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| Photo Credit: @RaeNovels&Notions |
‘Look, you probably bought this book because you read the blurb about how I’m an impoverished orphan and also at the heart of a national slut-shaming scandal, and you thought, oh great, this is just the kind of hart-wrenching tale I need to feel better about my own life, but seriously, you have to relax. I’m not some pitiful Oliver-Twist-meets-Kim-Kardashian-type figure. If you’re seeking a nice cathartic cry, I’m not your girl.’
Izzy O'Neill has a pretty sweet life, even though she has been raised by her Grandmother due to loosing her parents at the age of five. She won't be able to afford to go to college, but she does have two of her best friends - Ajita and Danny - to get her through it, as well as her love for comedy.
Izzy doesn't think anything of sleeping with two guys at a party. It was her choice and she doesn't regret it. Until someone creates a website titled, "Izzy O'Neill: World Class Whore", featuring tales of her sexploits. Details which nobody should know. An a picture of her having sex on a bench with the senator's son...
Oh no...
If there was an award for the Most Quotable Book Ever Published, The Exact Opposite of Okay would easily win it! There are so many brilliant quotes in this book, and Laura Steven's writing style is utterly relatable! It could also win an award for Most Relatable Book Ever Published, since there were moments where the story really strikes you and you feel deeply connected to Izzy.
Izzy O'Neill is a fantastic protagonist in the story. She is not your typical Mary Sue, she is far from a perfect character. There are even times when you feel like screaming "No Izzy! Don't do that!" at your book. But despite her flaws, anything she does that turns out badly isn't done with malicious intentions in my opinion.
The Exact Opposite of Okay is set in an American State where revenge porn is still legal; this book couldn't have come out at a more appropriate time. It is fantastic that there is a book out there targeting a YA Audience covering this taboo topic, and it is something probably everyone can relate to. Everyone can probably think of a girl in their life who went through what Izzy O'Neill went through, and it is awful but it is the reality of the world that we are in! Books that cover topics like this is how conversations happen, and then that can eventually lead to people wanting to do something about it. Hopefully there will be a day where we do not need this book, not because it is bad by any means, but because we will live in a world where revenge porn is no longer legalised and we will read the story knowing that the culprit would face consequences for their actions.
A fantastic thing about this book is that Steven emphasises that Izzy is not to blame for what happens to her! This is crucial for people to know. When nude photos leak, people say it is the victims fault for taking those photos, but this is absolutely wrong! They are sending those photos to somebody they trusted and it is a violation of that trust. If this sort of thing ever happens to you, know that it is not your fault. And if this happens to a friend or somebody you know, support them! It is easy to pass judgement on somebody, but it is not right!
This book is a story that everyone should read, teenagers, young adults, parents, anyone. I read it when I was 19 (I was just a little slow writing the review, leave me alone okay) and it was such a good age to read a book like this. As well as tackling slut shaming and revenge pron, it also debunks the myth that you need to know what you are doing with your life at such a young age. Although I am somebody who has planned ahead and knows exactly where I want to be in life, I have a lot of friends who have no idea what they want to do, and that is completely okay. As long as you are doing things that you enjoy and keep your friends close, that is all that matters.
And that is it for this review, what did you think of The Exact Opposite of Okay? Let me know, and keep your eyes out for the next book review!
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