jayishino's review against another edition
2.0
This is a coming-of-age story about fourteen-year-old Georgia.
I’m trying to think of good things to say about this book, but I all can think about is the laundry list of content warnings.
*deep breath*
I’ll start with some troubling content.
* How many incest jokes do we in such a short book?
* Lesbian jokes really?
* Transvestite jokes, no, just no. Stop.
* So much bullying and mean girl stuff, girl on girl hate
I’ll end with THE MOST problematic.
* Georgia is repeatedly molested by her cousin. (There are multiple awful scenes with this.) THIS IS GLOSSED OVER AND NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN. Holy hell that’s a real big problem.
* Georgia is also sexually assaulted by boys she knows. Again, this happens and is never mentioned again.
I guess there is one good thing I can say about this book. Rennison gives Georgia a very distinct voice which remains consistent throughout the book.
All in all, I had a very hard time reading this book, and I only did so because it was challenged at our school. Had reading this not been for that express purpose, it would have been a DNF.
I don’t think I can in good conscience recommend this book. I definitely will not be continuing the series.
I’m trying to think of good things to say about this book, but I all can think about is the laundry list of content warnings.
*deep breath*
I’ll start with some troubling content.
* How many incest jokes do we in such a short book?
* Lesbian jokes really?
* Transvestite jokes, no, just no. Stop.
* So much bullying and mean girl stuff, girl on girl hate
I’ll end with THE MOST problematic.
* Georgia is repeatedly molested by her cousin. (There are multiple awful scenes with this.) THIS IS GLOSSED OVER AND NEVER MENTIONED AGAIN. Holy hell that’s a real big problem.
* Georgia is also sexually assaulted by boys she knows. Again, this happens and is never mentioned again.
I guess there is one good thing I can say about this book. Rennison gives Georgia a very distinct voice which remains consistent throughout the book.
All in all, I had a very hard time reading this book, and I only did so because it was challenged at our school. Had reading this not been for that express purpose, it would have been a DNF.
I don’t think I can in good conscience recommend this book. I definitely will not be continuing the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Sexual content
cuteasamuntin's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, and Excrement
maxandrambo's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Lesbophobia, Transphobia, and Fatphobia
madeleinebay's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Lesbophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault and Toxic friendship
l_aura_yeoman's review against another edition
Super bigoted book.
There was : transphobic, sexism, homophobia, and racism in the first 30 pages.
And the characters are all horrible people.
There was : transphobic, sexism, homophobia, and racism in the first 30 pages.
And the characters are all horrible people.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia
atrkula's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia
Moderate: Fatphobia
fremzz's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Body shaming, Drug use, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Eating disorder
caitlin_cain's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Lesbophobia, and Body shaming
stellamcvey's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have no idea how to rate books so the 4 stars are mainly based on nostalgia. God I love Georgia, she’s funny, absolutely flawed and her slight moments of realisation of this are hilarious. It is sad that I don’t have the full belly laughs I used to when reading this because now I know all the jokes by heart, but they never fail to make me smile. Her and Jas’s relationship is one of my favourites because I do love a complex female friendship (have I somehow managed to connect Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging to Elena Ferrante??) and I’m not exaggerating when I say that this book built my sense of humour from the ground up. Plus, as a narrative of the teenage female experience it’s eerily accurate even 20 years later. HOWEVER this has aged BADLY. The blatant lesbophobia and fatphobia gobsmacked me (they are all technically throwaway jokes but they’re prevalent throughout all of the book and the series as a whole) so if you’re upset by those things I would not recommend in the slightest and honestly the (too late) realisation of those things soured the read for me. I do love this book and I guess it’s my problematic fave (??), but I’m not trying to excuse those things at all - it’s a real shame that it’s such a product of its time because otherwise it’s a good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia and Lesbophobia
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