Author: Gretchen McNeil
Published: October 18th
Publisher: Balzar+Bray
Format: Paperback ARC
Pages: 352
Rating: 4/5
Summary:
Beatrice Maria Estrella Giovannini has life all figured out. She's starting senior year at the top of her class, she’s a shoo-in for a scholarship to M.I.T., and she’s got a new boyfriend she’s crazy about. The only problem: All through high school Bea and her best friends Spencer and Gabe have been the targets of horrific bullying.
So Bea uses her math skills to come up with The Formula, a 100% mathematically-guaranteed path to social happiness in high school. Now Gabe is on his way to becoming Student Body President, and Spencer is finally getting his art noticed. But when her boyfriend dumps her for Toile, the quirky new girl at school, Bea realizes it's time to use The Formula for herself. She'll be reinvented as the eccentric and lovable Trixie—a quintessential manic pixie dream girl—in order to win her boyfriend back and beat new-girl Toile at her own game.
Unfortunately, being a manic pixie dream girl isn't all it's cracked up to be, and “Trixie” is causing unexpected consequences for her friends. As The Formula begins to break down, can Bea find a way to reclaim her true identity, and fix everything she's messed up? Or will the casualties of her manic pixie experiment go far deeper than she could possibly imagine?
Review:
I want to say thank you to +HarperCollinsCanada for sending me a copy of this book for review! It was definitely an interesting and quite entertaining read and I really enjoyed it! There was a lot going on in this novel that definitely had a roller coaster ride of emotions and scenes!
Alright, so from the beginning you dive right into Bea's life and what is currently going on. You see that she's a huge math fanatic, but as a typical high school experience (Maybe more in books) you would see in most, a math fan doesn't really do well in school. Of course Bea has her own agenda so I really loved the idea of the formula that she creates to try to enjoy her last year of high school.
I totally got a vibe of Mean Girls where at first no one really cares, there's a math genius, and then all of a sudden a quick transformation with clothes and personality makes you somehow a different person to others. I know that's pretty unrealistic in most cases, but it definitely makes it more entertaining simply because it showcases that you really do not need to change yourself, because the people you are changing for, should like you for you, and if not then they aren't the people you should want to surround yourself with. Simple. As. That.
While I was reading this there were definitely a lot of parts that I could foresee happening. I found that some of the hints that were being dropped we definitely more apparent to me, so I wasn't really shocked when certain aspects of the novel came into place.
Okay, let me take it to another area of this novel that I loved! I guess you could say I am a reader who mostly reads about white characters, because that's a norm. Can I just say how refreshing it was to actually have so many diverse characters in this novel! I do wish that I could read more about them as well, but you kind of dive into their lives a little bit throughout, because it involves them as well. I really loved how diverse it was, and I also loved the fact that most people were actually really open and accepting of it! I also loved the family dynamic for Bea's parents. They're separated, yet still have so much respect for one another, and I truly appreciate that!
I am also a huge fan of current media and what is going on in today's world being interpreted into novels now! I'm sure many people don't care, but it's something that you kind of accept, because this is how our society is now. I loved how even though one person uses social media one way, it can quickly backfire for another.
When reading I'm Not Your Manic Pixie Dream Girl, I could seriously see this as a movie they make for television! It gives you all the right messages, but also in a humorous way! I don't know how many times I laughed or even got frustrated with Bea and wanting her to just go with the flow, or even take that leap and just be like "'Kay, Bye!" to the people that don't matter!
"You don't have to settle for a boyfriend who only likes you when you're getting attention from popular people. He should like you all the time. No matter who you are."
I really love what Bea begins to realize more towards the end of the novel. I found that things were finally clicking in and that she was putting what she so easily messed up as the formula begins to unwind. You really do see her grow and understand more than she initially did. I do feel that when it got more towards the middle, it seemed to slow down and almost just flow until it picked up again in the end...
Okay can we take a minute to talk about this artist we have here...like BEA COME ON!! I was secretly hoping that someone would just take the leap and go for it, but of course we needed some time to really showcase what was happening, but can I just have this artist instead? He's someone who is literally always there for you and would rather hang out than be with other people. He will totally call you out on your shit, and doesn't even matter that he did because he knows what's right. #feels.
In a way, this novel definitely wrapped up and finished super neatly with not much room for more to write, however I felt like this book needed that. There are some reasons in here which I can't explain due to spoilers, but when it finally all clicked into place, I was totally rooting for Bea and inside I was screaming excitedly (when I was actually around other people in a car...) The scenes played out so amazingly, and I just could not hold back much longer!
So here were some other quotes that stood out and kind of give you a feel for what this book is about:
"I wasn't a little girl anymore, I was the defender of morality, doling out tough love."
"I'd never felt like that before: like I was standing with my toes on the edge of a precipice about to jump."
"That maniac-pixie-dream-girl thing isn't total crap, you know. You can inspire someone without sacrificing yourself in the process."
This book was filled with all kinds of things, and I truly enjoyed it from beginning to end! The typical mean girl, wanting to fit into the crowed, creating plans, and then things backfire, and you soon begin to realize it all didn't even matter. If you take out the typical girl trying to fit in, you see more development of the characters, as well as the hugely diverse scene. Different cultures, religions, sexuality, and so much more. This book was packed with so many messages, that it would almost take a second read to catch them all!
Personally for me, the only issue was that I found a lot of scenes to be predictable, as well as that it slowed down, instead of having more to happen.
Overall this was a good read! It was very funny, and light-hearted. There were many moments where you could see what may happen, but at the same time it still surprised you when you least expected it. Bea has this personality that kind of shines, and makes you want to be friends with her. It was a cute read, with a lot to talk about. I never realized that a Manic Pixie Dream Girl really does exist...I would definitely recommend this!
So that's all for my review today! I hope you enjoyed it, and I definitely would say to give it a read!
Until the next time, Keep Reading!
Your Gradated Bookworm!! :)
I've been seeing this book everywhere. I'm going to have to give it a read!
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