Published: 11th February 2021 by Penguin Books
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Bad Habits is a hilarious, fun and hugely entertaining YA contemporary novel about Alex Heck, a feisty feminist who is trying to create a frenzy and turn everything upside down at the religious boarding school. I was laughing within the first page and continually as I flew through this witty read.
In an attempt to get kicked out of her conservative Catholic school in Minnesota, Alex ventures to put on a feminist fuelled production of The Vagina Monologues, which ends up taking her on a journey of self-discovery and love.
The characters in this story are excellent, with a good amount of development and really entertaining dynamics between them all. Alex is strong-minded, sassy and determined and her journey of self-discovery is great to see fulfilled. Alex’s best friend Mary-Kate is naive but incredibly likeable and the way the pair balance each other out is really enjoyable to read. The other characters are beautifully vivid and the host of people who fill the school halls are realistic and amusing.
I love the themes explored in Bad Habits, including, of course, feminism, but also body and sex positivity. I think this is a great read for young people who may be finding themselves & the world around them. As a theatre lover, I also appreciate all the performing arts aspects, including the small insights into stage management. This book also highlights the importance of theatre which is even more necessary in these days when arts funding is being cut left, right and centre.
Overall this is a really fluidly &. sensitively written book, that is brilliantly witty, clever and snarky. There are a few moments which drag but Flynn Meaney is a wonderful writer and it’s a fab read.
*This book was sent to me by Electric Monkey for review purposes. All views and opinions are my own*
