The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting

By Holly Bourne

3.5/5

Anyone who has read my reviews before, follows me on Bookstagram or is a personal friend of mine knows how much I love Holly Bourne’s books. Her characters are really relatable, incredibly witty and, to some extent, experience the things that all teenagers go through.

Unfortunately, The Manifesto On How To Be Interesting really did not live up to my expectations. As I much mentioned before, I dislike third person narratives and this had one throughout so I couldn’t really relate to the characters. I thought the plot was very far-fetched in places also; Bree infiltrated the popular group so quickly and easily which would never happen, and I really didn’t like the student-teacher relationship but I understand why it was put in there. Honestly, I just really didn’t like any of these characters.

I liked the acknowledgment to mental health and how Bree wasn’t judged when her ‘friend’ found out. I also liked watching how Bree’s relationship with her parents grew and developed, especially with her mum who was a character that I did quite like. This book was rather sad, as it shows the lengths that people will go to to prove they’re worth something, or to gain popularity/be liked, and I did really like this.

I did enjoy this book yet I don’t think I will be in a rush to reread it. However, it has definitely not put me off Holly Bourne’s work and I will be the first in line to pick up a new book of hers when one is next released.