Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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:
No
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Read this pretty quickly. It felt so nostalgic and I loved revisiting these characters. But, I found Guy so irritating. I think too much of the book was focused on scenes with him.
The ending also felt rushed.
The ending also felt rushed.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wouldn’t say I enjoyed this book until I was over halfway through. That’s when I worked out what was going to happen in the end and got excited about it. I don’t think Jacqueline Wilson’s style translates well for an adult audience and the writing left a lot to be desired in many areas. She also kept saying the characters were “phoning” for Ubers and Deliveroos which made me cringe. However it was a novelty to read a Jacqueline Wilson book again and as I mentioned I did enjoy it more so in the last third. The story was charming in ways and clearly close to the author’s heart and personal experience. It’s not a masterpiece by any means but I think anyone who was a fan of Jacqueline’s books as a child should give it a go for old time’s sake.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Sexual violence
There is mention of unhealthy body image, eating habits and anorexia that I would say is quite outdated and might trigger some people. There is only a few consecutive pages that discuss an instance sexual violence and describe injuries. I also felt the way this is discussed between two characters minimised the gravity of it and was a little tone deaf.
lighthearted
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
It's hard to know if I disliked this as a piece of fiction, or if I just disliked Gary. The author interview with Jacqueline Wilson helped me to appreciate it a bit more for what it was, and took away a bit of the ick that I'd got from reading the sex scenes. And it was certainly nostalgic and fun to revisit characters from my youth.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-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
Perfect holiday read! So lovely and gentle, and just as I remember her books from when I was a kid. So much love