I cannot find the words to describe how much I UTTERLY LOVE this book. Brilliantly written and hilariously funny (in parts) whilst having some very serious issues to deal with. This book is very apt with the current #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, but our main hero Johanna takes back control (of what was a pretty awful situation) in a spectacular way. Now whilst I did not feel completely sorry for the initial situation, she made a choice (and admits that), the fallout was something that has happened to many, many women all around the globe, and that was definitely not her choice. If anything you can see both sides, as the younger character points out when she is trying to be warned off from a famous sex-pest. I love Johanna, her spirit and bravado (a world away from what I was at 19) and would love to see Caitlin write more from her in the 00's and current times.

I enjoyed this book, especially the references to the 1990s, where I would have been the same age as the main character. Centres around the story of a young girl who has unwittingly become involved in a sex tape scandal. with all the controversy surrounding the 'me too' movement and the treatment of women, highlights how long this kind of behaviour has been going on in and out of the public eye. often funny, I did think the character seemed older than her years and her youth was lost in the story, but a generally good read,

Oh I'm so happy! I loved how to build a girl so I was really pleased to get this one. If anything I preferred this. It was so lovely (in a really gritty way) I love Dolly and the supporting characters. I cried and laughed, just fabulous!

First of all there's no warnings of content in this review - it's a Caitlin Moran book! I should think everyone will be aware of what you will get: strong swearing, sexual references, and feminist aspects to the story. The confessional-aside-to-the-reader tone of the book reminded me of "Are You There God It's Me, Margaret", if Margaret had liked to swear, have sex, and muse about whether the Brontes masturbated or not. I must admit that I haven't read the first book (How to Build A Girl) but I don't feel it was of any detriment to enjoying this one. Having grown up in the Britpop era, it was a bit of a nostalgic read in that area and the character of 19 year old 'Dolly Wilde' does become rather endearing after a couple of chapters.

Having been a teenage girl myself who harboured intense crushes on George Michael and Robbie Williams, amongst others, I've always had a theory that what is now termed "fangirling" (where teenage girls hero-worship boy bands or TV actors etc), is the outlet for female sexuality that porn is for teenage boys. Whereas one is tutted at but tacitly condoned, fangirling is derided. I think Moran definitely highlights some of the problems that this develops into; sexual shaming (females are sexualised but society doesn't want them to actually enjoy sex themselves), why it is that girls are expected to perform like porn stars whilst some guys barely make an effort, and finally the fact that modern culture likes to trivialise teenage girls (and to some extent all women) and anything they like as vapid and idiotic.

It is all dealt with in a fairly humorous yet poignant manner, although the author falls into the trap of treating a middle-aged male going through a midlife crisis as a figure of fun yet with affection, whereas the middle-aged female is a bit of a cliche. If Moran feels that teenage girls aren't allowed to own their sexuality, then what about women of a certain age who are not expected to have a sexuality at all? However I digress and that is a different book. I enjoyed this one but it's not for the easily offended.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

Continuing the story of Johanna Morrison, aka Dolly Wilde, from How To Be A Girl, this is Caitlin Moran at her best - funny, loud, full of rudeness and sex, and delivered in her authoritative Wolverhampton tone - laugh out loud funny, brilliant.

I did a dance of joy when I was approved for this book as I really liked "How to Build a Girl".
I started reading it and it was the beginning of a wonderful travel full of laughters, memories and nostalgia.
Everything was wonderful and fun to read and gave me a lot of food for thoughts at the same time.
This book is hard to review because it's hard to retell the pleasure I had in reading it.
Fun, pleasure of reading, memories, feminism.
A great book I highly recommend.
Many thanks to Penguin Random House UK and Netgalley for this ARC

I possibly should have noted that this was a sequel to How to Build a Girl since I wasn’t hugely fond of that book. I just saw the words ‘Cailin Moran’ and his ‘Request’. That said, while I prefer the author’s none fiction I did enjoy this. Her wit and vivacity, as well as her take no prisoners bullsh!t detector give her a unique voice. I was laughing out loud, even if I found the story a little thin at times. Still very funny and worth a read.