Love is for Losers

A funny and life-affirming take on all the big stuff you experience through puberty: love, sex, death, family, intergenerational friendships, heartbreak, kittens and kisses that turn the whole world upside down.

Love is for Losers is six months in the life of Year 11 Phoebe, self-professed hater of people. Written in diary format, this utterly hilarious debut from Wibke Brueggemann is a sharply observed, pinpoint accurate diary of an authentic teen.

Despite her dislike of others, Phoebe herself is lovable, vulnerable and feisty and most definitely not afraid to speak her mind. She thinks 'love is for losers' and is not afraid to berate her best friend Polly on how ridiculous her relationship with 'Training Wheels' Tristan is; she can't believe that anyone would want to even contemplate 'doing it' with him but although she doesn't truly understand, she does try to offer her own brand of advice. Of course, 'love is for losers' until she meets and falls for Emma. You can't help who you fall for, but Phoebe still spends all her time trying not to feel the way she does and the slow burn of this queer romance is played out perfectly.

The fantastic group of characters is sharply and perfectly observed. Godmother Kate is just the best person to have on your side, while the story of Bill and Melanie is beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. Alex, who has Down's Syndrome and works at Kate's charity shop, is just brilliant. And of course you spend your whole time rooting for Emma and Phoebe, willing it all to work out.

Despite the hilarity there is also a lot of depth to the novel with themes of grief and abandonment being explored in detail. Brueggemann isn't afraid to write the antithesis to how most YA novels deal with these and, through the perfectly believable character of Phoebe, it works - it absolutely does. Phoebe does her own thing and doesn't conform and that is liberating to read.

If I had a tick list for a perfect YA coming of age novel, Love is for Losers would tick absolutely every single box. I read a part of this to a Year 10 group, they were hooked and didn't want me to stop - that's the sign of a hit!

It's an engaging, liberating, brilliant and absolutely hilarious stunning debut - with added kittens! I loved being a part of Phoebe's life and I'm keeping everything crossed for a sequel!

384 pages / Reviewed by Lucy Georgeson, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+

A funny and life-affirming take on all the big stuff you experience through puberty: love, sex, death, family, intergenerational friendships, heartbreak, kittens and kisses that turn the whole world upside down.

Love is for Losers is six months in the life of Year 11 Phoebe, self-professed hater of people. Written in diary format, this utterly hilarious debut from Wibke Brueggemann is a sharply observed, pinpoint accurate diary of an authentic teen.

Despite her dislike of others, Phoebe herself is lovable, vulnerable and feisty and most definitely not afraid to speak her mind. She thinks 'love is for losers' and is not afraid to berate her best friend Polly on how ridiculous her relationship with 'Training Wheels' Tristan is; she can't believe that anyone would want to even contemplate 'doing it' with him but although she doesn't truly understand, she does try to offer her own brand of advice. Of course, 'love is for losers' until she meets and falls for Emma. You can't help who you fall for, but Phoebe still spends all her time trying not to feel the way she does and the slow burn of this queer romance is played out perfectly.

The fantastic group of characters is sharply and perfectly observed. Godmother Kate is just the best person to have on your side, while the story of Bill and Melanie is beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. Alex, who has Down's Syndrome and works at Kate's charity shop, is just brilliant. And of course you spend your whole time rooting for Emma and Phoebe, willing it all to work out.

Despite the hilarity there is also a lot of depth to the novel with themes of grief and abandonment being explored in detail. Brueggemann isn't afraid to write the antithesis to how most YA novels deal with these and, through the perfectly believable character of Phoebe, it works - it absolutely does. Phoebe does her own thing and doesn't conform and that is liberating to read.

If I had a tick list for a perfect YA coming of age novel, Love is for Losers would tick absolutely every single box. I read a part of this to a Year 10 group, they were hooked and didn't want me to stop - that's the sign of a hit!

It's an engaging, liberating, brilliant and absolutely hilarious stunning debut - with added kittens! I loved being a part of Phoebe's life and I'm keeping everything crossed for a sequel!

384 pages / Ages 14+ / Reviewed by Lucy Georgeson, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 11+