That's how Billy's grandmother explains it, anyway. She's given him her bucket list (cue embarrassment), and now, it's his job to glue their family back together.
No pressure or anything.
Fixing his family's not going to be easy and Billy's not ready for change. But as he soon discovers, the first third has to end some time. And then what?
It's a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.
Billy has three things to do, all apart of Yiayia's plan (or bucket list in Billy's eyes):
1. Find your mummy a husband
2. Have Simon girlfriend in Sydney
3. Fix Peter
The First Third is all about family and staying together. To Billy's family Yiayia is the glue, she is the person who brings everyone together even if it means flying to another state because she wants you to. But now Yiayia is sick so Billy is left to do her list, even if some of it seems/is impossible.
Billy is just an average teen who is trying to get through his final year of school, it is hard all the pressure is on you and you just want it to be over (I should know this was me last year). But Yiayia's bucket list wasn't apart of the plan, her being sick also wasn't apart of the plan. Simon is off in Queensland, having a great time (what everyone thinks), Peter won't talk to Billy or really anyone any more, even is they live in the same house and his mother isn't dating.
To Yiayia, this needs to be changed (hence the list), she wants the family big and whole again, like other Greek families. While I am not Greek, I have enjoyed reading about other cultures and what family means to them. Like I said before, The First Third is all about family.
The relationships between the characters have been developed to help you understand everything better and why it is all falling apart. Sticks (Lucas) is Billy's best friend who has CP and is gay, but really who cares about those things. These two together do some silly things which is how all best friends are and together they try to help to get through Yiayia's list, but sometimes not everything has to change or be fixed.
The First Third is just that, the first third of life: being embarrassed by your family and staying together. At times you laugh or cry or cry from laughing too much, it's dramatic and heartfelt making it relatable to your own family and friendships as well.
"I want shits"..."High quality shits!"- Yiayia
I originally got an e-arc on netgalley, but I also went to the PTA Live event in Sydney where I got a physical copy and meet Will. Thanks Penguin Teen Aus!
Rating : 5/5
Keely xx
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