I enjoyed this book for children/teenagers. I grew up long before Instagram etc was even thought of but I thought the novel really captured that adolescent angst of wanting to belong but not being interested in the same things as my peers. I too was much happier on my own reading a book than going to parties and NEVER understood the attraction of getting drunk. So I identified with Tabby and her worries. I never had a book club to go to though - another idea that the 80s would have been puzzled by!
Fortunately like most teenagers, I grew out of caring what my peers thought (my definition of adulthood). ( )

2.5 stars

I'm feeling so conflicted about this. I wanted to love this because I really like Lucy and her videos on YouTube. But unfortunately, I overall didn't have a great time reading this.

On the one hand, there quite a bit that I enjoyed: I liked the book references even though they were sometimes a bit much. I enjoyed how enthusiastic these kids were about books, how they wanted to celebrate them and make them come to live. The cute romances were cute and Tabby finding a group of friends she really clicked with was good to see. Also, Gran was A .

On the other hand, there were a bunch of major things that really bothered me. Firstly, I don't necessarily mind that this read very young - after all, the MC and two other characters were only 15. Their issues and the ways they dealt (or did not deal) with them often struck me as realistic in the beginning, but then a page later they would turn into middle-aged therapists, the conversations were super stilted, and the conflicts too quickly resolved. Everyone always knew just what was the right thing to say in the given situation (and did say that in a five-line-monologue), nobody ever stammered or was trying to find words or just said two words. There was just very little connection between the goofy teens trying to figure stuff out they were and the words coming out of their mouths.

Secondly, the plot was just seriously weak. I don't mind being able to see what the conflict is going to be, but the way in which we built up to it was just way too blatant and repetitive. It was so obvious what would cause trouble for Tabby with her new friends and, what's worse, just how preventable it was. I understand that communication can be hard when you're a teen, especially when you have to talk about your own problems. But Tabby was just so good at being understanding and helping everyone else that it just seemed unrealistic she wouldn't address her own issues (or even recognize she was being bullied).


( )