Girl (in real life) by Tamsin Winter

What's it like to grow up online and have every tantrum, every spot - even your first period - broadcast to hundreds of thousands of followers?

Most parents try to limit their kids' online exposure. But not Eva's. Her parents run a hugely successful YouTube channel, and Eva is the star of the show. But Eva is getting sick of being made to pose in stupid mum-and-daughter matching outfits for sponsored posts. The freebies aren't worth the teasing at school. And when an intensely humiliating "period party" post goes viral, Eva is outraged. She's going to find a way to stop the channel, even if she has to sabotage it herself.

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Whenever I read books like this, I'm so pleased that I grew up while the Internet was still in its infancy. (No, don't do any math, it's depressing.) The kids at my school were bad enough. If we'd had YouTube and Twitter, Instagram...I can't believe kids make it out with their sanity intact, to be honest.

Eva's parents run a YouTube channel about...something. Parenting? Their vlogs are very unclear about what they're actually talking about. Whatever it is, Eva is the unwilling star. Everything she does and says is staged, posed and recorded before being shared with hundreds of thousands of viewers online.

That was...well, still problematic, but less so, when Eva was four. Now that she's twelve, things are getting out of hand, and something is going to have to give. Either her parent's channel...or their relationship.

There's so much second hand embarrassment reading this book! Eva's parents are awful, the things they put her through. Complicating that, it's clear they do care about her and they mean well; they aren't complete villains, like the majority of people in the real world. They just aren't listening to her real needs and wants for anything not connected to the channel.

Eva's friend group is brilliant. I'd like to point out that there's no romance, although it's clear one character has a crush on another. But these are twelve year olds who actually behave like twelve year olds, which is lovely to see. (also, what's with Eva's mother telling the world that Eva is a late starter? Is twelve late to get your period now? That was early when I was that age! [Again, please no math]) It's also refreshing that there's no Mean Girl; there's a male bully, who's fairly awful, and a girl who's clearly trying to steal Eva's friend, but she isn't a bully; she's catty, but not cruel. Otherwise, the female characters are almost universally supportive and nice.

BE AWARE a minor character dies, affecting Eva quite seriously.

I loved this. I think even kids who aren't Youtube stars can relate to it - we've all been embarrassed by our parents at some point! I'd love to read more about Eva and her parents as they transition to a less-famous lifestyle, but if this is what we get, I'll be happy with it.

(quick note to add I read this a few days ago and I keep going back to reread sections! I think this is one I'll be dipping in and out of for a while.)

Girl (in real life) publishes on the 8th of July, 2021. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.