Series: London Trilogy #3
Release Date: May 28th 2020
Publisher: Quercus
Pages: 304
Find it on: Goodreads. BookDepository. Waterstones.
Source: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through The Tandem Collective
Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis

What happens when you fall down the rabbit hole? The compulsive must-have follow-up to CLEAN and MEAT MARKET from bestselling author Juno Dawson

Alice lives in a world of stifling privilege and luxury – but none of it means anything when your own head plays tricks on your reality. When her troubled friend Bunny goes missing, Alice becomes obsessed with finding her. On the trail of her last movements, Alice discovers a mysterious invitation to ‘Wonderland’: the party to end all parties – three days of hedonistic excess to which only the elite are welcome.

Will she find Bunny there? Or is this really a case of finding herself? Because Alice has secrets of her own, and ruthless socialite queen Paisley Hart is determined to uncover them, whatever it takes.

Alice is all alone, miles from home and without her essential medication. She can trust no-one, least of all herself, and now she has a new enemy who wants her head…

A searing exploration of mental health, gender and privilege, from the most addictive YA novelist in the UK today.

Review

Juno Dawson is one of those authors that I’ve always wanted to try but never got around to. When I heard about Wonderland, a story inspired by Alice in Wonderland I knew I had to give it a go. The story follows Alice, a young girl living the life of luxury thanks to her mother’s successful career as a crime writer. When her friend Bunny mysteriously vanishes, Alice will do anything to find her. While searching she discovers an invitation to Wonderland, the most elite party of the year. Determined to find Bunny, Alice pushes herself from her comfort zone and goes in search of her friend, but what will she find down the rabbit hole?

Alice in Wonderland was one of my favourite books growing up and I was so intrigued to see how Juno Dawson worked the original into this modern tale. I completely loved this book, it was addictive, intriguing and  full of subtle and clever hints towards the book I’ve loved for so many years. The story explores a world of excess, tackling a whole host of difficult topics like mental health, finding yourself, relationships, family and wealth. Dawson has weaved a clever tale and one that will stick with readers after they’ve finished reading.

The characters in this book are truly fascinating. Our main protagonist Alice is brilliant – she’s sarcastic, clever and incredibly stubborn. I loved watching her go on this journey, and discover so much about herself. Likewise I thought Cat, Bunny and Paisley were really interesting characters, each well developed and fully fleshed out. Alice meets some strange people during her journey, all of whom seem to be dealing with difficulties in their past.

Wonderland is a dark tale, full of alcohol, drugs and sex. It’s definitely not for younger readers but it’s a perfect gripping thriller for older YA fans. It completes the London Trilogy, featuring a few nods towards Lexi Volkov from Clean. Each of the three stories can be read as stand alones but if you’re looking for an addictive contemporary series to binge read, this could be just what you’re looking for.