24 Oct Forever Geek Blog Tour #Review + A Postcard from Harriet

Hey chickens, hope you’re having a brilliant weekend so far. And it might even get better as today I’m sharing my review of Holly Smale’s latest and (unfortunately) last book from the Geek Series, FOREVER GEEK. OMG this book is everything! It’s fun, funny, comforting and brilliant from any aspect. And though you know I rarely read YA, this one is definitely not to be missed and gets huge, fat 5* from This Chick. But there’s also a little surprise for all of you die hard fans of Harriet, as you can also read a postcard from her. Yes, you’re welcome  Massive thanks to everyone at Harper Collin’s Children’s books for the chance to be part of the blog tour and make sure you follow the other blogs for more Geek fun.

Cheerio, sweethearts!

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Forever Geek by Holly Smale
Series:Geek Girl #6
Published byHarper Collin’s Children’s Books
Published on 9.3.2017
Genres:contemporary
Pages: 400
Format:e-book

My name is Harriet Manners and I’ll be a geek forever…

The FINAL book in the bestselling, award-winning GEEK GIRL series is here!

Harriet Manners knows almost every fact there is.

Modelling isn’t a sure-fire route to popularity. Neither is making endless lists.
The people you love don’t expect you to transform into someone else.
Statistically you are more likely to not meet your Australian ex-boyfriend in Australia than bump into him there.

So on the trip of a lifetime Down Under Harriet’s to-do lists are gone and it’s Nat’s time to shine! Yet with nearly-not-quite-boyfriend Jasper back home, Harriet’s completely unprepared to see supermodel ex Nick. Is the fashion world about to turn ugly for GEEK GIRL?

It’s time for Harriet to face the future. Time to work out where her heart lies. To learn how to let go…

OMG! I’m in my late 30s and I absolutely, thoroughly, completely, immensely enjoyed FOREVER GEEK. Hell, I’m not even that much of a fan of Young Adult and it’s been a while since the last time I read one. However, Harriet is irresistible and has a special place in my heart.

I haven’t read all of the books in the Geek Girl series and I blame my toppling TBR pile for that. So in case you’re wondering if this one can be read as a stand alone, it sure can. If I did it, so can you. But of course, it’s always best to follow the books in order, because…hey more Harriet Manners, what better reason than that.

Geek Girl is the series I wish I could read when I was a teenager. When I feared being in love with chemistry and all other sciences was uncool and geeky. Wish I had these books back then and embrace the little geek telling her one day she’ll be a super mum, a wife and an employee and will have the best life ever. But there’s a bumpy road to travel while we’re able to see things more clearly. I am however happy for the new generations which have this book and can easily download/buy/borrow a copy and devour these fun, funny and comforting books.

As it’s been a while since I’ve read a YA and I was a bit skeptical. I didn’t doubt Harriet or Holly for that matter, but I wasn’t sure if I’m the audience for these type of books anymore. I didn’t need to worry though as I totally loved it and read it under 4 hours. Not that I’m a speedy reader, it’s just that it’s so damn good.

Harriet is off to Australia with Bunty, her fabulous grandmother and her best friend Nat. She’s kind of dating Jasper and has promised to talk to him, though she still doesn’t know how to define their relationship. Typical Harriet even leaves him a chart all marked with exact times when she will call, though being in such an exotic country, one she’s never visited and has so many stuff to see, makes it a bit hard to stay on the schedule. During the trip she gets into a lot of funny situations, as all amazing geeks do, and I laughed out loud at her clumsiness. Yet she’s so cute and adorable, always honest and full of random facts she shares with everyone and anyone. These facts and the situations where she would come up with them were too hilarious. It’s absolutely amazing and fascinating how her brain could come up with such brilliant things in a second. But that’s Harriet Manners, so special and lovable.

While there are many characters in the book (at least in my opinion) and some of them having their come back from the previous books, you will literally catch yourself turning the pages with the speed of light. You know what else is so special about this book and the whole series? There are just so many lovable characters, it’s really hard to pick just one. This is usually not a problem for me when I read other books, but this time I simply can not make my mind. But if I had to pick only one, besides Harriet, it would definitely be Bunty. She’s the woman I wish I have in my life, so full of life, pink hair, universe loving, spiritual, funny, caring, memorable. In my opinion, she and Harriet are the real stars of the book. I also loved Harriet’s dad and step mum, Annabel and loved the relationship they have not only with each other but with Harriet too.

While most of the book is funny and light hearted, I have to say I was teary by the end. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you why because it would be a big fat spoiler..but OMG! I could feel eyes filling with tears and remember asking myself..how do I go from laughing out loud to being a huge mess? It’s all down to this book, wonderful, funny, light hearted yet with such an emotional ending. I applaud to you, Holly for doing this and I thank you for giving us Harriet. I haven’t read many YA books but out of all those I’ve read, the Geek Girl series will stay my fave. Harriet is the ultimate YA heroine, a girl you wish you knew, a girl you wish was your family. She’s the best teenage role model, speaking openly about her insecurities, being oh so awesome in everything she does and doing it her way. She’s accepted who she is and we all know what teenagers are like. The raging hormones and society’s expectations keep on pushing them, making them want so desperately to fit in. Harriet shows us that she doesn’t need to fit anywhere cause she’s in a league of her own.

Wonderful finale to an amazing series and I wish Holly decides one day to bring Harriet back. I’d love to see her grown up as well as see more of her friends and family. No matter how old you are, just read this book! If you’re a teenager and ever felt left out (and we all did) just pick up this series and show the world your power!

Postcard from Harriet to all the Geek Girl fans as the series comes to an end

To my dear reader,

According to Google, 129,864,880 books have ever been published in modern history, and my story has constituted nine of them: that means Geek Girl has been just 0.000006930280149644769 per cent of all the novels of all time (and three of them were technically novellas).

But for me, those nine stories changed everything. They taught me who I am and what I want; who to love and what to stand up for. Slowly, I learned how to be braver and stronger and more adventurous than I ever thought possible. And, in reading those stories – in laughing with me, supporting me, forgiving my mistakes and my accidents and ALL the times I fell over (sooooo many times) – I hope you found a way to believe in your own courage, beauty and uniqueness too.

This might be the end for a while, but that’s the thing about books: there might be 130 million of them, but you get to choose the ones you keep, the ones you love, and the ones you read again and again, whenever you need them. So I’ll always be here, even if you can’t see me. Waiting for you in the pages of these novels.

Thank you so much for coming on this adventure with me.

All my love,

Harriet xxx

About Holly Smale

Holly Smale is a British internationally bestselling author.

She wanted to write from the age of five, when she realised that books didn’t grow on trees like apples. Her journey took her to over thirty-two countries, and included: modelling, journalism, teaching English in Japan, cocktail waitressing, PR and packing courgettes in Australia.

Holly has a BA in English Literature and an MA in Shakespeare from Bristol University, specialising in feminism and gender studies.

GEEK GIRL was her first novel, and was the number one selling teen fiction in the UK in 2013. So far, the series has sold 700,000 copies in the UK alone, extends to nine books and has been published in thirty languages.

She was an official World Book Day author in 2015, and her debut was named by Booktrust as one of the “Fifty Books That Will Change Your Life”.

When she’s not travelling, Holly lives beside the seaside in Hove, England.