Rating 4.5/5

I think I could tell as soon as I looked at the cover that this was going to be a very entertaining book and it didn’t take that many pages to prove me right. I do enjoy this kind of book, easy to read, absorbing and amusing, whilst also having a great message but one that didn’t feel forced.

Alex is an interesting character, at times unpredictable and sassy at others vulnerable and loyal, she definitely stands out and is certainly more vocally progressive than most of her classmates. I enjoyed that she was trying so hard to elicit change but that she was so focused on herself, her goals and what she believed to be right that at points she kind of became the type of people she was rallying against. Mary Kate was a fabulous opposite to Alex, more by the book, clever but also a dreamer, I liked how they bounced off each other and that they supported each other even though their goals were very different. I have to say though my love for Mary Kate definitely increased when she put Alex in her place, I won’t go too much into the why but it was deserved and showed that even when friends are critical of each other it has the potential for growth individually and in the relationship, which is what I loved about these two characters that they brought that growth out in each other.

I really loved the setting for this book and I didn’t think I would, a Catholic boarding school would maybe not have been my first pick of location after hearing that it was a YA feminist book, but it actually works really well, I very much enjoyed Alex’s exchanges with and about the nuns and the priests, it often made me laugh. The book uses a lot of the arguments that people do generally make about religion but deals with them in a light and comical tone but then also gives points from the other side of that, so instead of it feeling divisive it actually promotes acceptance. I thought it was great that there was the recognition that you can be of very opposing values but still respect each other and even end up friends, that there is always a compromise.

Bad Habits was such a fun reading experience, even when there were lessons to be learnt for Alex there still managed to be some humour injected into them, this is a fast-paced and funny book with some wonderful characters and a lovely empowering message.

This was the much needed lighter read that I needed in these darker times we find ourselves in! Alex is a fun and funky character who doesn't know the meaning of the word 'conforming' and is desperate to do things her own way - no matter the consequences!! She's standing up for her rights but that isn't always going to be well accepted at her very straight laced boarding school!!

You do feel sorry for her as a person as the school has become her family - her own parents are way too busy to do the 'parenting' thing so have shipped her off to a Catholic Boarding School - so you can understand why she's desperate to rebel. She wants some attention and she doesn't care how she gets it! Wanting to perform the Vagina Monologues with her Feminist Club isn't going to have too many fans amongst the staff, but they set her a challenge and she is ready to accept that challenge!!

There's lots of the normal teen stuff in this book that you can always relate to - friend issues, teen angst, boys being boys - and it made for a really entertaining read to follow her on her quest for success with her play! This is no Mallory Towers though and this is a book of the times, with buzz words galore!!

Alex is a character who is not backwards in coming forwards, and I loved her attitude and 'can do' attitude! A funny and pleasing story!

I was quite excited to read this book: It’s a feminist YA book about a rebellious girl, being completely different than everyone at her Catholic boarding school. If you think about a potty-mouthed, sex posive girl with big boots and a purple faux-hawk inside in a place full with nuns and priests, you get the overall vibe of the book.

Alexandra Heck is the protagonist of this book and having a confident girl like her lead a story like this just fits amazingly. Alex is outgoing and says what she thinks and she is just so unapologeticcally herself. She really fits in the story this book is trying to tell and I feel like teens that are going to read this book will find that confidence rubbing off themselves. My only complaint with the writing and storytelling is that it felt like the author was trying a little to hard to sound trendy and like teenagers today, making it feel a bit forced times.

I like Alex as a character. She is flawed and sometimes a bit rude and ungrateful, but flaws make us human and books are already saturated with seemingly perfect characters, making Alex quite welcome. And she is complimented by a whole cast of different types of characters, of which the main one is Mary Kate. She is Alex’ roommate and though she learns a lot from Alex on the front of self-empowerment, Alex learns a lot from her too. Mary Kate’s character is the perfect counterbalance to Alexandra, making sure that the book doesn’t get overwhelming with all the swear words and radical ideas.

I really liked the idea of a feminist YA novel. Even in 2021 there is still a male-bias in books and media just like in real life, so to have a book completely about teens being against the patriarchy. Bad Habits is basically a full on rebellion against things like not being able to openly talk about things like periods, or vaginas, or whatever falls in that same category, as one of many things. And being set in a religious setting, a lot of these issues are only magnified even more, because of beliefs. Teens nowadays need to know that you shouldn’t feel limited by societies standards and it’s normal to talk about bodies and bodily functions, like periods or sex. And though this feminism is carried out by a relatively privileged white girl on a boarding school, the message is still important.

Despite the fact the feminism in this book does address a lot of good points, I did dislike the fact that the feminism in this book was super binary-focused. It felt like a whole women vs men game; men have the power and dominate women, with nothing beside or beyond that. It wasn’t until the last twenty pages something was said about the gender binary and what is beyond it, and it was just briefly and not too relevant aswell.
It’s 2021. Besides the fact that feminism isn’t just about (cis)women, just the fact there was so much talk about gender and gender inequality, and none of it, aside from two brief mentions, was about anything other than (cis) men and (cis) women didn’t sit right with me. Even binary trans people didn’t really seem to fit in the narrative, or atleast there was nothing that led me to believe that.

Bad Habits wasn’t a book where it ”just wasn’t mentioned”, which happens sometimes, as the language used in the book often referred to female as being the ”other gender” compared to male. And then there are the Harry Potter references, which are uncomfortable for their own reasons, but especially in this context. I have listed the specific chapters in the content warnings below. My point is that I am not trying to write this book off as bad, but I wanted to direct some attention to this as not everyone might initially think about it this way.

To make a long story short, Bad Habits is a YA contemporary which was a lot of fun to read and touches on important subjects. But it also has to be seen through a critic eye as there are some issues with the way the feminism was portrayed.

Content warnings: Alcohol use, drug use, sexual harassment (mentioned), sexual references/innuendos, unprotected sex (mentioned). Short Harry Potter references in chapter 13, 17 and 23 (chapter numbers taken from the e-ARC).

Alex is a rebel in the making. While trying desperately to get expelled from her strict Catholic boarding school, she tries trick after trick. She just wants to go back home. When nothing works, she decides the only thing left to do is for her Feminist Club to put on the play, The Vagina Monologues. Hilarity ensues as she butts up against nuns, priests, and fellow students who can’t even say the word out loud.

There are the typical fumbling kisses and desperate tries of students to attract the attention of the opposite sex. Even readers long out of high school will remember those days when drama and tragedy could come and go many times during a day.

You can take this book as deep as you would like. It’s laugh-out-loud funny if you are in the mood to be entertained. Yet, you can look for deeper messages of feminism, patriarchal supremacy, the effects of divorce on children, and so much more, if you so desire.

This book will appeal to readers of many ages and lovers of different genres. I recommend everyone take a chance and see what appeals most to you in this entertaining book.

Bad Habits provides a fresh and funny outlook on the life of Alex, an unlikely student at St. Mary’s Catholic School, as well her feminism. It’s one of those books that is funny but simultaneously makes you think which is something I enjoy in books.

Alex, our main character, is a bit of a rebel, especially for St. Mary’s Catholic School, which just so happens to be a place she despises and wants out of. In Alex’s desperate attempt to find an out of the school, she decides to bring The Vagina Monologues to life on stage, except it’s a place where the sex education barely covers anything at all and most of it is about abstinence.

I thought that the plot for this book was good and it is definitely a book I could see being a great read for tweens and teenagers. It encourages the topic of feminism and discussions into looking at how things can be very male centred, like the school is itself. It also looks at different ways of using your voice too. The plot was also helped by the writing, which I thought was very fast paced. It definitely made me want to carry on reading the book. As mentioned, this book does have its funny moments and I think that’s why it would make such a great book for teens. It’s funny yet it also can also offer the opportunity for thought.

I quite liked Alex’s character. Despite how she could sometimes be a little judgey of other people, such as one of the girls throughout the book who runs a school club that is the total opposite of what Alex supports, she definitely develops in her thoughts and opinions throughout the book. I was a little unsure of her at first, but I ended up really liking her. She is a supportive character and she never shames any of the people that come to her for help or advice, instead realising that she is the person that people call on when there is no where else to go for those things. She doesn’t really moan about it or begrudge anyone, she really does just accept it which is something I liked about her. I also quite liked her best friend Mary Kate. She goes through quite a bit of character development throughout the book which was nice to see. There were other characters featured throughout this book too.

One of the things that’s explored in this book a little bit is the feminism and how there are different types of feminism. Ultimately, everybody is entitled to govern how they decide to use, or not use, their body. Everybody is entitled to how they want themselves to be viewed. One of the major things in this book is that Alex is at a strongly Catholic school that focuses more on the boys at the school rather than the females, and it has little to no sex ed. Alex looks to change this, however the problem with Alex for much of this book is that her idea of feminism is supportive of people that are similar to her and it almost comes across as though she looks down on other girls and women that don’t share this. I think an important message of this book is that feminism is about supporting all women and what they choose to do with their bodies because at the end of the day, it’s up to that individual. That book definitely gives this message by the time you’ve closed the final page.

Final Thoughts

Bad Habits is a good read but I think it is particularly great for teens/tweens I think it’s a good book for this age group because it looks to explore feminism and encourages further thinking about it. It promotes an important message that your body is yours and so it’s up to you to decide what you want to do with it. I think it’s also helpful in encouraging people to be more sex educated too, and it aims to remove the taboo surrounding words such as Vagina (The Vagina Monologues does play a fairly big part in this book!). All in all, I would recommend this but as mentioned, I would particularly recommend this to teenagers.

This has to be one of the best YA books I've seen in a while. It's got wit, friendship, issues and relevancy in abundance. It's smartly written throughout!

This is brilliant for Young Adults. I had high hopes from the way the first page began and also that claim that it would appeal to The Derry Girl's fan base. This, however is set in the 21st century.
Now, I do happen to be a fan of The Derry Girls and it certainly would appeal to people who are.  Bad Habits has humour and so much relatability. It has punchy writing and says how it is, right to not being able to unhook that bra too easily.
The voices and the tones of a teenager really comes through. This is quite possibly one of the most exciting Young Adult books in awhile. It's not fantasy, but about the unfolding of life and it gets it very right.

It takes place in St. Mary's Catholic School and its pupils are spunky. There are certain turns of phrases to describe Father Hughes, that perhaps leave a bit to be desired, but really go with the protagonist - Alex and her violation of So many rules and with that Mento's and Cola science experiement, we now all know, thanks to another book, is just one of them. It adds to her energy and that teenage attitude. The observations are absolutely perfect as I read this wide-eyed and with much enthusiasm, with excitement for the Young Adults who get their hands on this, to find out if she gets expelled.

This is also a book about friendship and looking out for each other as Mary Kate, who is the more serious teen, realises what's going on and tries to almost save her from herself and doesn't want Alex to end up being asked to leave. There's something heartwarming about it.

There is also the fun of trying to put together a school production of The Vagina Monologues and convincing the school that it will be okay, which includes quips that teens would especially appreciate. It also doesn't shy away from the naturality of life, such as periods and boyfriends etc. In amongst that, there are friendships to be forged, school dinners, current pop references and sport and a general air of school life mixed with hormones and fire in both in the physical and attitude form. Things are definitely lively at this school.

There is a very feminist vibe about the book, but doesn't detract from the story itself, nor its characters and the fact it is done within the sphere of teenage attitude and almost flying off the handle teen spirit, fits well with the characters.

Read further than the story and discover an informative interview with the author in the book.

I highly recommend this for any young adult collection, within homes, in libraries and bookshops.

Bad Habits is a very refreshing book to see in the world of YA, considering how when you get out of Middle-Grade trying to finish comedy contemporary novels is a hard thing indeed but I feel like this may be the book to kick-start a new trend!

Bad Habits follows Alex Heck, a bold and outspoken girl who contrasts a lot with the strict boarding school she goes to. Always getting into trouble, you’d think Alex wouldn’t fit into the school but she is someone the students need. The girl who helps if you’re worried about periods or sex and is determined to help bring St Mary’s Catholic School out of their old ways.

Alex wants to get kicked out of boarding school and to do so she decided to host a school production of ‘The Vagina Monologues’, a play exploring sexual experiences. Whilst Alex tries to get a team together to run it, ways to host it and get support she finds herself struggling to get it the way she wants it and it really plays into her whole character arc.

I loved seeing Alex’s character arc throughout the book as she realises that there is more to feminism than her way and become more accepting of the choices the girls make in regards to their sexuality and that her attempts at bringing more sex education to the school, are working just not in the big, dramatic way she hoped.

The rest of the cast is very vivid and memorable. There is Mary Kate who is Alex’s best friend and their friendship is so adorable, I love the dynamic between them. The sweet Mary Kate who becomes bolder throughout the book and Alex’s need to protect her. Pat, the hockey player who is quite supportive in Alex’s endeavours. I love seeing how everyone comes together with all their different experiences and morals to create something that they all agree with.

This is a great books for tweens and teenagers to become more accepting of themselves, and be inspired to stand up for what they believe in and be more accepting of others!

I did not enjoy reading this book, unfortunately.

However, first the good stuff. I quite enjoyed the writing style of the book, which is great! The style was funny and engaging which made it a rather fast read. I also quite liked the setting, the school. It felt really fleshed out and real and I enjoyed spending time there. It almost felt like a whole character in its own.

Unfortunately, that’s pretty much where it stops being good. I think for me the book pretty much fell with the main protagonist, Alex. I just found it almost impossible to like her. I pretty much didn’t like her at all.
Alex tries very hard to get expelled from her Catholic School. She sees mysogyny and sexism at every corner and is determined to shake things up and change things around. Alex is a very open feminist and she portrays it brash and loud and with as much salt and vigor as she can. In itself, that would not be a bad thing. Fighting for what you believe, that is. It just seemed to me that Alex has a very narrow-minded view concerning the topic of feminism and she wouldn’t let any other opinion count besides her own. I think the author meant to make her seem flawed and quirky, real and relatable but for me it only made her annoying. She seemed mostly to abuse the other characters because, hey, she had the only wisdom and the only way of feminism and everybody else was just dumb. Alex seems to learn and grow only in the last chapter of the book which came for me just too little too late.

Most of the other characters felt mostly like background noise to me. The only one I liked was MK who was similarly set in her believes but not as rigid and opinionated as Alex. You could say that she was not very supportive of Alex, even though they were friends – kind of – but I relate that to the fact that Alex seemed to continuously push her to do things that she didn’t want to do and didn’t listen to MK at all.

The play that is so prominently described in the summary, somehow is not really that important for the story either. It shows up somewhat late, in the second half of the book, and is not really that important. Just like the side characters it didn’t really make that much of an impact.

In the end, I just didn’t enjoy this read. I would probably not have finished it if it wasn’t a blogtour book and I don’t think I would really recommend it to others. I feel like I know what the author wanted to do, the opinions, the flaws – maybe it was there under the surface but it seemed to me that they just couldn’t deliver.

Book source ~ Tour

Alex Heck from San Francisco was sent to a Catholic boarding school in Minnesota by her dad when she was deemed out of control and needing discipline. Ever since, Alex has been trying her damnedest to get expelled. To no avail. But this time she has the perfect plan. She is going to stage a production of The Vagina Monologues. She’s positive that will finally get her kicked out and maybe give a few of her nemeses (nuns and priests) a heart attack or stroke while she’s at it. Now, if she can just get her bestie, Mary Kate, on board with her idea she’ll be good to go. Yeah, about that…

Ok, I’m just going to come out and say it: I fucking love this book. Alex is bold as brass and not afraid to say or do anything. Pretty impressive for a 16-yr-old. I wish I was that sassy when I was a teen. Mary Kate is quite the contrast to Alex, opposite in so many ways, and yet their friendship is heartwarmingly real. This story has practically everything I love included in it: snappy dialogue, great characters, humor, action, a fast-flowing plot, and judicious swearing. There’s a bit of romance, a lot of sass, and plenty of character growth. If the Iceman ghost had been real then my paranormal quotient would have been filled. Ah, well. And holy fuck, is Father Hughes a saint or what? Alex just can’t seem to rattle the man. Ok, so he does run a co-ed Catholic school with a large student body of horny teenagers, so I bet he’s seen it all. Still, color me awestruck. This book entertained the shit out of me and that’s the highest praise I can give. Read it. Now.

Sadly I did not finish reading this book. I was really intrigued by the blurb and really wanted to like it. But sadly I simply did not like it at all. I did not like the characters and I did not really connect to any of the, so I stopped reading after I have read about 30%.
Maybe I am simply too old and I do not really belong to the peer group the book is aimed at any more but I expected it to be way more radical and feminist than it was. I suppose it just wasn't my type of feminism.

A massive thank you to Penguin Random House and Netgalley for this review copy!

This books gave me all the feels. I laughed so much! Despite its humour, this story is such an important one. It is about feminism.

The story takes place in a Catholic boarding school whose values are so old fashioned.

The MC, Alex, wants nothing more than to be expelled and does everything in her power to make it happen. Her roommate, Mary Kate, is the total opposite and is so focused on university, and getting a boyfriend to walk around the lake with.

The most unlikeliest of friendships, yet one of my favourites. They compliment each other perfectly!

A brilliant read which made me chuckle. This will certainly be a reread in the future.

Meaney delivers exactly what is promised on the back of the book-- Bad Habits is an undeniably hilarious and unapologetically feminist book that will, without a doubt, inspire young women to advocate for themselves and their beliefs. There is no hesitation as Bad Habits takes centre stage brazenly show outdated patriarchal ideals who’s boss.

My thoughts



Narrative and Plot




Bad Habits doesn’t wait for a build up. It starts right in the middle of action establishing Alex as the girl in trouble. Alex is witty, outspoken and yet has that naïve innocence in her voice that we associate with her age. The conservative St Mary’s gets a new perspective when viewed through Alex’s lens and it is certainly fun to follow.

The plot is dynamic throughout the first act and the second. Except, at some point it had me go, where is this going? But in the end, each of those small incidents were brought back and it all made sense. The placement of each scene and its significance became clearer as the plot moved forward and that is the sign of good storytelling.





Characters and Conflicts








While Alex is the core voice and eyes of the story, personally for me, it was Mary Kate who stole the show. I guess it is because, like many other women and even the author herself, I could relate to Mary Kate more. Only a chosen few inherently question the patriarchal set up. Most of us truly get swept away by the fairy tale fantasy and then reality hits at some point. There could not be a better character arc other than that of Mary Kate. While, Katie Casey is too goody two shoes, Mary Kate had a balance which was leaning a bit too much on the rule abiding side in the beginning.



Alex had her own arc and it surprised me how she never got her own solo spotlight but actually managed to go through a full character development. The romance was subtle and adorable. And honestly, I would have been disappointed if the “walk around the lake” didn’t turn out the way it did.









Conclusion




Bad Habits, is a must read if you have thoughts about every day sexism no matter what your gender or age is. Coming from a rather conservative or traditional society and growing up in a similar academic situation -where you are not allowed to wear big ear rings for some reason- this one hits a lot of chords for me.

This was cute. While I didn’t find this as laugh out loud funny as other readers, I did enjoy the humorous style to the writing. It really flows easily and tells a fun and cute story, with a good dollop of friendship and a splash of romance. It was a fun afternoon of reading.

However, for me this felt to much like teen movies I have seen before. There were a lot of stereotypes and clichés and while entertaining didn’t stand out as special for me. I have met the purple haired rocker chick with a heart of gold, the boy obsessed smart girl and the sensitive and caring jock too many times. They don’t really do anything break out of these boxes. I also need to gripe a little about the portrayal of Feminism in this book particularly when it comes to separating the Main characters views from Feminism as a whole. This book is very anti-slut shaming which is awesome, it is sex positive and talks a lot about female sexuality and these are very very important! However, it does this at the expense of those who choose to abstain, for what ever reason. The main character actively ‘virgin-shames’ other characters who maybe do not have her sexual confidence or have just decided that it is not the right time, occasion for them. While the MC is called on her shit, which for me was the best part of the book, there wasn’t really enough personal growth in the MC for her to change her thinking. In fact she backs up her beliefs during the calling out and I think it messes up the messaging of the book about accepting female sexuality in all its forms.

Other than that gripe, this really was a quick, fast paced and entertaining read. I think most will find it an enjoyable read and will relate to the ladies of saint Mary’s in some way. It covers some great topics (even if I am not completely happy with its stance) that need more discussion in a light an humorous way.

I gotta tell you, a big SFF geek like myself really doesn’t make a habit these days to read outside of maybe 3 genres. YA contemporary books most of all. But as someone who had purple hair until a week ago, wore motorcycle boots until they were leaking and went to the most rigid of Catholic primary schools, this book was basically in my lane when the idea entered the authors head. This book was everything that I would look for in a book like this. Sarcasm, tampons being thrown at idiot dudes and some old fashioned rage at all things that repress the masses.

The characters are absolute standouts here. Alex is a rebel both with a cause and without one, but she is unapologetically herself. It’s something I do see a lot more in fantasy these days but for me to pick up a book outside my comfort zone and see a main character just as ballsy was absolutely wonderful. What I really loved was Alex and Mary Kate’s relationship as both best friends and room mates. There is a strong, caring bond between them both that I just think was very positive in a few ways. Mary Kate is a very clearly an opposite to Alex being both an attentive student and a little more conservative in her behavior (basically she doesn’t vandalise anything or call the priests and nuns names) but she isn’t afraid to remind Alex when she is out of line. Alex does well to remind Mary Kate of blatant sexism and how she doesn’t need to be ashamed of her bodily functions or buying tampons she has to buy for the same function. There is love, definite frustration at each other and genuine solid friendship and I was very glad to see it as the main relationship in this story instead of a romantic one.

There is a lot to be said for the great discussions this book has on sexism, religious orders causing opression and the general bias towards sport in the American education system but I do have to mention the ignorance of students who chose to embrace either chastity over being sexual or just general privilege. I give credit for the fact it doesn’t go unmentioned in the book, Alex definitely gets called out for making people uncomfortable and generally forgetting her own privileged position but I do think it would have made this book go the full distance to see Alex not only stick up for women being able to say ‘vagina’ without shame but respect those who might not be either straight or as sexual as she is. There is definitely a turning point towards the end and if there is ever a sequel, I do think the author would approach these things a lot more head on.

One thing I can’t take away from the book is just how much it made me laugh. The book is very funny and I do think the humour was very well placed because I am someone who does need comedic relief. Especially when tackling heavy topics like the stories tackled in the Vagina Monologues. The jokes always landed for me, even unconventionally funny parts were timed super well and balanced the emotion of a moment perfectly. Sometimes, some things that are wrong with society are so bizarre that you have to laugh at them just to cope.

I’d like to thank both The Write Reads for having me on the tour and Penguin Random House for sending me a digital copy of the book in exchange for a review. Bad Habits is out since the 11th of February. Thanks for checking in folks! Happy reading!

It’s no secret that I’m not a big fan of YA Contemporary. If I can avoid reading one, I would but when I read the blurb for this book, I got excited, mainly because of the setting. I was curious and wanted to see how it will play out in a catholic school. I must say, the whole book didn’t disappoint.

Bad Habits features Alex, who is as rebelious as she looks. She’d been trying to get expelled from her Catholic boarding school but failing. But once again she comes up with a new plan, a new plan that involves breaking the norm in her school but if you knew Alex, you’ll just say, “What’s new? ” just as I did. Because seriously, even from the blurb, it’s obvious that Alex is a rule breaker. The question is, is that necessarily wrong?

There are a lot of important themes that Bad Habits tackled, the biggest one is feminism. And I think this book portrayed feminism really well and to think that it’s through a teenage character, it’s amazing. I love how the book showed Alex’s views on feminism and what I love more is it’s the kind of feminism that didn’t make me hate the other sex. Don’t get me wrong, there is only one kind of feminism but there are some books (and films and shows) that tackle feminism but convey and evoke too much hate for the other sex — the key phrase here is TOO MUCH. So I’m glad that Bad Habits wasn’t like that at all.

Aside from Alex’s views, the views of the people in her Feminist Club were portrayed well too. I said there is only one kind of feminism but Bad Habits showed that it has different levels. Aside from feminism, this book also tackled self-acceptance, sex positivity, body positivity, and more.

As for the characters, I think everyone got enough spotlight that I got to know them well and understand where they are coming from with their views. I love Alex. I found her bold and strong-willed. I really love her style and wish I can pull off the same style. 🙂 I also love her sense of humour. Her antics made me laugh more than a few times. But sure she can be too much sometimes and this is where Mary Kate, Alex’s best friend and roommate comes in. She is the complete opposite of Alex. I think Alex and Mary Kate are a perfect duo. Mary Kate sometimes set Alex straight when Alex became too much and a little foolish. On the other hand, I’m glad Mary Kate has a friend like Alex because she’s too naive and shy and really, it saddens me. But I love that her character grew a lot throughout the book. That said, I hoped that Alex grew more. Don’t get me wrong, I love her character but I think there’s not much change that happened in her character throughout the book.

I also love Pat. I liked him and Alex together because they’re so funny. I already talked about the people in Alex’s club and I think there’s nothing more to say. Other characters I want to talk about though are the nuns and priests. This book is filled with them. And not to be disrespectful or anything but they’re too much. I can even say they are ridiculous and again, not to be disrespectful, but I laughed every time Alex do or say something that is beyond what is proper for the priests and nuns.

Overall, Bad Habits is such a fun read. Even though it tackles important issues such as feminism and self-acceptance, it still managed to make me laugh and wish it’s even longer than it is.

Thank you to The Write Reads for allowing me to join the book tour for Bad Habits! This book is available now.

Full of wit and snark, this is a fun one for readers who like a little sass with a hint of rebellion. I do feel that it would be more appreciated by teenagers, who might be better able to…not relate, per say, but commiserate.

Bad Habits follows Alex, a rebellious teen in a far-from-envelope-pushing Catholic boarding school. In this rigid and conservative setting, Alex sticks out like a sore thumb. I felt sorry about her situation: it’s hard to feel like a square peg in a round hole, so to speak. I felt for her, but I truly did not like her. I felt that she was pretty darn judgmental and really kind of condescending toward the other girls. I think part of the reason she had such a prickly demeanor had to do with feeling let down by her parents. She made for an interesting protagonist, though.

This book is billed as being feminist but I personally saw it more as a coming-of-age tale. I liked Alex’s interaction with her friend Mary Kate, which highlighted that a bit. Mary Kate is Alex’s opposite in almost every way, but she called Alex out on her rather narrow view of feminism, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to have much of an effect on Alex or cause her pause at all.

The book had a snarky bite to it that many readers will enjoy. While this wasn’t necessarily the book for me, it was well written and I think a large amount of people will really enjoy it.

This book reminded me a little bit of Mean Girls, you had the jock (hockey players), the nerds and the theatre club. But what can I say about Bad Habits, at first it was about a girl who wanted to go home and was forced to stay at a school. Alex did everything she could to get expelled and she missed her life in California with her dad. Then something happened, she started to see what was happening, she wasn’t the same girl anymore. The friends she thought were waiting for her in California weren’t her real friends. Alex was falling in love and her roommate was actually her best friend. Alex wanted to stand for what she believed in I don’t think that makes you a feminist because you can say VAGINA.

Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney

Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book!

Thank you to @TheWriteReads for another amazing blog tour, this time for Bad Habits by Flynn Meaney. I was immediately drawn to this book due to the amazing cover! The synopsis also drew me in, i love feminist stories especially in YA!

Bad Habits follows the story of rebel Alex from San Francisco, when she finds herself in elite catholic boarding school St.Marys in Minnesota. Side Note: (I also went to a catholic school called St.Marys! so i immediatley related haha). Alex is spunky, outspoken and a raging feminist in the best way, Alex makes it her mission to get expelled from St.Marys by putting on a show of The Vagina Monologues through her feminist society.

This book is such a quick read, Alex reminded me a lot of myself finding herself in a super catholic school when she really didnt want to be. The writing is funny and moments had me laughing out loud. I enjoyed a few of the side characters mainly Mary-Kate who is Alex's hopeless romantic roommate. Mary-Kate is the absolute polar opposite of Alex, she is a good girl, innocent, a great student and a rule follower but she is so sweet in every way, i couldnt help but root for her even more so that for Alex.

The book is so fun, its basically one girls exploration of how far she can go to get kicked out of her boarding school. I must admit i did get confused between all the nun and priest characters and couldnt keep up with who was who. I would have liked to have seen more of the ice hockey as that was a really fun element too. I loved the coming together at the end and the new members wanting to join the feminist club, it really felt like Alex had found her tribe and that she had a clear focus going forward. I also would have really liked more from her family as they werent mentioned too much.

All in all i would say i really enjoyed this book, it was fun, quick and everything i would have wanted to read as a teen!

Feminist views are often seen as offensive and vulgar by the uninformed, so the thought of a book focused on not just feminist beliefs but those beliefs inside a Catholic boarding school might put some people off, but let me tell you, this was a hilarious and eye-opening narrative on the pressure and inequality women face in society. Alex, our main character, is stand-offish and believes that no woman should have to hide their bodies or their feelings, they can be seen and heard. Her approach to the matter at hand initially came off very hostile, she had no time for any different opinions but I was glad to see this approach was addressed throughout the novel.

One of the most admirable features of the book was its humour. There are serious topics that Alex deals with, her blasé attitude and dark humour are what lifts the topics into a more approachable light. It is true that most female troubles i.e. periods, harassment and pressure to conform are rarely acknowledged in the day of light, and when they are, they are embarrassing or looked down on. Alex ensures that this isn't the case for St Mary's and does so by being brutally honest with the student population and having a laugh, this gives the novel a light-hearted tone but with important topics to make sure the message is received.

Ultimately, the novel is to bring focus on the feminist morals of equal rights in school, work and social aspects of life. It didn't sit comfortably that one of Alex's "achievements" that year was getting a boyfriend when throughout her attitude to Mary-Kate's goal of getting one was so rude. There is nothing wrong with having a boyfriend, part of being a feminist is accepting that it's a choice we are allowed to make, but it didn't feel right for Alex's story to end there.

Meaney makes 'Bad Habits' the new benchmark for the acceptable way to openly discuss feminist ideas, it's funny, it's crude but it is honest and that is what so many young female readers will love. It makes being a girl, in any form, acceptable.