The prose is gorgeous and wonderful, deftly exploring the beauty in the mundane but also the singular moments that make us feel so small in our existence and yet fill our being with joy and peace.

I’ve read Redgate’s previous work, and Final Draft is a testament to how Redgate has grown as a writer. Told beautifully, with warm and introspective prose Though the story is ‘low stakes’ and reads like slice-of-life, Final Draft is powerfully affirming and validating, particularly for those who relate to Laila and her struggles with herself, love, relationships, ambition, and loss. Taking place in her last year of high school, Final Draft explores her tumultuous journey with writing and perfecting her craft and how she loses herself in the process. No matter how old you are, Final Draft will effortlessly evoke your compassion and empathy for the story’s protagonist, Laila. A compassionate and humanising story about being a teenįinal Draft embodies everything that is wonderful about ‘quiet books’. Nonetheless, I want you all to read this incredible book, so instead of a full book review, I wanted to share five great reasons of why you should pick up this underrated and underappreciated treasure in young adult fiction. Final Draft explores a plethora of topics, and it is the sort of gem where different people will find pieces of themselves in its story. I can see this book being a hit-or-miss sort of book. The book follows Laila, a teen who, following the hospitalisation of her supportive and encouraging mentor, has to grapple with the challenging and confronting criticisms of her new mentor, an award-winning author who is as hard-ass and sardonic as they come. Picking this up, I never expected this book to burrow deep into my skin, find a place in my soul, and would just… understand me and who I am on a fundamental human level. Final Draft is one of the most evocative and most powerfully quiet books I have had the pleasure to read in a long, long time.

Final draft 10 review