I like Sara Pascoe and am always happy to pick up a funny book, so I was grateful to NetGalley for granting me access to this book.

I found the protagonist, Sophie, to be quite charming and humorous. As the book opens, we learn that she's had a disastrous trip to Australia following a man - a man who then reappears in the pub that she is working in. The book is basically Sophie's thoughts as she navigates this tricky romantic situation, life with the boyfriend she doesn't like very much, a sensitive family situation and some tricky evasion of debt repayments.

My only issue was that I didn't find myself pulled along by the narrative. As much as I liked Sophie and enjoyed the telling of her chaotic life, it took me a long time to read this as there wasn't really a specific plot line that I was drawn in by.

3.5 stars.

Weirdo is about Sophie, muddling along through her unfulfilling life, in jobs she doesn’t really like, and with a man she doesn’t really like either.

There are some funny parts, and I did feel sorry for Sophie at times, but my overwhelming urge was to give her a good shake and tell her to get some self respect. But then, Sophie seems to be one of life’s loners, and she doesn’t have a friend to steer her in the right direction. She seems to latch on to people who aren’t quite right for her, and whilst that gives the reader some laughs (and I DID laugh), I actually came to realise that I was uncomfortable with that - I was laughing AT her, not WITH her.

She’s immature, getting herself into ridiculous situations, and thinks that everyone should just know how she feels, even though she doesn’t tell them.

I was frustrated for a lot of this book, and if I hadn’t been listening to it, I would have put it down and walked away. I’m glad I listened to the end though, because I promise you, she does improve. This may well be a spoiler, but I like to think that if you’re going to read it, there’s a good reason to carry on!

I really enjoyed what felt like a coming of age story for Sophie. Having found herself making a few errors in judgement we begin with Sophie in debt and in an unhappy relationship.

I had expected this book to be funny as the author is one of my favourite stand up comics and I did find humour in some aspects which was very well placed. However this book is not meant to be funny and deals with a myriad of difficult topics in a very real way.

I was rooting for Sophie to stand up for herself and begin to work things out throughout the entire novel.

I especially loved the ending.

If anyone had access to your inner thoughts, what would they think? In Weirdo , we have access to the inner monologue of over-thinker Sophie. She just wants to fit in, but her mind reels at a million miles per hour, spilling us into her weird and wonderful thoughts. She obsesses over Chris, for whom she got into debt to chase across to Australia , which was an entire waste of time and money. Her inner monologues are interspersed with emails and letters from debt collectors. When Chris turns up, she pursues him once again.only to find he isn't sure why she dreamed of him for all those years. Meanwhile, her sister is marrying another of Sophies ex boyfriends and sends her the most selfish and thoughtless messages. Sophie's relationships are dysfunctional and gloomy. There is a depressive tone underlying this story, but with flashes off dark humour amidst very real unravelling of a life lived and a mind exposed. A great read if you enjoy dark humour stories like Fleabag. #weirdo #sarapascoe #netgalley

This was a different genre of book than what I normally read but I enjoyed it and would recommend it if you are looking for something different than your usual read!

I could definitely hear Sara Pascoe's voice in my head as I read and this book was very reminiscent of her TV show. Weirdo is definitely an apt title. I enjoyed the book but also the main character made me feel slightly uncomfortable somehow. I think that was intentional and was very well excecuted.

A definite recommendation for lovers of Fleabag. I loved the writing style and was gripped from page one.

Before I start this review, I have to get something off my chest. It has to be said. This book has the wrong title. Because the definition of Weirdo is:

a person whose dress or behaviour seems strange or eccentric.

Sophie, our titular heroine, if Sara Pascoe is to be believed, does not fit into this description. A bit lost... yeah. An expert at bad decisions. Yep. A spendthrift. Definitely. But that isn't weird. That's pretty much everyone I know. So first off, this is me formally requesting the title is changed to Normal Woman on the next print run.

So is it any good? Well, yes, it's rather good indeed. Sophie is a girl we all know. Stuck in dead-end jobs, spending more than she earns, staying with someone because it's easier than being alone. And cheaper. Then Chris, the one that got away, walks back into her life. If she can just play it cool, act 'normal'. Maybe she'll be happy. Maybe.

Sophie isn't a particularly likeable character, but she is relatable. We've all made bad decisions at some point, had an unrequited crush. Felt alone in the crowd. Not answered the phone because we know it's someone looking for money. So even if you don't like her, you do root for her.

Funny, poignant, and insightful. An empowering read for all normal people.

Weirdo is a hilarious, wild ride of a novel following a seemingly slightly unhinged woman as she navigates messy family life, tricky relationships, unrequited infatuation and an unhealthy body image. I really enjoyed the book, though at times I felt it could have maybe been a little more succinct and biting. Some unnerving observations on society and family, this is an intelligent and thought provoking read as .well.as being an enjoyable and quirky story.

Sorry, I couldn’t finish this. Irritating characters I felt no affinity with (or indeed, interest in!)
I like Sara Pascoe, so I disappointed to find her book as tedious as I did. It’s a ‘no’ from me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

Thanks to NetGalley and FaberandFaber for ARC.

Sophie is drifting into her thirties, in debt, unclear about what she wants to do, in yet another job she hates, sharing her life with a man she doesn't love. She comes across someone from her past, and slowly we learn what role he played and how she imagines it might all pan out.

This was a really uncomfortable read for me, at times queasy-making as Sophie's self-deception and missteps are all very plausible. Eve though it was all wryly amusing I found it a really tough read. As things unfold and we see the next part of Sophie's life, I found it more heart rending still. This is a really interesting book, but I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to (apart from my younger self).

The novel is a blend of sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and moments of genuine emotion that kept me entertained and made me reflect. The dry, witty, and self-deprecating nature of the humour adds a layer of charm to the story.

The secondary characters felt bland and flat, which placed a heavier reliance on Sophie to carry my interest. Having said that the author manages to portray raw and real feelings which elicited genuine emotional responses from me because everyone has odd experiences and imperfect moments. The ending is moving and hopeful which was much needed after reading the rollercoaster that is Sophie's social life.

Overall this novel successfully balances humour, relatable characters, and moments of emotional depth to result in a smooth blend of laughter and heartfelt storytelling.

Weirdo is one of those books that gets better the further you get into it! This was the first time I read anything by Sara Pascoe and I've become a fan of her writing style and wit. Her portrayals of immature men, annoying siblings, and concerned parents were pitch-perfect because every time one of them turned up on the page, I could immediately think of times where I'd seen that behaviour in real life. The humor in Weirdo is always accurate and sharp without ever punching down, which I always appreciate.
While for the first quarter I wasn't sure about our leading lady (my most recurring thought while reading the first chapters was "Sophie, what are you DOING?"), it becomes clear as the novel continues that this is a purposeful choice by Pascoe, and I ended up sympathizing with Sophie a lot more than I initially expected. The ending, both moving and hopeful, landed especially well.
If you want a read that will make you actually laugh out loud (and this is from someone who has read many books marketed as funny in which I did not laugh once) and you love a protagonist who is a bit of a mess but still endearing, keep an eye out for this one!

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. I did enjoy it although I didn't really engage with the characters.

Weirdo was tragically funny in parts, and in others, really quite sad. It was interesting to read the inner thoughts of a woman who sees the world through a lens of slight paranoia and deep cynicism, but who really, just desperately wants to be loved. An interesting read which I enjoyed, but felt it just lost its way in places.

Easy read, which is very funny!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Deep in Essex and her own thoughts, Sophie had a feeling something was going to happen and then it did. Chris has entered the pub and re-entered her life after Sophie had finally stopped thinking about him and regretting what she'd done.

Sophie has a chance at creating a new ending and paying off her emotional debts (if not her financial ones). All she has to do is act exactly like a normal, well-adjusted person and not say any of her inner monologue out loud. If she can suppress her light paranoia, pornographic visualisations and pathological lying maybe she'll even end up getting the guy she wants? Then she could dump her boyfriend Ian and try to enjoy Christmas

Messy strange and embarrassingly real, weirdo is a book that may not be for everyone but will make everyone feel seen.

I initially found this novel very confusing, as Sara Pascoe's style of writing seemed to be going off on many tangents which I had a difficulty pulling together and understanding if a solid storyline was going to be developed. However as the novel gathered pace it became more apparent where this tale of a vulnerable, spendthrift, hopeless romantic with a huge amount of baggage was heading. For me , I found there were too many characters to keep track off, and while it was certainly funny in places I struggled hopelessly with the plot line throughout. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sophie's stream of consciousness is at times insightful and revealing but this was definitely not to my taste. Some people found this book funny, but I'm afraid I didn't.