Izzy O'Neill is eighteen, has two best friends and lives with her grandma. Her biggest concerns are whether or not she will be able to get a job so that her grandmother can retire, and whether she will achieve her dream of becoming a scriptwriter in Hollywood.
Then everything changes when explicit photos are leaked online of Izzy in a compromising position with a politician's son.
Suddenly everyone is fascinated with Izzy's life and she is being slut-shamed constantly.
Who posted the photos of Izzy?
Will Izzy be able to become a scriptwriter now that her life has been splattered over the national news?

The Exact Opposite of Okay features some very important themes which were thought-provoking.
I liked Izzy, although her humour did annoy me a little at times. She was very strong - there was no way I would have been able to go to school knowing that everyone had seen such a personal photo of me.
I liked Ajita and her Izzy's grandmother, Betty (who is definitely not your stereotypical grandmother).
I found the humour a bit hit and miss.
The plot was interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped.
In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I was going to like the writing style but after a while it grew on me.
While reading this I found myself thinking a lot about how people have different views on sex. I think of sex of something very personal, but I've never really thought about how other people feel about it.
The way that Izzy was slut-shamed made me very angry. Men aren't treated the way that women are when it comes to sex which is very wrong and frustrating.

Overall this was an enjoyable read which explores important themes.

I'll be recommending it to people as the subject matter is good. However, I really struggled with the writing. I found the breaking of the fourth wall really jarring for me. Other people will love it, and I love it in TV shows and films, but it doesn't work for me in the written form.
Very good story though.

Absolutely beautiful and I am blown away by the book. It was written perfectly, so powerful and I am in love with it!

I got an EARC on Netgalley. I really enjoyed this. It was fun, dramatic, sex-positive and an all round joy. I can’t help but wish it was set in the UK though. It would really enhance the story even more. Nevertheless, I love Izzy and cannot wait to see what happens to her next.

Rating: ★★★★

The Exact Opposite of Okay is another book that was whipping up a frenzy at last year's YALC, and it finally comes out in March of this year. It is the debut YA from Laura Steven, and she really comes right out of the gate with a brilliantly cutting novel and a clear voice.

Izzy's tale of her supposed fall from grace are dealt with in a self-deprecating tone all the way through, with Izzy seemingly unable to resist a joke, even when things get particularly dark. And how. Laura Steven does not shy away from the scandal that surrounds Izzy, confronting issues of body-shaming and male entitlement along the way. 

There is plenty of time at the beginning of the story devoted to developing the character of Izzy and populating her world. She lives with her grandmother in impoverished circumstances, her world consisting mainly of writing screenplays and hanging out with her two best friends Danny and Ajita. Theirs is an easy friendship based on snacking and chatting and sticking together.

Things take a turn for the worst and continue to go there as the plot progresses, with Izzy's world falling down around her, all because of being a teenager it seems, in the modern world. The plot seems all too real in an age where one image can destroy a person's reputation and life. Laura Steven hones in on this, but from several perspectives. As the 'scandal' surrounding Izzy emerges, we experience the reaction of all those around. Izzy herself is branded a slut and a whore, yet all other parties remain unscathed. When the story goes viral, everyone has their two cents and it becomes clear that most people in Izzy's broad community are scrambling to cover their own reputation, while having no problem with shaming a teenager for acting as most teenagers do every day.

Izzy's voice comes across as darkly humorous, and it's little wonder really that she turns to humour as the only other option is utter despair in her ever-spiralling situation.

It was heartening to read online that Izzy gets her surname from Louise O'Neill, whose work has clearly resonated with Laura Steven. It's amazing to see writers inspire each other and as such be given a licence to give their own views through the medium of writing. 

The Exact Opposite of Okay is a powerful commentary on our own society and more than encourages us to take a look at ourselves, to examine how we react as a collective to viral 'scandals' and whether or not it's time we take responsibility for our own reactions and not just piggyback on whatever opinion is popular with the masses. In other words, it encourages us to dramatically change the prevalent thinking around shaming young girls and judging young girls off some sort of unrealistic and outmoded standard. It's a standard that only exists because of patriarchal ideals and and people following on with these without questioning them.

This book is so vibrant, so current and so important. Our protagonist is sassy, strong and fiercely feminist. A great, well written book about growing up in our current world which I think so many teens will relate to.

Wow. This is a much needed book. If you consider yourself a feminist, or just want to know more, this is a fantastic, informative and thoughtful read. A must read for the modern woman.
This book follows Izzy, an amateur screenwriter and comedian, who ends up being the victim of slut shaming and revenge porn. This book covers such a wide range of issues, like slut shaming and revenge porn, but also rich, white privilege, the problematic concept of the friend zone, sexuality, the double standards of for men and women, how religious values affect how we treat one another. One thing I found especially impactful was how Izzy felt about the revenge porn and how she felt so vulnerable and exposed, how she felt too embarrassed to speak with her teachers. This was a very emotional book in a lot of ways.
The characters in this were excellent. Izzy is so funny but also very raw, and I thought her reactions to everything were very realistic. Ajita was such a wonderful friend, and Betty such a supportive carer. Mrs Crannon was a wonderful teacher too, and we need more people like her. Even Danny was a very well written character, even if I absolutely despised him. I like that he wasn't just clear cut nothing but an ass for no reason. He did have his issues, but the author is very clear in showing that this does not excuse the kind of behaviour that so many men show.
This book ends with a couple of mini essays about feminism that were so educational and well worth the read, even if maybe you don't like the book itself. I'd urge anyone to give this book a try-it is well worth it.

The book addressed very important issues however i did feel at times that the main character was a bit too much although i loved her self esteem i just think the author tried too hard to make her different and quirky. Right from the start i knew i would hate the male best friend character because he was a self proclaimed nice guy who got rejected and i really like how this book actually discussed this and the entitlement of people especially friends on having an intimate relationship. The plot i didn't actually care for and found predictable so i was skimming through most of it but i did like the writing style and felt it complimented the character and plot well.

I’ll be honest – when I first started this book it did take me a while to get used to the young voice of Izzy O’Neill (something which pains me to admit as I’m only in my mid twenties!) but once I acclimatised, I just couldn’t put this book down.

The Exact Opposite of Okay is extremely important and I would urge everybody to read it no matter their age. It is so powerful and I honestly think that it will do a lot of good in the modern world. Slut shaming is rife among society at the moment, sadly enough even girls shame other girls for doing the exact thing that they themselves are doing but that it just patriarchy for you, and the way that this book deals with this massive topic is honestly amazing.

All in all this was a brilliant read about slut-shaming, male entitlement, feminism and a whole other bunch of important things. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not reading it.

(Review will be live on the blog 4/4/18 at 1pm)
So many people have been talking about this book and recommending it that I knew I had to read asap. Luckily I got a copy for review through Netgalley so many thanks to Netgalley and Electric Monkey.

This is not a light and fluffy story, which the cover may lead you to think at first glance. Oh no. It is SO MUCH MORE. Let's start with Izzy. Sassy, funny and loving life Izzy. She is the girl I wish I could have been as a teen. Obviously things don't stay that way and this book does a brilliant job of looking into what really happens in a teens life when it comes to betrayal. A long this funny yet life changing road, Izzy is still relatable as she tries to find a way to overcome this and learn more about herself and others. She grows so much in this book, not just as a teen but as a woman. Her character is so refreshing to YA. I've not read anything else like it.

I'm not usually a fan of the dead parents trope but I loved the other parents that feature and Betty's portrayl in the book. They added depth to the story. Of course when something like this blows up, people will have a multitude of reactions and actions they take. I think this was done brilliantly and made the story all that more believable (though it worries me about how little the school did in the story. Is that what schools are really like or is it just over-placed for the book? Either way, pretty terrifying)

This book gets pretty dark the further it goes along but it just makes it feel all the more real because the world isn't just sunshine and roses. It has thorns. But we can grow past that and flourish.

I think this book is a cracking read that all sorts of people from all walks of life should read.

This was a book I have wanted to read for awhile. I am lucky enough to be on her Street Team and I have to start off by saying that she is an amazing person and so kind. This book comes with an important message, but brings it in such a wonderful way. Izzy writes a blog and this is basically how her story is told. Laura Steven has an amazing way with words. Izzy is funny. She knows how to tell jokes, but it may just be a way for her to cope with things in life, like losing her parents at such a young age. Her grandmother took over the parenting and they do the best they can. Everything seems okay until the pictures of Izzy having sex with a senator’s son. It quickly becomes her fault, which is wrong in so many ways. Too often these days in society, the girls are blamed for stuff like this, they are acting out or misbehaving, while when a boy does it, it’s simply ‘boys will be boys’. Or her supposed best friend trying to guilt her into dating him, because he has always been there for her and has helped her out. There is a lot of betrayal in this book. The fact that the guys she slept with didn’t get any bad attention for this just shows how wrong this world can be. I was literally upset for Izzy. I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it must be to go through something like that. This book gives a great message though. It isn’t okay for girls to be treated like that and they shouldn’t feel bad for being who they are. I really think this should be required reading. I was done with this book before I knew it. The author took a subject that is very realistic and told an amazing story. I have no bad things to say about this book. This book made me laugh, cry, but I closed the book with a smile on my face.

Hmmm… I have to admit I’m finding this book rather hard to rate and review. I do think it’s an important read, and I’d certainly recommend for the very current and very real issues it highlights but I’m not sure I would say I really enjoyed it.

It’s probably one of the most frank, open and honest books I’ve come across which is fantastic but it didn’t make for a particularly comfortable read. This is most definitely a good thing as it brings a lot of issues out into the open and makes you question your own views and judgments but I do feel like things were a little over exaggerated and the story occasionally lacked balance.

It possibly didn’t help that Izzy is pretty much the exact opposite of me, extroverted, always wanting to be the center of attention, open about everything, tells a lot of crude jokes and thinks nothing of getting drunk and having sex with someone (or two someones) she barely knows at a party. I couldn’t relate at all especially in the first half of the book and honestly if I met her in real life I’d be terrified (and probably a bit in awe) of her.

She is however the perfect character for this story as she challenges expectations. She’s not afraid to admit to what she does and is very open about her attitudes to sex and her body. I will admit I found some of her attitudes kind of shocking but only because it’s so completely different from what I know and expect, but again, I think this is the point. It shouldn’t be shocking for her to have those types of attitudes and my reaction just proves how ingrained this double standard is in our society.

There have been quite a few books recently which have dealt with this double standard, how boys will be boys while girls are sluts if they do, prudes if they don’t but I think this is the first book I’ve come across with a female character who is so sexually experienced and open about her enjoyment of sex. More often than not in these types of stories someone is falsely accused or slut shamed for something relatively minor like the way they look or a one off event. This book proposes the wild and wacky notion that actually some girls enjoy sex and are not ashamed of it (and they shouldn’t feel like they should be).

I also love how it raises the lesser known issue of the nice guy and the friend zone. The guy who believes you should be grateful to them (aka sleep with them) just because they’re decent and if you don’t there’s something wrong with you.

There’s a lot to think about in this book and it is a fast paced and easy read. I found my attitude towards Izzy changing over the course of the story and I really liked how she developed. I also have to say how much I loved the strong female relationships in the book, Izzy and BFF Ajita, Izzy and her grandmother and even Izzy’s relationship with a teacher.

There were a few elements that stretched credibility, I can’t believe this would have blown into such a big story and I can’t believe a school would act the way they did and there would be so little consequences for the person responsible for what is essentially revenge porn. I also found Izzy’s voice a little too extra at times but overall this is an excellent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC. All views are my own.

This reminded me of another debut, in that a rumour in that book is actually true. The main character Izzy has actually done the deed of sex and is eighteen so it her legal choice to make. Lot of books that have slut shaming in it, dance around the act of sex as though it is something to be shamed off, which is not. Its normal and everyone wants to get down (unless you're asexual and just enjoy a fine friendship).

This is meant to be a memoir of sorts in the world of this novel. I don't buy that it would be published in that state due to legal issues mainly. I buy it as a first draft, before an editor steps in, to say we do not want to get sued. It was originally blog posts (a diary basically) with notes from a future Izzy. It's works okay, I buy it mostly as a diary.

Friendships play a lot in this book, basically it the actual plot of the book, so I'm hesitant to discuss in detail and spoil the book. Izzy has good; complicated and bad relationships through the books. I think it done well and none of the characterisation feels for the sake of the plot.

An issue with the book is that Izzy's best friend, Ajita while being well rounded, is often referred to be being "Three Feet tall" and "a midget". The thing is I'm snot sure if this is true or not. It just that Lizzy and another character specifically said that she was three feet, whilst it never address in non-comic way and the way that Ajita is typically treated I think it's not true as if she was three feet tall then she would have to have a medical condition and her parents expectation would be different. This is a very normal way to mock ones friends and I often call my sister a "midget" with her medical condition that effected her height. Ajita's height is just brought up a lot for some reason. There was also a girl in wheelchair that's portrayed as the only nice one and feels very token. She just doesn't appear enough for her to be anything else and feels like the misfit with the heart of golden typical to teen media.

This is set in America and written by a British person. I get the choice to set in America as in Britain this was less likely take off as a scandal.(The website along could definitely been taken as a form of Cyberbullying and British School like to act as though they care because they feel like they're being publicly shamed). Slut shaming while being a thing in Britain, is less felt and more focus at sex workers, though nude pictures leaked is big thing everywhere for some reason for woman. Basically, unless she had did it with an actual MP, then this story would not be picked up the British Press. There is British-isms sprinkled throughout the novel. Like headteacher and prefects which is something I thought only private American school tend to have. Obviously, I'm not American and Americans do take from British culture, just every once and a while Lizzy went very British and besides Harry Potter doesn't have any interest in British Culture.

Lizzy is also a poor and the discussion about whether she can/should go to college is discussed a lot. She likes writing and making films. It fine background plot but it makes a good one. Though, I do feel like her YouTube (or whatever) channel should have blow up with everything that was happening at the time. Her Instagram does, so maybe she just has that thing hidden well.

Overall, I give this book 4/5 stars for "The Feels". I liked the attempt mostly to discuss slut shaming and shine a light at the weird double standards that girls and woman have to live through while having jabs at unsavoury Journalist (which Britain publicly has. Why does Piers Morgan still get work?). It tries to do lot but is good attempt at debut. It just good to have a book like aimed at teens discussing this bull and I think it adds to that conversation well. Something could be improved, but as whole its a light and interesting read. (my version of light, what are other people's?)

A must read for all modern feminists, young & old! I laughed, I hugged the book, and I felt Izzy's rage as I cheered her on through every turn of the page. I truly hope this ends up on the curriculum as it handles delicate topics deftly and does so with humour, which always makes awkward conversations easier. I have a feeling I'll be seeing this on many best of 2018 lists!

The Exact Opposite of Okay
by Laura Stevens
3.75-4 out of 5

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

So I would consider this to be my first completed book of the year, and it was an amazing one at that.

The Exact Opposite of Okay by Laura Stevens is a novel (to be honest I don’t know what genre to put it in- contemporary/ coming of age?) about a girl called Izzy, who is an aspiring comedian and screenwriter who life begins to fall apart when nude photos of her are leaked on the internet.
Izzy feels her life crumble away, making her lose almost everything which is important to her.

At the start of the novel, I wasn’t a fan- I found Izzy to be a try hard and a lot of her humour just fell flat. The jokes were cringey and borderline offensive sometimes. It wasn’t enough to make me put down the novel, but it was definitely I turn off. I think that the humour was intended to balance out with the serious nature of the book, but it wasn’t necessary, if that was the case. Sometimes it also felt misplaced when juxtaposed with elements of the novel which were very serious.

Characters that I loved from the start were Betty and Ajita. They were funny in the right places and overall very lovely. I found myself incredibly invested in them, I think more so than in Izzy. It was very relatable that Betty worked so hard and her relationship with Izzy. It was nice that Stevens included an alternative mother figure in Betty, and the relationship dynamic I got to see between the two. I think that everyone wants a friend like Ajita too, although her taste in gifts is a little suspect.

Danny...well, I never liked him. He was somewhat predictable and annoying and whiny and overall quite detestable.

The plotline felt kind of slow at parts, but I loved the premise of the novel. Sexting and revenge porn and cyberbullying are really important problems which are addressed well in the book, as well as the implications and responses to such things happening. It’s an important book to read, so I would definitely recommend it, although it might be slightly triggering to some people.

However, there were other important topics discussed in the book, eg, feminism and others which may spoil the plot line so will not be mentioned- which I think were done poorly. I disliked the way Izzy addressed some things and just cringed and felt a little frustrated when reading.

Izzy wasn’t the most relatable character, because she made some poor decisions in the duration of the book, but she dealt with her situation well, and I found that admirable. By the end of the novel, I was rooting for her and the ending, although not what I was expecting, was satisfactory.

In short, this book wasn’t the best book in the world, but I would consider it an important read as it deals with a serious global problem quite well. I would recommend it, but please keep in mind that it deals with quite serious topics.

I was excited for this book the moment I heard about it on twitter, and after missing out on an arc at YALC, I was over the moon to receive a copy through netgalley. This book has an array of tough subjects including slut-shaming, revenge porn, and the different standards placed upon men and women in terms of sexual behaviour.
Izzy is a wonderful, funny protagonist who tells her story through a series of blog posts, meaning that you really get to understand her way of thinking and processing events as they occur. Her reputation takes a complete nosedive and the events in the book are nothing short of tragic, but the ways she deals with said events are so inspiring and brave. She makes you laugh hysterically and she makes you want to wrap her up in a warm blanket and tell her that everything is going to be okay. I loved the messages of sex positivity and feminism in this book and overall just really loved this book.

I loved this book! I flew through it recently when I had to travel for work, it’s just so readable. Izzy is an interesting character, both unapologetic in her behaviour but like every teenage girl alive, acutely aware of what people think about her.

This book deals with a lot of complex topics in 350 pages: slut shaming, white privilege, poverty, LGBT issues, feminism, revenge porn, male privilege, societies fascination with viral news and I have to say it deals with them all in a very sensitive and mature manner. This is the kind of book that should be recommended reading for teenagers.

Izzy’s relationship with Ajita, her best friend, was the perfect example of a true female friendship. She’s Izzy’s ride or die throughout, sticking up for her and she’s ready to call out bullshit as soon as she sees it. When Ajita, who’s dealing with her own life issues, gets caught in the media crossfire I was devastated for both her and Izzy and a few tears were shed, not going to lie.

Can we take a little moment to talk about Danny, Izzy and Ajita’s other best friend. Danny was (spoiler alert) the worst person in the world but I challenge you to find any woman out there who doesn’t know a Danny. His depiction was so accurate and reminiscent of the many Danny’s I’ve known in my life. I think his inclusion was super important for a contemporary YA novel and I applaud Steven’s for that. At the risk of sounding alarmist, teenage girls need to know that even their closest male friends could be the one’s who hurt them the most.
RATING – 5 stars!

I will say it again, this book is fantastic and deserves to have more hype around it. If you’re a fan of YA contemporary, please do yourself a favour and check this out.

Thanks to NetGalley, Egmont Publishing and Electric Monkey for the ARC copy of this title.

I was given an e-copy of this book in exchange or an honest review by the publisher via netgalley.
Unfortunately I had to DNF at 40%, (I spoke to a friend who liked it so tried to push through, but they did mention that two other friends disliked it so I think it is perhaps one that divides opinions.)

I was surprised I felt this way as I have enjoyed previous YA novels that tackle feminism and/or slut shaming novels such Moxie, The Spinster Series, the Truth About Alice, and Asking For It. And I am all for a humorous main character (the MC is an aspiring screen writer/comic) but I found her voice didn't ring true and genuine to me, (didn't feel like an accurate representation of the teens I work with) and I found it grated on me too much. Sorry!

I may try again with this one in the future, and perhaps it was simply caused by me coming from a more sombre adult novel to this, which was a sudden tone change that didn't agree with me? I do understand why a lot of people like it and will still be getting it for our school library for the older teens :)

Izzy O’Neill is your typical high school senior. She has a lot of friends, she has a very busy life, she has started her plans for the future and she has sex. Nothing out of the ordinary. Izzy has her nudes and sexual “escapades” leaked online via the website “world-class-whore.” After one of her “conquests” is found out to be the republican senator’s son, Izzy finds herself at the centre of a national scandal.

Everyone needs to go an pick up this book and give it a read immediately. You are certain to angrily scream at the way Izzy is being treated. Izzy is hilarious and a very true to real life teenage girl. She is a such a strong woman and handles everything that is thrown at her so well. None of the trouble she gets into is because of her! Grandma Betty and her best friend Ajita help her through all of her troubles and offer support when it is needed. I love the journey that Izzy goes on throughout this book. She learns a lot about privacy, equality, male entitlement, feminism, privileged and the importance of people you love and who love you back. Izzy’s character was so likeable and absolutely hilarious. I wish I had the comedic genius that Izzy has. I would also like an Ajita spin-off if that would be possible. I loved her character and want a lot more of her story.

This book taught me a lot about feminism and equality. I would like to read more books that tackle feminism. Thanks to this book I really want to learn a lot more about feminism. I had also never realised how much of an issue the friend-zone is. Men can feel as though they are so entitled to a woman if they treat her and spend a lot of money on her when in all honestly they really aren’t and should stop thinking this is a thing that works.

Laura Steven’s writing is beautiful and made reading this book so easy. I love that she is raising awareness of all the problems that women are currently facing in society. I will certainly be picking up any other book that Lauren Steven writes in the future.

I have to mention this quote as I relate to it so much! I left university after my first year because I was not enjoying it and didn’t feel like it was beneficial to me. I then went on to try and find a job, this took a number of months, so I found this quote hilarious!

“Have you tried to find a job?”
“Good God, that’s brilliant!” I gasp, faux-astounded. “I had not previously considered this course of action!”

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to everyone out there! If you are trying to learn a little more about feminism and the problems women face in society today then this book is definitely for you. It is a heart-warming book and packed full of information. I will certainly recommending this book to everyone that I know.

Thank you to Egmont Publishing, Electric Monkey, Laura Steven and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very funny book, with that wry sarcasm that allows the author to write around some sensitive topics without earnest preaching. Izzy is an 18 year old high-school student in small town USA, poor, bright, raised by her grandmother and now in the limelight of publicity due to an explicit photo making it onto national media...

I really liked Izzy's distinctive voice in The Exact Opposite of Okay, and I loved the way there were a lot of scenes and moments that rang so true to life that I could feel myself cringing as I read.

The author doesn't shy away from exploring the darker side of attraction and the line between stalking and the grand romantic gesture: this is a book that many young people, particularly female, will find opens their eyes to the behaviour that seems harmless but is anything but.