Omg Is This Actually My Life By Rae Earl

Pages -336Published on the 7th February by Walker Books"Sunday 28th December "9.23am "OMG - I'M IN PRISON! It's actually my bedroom but it might as well be a cell. I've seen what prison is like in EastEnders and except for the fact I'm in heart-print Primark pyjamas there's no difference. "10.12am "Mum just came up - she is the hardest screw ever (that's what you call prison officers when you're inside). Apparently I've "disgraced myself" and I'm growing up "way too fast". OMG - THIS is from the woman who had her first cigarette at 11. Gran remembers because she made Mum eat it. And because it was one of hers and the last one in the packet. She's still mental about it now!" GOODREADS SUMMARYFourteen-year-old Hattie Moore doesn't actually know who her father is - but that's the least of her problems. How can she become a TOTAL HOTNESS GODDESS when Miss Gorgeous Knickers at school hates her and no one fancies her because she has no breast? And her family are an actual nightmare. Her unbelievably annoying brother is EVIL and on top of that, her gran is a TOTAL mental who may be texting rude jokes to just about EVERYONE in the world. Including her dentist.

Hattie's diary of this tumultuous year is an absolutely hilarious account of the ups and downs of teenage life including a dating bogey phobia, near death from biscotti and a home-made breast-growing machine* * * Reviewed by Caroline HodgesThere's something about the diary format that I just love. I've never come across one I didn't like and OMG! Is This Actually My Life? is no exception. I think it has to do with the fact it makes first person perspective even more personal; you get to know the personality of the protagonist so intimately that within a few pages, it's like you've known them years. OMG! Is This Actually My Life? takes us through a year in the life of Hattie Moore, 14 years old, pretentious, selfish, prone to exaggeration and yet, utterly loveable. Unless you're truly perfect, you'll likely see a fair bit of yourself at that age in the antics and situations Hattie finds herself in throughout the book. Remember the first attempts to get the attention of a boy you fancied? Check. Failed miserably? Check. Ended up choking on a biscotti in front of him? Er, well not quite, but we've all been there Hattie, don't worry. The book really captures the fleeting and flaky obsessions of the young, the despair at being landed with 'weirdo' family members who just never understand and the on-going quest to discover who you really are rather than who at school you wish you were. The character that really stood out for me besides Hattie herself was boy-next-door Goose, who so obviously has a thing for Hattie from the very beginning but she just can't see it! Best friend's Dimple and Jen also bring humour and wise advice to Hattie's life. As a current reader I liked how the book was littered with modern day references such as Facebook status' and Jeremy Kyle which will appeal to its target audience. However I wonder if it will stop the book having the longevity of say, the Adrian Mole books. The only thing I couldn't stand about the book was the nickname given to Hattie's arch-nemsis 'Miss Gorgeous Knickers.' Really? This doesn't really fit to me. Does she really despise the girl other girl? Sounds more like flattery to me. OMG! Is This Actually My Life? is a fun, easy read for teenage girls and the cliff-hanger ending will I think, have them longing for next year's 'diary.'