What's a Girl Gotta Do?

I cried HAPPY TEARS at the end of this book – HAPPY. TEARS. Why? Well, it’s because What’s A Girl Gotta Do? is THE BOOK that teenagers all over the world need to be reading. It’s THE BOOK that will make you feel like everything you’ve ever felt is normal and justified; it’s THE BOOK that will have you saying, “This happens to me too, and it’s NOT OKAY” It’s THE BOOK that will have you waking up, walking out and blowing your own loudspeakers at the small sexist things you see every day because WE HAVE TO START SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? If you’re a teenager, a feminist or even just a person living here, you need to read this honest, spunky, powerful book about why this world needs to treat everybody equally and that we need to start demanding just that. I live in India. I’m not going to talk about how I’ve been catcalled, abused, objectified or body-shamed. It happens. To every girl around the world, it happens. Instead, let’s talk about why this book took on EVERY HELPLESS THING all girls feel and replay in their heads constantly and turned it into something powerful: THINGS I LOVED, LAUGHED AT AND HAPPY CRIED OVER: 1. #VAGILANTE: This was the hashtag for Lottie’s project. DOESN’T IT SAY ENOUGH ABOUT HOW ABSOLUTELY AMAZING THIS BOOK IS and how empowering it was? I was sold on this book before I even flipped it open purely because of this one word. #Vagilante 2. WILL + LOTTIE: Not only was this book powerful, it also beat the common stereotype (that I have never understood) that feminists are man haters. Will, our documentary maker, resident cynic and equalist who also happens to be a very good kisser was the PERFECT guy to balance Lottie out. All their arguments about each other, double standards and feminism were utterly hilarious and honestly, they had some of the best chemistry I’ve seen in a while. 3. THE SPINSTER CLUB: Again, YAY for strong female friendships that don’t get tossed aside when boys come alone. I love the different things all three of these girls bring into their Friendship and The Spinster Club. I know them so well too, each book being told from a different girl’s POV. I love all of them and their kind spirits and need for the world to be a better place. 4. THE POWER OF THE MESSAGE: If the whole first part of this review didn’t tell you already, the message What’s A Girl Gotta Do throws at your face is POWERFUL, it’s like a wakeup call everybody who’s been sitting back waiting for things to change that YOU have to start that chance. It is THE BOOK this generation needs. 5. COGNITIVE DISSONANCE: More than make me feel empowered, this book TAUGHT ME SO MUCH. If you don’t know what Cognitive Dissonance is and you consider yourself a feminist, it’s when you have two contradicting opinions. For example, you think body shaming is wrong but want to be fit or thin anyway. I loved that I could learn from and love a book at the same time. What’s A Girl Gotta Do? is pure feministic genius and it’s the book our generation needs to read.

This is brilliant!!! So inspiring and REAL! I could relate to Lottie so many times throughout the book, for example, with how frustrating it is to have people argue against valid points, just to make an argument. I was silently encouraging her when she needed it and it inspired a real reaction from me. I actually laughed out loud several times; the emotions were just so well put across to the reader- I was genuinely invested in the outcome! This really got my feminist juices flowing and reinforced all of my beliefs about equality- I want to join my own spinster club now! Will definitely keep reading any new releases from Holly in future.

I read this in a day! I could not put it down! Holly Bourne's writing is so relatable! I would recommend this to any teen readers!! 💜💜💜