Book Review: Girl Online by Zoella

Girl Online by Zoe Sugg

I rate this book...
5 out of 5 stars.


What I think:

First I have something to say about the whole ghostwriting situation. I went into this book knowing that Zoe probably had a lot of help when writing this story. Someone who is writing a book for the first time is obviously going to have professionals giving them advice and editing their work. I believe Zoe when she says the ideas and story are her own, there are several lines that I recognized because Zoe said almost exactly the same thing in the past. I realize many of you are upset that she had a professional writer helping her along the way, but what were you expecting? An unedited manuscript getting published? No. So what if she had help. And yes, I am a fan of Zoe's. I love her videos, but I picked up the book because of the story and because I thought it was something I, personally, would be able to relate to.

Just like Zoe and the main character of this book, Penny, I am someone who suffers with anxiety and have had many panic attacks. They are not fun at all. I personally start to sweat, my hear beats extremely fast, and I almost always begin to hyperventilate. A few times it has gotten to the point where I have even passed out. For a long time I didn't know what this was. I just figured that I get really nervous and it happens to everybody. My mom was not very surprised that I suffer from this since she had been diagnosed with panic disorder herself and she has helped me a lot. Knowing that you are not alone is extremely helpful. When Zoe announced that she had anxiety and panic attacks it made me feel better because I can see how much she has accomplished and how she copes. Seeing someone else dealing with the same thing as you helps and knowing that there are a lot of other people in the world with that problem makes me feel so much better about it.

Reading this book helped me too. The book perfectly captured what it is like to have a panic attack and learning how to live with them. The book also perfectly captures what it is like to be a teenage girl growing up in a world that thrives on technology and the internet. Cyber bullying and media twisting the truth are big themes that are brought up. And yes, there is a somewhat predictable romance that happens. But what would a book be without a little romance? In the end Penny has learned a lot about herself and has become a better person thanks to her Brooklyn Boy.

I hope you pick up the book and go into it with an open mind.