This review is for the 2024 rerelease that includes an introduction by the author's daughter (the model for Gidget). Note: I listened to the audio version, which was well done by the narrator.

In 1958, I can only imagine how juicy this book must have seemed: overly hip lingo, booze, sex, swearing....yet it somehow got turned into the most PG of movies. At heart, the book is a middle aged man's view of teenage girls, with all the flaws you can imagine in that regard.

Story: 15 year old Franzie has never really appreciated living in Southern California or the proximity to beaches. That is, until a day at the beach creates an obsession for surfing. Inveigling herself among a cache of 'beach bums, Franzie surfs and falls madly in love with fellow surfer Moondoggie. Unfortunately, most of the crew see her as a girl midget - a Gidget. Will she help Moondoggie realize that she is an adult and worthy of his attention? All the while catching the perfect wave?

Author Kohner, who worked in Hollywood, decided to write a book about his daughter's exploits over one Summer at Malibu beach. Using the counter culture language at the time (her father is her 'old man' and mother 'old lady") Franzie wants to get laid by Moondoggie but has to settle for the attentions of Kahoona, the supreme leader of the beach bums and nearly twice her age. While always looking to be surfing, Franzie also deals with the guys who treat her like a mascot. Her big goal is to be invited to the luau - an orgy the boys hold once a summer.

At its heart, it is about Franzie's love for surfing despite it being a male sport at the time. Unlike the movie, which is more about Franzie trying to date Moondoggie, the book is definitely much more about surfing culture at the time (an era just predating the Beach Boys) and Franzie wanting to be treated like an adult. There are the usual sexism, she is casually given cigarettes by her child psychologist brother in law, gets drunk, and even kisses the Kahuna, which she compares to her father (who kisses their father that way and how weird is it that a father wrote this?).

The book hasn't dated very well. These types of counter culture stories can be done well (as in "Clueless" the movie or the Happy Days TV series) or they can fall flat over time. This book doesn't really give us all that much introspective into the period other than that girls wanted bigger chests and to date the right guys. Even Franzie's boldness at taking up surfing falls to the side as by the end of the book as it is more about figuring out if she wants to sleep with Moondoggie or Kahoona more. At the age of 15, mind you. This is definitely not that sweet coming of age movie.

In all, it was interesting to listen to the book and then watch the movie and see just how much had been sanitized out. As noted above, I listened to the audio book and the narrator had fun with the counter culture jargon and youthful escapades. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Thanks to NetGalley, had access to the audiobook. The narration by Hana Lass was interesting with various voices. Hadn't read the book or seen the movie so didn't know the plot. It is a sweet one time read. Would recommend to teenagers, though present-day generation may find it difficult to relate with life then.

I grew up watching the Gidget movie at my grandma's house so I was excited to listen to this audiobook. Coming of age story in 1950's Malibu. Kathie, nickname Gidget, fell into the surf culture and comes to her sexual awakening. I liked the book, but now know I like the movie more.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the audiobook

It should probably be a 5 Star, but the squick of this book being inspired by the author's daughter takes it down a notch. Also the slang feels overdone, like a Steve Buscemi "hey there fellow kids" meme in paperback form.

Overall, it's a fun story and if dear old dad had stayed focused on the romance of surfing instead making it about his 15 year old daughter's sexual awakening, it could have been a solid 5 stars.

The audiobook is well read and I appreciated the foreword by the "real" Gidget.

I've had this book on my shelf for a while. I love the beach movies of the 60s, they're so fun and dumb, in the best way.
The book is a tad creepier, especially when it's a dad writing his daughter's story.
Gidget is constantly travelling the world is her past and its like, what is happening?
The audiobook is quick and well done

I’ve been fascinated by Malibu surf culture since I can remember. I’ve been wanting to read GIDGET since I learned about the book in an American history class - Gidget’s influence on teens was tremendous.

This was definitely a fun, quick, easy listen. It glistens with the sun, surf, and hope of mid-century Southern California!

It creeps me out a little that real life Gidget’s dad wrote this book about her - it was filled with sexual discovery and had overused lingo so much that it felt like that “hello there fellow kids meme.” But if you can get past the surface, it’s a decent book to listen to. It entertained me for a few hours 🤷‍♀️