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4th out of 41 books
—
119 voters
Love-shy
Penny is a schoolgirl investigative journalist in search of a story. And she finds one: a boy at her school who is painfully love-shy. Surely he's the perfect subject for a feature article. What could possibly go wrong?
Penny Drummond aspires to be a journalist. A good one. A Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. In the meantime, she's honing her journalistic skills on the Eas...more
Penny Drummond aspires to be a journalist. A good one. A Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. In the meantime, she's honing her journalistic skills on the Eas...more
Paperback, 324 pages
Published
April 1st 2012
by Allen & Unwin
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The endorsements on the back of this novel should have actually gone like this:
"Chock full of sass" - Leanne Hall
"Penny Drummond is smart and funny, vulnerable and fierce" - Melina Marchetta
"Lili Wilkinson OMFG bloody marry me!!!" - Shirley Marr
Verdict: Shirley Marr is definitely not love-shy.
I'm never going to be sick of saying this, so I'm going to say it again. "Too many points of views" is a literary gripe most people are familiar and passionate about, but for me "Use of first-person point o...more
"Chock full of sass" - Leanne Hall
"Penny Drummond is smart and funny, vulnerable and fierce" - Melina Marchetta
"Lili Wilkinson OMFG bloody marry me!!!" - Shirley Marr
Verdict: Shirley Marr is definitely not love-shy.
I'm never going to be sick of saying this, so I'm going to say it again. "Too many points of views" is a literary gripe most people are familiar and passionate about, but for me "Use of first-person point o...more
Expectations (aka Judging a Book By Its Cover)
Looking at Love-shy now, all cute and snuggled up on the shelf next to A Pocketful of Eyes, I don’t think it’s that difficult to see how my misconceptions of this book might have been birthed.
Like its predecessor, Love-shy is a burst of colour, unapologetically eye-catching. There’s a girl on the cover that looks like she just stepped off a tram on Swanston Street. A terrarium. A silhouetted figure, the sole muted spot in a sea of brightness. It’s c...more
Looking at Love-shy now, all cute and snuggled up on the shelf next to A Pocketful of Eyes, I don’t think it’s that difficult to see how my misconceptions of this book might have been birthed.
Like its predecessor, Love-shy is a burst of colour, unapologetically eye-catching. There’s a girl on the cover that looks like she just stepped off a tram on Swanston Street. A terrarium. A silhouetted figure, the sole muted spot in a sea of brightness. It’s c...more
21 likes · like · see review
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Once again, Lili Wilkinson has managed to take me by surprise. When I first read a Wilkinson novel, A Pocketful of Eyes, I didn't expect the depth I would receive with a book that had such a cutsie-type cover and yet again, I am utterly floored by Wilkinson. With her latest novel, Love-Shy, Wilkinson delivers not a romance, but a blooming friendship. Love-Shy, in my opinion at least, isn't as strong a novel as A Pocketful of Eyes. I found myself wishing this novel would just be...more
Once again, Lili Wilkinson has managed to take me by surprise. When I first read a Wilkinson novel, A Pocketful of Eyes, I didn't expect the depth I would receive with a book that had such a cutsie-type cover and yet again, I am utterly floored by Wilkinson. With her latest novel, Love-Shy, Wilkinson delivers not a romance, but a blooming friendship. Love-Shy, in my opinion at least, isn't as strong a novel as A Pocketful of Eyes. I found myself wishing this novel would just be...more
4 likes · like · see review
Review TBC...
I usually find myself ranting and raving about Aussie YA but while Love-Shy was an enjoyable read, it also left me slightly listless. It may have had something to do with my lack of compassion for our protag, Penny Drummond. This young girl came across as being overzealous with zero friends and all her time spent on extra-curricular activities. I often found myself picturing her as not unlike Paris Gellar from Gilmore Girls who also happens to sport the book smarts yet lacks majorly...more
I usually find myself ranting and raving about Aussie YA but while Love-Shy was an enjoyable read, it also left me slightly listless. It may have had something to do with my lack of compassion for our protag, Penny Drummond. This young girl came across as being overzealous with zero friends and all her time spent on extra-curricular activities. I often found myself picturing her as not unlike Paris Gellar from Gilmore Girls who also happens to sport the book smarts yet lacks majorly...more
2 likes · like · see review
Fully realized characters whose stories go in a totally unexpected direction; it’s not the eighty movies odd one out meets girl/boy of his/her dreams, subjected to make over, then tada: love thing I thought it was going to be about (though it could have been.) And because of that, I enjoyed this all the more mainly. That as well as of my predisposition to liking a girl who knows her mind and stands apart from the rest...except my liking Penny was sorely tested by certain quirks.
And so, the high...more
And so, the high...more
Being a love-shy lad myself once upon a time, although neither to same chronic degree nor with the exact symptoms as this novel’s Nick, I related to him. As Ms Wilkinson suggests in her acknowledgements, I just needed a little confidence and that I eventually received from some beautiful young ladies along the way. But for Nick, his love-shyness was potentially life-shyness, and it would take somebody pretty special to lift him out of it and get his love-life underway. That special mentor was Pe...more
Usually, I hate waking up because in general, I feel dirty because I just wasted so much of my time. But today, I took a seeping-to-the-bone cold shower and then went to bed immediately and now, I am extremely content. And when I'm content, I have a tendency to warble nonsensical-itites like, "Pochoo-meglu-pee" which I did soon as I woke up. I also did something along those lines when I finished reading Love-shy.
The book is about a girl and a PEZZImist and their blooming relationship and how no...more
The book is about a girl and a PEZZImist and their blooming relationship and how no...more
Reading an author, who all your friends have already read, for the first time is like going on a blind date. You already kind of go in with an impression because you've heard how funny or charming so-and-so is, and "I swear, you'll love him!" There's also some trepidation because what if you don't like this person all your friends love? Maybe it really is you.*
Lili Wilkinson is an author whose name I've heard from many people, mostly due to her book Pink. I always meant to read that book, but it...more
Lili Wilkinson is an author whose name I've heard from many people, mostly due to her book Pink. I always meant to read that book, but it...more
20 likes · like · see review
Before picking up this treasure from the local library, I had heard many good things about Lili Wilkinson, in particular about her book 'Pink'. As expected, once I knew that she was the Aussie author to look out for (even better, she was born in my hometown! We have so much in common), I stopped at nothing to get my hands on one of her novels. Luckily, on a library visit last month I spotted Love-shy on a shelf and pounced on it. I have never been so happy about borrowing something.
This book was...more
This book was...more
Had me laughing out loud. Loved the charmingly annoying Penny, and even though a lot of the characters at first seemed rooted in stereotypes, most of them ended up being realistic and well-rounded enough to keep me reading.
Perhaps I shouldn't use the term "rooted" in a review for this book, since it is full of Australian slang. I loved that about it and the way it was done was really natural--not alienating for those who aren't familiar with Aus slang, and not over-the-top for those who are.
My o...more
Perhaps I shouldn't use the term "rooted" in a review for this book, since it is full of Australian slang. I loved that about it and the way it was done was really natural--not alienating for those who aren't familiar with Aus slang, and not over-the-top for those who are.
My o...more
Originally posted at Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me
Penny Drummond has just stumbled onto a priceless gem in her very own school library, one that could make her dream of being a renowned journalist a reality. When a mystery boy flees the scene of the crime without checking out his book, Penny's curiosity draws her to his computer screen…only to find the page stuck on loveshyforum.com. According to Penny, a boy who's love shy likes classical music, citrus fruits, romantic (but not comedic) movies, h...more
Penny Drummond has just stumbled onto a priceless gem in her very own school library, one that could make her dream of being a renowned journalist a reality. When a mystery boy flees the scene of the crime without checking out his book, Penny's curiosity draws her to his computer screen…only to find the page stuck on loveshyforum.com. According to Penny, a boy who's love shy likes classical music, citrus fruits, romantic (but not comedic) movies, h...more
Review originally posted in: http://forget8me8not.blogspot.com.au/...
Cover:
The girl kind of looks like how I imagined Penny. I don't really understand what that bowl looking glass with the stones inside of it is but it's a creative and fun-looking cover!
Story:
I am Pezzimist and I am a love-shy.
Penny is trying to figure out who Pezzimist is. She is a journalist student and wants to write an article about this guy (of course it's going to be Anonymous). Pezzimist is a love-shy. It means that he f...more
Cover:
The girl kind of looks like how I imagined Penny. I don't really understand what that bowl looking glass with the stones inside of it is but it's a creative and fun-looking cover!
Story:
I am Pezzimist and I am a love-shy.
Penny is trying to figure out who Pezzimist is. She is a journalist student and wants to write an article about this guy (of course it's going to be Anonymous). Pezzimist is a love-shy. It means that he f...more
2 likes · like · see review
I am sad to report that this is the first Lili Wilkinson book that has let me down. I thought nothing could go wrong with a kickass heroine + journalism skills + search for love(-shy) but almost unsurprisingly, I thought wrong. Because right off from the first chapter, I forgot why I even picked out the book. The concept is much too contrived and I couldn’t get into – and neither buy – the protagonist’s obsession in finding the Love-Shy guy (although I knew, eventually, she was going to find lov...more
I feel so awful giving Lili Wilkinson three stars. I love her writing and have loved all her novels (Pocketful Of Eyes in particular) but this story lacked the sassy main character. She was just so annoying that by the end I was glad everything had fallen in on her head - she deserved it - which was the morale of the story (of course) but I found it just so hard to really get into it and enjoy like the others. I also felt it lacked previous comedian one liners that make Ms Wilkinson's books such...more
A few years ago I came across a book called Scatterheart and fell in love. I can clearly remember my frame of mind when I read it for the first time, and that has a lot to do with why I cherish it so much.
I was in high school and had been going through a time where I didn’t feel very enthusiastic about reading, and everything I picked up seemed unable to spark my interest. Bored with what was on offer, and with no more Harry Potter books on the horizon, I chose Scatterheart because of its beauti...more
I was in high school and had been going through a time where I didn’t feel very enthusiastic about reading, and everything I picked up seemed unable to spark my interest. Bored with what was on offer, and with no more Harry Potter books on the horizon, I chose Scatterheart because of its beauti...more
I have to start by saying that I love, love, loved this book! I was hooked from the very beginning when we're introduced to the narrator of this story, Penny Drummond, a sixteen year old student at East Glendale Secondary College. Penny is a top student, co-captain of year ten, she writes for the gazette and usually gets the front page story, she plays oboe in the orchestra, she's a super swimmer, she's the best debater and has never lost a debate. She plans on becoming a journalist and she look...more
6 likes · like · see review
It's hard to be a teenager, even for Penny who thinks she has life worked out. I found I smiled a lot whilst reading Love-shy; it was not laugh out loud funny but sometimes teenagers think and do dumb/funny/quirky things and Lili captured this. Of course I wanted to frown and shake my head at Penny quite a few times during the book, she is just so bossy and of course always right, but by the end I would have been patting her on the back.
Just finished reading Lili's newest book. Great little read that endeared itself to me the farther I read. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Penny, she seemed a bit too head-on but I should have known better- you're in good hands with this author! Penny is exactly whats needed for the more serious direction this story heads. This book is excellently balanced between a 'fun' read and 'solid' YA read.
Honestly, every Australian book I have read so far published this year has been excellent! Love-Shy's main character, Penny reminded me a lot of Bindy MacKenzie. She's just as judgemental, just as socially misfit-ish, and extremely funny.
But there is also depth here, and a touch of sadness. Penny is so lost, and to find herself, she has to confront some mighty scary inner demons.
I loved this to bits.
But there is also depth here, and a touch of sadness. Penny is so lost, and to find herself, she has to confront some mighty scary inner demons.
I loved this to bits.
i actually liked this more than 'a pocketfull of eyes'. starts off slow and honestly i thought i would not like it. but i stuck with it and it was awesome! wat it thought would happen (cliche boy girl stuuf) did NOT happen and props for that - its refreshing to read a YA book that does not have a cliche happy ending thing.
A strong protagonist drives this clever and endearing coming-of-age story. Gave much more than the blurb suggested. Has potential to be an Australian YA classic. Wilkinson is a talented author; her prose is a near-perfect balance of humour, insight and confusion, the most important conventions of the YA novel (IMO).
3.5 stars
Aw... I really liked the voice in this one even though it was a bit younger than I usually like reading. I'm surprised this hasn't been published in the US, it is very universally relatable and not as specifically Australian as some of the other Aussie YA I've read.
Aw... I really liked the voice in this one even though it was a bit younger than I usually like reading. I'm surprised this hasn't been published in the US, it is very universally relatable and not as specifically Australian as some of the other Aussie YA I've read.
Love-Shy is a quirky and fun story.
The main character, Penny, is one of the best characters in YA. She knows exactly what she wants but lacks so many things. And even though she takes pride for her intelligence, she doesn’t notice how many other amazing qualities she has –like not judging homosexual people, since her father is one.
When you find out who’s “love-shy,” you will fall in love with that boy, even if he’s totally not your type –like me here. But there’s something appealing about a shy...more
The main character, Penny, is one of the best characters in YA. She knows exactly what she wants but lacks so many things. And even though she takes pride for her intelligence, she doesn’t notice how many other amazing qualities she has –like not judging homosexual people, since her father is one.
When you find out who’s “love-shy,” you will fall in love with that boy, even if he’s totally not your type –like me here. But there’s something appealing about a shy...more
It is always refreshing to read an Aussie book. I liked following of Penny in her journey of becoming more like able and self actualised and I appreciated that the story wasn't a cliched romance.
I hated this book. I wanted to like it, but I really hated the main character, and I felt that she didn't learn from her mistakes.
Lili Wilkinson honestly writes some of the most fun, most genuine, most realistic teen fiction I have read in a bloody long time.
I'm still thinking about doing a full review of this, but my basic gripes were with Penny and her horrible attitude to the people around her, especially those she used for stories. As I said to someone when I was reading this, Penny reminded of Bones, but without the lovely cast of characters teaching her how to behave nicely. Yes, she learnt some lessons in the end, but I felt she still didn't fully comprehend the consequences of her actions.
Anyway, I desperately wanted to love this. Really, I...more
Anyway, I desperately wanted to love this. Really, I...more
I can't decide if I loved this or hated it. time will tell if it leaves an impression.
Not as good as pink, but still quite nice. I enjoyed the flawed protagonist.
Aug 15, 2012
Hannah
added it
its a good book. after you read it you will really want to get into journalism
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Lili Wilkinson was born in Melbourne, Australia, in the front room where her parents still live. She is an only child, and loves it. She was first published when she was 12, in Voiceworks Magazine. After studying Creative Arts at Melbourne University, Lili was employed by the Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria, where she manages insideadog.com.au, a highly acclaimed all-a...more
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Apr 30, 2012 09:31pm
Oct 30, 2012 07:13pm