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My Life Uploaded #1
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Girl Online meets Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging in this younger YA novel about a teen who starts an advice vlog—but needs some advice herself.
Millie Porter is sensible. She can't help it. It's inherited from her mom and it makes her deeply uncool. That's why she starts an advice vlog. It's the perfect way for her to feel like she’s making a difference—and catch the eye of the super-cute new boy in school.
But with Internet fame comes Internet trolls. Putting herself out there has some serious drawbacks for Millie, including a social media war with the school’s Instagram queen. As Millie becomes more and more caught up with her online persona, her role as a good friend and daughter falls by the wayside. Can Millie learn to balance friendship, high school, family drama, dating, and her online life?
This fresh, funny, and clean younger YA novel delves into the world of social media with an accessible heroine and a memorable cast of characters.
Millie Porter is sensible. She can't help it. It's inherited from her mom and it makes her deeply uncool. That's why she starts an advice vlog. It's the perfect way for her to feel like she’s making a difference—and catch the eye of the super-cute new boy in school.
But with Internet fame comes Internet trolls. Putting herself out there has some serious drawbacks for Millie, including a social media war with the school’s Instagram queen. As Millie becomes more and more caught up with her online persona, her role as a good friend and daughter falls by the wayside. Can Millie learn to balance friendship, high school, family drama, dating, and her online life?
This fresh, funny, and clean younger YA novel delves into the world of social media with an accessible heroine and a memorable cast of characters.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2018
9 people are currently reading
274 people want to read
About the author
Rae Earl
16 books247 followersI come from Stamford in Lincolnshire. It’s where a lot of TV and films are shot because it hasn’t changed much in 500 years. My childhood was like most people’s – a mixture of lovely and very odd. Lovely because I spent a lot of time with good friends, music and tadpoles. Odd because I spent a lot of time worrying about everything – like war, murderers and poisonous mushrooms (don’t ask). I was a bit weird. Like we all are.
After school I went to Hull University to study English Literature – which I LOVED. At that point the government actually still gave you money to study – so I GOT PAID to READ BOOKS for 3 years. I then worked in radio for 15 years. Firstly as the person who makes the adverts (all those annoying jingles that stay in your head for DAYS – that’s me!) Secondly as a breakfast presenter. I got to interview lots of famous boy bands and once nearly broke Cheryl Cole’s chair on stage. We don’t talk about that. I got in trouble. I’ve always written things but most of them were actually slightly rubbish. Or they were about people and I never wanted them to see it. I don’t think I was any good at writing till I was 35 and that was after a lot of practice.
I have a shed in my back garden I go to. It’s full of brilliant things – like a mini stable and horses, loads of stationery and a giant old railway station clock (slight ‘Dr.Who’ vibe). My first book ‘My Mad, Fat Diary’ was published a few years ago. Hattie is my third. My second is potentially the best book ever written since Shakespeare – but I can’t make it work so at the moment it’s just a bit rubbish. I haven’t given up hope though.
After school I went to Hull University to study English Literature – which I LOVED. At that point the government actually still gave you money to study – so I GOT PAID to READ BOOKS for 3 years. I then worked in radio for 15 years. Firstly as the person who makes the adverts (all those annoying jingles that stay in your head for DAYS – that’s me!) Secondly as a breakfast presenter. I got to interview lots of famous boy bands and once nearly broke Cheryl Cole’s chair on stage. We don’t talk about that. I got in trouble. I’ve always written things but most of them were actually slightly rubbish. Or they were about people and I never wanted them to see it. I don’t think I was any good at writing till I was 35 and that was after a lot of practice.
I have a shed in my back garden I go to. It’s full of brilliant things – like a mini stable and horses, loads of stationery and a giant old railway station clock (slight ‘Dr.Who’ vibe). My first book ‘My Mad, Fat Diary’ was published a few years ago. Hattie is my third. My second is potentially the best book ever written since Shakespeare – but I can’t make it work so at the moment it’s just a bit rubbish. I haven’t given up hope though.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 3, 2017
Millie Porter lives with her mum, her mum’s boyfriend, Mr Neat Freak, and her female cat called Dave. Her life was oh so simple until Mr Neat Freak moved in. Now she is constantly followed around by the man with a dustpan and brush waiting for her to drop the tiniest of crumbs for him to clean up.
Her BFF is Lauren, who is a little bit of a drama queen, and panics at everything. Mollie is her voice of reason. Lauren’s parent’s constantly argue, making her home life miserable.
After one too many run in’s at home with her mum and her petty rules, and the boyfriend, Mollie decides that she wants to go and live with her dad, in the mad house, which he shares with her sexist Grandad, and her Aunty Teresa, aka ‘La Diva Mentalis’.
One afternoon trying to cheer Lauren up, Mollie does a video on how to do your make up to look like a panda. The video is a success, so the two decide to make another one, this time featuring Dave the cat. The internet went wild. Millie decides that Vlogging is the future, and being the voice of reason, decides that her vlog will be about giving advice, in a fun way.
Told in the first person by Mollie, this book is what teens have been waiting for. It is something completely bang up to date, with it’s hash-tagged chapters, plenty of social media action, and of course, Vlogging (video blogging for those that don’t know what it means).
It is completely hilarious as Millie’s narrative on her life is amusing. She has an old head on her shoulders, and is often the one with all the solutions, the go-to girl if you have a problem, so I’m not surprised she started an advice Vlog. She is very likeable, and it’s easy to see why people would take to her.
Millie’s life also includes a love triangle, and a bitchy diva who is determined to make Millie fail, and ruin her life.
This book will hook you in from the very first line. It gives you excitement, lots of laugh out loud moments, and pure enjoyment right until the last page. I can see this book being a big hit with YA readers.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Her BFF is Lauren, who is a little bit of a drama queen, and panics at everything. Mollie is her voice of reason. Lauren’s parent’s constantly argue, making her home life miserable.
After one too many run in’s at home with her mum and her petty rules, and the boyfriend, Mollie decides that she wants to go and live with her dad, in the mad house, which he shares with her sexist Grandad, and her Aunty Teresa, aka ‘La Diva Mentalis’.
One afternoon trying to cheer Lauren up, Mollie does a video on how to do your make up to look like a panda. The video is a success, so the two decide to make another one, this time featuring Dave the cat. The internet went wild. Millie decides that Vlogging is the future, and being the voice of reason, decides that her vlog will be about giving advice, in a fun way.
Told in the first person by Mollie, this book is what teens have been waiting for. It is something completely bang up to date, with it’s hash-tagged chapters, plenty of social media action, and of course, Vlogging (video blogging for those that don’t know what it means).
It is completely hilarious as Millie’s narrative on her life is amusing. She has an old head on her shoulders, and is often the one with all the solutions, the go-to girl if you have a problem, so I’m not surprised she started an advice Vlog. She is very likeable, and it’s easy to see why people would take to her.
Millie’s life also includes a love triangle, and a bitchy diva who is determined to make Millie fail, and ruin her life.
This book will hook you in from the very first line. It gives you excitement, lots of laugh out loud moments, and pure enjoyment right until the last page. I can see this book being a big hit with YA readers.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
January 5, 2019
My Life Uploaded follows Millie who makes a vlogging channel called #help with her friend Lauren where she gives advice to her viewers. Along with her new internet fame she has to deal with rivals, online trolls and Fame. But can she deal with her friends and family and boys on top of all that?
My life uploaded was a fun read. I really enjoyed my I'm reading it and I couldn't put it down. I really liked the characters and Dave, the cat. Millie's relationship with her Grandfather was a bit Strange but overall I enjoyed the story it was a quick, fun, humorous read.
3.75 stars.
My life uploaded was a fun read. I really enjoyed my I'm reading it and I couldn't put it down. I really liked the characters and Dave, the cat. Millie's relationship with her Grandfather was a bit Strange but overall I enjoyed the story it was a quick, fun, humorous read.
3.75 stars.
February 12, 2023
Ughh…where do I begin with this one? Before I go into babbling about what I thought was wrong with this, I want to let you know that I’m one of those people who think every book has to offer you something (a lesson or a new perspective on life or simply sheer entertainment) in order to be considered a good read. Now that was the problem with this novel for me… it didn’t offer me anything. Unless you want to take into consideration some “lessons” I received while reading it, such as:
1. Grandparents (and adults in general) don’t understand how social media platforms work.
2. It’s totally ok to do whatever you want when you are in 8th grade. (because duuh…you’re an adult)
3. Life it’s all about how many likes or views you have on Instagram/Youtube.
First of all, this book is full of tropes. Now let’s be honest, tropes can be really entertaining when they are written well which unfortunately was not the case here. We have Millie, the main character, whose parents are divorced. Millie has a best friend, Lauren, whose parents, shockingly, don’t get along either. Then we have a new handsome boy in town and the “popular and perfect, but mean” girl. And on top of all these we have the bad guy’s Instagram account which, of course, is followed by everyone. So original, right?
Second of all, what kind of 8th grader can actually leave her mom’s house and go live with her dad just by telling her mother she has no right to control her life? From what I know, until you are 18 years old, your mom can pretty much tell you what to do because….she’s your mom and you are a minor. Nope, in this novel we are showed that parents can’t force their kids to do anything. What’s more, parents should beg their kids to do something (in our case Millie’s mom begs her to come home). Also, after Millie moves to her father she posts a picture on Instagram and gets lots of likes and new followers which determines her to say that going living with her dad was the right decision. Umm, am I the only one who founds this utterly stupid?
Furthermore, there is a lot of telling instead of showing in this book. We are told Millie and her mother are close like sisters, but throughout the entire novel they are constantly arguing. We don’t get to see neither why her parents got a divorce, nor why her mother actually likes Gary, her new boyfriend. There are also A LOT of words written with capital letters and there is no use for that…at all, apart from maybe annoying the reader. And speaking of annoying aspects, in the first few pages there are so many repetitions that I had to start skipping parts (sorry, I guess).
Moreover, let’s have a look over two actual scenes from this book:
Dad comes upstairs, hugs me and says, “Mills, do you want me to go up to the school and sort this out?”
I show him the photo. “Here’s the problem. I posted the photo. I shared it first. She’s just shared it again, credited me like she should have done, but basically said I’m tragic. She’s done nothing wrong. Really. Well, she has but she’s – Dad she is EXTREMELY clever. You can’t beat her.”
Dad stares at me intensely and says, “You’re right, Millie. Keep away from her. She’s clearly a bit of a genius. Focus on your friends.”
Ummm, I’m sorry….WHAT? And there’s more:
“Oh, Millie…” Mum sounds a bit sad now. “I’m missing out on what you do. Come home. I know I can’t make you. Please just remember I AM HERE. ALWAYS. ALWAYS.”
Ok so what kind of parents act that way?
This book is aimed at young adults, but the characters act as if they are in kindergarten. And yes you could say that perhaps this novel should have had children as target but I think that won’t work either owing to how feminism is presented here. Millie and the other girls in the book are feminists, but apart from judging everyone who is against females, they don’t explain what feminism really is, or at least not from the start.
All in all, I sadly do not recommend this book. I do think I would have enjoyed it a little if I were 13 years old, but even then it wouldn’t have been one of my favorites.
July 31, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Millie had always had her head on straight, but when her mother's clean freak boyfriend drove her to live with her dad, she made some decisions, which were sort of out of character. Her vlog began as an accident, but when resident queen bee and mean girl, Erin, took endless digs at her, Millie decided to seriously vlog. But Millie became some obsessed with the vlog, views, likes, and comments, that she neglected her off-line life.
I thought this book was really fun and cute. Millie was delightful, and seemed like an authentic 14 year old, which I really liked. Millie had a pretty quirky family. From the story of how her parents met to the ghost tours, they kept me throughly entertained. They were odd and a little out there, but they loved Millie a lot.
I especially loved her relationship with her grandfather. Grandfather was a little bit old school, but he obviously adored Millie, and she felt the same way about him. He showed his affection in his own way, and I sort of fell for the big grump.
Dave the cat was sort of a scene stealer. There were a ton of hilarious moments starring Dave, which delighted me, because you know, if there's anything I associate with my online browsing, it's cats.
I was a los a big Bradley fan. Bradley was a classmate and fellow vlogger, who Millie enlists to help her with her vlog. His love of lifts was a little strange, but Bradley was terribly sweet, and I sort of loved him.
Lots of fun, lots of follies, lots of ideas about not abandoning your real life for a life online and about being real. These were all great. I was little disappointed in the ending. It felt a little rushed, and Millie made some choices I found not happy about, but since I see there is a sequel in the works, I can hope that these things are not permanent.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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Millie had always had her head on straight, but when her mother's clean freak boyfriend drove her to live with her dad, she made some decisions, which were sort of out of character. Her vlog began as an accident, but when resident queen bee and mean girl, Erin, took endless digs at her, Millie decided to seriously vlog. But Millie became some obsessed with the vlog, views, likes, and comments, that she neglected her off-line life.
I thought this book was really fun and cute. Millie was delightful, and seemed like an authentic 14 year old, which I really liked. Millie had a pretty quirky family. From the story of how her parents met to the ghost tours, they kept me throughly entertained. They were odd and a little out there, but they loved Millie a lot.
I especially loved her relationship with her grandfather. Grandfather was a little bit old school, but he obviously adored Millie, and she felt the same way about him. He showed his affection in his own way, and I sort of fell for the big grump.
Dave the cat was sort of a scene stealer. There were a ton of hilarious moments starring Dave, which delighted me, because you know, if there's anything I associate with my online browsing, it's cats.
I was a los a big Bradley fan. Bradley was a classmate and fellow vlogger, who Millie enlists to help her with her vlog. His love of lifts was a little strange, but Bradley was terribly sweet, and I sort of loved him.
Lots of fun, lots of follies, lots of ideas about not abandoning your real life for a life online and about being real. These were all great. I was little disappointed in the ending. It felt a little rushed, and Millie made some choices I found not happy about, but since I see there is a sequel in the works, I can hope that these things are not permanent.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
November 3, 2022
The ending literally made me mad. This is one of the most shallow things I ever read. Lemme get this straight. You got two boys to choose from. One makes you really happy and laugh a ton and is literally always there for you and you even kiss him hard out of the clear blue. The other is sooooper hot. That’s it. Nothing in common. No good chemistry. No fun banter or anything. YOU REALLY GONNA CHOOSE BOY NUMBER TWO BECAUSE HES HOT?!?!?
April 1, 2019
Prepare to seriously guffaw as Mille Porter narrates the ups and downs of school, friendship, first crushes and family drama all with a dash of embarrassing escapades and a pinch of hilarious British slang. Millie is a sensible and introspective teen who launches her career as a vlogger as a way to deal with just how crazy her life can be. The school diva, Erin, seems to have it out for Millie, her best friend’s parents are going through an ugly divorce, and most importantly Millie is opting to live with her father for the first time since her parent’s long ago divorce. Millie’s vlog starts out with cute cat exploits but soon becomes more serious and deals with issues of body image, being honest and genuine, and what it truly means to be a friend. Attacked by trolls and taunted by Erin, Millie quickly realizes that speaking out can make you an easy target on social media. Told in Millie’s self-deprecating voice, readers are introduced to her truly zany cast of family members including her grouchy grandfather, her unreliable but lovable father, her larger than life auntie and her mother’s hyper-clean live-in boyfriend. Through it all Millie manages to steal the new guy away from Erin, improve her relationship with her mother and begin to cope with her ever-present anxiety. Readers will be eager to jump right back into Millie’s world in its sequel.
Grades 7 and up.
Grades 7 and up.
March 5, 2019
Looking for something with depth? Don't bother look, you won't find it here. But instead, you'll find some fun, easy-reading, and sometimes comedic story about a teenager and how she dealt with growing up as millenials. *You feel her?*
Most memorable line:
"More people die from taking selfies than are eaten by sharks. #FACTS"
So, if you're a teenager and social media empire of Instagram or YouTube or anything that has power to troll you down is making you feel bad, ugly, and worthless everytime you see your reflection in the mirror, have a piece of advice from Millie Potter. She'll give you advice on how to do just right from getting through with puberty to surviving social media. It's all in there, from #BFFing to #BOYS and #DramaQueen.
Overall score : 2.8🌟🌟
Most memorable line:
"More people die from taking selfies than are eaten by sharks. #FACTS"
So, if you're a teenager and social media empire of Instagram or YouTube or anything that has power to troll you down is making you feel bad, ugly, and worthless everytime you see your reflection in the mirror, have a piece of advice from Millie Potter. She'll give you advice on how to do just right from getting through with puberty to surviving social media. It's all in there, from #BFFing to #BOYS and #DramaQueen.
Overall score : 2.8🌟🌟
November 10, 2017
This was kind of a blind buy. :P I just spotted this one on Twitter and had to have it, so I immediately dashed to Amazon, and well here we are. :P
This was a delightful, funny, real book about a funny, smart girl, her vlog, her cat, her friends, about boys, weird family, and much more.
Our MC Millie is a wonderful girl, hilarious as well. At times I could relate with her. Her anxiety levels are through the roof at times, and I can understand the feeling of things just spiralling down. Not knowing how to stop thinking those thoughts, not knowing how to stop worrying about things. The mind is a weird thing and at times you just want to shut it off.
I also loved that Millie was quite smart, she knew a ton of things from just normal school stuff to plants. It gave her a bit of maturity.
This book has a whole lot. From a best friend whose parents fight constantly (why don't they divorce already?), a mom who just can't understand her daughter at times (but then at other times is really kick-ass), a dad who tries his best but well... still lives with his own dad, an aunt who is totally cray cray (but in a good way), Erin the bitchy popular girl, the internet and its comments, 2 boys that are interested in her, feminism, a cat named Dave (and it is a girl), vlogging, how to handle a body that just decides it is cool to flop over. Her life is a roller coaster and we aren't getting off until the end of the book.
The vlogging was really fun, and I just adored her vlog. Not make-up, not clothes, no instead this girl went for a blog about advice. She wants to help people with problems, and I really love the way she brought the advices. In a fun way, but with enough seriousness too.
The love triangle with Danny and Bradley? Eh, I never really cared for Danny, he was just a bit too flashy for me + I was annoyed with him instantly going for Erin instead of having a look around for someone different + add to that he suddenly wanted to be with Milly while still with Erin... eh, bleh.
Bradley however... I just loved that guy from the start. He was sweet, cute. Plus I loved that he loved lifts, cosplay, and other nerdy things. I was shipping him with Millie from the moment we saw him, and I could just see the sparks flying. Sadly, Millie is a tad blind in regards to her feelings, and I just wanted to shake her at times. Yes, girl, you can have friendship with boys (I had quite a few of them), but this clearly isn't a friendship. You don't see him as a friend friend, and he doesn't see you as a friend friend. :P
I am just disappointed with how the love triangle was eventually solved. I didn't expect this ending. :( *sighs*
-0.5 star for the unnecessary drama nearing the end. Lauren went from best friend to OMG Jealousy and stupidity. Yes, her life isn't fun with her parents, but really, you could have just told your best friend instead of saying nothing about it getting worse... And yes, maybe Millie is a bit centred on her own things these days, but is that truly that bad? She is exploring something new, there is also a lot happening in her life at the moment that is new and fairly scary (also bullying). Also in the end she still cares about you, and she is still calling/messaging/talking to you almost all the time. She still knows you exist, so pulease girl get your drama queen mode off. :|
+lots of love to the title and cover of the book!
But I loved this book! I loved the characters (well except Erin and Danny). The vlogging was so much fun (I still want to vlog one day, but I am still too shy/private + worried about trolls to do it). It had cats! It had friendship! I laughed so many times while reading this.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was a delightful, funny, real book about a funny, smart girl, her vlog, her cat, her friends, about boys, weird family, and much more.
Our MC Millie is a wonderful girl, hilarious as well. At times I could relate with her. Her anxiety levels are through the roof at times, and I can understand the feeling of things just spiralling down. Not knowing how to stop thinking those thoughts, not knowing how to stop worrying about things. The mind is a weird thing and at times you just want to shut it off.
I also loved that Millie was quite smart, she knew a ton of things from just normal school stuff to plants. It gave her a bit of maturity.
This book has a whole lot. From a best friend whose parents fight constantly (why don't they divorce already?), a mom who just can't understand her daughter at times (but then at other times is really kick-ass), a dad who tries his best but well... still lives with his own dad, an aunt who is totally cray cray (but in a good way), Erin the bitchy popular girl, the internet and its comments, 2 boys that are interested in her, feminism, a cat named Dave (and it is a girl), vlogging, how to handle a body that just decides it is cool to flop over. Her life is a roller coaster and we aren't getting off until the end of the book.
The vlogging was really fun, and I just adored her vlog. Not make-up, not clothes, no instead this girl went for a blog about advice. She wants to help people with problems, and I really love the way she brought the advices. In a fun way, but with enough seriousness too.
The love triangle with Danny and Bradley? Eh, I never really cared for Danny, he was just a bit too flashy for me + I was annoyed with him instantly going for Erin instead of having a look around for someone different + add to that he suddenly wanted to be with Milly while still with Erin... eh, bleh.
Bradley however... I just loved that guy from the start. He was sweet, cute. Plus I loved that he loved lifts, cosplay, and other nerdy things. I was shipping him with Millie from the moment we saw him, and I could just see the sparks flying. Sadly, Millie is a tad blind in regards to her feelings, and I just wanted to shake her at times. Yes, girl, you can have friendship with boys (I had quite a few of them), but this clearly isn't a friendship. You don't see him as a friend friend, and he doesn't see you as a friend friend. :P
I am just disappointed with how the love triangle was eventually solved. I didn't expect this ending. :( *sighs*
-0.5 star for the unnecessary drama nearing the end. Lauren went from best friend to OMG Jealousy and stupidity. Yes, her life isn't fun with her parents, but really, you could have just told your best friend instead of saying nothing about it getting worse... And yes, maybe Millie is a bit centred on her own things these days, but is that truly that bad? She is exploring something new, there is also a lot happening in her life at the moment that is new and fairly scary (also bullying). Also in the end she still cares about you, and she is still calling/messaging/talking to you almost all the time. She still knows you exist, so pulease girl get your drama queen mode off. :|
+lots of love to the title and cover of the book!
But I loved this book! I loved the characters (well except Erin and Danny). The vlogging was so much fun (I still want to vlog one day, but I am still too shy/private + worried about trolls to do it). It had cats! It had friendship! I laughed so many times while reading this.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
December 5, 2017
I had high expectations for this book and looked forward to reading it, but somehow it’s just been a bit of a disappointment. ‘#Help: My Cat’s a Vlogging Superstar!’ is a children’s/young adult novel that’s aimed at younger teens and pre-teen aged kids, particularly girls. Millie Porter is a sensible girl who wants to give advice to those who need it so starts vlogging with her best friend’s help. The vlog is destined to be a success…if only Millie could get Instagram queen (and Miss Popularity at school) Erin Breeler to stop interfering both online and in real life.
It’s hard for me to describe the book without going into too much detail and spoiling it. Millie is sensible, she doesn’t take risks, worries a bit too much about things and is always there for her best friend Lauren. Her own life is a little more than hectic though with accusations of killing robot vacuum cleaners, parents living separately and a crazy aunt among other things. Millie and Lauren decide to start a vlog all about giving advice but with the popular girl at school hassling Millie in various ways and Millie’s own crush on the new boy at school distracting her, things can all get a little too much. The book is funny with lots of humour right from the start. While I did enjoy the silliness of the funny things written, especially the incident in the first pages around McWhirter (the vacuum cleaner), the book just never made me laugh aloud like some similar books have.
The story begins right away with Millie being the narrator. Every chapter is titled, rather than numbered, and given a hashtag title which is sometimes funny and relative to what is happening in the story. The things that happen to Millie are typical of a teenage life and many teens can relate to the issues Millie has to deal with, such as having problems with the popular girl at school and issues around social media.
Although the story is funny and I enjoy a humorous book, I just didn’t find this one as funny as I’d hoped and I found it hard to get back into the book once I’d put it down, despite the fact it is an easy read. I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t enjoy it so much, I’m actually struggling to come up with reasons, but somehow it just didn’t hold my attention and I felt a little disconnected with Millie’s character. While her personal life is a little over the top and exaggerated I didn’t mind this as it is supposed to be a funny book. I did however feel that the book had missed a key opportunity to explore and even explain Millie’s anxiety better. I’ve seen this book advertised as a book which tackles mental health issues and while this isn’t the main part of the story it was good to see it featured in a novel for pre-teens. However, having personally had anxiety issues growing up, I felt the novel could have given a bit more depth into the subject while still retaining the humour.
While it’s not my favourite genre, I have read a few books similar to this one which feature young teens having all these personal issues and written in a very funny way, and those books I have really enjoyed, but for some reason this one just didn’t have the same appeal. The ending is an okay one for me, it’s satisfying in the sense that everything is resolved and most things that happened had a great ending to them, but if I’m honest I was disappointed with how things turned out in the end regarding the boys in the story, it felt shallow and like the story had missed a key moment to show that looks aren’t everything. I’m also disappointed that despite the book title and description, the cat in the story doesn’t feature in a lot of the plot and I kept waiting for the cat thing to happen only to realise that it happened at the very end of the novel.
I know a lot of pre-teen and young teenagers, girls mostly, will enjoy this novel and do. It is a funny story and one I did enjoy reading, for the most part, but honestly, I’m not sure it’s a book I’d recommend unless you are a fan of this style of novel or enjoy a more silly/shallow ending.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
It’s hard for me to describe the book without going into too much detail and spoiling it. Millie is sensible, she doesn’t take risks, worries a bit too much about things and is always there for her best friend Lauren. Her own life is a little more than hectic though with accusations of killing robot vacuum cleaners, parents living separately and a crazy aunt among other things. Millie and Lauren decide to start a vlog all about giving advice but with the popular girl at school hassling Millie in various ways and Millie’s own crush on the new boy at school distracting her, things can all get a little too much. The book is funny with lots of humour right from the start. While I did enjoy the silliness of the funny things written, especially the incident in the first pages around McWhirter (the vacuum cleaner), the book just never made me laugh aloud like some similar books have.
The story begins right away with Millie being the narrator. Every chapter is titled, rather than numbered, and given a hashtag title which is sometimes funny and relative to what is happening in the story. The things that happen to Millie are typical of a teenage life and many teens can relate to the issues Millie has to deal with, such as having problems with the popular girl at school and issues around social media.
Although the story is funny and I enjoy a humorous book, I just didn’t find this one as funny as I’d hoped and I found it hard to get back into the book once I’d put it down, despite the fact it is an easy read. I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t enjoy it so much, I’m actually struggling to come up with reasons, but somehow it just didn’t hold my attention and I felt a little disconnected with Millie’s character. While her personal life is a little over the top and exaggerated I didn’t mind this as it is supposed to be a funny book. I did however feel that the book had missed a key opportunity to explore and even explain Millie’s anxiety better. I’ve seen this book advertised as a book which tackles mental health issues and while this isn’t the main part of the story it was good to see it featured in a novel for pre-teens. However, having personally had anxiety issues growing up, I felt the novel could have given a bit more depth into the subject while still retaining the humour.
While it’s not my favourite genre, I have read a few books similar to this one which feature young teens having all these personal issues and written in a very funny way, and those books I have really enjoyed, but for some reason this one just didn’t have the same appeal. The ending is an okay one for me, it’s satisfying in the sense that everything is resolved and most things that happened had a great ending to them, but if I’m honest I was disappointed with how things turned out in the end regarding the boys in the story, it felt shallow and like the story had missed a key moment to show that looks aren’t everything. I’m also disappointed that despite the book title and description, the cat in the story doesn’t feature in a lot of the plot and I kept waiting for the cat thing to happen only to realise that it happened at the very end of the novel.
I know a lot of pre-teen and young teenagers, girls mostly, will enjoy this novel and do. It is a funny story and one I did enjoy reading, for the most part, but honestly, I’m not sure it’s a book I’d recommend unless you are a fan of this style of novel or enjoy a more silly/shallow ending.
-Thanks to Walker Books for a free copy.
October 9, 2018
Millie Porter doesn’t like her mother’s boyfriend because of his neat-freak tendencies. She doesn’t understand why he feels the need to treat his robot vacuum like it’s a pet. She moves in with her dad, grand-dad and aunt to escape her mother’s strict rules. When a few of her Instagram posts unexpectedly blow up and gain popularity, she decides to capitalize on this momentum and start an advice vlog with her best friend Lauren. Her new social media presence brings her to the attention of Erin, super-popular, super-mean girl at school with her own large Instagram following for her perfect pics. Their rivalry grows along with Millie’s following. With the help of her best friend, a boy obsessed with elevators, a new transfer student from Canada and Dave the cat, Millie learns how to manage her life, uploaded.
This book is aimed toward a younger audience than I usually read, and the style and language used reflected that, such as the use of ALL CAPS and excessive lists. I was concerned that this would affect the way I felt about the book, but, as it turns out, I actually didn’t hate it.
I wish this book had expanded with more detail about everything. I feel like there were a lot of moments that had no buildup and that the action just…happened. For example, I have no clue why Millie didn’t like her mother’s boyfriend except for the fact that he was too neat. Based on their interactions, I didn’t understand why Millie and Lauren were best friends other than the fact that I was told they were. And the big ending felt forced and like it was supposed to happen, not that it was inevitable. It was very spontaneous and left me feeling a little confused as though I missed out on a lot of the book, when actually I had read it all.
MY LIFE UPLOADED gives a lot of good life advice, some of it said explicitly and some of it up to the reader’s interpretation. Millie and her crew taught me a lot about relationships between people and managing life --- both online and off. It’s important to remember how much we don’t see and don’t know about other people. When they post online, we don’t see what’s going on in their home life or what’s going on in their head. One of the biggest messages MY LIFE UPLOADED covers though, is that the likes on your posts or how many followers you have does not define your self-worth. I think this is a good message for everyone to remember.
MY LIFE UPLOADED is a good reminder to teens about the social media-scape, how there’s good and there’s bad. It’s a good reminder to take time to get to know people instead of just assuming things. It’s a good reminder to be kind, and to take care of your friends. Looking for a lighthearted book that still has meaning? Then let me suggest MY LIFE UPLOADED.
Reviewed by Becky N., Teen Board Member
This book is aimed toward a younger audience than I usually read, and the style and language used reflected that, such as the use of ALL CAPS and excessive lists. I was concerned that this would affect the way I felt about the book, but, as it turns out, I actually didn’t hate it.
I wish this book had expanded with more detail about everything. I feel like there were a lot of moments that had no buildup and that the action just…happened. For example, I have no clue why Millie didn’t like her mother’s boyfriend except for the fact that he was too neat. Based on their interactions, I didn’t understand why Millie and Lauren were best friends other than the fact that I was told they were. And the big ending felt forced and like it was supposed to happen, not that it was inevitable. It was very spontaneous and left me feeling a little confused as though I missed out on a lot of the book, when actually I had read it all.
MY LIFE UPLOADED gives a lot of good life advice, some of it said explicitly and some of it up to the reader’s interpretation. Millie and her crew taught me a lot about relationships between people and managing life --- both online and off. It’s important to remember how much we don’t see and don’t know about other people. When they post online, we don’t see what’s going on in their home life or what’s going on in their head. One of the biggest messages MY LIFE UPLOADED covers though, is that the likes on your posts or how many followers you have does not define your self-worth. I think this is a good message for everyone to remember.
MY LIFE UPLOADED is a good reminder to teens about the social media-scape, how there’s good and there’s bad. It’s a good reminder to take time to get to know people instead of just assuming things. It’s a good reminder to be kind, and to take care of your friends. Looking for a lighthearted book that still has meaning? Then let me suggest MY LIFE UPLOADED.
Reviewed by Becky N., Teen Board Member
August 7, 2018
I loved how this story managed to be laugh out loud funny while still driving home a pretty powerful message -- just be yourself and stop worrying about what you think other people might think about you! In this day and age, far too many people are worried about having the #PerfectLife and are spending a lot of time trying to compete with everyone else on social media rather than simply being present and enjoying their lives for real. Instead of worrying about which pictures and captions will get the most likes, people need to focus on what brings them actual happiness. Enter, Millie Porter.
Though Millie lived with her mother, she still had frequent contact with her dad. Her parents actually got along quite well, considering the fact that they weren't together. Her mom, nevertheless, was always the more balanced and rational parental figure. Everyone kind of thought her practicality had "rubbed off on" Millie, too. But even Millie had a streak of teen rebellion brewing. It began when her mom started turning off the WiFi at night so she would not be online too much. Millie's frustration truly hit the breaking point, though, when her mom got a clean-freak boyfriend whose obsession with cleaning -- and specifically his "relationship" with a robotic vacuum, McWhirter -- was simply too much for Millie to bear. She decided that she was going to go and live with her dad for a bit, even if he did live with his father and his crazy sister, Teresa. Surely living there would give her more freedom to explore the creation of a new vlog that would aid in her social media competition with Erin Breeler, who is the reigning Instagram queen at their school. Right?!?
If you are a fan of The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson (think Bridget Jones for the younger set), you will definitely want to check this book out when it's released next week. While you're at it, you might even want to add the sequel (My Life Gone Viral) to your TBR list for next summer!
Happy Reading!
Though Millie lived with her mother, she still had frequent contact with her dad. Her parents actually got along quite well, considering the fact that they weren't together. Her mom, nevertheless, was always the more balanced and rational parental figure. Everyone kind of thought her practicality had "rubbed off on" Millie, too. But even Millie had a streak of teen rebellion brewing. It began when her mom started turning off the WiFi at night so she would not be online too much. Millie's frustration truly hit the breaking point, though, when her mom got a clean-freak boyfriend whose obsession with cleaning -- and specifically his "relationship" with a robotic vacuum, McWhirter -- was simply too much for Millie to bear. She decided that she was going to go and live with her dad for a bit, even if he did live with his father and his crazy sister, Teresa. Surely living there would give her more freedom to explore the creation of a new vlog that would aid in her social media competition with Erin Breeler, who is the reigning Instagram queen at their school. Right?!?
If you are a fan of The Confessions of Georgia Nicholson (think Bridget Jones for the younger set), you will definitely want to check this book out when it's released next week. While you're at it, you might even want to add the sequel (My Life Gone Viral) to your TBR list for next summer!
Happy Reading!
September 3, 2018
I'd give this early middle grade novel a 3.5 for its humor, insight into real world challenges, and its delightful protagonist, Millie Porter. Like many girls her age, thirteen-year-old Millie would like to make a difference in the world and be noticed. But being noticed for the right things instead of what she does wrong is easier said than done, especially when it seems that a popular and influential classmate, Erin Breeler, always seems to be there when she's messing up. Since Erin has a social media presence, she's quick to post images and comments. Millie is a sensible sort, and after listening to her best friend Lauren bemoan her living situation and considering how fed up she is with her mother's neat freak of a boyfriend, Millie decides to move in with her father and start her own vlog. With some help from Bradley Sanderson, who seems to know all the how-to moves when it comes to vlogs, Millie gets started. If her vlog gains some positive attention from Canadian transplant, Danny Trudeau, so much the better. It could never lead to much since Erin has her eye on Danny, right? Readers will enjoy this online war and how Erin styles herself as a feminist in response to Millie's comments. Amid all the humor, the book raises many questions about identity, bullying, eccentricity, feminism, and yes, make-up. I found all the characters quite interesting, but especially Millie. I'm sure I would want to be counted among her friends and followers. In many ways, this is a send-up of many online crazes, including the trend for all those funny cat videos. How can a book with a female cat named Dave miss being a hit?
January 2, 2019
During the month of December I read the book My Life Uploaded by Rae Earl. Overall, this book was very interesting and I liked it. In every book someone reads they have things they like about it and things they don't like about it. I have those opinions on this book.
To start off, this book is about a girl around the age of 14 or 15, and I’m the same age. She goes through a life that is so funny and interesting and others can relate to her lifestyle. Rae Earl wrote this story, so the readers will not get bored, they will get entertained by her funny story and what she goes through on a daily basis. I am so glad to say that this story had humor, and this author wrote it very well.
On the other hand, there was not much that I did not like about this book. I did no like that the author did not go in depth when they were explaining something. Although that is not a big deal, I like to imagine what is going on in my mind.
Overall, I liked this book and I would recommend it anyone from the ae of 12 and up. The way Rae Earl writes her stories really grabs my attention and I would love to read more of her books.
To start off, this book is about a girl around the age of 14 or 15, and I’m the same age. She goes through a life that is so funny and interesting and others can relate to her lifestyle. Rae Earl wrote this story, so the readers will not get bored, they will get entertained by her funny story and what she goes through on a daily basis. I am so glad to say that this story had humor, and this author wrote it very well.
On the other hand, there was not much that I did not like about this book. I did no like that the author did not go in depth when they were explaining something. Although that is not a big deal, I like to imagine what is going on in my mind.
Overall, I liked this book and I would recommend it anyone from the ae of 12 and up. The way Rae Earl writes her stories really grabs my attention and I would love to read more of her books.
June 14, 2019
Millie and her female cat Dave are back in a fun but serious new book you will enjoy.
As Millie can't take her mum's boyfriend anymore, she moves into her dad's to get a break from the obsessive cleaning regime and get some proper peace and space.
Lauren is still suffering her arguing parents all the time at home though and encourages Millie to vlog proper for YouTube with Dave.
When Danny the new school hot boy and Bradley a fellow vlogger who helps her with her channel and they hang out a lot around escalators of all things, both start to notice he at school, Millie has a dilemma, who does she like and in what way?
She also starts her advice vlog only to have school bully/social media queen Erin try to take her down and make her quit...
Millie shows resilience throughout the book never giving up on her friends, family or vlogging due to bullies. A great role model but also humorous throughout especially with the crazy vacuum and Dave the cat too! If you loved Louise Rennisons books this is for you!
As Millie can't take her mum's boyfriend anymore, she moves into her dad's to get a break from the obsessive cleaning regime and get some proper peace and space.
Lauren is still suffering her arguing parents all the time at home though and encourages Millie to vlog proper for YouTube with Dave.
When Danny the new school hot boy and Bradley a fellow vlogger who helps her with her channel and they hang out a lot around escalators of all things, both start to notice he at school, Millie has a dilemma, who does she like and in what way?
She also starts her advice vlog only to have school bully/social media queen Erin try to take her down and make her quit...
Millie shows resilience throughout the book never giving up on her friends, family or vlogging due to bullies. A great role model but also humorous throughout especially with the crazy vacuum and Dave the cat too! If you loved Louise Rennisons books this is for you!
January 27, 2019
Actual rating: 3.5
I honestly thought this was going to be one of those books, but this book proved me wrong.
- The characters. Although they’re not the best I’ve seen, they were fine. Millie was a likable character. I loved the fact that she knows what she’s doing most of the time and I liked reading her experiences. They were a bit flat though.
- The author did know how the internet works ( well there are some things that bother me)
- Why didn’t Millie realize that Erin was Mr Style Shame earlier? Especially the part when Erin pulled out a phone when she fell down. I think Erin being Mr Style Shame was predictable. Also, why hasn’t anyone made a callout against the account? I bet people would find this immoral and write out hate comments.
- I don’t think saying your friends name in a vlog is good. Just saying, because anything can happen.
I honestly thought this was going to be one of those books, but this book proved me wrong.
- The characters. Although they’re not the best I’ve seen, they were fine. Millie was a likable character. I loved the fact that she knows what she’s doing most of the time and I liked reading her experiences. They were a bit flat though.
- The author did know how the internet works ( well there are some things that bother me)
- Why didn’t Millie realize that Erin was Mr Style Shame earlier? Especially the part when Erin pulled out a phone when she fell down. I think Erin being Mr Style Shame was predictable. Also, why hasn’t anyone made a callout against the account? I bet people would find this immoral and write out hate comments.
- I don’t think saying your friends name in a vlog is good. Just saying, because anything can happen.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2021
OK, so I can't express to you HOW good this book is. The fact that the author is born in the same year as my parents, and yet this book is still so relatable is astounding. I really love how the author expressed important topics like feminism, trolls and mental heath. Especially, when her mother gave her that talk about anxiety which was so wholesome. And most importantly, she makes mistakes which most of us make but she makes up for them in the best and most mature ways possible. Overall, it was a really good read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 26, 2018
I'm into realistic fiction right now and this was fun and thoughtful. It would make a terrific, funnier pairing with the movie Eighth Grade as it's about a girl who decides to start a YouTube vlog, #Help giving advice. Kind of reminds me of Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging but less British-isms, and I love her feminist comments/rants, her friendship, her struggles with anxiety, her relationship with her parents. So much to like! Great for middle school.
March 23, 2022
#help I’ve been duped into thinking this novel was about Millie’s superstar cat, Dave!
Well she's there but barely, and maybe that’s what I get for judging books based on the cover and title, skimming the blurb like it didn’t exist. I'm not sure what I pictured, a cat vlogger's biography about having a million subscribers and living the best life a cat could ever have...Dave with her sunglasses screams, "let's party all summer long"!
The story is Millie’s (Dave the cat's human) venture into the vlogging world, which seems to evolve into a means to cope with issues on school, boy crushes, online trolls, family drama and perhaps even trying to understand herself. The plot line is far from new. Characters are tropey. But there are positive messages that can be appreciated and I like that Millie’s mum reaches out to her a lot and keeps dialogue open, it was endearing at times (I suppose from one POV). It has its drama moments that you could say belongs to the tweenage years if you are past it, and at least Millie's trying to be honest and sensible about it all.
I think my own version of tweenage life unfolding would be #help I feel like a hamster in a plastic ball, and I’d spend more time hanging out with Dave (of course) and Aunt Teresa, maybe join her fusion ice cream venture.
I picked up the book at a time I really needed humor and in the end it was fun, like a pack of multi-flavored candy. But I’m still disappointed Dave was more of a guest appearance here.
Well she's there but barely, and maybe that’s what I get for judging books based on the cover and title, skimming the blurb like it didn’t exist. I'm not sure what I pictured, a cat vlogger's biography about having a million subscribers and living the best life a cat could ever have...Dave with her sunglasses screams, "let's party all summer long"!
The story is Millie’s (Dave the cat's human) venture into the vlogging world, which seems to evolve into a means to cope with issues on school, boy crushes, online trolls, family drama and perhaps even trying to understand herself. The plot line is far from new. Characters are tropey. But there are positive messages that can be appreciated and I like that Millie’s mum reaches out to her a lot and keeps dialogue open, it was endearing at times (I suppose from one POV). It has its drama moments that you could say belongs to the tweenage years if you are past it, and at least Millie's trying to be honest and sensible about it all.
I think my own version of tweenage life unfolding would be #help I feel like a hamster in a plastic ball, and I’d spend more time hanging out with Dave (of course) and Aunt Teresa, maybe join her fusion ice cream venture.
I picked up the book at a time I really needed humor and in the end it was fun, like a pack of multi-flavored candy. But I’m still disappointed Dave was more of a guest appearance here.
June 13, 2023
I actually wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. A fun realistic fiction read that is quick. I appreciate the chapters were short. Makes being able to stop reading easier but also made me feel like I could keep reading because the next chapter was a page and a half instead of 26 pages.
Definitely will check out the sequel. If you want a fun easy read about teens going viral on social media and dealing with the trolls, this is the book for you!
Definitely will check out the sequel. If you want a fun easy read about teens going viral on social media and dealing with the trolls, this is the book for you!
Read
June 4, 2019Millie Porter started an online vlog, or video-blog, to give advice. She loves doing it for the most part, but she doesn’t appreciate the trolls who write negative comments on her videos. In keeping up with her advice vlogs, Millie learns that maybe she’s the one that needs it the most.
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
March 6, 2017
I absolutely loved this. Devoured it within hours. It's hilarious, perfectly written for any generation, and it had me hooked from start to finish. It's recommended for fans of Holly Smale, but I think those readers will love this even more! I don't often laugh in public whilst reading, but it was unavoidable. Now I'll be known as that crazy girl laughing at what appears to be a book about cats. Nevermind.
Millie Porter is a go-to girl for anyone who wants advice. Even her cat. So she does what any young person would do - she cashes on in on this immediately and starts a vlog (a video blog apparently, if you're a little behind the times like me). She and her BFF Lauren are determined that their vlog will actually help people - a great message! Often this becomes quite silly, and I suppose it is quite fluffy topics like make-up and boys, or particularly when it becomes cat related, but it tickled me anyway! The question is - will a vlog really make them famous? If I was their only audience, absolutely, but see for yourself.
It's hard not to like the girls - Millie has such a fantastic, funny narrative. You would want to hang out with her if she was real. Yes, the gossip and girl chat is a little insipid at times. But it's uplifting and its nice to see positive female friendships in young adult books rather than the mean queen bee that's usually in the spotlight. In fact, even though Erin Breeler (exactly the meany I'm talking about) does play that role well, the girls kind of embrace their awkwardness and ignored her snarkiness, which I especially loved.
You might not expect, judging by the cover, that this would be an ordinary book in terms of structure. I thought it might be filled with little instagram-style photos, hashtags and all sorts of blogging-style texts, but actually it's laid out in a standard fashion. I was hoping for some of the above things to be included to make it even more relevant and give the pages an interesting twist but this wasn't a significant loss - I was kept hooked regardless. I do recommend you like cats though. There are many cat jokes.
This was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Millie Porter is a go-to girl for anyone who wants advice. Even her cat. So she does what any young person would do - she cashes on in on this immediately and starts a vlog (a video blog apparently, if you're a little behind the times like me). She and her BFF Lauren are determined that their vlog will actually help people - a great message! Often this becomes quite silly, and I suppose it is quite fluffy topics like make-up and boys, or particularly when it becomes cat related, but it tickled me anyway! The question is - will a vlog really make them famous? If I was their only audience, absolutely, but see for yourself.
It's hard not to like the girls - Millie has such a fantastic, funny narrative. You would want to hang out with her if she was real. Yes, the gossip and girl chat is a little insipid at times. But it's uplifting and its nice to see positive female friendships in young adult books rather than the mean queen bee that's usually in the spotlight. In fact, even though Erin Breeler (exactly the meany I'm talking about) does play that role well, the girls kind of embrace their awkwardness and ignored her snarkiness, which I especially loved.
You might not expect, judging by the cover, that this would be an ordinary book in terms of structure. I thought it might be filled with little instagram-style photos, hashtags and all sorts of blogging-style texts, but actually it's laid out in a standard fashion. I was hoping for some of the above things to be included to make it even more relevant and give the pages an interesting twist but this wasn't a significant loss - I was kept hooked regardless. I do recommend you like cats though. There are many cat jokes.
This was provided to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2021
It was so full of life, and it felt like you were in the main characters shoes. You had an idea of what it's like to be a teen in this day and age, and that when you have good friends, you can overcome anything.
April 18, 2022
DNF
So only giving a half A star and that's just for the first three pages. Because after that it started to lose me and become boring. I thought this book was going to be fun and it was starting out like it was going to be great but nope.
So only giving a half A star and that's just for the first three pages. Because after that it started to lose me and become boring. I thought this book was going to be fun and it was starting out like it was going to be great but nope.
October 2, 2018
Good read-a-like if you enjoyed the Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging books OR, if you ever wondered what Bridget Jones might be like as a teen today.
January 7, 2022
Ummm, a little (well a lot) dated. I didn’t really like it. Idk, it was just awkwardly written.
May 11, 2022
Good beginning. Good middle Bad ending.
July 1, 2022
Cute but hard to understand in places
September 16, 2022
I'm glad I'm barely active on social media
January 20, 2023
Dave the cat!
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