At 31, I am not the target audience for this book. But I enjoy the YA genre very much. This book was an enjoyable example of how when YA is done well, it can appeal to adults too. It had some very funny moments, and reminded me of a teenage Bridget Jones. I would like to see this become the start of a new series reminiscent of the Georgia Nicholson books.

I am probably not the best person to write an objective review of this book given that a) I didn't know this was a teen read when I chose it and b) I am 49 years old and even when I was at the age this book is aimed at, my younger self would have found the novel silly and frivolous.
Indeed I was not impressed with the first half of the book. I found the antics of Kat and her two best friends Sam and Millie to be excruciatingly daft. The book did not make me laugh out loud. It was crude, repetitious and I was clearly entirely the wrong audience.
However, the second half of the book suddenly lost the crudity and flibbertigibbet nature. Instead Kat's angst and mental health issues dominate and are explored with great sensitivity and complete understanding of how teenagers can feel growing up. It took me back to my own angst and made me extremely grateful not to be living through those painful and paralyzing years when being self conscious and riddled with self doubt can be the order of the day.
Kat has OCD, depression and anxiety and although she gets to see a therapist quickly and is on the mend before you can blink, for the young people the book is aimed at, this is just the right message: that lots of us live under social pressures and feel like we're different, but that by telling someone about how we feel we can recover and worries do not need to control our every waking thought. A hopeful message indeed.

I started this book with no expectations on what to expect. It is different to my usual genre of psychological thrillers and it was a welcome break to my normal reads.

I love how the book was written in a diary format and it leant itself to being read in short snippets. I read it quickly and loved how the plot developed and unfolded from being a lighthearted read to being a book written about mental health. Kat’s declining mental health was dealt with very sensitively and the issues surrounding helping someone with ill mental health were also handled with great care. It highlights how seeking help with mental health is key to improving it,

This book should be a must-read for teenagers, I’m sure it would help young people realise that their thoughts and experiences (and worries!) are not unique sports unheard of. I know I’d have loved this as a teenager.

I really enjoyed this book, and found it very funny. I wasn't sure I was going to like it at the start, but it grew from a few embarrassing situations to much more important situations. Very well written

Not your typical YA book. Here is a book with a difference. I really enjoyed reading this.
It certainly made me laugh.
Great read.
Thank you to both NetGalley and publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review

This is the diary of 15 year old Kat and how she is dealing with the stress of being a teenager and also wanting to be a good feminist. Right from the start it's a laugh out loud book and although it's aimed at young adults I think it would also strike a cord with women of any age.

It touchs on first love, rejection, bullying, friendship, mental health issue.

It's a quick and easy read tackling serious topics with humour.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the ARC.

I really wanted to love this book, and there were definitely good things in it. I think the themes of normalising mental health struggles, facing your peers with self-respect and body confidence are all, obviously, massively important to teens. The feminist message would also be of benefit for any young person to absorb fully. There is a lot in here of immense value. I just wonder if the average teen girl would be swept up in the story enough to give the messages a chance to get through? Perhaps it’s just me — I’m far from the target market after all — but it felt a bit like a non-fiction wrapped up in a story that I just didn’t find compelling. It was all a little too heavy-handed for my liking. Still, I would be happy for any girls I knew to read it — even if it doesn’t become their favourite story ever, they’ll at least have picked up some great, affirming messages along the way.

A fun, enjoyable read that tackles a lot of issues that young people have to deal with in our society.

This was an absolute wonderful read. It made me chuckle, laugh out loud, cringe on Kat's behalf, and cry a good few tears. Kate has tackled the subject of feminism and mental health in teens with wit and sensitivity. It can after all be a mind-field and even more so for our young women today. Teenage years are tougher than they've even been. Not only do our teenage girls have to cope with ever increasing exam pressure, living up to the unrealistic expectations of image and lifestyle plastered across social media, ever changing hormones and bodies, friendship issues and now the pressure to save the planet and fly the flag for feminism. That's too much pressure for anyone! Add into the mix a nasty bully and her hangers on and any one of us would find it just a little too much. Kate captures the tension, frustration and the overall mental effects brilliantly. In fact she hits the nail right on the head brilliantly.
As I watch events and feelings unfold through Kat's eyes there were times I was overcome with emotion. I could relate to her myself, as will anyone who has suffered from anxiety. I so wanted to hug Kat and tell her that everything would be okay. I will definitely be putting a copy in the school Library for our young ladies. I think Kat is 15-year-old that many will be able to relate to and Diary of a Confused Feminist speaks out about being open about mental health and how often we are not as alone as we might feel. Help is always close at hand. Kat is certainly a confused feminist and it's not hard to see why - there are SO many rules, so many people misinterpreting what feminism is all about but through Kat we get to see things a little clearer. This is a super debut and I certainly hope there will be more to come from Kate Weston.
Many thanks to Netgalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this homage to Louise Rennison. A million memories of the Georgia Nicolson series flooded back as I read this. I loved all the little nods to the series like the angry cat called Angus, comedy Phil instead of Dave the Laugh and naming one of the characters Jas.

Amidst all the comedy writing there are moments of real importance in terms of teenage anxiety, pressure at school and comparison between real life and Instagram. There are definitely some feminist issues tackled, but done so in a light-hearted relatable way. Especially moon cups.

This is the contemporary comedy book for teenage feminists that I've been waiting a long time for, and it didn't disappoint.

This is slow to start and it took me a while to get to like the protagonist, Kat. Latterly, as I persevered, I wondered if Kate Weston did this on purpose? As Kat progresses through her personal discovery, self reflects and learns to like herself, I became more fond of her. I feel she was a bit of a teen cliché initially but by the end of the novel, she develops into a fully realised character... which reflects the arc Weston has created.

Some of the humour doesn’t appeal to me but I’m *inaudibly-whispers-age* years old so it’s not pitched at me. Much of it is delightful and offers a great insight into contemporary adolescence. It is diverse but more importantly, it is successfully inclusive.

It’s a fantastic gateway book to other feminist texts and explores some important issues. I’ll certainly be recommending it to students.

Certainly is confused as veers between silly comedic antics & our heroine's struggle with anxiety, which actually is quite well handled. Frequent crude chat seems forced but there's fun moments & character is relatable.

This book had me both cringing and laughing out loud. being a teenager is fraught with difficulties, being a female teenager and managing the social circles can be terrifying. You will find yourself blushing, laughing and empathising whilst reading this book. But most of all it puts all the embarrassing things out there for everyone to see. I know girls will be sharing this book with each other and supporting themselves through the tribulations of adolescence.

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging has had a full on sparkling feminist make over in this #MeToo inspired debut!

Taking the YA scene by a storm, Kate Weston has masterminded an utterly hilarious and courageously honest account of feminism and EVERYTHING in between.

From the opening page I was in hysterics when young Kat's attempt to spray paint #TimesUp on the school wall in an act of activism unwittingly ends in giving the class jerk unintended fame. And Weston doesn't hold back on the laugh out loud moments from here. Refreshingly bold in her diary written approach, Weston fearlessly navigates the highs and lows of a confused feminist teenager - from tampons to mooncups, mental health to Instagram likes, each page is a field of knowledge. With shout outs to some superstar names, including Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst and Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, along with some superb inspiring platforms like i_weigh, Free Periods, Feminists Don't Wear Pink and Laura Bates' Girl Up, Weston does a fantastic job of exploring what feminism means both historically and currently.

But from the witty and the cringy, Weston also tackles taboos surrounding teenage mental health. Anxiety, depression, body image and bullying are just a few of the issues Weston offers an inspiring yet sensitive insight into and for this alone, I wish this book was around when I was navigating my difficult teenage years, but even now in my mid 20s to was a joy to see just how much this book and its messages still resonated.

I found complete solace in 15-year-old Kat. Her heart and humour, insight and insecurities were refreshingly relatable, and her friendship with not just her best friends but also her parents was utterly heartwarming. Sisterhood and female support take on a powerful stance in Diary of a Confused Feminist, resulting in the ultimate feminist message. Rounded up perfectly with 10 brilliant reasons for 'How Not to be a Confused Feminist', this is definitely a must read for all budding feminists out there!

"Diary of a confused feminist" is a novel, about a young girl suffering from anxiety and depression. It was quite enjoyable and funny. I would rate this book 8 out of 10, to girls/feminists aged 13-17. A good representation of the teenage mind, and those living with undiagnosed mental disorders. Gripping: an emotional rollercoaster.
#funny #feminist #anxiety #depression #teenage #friendship #family

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ahead of publication.

Kat wants to be a good feminist, but she isn't always sure about what that mean. She also wants to be a good writer, be with Hot Josh, win at her coursework and not make a total embarrassment of herself all the time.

But the path to true feminism is filled with mortifying incidents and when everything at school starts to be a bit too much, Kat knows that she has lost her way and the only way to move forward is to ask for help.

Diary of a Confused Feminist is a refreshing, hilarious and relatable book that I throughly enjoyed. It isn't often that I laugh out loud when reading this book but that made me laugh out loud a number of times. It was laughter I just couldn't hold in because this book is seriously hilarious. It is an incredibly relatable book for any teenager out there and it never felt like it was an adult trying to be a teenager. It just felt like reading an actual diary of a teenager.

This book tackles so many important topics. It is aimed at teenagers who are trying to figure out who they are and it fits that target audience perfectly. Even at the age of 22 I found this book hilarious and helpful and I could still connect to it and its story.

Kat, the main characters has to deal with the typical trails and tribulations of being a teenager. Ups and downs with her family, friends, school and her self image are just a few of the things that Kat has to deal with. This book also discusses anxiety, panic attacks and depression and it discusses it openly, honestly and amazingly. This is the first book I have read in a long time that I have felt has been so open with it's readers about all the issues so many people face in day-to-day life. This book also features Kat going to therapy and I appreciated those sections of the book so much.

Sometimes I felt that the drama in the book was a little bit petty and a little bit too dramatic for what was actually going on. This is just a personal opinion though and to a lot of people will not make any difference to their view of the book as a whole.

Every single character in this book is well-rounded and has so much heart. They felt like real people who I know whilst in high school myself. I love the role that both Kat's friends and family play throughout the book and loved how supportive they all were to Kat.

The feminism in this book is excellent. This book does an amazing job of exploring the thoughts and feelings most people have when they are starting to learn about feminism and becoming feminists. Even I learnt some things from this book that I will be using in my life from now on. I think this is an excellent book to help guide teenagers into the world of feminism.

Kate Weston has written an excellent novel and I cannot wait to see what else she writes in the future and I will certainly be following her for feminist advice.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this book and feel it could be read by anyone. It is hilarious, relatable and informative and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for excellent mental health representation and a book that openly discusses feminism and makes it very accessible. I am so glad I read this book!

I might not be the intended reader for this book (20-something, not very confused about feminism) but I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected.

Weston explores issues like #TimesUp, period poverty, and mental health in an amusing and sensitive way. All of the topics touched on within this book feel organic and the voice of Kat, our 15-year-old, "confused feminist" narrator feels natural. Likely due to my age, I found the book a little difficult to start with as I didn't understand why so much time was being devoted to Kat's yearning for a boy who didn't deserve her time but, as the story progressed, everything fit into place much smoother and I felt thoroughly satisfied by the conclusion.

This book is likely to be a big hit with younger readers!

Kat is approaching 16 and everyone seems to have a boyfriend but her even her two best friends. Plus she is trying really hard to be a feminist. Add into the mix that high school is never easy, and the most popular girl in school has a personal vendetta against Kat. There is a lot going on and Kat has all these thoughts in her head that make life feel harder and harder.
I love YA fiction. Its a transitional time of life where so much is changing. The book addresses it all in a subtle natural way, covering some big topics but never forgetting what its like to be a teenage girl who just wants to be like everyone else and to be liked. The dialogue of all the characters felt authentic and believable and I felt like Kat could have been me... a few years ago. IA really relatable read for all ages which covers many angles from mean girl, to peer pressure, to finding who you are.

Kat is a typical teenage girl, with typical teenage problems: she wants to be a good feminist, get together with ‘Hot Josh’ ace her coursework and not embarrass herself all the time. But being a true feminist is not as easy as she thought and when everything starts to become a bit too much to handle, she knows she needs to ask for help.

Diary of a Confused Feminist is an entertaining and positive look at the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl in today’s world. Told through 15 year old Kat’s diary entries, this book covers everything from social media to mental health, penis admin to the menstrual cup, in a sensitive but light hearted way.

The story is fantastically written and combines laugh out loud funny moments with emotional and serious topics such as bullying and anxiety. I love the positive message it is giving to young girls - be yourself, no one is perfect and there is no right way to be a good feminist!

Kat’s character was well written, and accurately portrays how many young girls feel in this social media centric world; where the pressure to look, act and be a certain way is worse than ever before. Although there were moments where Kat was insightful and confident, there were also moments where she was awkward and immature. What I liked about this book was that it said it’s okay to be all these things, because she’s young and still learning who she is. Because of these pressures Kat begins to struggle with her mental health. Personally I think Kat’s anxiety was an accurate representation. It expressed the all-encompassing nature of mental illness. The way it makes you question everything and leaves you feeling useless or worthless will likely feel relatable to anyone who has suffered from something similar.

I think it also demonstrated that the pressure to be a “good” feminist is real but that sometimes it can be confusing knowing what that looks like as it changes all the time. It’s okay to want equal opportunities but to think a boy is hot. It’s okay to not end up with the boy and accept yourself for who you are. The key message in this book is that feminism means different things to different people and that’s alright.

I don’t have a teenage girl but if I did I’d be telling her to read this book. Funny, insightful and honest.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Diary of a Confused Feminist is available from 6th February.

Thank you to the NetGalley and the publisher (Hachette Children’s Group) for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly

Diary of a Confused Feminist is this generation's 'Angus, thongs and full frontal snogging'. Its so similar that I wouldn't be surprised if the author publically confirmed it to be set in the same universe starring the next generation down from Louise Rennison's beloved characters. There's even an older sister called Jas (Georgina's best friend in Angus) and a Comedy Phil (aka Dave the Laugh). What Weston does well which updates the novel for this generation is skillfully weaves in contemporary issues (feminism, #metoo and mental health) around the comedy. I really think this is well done and deft, and ideal for 2020 teenagers.