Geek Girl

Geek Girl #1

by Holly Smale

Harriet Manners knows a lot of things.

She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves.

As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did.

And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Humor, Teen

378 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Holly is the Number One bestselling, multi-award winning author of the GEEK GIRL series.

She fell in love with writing at five years old, when she realised that books didn't grow on trees like apples. A passion for travel, adventure and wearing no shoes has since led her all over the world: she has visited 27 countries, spent two years working as an English teacher in Japan, volunteered in Nepal, been bartered for in Jamaica and had a number of ear-plugs stolen in Australia, Indonesia and India.

Holly has a BA in English Literature, an MA in Shakespeare, and currently lives in London or at @holsmale.

The GEEK GIRL series has been an internationally bestselling no1. smash-hit. It won the Waterstones Teen Prize of the Year and the Leeds book award, was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and the Branford Boase award, and was long-listed for the Carnegie.

Reviews

[Aj the Ravenous Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is exactly what I needed after reading Second Chance Summer and Some Girls Are- a fun, hilarious coming of age story. I felt like I laughed from start to finish. Harriet’s story could be compared to the Ugly Duckling’s except when Harriet transforms, she still ends up being herself and I thought that was great. She’s a certified geek from start to end and I loved that about the story. Although Harriet transforms, it’s mostly inner transformation. In the end, she earns self-confidence and realizes she’s great just the way she is.

The plot may be a little bit unrealistic and some of the characters a bit stereotyped but they were all so fun to read and all of them managed to make me laugh. They’re all adorable and hilarious in their own ways. I don’t know but I find British humour really hilarious and relatable.

I would highly recommend this book if you’re looking for a good contemporary that’ll make you laugh and feel good about yourself.

[Pang Merry Xmas and Happy New Year =D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this! A nerd girl turn to be the model. Why this not happen to me? *Jeeez I'm a jealous thing* The writing style is really hilarious, it made me lol and have smile shone on my face, I love it! My new fave comedy read this year and I want more!

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

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#1 Geek Girl - ★★★★
#1.5 Geek Girl: All Wrapped Up - ★★★★

Even though I kept hearing great things about Geek Girl, I never really happened to read it. A month ago, my teen sister borrowed the whole Geek Girl series and told me this is something I must check off my list. And here I am one month later - loving the first book!

Geek Girl tells the story of a young teen Harriet, who is a geek and gets bullied at her school. She might know all the science answers, but she has no clue why people are laughing at her when she goes outside with a cartoon hoodie.

But when Harriet gets discovered by a modelling agency,she realises how things can get different, and she has to choose whether she wants to risk losing everything by changing who she really is.

A very funny and geeky read, where I couldn’t stop but giggle a few times. One moment really got me though:

‘’If somebody offers to shave your legs,’’ she snaps, ‘’let them.’’

Harriet is a typical geeky high-school character, and you can’t help but love her weirdness, her silliness and the ways she believes in.

The read was somewhat predictable from the very beginning, and there wasn’t any big plot twist or cliff-hanger, but I believe that this book didn’t really want to achieve that anyways.

This was a perfect read for me to relax and enjoy reading - reminded me of my high-school days and made me remember a lot of similar moments.

I am recommending it to all of you out there - that love being different and aren't afraid to stand up for yourselves, no matter how much people laugh at you.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think many of us secretly wish we could have that 'being discovered' moment. Someone spots you in a public place and decides you are the next face of whatever. For Harriet Manners, it is a reality. And she is not happy. Nevertheless she will decide to play along with humorous results. Meanwhile her best friend Nat is back home feels left behind and heartbroken as bully Alexa continues her mean girl ways. Then there is Toby, Harriet's gentle stalker who may just need a friend. Harriet hopes for a metamorphosis. To go from ugly duckling to swan. To transform from caterpillar to butterfly. Perhaps she has had what she is looking for inside her all along. The audiobook is very well done with quirky characters like Wilbur, the effervescent agent and stealing the show. I am definitely invested in this series and want to read more about Geek Girl.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

Thank you HarperCollins Australia for sending me this copy. No compensation was given or taken to alter this review.

geek
gi:k/
informal
noun
noun: geek; plural noun: geeks

1. an unfashionable or socially inept person.

Geek Girl is another one of those reads that have a bucket full of flaws, but is so entertaining and laid back that some of them just disappear. And that's totally cool every now and again. An imperfectly perfect novel.

Harriet Manners is a geek; even the Oxford English Dictionary is in complete agreement. Without a taste in fashion, one only friend and a brain full of unanticipated yet fun facts, Harriet pretty much ticks all the boxes. People at school tease her and when she thinks she's just about had enough of the four letter word appearing on her locker and bags, she's given the opportunity to transform herself. From geek, to modelling chic. An example of a flaw that soon vanished the more I read on was why did Harriet get spotted for a modelling job if she's supposedly, 'ugly'? Especially if her best and only friend, Nat, was prettier and wanted the job gazillion times more? We never get an explanation for this but eventually, who cares? I soon just got caught up in the humour and cuteness of the book.

I would not say I loved Harriet like I had fore-expected. She's a geek, I'm a geek; we should have clicked from the get go. But...that wasn't exactly how it ended up to work. But let's start with the pros: I loved Harriet's inner dialogue; she's full of snark and humorous comments and some crazy awkward moments which I couldn't help but put a smile on my face. On the other hand, she got a little obsessively self-depreciating. I get it, you're not pretty and you don't get why you got the job. Blahblah. Tell me something new!

Apart from our likable but sometimes annoying main character, the supporting characters were well created. Nat, Harriet's best friend was whole-heartedly honest and was a brilliant friend. She and Harriet got a little irritating with the amount of times where they'd fight over misunderstandings but still a great friendship dynamic. Harriet's relationship with her dad and step-mother, Annabel was also decent. I loved how Annabel and Harriet were really close and it got to the point where I thought Annabel was her birth-mother because they were so similar. Her dad was great as well though. And then we have Wilbur (that's bur, not iam) who was not my favourite. He never seemed to stick with the same nickname--and the nicknames were at times, puke worthy. Bleh. An eccentric man, he is. And then, we also have Toby, Harriet's personal geek stalker. He's kinda creepy but his interactions with Harriet were totally worth it. Talk about funny! What I didn't get is why Harriet could be so mean to Toby about him being a geek when she is one too. Then there's Alexa, who is a cliché pain in the ass and that's all I have to say about that shallow biatch. The minor plot line of a romance was a great addition. Seriously, Harriet and Nick were the cutest! It did border instant-love but, the slowly building chemistry was utterly worth it.

Geek Girl is about being yourself and understanding that it's alright to be yourself. A great identity novel on a lazy day.

[Galadrielė · Rating 1 out of 5]

☆1/5☆

DNF @ 8%

This thing is just not for me. I feel like my IQ degrades while reading this &@%#...

It's not even a guilty pleasure read..

Really.. #sorry not sorry

[Nikoleta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ένα βιβλίο που μου άρεσε ανέλπιστα πολύ, καθώς με έκανε κ πέρασα πολύ καλά.
Είναι από τα βιβλία αυτά, που τα αποκαλώ «ζουζουνοβιβλία». Και αυτό διότι τα πάντα είναι αξιολάτρευτα, η ηρωίδα είναι αξιολάτρευτα αδέξια, κάθε τι είναι χαριτωμένο επάνω της.
Οι υπόλοιποι ήρωες είναι εξίσου συμπαθητικοί (ειδικά ο τρελομπαμπάς της).
Η αφήγηση είναι γεμάτη αστεία και έξυπνα λογοπαίγνια.
Η ιστορία δεν είναι κάτι ιδιαίτερο και δεν χαρακτηρίζεται από έντονη δράση αλλά κυλάει πολύ ευχάριστα, διότι η συγγραφέας έχει ρίξει όλο της το βάρος στα ευτράπελα και στις πανέξυπνες ατάκες.
Από τα καλύτερα βιβλία που έχω διαβάσει στο συγκεκριμένο είδος.

[Chelsey with a y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. I can't believe how mean Alexa is... such a bully, I don't like them!! I'm glad Harriet stands up for her self in the end. I can relate a little to Harriet, well when I was younger... I always wished I could be someone else and that events and decisions would help that. But it's not true, we are who we are. I loved when Harriet and Nick did the interview together and how she spoke from the heart. And I loved how it ended

[John Gilbert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one that is totally out of my usual read, if I even have a usual read. Not sure where this one came from, but it seemed like fun and it was. Silly, over the top, but with some good themes within, especially as Harriet Manners is a geek girl turned model at 15. Modeling is not in her genes (nor mine) at all, but having it thrust upon her unwanted, hilarity often ensues. 3+ stars for me, it was fun in the end.

I’m tired of feeling like this. And most of all, I’m tired of being a polar bear, wandering around the rainforest on my own. (pp. 109-110).

I run most of the way and then I Brownie Walk for the rest of it (walk twenty paces, run twenty paces). But I can’t run fast enough to get me away from what it is I’m running from. Which is me, mainly. (p. 176).

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Words: Hilarious, model, school, bullies, geeky.

I'd heard a lot about Geek Girl before I picked it up. I'd even bought it months beforehand. Even my none-bookish sister had read it and was raving about it and asking when I was getting the next book. I'd even started it, reading the first 15 chapters before my sister decided she'd like it better.

So I don't know why it took the book being picked as the Fashionista Book Club read for me to read it. Because I'd enjoyed the start, and I'd heard so many good things.

I think I didn't want to be disappointed.

So thank goodness I wasn't!

Geek Girl is fantastic. It's so so funny. I loved the relationship between Harriet and her parents, and how her dad and step-mum bickered all of the time. It was like reading my own parents and I loved it.

I read each and every kooky fact out aloud to my other half. He usually hates it when I read out passages of books but with Geek Girl he even asked me what the most recent interesting fact was.

Harriet's creepy stalker was a bit unbelievable, but on the whole this book was so real you could almost believe every word.

And Wilbur was just a bit too much. He was too flowery, too garish. While the same thing worked for Gail Carriger's Lord Akeldama, it didn't work so well for Wilbur. It was endearing, it was just annoying :(

But this book was so so good, filled with wonderful facts and amazing writing and an uplifting plot that that didn't matter. It still gets a solid 5 stars.

[Lisa (lifeinlit) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you guys read this book yet? Oh man, it’s SO FUN! Let’s chat about it, shall we?

“You need to stop caring what people who don’t matter think of you. Be who you are and let everybody else be who they are. Differences are a good thing.”

Okay, let’s face it… most of us are geeks, right? Or at least have some geekish tendencies. I sure do. And I believe that’s why I loved this book so much. Harriet is the type of MC you can’t help but love. She’s such a stereotypical geek, but in the best possible way. She knows she’s a geek, and though it’s not all fun and games, and outright torture at times, she completely accepts who she is and rolls with it. She doesn’t try to hide her geekness one bit. Right from the first page I couldn’t help loving Harriet. What a hoot!

Our stories are drive by who we are and what we do, and not by the events that happens to us.

This book was seriously funny. I laughed more than anything else while reading it. I had no idea the humor level would be so off the charts, so this was such a pleasant surprise. Though Harriet is facing some real serious things, she made the best of the situation at hand. She was naive and anxious and outright ridiculous at times, but she was real. I totally believed in her character and was routing for her the entire time. It wasn’t just Harriet that carried this story though. The secondary characters were magnificent! The cast of characters Harriet encounters while modeling were so much fun I couldn’t stop grinning. And Harriet’s father… seriously, he was just too much!

“Oh.” Dad frowns. “Why hasn’t Annabel been teaching you how to walk in heels? I thought we had an agreement: I teach you how to be cool and she trains you how to be a girl.”

I stare at him in silence. This explains so much.”

Geek Girl wasn’t all fun and games though. I loved the message it portrayed of being yourself, and not letting what others think of you change who you are on the inside. Such a wonderful message all wrapped up in the perfect little hilarious package. This was the kind of book I love so much, and I’m really looking forward to continuing on with this series. (That’s right, you read that correctly… I’m honestly and wholeheartedly looking forward to continuing on with a SERIES! There’s no question how much I loved these characters, huh? :D)

(Thanks to HarperTeen for the review copy!)

Find this review and others like it at Lost in Literature!

[Kristina Dauksiene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netikėtai lengva, šmaikštu! in overall- paprastai bet neprastai!

[Elena · Rating 1 out of 5]

doesn't anyone write honest reviews these days? can't believe this book is so well accepted so far.

Simply appalling. Nothing good to say about this book. No plot, not at all interesting or original themes, unreal and ridiculous relationships and zero character development, annoying characters and a pseudo intellectual heroine who really is an imbecile. Being in her head hurt my brain, I thought the narration was awful and unnatural.. so this book was just icky for me. Maybe if I was a mediocre uninspired pre-teen of lower intellect..? But doubtful after all.

[Stacey | prettybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm going to a Geek Girl party this weekend, in which I'll be surrounded by many of my fellow UK book blogging friends, participating in a 'geek quiz', playing ping pong, and nibbling on snacks. As I don't particularly enjoy the slightly awkward feeling of attending a book event without having read the book (it feels a bit fraudulent), I decided to pick up Geek Girl. And I'm rather glad I did.

Geek Girl is a fun, quirky roller-coaster I didn't see coming. A super quick read, it's the story of 15-year-old Harriet Manners who goes from milquetoast to model in 60 seconds. You see, Harriet is a certified geek. She knows this because she looked it up in the Oxford English Dictionary sitting on her bedside table. Harriet has one friend (fashionista Nat) and one stalker (even geekier Toby), and everybody hates her. But I couldn't possibly understand why: Harriet's sparkling personality shines through from the very first page – I was hooked.

Geek Girl shows us, if we didn't already know, that people with intelligence and 'unironic enthusiasm' (see: John Green), unfortunately, especially when they are teenagers, can sometimes fall subject to bullying, as Harriet discovers when archnemesis Alexa Roberts cruelly humiliates her in class. But is heading off to Russia to pursue a career in modelling the answer to all of popularity-challenged Harriet's problems?

Aside from our protagonist, Geek Girl is full of wonderful and witty characters, a mix of the eccentric in Ugly Betty and smart and quick-witted in Gilmore Girls. From Annabell, Harriet's pinstripe suit-wearing stepmother and childish, overly enthusiastic father, to her wild fashion agent with a talent for turning any phrase into a charming nickname (How are you, sugar-kitten?). And yet is it uniquely British? Perhaps. I'd love to see whether the humour translates, because it's well worth experiencing. It's delightful and funny and silly, yet you'll learn some fantastic conversation-starters (or -stoppers, depending on who you're talking to) along the way. Did you know that bluebirds cannot see the colour blue?.

Geek Girl is extremely exaggerated, dramatic, and extreme (although not entirely unrealistic as it is partly based on the author's own childhood), but I wouldn't have had it any other way. It's home to a host of articulate, well-constructed characters and is sure to delight geeks and nerd(fighters) alike!

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books for providing this book for review!

edit: December 2013. I originally gave Geek Girl four stars, but after reading the sequel, I think I ought to have given it five so I have made that amendment!

I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.

[Hazel (Stay Bookish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visit Stay Bookish for more book reviews!

Fun is the one perfect word I can think of that sums up Geek Girl. I picked it up on a pretty dull day and it easily put me in a happy mood as I laughed because of the hilarious MC and the delightful events that lead to her from being unpopular geek to becoming a model for a top UK fashion powerhouse as well as the events that occur after. Seriously, it was just such a fun book! Why? Let me list the reasons.

1. True to the title, Harriet Manners is a geek. A really quirky geek at that. She likes rulers, dictionaries, history and organization. She’s awkward and very much socially inept. So authentic character? Check.

2. With that, I found it really easy to connect with her.

3. Harriet also occasionally makes lists which I really enjoyed because, if you must know, I love lists (if this list in itself wasn’t clue enough).

4. It’s hard not to adore Harriet. She sometimes left me embarrassed for her but I couldn’t help but grin at how silly and ridiculous she and the story was. Her voice is ‘younger YA’ (rightfully so since she’s fifteen) so there tends to be exaggeration and long-winded dramatic story-telling but I actually found this totally amusing and endearing.

5. The rest of the characters feel very animated- like the highly eccentric but super witty Wilbur and fellow geek and official stalker Toby.

6. Present parents (dad and stepmom) who are also funny and even have an interesting subplot/arc of their own. I adore the dynamics in Harriet’s family and her very positive relationship with her stepmother.

7. Although you’d initially think the plot is a bit unbelievable (which in this case you should know that it isn’t actually that much unrealistic, since the author experienced this herself), it felt concrete to me because I was just right there with Harriet. And it was fun riding along!

8. We get a cute little budding romance here with Nick and Harriet. More please!

9. But most importantly, the themes! Friendship, honesty, accepting who you are, overcoming bullies, staying true to yourself. Love it.

With that, I’m really looking forward to the next books in the series! If you’re ready for a geeky cute (to the nth level) kind of book, definitely check Geek Girl out!

[Carlie K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars
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this review is originally posted on The Bookish Girl
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You can buy the book from Bookdepository
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A geek + a super model = Harriet Manners

The above equation is basically the synopsis of this book (*wink*) but I'll give you another version of it just in case you don't like Maths.

Harriet Manners is a full-time geek, which means she's the opposite of popular. One day, she gets spotted by an agent unexpectedly. In order to change for a better life, Harriet finally decides to start modeling in secret. But what she doesn't realize is that, modeling doesn't make her life better but hauls her into a great mess.

I was taking a break from revision when I picked up this book, and the next thing I knew? I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting! The writing of Miss Smale is so easy to read and it brings me into Harriet's crazy world easily! I love that the chapters are super short so I actually flew though the book!

For the characters, I think Miss Smale has done a great job on it. It's not common for me to like every single character in one book, but for this book, I truly do! Harriet is geeky and funny and dramatic! I never got bored with her humorous narration. I also love her childish yet loving dad, mature and clever stepmother, geeky and supportive stalker, loyal and amazing best friend. I even like the villain, which is very unusual for me.

Moving on to the plot, I think it's pretty predictable, but there are a few plot details revealed at the end that I didn't see them coming (good job Miss Smale!). However, sometimes certain events lack for detailed descriptions and the love line is not strong enough. But since it's a debut novel, I expect to see improvements in the next few books and this book has the magic to make me want to continue with the series!

[Alaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea how to rate this or even what to talk about when I finished this book.

Geek Girl was a book that has been on my TBR for a while. Then when I saw it on my audible romance package - well, I went for it. However, I can't decide if it was the narrator, accent or just the MC that I didn't like. I mean, the story was okay and everything but other than that - I have no idea how I feel.

Harriet was cool and all but I don't see the problem with being a geek. She got bullied at school because of what she is - which again I don't see a problem with. One day she gets discovered by a modeling agency and her life kind of gets turned upside down. Unfortunately for her, she starts lying to everyone around her. Whether it's taking her best friends dreams and constantly telling her lies about this job OR it's her dad lying to her step mom about where they are.

Eventually they get caught in the scheme of lying and shit kind of hits the fan. Throughout the whole modeling career of hers, she thinks everything is going change for her. Nope, her life doesn't drastically get better at school. She still gets bullied BUT she is making a career for herself. Yeah, she likes modeling but it comes at a price for her.

Overall, it was a cute book. I honestly thought at the end she was going to try and get her friend a modeling job but she didn't.

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love. So much love.

What worked: Officially one of my new favourite series. Seriously. It’s up there with Delirium, Chronicles of Narnia, Kate Daniels and Georgia Nicholson! When I first saw Geek Girl, I was expecting something fluffy and light that I could absorb into my brain. Did I get that? Yes. But what else did I get from it? I got my geek on, I learned new facts that I can throw at my friends, I found a kindred spirit. Holly Smale, can we be best friends?

I can barely write a coherent review because that is how much this book rocked my world. I could waffle on for quite a while but all you’d see would be fangirling and lots of exclamation marks. Instead, this review is for you. What do you want to see in this book?

Would you like awesome parents that have the most hilarious tiffs? Would you like an agent that is so fabulous he must be found and taken shopping? Would you like a love interest that you can swoon over? Would you like a female protagonist that will warm the cockles of your heart with her accident-prone ways, her cute stalker and her utter geekiness? Then have at it, get this book!

What irked: Not a thing, nope, you won’t take my love away from me.

Recommended to: Everyone! From staunch Chick-Lit lovers to the most hardcore of nerds. From galaxies far, far away to the launderette down the road. I’d give this book …***5 Stars – My mind is in bits on the floor, that’s how good this book is.***

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3e read: 10 - Mei 2016
Leesclub met nichtje Rachel (11)

1e read: 13 - 19 september 2013
Geek girl begon bijzonder hilarisch, maar later veranderde hilarisch in grappig. Het verhaal is niet bijzonder origineel en ook zeker niet overal even realistisch, maar de toon van het boek is lekker luchtig. De vader van Harriet vind ik een frustrerend karakter, maar Annabel, Nat en Toby vind ik wel leuk. Toby is waarschijnlijk een van de minst realistische bijrollen, en er wordt ook niet toegelicht hoe hij aan al zijn stalkvaardigheden komt. Hier verliest dit karakter wat charme mee, ondanks dat hij vooral bedoeld is als grappige noot. Hier en daar voelde ik me wel echt wat te oud voor dit boek, dat vooral voor tieners is geschreven. De vormgeving van het boek is erg leuk, maar de levenslessen ietwat slapjes. Leuk verhaal voor tussendoor, maar geen boek dat ik me lang zal herinneren.

[BookHeroin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember laughing this hard while reading a book. That was so funny and humours. The characters are SO cute and loveable. Everything was witty and ... CUTE!

for sure recommend this to everyone who wants to have a fast, witty, and funny read. :)

[Red_Queen_Lover · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC

[Samina The Story Devourer · Rating 4 out of 5]

My ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars


Before I go nose diving into my review, I have a confession to make. I’m a geek. Let’s make a big massive GEEK. In fact I’m pretty sure I’m Harriett Manners. Or perhaps Harriett is modelled after every Geek girl out there. Harriett was so real to me. It felt like story was being told. Well, I’m not exactly model material but I’d like to think I am.

Harriett is your average geek girl next door, complete with a fashion crazy best friend and a geeky stalker. She was your quintessenscail geek girl who hasn’t got a clue about fashion, boys and is utterly socially inept. She keeps sprouting random bits of information which may be interesting (of, course I find them interesting) to the dismay of the people around her.

“Our stories are driven by who we are and what we do, not by the events that happen to us."

One day Harriett gets scouted when her BFF was meant to scouted. Finally fed up being treated as the underdog, against the wishes of her step mother and at the risking of losing every one she love Harriett decided to go ahead and be a model.

A geek trying to be a model? I had to read this book. I mean I try really hard these not so it’s not too obvious but I’m a geek. It felt like a personal Cinderella story too. I loved loved loved Harriett. From her dorky clothes to her random bit of info dropping, it was all so endearing. She was so cute that I wanted to take this version of Mimi-me home.

"....stop caring what people who don’t matter think of you. Be who you are and let everybody else be who they are. Differences are a good thing. It would be a terribly boring world if we were all the same.”

The story line was quick and fast moving. I loved the side characters which added flavour to this sweet story of coming of age. I loved Harriett’s dad. It would suck to have a dad who would embarrass you every day but it would be great to know a grown up as fun as him. I even enjoyed the geeky Toby who simply would not stop stalking Harriett.

Geek Girl was fun, peppy and adventurous. Yes I said adventurous. It felt like one. Harriett going away on photo shoots and stumbling her way around the fashion world is nothing but an adventure. How would a geek (insert *me*) find her way in the treacherous waters filled with meat eating sharks, ready to snap a bite off you?

Okay, I think I may be getting carried away here. Ahem, this treacherous world may seem terrifying for me Harriett but the story had enough pretty to motivate me. Nick was...let’s just say interesting. He was handsome, charming, clever, witty, and elusive and to make matters worse, mysterious. I had no chance. I mean, Harriet had no chance.

“Nobody really metamorphoses. Cinderella is always Cinderella, just in a nicer dress. The Ugly duckling was always a swan, just a smaller version. And I bet the tadpole and the caterpillar still the same, even when they’re jumping and flying, swimming and floating. Just like I am.”

Over all, Geek Girl was fun and light reading. The side characters interesting and it doesn’t hurt that in Victorian time women used to use dead mice skin as a fashion accessory or that the water doesn’t reflect the sky but reflects the wave length of the colour blue. I enjoyed this book immensely and it might not have left a long lasting impression on me but I’m sure I can pick this book a year later and still enjoy. Highly recommended to all geek self-confessed or not.

Arc provided by HarperCollins UK.

Read more of my reviews at Escapism from Reality

[Jessica Shelley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Things I liked about this book;
1. It was fast paced & addictive
2. Their were consistent cliffhangers that created a lot of suspense

Things I didn't like about this book;
1. It was super OTT / unrealistic
2. The concept/message behind the book I found was harmful
3. It takes a boy/kiss for her to realize & accept who she is
4. The father was super gross. (Example: he has a wife, but when he takes his daughter to model on a catwalk, he is drooling and adamant at getting inside the changing rooms where young models are all walking around in underwear. And they must be of a young age to Harriet. (Who's 15. The oldest these girls could possibly be are between 15-20. Her Dad is 40+) Which is even more... EW!)
5. Plus there is a boy who STALKS her!!! And she doesn't seem to be too bothered about that. Like everyone just says 's ... 'aww that's the boy who stalks you and hides in your bushes and follows you on the street. Bless him.' Like WTF?!
6. Andddddd it's almost like eating disorders are promoted! (As a person who used to suffer from an ED - it was quite triggering.) I wasn't sure if it was meant to be comical when her agent said 'You're a model now, you don't eat dinner, or breakfast, or lunch. Unless you throw up.'
7. And her father calls her a feminist, even though she's done nothing to warrant that label.

Overall, I found this super problematic. I can see why other people may have enjoyed this book. (Especially younger readers around 11/12) But it just wasn't for me. However, I have come away and learnt as a writer what makes good fast pacing/how to create addictive cliff-hangers!

[Marieke | Marieke's Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF op 32%. Dit is het eerste boek dit jaar dat op mijn dnf lijst komt. Ik kan er maar niet doorheen komen.. En ik ben stiekem al trots op mezelf dat ik tot de 32% ben gekomen. Dit is mijn eerste luisterboek en daar kan het misschien ook wel een heel klein beetje liggen. Haar beste vriendin Nat, klinkt in mijn oren als Ned en dus was ik telkens in de war. (Ook duurt het luisteren van een luisterboek mij te lang.. bijna 7 uur om zo'n boek te luisteren? Dat kan toch veel sneller?)

Ik erger me vooral heel erg aan de hoofdpersoon Harriet en hoe zij wordt beschreven in dit boek. Oke, ze is dus een geek, maar waarom moet ze dan zo sociaal-awkward afgeschilderd worden? Waarom is ze én onhandig én vindt (bijna) niemand haar aardig én noemt ze overal feitjes op. Pff, wat een stereotypering.

Aan het begin kon ik mezelf nog wel met haar vergelijken. Een beetje awkward, maar meer ook niet. En gewoon slim, niet perse een geek. En toen kwam ze in contact met meer mensen dan alleen haar beste vriendin en toen begon de ellende. Ze noemt zichzelf continu geek en daar ergerde ik me ook heel erg aan.

En dan dat hele modellen gedoe... Nee, dit boek is niks voor mij en dus ga ik er ook niet in verder. Er zijn nog genoeg leuke boeken om te lezen en dan ga ik mezelf niet met deze vermoeien.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun, light read that was just perfect for me since I had just finished A Court of Thorns and Roses. It only took a few hours to read and was well written. The only part I didn't like was how childish Harriet's dad acts. I mean he acts like he's 13 years old on a good day. Other then that, it was good and shows the reader that what really counts Ina person is what is on the inside, not the outside.

I will be reading the next few books of this series because 1) I want to see what happens with Harriet and Nick and 2) it's a great light book that helps you get over the heavier fantasy books that I tend to read.

[MoisesRd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me reí en todo momento y aunque hubo un largo tiempo en que lo abandoné, valió la pena cada segundo de espera.
De lo más divertido que habré leído en el año, sin duda.
Harriet Manners y Toby, ustedes son mis Frikis favoritos de la literatura.

[Airah ♔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meet Harriet Manners -- our resident 15 y/o geek girl.

"I'm not a big fan of the colour red, even if it is the longest wavelength of light discernible by the human eye."

Well, my fave color is red, and I didn't know that.

Let me tell you, I feel pretty giddy whenever I start a book. I believe that no book can be so bad that it doesn't contain even a single new knowledge or information.

Fortunately, this book is full of them. I'm seriously learning lots of actual trivias while reading this YA goodie -- now, that's a first.

Because this book dragged a bit at times, I don't think this could be read in one sitting. Took me almost a month and other good books in between to finish this one. But whenever I pick it up again, I found myself enjoying the few chapters. Nothing beats good humor in an uneventful day.

The only thing that irritates me the most was the varied terms of endearment used by the top model agent, Wilbur.

Petal, Sponge-finger, Chocolate-drops, Baby-baby Unicorn.

Like, seriously??? He must have called Harriet a hundred different names throughout the book!

First off, I have nothing against the gay community. I don't even know how fashion mavens talk but I thought Wilbur's personality was so exaggerated it's NOT even funny. In fact, whenever I read about Wilbur's line, I feel like pulling my hair out. It's just so annoying!!

Thank goodness, I let that out.

~This book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exhange for an honest review.

[Lala_Loopsie [fire breathing B!tch Queen]]

Como este maldito ordenador me ha borrado todo lo que he escrito, os quedáis con lo que pueda hacer en 10 minutos... Y mira que mi reseña estaba bien...

El libro mo era lo suficientemente interesante como para que me lo acabara, lo único bueno que teníaera que me aportó más datos curiosos a mi lista. Y era bastante gracioso en los 5 capí tulos que leí, sus monólogos internos eran mejor que cualquier comedia que puedas ver.

La cosa es que no me atrajo como otros libros lo hayan hecho anteriormente.

[Yoda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geek Girl is about a pretty normal girl, a bit quirky, that gets spotted at a school trip.
It was an okay read but mostly predictable. I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I regret buying the whole series right away..
The character of Toby was annoying and not really needed for the story.
I love fun facts and that was probably the thing I liked the most about this book.

[Dawnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun and easy and what i expect it to be with the amount of overdone fluff, grin worthy lines and completely overdone "joke" moments.

It clearly is a book targeted towards younger girls and i knew that going in and it was what i wanted: something silly and fun and easy to read and this book is exactly that!

I enjoyed that Harriet is actually a smart and "geeky" girl that enjoys learning and learning facts that you will never ever need in "real" life (which i could relate really well to being a person myself that loves learning and knowing stupid little things that are just fun to know)

Most of the characters where enjoyable and i did like that the stepmother was a great mother and that she was a smart woman -the smart parent!- and that she tried to talk Harriet out of becoming a model. Can't explain why that was because that would take forever, but i just liked that a mother tried to stop her daughter from modelling instead of being the parent that pushes her into it.

I do have to say that both Toby and Harriets father where over done in those books, the "stalker" was a bit too extreme with the constant popping up literary out of nowhere and just knowing where Harriet was, thats a bit too strange in my option. And Harriets father was just a bit too much of a "fun" parent, of an over extreme character that felt like a little brother doing stupid things in the background instead of a father figure. And i kind of hate when authors take those easy ways with parents of a story instead of making them actual real parents.

What i also didn't love about this book is that at the beginning of this book and quiet a few times throughout it, its often stated that Harriet is not the prettiest girl. Which is fine especially since most models -in my option!- are not necessary the most beautiful people, but i just think its a bit strange that we are so often told that the best friend Nat is this beautiful girl and Harriet apparently is the exact opposite of that and than the "ugly" girl gets the modelling job? Does that just make no sense at all to me? I just think that the author over did it a bit with the Harriet is "ugly" thing. I would have preferred it it would have just been said that Harriet wasn't the most beautiful, but that she was simply a normal looking girl. That would have just made more sense to me, especially with the modelling factor added in. But thats a personal thing, but since it is my personal review i am mentioning it!!

Overall this book was good, and if you are not a reader between 10 to 16 years old (since they will surely enjoy this easy and fun to read book if they like this type of book) and you want to read something fun and easy and completely silly book? Go for it!