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A review by psychotherabee
The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Steven
4.0
(A copy of this review can also be found here: https://beautifulilies.wordpress.com/2018/05/27/the-exact-opposite-of-okay-by-laura-steven/)
Basically, this is the most quotable book I’ve ever read. Izzy O’Neill is the funniest protagonist I have ever read, although it’s borderline annoying how she constantly uses humour as a coping mechanism instead of facing up to her problems, but dealing with emotions is a journey, one that we all must make (slightly paraphrasing Gandalf here).
So, Izzy’s struggles aren’t limited to being broke and brought up by her grandmother who has to work some 60 hours a week in a diner just to pay bills and rent. No, little does Izzy know when she attends a party one Saturday evening, she’s about to find out just how cruel the world can be…
When someone sets up a website targeting Izzy and her sexploits, Izzy tries to ride the waves. She laughs along with her classmates, but when Izzy’s nudes surface, it gets a little harder to breathe, let alone laugh. Izzy finds herself more alone than ever, although constantly surrounded by swarms of photographers and journalists, because, you guessed it, this particular teenager’s sexploits become a national scandal when a politician’s son gets caught up in it.
This novel should be required reading for everyone who doesn’t understand why slut-shaming is wrong. The ultimate take-away message from this story is if men can take nudes and have sex without it becoming a national scandal… why can’t women? (Hint: the answer is misogyny.)
Something that slightly irked me about this book was just how much of an adult Izzy seemed – I was only reminded she was a teenager whenever she talked about school. But perhaps this is a reflection on how teenage girls are tried as adults, whereas “boys will be boys”. Really though, Izzy’s sharp wit and humour are well beyond her years.
This novel included an absolute boat-load of diversity: we had explicit ethnically-diverse characters, characters of varying sexualities, explicit mention of a student in a wheelchair (although it is just a mention). Kudos to Steven for trying to include as many social issues as possible (including anti-black racism and mild pro-Palestinian propaganda). But one tip for if you’re trying to write a socially-conscious book – don’t make the Maths teacher Asian.
Basically, this is the most quotable book I’ve ever read. Izzy O’Neill is the funniest protagonist I have ever read, although it’s borderline annoying how she constantly uses humour as a coping mechanism instead of facing up to her problems, but dealing with emotions is a journey, one that we all must make (slightly paraphrasing Gandalf here).
So, Izzy’s struggles aren’t limited to being broke and brought up by her grandmother who has to work some 60 hours a week in a diner just to pay bills and rent. No, little does Izzy know when she attends a party one Saturday evening, she’s about to find out just how cruel the world can be…
When someone sets up a website targeting Izzy and her sexploits, Izzy tries to ride the waves. She laughs along with her classmates, but when Izzy’s nudes surface, it gets a little harder to breathe, let alone laugh. Izzy finds herself more alone than ever, although constantly surrounded by swarms of photographers and journalists, because, you guessed it, this particular teenager’s sexploits become a national scandal when a politician’s son gets caught up in it.
This novel should be required reading for everyone who doesn’t understand why slut-shaming is wrong. The ultimate take-away message from this story is if men can take nudes and have sex without it becoming a national scandal… why can’t women? (Hint: the answer is misogyny.)
Something that slightly irked me about this book was just how much of an adult Izzy seemed – I was only reminded she was a teenager whenever she talked about school. But perhaps this is a reflection on how teenage girls are tried as adults, whereas “boys will be boys”. Really though, Izzy’s sharp wit and humour are well beyond her years.
This novel included an absolute boat-load of diversity: we had explicit ethnically-diverse characters, characters of varying sexualities, explicit mention of a student in a wheelchair (although it is just a mention). Kudos to Steven for trying to include as many social issues as possible (including anti-black racism and mild pro-Palestinian propaganda). But one tip for if you’re trying to write a socially-conscious book – don’t make the Maths teacher Asian.