Killjoy: Taking on a Macho Media Empire and Winning

by Jo Cheetham

'Fiercely funny, truly fascinating and inspiring . . . I was hooked from the first page.' - Mel Giedroyc
'Warm, wise, witty and wet your pants hilarious' - Laura Bates, author of Everyday Sexism

Jo Cheetham was a long way from home, studying and working as a nanny in London, when she saw news of an upcoming protest against the Page 3 pictorial in The Sun and decided to go along. Before she could talk herself out of it, Jo officially joined the No More Page 3 campaign team.

Over the course of the next three years, Jo protested up and down the country, attended parliament and made an unlikely group of friends, ranging from sixteen to sixty, that would become her closest confidants and allies. Whether it was through an impromptu flash mob or a nerve-wracking group performance on the West End stage, Jo's world started to get a lot bigger.

Hilarious, brilliantly warm and moving, Killjoy is a story of everyday people doing extraordinary things, the power of a grassroots campaign and ultimately what you can achieve when you shout a little bit louder.

'Funny and inspiring' - Rachel Cooke, The Guardian, ' Non-fiction to look out for in 2023'

'Snappily written with humour and irreverence, it unpeels the insanity of our patriarchal society and why it can and must change. Order it now, is our advice.' - Stylist, ' Non-fiction books you can’t miss
in 2023'

'A heroic and humorous account of the woman who found herself at the head of the No More Page 3 campaign, in a group of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.' - Independent , '19 debut authors set to make their mark this year'

Genres: Nonfiction, Feminism, Memoir, Audiobook, Biography

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 2023

Reviews

[Jenna PT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happened to fall ion this audiobook via Borrowbox because I liked the cover art. I didn’t read the synopsis. I just thought to myself have a listen.

What an incredibly interesting book. I vaguely remember the campaign although I was quote young at the time. These inspirational women started a campaign to end 4 generations of sexism and sexualising women. And I for one think they are incredible. We got a long way to go to be fully equal. But with women like these fighting everyday one day our daughters may live a world where we are equal.

Loved the book.

[Tracey Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim, then ended up really enjoying it. The story of the No More Page 3 campaign, from an insider's perspective, it's alternatively hard hitting and very funny. It's also very good at what it's like to come from a working class, Northern background and move to London and suddenly be moving in very different circles.

As a personal memoir it's obviously just one perspective - it only touches very lightly the fact that the Page 3 campaign was very much a "white feminist" issue and wider issues of racism and Islamophobia that infect the tabloids (the end of Page 3 was in some right wing circles blamed on the "Islamification" of the UK) - but that's to be expected from a personal memoir and Cheetham is obviously aware of this and takes pains to include comments from other campaigners.

It's particularly good at recalling how pervasive and insidious the influence of Page 3 was - something in truth I'd forgotten but came back to me vividly reading this.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fully expecting to give this book 5* but something was lacking and I’m struggling to figure out what. For the cause and what they achieved, an absolute 5*, for the pacing and keeping my attention, it’s more of a 2 or 3.

[Ruth Lavery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good retelling

I loved this book except for one thing it is never gender equality it's always about sex. Women are discriminated against because of their sex. Gender is part of that discrimination. Sex matters

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book. I laughed, I cried, I got angry, I learned about services that, because I’ve been fortunate, I didn’t realise were needed but are obvious now I know.

[Marianne Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genuinely funny, inspiring story of ‘ordinary’ women becoming activists. A story of friendship and finding a voice that makes a difference.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read. It takes you through all of the emotions and is really heartwarming

[Anne Leeming · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light-hearted look at a serious subject - a campaign against the Sun newspaper’s page 3

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Account of a brave, defiant and ultimately successful stance against Page 3 nudity. Wonderful, and at times, darkly funny writing.

[Samantha Elks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving and inspiring read about the No More Page 3 campaign, sexism and the patriarchy. Filled with humour, love and kindness it is truly a humbling and educational read.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Subject matter made me angry but the writing made me laugh. Bloody loved it. Queen.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really enjoyable. It has humour and honesty on top of the inspiration. I felt the author both captured the reality of a grass roots organisation and that of friendship (& the joy when those things combine).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, makes me want to fight even more for my own cause.

[Audrey Haylins · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Felicity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Has the author of this hardcover edition been cancelled or Kindled by GR? She is not unknown, certainly not by those who supported the protracted, ultimately successful, No More Page 3 campaign. Jo Cheetham's often hilarious account of the campaign recalls the high and low points of the movement, including the vile counteraction from trolls and tabloid journalists. Had the core members of this pressure group, mostly but not exclusively women in their thirties, not been consistently supportive of each other, and open to forming alliances with other interest groups, their mental health and political strength would most likely have collapsed. As it is, Cheetham is not shy about recording her own struggles with well-documented imposter syndrome, nor indeed the self-doubts and personal difficulties of some fellow members. The group messages, reproduced verbatim, certainly convey the informality and instinctive generosity of the collective, but I desist from thanking her for 'sharing' more than I wanted to read. Where a failed campaign is often nasty, brutish and short, this 400-page account of the tortuous progress of a successful one seems reluctant to reach the conclusion.

[Kayleigh-Ånn Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel really strangely about this book. In theory, it would be a 4*, great insight, hardline feminist, how to fight the good fight and win style affair. In reality, it WAS this in some parts, but they were not in abundance.
What there is no doubt of, is that it's that a window into a remarkably successful and hard fought campaign, and how it paved the way for much more in its wake that we are grateful for.
What is also, unfortunately, is an oddly told story of a reluctantly involved protagonist who is frequently scathing of not only other women but also marginalized people or those who chose to live a different life than the mainstream. I desperately wanted to read how a deep seated passion drove the author to fight hand over fist to change the world, and was sad to know that in reality they sort of fell into it as an unlikely participant with fairly narrow view on life.
Whilst it does develop into an endearing story of resilience and the importance of enduring friendship, I think it's more the story of a small movement making big waves than it is of feminism itself.

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! So much not a killjoy of a book, filled as it is with fun and joy despite the fight they are having. Couldn't stop reading it, and was sad when it was finished. Whilst I knew of the campaign, the book added important detail and made it all so personal. Gives such an important message in a funny and poingnent way which still does not diminish the power of the message. A book everyone should read, women for the support it gives and men to help them understand how seemingly small things can have such massive impact. Just great, can't think of any other way to describe it.

[Cate · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars, rounded up.

I loved nearly all of this book. Really interesting account of the "No more page 3" campaign, the women behind it, and the fights and set backs they struggled through. Only negatives are some of the chatty and tedious conversations between the campaigners which go on a bit, and there isn't as much detail about the later campaign works and achievements compared to the earlier ones.

[Mya Quarmby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honest, Humour, Heart!

I’m not normally a fan of non fiction, but I absolutely loved this book. I have never heard of it before I saw it on display at the SELF exhibition at Rotherham Museum (the birthplace of the Author)

I loved how honest this book was - I laughed, I cried, I gasped, I cheered, and I got angry.

I saw myself in these stories, I saw past and was hopeful for future me. I felt all the feelings that were told to shove down and I saw them explode on the pages!

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book! Everyone should read this.

I can't remember the page 3 movement but I wish I had because this book is fantastic. Well written and I couldn't put it down!

Funny, inspiring and fantastic!

Thank you netgalley!

[ALM · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admired the No More Page 3 campaign massively at the time. To read how a small group of women achieved this (and endured unrelenting grief for it in the process) makes me even more proud of their achievement.

[Holly Mcshane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down! Read it in 2 days, brilliant and felt like I was with them protesting and campaigning!

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this read. Women working together against the curmedgenarian patriarchy.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing!

[Jenny Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting & thought provoking read.

[Annabel Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I laughed and I cried, women are just fucking incredible

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about a worthwhile fight, and win!

[John Barclay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny and inspiring book about real empowerment and changing things for the better in the personal and the public spheres.