Geek Girl

This is a book that, for a long time, I have judged by the cover. I have heard amazing things about it though and finally decided to bite the bullet the other day, and I purchased it from WHSmith. Having now read this book, I think that the cover doesn’t really show the story very well and I think that although this type of cover may appeal to younger readers, I don’t think it quite meets the standard set by the story itself.

‘Geek Girl’ is a story of identity mixed with humour and a fun storyline. Aimed at ages 11 and upwards, the writing style is definitely geared towards a younger audience, but at 21, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it to be a light-hearted and enjoyable read.

The plot was quite straight-forward – show more bullied “geek” Harriet Manners wants to change in order to become liked. Cue modelling opportunity of a lifetime, and obviously fun and life-changing plot ensues, leading Harriet to discover who she is. The “ugly duckling turning into a swan” trope is one that has been used a lot in media for younger audiences, but I think in this case it really works well. Although I found parts of the middle of the book a bit slow, I think that this is mostly because of my own lack of interest in fashion, rather than the book itself.

The writing style was effortless to read and was something that I would definitely have enjoyed when I was younger. The extremely short chapters with mini cliffhanger endings made you want to just keep reading, making this a really quick read despite it being 378 pages, which is quite lengthy for this type of book, though it doesn’t feel long at all whilst reading it.

I think that this book would be really inspirational to young girls as it takes the importance of physical appearance and concentrates on personality by the end. Harriet started off as quite a naive character and was weak but I think that she really grew as a young woman.

Overall, this is a light, fun ‘summer’ read and I highly recommend it! show less

Awww, this was so much fun. I took it to Croatia with me over the summer and devoured it over a couple of long hot sunlounger days. It's perfect poolside reading, like a cross between The Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada. It's about a fashion-clueless geek called Harriet who is accidentally 'spotted' during a trip to The Clothes Show live with her best friend Nat, who has always dreamed of being a model. The novel's about how she takes this opportunity to do something new, finds a way to reconcile it with her own values, and deals with the fallout with her friends and family. It's smart, easy to read and very cute - bring on book 2!

Snappy and amusing, with good messages throughout -- don't lie. If you're going to try to be someone you're not, make it your own after all. Protect your kids fiercely, but let them make their own decisions. Above all, enjoy the witty banter -- it's the only thing keeping the bus on the road.

I'm honestly obsessed with this series. I try to be at least a little critical in reviews but I can't with certain books (such as this one) since I love them so much. I read this book and its sequel a while back but came back to review since the third installment's American release is approaching. In my opinion, all books have something wrong with them. However, it takes a truly good book to not be totally distracted by its flaws. And let's just say that nothing distracted me from this book - at all. I think that its just one of those books that I'll end up cherishing like I do my old, favorite doll. I can't wait till the remaining bits of the series are released in America!!!

Normally this isn't my type of book AT ALL, but I loved it. I found myself laughing out loud at some of the descriptions and reading passages to whomever happened to be nearby! The similes and metaphors are fresh and powerful and the humor is believable. I think Smale's modeling experience shines through in her writing.
Definitely an author I'm going to follow and I'll be putting a couple copies of this title on our library shelves.

Harriet Manners is a geek. She would know; she looked up the word 'geek' in her Oxford English Dictionary. She doesn't like fashion, shopping or makeup. So when she's 'discovered' by a modeling agent she can't help but be shocked that the modeling industry want anything to do with her.

After all Harriet never wanted to be a model, that was always her best friend Nat's dream. But when she's suddenly thrust into the lime light she's not sure which way is up and she can't seem to find a way to tell Natalie the truth without wrecking their friendship.

Throw in a slightly over protective step mother, an overly eager, very childish father and a not so secret stalker and you've got yourself a delightful read.

I read Geek Girl in a matter of show more hours, I don't think I set it down once. I loved everything about it. The characters, the story, the sassy, sarcastic, inner dialogue.

Toby was probably one of my favorite characters, I imagined him as a teenage Kirk (from Gilmore Girls) completely harmless, ridiculously funny and lovable in every sense of the word.

Harriet's story was so much fun to read and I cannot wait to see where her and the rest of Smales quirky band of characters end up next!

Until next time,
Ginger

In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review.
My review is my honest opinion. show less

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: This novel was fluffy and lots of fun. It’s being re-released in the US for the first time!

Opening Sentence:

geek

gi:k/
informal
noun
noun: geek; plural noun: geeks
1. an unfashionable or socially inept person.

The Review:

Harriet Manners is a geek. She recites random facts and reads the dictionary for fun. She is smarter than many of her teachers. Unfortunately, while this may help her fill in the bubbles on a scantron, it doesn’t help with her social life. She’s teased incessantly and she and her classmates don’t exactly see eye to eye. So when she’s unexpectedly spotted by a modeling agency, she sees the chance to become more than a geek, to be someone cool and interesting. No show more matter that she has to go behind her best friend and stepmother’s back to do so —- it’ll all work out in the end, right?

Geek Girl is not like books I have read in the past. It is written differently, it’s very light and cute, it’s super quirky. And I loved it. This adorable book made me giggle quite a lot when reading with its dialogue and Harriet’s point of view. The love interest is not a main focus, though he is there, and he is cute. I do wish we got to see more of Nick, though I’m guessing the next few books will have him, because it is a series —- yay! Watching Harriet stumble through a new life was lots of fun, and I think it was an enjoyable use of my time. Anyone in the mood for a contemporary, particularly one that is fluffy and funny, will love this. I also think those in book hangovers might benefit from a novel like Geek Girl. It was fresh and unique from other books and it’s highlighted in my mind as something I would read again if I’m ever feeling sad.

Harriet Manners is a geek. She reads dictionaries for fun and is constantly teased. When she gets the chance she decides to remake herself, to become a model and hopefully grow into a person that people look up to. One of my favorite things about Harriet was her constant stream of facts and definitions off the top of her head. Maybe in another book, the interruption from the main plot would have bothered me, but in this one it just made me enjoy it all the more. I also love the way she is relatable. She makes mistakes and tries to fix them. She gets sad. She has crushes. She is a realistic teenage girl, emotionwise. I really felt for Harriet as she embarrassed herself time and time again, you could tell that she was out of her element and trying the best she could.

We didn’t get to see much of Nick, the love interest, but when we did they had the most hilarious conversations. They first met when they were both hiding under the same table. They didn’t have traditional chemistry, but I thought they were cute together and they always managed to make me smile. Nick is a male model that Harriet does some jobs with and he helps Harriet out with her awkwardness on camera. I also really liked Harriet’s parents. Her father was as quirky as she was and Annabel was a lawyer who had some snarky lines as well. Harriet’s best friend was a great character, as well as her agent. In short, I basically loved all the characters in Geek Girl!

Geek Girl was a cute book that I don’t regret reading. Knowing its a series, I can’t say if I’ll ever pick up the next books. I loved the characters, the dialogue, and he message. I liked how Harriet developed and how she was a likeable narrator and I enjoyed the scenes with Nick. I think it’s cool how the author went through what Harriet went through, being unexpectedly spotted by a modeling agency, and that she wrote a book from the perspective of someone with a similar experience. It was a hilarious story and really easy to get into. There aren’t really many deep or moving moments, which is why it’s a four star. It’s very fluffy. But nevertheless, I enjoyed my experience with this novel immensely and think that it deserves more recognition.

Notable Scene:

The building has always scared me. When I was young, I refused to come in alone when Annabel was working late because I thought it was haunted.

“It’s not haunted,” dad said when I told him. “Haunted building are full of souls with no bodies. A lawyer’s office if full of bodies with no souls. That’s a big difference.”

And then he’d laughed and laughed until Annabel put salt in his wineglass.

FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with this copy of Geek Girl. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less