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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
fast-paced
DNF
it was written in journal style, and that kind of writing isn’t for me. I have a tough time following it and it really felt a bit too childish for me. I can see why some people would enjoy that style of writing, but if you can’t read something like that, I wouldn’t recommend this novel
it was written in journal style, and that kind of writing isn’t for me. I have a tough time following it and it really felt a bit too childish for me. I can see why some people would enjoy that style of writing, but if you can’t read something like that, I wouldn’t recommend this novel
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was delightful. Absolutely charming. Phoebe' s mom is a physician who works with Doctors without borders and travels to dangerous parts of the world to render her services to the most vulnerable. While she is gone, 15, soon to be 16 year old Pheobe goes to live with Kate, her mother's best friend, a thrift shop owner and a designer cat breeder. Phoebe is great with numbers but not so good with her people skills. Her best friend Polly is enamoured by a boy named Tristan and Pheobe feels forgotten. While helping Kate at her thrift store Phoebe meets a cast of characters Alex, Emma, Melanie, Bill, Pat and James. Each character somehow contributes to Phoebe's growth as a young adult and could there be some romance lurking in the offing in her life? Although she firmly believes love is for losers?
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for gifting me an e-arc of this book.
So I was bit skeptical going into this, as between the time I requested it on Netgalley and the time I read it, I'd seen a few people my age and older say that it's quite juvenile, even for a YA book. So after seeing a few people say this I was a bit wary going into it, however when I was reading it I tried to imagine what fifteen year old me would have thought reading it and it made the reading experience so much better. I also thought that the diary format of the book helped with the reading experience aswell.
This book had me laughing at so many points, it is so relatable for the target age range especially when I look back on how I was at fifteen years old, honestly the nostalgia was real. This whole book explores so many different aspects; we have sexuality; Phoebe figuring out that maybe she isn't as repulsed by falling in love and maybe, just maybe, she likes girls. We have friendships; the book starts with Phoebe's best friend Polly, getting her first boyfriend and from Phoebe's point of view Polly no longer cares about her and just the boyfriend. We have family, although I absolutely despised Phoebe's mum, I think she's a terrible mum and so selfish and I feel so bad for Phoebe, I'm so glad she had a better adult in her life with her godmother. We also have grief; there is a couple of heart-wrenching moments that actually made me tear up.
This had a lot of sex-positivity and character development, I liked how Phoebe would try and research things on the topic of sex so that she could try and help give her friend advice, instead of just laughing and acting like a child (because honestly that's what my entre friend group at that age was like when the topic of sex was brought up). Also nearer the beginning, Phoebe makes a few comments about disabilities, but then she does some researching and you actually see the growth of her learning how not so great her views and comments were, and growing from them. I actually saw a few people say that it was the reason they dnf'd this book, and as much as I respect other opinions, I think people need to realise that we're brought up with the way society currently is and we have to unlearn a lot of prejudices, so I think Phoebe is a brilliant character for showing that.
Overall I think this is a great book for teens, and if adults go into it imagining how their teenage self would have views it then it would be such a nostalgic read for them aswell.
So I was bit skeptical going into this, as between the time I requested it on Netgalley and the time I read it, I'd seen a few people my age and older say that it's quite juvenile, even for a YA book. So after seeing a few people say this I was a bit wary going into it, however when I was reading it I tried to imagine what fifteen year old me would have thought reading it and it made the reading experience so much better. I also thought that the diary format of the book helped with the reading experience aswell.
This book had me laughing at so many points, it is so relatable for the target age range especially when I look back on how I was at fifteen years old, honestly the nostalgia was real. This whole book explores so many different aspects; we have sexuality; Phoebe figuring out that maybe she isn't as repulsed by falling in love and maybe, just maybe, she likes girls. We have friendships; the book starts with Phoebe's best friend Polly, getting her first boyfriend and from Phoebe's point of view Polly no longer cares about her and just the boyfriend. We have family, although I absolutely despised Phoebe's mum, I think she's a terrible mum and so selfish and I feel so bad for Phoebe, I'm so glad she had a better adult in her life with her godmother. We also have grief; there is a couple of heart-wrenching moments that actually made me tear up.
This had a lot of sex-positivity and character development, I liked how Phoebe would try and research things on the topic of sex so that she could try and help give her friend advice, instead of just laughing and acting like a child (because honestly that's what my entre friend group at that age was like when the topic of sex was brought up). Also nearer the beginning, Phoebe makes a few comments about disabilities, but then she does some researching and you actually see the growth of her learning how not so great her views and comments were, and growing from them. I actually saw a few people say that it was the reason they dnf'd this book, and as much as I respect other opinions, I think people need to realise that we're brought up with the way society currently is and we have to unlearn a lot of prejudices, so I think Phoebe is a brilliant character for showing that.
Overall I think this is a great book for teens, and if adults go into it imagining how their teenage self would have views it then it would be such a nostalgic read for them aswell.
DNF
i got 19 pages in and idk i just wasn’t gelling with it. the formatting of the diary just didn’t feel right.
i got 19 pages in and idk i just wasn’t gelling with it. the formatting of the diary just didn’t feel right.
I enjoyed this book about Phoebe, a young high school student who is watching her friend fall in love and is not really keen on the whole thing. She is determined to not be that girl when she turns 16. That is her plan, at least. The story was filled with humor as well as a fair amount of teenage angst. Highly recommended for those who like YA novels written in journal form. Book generously provided by Edelweiss.
Quite honestly one of the funniest books I've read. It gave me major Georgia Nicholson vibes from the get go, but ended up being so much more than that.
Wibke has created the most amazing group of characters, and I love how they each have their own personalities and are important to Phoebe's overall plot. Phoebe herself is just so effortlessly funny - a true testament to Wibke's amazing writing. I found myself cackling so many times.
I love love loved the format of diary entries - so readable and a sneaky tactic to make you not want to stop reading! Also loved the little hashtag titles.
I think my favourite thing (after Pat) was how things were just normalised within the book. Sex, being queer, relationships with slight age gaps (adult characters - don't worry!). It was really really fresh to see that within a YA book, and it gave me hope!
Wibke has created the most amazing group of characters, and I love how they each have their own personalities and are important to Phoebe's overall plot. Phoebe herself is just so effortlessly funny - a true testament to Wibke's amazing writing. I found myself cackling so many times.
I love love loved the format of diary entries - so readable and a sneaky tactic to make you not want to stop reading! Also loved the little hashtag titles.
I think my favourite thing (after Pat) was how things were just normalised within the book. Sex, being queer, relationships with slight age gaps (adult characters - don't worry!). It was really really fresh to see that within a YA book, and it gave me hope!