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Desirable
George is a self-confessed social reject who spends more time with his Warhammer figures than actual people - but when he's given a bottle of aftershave called Desirable, women can't resist him! How will he cope with his new-found popularity? And what will happen when the magic wears off?
64 pages, ebook
First published September 20, 2008
About the author
Frank Cottrell Boyce
80 books266 followersFrank Cottrell Boyce is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 30, 2022
A quick read which gives you some real laugh out loud moments, I can’t wait to share this with my class
June 28, 2024
eponymous sentence:
p7: The aftershave was called "Desirable".
This is every nerd's dream elixir. Those cufflinks aren't bad, too.
p7: The aftershave was called "Desirable".
This is every nerd's dream elixir. Those cufflinks aren't bad, too.
February 27, 2010
George is unpopular. It’s his birthday and even his ‘closest’ – and only – friend doesn’t want to come to his birthday party in fear of his reputation! Even his granddad blows him out and instead goes to get his hair cut, leaving poor George with an old bottle of aftershave, way past its sell-by-date.
But George takes it in a positive manner, thinking maybe it was like wine or something – the longer you leave it, the better it gets. A smart move.
Because as George opens the bottle, the world is alive – birds singing, dogs barking, the sun vibrant, illuminating the atmosphere. With a just a dab of it, George is pleased. Perfect Paula wants to walk him to class; Perfect Paula who makes an excuse to comment on him, his clothes, his luminous yellow backpack, EVERY day. And, then all the girls want to sit next to him. Even the head wants to make him hot chocolate! But, then it gets out of hand, as Tiny and some others try to steal the bottle and it all leaks out. And Daniella, the girl he originally wanted to impress, doesn’t want to know because he’s changed. He’s not the same boy she had a (secret-) crush on anymore.
I thought this was a good read. It was quick and taught a valuable lesson. It also made me laugh out loud in some parts. I especially liked the part when, at the end, Daniella gave George the exact same bottle of aftershave that she found in bargain shop, because she noticed that he had something similar a couple of months ago – but what she didn’t know is that’s what made him so popular and unattractive to her!
But George takes it in a positive manner, thinking maybe it was like wine or something – the longer you leave it, the better it gets. A smart move.
Because as George opens the bottle, the world is alive – birds singing, dogs barking, the sun vibrant, illuminating the atmosphere. With a just a dab of it, George is pleased. Perfect Paula wants to walk him to class; Perfect Paula who makes an excuse to comment on him, his clothes, his luminous yellow backpack, EVERY day. And, then all the girls want to sit next to him. Even the head wants to make him hot chocolate! But, then it gets out of hand, as Tiny and some others try to steal the bottle and it all leaks out. And Daniella, the girl he originally wanted to impress, doesn’t want to know because he’s changed. He’s not the same boy she had a (secret-) crush on anymore.
I thought this was a good read. It was quick and taught a valuable lesson. It also made me laugh out loud in some parts. I especially liked the part when, at the end, Daniella gave George the exact same bottle of aftershave that she found in bargain shop, because she noticed that he had something similar a couple of months ago – but what she didn’t know is that’s what made him so popular and unattractive to her!
December 23, 2015
Just the right amount of humour. High interest. 3.5 starss
March 20, 2016
Entertaining.
October 4, 2019
This was a fun little book. And when I say little, I actually mean little. It was surprisingly short. Especially considering that the main character is in the eighth grade! I read it in a half-hour…
The story is about a boy named George who is anything but popular. He’s pretty much a loner and not even the other unpopular kids want to hang out with him. That is until his grandpa gives him a birthday gift of cologne called “Desirable”. Once he puts it on, suddenly everybody wants to be his best buddy… including the principal of his school.
I liked how it ended, but I didn’t quite see how it got to that place. That said, I still enjoyed this book! [3.5 Stars]
The story is about a boy named George who is anything but popular. He’s pretty much a loner and not even the other unpopular kids want to hang out with him. That is until his grandpa gives him a birthday gift of cologne called “Desirable”. Once he puts it on, suddenly everybody wants to be his best buddy… including the principal of his school.
I liked how it ended, but I didn’t quite see how it got to that place. That said, I still enjoyed this book! [3.5 Stars]
November 30, 2021
A witty spin on the old adage 'Be careful what you wish for', cleverly linked in with teenage anxieties about being accepted socially for who you are, Desirable is also designed to be accessible to readers of all standards as well as entertaining.
When the nerdy young male protagonist, normally shunned or even bullied by his peers suddenly becomes instantly popular with his female contemporaries and even teachers, is it anything to do with the vintage bottle of aftershave labelled, significantly, Desirable? And when that popularity rubs the male students up the wrong way will he realise that there is a downside to his new found acceptance?
You can't please all of the people all of the time but it is possible to find a select bunch of individuals with whom you do get on: it's only a matter of circumstances coinciding with being yourself that may bring it about. In the meantime it could prove quite a ride, as Frank Cotterell Boyce's dyslexia-friendly fantasy suggests.
When the nerdy young male protagonist, normally shunned or even bullied by his peers suddenly becomes instantly popular with his female contemporaries and even teachers, is it anything to do with the vintage bottle of aftershave labelled, significantly, Desirable? And when that popularity rubs the male students up the wrong way will he realise that there is a downside to his new found acceptance?
You can't please all of the people all of the time but it is possible to find a select bunch of individuals with whom you do get on: it's only a matter of circumstances coinciding with being yourself that may bring it about. In the meantime it could prove quite a ride, as Frank Cotterell Boyce's dyslexia-friendly fantasy suggests.
June 2, 2017
Cute and funny, more of a short story than a novel.
October 14, 2018
I would recommend this book
January 12, 2022
Picked this book by chance. I have loved every single book of his but not this one. The stereotypes are awful.
November 6, 2022
A great, quick read. A very relatable and funny account of high school dilemmas. Perfect for young adult reluctant readers.
December 2, 2022
A nice little read for a Saturday morning. It shouldn’t take too long to read as the book is packed with illustrations and the text is well spaced.
June 20, 2023
This man can do no wrong!
March 4, 2025
This book is really short - a great choice for kids who are intimidated by novels. The story is so funny and clever and a great introduction to Frank Cottrell Boyce.
January 24, 2014
Sweet little read that takes around 30 minutes to complete as the target audience is probably around Yr 4 or 5, however, it would make a fine class reader for a less able Yr 7 group. 'Desirable' deals with the story of George, a boy so lacking in friends, even his grandfather won't stay to celebrate his birthday. Thankfully, he leaves after giving George a bottle of 30 yr-old aftershave 'Desirable' that changes his life. Just one drop is sufficient to turn George from a lonely loser into a babe magnet. And it's not just the girls in school who are after him...
Very entertaining, and, as with all of Cottrell Boyce's works, the protagonist is an outsider: think the saint-obsessed Damian in 'Millions' and the registration collecting Dylan in 'Framed' and provides a subtle moral message about the real meaning of friendship.
Very entertaining, and, as with all of Cottrell Boyce's works, the protagonist is an outsider: think the saint-obsessed Damian in 'Millions' and the registration collecting Dylan in 'Framed' and provides a subtle moral message about the real meaning of friendship.
November 8, 2012
Vain pieni tujaus vanhentunutta partavettä ja pojasta, jonka syntymäpäivillä ei jaksanut olla oma isoisäkään, tulee koulun suosituin hunk.
Helppolukuinen enkkujuttu kaikille niille, joiden mielestä kannattaa odottaa, kunnes örkit ja kääpiöt tulevat muotiin :).
Helppolukuinen enkkujuttu kaikille niille, joiden mielestä kannattaa odottaa, kunnes örkit ja kääpiöt tulevat muotiin :).
November 8, 2012
Koulun sosiaalisesta katastrofista kaikkien naisten päiväunien kohteeksi yhdessä yössä ja kaikki tämä ukin vanhentuneen partaveden avulla. George saa sitä suosiota mistä hän on unelmoinut ja toivonut, mutta kauanko hän kestää koulun suosituimpana poikana?
July 31, 2014
Nice little story, suitable for pupils in Years 5-6 in my opinion, or possibly reluctant readers / SEN pupils in Year 7 or 8. Nicely written, good element of humour but to be perfectly honest, I have read better novels from the Barrington Stoke range.
July 9, 2012
Nice wee kids' story. Perfectly pleasant.
April 10, 2013
Desirable was a short story. It also seemed like a parable. The characters were likeable.
May 25, 2014
Enjoyeditbut was bit short for me!?!
January 7, 2015
Great kids book, Nice message throughout
June 24, 2015
Funny little book. Great for my dyslexic son as its aimed at youths age 12 plus with the reading age of 8.
November 2, 2017
Another super Barrington Stoke book, this one aimed at Y6-8. Funny and not overwhelming for kids who find reading challenging.
June 22, 2018
George transforms from.loser to most popular guy in school with the help of some weird aftershave but he just wants attention from one girl.
Could be used to study comedic writing and predictive reading; senses and chemistry; changing bodies; and comic book artwork
Could be used to study comedic writing and predictive reading; senses and chemistry; changing bodies; and comic book artwork
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews