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Unconventional
Lexi Angelo has grown up helping her dad with his events business. She likes to stay behind the scenes, planning and organizing...until author Aidan Green - messy haired and annoyingly arrogant - arrives unannounced at the first event of the year. Then Lexi's life is thrown into disarray.
In a flurry of late-night conversations, mixed messages and butterflies, Lexi discovers that some things can't be planned. Things like falling in love...
In a flurry of late-night conversations, mixed messages and butterflies, Lexi discovers that some things can't be planned. Things like falling in love...
464 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2017
46 people are currently reading
2896 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Harcourt
5 books115 followersMaggie Harcourt was born and raised in Wales, where she grew up dreaming of summer road trips and telling stories for a living. As well as studying Medieval Literature at UCL, Maggie has variously worked as a PA, a hotel chambermaid and for a French chef before realising her dreams and beginning to write full time.
She now lives just outside Bath, UK, where she can usually be found in a bookshop or somewhere near the river. She guards the secret of her favourite coffee shop jealously, because she has the perfect spot picked out there for people-watching.
She now lives just outside Bath, UK, where she can usually be found in a bookshop or somewhere near the river. She guards the secret of her favourite coffee shop jealously, because she has the perfect spot picked out there for people-watching.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
December 17, 2017
If you want the UKYA Fangirl, here it is. Unconventional is pure fun. Lexi Angelo has assisted her Dad with the running of popular film and comic book conventions ever since she can remember. And she's pretty good at what she does. But debut author Aidan Green doesn't think so. He's rude and sarcastic and has made fun of Lexi's clipboard several times. So why does she find herself falling for him?
Unconventional is adorable. I've attended YALC at LFCC (London Film and Comic Con) and volunteered at London Comic Con, and so could picture the busy, sweaty and geeky atmosphere of conventions. As soon as we meet our teenage duo Lexi and Aidan (aka Haydn Swift), we can see there's going to be something between them. But that's because they'd also make pretty excellent friends. They play off each other really well and I adored their conversations (and many arguments). I also enjoyed seeing the complicated father/daughter relationship. Lexi's frustratingly under-appreciated by her frantic and somewhat intimidating father, who's in the middle of planning his wedding. I desperately wanted Lexi to stand up to her Dad but it was great to see a parent feature so prominently in a YA story.
Unconventional is super sweet and lots of a fun – stupendous a love letter to UKYA fandom. I sort of want Lexi's life.
(Plus, I squealed upon seeing my authory friends, Non Pratt and Mel Salisbury, mentioned in the story!).
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
Unconventional is adorable. I've attended YALC at LFCC (London Film and Comic Con) and volunteered at London Comic Con, and so could picture the busy, sweaty and geeky atmosphere of conventions. As soon as we meet our teenage duo Lexi and Aidan (aka Haydn Swift), we can see there's going to be something between them. But that's because they'd also make pretty excellent friends. They play off each other really well and I adored their conversations (and many arguments). I also enjoyed seeing the complicated father/daughter relationship. Lexi's frustratingly under-appreciated by her frantic and somewhat intimidating father, who's in the middle of planning his wedding. I desperately wanted Lexi to stand up to her Dad but it was great to see a parent feature so prominently in a YA story.
Unconventional is super sweet and lots of a fun – stupendous a love letter to UKYA fandom. I sort of want Lexi's life.
(Plus, I squealed upon seeing my authory friends, Non Pratt and Mel Salisbury, mentioned in the story!).
Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
May 10, 2021
Well it was cute but quite uneventful.
I liked the characters well enough but nothing stood out as particularly swoon worthy for me. I may add some thoughts to this later but apparently I can't write a review and listen to people dispatching zombies at the same time. Not a difficult choice.
I liked the characters well enough but nothing stood out as particularly swoon worthy for me. I may add some thoughts to this later but apparently I can't write a review and listen to people dispatching zombies at the same time. Not a difficult choice.
May 27, 2017
I've never been to a convention of any kind, but always hope that one day I'll be able to go to YALC. Everyone who read an early copy of this book was so complimentary, and said it was perfect, that I knew I had to get my hand on a copy.
In Unconventional, Lexi has grown up in the convention world. Her dad has owned an events business, and since Lexi was a little girl, she has been involved, and this year is no different. Because of her involvement in the industry, she was sent a debut novel, hoping that the company would promote the author at future events. When she reads the book, she falls in love with the writing, and the world, but, unfortunately, the author doesn't hold up to her expectations when they first meet. He, Aidan, is so rude and arrogant, that Lexi wishes she hadn't loved the book so much. But, once she realises that Aidan is actually Haydn, and he was only like that because of nerves, she begins to fall for him, though it's hard for them to spend any time together.
I did enjoy this book, but I didn't fall for it as much as everyone else seems to have. For me, it felt really cliched, and not in a good way. I didn't exactly connect to the characters, and felt as though the plot line was a bit disjointed. Lexi snapped a lot, which was understandable with her pressures of school and the amount of work she was doing for the business, but there's no reason why she had to put that pressure on herself. Her dad was capable, as were the adult employees, but she seemed to need to take control of everything or she wasn't comfortable. Also, why did she hate her step-mother to be? There was no reason, and if she had got to know Bea, and listen to her dad, it would have been so much easier.
The relationship between Lexi and Aidan/Haydn was alright, but seemed forced at times. She gushed about how much she loved his book, but never really spoke about any other favourites of hers, whether that is books, films, or TV shows. Everything seemed to be about Haydn, which didn't help the plot at all.
Ultimately, I enjoyed reading the book, but nothing is really memorable, and I don't think I'll read the book again. Some people have compared this book with Rainbow Rowell, but I've not read her YAs, so can't say if that's true. I recently read Geekerella, and I would recommend that book over Unconventional, to anyone wanting a good YA fandom book.
In Unconventional, Lexi has grown up in the convention world. Her dad has owned an events business, and since Lexi was a little girl, she has been involved, and this year is no different. Because of her involvement in the industry, she was sent a debut novel, hoping that the company would promote the author at future events. When she reads the book, she falls in love with the writing, and the world, but, unfortunately, the author doesn't hold up to her expectations when they first meet. He, Aidan, is so rude and arrogant, that Lexi wishes she hadn't loved the book so much. But, once she realises that Aidan is actually Haydn, and he was only like that because of nerves, she begins to fall for him, though it's hard for them to spend any time together.
I did enjoy this book, but I didn't fall for it as much as everyone else seems to have. For me, it felt really cliched, and not in a good way. I didn't exactly connect to the characters, and felt as though the plot line was a bit disjointed. Lexi snapped a lot, which was understandable with her pressures of school and the amount of work she was doing for the business, but there's no reason why she had to put that pressure on herself. Her dad was capable, as were the adult employees, but she seemed to need to take control of everything or she wasn't comfortable. Also, why did she hate her step-mother to be? There was no reason, and if she had got to know Bea, and listen to her dad, it would have been so much easier.
The relationship between Lexi and Aidan/Haydn was alright, but seemed forced at times. She gushed about how much she loved his book, but never really spoke about any other favourites of hers, whether that is books, films, or TV shows. Everything seemed to be about Haydn, which didn't help the plot at all.
Ultimately, I enjoyed reading the book, but nothing is really memorable, and I don't think I'll read the book again. Some people have compared this book with Rainbow Rowell, but I've not read her YAs, so can't say if that's true. I recently read Geekerella, and I would recommend that book over Unconventional, to anyone wanting a good YA fandom book.
June 29, 2017
I didn’t intend to read Unconventional in a day; it just happened. One minute I’d started the first page and the next I was scrambling to find time to read the rest because I rapidly became obsessed.
Unconventional is told from the perspective of Lexi Angelo, who has grown up helping her dad with his comic convention business. What started as a small gathering has now turned into multiple huge, national events and Lexi is a teen superqueen and helps run the whole thing. When Lexi turns up in the greenroom one day, though, she finds Aidan Green there. He should not be in there, and this starts a string of events that sees Lexi fall in love – with a mega-hit book series and maybe with a certain boy too…
Maggie Harcourt is the UK’s answer to Rainbow Rowell – her books are original, funny and SO CUTE. They’re the perfect way to escape for an afternoon, caught up in the world of conventions and cosplay. It really is impossible to only read one chapter, so when you do read it, beware: you’ll want to clear a whole day in order to finish it.
Unconventional is the YA equivalent of the “hand-touching” trend in romantic period dramas: slow-burning but passionate. I felt myself screaming at parts in the book because I got so invested in the story, particularly the burgeoning romance between Lexi and Aidan. Harcourt writes this very well and in a way that will make you want to shake the book and shout, “KISS ALREADY!” I loved getting so wrapped up in the story, where the only thing that mattered was the book and the characters in it.
Lexi was amazing, especially at the points where she freaked out about how much she loved Timekeepers – I could relate to the feeling of obsessing over a book to the point where I felt like I was Lexi. I love books within books and Harcourt writes this brilliantly – there are enough references to understand Lexi’s excitement, but not so many that you have no idea what’s going on.
Unconventional is the book for all book lovers, nerds and convention-goers. I wish I could transport myself into it, amongst all the characters who stole my heart right from the beginning.
Unconventional is told from the perspective of Lexi Angelo, who has grown up helping her dad with his comic convention business. What started as a small gathering has now turned into multiple huge, national events and Lexi is a teen superqueen and helps run the whole thing. When Lexi turns up in the greenroom one day, though, she finds Aidan Green there. He should not be in there, and this starts a string of events that sees Lexi fall in love – with a mega-hit book series and maybe with a certain boy too…
Maggie Harcourt is the UK’s answer to Rainbow Rowell – her books are original, funny and SO CUTE. They’re the perfect way to escape for an afternoon, caught up in the world of conventions and cosplay. It really is impossible to only read one chapter, so when you do read it, beware: you’ll want to clear a whole day in order to finish it.
Unconventional is the YA equivalent of the “hand-touching” trend in romantic period dramas: slow-burning but passionate. I felt myself screaming at parts in the book because I got so invested in the story, particularly the burgeoning romance between Lexi and Aidan. Harcourt writes this very well and in a way that will make you want to shake the book and shout, “KISS ALREADY!” I loved getting so wrapped up in the story, where the only thing that mattered was the book and the characters in it.
Lexi was amazing, especially at the points where she freaked out about how much she loved Timekeepers – I could relate to the feeling of obsessing over a book to the point where I felt like I was Lexi. I love books within books and Harcourt writes this brilliantly – there are enough references to understand Lexi’s excitement, but not so many that you have no idea what’s going on.
Unconventional is the book for all book lovers, nerds and convention-goers. I wish I could transport myself into it, amongst all the characters who stole my heart right from the beginning.
June 2, 2017
Unconventional has a frantic, fun feel to it that propels you along from convention to convention. I loved the pace and environment of the conventions. Lexi and her Dad and her family of friends plan and organize fan conventions. Of course, plans have a way of falling apart once the conventions start, but Lexi and her team can fix and overcome anything at this point. Lost dogs, lost phones, glue in all the wrong places and more! Lexi grew up in the convention life. Her calendar, lists, and clipboard!!! are her life. But you can’t plan everything. You can’t plan falling in love.
“Sometimes, the things that are worth fighting for, the things that matter, are the things that could hurt us the most. But they hurt because they make us FEEL.”
As soon as Aidan enters Lexi’s life and green room, everything seems to get even more crazy and hilarious. Their slow, sarcastic, grinning, falling for each other chemistry is sweet and romantic. But I could have used a few more interactions in between conventions. We were told about late night chats or emails, but we never experienced them. I longed for more sharing. My heart wanted to fall with them, but I just didn’t fully feel the emotional swoon. Like when…. Still had fun though. I rooted for Lexi and Aidan all the way through. I rooted for them to fall in love and find their way in the world and the convention. :)
A fast paced read filled with geekiness, costumes, chaos, and romance. Check it out!
I'm looking forward to reading more from Maggie Harcourt.
February 12, 2019
[Gifted]
Deliciously slow burning romance, characters that demand to be adored from the very first page and the most unique setting in contemporary YA ever....Maggie Harcourt has captured my heart with Lexi & Aidan's love story.
Deliciously slow burning romance, characters that demand to be adored from the very first page and the most unique setting in contemporary YA ever....Maggie Harcourt has captured my heart with Lexi & Aidan's love story.
June 27, 2023
Update 1: 28/10/2020
Update 2: 27/06/2023
Dit is zonder twijfel een van die boeken die thuishoren in een van de nieuwste trends van fandom-boeken, en waarvan we heel blij mogen zijn dat die vertaald worden. Als fan van allerlei boeken- en film- en seriedingen is iets als dit mij (en jou hopelijk ook) op het lijf geschreven, en hier en daar heel erg herkenbaar. Er wordt met namen gezwaaid als Non Pratt, Will Hill, Melinda Salisbury en zelfs freaking Joss Whedon.
Als lid van een (kleine) fotoclub die ook wel eens het een en ander op (kleine!) schaal organiseert, weet ik bovendien maar al te goed hoe snel en hoe vaak zo'n organisatie dikwijls in het honderd kan lopen, en wat voor rare situaties je allemaal krijgt. Ocharme voor de mensen die zoiets op grote schaal doen - en respect ook. Al die situaties worden goed in beeld gebracht, het klinkt ook overtuigend en een paar zaken herkenbaar. Update 1: Die hele dualiteit tussen 'ik vind dit geweldig' en 'lieve goden alles loopt echt mis en ik ben al vijf uur kapot' klinkt soms nogal bekend. Alles in en rond de conventies is goed beschreven, levendig en meestal hilarisch - ik heb een paar keer hardop gelachen. Als iemand die ook al wel een paar keer hier en daar op een con heeft rondgestruind, klinken veel dingen - kleine en grote - me toch wel bekend in de oren. Dit boek lééft.
Het taalgebruik is knap en past bij de setting en de personages - die stuk voor stuk ook geweldig zijn - en de vertaler, H.C. Kaspersma, heeft daar ook rekening mee gehouden. Het is een goede vertaling, ze klinkt ook echt jong. Er zitten een paar te Nederlandse woordjes in naar mijn zin ('7 vwo'? Het zal wel), maar het valt goed mee. De personages hebben een heel aangename, realistische stem, en dat is hier het belangrijkste. In de tekst merkte ik wel dat er in het boek standaard 'conferentie' werd gebruikt, terwijl mij dat wat vreemd in de oren klinkt - dan denk ik eerder aan formele, zakelijke bijeenkomsten of zo. Zaken als FACTS of London Comic Con noem ik eerder ook 'conventie', zoals 'convention' in het Engels, maar misschien ben ik dat maar.
Alleen die titel hier is weer ugh. In het Engels is het Unconventional, en die 'convention' zit er natuurlijk niet zomaar in. Dat kan evengoed vertaald worden als Onconventioneel, maar nee. Komen ze met zoiets idioots. Ik begrijp echt totaal niet waarom Y&A telkens weer met die romantiek zit rond te zwaaien, want dat is bijlange niet het enige dat er in dit boek zit. Hetzelfde met de korte inhoud op de achterflap, trouwens. Volgens mij is het romantische aspect duidelijk ondergeschikt aan het conventie-aspect. Echt zonde wat ze daarvan gemaakt hebben. (Update 2: Ondertussen horen we van Y&A al jaren niks meer. Niet moeilijk ook, als je zo incompetent omgaat met je eigen uitgeeffonds zoals zij.)
Maar dat zijn uiteindelijk maar kleine dingen. Al bij al is dit een geweldig boek. Met de romantiek heb ik minder op - daar lees ik een boek als dit niet voor - en ik vreesde bij het begin van het boek dat de aandacht op de cons dan ook zou verslappen, maar gelukkig was dat totaal niet het geval en blijven we in dezelfde setting, met steeds meer hilarische mislukkingen en foutjes.
Het einde - nu ja, de 'preview' van Haydns boek deed me trouwens erg denken aan Stravaganza van Mary Hoffman, en ja, da's een compliment. Ik zou Haydns boek lezen.
9/10
Update 2: 27/06/2023
Dit is zonder twijfel een van die boeken die thuishoren in een van de nieuwste trends van fandom-boeken, en waarvan we heel blij mogen zijn dat die vertaald worden. Als fan van allerlei boeken- en film- en seriedingen is iets als dit mij (en jou hopelijk ook) op het lijf geschreven, en hier en daar heel erg herkenbaar. Er wordt met namen gezwaaid als Non Pratt, Will Hill, Melinda Salisbury en zelfs freaking Joss Whedon.
Als lid van een (kleine) fotoclub die ook wel eens het een en ander op (kleine!) schaal organiseert, weet ik bovendien maar al te goed hoe snel en hoe vaak zo'n organisatie dikwijls in het honderd kan lopen, en wat voor rare situaties je allemaal krijgt. Ocharme voor de mensen die zoiets op grote schaal doen - en respect ook. Al die situaties worden goed in beeld gebracht, het klinkt ook overtuigend en een paar zaken herkenbaar. Update 1: Die hele dualiteit tussen 'ik vind dit geweldig' en 'lieve goden alles loopt echt mis en ik ben al vijf uur kapot' klinkt soms nogal bekend. Alles in en rond de conventies is goed beschreven, levendig en meestal hilarisch - ik heb een paar keer hardop gelachen. Als iemand die ook al wel een paar keer hier en daar op een con heeft rondgestruind, klinken veel dingen - kleine en grote - me toch wel bekend in de oren. Dit boek lééft.
Het taalgebruik is knap en past bij de setting en de personages - die stuk voor stuk ook geweldig zijn - en de vertaler, H.C. Kaspersma, heeft daar ook rekening mee gehouden. Het is een goede vertaling, ze klinkt ook echt jong. Er zitten een paar te Nederlandse woordjes in naar mijn zin ('7 vwo'? Het zal wel), maar het valt goed mee. De personages hebben een heel aangename, realistische stem, en dat is hier het belangrijkste. In de tekst merkte ik wel dat er in het boek standaard 'conferentie' werd gebruikt, terwijl mij dat wat vreemd in de oren klinkt - dan denk ik eerder aan formele, zakelijke bijeenkomsten of zo. Zaken als FACTS of London Comic Con noem ik eerder ook 'conventie', zoals 'convention' in het Engels, maar misschien ben ik dat maar.
Alleen die titel hier is weer ugh. In het Engels is het Unconventional, en die 'convention' zit er natuurlijk niet zomaar in. Dat kan evengoed vertaald worden als Onconventioneel, maar nee. Komen ze met zoiets idioots. Ik begrijp echt totaal niet waarom Y&A telkens weer met die romantiek zit rond te zwaaien, want dat is bijlange niet het enige dat er in dit boek zit. Hetzelfde met de korte inhoud op de achterflap, trouwens. Volgens mij is het romantische aspect duidelijk ondergeschikt aan het conventie-aspect. Echt zonde wat ze daarvan gemaakt hebben. (Update 2: Ondertussen horen we van Y&A al jaren niks meer. Niet moeilijk ook, als je zo incompetent omgaat met je eigen uitgeeffonds zoals zij.)
Maar dat zijn uiteindelijk maar kleine dingen. Al bij al is dit een geweldig boek. Met de romantiek heb ik minder op - daar lees ik een boek als dit niet voor - en ik vreesde bij het begin van het boek dat de aandacht op de cons dan ook zou verslappen, maar gelukkig was dat totaal niet het geval en blijven we in dezelfde setting, met steeds meer hilarische mislukkingen en foutjes.
Het einde - nu ja, de 'preview' van Haydns boek deed me trouwens erg denken aan Stravaganza van Mary Hoffman, en ja, da's een compliment. Ik zou Haydns boek lezen.
9/10
July 5, 2017
Many reviews compare this book to Rainbow Rowell. There are similarities, yes, but personally, I like Rowell much, much better. This book just didn’t do it for me, didn’t hit that elusive note that makes readers open their eyes wide, say “Ahh!” and smile.
The protagonist Lexi is seventeen. Her divorced father owns a company that organizes book and comics conventions, and Lexi is her father’s unpaid assistant. She manages the conventions’ staff. Conventions are her life, and the novel is built around them. Lexi falls in love during a convention. She has a revelation (or five) about life and love during a convention. Her friends are all convention friends.
The story is a YA and is full of teenage angst, silliness, and self-doubts. I’m so far removed from that miserable age, and from the book’s intended audience, that all the heroine’s moping around left me unmoved. I wanted to shake her shoulders and yell at her: “What are you doing, idiot!”
Fortunately for Lexi, by the last convention of the season, she comes to her senses and accepts the love of a gorgeous and talented young author, but their young romance and their turbulent teenage problems, totally artificial, if you ask me, just didn’t cut it.
While the characters didn’t work for me, the writing was good, and the humor saved this story from being a total failure. Maybe it would’ve work better for someone a bit younger than myself.
The protagonist Lexi is seventeen. Her divorced father owns a company that organizes book and comics conventions, and Lexi is her father’s unpaid assistant. She manages the conventions’ staff. Conventions are her life, and the novel is built around them. Lexi falls in love during a convention. She has a revelation (or five) about life and love during a convention. Her friends are all convention friends.
The story is a YA and is full of teenage angst, silliness, and self-doubts. I’m so far removed from that miserable age, and from the book’s intended audience, that all the heroine’s moping around left me unmoved. I wanted to shake her shoulders and yell at her: “What are you doing, idiot!”
Fortunately for Lexi, by the last convention of the season, she comes to her senses and accepts the love of a gorgeous and talented young author, but their young romance and their turbulent teenage problems, totally artificial, if you ask me, just didn’t cut it.
While the characters didn’t work for me, the writing was good, and the humor saved this story from being a total failure. Maybe it would’ve work better for someone a bit younger than myself.
Read
May 18, 2017I spent many happy hours binge reading this British YA novel set in the world of fan conventions. Lexi has been helping her dad run events her whole life, and she’s great at it — but meeting a hot new author has her flustered. This has all the things I love most about YA novels: it’s funny, emotionally intense, and just the right amount of sweet — and, because it’s British, also full of delightfully awkward moments which are far more reminiscent of my adolescence than some of the rainbows and unicorns you sometimes get elsewhere. Note: you can’t get this book in American bookstores (yet; I’m hoping US publishers see sense), but it’s available postage-free and at a low price on BookDepository.com.
— Claire Handscombe
from The Best Books We Read In February 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/28/riot-r...
— Claire Handscombe
from The Best Books We Read In February 2017: http://bookriot.com/2017/02/28/riot-r...
December 6, 2016
A love letter to the geeky, magical, out of this world, unforgettable realm of fandoms and all who dwell in them. This book is a celebration of loving things deeply, right down to their dodgy carpets, pineapple personalities and nervous ticks. Full to the brim with winks and nods to the many idiosyncrasies of convention communities. On a personal level this book brought me back to my teenage SciFi nerd convention days, and all the ways that life led to my dream job. If Maggie could have written a book meant just for me...well. With a swoonworthy romance that connects through the artifice to find the uncensored and unconventional person of passion within, you'll fall head over cosplay heels for Aidan and Lexi just as I did. You can definitely count me in as a fan!
October 28, 2018
Overall really cute. But the first half was definitely much better than the second half. I felt it may have worked better as novella rather than a full length novel.
February 27, 2019
Recensie volgt zsm op mijn blog
March 2, 2019
Heel lief boek. Heel cute en grappig.
Recensie binnenkort op My Perfect Book Life
Recensie binnenkort op My Perfect Book Life
May 16, 2024
THIS WAS THE SLOWEST OF SLOW BURN BC THEY DIDNT EVEN FRIDGING KISSSS AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
this was kinda shit honestly
this was kinda shit honestly
March 24, 2019
5/5. I didn't know I needed this book. It was so good!!
July 9, 2017
It was a strong start and the insight into conventions was really interesting but I just didn't feel the chemistry between the MC's so didn't really care for the romance. A teeny tiny bit predictable and not really much in the way of angst or drama. If you liked When Dimple Met Rishi, you'd probably like this too. Sweet but not much substance!
July 26, 2017
I am filled with love for this book.
Review to come.
Review to come.
February 7, 2017
Things I really liked: the convention setting, the behind-the-scenes atmosphere, Lexi's fabulous group of friends/co-workers, Melinda Salisbury's cameo.
Things I thought were just OK: the romance that felt like Lexi and Aiden were Romeo and Juliet, both in the falling-in-love sense and the barely-knowing-anything-about-each-other-beyond-the-facade sense, the cliched I-don't-like-my-Stepmum subplot.
Things I didn't like: the double life of Aidan Green/Haydn Swift, pretending he was all Hannah Montana when there was no wig involved and no secret identity, really. How jealous Lexi got when she found out that Aidan had had friends who were girls before her, and crushes before too.
A solid 3 star rating. I do understand where people are coming from with the Rainbow Rowell comparisons, but Unconventional definitely hasn't replaced Fangirl as one of my favourite books.
Things I thought were just OK: the romance that felt like Lexi and Aiden were Romeo and Juliet, both in the falling-in-love sense and the barely-knowing-anything-about-each-other-beyond-the-facade sense, the cliched I-don't-like-my-Stepmum subplot.
Things I didn't like: the double life of Aidan Green/Haydn Swift, pretending he was all Hannah Montana when there was no wig involved and no secret identity, really. How jealous Lexi got when she found out that Aidan had had friends who were girls before her, and crushes before too.
A solid 3 star rating. I do understand where people are coming from with the Rainbow Rowell comparisons, but Unconventional definitely hasn't replaced Fangirl as one of my favourite books.
January 17, 2019
4,5 stars. After a slow start, I really did enjoy Unconventional a whole lot (proof: easily reading 50 pages per sitting when I usually do 30). I liked the writing style, even though there’s a bit too much of that cursive emphasis going on. I feel like Lexi should’ve been a bit older, realistically? The romance was okay but I wasn’t fangirling about it and I guess in the end that’s why I rounded down instead of up. Liked the storyline with her dad, loved the cover and inner artwork and ADORED the bonus content at the end. Over all a great read, would recommend!
February 11, 2017
An unconventional convention story about a boy, a girl, an author, their book and a romance for the ages.
Loaded with humour, awkward moments and lots of hiding under tables, Unconventional is a liberating story perfect for any reader.
Jamie
Loaded with humour, awkward moments and lots of hiding under tables, Unconventional is a liberating story perfect for any reader.
Jamie
Read
February 28, 2017I loved this book, Unconventional is super geeky and cute and I flew through the pages <3 *Review to come*
July 12, 2019
Inleefbaar hoofdpersonage, cons, cosplay, een schrijver van fantasyboeken... qua opzet zat het voor mij perfect om een topper te worden!
Alleen... de romance 'voelde' ik niet echt: als lezer werd je een beetje buiten de interacties gehouden waardoor je de vonk wat miste, met name in de tweede helft van het boek.
Neemt niet weg dat de grappige toestanden achter de schermen van de cons veel goed maakten. Al met al een prettige leeservaring.
Alleen... de romance 'voelde' ik niet echt: als lezer werd je een beetje buiten de interacties gehouden waardoor je de vonk wat miste, met name in de tweede helft van het boek.
Neemt niet weg dat de grappige toestanden achter de schermen van de cons veel goed maakten. Al met al een prettige leeservaring.
April 17, 2017
This book was just perfect for me.
I loved the setting at conventions and how it reminded me of the times I was involved in conventions.
I loved how the characters were real, how I could identify friends immediately and how I could relate to the narrator on certain levels.
I loved how the characters were introduced and described, not too much attention paid to looks and superficial things but rather what you really notice about them.
I loved the love story, yes I did. It wasn't unbelievable and not too artificial obstacles but just overcoming your own fears more than anything else. Admitting how scary it is to fall in love.
I loved how the pacing was just right. You mainly see snippets of a couple of months and skip a lot of the inbetweens that are not important to the story.
I loved the writing, how the things were said just flowed and some sentences were just beautiful and resonated so much with me.
This is a book for fans, for people who know what it is like to feel at home at a certain place that may be fictional or only real for a couple of days in a year, sort of an alternate reality where you can hide from the scary outside.
I loved the setting at conventions and how it reminded me of the times I was involved in conventions.
I loved how the characters were real, how I could identify friends immediately and how I could relate to the narrator on certain levels.
I loved how the characters were introduced and described, not too much attention paid to looks and superficial things but rather what you really notice about them.
I loved the love story, yes I did. It wasn't unbelievable and not too artificial obstacles but just overcoming your own fears more than anything else. Admitting how scary it is to fall in love.
I loved how the pacing was just right. You mainly see snippets of a couple of months and skip a lot of the inbetweens that are not important to the story.
I loved the writing, how the things were said just flowed and some sentences were just beautiful and resonated so much with me.
This is a book for fans, for people who know what it is like to feel at home at a certain place that may be fictional or only real for a couple of days in a year, sort of an alternate reality where you can hide from the scary outside.
June 13, 2017
Unconventional started off really strongly, with an interesting array of characters and showing us the backstage life of a convention.
However, as it progressed, the story started to feel a little bit tired - Lexi was on an emotional rollercoaster and her mood swings between "he knows me" and "he doesn't know me" started to irritate. I didn't particularly feel the chemistry between her and Aidan and maybe it was the chosen format that worked against the book - the pair only ever meets at conventions and we largely miss out on their communication in between the events. Especially given that it's written in first person, this approach does not really allowed me to connect with Lexi. Also Aidan feels a bit too mature and boyish at the same time to make much of an impact on me.
It was a good read but I much preferred Geekerella. Overall 3*.
However, as it progressed, the story started to feel a little bit tired - Lexi was on an emotional rollercoaster and her mood swings between "he knows me" and "he doesn't know me" started to irritate. I didn't particularly feel the chemistry between her and Aidan and maybe it was the chosen format that worked against the book - the pair only ever meets at conventions and we largely miss out on their communication in between the events. Especially given that it's written in first person, this approach does not really allowed me to connect with Lexi. Also Aidan feels a bit too mature and boyish at the same time to make much of an impact on me.
It was a good read but I much preferred Geekerella. Overall 3*.
January 7, 2017
I REALLY enjoyed this book. It was just what I needed to get me out of my horrid reading slump. Something that was easy to read and quick too! (I was a bit worried going as it was over 400pages) I loved that is was set at conventions and I'm sure we can all relate to that time we met our favourite authors and how we felt. I love the little references to the YA community and it's authors. It made me laugh and smile and I stayed up till 1am to finish it. Lexi was a great character, you could really see her growing and fighting within herself as to what she was going to do with her future. A book for YA loving fangirls for sure
March 22, 2019
3 sterren. Ik vond het leuk om een boek gelezen te hebben, maar absoluut niet meer dan dat.
January 21, 2018
This was such an adorable book! This was my first audiobook on Audible and although I had some technical issues with it, I managed to read this so quick and it was such a unique reading experience.
This book is, in my opinion, a little like Fangirl but British. Our protagonist is Lexi Angelo, the daughter of a guy who runs conventions like Comic-Con and other fandom-related events. She helps out with her friends as well as studies, and loves to be organised with her clipboard. And speaking of clipboard, she meets an author called Hayden/Aiden (one being a pseudonym) who is only a year or two older than her and writes her favourite book Peacekeepers. And just to inform you, as I listened to this, my spelling for names and other things may be wrong so my apologies.
You can see where this cute as eff book goes with their relationship but honestly, it's mostly a book about family and friendship. There were many convention adventures, mishaps and shenanegans involving her friends, dad and crush Aiden Green, and it just so damn delightful that I just couldn't stop listening to it all.
The romance was cute, it was very slow-burning and there was a point where I wondered if it was going to actually happen but of course it's a happy ending.
Lexi was a good protagonist, I liked her friends a lot as they were a lot of fun and very diverse, and the family aspect is another thing I was happy with. It was quite realistic in some ways, with her divorced parents acting as they did, it wasn't over the top or silly, it was quite real (coming from someone who's parents divorced the same age as the protag anyway). I was impressed that the adults weren't all just ridiculous, sometimes in these kind of books they're all either complete failures or just horrible people, but they were all likable in their own way.
The idea for this story is just wonderful, and I'm so pleased I found this book. I will be reading Maggie Harcourt again in the future! A nice start to 2018 with a fluffy, amusing and compelling book. I recommend this book highly, especially if you've attended a convention.
Also, a shout out to the narrator who was just awesome, especially with accents. I was very impressed with the variety she managed to do and make it all so believable. Everyone's voice was unique and I really enjoyed her storytelling.
May 1, 2019
2,5 sterren.
Het verhaal begon goed voor mij. Wel vraag ik mij af waarom Lexi geen commentaar heeft gekregen op de te kleine palmbomen in het begin van het verhaal. Of ik heb dat deel gemist, kan ook.
De reden waarom ik het dan toch niet veel sterren heb gegeven is omdat 1) ik de romantiek miste, 2) Aidan kwam te weinig aan bod in het verhaal dus de liefde die er al inzat, kwam niet als "echt" over bij mij, 3) sommige dingen waren gewoon te "cringe" in het verhaal.
Ik verduidelijk even:
"Ik moet hem delen met iedereen" zegt Lexi over Aidan. Wel, dat klinkt als flauwekul voor mij. Hij is een auteur, geen acteur waar meisjes op kwijlen. Auteurs zijn niet zó belangrijk in de roddelboekjes, hun privélevens worden niet uitgesmeerd in het lang en breed, toch niet zoals beroemde acteurs en zangers.
Het midden van het boek was oké voor mij, maar was ietwat aan de saaiere kant.
Op het einde gebeurt ook iets dat té onrealistisch was voor mij. Aidan was ontzettend boos op haar, maar de volgende bladzijde staan ze te dansen alsof hij niets gedaan heeft? Oké, hij heeft zich wel verontschuldigd maar Lexi vergaf hem gewoon veel te snel. Ze heeft hem ook totaal niet nodig, ze had hem beter een dikke welverdiende "f*ck you" gegeven. Zo irritant vond ik hem.
Ook dit vond ik er wat over gaan. Het ganse boek houdt de auteur zich in met mooie verwoordingen en is het redelijk droog qua taalgebruik. Ineens staat er op de laatste bladzijdes - en ik quoteer letterlijk:
"En dan gaat er op magische wijze iedereen op de dansvloer opzij; de menigte splitst zich, als Mozes die de Rode Zee openbreekt - en daar is hij dan." - pagina 331
Waar kwam dat ineens vandaan? Dit komt net uit zo'n goedkope Amerikaanse tienerfilm die ze de donderdagavond op een niet belangrijke zender zouden afspelen. Gewoon te cringe voor mij, de menigte splitst letterlijk, hoezo is het dan de bedoeling dat het boek iets van realistisch zou overkomen? En ook vooral omdat er amper al romantiek in het boek zit - naar mijn mening - en dan komt er ineens zo'n hopeloze romantische metafoor in? Eerlijk, dit heeft er gewoon voor gezorgd dat ik het boek geen 3 sterren heb gegeven. Gewoon het hele einde van het boek. Dat viel mij gewoon zeer zwaar tegen.
Het plot had zoveel beter kunnen zijn als er al van in het begin werd opgebouwd naar een goede en stabielere romantiek. Het begin was zo veelbelovend, de setting ook. De setting was dat ik zo nieuwsgierig was naar dit boek, ik bedoel maar, een conventie en liefde? Sounds perfect. Maar dat was het helaas niet. Ik vind het zo spijtig dat ik teleurgesteld ben door dit boek want ik heb het gelezen voor een boekenclub.
Het verhaal begon goed voor mij. Wel vraag ik mij af waarom Lexi geen commentaar heeft gekregen op de te kleine palmbomen in het begin van het verhaal. Of ik heb dat deel gemist, kan ook.
De reden waarom ik het dan toch niet veel sterren heb gegeven is omdat 1) ik de romantiek miste, 2) Aidan kwam te weinig aan bod in het verhaal dus de liefde die er al inzat, kwam niet als "echt" over bij mij, 3) sommige dingen waren gewoon te "cringe" in het verhaal.
Ik verduidelijk even:
"Ik moet hem delen met iedereen" zegt Lexi over Aidan. Wel, dat klinkt als flauwekul voor mij. Hij is een auteur, geen acteur waar meisjes op kwijlen. Auteurs zijn niet zó belangrijk in de roddelboekjes, hun privélevens worden niet uitgesmeerd in het lang en breed, toch niet zoals beroemde acteurs en zangers.
Het midden van het boek was oké voor mij, maar was ietwat aan de saaiere kant.
Op het einde gebeurt ook iets dat té onrealistisch was voor mij. Aidan was ontzettend boos op haar, maar de volgende bladzijde staan ze te dansen alsof hij niets gedaan heeft? Oké, hij heeft zich wel verontschuldigd maar Lexi vergaf hem gewoon veel te snel. Ze heeft hem ook totaal niet nodig, ze had hem beter een dikke welverdiende "f*ck you" gegeven. Zo irritant vond ik hem.
Ook dit vond ik er wat over gaan. Het ganse boek houdt de auteur zich in met mooie verwoordingen en is het redelijk droog qua taalgebruik. Ineens staat er op de laatste bladzijdes - en ik quoteer letterlijk:
"En dan gaat er op magische wijze iedereen op de dansvloer opzij; de menigte splitst zich, als Mozes die de Rode Zee openbreekt - en daar is hij dan." - pagina 331
Waar kwam dat ineens vandaan? Dit komt net uit zo'n goedkope Amerikaanse tienerfilm die ze de donderdagavond op een niet belangrijke zender zouden afspelen. Gewoon te cringe voor mij, de menigte splitst letterlijk, hoezo is het dan de bedoeling dat het boek iets van realistisch zou overkomen? En ook vooral omdat er amper al romantiek in het boek zit - naar mijn mening - en dan komt er ineens zo'n hopeloze romantische metafoor in? Eerlijk, dit heeft er gewoon voor gezorgd dat ik het boek geen 3 sterren heb gegeven. Gewoon het hele einde van het boek. Dat viel mij gewoon zeer zwaar tegen.
Het plot had zoveel beter kunnen zijn als er al van in het begin werd opgebouwd naar een goede en stabielere romantiek. Het begin was zo veelbelovend, de setting ook. De setting was dat ik zo nieuwsgierig was naar dit boek, ik bedoel maar, een conventie en liefde? Sounds perfect. Maar dat was het helaas niet. Ik vind het zo spijtig dat ik teleurgesteld ben door dit boek want ik heb het gelezen voor een boekenclub.
July 16, 2017
"You're you, Lexi Angelo. And that's... that's exactly why I've fallen for you."
What I liked about this book:
> The entire convention setting. Seriously, it was so realistic and well-written. I loved reading about all the behind-the-scenes stuff.
> Aidan. He was so dorky and sweet and adorable and a really swoony love interest (albeit in a geeky way).
"All I can see is you."
> Lexi's group of close friends. Especially her best friend Sam.
> Lexi's character arc. I may not have really liked her character but her journey, development and discovery of herself as a person and what she really wants is great.
> Lexi's mom having a girlfriend. Who's French.
> Melinda Salisbury's cameo.
What I thought could have been better:
> Lexi and Aidan's romance. It just wasn't intense enough to really root for.
> Lexi. Sometimes she came across as bossy, snappy and a little condescending.
> Cliche Cinderella trope. The way I saw it, there was absolutely no need to throw in the whole I-don't-like-my-stepmom part. Bea's relationship with Lexi's dad was nothing but positive!
> I thought the book dragged a little and that made it boring at times. Sometimes it seemed like whatever was going on wasn't actually essential to progress of the story and was just there for the sake of filler.
> It could have been more... fandom-y? Lexi only really fangirled about Aidan's book, Piecekeepers, and I thought that was relatable and really great, but she never once mentioned any other authors or guests at any of the six conventions that happened in the book. I just thought that since the catchphrase of this book is "Everyone's a fan of someone", I'd see more of Lexi's fangirl side. But she never talked about any favorite books, movies, shows, people. She didn't really seem like a true fangirl so it was hard to connect with her.
Overall:
My actual rating for this book is 3.5 stars, but I marked it as a 3 because it just doesn't cut 4 for me. Nevertheless, it's definitely solid and well-written, although nothing extraordinary. Maximum Pop! has called it "a gorgeous one-of-a-kind novel, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell", but to me there's no way this book can surpass Fangirl.
November 6, 2017
I so wanted this to be better than it was. For me, the main issue was that the book was set up to me a pretty great romance at its core when in reality, the romance seemed insignificant for large amounts of the book. It was pretty bizarre - one second Lexi & Aidan were friendly/flirty whilst locked in the convention room (one of the only scenes where they had some serious chemistry going on) and then they were emailing and suddenly they were a couple...I don't think the month-by-month structure helped. It made things feel a bit rushed and vague, in places. I did really the convention setting and learning about Lexi's friends within that community. I just really wish Aidan had been more present in the book - a lot of their relationship is explored through Lexi's inner monologues or her conversations with Sam about him. Aidan had such great potential as a character, but he was never allowed to realise it. A real shame. Still excited to read more from this author, though.
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