Ginger and Me: The debut novel from the winner of the Primadonna Prize

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She joins a writer’s group to share stories she writes including the one about a bullied schoolboy who goes to Mars. The other writers are total amateurs, unlike Diane Weston – a famous local author who likes and sometimes even comments on Wendy’s tweets. The two ingredients work well together in salad dressings, stir-fries, and sauces to add a surge of flavor and health benefits to your favorite recipes. The eponymous "Me" is the narrator Wendy and we follow her trying to navigate through life after the death of her mother.

Every week Wendy proudly shows her social worker Saanvi the progress she’s made, like the coasters she bought to spruce up the place, even if she does forget to offer her a cup of tea. But Wendy is ready to put herself out there and really live. She joins a writer’s group to share stories she writes including the one about a bullied schoolboy who goes to Mars. Whilst driving her bus she meets Ginger. Ginger is 15, vulnerable but tough on the surface. They both agree to meet up and from there a friendship begins to blossom. In a way it’s a coming of age story. With Wendy coming to enjoy the companionship of Ginger, finally having a friend, something she’s never had before, and Ginger clinging on with hope, that their friendship can offer some fun, some light relief from the turbulence and neglect she suffers at home. For her part, Wendy, mired in a grief both newly created by her mother’s death and in a trauma a lifetime in the making, doesn’t see the need to make too many changes. Both turmeric and ginger can also decrease levels of inflammation, which can help improve immune function ( 25, 26). One review of 15 studies also observed that supplementing with turmeric could reduce levels of CRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and malondialdehyde (MDA), all of which are used to measure inflammation in the body ( 11). Relieve pain

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Skin Rejuvenation: Himalayan pink salt is rich in minerals and can help exfoliate and cleanse the skin, leaving it feeling softer and looking more radiant. The debut novel from the winner of the Primadonna Prize – a part-coming of age and part-mystery novel perfect for bookclubs and fans of Joanna Cannon’s The Trouble With Goats and Sheep and Emma Healey’s Elizabeth is Missing Another study in 74 people found that taking 2 grams of ginger for 11 days significantly reduced muscle pain caused by exercise ( 18). Support immune function

The story hurtles towards a tragic climax and the reader is left wondering if Wendy has actually learnt anything. She adds: “I want readers to empathise with and root for these characters. Many might not have met people like Wendy and Ginger before and they will have an idea of what they think they might be like, which may not be great. I really hope they will be able to see these women are born with no privilege and no advantages in life, but are doing the best they can. I’m Wendy,’ I said. ‘What are you going to court for?’ But she didn’t answer. I really wanted to tell her that these weren’t my own clothes, I wouldn’t have chosen a skirt for one thing, never mind pairing it with trainers. I could tell she didn’t want to talk though and, to be fair, she probably thought I was some sort of criminal, so I just sat and bit my lips and tried not to think too much about where Ginger and Diane were now. Additionally, keep in mind that turmeric powder is made up of only about 3% curcumin by weight, so you would need to consume a very large amount or use a supplement to reach the dosage found in most studies ( 36).

I found Ginger a bit harder to warm to initially as it seemed she was taking advantage of Wendy’s naivety, but I soon realised she was just a young girl with a terrible home life. She really needed a friend to watch out for her. For all her faults, she made me want to reach out and give her a hug and as the story progressed I was so desperately sad for her. I wanted to take her away from the awful life she was living. I had a lump in my throat when she told Wendy she didn’t like to read about nice things and a better life as “sometimes it’s worse to dream then wake up and have it snatched away from you”. The structure is perfect, with the story opening and closing in the same setting and giving a satisfying sense of completion. There’s also a mystery throughout, as we wonder why Wendy is where she is. A light touch and deep issues

Ginger and Me has received many praises from readers and even won the Primadonna Prize in 2020 so don’t let my review discourage you from reading it. Despite my qualms, Ginger and Me was still an enjoyable read and the last sentence made me exclaimed “oh, Wendy :(” Great initial premise set up with likeable characters. Our protagonist has the personality of someone on the autistic spectrum although this is never explicitly stated in that she not only doesn't understand the social cues and social situations around her, but simply doesn't even recognise them to begin with.I think if you read books, it calms you down. And it makes you realize there’s a place for everybody, no matter how weird.” It can also worsen symptoms associated with autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease ( 5). Meet 19-year-old neurodiverse Wendy, whose no-filter narrative delivers a story that’s by turn funny, tragic, uplifting and heart-breaking – and sometimes all four at once! This is a very impressive debut, I absolutely devoured Ginger and Me. I was mesmerised by it, I was well and truly in Elissa Soave’s story telling grip and I had to know how things were going to end up for Wendy. She’s a character that you take into your heart – she’s a bit of an odd ball, she’s quirky and doesn’t always understand social situations. She loves writing and her admiration of author, Diane Weston, becomes a beacon for her. Her path crosses with Ginger, a troubled fifteen year old. The two strike up a fierce friendship and Ginger starts to lean on Wendy, needing her and resenting Wendy’s adoration of Diane. I was delighted to meet Wendy. Nineteen, neurodiverse, and still processing her grief following her mother’s death, she is cast adrift in the world with no real friends and no real hope. She copes, she coasts, but she’s missing some love and belonging. Enter Ginger, vulnerable to equal yet differing degrees, happy to find a friend in Wendy, and eager to pull her into her own problematic world.

Ginger, or Zingiber officinale, originated in Southeast Asia and has long been used as a natural remedy for various health conditions. but only in the same way that staying at the Savoy or jet skiing is available to everyone, and I won’t be doing those things any time soon either. A remarkable ingredient that can retain up to 1000 times its weight in water. By drawing moisture into the deeper layers of the skin, it enhances cellular communication, aids in the absorption of active ingredients, and promotes skin healing. The result is a hydrated, plump, and smooth complexion that feels incredibly soft to the touch. TOCOPHEROL: This reads like a bad debut in that it falls into common pitfalls: she starts off with a great concept, then the pacing and plotting both lose steam, until the author is flailing around as she's not quite sure what she's doing with her plot or where she wants it to go. The classic sign of a debut author who doesn't know how to end her book: just shoot somebody; and we end up kind of in a heap on the fall looking at it like, that had so much potential, how did it go downhill so fast?

It’s Ginger’s thread to the story that intensifies the emotion, making the book one that won’t be easily forgotten. Years of bearing up and shutting up make us stoic, and a bit aloof from everyone else. Ginger could be that way too and I sometimes wonder if it's more to do with being women than being brought up in difficult circumstances. It's like, we're not supposed to say anything's bothering us because that's our job - to put up with shit, make sure everyone else is fine and just carry on." Turmeric, on the other hand, is great for adding a pop of color to dishes such as casseroles, frittatas, dips, and dressings.