though I lagged on getting to this, I was excited to start it. Sadly I pretty much struggled with everything.
Emerald and Liam are okay characters. They’re both a little dramatic and use a lot of exclamation points when they talk. Both have some angsty things going on in their families, which just added to the drama. There are a few other characters, but no one really stood out to me.
Plot wise, it was fairly clichéd. Lots of mean girls and drama and social media addiction and instalove and secrets and affairs and it’s all sort of twisted up in a Romeo and Juliet attempt. Even with all of that, it felt like a lot of nothing happened.
Overall, there was some potential. I liked the idea of a summer romance; however, I just couldn’t see the chemistry between Em and Liam.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
Emerald and Liam are okay characters. They’re both a little dramatic and use a lot of exclamation points when they talk. Both have some angsty things going on in their families, which just added to the drama. There are a few other characters, but no one really stood out to me.
Plot wise, it was fairly clichéd. Lots of mean girls and drama and social media addiction and instalove and secrets and affairs and it’s all sort of twisted up in a Romeo and Juliet attempt. Even with all of that, it felt like a lot of nothing happened.
Overall, there was some potential. I liked the idea of a summer romance; however, I just couldn’t see the chemistry between Em and Liam.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury for providing the arc free of charge**
March 28, 2017
I adored this book. It brought back vivid memories of every hot, love-filled teenage summer by the sea there has ever been. Beautifully written, with excellent humour. Romantic without being sappy. It also made me cry, which is rare.
March 30, 2017
Thank you so so so much to Netgalley, Orlagh Collins and Bloomsbury for giving me a digital ARC of this book for review. 5 whole stars for this absolute beauty!
From what I know, 'No Filter' is Collins' debut novel. As in her first ever published novel. As in oh my goodness what a way to introduce yourself to the YA world! First off, that cover is wonderful. I loved that it was set in Ireland, just because that accent is TO. DIE. FOR.
So the story follows Emerald who - to put it lightly - is going through some serious family problems. Her parents decide to send her to Ireland to live with her grandma while her parents deal with their problems. At first she thinks she's going to hate it, but in comes the blessing that is Liam Flynn, and she goes on a journey which I thought was really about discovering her true self, and helping Liam to discover who he really was and to follow his dreams to pursue a music career.
I started off thinking I was going to dislike Emerald, but bless you Orlagh Collins for that character development. She just became so incredibly dimensional throughout the book, like everything about her was out there in the open and you just knew who she was and how she felt. Liam's banter and quirkiness, mixed with his gentleness made him the perfect YA heartthrob for me! Collins is clearly just an exceptional writer - the plot wasn't predictable, and there were parts where I just kept thinking 'I should've known this when I read this part'. It all just connects so perfectly - this book has just made me so happy and ready for summer!
From what I know, 'No Filter' is Collins' debut novel. As in her first ever published novel. As in oh my goodness what a way to introduce yourself to the YA world! First off, that cover is wonderful. I loved that it was set in Ireland, just because that accent is TO. DIE. FOR.
So the story follows Emerald who - to put it lightly - is going through some serious family problems. Her parents decide to send her to Ireland to live with her grandma while her parents deal with their problems. At first she thinks she's going to hate it, but in comes the blessing that is Liam Flynn, and she goes on a journey which I thought was really about discovering her true self, and helping Liam to discover who he really was and to follow his dreams to pursue a music career.
I started off thinking I was going to dislike Emerald, but bless you Orlagh Collins for that character development. She just became so incredibly dimensional throughout the book, like everything about her was out there in the open and you just knew who she was and how she felt. Liam's banter and quirkiness, mixed with his gentleness made him the perfect YA heartthrob for me! Collins is clearly just an exceptional writer - the plot wasn't predictable, and there were parts where I just kept thinking 'I should've known this when I read this part'. It all just connects so perfectly - this book has just made me so happy and ready for summer!
January 5, 2018
If you know me, you know I love romances. Plain and simple. First love stories especially. There is something about first love that just strikes a chord within me as the reader. No Filter is just that, my cup of tea – a first love, contemporary, coming of age story. This had all of my favorite YA literary elements in one. Needless to say, I read this in practically one sitting (with minor breaks to refresh my cup of tea).
Now for more of the literary specifics. I really appreciated the fact that Emerald’s photo (in the opening chapter) was something less scandalous than other recent reads I’ve encountered. I’ve come across a great deal of “sexting” pictures that were later used as ammunition in break-ups or shared out of sheer ignorance. Emerald stood up for a classmate who was being bullied (sort of) and her friend group viciously turned on her by posting a *very* unflattering photo of her; “Bryony has purposely used a horrible shot of me fixing my knickers through my dress. I look like I’m scratching my bum!” This is something realistic that speaks to something within a wide array of people, wanting to put your best foot forward (on social media, using the right filter or finding the most flattering angle), then feeling vulnerable when someone (who is supposed to be a friend) shines a negative light on you. Pictures online last forever and the popularity of posts can become problematic. Additionally, the backlash of a “friend” doing this makes it ten times worse.
Later, when Emerald’s mother sets off a chain reaction (which I won’t elaborate on for fear of spoilers), she acknowledges that there are far worse things in life than a bad photo. While an unflattering image is something that can potentially cause stress, there are much more important things in life. Emerald was able to keep herself grounded. Yes, there is some angst in the story (although not overly done/just the right amount). But, for the most part, Emerald is pretty down to earth.
A good story is nothing without good writing. The details in this book demonstrates some spot on writing. For example, Emerald’s eyes aren’t green. There is a certain irony in that. The little jokes like this really resonated with me, making me take a moment to laugh or smile at random intervals. Plus, the title for each chapter are worth paying attention to. This style also made for easy reading. The comedic mixed in with the serious allowed for a more satisfactory rollercoaster ride.
However, I do have one issue…the party. This might be nitpicky, but I am going to flag this. MINOR SPOILER ahead. Oh my goodness the party. I understand Emerald is having a bad day between her mother, being forced to spend her summer with her grandmother, and friends cutting her off (via social media), but getting absolutely wasted at a party with complete strangers is just asking for trouble. True, Liam is a great guy, who takes care of her, but still. As a woman, this is something that struck me. There are always horror stories about girls going to parties taking drinks from strangers and that is EXACTLY what Emerald did. One second she is supposed to be a smart girl, then in the next she is accepting drinks from strangers without a single moment of hesitation? On one hand, her mother’s issues may account for this. On the other hand, her mother’s issues are the exact reason she shouldn’t be drinking, doing drugs, or smoking. If you saw someone spiral out in front of you, would you really be that willing to follow in their footsteps? I just found this scene troubling. But, then again, I’m not a big fan of these types of parties in general, so it may have just jumped out at me for that reason. The writer in me understands that Liam is her saving grace. He is sweet and cares for her in this moment of need. However, the reader in me wishes that this was accomplished in a different way.
No Filter is a dual point of view story and it certainly nails both voices. Emerald is English and almost two years younger than Liam, who is Irish. I really appreciated how Collins captured both of their unique perspectives, tones, and voices. Plus, they each perceived things differently, which was not only a key plot point (no spoilers here!), but also added to my love of them as individual characters and not just as a couple. Their backgrounds were also fleshed out and offered secondary and tertiary storylines that contributed to the overall plot.
Now, for the love story. Saving the best for last. Liam and Emerald were absolutely perfect together. Once they started dating, I wasn’t going to sleep until I finished the book. Emerald is able to trust Liam with her secrets and Liam is able to learn from Emerald. Being able to speak openly and honestly in relationships is so important and this is something that No Filter does especially well. The novel depicts a healthy YA relationship. Two people who learn about one another and accept each other’s faults and all. What more could a reader ask for? As a romance lover, I approved of Emerald and Liam. I ship it! I completely ship their relationship.
I received this ARC from NetGalley. Thank you!
*Please note there is underage drinking, drug references, swearing, and sex. I would recommend this book for older YA readers, fourteen and up.
Now for more of the literary specifics. I really appreciated the fact that Emerald’s photo (in the opening chapter) was something less scandalous than other recent reads I’ve encountered. I’ve come across a great deal of “sexting” pictures that were later used as ammunition in break-ups or shared out of sheer ignorance. Emerald stood up for a classmate who was being bullied (sort of) and her friend group viciously turned on her by posting a *very* unflattering photo of her; “Bryony has purposely used a horrible shot of me fixing my knickers through my dress. I look like I’m scratching my bum!” This is something realistic that speaks to something within a wide array of people, wanting to put your best foot forward (on social media, using the right filter or finding the most flattering angle), then feeling vulnerable when someone (who is supposed to be a friend) shines a negative light on you. Pictures online last forever and the popularity of posts can become problematic. Additionally, the backlash of a “friend” doing this makes it ten times worse.
Later, when Emerald’s mother sets off a chain reaction (which I won’t elaborate on for fear of spoilers), she acknowledges that there are far worse things in life than a bad photo. While an unflattering image is something that can potentially cause stress, there are much more important things in life. Emerald was able to keep herself grounded. Yes, there is some angst in the story (although not overly done/just the right amount). But, for the most part, Emerald is pretty down to earth.
A good story is nothing without good writing. The details in this book demonstrates some spot on writing. For example, Emerald’s eyes aren’t green. There is a certain irony in that. The little jokes like this really resonated with me, making me take a moment to laugh or smile at random intervals. Plus, the title for each chapter are worth paying attention to. This style also made for easy reading. The comedic mixed in with the serious allowed for a more satisfactory rollercoaster ride.
However, I do have one issue…the party. This might be nitpicky, but I am going to flag this. MINOR SPOILER ahead. Oh my goodness the party. I understand Emerald is having a bad day between her mother, being forced to spend her summer with her grandmother, and friends cutting her off (via social media), but getting absolutely wasted at a party with complete strangers is just asking for trouble. True, Liam is a great guy, who takes care of her, but still. As a woman, this is something that struck me. There are always horror stories about girls going to parties taking drinks from strangers and that is EXACTLY what Emerald did. One second she is supposed to be a smart girl, then in the next she is accepting drinks from strangers without a single moment of hesitation? On one hand, her mother’s issues may account for this. On the other hand, her mother’s issues are the exact reason she shouldn’t be drinking, doing drugs, or smoking. If you saw someone spiral out in front of you, would you really be that willing to follow in their footsteps? I just found this scene troubling. But, then again, I’m not a big fan of these types of parties in general, so it may have just jumped out at me for that reason. The writer in me understands that Liam is her saving grace. He is sweet and cares for her in this moment of need. However, the reader in me wishes that this was accomplished in a different way.
No Filter is a dual point of view story and it certainly nails both voices. Emerald is English and almost two years younger than Liam, who is Irish. I really appreciated how Collins captured both of their unique perspectives, tones, and voices. Plus, they each perceived things differently, which was not only a key plot point (no spoilers here!), but also added to my love of them as individual characters and not just as a couple. Their backgrounds were also fleshed out and offered secondary and tertiary storylines that contributed to the overall plot.
Now, for the love story. Saving the best for last. Liam and Emerald were absolutely perfect together. Once they started dating, I wasn’t going to sleep until I finished the book. Emerald is able to trust Liam with her secrets and Liam is able to learn from Emerald. Being able to speak openly and honestly in relationships is so important and this is something that No Filter does especially well. The novel depicts a healthy YA relationship. Two people who learn about one another and accept each other’s faults and all. What more could a reader ask for? As a romance lover, I approved of Emerald and Liam. I ship it! I completely ship their relationship.
I received this ARC from NetGalley. Thank you!
*Please note there is underage drinking, drug references, swearing, and sex. I would recommend this book for older YA readers, fourteen and up.
July 25, 2017
Emerald, our female protagonist is likeable yet somewhat troubled. She's forever checking her social media accounts and lusting over those sometimes-elusive 'likes' 'hearts' or 'shares'. My prior experience of novels that try to emulate the social media age is wholly negative, but this is one of the rare books that actually manages to be 'social media savvy' without being boring or try-hard. Both protagonists are well-rounded, and I think Collins has done a fabulous job of writing in two distinct voices (which is hard to do right!).
Overall, I'd describe this novel as a 'modern day Romeo and Juliet', which I understand is a little cliche, but to be honest, that's exactly how I'd describe this wonderful book. The plot is deep, occasionally heart-wrenching and is populated with well-thought out characters and conflict. Loved it!
Overall, I'd describe this novel as a 'modern day Romeo and Juliet', which I understand is a little cliche, but to be honest, that's exactly how I'd describe this wonderful book. The plot is deep, occasionally heart-wrenching and is populated with well-thought out characters and conflict. Loved it!
November 5, 2017
Emerald goes to an expensive school and there's always money at home. However, she doesn't come from a happy family. When she finds her mother on the bathroom floor, unconscious and barely alive, Emerald thinks her family has hit rock bottom, but can things get worse? Emerald doesn't know that a lot of information is being kept from her. She only discovers there are family secrets when she travels from England to Ireland to stay with her grandma while her mother is recovering. Emerald's dad is too busy with work to be there for his daughter. Will Emerald be okay now that she has to spend the summer with a grandmother she hasn't seen in years and has no friends to keep her company?
When Liam meets Emerald there's a spark. She's in his hometown for the summer and he wants to get to know her better. Emerald is happy she can spend time with someone friendly and loves his passion for music. Soon she falls for Liam as much as he's fallen for her. Unfortunately secrets of the past are quickly coming between them, will they have a chance together or will this tiny bit of happiness for Emerald be ruined as well? Is what they're feeling true love and what if it is, can they find a way around their problems or aren't they meant to be with each other?
No Filter is a beautiful love story about two teenagers who struggle with their parents' issues and expectations. Emerald and Liam are good people with kind hearts, they have a pure and strong connection, but life is tough and this makes it difficult for them to truly explore their feelings for one another. Their relationship becomes complicated due to many unforeseen circumstances and my heart ached for the two teenagers who are so right together, because nothing is simple and they are far from carefree in a time they should have been. Orlagh Collins describes their struggles, frustrations and questions, and fortunately also the fun they have together, in a great realistic way that immediately warmed my heart.
No Filter is a fantastic story. Orlagh Collins has an open descriptive writing style that immediately appealed to me. She clearly understands what it's like to have difficulties at home and describes the problems Liam and Emerald are dealing with in an honest and serious way. I loved that she understands that a soulmate can be found at any age and like that she's chosen the topic of real love at a young age for her story. I'm a big fan of the subject and her execution is flawless. I loved No Filter, it's a brilliant story, it's one of the best YA books I've read this year.
When Liam meets Emerald there's a spark. She's in his hometown for the summer and he wants to get to know her better. Emerald is happy she can spend time with someone friendly and loves his passion for music. Soon she falls for Liam as much as he's fallen for her. Unfortunately secrets of the past are quickly coming between them, will they have a chance together or will this tiny bit of happiness for Emerald be ruined as well? Is what they're feeling true love and what if it is, can they find a way around their problems or aren't they meant to be with each other?
No Filter is a beautiful love story about two teenagers who struggle with their parents' issues and expectations. Emerald and Liam are good people with kind hearts, they have a pure and strong connection, but life is tough and this makes it difficult for them to truly explore their feelings for one another. Their relationship becomes complicated due to many unforeseen circumstances and my heart ached for the two teenagers who are so right together, because nothing is simple and they are far from carefree in a time they should have been. Orlagh Collins describes their struggles, frustrations and questions, and fortunately also the fun they have together, in a great realistic way that immediately warmed my heart.
No Filter is a fantastic story. Orlagh Collins has an open descriptive writing style that immediately appealed to me. She clearly understands what it's like to have difficulties at home and describes the problems Liam and Emerald are dealing with in an honest and serious way. I loved that she understands that a soulmate can be found at any age and like that she's chosen the topic of real love at a young age for her story. I'm a big fan of the subject and her execution is flawless. I loved No Filter, it's a brilliant story, it's one of the best YA books I've read this year.
May 24, 2017
What a delicious dip into a timeless time that is all past, present and future. 'No Filter' is a story that will resonate with anyone who has a beating organ in the centre of their chest and a belly full of butterflies, with a memory of or a longing for their first love. The pace is relentless and frenetic, as is the mind and body of every teenager. Personal memories of sounds, tastes and smells of summer flooded my senses as I read each page, for which I'm thankful to the author. My only criticism is that it is classed as YA, as I believe this book is for all ages. I was a young adult too, you know! Highly recommended.
October 18, 2020
What stupid romance trash
March 24, 2018
*ARC provided by Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review*
Trigger warning: substance abuse
This was Orlagh's debut novel and it follows Emerald as her life is thrown upside down due to the choices her mother makes. She has to spend her summer in Ireland at her Grandma's house while things back home settle down as much as they can. This is where she meets Liam, an adorable Irish guy with a hilarious best friend.
Emerald is going through the aftermath of having disconnected with everything back home. She has lived her entire life filtering her every thought, emotion, and action. As a character, I didn't really care much for her. I just really wanted her to shed her naivete and grow a backbone more than anything. With that said, I liked her character development well enough but I wasn't wowed by it. It was pretty interesting to be inside her head though as she described everything around her in Instagram filters. I really liked how that tied to the title itself.
As much as I enjoyed Liam's point of views, I felt like they came across as muddled. Something kept getting in the way of me fully enjoying his beautiful thoughts and I know exactly what that was. It may have a huge part to do with the fact that I didn't understand most of the references/dialogue. I was confused most of the time since I don't have a good enough grasp with the Irish language. I like going in blind to novels so of course I didn't know this was going to be a problem but it didn't deter me from wanting to keep reading anyway.
The writing was hard to follow as well and I struggled to keep up with some transitions between scenes.
What I liked most about this book were the last few chapters. They were everything I wished the entire book would have been! They were adorable, shocking, sad, and uplifting. It really made me wish I could've spend a bit more time with the characters after reading it.
My heart went out to the situations these characters had to deal with with their family. They were both trying to find their true selves and find their voices in the few weeks they got to spend together. Even though it was all pretty late to hit me, in the end, I actually saw how they made each other a better version of themselves. This came as a surprise even to me since I felt like their 'lovey' feelings initiated way too quickly for me. In the end, they really were perfect for each other and that's all that matters to me. They helped each other out when the rest of the people in their lives let them down in different ways and it helped me see them with respect. Nobody deserves to be afraid to dream or speak up and I am just glad with how it was all tied up in the end.
3.5 stars!
Trigger warning: substance abuse
This was Orlagh's debut novel and it follows Emerald as her life is thrown upside down due to the choices her mother makes. She has to spend her summer in Ireland at her Grandma's house while things back home settle down as much as they can. This is where she meets Liam, an adorable Irish guy with a hilarious best friend.
Emerald is going through the aftermath of having disconnected with everything back home. She has lived her entire life filtering her every thought, emotion, and action. As a character, I didn't really care much for her. I just really wanted her to shed her naivete and grow a backbone more than anything. With that said, I liked her character development well enough but I wasn't wowed by it. It was pretty interesting to be inside her head though as she described everything around her in Instagram filters. I really liked how that tied to the title itself.
As much as I enjoyed Liam's point of views, I felt like they came across as muddled. Something kept getting in the way of me fully enjoying his beautiful thoughts and I know exactly what that was. It may have a huge part to do with the fact that I didn't understand most of the references/dialogue. I was confused most of the time since I don't have a good enough grasp with the Irish language. I like going in blind to novels so of course I didn't know this was going to be a problem but it didn't deter me from wanting to keep reading anyway.
The writing was hard to follow as well and I struggled to keep up with some transitions between scenes.
What I liked most about this book were the last few chapters. They were everything I wished the entire book would have been! They were adorable, shocking, sad, and uplifting. It really made me wish I could've spend a bit more time with the characters after reading it.
My heart went out to the situations these characters had to deal with with their family. They were both trying to find their true selves and find their voices in the few weeks they got to spend together. Even though it was all pretty late to hit me, in the end, I actually saw how they made each other a better version of themselves. This came as a surprise even to me since I felt like their 'lovey' feelings initiated way too quickly for me. In the end, they really were perfect for each other and that's all that matters to me. They helped each other out when the rest of the people in their lives let them down in different ways and it helped me see them with respect. Nobody deserves to be afraid to dream or speak up and I am just glad with how it was all tied up in the end.
3.5 stars!
July 17, 2017
In my younger, angstier years, I used to devour YA books by the truckload. Romance, paranormal, fantasy, sci-fi: I loved it all. I thought I’d grown out of it by now- so it’s weird coming back to the genre with Orlagh Collins’ new book and finding it just as good as I remember: the best of the genre, revamped for a new, millennial, technology-savvy audience.
Consider me re-converted. No Filter plays out through the eyes of two teenagers: Emerald, whose mother has just gone into rehab after a failed overdose and whose family is falling apart, and Liam: an Irish boy whose doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps. With these two leads, Collins creates sympathetic main characters with, most importantly, a believable romance. Emerald is presented to us as somebody who cares about appearances- and who is addicted to her phone, Instagramming every moment of her life along with her social set- but whose passion for ‘filtering’ her life masks a fragility and feeling of isolation that are slowly healed throughout the novel. Likewise, Liam is strong, likeable- and torn between his love for his father and his desire to follow his dreams and become a musician, which develop over the course of his relationship with Emerald.
The relationship between them plays out in a realistic, measured way, taking its time to develop- but when it does, it feels real, and gives you flashes of nostalgia for the intense feelings of teenagerdom: when life is shifting around you and you’re trying to find your feet. Collins has a genius touch when it comes to capturing the feelings of young adulthood, and everything that either Liam or Emerald do is on some way relatable.
Even more impressively, she’s got her finger on the beating pulse of what it means to be a teenager today, in these more technological times: modern slang from Emerald is casually mixed in with the thick Irish dialect that Liam uses, creating individual voices for both of them, and making it seem even more genuine- as does the constant use of modern teenage slang and Emerald’s addiction to the internet. Today, smartphones are a crucial part of people’s lives, and it makes sense that they are used here, even as Collins uses them to ask the hard questions too: what does it mean to constantly upload your life so it can be seen online? Do we need to filter ourselves? And what happens to us if we do?
Crucially, though, this book is as much about growing up, and the relationship that teenagers have with their parents, as it is about romance. Both Liam and Emerald have to work through issues in the way in which they see their parents, and the power their parents can have over them is something hat they have to address over the course of the novel. Growing up is just as much about finding your own feet as it is about finding love, and Collins imbues the scenes between Liam and Emerald and their families with a tenderness that is just as touching as those between the two main characters.
This is a love letter to a technological generation. It has heart, it asks hard questions, and it explores what it means to be in love at a time when imperfections can be easily airbrushed out of our lives. No Filter is a heartwarming, touching YA novel that you should definitely give a go- even if you are, like me, out of your teens.
Consider me re-converted. No Filter plays out through the eyes of two teenagers: Emerald, whose mother has just gone into rehab after a failed overdose and whose family is falling apart, and Liam: an Irish boy whose doesn’t want to follow in his father’s footsteps. With these two leads, Collins creates sympathetic main characters with, most importantly, a believable romance. Emerald is presented to us as somebody who cares about appearances- and who is addicted to her phone, Instagramming every moment of her life along with her social set- but whose passion for ‘filtering’ her life masks a fragility and feeling of isolation that are slowly healed throughout the novel. Likewise, Liam is strong, likeable- and torn between his love for his father and his desire to follow his dreams and become a musician, which develop over the course of his relationship with Emerald.
The relationship between them plays out in a realistic, measured way, taking its time to develop- but when it does, it feels real, and gives you flashes of nostalgia for the intense feelings of teenagerdom: when life is shifting around you and you’re trying to find your feet. Collins has a genius touch when it comes to capturing the feelings of young adulthood, and everything that either Liam or Emerald do is on some way relatable.
Even more impressively, she’s got her finger on the beating pulse of what it means to be a teenager today, in these more technological times: modern slang from Emerald is casually mixed in with the thick Irish dialect that Liam uses, creating individual voices for both of them, and making it seem even more genuine- as does the constant use of modern teenage slang and Emerald’s addiction to the internet. Today, smartphones are a crucial part of people’s lives, and it makes sense that they are used here, even as Collins uses them to ask the hard questions too: what does it mean to constantly upload your life so it can be seen online? Do we need to filter ourselves? And what happens to us if we do?
Crucially, though, this book is as much about growing up, and the relationship that teenagers have with their parents, as it is about romance. Both Liam and Emerald have to work through issues in the way in which they see their parents, and the power their parents can have over them is something hat they have to address over the course of the novel. Growing up is just as much about finding your own feet as it is about finding love, and Collins imbues the scenes between Liam and Emerald and their families with a tenderness that is just as touching as those between the two main characters.
This is a love letter to a technological generation. It has heart, it asks hard questions, and it explores what it means to be in love at a time when imperfections can be easily airbrushed out of our lives. No Filter is a heartwarming, touching YA novel that you should definitely give a go- even if you are, like me, out of your teens.
March 5, 2019
This was such a good book, I literally flew through it! Emerald and Liam are great characters. I like how Collins wrote the book like one chapter is from emeralds point of view the next is Liams.
December 22, 2017
It has never taken me so much time (6 months) to finish one 300 page novel. Even as I was busy with this year's hectic school year and workload, the story's characters and plot failed to intrigue me, proving to be a conventional Young Adult cheesy summer romance novel.
Our tortured teenagers are Emerald whose tragic family background causes her to question the friends and lifestyle she has always relied upon; as well as also Liam, whose ambitions to become a musician is undermined by his struggling father's high hopes for his future. As predicted, these two characters meet by the chance of fate which dramatically changes their lives where first love and the summer atmosphere provides lifelong lessons for both of them.
The main problem I had this book was the lack of originality. The cheesy one liners and insta-romance had me rolling my eyes from the very beginning despite my appreciation for Emerald's decision to detach from the superficial lifestyle of consumerism and indulgence. Their relationship felt forced rather than natural as their instant attraction suddenly led to them spilling all their secrets, hopes and dreams in a desperate attempt to dump all their problems on the other person. It was partly because of this that parts of the novel felt very slow since I was constantly reading about their cute dates and deep conversations when I was more interested in their personal problems - Emerald's parents and Liam's big dreams.
Weirdly, the secondary characters in the novel were the most interesting for me. Emerald's grandmother was just downright lovely because who doesn't want a grandmother who bakes and makes tea for you? But her genuine love and care for her granddaughter was astounding and this novel would have really benefitted from a few scenes dedicated to simply developing the relationship between Emerald and her grandmother. Even just a motivational and emotional conversation between the two would've deepened the novel's plot a lot and provided more dimension to a simple summer romance story. I felt the same with the relationship between Liam and his mother since there was a lot of potential that could've occurred in their relationship, considering his ambitions and his father's own issues. It was slightly evident in the end of the novel but that only made me realise how much the story could've benefitted if it was delved into more. Without these developments, the story overall felt lacking and if anything, a little too simple.
I realise now I sound really harsh but I really wanted some action, some stakes and moreover, I yearned for some uniqueness in this novel. 'No Filter' definitely holds all the elements of a classic Young Adult romance with the summer setting, the relationship helping both characters deal with their personal issues and all that other lovey dovey stuff - so if that is your sort of thing, this is the book for you.
Our tortured teenagers are Emerald whose tragic family background causes her to question the friends and lifestyle she has always relied upon; as well as also Liam, whose ambitions to become a musician is undermined by his struggling father's high hopes for his future. As predicted, these two characters meet by the chance of fate which dramatically changes their lives where first love and the summer atmosphere provides lifelong lessons for both of them.
The main problem I had this book was the lack of originality. The cheesy one liners and insta-romance had me rolling my eyes from the very beginning despite my appreciation for Emerald's decision to detach from the superficial lifestyle of consumerism and indulgence. Their relationship felt forced rather than natural as their instant attraction suddenly led to them spilling all their secrets, hopes and dreams in a desperate attempt to dump all their problems on the other person. It was partly because of this that parts of the novel felt very slow since I was constantly reading about their cute dates and deep conversations when I was more interested in their personal problems - Emerald's parents and Liam's big dreams.
Weirdly, the secondary characters in the novel were the most interesting for me. Emerald's grandmother was just downright lovely because who doesn't want a grandmother who bakes and makes tea for you? But her genuine love and care for her granddaughter was astounding and this novel would have really benefitted from a few scenes dedicated to simply developing the relationship between Emerald and her grandmother. Even just a motivational and emotional conversation between the two would've deepened the novel's plot a lot and provided more dimension to a simple summer romance story. I felt the same with the relationship between Liam and his mother since there was a lot of potential that could've occurred in their relationship, considering his ambitions and his father's own issues. It was slightly evident in the end of the novel but that only made me realise how much the story could've benefitted if it was delved into more. Without these developments, the story overall felt lacking and if anything, a little too simple.
I realise now I sound really harsh but I really wanted some action, some stakes and moreover, I yearned for some uniqueness in this novel. 'No Filter' definitely holds all the elements of a classic Young Adult romance with the summer setting, the relationship helping both characters deal with their personal issues and all that other lovey dovey stuff - so if that is your sort of thing, this is the book for you.
April 28, 2017
I don’t usually give a write-up but I was lucky enough to borrow an early review copy of this book. Having enjoyed other Young Adult novels by Irish authors recently I was delighted to give it a go. I’m so glad I did. Initially I found Emerald hard to connect with despite all she had going on but in the end I was surprised by how much I felt for both herself and Liam. The plot twists and turns kept me on my toes and the North Dublin seaside setting is beautifully drawn. I enjoyed this warm-hearted and moving story immensely.
October 5, 2017
Yeah no. Nope.
As a courtesy (NetGalley/publishers) I read several chapters but I just couldn't continue. I had zero interest in the 'plot', the characters or anything else i.e the location. It was unfortunately boring, the slang was overused and confusing so I just skipped chunks of text. The moral lecture on social media blah blah was pithy and sanctimonious and the insta-romance was just gaudy.
Those were the cons so ....
The whole addict/rehab mum thing was interesting if it had been pursued successfully and based on what (little) I read it wasn't.
The writing, bar the slang wasn't too bad even despite several typos/errors which perhaps just requires better editing.
Also if I was stuck somewhere with only this book to read I may actively finish it. Maybe. Cuticles might be more interesting though ....
As a courtesy (NetGalley/publishers) I read several chapters but I just couldn't continue. I had zero interest in the 'plot', the characters or anything else i.e the location. It was unfortunately boring, the slang was overused and confusing so I just skipped chunks of text. The moral lecture on social media blah blah was pithy and sanctimonious and the insta-romance was just gaudy.
Those were the cons so ....
The whole addict/rehab mum thing was interesting if it had been pursued successfully and based on what (little) I read it wasn't.
The writing, bar the slang wasn't too bad even despite several typos/errors which perhaps just requires better editing.
Also if I was stuck somewhere with only this book to read I may actively finish it. Maybe. Cuticles might be more interesting though ....
August 20, 2017
I just loved this book. I felt completely swept up in Liam and Emerald's lives, with the sadness and twists and turns along the way. It may be written for young Adults but it's great for us older adults too - especially if you hanker after your teenage years of love and romance. Beautifully written, especially for a first novel. Really hoping there's a follow up on the way. Well done Orlagh Collins.
did-not-finish
March 29, 2018DNF at 18%. I don't do this often, but I really wasn't into this. There was nothing objectively wrong with it right away, but I just wasn't pulled in by the characters at all. I could tell there would be a lot of family and friend drama, which isn't what I'm usually in the mood for, so I decided to quit. Other reviews discuss the angst, lack of actual plot mixed with too much drama, and girl hate/mean girls... so I'll just take the loss on this one.
May 25, 2018
In NO FILTER by Orlagh Collins, teenage Emerald seems to have her whole life together, if you look at her social media accounts. However, it isn’t all perfect behind the many filters she uses.
Emerald’s father is constantly working and her mother is battling addiction. After Emerald finds her mother unconscious on the bathroom floor, her father sends her to live with her grandmother in Ireland for the summer. Emerald is certainly dreading the summer without her friends in England, but everything will change when she meets aspiring singer-songwriter Liam.
Social media was a huge part of Emerald’s life, and that was definitely shown throughout NO FILTER. This book was very current when it came to pop culture references. This really helped to establish her character and the time setting of the book. I definitely loved the cute chapter titles. It’s been so long since I’ve read a new book with chapter titles, and I certainly enjoyed trying to figure out how they would tie into the chapter’s events.
I also enjoyed how Collins chose to set the book in her home country of Ireland. Most books of this type are usually set in the United States, and I thought it was very unique to have the majority of the book’s events take place in Ireland. I also enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about the Irish lifestyle, although there were several references that I didn’t understand because I’m American.
While I wasn’t incredibly fond of the characters at first, I really enjoyed seeing their growth throughout the book. This caused me to struggle through the beginning, but as the book progressed, I really grew to enjoy Emerald and Liam. However, I do wish the background characters were as well developed as the main characters. Many of them seemed very stereotypical and had a lot of cliché traits. I feel like this really took away from any parts of the plot that involved supporting characters, and those parts were definitely weaker than those involving Emerald and Liam. I thought that the dual points of view really helped when it came to understanding both main characters and their backgrounds.
I did find the constant figurative language to get old after a while. While I enjoy clever similes and metaphors, I wish that they would’ve been used more sparingly. This would have made some sections a lot more readable instead of just making me cringe a little. There were some parts of the book that I thought were very unique, but there were also others that were traditional romance plot lines. I really enjoyed the parts that were different from the normal ones in books, but I found myself wishing that the cliché sections were more unique. In my opinion, this would’ve made the book even stronger. I would recommend this book to teenagers who are looking for a cute summer love story.
NO FILTER was a very quick read once I got into it, and I found myself enjoying the book more and more as I went along. I do look forward to seeing how Collins builds on her debut. She has certainly discovered a niche market in young adult romantic novels, and I eagerly anticipate her future books.
Emerald’s father is constantly working and her mother is battling addiction. After Emerald finds her mother unconscious on the bathroom floor, her father sends her to live with her grandmother in Ireland for the summer. Emerald is certainly dreading the summer without her friends in England, but everything will change when she meets aspiring singer-songwriter Liam.
Social media was a huge part of Emerald’s life, and that was definitely shown throughout NO FILTER. This book was very current when it came to pop culture references. This really helped to establish her character and the time setting of the book. I definitely loved the cute chapter titles. It’s been so long since I’ve read a new book with chapter titles, and I certainly enjoyed trying to figure out how they would tie into the chapter’s events.
I also enjoyed how Collins chose to set the book in her home country of Ireland. Most books of this type are usually set in the United States, and I thought it was very unique to have the majority of the book’s events take place in Ireland. I also enjoyed getting to learn a bit more about the Irish lifestyle, although there were several references that I didn’t understand because I’m American.
While I wasn’t incredibly fond of the characters at first, I really enjoyed seeing their growth throughout the book. This caused me to struggle through the beginning, but as the book progressed, I really grew to enjoy Emerald and Liam. However, I do wish the background characters were as well developed as the main characters. Many of them seemed very stereotypical and had a lot of cliché traits. I feel like this really took away from any parts of the plot that involved supporting characters, and those parts were definitely weaker than those involving Emerald and Liam. I thought that the dual points of view really helped when it came to understanding both main characters and their backgrounds.
I did find the constant figurative language to get old after a while. While I enjoy clever similes and metaphors, I wish that they would’ve been used more sparingly. This would have made some sections a lot more readable instead of just making me cringe a little. There were some parts of the book that I thought were very unique, but there were also others that were traditional romance plot lines. I really enjoyed the parts that were different from the normal ones in books, but I found myself wishing that the cliché sections were more unique. In my opinion, this would’ve made the book even stronger. I would recommend this book to teenagers who are looking for a cute summer love story.
NO FILTER was a very quick read once I got into it, and I found myself enjoying the book more and more as I went along. I do look forward to seeing how Collins builds on her debut. She has certainly discovered a niche market in young adult romantic novels, and I eagerly anticipate her future books.
May 19, 2017
It’s a long time since I’ve read a YA novel but once I started #No Filter, I couldn’t put it down. With such a distinct voice and naturalistic style it is frankly hard to believe that this is Orlagh Collins debut novel.
The story opens with Emerald, a teenage girl struggling with typical teenage angst focussed largely on the pressures of being pretty, being popular and the power struggle that exists among young girls.
Soon though, Em’s world will be torn asunder when she comes home from school to discover her semi-conscious suicidal Mother.
Almost immediately she is shipped off to Ireland to spend the Summer with her Grandmother while Daddy attempts to salvage what is left of their privileged life in England.
Feeling isolated and helpless while dealing with the weight of such adult issues Em meets Liam, a loveable Irish rogue and the object of Emerald’s much needed distraction.
The author tells both Liam and Emerald’s story’s from each individual point of view giving both protagonist’s a specific voice with a clever insight into the nuances and perspectives of their differing background’s.
Although a story of first love during the heady days of teenage Summer, the backdrop of very mature issues offers Young Adult readers the empathy and voice they crave.
Orlagh Collins has successfully balanced charming dialogue and heart breaking family drama with masterful realism and sensitivity.
#No Filter is a beautifully written and thoroughly engaging story reminiscent of those wistful Summers of youth when anything and everything can happen.
Thanks Orlagh Collins and Bloomsbury
The story opens with Emerald, a teenage girl struggling with typical teenage angst focussed largely on the pressures of being pretty, being popular and the power struggle that exists among young girls.
Soon though, Em’s world will be torn asunder when she comes home from school to discover her semi-conscious suicidal Mother.
Almost immediately she is shipped off to Ireland to spend the Summer with her Grandmother while Daddy attempts to salvage what is left of their privileged life in England.
Feeling isolated and helpless while dealing with the weight of such adult issues Em meets Liam, a loveable Irish rogue and the object of Emerald’s much needed distraction.
The author tells both Liam and Emerald’s story’s from each individual point of view giving both protagonist’s a specific voice with a clever insight into the nuances and perspectives of their differing background’s.
Although a story of first love during the heady days of teenage Summer, the backdrop of very mature issues offers Young Adult readers the empathy and voice they crave.
Orlagh Collins has successfully balanced charming dialogue and heart breaking family drama with masterful realism and sensitivity.
#No Filter is a beautifully written and thoroughly engaging story reminiscent of those wistful Summers of youth when anything and everything can happen.
Thanks Orlagh Collins and Bloomsbury
April 16, 2018
Honestly, it has been less than a week between me reading this book and writing this review and I've got to tell you, I'm wracking my brain to remember it.
I finished this book not sure how I felt about it, but I'm down to not liking it.
-There is a lot of girl hate.
Friends aren't really friends, but oh, that is how people are. Um... no. Friends shouldn't talk behind your back or post back pictures of you as a joke which pit you against another person looking great. No.
-Cliches
-insta-love/the romance
*sigh* Saw each other once for a few minutes and just couldn't forget about each other... seriously?
Honestly, the whole romance thing mostly annoyed me. There are many cute things, but I just don't agree with doing something illegal/trespassing, which if caught could harm someone else. I did NOT enjoy that.
-"Sorry solves everything"
Now, this didn't happen, but I dislike how this is a thing that is brought up...kind of. that scene UGH.
-Neglecting parents
Okay, I know this is a thing people deal with especially alcoholic parents or work-minded parents. So, this isn't an entirely bad part of the book. What I disliked was parents not talking with the teen and then the teen getting in trouble for not telling the parent what they were doing.
Look, there are some good things and if you don't mind cliches and some of the things I mentioned above, then it will be a cute, sweet book. I didn't like it much, but it won't keep me from recommending it to some people in the future.
I finished this book not sure how I felt about it, but I'm down to not liking it.
-There is a lot of girl hate.
Friends aren't really friends, but oh, that is how people are. Um... no. Friends shouldn't talk behind your back or post back pictures of you as a joke which pit you against another person looking great. No.
-Cliches
-insta-love/the romance
*sigh* Saw each other once for a few minutes and just couldn't forget about each other... seriously?
Honestly, the whole romance thing mostly annoyed me. There are many cute things, but I just don't agree with doing something illegal/trespassing, which if caught could harm someone else. I did NOT enjoy that.
-"Sorry solves everything"
Now, this didn't happen, but I dislike how this is a thing that is brought up...kind of. that scene UGH.
-Neglecting parents
Okay, I know this is a thing people deal with especially alcoholic parents or work-minded parents. So, this isn't an entirely bad part of the book. What I disliked was parents not talking with the teen and then the teen getting in trouble for not telling the parent what they were doing.
Look, there are some good things and if you don't mind cliches and some of the things I mentioned above, then it will be a cute, sweet book. I didn't like it much, but it won't keep me from recommending it to some people in the future.
March 22, 2021
This is a definition of a beach read. I can honestly imagine anyone lounging around a pool or by the sea and reading this because it's the epitome of an easy read.
I did appreciate some of the themes that were raised in this book and the romance was sweet - if not a bit insta-love.
Our characters were interesting enough. Emerald was a nice character and she definitely acted her age (16) which was obvious from some of the stuff she said and did. I felt like Liam was a sweet character too and he acted a lot younger than he was (18) but I also felt like their romance developed enough throughout the book that I didn't feel it was forced.
This book does deal with some interesting themes. TW for alcohol abuse, drink/drug use. I appreciated how the author spent time exploring these themes in a realistic context to Emerald's life.
Overall, this book was mostly a light and fluffy read and I felt the romance was cute. I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for something easy to read.
I did appreciate some of the themes that were raised in this book and the romance was sweet - if not a bit insta-love.
Our characters were interesting enough. Emerald was a nice character and she definitely acted her age (16) which was obvious from some of the stuff she said and did. I felt like Liam was a sweet character too and he acted a lot younger than he was (18) but I also felt like their romance developed enough throughout the book that I didn't feel it was forced.
This book does deal with some interesting themes. TW for alcohol abuse, drink/drug use. I appreciated how the author spent time exploring these themes in a realistic context to Emerald's life.
Overall, this book was mostly a light and fluffy read and I felt the romance was cute. I'd definitely recommend if you're looking for something easy to read.
July 25, 2017
*3.5 out of 5*
August 1, 2017
Ok so you should know that if a book is set in Ireland I already like it. I thought is was going to be a generic teen summer romance but there was so much more. An addict mother, a mysterious father, a bankrupt company and two teenagers trying to take care of their families while finding their own way in life.
August 5, 2017
This was a nice surprise. Not normally my thing but I was pleasantly swept up by the breezy summer romance and found myself really rooting for Em and Liam. Interesting to have two very different voices narrating.
February 13, 2022
So for starters, this book was pretty good! The character development was good and the plot was amazing. There was a lot of language in this book which is why I only gave it 4 stars but it was still a good read. For some reason I’ve been into romance a lot so I’ve been reading tons of romance books and all of them have been amazing! There was action but it took a while for the climax to roll around so it wasn’t what I expected. I would recommend this book if you love romance and if you want something that’s gonna warm your heart.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
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