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A review by emmabeckman
How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran
3.0
This story is Angus, Thongs, & Full-Frontal Snogging meets season one of Fleabag with the backdrop of the early 90s UK music scene. It's... A Lot.
I liked the arc of Johanna learning that she can reject the idea that the men in her life will dictate everything that happens. There were a few truly funny moments, though a lot of it was more of that cringey humor in my opinion. There were some true highlights in terms of inclusivity, but they were sadly very, very brief (discussion of body dysmorphia and sexual orientation fluidity).
Mostly, I was disappointed that the characters that I thought were the most interesting (namely, the mom and dad, Krissi, Lupin, and ZZ Top) were the ones we spent the least amount of time with, in deference to a bunch of pretentious assholes. (Yes, I understand this is vis a vis Johanna's sexual awakening and men always being in control, but I just was a lot more interested in the characters I listed than anyone else.)
I liked the arc of Johanna learning that she can reject the idea that the men in her life will dictate everything that happens. There were a few truly funny moments, though a lot of it was more of that cringey humor in my opinion. There were some true highlights in terms of inclusivity, but they were sadly very, very brief (discussion of body dysmorphia and sexual orientation fluidity).
Mostly, I was disappointed that the characters that I thought were the most interesting (namely, the mom and dad, Krissi, Lupin, and ZZ Top) were the ones we spent the least amount of time with, in deference to a bunch of pretentious assholes. (Yes, I understand this is vis a vis Johanna's sexual awakening and men always being in control, but I just was a lot more interested in the characters I listed than anyone else.)