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Pretty Funny #1
Pretty Funny
Does anyone ever really want to 'fall' in love? Knowing me I'll just trip over it and graze my knee on the gravel of humiliation.
Haylah Swinton is fairly confident she's brilliant at being a girl. She's an ace best friend, a loving daughter, and an INCREDIBLY patient sister to her four-year-old total nutter of a brother, Noah. But she has a secret. She wants to be a stand-up comedian, but she's pretty sure girls like her - big girls, girls who don't get all the boys, girls who a lot of people don't see - don't belong on stage.
That hasn't stopped her dreaming though, and when the seemingly perfect opportunity to write routines for older, cooler, impossibly funny Leo arises... well, what's a girl to do? But is Leo quite an interested in helping Haylah as he says he is? Will Haylah ever find the courage to step into the spotlight herself? And when oh when will people stop telling her she's 'funny for a girl'?!
Haylah Swinton is fairly confident she's brilliant at being a girl. She's an ace best friend, a loving daughter, and an INCREDIBLY patient sister to her four-year-old total nutter of a brother, Noah. But she has a secret. She wants to be a stand-up comedian, but she's pretty sure girls like her - big girls, girls who don't get all the boys, girls who a lot of people don't see - don't belong on stage.
That hasn't stopped her dreaming though, and when the seemingly perfect opportunity to write routines for older, cooler, impossibly funny Leo arises... well, what's a girl to do? But is Leo quite an interested in helping Haylah as he says he is? Will Haylah ever find the courage to step into the spotlight herself? And when oh when will people stop telling her she's 'funny for a girl'?!
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2020
21 people are currently reading
505 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Elliott
215 books301 followersRebecca Elliott is the author and illustrator of the best-selling Owl Diaries series (Scholastic US) & over 20 picture books including Just Because, Sometimes, Naked Trevor and Zoo Girl, for which she was nominated for the 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.
Her new series The Unicorn Diaries (Scholastic US) & her first YA novel 'Pretty Funny ' (Penguin Random House) are out now.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
June 9, 2020
This was a quick read that certainly made me laugh loads of time. The concept of the story was intriguing it involves comedy.
The story follows our main character, Haylah Swinston who always dreamed of being a stand-up comedian. Growing up, she knows how to make her friends, family, and the people around her laugh. As she found out that there was a senior in her school who also love comedy as much as her, she took the chance to ghostwrite some funny jokes for him.
What I love about Haylah is that she is confident. She even told her friends to call her Pig. Despite when people call her body image out a lot, she remained positive, even if it hurts in the inside. The self-love that was portrayed was heartwarming and I admire her confidence. The ending was good as it was able to wrap up the story well.
Overall, I enjoyed witnessing Haylah's story. I also like the way the author used words in making the readers laugh and appreciate Haylah's hilarious jokes. If you are looking for a dose of wittiness, sarcasm, and positivity, this book is something for you!
Huge thanks to Peachtree Publishing for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story follows our main character, Haylah Swinston who always dreamed of being a stand-up comedian. Growing up, she knows how to make her friends, family, and the people around her laugh. As she found out that there was a senior in her school who also love comedy as much as her, she took the chance to ghostwrite some funny jokes for him.
What I love about Haylah is that she is confident. She even told her friends to call her Pig. Despite when people call her body image out a lot, she remained positive, even if it hurts in the inside. The self-love that was portrayed was heartwarming and I admire her confidence. The ending was good as it was able to wrap up the story well.
Overall, I enjoyed witnessing Haylah's story. I also like the way the author used words in making the readers laugh and appreciate Haylah's hilarious jokes. If you are looking for a dose of wittiness, sarcasm, and positivity, this book is something for you!
Huge thanks to Peachtree Publishing for sending me a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 3, 2021
Il y aura un deuxième tome, UNE CHANCE!
j’ai vraiment aimé parce que ça traite de sujets bien particuliers (confiance en soi, estime de soi et humour, entre autres). j’ai trouvé cette lecture rafraîchissante et j’ai hâte de retrouver Haylah ... et Léo!
j’ai vraiment aimé parce que ça traite de sujets bien particuliers (confiance en soi, estime de soi et humour, entre autres). j’ai trouvé cette lecture rafraîchissante et j’ai hâte de retrouver Haylah ... et Léo!
October 27, 2020
I received an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Fatphobia
A fat teenager who’s funny, loves funny people, and wants to become a standup comedian? OF COURSE I jumped at the opportunity to read this book.
My own experience with fat liberation has been long and changing. Haylah reminded me of my teenage self, back when these two words weren’t even a part of my general vocabulary. Reading this book legit made me take a trip down memory lane and also realise just how far I’ve come. I probably would have liked this book as a teenager because of just how similar I was to the MC — I too was a fat teenager obsessed with comedy. Thankfully not as bratty as Haylah, though. Phew.
But that was as a teenager. I have since started actively learning about fat justice and making a conscious effort to read more books with fat rep, and I have to say, this book fails on several important counts.
My biggest complaint about Pretty Funny For a Girl is that it’s not the body positive book the other reviews are touting it to be. Just a few pages in, Haylah proudly exclaims she’s “not the kind of fatty that inspires TLC documentaries or makes the news for rolling over and accidentally asphyxiating a cat and not realising for two weeks.”
She apparently also doesn’t “feel fat on the inside”. Ma’am, fat is not a feeling, geez.
Oh oh and of course her friends all convince her that she’s not “actually fat”, just curvy, but the “just say fat” outburst I kept expecting never comes. The fact that that’s a euphemism AND it excludes people bigger than the MC herself is also never addressed.
When she has to go onstage and do a standup set, she legit includes fat jokes in them. She even uses the O word. Barf.
It’s 2020. Either get your fat rep correct or GTFO.
And that’s not all.
As much as the book talks about feminism — and even ends with Haylah and her best friends realising they haven’t been very feminist so far — there are some irredeemable things said in it.
- Haylah literally goes she’s nOt lIkE oTHeR gIrLs in every other page. Or a “girlie girl”. And yeah, the author doesn’t pass it off as a compliment but Haylah most definitely makes herself feel better by saying that as much as the narration tries to convince you of the contrary.
- There’s legit a monologue about how not like other girls she is that ends with “Seriously—I AM NOT THAT GIRL”. (Someone put me out of this misery, please.)
- A side character is called “a bit tarty” in one page and “airheaded tart” in another.
Error 404. Feminism not found.
As much as the fat rep sucked and it was SO not feminist, I did relate to the funny fat teenager bits. The part about Haylah jumping to make jokes about herself before anyone else can? I FELT that. I’ve been that person as a youngin.
The one thing this book does get right is what it feels like to be the loud, boisterous, funny one in a friend group. And a woman at that. I definitely did not want to relate to those bits but I did.
So here, take my two stars and go. 😭
————————
Edit: Hello, I woke up angry because I remembered the one POC in this book is lowkey morally grey. I may have liked the comedian rep but nah, this is not it. Bumping it down to 1 star now.
TW: Fatphobia
A fat teenager who’s funny, loves funny people, and wants to become a standup comedian? OF COURSE I jumped at the opportunity to read this book.
My own experience with fat liberation has been long and changing. Haylah reminded me of my teenage self, back when these two words weren’t even a part of my general vocabulary. Reading this book legit made me take a trip down memory lane and also realise just how far I’ve come. I probably would have liked this book as a teenager because of just how similar I was to the MC — I too was a fat teenager obsessed with comedy. Thankfully not as bratty as Haylah, though. Phew.
But that was as a teenager. I have since started actively learning about fat justice and making a conscious effort to read more books with fat rep, and I have to say, this book fails on several important counts.
My biggest complaint about Pretty Funny For a Girl is that it’s not the body positive book the other reviews are touting it to be. Just a few pages in, Haylah proudly exclaims she’s “not the kind of fatty that inspires TLC documentaries or makes the news for rolling over and accidentally asphyxiating a cat and not realising for two weeks.”
She apparently also doesn’t “feel fat on the inside”. Ma’am, fat is not a feeling, geez.
Oh oh and of course her friends all convince her that she’s not “actually fat”, just curvy, but the “just say fat” outburst I kept expecting never comes. The fact that that’s a euphemism AND it excludes people bigger than the MC herself is also never addressed.
When she has to go onstage and do a standup set, she legit includes fat jokes in them. She even uses the O word. Barf.
It’s 2020. Either get your fat rep correct or GTFO.
And that’s not all.
As much as the book talks about feminism — and even ends with Haylah and her best friends realising they haven’t been very feminist so far — there are some irredeemable things said in it.
- Haylah literally goes she’s nOt lIkE oTHeR gIrLs in every other page. Or a “girlie girl”. And yeah, the author doesn’t pass it off as a compliment but Haylah most definitely makes herself feel better by saying that as much as the narration tries to convince you of the contrary.
- There’s legit a monologue about how not like other girls she is that ends with “Seriously—I AM NOT THAT GIRL”. (Someone put me out of this misery, please.)
- A side character is called “a bit tarty” in one page and “airheaded tart” in another.
Error 404. Feminism not found.
As much as the fat rep sucked and it was SO not feminist, I did relate to the funny fat teenager bits. The part about Haylah jumping to make jokes about herself before anyone else can? I FELT that. I’ve been that person as a youngin.
The one thing this book does get right is what it feels like to be the loud, boisterous, funny one in a friend group. And a woman at that. I definitely did not want to relate to those bits but I did.
So here, take my two stars and go. 😭
————————
Edit: Hello, I woke up angry because I remembered the one POC in this book is lowkey morally grey. I may have liked the comedian rep but nah, this is not it. Bumping it down to 1 star now.
May 17, 2020
I have received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pretty Funny for a Girl was an okay kind of book. It definitely felt like it was dragging throughout it and I was just bored as well. I mean, the characters were a smidge interesting but the whole story just wasn't.
In it, you will meet Hay. Now she's a pretty funny girl but she just kind of focuses on her being fat. When she really wasn't. So yeah it was frustrating and annoying for most of this book. Then there was some hope of a potential romance but nothing to really root for. Mostly because drama was going to unfold at one point and I was just kind of waiting for it to all show up.
In the end, I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. It had potential but just fell flat for me.
Pretty Funny for a Girl was an okay kind of book. It definitely felt like it was dragging throughout it and I was just bored as well. I mean, the characters were a smidge interesting but the whole story just wasn't.
In it, you will meet Hay. Now she's a pretty funny girl but she just kind of focuses on her being fat. When she really wasn't. So yeah it was frustrating and annoying for most of this book. Then there was some hope of a potential romance but nothing to really root for. Mostly because drama was going to unfold at one point and I was just kind of waiting for it to all show up.
In the end, I wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. It had potential but just fell flat for me.
September 21, 2020
Haylah was a self described "comedy nerd". She watched every clip she could find, listened to any podcast available, and read all the books on the shelves in an effort to hone her craft. Yet, she kept her stand up comic aspirations a secret until an opportunity to help cool and popular Leo write his set for a competition arose, and that had her contemplating if she had what it took to step up to the mic herself.
I am going to start with my takeaway from this book, which was learning to believe in and love yourself. Haylah often talked about being fat. Sometimes she was ok with it and sometimes she wasn't. I thought this was rather realistic. From what I gathered, she was a 14 year old girl, and many teens her age can be insecure from time to time. I can understand her struggle with not fitting or even trying to subscribe to the beauty standard. Overall though, she seemed happy with herself, because for her, it was more important to be funny than thin. I can imagine her, older and wiser and totally accepting her body, but I believed she was in a good place at fourteen.
It's great seeing all these YA books about female comedians. It's a well known fact that the industry can be less than hospitable to women, but how fabulous to see all these young women pursuing their dreams. Indeed, Haylah was funny, but it was her dedication to the craft that I admired. The way she would go through her day, recording amusing bits for later, or all the research she did. She definitely showed that it was hard work, AND that she was more than willing to put in the time and effort to edge closer to making her dream a reality.
This book wasn't just about becoming a comic. It was about family, friends, crushes, making mistakes, and making amends. I loved Haylah's family. She was being raised by her mother, who worked nights, and therefore, Haylah had to help out a lot with her little brother, Noah. He could be a handful, but they really shared a sweet and beautiful bond. Noah was such an injection of cute into this story too.
There were some subplots in this book, where I saw Haylah err a bit, but also grow. Whether it be her mother jumping back into the romance game, her friends drifting away from her, or her first real crush, mistakes were made. Part of me really felt for Haylah, but another part of me wanted to give her good shake and tell her to snap out of it. However, I never gave up on her, and I am glad to say, she did not disappoint me.
It was a delight to meet Haylah and watch her finally take the stage. I know there are going to be times where you will find yourself frustrated with Haylah, but all the steps, forwards and backwards, were part of her journey to being able to be her most authentic self. And yes, she was pretty funny for a girl.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
I am going to start with my takeaway from this book, which was learning to believe in and love yourself. Haylah often talked about being fat. Sometimes she was ok with it and sometimes she wasn't. I thought this was rather realistic. From what I gathered, she was a 14 year old girl, and many teens her age can be insecure from time to time. I can understand her struggle with not fitting or even trying to subscribe to the beauty standard. Overall though, she seemed happy with herself, because for her, it was more important to be funny than thin. I can imagine her, older and wiser and totally accepting her body, but I believed she was in a good place at fourteen.
It's great seeing all these YA books about female comedians. It's a well known fact that the industry can be less than hospitable to women, but how fabulous to see all these young women pursuing their dreams. Indeed, Haylah was funny, but it was her dedication to the craft that I admired. The way she would go through her day, recording amusing bits for later, or all the research she did. She definitely showed that it was hard work, AND that she was more than willing to put in the time and effort to edge closer to making her dream a reality.
This book wasn't just about becoming a comic. It was about family, friends, crushes, making mistakes, and making amends. I loved Haylah's family. She was being raised by her mother, who worked nights, and therefore, Haylah had to help out a lot with her little brother, Noah. He could be a handful, but they really shared a sweet and beautiful bond. Noah was such an injection of cute into this story too.
There were some subplots in this book, where I saw Haylah err a bit, but also grow. Whether it be her mother jumping back into the romance game, her friends drifting away from her, or her first real crush, mistakes were made. Part of me really felt for Haylah, but another part of me wanted to give her good shake and tell her to snap out of it. However, I never gave up on her, and I am glad to say, she did not disappoint me.
It was a delight to meet Haylah and watch her finally take the stage. I know there are going to be times where you will find yourself frustrated with Haylah, but all the steps, forwards and backwards, were part of her journey to being able to be her most authentic self. And yes, she was pretty funny for a girl.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
March 1, 2021
Je mets 3 étoiles parce que j'ai beaucoup aimé l'histoire et les messages, j'ai passé un bon moment de lecture, en tout cas c'est le sentiment que j'en retire en refermant le livre... mais en même temps, la manière de dire ou de faire certaines choses m'ont un peu mise mal à l'aise. Je suis vraiment déstabilisée par ce livre qui m'a semblé limite problématique à certains moments. 😅
May 26, 2020
Quirky, fast read.
Haylah Swinton has always wanted to be a comedian when she grows up, she knows how to make her friends laugh and can turn being the butt of a joke into an identity that she proudly claims. When she has a chance to work with fellow comedian and senior hottie, Leo, she jumps at the chance, even if it costs her her friends.
I like that Haylah was pretty outwardly confident, even if she didn't always feel like it inside. She owned the name Pig and is a pretty likable girl. I could see how having a guy like you when you've never experienced that before can make you act differently. Especially when he's a popular guy and you're having a hard time believing he has any feelings. I didn't like that Haylah did a complete 180 and shut out her friends because they were looking out for her. Also, what she did to her mom was pretty terrible and made me like her less.
The ending was good and Haylah tried to make up for her mistakes and stood up for what she wanted. I didn't so much care for the bit of romance thrown in at the very end, it was a little forced I thought.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
Haylah Swinton has always wanted to be a comedian when she grows up, she knows how to make her friends laugh and can turn being the butt of a joke into an identity that she proudly claims. When she has a chance to work with fellow comedian and senior hottie, Leo, she jumps at the chance, even if it costs her her friends.
I like that Haylah was pretty outwardly confident, even if she didn't always feel like it inside. She owned the name Pig and is a pretty likable girl. I could see how having a guy like you when you've never experienced that before can make you act differently. Especially when he's a popular guy and you're having a hard time believing he has any feelings. I didn't like that Haylah did a complete 180 and shut out her friends because they were looking out for her. Also, what she did to her mom was pretty terrible and made me like her less.
The ending was good and Haylah tried to make up for her mistakes and stood up for what she wanted. I didn't so much care for the bit of romance thrown in at the very end, it was a little forced I thought.
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
November 28, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review
DNFed @29% -- 1.5/5 stars
Unfortunately, I failed to connect with Haylah, our main character, in this one and that ultimately made it hard for me to enjoy the story. I struggled with getting into the book because of my dislike for Haylah. I found her immature, rude, and judgemental. I also thought she was quite annoying. One thing that I found to be really annoying about Haylah was how she tells readers that she forgets she’s fat and doesn’t think about it often, but then she makes a comment in her mind about being fat on almost every page! The impression I got from the character was a kind of “woe-is-me” everything sucks complaining sort of tone which I can’t stand.
I think the author’s writing style would work better for younger readers. This is a YA book, but it definitely felt aimed towards the younger side of YA. The humour was pretty juvenile, and I didn’t really find it funny personally.
Again, this one didn’t work for me, but I think it could be good for younger readers (13-15ish).
DNFed @29% -- 1.5/5 stars
Unfortunately, I failed to connect with Haylah, our main character, in this one and that ultimately made it hard for me to enjoy the story. I struggled with getting into the book because of my dislike for Haylah. I found her immature, rude, and judgemental. I also thought she was quite annoying. One thing that I found to be really annoying about Haylah was how she tells readers that she forgets she’s fat and doesn’t think about it often, but then she makes a comment in her mind about being fat on almost every page! The impression I got from the character was a kind of “woe-is-me” everything sucks complaining sort of tone which I can’t stand.
I think the author’s writing style would work better for younger readers. This is a YA book, but it definitely felt aimed towards the younger side of YA. The humour was pretty juvenile, and I didn’t really find it funny personally.
Again, this one didn’t work for me, but I think it could be good for younger readers (13-15ish).
November 30, 2020
Thank you to Peachtree Publishing for sending me an ARC!
I think I expected more from this book that it gave. I would have given it a 2.5, because I just really wasn't enjoying it, but I rounded it up because it is good to see girl comedian rep. This might just be a me thing but I feel like the pacing of this book was off. Some of the times that seemed more important went by fast and other times things that didn't seem too important were focused in on too much. To me, this book just kept dragging on for almost the whole book. This book doesn't have a lot going on in it.
I think I expected more from this book that it gave. I would have given it a 2.5, because I just really wasn't enjoying it, but I rounded it up because it is good to see girl comedian rep. This might just be a me thing but I feel like the pacing of this book was off. Some of the times that seemed more important went by fast and other times things that didn't seem too important were focused in on too much. To me, this book just kept dragging on for almost the whole book. This book doesn't have a lot going on in it.
June 25, 2021
La traduction en français m'a un peu dérangée. J'ai aimé l'histoire et les personnages quoique j'ai trouvé qu'il y avait quelques petites longeurs. Honnêtement, j'aurais probablement accordé un 4 étoiles à la version originale en anglais. J'accord un petit 3 étoiles pour cette lecture drôle et légère 🙈
October 2, 2020
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This is just a wonderful, feel good, humorous YA novel that I loved.
The main highlight of the story is the theme. The author writes the story in such a charming manner where you smile throughout the tale. The concept is unique and fun and emphasizes on self-empowerment. It does not matter how you look as long as you love yourself and are confident.
I loved Haylah as the lead and thought she was hilarious. She is not perfect in any manner, and she is over emotional and impulsive at times. But she tries her best to fit in and be part of the crowd. Although she struggles with self-esteem issues, I loved how she matures in the story. Some of the conversations made me laugh so much, like when she tries to explain Noah about babies, and how she tells Leo that she wants to be a communist. Moreover, I love that she doesn’t let her weight affect her, and takes a remark like ‘pig’ and turns it to her advantage. All the supporting characters are also wonderful. Noah is adorable as the younger brother, and I loved Haylah’s friends Kas and Chloe. Ruben is also a sweetheart.
I also enjoyed the side story of where her mother dates Ruben. It is never easy sharing a loved one when you are young and possessive. I think the author beautifully talked about this in a realistic manner. The author has a wonderful talent for writing comedy and drama and merge it seamlessly. I hope the author writes many more such novels, because this was just perfect!
Overall, I highly recommend this book if you a nice contemporary read with lots of humor.
March 3, 2020
update :
full review click here
My thoughts
Thank you so much to Times Reads for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review! This book will be available in all good bookstores soon!
Three-word description : comedian, friendship, faith
My rating : 4 / 5 stars
This book is such a refreshing voice in YA. This story follows Haylah, Pig to her friends as she navigates daily family feuds, friendship and chasing her dream to hopefully become a stand up comedian one day. I adore Haylah so much, she is just so relatable and we have a fat girl who is finally content with her body and not trying to keep up with the “skinny is beauty” propaganda which HELLO, we stan!
Haylah has a strong voice and the self love portrayed through her is just absolutely so true to core and relevant. I love her as a main character, she speaks her mind when it comes to issues brought to her about her body and I love how this important message is spread throughout the novel, and for anyone who needs to hear this: you do not need to change yourself because of social pressure. If it is something you want, then go for it but NEVER change yourself if it is not 100 percent your choice or decision. Beauty comes in all shades and sizes, you are unique and beautiful, if you can tell that to someone else, why can’t you say that to yourself?
The premise is also very interesting, as it revolves around stand up comedy. Having to watch stand up comedy like once or twice in my lifetime, I learnt so much about it through the book. We also see a potential love interest, Leo who is also a stand up comedian and how they interact and come up with ideas and sets. Sadly, as funny and witty the narration of Haylah is, I find the jokes hard to relate? Some are pretty straightforward but others are uh a little foreign to me? But I just want to preface this by saying it may be of the cultural differences that I did not get the jokes.
Besides, we also see family involvement a lot in the book which is an aspect that I love. Haylah’s mother is also such a strong and empowering woman! Though there may be quarrels and arguments over certain issues throughout, I love how Haylah and her mother both took a step back and support each other and ultimately finding a middle ground for them both to make their own decisions. The friendship in this book is also a very awesome take, props to the author! It realistically portrayed how friendships sometimes can be, some are here for the ride and some truly care for your well being; some are headstrong with a kind heart and some who just wants to see you fall and rub it in your face.
Overall, I think this is definitely worth a read! I recommend this to anyone who needs a dose of sarcasm and wittiness, a true reflection on how the reality sometimes may be and I just want all of you to pick this up to support #GRLPWR and coming to terms with your own self and ultimately find inner peace and to love and start caring for yourself.
full review click here
My thoughts
Thank you so much to Times Reads for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review! This book will be available in all good bookstores soon!
Three-word description : comedian, friendship, faith
My rating : 4 / 5 stars
This book is such a refreshing voice in YA. This story follows Haylah, Pig to her friends as she navigates daily family feuds, friendship and chasing her dream to hopefully become a stand up comedian one day. I adore Haylah so much, she is just so relatable and we have a fat girl who is finally content with her body and not trying to keep up with the “skinny is beauty” propaganda which HELLO, we stan!
Haylah has a strong voice and the self love portrayed through her is just absolutely so true to core and relevant. I love her as a main character, she speaks her mind when it comes to issues brought to her about her body and I love how this important message is spread throughout the novel, and for anyone who needs to hear this: you do not need to change yourself because of social pressure. If it is something you want, then go for it but NEVER change yourself if it is not 100 percent your choice or decision. Beauty comes in all shades and sizes, you are unique and beautiful, if you can tell that to someone else, why can’t you say that to yourself?
The premise is also very interesting, as it revolves around stand up comedy. Having to watch stand up comedy like once or twice in my lifetime, I learnt so much about it through the book. We also see a potential love interest, Leo who is also a stand up comedian and how they interact and come up with ideas and sets. Sadly, as funny and witty the narration of Haylah is, I find the jokes hard to relate? Some are pretty straightforward but others are uh a little foreign to me? But I just want to preface this by saying it may be of the cultural differences that I did not get the jokes.
Besides, we also see family involvement a lot in the book which is an aspect that I love. Haylah’s mother is also such a strong and empowering woman! Though there may be quarrels and arguments over certain issues throughout, I love how Haylah and her mother both took a step back and support each other and ultimately finding a middle ground for them both to make their own decisions. The friendship in this book is also a very awesome take, props to the author! It realistically portrayed how friendships sometimes can be, some are here for the ride and some truly care for your well being; some are headstrong with a kind heart and some who just wants to see you fall and rub it in your face.
Overall, I think this is definitely worth a read! I recommend this to anyone who needs a dose of sarcasm and wittiness, a true reflection on how the reality sometimes may be and I just want all of you to pick this up to support #GRLPWR and coming to terms with your own self and ultimately find inner peace and to love and start caring for yourself.
November 23, 2021
3.75 stars😊
Halyah was an Plus sized interesting, funny, sarcastic, smart girl. I liked that she kind of owned what people called her, pretended that she was nicknamed pig.
Leo was sort of an ass, I mean really? He tries to almost make it Haylah`s fault that he kissed her? When he`s on and off relationship with Keesha? Really? Just ugh. Noah was like 4 year olds are, annoying, funny and adorable. Chloe & Kas was interesting, a bit annoying but also supportive like friends are supposed to be. Dylan was kind of funny, and the last part when he introduced his little sister to Haylah`s little brother was adorable.
I got this eARC from netgalley.
Halyah was an Plus sized interesting, funny, sarcastic, smart girl. I liked that she kind of owned what people called her, pretended that she was nicknamed pig.
Leo was sort of an ass, I mean really? He tries to almost make it Haylah`s fault that he kissed her? When he`s on and off relationship with Keesha? Really? Just ugh. Noah was like 4 year olds are, annoying, funny and adorable. Chloe & Kas was interesting, a bit annoying but also supportive like friends are supposed to be. Dylan was kind of funny, and the last part when he introduced his little sister to Haylah`s little brother was adorable.
I got this eARC from netgalley.
March 14, 2020
I found this a little mediocre and unsurprising to be honest.
Hay really plays into the “girl thinks she’s fat despite everyone saying she’s not” trope, which is a little frustrating when I was hoping for a bit more body positivity. For all her protests, she comes across as someone who wants to be thinner and isn’t happy with her size, and who lets other people’s views affect. Also the pig nickname and her adopting it never felt quite right to me, it made me quite uncomfortable.
I did enjoy the comedy aspect. I felt the Leo storyline again wasn’t too surprising, but I liked how it all played out. And some of the jokes were brilliant.
Honestly this was almost a 3 star read, but I felt the commentary on weight throughout pulled it down a bit for me. 2.5 stars - nothing special for me, but enjoyable enough. Suspect a lot of people will enjoy it a lot more though.
Hay really plays into the “girl thinks she’s fat despite everyone saying she’s not” trope, which is a little frustrating when I was hoping for a bit more body positivity. For all her protests, she comes across as someone who wants to be thinner and isn’t happy with her size, and who lets other people’s views affect. Also the pig nickname and her adopting it never felt quite right to me, it made me quite uncomfortable.
I did enjoy the comedy aspect. I felt the Leo storyline again wasn’t too surprising, but I liked how it all played out. And some of the jokes were brilliant.
Honestly this was almost a 3 star read, but I felt the commentary on weight throughout pulled it down a bit for me. 2.5 stars - nothing special for me, but enjoyable enough. Suspect a lot of people will enjoy it a lot more though.
June 21, 2020
Turns out Haylah is pretty funny for a girl...
In this novel, we follow Haylah better known as Pig. She's a plus size teen (as if that alone wasn't hard) taking care of her little brother along with her single mom and has a big crush on a kid at school so when he ask her to help him write jokes for a competition, she can't help but agree.
Now, this plot might sound a bit familiar knowing all the YA books out there, but this book has something that none of the others have: Haylah.
While her self-deprecating humor can be a bit much sometimes, I have rarely connected as much with a protagonist and keep in mind that's she's fourteen and I'm in my mid-twenty. But where so maybe have tried over the years to relate the reality of being different and social anxiety, Rebecca Elliott actually managed to capture it and put it into words for us. What could have been gold mines of second-hand embarassment actually managed to be relatable annecdotes that I think most of us would understand, no matter the age.
The comedy is also amazing in here. I actually shared one of the jokes with my mother (after of course translating it for her) and she actually cried (and maybe peed herself a little bit) because of how much she was laughing. Haylah is an inherently funny character makes the jokes instead of being one. Noah, her little brother, is also a laugh riot and can make any scene he's in so much better. He also asks some very pertinent questions.
Of course, the rest of the characters are also great, proving themselves to be a great ensemble. From her feminist mother to her two amazing best friends passing by the young black man who struggles with being seen for what he really is, Elliott actually managed to create a diverse and interesting menagerie that we could all find among our friends and families. None of them actually manage to fall into clichés, instead always finding ways to keep us on our toes.
All in all, this book is a great way to teach teens (and adults) that it's okay to be who you are and that girls can be funny too. That and has any of us really ever seen a chimpanzee take a bath?
In this novel, we follow Haylah better known as Pig. She's a plus size teen (as if that alone wasn't hard) taking care of her little brother along with her single mom and has a big crush on a kid at school so when he ask her to help him write jokes for a competition, she can't help but agree.
Now, this plot might sound a bit familiar knowing all the YA books out there, but this book has something that none of the others have: Haylah.
While her self-deprecating humor can be a bit much sometimes, I have rarely connected as much with a protagonist and keep in mind that's she's fourteen and I'm in my mid-twenty. But where so maybe have tried over the years to relate the reality of being different and social anxiety, Rebecca Elliott actually managed to capture it and put it into words for us. What could have been gold mines of second-hand embarassment actually managed to be relatable annecdotes that I think most of us would understand, no matter the age.
The comedy is also amazing in here. I actually shared one of the jokes with my mother (after of course translating it for her) and she actually cried (and maybe peed herself a little bit) because of how much she was laughing. Haylah is an inherently funny character makes the jokes instead of being one. Noah, her little brother, is also a laugh riot and can make any scene he's in so much better. He also asks some very pertinent questions.
Of course, the rest of the characters are also great, proving themselves to be a great ensemble. From her feminist mother to her two amazing best friends passing by the young black man who struggles with being seen for what he really is, Elliott actually managed to create a diverse and interesting menagerie that we could all find among our friends and families. None of them actually manage to fall into clichés, instead always finding ways to keep us on our toes.
All in all, this book is a great way to teach teens (and adults) that it's okay to be who you are and that girls can be funny too. That and has any of us really ever seen a chimpanzee take a bath?
November 14, 2020
Why do we feel in order to not BE the punchline, we have to make it first? Is it our culture, society, home life, circle of support? Why can't we just BE?
Pretty heavy for what appears to be a comedic reading selection, right? Well I was surprised too! And no, that wasn't a dig at our leading lady. I liked the fact that Haylah was unexpected, went against the grain, and followed her own drummer. I appreciated the fact that she had a dream and was willing to do what it took to reach it. I was grateful for the fact that she wasn't perfect and experienced the pitfalls that EVERY TEEN DOES at some point or another...you know the ones. The pretty face that turns your head, the little comments that finally get to you, the self-doubt that creeps into the bravado, the...well, you get the picture. It wasn't that I wanted hardship for our gal, but I wanted that dose of reality, harsh as it could be, but also that moment of WAKE UP HAYLAH and see what's really in front of you, what you have to offer the world, and don't simply laugh it away, but accept that you are a masterpiece in every way.
All in all, this story was HAY-LAH good! Belly laughs run amuck, but there's a lot of every day issues dealt with as well in such a grand way. It's a STRONG book about being true to yourself, following your dreams, and never letting anyone stand in your way...including yourself! A great read for those in their teens traveling the same roads as our heroine, as well as for those that simply need a reminder of how fabulous they really are.
**ARC received for review; opinions are my own
Pretty heavy for what appears to be a comedic reading selection, right? Well I was surprised too! And no, that wasn't a dig at our leading lady. I liked the fact that Haylah was unexpected, went against the grain, and followed her own drummer. I appreciated the fact that she had a dream and was willing to do what it took to reach it. I was grateful for the fact that she wasn't perfect and experienced the pitfalls that EVERY TEEN DOES at some point or another...you know the ones. The pretty face that turns your head, the little comments that finally get to you, the self-doubt that creeps into the bravado, the...well, you get the picture. It wasn't that I wanted hardship for our gal, but I wanted that dose of reality, harsh as it could be, but also that moment of WAKE UP HAYLAH and see what's really in front of you, what you have to offer the world, and don't simply laugh it away, but accept that you are a masterpiece in every way.
All in all, this story was HAY-LAH good! Belly laughs run amuck, but there's a lot of every day issues dealt with as well in such a grand way. It's a STRONG book about being true to yourself, following your dreams, and never letting anyone stand in your way...including yourself! A great read for those in their teens traveling the same roads as our heroine, as well as for those that simply need a reminder of how fabulous they really are.
**ARC received for review; opinions are my own
July 28, 2021
So nice to see this super YA novel from the author of a popular emerging readers’ series (definitely popular at my school).
Haylah, aka: ‘Pig’, has been treading in the ‘okay-but-getting-by’ end of high school life with the occasional support of her friends and family. Life turns interesting yet challenging at the same time in a way all too familiar for those of us who struggle/d with body-image and self-esteem issues, especially at a time when we’re ready to branch out, chasing out own individual talents, away from the safety of what we’ve known. The struggles Haylah feels, both internal and external were relatable and while she sputters a bit, she finds her stride in well-paced writing (sorry for the lengthy swimming comparison—the Olympics are on!)
It was so nice to read what felt like a return to the late 90s-early aughts heyday of ‘chick-lit’, which I will never be ashamed of reading and supporting.
I’m really hoping there might be a sequel!
Haylah, aka: ‘Pig’, has been treading in the ‘okay-but-getting-by’ end of high school life with the occasional support of her friends and family. Life turns interesting yet challenging at the same time in a way all too familiar for those of us who struggle/d with body-image and self-esteem issues, especially at a time when we’re ready to branch out, chasing out own individual talents, away from the safety of what we’ve known. The struggles Haylah feels, both internal and external were relatable and while she sputters a bit, she finds her stride in well-paced writing (sorry for the lengthy swimming comparison—the Olympics are on!)
It was so nice to read what felt like a return to the late 90s-early aughts heyday of ‘chick-lit’, which I will never be ashamed of reading and supporting.
I’m really hoping there might be a sequel!
July 8, 2020
Review copy courtesy of Edelweiss.
This book was like discovering a new Louise Rennison. Haylah (who despite the name I believe is White) is obsessed with comedy and has been writing jokes forever. She is overjoyed when her longtime crush Leo (who is black) performs comedy for a school talent show, and then overhears him complaining about having a lack of jokes so she starts secretly writing for him. It was a fun, quick, feminist novel, and I loved googling the author later to discover she is the writer of the popular Owl Diaries series. Looking forward to the sequel!
This book was like discovering a new Louise Rennison. Haylah (who despite the name I believe is White) is obsessed with comedy and has been writing jokes forever. She is overjoyed when her longtime crush Leo (who is black) performs comedy for a school talent show, and then overhears him complaining about having a lack of jokes so she starts secretly writing for him. It was a fun, quick, feminist novel, and I loved googling the author later to discover she is the writer of the popular Owl Diaries series. Looking forward to the sequel!
Read
November 18, 2020An enjoyable, if not predictable, read. Heading into this book, you expect it to be quite funny, and it doesn't disappoint. But good humor aside, the rest of the story fell a bit flat. It's not that it was bad.. it just wasn't anything extraordinary. It is your standard coming of age story and unfolds just about as you would expect it to. As a lover of all things comedy, I did love the references to stand up comedy and the jokes Haylah writes had me laughing out loud in parts.
August 26, 2020
I really enjoyed this! There was so much body positivity and I loved that Pig didn't feel like she needed to change in order to be seen as desirable! Because that isn't true!
I received a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a free arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2023
Bit predictable but extremely funny. Love the body positivity and the stand-up comedy scenes.
May 11, 2024
My daughter and I listened to this as an audiobook. The accent was lots of fun and the comedy was pretty good. An easy read to share.
September 12, 2020
I received a galley of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Have you ever hated a main character so much that you wanted to throw your book out of the window? Because that's the way I felt about this book. In fact the only reason I didn't is because I read this on my iPad and I still need it for futher reading. But oh my god, this main character is probably the worst one I've ever read about and the book just doesn't recognize it. I don't have an issue with unlikeable characters as long as they're meant to be that way. Haylah was supposed to be relatable and empowering but she wasn't. She constantly brought up her weight, which would have been alright if she hadn't gone on a huge monologue in the first chapter about how she barely even remembers she's fat until she's made fun off and then she does (which NEVER happens in this book by the way) and explode at anyone even mentioning her weight. She seems super unhappy with her weight but the plot makes us believe that she's actually super confident. Shit doesn't match up. Another thing the plot tried to tell us about her, that WASN'T the case at all is that Haylah is a super badass feminist that doesn't need a man. However, she shames every girl she comes across for being a typical girl and being interested in things that she isn't and from the second she first "meets" Leo (she sees him perform, she doesn't actually meet him) all of her inner dialogue that isn't about her being fat was about Leo. However, she doesn't like make-up and dresses, so she's a real feminist right? No, fuck her and her mom for teaching her that wearing make-up and dresses is anti-feminist and girls who do wear both make her whole life about being atractive to boys and only care about boys, boys, boys. Completely ignoring the fact that lesbians also wear make-up and dresses and the fact that most women wear make-up because they like it and because it's art form, not for some stupid DUDE. Especially because the mom starts wearing make-up once she starts dating someone and when her daughter questions her she gets mad at her because the mom is allowed to feel beautiful and attractive for once. YOU THOUGHT HER MAKE-UP IS BAD SO DON'T GET MAD WHEN SHE IS CONFUSED WHEN YOU WEAR IT. Whenever this book tried to do feminist rants it also kept talking about life is just so much easier for boys because they're confident and don't care about their looks and don't have to because girls will like them no matter how they look, which completely ignores all the insecurities MANY guys deal with on the daily. It also rubbed me the wrong way because at a certain point one of Haylah's friends has a crush on a guy and she doesn't get it because according to her he was ugly. Really? Saying guys don't have to worry about looks after you spend the whole book hating on a guy because of his looks? Yeah, that doesn't sit right with me. I also absolutely HATED how much Haylah hated her mom's love interest. She didn't have a valid reason for it. I mean, they try to play it off in the narrative as her being scared of the guy hurting her mom like her dad did BUT whenever Haylah mentioned him she only talked about how he had a beard and didn't wear socks and how that was gross and must mean he's a serial killer (she legit said that he had a "serial killer beard" like what the fuck does that mean?). She gets angry at her mom because she "doesn't know this guy", completely ignoring the fact that her mom has known him for over a year and he's actually a super nice guy and Haylah is actually the one not putting in effort to get to know him. Seriously, when it comes to this situation her 4 year old brother was more mature. I've already ranted enough so I'm not going to say much more but we haven't even touched upon how badly Haylah treated her friends, completely based on this alternate reality she made up in her brain. Honestly, it was like when people get made at someone for what they did in their dreams. We also haven't touched on the fact that Leo manipulated Haylah and was just overall terrible and the book still ends with them being friends and the eventual love interest we get for our main character is a guy who has lowkey bullied her the entire time they've known each other, but it's alright because he secretly always liked her and just didn't know how to express it. Lastly, this book's worst offense was not being funny in the slightest. I know stand-up is all about the delivery but they kept saying Leo's set was only good because of Haylah's writing so according to the book delivery means nothing so I'm going to review this like it's nothing (even thogh that's complete bullshit) and absolutely NONE of her jokes or inner monologue made me laugh at all. Some of her jokes even just felt a bitter, rather than a joke. Again, actual delivery makes a HUGE difference but the book ignored that fact so I did the same.
Have you ever hated a main character so much that you wanted to throw your book out of the window? Because that's the way I felt about this book. In fact the only reason I didn't is because I read this on my iPad and I still need it for futher reading. But oh my god, this main character is probably the worst one I've ever read about and the book just doesn't recognize it. I don't have an issue with unlikeable characters as long as they're meant to be that way. Haylah was supposed to be relatable and empowering but she wasn't. She constantly brought up her weight, which would have been alright if she hadn't gone on a huge monologue in the first chapter about how she barely even remembers she's fat until she's made fun off and then she does (which NEVER happens in this book by the way) and explode at anyone even mentioning her weight. She seems super unhappy with her weight but the plot makes us believe that she's actually super confident. Shit doesn't match up. Another thing the plot tried to tell us about her, that WASN'T the case at all is that Haylah is a super badass feminist that doesn't need a man. However, she shames every girl she comes across for being a typical girl and being interested in things that she isn't and from the second she first "meets" Leo (she sees him perform, she doesn't actually meet him) all of her inner dialogue that isn't about her being fat was about Leo. However, she doesn't like make-up and dresses, so she's a real feminist right? No, fuck her and her mom for teaching her that wearing make-up and dresses is anti-feminist and girls who do wear both make her whole life about being atractive to boys and only care about boys, boys, boys. Completely ignoring the fact that lesbians also wear make-up and dresses and the fact that most women wear make-up because they like it and because it's art form, not for some stupid DUDE. Especially because the mom starts wearing make-up once she starts dating someone and when her daughter questions her she gets mad at her because the mom is allowed to feel beautiful and attractive for once. YOU THOUGHT HER MAKE-UP IS BAD SO DON'T GET MAD WHEN SHE IS CONFUSED WHEN YOU WEAR IT. Whenever this book tried to do feminist rants it also kept talking about life is just so much easier for boys because they're confident and don't care about their looks and don't have to because girls will like them no matter how they look, which completely ignores all the insecurities MANY guys deal with on the daily. It also rubbed me the wrong way because at a certain point one of Haylah's friends has a crush on a guy and she doesn't get it because according to her he was ugly. Really? Saying guys don't have to worry about looks after you spend the whole book hating on a guy because of his looks? Yeah, that doesn't sit right with me. I also absolutely HATED how much Haylah hated her mom's love interest. She didn't have a valid reason for it. I mean, they try to play it off in the narrative as her being scared of the guy hurting her mom like her dad did BUT whenever Haylah mentioned him she only talked about how he had a beard and didn't wear socks and how that was gross and must mean he's a serial killer (she legit said that he had a "serial killer beard" like what the fuck does that mean?). She gets angry at her mom because she "doesn't know this guy", completely ignoring the fact that her mom has known him for over a year and he's actually a super nice guy and Haylah is actually the one not putting in effort to get to know him. Seriously, when it comes to this situation her 4 year old brother was more mature. I've already ranted enough so I'm not going to say much more but we haven't even touched upon how badly Haylah treated her friends, completely based on this alternate reality she made up in her brain. Honestly, it was like when people get made at someone for what they did in their dreams. We also haven't touched on the fact that Leo manipulated Haylah and was just overall terrible and the book still ends with them being friends and the eventual love interest we get for our main character is a guy who has lowkey bullied her the entire time they've known each other, but it's alright because he secretly always liked her and just didn't know how to express it. Lastly, this book's worst offense was not being funny in the slightest. I know stand-up is all about the delivery but they kept saying Leo's set was only good because of Haylah's writing so according to the book delivery means nothing so I'm going to review this like it's nothing (even thogh that's complete bullshit) and absolutely NONE of her jokes or inner monologue made me laugh at all. Some of her jokes even just felt a bitter, rather than a joke. Again, actual delivery makes a HUGE difference but the book ignored that fact so I did the same.
October 13, 2021
Tome 1
Haylah est une jeune fille britannique remplie d'humour mais un peu grosse. Son poids est l'un des thèmes centraux du roman à tel point que son surnom est "Truie". Je vous avoue que ce surnom, j'ai eu du mal à le lire. Hormis cela, et quelques petites longueurs, j'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture. L'humour de l'auteur (via son personnage) transparait très bien et cela est agréable à lire.
Si vous aimez les punchlines, les jeux de mots, les esprits vifs et les gens qui se battent pour gagner, vous allez aimer ce livre. Car Haylah est tout ça. Au-delà de son surnom, c'est elle qui brille par son esprit et qui va vaincre toutes les barrières. Je sais que le surnom est là en emphase dramatique et peut-être que je suis tombée dans le piège (très certainement sûrement), mais je ne pouvais pas ne pas être honnête avec vous. Le surnom est là pour gêner et ça a fonctionné à 1000% avec moi.
Alors, courrez découvrir ce livre, vous m'en direz des nouvelles !
Haylah est une jeune fille britannique remplie d'humour mais un peu grosse. Son poids est l'un des thèmes centraux du roman à tel point que son surnom est "Truie". Je vous avoue que ce surnom, j'ai eu du mal à le lire. Hormis cela, et quelques petites longueurs, j'ai passé un très bon moment de lecture. L'humour de l'auteur (via son personnage) transparait très bien et cela est agréable à lire.
Si vous aimez les punchlines, les jeux de mots, les esprits vifs et les gens qui se battent pour gagner, vous allez aimer ce livre. Car Haylah est tout ça. Au-delà de son surnom, c'est elle qui brille par son esprit et qui va vaincre toutes les barrières. Je sais que le surnom est là en emphase dramatique et peut-être que je suis tombée dans le piège (très certainement sûrement), mais je ne pouvais pas ne pas être honnête avec vous. Le surnom est là pour gêner et ça a fonctionné à 1000% avec moi.
Alors, courrez découvrir ce livre, vous m'en direz des nouvelles !
December 28, 2019
This is a seriously funny, entertaining, at times poignant and always captivating journey into a particularly beguiling teenage psyche. The central character is loveable whilst endearingly flawed, thoroughly believable, always amusing and utterly believable. All other characters are well drawn and the dialogue is superbly authentic. The plot is satisfyingly page-turning and the humour is fresh, sharp and genuinely laugh out loud, whilst never losing the powerful underlying theme that being happy in one’s own skin is at the heart of success in life.
Pretty Funny is a superb first novel. Highly recommended. I look forward to the sequel!
Pretty Funny is a superb first novel. Highly recommended. I look forward to the sequel!
November 12, 2019
I love Rebecca Elliott’s work, she is fantastic at getting young readers excited about books.. I cannot wait to read this and share with all the teenagers and adults in my life, who have a passion for reading a book which will no doubt be a funny, intelligent, life affirming read... This can’t come out soon enough.
October 8, 2020
Sophomore Haylah Swinton wants to be a comedian. She eats, sleeps, dreams, and breathes comedy. She uses comedy to cheer up her friends when they’re down. She uses it to deflect bullies. She uses it when she’s taking care of her 4-year-old brother when her mom is working the overnight shift as a nurse. It’s her singular obsession.
While her two best friends are getting into makeup and clothes and boys, Haylah is making notes about things she thinks is funny. But when they get stuck in a school assembly and see some schoolmates showing off their various talents, it was senior Leo that catches her eye, and her ear, with his stand-up set.
Haylah doesn’t think Leo would ever notice her. She’s a little overweight and adopted the nickname “Pig” to deflect getting teased about her weight. Plus she’s two years younger, and she’s not a girlie girl. But she overhears Leo say that he needs some new material for his next set, Haylah writes down a joke and slips it into his locker, unsigned. When she sees him find the note, read it, and laugh, she knows she’s on to something.
Suddenly, Haylah’s life is getting more complicated. She has her crush on Leo, and she’s trying to write jokes for him. She’s trying to keep up her friendships, even though she feels like she’s growing apart from from her two besties. And then her mom brings home a “friend” from work, a bearded man who doesn’t wear socks, and Haylah is worried (and a little nauseated). Socklessness aside, Hayleh worries about her mom. She’d been devastated when her dad had left her and Haylah and Noah, and Haylah wants to make sure her mom doesn’t get hurt like that again.
And then, Haylah has one bad night. Someone puts her name up for an open mic night, and she’s called onstage to do a comedy set with no preparation. It starts out okay but ends with humiliation. In the aftermath, she pushes away her friends, her mom, and her mom’s new boyfriend. The only person she things is still on her side is Leo, but her friends said he’s just using her.
Will Haylah figure out a way to make things right, for her friends, for her family, and for herself? Will she finally find her comedic voice and the self-confidence she needs to take back that microphone?
Pretty Funny for a Girl is a fun, smart, and funny look at being a teenaged comic wannabe. Author Rebecca Elliott takes all that angst and confusion of being a teenager and packs it into the fantastic character of Haylah. She’s strong and strong-minded, certainly not perfect, but funny and interesting and willing to go after what she wants. She’s a great role model for kids to look up to and a lot of fun to read about.
I really enjoyed reading this one. I liked the characters and rooted for Haylah to find her way. The jokes were funny, the dialogue was realistic, and it was just lots of fun. I did find the weight-shaming a little off-putting. I realize that it is a thing that happens (I’ve been a big girl most of my life, so I really get it), but there was just so much that it got painful to read. But other than that, I was very impressed with this young adult novel, and I would recommend it to young women who are looking to find their voice and their confidence.
Egalleys for Pretty Funny for a Girl were provided by Peachtree Publishing Company and Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC, through NetGalley, with many thanks.
While her two best friends are getting into makeup and clothes and boys, Haylah is making notes about things she thinks is funny. But when they get stuck in a school assembly and see some schoolmates showing off their various talents, it was senior Leo that catches her eye, and her ear, with his stand-up set.
Haylah doesn’t think Leo would ever notice her. She’s a little overweight and adopted the nickname “Pig” to deflect getting teased about her weight. Plus she’s two years younger, and she’s not a girlie girl. But she overhears Leo say that he needs some new material for his next set, Haylah writes down a joke and slips it into his locker, unsigned. When she sees him find the note, read it, and laugh, she knows she’s on to something.
Suddenly, Haylah’s life is getting more complicated. She has her crush on Leo, and she’s trying to write jokes for him. She’s trying to keep up her friendships, even though she feels like she’s growing apart from from her two besties. And then her mom brings home a “friend” from work, a bearded man who doesn’t wear socks, and Haylah is worried (and a little nauseated). Socklessness aside, Hayleh worries about her mom. She’d been devastated when her dad had left her and Haylah and Noah, and Haylah wants to make sure her mom doesn’t get hurt like that again.
And then, Haylah has one bad night. Someone puts her name up for an open mic night, and she’s called onstage to do a comedy set with no preparation. It starts out okay but ends with humiliation. In the aftermath, she pushes away her friends, her mom, and her mom’s new boyfriend. The only person she things is still on her side is Leo, but her friends said he’s just using her.
Will Haylah figure out a way to make things right, for her friends, for her family, and for herself? Will she finally find her comedic voice and the self-confidence she needs to take back that microphone?
Pretty Funny for a Girl is a fun, smart, and funny look at being a teenaged comic wannabe. Author Rebecca Elliott takes all that angst and confusion of being a teenager and packs it into the fantastic character of Haylah. She’s strong and strong-minded, certainly not perfect, but funny and interesting and willing to go after what she wants. She’s a great role model for kids to look up to and a lot of fun to read about.
I really enjoyed reading this one. I liked the characters and rooted for Haylah to find her way. The jokes were funny, the dialogue was realistic, and it was just lots of fun. I did find the weight-shaming a little off-putting. I realize that it is a thing that happens (I’ve been a big girl most of my life, so I really get it), but there was just so much that it got painful to read. But other than that, I was very impressed with this young adult novel, and I would recommend it to young women who are looking to find their voice and their confidence.
Egalleys for Pretty Funny for a Girl were provided by Peachtree Publishing Company and Myrick Marketing & Media, LLC, through NetGalley, with many thanks.
August 8, 2020
**I read an ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review**
To be honest, this one didn't really do it for me. I mean, I liked Haylah. I didn't think she was *that* funny, but that's personal preference, so I'm not faulting Elliott on that. Mostly it just felt like the characters were poorly constructed, 2D cutouts. I felt this way particularly about Noah, who mainly seemed to be there for quick humor, as if Haylah couldn't carry the funny well enough on her own. He seemed to fluctuate too easily between an older voice (and general capabilities), and a completely baby-like affect. It was inconsistent, and that inconsistency took away from Haylah and her story since Noah's on the page a lot.
I also wasn't into Chloe or Kas either. For one thing, I couldn't tell them apart, which is never a good sign, and for another, their relationship with Haylah rarely seemed genuine. In fact, it often felt like one of them was totally using her just to pass math class, which is just...no. I've had more meaningful conversations with the people I used to get all my calc answers from than Chloe had with Haylah for the vast majority of this book. The only time they seem to have a real conversation is close to the very end, when they're talking about their insecurities, and it just seems a little impossible to me that they wouldn't have talked about it before then. My friend group growing up was a lot like Haylah's. When you feel like you don't have that much in common, the deep stuff is what comes up. And if they actually cared about each other...I absolutely feel like it would have been mentioned before now.
What bothers me most about this book is the complete disregard and dismissal of toxic masculinity, and how our patriarchal society not only negatively impacts women, but men too. That isn't at all to say that men aren't a privileged class, or that they're often given more power than they're due, but the truth is that this book highlights on at least two different occasions how men are forced into insecurities because of unfair social structures, and then still claims, at the end, that boys wake up every day full of unwarranted confidence, sans insecurities, and that it's only women who are put down. And that's just...not feminism. Not to me, anyways. Because feminism doesn't only benefit women. Feminism benefits everybody by evening the playing field by allowing men to be vulnerable and women to be bold.
Overall, I feel like there was a lot that could have been good about this book, but it was just poorly executed. And that made it nigh-impossible for me to keep reading it. The fact that it took me fifteen days when I'd normally cover something this long in two is testament to that enough.
To be honest, this one didn't really do it for me. I mean, I liked Haylah. I didn't think she was *that* funny, but that's personal preference, so I'm not faulting Elliott on that. Mostly it just felt like the characters were poorly constructed, 2D cutouts. I felt this way particularly about Noah, who mainly seemed to be there for quick humor, as if Haylah couldn't carry the funny well enough on her own. He seemed to fluctuate too easily between an older voice (and general capabilities), and a completely baby-like affect. It was inconsistent, and that inconsistency took away from Haylah and her story since Noah's on the page a lot.
I also wasn't into Chloe or Kas either. For one thing, I couldn't tell them apart, which is never a good sign, and for another, their relationship with Haylah rarely seemed genuine. In fact, it often felt like one of them was totally using her just to pass math class, which is just...no. I've had more meaningful conversations with the people I used to get all my calc answers from than Chloe had with Haylah for the vast majority of this book. The only time they seem to have a real conversation is close to the very end, when they're talking about their insecurities, and it just seems a little impossible to me that they wouldn't have talked about it before then. My friend group growing up was a lot like Haylah's. When you feel like you don't have that much in common, the deep stuff is what comes up. And if they actually cared about each other...I absolutely feel like it would have been mentioned before now.
What bothers me most about this book is the complete disregard and dismissal of toxic masculinity, and how our patriarchal society not only negatively impacts women, but men too. That isn't at all to say that men aren't a privileged class, or that they're often given more power than they're due, but the truth is that this book highlights on at least two different occasions how men are forced into insecurities because of unfair social structures, and then still claims, at the end, that boys wake up every day full of unwarranted confidence, sans insecurities, and that it's only women who are put down. And that's just...not feminism. Not to me, anyways. Because feminism doesn't only benefit women. Feminism benefits everybody by evening the playing field by allowing men to be vulnerable and women to be bold.
Overall, I feel like there was a lot that could have been good about this book, but it was just poorly executed. And that made it nigh-impossible for me to keep reading it. The fact that it took me fifteen days when I'd normally cover something this long in two is testament to that enough.
July 5, 2021
I'll be referring to this following article in my review:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the novel. (The last star is for the laughs.)
🔴❌SPOILERS AHEAD❌🔴
This novel had a lot of heart. It was genuinely funny. You really felt the love that this family had for each other. And I think a lot of that can be explained by the way the author has dealt with the challenges in her own life. She's obviously a very strong person with a big heart. It shows in her writing.
Anyhow, I could relate to "Pig". I've always been overweight. When the bullying got to be too much, I would either fight or self-deprecate as a way to "laugh it off". Through it all, I came to hate myself. It's taken me decades to undo that toxic hate/self-loathing/hatred for my bullies that had built up in me. But even after you've moved on, it still leaves behind a deep scar.
I know I've always tended to put on weight, at a genetic level. I also know I didn't understand/wasn't taught anything about proper nutrition until much later in my life. I know that I self-medicated with food to deal with the abuse in my life. It led to an unhealthy and unhappy life. So this novel was an uncomfortable read for me, but it also read as honest. My younger self always felt like a bag of mixed emotions, and so did "Pig".
"Body Positivity" aside, it's important to eat healthy just so that your body can take you through life without putzing out on you. Eating healthy is key to almost everything else in life. I'm just sorry that no one felt I was important enough to teach me that, that I had to learn at a late age and after many disastrous pitfalls. I'll never lose all my excess weight, but at least I'm healthier now. And Kit-Kat bars or Twix won't take you anywhere good. That's the only part of this novel I didn't like: where eating crap 24/7 was somehow okay. It's just NOT. It's important to eat natural foods, not packaged junk. Packaged junk food = diseases and early painful death. There's nothing "body positive" about early death, pain, or lifestyle-diseases.
Anyhow, "Pig" being used by her crush, her being made a target of jokes by boys and pitied by girls... It's like reading about my own life. I'm just so glad I'm past that phase of my life. It took "Pig" just a few days to figure out her issues, gain confidence in herself, and change her life for the better. It took me decades. It's still an ongoing project, truth be told. But that's fiction for you, it gives you the quick fixes real life never will. And that's why we read to escape.
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-st...
5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for the novel. (The last star is for the laughs.)
🔴❌SPOILERS AHEAD❌🔴
This novel had a lot of heart. It was genuinely funny. You really felt the love that this family had for each other. And I think a lot of that can be explained by the way the author has dealt with the challenges in her own life. She's obviously a very strong person with a big heart. It shows in her writing.
Anyhow, I could relate to "Pig". I've always been overweight. When the bullying got to be too much, I would either fight or self-deprecate as a way to "laugh it off". Through it all, I came to hate myself. It's taken me decades to undo that toxic hate/self-loathing/hatred for my bullies that had built up in me. But even after you've moved on, it still leaves behind a deep scar.
I know I've always tended to put on weight, at a genetic level. I also know I didn't understand/wasn't taught anything about proper nutrition until much later in my life. I know that I self-medicated with food to deal with the abuse in my life. It led to an unhealthy and unhappy life. So this novel was an uncomfortable read for me, but it also read as honest. My younger self always felt like a bag of mixed emotions, and so did "Pig".
"Body Positivity" aside, it's important to eat healthy just so that your body can take you through life without putzing out on you. Eating healthy is key to almost everything else in life. I'm just sorry that no one felt I was important enough to teach me that, that I had to learn at a late age and after many disastrous pitfalls. I'll never lose all my excess weight, but at least I'm healthier now. And Kit-Kat bars or Twix won't take you anywhere good. That's the only part of this novel I didn't like: where eating crap 24/7 was somehow okay. It's just NOT. It's important to eat natural foods, not packaged junk. Packaged junk food = diseases and early painful death. There's nothing "body positive" about early death, pain, or lifestyle-diseases.
Anyhow, "Pig" being used by her crush, her being made a target of jokes by boys and pitied by girls... It's like reading about my own life. I'm just so glad I'm past that phase of my life. It took "Pig" just a few days to figure out her issues, gain confidence in herself, and change her life for the better. It took me decades. It's still an ongoing project, truth be told. But that's fiction for you, it gives you the quick fixes real life never will. And that's why we read to escape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
*I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Pretty Funny was a cracking read that had me laughing almost all the way through. It was entertaining and really had me wanting to read on, so much so that I read it all in one sitting. The writing style was so relaxed and casual and it did feel like you were actually one of Haylah’s friends at times. The author managed to pull of the comedic tone so incredibly well and I commend them for it! It can be very hard to write YA Comedy, but Pretty Funny was one that was literally perfect.
The story itself was really insightful and the fact that it revolves around stand up comedy was so refreshing! I only watch stand up comedy once in a blue moon and can probably only name about 5 comedians, so I learnt a lot about the industry from this book and have promised myself I will start watching more stand up. The plot involving cool boy Leo, however, I found to be somewhat predictable and I did find myself guessing what was going to happen by the end of the book. I’ve read a few books with similar romantic plot lines, so it was no surprise to me about what was going to happen. Mind you, this didn’t deter from the fact that overall the plot was really well executed.
Now, let’s talk about Haylah! What a character! She’s definitely one that sticks with you long after you finish reading. Her self confidence and self acceptance regarding her body was turly remarkable and inspirational. Haylah could even be seen as a role model for girls and prove that you don’t need to change anything about yourself to be happy. Also, the fact that she never conformed to the beauty standards forced onto her throughout the book was admirable. She loved who she was and never let anything get in the way of that. In addition to this, the fact that she wanted to pursue a career as a comedian was really unique. You don’t get many girls admitting to wanting to go down that career path, so yet again this was really inspiring.
Body image is one of the main topics of Pretty Funny and one that I am highly passionate about. I am someone who really enjoys reading YA on the topic of body confidence and self acceptance and this was no different. The fact that Haylah embraced the fact that she was bigger and never let it get to her was very encouraging to read. Yes, she got called all the standard names that someone could call a ‘fat’ person, but she took it in her stride. Reading body positive books is something that I feel like everyone should do, and we need more of them within YA.
Pretty Funny was a fun, witty, inspiring read that I really did enjoy! The stand out for me was most definitely Haylah and her confident, entertaining persona. If you want a positivity boost or just want a laugh, then you need to get your hands on this.
Pretty Funny was a cracking read that had me laughing almost all the way through. It was entertaining and really had me wanting to read on, so much so that I read it all in one sitting. The writing style was so relaxed and casual and it did feel like you were actually one of Haylah’s friends at times. The author managed to pull of the comedic tone so incredibly well and I commend them for it! It can be very hard to write YA Comedy, but Pretty Funny was one that was literally perfect.
The story itself was really insightful and the fact that it revolves around stand up comedy was so refreshing! I only watch stand up comedy once in a blue moon and can probably only name about 5 comedians, so I learnt a lot about the industry from this book and have promised myself I will start watching more stand up. The plot involving cool boy Leo, however, I found to be somewhat predictable and I did find myself guessing what was going to happen by the end of the book. I’ve read a few books with similar romantic plot lines, so it was no surprise to me about what was going to happen. Mind you, this didn’t deter from the fact that overall the plot was really well executed.
Now, let’s talk about Haylah! What a character! She’s definitely one that sticks with you long after you finish reading. Her self confidence and self acceptance regarding her body was turly remarkable and inspirational. Haylah could even be seen as a role model for girls and prove that you don’t need to change anything about yourself to be happy. Also, the fact that she never conformed to the beauty standards forced onto her throughout the book was admirable. She loved who she was and never let anything get in the way of that. In addition to this, the fact that she wanted to pursue a career as a comedian was really unique. You don’t get many girls admitting to wanting to go down that career path, so yet again this was really inspiring.
Body image is one of the main topics of Pretty Funny and one that I am highly passionate about. I am someone who really enjoys reading YA on the topic of body confidence and self acceptance and this was no different. The fact that Haylah embraced the fact that she was bigger and never let it get to her was very encouraging to read. Yes, she got called all the standard names that someone could call a ‘fat’ person, but she took it in her stride. Reading body positive books is something that I feel like everyone should do, and we need more of them within YA.
Pretty Funny was a fun, witty, inspiring read that I really did enjoy! The stand out for me was most definitely Haylah and her confident, entertaining persona. If you want a positivity boost or just want a laugh, then you need to get your hands on this.
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