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Taking Down Evelyn Tait
The door creaks open and standing in the entrance is my absolute worst nightmare.
Perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect brain.
Perfect sneer.
Evelyn Tait.
Impulsive Lottie – heavy-metal fan, expert tomato-grower and frequent visitor to the principal’s office – is in even more trouble than usual.
Her best friend Grace has dropped an unlikely bombshell: she’s dating Lottie’s mortal enemy, good-girl Evelyn Tait.
Studious Jude, the boy next door, has the perfect war plan. Lottie will beat Evelyn at her own good-girl game, unveiling Miss Perfect’s sinister side in the process.
Taking life more seriously starts as fun, but soon offers its own rewards . . . so long as Lottie can manage gorgeous Sebastian’s sudden interest, Jude acting weird, and the discovery that she might actually be good at something.
Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a story about family, friends and embracing who you are. Even if that person is kind of weird.
Perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect brain.
Perfect sneer.
Evelyn Tait.
Impulsive Lottie – heavy-metal fan, expert tomato-grower and frequent visitor to the principal’s office – is in even more trouble than usual.
Her best friend Grace has dropped an unlikely bombshell: she’s dating Lottie’s mortal enemy, good-girl Evelyn Tait.
Studious Jude, the boy next door, has the perfect war plan. Lottie will beat Evelyn at her own good-girl game, unveiling Miss Perfect’s sinister side in the process.
Taking life more seriously starts as fun, but soon offers its own rewards . . . so long as Lottie can manage gorgeous Sebastian’s sudden interest, Jude acting weird, and the discovery that she might actually be good at something.
Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a story about family, friends and embracing who you are. Even if that person is kind of weird.
264 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2020
4 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Poppy Nwosu
6 books64 followersPoppy Nwosu is an Australian author of young adult fiction.
Growing up surrounded by cane fields and rainforest, Poppy studied music at university before living overseas in Ireland.
She is now based in Adelaide.
Growing up surrounded by cane fields and rainforest, Poppy studied music at university before living overseas in Ireland.
She is now based in Adelaide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
June 13, 2020
Ok, so, overall, I liked this book and for the most part had a good time. It was fun, with unique characters and written by an Australian author, who I always try to support as they honestly do not receive enough recognition for some fantastic books. This was my first book by Poppy Nwosu as I have not read her debut yet. From this book alone, it is clear that she is very able to write a delightful and funny YA contemporary novel. It is a fairly short book sitting at about 250 pages though there is still a fair amount of plot and character development with an ending that is satisfactory, with enough for the characters to still have plenty of room to continue to grow.
A slight problem that I had with this book was that the main character, Lottie, is not the best person. She is quite blind to other people’s feelings and problems and is quite self-centred in wanting revenge against Evelyn Tait. Naturally, as is expected, she does grow out of this eventually, but not really until she has caused a bit of harm in other’s people’s lives. Even by the end, she is still not the most likeable character, though I can certainly appreciate her character growth in the book.
The same could be said of several other characters, including Evelyn Tait, who, from the lens of Lottie, makes her seem like this nasty horrible person, who she is in a way, yet I found myself being able to like her better, especially after the ending. Evelyn is one of those characters that I feel like the reader isn’t meant to like, just like Celeste, who from Lottie’s unreliable narration, or at least fixed view of the world, also sees her as an annoying stepmother that does nothing to help.
On the other hand, I did really like both Grace and Jude. Despite that we are told Grace and Lottie are best friends, we don’t see the most of that, though I did like how they did manage to work out their differences together. Then there’s Jude, who is the sweetest and kindest person ever and it’s hard to not occasional feel bad for him and at how blind Lottie really can be to his advances. He always tries so hard to please and take care of Lottie, that he is almost taken advantage of at times due to his big heart. By far, I definitely did like Jude the most compared to the other characters in this book.
The writing style was simplistic enough to make it easy to read and make it suitable for young teens and there are many parts that can be quite funny, whether it is the way that Nwosu may phrase something or the banter between characters. Then I also have to mention the titles of all the chapters which are honestly just all so great and while many of them sound absurd, it does actually state the things that are going to happen in the chapter, though perhaps not how you exactly would expect it as you can’t take the chapter titles literally.
I also appreciate that as a bit of a classical music nerd that plays piano, that we got some representation, but also that Lottie really loves metal music, which while is not a genre I’m very experienced with at all, is sort of also looked down at as loud noise, just like how classical music is looked down as really boring sound that only old people listen to. This isn’t a criticism as it is fiction, but a point I would like to make is that getting a scholarship at a conservatory for a few weeks means you have to work super hard, so the slight lack of constant home practice(amongst other things that constitutes as spoilers) is perhaps not the most realistic thing, but then it would be the most boring book ever if all the characters ever did was sit down and practice for hours on end every single day.
So I mean, overall I enjoyed this and most of the things I did mention were largely positive, or at least I hope it came along that way. 7/10
A slight problem that I had with this book was that the main character, Lottie, is not the best person. She is quite blind to other people’s feelings and problems and is quite self-centred in wanting revenge against Evelyn Tait. Naturally, as is expected, she does grow out of this eventually, but not really until she has caused a bit of harm in other’s people’s lives. Even by the end, she is still not the most likeable character, though I can certainly appreciate her character growth in the book.
The same could be said of several other characters, including Evelyn Tait, who, from the lens of Lottie, makes her seem like this nasty horrible person, who she is in a way, yet I found myself being able to like her better, especially after the ending. Evelyn is one of those characters that I feel like the reader isn’t meant to like, just like Celeste, who from Lottie’s unreliable narration, or at least fixed view of the world, also sees her as an annoying stepmother that does nothing to help.
On the other hand, I did really like both Grace and Jude. Despite that we are told Grace and Lottie are best friends, we don’t see the most of that, though I did like how they did manage to work out their differences together. Then there’s Jude, who is the sweetest and kindest person ever and it’s hard to not occasional feel bad for him and at how blind Lottie really can be to his advances. He always tries so hard to please and take care of Lottie, that he is almost taken advantage of at times due to his big heart. By far, I definitely did like Jude the most compared to the other characters in this book.
The writing style was simplistic enough to make it easy to read and make it suitable for young teens and there are many parts that can be quite funny, whether it is the way that Nwosu may phrase something or the banter between characters. Then I also have to mention the titles of all the chapters which are honestly just all so great and while many of them sound absurd, it does actually state the things that are going to happen in the chapter, though perhaps not how you exactly would expect it as you can’t take the chapter titles literally.
I also appreciate that as a bit of a classical music nerd that plays piano, that we got some representation, but also that Lottie really loves metal music, which while is not a genre I’m very experienced with at all, is sort of also looked down at as loud noise, just like how classical music is looked down as really boring sound that only old people listen to. This isn’t a criticism as it is fiction, but a point I would like to make is that getting a scholarship at a conservatory for a few weeks means you have to work super hard, so the slight lack of constant home practice(amongst other things that constitutes as spoilers) is perhaps not the most realistic thing, but then it would be the most boring book ever if all the characters ever did was sit down and practice for hours on end every single day.
So I mean, overall I enjoyed this and most of the things I did mention were largely positive, or at least I hope it came along that way. 7/10
August 21, 2020
Trigger warnings: shitty parenting, absent parents, death of a parent (in the past), implications of domestic violence.
I loved this. Like, a lot. It feels very much like a 21st century version of Hating Alison Ashley, right down to the humour. But because it's a YA book and it's the 21st century, there's plenty of diversity and romance.
Lottie is such a delightfully hilarious character. She's a metal fan who grows tomatoes on her balcony and hangs out in the principal's office for funsies. Her antagonistic relationship with Evelyn was initially baffling and then totally understandable. There's so much humour in the writing, and I adored the secondary characters (especially Jude).
I flew through this in a couple of hours and loved every single second of it. It was utterly wonderful.
I loved this. Like, a lot. It feels very much like a 21st century version of Hating Alison Ashley, right down to the humour. But because it's a YA book and it's the 21st century, there's plenty of diversity and romance.
Lottie is such a delightfully hilarious character. She's a metal fan who grows tomatoes on her balcony and hangs out in the principal's office for funsies. Her antagonistic relationship with Evelyn was initially baffling and then totally understandable. There's so much humour in the writing, and I adored the secondary characters (especially Jude).
I flew through this in a couple of hours and loved every single second of it. It was utterly wonderful.
April 4, 2020
If you’re looking for a wonderful Young Adult Contemporary novel with a brilliantly distinctive fresh voice then you do not want to miss Taking Down Evelyn Tait! I absolutely adored this book right from the start and constantly felt engaged with Lottie as a narrator and definitely just found myself procrastinating finishing reading Taking Down Evelyn Tait because I just wanted to stay wrapped up in Lottie’s life! I just adore her character so much, Poppy Nwosu just breathes such life into her creations and I felt like everyone had such a refreshing voice and personality throughout this book! Her character development was completely fabulous, too!
Taking Down Evelyn Tait has definitely been one of my absolute favourite Contemporary novels that I’ve read this year! I just found there was so much to love about this wonderful book, at the helm being the wonderfully unique Lottie herself! I haven’t read a character similar to her before and I just love how unique she is! She’s a total trouble maker, she likes causing a raucous at school and often finds herself frequenting the Principal’s office, where she chats to the head of the School, him about her concerns for her as to why she acts out and gets herself into so much trouble and Lottie’s seemingly indifferent attitude as to why she acts out as she does – to her, she just seems to do what she likes because she feels like it, but honestly that should not sway your opinion on her as a character! Whilst she might cause trouble at school and be destructive, I can completely understand her hurt and confusion that she feels at the start of the book, when her very best friend says that she’s utterly in love with Lottie’s own mortal enemy, the titular Evelyn Tait!
I love how as I was reading Taking Down Evelyn Tait, I initially didn’t actually know as to whether or not Evelyn actually really loved Grace or was just seeking her affections to get to Lottie? From the very beginning right through to the final page, I was definitely siding with Lottie throughout this book and definitely found myself discovering everything about these other wonderful characters just as Lottie did! The family dynamic was an utter joy to read about and with that it bought a whole added twist to the story! One that I didn’t see coming and completely enjoyed how it played out as the story went along!
Also, I have to mention how much I love a local setting! Whilst it wasn’t completely mentioned where this book was set, Poppy mentioned that it’s actually set in the same world as her fantastic debut Making Friends With Alice Dyson, which of course was set in Adelaide, South Australia! I’ve rarely read books set in my hometown so I always get super excited when I do! Even though I’m not hugely familiar with the area itself where Taking Down Evelyn Tait was set, it was just fabulous reading about it!
There’s so many fun and completely memorable scenes throughout this book, from the Principal visits that Lottie frequents, to her stealthily climbing onto her oldest friend Jude’s balcony (seriously I adored Jude!) to Lottie discovering her eternal crush on heartthrob Sebastian may not be what she imagined, to Lottie and Grace’s utterlly divine best friend banter and excitement about Grace sharing a new word of the day for Lottie to ponder over the meaning, just everything about this brilliantly vivid YA novel should be celebrated! I definitely think everyone should be adding this fabulous book to their TBRs, it’s just such a perfect read for these trying times where things feel slightly scary and uncertain!
I loved the character development throughout this book, from Lottie initially wanting to beat Evelyn at her own game and be the perfect daughter and model student, remedying her troublesome ways whilst annoying her least favourite person, with the wonderful Jude helping her in her education to be more good – however, as I continued on Lottie’s journey, she, and I, learnt there was definitely more complexities than met the eye to not only satisfyingly getting revenge, but in terms of Evelyn’s character herself and Jude too! Not to give too much away but I just adored his character! I always enjoy close friendships from early years and seeing feelings bloom and come to light is always so exciting! Whilst Lottie was always so enamoured with crush Sebastian and her heart skips a beat as they get to know each other more, I loved how Lottie couldn’t quite ignore how she was really starting to feel about Sebastian! I mean, he’s a friendly character and I enjoyed his page time with her but honestly it was all Jude for me! I especially loved it when he was teaching Lottie how to be more mindful and careful of people and her behaviour and he’d impart wise quotes from movies such as The Lion King – it was just too precious! I love that he’s so careful and studious, definitely the opposite to Lottie, it was just so adorable, especially how he’d listen so intently to her talk about her favourite music that inspires her! Whilst Evelyn excels at the flute, Lottie’s passion for guitar is just something else and I love how that was embedded throughout the book! Which is definitely why I think this book is definitely a must for music lovers too, I think we can all relate to how Lottie gets herself lost in her favourite music!
Friendships, wonderful character development and cute romances aside, I think what my favourite aspect about Taking Down Evelyn Tait is the family dynamic! Initially, Lottie really isn’t a fan of her step mother and stepsister, but as the story progresses and characters open up, banter and arguments turn into beautifully poignant and tender scenes, with characters who would argue constantly actually leaning on one another and actually developing touching bonds! I definitely will be thinking about Lottie and her family (and of course Jude and ) for time to come, smiling all the while!
Taking Down Evelyn Tait has definitely been one of my absolute favourite Contemporary novels that I’ve read this year! I just found there was so much to love about this wonderful book, at the helm being the wonderfully unique Lottie herself! I haven’t read a character similar to her before and I just love how unique she is! She’s a total trouble maker, she likes causing a raucous at school and often finds herself frequenting the Principal’s office, where she chats to the head of the School, him about her concerns for her as to why she acts out and gets herself into so much trouble and Lottie’s seemingly indifferent attitude as to why she acts out as she does – to her, she just seems to do what she likes because she feels like it, but honestly that should not sway your opinion on her as a character! Whilst she might cause trouble at school and be destructive, I can completely understand her hurt and confusion that she feels at the start of the book, when her very best friend says that she’s utterly in love with Lottie’s own mortal enemy, the titular Evelyn Tait!
I love how as I was reading Taking Down Evelyn Tait, I initially didn’t actually know as to whether or not Evelyn actually really loved Grace or was just seeking her affections to get to Lottie? From the very beginning right through to the final page, I was definitely siding with Lottie throughout this book and definitely found myself discovering everything about these other wonderful characters just as Lottie did! The family dynamic was an utter joy to read about and with that it bought a whole added twist to the story! One that I didn’t see coming and completely enjoyed how it played out as the story went along!
Also, I have to mention how much I love a local setting! Whilst it wasn’t completely mentioned where this book was set, Poppy mentioned that it’s actually set in the same world as her fantastic debut Making Friends With Alice Dyson, which of course was set in Adelaide, South Australia! I’ve rarely read books set in my hometown so I always get super excited when I do! Even though I’m not hugely familiar with the area itself where Taking Down Evelyn Tait was set, it was just fabulous reading about it!
There’s so many fun and completely memorable scenes throughout this book, from the Principal visits that Lottie frequents, to her stealthily climbing onto her oldest friend Jude’s balcony (seriously I adored Jude!) to Lottie discovering her eternal crush on heartthrob Sebastian may not be what she imagined, to Lottie and Grace’s utterlly divine best friend banter and excitement about Grace sharing a new word of the day for Lottie to ponder over the meaning, just everything about this brilliantly vivid YA novel should be celebrated! I definitely think everyone should be adding this fabulous book to their TBRs, it’s just such a perfect read for these trying times where things feel slightly scary and uncertain!
I loved the character development throughout this book, from Lottie initially wanting to beat Evelyn at her own game and be the perfect daughter and model student, remedying her troublesome ways whilst annoying her least favourite person, with the wonderful Jude helping her in her education to be more good – however, as I continued on Lottie’s journey, she, and I, learnt there was definitely more complexities than met the eye to not only satisfyingly getting revenge, but in terms of Evelyn’s character herself and Jude too! Not to give too much away but I just adored his character! I always enjoy close friendships from early years and seeing feelings bloom and come to light is always so exciting! Whilst Lottie was always so enamoured with crush Sebastian and her heart skips a beat as they get to know each other more, I loved how Lottie couldn’t quite ignore how she was really starting to feel about Sebastian! I mean, he’s a friendly character and I enjoyed his page time with her but honestly it was all Jude for me! I especially loved it when he was teaching Lottie how to be more mindful and careful of people and her behaviour and he’d impart wise quotes from movies such as The Lion King – it was just too precious! I love that he’s so careful and studious, definitely the opposite to Lottie, it was just so adorable, especially how he’d listen so intently to her talk about her favourite music that inspires her! Whilst Evelyn excels at the flute, Lottie’s passion for guitar is just something else and I love how that was embedded throughout the book! Which is definitely why I think this book is definitely a must for music lovers too, I think we can all relate to how Lottie gets herself lost in her favourite music!
Friendships, wonderful character development and cute romances aside, I think what my favourite aspect about Taking Down Evelyn Tait is the family dynamic! Initially, Lottie really isn’t a fan of her step mother and stepsister, but as the story progresses and characters open up, banter and arguments turn into beautifully poignant and tender scenes, with characters who would argue constantly actually leaning on one another and actually developing touching bonds! I definitely will be thinking about Lottie and her family (and of course Jude and ) for time to come, smiling all the while!
September 16, 2020
This was so freaking cute
September 3, 2020
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Lottie is tired of Evelyn Tait ruining her life and is determined to beat her at her own game. The takedown will require patience, planning, and a makeover of sorts. But when Lottie assumes her new good girl persona, she arrives at some epiphanies about Evelyn, her family, and herself.
I know this is only the second book by Nwosu, but I am in love with her writing, characters, and storytelling. Though this story dealt with friendship, family, and even romance, at its core, it was a story about growing and changing and being true to yourself.
Lottie hadn't even finished secondary school, and her life had already been turned upside down twice. Once, when her mother left the family, and again, when her father remarried. I felt like Lottie never properly dealt with the emotional fallout, and it all just came out in the wrong ways. I mean, she got herself into trouble so often, that she was on a first name basis with the principal. [NOTE: I loved these scenes. They never failed to delight me] That was why I appreciated that her nefarious plot turned out to be such a wonderful path to self discovery. As she was pretending to be a "good girl", she actually began to enjoy the perks. It was fun to see her fully embrace this side of herself, but more importantly it gave her insight into herself and others.
Lottie and Evelyn had been set on destroying each other for quite a while now, but Lottie never fully understood Evelyn's situation. She began to see that being Evelyn Tait was not as easy as it looked, while also learning the root cause of Evelyn's animosity towards her. It was such an "A-HA" moment for Lottie, and one of the points in the story, where I really began to see her worldview shift from being so egocentric.
Nwosu blessed Lottie with not one, but TWO, amazing friends, both of whom I adored. At one point in the story, both of these relationships were a bit strained. There was bound to be tension, when Lottie's best girl friend, Grace, became romantically involved with her nemesis, but she also pushed her best guy friend, Jude, to his limits. Again, another "A-HA" moment for Lottie, where she came to some realizations about her friends' needs and feelings.
But let's talk about Jude, dear sweet Jude. He was the boy next door with the heart of gold. When Lottie looked back, she realized how Jude was the one person in her life, who was always there for her. I grew so frustrated with Lottie, because I thought she sometimes took advantage of him or took him for granted. Recognizing the way she treated him, as well as his importance in her life was another part of Lottie's evolution.
Over the course of this book, Lottie grew tremendously. She learned to see the world outside herself, began to appreciate the important people in her life, and started to make better choices. I was really proud of her, and I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could resist falling in love with her.
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Lottie is tired of Evelyn Tait ruining her life and is determined to beat her at her own game. The takedown will require patience, planning, and a makeover of sorts. But when Lottie assumes her new good girl persona, she arrives at some epiphanies about Evelyn, her family, and herself.
I know this is only the second book by Nwosu, but I am in love with her writing, characters, and storytelling. Though this story dealt with friendship, family, and even romance, at its core, it was a story about growing and changing and being true to yourself.
Lottie hadn't even finished secondary school, and her life had already been turned upside down twice. Once, when her mother left the family, and again, when her father remarried. I felt like Lottie never properly dealt with the emotional fallout, and it all just came out in the wrong ways. I mean, she got herself into trouble so often, that she was on a first name basis with the principal. [NOTE: I loved these scenes. They never failed to delight me] That was why I appreciated that her nefarious plot turned out to be such a wonderful path to self discovery. As she was pretending to be a "good girl", she actually began to enjoy the perks. It was fun to see her fully embrace this side of herself, but more importantly it gave her insight into herself and others.
Lottie and Evelyn had been set on destroying each other for quite a while now, but Lottie never fully understood Evelyn's situation. She began to see that being Evelyn Tait was not as easy as it looked, while also learning the root cause of Evelyn's animosity towards her. It was such an "A-HA" moment for Lottie, and one of the points in the story, where I really began to see her worldview shift from being so egocentric.
Nwosu blessed Lottie with not one, but TWO, amazing friends, both of whom I adored. At one point in the story, both of these relationships were a bit strained. There was bound to be tension, when Lottie's best girl friend, Grace, became romantically involved with her nemesis, but she also pushed her best guy friend, Jude, to his limits. Again, another "A-HA" moment for Lottie, where she came to some realizations about her friends' needs and feelings.
But let's talk about Jude, dear sweet Jude. He was the boy next door with the heart of gold. When Lottie looked back, she realized how Jude was the one person in her life, who was always there for her. I grew so frustrated with Lottie, because I thought she sometimes took advantage of him or took him for granted. Recognizing the way she treated him, as well as his importance in her life was another part of Lottie's evolution.
Over the course of this book, Lottie grew tremendously. She learned to see the world outside herself, began to appreciate the important people in her life, and started to make better choices. I was really proud of her, and I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could resist falling in love with her.
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April 7, 2020
I was so impatient to get my hands on this book, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. I thoroughly enjoyed 'Taking Down Evelyn Tait'. Poppy Nwosu injects a very natural energy into her writing and it makes the unfolding story seem as if it’s been almost effortlessly created (and I’m certain it wasn’t!)
One of the main delights comes from its suite of characters - Lottie, Evelyn, Sebastian, Jude, Grace, even Celeste - each one drawn so vividly I’m sure I could pick any of them out in a line-up. My personal favourite was Jude who I found myself cheering for from the very start.
On the surface this is a fun, light, young adult read. Underneath, though, there’s an unexpected seriousness which goes beyond high school romance, teenage angst and adolescent belligerence. It’s about the need to be heard; about learning to take control and about sometimes dealing with the shitty fallout adults leave behind.
I could happily read a sequel about any of the characters in this book and I think that’s Poppy Nwosu’s greatest strength – inventing a cast of people we come to truly care about.
Oh, and I can't finish this without saying how much I adored the running theme of Lottie finding quirky and unusual words to use in conversation – for me that was a nice, fat cherry on an already delicious cake.
One of the main delights comes from its suite of characters - Lottie, Evelyn, Sebastian, Jude, Grace, even Celeste - each one drawn so vividly I’m sure I could pick any of them out in a line-up. My personal favourite was Jude who I found myself cheering for from the very start.
On the surface this is a fun, light, young adult read. Underneath, though, there’s an unexpected seriousness which goes beyond high school romance, teenage angst and adolescent belligerence. It’s about the need to be heard; about learning to take control and about sometimes dealing with the shitty fallout adults leave behind.
I could happily read a sequel about any of the characters in this book and I think that’s Poppy Nwosu’s greatest strength – inventing a cast of people we come to truly care about.
Oh, and I can't finish this without saying how much I adored the running theme of Lottie finding quirky and unusual words to use in conversation – for me that was a nice, fat cherry on an already delicious cake.
April 25, 2020
4.5
Lottie is the teenage rebel my goody-two-shoes past self was too afraid to be. I love how fully she throws herself into everything she decides, and her schemes are devilishly fun.
And Juuude. What a delightful soft sad boy. My only criticism is that I wanted MORE Jude lol.
If you loved Alice Dyson, you'll love this. Perhaps even more so.
Lottie is the teenage rebel my goody-two-shoes past self was too afraid to be. I love how fully she throws herself into everything she decides, and her schemes are devilishly fun.
And Juuude. What a delightful soft sad boy. My only criticism is that I wanted MORE Jude lol.
If you loved Alice Dyson, you'll love this. Perhaps even more so.
March 26, 2020
Wow, I can't believe I forgot how much I like teen angst in YA until I read this book.
It's cute, it deals with real shit, the friendships are great. And it felt so real.
Full review will be up on my YouTube channel on the 30th of March!
It's cute, it deals with real shit, the friendships are great. And it felt so real.
Full review will be up on my YouTube channel on the 30th of March!
April 1, 2020
I'd been patiently awaiting this book ever since I first heard about it. That patience then turned into impatience when I saw the amazing cover it had been given. By the time it was in my hands, I just about dropped everything else to read it.
Once again, Poppy Nwosu has written an amazing novel that covers love, friendships and enemies.
The story was extremely well written. The characters were relatable, especially Lottie who was riddled with that same teen angst I remember having.
If you enjoy YA coming of age stories, I definitely recommend this one. I also recommend Poppy's first novel Making Friends with Alice Dyson.
Thank you so much to Poppy and the team at Wakefield Press for sending me a copy of this book to review!
Once again, Poppy Nwosu has written an amazing novel that covers love, friendships and enemies.
The story was extremely well written. The characters were relatable, especially Lottie who was riddled with that same teen angst I remember having.
If you enjoy YA coming of age stories, I definitely recommend this one. I also recommend Poppy's first novel Making Friends with Alice Dyson.
Thank you so much to Poppy and the team at Wakefield Press for sending me a copy of this book to review!
April 1, 2020
Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a really fun coming-of-age story. The main characters were really loveable and their interactions made me laugh out loud. It was quite a nostalgic tale for me, as I remembered doing all sorts of stupid things with my friends in high school and laughing so much we couldn’t breathe. The romantic element of the book was really sweet as well, and I was so invested in the love story.
I did find some parts frustrating - like characters missing REALLLLLLY obvious signs that a guy likes them, for example. Plus, the character’s character development probably happened a little too quickly to be really believable, but these small details didn’t take away from the story too much.
If you’re after a really fun, light, humorous tale, give this one a go. I think contemporary YA lovers will really enjoy it!
I did find some parts frustrating - like characters missing REALLLLLLY obvious signs that a guy likes them, for example. Plus, the character’s character development probably happened a little too quickly to be really believable, but these small details didn’t take away from the story too much.
If you’re after a really fun, light, humorous tale, give this one a go. I think contemporary YA lovers will really enjoy it!
July 24, 2020
Interesting characters and an engaging story. Recommended!
May 31, 2020
Loved this book. Lottie is such a spunky, nutty, real character. I connected with her right from the start. Her life is far from perfect, especially with the perfect Evelyn Tait as a mortal enemy. When she plots her revenge, things don’t quite go as she expected. A y/a romance that is far more than a y/a romance.
April 1, 2020
First of all, a huge thank you to AusYaBloggers, Wakefield Press and Poppy Nwosu for allowing me to review this amazing book. I am truly grateful.
As soon as I saw my first name in the title of this book, I wanted to read it. Not that I am biased towards all things Evelyn (disclaimer!), it simply caught my interest. The cover art made me wonder, is that Evelyn? Or is it whoever is taking down Miss Tait? I learn soon that it is Lottie, short for Charlotte, who adorns the cover, beautifully and impressively drawn by the author’s father. It seems talent truly runs in this family!
As usual, I will review as best I can without giving away any spoilers besides a few character names.
Set in Australia, Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a young adult work of fiction written from the point of view of high schooler Charlotte “Lottie” Murphy. Lottie is a bit of a rebel, and can’t help getting into trouble. We quickly learn about her closest friends Grace and Jude, and that Evelyn is her mortal enemy. Just who is Evelyn? And what is Lottie’s plan to take her down? You will have to read to find out!
Poppy’s writing flows beautifully, grabbing and keeping your attention throughout the entire book. There are surprises, and moments of glory, and sadness as it is easy to emphasize with the characters. I found myself rooting for all four of the main characters, Lottie, Grace, Jude and Evelyn, as they each are unique yet highly relatable. Being a human is hard, and teenage years can be brutal. It made me remember my own youth and what I went through with my family. It’s easy to tear up reading certain parts of this book, due to my own experiences.
I think Poppy is a brilliant writer in that she really does describe things in perfect detail, as if she was the one to actually experience every little thing each character went through. I find this to be a gift, as there are plenty of books where it is obvious the author has no real understanding of what they are trying to describe.
In my opinion, no one is a true villain in this story. Yes, Evelyn is “the worst” but she’s not awful without reason. Lottie certainly learns there’s more than just what is on the outside to everyone in this story. She learns something about her family, her friends, and even the boy she’s loved from afar for years.
The ending is a wholesome and satisfying one, and that’s all I’ll say regarding that. Just read it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
As soon as I saw my first name in the title of this book, I wanted to read it. Not that I am biased towards all things Evelyn (disclaimer!), it simply caught my interest. The cover art made me wonder, is that Evelyn? Or is it whoever is taking down Miss Tait? I learn soon that it is Lottie, short for Charlotte, who adorns the cover, beautifully and impressively drawn by the author’s father. It seems talent truly runs in this family!
As usual, I will review as best I can without giving away any spoilers besides a few character names.
Set in Australia, Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a young adult work of fiction written from the point of view of high schooler Charlotte “Lottie” Murphy. Lottie is a bit of a rebel, and can’t help getting into trouble. We quickly learn about her closest friends Grace and Jude, and that Evelyn is her mortal enemy. Just who is Evelyn? And what is Lottie’s plan to take her down? You will have to read to find out!
Poppy’s writing flows beautifully, grabbing and keeping your attention throughout the entire book. There are surprises, and moments of glory, and sadness as it is easy to emphasize with the characters. I found myself rooting for all four of the main characters, Lottie, Grace, Jude and Evelyn, as they each are unique yet highly relatable. Being a human is hard, and teenage years can be brutal. It made me remember my own youth and what I went through with my family. It’s easy to tear up reading certain parts of this book, due to my own experiences.
I think Poppy is a brilliant writer in that she really does describe things in perfect detail, as if she was the one to actually experience every little thing each character went through. I find this to be a gift, as there are plenty of books where it is obvious the author has no real understanding of what they are trying to describe.
In my opinion, no one is a true villain in this story. Yes, Evelyn is “the worst” but she’s not awful without reason. Lottie certainly learns there’s more than just what is on the outside to everyone in this story. She learns something about her family, her friends, and even the boy she’s loved from afar for years.
The ending is a wholesome and satisfying one, and that’s all I’ll say regarding that. Just read it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.
March 30, 2020
From the first page, this book is so easy to read. Nwosu's use of modern language and its integration into characters with thoughts and emotions that we can all relate to, really make this book stand out.
30 pages in and the first plot twist hits, I definitely didn't see it coming. But I love it. I am already Lottie's biggest fan, she is hilarious, unapologetically herself and yet also, so vulnerable and angry and sad.
The more we get to learn about Evelyn is that she is just as vulnerable and angry as Lottie. Her life hasn't been easy or in some cases, she hasn't been given the life that she thought she would have. These girls are so similar and I think that is why they clash so much.
I can't stress enough, how raw and honest this book is. The emotion that flows from the pages feels so real, it wraps you up in it. Poppy is a story teller of epic proportions. Not only has she written incredibly real and deep characters, she has also written them into a landscape and onto paths that are easy to relate to. That you have lived or seen friends and family live through. It is authentic and it is fantastic.
Taking Down Evelyn Tait, is a book about finding yourself, about seeing more than what is immediately in front of you and adapting to the circumstances you find yourself in. It is about family and friendship and love.
Incredibly well written, with a writing style that makes the pages turn all on their own. Perfectly paced, to keep you on the edge of your seat, but also to give you time to slow down and really think about where Lottie and Evelyn are coming from and what they are dealing with personally. This is a book you do not want to miss out on.
Thank you so much to Aus Ya Bloggers, Poppy Nwosu and Wakefield Press, for having me on the blog tour for this amazing book!
Head to www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com for my full review.
30 pages in and the first plot twist hits, I definitely didn't see it coming. But I love it. I am already Lottie's biggest fan, she is hilarious, unapologetically herself and yet also, so vulnerable and angry and sad.
The more we get to learn about Evelyn is that she is just as vulnerable and angry as Lottie. Her life hasn't been easy or in some cases, she hasn't been given the life that she thought she would have. These girls are so similar and I think that is why they clash so much.
I can't stress enough, how raw and honest this book is. The emotion that flows from the pages feels so real, it wraps you up in it. Poppy is a story teller of epic proportions. Not only has she written incredibly real and deep characters, she has also written them into a landscape and onto paths that are easy to relate to. That you have lived or seen friends and family live through. It is authentic and it is fantastic.
Taking Down Evelyn Tait, is a book about finding yourself, about seeing more than what is immediately in front of you and adapting to the circumstances you find yourself in. It is about family and friendship and love.
Incredibly well written, with a writing style that makes the pages turn all on their own. Perfectly paced, to keep you on the edge of your seat, but also to give you time to slow down and really think about where Lottie and Evelyn are coming from and what they are dealing with personally. This is a book you do not want to miss out on.
Thank you so much to Aus Ya Bloggers, Poppy Nwosu and Wakefield Press, for having me on the blog tour for this amazing book!
Head to www.bookishintoxicationwrites.com for my full review.
April 11, 2021
At its heart, Taking Down Evelyn Tait is a story about empathy. For many teenagers, me included, everything revolved or revolves around us. Everyone is out to get us, to bring us down. We don't always stop to think why people do the things they do. We learn however, almost as a revelation in our later teen years that others have feelings too and Poppy Nwosu captures being that feeling of being a teenager so well in writing her protagonist Lottie.
Lottie is bouncing off the walls with energy, she's adamant that her nemesis Evelyn is out to get her and she always shoulders the blame for trouble at school and at home. Her plan to reveal Evelyn's nasty side is the crux of this story and it's so much fun to see her trying to be good and discovering that being nice has lots of positive benefits.
The dialogue is cracking in this book and Lottie's very short attention span leads to many hilarious situations. Her abrupt decision to gift tomato plants to those she apologises to is very funny and her friends suggestions to play nice felt like the kind of reverse psychology you might see a teacher use on grade preps.
I wish there was less of a focus in this book on Lottie's relationships with Seb and Jonah because it's in the lighter sibling rivalry situations between her and Evelyn that this novel shines. Though that said, the lessons Lottie learns through her relationships with Jonah and Seb are so important to the message of the story you really couldn't have one without the other. And for that I can't really fault it.
If you have a sister or brother that you don't always get along with, you will relate to this story. If you want snappy funny dialogue and a high energy short attention span narrator this is for you!
Can't wait for more books from Poppy!
Lottie is bouncing off the walls with energy, she's adamant that her nemesis Evelyn is out to get her and she always shoulders the blame for trouble at school and at home. Her plan to reveal Evelyn's nasty side is the crux of this story and it's so much fun to see her trying to be good and discovering that being nice has lots of positive benefits.
The dialogue is cracking in this book and Lottie's very short attention span leads to many hilarious situations. Her abrupt decision to gift tomato plants to those she apologises to is very funny and her friends suggestions to play nice felt like the kind of reverse psychology you might see a teacher use on grade preps.
I wish there was less of a focus in this book on Lottie's relationships with Seb and Jonah because it's in the lighter sibling rivalry situations between her and Evelyn that this novel shines. Though that said, the lessons Lottie learns through her relationships with Jonah and Seb are so important to the message of the story you really couldn't have one without the other. And for that I can't really fault it.
If you have a sister or brother that you don't always get along with, you will relate to this story. If you want snappy funny dialogue and a high energy short attention span narrator this is for you!
Can't wait for more books from Poppy!
October 8, 2021
*RuPaul voice* You’re a winner baby!
This was. The most. DELICIOUS. YA fiction. I couldn’t put it down. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I already wanted to call any little boy I might have Jude, and this choice has been wholly reinforced. My thoughts are in shambles because this book reduced me to incoherent giddy goop shambles.
It was friends-lovers YA perfection. Written for teens, sounding like a teen, but completely accessible to adults. I really enjoyed my other Poppy Nwosu experience, and this was even better!
Metal loving Lottie is a bit of a trouble maker at school. This is exacerbated by her complex relationship with perfect good girl Evelyn Tait. With the help of her neighbour, Jude, Lottie decides to take Evelyn down by beating E at her own game - being a perfect good girl. Then a boy at school notices her, Jude gets weird, and Lottie learns a thing or two about Evelyn.
Things I liked:
- This is set in my hometown and I could picture everything so richly
- The character growth in such a short novel! 👏👏 Lottie’s journey is wonderful, changing but not losing herself along the way. The other characters too - Evelyn gets to learn and grow. Gosh I love me some growth!
- The dynamic between the school principal and Lottie had my teacher self cracking up laughing, I could vividly imagine it!
- I don’t have enough words to talk about precious Jude. What a little dreamboat. He was so so so in love with Lottie and she was so stupidly oblivious
- Lottie’s parents! And the heavy issues addressed throughout with a teen lens. As an adult reader you could read between the lines
Things I didn’t like:
- Why bother wasting word space here when I could write more things I liked about Jude?
In short: Instant purchase for the trophy shelf. Will read again. So fun.
This was. The most. DELICIOUS. YA fiction. I couldn’t put it down. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. I already wanted to call any little boy I might have Jude, and this choice has been wholly reinforced. My thoughts are in shambles because this book reduced me to incoherent giddy goop shambles.
It was friends-lovers YA perfection. Written for teens, sounding like a teen, but completely accessible to adults. I really enjoyed my other Poppy Nwosu experience, and this was even better!
Metal loving Lottie is a bit of a trouble maker at school. This is exacerbated by her complex relationship with perfect good girl Evelyn Tait. With the help of her neighbour, Jude, Lottie decides to take Evelyn down by beating E at her own game - being a perfect good girl. Then a boy at school notices her, Jude gets weird, and Lottie learns a thing or two about Evelyn.
Things I liked:
- This is set in my hometown and I could picture everything so richly
- The character growth in such a short novel! 👏👏 Lottie’s journey is wonderful, changing but not losing herself along the way. The other characters too - Evelyn gets to learn and grow. Gosh I love me some growth!
- The dynamic between the school principal and Lottie had my teacher self cracking up laughing, I could vividly imagine it!
- I don’t have enough words to talk about precious Jude. What a little dreamboat. He was so so so in love with Lottie and she was so stupidly oblivious
- Lottie’s parents! And the heavy issues addressed throughout with a teen lens. As an adult reader you could read between the lines
Things I didn’t like:
- Why bother wasting word space here when I could write more things I liked about Jude?
In short: Instant purchase for the trophy shelf. Will read again. So fun.
April 1, 2020
Lottie is an impulsive bad girl and heavy metal fan, always in trouble at school. Her mischief ignites when her nemesis, the good-girl Evelyn Tait, starts dating Lottie’s best friend, Grace. For Lottie, this is straw that breaks the camel’s back and she decides to take Evelyn down. The boy next door, Jude, helps her to hatch her evil plan. Evelyn is used to Lottie being bad, can she defeat her by instead being… good? What follows is a wild ride as Lottie discovers that being good may not actually be all bad.
I was engaged with Lottie’s mischief and devious plans from the get-go. She bursts onto the page in a whirl of bad behaviour which only adds to her charm. The teenage characters feel totally authentic and I particularly loved the interactions between the three girls. Lottie’s warm relationship with her father and her brittle one with her stepmother were also deftly portrayed, as was her confusion of feelings around suddenly being the object of ‘pretty boy’ Sebastian’s attention. The short chapters with titles like ‘How To Set Your World Domination Plan Into Motion’ and ‘Six Tips On Counselling (From a Counsellor)’ really keep the pace moving.
There are charming and funny situations aplenty as Lottie negotiates friendship, revenge, romance and a mediaeval festival. This warm, satisfying novel was exactly the story I needed to read right now and I recommend it for both teenagers and adults who enjoy light-hearted fiction.
I was engaged with Lottie’s mischief and devious plans from the get-go. She bursts onto the page in a whirl of bad behaviour which only adds to her charm. The teenage characters feel totally authentic and I particularly loved the interactions between the three girls. Lottie’s warm relationship with her father and her brittle one with her stepmother were also deftly portrayed, as was her confusion of feelings around suddenly being the object of ‘pretty boy’ Sebastian’s attention. The short chapters with titles like ‘How To Set Your World Domination Plan Into Motion’ and ‘Six Tips On Counselling (From a Counsellor)’ really keep the pace moving.
There are charming and funny situations aplenty as Lottie negotiates friendship, revenge, romance and a mediaeval festival. This warm, satisfying novel was exactly the story I needed to read right now and I recommend it for both teenagers and adults who enjoy light-hearted fiction.
April 19, 2020
I absolutely adored this story. I didn't want it to end.
I loved Lottie; her passion, enthusiasm, and love for things a little bit out of the norm. She is the pure heart of this story, even though through most of it she is quite angry and conflicted with all that's going on in her world. She shines, as does Jude, Sebastian, Grace, and even Evelyn.
Set in salt filled Port Adelaide, so true to the area it feels like you're living there right along with Lottie. I loved the few chapters when they were at the Medieval Fair. I've been to this particular event, so to have it painted so vividly in my mind reminded me how much I want to go again.
This gorgeous story takes us on a ride of self discovery, reflection and growth, with humour and a whole lot of fun. Yet there is a serious side to this novel that underpins the lightness of it, and gives the story a lot of depth and meaning that I think a lot of teens will connect with.
Poppy Nwosu writes with such authenticity that it felt as though I'd returned to my younger years, when emotions were rampant, smashing around in my body, and confusing the hell out of me.
I loved everything about this book, and I've decided, after naturally comparing it to Poppy's debut, that this one is the stand out for me.
Poppy's words shine. I loved it.
I loved Lottie; her passion, enthusiasm, and love for things a little bit out of the norm. She is the pure heart of this story, even though through most of it she is quite angry and conflicted with all that's going on in her world. She shines, as does Jude, Sebastian, Grace, and even Evelyn.
Set in salt filled Port Adelaide, so true to the area it feels like you're living there right along with Lottie. I loved the few chapters when they were at the Medieval Fair. I've been to this particular event, so to have it painted so vividly in my mind reminded me how much I want to go again.
This gorgeous story takes us on a ride of self discovery, reflection and growth, with humour and a whole lot of fun. Yet there is a serious side to this novel that underpins the lightness of it, and gives the story a lot of depth and meaning that I think a lot of teens will connect with.
Poppy Nwosu writes with such authenticity that it felt as though I'd returned to my younger years, when emotions were rampant, smashing around in my body, and confusing the hell out of me.
I loved everything about this book, and I've decided, after naturally comparing it to Poppy's debut, that this one is the stand out for me.
Poppy's words shine. I loved it.
June 14, 2021
I really enjoyed this fun coming-of-age story. Lottie is always in trouble. She has a revolving door to the principal's office (and a rather interesting relationship with him). She is not a bad person but she does do some bad things. She is part of a blended family but isn't ready to accept the new members of the family. She has a couple of best friends, one is the boy next door (Jude) and the other is Grace. She loves both of them dearly but is not always "best friend" material. Lottie also has an "enemy", that being the title's namesake, Evelyn Tait. She goes to extreme lengths to discredit goody two shoes Evelyn. Why? you might ask. Well, I really can't tell you because it is a massive spoiler. A big complication is that her Grace and Evelyn become an item. In the meantime, Lottie's unattainable crush (Sebastian) suddenly becomes very attainable and Jude goes all weird on her.
This is a humorous, entertaining story but it does deal with some serious themes.... be true to yourself, respect your friends (and family) and don't be too quick to judge others. This is possibly a five stars... i will ponder my rating.
This is a humorous, entertaining story but it does deal with some serious themes.... be true to yourself, respect your friends (and family) and don't be too quick to judge others. This is possibly a five stars... i will ponder my rating.
February 6, 2023
God, I loved every bit of that.
The immediate hilarity and endearing chaos of our oblivious but sweet protagonist felt so Josie Alibrandi but like turned up to eleven on the acting out impulsive wildly distractable scale. Her journey from self-absorption to a still teenage maturity was so beautifully measured and steady, and I adored the oblique reveals of her good deeds.
Also thanks to Lottie, I know that doom metal is my thing.
All the use of music and unusual words and quotes and the tomatoes (another Alibrandi homage, I feel) made for such a rich rewarding narrative, and best of all were the vivid gorgeous descriptions of Adelaide city and seascape. And the moments of eroticism, yesss.
I’m assuming Grace was desi with her surname of Singh but I don’t think it was specified or I would have remembered? I liked the brown lesbian representation but of course it was in the sidekick capacity which I would expect from a presumably non-South Asian writer. I’d love to know more of Grace’s story but I’m not sure that would happen in this era of own stories and rightly so.
I could have happily read another two hundred pages of Lottie living her life.
The immediate hilarity and endearing chaos of our oblivious but sweet protagonist felt so Josie Alibrandi but like turned up to eleven on the acting out impulsive wildly distractable scale. Her journey from self-absorption to a still teenage maturity was so beautifully measured and steady, and I adored the oblique reveals of her good deeds.
Also thanks to Lottie, I know that doom metal is my thing.
All the use of music and unusual words and quotes and the tomatoes (another Alibrandi homage, I feel) made for such a rich rewarding narrative, and best of all were the vivid gorgeous descriptions of Adelaide city and seascape. And the moments of eroticism, yesss.
I’m assuming Grace was desi with her surname of Singh but I don’t think it was specified or I would have remembered? I liked the brown lesbian representation but of course it was in the sidekick capacity which I would expect from a presumably non-South Asian writer. I’d love to know more of Grace’s story but I’m not sure that would happen in this era of own stories and rightly so.
I could have happily read another two hundred pages of Lottie living her life.
May 5, 2020
Another fabulous YA book from Poppy Nwosu :)
I love how easy it is to immerse myself in the voices of her characters and become engrossed in their stories.
Although, I must say it was a little bit harder to become attach to Lottie at first as I found her a bit self-absorbed and clueless. The more I read about her joking, carefree personality, the more endearing I found her.
I also enjoy the way Poppy writes setting. I can clearly see the boats and river in my mind, and I can imagine the smell of salt from the sea and the feel of heat across my skin.
MASSIVE SPOILER
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I felt like Lottie and Jude getting together at the end was a bit too rushed for more liking. Lottie randomly coming up to Jude and kissing him, and then him just accepting it, felt too fast. I would have liked more of a build up and maybe have them talk first before kissing.
However, I adored Taking Down Evelyn Tait. It was a quick, light read which is exactly what I needed as I attempt to read The Priory of the Orange Tree on the side haha.
I love how easy it is to immerse myself in the voices of her characters and become engrossed in their stories.
Although, I must say it was a little bit harder to become attach to Lottie at first as I found her a bit self-absorbed and clueless. The more I read about her joking, carefree personality, the more endearing I found her.
I also enjoy the way Poppy writes setting. I can clearly see the boats and river in my mind, and I can imagine the smell of salt from the sea and the feel of heat across my skin.
MASSIVE SPOILER
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.
.
.
.
.
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I felt like Lottie and Jude getting together at the end was a bit too rushed for more liking. Lottie randomly coming up to Jude and kissing him, and then him just accepting it, felt too fast. I would have liked more of a build up and maybe have them talk first before kissing.
However, I adored Taking Down Evelyn Tait. It was a quick, light read which is exactly what I needed as I attempt to read The Priory of the Orange Tree on the side haha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
This is such an honest and authentic story, filled with such a variety of emotions from each key character.
We follow Lottie, a somewhat rebellious and angsty, but also caring teenager, who's goal is to take down her nemesis Evelyn Tait.
Nwosu has created and developed realistic and relatable characters with such an easy-to-read writing style that keeps you turning the page (I read this in a single sitting).
Taking Down Evelyn Tait has provided chacracters that needed to find and accept themselves even through (especially through) changing and serious circumstances, and understanding that they don't have to go through this alone. This story emphasised the importance of family and friends and taking others into consideration.
Thank you so much to Aus Ya Bloggers, Poppy Nwosu and Wakefield Press, for having me on their tour and sending me a copy of Taking Down Evelyn Tait to honestly review.
We follow Lottie, a somewhat rebellious and angsty, but also caring teenager, who's goal is to take down her nemesis Evelyn Tait.
Nwosu has created and developed realistic and relatable characters with such an easy-to-read writing style that keeps you turning the page (I read this in a single sitting).
Taking Down Evelyn Tait has provided chacracters that needed to find and accept themselves even through (especially through) changing and serious circumstances, and understanding that they don't have to go through this alone. This story emphasised the importance of family and friends and taking others into consideration.
Thank you so much to Aus Ya Bloggers, Poppy Nwosu and Wakefield Press, for having me on their tour and sending me a copy of Taking Down Evelyn Tait to honestly review.
April 18, 2021
This book is another fabulous example of Poppy Nwosu's skill at exploring deep teenage issues while maintaining a humorous edge.
Lottie's family is broken, which seems to be the norm. Rather than facing up to issues, she allows her impulsive nature to constantly land her in trouble and alienate others. But she has three precious allies: a best female friend; a best male friend; and a doting dad.
Her journey to take down Evelyn, her stepmother and anyone else who gets in her way, turns into a journey of self-discovery and opens wounds to family drama that many of us live on a daily basis.
This story is eloquently told with a host of colourful characters that will take you from giggling and rolling laughter to tears. Lottie's volatility is the perfect portrayal of teenage angst and self-absorption.
Lottie's family is broken, which seems to be the norm. Rather than facing up to issues, she allows her impulsive nature to constantly land her in trouble and alienate others. But she has three precious allies: a best female friend; a best male friend; and a doting dad.
Her journey to take down Evelyn, her stepmother and anyone else who gets in her way, turns into a journey of self-discovery and opens wounds to family drama that many of us live on a daily basis.
This story is eloquently told with a host of colourful characters that will take you from giggling and rolling laughter to tears. Lottie's volatility is the perfect portrayal of teenage angst and self-absorption.
December 31, 2022
4.5 stars 🌟✨️
I found this book at an op shop (obviously I'm obsessed with buying second hand cheap books for 2 dollars) because I really love reading YA and this book hasnt failed me because I liked it. Lottie she's my favourite character she's funny, smart, huge metal head fan and has problems with her family. Her best friend Grace who is a lesbian starts going out with her worst enemy Evelyn Tait (who is also her Lottie's step sister) Lottie and her best friend Jude comes up with a plan by beating in Evelyn good-girl game to show everyone she isn't a perfect person. And there is complications on the way, a live triangle between Jude and her long time crush Sebastian Lewis, family problems with her new mum Celeste and also staying out of trouble at school (which always resulted in going to the principles office)
I found this book at an op shop (obviously I'm obsessed with buying second hand cheap books for 2 dollars) because I really love reading YA and this book hasnt failed me because I liked it. Lottie she's my favourite character she's funny, smart, huge metal head fan and has problems with her family. Her best friend Grace who is a lesbian starts going out with her worst enemy Evelyn Tait (who is also her Lottie's step sister) Lottie and her best friend Jude comes up with a plan by beating in Evelyn good-girl game to show everyone she isn't a perfect person. And there is complications on the way, a live triangle between Jude and her long time crush Sebastian Lewis, family problems with her new mum Celeste and also staying out of trouble at school (which always resulted in going to the principles office)
April 23, 2020
I read this book last night... more like consumed it.
Lottie is such a relatable character. She is far from perfect but definitely in an endearing way.
She has been thrown into a blended family that don't understand her and don't try to.
So she acts out... makes sense.
The story is a learning curve for Lottie - she's trying to be nice (for revenge) but learns that being nice makes you feel good too.
A must read for people who feel like life never goes their way - and for Jude (because he is the one who is "Pretty").
Lottie is such a relatable character. She is far from perfect but definitely in an endearing way.
She has been thrown into a blended family that don't understand her and don't try to.
So she acts out... makes sense.
The story is a learning curve for Lottie - she's trying to be nice (for revenge) but learns that being nice makes you feel good too.
A must read for people who feel like life never goes their way - and for Jude (because he is the one who is "Pretty").
May 12, 2020
I think regardless of age - all of us either know or have known - someone just like Lottie.
Pulling all the punches and making none of the excuses, Lottie is a great character with realistic growth.
A story about staying true to yourself, while realising that sometimes, even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences.
Poppy's writing is fresh and quintessentially Australian. I can't wait to read more of this author.
Pulling all the punches and making none of the excuses, Lottie is a great character with realistic growth.
A story about staying true to yourself, while realising that sometimes, even the smallest changes can make the biggest differences.
Poppy's writing is fresh and quintessentially Australian. I can't wait to read more of this author.
July 21, 2020
Lottie is a sassy slacker with a don't-care attitude, the perfect protagonist for this revenge tale. The personal link between Lottie and Evelyn makes this more than just a 'take down perfect girl' plot, and there's plenty of zingers and snappy lines to keep the story humming along. The best thing about this is that it makes the kind and light scenes stand out more because it comes from a genuine place.
March 30, 2021
This was a wholesome, well-written story with loveable characters and a fresh take on a familiar trope. Only giving it 4 stars rather than 5 because it just didn't compare to Alice Dyson in my opinion as that will always be one of my favourites. The characters were lovable however I wasn't as invested in them as the characters from Alice Dyson, and I didn't feel like I knew them as well as those in Alice Dyson.
April 4, 2020
I had pretty high expectations, having adored Poppy's first book. But I was blown away. The character of Lottie was so appealing and relatable, the romance just delightful, and the lessons about kindness and family were so tastefully done. Read it in an afternoon and I'm sad it's over. Just terrific ❣️
October 6, 2020
If you loved Making Friends With Alice Dyson then you will be in for another treat with Taking Down Evelyn Tait. The characters are beautifully drawn especially the irrepressible and infectious Lottie. And what I loved was that beneath the humour, the antics, and the romance was a tender look at the complexities of family and how as young adults we have to find a place within it.
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