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emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
"...he seems so sure I’m feeling exactly the way he does - while I’m veering off his yellow brick road and rushing back to Kansas as fast as I can."
As an OG Jacqueline Wilson stan, this didn't quite live up to my 5-star expectations, but I'm still so glad that we got this glimpse into Ellie's adult life and it was just such a fun and nostalgic (despite also being at some points slightly infuriating) reading experience. I adored getting to spend time with so many of the original characters again, I really liked the way it looks at mother-daughter relationships, and I absolutely loved the direction it ultimately ends up going in.
My main issue was that there's a very prominent storyline that takes up a LOT of page time and it's deliberately icky and uncomfortable but I just felt that, if it had to be included, it didn't have to be done at the expense of the other many great elements of the book that did at times feel a bit sidelined. However, my continuing overarching feeling is one of comfort from thinking that this was probably SO healing for Jacqueline to write <3
Here's to hoping for more sequels!!!
As an OG Jacqueline Wilson stan, this didn't quite live up to my 5-star expectations, but I'm still so glad that we got this glimpse into Ellie's adult life and it was just such a fun and nostalgic (despite also being at some points slightly infuriating) reading experience. I adored getting to spend time with so many of the original characters again, I really liked the way it looks at mother-daughter relationships, and I absolutely loved the direction it ultimately ends up going in.
My main issue was that there's a very prominent storyline that takes up a LOT of page time and it's deliberately icky and uncomfortable but I just felt that, if it had to be included, it didn't have to be done at the expense of the other many great elements of the book that did at times feel a bit sidelined. However, my continuing overarching feeling is one of comfort from thinking that this was probably SO healing for Jacqueline to write <3
Here's to hoping for more sequels!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Eating disorder, Death of parent
Minor: Cancer, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Incest, Racism, Religious bigotry, Abortion
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexism, Stalking
Minor: Emotional abuse
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Toxic relationship
Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Death of parent, Gaslighting
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An enjoyable read for nostalgic reasons. But also a bit hard to read at times, Ellie is 40 but still often acts like a teenager and worries about the same things. Which annoyed me at times, but then also made me realise how much I (not far off 40!) still worry about the same things I worried about as a teen so in reality it’s probably a true reflection of life.
Refreshing to not have a book riddled with social media, though you would think they’d be on it, especially Magda, she would be all over instagram, so you’d think they’d know what Mr Windsor looked like these days.
Some flaws: would Ellie really have read illustrated mum and the lottie project? She would have been a teen when they came out, so I can’t see the lottie project being that much of a favourite that she named her daughter after her!?
Also - the tattoo aftercare - she didn’t want to get it wet in the shower but then went swimming a week later??? I don’t think so!!
The relationship with Mr Windsor was just weird, I wish it hadn’t gone on that long and the one with Alice took more story. I do wonder how much Jacqueline Wilson was projecting though with an older woman deciding she wanted to have a relationship with another woman.
Also, it would have been nice to have more of Nadine and Magda in the book - but again it’s probably quite realistic that when you’re older you don’t actually spend as much time IRL with childhood/close friends as you believe you might.
also - 99% sure Lottie was a child of rape or at least of not very clear consent. I wish Ellie would have told Lottie that instead of letting her meet her dad. Quite sad really
All in all, was nice to read as I’ve not read Jacqueline Wilson in years but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you were a fan as a child. It’s just a bit bland really.
Refreshing to not have a book riddled with social media, though you would think they’d be on it, especially Magda, she would be all over instagram, so you’d think they’d know what Mr Windsor looked like these days.
Some flaws: would Ellie really have read illustrated mum and the lottie project? She would have been a teen when they came out, so I can’t see the lottie project being that much of a favourite that she named her daughter after her!?
Also - the tattoo aftercare - she didn’t want to get it wet in the shower but then went swimming a week later??? I don’t think so!!
Also, it would have been nice to have more of Nadine and Magda in the book - but again it’s probably quite realistic that when you’re older you don’t actually spend as much time IRL with childhood/close friends as you believe you might.
All in all, was nice to read as I’ve not read Jacqueline Wilson in years but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you were a fan as a child. It’s just a bit bland really.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Grief, Classism
Minor: Eating disorder, Misogyny, Abortion, Lesbophobia
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was beyond excited when it was announced that Jacqueline Wilson would be releasing her first novel for adults this year - and especially when it was announced that it would be picking up with Ellie, Magda and Nadine from her Girls series. My re-read of the series in advance of Think Again had me interested to see how their friendship would build and be stronger in their adulthood, and how they were all getting on decades later - unfortunately, Think Again didn't really answer too much of this.
We're back with Ellie, who is now 40 and working as an art teacher and illustrator, having been a single Mum to her daughter Lotte, whose off to university. Her friendship with Magda, now dating an older man with kids and trying to fit in with the Joneses, and Nadine, a model (?) who is yet to settle down, feels very on the periphery of this book. The main focus is Ellie's chance meeting with Alice, a woman at her local swimming pool who agrees to help her with a graphic novel, and her reconnecting with Gary aka Mr Windsor the Art Teacher.
Ellie still feels very much like her 13-year-old self which on the one hand was instantly nostalgic, and on the other felt a little bit stuck in time. I know I'm not 40, but I definitely felt that Ellie was overly mature in terms of both her vocabulary and way of engaging with the world - I don't know many 40-year-olds who are clueless when it comes to things like mobiles and the internet. In keeping with her younger self, she still feels a bit judgey of other people's choices which whilst true for a teenager felt a little tiresome as an adult.
As pure nostalgia bait I can't bring myself to give this too low a rating, I did find it super readable and I think there were some plotlines that were handled well (view spoiler), and it was nice to revisit some of the characters as adults - Russell turns out how you expect, and Eggs is a pleasant surprise. However, if this is the start of another new series I'm hoping for some better endings and editors.
We're back with Ellie, who is now 40 and working as an art teacher and illustrator, having been a single Mum to her daughter Lotte, whose off to university. Her friendship with Magda, now dating an older man with kids and trying to fit in with the Joneses, and Nadine, a model (?) who is yet to settle down, feels very on the periphery of this book. The main focus is Ellie's chance meeting with Alice, a woman at her local swimming pool who agrees to help her with a graphic novel, and her reconnecting with Gary aka Mr Windsor the Art Teacher.
Ellie still feels very much like her 13-year-old self which on the one hand was instantly nostalgic, and on the other felt a little bit stuck in time. I know I'm not 40, but I definitely felt that Ellie was overly mature in terms of both her vocabulary and way of engaging with the world - I don't know many 40-year-olds who are clueless when it comes to things like mobiles and the internet. In keeping with her younger self, she still feels a bit judgey of other people's choices which whilst true for a teenager felt a little tiresome as an adult.
As pure nostalgia bait I can't bring myself to give this too low a rating, I did find it super readable and I think there were some plotlines that were handled well (view spoiler), and it was nice to revisit some of the characters as adults - Russell turns out how you expect, and Eggs is a pleasant surprise. However, if this is the start of another new series I'm hoping for some better endings and editors.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia, Sexual violence
Minor: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Abortion, Death of parent
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As a Jacqueline Wilson fan when I was a teenager I was very excited to see she had written an adult novel.
Now as a 32 year old women I was heavily disappointed in the whole book.
I didn't find any of the characters lovable and their wasn't much development in the plot.
There seem to be mixed reviews so clearly it has been enjoyed but sadly not by me.
Now as a 32 year old women I was heavily disappointed in the whole book.
I didn't find any of the characters lovable and their wasn't much development in the plot.
There seem to be mixed reviews so clearly it has been enjoyed but sadly not by me.
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia, Toxic relationship
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Minor: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Death of parent