It's a Bit More Complicated Than That

<b>SHORTLISTED: Wheelers Books Award for Young Adult Fiction, New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2026</b> <br><b>SHORTLISTED: NZ BOOKLOVERS AWARD FOR YOUNG ADULTS 2026</b><br><b>STORYLINES NOTABLE BOOK AWARD 2025</b> <br><b>WINNER: Best Unpublished Author manuscript in the Storylines Tessa Duder YA Prize 2024</b><br><br><b>'A brilliant new YA novel from a huge new talent.' <i>The Spinoff</i></b> <br><br><b>'An emotionally charged and beautifully written debut novel.' <i>NZ Booklover</i></b><br><br><b>'Witty and readable. Hannah Marshall is a skillful writer and her double narrative keeps readers aware of things that the main characters don't know yet, which creates some really amusing situations. The suspense is skillfully maintained.'<i> Magpies</i></b><br><br><b>'All the hallmarks of a winner. Good stuff for young folk, and adults too.' Linda Thompson,<i> NZ Herald</i></b><br><br><b>'Very well written, definitely a good read. The relationship between the two main characters is great.' Lisa Finucane,<i> RNZ<br></i></b><br><b>'The friendship between the two characters is also the glue of the novel as they try to put the pieces back together. This is far from smooth and a difficult journey, making it an engaging read. </b><b>So good to have a real-life teen novel amongst the plethora of fantasy. Something real life readers can get their teeth into.' <i>What Book Next?</i></b><br><br> <b>'Written with a good dose of humour, the novel explores relationships, love, grief, addiction, forgiveness and coming of age.' Heidi North<i> NZ Herald</i><br></b><br><br>Zelle has moved back to the town she left three years ago after a tragedy shattered her life and also her friendship with Callum. <br><br>Now their lives are about to get a whole lot more complicated.<br><br>Zelle is in denial about her alcohol use that threatens to spiral out of control, and she's deeply annoyed at having to leave the city. <br><br>Callum's future is thrown into jeopardy after both a disastrous uni interview and his budding romance turning sour. <br><br>But they can't keep running from the past forever, and circumstances force them to examine their grief and guilt and find a way through. <br><br>With beautifully assured story-telling, this is an emotionally tense page turner that leaves you on the edge of your seat.