My Thoughts On... Rules for Being a Girl by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno

My Thoughts on... Rules for Being a Girl
by Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno

Hi All!

Today I am here with a review of Rules for Being a Girl which was an incredible book.

**A copy of this book was provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review**

Title: Rules For Being a Girl
Author: Candace Bushnell and Katie Cotugno
Publisher: Macmillan Childrens
Published: 16th April 2020
Format: Paperback
Source:: Review Copy from Publisher
Add It: Waterstones. Goodreads.
Summary: Don’t be easy. Don’t give it up. Don’t be a prude. Don’t be cold. Don’t put him in the friendzone. Don’t act desperate. Don’t let things go too far. Don’t give him the wrong idea. Don’t blame him for trying. Don’t walk alone at night. But calm down! Don’t worry so much. Smile!

Marin is a smart, driven, popular girl – she’s headed for Brown when she graduates and has a brilliant career as a journalist ahead of her. Especially in the eyes of English teacher Mr Beckett. He spends a lot of time around Marin, and she thinks it’s harmless . . . until he kisses her.

No one believes Marin when she tells them what happened, so she does the only thing she can: she writes an article called ‘Rules for Being a Girl’ for the school paper to point out the misogyny and sexism that girls face every day. As things heat up at school and in her personal life, Marin must figure out how to take back the power and rewrite her own rules.

My Thoughts

Content Warning: Student/Teacher Relationship, Sexism, Dementia

As I have been in a reading slump lately, I feel it is important to tell you that I essentially read this book in one sitting. It was such a strong, intense, powerful read that I simply felt impossible to put the book down until I had finished it. It is a book that I very much loved reading. It had me in absolute tears – this is a good warning for you – as it was a truly emotional rollarcoaster of a read. I, quite simply, cannot recommend this book more.

At the start of this book, I will admit to feeling a little uncomfortable. The friendship between Marin and Mr Beckett made me feel on edge. But this was absolutely supposed to be how it felt – or potentially was what I placed on the book due to my age – as the idea is that what happens between them is absolutely not okay. This is just one of the powerful messages that comes across in this book and makes it such a strong read.

On top of that, Marin is also a character that not only goes through a lot but survives a lot and becomes stronger within herself because of it. Due to how connected and empathetic I became of Marin’s character is the reason that this story truly rocked me emotionally. I could feel the pain that she was going to, could feel how it was shaping her and how it would eventually end up. No one should have to go through what she did, which is another reason this book is such a powerful and heart-wrenching read.

Lastly, I really loved how this book ended. It definitely could have gone a different way but I am so glad it didn’t. It left things open to the reader. It was realistic and showed how just one small moment can change everything – especially if you’re the victim. This is such an amazing and strong novel and I urge you all to go out and read it if you haven’t already. You will not regret reading this strong, heart-pounding, feminist read.

 5/5