Back in July, I began reading the series Geek Actually. I last left the story where Aditi and Michelle were mulling over a poor working relationship, Christina was in a precarious work/love relationship, Taneesha fended off doxers, and Elli considered whether she’d found her calling. For this review, I’m summarizing episodes nine through thirteen, which is the rest of this season.

In these five episodes, we see the tensions that were stirred up at the beginning of the series become the main issues characters deal with. For Aditi and Michelle, this means struggling to balance their friendship and working relationship. Aditi, as an author, tries to follow her muse and use her voice but does so without regard to the position this puts Michelle in as her editor. Michelle supports her friend’s vocal writings when confronted by her boss but also comes off cold to Aditi when critiquing her work.

Elli revels in the good working relationship with her boss Ruby, who has helped her to identify her tendency to envision a fairytale life instead of dealing with the world around her. This realization also helps Elli to understand her asexual identity. Unfortunately, this good relationship comes to a halt when something tragic happens to Ruby.

Taneesha and Christina are exploring new relationships but Christina’s mix of business and pleasure takes a wrong turn as Vivi continues to put her in uncomfortable situations, which Christina never completely calls her on. The whole relationship turns when Vivi puts Christina in a dangerous sexual environment. Taneesha, on the other hand, is happy to explore a new relationship with Diego, until he weighs in on her doxing and work issues. After having a “your faves are problematic” talk with her brother and Diego receiving eye-opening information from the women in his family, the two give their relationship another shot.

The plot thickens when Elli, after weeks of being M.I.A., shares her sexual assault with her friends. Despite the different issues weighing on each woman, they all rally to Elli’s side and help her get to a better place. Returning home after her trip to support Elli, Taneesha is ready to confront Steve, her co-worker and the figurehead behind her doxing issues. This confrontation takes place about an hour before their job doles out their judgment and resolves the greater antagonization that Taneesha has faced. In the last pages of the final episode, Michelle confronts her boss, a white woman, about her desire to placate a sexist, white male, best-selling author by deflecting from Aditi’s work. Michelle asks her boss to avoid telling Aditi to change her writing so that it “broadens her audience,” which they all know to means “appeal to white people/whitewash the story.” She stakes her job on this strategy and her boss takes her up on it.

I enjoyed my overall experience of reading another serialized series, especially one that focuses on the professional and personal travails of a group of progressive and self-actualized women of color. I was most inspired by the group’s commitment to friendship, especially when one member of the group was in an awful place. The fact that they made sure to check in with each other regularly makes them, as the final episode of the series is very accurately titled, Squad Goals. I look forward to reading the next installment (or season) of this series.

I love this series! It's my comfort reading for when I'm travelling: the short length makes me feel like I can get stuck into a story even if I don't have much time, the chattiness is comforting, and it's an easy (though not dumb) read.

The characters, from my favourite to least favourite:

Michelle, a book editor who's just getting into BDSM after a divorce. She feels real to me, and deals with her problems like an adult. She gets into difficult situations through no fault of her own, and while often her hands are tied (no pun intended) and things don't go as she wants them to, she's not a pushover.
Taneesha, who works as a games company and ends up dealing with all kinds of Male Bullshit including getting doxed. I don't usually like descriptions of characters' clothing and hairstyles, but she's a badass black woman and I liked when she got dolled up.
Aditi, an author whose debut novel is about to be published. I thought I'd identify with Aditi most as she's a writer, but she frustrated me. She's such a brat, and whines whenever Michelle (her editor) asks her how her second novel is going because whhhhhyyyy should she have to write? (Because you're a writer, bitch. Get it done.)
Christina, a PA to a Hollywood movie star. She doesn't feel real to me, and neither does her boss/lover, Vivi.
Elli, a cosplayer. If I didn't know better, I'd think Elli was 12 years old. I couldn't relate to her at all and found her childish and annoying.

The books are a nice mix of all the characters, and towards the end I feel like they focused more on Michelle and Taneesha, which suited me because they were the best characters. I hope there's a season 2.

After some progress in the previous chapter we get the most depressing episode so far. New bad stuff along with more of the old bad stuff, and nothing positive at all for balance.

Taneesha's relationship is going well with Diego it seems, and they are ready to take it to the next level with Netflix and Chill the gamers way, but what happens when the pair end up in an argument about Taneesha's doxing and what Diego calls her feminist rant. We later learn that Diego supports and is part of the Gamergate community. This got me thinking about GamerGate as it was a big thing last year with the Male vs. Female gamers. For those who don't sure want GamerGate was it concerned the issues of sexism and progressivism in video game culture, stemming from a harassment campaign conducted primarily through the use of the hashtag #GamerGate. This is a deal breaker for Taneesha as she knows what it is like to be a female in the gaming world. Can Taneesha and Diego's relationship stand firm or will this be game over for the both of them? Sadly, this episode had a lot of Game Over moments as we read that Ruby has passed away and now where does that leave Ellie, her assistant? Episode #10 featured the issues of #Gamergate and Death. I have been enjoying this serial and will be sad to see it end as I only have three more episodes to read before it ends.

Well, Actually...
Geek Actually, Book 1.10

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continuing the series


The Characters:

Aditi Sodhi, Christina Webber, Elli Kelman, Michelle Andrada, Taneesha Adams:


The Story:

I think the world just exploded. Life is a mess all around. I’m still not on board with this relationship of Christina’s though Vivi is proving to have a heart. Taneesha and Diego are definitely off and I can’t say I disagree with her. Michelle is… I don’t even know how she is. I feel so bad for Elli, losing such a kindred spirit is so difficult. I’m sure Aditi is feeling rejected. This is a mess mess mess.

The Random Thoughts:



The Score Card:

description

4 Stars

PICK
Eep. This was another tense episode as Elli and Taneesha get huge shocks, Christina navigates her new job and her full-on relationship, and Aditi dives straight into a manuscript she shouldn't be writing. I gulped it down, whispering, "Oh no oh no oh no" all the while.

You know I'm invested when I start talking to the characters.

I'm glad I fell a week behind here, too, because I get to read the next episode RIGHT AWAY.

cute concept, geeky girl besties living life to the fullest. sex is less than advertised though

I liked Aditi's take-charge attitude in this episode but I'm getting more and more worried about these ladies as this series continues. We've only got 3 episodes left and everything just keeps getting worse and worse for them. I really hope this isn't going to be one of those 'the ending sucks because real life sucks' kind of stories because the only reason I'm really sticking around is because I want to see things get better for them.

This book series never fails to impress me from the genuine friendships to the intersectional feminist gems which align well with current political context, this continues to entertain and engage!