That was amazing. Fantastic story with great world-building. I love the idea of magic manifesting through emotions. I was a bit skeptical at first if this concept is strong enough or it'll fizzle out halfway through the book. It didn't. The author clearly put a lot of thought into it an came up with a lot of ideas for it. Seventeen-year-old Steven has a big problem... Whenever he feels intense emotions, weird things happen. Like when he kissed a boy for the first time, and the boy's head literally exploded. Debut author David Fenne joins Laura Jayne Dodd in the Forbidden Planet TV green room to discuss the creation of his wonderful new YA novel OVEREMOTIONAL! I'm literally so attached to all the characters, these people are my new obsession and book one hasn't even come out yet. I NEED BOOKS 2 AND 3 IMMEDIATLEY. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I NEED MORE OF THESE AMAZING CHARACTERS. I can not believe this is a debut novel :0

OVEREMOTIONAL: your new queer YA obsession! by David Fenne

Seventeen-year-old Steven has a big problem… Whenever he feels intense emotions, weird things happen. Like when he kissed a boy for the first time, and the boy’s head literally exploded. That's it; I'm not a gelatinous blob of unrequited homosexual angst. Pity my existence. And pray for me"Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World: Sequel to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Steven is a genuinely relatable average sixth former who is full of all the angsty and turbulent emotions we all recognise, but with a dangerous twist. Whenever he feels a strong emotion, weird things happen and when he kisses a boy for the first time, the boy’s head explodes! He flees the scene and hides in the miserable town of Grunsby -on-Sea, so that his wittily self- named ‘emomancy’ will not harm anyone else. But best friend Freya won’t let him disappear and she is worried about a mysterious organisation called DEMA, who is asking questions about him. Fenne commented: “We all want to pursue happiness, but what if that happiness is dangerous to others? Being terrified of your emotions is such a relatable concept to many closeted young people, so I wanted to explore a more fantastical version of that. Putting humour and an authentic queer voice into the YA fantasy sphere is something I’m passionate about, and I can’t wait for readers to get to know Steven.

Overemotional (David Fenne) – Book Review – Set The Tape

With a best friend as determined as Freya, it is impossible to stay hidden for long though, especially when she realises Steven might be in danger after a mysterious organisation called DEMA start asking questions about him. Where Freya goes, her boyfriend Marcus and American friend Troy soon follow. Together, they are determined to find out more about this organisation and what “neutralising” someone like Steven might mean. But Grunsby isn't as dead as it first seems. And when his best friend Freya turns up (unimpressed at his sudden departure) and the two are chased round the town by a mysterious women trying to accost them, they realise Steven could be in grave danger; fears made more real when Freya's boyfriend reports a stranger from DEMA has been snooping around enquiring about Steven. As Steven and Freya investigate who or what is looking for him, a chance encounter with a stranger with similar powers to his who offers to help could be the answer to Steven's predicament. Despite Freya's warnings, emotions may cost Steven his life and that of his friends. To avoid hurting anyone else, Steven runs away from school to hide in the miserable town of Grunsby-on-Sea. But all that changes when his friends turn up on his doorstep, determined to bring him home. Not to mention the secretive agency that seems to be following him wherever he goes.” Steven is an “emomancer” – an individual whose emotions manifest in superpowers – his happiness creates thunderstorms, and his sadness and anger manifest fear in those around him. To protect those around him, Steven closes in on himself, hiding away from the world. His best friend Freya is having none of it, however, chasing him out to Grunsby to bring him home, bringing her car-obsessed boyfriend Marcus, and his handsome new American friend, Troy, with her. Despite his attempts to conceal his powers, it’s not long before Freya finds out about them. Freya’s not the only person Steven has to worry about, however. Fleeing to the miserable town of Grunsby-on-Sea, Steven is determined to not hurt anyone else - but he doesn't count on his best friend Freya, her boyfriend Marcus and American friend Troy following him. And when agents from the mysterious DEMA organisation show up talking about "neutralisation", Steven realises that Grunsby-on-Sea might not be the safe haven he'd hoped for...Agents from a mysterious entity called DEMA are on Steven’s tail, but what do they want from him? Do they want to capture him? Experiment on him? Neutralise him? Whatever that means. Steven won’t be hanging around to find out. After evading an attempted capture from one of DEMA’s more unscrupulous agents, Steven accidentally manifests his powers in public, attracting the attention of a handsome, mysterious stranger who says he can help Steven control his emomancy. Steven jumps at the chance to finally feel in control – the fact that this stranger is super cute is an added bonus. I find Steven’s voice the easiest because he’s the most similar to me, but I love Troy. He’s so earnest, polite, and optimistic in everything he does, and his fish-out-of-water point of view (being an American in the UK) is a great comedic vein to mine. He’s such a golden retriever that you can’t help but love him. Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, Rainbow Rowell and Adam Silvera. The fantasy drama of dreams. Lauren James, author of The Quiet at the End of the World About This Edition ISBN:

OVEREMOTIONAL: your new queer YA obsession! : Fenne, David

A very intense read. Steven moves alone to a new town after a life-changing event happens due to his superpowers. However, his friends Troy and Freya along with Freya's boyfriend, Marcus follow him. I searched ahead to find out if and how Steven comes out to Freya. Freya catches him kissing a guy and then makes him give her a label, even after Steven says he doesn't really know. As exciting and interesting as the synopsis was for this, I'm afraid I didn't love it as much as I would've wanted to. It was not horrible by any means-quite far from that. Hello Yellow - 80 Books to Help Children Nurture Good Mental Health and Support With Anxiety and Wellbeing -I REALLY loved the main characters, Steven/Stevie/Percy, Troy, Freya, and Marcus, and their interactions with each other. So far I also like the few side characters I was introduced to as well. Everything about the characters was extremely well done and I loved the multiple POVs that the we, as the readers, are given to fully process every point in the story. The characters are all very fleshed out and are unique and clear individuals, which I love about a story like this.