Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks (3 Feb 2011) Source: Publishers
RATING;
My Thoughts - WITHERING TIGHTS, is a laugh out loud - hilarious read. It's hilarious in a wacky fashion if that's even possible. I have not read the authors previous work, so I did not know what to expect, but I think that just made it all the more pleasantly pleasing.
Tallulah Casey is a young teen who is still growing. She has thoughts that most girls do when your 14 but not quite 15, when all your friends seem to be growing up way to fast leaving you behind-contemplating how to keep up. She is at that awkward stage where your body is still developing and your getting these feelings that you can't seem to decide are either good or bad. There are insecurities constantly. Are you pretty enough? Why doesn't so and so like you? It's a big time in your life, a time where you’re just really discovering who you really are. For the MC, enrolling in a Performing Arts College for the summer will mark her journey of self discovery.
She is fitting into the new college much better than she originally thought, she has made some great friends who are completely different from one another, met some boys that could be potential bf' material, and done some ridiculously fun things! She is living the life that any 14 year old would envy.
There are a few potential love interests for Tallulah who happen to be just as kooky as her name: D the two for me that stood out were Alex and Cain. Alex is someone who she is obviously attracted to; she doesn't exactly know him apart from the fact that he is the brother of her friend Ruby. Then there is Cain, he's caught her doing some quite embarrassing things, he likes to tease her, pop up at the most random times, and give her knowing grins which frustrate her to know end. She isn't sure what to make of him, and although mention of a future romance between the two are not really hinted at, I have a feeling Cain could really knock her of her feet. He is most-definitely one of my favourites; with a great sense of humour, and an air of coolness about him, it makes him a candidate among others - for the MC to be reckoned with. Then of course there are the most strangest of moments that are just plain bizarre, an example would be; when some boys start fighting on stage, the moment is described by the MC as amazing, this makes no sense to me! Whatsoever! But I laugh like a clown anyway!
Highlights of the book funnily enough, were the embarrassing moments that really made me cringe but grin evilly. One particular moment, would be the moment she asked Alex about the Corkers thing, and then continued to go into detail which just left me horrified. I must have said "oh my god" at least ten times. The poor thing! I seriously cringed for her LOL!
Character- wise, favourites were; Max and Sam who were just the cutest with their inappropriate words "Bogey" being a particular favourite! I could have been a prude and thought *gasp* "How naughty" but come on, who can resist anything that comes out of the mouth of these two? At times I wanted to run up to them and give them a big cuddle, but knowing them, they would probably scrunch their faces, say ewww, call me Granny, kick me in the shin and run away :D Jo, Phil, Ben and Vaisey were decent enough characters, but not really ones that stood out for me. Phil was okay, but who seriously says fwightened? Honey was such a sweetheart and probably a favourite alongside the MC, she just made me giggle.
References to things such as M&S were welcomed. Sometimes it's nice to read about something which you can completely relate to and understand. Slang can work both ways, either it can completely put you of or completely work for you, for this book it worked. I also love the way the characters converse with one another, because growing up a lot of my friends had a voice similar to Tallulah. I can imagine a 14 year old girl reading this book, and being able to identify with the MC completely.
Let me just say this, if you are still waiting for that first kiss; skip the part when Tallulah has hers, it can seriously put you of for life; no joke. I loved that it was funny, I loved that I could relate to most of the characters, and I loved that they were all completely different. I am officially a fan. I think I need to read her previous series because apparently it's even funnier! This is a feel good book that will make you reminisce some years back, and leave you wishing that you had done it like Tallulah Casey.
"I am soooo excited, I am over-excited. I'm hysterical, I may have to slap my own face in a minute at this rate."
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