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Liefde is voor losers
De vijftienjarige Phoebe vindt dat liefde maar voor losers is. Ze gaat er niet aan beginnen. Tenminste, dat denkt ze. Totdat ze Emma ontmoet, die al haar plannen en theorieën in de war schopt. Vlijmscherp en hilarisch schrijft Phoebe haar kijk op het leven en wat haar overkomt op in haar dagboek.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2021
149 people are currently reading
9302 people want to read
About the author
Wibke Brueggemann
4 books96 followersWibke Brueggemann grew up in northern Germany and the southern United States, but calls London her home. She originally studied acting at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts but ended up becoming a writer. She has a Master's in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University, where she was the recipient of the Bath Spa University Writing Award. Wibke enjoys traveling, and is a clandestine lover of romantic poetry and Rennaissance art. Love for Losers is her debut novel. @wibkebruggeman
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 741 reviews
June 1, 2021
Ok, but why isn’t book two in the works? I need it.
_________
This is the type of YA I intentionally seek out, every year combing through every title promising humor and comedy. Judging by the fact that I usually find about 2 each year that perfectly fit my taste, my guess is, the pool of readers that are into this kind of writing isn't big.
Let me explain what I like:
1) diary format
2) biting humor that usually comes from British or Canadian writers
3) a flawed, often sarcastic or clueless narrator who isn't afraid to do or say some really dumb stuff.
Love Is for Losers checks all of these boxes. Phoebe is an antisocial, overly critical nihilist who loses her closest friend to a new boyfriend. Phoebe wows to never become such a fool and to never fall in love... but, of course, fate has other plans...
There are a lot of fun, sharp jokes here, but there is a lot of depth in this story too. I liked how themes of grief and abandonment were explored. There is a slow burn queer romance. There is a thrift store. And there are cats. Designer cats.
I hope Wibke Brueggemann gets to write more of these. I will definitely reread this one over and over again. This is totally my jam.
_________
This is the type of YA I intentionally seek out, every year combing through every title promising humor and comedy. Judging by the fact that I usually find about 2 each year that perfectly fit my taste, my guess is, the pool of readers that are into this kind of writing isn't big.
Let me explain what I like:
1) diary format
2) biting humor that usually comes from British or Canadian writers
3) a flawed, often sarcastic or clueless narrator who isn't afraid to do or say some really dumb stuff.
Love Is for Losers checks all of these boxes. Phoebe is an antisocial, overly critical nihilist who loses her closest friend to a new boyfriend. Phoebe wows to never become such a fool and to never fall in love... but, of course, fate has other plans...
There are a lot of fun, sharp jokes here, but there is a lot of depth in this story too. I liked how themes of grief and abandonment were explored. There is a slow burn queer romance. There is a thrift store. And there are cats. Designer cats.
I hope Wibke Brueggemann gets to write more of these. I will definitely reread this one over and over again. This is totally my jam.
Want to read
October 28, 2019Things to love about this:
1. It's about a 15-year-old, an age group for queer teens that is not nearly as represented in YA
2. THIS. COVER.
3. Thrift shop love story
4. HAVE I MENTIONED THIS COVER???
1. It's about a 15-year-old, an age group for queer teens that is not nearly as represented in YA
2. THIS. COVER.
3. Thrift shop love story
4. HAVE I MENTIONED THIS COVER???
March 8, 2021
✨ over at Beyond A Bookshelf, we recently had a Q&A with author Wibke Brueggemann as part of F/F February 2021! You can read the interview here
*
this whole book was a bit of a personal attack tbh I'm laughing but also crying.
When I received the details for Love is for Losers, I was immediately intrigued. Because yes, I am the kind of person who has a bit of a cynical outlook on love and generally views every time I get a crush as a bit of a bother. I'm a bit past 15, but Phoebe is kinda me. Also, it's UKYA!
I don't see many heroines in LGBTQ+ focused YA being below 16 or 17, so it's really nice to finally come across a fifteen-year-old heroine who is just trying to figure everything out. Phoebe is not only falling in love for the first time, but she's also completing her GCSES. As a result, Love is for Losers not only looks at the experience of first love and teen friendships, but also at the effects of exam stress that many contend with each year when doing GCSEs.
As a heroine, Phoebe may be one who rubs people the wrong way. I personally liked her, but in the beginning of the novel there were times where she was a bit dislikeable, or expressed ignorant sentiments. She is slightly withdrawn from most people, and plays cards close to her chest. But notably she is a fifteen-year-old girl, and over the course of the novel she has a really great character arc that allows for a lot of growth and opening up. And funnily enough, she lives in the area where I grew up, and so it is utterly bizarre seeing childhood haunts pop up in a UKYA novel. Phoebe also volunteers in a charity shop, which was something I also did when I was younger, and honestly you wouldn't think charity shops are the places for teen romances, but it happens in Love is for Losers and I also had my own (embarrassing) real-life experiences. So this is all to say that at the end of the day, I related to Phoebe a lot as a heroine.
Phoebe's narration feels genuinely youthful too, and you can tell she's a teen girl when you read through Love is for Losers; Brueggemann captures the voice of a teen girl very well. There are a few 'omgs' and 'lols' thrown in there, so for some it may veer too juvenile, but I adapted to it quickly and settled in. Her sense of humour is also very British, and the 'young Fleabag' comparisons are accurate.
*
this whole book was a bit of a personal attack tbh I'm laughing but also crying.
When I received the details for Love is for Losers, I was immediately intrigued. Because yes, I am the kind of person who has a bit of a cynical outlook on love and generally views every time I get a crush as a bit of a bother. I'm a bit past 15, but Phoebe is kinda me. Also, it's UKYA!
I don't see many heroines in LGBTQ+ focused YA being below 16 or 17, so it's really nice to finally come across a fifteen-year-old heroine who is just trying to figure everything out. Phoebe is not only falling in love for the first time, but she's also completing her GCSES. As a result, Love is for Losers not only looks at the experience of first love and teen friendships, but also at the effects of exam stress that many contend with each year when doing GCSEs.
As a heroine, Phoebe may be one who rubs people the wrong way. I personally liked her, but in the beginning of the novel there were times where she was a bit dislikeable, or expressed ignorant sentiments. She is slightly withdrawn from most people, and plays cards close to her chest. But notably she is a fifteen-year-old girl, and over the course of the novel she has a really great character arc that allows for a lot of growth and opening up. And funnily enough, she lives in the area where I grew up, and so it is utterly bizarre seeing childhood haunts pop up in a UKYA novel. Phoebe also volunteers in a charity shop, which was something I also did when I was younger, and honestly you wouldn't think charity shops are the places for teen romances, but it happens in Love is for Losers and I also had my own (embarrassing) real-life experiences. So this is all to say that at the end of the day, I related to Phoebe a lot as a heroine.
Phoebe's narration feels genuinely youthful too, and you can tell she's a teen girl when you read through Love is for Losers; Brueggemann captures the voice of a teen girl very well. There are a few 'omgs' and 'lols' thrown in there, so for some it may veer too juvenile, but I adapted to it quickly and settled in. Her sense of humour is also very British, and the 'young Fleabag' comparisons are accurate.
The supporting cast in Love is for Losers is also wonderful. I utterly adored Emma, the love interest, very much. Furthermore, I loved the dynamic between Phoebe and Kate (the woman who often cares for Phoebe whilst Phoebe's mother is abroad doing humanitarian work), as well as Alex, a fellow volunteer at the charity shop with Down's syndrome. There are also a few cats.
Phoebe and Emma's relationship was well built up and felt genuine. They go from friends to more than that over a fair period of time, and there were soft moments between the two of them throughout the novel that I loved, and developed their romance well. There were also very funny moments of clear denial from Phoebe, before she sussed out and accepted that she was in love with Emma. I also appreciated that Phoebe took being a lesbian in her stride, because a lot of books make it a dilemma, but she and her friends all took it in without blinking or raising any homophobic comments.
Pacing wise, I did think Love is for Losers lagged a little in the first 200 pages, but then I sped through the rest. It's formatted differently to most standard books and has more of a diary format, but because of that it is a quick read despite being about 500 pages. It's a really easy read, and I'm sure so many teen readers will find it incredibly fun.
Overall, a simple and fun UKYA F/F romcom that I'd certainly recommend to younger readers who want to find an LGBTQ+ novel with a younger heroine who is still figuring things out.
*
Saw the title and just thought 'yes' because . . . the entire cynical outlook on love is very me (actually I'm a hopeless romantic deep down it's funny), but also this book is sapphic and yes I will read anything with a F/F relationship
thank you to the publishers for providing me with a proof copy in exchange for an honest review <3
February 23, 2021
“PPS: I think I’m socially awkward.”
^I feel this on a deeper level.
Love is for Losers is a coming of age and learning that maybe a little bit about love. Phoebe is 15 and dealing with losing her best friend to new love, her absent (for a good cause) mother, feeling lonely, and new feelings for a new friend. She finds friendships, life lessons, and refuge in her godmother’s thrift shop, a place she originally felt disdain for.
I think this story is good because while Phoebe is a bit crass at times, she’s also relatable. She’s 15, she’s learning, she’s changing, she’s growing. I remember those days, and I know I was a little bit of a turd. Dealing with feelings, family, friendships, school, and sex. It’s all so much. I think it’s nice to read a character who doesn’t start out perfect. Some of the things she says are on the cusp of problematic, but she’s very self involved at first. How things are changing her life and how it’s ruining what she wants and needs. That leaves room for her to grow and have some realizations that are important in this read.
She has a found family with the people who work at the thrift shop she volunteers at, and budding feelings for her new friend Emma. She’s dealing with the fact that her mom chooses to save the world over being with her daughter, and just general teenage things. I enjoyed the diary style format of this read, because I think it really allows you to get into Phoebe’s mindset quickly.
All in all this is a good YA read. There’s coming of age and falling in love. Perfect if you enjoy a lead character who has to make mistakes and grow.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
^I feel this on a deeper level.
Love is for Losers is a coming of age and learning that maybe a little bit about love. Phoebe is 15 and dealing with losing her best friend to new love, her absent (for a good cause) mother, feeling lonely, and new feelings for a new friend. She finds friendships, life lessons, and refuge in her godmother’s thrift shop, a place she originally felt disdain for.
I think this story is good because while Phoebe is a bit crass at times, she’s also relatable. She’s 15, she’s learning, she’s changing, she’s growing. I remember those days, and I know I was a little bit of a turd. Dealing with feelings, family, friendships, school, and sex. It’s all so much. I think it’s nice to read a character who doesn’t start out perfect. Some of the things she says are on the cusp of problematic, but she’s very self involved at first. How things are changing her life and how it’s ruining what she wants and needs. That leaves room for her to grow and have some realizations that are important in this read.
She has a found family with the people who work at the thrift shop she volunteers at, and budding feelings for her new friend Emma. She’s dealing with the fact that her mom chooses to save the world over being with her daughter, and just general teenage things. I enjoyed the diary style format of this read, because I think it really allows you to get into Phoebe’s mindset quickly.
All in all this is a good YA read. There’s coming of age and falling in love. Perfect if you enjoy a lead character who has to make mistakes and grow.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
June 14, 2025
#️⃣2️⃣9️⃣1️⃣ Read & Reviewed in 2025 ⛈️⚡🚨
Date : 📢 Friday, June 13, 2025 🍙⚔️
Word Count📃: 72k Words 🏕️
──★ ˙💥🪨💣🪨💥 ̟ ⋆✮˚.*⋆
ദ്ദി ≽^⎚˕⎚^≼ .ᐟ My 29th read in "Explosive Impactful Reads June"
3️⃣🌟, teenagers dont act like that....or do they????????????????? what is happening in the UK 🥲🥲🥲
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
Am i the only one criticizing this for unrealism???? Like I really dont think teenagers act like this, I refuse 🫷🫷🫷 to believe that Phoebe IS THE EXACT AGE AS ME like gurl what?
and meaning her acquaintances are also the same age as her and therefore me WHICH IS AN EVEN BIGGER WHAT????? HOW ARE YALL THAT HORNY HUH????? na na na na na na na nahh yall aint the same age as me, everyone gotta be 4 years older or smth 😐😐😐 sexual innuendos are everywhere AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN DISCREET ABOUT IT, THEY JUST STRAIGHT UP SAY IT. 🤔🤔🤔
It IS quite fun to read tho, especially the sapphic romance, well at least that part is a bit realistic, this would be one star if that aspect of the book is not in any way realistic. I do connect with Phoebe as a character since I also think love and sex are very vile and disgusting and will vow to never do it but the difference is....I WILL STICK TO THAT IDEOLOGY for~~~~EVA unlike her who just,. suddenly changed her mind about it lol.
Date : 📢 Friday, June 13, 2025 🍙⚔️
Word Count📃: 72k Words 🏕️
──★ ˙💥🪨💣🪨💥 ̟ ⋆✮˚.*⋆
ദ്ദി ≽^⎚˕⎚^≼ .ᐟ My 29th read in "Explosive Impactful Reads June"
3️⃣🌟, teenagers dont act like that....or do they????????????????? what is happening in the UK 🥲🥲🥲
——————————————————————
➕➖0️⃣1️⃣2️⃣3️⃣4️⃣5️⃣6️⃣7️⃣8️⃣9️⃣🔟✖️➗
Am i the only one criticizing this for unrealism???? Like I really dont think teenagers act like this, I refuse 🫷🫷🫷 to believe that Phoebe IS THE EXACT AGE AS ME like gurl what?
and meaning her acquaintances are also the same age as her and therefore me WHICH IS AN EVEN BIGGER WHAT????? HOW ARE YALL THAT HORNY HUH????? na na na na na na na nahh yall aint the same age as me, everyone gotta be 4 years older or smth 😐😐😐 sexual innuendos are everywhere AND THEY'RE NOT EVEN DISCREET ABOUT IT, THEY JUST STRAIGHT UP SAY IT. 🤔🤔🤔
It IS quite fun to read tho, especially the sapphic romance, well at least that part is a bit realistic, this would be one star if that aspect of the book is not in any way realistic. I do connect with Phoebe as a character since I also think love and sex are very vile and disgusting and will vow to never do it but the difference is....I WILL STICK TO THAT IDEOLOGY for~~~~EVA unlike her who just,. suddenly changed her mind about it lol.
dnf
November 2, 2019dnf @ 10%
sorry, i just cannot stand the main character or the writing style. we need more sapphic books for under 16 year olds but not edgy kids who make fun of humanitarians and people with disabilities
sorry, i just cannot stand the main character or the writing style. we need more sapphic books for under 16 year olds but not edgy kids who make fun of humanitarians and people with disabilities
April 10, 2021
Is it weird that I relate this much to someone who is selfish, sarcastic and constantly telling people to f**k off??
The plot is this: Phoebe is a 15yr old who just lost her best friend to a boy. Suddenly Phoebe is discovering that love makes people idiots and she is not a fan. To be fair, she kind of has a point.
There's a lot to unpack here, but it's mostly just a glimpse of teenage life that so many of us can relate to. Phoebe is obviously hurt by how happy Polly is with someone who isn't her, and so we can see quite clearly how that manifests in hating love. At the same time, she's making new friends and completely oblivious about her own feelings, which she masks with sarcasm and pettiness.
Because it's written in first person in the form of a diary, we're reading a lot between the lines which I really enjoyed. It was hilarious to see Phoebe protesting about things and insisting how much she doesn't care when her actions clearly suggest otherwise. She can be quite nasty, but at the same time she's very accepting and she's able to admit her faults. She can be rude, but I found her bluntness quite refreshing. I liked that she said what she thought and was all for honest communication. She's actually a pretty decent person under all the self-pity and sarcasm.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters of the charity shop, and seeing them through Phoebe's eyes. They're actually a fun, diverse bunch and I loved how they all interacted. I also really appreciated how much Phoebe and Pat loathed each other. LOL. Those two were a lot of fun in the same room honestly.
There's a fair bit of focus on GCSEs, which I imagine many people will relate to, but I appreciated that it wasn't too full on. I felt really sad about the relationship between Phoebe and her mum so I was glad to read more about their interactions.
Kate is amazing, and I love how much she loves Phoebe. Also super grateful that her 'Scottish-ness' wasn't written out phonetically because that would have been rough.
This was such an easy read and it was fun to get caught up in it. It's got a great blend of sarcasm and sunshine, and even though Phoebe hates love, you'll find yourself rooting for love anyway.
With thanks to Macmillan for a copy
The plot is this: Phoebe is a 15yr old who just lost her best friend to a boy. Suddenly Phoebe is discovering that love makes people idiots and she is not a fan. To be fair, she kind of has a point.
There's a lot to unpack here, but it's mostly just a glimpse of teenage life that so many of us can relate to. Phoebe is obviously hurt by how happy Polly is with someone who isn't her, and so we can see quite clearly how that manifests in hating love. At the same time, she's making new friends and completely oblivious about her own feelings, which she masks with sarcasm and pettiness.
Because it's written in first person in the form of a diary, we're reading a lot between the lines which I really enjoyed. It was hilarious to see Phoebe protesting about things and insisting how much she doesn't care when her actions clearly suggest otherwise. She can be quite nasty, but at the same time she's very accepting and she's able to admit her faults. She can be rude, but I found her bluntness quite refreshing. I liked that she said what she thought and was all for honest communication. She's actually a pretty decent person under all the self-pity and sarcasm.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters of the charity shop, and seeing them through Phoebe's eyes. They're actually a fun, diverse bunch and I loved how they all interacted. I also really appreciated how much Phoebe and Pat loathed each other. LOL. Those two were a lot of fun in the same room honestly.
There's a fair bit of focus on GCSEs, which I imagine many people will relate to, but I appreciated that it wasn't too full on. I felt really sad about the relationship between Phoebe and her mum so I was glad to read more about their interactions.
Kate is amazing, and I love how much she loves Phoebe. Also super grateful that her 'Scottish-ness' wasn't written out phonetically because that would have been rough.
This was such an easy read and it was fun to get caught up in it. It's got a great blend of sarcasm and sunshine, and even though Phoebe hates love, you'll find yourself rooting for love anyway.
With thanks to Macmillan for a copy
May 14, 2021
Love Is For Losers has a strong and powerful British narrative voice, that is told in a diary format. I loved this format and it accounts for why there are so many pages in the book, it isn’t necessarily a long book but spacing for the diary accounts for some of this.
Phoebe, the protagonist is the kind of character with a big chip on her shoulder, shes spikey, hard to like and I only just got to like by the end. Despite her character, there are many reasons to still enjoy the book because not every protagonist regurgitates hearts and rainbows. Phoebe is on a journey in this book, reconciliation with the state of her maternal relationship, finding first love and losing friends. I found it to be a compelling read.
I did have struggles however with Phoebe, some early attitude towards disability was annoying, even though it was corrected. She was pretty judgey with all of those around her and she didn’t really endear herself to the reader. She came across as immature, judgmental and in need of some familial love. I felt annoyed at her mum and found her to be selfish, so I got where some of that element came from.
Overall, this was a solid read with many enjoyable facets. The diary writing style made it very engaging and kept me invested. There was great open dialogue about sex and sexuality for this mid-teen age group. I would definitely read this author again.
Thank you to Macmillan Kids UK for the early review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Phoebe, the protagonist is the kind of character with a big chip on her shoulder, shes spikey, hard to like and I only just got to like by the end. Despite her character, there are many reasons to still enjoy the book because not every protagonist regurgitates hearts and rainbows. Phoebe is on a journey in this book, reconciliation with the state of her maternal relationship, finding first love and losing friends. I found it to be a compelling read.
I did have struggles however with Phoebe, some early attitude towards disability was annoying, even though it was corrected. She was pretty judgey with all of those around her and she didn’t really endear herself to the reader. She came across as immature, judgmental and in need of some familial love. I felt annoyed at her mum and found her to be selfish, so I got where some of that element came from.
Overall, this was a solid read with many enjoyable facets. The diary writing style made it very engaging and kept me invested. There was great open dialogue about sex and sexuality for this mid-teen age group. I would definitely read this author again.
Thank you to Macmillan Kids UK for the early review copy.
Find this review at A Take From Two Cities Blog.
July 21, 2020
Two words: thriftstore romance. I didn't know I wanted that, but I really did.
This book is super funny - think Georgia Nicholson but gay - but it packed some real emotional punches too.
This book is super funny - think Georgia Nicholson but gay - but it packed some real emotional punches too.
February 17, 2022
Список прекрасного в этой книге:
1) саркастичная, умная героиня (про которую читателю понятно, что она умная, а не сам автор написал, I'm looking at you, Sally Rooney)
2) дневниковая структура (поднимите руку, кто скучал по Адриану Моулу)
3) написано реально смешно
4) невероятно милый lgbtq romance, при этом невероятно нормализованный (нет каминг-аутных метаний, нет гомофобии)
5) внезапно пара серьезных тем - смерти и переживания горя, комплекса спасателя и его последствий
6) очень большое (для книги в среднем) количество котят (!!!)
Не переведена, конечно, не знаю, куда смотрит Попкорн Букс - в кои-то веки не пиздострадания, а смешная книжка с котятами!
(это один из котят as I see him)
1) саркастичная, умная героиня (про которую читателю понятно, что она умная, а не сам автор написал, I'm looking at you, Sally Rooney)
2) дневниковая структура (поднимите руку, кто скучал по Адриану Моулу)
3) написано реально смешно
4) невероятно милый lgbtq romance, при этом невероятно нормализованный (нет каминг-аутных метаний, нет гомофобии)
5) внезапно пара серьезных тем - смерти и переживания горя, комплекса спасателя и его последствий
6) очень большое (для книги в среднем) количество котят (!!!)
Не переведена, конечно, не знаю, куда смотрит Попкорн Букс - в кои-то веки не пиздострадания, а смешная книжка с котятами!
(это один из котят as I see him)
March 27, 2022
Love is for Losers took a while for me to get in to, mainly because I initially couldn't stand Phoebe. And then I realized that was because I was a lot like her at 15 and didn't expect a callout in novel form for my angsty whiny past self. I read this pretty quickly since it's written in bite-sized diary entries, and I grew to like the cast a lot more by the end. I don't know who I'd recommend this to, because I feel like Solitaire is a similar story but just better overall, but if you really like Solitaire, maybe check this one out?
Update: You know what? Fuck it, the more I think about this book, the more I love it. Solitaire is still better though.
Update: You know what? Fuck it, the more I think about this book, the more I love it. Solitaire is still better though.
April 12, 2022
I think this book has almost promoted itself as my material girlfriend. The amount of times I laughed, cried, giggled is crazy. (Giggled, I giggled at this shit!)
Anyways, it was very funny, very heartwarming but most of all very (too) relatable.
Istg when I flipped the last page and got to the acknowledgements I had a heart attack. I can’t believe it’s over… :(
Anyways, it was very funny, very heartwarming but most of all very (too) relatable.
Istg when I flipped the last page and got to the acknowledgements I had a heart attack. I can’t believe it’s over… :(
October 8, 2021
CATS. AND GAY. that's the good part.
November 24, 2021
Today I thought about the phrase “falling in love” again, and I finally totally get it. You fall. You trip, and boom! It’s entirely unintentional, not like a parachute jump (which is called “jump,” not “fall,” for a reason).
Is it just me or can everyone see that title? And the gorgeous cover? How are you not reading this then??
So I was supposed to buddy read this with our group but of course, I couldn't wait.
However, in my defense, I believe it would've been impossible for anyone to put a book down when the first line goes like this - Did you know that you can marry yourself? How strange/brilliant is that?
So this book is about Phoebe. A 15-year-old sarcastic introverted misanthrope. She hates people. With Passion. Totally and completely. The only person she willingly spends time with is her best friend Polly but then summer comes and goes and now Polly has a boyfriend and they gradually start to fall out. And since her mom is a nurse who is always away saving people, Phoebe is to stay with her godmother Kate.
“How’s Polly?” and I was like:“Brain-dead and floating in an estrogen-induced delirium,"
and Mum was like:“Oh, don’t be mean, Phoebs. It’s a nice thing for her. Just wait until you
fall in love.”
I was just like: “I will never fall in love.”
And what a stupid expression that is in the first place: To fall in love. Like you fall into a ditch or something. Maybe people need to look where they’re going.
All is well and good (which is another way to say I don't have any friends and I'll say I'm perfectly fine with that when I'm anything but) until one day one of Kate's designer cats go missing and Phoebe decides to work at Kate's shop to repay her.
And that is when she meets Emma and Alex and a whole bunch of other people.
My life would be so much easier if I wasn’t this awkward.
Initially, Phoebe is confused, awkward and outright rude, and disrespectful to lots of people. But slowly and gradually she starts opening up to people and becomes more welcoming towards others.
So you should read this book because-
• kittens and thrift stores✨
• strong character development
• strong female character development/found family🤩
• the diary entry format it is written in
• Forthright and funny main character
• It is Sapphic!!!
Don't tell me you need any more reasons.
But here are a few quotes to convince you-
According to my research, Valentine’s Day actually had nothing to do with love until love came into fashion in the eighteenth century, when lovers (not friends or distant relations) sent each other cards and maybe flowers. What this basically means is that the human race hasn’t evolved since then. Nothing ever stays in fashion that long, except maybe God. Seriously, everyone needs to calm down about love.
Cat 1: Meow, meow, whine, whine, scratch, scratch.
Kate: Mimi, Mimi, leave Phoebe alone. Mimi, Mimi, good girl. Who’s a
good girl?
Cat 2: Meow, hiss, scratch, whine.
Kate: Sassy, Sassy, come to Mama. Good girl, Sassy. Who’s a good girl?
Cat 1 (throws massive tantrum, knocking over everything that’s not
glued to a surface):…
Kate: Fer goodness’ sake, ye total crazy fuckwit, do I need to put ye in
yer carrier?
Me:…
»4.5 stars rounded off to 4
January 9, 2022
For a while, I had to get used to Phoebe. She was very self absorbed, I guess? but not in a stereotypical way. But I still loved the story. I actually squealed during some parts, ngl it was embarrassing. Would I recommend? Definitely.
April 17, 2020
Oh I loved this. Phoebe's voice came through brilliantly and she was hilarious!
February 6, 2021
Such a sharp and witty read. I legit laughted. I dont uaually laugh to books, i might smile but not laugh. This sure was a fun ride.
I wanted the romance to start sooner though not in the end part of the book.
Still a fun and smart read.
I wanted the romance to start sooner though not in the end part of the book.
Still a fun and smart read.
February 22, 2021
Phoebe had no interest in falling in love. She had seen the pain of losing the one you loved, as well as the the way some people, like her best friend, lost their minds when they fall in love. Nope. Love was not for her. At least it wasn't until she met Emma.
For a book about resisting love, it had me head-over-heels love-at-first-sight captivated from the very beginning. For one thing, the diary format is one I always adore. The confessional nature, unfiltered thoughts, and stream-of-consciousness ramblings never fail to grab hold of me. Couple that with a fantastic, sarcastic, and endearing character, such as Phoebe, and there was no doubt this would be a hit for me.
At first, Phoebe's acerbic wit comes across as simple teen angst, but there was a bit more behind it. She never met her father, her mother was always off saving the world, and her best friend abandon her. Phoebe explored all these pain points over the course of the book, and though she didn't always handle the situations in the best way, she did grow to see things in a different light.
Her relationship with her mother was quite complicated. Humanitarian workers are often praised for their sacrifices, but now I was seeing what it was like for their family members. Phoebe would have to go months without any physical contact with her mother, and she worried a lot, since her mother's work brought her to dangerous parts of the world. It's a difficult role for a child, and I appreciated the time spent on this issue.
Phoebe's mother may have been far away, but she was gifted with an outstanding godmother. Her mother's best friend, Kate, was an absolute star! She was wacky and wonderful and so generous with her love and affection for Phoebe. I adored this relationship. Kate was so instrumental in many important moments in Phoebe's life. She was her steady, her rock, and during this six-month stay, she was the nudge Phoebe needed to grow a bit more and learn to accept change.
I was so glad Kate pushed Phoebe into working at the thrift store, because there, Phoebe found her people. What an amazing and quirky bunch too! I loved getting to know them all, and I envied the familial community they built there together.
Among the thrift store clan was Emma. It was pretty cute watching Phoebe trying to fight her attraction and ardor for Emma, but it was inevitable. I won't say the romance blossomed into something solid from the start, because not only did Phoebe find love a bad bet, she also was coming to terms with her sexuality.
I could heap praise on this book for days on end, and it would never fully illustrate my affection for this book. It was a coming-of-age, that was told with so much honesty and humor, while also being extremely touching and heartwarming. It explored love, loss, identity, and many other issues teens deal with, and it did so with so much flair and heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
For a book about resisting love, it had me head-over-heels love-at-first-sight captivated from the very beginning. For one thing, the diary format is one I always adore. The confessional nature, unfiltered thoughts, and stream-of-consciousness ramblings never fail to grab hold of me. Couple that with a fantastic, sarcastic, and endearing character, such as Phoebe, and there was no doubt this would be a hit for me.
At first, Phoebe's acerbic wit comes across as simple teen angst, but there was a bit more behind it. She never met her father, her mother was always off saving the world, and her best friend abandon her. Phoebe explored all these pain points over the course of the book, and though she didn't always handle the situations in the best way, she did grow to see things in a different light.
Her relationship with her mother was quite complicated. Humanitarian workers are often praised for their sacrifices, but now I was seeing what it was like for their family members. Phoebe would have to go months without any physical contact with her mother, and she worried a lot, since her mother's work brought her to dangerous parts of the world. It's a difficult role for a child, and I appreciated the time spent on this issue.
Phoebe's mother may have been far away, but she was gifted with an outstanding godmother. Her mother's best friend, Kate, was an absolute star! She was wacky and wonderful and so generous with her love and affection for Phoebe. I adored this relationship. Kate was so instrumental in many important moments in Phoebe's life. She was her steady, her rock, and during this six-month stay, she was the nudge Phoebe needed to grow a bit more and learn to accept change.
I was so glad Kate pushed Phoebe into working at the thrift store, because there, Phoebe found her people. What an amazing and quirky bunch too! I loved getting to know them all, and I envied the familial community they built there together.
Among the thrift store clan was Emma. It was pretty cute watching Phoebe trying to fight her attraction and ardor for Emma, but it was inevitable. I won't say the romance blossomed into something solid from the start, because not only did Phoebe find love a bad bet, she also was coming to terms with her sexuality.
I could heap praise on this book for days on end, and it would never fully illustrate my affection for this book. It was a coming-of-age, that was told with so much honesty and humor, while also being extremely touching and heartwarming. It explored love, loss, identity, and many other issues teens deal with, and it did so with so much flair and heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
did-not-finish
May 11, 2021DNF @ 11%: The writing style of this one just wasn't for me so I'm putting it down. Onto the next one!
August 3, 2021
i had to read the sentence “he was totally LOLing” so you dont have to
April 3, 2021
Bavilo mě to, ale asi především díky tomu, že jsem od téhle knihy nic nečekala :D Určit to nebude pro každého, protože hlavní hrdinka není zrovna příliš "likeable". Ale je to extrémně čtivé, jsou tu sociální sítě... a taky diverzita. Různá témata okolo původu, sexuální orientace atd. na můj vkus ale autorka míchá příliš mnoho dohromady a skoro žádné pořádně nerozebere a doopravdy netematizuje. A je to škoda, stránek na to měla dost.
4/5*
4/5*
March 16, 2020
Review: Love is for Losers by Wibke Brueggemann // Or, A Grumpy Girl Catches Feelings
★★★,5☆ | *Heterosexual Love is for Losers
🐈 written in the form of a diary
🐈 unlikeable protagonist
🐈 f/f rom-com
🐈 chosen family and kittens
Phoebe is not the most likeable protagonist. She is judgemental, bad with people, and messes up a lot.
She tries to be better and then messes up again and again. Makes new mistakes. Mages old mistakes.
She is 15.
She is 15 and sometimes teenagers are stubborn, self-centered, and not the best to be fair.
So Phoebe makes fun of people and thinks she’s superior to them because she’s above emotions, etc., etc.
But then she also can own up to it and her ‘I don’t care‘ mask slips even though it’s a diary and you can present the situation however fits you in your diary.
We learn the things that make her want to shut off her emotions: her barely there relationship with her mother, the ghost of her father, her only friend getting in a relationship and sidelining her, not being interested in boys like her peers…
There is a lot of loneliness and unresolved anger in her. Not to mention her lack of brain to mouth filter, which she passes as ‘at least I’m being brutally honest’ at the beginning.
The book explores her fear of forming emotional bonds. And not only her — the book also speaks a lot about death and the aftermath of it. The numbness, the sadness, the emptiness. Different ways of dealing with trauma.
But it also gives us Phoebe slowly giving in and forming a little chosen family and falling in love.
The romance is cute and funny. It’s that kind of pairing of a snarky black-wearing grump and sunshine princess and I love this aesthetic.
The girls have good chemistry and they are amazing friends first. But it was so obvious they liked each other! It was still adorable to watch how they danced around it.
Anyway, I loved the diary form.
It’s something I haven’t read in a while and all the unconventional writing forms are always a big plus in my opinion. But also it was light and hilarious.
★★★,5☆ | *Heterosexual Love is for Losers
"I don’t have time to have crushes on people, I’m busy with exams. My brain is working on full capacity, I don’t have room for fluffy shit like this."
🐈 written in the form of a diary
🐈 unlikeable protagonist
🐈 f/f rom-com
🐈 chosen family and kittens
Phoebe is not the most likeable protagonist. She is judgemental, bad with people, and messes up a lot.
She tries to be better and then messes up again and again. Makes new mistakes. Mages old mistakes.
She is 15.
She is 15 and sometimes teenagers are stubborn, self-centered, and not the best to be fair.
So Phoebe makes fun of people and thinks she’s superior to them because she’s above emotions, etc., etc.
But then she also can own up to it and her ‘I don’t care‘ mask slips even though it’s a diary and you can present the situation however fits you in your diary.
We learn the things that make her want to shut off her emotions: her barely there relationship with her mother, the ghost of her father, her only friend getting in a relationship and sidelining her, not being interested in boys like her peers…
There is a lot of loneliness and unresolved anger in her. Not to mention her lack of brain to mouth filter, which she passes as ‘at least I’m being brutally honest’ at the beginning.
The book explores her fear of forming emotional bonds. And not only her — the book also speaks a lot about death and the aftermath of it. The numbness, the sadness, the emptiness. Different ways of dealing with trauma.
But it also gives us Phoebe slowly giving in and forming a little chosen family and falling in love.
The romance is cute and funny. It’s that kind of pairing of a snarky black-wearing grump and sunshine princess and I love this aesthetic.
The girls have good chemistry and they are amazing friends first. But it was so obvious they liked each other! It was still adorable to watch how they danced around it.
Anyway, I loved the diary form.
It’s something I haven’t read in a while and all the unconventional writing forms are always a big plus in my opinion. But also it was light and hilarious.
"My brain wants me to think about kissing Emma, but I reckon once I’ve gone there, I’m doomed."
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March 28, 2020
*4.5 Stars*
(Thank you to my Mum for typing this for me).
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this eARC in return for an honest review.
This book follows the main character Phoebe who thinks love is for losers and vows never to fall in love. Phoebe starts this book feeling rather abandoned due to the fact that her mother, a Dr, is going to Syria for 6 months to aid in the humanitarian crisis (something she does often) and her best friend Polly has ditched her for a boy. But through a series of unfortunate events she ends up volunteering at her God Mothers charity shop where she finds friendship and love in an unexpected place.
What I Liked:
- The writing. This story was written in a diary format which suited it perfectly. Phoebe is an authentic, sarcastic and insecure teenager and this is really emphasised by it being written as a diary. I enjoyed the fact that Phoebe showed similar characteristics to my own peers at age 15 which meant the story was really relatable.
- Phoebe. She wasn't really meant to be a likeable character, especially in the beginning, but I liked the fact she wasn't perfect or always doing the right thing. When she first met Alex, a charity shop volunteer with Downs Syndrome, she clearly had some problematic thoughts, but by the end of the book he was simply her friend the same as all her other friends. She also frequently comments on the clothing or lack there of of other girls but this comes from insecurity and I liked how this developed throughout. It was refreshing to read about a character who made mistakes but learned from them.
- Side characters. This book was made so much better by the well developed, 3 dimensional side characters. Phoebe lives with her God mother Kate who is an eccentric Scottish lady with designer cats. The volunteers at the charity shop, who ranged from the old couple she loves, the middle aged woman who hates her, and her 2 best friends Alex and Emma were all fantastic characters. Emma was also the love interest in the book and it had a well developed foundation for the relationship and it was a great slow-burn romance.
What I Didn't Like:
- The beginning. This had a slow start and it took a while to figure Phoebe out and connect with her and the range of side characters only came in after the first 50ish pages.
Overall this was a hilarious, relatable and heartwarming story. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Netflix's "Sex Education" or "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging". It was a very impressive debut.
(Thank you to my Mum for typing this for me).
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this eARC in return for an honest review.
This book follows the main character Phoebe who thinks love is for losers and vows never to fall in love. Phoebe starts this book feeling rather abandoned due to the fact that her mother, a Dr, is going to Syria for 6 months to aid in the humanitarian crisis (something she does often) and her best friend Polly has ditched her for a boy. But through a series of unfortunate events she ends up volunteering at her God Mothers charity shop where she finds friendship and love in an unexpected place.
What I Liked:
- The writing. This story was written in a diary format which suited it perfectly. Phoebe is an authentic, sarcastic and insecure teenager and this is really emphasised by it being written as a diary. I enjoyed the fact that Phoebe showed similar characteristics to my own peers at age 15 which meant the story was really relatable.
- Phoebe. She wasn't really meant to be a likeable character, especially in the beginning, but I liked the fact she wasn't perfect or always doing the right thing. When she first met Alex, a charity shop volunteer with Downs Syndrome, she clearly had some problematic thoughts, but by the end of the book he was simply her friend the same as all her other friends. She also frequently comments on the clothing or lack there of of other girls but this comes from insecurity and I liked how this developed throughout. It was refreshing to read about a character who made mistakes but learned from them.
- Side characters. This book was made so much better by the well developed, 3 dimensional side characters. Phoebe lives with her God mother Kate who is an eccentric Scottish lady with designer cats. The volunteers at the charity shop, who ranged from the old couple she loves, the middle aged woman who hates her, and her 2 best friends Alex and Emma were all fantastic characters. Emma was also the love interest in the book and it had a well developed foundation for the relationship and it was a great slow-burn romance.
What I Didn't Like:
- The beginning. This had a slow start and it took a while to figure Phoebe out and connect with her and the range of side characters only came in after the first 50ish pages.
Overall this was a hilarious, relatable and heartwarming story. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Netflix's "Sex Education" or "Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging". It was a very impressive debut.
February 26, 2020
On my blog.
Actual rating 2.5
Rep: lesbian mc & li, side character with Downs syndrome, side character with anxiety
Galley provided by publisher
This book was somewhat of a mixed bag. There were things I liked about it, but there were also plenty of things I didn’t like about it.
Love is for Losers is written as six months worth of diary entries from the main character as she lives with her godmother, gets through her GCSEs, and falls in love while her mother is away on a humanitarian mission.
I think it’s fair to say that far and away the biggest reason for me not liking this book was Phoebe. She’s a dislikeable character, but there’s dislikeable yet you still like them, then there’s dislikeable because they say all sorts of crap and are never pulled up on it in the narrative. Within the first 10% or so, she’s been awful about humanitarian work and a character with Downs syndrome. And yet, she’s all like “I’m not a hypocrite like the rest of you because I say exactly what I’m thinking”. Well, sometimes I really wish you wouldn’t, Phoebe. But, despite disliking her (and I know she’s only 15, but c’mon), I continued. She never really got better, but she grew on me in some perverse way. I almost liked her, up until she reminded me how awful she was by making fun of someone having a panic attack.
But she wasn’t wholly horrible, and that sort of made it more disappointing, if anything. I liked her relationship with Emma, and also the found family aspect of everyone working at the charity shop. I think, though, what the book really needed was Phoebe to be challenged (to say the least) on some of her shit, and to actually show evidence of developing from it.
Because it had some promising aspects! The relationship among the charity shop workers and how they formed a little found family, for one. Even though Phoebe pretended to hate them (we get it, you’re not a people person), the way they visibly grew on her throughout the book felt organic. And the book let her use the word lesbian, multiple times! So the groundwork was there, it was just a shame Phoebe, the misanthropic edgelord, was the way she was. (Listen, she may be 15, but I don’t take that as an excuse. You can not be a little shit at 15.)
I don’t think anybody actually really knows me. Alright, Adam Parrish.
Actual rating 2.5
Rep: lesbian mc & li, side character with Downs syndrome, side character with anxiety
Galley provided by publisher
This book was somewhat of a mixed bag. There were things I liked about it, but there were also plenty of things I didn’t like about it.
Love is for Losers is written as six months worth of diary entries from the main character as she lives with her godmother, gets through her GCSEs, and falls in love while her mother is away on a humanitarian mission.
I think it’s fair to say that far and away the biggest reason for me not liking this book was Phoebe. She’s a dislikeable character, but there’s dislikeable yet you still like them, then there’s dislikeable because they say all sorts of crap and are never pulled up on it in the narrative. Within the first 10% or so, she’s been awful about humanitarian work and a character with Downs syndrome. And yet, she’s all like “I’m not a hypocrite like the rest of you because I say exactly what I’m thinking”. Well, sometimes I really wish you wouldn’t, Phoebe. But, despite disliking her (and I know she’s only 15, but c’mon), I continued. She never really got better, but she grew on me in some perverse way. I almost liked her, up until she reminded me how awful she was by making fun of someone having a panic attack.
But she wasn’t wholly horrible, and that sort of made it more disappointing, if anything. I liked her relationship with Emma, and also the found family aspect of everyone working at the charity shop. I think, though, what the book really needed was Phoebe to be challenged (to say the least) on some of her shit, and to actually show evidence of developing from it.
Because it had some promising aspects! The relationship among the charity shop workers and how they formed a little found family, for one. Even though Phoebe pretended to hate them (we get it, you’re not a people person), the way they visibly grew on her throughout the book felt organic. And the book let her use the word lesbian, multiple times! So the groundwork was there, it was just a shame Phoebe, the misanthropic edgelord, was the way she was. (Listen, she may be 15, but I don’t take that as an excuse. You can not be a little shit at 15.)
I don’t think anybody actually really knows me. Alright, Adam Parrish.
March 27, 2021
/Ve spolupráci s nakladatelstvím YOLI./
Tuhle knížku jsem se vůbec nechystala číst, kdyby mi od YOLI nepřišlo reading copy, tak o ní pořádně ani nevím. Nakonec jsem se rozhodla ji zkusit, protože ji anotace přirovnává k Sex Education a protože při prolistování mi bylo jasné, že půjde o hodně rychlé čtení, jelikož je kniha vedena jako deníkové zápisky. A já zrovna rychlé, oddechové čtení chtěla, tak jsem po ní sáhla.
A ty jo, ono se mi to překvapivě hodně líbilo. Teda s tím přirovnáním k Sex Education bych byla trochu opatrná, sice jo, společné prvky tu jsou - obojí je britské, v otázce sexu dost otevřené a do určité míry je to obojí queer, ale čekat od té knihy přesně to samé, to by byla chyba. Oproti Sex Education je ta knížka méně vyspělá, lehce naivnější a ani zdaleka nemá tak skvělé postavy.
V Láska je na prd z postav za něco stojí jen ta Phoebe, která ten příběh vypráví, a kterou tak nejlépe poznáte. No a tady... Tady nastává problém. Podle mě je hrozně vysoká šance, že vám bude Phoebe nesympatická. Ona je totiž taková hodně cynická, dost praktická, relativně chladná a taky je totální puberťák. Mně její povaha sedla, dost jsem v ní viděla své mladší já, ale je mi jasné, že každý to tak mít nebude. A tohle je bohužel jedna z těch knih, kdy je skoro nemožné přenést se přes to, že vám hrdinka nesedí.
Upřímně nedokážu odhadnout, jak moc se to komu bude líbit. Ale zaručeně to doporučuji spíš čtenářům mladší patnácti let, vím, že YA běžně čtou i dospělí (jako já), ale v případě téhle knihy to dospělým čtenářům spíš nedoporučuji, nebude vás to bavit, si myslím, vážně je to hodně pubertální. Ale pro tu cílovku je to podle mě vážně dobrá knížka.
Ještě jsem chtěla pochválit, jak otevřeně a pozitivně se tu píše o sexu, to se v té YA tvorbě pořád zas tak často nevidí.
Takže... To klidně zkuste. Ale... radši od ní nic nečekejte. 😃
Tuhle knížku jsem se vůbec nechystala číst, kdyby mi od YOLI nepřišlo reading copy, tak o ní pořádně ani nevím. Nakonec jsem se rozhodla ji zkusit, protože ji anotace přirovnává k Sex Education a protože při prolistování mi bylo jasné, že půjde o hodně rychlé čtení, jelikož je kniha vedena jako deníkové zápisky. A já zrovna rychlé, oddechové čtení chtěla, tak jsem po ní sáhla.
A ty jo, ono se mi to překvapivě hodně líbilo. Teda s tím přirovnáním k Sex Education bych byla trochu opatrná, sice jo, společné prvky tu jsou - obojí je britské, v otázce sexu dost otevřené a do určité míry je to obojí queer, ale čekat od té knihy přesně to samé, to by byla chyba. Oproti Sex Education je ta knížka méně vyspělá, lehce naivnější a ani zdaleka nemá tak skvělé postavy.
V Láska je na prd z postav za něco stojí jen ta Phoebe, která ten příběh vypráví, a kterou tak nejlépe poznáte. No a tady... Tady nastává problém. Podle mě je hrozně vysoká šance, že vám bude Phoebe nesympatická. Ona je totiž taková hodně cynická, dost praktická, relativně chladná a taky je totální puberťák. Mně její povaha sedla, dost jsem v ní viděla své mladší já, ale je mi jasné, že každý to tak mít nebude. A tohle je bohužel jedna z těch knih, kdy je skoro nemožné přenést se přes to, že vám hrdinka nesedí.
Upřímně nedokážu odhadnout, jak moc se to komu bude líbit. Ale zaručeně to doporučuji spíš čtenářům mladší patnácti let, vím, že YA běžně čtou i dospělí (jako já), ale v případě téhle knihy to dospělým čtenářům spíš nedoporučuji, nebude vás to bavit, si myslím, vážně je to hodně pubertální. Ale pro tu cílovku je to podle mě vážně dobrá knížka.
Ještě jsem chtěla pochválit, jak otevřeně a pozitivně se tu píše o sexu, to se v té YA tvorbě pořád zas tak často nevidí.
Takže... To klidně zkuste. Ale... radši od ní nic nečekejte. 😃
July 13, 2022
fr, ja vlastne ani nevim jak to mam ohodnotit😩 precetla jsem to za tri dny, kdyz jsem nemela co delat v aute a tim ze je to psane jako denik s pomerne kratkymi kapitolami, jsem to precetla rychlosti blesku👀 bylo to mile a opravdu oddechove
July 11, 2021
4,5/5
V momente ako som si prečítala prvú vetu anotácie - Phoebe zbožňuje čiernu farbu a neznáša ľudí - som tušila, že sa mi toto bude páčiť. A mala som pravdu. Bavila som sa od prvej stránky po poslednú.
Phoebe mala síce len 15, ale bola úžasná a veľmi relatable. Bola úžasná a vtipná, sarkastická a chytrá (ešte sa to aj rýmuje). A veľmi cynická. V skutočnosti to bola veľmi komplexná postava, ktorá pôsobila prirodzene a správala sa ako tínedžerka. Klobúk dolu autorke, pretože toto bol jej debutový román. Jediná chyba Phoebe bola tá, že nemala rada mačky. Alebo to aspoň tvrdila (ale Kate mala tie mačky so splošteným ňufákom, ktoré sa nejako veľmi nepáčia ani mne, takže sa tvárim, že rozprávala len o takých).
Všetky postavy boli skvelé a sympatické - snáď okrem jej matky, ktorej materské povinnosti skončili tým, že Phoebe vytlačila zo svojej maternice. Zamilovala som si hlavne Emmu a Kate - Emma bola úplne zlatíčko a Kate najlepšia náhradná mama, akú si môže človek prijať. Ale nemala by v žiadnom prípade chovať mačky, na to som strašne nadávala, lebo ich mala len na rozmnožovanie, aby na nich mohla zarábať, čo je riadne sprosté. A tiež, sterilizácia kocúrika, ktorý mal necelé 3 mesiace? Chovala autorka niekedy mačku? Rozprávala sa s veterinárom?
Čo sa týka štýlu písania - famózne. Plné sarkazmu a môjho obľúbeného suchého britského humoru, takže som sa niekoľkokrát pri čítaní nahlas smiala. Zároveň tam bolo niekoľko veľmi dôležitých myšlienok a taktiež aj ťažšie témy ako smrť blízkeho, strach o niekoho, odlúčenie a podobne. A dospievanie, to je peklo. Veľmi rýchlo mi bolo jasné, že toto bude jedna z najlepších YA contemporary, ktoré som kedy čítala (a že ich mám za sebou dosť). Myslím, že pred pár rokmi by som ju zaradila k mojim najobľúbenejším knihám vôbec. Veľmi silno odporúčam.
Ale ten preklad, joj. Akože, ja neviem, či sa táto #premotivovanaslovencina v knihách (príde mi že hlavne v YA) z roka na rok zhoršuje, alebo ja som si to predtým nevšimla, ale hrôza fakt. Nejako ma to oberá o chuť siahať po týchto knihách v slovenčine. To bolo ako dýky do chrbta. Slová ako 'Čekla' či 'kúl' - neviem sa rozhodnúť, či viac prznia slovenský alebo anglický jazyk. Zbytočné preklady (názov pesničky - taká pesnička v slovenčine podľa Spotify a Youtube neexistuje, Doktor Who - asi mám byť rada, že z toho nespravili Doktor Kto?), trikrát si dali päťku miesto high-five (toto som nikdy nepočula, že by sa používalo, ale potom mi bolo povedané, že hej, ale iná osoba mi zas povedala, že ju v prvom momente napadlo, že majú group sex - čo, ako všetci vieme, je typický pre každú YA. Tak či onak, znie to hrozne a asi to nebolo úplne šťastne zvolené. Škoda, že nemáme slovenské slovo, ktoré sa dá miesto toho použiť. Ja neviem, tlapnutie.) Kate bola Škótka a keď sa rozrušila, tak chytala prízvuk - raz to bolo v knihe znázornené nejakým divným nárečím, inokedy to tam nebolo znázornené vôbec. Čiže nejako chýbala konzistencia. V neposlednom rade tam raz bol napísaný štvrtok miesto utorka, ale tam chápem, že to je v angličtine podobné a kľudne sa takáto chybička môže stať, to som neriešila.
Takže tak. Knihe nebudem znižovať hodnotenie kvôli týmto veciam, keďže autorka nemôže za to, že ma rozčuľoval premotivovaný preklad, keď ona odviedla fantastickú robotu. Ale kniha je skutočne výborná, žiaľ veľmi prehliadaná. Odporúčam prečítať.
V momente ako som si prečítala prvú vetu anotácie - Phoebe zbožňuje čiernu farbu a neznáša ľudí - som tušila, že sa mi toto bude páčiť. A mala som pravdu. Bavila som sa od prvej stránky po poslednú.
Phoebe mala síce len 15, ale bola úžasná a veľmi relatable. Bola úžasná a vtipná, sarkastická a chytrá (ešte sa to aj rýmuje). A veľmi cynická. V skutočnosti to bola veľmi komplexná postava, ktorá pôsobila prirodzene a správala sa ako tínedžerka. Klobúk dolu autorke, pretože toto bol jej debutový román. Jediná chyba Phoebe bola tá, že nemala rada mačky. Alebo to aspoň tvrdila (ale Kate mala tie mačky so splošteným ňufákom, ktoré sa nejako veľmi nepáčia ani mne, takže sa tvárim, že rozprávala len o takých).
Všetky postavy boli skvelé a sympatické - snáď okrem jej matky, ktorej materské povinnosti skončili tým, že Phoebe vytlačila zo svojej maternice. Zamilovala som si hlavne Emmu a Kate - Emma bola úplne zlatíčko a Kate najlepšia náhradná mama, akú si môže človek prijať. Ale nemala by v žiadnom prípade chovať mačky, na to som strašne nadávala, lebo ich mala len na rozmnožovanie, aby na nich mohla zarábať, čo je riadne sprosté. A tiež, sterilizácia kocúrika, ktorý mal necelé 3 mesiace? Chovala autorka niekedy mačku? Rozprávala sa s veterinárom?
Čo sa týka štýlu písania - famózne. Plné sarkazmu a môjho obľúbeného suchého britského humoru, takže som sa niekoľkokrát pri čítaní nahlas smiala. Zároveň tam bolo niekoľko veľmi dôležitých myšlienok a taktiež aj ťažšie témy ako smrť blízkeho, strach o niekoho, odlúčenie a podobne. A dospievanie, to je peklo. Veľmi rýchlo mi bolo jasné, že toto bude jedna z najlepších YA contemporary, ktoré som kedy čítala (a že ich mám za sebou dosť). Myslím, že pred pár rokmi by som ju zaradila k mojim najobľúbenejším knihám vôbec. Veľmi silno odporúčam.
Ale ten preklad, joj. Akože, ja neviem, či sa táto #premotivovanaslovencina v knihách (príde mi že hlavne v YA) z roka na rok zhoršuje, alebo ja som si to predtým nevšimla, ale hrôza fakt. Nejako ma to oberá o chuť siahať po týchto knihách v slovenčine. To bolo ako dýky do chrbta. Slová ako 'Čekla' či 'kúl' - neviem sa rozhodnúť, či viac prznia slovenský alebo anglický jazyk. Zbytočné preklady (názov pesničky - taká pesnička v slovenčine podľa Spotify a Youtube neexistuje, Doktor Who - asi mám byť rada, že z toho nespravili Doktor Kto?), trikrát si dali päťku miesto high-five (toto som nikdy nepočula, že by sa používalo, ale potom mi bolo povedané, že hej, ale iná osoba mi zas povedala, že ju v prvom momente napadlo, že majú group sex - čo, ako všetci vieme, je typický pre každú YA. Tak či onak, znie to hrozne a asi to nebolo úplne šťastne zvolené. Škoda, že nemáme slovenské slovo, ktoré sa dá miesto toho použiť. Ja neviem, tlapnutie.) Kate bola Škótka a keď sa rozrušila, tak chytala prízvuk - raz to bolo v knihe znázornené nejakým divným nárečím, inokedy to tam nebolo znázornené vôbec. Čiže nejako chýbala konzistencia. V neposlednom rade tam raz bol napísaný štvrtok miesto utorka, ale tam chápem, že to je v angličtine podobné a kľudne sa takáto chybička môže stať, to som neriešila.
Takže tak. Knihe nebudem znižovať hodnotenie kvôli týmto veciam, keďže autorka nemôže za to, že ma rozčuľoval premotivovaný preklad, keď ona odviedla fantastickú robotu. Ale kniha je skutočne výborná, žiaľ veľmi prehliadaná. Odporúčam prečítať.
June 8, 2022
C’était drôle, c’était touchant et très cute : bref une jolie lecture avec une héroïne très attachante !
July 3, 2023
Oh man war das Buch knuffig und einfach total wholesome. Die Charaktere waren alle so unfassbar Zucker🤍🤍
August 1, 2021
Actual rating: 4-4,5
TW: anxiety, death (of a parent, of a sibling, of a friend), war
Rep: questioning MC, bisexual loveinterest, SC with downsyndrom
This book was so absolutely funny I cried laughing out loud!
It’s written in diary entries by 15 year old Phoebe and starts on New Years where her best friend Polly finally gets together with the boy she fancies…but somehow totally forgets about her. Then her mother, who is a doctor, decides to go to Syria with Medicines Internationale and her whole life is turned upside down.
Phoebe has to move in with her crazy-cat lady godmother Kate.
Phoebe is a little (socially) awkward, doesn’t like emotions and other people very much and is entirely annoyed about her hormone ridden classmates.
Her thoughts and feelings were so relatable and the way she manoeuvred herself into the most ridiculous situations was so funny to read.
When a little mistake leads to her working for Kates thrift shop she meets Emma and Alex…and Emma has the most beautiful eyes.
It was totally obvious how this was going to end, but the way Phoebe who has so much on her plate already with her mother, anxiety about school and her crazy godmother, is slowly developing feelings for Emma was so cute.
The way this little found family at the thrift shop was described and how Phoebe finds new friends in them was also so lovely.
I am so glad there are more and more YA books with queer girls and wlw romances out there.
I’m really hoping there will be a sequel to this, because for me the ending was kind of abrupt and I would have loved to see a face-to-face talk with Phoebe and her mother.
I would also love to see Phoebe figuring out herself and her sexuality some more (I was getting some ace vibes there?)!
TW: anxiety, death (of a parent, of a sibling, of a friend), war
Rep: questioning MC, bisexual loveinterest, SC with downsyndrom
This book was so absolutely funny I cried laughing out loud!
It’s written in diary entries by 15 year old Phoebe and starts on New Years where her best friend Polly finally gets together with the boy she fancies…but somehow totally forgets about her. Then her mother, who is a doctor, decides to go to Syria with Medicines Internationale and her whole life is turned upside down.
Phoebe has to move in with her crazy-cat lady godmother Kate.
Phoebe is a little (socially) awkward, doesn’t like emotions and other people very much and is entirely annoyed about her hormone ridden classmates.
Her thoughts and feelings were so relatable and the way she manoeuvred herself into the most ridiculous situations was so funny to read.
When a little mistake leads to her working for Kates thrift shop she meets Emma and Alex…and Emma has the most beautiful eyes.
It was totally obvious how this was going to end, but the way Phoebe who has so much on her plate already with her mother, anxiety about school and her crazy godmother, is slowly developing feelings for Emma was so cute.
The way this little found family at the thrift shop was described and how Phoebe finds new friends in them was also so lovely.
I am so glad there are more and more YA books with queer girls and wlw romances out there.
I’m really hoping there will be a sequel to this, because for me the ending was kind of abrupt and I would have loved to see a face-to-face talk with Phoebe and her mother.
I would also love to see Phoebe figuring out herself and her sexuality some more (I was getting some ace vibes there?)!
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