How To Be Brave by E. Katherine Kottras

Georgias whole world is turned upside down when her mum passes away, and when the weight of both her own and her fathers grief falls heavy on her shoulders, she decides to live by the last few words written on paper by her mum. 

"Go do anything you like - in fact, do everything. Try it all once.... Be brave."

She writes a bucket list of 15 things she has always wanted to do but never had the courage to before, and slowly learns that new experiences and stepping out of her comfort zone isn't actually as frightening as she first thought. 

Books based around lists really appeal to me, and 'How To Be Brave' didn't disappoint. Every one of us has felt like an outsider at some point, so Georgia was a relatable and powerful female protagonist. I immediately felt like she was a best friend I'd had since primary school. She always remained so positive all the time, and always looked for the good in any situation. When asked to describe herself in one word, she responded with 'Happy'. I also loved her character development. Going from being quite lost in life, she found a passion and talent for art, just like her mother. I absolutely agree that art can change your life. It gives you a purpose, a wonderful creative outlet, and an instant mood booster. 

The only reason I didn't give this book the full 5 stars was because I personally felt there were a lot of stereotypical YA elements. For example, mean cheerleaders, the depressed 'emo' teen, and a perfect and handsome romantic interest, almost to the point of being unrealistic. He just happened to have an ill father with the same specific kidney issues as her mum, was the only one who got her obscure quirky references, and they instantly fell in love, which felt impersonal and rushed rather that full of chemistry and romance. 

There are so many ways to be brave that don't include simply getting high, skipping school, and, skinny-dipping. I agree that having fun and making new friends is important, and all characters need flaws to learn valuable life lessons, but there could have been some deeper messages throughout the book describing how many other ways there are to be brave, for example, saying yes to things you wouldn't normally, standing up for someone, facing problems instead of running away, and asking for help.

However, the primary focus on empowering female friendships and Georgias self improvement more than made up for these few issues I would have changed.

Overall, I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who likes easy, heartwarming contemporaries. I received an ARC e-reader copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.