Growing up Texas

So this is yet another great read thanks to all of you lovelies. I would never in a million years have picked this one up, but when y’all keep raving I reconsider (as long as it’s not horror, I don’t do horror). The audiobook version is great, and I was immensely entertained for a few days in the car.

This is the story of Willowdean Dixon. Willowdean is a teenager in small town Texas just trying to make it through high school. She has a best friend and a crush at her new job, and one other thing. She’s a bigger gal. She knows it, and is pretty okay with it overall, but like all teenagers is still learning things about herself and insecurity. Willowdean decides in a pique of teenageness to entire the town beauty contest (which her mother hosts and once run). Our charming coming of age story about misfits and accepting yourself rolls out from there.

Willowdean is a delight. She’s clever, fun, and no nonsense. I enjoyed spending time with her and he misfit toys collection of friends. Having been one of the odd ones, there were many relatable moments throughout the story to my own high school awkwardness. Amanda, in particular, was a personal brusque fav. Maybe because i’ve often been called things similar to her. Overall it was a pretty solid girl coming-of-age book.

I have two minor comments: 1) why do all girl coming of age stories in some way revolve around boys? Seriously, I usually prefer boy coming of age stories for this very reason. Boys are not the end all, be all of existence. I was a boy crazy teenage girl with the best of them (ask Ellepkay or the bff, both can attest), and I still get fed up with girls books always being (at least partially) about getting the guy. Can’t she go do something awesome (like in this one entering the beauty pageant) without her needing a man at the end? This is just me, but I’ve had this complaint for 20 years…

2) Is Mitch. There’s two boys in this one fighting for Willowdean’s affection. The one she crushes on and the nice guy. And goodness did I love that sweet, nice boy. She treats him pretty deplorably, and it made me really dislike her. Even though she’s a mixed up teen with crazy hormones, she knew she was treating him like shit and wonderfully written character didn’t deserve.

Anywho, those two minor complaints aren’t enough to really detract. If you want an excellent new coming of age story with well rounded characters of all shapes and sizes I highly recommend. Thanks CBR for yet another win!