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The Right Girl
What do you do when your perfect life . . . isn’t?
Freya has the best life – she’s officially in love and her floristry business, Blooming Brilliant, is going from strength to strength.
Two years ago, it was a different story. She was barely employed as the worst waitress in the world, with no hope of a boyfriend, and no bank balance. But then she got BBest, a lifestyle app that knows you better than you know yourself. It changed everything. It streamlined her life, taking her likes and dislikes and skills and foibles, and gave her the best options so she doesn’t make mistakes anymore. Freya has never looked back – and neither has anyone else. Everyone loves BBest, it’s a game changer.
But if she’s so in love, why doesn’t it feel exactly right? And who is that mysterious man in her beloved grandfather’s bookshop with soulful eyes that leave her unstitched? All of a sudden Freya has so many questions – and no one seems to be able to answer them. She begins to wonder what she really agreed to when she let BBest into her life. Then her grandfather is arrested, and Freya is thrust into a world she could never have imagined in her shiny, successful existence.
When you have the perfect life, should you listen to your head or your heart?
Freya has the best life – she’s officially in love and her floristry business, Blooming Brilliant, is going from strength to strength.
Two years ago, it was a different story. She was barely employed as the worst waitress in the world, with no hope of a boyfriend, and no bank balance. But then she got BBest, a lifestyle app that knows you better than you know yourself. It changed everything. It streamlined her life, taking her likes and dislikes and skills and foibles, and gave her the best options so she doesn’t make mistakes anymore. Freya has never looked back – and neither has anyone else. Everyone loves BBest, it’s a game changer.
But if she’s so in love, why doesn’t it feel exactly right? And who is that mysterious man in her beloved grandfather’s bookshop with soulful eyes that leave her unstitched? All of a sudden Freya has so many questions – and no one seems to be able to answer them. She begins to wonder what she really agreed to when she let BBest into her life. Then her grandfather is arrested, and Freya is thrust into a world she could never have imagined in her shiny, successful existence.
When you have the perfect life, should you listen to your head or your heart?
393 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2018
16 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Ellie O'Neill
5 books103 followersEllie is an Irish Australian bestselling author. She writes commercial fiction and is the author of four books. Her new novel, FAMILY MATTERS, published with Allen and Unwin will be released in June 2022. Her writing has been described as charming, whimsical, funny and touching. To date all of her books have been set in Ireland and she’s not entirely sure why. Australia has been home for over ten-years but her storytelling blooms from the streets of Dublin. Her 2014 novel, Reluctantly Charmed, was a top ten Australian debut and a bestseller.
After completing every book, Ellie announces to anyone with ears, that she’ll never write again. She is currently working on her fifth book and looks forward to dramatically throwing in the towel once more.
After completing every book, Ellie announces to anyone with ears, that she’ll never write again. She is currently working on her fifth book and looks forward to dramatically throwing in the towel once more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 19, 2018
Freya and Mason had just become engaged – the lifestyle app BBest must have been correct in judging she and Mason were best suited. Mason even did all BBest told him to - how to propose, where to propose and what fripperies to use as accessories.
Freya’s floristry business, Blooming Brilliant, which she ran from her mother’s garage, was doing well. She was supplying the bouquets for weddings, as well as the surrounding blooms – her business was becoming so well known she knew she’d have to move out of the garage into a shop soon. She couldn’t have been happier in her job…
Freya’s grandfather owned a bookshop which was full to overflowing with every type of book ever published. She visited him as often as she could, always nagging him to stop smoking – Bbest listed all the help he needed to do so. But he was determined to live life the way he wanted to – he hated anything connected to technology. And when the customer caused Freya’s heart to stand still on one visit, she questioned herself – she was suited to Mason; BBest said so! So why was she feeling like she was?
I previously loved The Enchanted Island and Reluctantly Charmed, giving them both 5 stars, so when I saw The Right Girl by Aussie author Ellie O’Neill was due for publication, I was excited to read it. I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as her first two. Completely different, it seemed flippant, frivolous and totally meaningless. The complete dominance of a person’s life by a mobile app – of everyone’s life – doing exactly what the voice from the app said; right down to when they ate, what they ate, who they saw, who they even loved! I’m disappointed, but it was obviously just not for me – that said, I will look at the author’s next novel.
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster AU for my digital ARC to read for an honest review.
Freya’s floristry business, Blooming Brilliant, which she ran from her mother’s garage, was doing well. She was supplying the bouquets for weddings, as well as the surrounding blooms – her business was becoming so well known she knew she’d have to move out of the garage into a shop soon. She couldn’t have been happier in her job…
Freya’s grandfather owned a bookshop which was full to overflowing with every type of book ever published. She visited him as often as she could, always nagging him to stop smoking – Bbest listed all the help he needed to do so. But he was determined to live life the way he wanted to – he hated anything connected to technology. And when the customer caused Freya’s heart to stand still on one visit, she questioned herself – she was suited to Mason; BBest said so! So why was she feeling like she was?
I previously loved The Enchanted Island and Reluctantly Charmed, giving them both 5 stars, so when I saw The Right Girl by Aussie author Ellie O’Neill was due for publication, I was excited to read it. I’m afraid I didn’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as her first two. Completely different, it seemed flippant, frivolous and totally meaningless. The complete dominance of a person’s life by a mobile app – of everyone’s life – doing exactly what the voice from the app said; right down to when they ate, what they ate, who they saw, who they even loved! I’m disappointed, but it was obviously just not for me – that said, I will look at the author’s next novel.
With thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster AU for my digital ARC to read for an honest review.
April 10, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The Right Girl marks author Ellie O’Neill’s third published novel. For me, this is the second book I have read by Ellie O’Neill. I really loved the magical realism and unique approach O’Neill takes to her books so the chance to read her latest book, The Right Girl, was very much welcomed. This time around, O’Neill’s novel takes a very different line. Initially, The Right Girl reads like a solid women’s fiction novel, but if you scratch beneath the surface of this novel, you will find a surprisingly interesting read that blurs genres and themes.
The Right Girl takes on the concept of the ‘perfect’ life. For main protagonist of this story, Freya, life is simply blooming. All facets of Freya’s life seem to be falling into place, from her love life to her business. However, we learn that only two years ago, things were different. Freya was stuck in a dead end job, with no boyfriend in her life and she was severely lacking in the finance department. Then something magical and life changing came into her life, BBest, an app that is capable of transforming your lifestyle. For Freya, BBest has prevented any bad decisions and for so many others, it has been a lifesaver. Lately, something doesn’t feel right and Freya can’t put her finger on what is, or what is causing it. Perhaps Freya’s over reliance on BBest is unhealthy after all? When things start to go wrong in Freya’s life, she begins to wonder if she should listen to her gut instincts rather than rely on a lifestyle app to rule her life.
The Right Girl examines the decision making processes we make in today’s busy society. Imagine leaving all the hard decision making to an electronic lifestyle app? This is a very real and relevant scenario, which I would not be at all surprised to see in our not too distant future. Ellie O’Neill takes a current, as well as up and coming theme and pulls it apart very well in her latest novel.
I have to admit, I was a little surprised by the direction this novel takes. It isn’t a bad thing at all though, as I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the opening to the close of the novel. As I loved the quirky feel and magical touch to O’Neill’s first novel, I think I was expecting a little more of this in her latest. I admire the different direction Ellie has taken with her new novel. It is always good to see an author spread their wings and demonstrate an ability to explore different themes or genres. I would say this book covers a few different genres, from women’s fiction, to romance, to contemporary fiction and there is even a sub theme of sci fi/dystopian fiction floating about. O’Neill also explores the themes of true love, the importance of family, friendship, life decisions and personal dreams. These are all very relatable subjects and I am confident O’Neill will capture many different types of readers by the themes she has chosen to cover in The Right Girl.
Freya, the chief character of The Right Girl, is an all around nice girl and I genuinely enjoyed the process of learning about Freya as a person. I also enjoyed Freya’s eventful character journey, it was certainly a jam packed adventure. The supporting characters O’Neill has chosen to fill the pages of her new book with and to back her lead are endearing and thoughtfully presented. I developed quite a soft spot for Freya’s grandfather and one of the love interests that feature in this book.
Romance is definitely a core theme in this novel and I appreciated the approach that Ellie O’Neill took with this theme in her novel. Finding love and the right partner in today’s world is not easy. Freya’s experiences are highly relevant and topical. I liked how O’Neill presented a case for the heart versus the head. I am quite an indecisive person myself, simple decisions often give me a great deal of angst, so the idea of using that an app such as BBest to take some of this anxiety and often tiring decision making away would be an attractive prospect. However, on the other side of this, I am not sure I could relinquish control over my decisions to an electronic device! Ellie O’Neill brings much food for thought it in her new novel. Personally, The Right Girl made me take a step back and really think hard about my relationship to and perhaps my over reliance on smart devices such as my phone and the apps that go with it.
All the elements in this novel seem to click together to create one very engaging read. I was also pleased by the final turn of events in this novel. With fantastically drawn characters, a loveable lead, a well thought out plot, an easy going writing style, makes The Right Girl a book that will appeal to many. Ellie O’Neill has a very creative mind and I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for us in future novels.
The Right Girl is book #32 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
The Right Girl marks author Ellie O’Neill’s third published novel. For me, this is the second book I have read by Ellie O’Neill. I really loved the magical realism and unique approach O’Neill takes to her books so the chance to read her latest book, The Right Girl, was very much welcomed. This time around, O’Neill’s novel takes a very different line. Initially, The Right Girl reads like a solid women’s fiction novel, but if you scratch beneath the surface of this novel, you will find a surprisingly interesting read that blurs genres and themes.
The Right Girl takes on the concept of the ‘perfect’ life. For main protagonist of this story, Freya, life is simply blooming. All facets of Freya’s life seem to be falling into place, from her love life to her business. However, we learn that only two years ago, things were different. Freya was stuck in a dead end job, with no boyfriend in her life and she was severely lacking in the finance department. Then something magical and life changing came into her life, BBest, an app that is capable of transforming your lifestyle. For Freya, BBest has prevented any bad decisions and for so many others, it has been a lifesaver. Lately, something doesn’t feel right and Freya can’t put her finger on what is, or what is causing it. Perhaps Freya’s over reliance on BBest is unhealthy after all? When things start to go wrong in Freya’s life, she begins to wonder if she should listen to her gut instincts rather than rely on a lifestyle app to rule her life.
The Right Girl examines the decision making processes we make in today’s busy society. Imagine leaving all the hard decision making to an electronic lifestyle app? This is a very real and relevant scenario, which I would not be at all surprised to see in our not too distant future. Ellie O’Neill takes a current, as well as up and coming theme and pulls it apart very well in her latest novel.
I have to admit, I was a little surprised by the direction this novel takes. It isn’t a bad thing at all though, as I thoroughly enjoyed this story from the opening to the close of the novel. As I loved the quirky feel and magical touch to O’Neill’s first novel, I think I was expecting a little more of this in her latest. I admire the different direction Ellie has taken with her new novel. It is always good to see an author spread their wings and demonstrate an ability to explore different themes or genres. I would say this book covers a few different genres, from women’s fiction, to romance, to contemporary fiction and there is even a sub theme of sci fi/dystopian fiction floating about. O’Neill also explores the themes of true love, the importance of family, friendship, life decisions and personal dreams. These are all very relatable subjects and I am confident O’Neill will capture many different types of readers by the themes she has chosen to cover in The Right Girl.
Freya, the chief character of The Right Girl, is an all around nice girl and I genuinely enjoyed the process of learning about Freya as a person. I also enjoyed Freya’s eventful character journey, it was certainly a jam packed adventure. The supporting characters O’Neill has chosen to fill the pages of her new book with and to back her lead are endearing and thoughtfully presented. I developed quite a soft spot for Freya’s grandfather and one of the love interests that feature in this book.
Romance is definitely a core theme in this novel and I appreciated the approach that Ellie O’Neill took with this theme in her novel. Finding love and the right partner in today’s world is not easy. Freya’s experiences are highly relevant and topical. I liked how O’Neill presented a case for the heart versus the head. I am quite an indecisive person myself, simple decisions often give me a great deal of angst, so the idea of using that an app such as BBest to take some of this anxiety and often tiring decision making away would be an attractive prospect. However, on the other side of this, I am not sure I could relinquish control over my decisions to an electronic device! Ellie O’Neill brings much food for thought it in her new novel. Personally, The Right Girl made me take a step back and really think hard about my relationship to and perhaps my over reliance on smart devices such as my phone and the apps that go with it.
All the elements in this novel seem to click together to create one very engaging read. I was also pleased by the final turn of events in this novel. With fantastically drawn characters, a loveable lead, a well thought out plot, an easy going writing style, makes The Right Girl a book that will appeal to many. Ellie O’Neill has a very creative mind and I look forward to seeing what else she has in store for us in future novels.
The Right Girl is book #32 of the Australian Women Writers Challenge
January 20, 2018
Freya Flannigan is on top of the world. Four years ago she started using the BBest app, an app tailored to her based on her digital footprint. She surrendered everything she ever did on line to the app and now her life runs exactly to the app time line. It tells her when she feels like a coffee, what she wants or needs to eat and more. BBest suggested that being a florist was her ideal line of work, so she now runs a successful florist business out of her mother’s garage. She has recently become engaged to Mason, he was her 93% perfect match but they both think that the relationship must be a slow burn, as they don’t have that spark but it must be right because BBest said it is. Best of all, BBest eliminates all of that mind-boggling choice.
But what happens when you don’t want to do what BBest tells you to......
I love that dark, magical realism that author Ellie O’Neill brings to her books. They all have that touch of truth or something that doesn’t seem quite out of the question in this day and age. I wanted something light and entertaining (and it was) but was almost a seriously scary book as I sat here reading on my Kindle – with whatever stats going back to Amazon. And my Fitbit buzzing on my wrist notifying me that I needed to complete my 250 steps for the hour.....I rebelled on that one and kept reading!!
I suggest you read this book, I think of it as a tongue in cheek look about what can happen when we let technology take over our lives but it will also give you a lot to think about in terms of the information we willingly put on the internet.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
But what happens when you don’t want to do what BBest tells you to......
I love that dark, magical realism that author Ellie O’Neill brings to her books. They all have that touch of truth or something that doesn’t seem quite out of the question in this day and age. I wanted something light and entertaining (and it was) but was almost a seriously scary book as I sat here reading on my Kindle – with whatever stats going back to Amazon. And my Fitbit buzzing on my wrist notifying me that I needed to complete my 250 steps for the hour.....I rebelled on that one and kept reading!!
I suggest you read this book, I think of it as a tongue in cheek look about what can happen when we let technology take over our lives but it will also give you a lot to think about in terms of the information we willingly put on the internet.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read and review.
March 12, 2025
This was a very interesting read.
It's crazy how much it makes sense in this day and age using and reliability we have on social media networks.
Freya was a match with Mason but yet they had nothing in common. The App Bbeast made them a 93% match.
Freya has a passion for floristry and owns her own business that she started from her mum's garage but now is so successful in her own shop.
It wasn't untill she meets another guy from her grandfathers bookshop who she finds much more attention and more of a connection. It's not u till then she finds out her true feelings for him than what she has for Mason.
I loved this book I couldn't put it down quickly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
@reenes_libaray
It's crazy how much it makes sense in this day and age using and reliability we have on social media networks.
Freya was a match with Mason but yet they had nothing in common. The App Bbeast made them a 93% match.
Freya has a passion for floristry and owns her own business that she started from her mum's garage but now is so successful in her own shop.
It wasn't untill she meets another guy from her grandfathers bookshop who she finds much more attention and more of a connection. It's not u till then she finds out her true feelings for him than what she has for Mason.
I loved this book I couldn't put it down quickly.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
@reenes_libaray
February 12, 2018
In Freya’s world, everyone has come to rely on the app BBest. It basically takes control of your life and makes decisions for you. Don’t know what you want as a career? Answer a few questions and it’ll tell you. It’ll suggest what to wear, what to eat, if you want a coffee or not and soon begins to link up with financial institutions and dating apps. If you’re applying for a loan at the bank and it sees that you adopt all of BBest’s choices for you, that reflects well.
For Freya, BBest is everything. She loves it. She consults it for everything and is always a first choice adopter. With her boyfriend Mason comes a 93% approval rating, practically unheard of. Everything should be perfect. After all, BBest knows her better than she even knows herself. But if it’s doing such a good job organising her life and making choices for her, then why doesn’t Freya ‘feel it’ with Mason? He doesn’t make her heart sing, she doesn’t get those little flutters when she thinks about it, or when she spots him in the distance. Perhaps that is teenage infatuation and BBest has mapped out the very best future for her. But if that’s true, Freya doesn’t feel very enthusiastic about its choice, which is confusing for her. BBest has helped her out in so many other aspects. When Freya meets a man at her grandfather’s bookshop/library hybrid, she wonders just why he gives her the feelings Mason doesn’t.
I liked Freya and I can relate to her not knowing what she wants to do with her life. In some parts of my life I can be very indecisive and a push in a direction, any direction, could be very comforting about things I’m not sure about. I honestly can’t see myself giving up almost every decision to an app like Freya does but the scary thing is, I can see how an app of this might get its roots. It’s quick and convenient, like asking Siri a question. And the answer is instantaneous. All those pesky decisions we agonised over are resolved in a moment.
But as much as Freya trusts BBest to make the best choices for her, she realises that her grandfather, a bit of a Luddite who shuns a lot of this modern technology, has been right. An app can’t make you feel and although Mason might be her best match on paper, he doesn’t seem to be her heart’s desire. It should be a straightforward situation – but BBest’s entangling of many facets of life, maybe all facets of life means that it’s not. And Freya’s torn about what to do. And for this, she’s on her own because she can’t do what she’d usually do and consult BBest! And several of her friends work for the company and its so ingrained in culture that even talking to people in a reasonable way about its decisions and how they may not be for the best, is difficult. Not to mention it becomes quite apparent that there are…consequences for not adopting BBest’s choices and recommendations.
People have agonised over the sensible choice vs the heart-fluttery unknown for ages, that’s nothing new. The app is a modern day complication to freedom of choice with negative impacts that are not currently in play in ‘real life’ but it isn’t too hard to stretch the imagination really to these kinds of information gathering lifestyle apps filtering and selling that information on to interested parties – such as banks, housing companies, employment or recruiting organisations, etc. We already give away so much information – facebook records things we look at and offers us ads it thinks is tailor made to our interests, amazon records what we buy, how fast we read books and suggests similar titles. There are dating apps that rank your matches on compatibility already. Fitbits record our exercise and sleep, gently reminding us when we haven’t moved enough and praising us when we meet targets. All those things combined and a few more creative steps and BBest isn’t such a stretch of the imagination.
I enjoyed this a lot. I really liked the characters of Freya and her grandfather and their relationship. His bookshop/library thing sounds like a dream! I probably have enough books to start one of my own to be honest. I thought the exploration into giving up choices was quite well done – it was light hearted in manner but with enough serious undertones that the reader could really ponder the consequences of such a thing like BBest and perhaps apply it to their own lives, what impact such a thing might have. The story is a little bit quirky, a little bit fun which keeps the pages turning but that doesn’t detract from the overall message.
**A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review
For Freya, BBest is everything. She loves it. She consults it for everything and is always a first choice adopter. With her boyfriend Mason comes a 93% approval rating, practically unheard of. Everything should be perfect. After all, BBest knows her better than she even knows herself. But if it’s doing such a good job organising her life and making choices for her, then why doesn’t Freya ‘feel it’ with Mason? He doesn’t make her heart sing, she doesn’t get those little flutters when she thinks about it, or when she spots him in the distance. Perhaps that is teenage infatuation and BBest has mapped out the very best future for her. But if that’s true, Freya doesn’t feel very enthusiastic about its choice, which is confusing for her. BBest has helped her out in so many other aspects. When Freya meets a man at her grandfather’s bookshop/library hybrid, she wonders just why he gives her the feelings Mason doesn’t.
I liked Freya and I can relate to her not knowing what she wants to do with her life. In some parts of my life I can be very indecisive and a push in a direction, any direction, could be very comforting about things I’m not sure about. I honestly can’t see myself giving up almost every decision to an app like Freya does but the scary thing is, I can see how an app of this might get its roots. It’s quick and convenient, like asking Siri a question. And the answer is instantaneous. All those pesky decisions we agonised over are resolved in a moment.
But as much as Freya trusts BBest to make the best choices for her, she realises that her grandfather, a bit of a Luddite who shuns a lot of this modern technology, has been right. An app can’t make you feel and although Mason might be her best match on paper, he doesn’t seem to be her heart’s desire. It should be a straightforward situation – but BBest’s entangling of many facets of life, maybe all facets of life means that it’s not. And Freya’s torn about what to do. And for this, she’s on her own because she can’t do what she’d usually do and consult BBest! And several of her friends work for the company and its so ingrained in culture that even talking to people in a reasonable way about its decisions and how they may not be for the best, is difficult. Not to mention it becomes quite apparent that there are…consequences for not adopting BBest’s choices and recommendations.
People have agonised over the sensible choice vs the heart-fluttery unknown for ages, that’s nothing new. The app is a modern day complication to freedom of choice with negative impacts that are not currently in play in ‘real life’ but it isn’t too hard to stretch the imagination really to these kinds of information gathering lifestyle apps filtering and selling that information on to interested parties – such as banks, housing companies, employment or recruiting organisations, etc. We already give away so much information – facebook records things we look at and offers us ads it thinks is tailor made to our interests, amazon records what we buy, how fast we read books and suggests similar titles. There are dating apps that rank your matches on compatibility already. Fitbits record our exercise and sleep, gently reminding us when we haven’t moved enough and praising us when we meet targets. All those things combined and a few more creative steps and BBest isn’t such a stretch of the imagination.
I enjoyed this a lot. I really liked the characters of Freya and her grandfather and their relationship. His bookshop/library thing sounds like a dream! I probably have enough books to start one of my own to be honest. I thought the exploration into giving up choices was quite well done – it was light hearted in manner but with enough serious undertones that the reader could really ponder the consequences of such a thing like BBest and perhaps apply it to their own lives, what impact such a thing might have. The story is a little bit quirky, a little bit fun which keeps the pages turning but that doesn’t detract from the overall message.
**A copy of this novel was provided by the publisher for the purpose of an honest review
April 27, 2018
I wanted to love this book so much! The premise was good and the cover is gorgeous. Unfortunately for me it didn't hit the mark.
I hated the main character. She was so dumb, and very self absorbed for someone who lacked complete self awareness. And because I hated her so much I couldn't understand why people liked her, or could put up with her. That pretty much created a disconnect between me and everyone else in this book. Everytime Freya spoke I felt like I was slamming my head face first into a brick wall. This entire book was a slog because of her.
My other main reason for not loving this book was because it seems the author wanted to discuss some serious issues in a lighthearted way. There is nothing wrong with this when it is done right. But in The Right Girl it just didn't work. Maybe it was the overall plot, the characters, or maybe just the one character (screw you Freya). For whatever reason I just couldn't invest in this story, or in these characters. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this particular book.
I hated the main character. She was so dumb, and very self absorbed for someone who lacked complete self awareness. And because I hated her so much I couldn't understand why people liked her, or could put up with her. That pretty much created a disconnect between me and everyone else in this book. Everytime Freya spoke I felt like I was slamming my head face first into a brick wall. This entire book was a slog because of her.
My other main reason for not loving this book was because it seems the author wanted to discuss some serious issues in a lighthearted way. There is nothing wrong with this when it is done right. But in The Right Girl it just didn't work. Maybe it was the overall plot, the characters, or maybe just the one character (screw you Freya). For whatever reason I just couldn't invest in this story, or in these characters. Maybe I'm just not the right audience for this particular book.
to-buy
February 7, 2018I would love to get my hands on a copy of Ellie O'Neill's new book The Right Girl because I loved Reluctantly Charmed so much, but sadly I can't find it in Amazon at all.
February 26, 2018
God, this book has such potential but it is so poorly written and executed. Everything is so jumbled up and confused that there’s no telling what the author was really going for here. It’s not a romance novel, it’s not sci-fi and it’s not really dystopian. It’s just... boring and predictable.
December 10, 2020
I don't think I've ever read anything quite like this: by turns romance, social commentary, fluff and dystopian, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Freya, the protagonist, is a fun - if a little vapid - young woman who is loving her dream career as a florist, and recently became engaged to a handsome and successful Australian. Yet, she's not quite happy. It turns out, she has been living her life for the past few years based on an app that suggests options for you based on algorithms. The app, BBest, is like social media meets internet shopping on steroids, and is marketed as a tool for simplifying your life.
The thing that got me about this book is that it was believable. We are overrun with choices, and there is appeal in a program that seeks to limit these. The plot also refers back to the "dark times", when there were frequent terrorist attacks and a culture of fear: in exchange for feeling safe, people were willing to sacrifice their privacy to an app. Again, this is not totally divorced from the current world, and it's easy to see how a situation like this could evolve through ignorance, fear and naïveté. It's a playful "what if" premise, but there were many instances where I found it thought provoking - especially as Freya began to notice and question more about the life she's been living.
Yes, this book is fluffy, and yes, there's probably not as much actual romance as I would like. Not every social criticism needs to be presented seriously: I think the humour works here, and matches the subversive ideas about technology addiction and privacy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Freya, the protagonist, is a fun - if a little vapid - young woman who is loving her dream career as a florist, and recently became engaged to a handsome and successful Australian. Yet, she's not quite happy. It turns out, she has been living her life for the past few years based on an app that suggests options for you based on algorithms. The app, BBest, is like social media meets internet shopping on steroids, and is marketed as a tool for simplifying your life.
The thing that got me about this book is that it was believable. We are overrun with choices, and there is appeal in a program that seeks to limit these. The plot also refers back to the "dark times", when there were frequent terrorist attacks and a culture of fear: in exchange for feeling safe, people were willing to sacrifice their privacy to an app. Again, this is not totally divorced from the current world, and it's easy to see how a situation like this could evolve through ignorance, fear and naïveté. It's a playful "what if" premise, but there were many instances where I found it thought provoking - especially as Freya began to notice and question more about the life she's been living.
Yes, this book is fluffy, and yes, there's probably not as much actual romance as I would like. Not every social criticism needs to be presented seriously: I think the humour works here, and matches the subversive ideas about technology addiction and privacy. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 21, 2018
A very interesting concept. I picked up this book looking for a light romantic, comedy, however I got something very different, but very enjoyable. While there is a romance storyline within the novel, the main focus is a sci fi thriller set in a very near future where people allow their lives to be run by a single phone app.
Ellie O'Neill has written a protagonist who is relatable and loveable. In fact, all of the characters (except maybe two, but they only get a small amount of time) are likeable in this light, comedic thriller.
I finished the book in a day because the plot just had me needing to find out what happened next without waiting. While intriguing and fast-paced, the story never gets too deep or bogged down by a serious tone. Not that those are bad things, but sometimes you just want something that's also kind of fun right? And this book certainly is.
Ellie O'Neill has written a protagonist who is relatable and loveable. In fact, all of the characters (except maybe two, but they only get a small amount of time) are likeable in this light, comedic thriller.
I finished the book in a day because the plot just had me needing to find out what happened next without waiting. While intriguing and fast-paced, the story never gets too deep or bogged down by a serious tone. Not that those are bad things, but sometimes you just want something that's also kind of fun right? And this book certainly is.
February 21, 2020
This was a clever and original storyline that managed to be far fetched yet scarily believable at the same time. It kept me intrigued and made me wonder where we are headed as a society when it comes to technology taking over the human race...
March 6, 2018
I find my thoughts drifting back to this book weeks later. Its such a "likely" concept.
I think if this was available to us we would probably use it.
Its an intoxicating read because we have also all done things we regret in the name of "growing up" or being adult.
I think if this was available to us we would probably use it.
Its an intoxicating read because we have also all done things we regret in the name of "growing up" or being adult.
August 7, 2023
I really enjoy these books about social media and how it influences us through our daily lives.
I would have given this more stars if I hadn't recently read Eggers "The Circle". They are definitely similar in theme, but this one is a lighter story with some humour thrown in.
I would have given this more stars if I hadn't recently read Eggers "The Circle". They are definitely similar in theme, but this one is a lighter story with some humour thrown in.
February 28, 2018
The Right Girl. Ellie O’Neill. Simon and Schuster. $33
Unfortunately, Freya Flannigan takes a long time to come right, making the first 140 or so pages of The Right Girl a trial to read. Freya is not only addicted to her phone, checking in every few minutes to make sure she’s on the right track but, presenting as vain and vacuous, she is so bound up in her perfect life that one is tempted to call for the sick bucket. Or give up on her. The promise of the cover strapline “What do you do when your perfect life … isn’t?” is the only reason to persevere.
The Right Girl is Ellie O’Neill’s third novel published in Australia after she emigrated from Ireland with her Australian husband. Rejected for publication in Ireland, in 2014 she found a publisher and a following in Australia with chirpy chick lit set in Ireland, where she has now returned to live with her husband and two Australian sons. In The Right Girl, Freya has succumbed to the digital behemoth BBest (that makes you the best you can be), a 21st century version of 1984’s Big Brother, where followers’ phones and online activities are under constant surveillance, and all their moves are prompted by BBest algorithms. Stop taking their advice and there are consequences. As in 1984, there is a small pocket of resistance. But it isn’t until quite late in the book that Freya discovers her grandfather is a leader in that resistance, and begins to realise that her fiancé Mason isn’t anywhere near the 93% match that BBest says he is. That’s when it dawns on her she has been duped.
The very real threat to our privacy from online surveillance by present-day behemoths like Facebook and Google gives The Right Girl relevance and timeliness, but it takes perseverance to find it, especially with such ridiculous metaphors as (describing a giggling flower girl at a wedding) this: “The guests literally melted”.
Unfortunately, Freya Flannigan takes a long time to come right, making the first 140 or so pages of The Right Girl a trial to read. Freya is not only addicted to her phone, checking in every few minutes to make sure she’s on the right track but, presenting as vain and vacuous, she is so bound up in her perfect life that one is tempted to call for the sick bucket. Or give up on her. The promise of the cover strapline “What do you do when your perfect life … isn’t?” is the only reason to persevere.
The Right Girl is Ellie O’Neill’s third novel published in Australia after she emigrated from Ireland with her Australian husband. Rejected for publication in Ireland, in 2014 she found a publisher and a following in Australia with chirpy chick lit set in Ireland, where she has now returned to live with her husband and two Australian sons. In The Right Girl, Freya has succumbed to the digital behemoth BBest (that makes you the best you can be), a 21st century version of 1984’s Big Brother, where followers’ phones and online activities are under constant surveillance, and all their moves are prompted by BBest algorithms. Stop taking their advice and there are consequences. As in 1984, there is a small pocket of resistance. But it isn’t until quite late in the book that Freya discovers her grandfather is a leader in that resistance, and begins to realise that her fiancé Mason isn’t anywhere near the 93% match that BBest says he is. That’s when it dawns on her she has been duped.
The very real threat to our privacy from online surveillance by present-day behemoths like Facebook and Google gives The Right Girl relevance and timeliness, but it takes perseverance to find it, especially with such ridiculous metaphors as (describing a giggling flower girl at a wedding) this: “The guests literally melted”.
June 29, 2018
Original Review @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
I was wondering the shops the other day, and the cover to The Right Girl popped out at me. I picked it up and read the back and thought it sounded pretty interesting so I grabbed it! It turned out to be a good read, but it wasn't what I expected it to be at all.
The Right Girl was set five years into the future, in a world where we rely on our mobile phones a little too much. The BBest app was created so you can ask it simple everyday questions that you would usually decide for yourself. As the story unfolds, we become aware of how deep this app goes, controlling your life and who is really behind it all.
I enjoyed meeting Freya, she was close to her mother and brother, and also had a great relationship with her Grandfather. She was engaged to a guy that was a great match for her, but she could feel that something was missing. She had some good room mates, who had her back when she needed them. However, after spending time in her grandfather's shop, and meeting a guy that made her heart race, she began to question a lot of things in her life.
It was good to see the change in Freya as she realised the control the BBest app had over peoples lives. She met some people that opened her eyes further, and at times I was on edge as she used her job to get information.
This was the first time I've read Ellie O'Neill, and it was quite a pleasant read. I did hope for a little more romance though, as Freya turned her life around. Although it didn't blow me away, I will definitely try her again in the future.
I was wondering the shops the other day, and the cover to The Right Girl popped out at me. I picked it up and read the back and thought it sounded pretty interesting so I grabbed it! It turned out to be a good read, but it wasn't what I expected it to be at all.
The Right Girl was set five years into the future, in a world where we rely on our mobile phones a little too much. The BBest app was created so you can ask it simple everyday questions that you would usually decide for yourself. As the story unfolds, we become aware of how deep this app goes, controlling your life and who is really behind it all.
I enjoyed meeting Freya, she was close to her mother and brother, and also had a great relationship with her Grandfather. She was engaged to a guy that was a great match for her, but she could feel that something was missing. She had some good room mates, who had her back when she needed them. However, after spending time in her grandfather's shop, and meeting a guy that made her heart race, she began to question a lot of things in her life.
It was good to see the change in Freya as she realised the control the BBest app had over peoples lives. She met some people that opened her eyes further, and at times I was on edge as she used her job to get information.
This was the first time I've read Ellie O'Neill, and it was quite a pleasant read. I did hope for a little more romance though, as Freya turned her life around. Although it didn't blow me away, I will definitely try her again in the future.
February 21, 2019
Before I say anything else, I need to point out the biggest reason I enjoyed 'The Right Girl' was so much of it was so unexpected. So if you haven't read it yet, before you go reading any reviews or blurbs, just know it's good, and maybe even better blind.
*********************************************
Come for the romance, stay for the social commentary on technology, big businesses and how they control our lives.
This book is equal parts perplexing, delightful and thought-provoking. When I started it, I was just expecting a fairly standard romance/rom-com story, and to be honest that would have been enough for me. Instead, an intriguing side-plot slowly evolved and grew until suddenly, it was the plot. And I couldn't have been happier. Well I could have, but we'll get to that in a second.
'The Right Girl' is about Freya, a 20-something woman who finally seems to have gotten her life on track. She's got a growing small business, a supportive family, and now she's engaged. But all is not quite what it seems.
There are so many reasons I really enjoyed this book: the romance, the tech, the characters. Freya herself is sympathetic, funny and relatable, and her narration sets the tone well. All the other characters are similarly recognisable and consistent in their actions, except maybe a few of the Luddites.
Before it became the cornerstone of the story, I was already deeply intrigued by BBest and the implications such an app had in this world. While not perfect, BBest plays a pretty good proxy for an amalgamation of the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and even LinkedIn, OkCupid and Yelp.
I love the way Orwellian elements are infused into the narrative as implications of BBest and their power. This is by no means a dystopian novel, but it does have elements. And that's for the best because it makes it more realistic without taking away the impact. That said, there are moments where the book doesn't seem so sure of how Orwellian it wants to be, pulling out secret police forces and the like.
That said, there are only two things that really let down 'The Right Girl' for me, and neither really matter that much.
The first is that stupid title. I don't understand it at all. It doesn't seem to align with the content of the book at all, nor is it particularly engaging or memorable. So basically it fails on every level. The blurb (which I only read after finishing the book) tries very hard to make it seem to make some sort of sense, but it's tenuous at best. 'The Right Choice' or 'The Right Man' or even 'The Best Girl' would have made more sense, although none of those are very good still.
The other big problem with this book is, unfortunately, much more damaging: the ending. Initially, I was kind of disappointed that the story was all wrapped up with an epilogue because it felt lazy and rushed. But at least it does a pretty solid job of tying up all the loose ends.
My biggest issue was with specifically how the BBest stuff was resolved. As much as I'd like to believe that things would go down as described in the real world, I highly doubt it would. Like, no company as big as BBest would be all wound up and totally gone within a month of news like this breaking. This section read like the most wish-fulfilment-y bit in the whole book!
One other weird quirk about this book (or the audio book, at least): it's published by Wave Sound, whose tagline is "Dedicated to Australian stories". What? This isn't an Australian story. It's about an Irish woman in Ireland. There's one Aussie character, but that does not make it an Australian story.
Despite all that, I still really enjoyed 'The Right Girl' and would recommend it to practically anyone.
*********************************************
Come for the romance, stay for the social commentary on technology, big businesses and how they control our lives.
This book is equal parts perplexing, delightful and thought-provoking. When I started it, I was just expecting a fairly standard romance/rom-com story, and to be honest that would have been enough for me. Instead, an intriguing side-plot slowly evolved and grew until suddenly, it was the plot. And I couldn't have been happier. Well I could have, but we'll get to that in a second.
'The Right Girl' is about Freya, a 20-something woman who finally seems to have gotten her life on track. She's got a growing small business, a supportive family, and now she's engaged. But all is not quite what it seems.
There are so many reasons I really enjoyed this book: the romance, the tech, the characters. Freya herself is sympathetic, funny and relatable, and her narration sets the tone well. All the other characters are similarly recognisable and consistent in their actions, except maybe a few of the Luddites.
Before it became the cornerstone of the story, I was already deeply intrigued by BBest and the implications such an app had in this world. While not perfect, BBest plays a pretty good proxy for an amalgamation of the likes of Google, Facebook, Amazon, Apple, and even LinkedIn, OkCupid and Yelp.
I love the way Orwellian elements are infused into the narrative as implications of BBest and their power. This is by no means a dystopian novel, but it does have elements. And that's for the best because it makes it more realistic without taking away the impact. That said, there are moments where the book doesn't seem so sure of how Orwellian it wants to be, pulling out secret police forces and the like.
That said, there are only two things that really let down 'The Right Girl' for me, and neither really matter that much.
The first is that stupid title. I don't understand it at all. It doesn't seem to align with the content of the book at all, nor is it particularly engaging or memorable. So basically it fails on every level. The blurb (which I only read after finishing the book) tries very hard to make it seem to make some sort of sense, but it's tenuous at best. 'The Right Choice' or 'The Right Man' or even 'The Best Girl' would have made more sense, although none of those are very good still.
The other big problem with this book is, unfortunately, much more damaging: the ending. Initially, I was kind of disappointed that the story was all wrapped up with an epilogue because it felt lazy and rushed. But at least it does a pretty solid job of tying up all the loose ends.
My biggest issue was with specifically how the BBest stuff was resolved. As much as I'd like to believe that things would go down as described in the real world, I highly doubt it would. Like, no company as big as BBest would be all wound up and totally gone within a month of news like this breaking. This section read like the most wish-fulfilment-y bit in the whole book!
One other weird quirk about this book (or the audio book, at least): it's published by Wave Sound, whose tagline is "Dedicated to Australian stories". What? This isn't an Australian story. It's about an Irish woman in Ireland. There's one Aussie character, but that does not make it an Australian story.
Despite all that, I still really enjoyed 'The Right Girl' and would recommend it to practically anyone.
April 25, 2018
Many thanks to Beauty and Lace and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review Ellie O’Neill third book – The Right Girl.
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed both of O’Neill’s previous books I was really looking forward to reading this one and was therefore surprised when I initially found myself irritated by the seemingly vacuous nature of the characters and story line.
And then it changed. And instead I found I was reading a brilliantly, disturbingly well written expose of a world where the voluntary data we provide through reward programs, social media, apps and the like had insidiously been used to control the way we operate.
This is the story of Freya, addicted to the lifestyle phone app BBest. Before the app expanded to include career forecasting she was a hopeless waitress, but was already using the app on a daily basis to eliminate all those choices we make on a daily basis “should I take the train to work, or ride my bike”, “which pair of jeans should I buy”, “which brand of crackers are best for me” etc. Since BBest suggested she move to floristry. Freya had never been happier, suddenly her skills were appreciated, banks were falling over themselves to lend her money, she’d met Mason with whom she had a 93% match level and was now engaged, so why did it not quite feel right? If she and Mason were such a perfect match, where was the spark?
And then her beloved Grandfather, who runs a bookshop and refuses any interaction with technology, is arrested, and Freya doesn’t understand why. As she delves deeper the world as she knows it begins to develop cracks and Freya must make choices which will determine her destiny without the help of BBest.
This is a thought provoking book which will make you question our increasing reliance on apps and the like, and the information we willingly share, both knowingly and unknowingly, with Government Departments, big corporations, Facebook, Google etc. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who loves their technology, and anyone who has concerns that Big Brother is watching us!
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed both of O’Neill’s previous books I was really looking forward to reading this one and was therefore surprised when I initially found myself irritated by the seemingly vacuous nature of the characters and story line.
And then it changed. And instead I found I was reading a brilliantly, disturbingly well written expose of a world where the voluntary data we provide through reward programs, social media, apps and the like had insidiously been used to control the way we operate.
This is the story of Freya, addicted to the lifestyle phone app BBest. Before the app expanded to include career forecasting she was a hopeless waitress, but was already using the app on a daily basis to eliminate all those choices we make on a daily basis “should I take the train to work, or ride my bike”, “which pair of jeans should I buy”, “which brand of crackers are best for me” etc. Since BBest suggested she move to floristry. Freya had never been happier, suddenly her skills were appreciated, banks were falling over themselves to lend her money, she’d met Mason with whom she had a 93% match level and was now engaged, so why did it not quite feel right? If she and Mason were such a perfect match, where was the spark?
And then her beloved Grandfather, who runs a bookshop and refuses any interaction with technology, is arrested, and Freya doesn’t understand why. As she delves deeper the world as she knows it begins to develop cracks and Freya must make choices which will determine her destiny without the help of BBest.
This is a thought provoking book which will make you question our increasing reliance on apps and the like, and the information we willingly share, both knowingly and unknowingly, with Government Departments, big corporations, Facebook, Google etc. I would highly recommend this book to everyone who loves their technology, and anyone who has concerns that Big Brother is watching us!
June 29, 2019
I was so surprised at this novel, which was listed as a romantic comedy in my local library... Inaccurately.
Don't get me wrong, there are certainly romantic elements to the story (as with all Ellie O'Neill's books), but this story I would say is more contemplative than anything.
Most of Ireland has been using a phone app BBest to help them choose the best options in their lives - what should I wear? what should I do tonight? what should I eat? - and Freya is no exception. She's even handed over the reins to her romantic life to the app, which has helped her choose her fiancé Mason, a 93% match. Perfect, right? But as she continues down her "perfect" life, she realises that the app might not know her as well as she knows herself - whoever that might be. What follows is a trip down the rabbit hole, with Freya working to discover who she is and exactly what hold BBest has over her.
I loved, loved, loved the idea of this book. Especially in this day and age where we're so connected to our phones and "likes" on social media. Do those "likes" tell us what we should be doing? One day they might if we're not careful. O'Neill does a wonderful job at analysing society's need to be the best possible version of themselves, and how easily we can give ourselves over to an app, a phone, a devise, a council that will tell us what to do instead of going through the messiness of life ourselves.
It is so rare that I find novels with strong, independent, brave female main characters that find a way to save the day without the help of a man. Sure, there are romantic elements to O'Neill's stories, but that's not the main focus. She writes about the courageous heroine that we can (hopefully) all see ourselves as. The man? The love interest? He's there. He sits on the sidelines while she gets things done. He supports her, but he doesn't overstep his mark. And when she's done being a hero, she gets the guy.
GUSH.
Don't get me wrong, there are certainly romantic elements to the story (as with all Ellie O'Neill's books), but this story I would say is more contemplative than anything.
Most of Ireland has been using a phone app BBest to help them choose the best options in their lives - what should I wear? what should I do tonight? what should I eat? - and Freya is no exception. She's even handed over the reins to her romantic life to the app, which has helped her choose her fiancé Mason, a 93% match. Perfect, right? But as she continues down her "perfect" life, she realises that the app might not know her as well as she knows herself - whoever that might be. What follows is a trip down the rabbit hole, with Freya working to discover who she is and exactly what hold BBest has over her.
I loved, loved, loved the idea of this book. Especially in this day and age where we're so connected to our phones and "likes" on social media. Do those "likes" tell us what we should be doing? One day they might if we're not careful. O'Neill does a wonderful job at analysing society's need to be the best possible version of themselves, and how easily we can give ourselves over to an app, a phone, a devise, a council that will tell us what to do instead of going through the messiness of life ourselves.
It is so rare that I find novels with strong, independent, brave female main characters that find a way to save the day without the help of a man. Sure, there are romantic elements to O'Neill's stories, but that's not the main focus. She writes about the courageous heroine that we can (hopefully) all see ourselves as. The man? The love interest? He's there. He sits on the sidelines while she gets things done. He supports her, but he doesn't overstep his mark. And when she's done being a hero, she gets the guy.
GUSH.
March 25, 2019
This was a very intriguing book.
At first, I thought it was a regular women's fiction kind of book, but as I kept reading, it was clear that it isn't. It is a super clever, multi-layered book that veers slightly into science fiction territory and really makes you think.
Freya has her life all planned out - she is expanding her business and she is marrying Mason, and these two big decisions as well as a lot of small ones, have been decided upon because of an app via BBest. I mean, there is absolutely NOTHING that you can't ask the app that it won't know the answer to, because it knows you better than you know yourself.
As an older woman, who remembers a life before smart phones, this world of relying upon your app for every decision you make doesn't seem that far removed from reality. Already, people prefer to swipe away on their phones even if they are out with a group of friends, and that saddens me. I don't think it will be too long before people forget how to speak with each other altogether and all communication will be via text messages.
Anyway, this is a clever book; very Irish, very modern and a little bit romantic as well. It was not the light and fluffy read that I thought it was going to be but it doesn't matter a bit, I am very glad I read it. This is the first book by this author I have read, I will clearly have to find others to read.
4.5 stars from me.
At first, I thought it was a regular women's fiction kind of book, but as I kept reading, it was clear that it isn't. It is a super clever, multi-layered book that veers slightly into science fiction territory and really makes you think.
Freya has her life all planned out - she is expanding her business and she is marrying Mason, and these two big decisions as well as a lot of small ones, have been decided upon because of an app via BBest. I mean, there is absolutely NOTHING that you can't ask the app that it won't know the answer to, because it knows you better than you know yourself.
As an older woman, who remembers a life before smart phones, this world of relying upon your app for every decision you make doesn't seem that far removed from reality. Already, people prefer to swipe away on their phones even if they are out with a group of friends, and that saddens me. I don't think it will be too long before people forget how to speak with each other altogether and all communication will be via text messages.
Anyway, this is a clever book; very Irish, very modern and a little bit romantic as well. It was not the light and fluffy read that I thought it was going to be but it doesn't matter a bit, I am very glad I read it. This is the first book by this author I have read, I will clearly have to find others to read.
4.5 stars from me.
February 3, 2018
This books is a bit of a surprise. It starts off as a fairly run-of-the-mill women’s fiction story set in Ireland, then slowly turns into a bit of a statement on the privacy implications of Western society’s dependence on technology. It’s an intriguing premise, and the author doesn’t really manage more than a superficial exploration of the social issues that the book raises. But I appreciate the attempt. I like that the story focuses on women’s careers and relationships and domestic issues, but puts these in context of a larger society. It’s frustrating, though, that the author doesn’t try to do any more to the plot or structure to make the story more…well, interesting.
The Right Girl is the perfect example of a beach read — there aren’t many surprises, and the madcap plot to foil BBest keeps things light enough to be somewhat suspenseful but not emotionally taxing. The first person narration relies on the heroine to carry the story, and while I found enough in the plot to keep reading, Freya’s character arc was only marginally interesting. I can see the appeal of this book, but without a strong romantic subplot, there was nothing to anchor me to the story.
Read my full review at http://bit.ly/2E4PmBH.
The Right Girl is the perfect example of a beach read — there aren’t many surprises, and the madcap plot to foil BBest keeps things light enough to be somewhat suspenseful but not emotionally taxing. The first person narration relies on the heroine to carry the story, and while I found enough in the plot to keep reading, Freya’s character arc was only marginally interesting. I can see the appeal of this book, but without a strong romantic subplot, there was nothing to anchor me to the story.
Read my full review at http://bit.ly/2E4PmBH.
September 10, 2020
Ok first of all the ‘Five years from present’ heading on the first chapter annoyed me because I kept waiting for it to jump back. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. So when I realised it wasn’t going to jump back I just kept nitpicking little historical details they mention that led to the circumstances of BBest and in my opinion 5 years is not enough time for that to happen. Why not just let the reader assume it’s set in the near future or in an alternative reality? Why place a date on it?? Now the actual story. I felt it had some 1984 vibes along with The One by John Marrs and maybe even a little Truman Show but it fell far short of it’s potential. While trying to convey a message that of privacy concerns and limiting the power of big tech companies much of the plot felt way to light and fluffy to pack much of a punch. And when the action actually started to ramp up it went zero to 100 and ended right as it was getting good. It also lacks the punch in that the author gave it a happy, tied with bow ending which seemed mostly to serve getting Freya together with Patrick and by doing so it bypasses the chance to make the idea of BBest into one that makes you think and turning it into a way to get Freya her happily ever after.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2024
This book was not what I was expecting but I wasn't disappointed. It's part romance, a little bit sci-fi and a good dose of social commentary. Like if George Orwell's '1984' was a romance.
I feel like this is a good read on our current situation, dreaming up a society that uses an app to run our lives. I could see this actually happening. In theory it sounds good - having someone/something making all the right choices for you - but who determines what are the right choices? Especially relationships. A perfect match on paper doesn't include the chemistry, the spark, the personal nuisances, the love that are needed for it to be a success. Sometimes you need a yin to balance out the yang.
There are some wonderful characters in this book (grandad's probably my favourite), although Freya, the main character, took a frustratingly long time to come to some realisations. But it was good to see her get her fight on.
This book does make you think about where we are headed and how much we allow organisations and apps to know about us. It's all good until it's used against you or to confine everyone into neat little boxes. We can't assume that everything is done for our wellbeing. We need to think about who really benefits from all of this information.
I feel like this is a good read on our current situation, dreaming up a society that uses an app to run our lives. I could see this actually happening. In theory it sounds good - having someone/something making all the right choices for you - but who determines what are the right choices? Especially relationships. A perfect match on paper doesn't include the chemistry, the spark, the personal nuisances, the love that are needed for it to be a success. Sometimes you need a yin to balance out the yang.
There are some wonderful characters in this book (grandad's probably my favourite), although Freya, the main character, took a frustratingly long time to come to some realisations. But it was good to see her get her fight on.
This book does make you think about where we are headed and how much we allow organisations and apps to know about us. It's all good until it's used against you or to confine everyone into neat little boxes. We can't assume that everything is done for our wellbeing. We need to think about who really benefits from all of this information.
March 21, 2018
I received a copy of 'The Right Girl' by Ellie O'Neill from Simon & Schuster to review as part of the Beauty and Lace Book Club.
This is the first novel of Ms O'Neill's that I've read and I must say that I was very surprised by it.
It starts off as stereotypical "Chick lit" - all light and frothy but it soon twists and turns and morphs into something else. The author is able to delve into some controversial topics such as our increasing loss of privacy to the government and corporations and their lack of transparency, as well as our increasing lack of ability to think for ourselves and becoming more and more reliant on technology. However, what is truly remarkable, is that Ellie is able to do so without being 'preachy' and still have the novel come off as a lot of fun with plenty of laugh out loud moments.
Trying to peg it into one specific genre is next to impossible as it fits into chick lit, romance, even a bit of thriller and cozy mysteries. I would highly recommend this book for anyone to read and I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
Thanks Beauty and Lace Book Club and Simon & Schuster for introducing me to another fabulous author.
This is the first novel of Ms O'Neill's that I've read and I must say that I was very surprised by it.
It starts off as stereotypical "Chick lit" - all light and frothy but it soon twists and turns and morphs into something else. The author is able to delve into some controversial topics such as our increasing loss of privacy to the government and corporations and their lack of transparency, as well as our increasing lack of ability to think for ourselves and becoming more and more reliant on technology. However, what is truly remarkable, is that Ellie is able to do so without being 'preachy' and still have the novel come off as a lot of fun with plenty of laugh out loud moments.
Trying to peg it into one specific genre is next to impossible as it fits into chick lit, romance, even a bit of thriller and cozy mysteries. I would highly recommend this book for anyone to read and I look forward to reading more of this author's work.
Thanks Beauty and Lace Book Club and Simon & Schuster for introducing me to another fabulous author.
August 14, 2020
Freya, our main protagonist has gone from frumpy and broke with no career aspiration to successful and engaged with a blooming business two years later, all due to the help of an app called BBest. In this alternate universe, it seems that most of Ireland, and perhaps the world are using BBest to make all their life decisions. The story follows a recently engaged Freya as her business starts to become more successful and life seems to be falling into place with the help of this app.
I’ll be honest. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while, and tried twice to read it. It took a little bit of getting into. The story, whilst an interesting concept doesn’t exactly jump out at you and struggles to really pick up. It was an enjoyable one-night, quick and easy read but perhaps a bit forgettable and not a novel that keeps you up at 2am wondering what will happen next.
The characters (other than grandad) all seem a bit bland, and the romance of the story is all too little, and all too rushed for my personal liking.
I really enjoyed the concept of an app that almost controls society though, in fact it kind of reminded me of tv shows like black mirror or upload.
Overall a 3/5
I’ll be honest. I’ve had this book on my shelf for a while, and tried twice to read it. It took a little bit of getting into. The story, whilst an interesting concept doesn’t exactly jump out at you and struggles to really pick up. It was an enjoyable one-night, quick and easy read but perhaps a bit forgettable and not a novel that keeps you up at 2am wondering what will happen next.
The characters (other than grandad) all seem a bit bland, and the romance of the story is all too little, and all too rushed for my personal liking.
I really enjoyed the concept of an app that almost controls society though, in fact it kind of reminded me of tv shows like black mirror or upload.
Overall a 3/5
March 5, 2018
Ellie O’Neill’s sweat book is another fantastic read.
The right girl provokes you to think and question what you are doing on your phone. Freya’s life seems perfect and like nothing could go wrong until she finds out that it has all been manipulated.
Freya starts to question who she is and if she actually likes what BBest tell her she does?
It isn’t until Freya meets Patrick that she finally admits that despite the numbers and what BBest is telling her Mason and her have nothing in common and that getting married to a man an app has recommended will not be happily ever after.
Working with those she least expects and questioning others morals she takes not only her life back but stops the country and possibly the world becoming controlled by a select few.
It is a beautiful story of strength, love and fighting for what you believe in.
This book really made me question what I do on my phone and how I let apps take so much of my time up.
The right girl provokes you to think and question what you are doing on your phone. Freya’s life seems perfect and like nothing could go wrong until she finds out that it has all been manipulated.
Freya starts to question who she is and if she actually likes what BBest tell her she does?
It isn’t until Freya meets Patrick that she finally admits that despite the numbers and what BBest is telling her Mason and her have nothing in common and that getting married to a man an app has recommended will not be happily ever after.
Working with those she least expects and questioning others morals she takes not only her life back but stops the country and possibly the world becoming controlled by a select few.
It is a beautiful story of strength, love and fighting for what you believe in.
This book really made me question what I do on my phone and how I let apps take so much of my time up.
February 2, 2018
As always, Ellie O'Neill is right on target with her new novel. Great blend of romance, family and a little mystery.
Freya's life seems perfect but as we all know, all is not always as it seems. In this world, everyone's life is run/guided by a phone app. It is a world where thinking for yourself is frowned upon. Your perfect life is brought to you by BBest for your best self.
How do you commit the rest of your life to someone who just doesn't feel right but on paper is perfect? Freya's perfect world starts to collapse around her when she meets a stranger in her Grandad's bookshop.
Great read for someone who wants something light and easy to read. Pokes fun at our phone obsession whilst reminding us what it is that makes the human race so unique.
Freya's life seems perfect but as we all know, all is not always as it seems. In this world, everyone's life is run/guided by a phone app. It is a world where thinking for yourself is frowned upon. Your perfect life is brought to you by BBest for your best self.
How do you commit the rest of your life to someone who just doesn't feel right but on paper is perfect? Freya's perfect world starts to collapse around her when she meets a stranger in her Grandad's bookshop.
Great read for someone who wants something light and easy to read. Pokes fun at our phone obsession whilst reminding us what it is that makes the human race so unique.
April 7, 2018
My comment on a review: (they gave it two stars). You don’t feel it’s a bit utopian? I mean we do live in an age at the moment that stars can tear a business apart. Where dating apps are dominating. People are spending less and less time outdoors. She isn’t Margaret Atwood, but her writing style is very here and now. And the underlying issues are one to make you stop and think. We are in the day and age where we are actively giving google, Facebook, and amazon permissions to listen to our conversations, follow us around with remarketing and suggest friends to us. This style of writing is exactly how authors are writing now a days. I’ve never read anything else by this author and I found this quite easy to read.
April 25, 2018
Freya wakes up every morning and picks up her phone 📱 The BBest app's algorithms choose everything for her day - her breakfast, her commute to work, her career options and even her fiancé. Engaged to her 93% BBest match, things are supposed to be perfect for Freya - but why is she getting more and more annoyed with her perfect match and falling more and more involved with the mystery guy from her grandfather's book shop? 😳
I LOVED this book. I'm secretly hoping it gets turned into a movie because I couldn't get enough. It's one of those books that hooks you in from the very beginning. The characters were relatable, the plot was brilliant and it played out like a movie in my head.
Read more of my reviews at www.instagram.com/southerninlaw or find my ultimate must read list at www.southerninlaw.com
I LOVED this book. I'm secretly hoping it gets turned into a movie because I couldn't get enough. It's one of those books that hooks you in from the very beginning. The characters were relatable, the plot was brilliant and it played out like a movie in my head.
Read more of my reviews at www.instagram.com/southerninlaw or find my ultimate must read list at www.southerninlaw.com
December 21, 2018
This was a fun read. It's part rom-com, part Black Mirror episode (specifically Nosedive and Hang The DJ). The book is set in Dublin, in a near future where people rely on an app called BBest to make decisions about pretty much everything from what to wear to their careers. The main character is a 20-something florist called Freya who is engaged to her BBest 93% match Mason, but starts questioning everything when she falls for Patrick. Freya initially comes off as a bit awkward and ditzy, but comes into her own more as the story progresses. Overall I enjoyed it and I wish there was more chick lit like this with a bit more substance and a little more going on plot-wise than just "omg which man do I choose?"
November 17, 2019
From Irish author, Ellie O’Neill comes her third contemporary novel, The Right Girl. I adored O’Neill’s debut novel, Reluctantly Charmed, so I knew I was in for a treat. From the opening pages I was transported to Ireland in the not too distant future, where I met the protagonist, Freya. Freya is a 28 year old woman, who is every woman living day to day with all that life throws at her. With a crappy job and little in the bank account, she, like millions of others, downloads a lifestyle app called Bbest. The app that helps you be your best because it knows you so well, making all your decisions for you. From what to eat, what to wear and ultimately who to date and marry. Freya has followed this well worn path and is engaged to Mason. Freya though, feels that something is not right. Through Freya and her grandfather, O’Neill raises questions that society is asking and should be asking about privacy of information and freedom. I loved Freya’s grandfather as I could see some of myself in him with his love of books and refusal to adhere to everything new. When Freya meets Patrick and her grandfather is arrested, she realises that her feelings were spot on. With unlikely allies, what Freya uncovers will change the world. Forever.
With themes of technology, freedom, and privacy of information, O’Neill will have readers questioning the life they lead and shows a future that is on our doorstep if we don’t speak up before it’s too late.
With themes of technology, freedom, and privacy of information, O’Neill will have readers questioning the life they lead and shows a future that is on our doorstep if we don’t speak up before it’s too late.
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