I was delighted to get a copy of Diary of a Confused Feminist to read and review. This is a quirky and fun account of life as teenager trying to balance school life, relationship and friendships whilst trying to navigate the thorny issue of feminism and all the controversy that it brings. There is a great mix of humour alongside more serious issues  and definitely makes me glad I am no longer a teen, although many of the issues faced still affect those of us of a slightly more mature vintage! I really enjoyed the diary style of writing and felt it made it more easily accessible and a little different to some of the other YA books I have read of late. Kate touches on so many issues which affect teens and young adults today and gives the reader a good giggle as well as some really sound advice though reading how Kat navigates these. I like how it wasn't all boys and school work but social media and menstruation also feature unashamedly. Very modern and relevant! Definitely a book I will be recommending to both teens and above!
Thanks to NetGalley

I'm probably showing my age here but this book felt to me like the Georgia Nicholson for the "woke" generation.  I'm probably not the target age group for this novel, but I couldn't stop myself having a giggle at some of Kat and her friends' antics. It is a warm-hearted account of trying to be the best version of yourself growing up in this confusing world. 

While it is often laugh out loud funny, it also handles some really challenging issues, including mental health and congratulations to Kate Weston, because this was well-managed, it felt real and respectful and I truly hope it helps other young girls living with similar issues around anxiety and depression, particularly when it's being hidden behind a smiling face. I think Kat is brilliant for speaking up about her issues and I'm all for more teen fiction that portrays mental health issues positively.

This is a very relevant YA novel about the pressures facing teenagers and in particular teenage girls in the era of Instagram, snapchat and the pressure to just be more. Told in diary style it gives what feels like a very genuine insight into the mind and pressures that Kat faces with her friends, school and the minefield that is dating. 

As funny as Diary of a Confused Feminist is, it does deal with some serious topics such as mental health/anxiety, bullying, period poverty, etc. It's really refreshing to read a YA book with such genuine, solid friendships and that really shines through in this story. The amount of period positivity is such a plus, it's so amazing to hear a teenage girl talk so openly about periods in front of her dad, brother and male friend.
 
The only thing that dampened my enjoyment was i felt a little old for the targeted group, I’m a 22 year old and I’m not that confused about feminism but I do love that this book is out now and would have loved if something like this was out when I was 16! 

I would love to share this book with my nieces and glad that a book like this is out in the world for younger girls.

Everything is changing for Kat. As she nears 16, with her trusty friends, she feels completely clueless.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well this was an interesting book.
I really struggled with it, and could not stand the first 50-60 %. I was so close to DNF-ing, and did a lot of skim reading.
Our narrator is Kat, and as you may have guessed, this is her diary. I like the content, that Kat is trying to find her way through life as a teenager, constantly thinking she's doing it wrong. She's passionate about being a feminist, but doesn't always know how it's supposed to work, and always tries some wobbly rules. Kat and her friends are always trying to weigh their feminism against their natural teenage awkwardness of their looks and crushes.

What didn't work for me was the execution.
The narrative is her stream of consciousness, jumping from one thought to another without warning, and with a lot of drama.
The "diary entries" are repetitive, and who on earth does separate entries for every new thought a minute.
It was all chaotic and made my head hurt. I was so ready to put it aside and mark it up as not-for-me; but I saw some other reviews raving about how emotional it was. Intrigued, I ploughed on.
When I got to 50%, I was still wondering when this was going to happen and in what form.
Kat was still angry at her crush for dating the Queen Bee; and that her friends had boyfriends and she was getting left behind...

I've got to say that it was remarkably moving portrayal of someone dealing with anxiety.
It is such a stunning reflection of the problem, and the stigma attached to mental health.
Kat is a perfectly normal girl, with normal drama in her life. She has great friends, and a loving family who support her no matter what. This does not mean she is exempt from depression.
It's something that she hides behind smiles and being the "funny-feminist-one", but it is slowly getting the better of her.

I was so proud of Kat speaking up about her problems. I relate quite strongly with this, and wish I had talked about it sooner.
I love that her family and friends fully embrace her problems and research what they can do to help her, no matter how small the gesture seems.
I like the final result, which focusses on Kat feeling more confident in herself, instead of some stereotype of judging her worth by "winning the boy".

This started a 1-star, and finished a 5-star. Now I'm confused.

If I was 10 years younger I would have LOVED this book (way to make myself feel old)
It was an enjoyable read and I definitely recommend it for young adults.

When I first started reading "Diary of a Confused Feminist", I thought there were a lot of similarities between this and the "Confessions of Georgia Nicolson" series by Louise Rennison, which were my favourite books when I was a teenager. It actually put me off a little because I felt like it was so similar it was almost unoriginal.

However, I'm glad I stuck with it because it did eventually come into its own. There were a couple of parts that made me smile (and a few that almost made me cry!) and I especially liked Kat's friendship with her best friends Sam and Millie. It felt like an accurate representation of what teenage life must be like today (this is coming from an almost-30-year-old!)

I also liked the ending and thought it sent a positive message. 

If I had read this 15 years ago then I probably would have given it a much higher rating. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to my 16-year old sister.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When I first started reading this book , I wasn’t  sure how much I was going to enjoy a book written from a 15 year olds  perspective, but I have to say I found it very enjoyable and quite funny.
With Kat as the lead experiencing the wonder that are teenage years! (Yeah right!) Dealing with the pressures of social media, figuring out how to be a feminist, periods and having a crush on the ‘hot’ guy. 
It made me thankful that my teenage years are long gone, but also that if this book had been around when I was a teenager, I might not have worried so much. Though saying that, the issues raised in this book can easily apply to females of any age, therefore I recommend this book to all.

Kat is the most loveable character! While the books main focus is feminism and Kat’s attempts at trying to ‘get it right’ it makes a good point of showing that feminism means different things to different people and that you don’t have to be or act one particular way to be a feminist. 

Kat lives with her mum, a successful scientist who works full time, her dad, a comedy writer, who gets on her nerves at times with his silly ‘dad’ jokes, and her annoying brother Freddie. She has a beautiful relationship with her loyal dog Bea, who clearly brings her great comfort. 

Kat is not only struggling to be a feminist but also struggling to concentrate on her GCSE coursework which is most concerning because she dreams of becoming a journalist. Through the story, you can see how her confidence decreases as she puts things off due to self-doubt and her concerns over her best friends Sam and Millie growing up quicker than her and getting boyfriends. 

Above all, though I felt this was more about friendship, family and the support that they provide. Kat has some amazing friends and family who support her. When she realises that things aren’t going right for her, she finds some great support from her parents who take her to see a doctor. Kats mental health issues are dealt with in a very realistic and sensitive way and this could possibly help other, similar people, who are suffering to feel less alone and to open a dialogue with their friends and family as well. 

There are some laugh out loud funny pieces in this and I will be passing it onto my daughter (15) to read and review). It took me right back to being a teenager myself!

I should start by saying I am not the target audience for this read, being in my late 20s. That said, I normally enjoy YA genres, even if the characters are more than ten years younger than me. Unfortunately, this wasn't the case with Diary of a Confused Feminist. Don't get me wrong, there were sections I did enjoy and that I felt were done well - period poverty, Kat's parents, mental health insight and social media pressures. But overall this fell a bit flat and although I'm sure I would have loved it when I was 16, I can safely say this isn't a YA novel that stands the test of age. There are some funny, endearing and relatable parts, but mostly I felt both the plot and characters were stereotypical and undeveloped. The characters especially did not feel real or unique: Kat's two best female friends were interchangeable, as was her male best friend, apart from the fact he was gay (and I believe the only queer character in this supposedly contemporary novel). I did love that this was a modern look at the pressures teenagers truly have to deal with on a daily basis, including the social media aspect, but again felt this was insincere and hollow. Kat's mental health problems for example were only slightly implied, until all of a sudden she's at the GP and we essentially get a Google description of anxiety and depression symptoms, which Kat all of a sudden has (I am sure prior to this there was no mention of panic attacks, compulsions, etc.). Diary of a Confused Feminist had some great insights and themes, and is well written and researched, but ultimately I think it could have been done better. Perhaps the diary entries should have been used in addition to another narrative, as I think using them alone prevents the audience from developing connections to Kat's world; instead leaving us standing on the edge, not relating or emphasising with anyone, including Kat. 

*I received an advance review copy of Diary of a Confused Feminist from the publisher through NetGalley.

Following in the vein of sharply-written contemporary YA with a distinct and unapologetic feminist slant, Diary of a Confused Feminist brings us into the world of Kat. Think somewhere along the lines of Laura Stevens duology on the travails of Izzy O'Neill and you're on the right track.

The story opens with her friends attempting to make a statement through graffiti on a school wall, painting #TIMESUP, but getting caught by a teacher, only managing #TIM. The merciless of ribbing of Kat by her family and others sets up a light-hearted tone, but one that is not afraid to tackle feminist issues at the same time.

The main issue being addressed here is Kat coming to terms with what a 'good feminist' is. Can you wear makeup? Can you hate other girls? Why are periods? etc.

Kate Weston handles the diary format brilliantly, often dropping in a line or two at one time, quickly followed by another entry a few minutes later. Kat seems to be prone to embarrassing teen mishaps, one after the other, leading to a more deep-rooted mental health issue.

Along the way, we see her struggle with her friends Sam and Millie having more luck in the love department, as well as her younger brother. The diary gives an insight into how this affects Kat, even as she discovers more about feminism. Through the internet and reading, I liked the organic discovery of campaigns like Jameela Jamil's I Weigh, and books like Feminists Don't Wear Pink.

The book shows both the confusion but also the difficulty of bring a feminist when there is so much stacked against you. It deals with body image, the expectations for girls compared to boys, friendships, the role of men in feminism and the role of education.

The cast of supporting characters is excellent, in particular Trudy, the queen bee of the school, and Kat's parents, a high-flying scientist mother and strong, supportive and funny father.

Overall, Diary of a Confused Feminist is a really good exploration of what it must be like for a teenage girl now. It's also hilarious, providing some proper laugh out loud moments, while being heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Kate Weston has done a good job with this one. 

This is a funny and exciting read and will leave you feeling all happy inside after.

It also explores how confused and awkward teenagers actually feel throughout this story.

If you want a funny read then pick this up.

This books starts off like a conventional chick lit, and in the beginning it might seem like it doesn't have anything new to offer. This could lead a few readers to abandon the book. However, if one is patient, then after the halfway mark the narrative does pick up and really gets into the meat of what it means to be a young teenage girl in current times. The insecurities, the lack of self-confidence, the need to fit in are narrated with sensitivity. The book also touches upon issues of anxiety and depression, and emphasises the need of a supportive environment in dealing with them.

I really enjoyed this book. This coming of age story really hit home talking about mental health and feminism and I think all young people should be taught about it as it affects everyone not just women.

Cute and funny. Loved the voice, the constant questioning about feminism and what it means to be not just a feminist in today's world, but also a girl/woman and all that life entails. The high school set up felt very 'Mean Girls' and had a lot of flair so as to almost come alive as a character in its own.

Quite funny at first but gets a bit Sandy very quickly so I didn't really enjoy it,but bear in mind I am not the target reader for this so your opinion may well be different.

A nice and easy read that follows 15-year old Kat and her friends as they navigate being a teenager in modern society whilst upholding feminist values.
I thought this was a cute book and enjoyed how it included so many issues that aren’t necessarily always raised in literature for young people. Mental health issues, social media, period poverty, casual sexism - this book tackled them all! 
It definitely does read very young as it is obviously aimed at a younger audience but I was still able to appreciate the take home messages.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This lost me on the first page as a reader.  Seriously, some people need to think about adulting before they think about feminism, a bit like walking before you can run.  This fails at that first hurdle.

This book is intended for teenage readers but I wouldn't give it to my daughter to read. It is intended to be funny but it manages to appear misogynistic and I got the impression that the writer really doesn't like teenagers at all. As I read it, I began to think that Kate Weston might be a nom de plume for some bitter, choleric old male teacher but I'm sure she's a perfectly genuine author and this book just misses the targets.

The central characters are three girls just starting in year eleven so around sixteen years of age. One of them, Kat, is the narrator and her best friends are Sam and Millie. The book opens with them making a feeble allegedly feminist protest at school then they have long discussions about menstruation and a series of supposedly jokey situations ensure, while all the while agonising about whether boys fancy them. Much of the plot revolves around their bête noire, Trudy, who is having some kind of relationship with Josh who Kat desperately fancies.

Kat is permanently embarrassed and can't seem to have a sensible meeting or conversation with anyone because she is obviously a 'confused' adolescent. She is obsessed with her body, periods, menstrual cups and these things are always getting her into amusing scrapes, if you find that kind of thing funny. At the end, Josh gets involved in the scandal sending pictures of his penis to people and so Kat gets her own back on Trudy and, allegedly, suddenly finds a little more self-confidence.

And, that's about it. The book ends with Kat providing a few semi-humorous tips presumably intended for younger female readers who have previously been denigrated for a couple of hundred pages about the impossibility of them thinking politically while encouraged to be anxious about their bodies, and made to think that periods are a guilty secret or comic!

I don't think that the book intends to be thought of like this. It is meant to be comic and fun and, in its own way, to encourage young women to be more confident. However, it misses its target when so many young people are active politically about climate change, and most of them go to schools which are co-educational and where they can have much more normal relationships with boys than perhaps their parents did and can resist drooling girly conversations in the toilets. Maybe, the world is moving on at last.

I really, really struggled to enjoy this novel. I was particularly excited for Diary of a Confused Feminist as it sounded just like something my teenage self would have appreciated and adored but somehow it seemed to miss the mark a bit.
This novel reminded me of the Georgia Nicholson books but almost more extreme which doesn't seem possible! There was a little too much unbelievable clumsiness and it started to feel quite repetitive early on.
There were definitely some interesting facts and I loved how Kat found out the answers for herself rather than just living in ignorance. It might provide an example to teenage girls that feel embarrassed about any burning questions they have. 
One issue I had as well was the lack of diversity, the main three girls all chasing three hot guys was a bit disheartening to read as not all teen girls will be able to connect with this. 
I wish I had managed to enjoy this novel more but mostly it just felt too cringy however I hope that's due to my age and that teenagers will like it more.

I came across Diary of a Confused Feminist by Kate Weston via other reviewers on NetGalley and I was immediately intrigued. Whilst it is more of a teenage read, I immediately could relate to different parts of the book and how my teen years had gone. As a debut book, Weston really has got it nailed. The way that the book went through mental health issues and then covered more light hearted 
moments too. One moment I'd be laughing along with the author and then feeling totally 'wow' at what I was reading. It's an important read for teens, for parents of teens and for women of any age. I'm really happy I had seen the reviews on this one.