*I was sent a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

**slight spoilers**

You know when you’re right in the middle of a book and you think: ‘this book is incredible, how am I effectively going to be able to explain to people just how amazing it is !?’ Not just good, or great even; but so fantastic that you want to get out of your chair, run around the office and tell everyone that they should stop what they’re doing and start reading it. Right. Now.

Gregory was a completely unremarkable boy, save for the giant mole right below his nostrils and his one foot that was slightly bigger than the other. Neither of these two attributes made making friends any easier for Gregory, who was rather lacking in the friends department.
Gregory lived at home with his Mum, Dad and older sister Marjory; but although they were his family, he certainly didn’t think of them as his friends.
Gregory continued on with his lonely, unremarkable life until one fateful night he was awoken by a tiny cockroach tipping over the carefully set dominos that lined his room.
And then, Gregory met the Grimbockle and his cockroach steed. What is a Grimbockle you ask? Well, ‘A Bockle is a Bockle just as a hoo-man is a hoo-man’.
The Grimbockle explains to Gregory that it is the Bockle’s job to maintain exoodles- invisible threads that are formed when we make new relationships. And just as we have strong and weak relationships, there are strong and weak exoodles flailing about from our bodies.

With a voice that is reminiscent of Roald Dahl, Melanie Schubert takes us on a wonderfully crafted adventure all over the world as Gregory and the Grimbockle attempt to fix badly damaged exoodles and reunite a broken family.

Although aimed at 8 - 12 year olds, there is absolutely no such thing as ‘too old’ when reading a book like this.
However, Schubert makes easy work of keeping her target audience entertained with just the right amount of yucky grossness.
And while I am slightly curious as to wether or not there’s a tiny little Bockle living in one of my moles, the idea also kind of makes me want to puke.

Gregory and the Grimbockle served as a subtle but important reminder that the relationships that we have are tangible things and that our own actions are the only things that can make them better or worse.

I loved every second of this story and can’t wait to share it with anyone & everyone who will listen!

Gregory and the Grimbockle is a fast-paced, quirky and heartwarming read. I was pulled in to the story from the get-go, and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride!

Gregory and the little Grimbockle made an amazing team, I loved the Grimblockle's peculiarities and how through their adventures they used paint buckets to grow or shrink and had a gadget to speed up or slow down time. The illustrations and soundtrack were great additions to the book, creating a more immersive experience. This story really reminded me of the types books I used to read as a child, I know I would've especially loved this book!

The message behind this novel is wonderful, how we need to remember to keep our connections with others alive, to ensure we all remain joyful. I enjoyed seeing the Grimbockle teach Gregory about saving weak exoodles and the ways in which we can strengthen them. This book also shows us that people who may be mean or constantly angry aren't necessarily horrible people, they just need help reviving their connections with others. The ending was heartwarming, seeing Gregory continuing to fix exoodles wherever he went, creating bonds between everyone, even old Ethel!

Overall, Gregory and the Grimbockle was a wild adventure, but most importantly we are left with a message that many of us need to be reminded of. This book will open hearts and will urge readers to always remain kind towards others because no one wants to have weak exoodles!

This book is refreshingly creative. The author has a way with words that captures your attention and imagination and holds them throughout the book. The unique characters and their eccentricities take you into their story and you feel like part of the adventure. Humour is mixed with a powerful message. A must read for anyone.