I read Jacqueline Wilsons new adult book
And I hated it
If you didn’t know, Jaqueline Wilson, a very popular children’s author, has recently written and about to publish an adults book, a sequel to her very popular Girls series. Before reading this book, I wanted to read the original four books. I can’t remember if I ever read all of those books when I was younger, but I did read a lot of Wilsons books’ - even went to a book signing.
I read Girls in Love and couldn’t make myself read any others. Personally, I found the book triggering and toxic, with constant comments about the weight of the main character and others. The book was definitely a glimpse into the millennial child’s mind (big note here is I am gen z). After some research I established that they wouldn’t get much better, and actually Wilson’s books are all a little controversial because of their strong themes. I really enjoyed the heavy themes as a kid, I loved My Sister Jodie which if memory is correct is about a girl whose sister commits suicide. I don’t know, in hindsight, how healthy these themes can be for primary school children. Girls in Love did not seem like a healthy book for children that are at the age where they are struggling with body issues, as an adult I found it a lot. Though the book was somewhat funny, it was felt outdated.
This did not set the scene well for me reading this new book. Expectations were low, but also I was looking for things to criticise within it.
After chapter one, I could tell that the main character had not changed a bit. Which, in some ways was reassuring and in others felt unrealistic. She seemed to be stuck in a secondary school mindset despite being 40 years old. I felt like the book was almost written for children originally, only for her to realise she has no audience with that sort of book so she thought she would add a few sex references to make it more grown up.
This is a quote I’ve taken from my notes after reading the first three chapters.
Too self obsessed, obsessed with her weight and how she is perceived, a lot of mentions of gender, also been no interactions with a man at all.
Very early on in the book, you realise that the narrator, Ellie, has no new friends, despite 25 years since we last saw her. I could not understand how the only new character on the scene was her daughter, who was a grown up anyways and barely in the book. It felt like Wilson couldn’t be bothered to do any character development, so simply picked up where she left off.
This book took me so long to finish, and had I not been so passionate about this review, I would have never finished it.
Spoilers Ahead
So, a few little things I noticed that I hated.
Every man is evil unless he is gay. I have read my fair share of, what I call, winey woman fiction. It’s one of my favourite genres. I am very used to guys being evil. But generally there is a saving grace, either the woman finds herself and realises men don’t make her, or she meets a good man. This book had neither.
So in the end, the main character realises she’s gay. This is blindingly obvious the second her love interest is introduced in the first chapter. The issue here is, she doesn’t realise she is gay until the second to last page. I would have liked to see some exploration of the narrator discovering her sexuality and experimenting and generally more of an ending would have been so lovely, but instead the book finished very abruptly.
She dates her year nine art teacher. He turns her into a pupil whenever he is around, he is detestable. I almost think that Wilson did this whole ark just to appease critics of another books that she’s written involving a teacher and student getting together. Any books I’ve read about this topic have been psychological thrillers, not children’s books or adult rom coms. This old, single teacher in London could also afford a very nice house in London and this is never really questioned, only explained away in a sentence along the lines of ‘my aunt died and gave me money’.
The sex was very uncomfortable to read, it was awkward, despite being described as great. “I’ve never passionately kissed an ex-teacher before.” (Wilson, pg. 114). All I could think when reading this line is I really, really hope not. Another line that made me uncomfortable involved condoms, please remember this woman is 40 years old, had a child at 19, “are they considered pathetically old fashioned nowadays?” (Wilson, pg. 117). In what world are condoms old fashioned. Have you heard of STIs? I cringe just thinking about this whole scene.
The most disappointing part of this whole book is I appear to be the only one disappointed. Other early reviews are raves and I also cant seem to find anything online accusing Wilson of being all that controversial an author. I will add, most her books aren’t available at my three local libraries, not because they are on loan, but because they don’t have them. That must mean something.
If you’ve read this book, please tell me all your thoughts, I would love to discuss.