It all began when the Youtube beauty sensation Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, announced that she will be releasing a book. Well, obviously you all can imagine what happened when Zoe, currently with an audience of 8.98 million subscribers, announced this information. Zoe, however, had less subscribers when she released the book but it had the same excitement and craze throughout the internet as it has right now for her second book.
I didn’t know Zoe (don’t kill me) until I heard from a few people that a YouTuber was releasing a book. The whole idea was absolutely insane to me at that point and I was determined to read her book and judge her. I really wasn’t able to wrap my head around the fact that normal people could be given the opportunity to publish books, so that’s how I decided to read Girl Online.
Before I read the book, I thought that Girl Online would be a semi-autobiography about Zoe’s life and how her life took an unexpected term and every other stereotypical thought I got about from the book’s name. However, as I proceeded with the story I found it very unlikely like her story. Some parts did scream ‘ZOE SUGG’ but the others were pure fiction. Either way the story overall was a very entertaining piece. As for fulfilling my thirst of judgements, the book was not what I expected. I in all honesty would say that I had thought very low of it. But instead it had stood up to a great height. Girl Online was indeed a very impressive piece.
The protagonist of the story is Penny, who is an ordinary girl living in a simple town with her family and friends. But inside the four walls of her room she is also a successful blogger, who shares her life online anonymously. No matter how unpleasant the outside is, she always finds comfort on her blog with the people she doesn’t know but has grown to love. Penny also has a next door neighbour who is her best friend and getaway outside her room. Elliot knows everything about Penny and vice versa. Apart from that Penny has a group of people, her so called “friends” who she hangs out will all the time, even when she absolutely resent each soul in that group. Her life takes a turning point when something very embarrassing happens, every girl’s nightmare, and when she leaves for New York to get away from her life.
I think this story was not different from any other chick flick but the fact that Zoe managed to share this platform to help other people suffering from panic attacks and million other teenage awkwardness and issues. I love her emphasis over the issues that Penny goes through. I am certain that a lot of people who weren’t aware about such things would be educated by now. That’s the beauty in this book.
This book may not be the greatest of all time. But it was certainly something personal to Zoe and sharing it with the world and to make it easier for all the other teenagers out there is what matters. Panic attacks and awkwardness was a part of Penny which she eventually learned to control and embrace. If Penny can find her miracle, then so can you.
The moral is: There is no need to fear your behaviour, it’s a part of you, it makes you you. It makes you a separate individual in the best way possible.
I rate Girl Online as 3.5 Out Of 5
- Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop.
