Author: Holly Smale
Genre: YA
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
"Harriet Manners knows a lot of things.
She knows that a cat has 32 muscles in each ear, a "jiffy" lasts 1/100th of a second, and the average person laughs 15 times per day. What she isn't quite so sure about is why nobody at school seems to like her very much. So when she's spotted by a top model agent, Harriet grabs the chance to reinvent herself. Even if it means stealing her Best Friend's dream, incurring the wrath of her arch enemy Alexa, and repeatedly humiliating herself in front of the impossibly handsome supermodel Nick. Even if it means lying to the people she loves.
As Harriet veers from one couture disaster to the next with the help of her overly enthusiastic father and her uber-geeky stalker, Toby, she begins to realise that the world of fashion doesn't seem to like her any more than the real world did.
And as her old life starts to fall apart, the question is: will Harriet be able to transform herself before she ruins everything?"
***
Refreshing, funny, spunky and just plain fun to read. Seriously, it was like hopping in a time machine and going back to my 13 year old self just discovering the world of Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries.
Harriet's story is just as fun-loving and filled with moments that made me literally laugh out loud. A nice, easy read - definitely recommend it for poolside entertainment ;)
Granted, this seems to be focused on a younger demographic than what I usually read these days, not being that 13-year old again, but the message of the book is one that many adults could do with learning - of being true to yourself, always.
Most importantly, though, is the fact Holly Smale creates a character that is both endearing and familiar to most bookworms like myself, but also strong and determined. The book flies by, and you've finished before you know, it ready for the next one (which is already out, incidentally)
