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bookandcat's review
4.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I heard this first book in an upcoming, ongoing serial (from Serial Box) described to me as a more geeky, modern version of Sex and the City. I think that description hits it directly on the head. While the women in this book seem to be younger than the women in SATC, the characters will be more immediately likeable than the characters of GIRLS (which was often described as a millenial SATC), and more diverse.
As in SATC, the cultural commentary is there, but with a heavier focus on geek culture (Doctor Who! World of Warcraft! Pokemon Go! - it was nice to see many of my hobbies and interests represented) and elements of modern feminism. There is still some romance and commentary on modern relationships (how WOULD SATC write about Tinder, anyway? This serial might show us). While there wasn't quite as much interaction between the four women, this is a shorter read, since it's a first installment of a larger "season" of stories.
In any case, I enjoyed it and enjoyed the format - there was some power packed in there among what could have been written as all fluff, and it works well as a serial. It kind of felt like reading a tv episode, which is what I was looking for. I am interested and want to see where the story goes!
I heard this first book in an upcoming, ongoing serial (from Serial Box) described to me as a more geeky, modern version of Sex and the City. I think that description hits it directly on the head. While the women in this book seem to be younger than the women in SATC, the characters will be more immediately likeable than the characters of GIRLS (which was often described as a millenial SATC), and more diverse.
As in SATC, the cultural commentary is there, but with a heavier focus on geek culture (Doctor Who! World of Warcraft! Pokemon Go! - it was nice to see many of my hobbies and interests represented) and elements of modern feminism. There is still some romance and commentary on modern relationships (how WOULD SATC write about Tinder, anyway? This serial might show us). While there wasn't quite as much interaction between the four women, this is a shorter read, since it's a first installment of a larger "season" of stories.
In any case, I enjoyed it and enjoyed the format - there was some power packed in there among what could have been written as all fluff, and it works well as a serial. It kind of felt like reading a tv episode, which is what I was looking for. I am interested and want to see where the story goes!
familywithbooks's review
5.0
I had never heard of a book serial before. I've heard of book series, but never a book serial. For those that are like me and are just hearing it for the first time, a book serial is written in "episodes" - a shorter story. Each episode is published on its own, but it created a story arc that, when completed, can be a full novel, called a "season."
I received Season 1, Episode 1 of Geek Actually from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I have been a Cathy Yardley fan since my mid-20's (I'm now pushing 40). After college, I started to buy books to get back into reading, and one of them was LA Woman by Yardley. I was hooked. It's one of my favorites that introduced me to the "chick lit" publisher Red Dress Ink, and the genre as a whole. So when I saw her name pop up as one of the writer's of Geek Actually, I had to request it! A play on Love, Actually. A boss bitch on the cover. I'm in!
ALL THE THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY: After learning about serials, I discovered this was the first of 13 episodes. For anyone that knows me, you know that I love a good sequel. And 12 "sequels" would put me over the edge. This serial tells the story of 5 friends:
1) Michelle - an editor with a sci-fi/fantasy publisher
2) Aditi - a writer that just happens to be published by Michelle's publishing house, who is going through some writer's block
3) Taneesha - a video game programmer who is experiencing the sexist side of working in a "bro" world
4) Christina - she's not featured as much until the second episode, but she's there, working in Hollywood, behind the scenes.
5) Elli - living in her parent's basement, working a job until she gets enough money to make costumes for the next "con" (like Comic-Con, not like Ocean's Eleven). Looks like someone has some growing up to do.
I did enjoy the first installment of this serial - the stories are interwoven and stand alone nicely. I was drawn into their world and left the episode wanting to hang out with them more. There is some naughty-business mixed in, because every woman needs that side of her as well! I enjoyed it so much, I bought the whole series to continue my adventures with them. I'm just about to start episode 4 and wooooo - it's been an adventure so far!
WHAT MADE ME SCRATCH MY HEAD: NetGalley classified this episode as "erotica" which now makes me think that NetGalley is sitting their clutching its pearls because I would classify this more as a steamy women's fiction. This is nowhere near 50 Shades territory, so please don't let that put you off of it.
FINAL THOUGHTS: If you're like me, and like women's fiction, or stories about women figuring out their place in this world, then this may be a serial for you. You can read it in bite-sized chunks and never miss a beat. Embrace your inner geek and give this one a try!
I received Season 1, Episode 1 of Geek Actually from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I have been a Cathy Yardley fan since my mid-20's (I'm now pushing 40). After college, I started to buy books to get back into reading, and one of them was LA Woman by Yardley. I was hooked. It's one of my favorites that introduced me to the "chick lit" publisher Red Dress Ink, and the genre as a whole. So when I saw her name pop up as one of the writer's of Geek Actually, I had to request it! A play on Love, Actually. A boss bitch on the cover. I'm in!
ALL THE THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY: After learning about serials, I discovered this was the first of 13 episodes. For anyone that knows me, you know that I love a good sequel. And 12 "sequels" would put me over the edge. This serial tells the story of 5 friends:
1) Michelle - an editor with a sci-fi/fantasy publisher
2) Aditi - a writer that just happens to be published by Michelle's publishing house, who is going through some writer's block
3) Taneesha - a video game programmer who is experiencing the sexist side of working in a "bro" world
4) Christina - she's not featured as much until the second episode, but she's there, working in Hollywood, behind the scenes.
5) Elli - living in her parent's basement, working a job until she gets enough money to make costumes for the next "con" (like Comic-Con, not like Ocean's Eleven). Looks like someone has some growing up to do.
I did enjoy the first installment of this serial - the stories are interwoven and stand alone nicely. I was drawn into their world and left the episode wanting to hang out with them more. There is some naughty-business mixed in, because every woman needs that side of her as well! I enjoyed it so much, I bought the whole series to continue my adventures with them. I'm just about to start episode 4 and wooooo - it's been an adventure so far!
WHAT MADE ME SCRATCH MY HEAD: NetGalley classified this episode as "erotica" which now makes me think that NetGalley is sitting their clutching its pearls because I would classify this more as a steamy women's fiction. This is nowhere near 50 Shades territory, so please don't let that put you off of it.
FINAL THOUGHTS: If you're like me, and like women's fiction, or stories about women figuring out their place in this world, then this may be a serial for you. You can read it in bite-sized chunks and never miss a beat. Embrace your inner geek and give this one a try!
bookishlyruby's review
3.0
*Disclaimer: I received an e-copy from Netgalley and Serial Box in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way
This is the first installment in the Geek Actually serial, the pilot if you may, and we get to meet five women: Michelle, Aditi, Taneesha, Elli and Christina. They're friends (Michelle and Christina are actually half-sisters) and we get to observe them navigating their lives. It kind of reminded me of Sex And The City, which intrigued me.
This book was told from multiple POVs, with an accent on Michelle and Aditi. I'm thinking that each episode focuses more on one of the women than the other, which is interesting. I connected a lot more with Taneesha, to be honest. She's a woman, she's a black woman, and she's a video game programmer, so she basically holds the job that once upon a time I wanted, and there's a scene with her and her bosses that is so painful and infuriating that I wanted to jump into the book and slap both of those idiots. I was also insanely curious about Aditi and her relationship with someone important in her life.
I felt like this was a bit too short for my taste, but I could see myself reading the rest of the installments. Since it was a pilot installment, I can't exactly say I was in love with the story, but it's good enough to make me curious about the rest of it.
This is the first installment in the Geek Actually serial, the pilot if you may, and we get to meet five women: Michelle, Aditi, Taneesha, Elli and Christina. They're friends (Michelle and Christina are actually half-sisters) and we get to observe them navigating their lives. It kind of reminded me of Sex And The City, which intrigued me.
This book was told from multiple POVs, with an accent on Michelle and Aditi. I'm thinking that each episode focuses more on one of the women than the other, which is interesting. I connected a lot more with Taneesha, to be honest. She's a woman, she's a black woman, and she's a video game programmer, so she basically holds the job that once upon a time I wanted, and there's a scene with her and her bosses that is so painful and infuriating that I wanted to jump into the book and slap both of those idiots. I was also insanely curious about Aditi and her relationship with someone important in her life.
I felt like this was a bit too short for my taste, but I could see myself reading the rest of the installments. Since it was a pilot installment, I can't exactly say I was in love with the story, but it's good enough to make me curious about the rest of it.
okthislooksbad's review
5.0
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
So, this is an entire new concept to me, the entire serial-deal we've got going on here. In case anyone else is as unfamiliar with the concept as I was, the basic gist is that each instalment is meant to be read in around 40 minutes and with a new instalment released once a week, basically mimicking the duration and schedule of a TV show. So we're returning to the days of old when authors would publish their works in parts over the course of several weeks, but in a 21st century TV-show kinda way.
This is not really the kind of thing I usually read, but I was promised geekery and feminism, and that's all it takes to reel me in these days. These ladies are geeky. And they're badass. Genuinely badass in a very kick-butt-and-take-names kinda way. A more modern, diverse version of SATC, this episode seems to set up storylines of both open relationships and possibly divorce, tackles body image, feminism, fan-culture and bares some claws at misogyny. I'm so here for this.
So, this is an entire new concept to me, the entire serial-deal we've got going on here. In case anyone else is as unfamiliar with the concept as I was, the basic gist is that each instalment is meant to be read in around 40 minutes and with a new instalment released once a week, basically mimicking the duration and schedule of a TV show. So we're returning to the days of old when authors would publish their works in parts over the course of several weeks, but in a 21st century TV-show kinda way.
This is not really the kind of thing I usually read, but I was promised geekery and feminism, and that's all it takes to reel me in these days. These ladies are geeky. And they're badass. Genuinely badass in a very kick-butt-and-take-names kinda way. A more modern, diverse version of SATC, this episode seems to set up storylines of both open relationships and possibly divorce, tackles body image, feminism, fan-culture and bares some claws at misogyny. I'm so here for this.
trinielf's review
4.0
Oooooh this was really good. I don't usually do serials but decided to give this a shot, had no clue what to expect but i loved it! and that ending???? i'm gonna need to go onto episode two for sure.
Of all the women i think Aditi, Taneesha and Michelle are my faves. I did wish we got more of Taneesha in this episode but perhaps we will in the rest?*fingers crossed*
Each woman's voice is so unique, loved that. loved the different aspects of geekiness they bring to their friendship. I need to know what's going on with Aditi and her hubby hmmm. so intrigued!
Of all the women i think Aditi, Taneesha and Michelle are my faves. I did wish we got more of Taneesha in this episode but perhaps we will in the rest?*fingers crossed*
Each woman's voice is so unique, loved that. loved the different aspects of geekiness they bring to their friendship. I need to know what's going on with Aditi and her hubby hmmm. so intrigued!