Title – The Exact Opposite of Okay

Series – Izzy O’Niel

Author – Laura Steven

Publication – March 8th, 2018.

Publisher – Electric Monkey

Genre – Contemporary, Feminism & Young Adult Fiction

Izzy O’Neill is an aspiring comic, an impoverished orphan, and a Slut Extraordinaire. Or at least, that’s what the malicious website flying round the school says. Izzy can try all she wants to laugh it off – after all, her sex life, her terms – but when pictures emerge of her doing the dirty with a politician’s son, her life suddenly becomes the centre of a national scandal. Izzy’s never been ashamed of herself before, and she’s not going to start now. But keeping her head up will take everything she has…

Talk about a book that’s so hilarious, relatable, shameless and completely heartbreaking.

Izzy O’Neill is all about living her best life because it can end abruptly—after-all she is an impoverished orphan, who lives with her Grandma Betty.

Izzy is telling us her story from her point of view, she is very sarcastic, has an active sex life, that will have you lifting your eyebrows and it’s all horribly funny. While she tells us the story she also gives us her side note opinions, which was wonderful to read because it really felt like I was best of friends with her.

Izzy makes a lot of wrong choices that lands her into hot soup, a prick of a human being, not only does the vilest thing by creating a website dedicated to slut-shaming her, but ups the notch when the prick hacks her and shares her nude picture with the world which instantly makes her infamous as the most reviled teenager in the country.

Slut-shaming, racism, friend-zone, privilege, sexism, victim-blaming, revenge porn, youth culture, mob mentality, media outlets, horrible politicians, terrible teachers… is a list of some of the things that are heavily discussed in this novel.

“Through sheer nerves and stress, my stomach almost plummets through my asshole. [I realise this is a hideous thing to say, but you all know exactly what I mean, and I shall not apologise for vocalising the sensation.]”  ― Izzy O’Niell

― Laura Steven, The Exact Opposite of Okay

Despite all the shitty things that are going on, she’s still able to power-on, and even though some days were harder than most. I love how sincere and honest she is to herself and everyone else, she owns up to whatever it is she does, and that’s completely admirable. She knows what she wants, understands how she works and doesn’t let other people’s opinions weigh her down. I stan Izzy so much right now.

All the relationships in this book are complex. I loved how beautiful and imperfect Izzy and most of the characters are, especially her relationship with Ajita and Betty-O, her Grandma.

I can’t give a proper review because my mind is fried but:

• Characterisation: 9
• Plot: 10
• Writing Style: 9
• Pacing: 9

“Basically, if you’re a woman, you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

― Laura Steven, The Exact Opposite of Okay

There are other people such as the boys who shall not be named, go rad and find out about them all. Izzy really made me laugh, I haven’t laughed as much as I did while reading a book in a while and for that I am thankful, my dog kept looking at me like I was a loon last night.

“Izzy really made me laugh, I haven’t laughed as much as I did while reading a book in a while and for that I am thankful, my dog kept looking at me like I was a loon last night.”

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“This entitlement has to stop. The world owes you nothing. Girls owe you nothing.” 

― Laura Steven, The Exact Opposite of Okay

By the way, there is a sequel, like there is a part two and I get more of Izzy, I can’t wait to read it A Girl Called Shameless

What book have you read, that had you forgetting where you were, to keep your composure and just laugh out loud, gasping in horror, or second-hand embarrassment?

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