From a young age we’ve been told to never judge things by their appearance. But we do, don’t we? Even the cover of this book made me smile; the font curved and friendly looking. The girl looking like she has a lot to hide. What can I say - when life is hard grab a girly-looking book!
TIAFOM is a funny, light read perfect for a holiday or a long car journey. Zoe Webster, the main protagonist, is introduced as the cliché lonely girl. Then we meet the troublemaker, Digby, who in other words could be a mix of Sheldon Cooper and Sherlock Holmes but with just a hint more social skills. He is straightforward and talks everyone out of their depth. Zoe’s life is spun in circles as Digby hurtles through creating havoc and mayhem everywhere he goes. Except what Zoe can’t work out is why she keeps going back for more...
Put together the pair and you get one hell of a conversation which will leave you with a smile and witty comebacks to any snarky remark. To add to the already appealing concept of this book there is also a mystery to solve which gets the two into quite a lot of trouble. Not to mention nearly ruining Zoe’s pristine permanent record and hindering her chances of leaving the ‘black hole’ in which she lives.
The aspects of trouble appealed to me deeply as I love mystery but like Sherlock and Watson it’s just not the same without the witty back talk. Zoe wasn’t too loved or too popular which made her a reasonable character. I think especially as a teenager it’s easier to believe in a life where things are going wrong because if they can work through it then maybe you can too. Digby was a good contrast though because it shows that sometimes trouble can be good. He was completely fine with his life in an almost annoying way. He has a bad living situation, no food and never turns up to school. Yet I found myself loving his confidence and wishing him on in a way I can only describe as admiration.
This book is wonderfully edited and created in a way perfect for reading. Just enough mystery to feel enthralled but not too much that you feel your reality is too boring in comparison. We are quickly pulled into the lives of the characters and kept guessing right until the end. It is well-structured and cleanly written so that even those who feel reading is a bore can be swept up into this alternate universe.
I like how the ending is left open to interpretation depending on how you view the character’s relationships. It left you with a light, free feeling of hope so that you could imagine your own story if you wished to. I would rate this book a 3/5 for the enjoyment and freedom it provides.
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