FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I have been a Cathy Yardley fan since my mid-20's (I'm now pushing 40). After college, I started to buy books to get back into reading, and one of them was LA Woman by Yardley. I was hooked. It's one of my favorites that introduced me to the "chick lit" publisher Red Dress Ink, and the genre as a whole. So when I saw her name pop up as one of the writer's of Geek Actually, I had to request it! A play on Love, Actually. A boss bitch on the cover. I'm in!

ALL THE THINGS THAT MADE ME HAPPY: After learning about serials, I discovered this was the first of 13 episodes. For anyone that knows me, you know that I love a good sequel. And 12 "sequels" would put me over the edge. This serial tells the story of 5 friends:

1) Michelle - an editor with a sci-fi/fantasy publisher
2) Aditi - a writer that just happens to be published by Michelle's publishing house, who is going through some writer's block
3) Taneesha - a video game programmer who is experiencing the sexist side of working in a "bro" world
4) Christina - she's not featured as much until the second episode, but she's there, working in Hollywood, behind the scenes.
5) Elli - living in her parent's basement, working a job until she gets enough money to make costumes for the next "con" (like Comic-Con, not like Ocean's Eleven). Looks like someone has some growing up to do.

I did enjoy the first installment of this serial - the stories are interwoven and stand alone nicely. I was drawn into their world and left the episode wanting to hang out with them more. There is some naughty-business mixed in, because every woman needs that side of her as well! I enjoyed it so much, I bought the whole series to continue my adventures with them. I'm just about to start episode 4 and wooooo - it's been an adventure so far!

WHAT MADE ME SCRATCH MY HEAD: NetGalley classified this episode as "erotica" which now makes me think that NetGalley is sitting their clutching its pearls because I would classify this more as a steamy women's fiction. This is nowhere near 50 Shades territory, so please don't let that put you off of it.

FINAL THOUGHTS: If you're like me, and like women's fiction, or stories about women figuring out their place in this world, then this may be a serial for you. You can read it in bite-sized chunks and never miss a beat. Embrace your inner geek and give this one a try!

While I definitely enjoyed my experience reading this book, there are some issues with pacing and character development in the middle that left me wanting just a bit more.

Not really my cup of tea, I finished it but only as it was a very short book. Wouldn't really recommend it

A version of sex in the city for those who like sci and fantasy. It's a fun story about a group of modern women who like all things geeky. A must read for all geeky girls and women!

I had mixed feelings about this book was but able to finish and derive some pleasure in the storyline.

Strong women who aren't afraid to stand up for themselves, and take no sh*t from men. All successful in their chosen careers, fighting against the often male old-guard to leave their mark. Best friends bonded together and keeping in touch with each other using up-to-date technology, this is a must-read for feminists and budding feminists alike.

As expected, this is a relatively quick intro to four of the characters, showing them diverse in many ways but strong friends. Aditi’s one-night stand leads the way.
3.5 pushed up to 4/5

I just couldn't really get into it. I like the premise and all but it jumped around a bit too much and didn't grab me.

WTF
Geek Actually, Book 1.1

I Picked Up This Book Because: The titles in this series intrigued me.

The Characters:

Aditi Sodhi, Christina Webber, Elli Kelman, Michelle Andrada, Taneesha Adams:


The Story:

This seems to be more of an introduction to the ladies than anything else. A peek into their lives to see who they are and what they are about and what is going on. It’s a lot. I’m very curious about Aditi and Michelle. I love Taneesha. And I can’t wait to learn more about Elli and Christina.


The Random Thoughts:



The Score Card:

description

3.75 Stars

It was too short for my taste but it was quirky and an easy read. I found it a bit slow and dragging at part but the dialogue was hilarious. I also think it was very relatable to the current time period, lots of cultural references.

This is the first installment in the Geek Actually serial, the pilot if you may, and we get to meet five women: Michelle, Aditi, Taneesha, Elli and Christina. They're friends (Michelle and Christina are actually half-sisters) and we get to observe them navigating their lives. It kind of reminded me of Sex And The City, which intrigued me.

This book was told from multiple POVs, with an accent on Michelle and Aditi. I'm thinking that each episode focuses more on one of the women than the other, which is interesting. I connected a lot more with Taneesha, to be honest. She's a woman, she's a black woman, and she's a video game programmer, so she basically holds the job that once upon a time I wanted, and there's a scene with her and her bosses that is so painful and infuriating that I wanted to jump into the book and slap both of those idiots. I was also insanely curious about Aditi and her relationship with someone important in her life.

I felt like this was a bit too short for my taste, but I could see myself reading the rest of the installments. Since it was a pilot installment, I can't exactly say I was in love with the story, but it's good enough to make me curious about the rest of it.

So this is a pretty short read, like something you can flip through an hour or so before bed on on a train commute to work. I liked that the characters were culturally diverse but it's not it's not a book specifically about a racial culture. It's normal everyday strong diverse women and their daily life. The story is a like a slice of their lives which is I guess why it's a series. There's also little geek/nerd references that are thrown in here and there which, as a self proclaimed geek, happen to have enjoyed. I just wish there was more of an engaging story and maybe one or two main characters to focus on.

Did not finish. Could not get into the story at all.

I have never really been caught up in serially published stories or even found many chick-lit books which I completely enjoyed, so I really wasn't expecting to have my socks blown off or anything. However, I am a female nerdy gamer engineer active in fandom (irl, yeah, really) and the premise of this serial caught my attention.

I was really pleasantly surprised. It wasn't just a series of gratuitous sex scenes strung together with badly written segues. It was funny and topical and spot on. Bonus points for the proper use of SJW in context, and the barbed references to the Hugo puppygate drama made me snort until my diet coke almost squirted out my nose.

I had not expected to, but I will check out the next installments. I can admit when I'm wrong.

Three and a half stars. Recommended for us unicorns (female gamer geeks).

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.

nice opening, starts out kinda chick lit-y but cute

Although I liked this episode I did feel it was short and funny. A glimpse into the life of the publishing industry from the players inside. All different women in different phases of their lives and careers. I think my favorite character is Aditi. Very interesting.

I'm always on the prowl for nerd-positive romance, and luckily, it seems to emerge here and there. When I saw the premise of Geek Actually, I had to snap it up and now regret not snagging the rest of the episodes. This introductory installment set up the characters nicely, each woman a nerd or geek in some right (game designer, editor, cosplayer, to name a few) and each facing some sort of romantic complication as well as complications created by being a woman and a nerd and the hostility that women frequently face. The issues are intersectional as well, with issues like race and weight, which is a refreshing inclusion in contemporary romance. I will be recommending it for purchase at my library once the compiled collection is out.

Fairly interesting so far. I'm definitely going to read the next installment. I need to know more about Aditi and Druv's marriage! This is a well-written serial. It gives you just enough information about the characters to make you want to delve deeper into their lives. I really like the serial concept. It's great for quick commutes or waiting in the doctor's office!

An interesting start to the series. A little young for my taste, but would be fun for a 20 year old. Lots of interaction online, and fun and quirky characters. Many are a little high strung, a little stressed, a little unsure how to handle responsibility, etc. All the ear marks of the young. Fun, but not exactly my usual taste. Would recommend if you want a fast and short read for the summer.