This was a different genre of book than what I normally read but I enjoyed it and would recommend it if you are looking for something different than your usual read!

I could definitely hear Sara Pascoe's voice in my head as I read and this book was very reminiscent of her TV show. Weirdo is definitely an apt title. I enjoyed the book but also the main character made me feel slightly uncomfortable somehow. I think that was intentional and was very well excecuted.

A definite recommendation for lovers of Fleabag. I loved the writing style and was gripped from page one.

Before I start this review, I have to get something off my chest. It has to be said. This book has the wrong title. Because the definition of Weirdo is:

a person whose dress or behaviour seems strange or eccentric.

Sophie, our titular heroine, if Sara Pascoe is to be believed, does not fit into this description. A bit lost... yeah. An expert at bad decisions. Yep. A spendthrift. Definitely. But that isn't weird. That's pretty much everyone I know. So first off, this is me formally requesting the title is changed to Normal Woman on the next print run.

So is it any good? Well, yes, it's rather good indeed. Sophie is a girl we all know. Stuck in dead-end jobs, spending more than she earns, staying with someone because it's easier than being alone. And cheaper. Then Chris, the one that got away, walks back into her life. If she can just play it cool, act 'normal'. Maybe she'll be happy. Maybe.

Sophie isn't a particularly likeable character, but she is relatable. We've all made bad decisions at some point, had an unrequited crush. Felt alone in the crowd. Not answered the phone because we know it's someone looking for money. So even if you don't like her, you do root for her.

Funny, poignant, and insightful. An empowering read for all normal people.

Weirdo is a hilarious, wild ride of a novel following a seemingly slightly unhinged woman as she navigates messy family life, tricky relationships, unrequited infatuation and an unhealthy body image. I really enjoyed the book, though at times I felt it could have maybe been a little more succinct and biting. Some unnerving observations on society and family, this is an intelligent and thought provoking read as .well.as being an enjoyable and quirky story.

Sorry, I couldn’t finish this. Irritating characters I felt no affinity with (or indeed, interest in!)
I like Sara Pascoe, so I disappointed to find her book as tedious as I did. It’s a ‘no’ from me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book for review.

Thanks to NetGalley and FaberandFaber for ARC.

Sophie is drifting into her thirties, in debt, unclear about what she wants to do, in yet another job she hates, sharing her life with a man she doesn't love. She comes across someone from her past, and slowly we learn what role he played and how she imagines it might all pan out.

This was a really uncomfortable read for me, at times queasy-making as Sophie's self-deception and missteps are all very plausible. Eve though it was all wryly amusing I found it a really tough read. As things unfold and we see the next part of Sophie's life, I found it more heart rending still. This is a really interesting book, but I'm not sure who I'd recommend it to (apart from my younger self).

The novel is a blend of sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and moments of genuine emotion that kept me entertained and made me reflect. The dry, witty, and self-deprecating nature of the humour adds a layer of charm to the story.

The secondary characters felt bland and flat, which placed a heavier reliance on Sophie to carry my interest. Having said that the author manages to portray raw and real feelings which elicited genuine emotional responses from me because everyone has odd experiences and imperfect moments. The ending is moving and hopeful which was much needed after reading the rollercoaster that is Sophie's social life.

Overall this novel successfully balances humour, relatable characters, and moments of emotional depth to result in a smooth blend of laughter and heartfelt storytelling.

Weirdo is one of those books that gets better the further you get into it! This was the first time I read anything by Sara Pascoe and I've become a fan of her writing style and wit. Her portrayals of immature men, annoying siblings, and concerned parents were pitch-perfect because every time one of them turned up on the page, I could immediately think of times where I'd seen that behaviour in real life. The humor in Weirdo is always accurate and sharp without ever punching down, which I always appreciate.
While for the first quarter I wasn't sure about our leading lady (my most recurring thought while reading the first chapters was "Sophie, what are you DOING?"), it becomes clear as the novel continues that this is a purposeful choice by Pascoe, and I ended up sympathizing with Sophie a lot more than I initially expected. The ending, both moving and hopeful, landed especially well.
If you want a read that will make you actually laugh out loud (and this is from someone who has read many books marketed as funny in which I did not laugh once) and you love a protagonist who is a bit of a mess but still endearing, keep an eye out for this one!

This wasn't quite what I was expecting. I did enjoy it although I didn't really engage with the characters.

Weirdo was tragically funny in parts, and in others, really quite sad. It was interesting to read the inner thoughts of a woman who sees the world through a lens of slight paranoia and deep cynicism, but who really, just desperately wants to be loved. An interesting read which I enjoyed, but felt it just lost its way in places.

Easy read, which is very funny!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Deep in Essex and her own thoughts, Sophie had a feeling something was going to happen and then it did. Chris has entered the pub and re-entered her life after Sophie had finally stopped thinking about him and regretting what she'd done.

Sophie has a chance at creating a new ending and paying off her emotional debts (if not her financial ones). All she has to do is act exactly like a normal, well-adjusted person and not say any of her inner monologue out loud. If she can suppress her light paranoia, pornographic visualisations and pathological lying maybe she'll even end up getting the guy she wants? Then she could dump her boyfriend Ian and try to enjoy Christmas

Messy strange and embarrassingly real, weirdo is a book that may not be for everyone but will make everyone feel seen.

I initially found this novel very confusing, as Sara Pascoe's style of writing seemed to be going off on many tangents which I had a difficulty pulling together and understanding if a solid storyline was going to be developed. However as the novel gathered pace it became more apparent where this tale of a vulnerable, spendthrift, hopeless romantic with a huge amount of baggage was heading. For me , I found there were too many characters to keep track off, and while it was certainly funny in places I struggled hopelessly with the plot line throughout. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sophie's stream of consciousness is at times insightful and revealing but this was definitely not to my taste. Some people found this book funny, but I'm afraid I didn't.

Oh dear, wanted to love it, couldn't get into it at all.

Will give it another try at a future date but for now is a Did Not Finish.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review

A light hearted book in the Bridget Jones genre. Doesn't quite match up to its predecessors but is fairly amusing. Sophie is troubled by her fascination with Chris. She follows him to Australia and breaks up with her boyfriend. Chris then stands her up. She next encounters him in a London pub where she works. What will happen this time?

I was looking forward to reading Weirdo, I am familiar with the author and really like her on The Great British Sewing Bee so was interested to read this.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to get into this and found Sophie thoroughly unlikeable. The story is narrated from her perspective throughout and she proves to be a pretty unreliable narrator - but then again, who isn't guilty of glossing over uncomfortable details or leaving out the bits where we don't come across well inside our own heads?

The stream-of-consciousness style was at times a bit hard to keep up with - this may in part be due to the formatting on kindle, it was not always clear where the breaks or changes of scene were.

Sophie seems to be the master of making poor decisions and we get to go along for the ride - being inside her head is exhausting, and while some challenging themes around mental health were explored I found her hard to sympathise with.

While this was not my cup of tea, I think it will resonate with a lot of people.

I really enjoyed this book. I found this book hilarious, parts I laughed out loud at but there were also parts where I felt really sorry for Sophie. I had empathy for her, especially her family life. Over all I really enjoyed this book