The Bibliophile's Bookshelf

Title: Geek Girl

Series: Geek Girl #1

Author: Holly Smale

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit

Rating: 4 stars

Review:

Harriet Manners knows a lot of things. She knows that an average person laughs fifteen times per day, a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, and a jiffy lasts 1/100th of a second. What she doesn’t know is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she is spotted by a top model agent, Harriet jumps at the chance to become someone new. Even if that mean’s stealing her best friend’s dream, provoking the wrath of her arch enemy, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of supermodel, Nick. Even if it means that she is lying to the people she loves. As Harriet goes from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her enthusiastic father and geeky stalker, Harriet realizes that the fashion world doesn’t like her any more than the real world. As her old life starts falling apart, she begins asking herself if she will be able to reinvent herself before everything falls apart.

I find this book to be the perfect little spring/summer book. It’s fun, feel-good, and perfect to read as the sunshine streams through the windows.

I have watched the tv show multiple times, so I may be unfairly biased towards this book, but I genuinely love it. Is it my absolute favorite? No. But could I read it year after year and still enjoy it? Absolutely!

Geek Girl is just a fun book. It has some deeper meaning, but for the most part it is just really fun to read. Harriet Manners is so relatable. She is a girl who struggles with social situations and is very smart. Most of her inner monologues have a fact that she uses to connect to her situation in really unique ways.

Since I have watched the show and read some other things about it, I know the Harriet is autistic-coded. And I love it! It is wonderful seeing an autistic girl as a main character.

Harriet makes many mistakes throughout the book, but she learns her lesson by the end. I have to admit I love Annabel. She doesn’t take anything from anyone and truly cares about Harriet. After seeing so many cruel stepmothers in the media, it is nice to see a kind and loving stepmother.

I will admit Richard does get on my nerves sometimes. He is just not responsible, but sometimes it is a little entertaining reading about his antics.

I do really love Wibur. He is so flamboyant and, frankly, ridiculous; it is hard not to love him.

For how much Nick was in the show, I don’t think he was really in this book too much, which was a disappointment. I also think Nat and Toby, Harriet’s friends, could have been a little more present and I am hopeful they are in the next book more.

If you are looking for a fun book that keeps you glued to the page and laughing out loud, then Geek Girl is for you! With a relatable main character, and an amazing cast of side characters, this book is one of my favorites!