Weirdo

This book was amusing but also heartwarming. I liked the main character, i felt like the chaotic writing style matched the mc chaotic life and personality. Was a fun read, really enjoyed it,

I thought this sounded like a fun book to read.

I found this book amusing, but at the same time, heartwarming and moving. I liked the protagonist and the way she communicated with the reader. She amused me, but also had a deeper, more serious side that I could relate to. By the time I had finished reading this, I felt as though I'd been on a journey with the character.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

Absolutely brilliant, loved it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advance copy, I will definitely be recommending.

Having been amused by Sara Pascoe on 'The Great British Sewing Bee' I was intrigued as to what her writing style would be like as a book author. I enjoyed 'Weirdo' with some interesting characters carefully crafted with the humour often coming from their personalities. I was left wondering if there would be a follow up book to continue the story.

Weirdo is the first book in a long time that I’ve found myself staying up longer than I wanted to because I wanted to read one more chapter. The writing really zooms in to the central character’s perspective to an almost uncomfortable level, which made this a compulsive read for me. Sophie isn’t always a likeable character in terms of the things she does or the choices she makes but because you are so inside her head and each scenario is so acutely described, I still found myself entirely on her side of every situation that played out.

Despite being a novel, the book is structured a bit like a TV series, with there being several distinct episodes Sophie is in each one of them but there are a rotating cast of characters that pop in different parts of the story which draw out different parts of her character. These sections could be self-contained stories in themselves but they combine together to tell a wider story.

There is a general theme of Sophie being surrounded by a variety of terrible men and struggling with the consequences of their bad behaviour. While to some readers I can imagine these men might seem like caricatures because their behaviour may seem extreme but I’ve met men like them in my personal life so didn’t the things they did or said too far fetched.

It’s a while since I read Confederacy of Dunces, but this book reminds me of that quite a lot it, in that both were stories that I enjoyed a great deal despite all the characters being fundamentally unlikeable. Sophie is nowhere near as unpleasant as Ingnatius T Reilly but she does make a series of bad choices in the story.

As Sara Pascoe is known as a standup comedian it’s tricky to come to a novel of hers without expecting laughs but the humour in this book is different to the set up and punchline of a comedy show. There are funny moments but it’s more subtle and infused within the story and the things the characters say and do. So I don’t remember laughing out loud but I generally found the writing to be amusing and Pascoe’s writing is laced with funny observations and turns of phrase which are naturally witty but still serve the story.

This is one of the best novels I’ve read in a long time. It’s gives an interesting and honest perspective on modern relationships which is uncomfortable to read at times but hard to look away from at the same time. I found myself reading in grim fascination a lot of the time.

A funny, insightful and unusual perspective on growing into yourself. Sara Padcoe's humour is recognisable here alongside a note of tenderness and understanding of what it is to be a person inside and outside your own head.

I have been obsessed with Sara Pascoe for years and she has yet to disappoint! What a book and a perfect title!

Sara Pascoe has that rare talent of being able to translate from the small screen to the written word, an enjoyable read

There were elements of this book which I found hugely entertaining and I laughed aloud at a lot, I also had massive sympathy for Sophie. This reminded me a little of Eleanor Oliphant, where in this book, Sophie just couldn’t catch a break and I felt a lot of people took advantage of her. I could also imagine this book being played out in a multi-episode sitcom, and if it does turn into that, I can imagine it being a hit. This was entertaining and I could hear Sara Pascoe’s voice throughout, her bluntness and sarcasm were written brilliantly.

Weirdo is a funny, insightful, and ultimately empowering book. Pascoe's writing is sharp and witty, and she tackles some difficult topics with grace and humor. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, think, and feel a little bit better about being yourself, then I highly recommend Weirdo.
Pascoe's writing is incredibly honest and relatable. She doesn't shy away from sharing her own experiences of anxiety and self-doubt, and this makes the book feel very authentic.
The book is full of interesting insights into what it means to be different. Pascoe does a great job of exploring the different ways in which we can be outsiders, and she challenges us to think about the power of being a freak.
Overall, I highly recommend Weirdo. It's a funny, insightful, and empowering book that will make you think about the world in a new way.

Weirdo is a tragicomedy, written from Sophie’s point of view throughout, we learn all about her inner most thoughts, her fears and her desires. The parts of her life that she doesn’t want to share with us are cleverly revealed through various third party letters and emails, which add another perspective to the story, as well as providing a break in Sophie’s monologue.

There are some big topics dealt with in the book but they are sensitively considered and the comic elements prevent the book from becoming too weighed down with melancholy. Although there is a lot of sadness in Sophie’s story, I was left feeling hopeful that she was headed towards better times.

The stand out element for me is Sara Pascoe’s sharp observations; which make the book so relatable. From inconsequential things like Guinness looking better than it tastes to how teenage girls can bully and manipulate other girls; every detail is acutely honest.

I particularly liked the portrayal of family and familial relationships. Real families are messy and complicated, family members often differ in their recollections of events and infidelities and indiscretions are sometimes met with indifference rather than outrage. Sara Pascoe shows us all of that and reminds us that not everything is black and white when it comes to our nearest and dearest.

I really enjoyed this one, I would recommend it and I look forward to reading more from Sara Pascoe.

Archly Comic..
Will Sophie ever, ever get the life she so desperately wants? Will Sophie ever be able to pass herself as a seemingly normal and well adjusted human being? To be fair, aiming for an enjoyable Christmas may well be the best that she can hope for. Sophie simply cannot ever catch a break. Told in an edgy, sharp and wholly engaging narrative, here lies the life and times of poor Sophie. Difficult themes are handled with an empathetic and careful pen whilst dead pan humour is seared throughout the pages. Acutely and profoundly observed whilst remaining darkly and archly comic.

Reads like the inside of my brain, thoughts spilling out everywhere. Funny and relatable. Enjoyed it a lot

A gritty Bridget Jones.

A young woman's perspective on love and life. (With laugh out loud observations).

An easy read. You will root for this lass... She will make you laugh and cry. Great wit.

So good!!
I love Sara Pascoe and think her comedy/presenting is great, but I was a bit wary about how this would translate into a novel.
I shouldn’t have worried, Sara manages to create a character that both baffled and amazed me, I couldn’t look away. 5 stars from me, I couldn’t put it down.

Good book, I enjoyed reading this giving this 4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

Had an hour to wait for an appointment, so opened my kindle app on my phone and started to read this. Couldn’t put it down. I found the pace of the story very fast, which I enjoyed. Well worth a read.

Sophie is a weirdo. She’s struggling with debt, accumulated after she travelled to Australia to try and meet up with a work colleague she was infatuated with, and now she’s a bit lost. Her family dynamic is strange, and she just seems ever so slightly unhinged. Oh, and that co-worker from Australia has just reappeared at the bar she now works at. Action stances, please.

I’m surprised by how much I liked this book - I think it’s such a strong testament to Pascoe’s writing style, which I found to be sharp and quippy, with a consistent level of humour throughout, even during its darker moments. It kept me engaged, and it truly felt like we were in Sophie’s mind as she wrangles with all her emotions and feelings. Some of the observations were so stark, the feelings so raw and real, I felt almost winded by them, just to go back to chuckling the next moment.

She’s not always a reliable narrator - and she certainly takes questionable actions, but so do the people around her. It was maybe dialled up to eleven, but I actually found it quite representative of how some of us can be. No one is perfect and we all have our odd little experiences, relationships, and internal thoughts. I found it so readable, and it had me laughing out loud, while also almost bringing me to tears at times. Highly enjoyed.

Thank you to the publishers, and Netgalley, for the copy to review!