Haylah Swinton’s soul is FUNNY. Jokes, gags, one-liners, she loves them all. She’s spent hours watching comedians online, seeing how they tick, how they put a set together for the stage. Her favourite thing is to make people laugh. And laugh they do – but mostly at her, not with her.

Haylah is overweight and very aware of it. Even her nickname ‘Pig’ defines her. She lets this name slide, doing what she always does to hide her true feelings. She makes a joke about her weight and laughs it off.

Her deepest wish is to be a stand-up comedian. A school talent show reveals that one of the popular boys (Leo Jackson), is pretty good. Haylah knows who he is – a nice guy, always with an entourage of friends. Her best friends Chloe and Kas tease Haylah about her sudden interest in Leo, but she emphatically denies any feelings except professional ones about comedy. She knows she’s lying to herself too.

When an opportunity to share her jokes arrives, her friends push her to take it, resulting in a collaboration with Leo. Life is suddenly stupendously amazing for Haylah. Life at home has become uncomfortable lately – her mum has met a new man from work, and Haylah’s exuberant 4 year old brother Noah might like him, but Haylah only sees a disaster in the making. Another opportunity presents itself – get rid of this interloper who doesn’t even wear socks with his shoes!

Suddenly dealing with the wonder of a first kiss, her mum’s melancholy, a heart-torching betrayal and a new friendless status, Haylah doesn’t know where to turn. Life isn’t funny in the slightest. But it’s comedy that comes to her rescue. Payback, confidence, identity, security and even a new future presents itself when she decides to ‘stand up’ for herself.

I loved this book! With just the right mix of family, friendship, new love, teen angst (via often hilarious internal monologue), and a sweet (but not nasty) revenge plot, Pretty Funny was pretty funny.

The body-shaming was not the typical type, as Haylah body shamed herself (in constant pre-damage control) before someone else did it. Her friends and others around her assured her they didn’t think of her like that, and Haylah slowly begins to accept it.

Haylah’s little brother Noah was a typical full-on four year old and their relationship was adorable. Her slow realisation to who she really was and wanted to be, morphed slowly and authentically throughout the story. Pretty Funny is going to be followed by Pretty Rude, and I’m looking forward to more laughs.

Author – Rebecca Elliott

Age – 12+

Read a review for the 2nd book in this funny series

(Funny, LOL, Humour, Comedy, Laugh, School, Friendship, Crush, Dream, Betrayal, Growing up, Body shaming, Overweight, Confidence, Big girl, Jokes, Self Esteem, Family, Single income family, Talent Show, Series)