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Making Friends with Alice Dyson
A sweet and soulful romantic debut about rumors, friendship, and discovering who you really are
Alice Dyson knows exactly how she'll be spending her final year of high school--with her head down, quietly concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She is focused on the future, and nothing and no one is going to get in her way. That is, until a bizarre encounter with Teddy Taualai, the school's most notorious troublemaker, goes viral, derailing her plans and pushing her into the spotlight. Suddenly Alice's under-the-radar life is one enormous, messy complication. And the worst part? Teddy Taualai is everywhere she turns. In author Poppy Nwosu's pitch-perfect debut novel, an unlikely pair of outsiders take the daunting, delicate first steps toward becoming friends and maybe, just maybe, something more. Briskly paced with a complex and appealing cast of characters, this contemporary romance explores the ever-tricky dance of staying true to yourself while opening your heart.
Alice Dyson knows exactly how she'll be spending her final year of high school--with her head down, quietly concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She is focused on the future, and nothing and no one is going to get in her way. That is, until a bizarre encounter with Teddy Taualai, the school's most notorious troublemaker, goes viral, derailing her plans and pushing her into the spotlight. Suddenly Alice's under-the-radar life is one enormous, messy complication. And the worst part? Teddy Taualai is everywhere she turns. In author Poppy Nwosu's pitch-perfect debut novel, an unlikely pair of outsiders take the daunting, delicate first steps toward becoming friends and maybe, just maybe, something more. Briskly paced with a complex and appealing cast of characters, this contemporary romance explores the ever-tricky dance of staying true to yourself while opening your heart.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published November 5, 2019
19 people are currently reading
1302 people want to read
About the author
Poppy Nwosu
6 books65 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 153 reviews
August 23, 2020
I REALLY, REALLY WANTED TO LIKE THIS.. I JUST COULDN'T
I tried, I really tried to get into this book. But right from the beginning I was annoyed and uncertain of the outcome. Over the course of the rest of the book, more and more faults popped up and it dragged the book down further. If you find the beginning (the first two chapters) difficult to get into, here's my advice to you - don't read the rest.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Beginning: Okay, the beginning was really rough. It starts right in the middle of a scandal, that our MC Alice is somehow in the middle of. Usually I am all for in medias res - but they have to be done right. Here' it definitely didn't work, mainly because the characters are blank slates so it's hard to sympathize with Alice or even understand the scandal at all because we know nothing of her or Teddy, the male MC. It just falls flat right from the beginning.
Juvenile: The events of this book takes place during the characters' senior year of high school but if you didn't know that, you'd more likely think that it was their freshman year. They seem juvenile at times, the way they talk, their motivations, their arguments, everything.
Flashbacks: There are a couple of very weird flashbacks scattered throughout this book that doesn't really do it any favours. As readers, we aren't given any idea that these are flashbacks and I understand why the author did it like this - she wants to shock us later on with the sudden realisation that what happened earlier in the book was actually also earlier in the story (sort of like a Westworld kind of thing). Only, it didn't have that effect because it wasn't consistent in any way. It just felt... strange.
Alice's parents: Alice is a girl I could have liked in a different story. She is a nerdy girl who studies hard because her parents pressure her to always achieve and strive for better. It's an inhuman pressure for a girl of 17. But the thing I don't get is - if her parents are such big parts of Alice's life and her motivation for doing pretty much anything she does - why are they hardly even in the story? Alice's mom only makes a handful of appearances in small, inconsequential scenes where she hardly has any dialogue. Alice's father makes no appearances whatsoever. Their lack of presence again made it hard to sympathize with Alice and to make her seem like a well-rounded, full character who had a life outside of her friends.
Bizarre event: The blurb for this book talks of a 'bizarre' event - the one that led to the scandal involving Alice and Teddy - and I found that turn of phrase strange until I read this book. It really is totally bizarre! And so not scandal worthy! I actually laughed because it just seemed so far fetched, unrealistic and ridiculous.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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I tried, I really tried to get into this book. But right from the beginning I was annoyed and uncertain of the outcome. Over the course of the rest of the book, more and more faults popped up and it dragged the book down further. If you find the beginning (the first two chapters) difficult to get into, here's my advice to you - don't read the rest.
👎 WHAT I DISLIKED 👎
Beginning: Okay, the beginning was really rough. It starts right in the middle of a scandal, that our MC Alice is somehow in the middle of. Usually I am all for in medias res - but they have to be done right. Here' it definitely didn't work, mainly because the characters are blank slates so it's hard to sympathize with Alice or even understand the scandal at all because we know nothing of her or Teddy, the male MC. It just falls flat right from the beginning.
Juvenile: The events of this book takes place during the characters' senior year of high school but if you didn't know that, you'd more likely think that it was their freshman year. They seem juvenile at times, the way they talk, their motivations, their arguments, everything.
Flashbacks: There are a couple of very weird flashbacks scattered throughout this book that doesn't really do it any favours. As readers, we aren't given any idea that these are flashbacks and I understand why the author did it like this - she wants to shock us later on with the sudden realisation that what happened earlier in the book was actually also earlier in the story (sort of like a Westworld kind of thing). Only, it didn't have that effect because it wasn't consistent in any way. It just felt... strange.
Alice's parents: Alice is a girl I could have liked in a different story. She is a nerdy girl who studies hard because her parents pressure her to always achieve and strive for better. It's an inhuman pressure for a girl of 17. But the thing I don't get is - if her parents are such big parts of Alice's life and her motivation for doing pretty much anything she does - why are they hardly even in the story? Alice's mom only makes a handful of appearances in small, inconsequential scenes where she hardly has any dialogue. Alice's father makes no appearances whatsoever. Their lack of presence again made it hard to sympathize with Alice and to make her seem like a well-rounded, full character who had a life outside of her friends.
Bizarre event: The blurb for this book talks of a 'bizarre' event - the one that led to the scandal involving Alice and Teddy - and I found that turn of phrase strange until I read this book. It really is totally bizarre! And so not scandal worthy! I actually laughed because it just seemed so far fetched, unrealistic and ridiculous.
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Blog Post: 11 Crazy Literary Scandals
September 14, 2020
The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.75/5 Stars
Full review HERE
This sweet book explores the friendship that blossoms between Alice and Teddy, two completely different people who become friends after an impromptu dance off near their school. The two of them have basically never even glanced at the other before, but this little shared moment is the start of what later becomes a beautiful friendship, in spite of Alice trying to be opposed to it. Alice is a very diligent high schooler who spends all her time studying hard to meet her parents' expectations. She's also very shy and making friends is no easy task for her. That's why she's happy with just having one, her long-time bestie May.
But Teddy, a mischievous and outgoing boy, has other plans and he enters Alice's life and makes her change her mind about friendship. Their lovely relationship develops into something more in the most organic way ever and it was so nice to read such a realistic depiction of the friends-to-lovers trope.
I also really appreciated how May and Alice's friendship was discussed throughout the whole novel.
I totally recommend this one if you're in the mood for a cute friends-to-lovers YA romance.
3.75/5 Stars
Full review HERE
This sweet book explores the friendship that blossoms between Alice and Teddy, two completely different people who become friends after an impromptu dance off near their school. The two of them have basically never even glanced at the other before, but this little shared moment is the start of what later becomes a beautiful friendship, in spite of Alice trying to be opposed to it. Alice is a very diligent high schooler who spends all her time studying hard to meet her parents' expectations. She's also very shy and making friends is no easy task for her. That's why she's happy with just having one, her long-time bestie May.
But Teddy, a mischievous and outgoing boy, has other plans and he enters Alice's life and makes her change her mind about friendship. Their lovely relationship develops into something more in the most organic way ever and it was so nice to read such a realistic depiction of the friends-to-lovers trope.
I also really appreciated how May and Alice's friendship was discussed throughout the whole novel.
I totally recommend this one if you're in the mood for a cute friends-to-lovers YA romance.
February 10, 2019
Was asked to provide an endorsement quote for this book, because it was 1000% up my alley as a smart & steely Aussie YA romance.
So this was my full quote about the book that I absolutely ADORED:
Don't judge a book by its cover, and don't listen to the rumours about Teddy Taualai!
‘Making Friends with Alice Dyson’ is a sweet contemporary romance about growing up, growing apart, and getting to know someone before it's too late. A tender and true debut about the power of friendship and the trust it takes to really let someone see the real you. What an outstandingly lovely tale with solid heart; intimate and enchanting.
So this was my full quote about the book that I absolutely ADORED:
Don't judge a book by its cover, and don't listen to the rumours about Teddy Taualai!
‘Making Friends with Alice Dyson’ is a sweet contemporary romance about growing up, growing apart, and getting to know someone before it's too late. A tender and true debut about the power of friendship and the trust it takes to really let someone see the real you. What an outstandingly lovely tale with solid heart; intimate and enchanting.
September 30, 2020
**Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & the publisher for a chance to read & review an E-ARC of this novel!**
For me, this was a heavy contemporary read tackling topics such as representation as well as family discord, grief, bullying, double standards in society, friendships, the pressure of planning for the future as a adolescent, & also being honest with ourself & others about our true thoughts & feeling. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
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Things I Liked:
-the descriptive writing...I felt like I could picture the settings, see the expressions on character's faces...it felt like I was connected through the descriptions
-that Teddy didn't really care what others were saying about him & that Alice stood up for him anyway (to people at school & to her mom)
-Teddy's grandmother was pretty much amazing & so sweet
-the ending...so sweet...I'm glad that Teddy got to go with Alice on her adventure :)
Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-May was a crappy friend & she really irritated me throughout the story
-Alice's parents...absent & judgmental much?
-Teddy's response to Alice's plans to abroad for a year. I mean...she made these plans way before Teddy & her became a thing. I felt like he was blaming her for not dropping everything she had planned to stay with him. His lack of understanding was not helpful at all
-it felt slow paced at times...for me it picked up about halfway through, but the first half was a challenge to keep reading
-the story sort of jumps right in...there isn't any real character/story development or introduction...you sort of just enter the story...that made it hard to get my bearings as a reader...and then later in the novel a random chapter is focused on the beginning part of the story that we didn't get at the beginning of the book...it was a strange writing style in my opinion. I like to feel connected to the character & for me, the choice to jump right in made it a challenge
Overall, I gave this novel 3 stars. It was a heavy read for me (just due to my connection with some of the main plot points/issues)...but I still enjoyed seeing the characters develop & learn life lessons through there mistakes & errors in judgement. I think it would be a great read for those who enjoy themes like coming of age concerns, friendship, first love, & planning for the future.
For me, this was a heavy contemporary read tackling topics such as representation as well as family discord, grief, bullying, double standards in society, friendships, the pressure of planning for the future as a adolescent, & also being honest with ourself & others about our true thoughts & feeling. Please find my extended feedback below...along with some spoilers (beware).
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Things I Liked:
-the descriptive writing...I felt like I could picture the settings, see the expressions on character's faces...it felt like I was connected through the descriptions
-that Teddy didn't really care what others were saying about him & that Alice stood up for him anyway (to people at school & to her mom)
-Teddy's grandmother was pretty much amazing & so sweet
-the ending...so sweet...I'm glad that Teddy got to go with Alice on her adventure :)
Things That Didn't Sit Quite Right With Me:
-May was a crappy friend & she really irritated me throughout the story
-Alice's parents...absent & judgmental much?
-Teddy's response to Alice's plans to abroad for a year. I mean...she made these plans way before Teddy & her became a thing. I felt like he was blaming her for not dropping everything she had planned to stay with him. His lack of understanding was not helpful at all
-it felt slow paced at times...for me it picked up about halfway through, but the first half was a challenge to keep reading
-the story sort of jumps right in...there isn't any real character/story development or introduction...you sort of just enter the story...that made it hard to get my bearings as a reader...and then later in the novel a random chapter is focused on the beginning part of the story that we didn't get at the beginning of the book...it was a strange writing style in my opinion. I like to feel connected to the character & for me, the choice to jump right in made it a challenge
Overall, I gave this novel 3 stars. It was a heavy read for me (just due to my connection with some of the main plot points/issues)...but I still enjoyed seeing the characters develop & learn life lessons through there mistakes & errors in judgement. I think it would be a great read for those who enjoy themes like coming of age concerns, friendship, first love, & planning for the future.
September 3, 2020
Alice had a plan. She just needed to finish her last year of school, continue to get good grades, and get into the university of her parents' choice. Then she could finally be free. Her plan didn't include Teddy Taualai, but it seems Teddy didn't get the memo, and maybe that's a good thing.
Poppy Nwosu annihilated me with this book. This book quietly came and hit me right in the feels, and I absolutely welcomed every second of it.
So what's this book about?
It's about friendship. I mean, it is mentioned right there in the title, and this theme of friendship was explored from multiple sides. Alice's life was changing in many ways. She was forming a new rapport with Teddy, which was no easy task for her. At the same time, she was trying to save her lifelong friendship with her bestie, May. I really like that Nwosu included this relationship which was going through some growing pains, because many people share this experience. It gave Alice a reason to explore what makes a friendship and how to be a friend. Some really touching moments arose from these introspections, and I welcomed it all with open arms.
It's about looking beyond the labels. Many rumors followed Teddy to his new school, and after three years, he was still unable to dispel them. He was fairly isolated because people believed these tales about him. Alice, however, made the effort to get to know him. She saw past the stories to the sweet, slightly wounded, but rather big hearted boy underneath. She took the time to break through the armor Teddy used for self-preservation, and what she found was someone really special. Teddy was the primary focus of this theme, but it came up in other ways and was definitely a theme worthy of exploration.
It's about being true to yourself. There were so many people who thought Alice should steer clear of Teddy. Their commentary ranged from "he's a bad influence" to "you'll never be popular hanging around with him" type comments. She didn't care. She followed her heart. There were also these lovely moments where Alice would perform these small acts of kindness. Sometimes it was just saying something nice to someone, but other times, she had to dig in and be brave as she defended others. I admired her for going against the mob mentality, not giving into the "cancel culture", and I applauded her for doing things I knew she found difficult.
It's about falling in love. Watching Alice's feelings for Teddy evolve was nothing short of wonderful. I think she struggled with what he saw in her, first as a friend and then as more. I felt like Alice suffered from never feeling like she was enough, because of the way her mother treated her and because she was unpopular. But Teddy saw into Alice's heart, and she eventually saw into his, and well, it made my heart explode.
Nwosu told a beautiful and moving story of friendship and love. She crafted two remarkable characters, whom I am overjoyed to have met and I adored rooting for.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Poppy Nwosu annihilated me with this book. This book quietly came and hit me right in the feels, and I absolutely welcomed every second of it.
So what's this book about?
It's about friendship. I mean, it is mentioned right there in the title, and this theme of friendship was explored from multiple sides. Alice's life was changing in many ways. She was forming a new rapport with Teddy, which was no easy task for her. At the same time, she was trying to save her lifelong friendship with her bestie, May. I really like that Nwosu included this relationship which was going through some growing pains, because many people share this experience. It gave Alice a reason to explore what makes a friendship and how to be a friend. Some really touching moments arose from these introspections, and I welcomed it all with open arms.
It's about looking beyond the labels. Many rumors followed Teddy to his new school, and after three years, he was still unable to dispel them. He was fairly isolated because people believed these tales about him. Alice, however, made the effort to get to know him. She saw past the stories to the sweet, slightly wounded, but rather big hearted boy underneath. She took the time to break through the armor Teddy used for self-preservation, and what she found was someone really special. Teddy was the primary focus of this theme, but it came up in other ways and was definitely a theme worthy of exploration.
It's about being true to yourself. There were so many people who thought Alice should steer clear of Teddy. Their commentary ranged from "he's a bad influence" to "you'll never be popular hanging around with him" type comments. She didn't care. She followed her heart. There were also these lovely moments where Alice would perform these small acts of kindness. Sometimes it was just saying something nice to someone, but other times, she had to dig in and be brave as she defended others. I admired her for going against the mob mentality, not giving into the "cancel culture", and I applauded her for doing things I knew she found difficult.
It's about falling in love. Watching Alice's feelings for Teddy evolve was nothing short of wonderful. I think she struggled with what he saw in her, first as a friend and then as more. I felt like Alice suffered from never feeling like she was enough, because of the way her mother treated her and because she was unpopular. But Teddy saw into Alice's heart, and she eventually saw into his, and well, it made my heart explode.
Nwosu told a beautiful and moving story of friendship and love. She crafted two remarkable characters, whom I am overjoyed to have met and I adored rooting for.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 24, 2020
A sweet, awkward and wonderfully authentic, Alice begins to have many new experiences in her last year of High School - when all she wants to be doing is study.
The tale of an awkwardly shy book nerd breaking slowly out of her comfort zone is utterly endearing, but what makes Alice even more charming is that she battles through her naivety in expression her dreams and feelings to connect with those she cares for. May I also add that Teddy Taualai is a complete babe, I loved how open and expressive he was.
Such a nostalgic read, it definitely is in the realm of a Melina Marchetta teen novel.
The tale of an awkwardly shy book nerd breaking slowly out of her comfort zone is utterly endearing, but what makes Alice even more charming is that she battles through her naivety in expression her dreams and feelings to connect with those she cares for. May I also add that Teddy Taualai is a complete babe, I loved how open and expressive he was.
Such a nostalgic read, it definitely is in the realm of a Melina Marchetta teen novel.
Want to read
September 21, 2020just based off what i’ve heard of this book, plus the cover, i think this girl might be me. so yes i’m adding it, even though i don’t normally do contemporaries.
September 10, 2020
Making Friends with Alice Dyson was such a pleasant little surprise for me. It's quiet Aussie YA about friendship, popularity, first crushes, and making that transition into adulthood.
This covers the last couple years before uni, but it feels more youthful, because Alice grew up a bit more slowly. She has been socially isolated partially by her own desires and partially because of pressure to study hard from her parents. Alice is an adorable little cinnamon roll introvert who is really only just beginning to figure out who she is. The romance with Teddy is a slow burn and it's cute and it's messy, as is her friendship with May. One thing that really stood out was Alice's capacity for forgiveness and the way she calls out her own toxic thoughts in her internal monologue, which isn't something I've seen done much, but is very relatable.
I would have liked a bit more explanation of the viral dancing that was the catalyst for Alice's evolution and also would have been nice to see more of Alice's parents, because their treatment is absolutely why she makes certain choices, but that's told much more than shown. But, aside from these things, I thought the character development and voice was lovely and sweet and authentically teen.
I'd recommend if you're looking for something understated and under the radar, especially if the idea of a younger character who is developing a bit behind the curve socially has appeal. It's nice to remember that we don't all hit the same milestones at the same age. I'm not sure how much this will stick with me, but I did really enjoy reading it. Also, it's short, which was a nice change as YA has been trending longer.
This covers the last couple years before uni, but it feels more youthful, because Alice grew up a bit more slowly. She has been socially isolated partially by her own desires and partially because of pressure to study hard from her parents. Alice is an adorable little cinnamon roll introvert who is really only just beginning to figure out who she is. The romance with Teddy is a slow burn and it's cute and it's messy, as is her friendship with May. One thing that really stood out was Alice's capacity for forgiveness and the way she calls out her own toxic thoughts in her internal monologue, which isn't something I've seen done much, but is very relatable.
I would have liked a bit more explanation of the viral dancing that was the catalyst for Alice's evolution and also would have been nice to see more of Alice's parents, because their treatment is absolutely why she makes certain choices, but that's told much more than shown. But, aside from these things, I thought the character development and voice was lovely and sweet and authentically teen.
I'd recommend if you're looking for something understated and under the radar, especially if the idea of a younger character who is developing a bit behind the curve socially has appeal. It's nice to remember that we don't all hit the same milestones at the same age. I'm not sure how much this will stick with me, but I did really enjoy reading it. Also, it's short, which was a nice change as YA has been trending longer.
August 20, 2020
DNF @ 40%
I just didn't connect with this story at all. At the beginning, it was hard for me to really get into the writing, I thought it was kinda all over the place and not very well structured or developed. The biggest flaw was that we don't really get to see Alice and Teddy's first interaction and there's a lot of small time jumps in the beginning that pass over relationship development. None of the characters really clicked with me either, I thought the story was just okay and just wasn't pulling me in.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I just didn't connect with this story at all. At the beginning, it was hard for me to really get into the writing, I thought it was kinda all over the place and not very well structured or developed. The biggest flaw was that we don't really get to see Alice and Teddy's first interaction and there's a lot of small time jumps in the beginning that pass over relationship development. None of the characters really clicked with me either, I thought the story was just okay and just wasn't pulling me in.
I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2020
Nice coming of age story.
Alice is a shy girl, just trying to get through her final year of high school so she can escape her demanding mom and start living her life. Her only friend Mae has started to become obsessed with popularity and they're drifting apart. Luckily Teddy, the school outcast, steps into her world and challenges her in ways she didn't imagine.
I adored Teddy and he was by far my favorite part of the story. He's sweet and kind and doesn't care what the kids at school say about him. He puts up with Alice being mean to him or wishy-washy about her feelings. When he carried her home after the party, I was totally sold on him. Even though he's grieving his mom, doesn't have much money, and is treated poorly at school, he still smiles and makes the best of things.
Mae on the other hand was bleh. She became way too obsessed with people thinking she was "cool" and started trying to make Alice into someone she wasn't. She told her she was ugly and needed to change her clothes and style, she badmouthed Teddy and said he wasn't good enough. She tried to hook up with a guy who already had a girlfriend! I know she and Alice had a lot of history, but I wanted Alice to dump her as a friend and move on.
I enjoyed seeing Alice mature and fall for Teddy. The book had decent pacing and some funny lines. The epilogue was sweet and wrapped up nicely.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Alice is a shy girl, just trying to get through her final year of high school so she can escape her demanding mom and start living her life. Her only friend Mae has started to become obsessed with popularity and they're drifting apart. Luckily Teddy, the school outcast, steps into her world and challenges her in ways she didn't imagine.
I adored Teddy and he was by far my favorite part of the story. He's sweet and kind and doesn't care what the kids at school say about him. He puts up with Alice being mean to him or wishy-washy about her feelings. When he carried her home after the party, I was totally sold on him. Even though he's grieving his mom, doesn't have much money, and is treated poorly at school, he still smiles and makes the best of things.
Mae on the other hand was bleh. She became way too obsessed with people thinking she was "cool" and started trying to make Alice into someone she wasn't. She told her she was ugly and needed to change her clothes and style, she badmouthed Teddy and said he wasn't good enough. She tried to hook up with a guy who already had a girlfriend! I know she and Alice had a lot of history, but I wanted Alice to dump her as a friend and move on.
I enjoyed seeing Alice mature and fall for Teddy. The book had decent pacing and some funny lines. The epilogue was sweet and wrapped up nicely.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
September 13, 2020
This is a YA contemporary and Alice is the main protagonist of this book. She's a girl focused on her studies, to the point where she rarely gets any fun with her friends. There's pressure at home, but she also has her own goals. However, her life is about to change when a rumor starts and she gets closer to Teddy, the notorious bad boy of school.
This book took me by surprise. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Admittedly, at first I was hesitant, because it was slow and nothing exciting seemed to be happening. However, things changed as the plotline progressed and I loved it. Also, the heroine gave me the impression from her thoughts and mannerisms, that she was in the spectrum, but that's just something I thought about and wasn't mentioned anywhere in the book, so I may be wrong.
I have to admit that the least likeable character here was her best friend - at least to me. I really wanted for our heroine to stand up to herself, because she didn't deserve that kind of treatment, but I also loved how true to herself was, no matter what and seemed eager to change, only at certain aspects, that she felt ready for this change. I also liked Teddy from the get go, but I also loved reading his storyline and how his relationship with Alice evolved.
It was a refreshing read with just the right amount of angst, sweet, funny and emotional moments. If you're looking for a YA contemporary, I would definitely recommend picking this one. This may pleasantly surprise you as well :)
This book took me by surprise. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Admittedly, at first I was hesitant, because it was slow and nothing exciting seemed to be happening. However, things changed as the plotline progressed and I loved it. Also, the heroine gave me the impression from her thoughts and mannerisms, that she was in the spectrum, but that's just something I thought about and wasn't mentioned anywhere in the book, so I may be wrong.
I have to admit that the least likeable character here was her best friend - at least to me. I really wanted for our heroine to stand up to herself, because she didn't deserve that kind of treatment, but I also loved how true to herself was, no matter what and seemed eager to change, only at certain aspects, that she felt ready for this change. I also liked Teddy from the get go, but I also loved reading his storyline and how his relationship with Alice evolved.
It was a refreshing read with just the right amount of angst, sweet, funny and emotional moments. If you're looking for a YA contemporary, I would definitely recommend picking this one. This may pleasantly surprise you as well :)
March 4, 2019
I'm going to be honest, I tend to stay away from contemporary YA if it's a high school setting - they tend to be a bit same-y, with the extreme drama and best friend backstabbing and the popularity game with high emotions and that whole scene is just not my jam.
So imagine my surprise when I loved THE HELL out of this book! There were some of the elements I mentioned, but through the lens of a character who not only doesn't care about high school politics but actually doesn't even notice them half the time I found that they were not just bearable but actually enjoyable.
It was like someone filming a kitten while ninjas are battling in the far background, but the camera only stays focused on the cat. Much more fun if you enjoy cats over ninjas.
Also I thought Teddy was hilarious, especially since he wouldn't understand subtle if it hit him over the head with a brick.
Great read, recommended!
So imagine my surprise when I loved THE HELL out of this book! There were some of the elements I mentioned, but through the lens of a character who not only doesn't care about high school politics but actually doesn't even notice them half the time I found that they were not just bearable but actually enjoyable.
It was like someone filming a kitten while ninjas are battling in the far background, but the camera only stays focused on the cat. Much more fun if you enjoy cats over ninjas.
Also I thought Teddy was hilarious, especially since he wouldn't understand subtle if it hit him over the head with a brick.
Great read, recommended!
July 25, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
What a cute, authentic story!
Making Friends with Alice Dyson will be incredibly relatable for anyone who is, or was, a shy, awkward, book nerd type kid. Alice, quiet and relatively innocent, is the complete opposite of Teddy Taualai, the mysterious bad-boy transfer student, yet they still manage to form an unlikely, adorable relationship. I really appreciated the characters in this story--everyone had such a distinct, interesting personality. I also loved that themes of friendship and self-discovery were woven within the central romance.
However, this book was not without flaws. My first issue was that these characters felt incredibly young. This is a story about teenagers in their last year of high school, about to go off to university next year, yet their dialogue felt like that of young children. There were many scenes that involving partying, drinking, touching, hooking up, etc., which did feel like the activities of older teenagers, but something about the conversations felt incredibly juvenile. The constant mentioning of popularity and status, along with the rumors and the way the characters fought with each others, just felt too young for people who are nearly adults.
My other issues revolved around the lack of conversation around certain subjects. For example, there was some blatant slut shaming, specifically slut shaming of Alice's best friend. Alice doesn't really stand up for her friend May when she is called a slut and there is no conversation counteracting the slut shaming. I know it's not realistic to assume all teenagers are actively fighting slut shaming, but I just was not comfortable with how casually the word slut was tossed around. Furthermore, I wanted more conversation about boundaries. I really liked Teddy but he did get quite pushy at some points. I strongly disliked this. Especially with Alice being a shy, "innocent" girl, I think it would have been extremely beneficial for the author to include a discussion on why girls should not let boundaries be pushed, even if they do like someone. It just felt like a huge red flag to me.
Overall, Making Friends with Alice Dyson is a quick, adorable read about first loves and high school life. I would recommend this to someone looking for a cute high school romance with contrasting characters, but I think it is important to mention that some crucial conversations were left out of this story.
What a cute, authentic story!
Making Friends with Alice Dyson will be incredibly relatable for anyone who is, or was, a shy, awkward, book nerd type kid. Alice, quiet and relatively innocent, is the complete opposite of Teddy Taualai, the mysterious bad-boy transfer student, yet they still manage to form an unlikely, adorable relationship. I really appreciated the characters in this story--everyone had such a distinct, interesting personality. I also loved that themes of friendship and self-discovery were woven within the central romance.
However, this book was not without flaws. My first issue was that these characters felt incredibly young. This is a story about teenagers in their last year of high school, about to go off to university next year, yet their dialogue felt like that of young children. There were many scenes that involving partying, drinking, touching, hooking up, etc., which did feel like the activities of older teenagers, but something about the conversations felt incredibly juvenile. The constant mentioning of popularity and status, along with the rumors and the way the characters fought with each others, just felt too young for people who are nearly adults.
My other issues revolved around the lack of conversation around certain subjects. For example, there was some blatant slut shaming, specifically slut shaming of Alice's best friend. Alice doesn't really stand up for her friend May when she is called a slut and there is no conversation counteracting the slut shaming. I know it's not realistic to assume all teenagers are actively fighting slut shaming, but I just was not comfortable with how casually the word slut was tossed around. Furthermore, I wanted more conversation about boundaries. I really liked Teddy but he did get quite pushy at some points. I strongly disliked this. Especially with Alice being a shy, "innocent" girl, I think it would have been extremely beneficial for the author to include a discussion on why girls should not let boundaries be pushed, even if they do like someone. It just felt like a huge red flag to me.
Overall, Making Friends with Alice Dyson is a quick, adorable read about first loves and high school life. I would recommend this to someone looking for a cute high school romance with contrasting characters, but I think it is important to mention that some crucial conversations were left out of this story.
May 11, 2019
Trigger warnings: controlling parents, , mentions of violence, slut shaming.
This book was hella cute and I loved the friendship/relationship between Alice and Teddy. I loved the changing friendships over the course of the year and Teddy's grandmother was delightful. My one slight complaint is that the characters didn't entirely feel like year 12s. If you'd told me they were year 10s, I definitely would have bought it. But there was something slightly too young about Alice's voice and about May's character. But at the same time, the way the book ends wouldn't work unless they were in year 12, so.......???
Still, I'm 100% here for Alice/Teddy because they were stinking adorable.
This book was hella cute and I loved the friendship/relationship between Alice and Teddy. I loved the changing friendships over the course of the year and Teddy's grandmother was delightful. My one slight complaint is that the characters didn't entirely feel like year 12s. If you'd told me they were year 10s, I definitely would have bought it. But there was something slightly too young about Alice's voice and about May's character. But at the same time, the way the book ends wouldn't work unless they were in year 12, so.......???
Still, I'm 100% here for Alice/Teddy because they were stinking adorable.
March 4, 2019
Actual rating 4.5 ⭐️
High school me relates so much to Alice Dyson - the bookishness, the whispering and gossip behind my back, even the smell of salt in the school hallways. This book was a wonderful coming-of-age story that I felt was entirely realistic. The writing was so satisfying and the characters were full of so much depth. A very enjoyable and heartfelt read.
High school me relates so much to Alice Dyson - the bookishness, the whispering and gossip behind my back, even the smell of salt in the school hallways. This book was a wonderful coming-of-age story that I felt was entirely realistic. The writing was so satisfying and the characters were full of so much depth. A very enjoyable and heartfelt read.
December 4, 2019
I told myself that I won't lay a finger on the keyboard again after my exam but alas here we are. Me. Book reviewing. Y. A. Y.
In all honesty I wasn't meant to read Making Friends With Alice Dyson it sort of just happened I was bored, wanted something quick and easy to read and most importantly something enjoyable or at least something that everyone said was enjoyable. I sort of saw it sitting there on what I call the "Leaning Tower of TBR" (aka a book pile so high it's scarily leaning over. How's THAT for a horror story) with its bright pink cover and thought "Oh well why not" and so I read it and finished it and I can second most reviews that are giving this book a 4-5 star rating.
Look, for me it's really hard for me to rate a contemporary highly and that's simply because of the following that I find a lot
-Nothing actually happens
-It's so boring
-There's nothing interesting about the characters
and the list goes on
But with Making Friends With Alice Dyson I found myself really enjoying it although there wasn't necessarily a clear plot line, I really did fall in love with the characters. All of them were so different and unique in their own way and no character was identical to the other. I really do think there should be a sequel. I think my favourite character was May. There was so much going on with her and her life I really did feel for her and I could see a lot of similarities between her character and some of my own friends and it was quite confronting and weird to be seeing that in a book. May was so complex and I seriously love Poppy Nwosu for how she made May like an onion with so many layers to her that she was multi-dimensional and not just a 2D character she just seemed like a real person and that takes a real talent to create.
It's really hard to describe what this book is about. Essentially it's about a study machine named Alice who is in her final year of school. She gets a lot of attention after getting involved with the troublemaker: Teddy Taualai when the two were seen dancing together at a train station. Ugh! How do I even continue on without spoiling anything? A lot happens that I haven't said but just know it deals with the themes of friendship, drifting apart and discovering yourself after year 12. I found that it strangely had a lot of things in common with my own life not even mentioning the book is set in the same town as where I live. It's weird because Nwosu just weirdly wrote teenagehood to a T and I was left extremely shooketh.
All in all, an extraordinary debut and I can't wait for her next book.
ACTUAL RATING: 4 STARS
In all honesty I wasn't meant to read Making Friends With Alice Dyson it sort of just happened I was bored, wanted something quick and easy to read and most importantly something enjoyable or at least something that everyone said was enjoyable. I sort of saw it sitting there on what I call the "Leaning Tower of TBR" (aka a book pile so high it's scarily leaning over. How's THAT for a horror story) with its bright pink cover and thought "Oh well why not" and so I read it and finished it and I can second most reviews that are giving this book a 4-5 star rating.
Look, for me it's really hard for me to rate a contemporary highly and that's simply because of the following that I find a lot
-Nothing actually happens
-It's so boring
-There's nothing interesting about the characters
and the list goes on
But with Making Friends With Alice Dyson I found myself really enjoying it although there wasn't necessarily a clear plot line, I really did fall in love with the characters. All of them were so different and unique in their own way and no character was identical to the other. I really do think there should be a sequel. I think my favourite character was May. There was so much going on with her and her life I really did feel for her and I could see a lot of similarities between her character and some of my own friends and it was quite confronting and weird to be seeing that in a book. May was so complex and I seriously love Poppy Nwosu for how she made May like an onion with so many layers to her that she was multi-dimensional and not just a 2D character she just seemed like a real person and that takes a real talent to create.
It's really hard to describe what this book is about. Essentially it's about a study machine named Alice who is in her final year of school. She gets a lot of attention after getting involved with the troublemaker: Teddy Taualai when the two were seen dancing together at a train station. Ugh! How do I even continue on without spoiling anything? A lot happens that I haven't said but just know it deals with the themes of friendship, drifting apart and discovering yourself after year 12. I found that it strangely had a lot of things in common with my own life not even mentioning the book is set in the same town as where I live. It's weird because Nwosu just weirdly wrote teenagehood to a T and I was left extremely shooketh.
All in all, an extraordinary debut and I can't wait for her next book.
ACTUAL RATING: 4 STARS
July 15, 2020
“Making Friends with Alice Dyson”
Written by Poppy Nwosu
Reviewed by Diana Iozzia
As a nostalgic fan of teen / young adult romance novels, I felt excited to begin reading Making Friends with Alice Dyson. I have long enjoyed these types of novels, and I was hoping to find them similar to those I read when I was in my teens. However, I have learned in my twenties, that teen fiction does not always hold my interest anymore, with new slang, technology, and pop culture references. To my surprise and pleasure, I found that Alice Dyson held my interest and entertained me in many different ways.
To continue, Nwosu impressed me, with witty yet realistic dialogue, appealing characters, and a very handsome love interest. Alice Dyson is reserved, shy, and intelligent, while her best friend, May, has become obsessed with dating and popularity. Alice has become tentative friends with Teddy, a mysterious new kid who is rumored to have been violent towards teachers and students at his previous school. The plot centers around Alice’s friendship with May, changing for the worse, as May becomes cruel and uncaring towards her friend. Alice also is consumed by her budding interesting in Teddy, about whom she learns and realizes that he is not the dangerous bully people say he is.
In all honesty, this story is fresh and sweet, but it does not feel incredibly unique. The plot does not feel very complex, when I would have hoped it to be a bit stronger. The themes of first love and loss of friendship are important, but I felt that Nwosu could have dug deeper and made them more meaningful. Also, I felt that some scenes were memorable, but many of them feel similar to any other book from this age and genre. I wish that this book would stand out a little more, but it felt very basic.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this story, but I felt it could have been more elaborate, with more details and better scenes. If Nwosu continues Alice’s story, I’d happily continue reading it in a series. I also plan to read Nwosu’s book Taking Down Evelyn Trait shortly. I recommend Alice Dyson to those who enjoy the work of Jenny Han, John Green, David Levithan, and Gayle Forman.
I received a complimentary copy to read and review, from Walker Books US. Thank you for the opportunity.
Written by Poppy Nwosu
Reviewed by Diana Iozzia
As a nostalgic fan of teen / young adult romance novels, I felt excited to begin reading Making Friends with Alice Dyson. I have long enjoyed these types of novels, and I was hoping to find them similar to those I read when I was in my teens. However, I have learned in my twenties, that teen fiction does not always hold my interest anymore, with new slang, technology, and pop culture references. To my surprise and pleasure, I found that Alice Dyson held my interest and entertained me in many different ways.
To continue, Nwosu impressed me, with witty yet realistic dialogue, appealing characters, and a very handsome love interest. Alice Dyson is reserved, shy, and intelligent, while her best friend, May, has become obsessed with dating and popularity. Alice has become tentative friends with Teddy, a mysterious new kid who is rumored to have been violent towards teachers and students at his previous school. The plot centers around Alice’s friendship with May, changing for the worse, as May becomes cruel and uncaring towards her friend. Alice also is consumed by her budding interesting in Teddy, about whom she learns and realizes that he is not the dangerous bully people say he is.
In all honesty, this story is fresh and sweet, but it does not feel incredibly unique. The plot does not feel very complex, when I would have hoped it to be a bit stronger. The themes of first love and loss of friendship are important, but I felt that Nwosu could have dug deeper and made them more meaningful. Also, I felt that some scenes were memorable, but many of them feel similar to any other book from this age and genre. I wish that this book would stand out a little more, but it felt very basic.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this story, but I felt it could have been more elaborate, with more details and better scenes. If Nwosu continues Alice’s story, I’d happily continue reading it in a series. I also plan to read Nwosu’s book Taking Down Evelyn Trait shortly. I recommend Alice Dyson to those who enjoy the work of Jenny Han, John Green, David Levithan, and Gayle Forman.
I received a complimentary copy to read and review, from Walker Books US. Thank you for the opportunity.
September 23, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher for a tour. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Making Friends With Alice Dyson
Author: Poppy Nwosu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, friendship stories
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bullying, gossip, family issues, slight romance)
Publisher: Walker Books US
Pages: 276
Synopsis: My hand, which is following a stray pencil rolling across the floor, stops dead right in front of two ratty green sneakers.
My gaze follows the shoes up over long legs to a towering figure.
I stand abruptly.
Tall, black eyes, messy hair, a permanent scowl on a permanently angry face. Our school’s delinquent, a waster, the kind of boy who always sits at the back of class. The kind of boy even popular people like Sophia are afraid of.
Teddy Taualai.
Alice Dyson knows exactly how she’ll be spending her final year of high school. With her head down, quietly concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She’s focused on the future, and nothing and no one is going to get in her way. Until a bizarre encounter with the school’s most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling centre of attention and her life into one enormous complication.
And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won’t leave her alone.
A story about rumours, friendship, and discovering who you really are.
Review: For the most part I thought that this was an okay book. The plot is pretty well done and for the most part I really did like the characters. The characters are what really drove the story and I think if I didn't have them then I wouldn't have been interested in the book.
However the book is very weirdly written. The book feels written younger than what the characters are and the book begins in a really weird manner. The flashbacks are also very disorienting and I thought that the bizarre event that is talked about in the book was not that bizarre from what I remembered when I was in high school and as a slightly rebellious child.
Verdict: It was good, just weird.
Book: Making Friends With Alice Dyson
Author: Poppy Nwosu
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: contemporary lovers, friendship stories
Publication Date: September 15, 2020
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 15+ (bullying, gossip, family issues, slight romance)
Publisher: Walker Books US
Pages: 276
Synopsis: My hand, which is following a stray pencil rolling across the floor, stops dead right in front of two ratty green sneakers.
My gaze follows the shoes up over long legs to a towering figure.
I stand abruptly.
Tall, black eyes, messy hair, a permanent scowl on a permanently angry face. Our school’s delinquent, a waster, the kind of boy who always sits at the back of class. The kind of boy even popular people like Sophia are afraid of.
Teddy Taualai.
Alice Dyson knows exactly how she’ll be spending her final year of high school. With her head down, quietly concentrating on her textbooks and homework. She’s focused on the future, and nothing and no one is going to get in her way. Until a bizarre encounter with the school’s most notorious troublemaker derails all her plans, turning Alice into the unwilling centre of attention and her life into one enormous complication.
And even worse? Now Teddy Taualai won’t leave her alone.
A story about rumours, friendship, and discovering who you really are.
Review: For the most part I thought that this was an okay book. The plot is pretty well done and for the most part I really did like the characters. The characters are what really drove the story and I think if I didn't have them then I wouldn't have been interested in the book.
However the book is very weirdly written. The book feels written younger than what the characters are and the book begins in a really weird manner. The flashbacks are also very disorienting and I thought that the bizarre event that is talked about in the book was not that bizarre from what I remembered when I was in high school and as a slightly rebellious child.
Verdict: It was good, just weird.
September 22, 2020
I received this from the Publisher for honest review.
5 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
What a beautiful wonderful amazing read.
This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beatting so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
5 stars ⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐
What a beautiful wonderful amazing read.
This novel will keep you thinking and guessing. When you think you right, well let me just say that you might be wrong. This had me all over the place. My heart beatting so fast! I couldn't believe what I was reading. If had me in shock. Every page, every chapter was a page turner. I couldn't believe my eyes what I was reading. I highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. It will surprise you in every way.
What a great read! This had me hooked from the beginning. The sitting, theme, and the Characters had me pulled in. Everything was well put together and it was just perfect. This novel did just that to me.
Highly recommend everybody get this book and read it. Its so good!
Can't wait for her next book.
December 3, 2025
*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.
5 years after pub, oops, but we got here eventually.
I guess I don't understand why Teddy and Alice were dancing together to begin with, like yes that was the catalyst for their entire story, but I don't understand how it even happened to begin with.
A cute coming of age story about loner nerd girl and the friends she picks up over her senior year. I wish she had explained what happened with Sophia instead of letting her believe the worst of her.
I feel like the title is... wrong? Like it should be "Making Friends, With Alice Dyson" or "Making Friends with of Teddy Taualai" or... idk. Something different than what it is. It doesn't feel like it fits the story, in my opinion.
5 years after pub, oops, but we got here eventually.
I guess I don't understand why Teddy and Alice were dancing together to begin with, like yes that was the catalyst for their entire story, but I don't understand how it even happened to begin with.
A cute coming of age story about loner nerd girl and the friends she picks up over her senior year. I wish she had explained what happened with Sophia instead of letting her believe the worst of her.
I feel like the title is... wrong? Like it should be "Making Friends, With Alice Dyson" or "Making Friends with of Teddy Taualai" or... idk. Something different than what it is. It doesn't feel like it fits the story, in my opinion.
March 4, 2019
RATING: 3.5/5 stars
I am so proud of Poppy for the release of her debut novel. I enjoyed reading this and liked how Alice Dyson was relatable in the way that she was happy not being popular. I did feel that a few of the chapters could have been incorporated better into the story. Overall it was a really cute read!
I am so proud of Poppy for the release of her debut novel. I enjoyed reading this and liked how Alice Dyson was relatable in the way that she was happy not being popular. I did feel that a few of the chapters could have been incorporated better into the story. Overall it was a really cute read!
April 1, 2019
I had the pleasure of meeting Poppy at her book launch for her debut, Making Friends With Alice Dyson, and it honestly made me all the more curious to read it, excited having heard Poppy speak with such love and adoration about her characters!
I could not fault this, it was such a gorgeous mix of heartache and heartwarming! I loved everything about it, especially both where Alice and Teddy are concerned! I loved all their scenes together and going through Alice’s thoughts as she allowed her mind and soul to think about Teddy, the apparent bad boy where rumours were spread aplenty about his violent behaviour.
This book also reminds me not to put stock in rumours! Like, I was initially sceptical of Teddy and I really shouldn’t have been, he was such a tender sweetheart really! I love how devoted he appeared towards Alice, I found their friendship really endearing!
Speaking of friendship, I loved the angst between Alice and her best friend May, a friendship that has spanned so long should not be fractured, but Poppy just captures how people grow apart and then come back together stronger than ever!
A local setting too! Set in Adelaide, I always love reading books set in my home city, and there was a scene where Alice’s class excursions to the Art Gallery of SA, a place I love!
Everyone needs to check out this stunning LOVEOZYA debut!
I could not fault this, it was such a gorgeous mix of heartache and heartwarming! I loved everything about it, especially both where Alice and Teddy are concerned! I loved all their scenes together and going through Alice’s thoughts as she allowed her mind and soul to think about Teddy, the apparent bad boy where rumours were spread aplenty about his violent behaviour.
This book also reminds me not to put stock in rumours! Like, I was initially sceptical of Teddy and I really shouldn’t have been, he was such a tender sweetheart really! I love how devoted he appeared towards Alice, I found their friendship really endearing!
Speaking of friendship, I loved the angst between Alice and her best friend May, a friendship that has spanned so long should not be fractured, but Poppy just captures how people grow apart and then come back together stronger than ever!
A local setting too! Set in Adelaide, I always love reading books set in my home city, and there was a scene where Alice’s class excursions to the Art Gallery of SA, a place I love!
Everyone needs to check out this stunning LOVEOZYA debut!
September 14, 2020
A cute, fluffy story that is preferable to teens. Alice and Teddy are in high school - the plot follows their school life and new love. Their characters, finding inner self, the emotions, the reflections can be clearly understood in the story. A teen love story full at its potential.
abandoned
September 3, 2021nope nope nope dnf
the writing style and opening chapters are just so… disjointed and flat i cannot go on im sorry 😭
the writing style and opening chapters are just so… disjointed and flat i cannot go on im sorry 😭
September 14, 2020
I'd give this one a 3.5. This novel from an Australian writer didn't surprise me with its plot or even its ending since I could predict where it was going even from the opening pages. But it was worth reading because of its characters and how relatable they and their situations are. Alice Dyson is in her senior year, and while her classmates and even her best friend May plan to take advantage of their final year of high school, party, and embrace new experiences, in May's case, maybe even fall in love a time or two or three, Alice remains committed to studying and making good grades. But her motivation isn't to be accepted into a good university and do more of the same. No, Alice has a secret plan that is eventually revealed in the book. I didn't necessarily feel sorry for her because of her shyness and how others in the social hierarchy tend to overlook her, but I did feel sad that her parents seemed to equate her value according to the types of grades she earns, something many teens have experienced. Life becomes a bit more complicated when Alice shares a silly moment dancing the street with Teddy Taualai, a classmate with a bad reputation. The moment is captured, posted, and briefly, Alice becomes fodder for a lot of teasing at school. While this might not seem like a big deal, in the era of social media and for someone who has been living way under the radar, it is. Alice is furious, embarrassed, and frustrated as Teddy begins to pay attention to her. Their friendship and connections grow despite Alice's efforts and even amid her firm denials. Readers will realize long before Alice does that she has come to care for Teddy, whose past is nothing like it has been rumored to be. There are so many moments in which Alice is completely clueless about friendship, romance, and what it means to accept someone as they are, not as others would have them. The author has created characters that made me care and I found myself rooting for both Teddy and Alice and worried about May as she gets caught up in her desperate need to fit in with the popular crowd. I have to say that Teddy must have been the most patient guy ever as he waited for Alice to come to her senses. There are platitudes and moments that are all too expected--the big revelation about Teddy's past and Alice's drunken confessions of love, for instance--but the author has captured current high school with all its drama, social pecking orders, rumor mills, and the importance of social media. Maybe, just maybe, some teen readers will read this book and start to look below the surface of their classmates or take a second look at someone who has been pilloried by the rumor mill. Just as there was more to Alice and Teddy than met the eye, the same must surely be true of others around them and around us. It was odd that the dance shared in the street was described very late in the novel, most likely to build interest and make it all the more mysterious. I would have been fine if it had been presented earlier in the book rather than just referred to earlier on.
August 10, 2020
A story that follows the quiet, and somewhat socially awkward girl, named Alice Dyson after a viral video of her dancing with the school's reputed troublemaker Teddy Taualai leaked online. Making Friends with Alice Dyson is all about the slice-of-life vibes of highschool and how these characters come out from the shells, to discover what it means to be a friend and more.
Before I give my thoughts on the book, I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Truthfully Making Friends with Alice Dyson was a very light read for me. The story falls on a more wholesome yet very realistic side of how highschool teenagers go through their teenage years. Alice reminds me a lot of how I used to deal with high school, to be honest, I know the feeling of wanting to put some distance from the suffocation of living in a stressful routine without doing anything fun or of your own choices. While my parents weren't as grade conscious as Alice's mom, I really related with her character a lot with not knowing how to deal with social cues in school. Teddy Taualai was one of my favorite characters. He's very frank and didn't go with the flow unlike how teenagers usually are. I personally think, the book, as much as it was a bit cliche for my taste, really did tackle important factors about cherishing real friendships, dealing with bullying, and just being comfortable enough to be yourself even when others laugh at you.
I have rated this a three out of five stars, mostly because its an okay read, and I think a lot more younger readers would like the story more. Its sweet, and the story wraps up perfectly in the end.
Before I give my thoughts on the book, I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Truthfully Making Friends with Alice Dyson was a very light read for me. The story falls on a more wholesome yet very realistic side of how highschool teenagers go through their teenage years. Alice reminds me a lot of how I used to deal with high school, to be honest, I know the feeling of wanting to put some distance from the suffocation of living in a stressful routine without doing anything fun or of your own choices. While my parents weren't as grade conscious as Alice's mom, I really related with her character a lot with not knowing how to deal with social cues in school. Teddy Taualai was one of my favorite characters. He's very frank and didn't go with the flow unlike how teenagers usually are. I personally think, the book, as much as it was a bit cliche for my taste, really did tackle important factors about cherishing real friendships, dealing with bullying, and just being comfortable enough to be yourself even when others laugh at you.
I have rated this a three out of five stars, mostly because its an okay read, and I think a lot more younger readers would like the story more. Its sweet, and the story wraps up perfectly in the end.
January 29, 2022
Il titolo del libro è “Making Friends with Alice Dyson”. Vorrei capire esattamente di quali amici si parla, visto che la protagonista parte con un’amica a inizio libro e alla fine del libro ha ancora un’amica sola, più un fidanzato e un calderone di gente con nomi diversi ma con lo stesso inesistente spessore.
La storia parte nel pieno “dell’azione”, con un evento a quanto pare scioccante, così scioccante che verrà risolto nelle prime venti pagine e mai più citato se non in mezzo capitolo verso la fine per ricordarci come siamo finiti nel mezzo di questa storia insignificante. Perché di questo si tratta, una storia banale, in cui si susseguono eventi che non suscitano alcuna emozione.
Tra i personaggi non spicca nessuno, perché tutti sono degli stereotipi; la protagonista Nerd senza amici, il love interest che tutti pensano sia un cattivo ragazzo ma non lo è; la sua migliore amica (io avrei dei dubbi sul poterla definire tale) che le sta attorno per non si sa bene che motivo, dal momento che sa solo squittire in giro e cercare di essere popolare.
Un libro totalmente dimenticabile, di cui si salva solo la copertina.
La storia parte nel pieno “dell’azione”, con un evento a quanto pare scioccante, così scioccante che verrà risolto nelle prime venti pagine e mai più citato se non in mezzo capitolo verso la fine per ricordarci come siamo finiti nel mezzo di questa storia insignificante. Perché di questo si tratta, una storia banale, in cui si susseguono eventi che non suscitano alcuna emozione.
Tra i personaggi non spicca nessuno, perché tutti sono degli stereotipi; la protagonista Nerd senza amici, il love interest che tutti pensano sia un cattivo ragazzo ma non lo è; la sua migliore amica (io avrei dei dubbi sul poterla definire tale) che le sta attorno per non si sa bene che motivo, dal momento che sa solo squittire in giro e cercare di essere popolare.
Un libro totalmente dimenticabile, di cui si salva solo la copertina.
August 1, 2019
Making Friends with Alice Dyson is a cute contemporary romance with great characters. It’s also about friendship, spreading rumours, first love and questioning what you really want. I loved this debut novel by Poppy Nwosu.
I really liked the friendship between Alice and Teddy, which starts after a small incident causes rumours to be spread about them. I liked how Alice was unsure at first because of the other rumours about him and the fact that Teddy was distracting her from studying. Once she got to know him more, I liked how slowly it took for their friendship to blossom into a romantic relationship. I also liked Teddy; the misunderstood boy who looked frightening but had a kind heart.
I also liked Alice and May’s friendship. They were total opposites but really complimented each other. I liked how Poppy Nwosu showed the changes happening to May, when she falls in love with Finn and wants to hang out more with the popular kids. How that affects their friendship and, in a way, helps Alice to slowly open up more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
I really liked the friendship between Alice and Teddy, which starts after a small incident causes rumours to be spread about them. I liked how Alice was unsure at first because of the other rumours about him and the fact that Teddy was distracting her from studying. Once she got to know him more, I liked how slowly it took for their friendship to blossom into a romantic relationship. I also liked Teddy; the misunderstood boy who looked frightening but had a kind heart.
I also liked Alice and May’s friendship. They were total opposites but really complimented each other. I liked how Poppy Nwosu showed the changes happening to May, when she falls in love with Finn and wants to hang out more with the popular kids. How that affects their friendship and, in a way, helps Alice to slowly open up more.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
September 26, 2020
This was such a wonderful book about friendships and seeing people for who they really are. I loved that Alice had a misconceived notion of who Teddy was based on untrue rumors, and when she decides to get to know him, she finds a friend, and learns a bit about herself. I thought the characters were wonderful and easy to love. Alice is all about staying under the radar and focuses all her time and energy on her grades, but that all changes when she and Teddy are part of a video that goes viral. I loved watching their friendship unfold. Although I didn't have social media to throw wrenches into my years in school, I still connected with the story, and it brought me back to my high school days. I thought this was a great book, and I highly recommend it!
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
July 25, 2020
This was a sweet contemporary. Just the book you would want to snuggle up with on a rainy day. Alice was much like me in a lot of ways and I liked that she accepted herself the way she was and tried make better of her situation rationally.
I liked Teddy and Alice's friendship more than their relationship. They were both accepting, helpful and kind to each other. Also a cute couple even if that wasn't given much page time. It captured shyness, awkwardness of characters so beautifully and realistically.
The reason it didn't get 5 stars is because the story offered nothing new. The characters were new but I feel like I've read so many stories like this.
I liked Teddy and Alice's friendship more than their relationship. They were both accepting, helpful and kind to each other. Also a cute couple even if that wasn't given much page time. It captured shyness, awkwardness of characters so beautifully and realistically.
The reason it didn't get 5 stars is because the story offered nothing new. The characters were new but I feel like I've read so many stories like this.
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