Ellie Pillai has decided to be a better friend, daughter, future sister and all round Better Person. Which means Trying To Help and sometimes doing the exact opposite. Armed with Dr Jada's podcast on how to beat heartbreak she's determined not to get distracted from her mission by Ash Anderson (ex-boyfriend), Shawn Kowalski (current bandmate) or the cute guy she just met at her Aunt's wedding (future husband?). Because Ellie Pillai is better than the boys she thinks she loves. But then the song she wrote about heartbreak goes viral and suddenly all anyone wants to talk about is love and who she's going to choose, when Ellie Pillai wants to choose anything except that feeling of not knowing what you want. Throw in some exams, an audition for drama school, a record company in New York, a heavily pregnant mum and a Granny with a penchant for emotional blackmail and Ellie Pillai is more confused than ever. Why is being a better person so hard? And can you beat heartbreak, if you're not really sure you want to?

The perfect coming-of-age summer romance by the most spectacularly funny and original debut UKYA voice. My name is Ellie. Ellie Pillai . . . And I suppose I am a little bit weird, but then, aren't we all, just a little bit? Most days, Ellie Pillai is somewhere between invisible, and not very cool - and usually she's okay with that. But suddenly, Ellie feels different. Maybe it's the new boy at school who makes her brain explode into rainbows every time she sees him (and also happens to be going out with her best friend), or maybe it's her new drama teacher, the one who seems to have noticed she exists. Suddenly, her misfit style, her skin colour, her songwriting and all that getting lost in the music in her head seem to be okay too. Because maybe standing out isn't a bad thing after all. 'I adored this.' Simon James Green, author of Alex in Wonderland 'A feel good coming-of-age gem.' Observer, Book of the Year 'I loved the fresh and original voice.' Bookseller, Highlights of the Season 'A hilarious and heart-warming story.' Aisha Bushby, author of A Pocketful of Stars 'Warm, funny and hopeful.' A M Dassu, author of Boy, Everywhere 'A fresh, funny, feel-good story.' Rashmi Sirdeshpande

Everyone's favourite confused heroine Ellie Pillai is back in the perfect summer romance! Note to self: what is falling in love, and am I really sure I want to do it? Ever since Ellie and Ash got together, Ellie Pillai has been discovering kissing and . . . questions . . . so . . . many . . . questions. When Ellie goes to New York, she has to say goodbye to sexy Ash after only having just got together with him. As Ash's text messages get more and more cryptic and annoying, Ellie meets Dirty-Blond stranger, a boy from school who wants her to join his band . . . And suddenly everything feels a bit more complicated as well as more exciting - because what happens if you're on cloud nine, but not actually sure who you should be falling in love with? Praise for Ellie Pillai is Brown: 'I adored this.' Simon James Green 'I loved the fresh and original voice.' Bookseller