Review: Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

Title: Withering Tights
Author: Louise Rennison
Series: The Misadventures of Tallulah Casey #1
Pages: 288
Publisher: Harper Collins
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Contemporary YA
Source: Library

Goodreads Description:
Tallulah Casey is ready to find her inner artist. And some new mates. And maybe a boy or two or three. The ticket to achieving these lofty goals? Enrolling in a summer performing arts program, of course. She's bound for the wilds of Yorkshire Dales—eerily similar to the windswept moors of Wuthering Heights. Tallulah expects new friends, less parental interference, and lots of drama. Acting? Tights? Moors? Check, check, check. What she doesn't expect is feeling like a tiny bat's barging around in her mouth when she has her first snog.

My Review:
This book. Is SO awesome! I am in complete awe of how much I love Louise Rennison! I have heard about her other series, the Georgia Nicolson books, but I have never found the time to start them. Well..I'm just saying, after reading Withering Tights, I am going out to get the entire Georgia series this week. I can't even begin to tell you how hilarious this book is. All of the characters are so deliciously quirky, the plot is simple, but fun, and the setting just fits. Being a spoof on Wuthering Heights, the dark and murky moors are a fantastic backdrop for a comedy of epic proportions. This review will be a tad short, but I think a few paragraphs and quotes can do the job.

Tallulah is quite the main character. She's completely crazy in that terrifying high-schooler, hasn't been kissed, obsessive, yet cute way. She's like the little sister that drives you bonkers even while you love her to death. I just want to take poor Tallulah and her terrible knees under my wing and help her through all of her calamities of the boy and snogging sort. I bet a lot of people will be excited to find that Tallulah is Georgia's cousin and she has a sort of indirect cameo at times. Tallulah's posse of friends are definitely a handful, and of course, they are completely nuts as well. I couldn't believe the things that just seemed to leak out of their mouths! If you are looking for a lot of depth and deep character development, this shouldn't really be your choice. But even though the girls are a tad "fluffy" they are extremely likable and they do sort of grow over their summer away from home. I like to think that they are just silly little high-school girls, and they will grow in character as they grow up a bit.  Still, they were really funny and I enjoyed getting to know them a little bit. Plus, their quotes are so hilarious that I could barely breathe while reading.

“I am soooo excited, I am over-excited. I'm hysterical, I may have to slap my own face in a minute at this rate.”

So the plot revolves around a summer at a theater and art school/camp/thingy. I love the setting, both that it takes place in the UK and that it is in the wild country moors. Such a mysterious and fascinating backdrop! It really makes the whole air of the book seem a lot more interesting than if it was just another boarding school in London or something.  You just know that since they are at an arts school, there will be ridiculous characters involved...they are *shudder* theater people...Still, you can't quite prepare yourself for the bizarre assignments, plays, and rehearsals that go on behind the walls of Dother Academy. The teachers are especially peculiar. I totally loved all of them and wish we could have seen a little more interaction between them and the younger characters. Tallulah herself doesn't seem to be very good at any art in particular, which makes her a little self-conscious, but she eventually grows into her own and I loved the ending part of the book.

I give Withering Tights 4 Stars. I am actually glad that I read this book first. I have heard a few bloggers say that this one isn't as good as the Georgia books, but I really enjoyed this book for itself. This book was fun, completely insane, and laugh-out-loud, squirt-milk-out-your-nose hilarious. I feel like they will be added to my comfort reads pile. You know, the books you read when you need cheering up, and you can always count on them to make you laugh. If you haven't yet read anything by Louise Rennison, for your own health and happiness, I beg of you to go and get Withering Tights or the first Georgia book: Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging. Seriously hysterical, you will be on the floor laughing, so be sure to read it somewhere where you won't be stared at for collapsing in a fit of giggles.

 My Favorite Quote:

He was sooooo lovely. And, well, gorgeous. He had everything a dream boy should have. Back, front, sides. Everything. A head. And all in a boy shape.