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Manicpixiedreamgirl
Sometimes the most dramatic scenes in a high school theater club are the ones that happen between the actors and crew "off stage."
Seventeen-year-old Tyler Darcy's dream of being a writer is starting to feel very real now that he's sold his first short story to a literary journal. He "should" be celebrating its publication with his two best friends who've always had his back, but on this night, a steady stream of texts from his girlfriend Sidney keep intruding. So do the memories of his dream girl, Becky, who's been on his mind a little too much since the first day of high school. Before the night is over, Ty might just find the nerve to stop all the obsessing and finally take action.
Seventeen-year-old Tyler Darcy's dream of being a writer is starting to feel very real now that he's sold his first short story to a literary journal. He "should" be celebrating its publication with his two best friends who've always had his back, but on this night, a steady stream of texts from his girlfriend Sidney keep intruding. So do the memories of his dream girl, Becky, who's been on his mind a little too much since the first day of high school. Before the night is over, Ty might just find the nerve to stop all the obsessing and finally take action.
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First published April 23, 2013
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About the author
Tom Leveen
45 books238 followersTom Leveen is the author of nine novels originally with imprints of Random House, Simon & Schuster, Abrams, and more. He has written with Todd McFarlane on SPAWN, the comic book series, and fiction for the TTRPG BattleTech for Topps, Inc.
Recently an early literacy specialist with Phoenix Public Library, Tom has twelve years of previous library work experience. He also has 22 years of theatre experience as an actor and director, and has been the Artistic Director for two different award-winning theatre companies.
Tom wrote his first story in second grade and has been writing and telling stories ever since. His first horror novel, SICK, won the Westchester Fiction Award and the Grand Canyon Reader Award. His novel ZERO was a Best Book of 2013 (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association).
A frequent guest speaker and teacher, Tom has taught, paneled, and/or keynoted for SCBWI, RWA, Desert Nights Rising Stars, Phoenix ComiCon, AzLA, NCTE, TEDx, People of Color Network, Western New Mexico University, Arizona State University, Arizona Reading Association, Kennesaw State University, multiple schools and conferences throughout Germany, AETA, the Los Angeles Teen Book Fest, and many others.
In addition, apropos of absolutely nothing, Tom:
Finished a marathon (in six and half hours) and a triathalon sprint in 2 hours, earned a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do, co-hosted a public access comedy show, directed 30 plays and acted in 30 more, ran a theatre company out of his backyard, met almost all of his literary heroes except for Stephen King, played in a punk band live in front of actual people (once), prefers the Hero System but nevertheless runs a warlock minotaur and storm cleric elf when time permits, trained at the Utah Shakespeare Festival Actor Training program for five sessions, was Best Masque & Gavel Member in high school, lettered in Speech, has a rock in one finger from a pretty bad bail on his (now stolen) Tony Hawk, was the safari train driver for the Phoenix Zoo for a short time, worked in the stock room for Forever 21 for an even shorter time, completed a Spartan Sprint with three friends, and spent twenty years earning his Bachelor of Science degree. He is currently in an MFA program at a major international university.
So if there's something you want to do, go do it.
Recently an early literacy specialist with Phoenix Public Library, Tom has twelve years of previous library work experience. He also has 22 years of theatre experience as an actor and director, and has been the Artistic Director for two different award-winning theatre companies.
Tom wrote his first story in second grade and has been writing and telling stories ever since. His first horror novel, SICK, won the Westchester Fiction Award and the Grand Canyon Reader Award. His novel ZERO was a Best Book of 2013 (American Library Association/Young Adult Library Services Association).
A frequent guest speaker and teacher, Tom has taught, paneled, and/or keynoted for SCBWI, RWA, Desert Nights Rising Stars, Phoenix ComiCon, AzLA, NCTE, TEDx, People of Color Network, Western New Mexico University, Arizona State University, Arizona Reading Association, Kennesaw State University, multiple schools and conferences throughout Germany, AETA, the Los Angeles Teen Book Fest, and many others.
In addition, apropos of absolutely nothing, Tom:
Finished a marathon (in six and half hours) and a triathalon sprint in 2 hours, earned a blue belt in Tae Kwon Do, co-hosted a public access comedy show, directed 30 plays and acted in 30 more, ran a theatre company out of his backyard, met almost all of his literary heroes except for Stephen King, played in a punk band live in front of actual people (once), prefers the Hero System but nevertheless runs a warlock minotaur and storm cleric elf when time permits, trained at the Utah Shakespeare Festival Actor Training program for five sessions, was Best Masque & Gavel Member in high school, lettered in Speech, has a rock in one finger from a pretty bad bail on his (now stolen) Tony Hawk, was the safari train driver for the Phoenix Zoo for a short time, worked in the stock room for Forever 21 for an even shorter time, completed a Spartan Sprint with three friends, and spent twenty years earning his Bachelor of Science degree. He is currently in an MFA program at a major international university.
So if there's something you want to do, go do it.
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October 15, 2025
I don't know why I expected this to be a teen/YA thriller or something. Maybe because "nice guys" and teenage boys chasing after girls who don't like them back are inherently terrifying to me.
The book was weird. It's a misogynistic "nice guy" obsessed with the broken girl he's made up being amazing and perfect while dating some "pick me" girl who does nothing but complain and slut shame our manic pixie dream girl.
Spoiler alert
The dude gets a happy ending. The book should've ended with the manic pixie dream girl character murdering him or something. That would've been more interesting. He's annoying and doesn't deserve happiness. He gives of Joe vibes from 'You'.
The book was weird. It's a misogynistic "nice guy" obsessed with the broken girl he's made up being amazing and perfect while dating some "pick me" girl who does nothing but complain and slut shame our manic pixie dream girl.
Spoiler alert
The dude gets a happy ending. The book should've ended with the manic pixie dream girl character murdering him or something. That would've been more interesting. He's annoying and doesn't deserve happiness. He gives of Joe vibes from 'You'.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2013
Tom Leveen’s Manicpixiedreamgirl is an eponymous novel about the trope coined in 2007 but existing far back in the history of stories about a particular type of female character who acts as a muse to the main character. Initially described as: “The Manic Pixie Dream Girl exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures. The Manic Pixie Dream Girl is an all-or-nothing-proposition.”
Since this novel is titled about the concept of a MPDG, my review might sidetrack in discussing the success in bringing attention or subversion to the MPDG trope. This is in conjunction to the regular enjoyment of the plot of boy meets girl, girl doesn’t really meet boy; boy begins to build a fantasy world about the idealization of girl and audience collectively slaps their foreheads in exasperation as boy ignores girlfriend he has for girl he barely knows because social cues are hard, dude.
In this story we have seventeen-year-old Tyler, our sensitive writer-director, as the narrator. Leveen is very good at writing an authentic teenage boy voice, and even though I spent a lot of my time wanting to shake Tyler for being a moody and self-centered jerk about his obsession, his personality felt real. Aggravatingly real. The majority of the other inhabitants of the novel, while entertaining, are mostly vague character sketches. Tyler’s parents are supportive. His two friends, Justin and Robby, are guys who are more extroverted and less artistic than Tyler, but loyal and providers of much banter. The English teacher is inspiring and awesome while being a little bit terrifying. Etc., etc.
Thankfully, there is more attention given to the two girls who occupy most of his time: Becky Webb, the aforementioned MPDG, and Syd, his flesh and blood girlfriend. Bonus points go to Tyler’s sister, who often serves as a deus ex chaperone driver device, but is also given some conflict and depth in regards to her own wild ways and advising of Tyler of the ways of girls and “so’s your face” retorts.
Syd probably gets the short shrift of the characterization stick, because, while we know a lot about her hobbies: she’s mature, she’s on the debate team, she’s smart and forward thinking...we never know why she likes Tyler so much to put up with his inattentive boyfriend ways and his obvious obsession with another girl. It is even lampshaded in the narrative and joked about that he must have an amazingly large package to compensate for his poor boyfriend behavior, but it’s still unconvincing. Her tolerance of Tyler’s fixation is probably the one sticking point many people might have of the novel because it doesn’t entirely seem to fit with the rest of her personality.
And Becky Webb, the majority of the novel she is a MPDG because that’s all Tyler allows her to be. At the beginning, all we know of her is that she has a star tattoo, she eats broken animal crackers but not the whole ones, she listens to esoteric bands. She is, at alternating times, written straight and then written as a subversion of the trope. Obviously, she is his muse since he writes endless stories about her, being perfect and someone for him to save and protect. Then he sees things about her that are not so perfect, that in a meta way are earmarks of a MPDG’s “broken quirkiness” but do force Ty to confront his own problematic idealization of her. So, rounding back to that whole title and successful reappropriation thing: Leveen does and doesn’t. Mostly he does.
From my experience, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope deconstruction happens in two ways.
1) the narrator’s opinion of the dream girl is discredited, either by the character maturing and having a greater understanding of the girl/themselves/everything (Joel from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) or the narrative frames that opinion as a flaw that the audience sees even if the character does not (Tom from “500 Days of Summer” ...although the effectiveness of that one is debatable).
2) the dream girl is made into a fleshed out character with her own motivations, backstory and desires (Ramona Flowers from the Scott Pilgrim comics or Amelie from Amelie, who is very MPDG in her actions but--being the main character and having her own agency--doesn’t apply to the major criticism this trope brings up).
And, in my opinion, the best stories have both these things occur in various shades through the narrative.
This novel gets so on the nose about the subject that Syd blatantly calls Becky a “manic pixie dream girl” by name when she confronts Tyler about it. Leveen is pretty careful to hint how Becky has more to her than Tyler sees, even if it’s largely uncapitalized on. And he has everyone, including Tyler, pointing out how this idealization is not really beneficial. That for all the times he dreamed of being the hero and whisking her into his arms, seeing her actually cry--from her actually real problems--is decidedly not as fun as it was in his imagination.
At the same time, Becky never really gets her own chance to shine. We have the moments of debunking Tyler’s perceived moments of significance, like when she mentioned how the star tattoo was really something she just picked off the wall for a lark and not pointing to anything “deeply symbolic.” Her characterized breakthrough moment is simply being surprised that Tyler wouldn’t take advantage of her and the revelation that she is complicated and more than love's true kiss can heal messed up. Likewise, Syd’s departure as Tyler’s girlfriend is so easy and uncomplicated it feels like she pulled a MPDG move herself by vanishing from his life to leave him. The story ends more for Tyler's peace of mind than either of their stories being resolved.
In spite of these reservations, I still think Leveen succeeded in “Manicpixiedreamgirl.” Largely for the insight drunken Robby brings by saying “when you talk about her...I gotta say you’re not much fun to be around” … “but on the other hand, after you’ve seen her? After you’ve hung out with her for a bit? Dude, you’re a party” that pretty much shows it’s Tyler’s own issues, his hang ups and perceptions. When he's not being self-absorbed, the novel gives hints to deeper motivations and interpersonal relationships that Tyler simply doesn't see, but might at the end of the story. It’s a short novel, clocking in at 241 pages, and the brevity shows in the lack of details and character moments that would give the subject real punch, but the general thrust of it is there. And while not so amazingly enjoyable for me (enjoyable! nice! but also short and I wanted more of it), I think many other readers could enjoy the story on its own merits or as a contribution for the larger discussion of what exactly constitutes a good/bad/stereotypical/nuanced Manic Pixie Dream Girl character.
My vote is for Clementine, just saying.
Since this novel is titled about the concept of a MPDG, my review might sidetrack in discussing the success in bringing attention or subversion to the MPDG trope. This is in conjunction to the regular enjoyment of the plot of boy meets girl, girl doesn’t really meet boy; boy begins to build a fantasy world about the idealization of girl and audience collectively slaps their foreheads in exasperation as boy ignores girlfriend he has for girl he barely knows because social cues are hard, dude.
In this story we have seventeen-year-old Tyler, our sensitive writer-director, as the narrator. Leveen is very good at writing an authentic teenage boy voice, and even though I spent a lot of my time wanting to shake Tyler for being a moody and self-centered jerk about his obsession, his personality felt real. Aggravatingly real. The majority of the other inhabitants of the novel, while entertaining, are mostly vague character sketches. Tyler’s parents are supportive. His two friends, Justin and Robby, are guys who are more extroverted and less artistic than Tyler, but loyal and providers of much banter. The English teacher is inspiring and awesome while being a little bit terrifying. Etc., etc.
Thankfully, there is more attention given to the two girls who occupy most of his time: Becky Webb, the aforementioned MPDG, and Syd, his flesh and blood girlfriend. Bonus points go to Tyler’s sister, who often serves as a deus ex chaperone driver device, but is also given some conflict and depth in regards to her own wild ways and advising of Tyler of the ways of girls and “so’s your face” retorts.
Syd probably gets the short shrift of the characterization stick, because, while we know a lot about her hobbies: she’s mature, she’s on the debate team, she’s smart and forward thinking...we never know why she likes Tyler so much to put up with his inattentive boyfriend ways and his obvious obsession with another girl. It is even lampshaded in the narrative and joked about that he must have an amazingly large package to compensate for his poor boyfriend behavior, but it’s still unconvincing. Her tolerance of Tyler’s fixation is probably the one sticking point many people might have of the novel because it doesn’t entirely seem to fit with the rest of her personality.
And Becky Webb, the majority of the novel she is a MPDG because that’s all Tyler allows her to be. At the beginning, all we know of her is that she has a star tattoo, she eats broken animal crackers but not the whole ones, she listens to esoteric bands. She is, at alternating times, written straight and then written as a subversion of the trope. Obviously, she is his muse since he writes endless stories about her, being perfect and someone for him to save and protect. Then he sees things about her that are not so perfect, that in a meta way are earmarks of a MPDG’s “broken quirkiness” but do force Ty to confront his own problematic idealization of her. So, rounding back to that whole title and successful reappropriation thing: Leveen does and doesn’t. Mostly he does.
From my experience, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope deconstruction happens in two ways.
1) the narrator’s opinion of the dream girl is discredited, either by the character maturing and having a greater understanding of the girl/themselves/everything (Joel from “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”) or the narrative frames that opinion as a flaw that the audience sees even if the character does not (Tom from “500 Days of Summer” ...although the effectiveness of that one is debatable).
2) the dream girl is made into a fleshed out character with her own motivations, backstory and desires (Ramona Flowers from the Scott Pilgrim comics or Amelie from Amelie, who is very MPDG in her actions but--being the main character and having her own agency--doesn’t apply to the major criticism this trope brings up).
And, in my opinion, the best stories have both these things occur in various shades through the narrative.
This novel gets so on the nose about the subject that Syd blatantly calls Becky a “manic pixie dream girl” by name when she confronts Tyler about it. Leveen is pretty careful to hint how Becky has more to her than Tyler sees, even if it’s largely uncapitalized on. And he has everyone, including Tyler, pointing out how this idealization is not really beneficial. That for all the times he dreamed of being the hero and whisking her into his arms, seeing her actually cry--from her actually real problems--is decidedly not as fun as it was in his imagination.
At the same time, Becky never really gets her own chance to shine. We have the moments of debunking Tyler’s perceived moments of significance, like when she mentioned how the star tattoo was really something she just picked off the wall for a lark and not pointing to anything “deeply symbolic.” Her characterized breakthrough moment is simply being surprised that Tyler wouldn’t take advantage of her and the revelation that she is complicated and more than love's true kiss can heal messed up. Likewise, Syd’s departure as Tyler’s girlfriend is so easy and uncomplicated it feels like she pulled a MPDG move herself by vanishing from his life to leave him. The story ends more for Tyler's peace of mind than either of their stories being resolved.
In spite of these reservations, I still think Leveen succeeded in “Manicpixiedreamgirl.” Largely for the insight drunken Robby brings by saying “when you talk about her...I gotta say you’re not much fun to be around” … “but on the other hand, after you’ve seen her? After you’ve hung out with her for a bit? Dude, you’re a party” that pretty much shows it’s Tyler’s own issues, his hang ups and perceptions. When he's not being self-absorbed, the novel gives hints to deeper motivations and interpersonal relationships that Tyler simply doesn't see, but might at the end of the story. It’s a short novel, clocking in at 241 pages, and the brevity shows in the lack of details and character moments that would give the subject real punch, but the general thrust of it is there. And while not so amazingly enjoyable for me (enjoyable! nice! but also short and I wanted more of it), I think many other readers could enjoy the story on its own merits or as a contribution for the larger discussion of what exactly constitutes a good/bad/stereotypical/nuanced Manic Pixie Dream Girl character.
My vote is for Clementine, just saying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2016
This is my first Tom Leveen novel and I am head over heels for his writing. You can bet after reading this slim but superb novel about a young man chasing a vision of what he wants instead of appreciating what he has that I will be adding Leveen's other novels to my shelf.
Manicpixiedreamgirl opens on Tyler Darcy and his friends Rob and Justin celebrating after Tyler sells a short story to a literary magazine. After three years of pining for Rebecca, Tyler's forced to decide whether it's time to act or time to move on.
I can't say enough about this book. It's 256 pages of real people with real emotions, actions and reactions that is nothing short of absolutely compelling.
Every character is unique and steps outside of some of the stereotypical teenage characters you see in fiction. For example, Tyler's friend Rob is constantly evolving, changing his look and trying new things but never trying to become someone else. Vignettes that showcase this evolution are a testament to the teenage search for self that everyone goes through in high school.
Voice is the thing that gripped me most about manicpixiedreamgirl. Tyler tells his story as it happened. For the most part it's his unembellished, true account of what happened down to his self-doubt and reflection on his actions or lack thereof. His honest review of his past during a single day of his present is what made this novel so difficult to put down.
Tyler's obsession with Rebecca is lost on his girlfriend and two best friends. Rob and Justin wonder why Tyler put her on a pedestal and why he hasn't given up the dream, especially when Sydney is right in front of him.
Sydney is convinced that maybe Tyler will eventually realize what he has. All he needs is time and she's willing to be patient, but that day might be further away than Sydney thinks.
If you're looking for a fantastic read that nixes the melodrama of high school and overblown archetypes associated with it then your search ends with manicpixiedreamgirl. Simultaneously quick-witted and achingly real, Leveen's latest work is not to be missed.
Manicpixiedreamgirl opens on Tyler Darcy and his friends Rob and Justin celebrating after Tyler sells a short story to a literary magazine. After three years of pining for Rebecca, Tyler's forced to decide whether it's time to act or time to move on.
I can't say enough about this book. It's 256 pages of real people with real emotions, actions and reactions that is nothing short of absolutely compelling.
Every character is unique and steps outside of some of the stereotypical teenage characters you see in fiction. For example, Tyler's friend Rob is constantly evolving, changing his look and trying new things but never trying to become someone else. Vignettes that showcase this evolution are a testament to the teenage search for self that everyone goes through in high school.
Voice is the thing that gripped me most about manicpixiedreamgirl. Tyler tells his story as it happened. For the most part it's his unembellished, true account of what happened down to his self-doubt and reflection on his actions or lack thereof. His honest review of his past during a single day of his present is what made this novel so difficult to put down.
Tyler's obsession with Rebecca is lost on his girlfriend and two best friends. Rob and Justin wonder why Tyler put her on a pedestal and why he hasn't given up the dream, especially when Sydney is right in front of him.
Sydney is convinced that maybe Tyler will eventually realize what he has. All he needs is time and she's willing to be patient, but that day might be further away than Sydney thinks.
If you're looking for a fantastic read that nixes the melodrama of high school and overblown archetypes associated with it then your search ends with manicpixiedreamgirl. Simultaneously quick-witted and achingly real, Leveen's latest work is not to be missed.
April 16, 2015
I didn't like Tyler Darcy.. He has a girlfriend but he's in love with someone else. Cheater. But yeah, good book though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read
April 14, 2013For the complete review, including a brief history of the Manic Pixie Dream girl,
Check out my blog, YA Romantics
Manicpixiedream girl is about a boy who drifts into a relationship he's not that into because he can't bring himself to reach out to the girl he's really interested in.
The book switches between the past and the present, between the aftermath of Tyler's girlfriend discovering that he's obsessed with another girl and his prior encounters with Becky, the girl in question. The flashback sections do start in a different typeface, but once or twice I did get a little confused about what time I was in. And at times, I wondered if the whole conceit of the short story being published was even necessary-- why not just write a book about a guy who's in a relationship with one girl and in love with another? But by the end of the book, I'd decided thatTyler's story shows Becky how he sees her, which offers a needed sense of poignancy and hope as the story resolves.
The characters -- and especially the female ones -- in Manicpixiedream girl are drawn with both subtly and precision. There's Tyler's girlfriend Sydney, the efficient, go-getter who is often superficially written in YA books and movies as the high-achieving student council type. But I got the feeling that, deep-down, Sydney is just as bewildered about her relationship with Tyler as he is. That Sydney decided to make Tyler her boyfriend for the same reason that she gets good grades and participates in debate: because that's what she thinks she's supposed to do.
For much of the book, Becky is a bit of an enigma. In fact I really wouldn't call her a true MPDG at all. Maybe just a PDG. She's a talented actress, quiet and kind of a loner. As Tyler gets to know her, he finds out some things about her that would be off-putting to a lot of guys. But he doesn't give up on her. He needs to know why. What he finds out is heartbreaking, and mostly so because it's told with matter-of-factness, not melodrama.
Definitely recommended for fans of character-driven stories.
Check out my blog, YA Romantics
Manicpixiedream girl is about a boy who drifts into a relationship he's not that into because he can't bring himself to reach out to the girl he's really interested in.
The book switches between the past and the present, between the aftermath of Tyler's girlfriend discovering that he's obsessed with another girl and his prior encounters with Becky, the girl in question. The flashback sections do start in a different typeface, but once or twice I did get a little confused about what time I was in. And at times, I wondered if the whole conceit of the short story being published was even necessary-- why not just write a book about a guy who's in a relationship with one girl and in love with another? But by the end of the book, I'd decided thatTyler's story shows Becky how he sees her, which offers a needed sense of poignancy and hope as the story resolves.
The characters -- and especially the female ones -- in Manicpixiedream girl are drawn with both subtly and precision. There's Tyler's girlfriend Sydney, the efficient, go-getter who is often superficially written in YA books and movies as the high-achieving student council type. But I got the feeling that, deep-down, Sydney is just as bewildered about her relationship with Tyler as he is. That Sydney decided to make Tyler her boyfriend for the same reason that she gets good grades and participates in debate: because that's what she thinks she's supposed to do.
For much of the book, Becky is a bit of an enigma. In fact I really wouldn't call her a true MPDG at all. Maybe just a PDG. She's a talented actress, quiet and kind of a loner. As Tyler gets to know her, he finds out some things about her that would be off-putting to a lot of guys. But he doesn't give up on her. He needs to know why. What he finds out is heartbreaking, and mostly so because it's told with matter-of-factness, not melodrama.
Definitely recommended for fans of character-driven stories.
April 25, 2013
Once again, in Manicpixiedreamgirl, Leveen writes realistic, edgy teen characters that tug at your heartstrings and make you root for their ultimate triumph.
As Manicpixiedreamgirl opens, Tyler and his two friends are celebrating the publication of one of Tyler's stories in a magazine. The three of them are all in various stages of intoxication in a city park. Tyler is receiving texts and phone calls from two different girls--Syd, who has been his steady girlfriend for two years, and Becky, who he's been in love with for three years.
Through flashbacks, we are introduced to these characters and the history of Tyler's obsession with Becky (from afar) and his real relationship with Syd. Leveen is a master of creating a teen character in distress. It is interesting how Tyler, because he loves Becky from afar, really has no idea of who she really is. We slowly find out things, along with Tyler, that makes her less than perfect -- much to Tyler's disappointment.
Syd is also a great character -- realizing that Tyler has this obsession, but hoping he will get over it. The friends are great supporting characters to bounce off of, and all together Manicpixiedreamgirl is a quick, compelling contemporary book that will particularly appeal to reluctant readers. The ending of Manicpixiedreamgirl isn't all that surprising, but it's also not all wrapped up neatly. There are still some struggles to live through, and we aren't sure how everything will turn out for Tyler. We can only hope...
Zero is still my favorite of Leveen's books. I felt a more emotional connection to the characters in Zero. Manicpixiedreamgirl is more light-hearted and felt less serious to me. Still entertaining, but in a different way.
If you are wondering where the title came from, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl is "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures," according to Nathan Rabin, via Wikipedia.
I'll happily recommend Manicpixiedreamgirl to teens at my library who want a short, edgy, believable contemporary story.
As Manicpixiedreamgirl opens, Tyler and his two friends are celebrating the publication of one of Tyler's stories in a magazine. The three of them are all in various stages of intoxication in a city park. Tyler is receiving texts and phone calls from two different girls--Syd, who has been his steady girlfriend for two years, and Becky, who he's been in love with for three years.
Through flashbacks, we are introduced to these characters and the history of Tyler's obsession with Becky (from afar) and his real relationship with Syd. Leveen is a master of creating a teen character in distress. It is interesting how Tyler, because he loves Becky from afar, really has no idea of who she really is. We slowly find out things, along with Tyler, that makes her less than perfect -- much to Tyler's disappointment.
Syd is also a great character -- realizing that Tyler has this obsession, but hoping he will get over it. The friends are great supporting characters to bounce off of, and all together Manicpixiedreamgirl is a quick, compelling contemporary book that will particularly appeal to reluctant readers. The ending of Manicpixiedreamgirl isn't all that surprising, but it's also not all wrapped up neatly. There are still some struggles to live through, and we aren't sure how everything will turn out for Tyler. We can only hope...
Zero is still my favorite of Leveen's books. I felt a more emotional connection to the characters in Zero. Manicpixiedreamgirl is more light-hearted and felt less serious to me. Still entertaining, but in a different way.
If you are wondering where the title came from, a Manic Pixie Dream Girl is "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures," according to Nathan Rabin, via Wikipedia.
I'll happily recommend Manicpixiedreamgirl to teens at my library who want a short, edgy, believable contemporary story.
June 25, 2012
Many thanks to Random House for offering this ARC on netgally.com. This is the second Tom Leeven ARC I have received and read. I loved Zero and Loved Manicpixiedreamgirl even more. Leveen's first book, Party, gave me some mixed feelings, but Zero was great and Manicpixiedreamgirl just proves that Leveen is getting better and better. His characters are real and avoid stereotypes. They are not "all bad" or "all good," they are characters who live in grey, who make good decisions and poor ones...just like real people! The title comes from the idea of a stock film character, like Marilyn Monroe's character Sugar in Some Like it Hot, Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown, and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. According to film critic, Nathan Rubin, who created the term, the MPDG is "that bubbly, shallow cinematic creature that exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures."
Becky Webb is Tyler Darcy's MPDG. He spots on her his first day of high school and loves her (loves the idea he has created of her, actually) from afar for two years.
Becky is a girl of mystery. She doesn't seem to have any friends, everyone pretty much ignores her, except for the guys who hook up with her in a closet, or a car and leave without acknowledging her further.
Tyler has a girlfriend, Sydney, who knows of his obsession with Becky, but keeps hoping that someday he will let it go.
It all comes to a head though, in one evening, when Sydney sees a copy of a short story that Tyler has published in a literary magazine. Now his deep feelings for Becky are out there and he must decide what to do about them, if anything at all.
The story is funny, brilliant, honest and real. As I said, truly Leveen is a rising star.
Becky Webb is Tyler Darcy's MPDG. He spots on her his first day of high school and loves her (loves the idea he has created of her, actually) from afar for two years.
Becky is a girl of mystery. She doesn't seem to have any friends, everyone pretty much ignores her, except for the guys who hook up with her in a closet, or a car and leave without acknowledging her further.
Tyler has a girlfriend, Sydney, who knows of his obsession with Becky, but keeps hoping that someday he will let it go.
It all comes to a head though, in one evening, when Sydney sees a copy of a short story that Tyler has published in a literary magazine. Now his deep feelings for Becky are out there and he must decide what to do about them, if anything at all.
The story is funny, brilliant, honest and real. As I said, truly Leveen is a rising star.
April 20, 2013
Absolutely, positively enjoyed every minute of this.
Best male narration since John Green's Paper Towns. Need to get my hands on more of Leveen's work.
Best male narration since John Green's Paper Towns. Need to get my hands on more of Leveen's work.
December 19, 2016
Tyler Darcy is seventeen, and he's had a crush on the same girl, Rebecca Webb, since the first time he saw her freshman year. Becky is clearly troubled, mostly because of how poorly her parents treat her, but in Tyler's eyes, she is perfect. Throughout four years of high school, though he is dating someone else, Tyler writes stories about Becky, in which she is a straight-A student and a famous actress. In the meantime, Becky shines onstage in school drama productions (on which Tyler operates the lights), but otherwise keeps to herself, occasionally "hooking up" with guys from the drama club, but never getting into relationships or even making many friends. One night, Tyler gets drunk, and as he looks back on the history of his love for Becky, he realizes he has to make a move, or lose the possibility of ever being her boyfriend.
I enjoyed Tom Leveen's Party, which I read a few years ago when I was working more closely with the YA population in my small-town library in upstate New York. I skipped Zero when it came out, because I had too many other books on my plate, but when I saw that manicpixiedreamgirl was about a long-term unrequited crush, and it was written from the male point of view, I knew I had to read it. It was, overall, a great YA read. Tyler, though foolish, is a sympathetic main character, and though Becky does not exhibit all the qualities I would suggest boys look for in girlfriends, Tyler's narration made it possible to understand why she was so important to him. I would argue that Becky does not really fit the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG) stereotype very well. (Film critic Nathan Rabin's description of MPDG characters as "bubbly" and "shallow" is posted at Urban Dictionary.) Still, Tyler treats her as though she is a truly remarkable person, who holds the key to his own happiness, which is very much the way Manic Pixie Dream Girls are treated in movies and in other books. (I kept thinking of Margo Roth Spiegelman in Paper Towns by John Green, for example.)
Tom Leveen captures a realistic portrait of high school life in this novel. There is some sexual activity and some drug use, but mainly in the background, and Tyler's involvement in sex, drugs, and alcohol is relegated to sporadic experimentation. Tyler's dialogue with his two best friends, Robby and Justin, and his close relationship with his older sister are some of the most delightful parts of the story. I enjoyed reading the banter between the three boys, and I laughed every time Tyler and his sister ended a conversation by saying, "So's your face." I had trouble buying into the cruelty of Becky's parents. I know all kinds of ugly abuse can be perpetrated by parents on their children - Chris Crutcher's books are proof enough of that - but the way her parents swore at her and told her they hated her didn't feel true to me in the context of this story. I wondered, though, whether the depiction of her parents was 100 percent accurate, or if Tyler had vilified them in the same way he had glorified Becky. It might be interesting to re-read the story again, looking for more evidence of Tyler's unreliability as a narrator.
manicpixiedreamgirl might disappoint readers who loved Paper Towns, only because the two stories are so similar, and this one has a more predictable ending. Because of its connections to acting and drama, it makes a nice read-alike for Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg and My Life, the Theater and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff. Its angsty narrator reminds me slightly of Holden Caulfield, but Tyler is a million times more likable. (I like Holden, but I know lots of teens don't, so I would use that comparison with caution.) Tyler also makes me think of strong male narrative voices Felton Reinstein from Stupid Fast and Happyface from the novel by Stephen Emond.
I enjoyed Tom Leveen's Party, which I read a few years ago when I was working more closely with the YA population in my small-town library in upstate New York. I skipped Zero when it came out, because I had too many other books on my plate, but when I saw that manicpixiedreamgirl was about a long-term unrequited crush, and it was written from the male point of view, I knew I had to read it. It was, overall, a great YA read. Tyler, though foolish, is a sympathetic main character, and though Becky does not exhibit all the qualities I would suggest boys look for in girlfriends, Tyler's narration made it possible to understand why she was so important to him. I would argue that Becky does not really fit the Manic Pixie Dream Girl (MPDG) stereotype very well. (Film critic Nathan Rabin's description of MPDG characters as "bubbly" and "shallow" is posted at Urban Dictionary.) Still, Tyler treats her as though she is a truly remarkable person, who holds the key to his own happiness, which is very much the way Manic Pixie Dream Girls are treated in movies and in other books. (I kept thinking of Margo Roth Spiegelman in Paper Towns by John Green, for example.)
Tom Leveen captures a realistic portrait of high school life in this novel. There is some sexual activity and some drug use, but mainly in the background, and Tyler's involvement in sex, drugs, and alcohol is relegated to sporadic experimentation. Tyler's dialogue with his two best friends, Robby and Justin, and his close relationship with his older sister are some of the most delightful parts of the story. I enjoyed reading the banter between the three boys, and I laughed every time Tyler and his sister ended a conversation by saying, "So's your face." I had trouble buying into the cruelty of Becky's parents. I know all kinds of ugly abuse can be perpetrated by parents on their children - Chris Crutcher's books are proof enough of that - but the way her parents swore at her and told her they hated her didn't feel true to me in the context of this story. I wondered, though, whether the depiction of her parents was 100 percent accurate, or if Tyler had vilified them in the same way he had glorified Becky. It might be interesting to re-read the story again, looking for more evidence of Tyler's unreliability as a narrator.
manicpixiedreamgirl might disappoint readers who loved Paper Towns, only because the two stories are so similar, and this one has a more predictable ending. Because of its connections to acting and drama, it makes a nice read-alike for Take a Bow by Elizabeth Eulberg and My Life, the Theater and Other Tragedies by Allen Zadoff. Its angsty narrator reminds me slightly of Holden Caulfield, but Tyler is a million times more likable. (I like Holden, but I know lots of teens don't, so I would use that comparison with caution.) Tyler also makes me think of strong male narrative voices Felton Reinstein from Stupid Fast and Happyface from the novel by Stephen Emond.
April 25, 2013
Sometimes the most dramatic scenes in a high school theater club are the ones that happen between the actors and crew off stage.
With this sentence, I was hooked and knew that I must read this book. Tom Leveen made me a believer in his talent with his novel Zero and amazed me even more with manicpixiedreamgirl. His writing is dynamic and honest and REAL. He draws the reader in with his character development and overwhelms us with his storytelling. Pure genius. Leveen just gets it right.
The story jumps right in letting the reader know that the main character Tyler is caught up this imagined love affair with is dream girl, Becky, while still maintaining a relationship with his current girlfriend, Sydney. He's struggling with his need to finally tell her how he really feels because he know that it will change everything. Everything.
I loved how the story takes place in a single night with Tyler out with his friends celebrating having a story published. We get to see how Tyler comes to love Becky, but end up with Sydney through flashbacks of the past few years. Leveen's style of writing was seemless and it felt like this is exactly how we, as readers, were supposed to see the story unfold.
I appreciated that the two girls weren’t really pitted against each other - Sydney (Syd) wasn’t a girl that you hateful girlfriend that you begged Tyler to dump, and you didn’t feel sympathy for her either when you realized that Tyler has mind on another girl - Syd was a girl who had it together. She saw the situation as it was and maintained some dignity. If anything, her poise and acceptance of this reality added to the love/hate relationship that you have for Tyler. Love him because of his devotion to this other girl, Becky, who his sister claimed was “damaged” and didn’t take advantage of her, but hated him ( well not really hated him) for jerking Syd around for so long. And Becky who seemed so unattainable to Tyler, she didn't play games with him.
There is a genuine friendship between Tyler and Becky. At first, he is intrigued by her unusual quirkiness, but once he joins the drama club and they work on plays together - their friendship begins to become authentic. She's still guarded and doesn't let him in completely, and he doesn't ask questions that he doesn't want to know the answers to, but they become as close as they will allow themselves to be.
As much as this book had me entralled, turning page after page and unable to read it fast enough, there were moments that were difficult to read. There were a couple of moments of horrific conversations between Becky and her parents that forced me to put the book down and take a deep breath before I could continue reading. It was that affecting.
I've read many books this year that I have absolutely loved and Manicpixiedreamgirl is no different. Since I can't and won't pick a favorite, I'll just add this one to that list. (I'm pretty sure I said almost this exact same thing about Zero) Manicpixiedreamgirl is a gem of a book and one that I hope makes it into the hands of many readers.
With this sentence, I was hooked and knew that I must read this book. Tom Leveen made me a believer in his talent with his novel Zero and amazed me even more with manicpixiedreamgirl. His writing is dynamic and honest and REAL. He draws the reader in with his character development and overwhelms us with his storytelling. Pure genius. Leveen just gets it right.
The story jumps right in letting the reader know that the main character Tyler is caught up this imagined love affair with is dream girl, Becky, while still maintaining a relationship with his current girlfriend, Sydney. He's struggling with his need to finally tell her how he really feels because he know that it will change everything. Everything.
I loved how the story takes place in a single night with Tyler out with his friends celebrating having a story published. We get to see how Tyler comes to love Becky, but end up with Sydney through flashbacks of the past few years. Leveen's style of writing was seemless and it felt like this is exactly how we, as readers, were supposed to see the story unfold.
I appreciated that the two girls weren’t really pitted against each other - Sydney (Syd) wasn’t a girl that you hateful girlfriend that you begged Tyler to dump, and you didn’t feel sympathy for her either when you realized that Tyler has mind on another girl - Syd was a girl who had it together. She saw the situation as it was and maintained some dignity. If anything, her poise and acceptance of this reality added to the love/hate relationship that you have for Tyler. Love him because of his devotion to this other girl, Becky, who his sister claimed was “damaged” and didn’t take advantage of her, but hated him ( well not really hated him) for jerking Syd around for so long. And Becky who seemed so unattainable to Tyler, she didn't play games with him.
There is a genuine friendship between Tyler and Becky. At first, he is intrigued by her unusual quirkiness, but once he joins the drama club and they work on plays together - their friendship begins to become authentic. She's still guarded and doesn't let him in completely, and he doesn't ask questions that he doesn't want to know the answers to, but they become as close as they will allow themselves to be.
As much as this book had me entralled, turning page after page and unable to read it fast enough, there were moments that were difficult to read. There were a couple of moments of horrific conversations between Becky and her parents that forced me to put the book down and take a deep breath before I could continue reading. It was that affecting.
I've read many books this year that I have absolutely loved and Manicpixiedreamgirl is no different. Since I can't and won't pick a favorite, I'll just add this one to that list. (I'm pretty sure I said almost this exact same thing about Zero) Manicpixiedreamgirl is a gem of a book and one that I hope makes it into the hands of many readers.
May 6, 2013
Words cannot even begin to explain how much I loved this book. I don't know what it is, but I just could not put this one down. I finished this in one day. During finals week. That's gotta tell you something!
The moment Tyler Darcy sees Rebecca Webb, he's a goner. For the next three years, Tyler continues to obsess over Becky and everything about her, even though he starts dating Sydney at the end of freshman year. There's just something about Becky he can't get out of his head. Tyler's a writer, and it seems like everything he writes that's good has to do with her, and when a story of his is finally published in a magazine about his Manic Pixie Dream Girl, Tyler is forced to face reality and confront his feelings once and for all.
Normally I don't read books from a guy's point of view, but there's just something about Tyler that makes him so lovable. Maybe it's the fact that he's a writer, or that he just seemed to fall for the wrong girl, but I couldn't get enough of Tyler's story. Tom Leveen is an absolutely phenomenal writer and I loved how this book was told. It begins in the present, when they're all juniors talking about Tyler's writing being published, and then they flashback to tell the story of how Tyler fell for Becky. The stories go back and fourth between past and present until finally the past catches up. This set up made the story so intriguing and I couldn't wait to uncover all of the unknowns about the past that created the situation Tyler is in now.
I don't know what else I can say because I just loved it all. Tyler is such a relatable character and he goes through things every high schooler goes through. Add the fact that there are so many other great characters, from his girlfriend Lindsey and sister Gabrielle to his best friends Robby and Justin, there's nothing you can't love. The way the story progresses is so mesmerizing and I absolutely loved the ending. It kind of gives me a 500 Days of Summer vibe, which could explain why I love it so much. There's really no explanation why Tyler is so enamored with Becky aside from the fact that he just is. And Becky is definitely someone with her own secrets. You want to hate Becky for being as flippant and careless as she is, but you really can't because, like I said, she's simply mesmerizing.
So I loved this book. I couldn't put it down because the storytelling was brilliant and characters were so interesting. This is one of those YA books that deals with the everyday issues of teens and makes them real. I would definitely recommend this to everyone. This was my first Tom Leveen novel but it most certainly won't be my last. I can't wait to pick up his other novels and see if their as great as this one!
The moment Tyler Darcy sees Rebecca Webb, he's a goner. For the next three years, Tyler continues to obsess over Becky and everything about her, even though he starts dating Sydney at the end of freshman year. There's just something about Becky he can't get out of his head. Tyler's a writer, and it seems like everything he writes that's good has to do with her, and when a story of his is finally published in a magazine about his Manic Pixie Dream Girl, Tyler is forced to face reality and confront his feelings once and for all.
Normally I don't read books from a guy's point of view, but there's just something about Tyler that makes him so lovable. Maybe it's the fact that he's a writer, or that he just seemed to fall for the wrong girl, but I couldn't get enough of Tyler's story. Tom Leveen is an absolutely phenomenal writer and I loved how this book was told. It begins in the present, when they're all juniors talking about Tyler's writing being published, and then they flashback to tell the story of how Tyler fell for Becky. The stories go back and fourth between past and present until finally the past catches up. This set up made the story so intriguing and I couldn't wait to uncover all of the unknowns about the past that created the situation Tyler is in now.
I don't know what else I can say because I just loved it all. Tyler is such a relatable character and he goes through things every high schooler goes through. Add the fact that there are so many other great characters, from his girlfriend Lindsey and sister Gabrielle to his best friends Robby and Justin, there's nothing you can't love. The way the story progresses is so mesmerizing and I absolutely loved the ending. It kind of gives me a 500 Days of Summer vibe, which could explain why I love it so much. There's really no explanation why Tyler is so enamored with Becky aside from the fact that he just is. And Becky is definitely someone with her own secrets. You want to hate Becky for being as flippant and careless as she is, but you really can't because, like I said, she's simply mesmerizing.
So I loved this book. I couldn't put it down because the storytelling was brilliant and characters were so interesting. This is one of those YA books that deals with the everyday issues of teens and makes them real. I would definitely recommend this to everyone. This was my first Tom Leveen novel but it most certainly won't be my last. I can't wait to pick up his other novels and see if their as great as this one!
May 1, 2013
It starts with a girl. She's not just any girl, but the girl of Tyler's dreams. From the first moment he locks eyes with her, he knows that he's done for. Though we try to move on, sometimes there's just the smallest bit of hope that keeps us from letting go. Tom Leveen's Manicpixiedreamgirl shows what it's like to be stuck on the thought of someone you may never be able to have.
The story is set over the span of one night, with various flashbacks to help the reader get a better feel of each character. Though none of the characters will make you fall head over heels for them, they do exactly what they're meant to. Tyler is the heartsick teenager who doesn't quite know how to express his feelings without ruining the only thing he's ever truly cared about other than writing. Becky is clearly broken, but we won't see how much until at least halfway through the story. Sydney is just the girlfriend, who should matter most to Tyler, but doesn't. It was hard to feel sorry for any of them, because each of their problems was their own doing...but there was also something so familiar, because in the smallest ways, I felt as though I could relate.
The writing, as I've noticed in the author's second novel, Zero, is incredible. I felt that Tom was able to make this story everything it was meant to be solely because of the wording and dialogue he chose to use between the characters. If wondering what would happen between the main character, his current girlfriend, and his love interest wasn't enough to keep me reading until the end, I would have done so because of how perfectly every emotion was described.
Manicpixiedreamgirl is an insightful and painfully realistic story of young, unrequited love. It never hit me how much I loved this story until the very end, where the main character and the readers realize that there was so much more to Becky than she's willing to show. We thought we knew her based on Tyler's perception of her, but as it turns out, no one really knew her, maybe not even herself.
The story is set over the span of one night, with various flashbacks to help the reader get a better feel of each character. Though none of the characters will make you fall head over heels for them, they do exactly what they're meant to. Tyler is the heartsick teenager who doesn't quite know how to express his feelings without ruining the only thing he's ever truly cared about other than writing. Becky is clearly broken, but we won't see how much until at least halfway through the story. Sydney is just the girlfriend, who should matter most to Tyler, but doesn't. It was hard to feel sorry for any of them, because each of their problems was their own doing...but there was also something so familiar, because in the smallest ways, I felt as though I could relate.
The writing, as I've noticed in the author's second novel, Zero, is incredible. I felt that Tom was able to make this story everything it was meant to be solely because of the wording and dialogue he chose to use between the characters. If wondering what would happen between the main character, his current girlfriend, and his love interest wasn't enough to keep me reading until the end, I would have done so because of how perfectly every emotion was described.
Manicpixiedreamgirl is an insightful and painfully realistic story of young, unrequited love. It never hit me how much I loved this story until the very end, where the main character and the readers realize that there was so much more to Becky than she's willing to show. We thought we knew her based on Tyler's perception of her, but as it turns out, no one really knew her, maybe not even herself.
December 25, 2019
This one brought me back to my high school theater days and all the backstage bullshit that went along with it. Some areas seem to blur between fact and fiction, and that is all I am going to say about that.
December 29, 2015
This book is a rather short and quick read that packs a great story into its pages. The characters are complex and seem like real people. The story is engaging and keeps the reader invested the entire time, making this a great book.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
Tyler is a fantastic male POV protagonist. He is pretty much obsessed with Rebecca Webb, and this obsession sometimes hurts his relationships. For example, he isn't really fair to his girlfriend, Sydney. She's a good person, yet he has such a huge crush on Becky that it can get in the way of his relationship with Sydney. While he likes Sydney, he would rather date Becky if he ever gets the chance. Once he and Becky become friends, he doesn't hesitate to go hang out with her at her house, even when he had to ditch Sydney to do so.
One interesting part of the story is the idea of Becky that Tyler has built up in his mind versus the actual Becky. He has it in his mind that she is basically perfect, and he doesn't like finding out things about her that mess up that image. He sees her smoking pot, and he doesn't like that because the Becky in his mind would never do that. He also finds out that the real Becky does things with guys, things she doesn't really want to do, but she never says no to them. Tyler feels maybe some jealousy about this, but he more feels her image collapsing. I loved how, by the end of the book, though Tyler has admitted his feelings to her, the reader doesn't know if it will work out for Tyler and Becky, and if they will get together as a couple.
I liked how this story was told. The present storyline technically takes place over the time frame of one single night. To give readers the full story, the book alternates between the present storyline and flashbacks into the past. This allows the reader to get to know the story and the characters in both the timelines.
If you like YA contemporary, read this book.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD
Tyler is a fantastic male POV protagonist. He is pretty much obsessed with Rebecca Webb, and this obsession sometimes hurts his relationships. For example, he isn't really fair to his girlfriend, Sydney. She's a good person, yet he has such a huge crush on Becky that it can get in the way of his relationship with Sydney. While he likes Sydney, he would rather date Becky if he ever gets the chance. Once he and Becky become friends, he doesn't hesitate to go hang out with her at her house, even when he had to ditch Sydney to do so.
One interesting part of the story is the idea of Becky that Tyler has built up in his mind versus the actual Becky. He has it in his mind that she is basically perfect, and he doesn't like finding out things about her that mess up that image. He sees her smoking pot, and he doesn't like that because the Becky in his mind would never do that. He also finds out that the real Becky does things with guys, things she doesn't really want to do, but she never says no to them. Tyler feels maybe some jealousy about this, but he more feels her image collapsing. I loved how, by the end of the book, though Tyler has admitted his feelings to her, the reader doesn't know if it will work out for Tyler and Becky, and if they will get together as a couple.
I liked how this story was told. The present storyline technically takes place over the time frame of one single night. To give readers the full story, the book alternates between the present storyline and flashbacks into the past. This allows the reader to get to know the story and the characters in both the timelines.
If you like YA contemporary, read this book.
August 1, 2014
This was a really enjoyable read for me. I randomly picked it up at the library after the title and back summary caught my eye.
It's a story of a quiet high school boy (Tyler) in a secret love for the girl of his dreams, a quiet mysterious quirky manic-pixie-dream-girl named Rebecca. Though the plot may start predictable, the book takes a life of its own as the story unfolds.
Tyler's crush starts the very first day of their freshmen year of high school, although by Christmas, he is dating another girl, Sydney. His feelings for Rebecca never subside, however, and instead of confessing his love for her, he starts purposely passing by her in the hallways, joining the drama club she's also in, and begins to write stories about her. By his senior year, one of his stories gets published and the secret begins to come out.
Through a series of flashbacks, we get to witness all of Tyler's interactions with Rebecca, some more awkward or mysterious than others, and see how his feelings deepen the more time he spends with her, all the while still dating Sydney. But those flashback interactions also give us great insight on Rebecca's life, letting the reader see she is more than simply the manic pixie dream girl of Tyler's mind and stories. The end of the book culminates with Tyler and Rebecca's interacting with one another in an honest and vulnerable way, both starting to see one another as they really are, instead of the ideas of one another.
Fans of John Green's Paper Towns will most likely like this book too, as there is a similar message (even if it isn't quite on the same level of a Green novel in my opinion). If nothing else, the book seeks to understand what we all desire to know: how our feelings about someone fit into our lives as journey through this world. And we learn to ask ourselves another question: Are our feelings directed towards the idea of the person in our minds or the actual person themselves, as they really are?
It's a story of a quiet high school boy (Tyler) in a secret love for the girl of his dreams, a quiet mysterious quirky manic-pixie-dream-girl named Rebecca. Though the plot may start predictable, the book takes a life of its own as the story unfolds.
Tyler's crush starts the very first day of their freshmen year of high school, although by Christmas, he is dating another girl, Sydney. His feelings for Rebecca never subside, however, and instead of confessing his love for her, he starts purposely passing by her in the hallways, joining the drama club she's also in, and begins to write stories about her. By his senior year, one of his stories gets published and the secret begins to come out.
Through a series of flashbacks, we get to witness all of Tyler's interactions with Rebecca, some more awkward or mysterious than others, and see how his feelings deepen the more time he spends with her, all the while still dating Sydney. But those flashback interactions also give us great insight on Rebecca's life, letting the reader see she is more than simply the manic pixie dream girl of Tyler's mind and stories. The end of the book culminates with Tyler and Rebecca's interacting with one another in an honest and vulnerable way, both starting to see one another as they really are, instead of the ideas of one another.
Fans of John Green's Paper Towns will most likely like this book too, as there is a similar message (even if it isn't quite on the same level of a Green novel in my opinion). If nothing else, the book seeks to understand what we all desire to know: how our feelings about someone fit into our lives as journey through this world. And we learn to ask ourselves another question: Are our feelings directed towards the idea of the person in our minds or the actual person themselves, as they really are?
August 11, 2013
"manicpixiedreamgirl"? i am in. i am so in. i am really, super in. requesting from the library now, omg.
after reading: okay, so this was pretty standard ya fare. no exceptional writing style or imagery or anything like that. leveen does a good job of making tyler both a real human and an obvious caricature of all those teenage boys who build women into goddesses and innocent flowers at the same time. spoiler alert: becky is a human being!
pretty nice slap in the face to the manic pixie dream girl trope. a lot of secondhand embarrassment, though, which is never fun.
after reading: okay, so this was pretty standard ya fare. no exceptional writing style or imagery or anything like that. leveen does a good job of making tyler both a real human and an obvious caricature of all those teenage boys who build women into goddesses and innocent flowers at the same time. spoiler alert: becky is a human being!
pretty nice slap in the face to the manic pixie dream girl trope. a lot of secondhand embarrassment, though, which is never fun.
October 31, 2016
I really want to jump into the pages of this book and give Becky some much needed parental love.
Liked this one an awful lot. Strong characters and lots of awkward.
Liked this one an awful lot. Strong characters and lots of awkward.
July 17, 2023
As interesting and investing as this story was, I couldn't help but feel unsatisfied by the end. Instead of a definitive sort of answer, it's kinda just thrown out there for you to decide if the concept of a manicpixiedreamgirl is okay or not (which it really isn't, but I guess this was written in 2013). Putting that aside, I loved all the characters. I'm glad they all felt distinguished. Robby was my favorite. I can also appreciate how you're really not supposed to like the main character.
March 24, 2018
I've read and enjoyed some of Tom's other books so I thought I would at least enjoy this but the main character being a weirdo over the titular Manic Pixie Dream Girl was too annoying and even if they mentioned the trope, they didn't really address it at all.
March 11, 2018
Read more: http://www.sarcasmandlemons.com/2013/...
You know the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She's Natalie Portman in Garden State. She's Summer in 500 Days of Summer, for a while. Ramona in Scott Pilgrim. Eccentric, adorably quirky savior of the brooding bad boy. She's the girl (or guy) you watched from afar in high school, invented daydreams about, held on a pedestal. Leveen plays with this most common of experiences in an authentic and clever way, creating the brooding boy Tyler and the dream girl, Becky, perfect and magical and unattainable. Only unlike the typical MPDG, Becky is more shattered than the guy who wants her to save him. It makes for a bittersweet tale of high school love and the problems with idealizing real people. Tyler's journey is often frustrating, often nervewrecking, and even the ending shows just how enmeshed people can be in their ideals. To the point of losing what's real and good. My occasionally extreme animosity towards Tyler knocked down my enjoyment of this a bit, but it was still a beautifully done book that feels so genuinely high school romance. It made a lasting impression, and left me curious about more of Leveen's work.
plot . 4/5
Alternating between the events of one night and the backstory of several years can get a little jarring. It took me a few segments before I had a good handle of the story. That said, Leveen does a good job of referring back to things and building the plot slowly with little dangled teasers, so you're always kept wanting more. Even though there was a lot of telling in the backstory pieces, Tyler's voice and descriptions were descriptive enough to make me feel like I was there. Imagine a friend of yours talking about something that happened to them at school the other day, only they're a really good storyteller. It stayed compelling to the end. Which made me angry, because I felt that there was such a great opportunity for Tyler to realize all the stupid, hurtful things he'd done. To be fair, it was a realistic ending and I did see some change in Tyler. It just leaves you wanting to slap him a little bit. But given the timeline, it's also probably more realistic than the big epiphany I secretly wanted.
concept . 5/5
The MPDG is not new. The fall of the MPDG makes this fresh. I watched wringing my hands as Tyler built up this fantasy image of Becky, creating a perfect dream girl that never could be. And watched as he missed hint after hint that the dream and the reality didn't mix. It says a lot about high school romance and the persistence of romantic delusions--how powerful infatuation can be. It's also something I've experienced before to a much lesser degree. That high school crush you idolize, only to discover later that they're a twit. Very relatable and well presented.
characters . 4/5
Tyler was endearing, partly because he was a dorky writer and partly because he just has no impulse control. You feel a little bad for him, living in his head like he does. You also want to strangle him for being such a jerk half the time and ignoring the totally awesome, way-too-forgiving girl in front of him. But deep down he's a good guy. He just annoyed me for the way he'd realize he was a jerk and still fall into the same bad traps. But even though I didn't always like him, I still found his story very compelling and, as a high school boy, he was extremely realistic. The supporting cast is also great. Sydney is way-too-patient and shockingly honest. I respected her for it, and also felt a lot for her, chasing someone she knew was just using her as a substitute and vainly hoping he'd get the picture. Then there was Robby, who was hysterical and just a delightful human being. Becky, I kind of hated. I felt bad for her, but I also felt like she was too tragic. Also she just rubbed me the wrong way for reasons I can't articulate. But again, you don't have to like the character to like the book, and I thought she fit well in her role.
style . 5/5
Leveen's style reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis for young adults. Nihilistic, snarky, with hints of idealism that you just know are going to get shattered. Tyler sees the world as a writer, and so offers up a lot of very uniquely stated descriptions. I made a lot of highlights because there were so many ideas, common ideas, stated in such an unusual way that they felt completely new. And like I said, he's a fantastic storyteller. I hung off every word. The style did a lot to make up for my frustration with Tyler. It's an impressive command of language not often seen in young adult romance.
mechanics . 4/5
Like I said, the switch between past and present is a little jarring. I lost track of the story sometimes and got a little confused. However, it became easier to follow as I went along, and so I didn't find that it dampened my reading experience very much. Just made it challenging at the beginning.
take home message
A clever high school romance that takes old stereotypes and turns them around, ending up with something fresh and gritty and authentic.
You know the Manic Pixie Dream Girl. She's Natalie Portman in Garden State. She's Summer in 500 Days of Summer, for a while. Ramona in Scott Pilgrim. Eccentric, adorably quirky savior of the brooding bad boy. She's the girl (or guy) you watched from afar in high school, invented daydreams about, held on a pedestal. Leveen plays with this most common of experiences in an authentic and clever way, creating the brooding boy Tyler and the dream girl, Becky, perfect and magical and unattainable. Only unlike the typical MPDG, Becky is more shattered than the guy who wants her to save him. It makes for a bittersweet tale of high school love and the problems with idealizing real people. Tyler's journey is often frustrating, often nervewrecking, and even the ending shows just how enmeshed people can be in their ideals. To the point of losing what's real and good. My occasionally extreme animosity towards Tyler knocked down my enjoyment of this a bit, but it was still a beautifully done book that feels so genuinely high school romance. It made a lasting impression, and left me curious about more of Leveen's work.
plot . 4/5
Alternating between the events of one night and the backstory of several years can get a little jarring. It took me a few segments before I had a good handle of the story. That said, Leveen does a good job of referring back to things and building the plot slowly with little dangled teasers, so you're always kept wanting more. Even though there was a lot of telling in the backstory pieces, Tyler's voice and descriptions were descriptive enough to make me feel like I was there. Imagine a friend of yours talking about something that happened to them at school the other day, only they're a really good storyteller. It stayed compelling to the end. Which made me angry, because I felt that there was such a great opportunity for Tyler to realize all the stupid, hurtful things he'd done. To be fair, it was a realistic ending and I did see some change in Tyler. It just leaves you wanting to slap him a little bit. But given the timeline, it's also probably more realistic than the big epiphany I secretly wanted.
concept . 5/5
The MPDG is not new. The fall of the MPDG makes this fresh. I watched wringing my hands as Tyler built up this fantasy image of Becky, creating a perfect dream girl that never could be. And watched as he missed hint after hint that the dream and the reality didn't mix. It says a lot about high school romance and the persistence of romantic delusions--how powerful infatuation can be. It's also something I've experienced before to a much lesser degree. That high school crush you idolize, only to discover later that they're a twit. Very relatable and well presented.
characters . 4/5
Tyler was endearing, partly because he was a dorky writer and partly because he just has no impulse control. You feel a little bad for him, living in his head like he does. You also want to strangle him for being such a jerk half the time and ignoring the totally awesome, way-too-forgiving girl in front of him. But deep down he's a good guy. He just annoyed me for the way he'd realize he was a jerk and still fall into the same bad traps. But even though I didn't always like him, I still found his story very compelling and, as a high school boy, he was extremely realistic. The supporting cast is also great. Sydney is way-too-patient and shockingly honest. I respected her for it, and also felt a lot for her, chasing someone she knew was just using her as a substitute and vainly hoping he'd get the picture. Then there was Robby, who was hysterical and just a delightful human being. Becky, I kind of hated. I felt bad for her, but I also felt like she was too tragic. Also she just rubbed me the wrong way for reasons I can't articulate. But again, you don't have to like the character to like the book, and I thought she fit well in her role.
style . 5/5
Leveen's style reminds me of Bret Easton Ellis for young adults. Nihilistic, snarky, with hints of idealism that you just know are going to get shattered. Tyler sees the world as a writer, and so offers up a lot of very uniquely stated descriptions. I made a lot of highlights because there were so many ideas, common ideas, stated in such an unusual way that they felt completely new. And like I said, he's a fantastic storyteller. I hung off every word. The style did a lot to make up for my frustration with Tyler. It's an impressive command of language not often seen in young adult romance.
mechanics . 4/5
Like I said, the switch between past and present is a little jarring. I lost track of the story sometimes and got a little confused. However, it became easier to follow as I went along, and so I didn't find that it dampened my reading experience very much. Just made it challenging at the beginning.
take home message
A clever high school romance that takes old stereotypes and turns them around, ending up with something fresh and gritty and authentic.
July 19, 2018
Not a bad book. Well written with some ok dialogue. But the main character wasn't particularly likable, to me. Interesting read
October 13, 2021
The plot is unfolding too slowly and is mostly based on flashbacks. The main character is a dreamy sensitive guy who lacks courage to do what he wants.
June 21, 2024
Even though I was cringing at the main character the whole time (I mean come on Tyler, really?), I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was a great edgy teen novel.
April 11, 2025
Very good, and thought inducing. Would read again.
June 16, 2020
I didn't even realized that was the ending, kind of short but it was okay.
April 25, 2013
Rating: 3.5
The Low Down: Ever since he first saw her freshman year, Tyler Darcy has been drawn to Becky Webb like a moth to the flame. She has no idea of his almost obsession with her; after all, in the beginning, he can’t bring himself to speak to her, much less spill his secrets. All his friends know of his infatuation, hell, even his girlfriend knows. Syd is beautiful, smart and so cool. Why she puts up with his fixation is beyond him. But every chance he gets, he looks for Becky. Thinks about her. Writes about her. Concocts scenarios in which she falls madly in love with him. Writes about that. Even when they eventually become friends, he keeps her in the same box marked "perfect."
Watching closely makes you learn things, though. Things that maybe you don’t want to know, things that might ruin your idea of perfection about someone. In Tyler’s case, though, discovering certain things about Becky only makes him want to protect her. She’s unwanted, both by her parents and the boys that use her, ignore her and spread tales about “Becca,” the girl who doesn’t say no.
But how do two people with such conflicting views of the same person ever get on the same page?
Best Thang ‘Bout It: I love that the protagonist is a male. A guy with a huge attraction who can’t act on it. In fact, he can’t stand up to any of his relationships: his girlfriend, who got that position because he said nothing; his sister, who, while is supportive, is frank about how she thinks Tyler needs to run his relationships; and his friends, Robby and Justin, who act like court jesters but who express their opinions about his lack of fortitude with both his girlfriend and his obsession.
If there’s such a thing as a “healthy” obsession, this was it. The more Tyler learns about Becky’s history, the more he wants to be her knight. But he can’t act on it. First, it is because he doesn’t know her and is too nervous to talk to her. Then he can’t because of his girlfriend. So his best outlet is writing about it. The stories are fiction, though, and when Becky reads one, she can’t believe that’s how Tyler sees her. She says: “That won’t ever be me!...They’d never let me...This is who I am now, I’m stuck with it.”
This story just felt like real high school. Tunnel vision, letting life run you, not knowing how to handle hurt and big problems. Being a mess on the inside, being stupid, missing the obvious. Finding out that not everyone has a great home life. Discovering how much stuff people try to hide.
I liked how Syd was portrayed; she really knew what she was getting into when dating Tyler, but she was willing to take a chance. Her reaction to their discussion in the park toward the end of the story is perfect. No stereotypical mean girls or histrionics here, either. All the female characters felt real; flesh, bone and brains.
I’m Cranky Because: It just stops. Ends. No neat bow, no thanks for reading, no fiery car crash. Now, I don’t really mind the “‘nuff said” approach, but I felt like we were still on the on-ramp, and we were just getting ready to merge. Imagine being on a roller coaster on the biggest hill, climbing, climbing, and just before you reach the crest, it’s over. No apex view, no plunge. Damn.
Also, this idea of Becky as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl? I can’t tell if it is being used ironically, since it’s a deeper story than that trope. (Unfamiliar with the term? Read about it at TV Tropes.) Where’s the wackiness? The freedom? The spirited behavior? The opening up of the stuffy male lead? I didn’t see it.
The Bottom Line: MPDGs aside, it’s a good read that says “stop imagining; discover the truth instead.” But be ready for what you uncover.
manicpixiedreamgirl by Tom Leveen was published April 23, 2013 by Random House Children’s Books. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the Author.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Romance
Ages: 13 and up
You Might Want to Know: Underage drinking; drug use; sexual content; profanity
The Low Down: Ever since he first saw her freshman year, Tyler Darcy has been drawn to Becky Webb like a moth to the flame. She has no idea of his almost obsession with her; after all, in the beginning, he can’t bring himself to speak to her, much less spill his secrets. All his friends know of his infatuation, hell, even his girlfriend knows. Syd is beautiful, smart and so cool. Why she puts up with his fixation is beyond him. But every chance he gets, he looks for Becky. Thinks about her. Writes about her. Concocts scenarios in which she falls madly in love with him. Writes about that. Even when they eventually become friends, he keeps her in the same box marked "perfect."
Watching closely makes you learn things, though. Things that maybe you don’t want to know, things that might ruin your idea of perfection about someone. In Tyler’s case, though, discovering certain things about Becky only makes him want to protect her. She’s unwanted, both by her parents and the boys that use her, ignore her and spread tales about “Becca,” the girl who doesn’t say no.
But how do two people with such conflicting views of the same person ever get on the same page?
Best Thang ‘Bout It: I love that the protagonist is a male. A guy with a huge attraction who can’t act on it. In fact, he can’t stand up to any of his relationships: his girlfriend, who got that position because he said nothing; his sister, who, while is supportive, is frank about how she thinks Tyler needs to run his relationships; and his friends, Robby and Justin, who act like court jesters but who express their opinions about his lack of fortitude with both his girlfriend and his obsession.
If there’s such a thing as a “healthy” obsession, this was it. The more Tyler learns about Becky’s history, the more he wants to be her knight. But he can’t act on it. First, it is because he doesn’t know her and is too nervous to talk to her. Then he can’t because of his girlfriend. So his best outlet is writing about it. The stories are fiction, though, and when Becky reads one, she can’t believe that’s how Tyler sees her. She says: “That won’t ever be me!...They’d never let me...This is who I am now, I’m stuck with it.”
This story just felt like real high school. Tunnel vision, letting life run you, not knowing how to handle hurt and big problems. Being a mess on the inside, being stupid, missing the obvious. Finding out that not everyone has a great home life. Discovering how much stuff people try to hide.
I liked how Syd was portrayed; she really knew what she was getting into when dating Tyler, but she was willing to take a chance. Her reaction to their discussion in the park toward the end of the story is perfect. No stereotypical mean girls or histrionics here, either. All the female characters felt real; flesh, bone and brains.
I’m Cranky Because: It just stops. Ends. No neat bow, no thanks for reading, no fiery car crash. Now, I don’t really mind the “‘nuff said” approach, but I felt like we were still on the on-ramp, and we were just getting ready to merge. Imagine being on a roller coaster on the biggest hill, climbing, climbing, and just before you reach the crest, it’s over. No apex view, no plunge. Damn.
Also, this idea of Becky as the Manic Pixie Dream Girl? I can’t tell if it is being used ironically, since it’s a deeper story than that trope. (Unfamiliar with the term? Read about it at TV Tropes.) Where’s the wackiness? The freedom? The spirited behavior? The opening up of the stuffy male lead? I didn’t see it.
The Bottom Line: MPDGs aside, it’s a good read that says “stop imagining; discover the truth instead.” But be ready for what you uncover.
manicpixiedreamgirl by Tom Leveen was published April 23, 2013 by Random House Children’s Books. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to NetGalley, Random House Children’s Books and the Author.
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Romance
Ages: 13 and up
You Might Want to Know: Underage drinking; drug use; sexual content; profanity
September 7, 2014
Sometimes a cover on the front page of your library's e-book website randomly catches your attention, and you click on the preview button, and the first page turns out to be edgy and interesting and funny, and the next thing you know you're reading the rest of the book, even as it loses all its charm and just leaves you wanting to shake some sense into everyone involved.
To be fair, MPDG isn't entirely without interest, humor, and realism. But it never gets close to reaching its potential; it's the concept of a John Green novel without the depth or the strong prose. Protagonist Ty is nearly unbearable: obsessive, irrational, stubbornly naive, a craptastic friend and boyfriend, and not as funny as he thinks he is by half. Is he a realistic depiction of an angsty teenage boy blinded by love and unrealistic dreamgirl expectations? Probably. But realism doesn't change the fact that he's narrating the thing and it's still impossible to root for him. I can't believe Leveen had the gall to name him after Mr. Darcy, either; I have the feeling there's a crowd of die-hard Pride and Prejudice fans ready to punch this book in the face.
The object of his obsession, Becky, is far more interesting... but also broken and mistreated by pretty much everyone with no sign of anything improving for her, which is troubling. I wouldn't have believed a full-on happy ending, but I wanted some sense of positive forward motion... or a negative implosion could have worked really well too, just...something. Someone noticing and being concerned about her other than delusion, misguided Ty would have helped.
And while I'm complaining...my list of Somewhat Minor but Still Really Annoying Things That I Have a Hard Time Believing:
- Ty's girlfriend (the one he ignores/uses while mooning over Becky for two years. [Two years!]) Syd Barrett has NO IDEA that she has almost the same name as a member of Pink Floyd. I didn't recognize the name offhand either, but if I'd gone through years of people referencing Pink Floyd when they met me (which happens repeatedly in the book) at some point I would have, I don't know, USED THE MAGIC OF THE INTERNETS to look it up or something. But no, this girl who is otherwise described as a brainiac goes 17 years and most of the book without making the connection about her own name.
- In a crucial point of the plot, a highly prestigious literary magazine, an extra fancy exclusive one that rarely accepts young authors, publishes Ty's story. We don't get the full text, all we know is that it contains this gem of a sentence: "When she danced, my eyes swapped places, putting everything else out of focus, leaving her physical masterpiece the only light on which to rely for vision." Please, while I'm over here gagging, someone find me any prestigious literary journal editor who would let that one through. NOT BUYING IT FOR A SECOND.
Fortunately the prose of the actual book isn't that purple. Though there is occasionally some flat, face-palm phrasing that makes it drag:
"Becky and her mom looked a lot alike.
Wow, I thought. Becky's got her looks."
Now, clearly, not all of the book was that bad or I never would have made it to the end. There are some good lines, it deals with real issues, Ty's friends are amusing, you have the urge to keep reading to find out whether Ty is going to getthe girl punched in the face as he so richly deserves, etc. There were reasons to keep reading...just not enough to ever, ever recommend it.
To be fair, MPDG isn't entirely without interest, humor, and realism. But it never gets close to reaching its potential; it's the concept of a John Green novel without the depth or the strong prose. Protagonist Ty is nearly unbearable: obsessive, irrational, stubbornly naive, a craptastic friend and boyfriend, and not as funny as he thinks he is by half. Is he a realistic depiction of an angsty teenage boy blinded by love and unrealistic dreamgirl expectations? Probably. But realism doesn't change the fact that he's narrating the thing and it's still impossible to root for him. I can't believe Leveen had the gall to name him after Mr. Darcy, either; I have the feeling there's a crowd of die-hard Pride and Prejudice fans ready to punch this book in the face.
The object of his obsession, Becky, is far more interesting... but also broken and mistreated by pretty much everyone with no sign of anything improving for her, which is troubling. I wouldn't have believed a full-on happy ending, but I wanted some sense of positive forward motion... or a negative implosion could have worked really well too, just...something. Someone noticing and being concerned about her other than delusion, misguided Ty would have helped.
And while I'm complaining...my list of Somewhat Minor but Still Really Annoying Things That I Have a Hard Time Believing:
- Ty's girlfriend (the one he ignores/uses while mooning over Becky for two years. [Two years!]) Syd Barrett has NO IDEA that she has almost the same name as a member of Pink Floyd. I didn't recognize the name offhand either, but if I'd gone through years of people referencing Pink Floyd when they met me (which happens repeatedly in the book) at some point I would have, I don't know, USED THE MAGIC OF THE INTERNETS to look it up or something. But no, this girl who is otherwise described as a brainiac goes 17 years and most of the book without making the connection about her own name.
- In a crucial point of the plot, a highly prestigious literary magazine, an extra fancy exclusive one that rarely accepts young authors, publishes Ty's story. We don't get the full text, all we know is that it contains this gem of a sentence: "When she danced, my eyes swapped places, putting everything else out of focus, leaving her physical masterpiece the only light on which to rely for vision." Please, while I'm over here gagging, someone find me any prestigious literary journal editor who would let that one through. NOT BUYING IT FOR A SECOND.
Fortunately the prose of the actual book isn't that purple. Though there is occasionally some flat, face-palm phrasing that makes it drag:
"Becky and her mom looked a lot alike.
Wow, I thought. Becky's got her looks."
Now, clearly, not all of the book was that bad or I never would have made it to the end. There are some good lines, it deals with real issues, Ty's friends are amusing, you have the urge to keep reading to find out whether Ty is going to get
July 22, 2016
The title of this book refers to the 'dream' crush that the main character of this book, Tyler Darcy, or generally most guys have: of a girl who has all these amazing qualities and seems so desirable without having any flaws that take away her attractiveness. For Tyler, this girl isn't Sydney, his girlfriend of two years. Rather, it's Rebecca, an enigmatic girl with a star tattoo on her back that Tyler falls for from the very first day of high school and slowly makes his way into her life through the drama club that she is in.
Tyler is a high school senior. He is also a writer and successfully manages to get a short story of his published in a magazine. He celebrates with his two slightly knuckleheaded friends Robby and Justin in an alcohol-fuelled night but he knows that if Sydney ever reads his story (which she inevitably does), she will realise the girl in it isn't based on her; it's based on Rebecca. The book goes back and forth between this celebratory night, where Rebecca suddenly calls Tyler wanting to talk to him, and the series of events that led to this sticky situation.
The prose in this book is quick and straight to the point, which I appreciate. It's a pretty short book that can be finished in a couple of hours but the content is reasonably interesting. Tyler and Sydney getting into a relationship was a sort of mysterious and strange process but it did make some sense. His pining for Rebecca though never seemed to falter despite all the years he spent in high school. What I liked about this book was that it tore apart the usual glamourising of the female lead or the female crush that is usually present in YA books, that even when her flaws are revealed it somehow makes her ridiculously more desirable. It exposes the fact that despite Rebecca's many flaws and Tyler's awareness of them, he still tries so hard to fit her into that manicpixiedreamgirl box he has in mind for her. His friends and his sister Gabby tell him it's a bad idea but his judgement is clouded and he still goes for it. His sustained relationship with Sydney for two years too was a bad idea and it was really nothing much more than a friends with benefits kind of deal on his end while Sydney was way more invested in it than he was. To be fair though, Sydney sort of forced the relationship to happen despite knowing how Tyler felt about Rebecca from the get-go so who exactly is to blame is a tough call to make. Sydney does get my respect though for being way mature about everything and breaking up amicably with Tyler, sparing the reader of an over-the-top break-up rant that is also common in dramatic YA novels.
Tyler's chase after Rebecca is sometimes sweet and sometimes desperate and Rebecca's flaws coupled with her tragic family background makes her a sympathetic rebel with a cause. Ultimately, Tyler's confession to Rebecca and the whole ending of this book was fitting in Rebecca's reaction along with the ambiguity of how their relationship would really turn out. Would it really work? Everyone, including Tyler, knows it's a bad idea. Rebecca is way damaged by how her family treats her and her past as seen from her promiscuity and nonchalant attitude towards school with the exception of drama. She says she'll never be that girl that Tyler wrote about in his story, the manicpixiedreamgirl he sees in her but with Tyler's investment in her, she may be able to finally play a new character for real this time. 3/5
Tyler is a high school senior. He is also a writer and successfully manages to get a short story of his published in a magazine. He celebrates with his two slightly knuckleheaded friends Robby and Justin in an alcohol-fuelled night but he knows that if Sydney ever reads his story (which she inevitably does), she will realise the girl in it isn't based on her; it's based on Rebecca. The book goes back and forth between this celebratory night, where Rebecca suddenly calls Tyler wanting to talk to him, and the series of events that led to this sticky situation.
The prose in this book is quick and straight to the point, which I appreciate. It's a pretty short book that can be finished in a couple of hours but the content is reasonably interesting. Tyler and Sydney getting into a relationship was a sort of mysterious and strange process but it did make some sense. His pining for Rebecca though never seemed to falter despite all the years he spent in high school. What I liked about this book was that it tore apart the usual glamourising of the female lead or the female crush that is usually present in YA books, that even when her flaws are revealed it somehow makes her ridiculously more desirable. It exposes the fact that despite Rebecca's many flaws and Tyler's awareness of them, he still tries so hard to fit her into that manicpixiedreamgirl box he has in mind for her. His friends and his sister Gabby tell him it's a bad idea but his judgement is clouded and he still goes for it. His sustained relationship with Sydney for two years too was a bad idea and it was really nothing much more than a friends with benefits kind of deal on his end while Sydney was way more invested in it than he was. To be fair though, Sydney sort of forced the relationship to happen despite knowing how Tyler felt about Rebecca from the get-go so who exactly is to blame is a tough call to make. Sydney does get my respect though for being way mature about everything and breaking up amicably with Tyler, sparing the reader of an over-the-top break-up rant that is also common in dramatic YA novels.
Tyler's chase after Rebecca is sometimes sweet and sometimes desperate and Rebecca's flaws coupled with her tragic family background makes her a sympathetic rebel with a cause. Ultimately, Tyler's confession to Rebecca and the whole ending of this book was fitting in Rebecca's reaction along with the ambiguity of how their relationship would really turn out. Would it really work? Everyone, including Tyler, knows it's a bad idea. Rebecca is way damaged by how her family treats her and her past as seen from her promiscuity and nonchalant attitude towards school with the exception of drama. She says she'll never be that girl that Tyler wrote about in his story, the manicpixiedreamgirl he sees in her but with Tyler's investment in her, she may be able to finally play a new character for real this time. 3/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
I love the title, but I don't love the cover. So I was okay with this book, but I hated the main character. Tyler starts high school, and falls in love at first sight with a girl, but does not actually meet or talk to her. He basically just stalks her for the entire book, even while he has a girlfriend. She knows he is love with the other girl, but she figures he is never going to hook up with her because he can't even talk to her so she is probably fine. I am torn between liking the book, and hating Tyler.
December 23, 2014
Real rating: Between 2.5 and 3 stars. It was okay.
Originally posted on: http://www.hello-chelly.com/2013/07/l...
MY THOUGHTS
It's a bit of a struggle for me to put into words how I feel about Manicpixiedreamgirl. But what I do know for sure is that the author did an amazing job of creating an authentic seventeen-year-old boy in Tyler Darcy. Everything from the dialogue with his two best friends to his innermost thoughts to his angsty outbursts felt so real. A regular guy with a talent for writing and crushing on an unattainable girl, all the while dating someone he does like (to a certain extent).
The other highlight of the book was easily how Tyler's story unfolded. He's out celebrating the publication of his short story in a literary journal with his two best friends, which means they're sitting in a park getting drunk like dummies. But throughout the night they end up discussing the two girls in Tyler's life - Sydney, his girlfriend of two years and Becky, the girl he's had feelings for from the moment he saw her freshmen year. These two girls make appearances through the course of the night and through flashbacks, we also get to see the parts they've played in Tyler's life. This night is really about Tyler making a decision: should he finally go for the girl of his "dreams"?
The problem for me was that even though I love how the book was written (and the writing is good!), I didn't like Tyler. When something happened that he didn't like, he would throw fits and take out his anger on the people around him. But mostly, I didn't like how he treated his girlfriend Sydney. Even his friends said he jerked her around and while it's nice that it's acknowledged, it didn't exactly endear him to me. There's this one scene when he exclaims he's been with her (Sydney) for two years and she replies with, "No you've been around me, not with me." Something about that line stuck out to me and I was hit with so much sympathy for Sydney. Although girl, why would you stay with a guy so obviously hung up on someone else? Don't settle! (But I digress.) He just built up this fantasy of Becky and it didn't quite fit with reality in front of him. There is more to her story than meets the eye though and I'm glad we got to understand her better towards the end because I spent most of the book not understanding her appeal. And yet, the reveal came a little too late for me and I didn't like either of them enough to care whether or not they'd get a happy ending.
DO I RECOMMEND?
This might shock you, but I do. I feel like this is a good book you need to read yourself to decide how you feel about it. Because it is real and well-written. I think each person will have a different reaction to Tyler and his actions and this just happened to be mine.
Originally posted on: http://www.hello-chelly.com/2013/07/l...
MY THOUGHTS
It's a bit of a struggle for me to put into words how I feel about Manicpixiedreamgirl. But what I do know for sure is that the author did an amazing job of creating an authentic seventeen-year-old boy in Tyler Darcy. Everything from the dialogue with his two best friends to his innermost thoughts to his angsty outbursts felt so real. A regular guy with a talent for writing and crushing on an unattainable girl, all the while dating someone he does like (to a certain extent).
The other highlight of the book was easily how Tyler's story unfolded. He's out celebrating the publication of his short story in a literary journal with his two best friends, which means they're sitting in a park getting drunk like dummies. But throughout the night they end up discussing the two girls in Tyler's life - Sydney, his girlfriend of two years and Becky, the girl he's had feelings for from the moment he saw her freshmen year. These two girls make appearances through the course of the night and through flashbacks, we also get to see the parts they've played in Tyler's life. This night is really about Tyler making a decision: should he finally go for the girl of his "dreams"?
The problem for me was that even though I love how the book was written (and the writing is good!), I didn't like Tyler. When something happened that he didn't like, he would throw fits and take out his anger on the people around him. But mostly, I didn't like how he treated his girlfriend Sydney. Even his friends said he jerked her around and while it's nice that it's acknowledged, it didn't exactly endear him to me. There's this one scene when he exclaims he's been with her (Sydney) for two years and she replies with, "No you've been around me, not with me." Something about that line stuck out to me and I was hit with so much sympathy for Sydney. Although girl, why would you stay with a guy so obviously hung up on someone else? Don't settle! (But I digress.) He just built up this fantasy of Becky and it didn't quite fit with reality in front of him. There is more to her story than meets the eye though and I'm glad we got to understand her better towards the end because I spent most of the book not understanding her appeal. And yet, the reveal came a little too late for me and I didn't like either of them enough to care whether or not they'd get a happy ending.
DO I RECOMMEND?
This might shock you, but I do. I feel like this is a good book you need to read yourself to decide how you feel about it. Because it is real and well-written. I think each person will have a different reaction to Tyler and his actions and this just happened to be mine.
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