In many ways this is a book about Izzy as a normal teenager: going to school, hanging out with friends, worrying about what she will do when she leaves school. But undoubtedly the main focus of the book is on Izzy's sex life and how she should behave as a girl. Quite simply, I adore Izzy O'Neill.  She says what she thinks and is unashamedly living her life the way she wants.  In a society where boys who are sexually active (and vocal about it) are lauded as 'lads', but girls who do it are 'slags', this book is necessary if we are to challenge inequality in every area.

Izzy is witty and smart and loving.  She's likeable and clever and, well, ordinary.  And this combines to make her a great protagonist.  She is strong but she is also vulnerable and I think this combination helps make her great role model for teenage girls.

Whilst the plot focuses on Izzy's social media sex scandal fame, it provides a realistic portrayal of teenage life and how aware teens need to be of the dangers of social media and taking photos of themselves and sharing those photos.

'The Exact Opposite of Okay' has received so much praise and all deservedly so.  This is truly a fantastic YA novel that I will (and already have been) recommending to everyone!

OMG this book! So current, so important, so so needed! I was just constantly going "Yes! This!" throughout. I have never read a book that hits the mark so completely and it was just brilliant and incredible!

I loved the characters, Izzy is fantastically written, as is Ajita. I even liked Danny - at the start - Laura's characterisation is that good! Carson was sweet, Grandma Betty was awesome and I would have loved to have seen more of Meg, she seemed lovely. I loved the flow of the story and the way everything develops, it all felt so real!

This book seriously needs to be a must read in schools, the discussions around consent, slut-shaming, the friend-zone, double standards, revenge porn and race (mainly regarding Ajita) are so important to have.

5/5 stars

This book deserves all the stars I can give it!

What a fantastic read. I’ve heard so much positive praise for this book that when I was approved for a copy by NetGalley and the publisher, Electric Monkey, I was thrilled to be able to read it.

Reading the synopsis it was clear that the book deals with a variety of current, complex and controversial subjects but it’s only when I read the book that I realised exactly how many topics it covers: grief, slut-shaming, victim-blaming, sexism, feminism, white privilege, bullying, religion and revenge porn.
Now with all of these heavy subject matters, I expected a very serious book. Although all of these topics are serious issues and are sensitively handled and well written, the book is full of raucous and racy humour and made me laugh throughout.
Written in the form of first person blog posts, Izzy’s storytelling and sense of humour is sassy, sarcastic and self-deprecating.
As well as humour, Izzy’s story made me angry. Not at Izzy, but at the treatment she receives from people who should know better. Let’s be honest, as much as we might wish it were different, we know teenagers can be (to quote the fabulous Betty) “cretinous goblins” to each other but what you don’t expect is for your supposed ‘best friend’ to behave this way. Danny is the perfect example of this. What a despicable boy he is! His behaviour throughout the story is inexcusable and the most unforgivable in my opinion. Having said that, the behaviour of some of the adults in this story is abhorrent. Mr Wong, Miss Castillo and Principal Schumer for example. These are adults in positions of authority and are supposed to safe guard student welfare. Instead they are just as bad as the teenagers they teach, indulging in the same bullying behaviour they should be protecting Izzy from. It boiled my blood!! 😡🤬😡

Izzy’s response to the whole situation made me so proud of her. Although she knows she hasn’t always made the best decisions she owns them and her right to make them. She fully embraces her sexuality in such an open and honest way that is refreshing. I loved that instead of hiding away and letting the bullies win she faces them all with her head held high. A fantastic role model and heroine to all young girls!

I adored the relationships in this book. They were so authentic and heartwarming, offering some light in the otherwise darkness displayed by most of humanity during the telling of Izzy’s story.
The friendship between Izzy and Ajita is fantastically written. Loyal, funny and supportive, Ajita is the best friend everyone wants and should have in their lives. She’s awesome!
The love between Izzy and her grandmother, Betty, is beautiful. Since Izzy’s parents died, Betty has been both mother and father to Izzy. This has been tough, resulting in very little money and Betty having to work well passed her retirement age but despite this their bond is strong and the love is unconditional. Betty never judges Izzy for any of the things that happen and that kind of support is worth all the money in the world.

This book is so well written that despite the humour Izzy’s brings to most situations, you cannot escape the serious messages being portrayed.
In a time where women are standing up for themselves through the “Me Too” and “Time’s Up” movements, The Exact Opposite of Okay is a welcome addition to the fight against inequality in modern day society.

A huge 5 stars and a recommendation to read this book ASAP!

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

I totally loved the book and would definitely like to Thank Netgalley for giving me a opportunity for reading the book. Seriously I think the book is getting published at a perfect time as Women are standing up for their rights with Time’s Up Movement and Me Too Movement supporting them.

WHAT I LOVED ABOUT THE BOOK?

There are many things I loved about the book and one of them was the witty and humorous narration of the story. Literally I was laughing loud at the witty jokes . I would seriously love to place the book in the realistic YA genre altogether as the book deals with some serious shit. This book has everything to offer to readers and it will also broaden the horizon of the reader’s.

Izzy O'Neill is a witty, confident and outspoken teenager who is embroiled in a sex scandal when nudes of her are leaked online. Sounds like simple tagline for one of the most important books of the year.
This debut novel deals with so much more than feminism and the effects of peer pressure and bullying. It touches on gender-bias, grief, bereavement, institutional sexism and cultural standards of femininity.
Some reviewers have said that they find Izzy too sarcastic and not at all realistic but I think her vulnerability is clear under the outwardly jovial posts.
She makes mistakes but she owns up to those mistakes with maturity. I couldn't help but adore her as the voice of the story.
I don't want to spoil the story but I think it is important that this is read by both boys and girls of any age who want equality and aren't afraid to think about things differently.
Keywords for this novel? Important, riveting, challenging, humorous, touching, heart-breaking, essential and affirming.
Please read this book.

* Thank you NetGalley and Egmont Publishers for my eARC in exchange for an honest review. *

Meet Izzy, our narrator. She is a typical high school teenager, doing typical teenager stuff. She has a lovely friendship group and dreams of a life a screenplay writer.

Izzy’s world is turned upside down when explicit pictures of her and the son of a senator are shared on a website where she is called a world-class whore. From that moment it all goes downhill, and Izzy is not only slut-shamed by her peers at school, but also by one of her teachers.

But Izzy is brave and strong. Much braver and stronger than she thinks she is. She keeps showing up for school regardless of the slut-shaming and laughs a lot of it off with her friend.

When she realises she has done nothing wrong at all, she gets angry, because slut-shaming (or any form of -online- bullying) is not okay. The exact opposite of okay!

Izzy tells us her story through all her blog posts, which are basically her brain-dumps without any filter. This is why Izzy is so easy to connect with. I loved her witty remarks and her sarcasm.

I loved how this book touches an important subject as sexist double standards between boys/men and girls/women and how social media’s influence plays a part in that. How boys are 'legends' and 'lads' and girls are 'a whore' or 'a slut', and how your peers think it is okay to call you whatever they want. But it is not, and I hope this book will start that conversation. Especially in this day and age of social media.

Calling all fans of equal pay, Holly Bourne and women having the vote, this is the newest feminist YA book that you need in your life. Not only is this cover stunning, but the book inside is too and one that has made quite a large impact on me.

I love reading feminist YA, from Moxie to The Nowhere Girls and It Only Happens In The Movies, these books are empowering examples of why teenage girls (and everyone else) needs to stand up for equality. It's for all of those people out there who say feminism "isn't needed anymore". For those who don't realise their own sexist behaviour because it's so normalised.

That's where The Exact Opposite of Okay comes in. Welcome to the witty world of Izzy O'Neill. She's a self-labelled "tragic orphan" with an interests in screen-writing, partying and living with her grandma, Betty (legend).

Izzy's not ashamed to be a teenager that has one night stands. Why should she? If the guys at her school are practically worshipped for their sexual endeavours, why can't she have a little fun? It's not something she thought too much about before that night.

When a photo leaks and a website launches, Izzy's life changes. She might joke about it on every page of the blog she's turning into a book but, understandably, it's an incredibly hard thing to go through.

The thing that makes this book so great is that it doesn't just deal with nude photos, sex scandals, and objectification. It also covers the friendzone and nice guy complex too and I don't think I've ever read about that in YA before. Izzy's voice is powerful and distinctive so if you're a fan of character-led YA, this one's for you.

I absolutely loved how, right from the offset, Izzy stood up for herself. She recognised the shit she was being put through and tried to verbalise that to those around her. The worse it got, the more she dug her heels in. There was no learning curve, Izzy knew herself from the beginning and that made this book even more incredible.

I absolutely loved this wonderful book even though I am significantly older than its target audience and I would not usually to read this genre of book.
I do occasional like to read YA books to keep in touch with what my nieces and children’s friends are reading and so that I can make recommendations, discuss books with them and of course buy presents (knowing beforehand whether or not they are suitable).
I would certainly say I will buying this one for my 15 and a half year old niece and possibly my 13 year godson in the next twelve months.
The reason why I will be buying this books is because it raises such important issues about growing up, changing friend groups, the different ways society treats boys and girls (and men and women) when it comes to their sex lives (men still seen as ‘players’ while girls are still ‘slut shamed’.
Also, it deals with the importance of ensuring teens know the dangers of sharing explicit photos and learn about cyber security and what can go wrong if relationships turn sour.
The story is told through the blog entries of the main character of 18 year old Izzy. She is like most teenagers with the usual problems, but is different to many of her contemporaries as she comes from a poorer background having been raised by her grandmother following the deaths of her parents when she was very young.
The events that happen to her in the book highlight other differences between her and her friends and deal with the issues I’ve mentioned above in an honest, sensitive and at times very emotional way. But at most times Izzy’s wonderful sense of humour continues to shine through.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance Kindle Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’d highly recommend this book to all YA (mature younger readers (with a caveat there is swearing and obviously sexual references)) and older readers who enjoy a nice light read on this important topic. It certainly took me back to my younger days and made me very grateful technology was not so widely used so we were not faced with such challenging issues.

Izzy is a wannabe comic, a poor orphan who lives with her kooky grandma, and a massive slut. Or rather, that's what a malicious website is telling everyone. And it's getting harder to ignore the situation when photos of her with a politician's son put her slap bang in the middle of a national scandal. 

I love me a socially conscious YA book, which this definitely is. Addressing slut shaming, feminism, racism and plenty more besides, this is a book with a great message wrapped up in a funny and poignant wrapper. Written mainly as private blog entries, Izzy is a hilarious narrator and her back and forth conversations with both her grandmother, Betty, and her best friend Ajita are a joy to read. Not only is she hilarious, she actually felt like a really real teenager - which I don't feel is always the case in YA. She's equal parts confident in herself and a mess of insecurities. She doesn't act perfectly but her heart is in the right place, and she certainly doesn't deserve what happens to her at the hands of her anonymous assailant. 

You really go on a journey with Izzy over the course of this book, as she faces the challenges thrown her way, and you feel it all with her - the despair and distress and anger and injustice. It's scarily realistic to consider how easily this could happen - the media circus around a teenage girl exactly just like a teenage girl. It's really a great read.

Izzy made me think of an older, American and orphaned Georgia Nicholson. The humour and tone were very similar and as a huge fan of the Georgia Nicholson series, I loved the voice. It's funny and sarcastic. The story deals with very hot topics: slut shaming and revenge porn and does so in a way that I haven't really come across yet due to Izzy's great tone of voice.

Growing up in a social medi world where your every move and act can be recorded, broadcast and commented upon, I hope this story will show teenagers how quickly things can escalate. It also shows makes sure to show that a girl's body is her own and she should be able to do whatever she wants with it (as long as it doesn't hurt anyone) without being judged and ostracised.

All in all a great book. The only criticism would be that it does get a little preachy towards the end.

So this has gone straight in as my favourite book of all time.

"If people cared more about being kind than being successful, the world would be a much better place"

Ok so there is no way for me to write this review without being incredibly personal but oh my God I wish Izzy O'Neill had been around when I was at school. I relate to her on so many levels it's almost scary. I genuinely believe that this book will change the way 'sluts' are viewed and am ready to proudly declare my love for this book to anyone who will listen. And those who aren't interested because they need this. Everyone needs this.

So here we go, when I was in school I was slut shamed. Mostly by some of my 'friends' (lol at my terrible teenage friendship choices) for sleeping with my boyfriend. It wasn't as extreme as Izzy's experience and there were no pictures making the rounds. I wouldn't say I was harassed or even necessarily bullied but it happened and it was embarrassing and the people who shamed me were so incredibly sly about it that they made me think they were concerned not just being awful people. A lot of time has now gone by and I no longer speak to any of those people but oh my word did this book take me back to that time. I was also taken to one side by a teacher (middle aged man) who told me that I was too young and needed to stop having sex.

Thinking back on all of this makes me so angry, but I never stood up for myself because the shame is so real and so difficult to explain to someone who has never been in the situation.

I get that this book may be a little polarising and maybe Izzy isn't everyone's cup of tea but honestly if this book had been around at the time I was being shamed for having sex with my boyfriend I think it would have given me far much more confidence to stand up to the bullshit and call it out.

On top of the very personal connection I felt with Izzy and her situation, this book is so much more. The social commentary is exceptional, with discussions surrounding the 'nice guy', slut shaming (obviously), feminism in general, LGBT issues, multiculturalism & many more. Izzy is an orphan so there's also the undercurrent of her being raised by her grandmother and the guilt that both of them feel about the situation. I loved the discussions about the role of Izzy's school and the way they reacted.

It's also hilarious. I think I literally laughed on every page, Izzy & Ajita are just my kind of people I guess. And when I wasn't laughing, it had me in tears or absolutely raging with anger at the injustice of it all.

The only issue I had was that is was incredibly obvious right from the get go who set the website up- although I had moments where I doubted myself, it was very clear all the way through.

I was fully willing to break my book buying ban for a physical copy of this. I was going to argue my case for buying it to my friend but she's the best and is getting it for me so the ban is still in place because you just need a copy of your favourite book right? (That is a rhetorical question, of course you do)

I first want to start out with the beginning of this book, Izzy our main character is talking to you the reader about how her story happened. Its told in a very humorous way and was hooked from the witty remarks. All throughout I found myself laughing at different scenes and think Laura Steven did a really good job on making sure that she kept the story lighthearted even though this book does deal with heavy topics.

This book does delve into serious and heartbreaking scenarios and you really do feel for the main protagonist, Especially when you realize that this does happen in our society and not just in books. It really does show through, Deeper into the story how Izzy as a character is trying to cope with all this attention and how it is affecting her and the people around her.

There is a trigger warning for Slut Shaming, Mental Health and reference to suicide

I really did enjoy this book from the laughing fits to feeling emotional and back to ugly laughing but mostly from the array of issues that were mentioned from Slut shaming, Race to Equality. I would recommended this book to everyone with the exception of trigger warnings.

Told through blog posts, The Exact Opposite of Okay reads as a feminist manifesto for the digital age. Slut-shaming, revenge porn, and the friend-zone all get a thorough examination through Izzy's story and from the very start Izzy knows exactly who is in the wrong in every case, and it isn't her. Although it can feel at times as though the reader is getting hit over the head with a very specific message, these are important messages to tell and it's great to see a female teenage character who is so confident in herself and her own decisions.

Of course, as Izzy begins to see the negative effects from the website, and as her friendship with Danny begins to slide rapidly downhill thanks to his ever growing Nice Guy routine, her confidence and strength begin to waver, but it would have been unrealistic if they hadn't. The invasion of her privacy and the subsequent reactions from those around her really knock Izzy for six in a way that is crushingly realistic and important to see, but the real heartache comes when Izzy fears she may have accidentally hurt her best friend, Ajita, or embarrassed her grandmother, who supports her unconditionally. These are the things that truly break Izzy's heart, and her sense of humour is such an integral part of both the story and her personality that it is hard not to feel heartbroken too when her devastation breaks through.

Refreshingly for a teen protagonist, Izzy has no real desire to go to college. It's only her and her grandmother at home and, like plenty of real life teenagers, she knows they would never be able to afford a college education for her, and so she throws herself into writing her screenplay instead, hoping that this passion for comedy might be a better way of making a living one day, and in the mean time, it will be something fun to do while she works, and if it's never any more than that, then that's fine too. Izzy is down to earth and realistic but she is also smart and hilarious and if a film written by her was as funny as her blog posts, then I'd watch it in a heartbeat. The messages in this book are certainly important, but the real enjoyment of it comes from that sense of humour and I defy anyone to read The Exact Opposite of Okay and not laugh out loud at least once.

WOW. Such a wonderful book to read. I absolutely loved it. It had me hooked from the beginning. I found the ending so unexpected, it was great. This book addresses important issues and has such great characters that I loved reading about and seeing develop.

I really enjoyed this book. It addressed well some really pertinent issues at the moment, not glorifying them or glossing over them, and did so with a protagonist's voice that was relatable and light-hearted. On the whole, the book was well written, handled issues well, and even ended on a strong note (I particularly enjoyed the final blog posts and how well Steven communicated the issues addressed), although I wasn't 100% sold on the letter - a reaction from Izzy may have been nice. Still, it wasn't suddenly "and everyone realized how insensitive/misogynistic they were being" or "and everyone lived happily ever after", which was a huge relief. However, if I'm honest, there were a couple of comments Izzy made at the beginning of the book that didn't sit well with me, being reflections of behaviour and attitudes she was arguing against men/society displaying towards women, and I was a little disappointed that these were never addressed. Plus, the dead parents point came up A LOT and it got pretty old pretty quickly - I'm not sure teachers/principals would be dragging it up thirteen years after it happened. BUT Steven handles and addresses the topic so well and in such a relatable manner that I think this book will go far - I'll certainly be recommending it around my circles!

"Basically, if you're a woman, you're damned if you do and damned if you don't."



This book was so brilliantly funny, I found myself unable to put it down and raced through it in a matter of hours.

Full of wit and humour, this follows the story of Izzy, a strong-minded feminist determined to prove people wrong and fight for her beliefs. After a website leaks photos of her in several precarious situations, one of which involving the local politicians son, her life is turned upside down. But Izzy won't let it get to her, right? After all, it's her body, her sex life, so why should other people care?



Handling a variety of topics, it's hard to believe this is a debut novel. Honestly, I fell in love with this book almost instantaneously. Izzy's wit and sarcasm are present from the very first paragraph, and you can't help but laugh as she tells her story. Being stuck in such an awkward situation, Izzy doesn't seem to let it phase her too much. Sure, it sucks, and it's making her life a living hell, but she never falters in her self-belief.

With the main focus being the sex scandal Izzy finds herself a part of, the extent to which other topics are covered really took me by surprise. Orphaned when she was younger, Izzy has been brought up by her grandmother, and when you really look at the major family dynamics littered throughout the novel, several difficult situations are tackled. First and foremost, the difficulty in raising an orphan, whilst earning enough to keep yourself afloat is one of the major plot points. Izzy doesn't want to feel like a charity case, which unfortunately for her, is something that happens way too often (this also links in to the overall story arc and made for a very interesting dynamic between two of the characters). But in addition to her difficult family situation, her friends are also in awkward positions. Take Danny for example, an only child, whose parents are on the verge of separation, or Ajita, brought up in a traditional Indian family and keeping a massive secret.

Sexuality is also covered, with one of the characters still in the closet, and others having no specific sexuality outlined for them. I have to admit, I prefer to think of characters in my own way, never labeling them generically and instead thinking of them as I would anyone else. I never assume. The fluidity of sexuality in this novel was done brilliantly, and although sometimes it felt like it was included just to cover all bases, it never reached the extent to which I've seen before. Nowadays LGBTQ+ characters are almost forced into books, just to make sure you can reach a wider audience, but with Opposite of Okay it wasn't a case of being forced in, just the odd mention every now and then so you wouldn't forget. I know this sounds like I'm complaining, but I'm really not. I adored the inclusion, and thought the way it was handled was fantastic for a debut, never detracting from the main story line. 

But what really stood out for me were the characters and their wonderful personalities. Laura's writing allowed for such diverse people to be created, breathing life into them and making them come off the page in a way that felt refreshing. Izzy's humour was fantastic, and her originality and self-confidence were a nice change to the standard female protagonist you see in contemporary YA. She's not pining after a boy, needing to be rescued, she's fighting female oppression, and holds herself high in the face of adversity. And these are just a few of the many reasons I love her.

Her entire story arc is interesting, from blogger/comedian to internet stardom (albeit for all the wrong reasons), and her friends and family were so supportive and made for a fabulous cast of characters. If I were in Izzy's position, I'd love to have a friend like Ajita, who no matter what happened, was always there, just as witty as Izzy (if not funnier sometimes) and 100% understanding. She never judged Izzy for her actions, nor did she listen to those telling her she could do with better friends, and her loyalty never wavered. Even when rifts appeared in the little trio we're introduced to, Ajita remains faithful to both her friends, and doesn't let group politics intercept her individual relationships.

The one character I regarded with a pinch of salt was Danny. A friend since childhood, Danny should have been there for Izzy, sticking by her just like Ajita, but instead we see turmoil, torn between friend and wanting to be more. Only, when his affections aren't reciprocated and the internet leak causes havoc, Danny doesn't stand by his friend, and instead acts ridiculously privileged. It makes for a very interesting dynamic, fueling the story perfectly, as well as combating the dreaded topic of the 'friend-zone'(done brilliantly by the way).

"I get why he's lashing out. As a privileged white dude, he's used to being able to buy whatever he wants. He lives in a country where even the presidency can be bought. But he can't buy my love. And that frustrates the hell out of him."

Of course, there were a couple of things I struggled to wrap my head around. For starters, this is written by a UK author, but is based in America, which made it difficult for me to distinguish between what I know to be school life here in the UK, and what I've seen/heard/read about in regards to the education system in the US. This wasn't necessarily a problem, but it did make me wonder why Laura had written it from a US point of view (maybe I'm being stupid and I've got my wires crossed, but I was confused).

In addition to this, the premise is focused on the implications of a sex scandal with a politicians son, but for the majority of this story that remains a background topic. Sure, it's kick started by this big event involving the dreaded photo, but it's definitely not the major focus, only the spark. I would still have picked this book up regardless, and definitely recommend that everyone reads this, mainly for the humour if you aren't bothered about the feminism, but I think I was expecting something a little different. And boy, I'm glad this wasn't what I was expecting, because it was so much better than that, but if you're expecting something that focuses on politics, you'll be let down.

Overall I fell in love with this story, and love the way in which it combats what people see as feminism. Okay, Izzy isn't perfect, her life is a mess and what happens to her is something that is seen as 'slutty', but her way of dealing with things, the support she receives, and her entire story is just so heart-warming and needed that I would happily shove this book into any teenage girls hands and urge her to read it straight away. I can't wait to see what Laura Steven does next.

"Bitches bite back. And men hate that. Society hates that."

Reading The Exact Opposite of Okay was not easy. It's horribly uncomfortable to see yourself reflected in one of the characters of a novel in a negative way. But that's one of the reasons why I think this book is so important and so powerful. Yes, we need to teach our young girls about feminism, tell them "This is okay for you to do." and "This is not okay for people to do to you." But we also need to teach our boys and men. "This is not okay. This is harmful, this is destructive." For me personally, a big part of that was the brutally effective way Laura Steven rips into the 'Nice guy myth' and the 'Friendzone." She takes it apart, examines it and shows just how wrong it is as a mode of behaviour or system of belief. I think I'm lucky, in a way, that while I was reading it I was reflecting on past behaviours more than anything else. It would have been a lot more painful to read a year ago, but I think it may have helped me even more back then.
There is so much packed into this book, yet it is done with such style that it never feels forced or over the top. The events that rock Izzy O'Neill's world feel like they flow organically, the slut shaming, the revenge porn and their consequences all have a common origin rather than Izzy being hit from all sides at once by separate disasters that can make some narratives feel forced.
Izzy starts off so delightfully confident in herself and very uninhibited. The shaming comes from the reactions of the people around her, and the loss of control, with the fact that she loses the right to choose who sees her body, with the hypocritical judgement that sees the men applauded and the women denounced for the same behaviour. It's a very emotional journey, and one that moved me deeply. Yet Izzy's story is also told with a lot of humour. She's an incredibly endearing heroine, always cracking jokes no matter how dark things get. I often found I was laughing through the tears. The humour really helps lighten the tone, and although this is a novel with a very serious message, it somehow avoids being a heavy read.

I struggled with this. I couldnt take anything in. I restarted and it still didn't make it any better.
I couldnt connect or care about the characters.

The title says it all really, this book is The Exact Opposite of Okay but in the best, most brilliant way possible. This book is really rather brilliant and one you are sure to see popping up on my blog quite regularly as a recommendation. It is hard to believe that Laura Steven is a debut novelist when the quality of her work is SO bold and brilliant. (I’ve used brilliant a lot, but you’ll get used to it.)

This book is going to create some serious waves out there in the book community because it is so fresh and it’s going to knock down so many societal barriers and cause a lot of conversation along the way. Izzy’s story is one of betrayal, unfortunately a betrayal that so many young people face: her nude picture is leaked online. Not only does that happen but before this a website is made defaming her name and sexual activities at a recent party. This book tells a very powerful story which talks about slut-shaming, victim blaming, revenge porn, ‘the nice guy’ and so much more. I loved how the feminist messages were laced throughout the book and for readers who do not know much about feminism or maybe are unsure what it means, this book will give some really good pointers which may feel relatable to some young girls in society.

Not only is this book an important one but oh my gosh is it funny. In fact it might even be one of the funniest books I’ve EVER read. I was cackling hysterically throughout this book (which I know doesn’t seem likely if you read the above paragraph) but Izzy’s voice is so fresh and I could immediately connect to her snarky sense of humour. I loved the format of the book which is a series of blog posts that Izzy edits to show how her situation came about (inserting lots of witty comments in brackets along the way). Because this book is told using a first person narrative I could so easily find parts of myself in Izzy and I think a lot of people reading this book will find more than one way to relate to her.

Laura Steven has written some absolutely incredible characters and relationships in this book. More about Izzy in a bit, but I just ADORED her friendship with Ajita (who is EVERY bit as snarky as Izzy, if not more). Their brutal humour with each other is something I could so relate to when thinking of the relationship I have with my own best friend. I personally really loved Ajita’s character development throughout the story too and how her culture affects her decisions. My other favourite relationship in this book was Izzy and Betty, her grandma. I can’t imagine ever having a relationship that open with my own nan but I can also see why I wouldn’t because I’ve not been brought up by her. There are some extremely touching moments between them in the book and it was these two lovelies that reduced me to a mass of tears towards the end.

As a teacher, can I also give a huge THANK YOU yell to Laura Steven for showing such a supportive and positive relationship between Izzy and her drama teacher Mrs Crannon. I could relate to this in two ways: as a pupil who sought comfort from some special teachers of my own and also, luckily, as a teacher who is lucky to have pupils who confide in me the way Izzy does to Mrs Crannon. It just really warmed my heart.

Izzy O’Neill is a strong-willed, bold and a fierce young lady to say the very least and I absolutely ADORED her for it. Izzy is the voice that I think UKYA has been SCREAMING out for and I just can’t get enough. I loved how snarky, witty and sarcastic she is, how loyal and loving she is but my favourite thing about Izzy? Yes she’s a tough cookie but she has the softest, gooiest interior and I loved that as the story developed we got to see her become more and more peeled back. I think that Izzy as a character is an often much needed reminder that even those around us we think are ‘strong’ may be feeling very different on the inside. (Izzy probably wouldn’t like me saying this but she is a sweetie.) I am a sucker for flawed and vulnerable characters and even more so when they conceal themselves behind a tougher exterior so Izzy has immediately become a favourite.

There was literally nothing I didn’t like about this book. I mean, even Izzy’s dog is called Dumbledore which sets the reader up for some hilarious lines throughout the book. I wasn’t expecting the book to have a US setting when I first started reading but it didn’t make any difference to my reading experience at all. I would just warn that there is a lot of swearing in the book, which I personally loved, but I know that may not be for everyone.

The Exact Opposite of Okay is a game changer for the UKYA community. It is charging head on at society and tackling some incredibly important issues in a way that is relatable. Izzy O’Neill is a darling and I can’t wait to read more from her next (that’s right readers, there’s going to be a sequel!)

This book first came on to my radar at YALC 2017. I unfortunately wasn't lucky enough to receive an arc however this was what made me so happy when I saw it on netgalley and was accepted to review this wonderful book. It was such an amazing and kind of quick read.

This book follows Izzy O'Neill who is a teenage orphan. Like most teenagers, she is figuring out her sexuality and unfortunately that's where this story goes awry. Her most intimate photos are leaked to a website and this causes an internal and external struggle for Izzy. This book was immensely funny and some of my favourite quotes from this book are so relatable. For example, 'I honestly do not know why guys think unsolicited dick pics are a turn on. Like have they ever seen a penis? Do they really look at their own genitals and think 'Yeah that looks good.' No. Exactly.' This had me cracking up because it's so relatable and such a shame that this thing happens to girls everyday. I'm honestly so glad I read this book because in today's society, it is needed. Plus the cover is 100% gorgeous.