Sixth-former Anna Campbell is the go-to lady when anybody wants something. Lecturers, buddies, random strangers… It by no means occurred to her that she might say no. In spite of everything, Anna Campbell’s all the time been too ‘good’ to say no. However Anna is sick of being that lady, the good lady, and he or she’s going to do one thing about it. Solely, is she ready to danger dropping every thing she cares about – even herself – alongside the best way…?
THE NICEST GIRL is Sophie Jo’s debut UKYA and it’s brilliantly put collectively, I felt each web page of it! I requested the writer a couple of questions:
How a lot of your self is within the guide, had been you a “good lady”?
There’s positively a few of me within the guide – I’m a little bit of a recovering people-pleaser and have felt the ache of being “the good lady” many a time through the years, particularly in my teenagers and early twenties.
Once I began writing the guide, I used to be actually eager to listen to from buddies and acquaintances about their very own experiences. It was unhappy however oddly liberating to study that individuals I’d beforehand seen as very assertive and “sorted” had been struggling to show down work shifts or stand as much as buddies or set boundaries of their relationship life. I feel a number of us – particularly ladies – are battling towards this deep-rooted must be seen as likeable and easy-going.
Making an attempt to not embody spoilers…there are tensions that construct up & come to a head in completely plausible methods. Did earlier drafts have something extra over-the-top that you simply determined to tone down?
The strain explosion and backbone has really stayed just about the identical all through the modifying course of! I did marvel at one level if Anna would determine to chop one specific character out of her life (once more, no spoilers…), however I’m glad she doesn’t, and I hope I did a great job at illustrating each factors of view when issues do erupt.
What would you most like readers to remove from the guide?
I’d actually love for readers to think about the middle-ground-complexities of the entire matter. You don’t have to show into an unkind particular person to set boundaries – it isn’t about forgetting to be respectful or that different factors of view exist. It’s about remembering that your emotions are as legitimate as anybody else’s and there for a motive.
I additionally hope it exhibits readers the worth of sincere, variety communication in friendships and different relationships. Generally you see stuff on-line that’s like, “you don’t owe anyone something! Set boundaries! Instantly ghost individuals who don’t deal with you proper!” and whereas I’m very a lot on board with something that teaches individuals to face up for themselves, I additionally suppose there’s house for many of us to higher specific expectations/needs/wants so our nearest and dearest a minimum of have an opportunity to reply to these. Anna means very properly and her struggles are relatable, however as a result of she’s fairly good at selecting up on the feelings of these round her, she typically expects them to mind-read in return – they usually can’t.
Have you ever had a lot alternative for suggestions from teen/YA readers?
I used to be in a position to meet some wonderful teen and YA readers at this yr’s YALC – they’d picked up proofs from my writer UCLan’s stand and had been actually excited to learn. That was such a beautiful expertise for me, particularly as somebody so new to all this. It’s additionally been cool seeing preliminary critiques on Goodreads and NetGalley from individuals who’ve associated to Anna and rooted for her all through.
What would your best faculty go to to advertise the guide contain?
I’d LOVE to sit down down with a gaggle of teenagers and speak in regards to the idea of ‘niceness’ vs assertive communication. Perhaps a lil quiz: Good or Too Good? A poetry-writing session? I’ve one million concepts; I’m going to start out writing them down.
What are you studying in the intervening time and who would you suggest it to?
I’m having fun with THREE GIRLS by Katie Clapham, a fellow UCLan writer. The voices she’s created for these characters are so robust, and there are these sensible little drops of humour alongside the best way. It’s quirky and attention-grabbing however by no means try-hard. Would suggest to: anybody who needs a extremely stable guide about teen lady friendship.
I’ve additionally simply completed a proof of GIRL FRIENDS by Holly Bourne, which is certainly certainly one of my new favourites. She simply will get ladies. Each time I learn a Holly guide I really feel like she has crawled into the depths of my soul with out judging me. Would suggest to: anybody who grew up studying 90s/00s Sugar journal articles about How To Get Boys To Like You…
Have you ever any extra tales effervescent away?
I’m presently writing draft certainly one of guide two. The primary character is kind of totally different to Anna – much more cynical and outspoken – so it’s been an actual change to jot down, in a really enjoyable manner. I’m additionally attempting out a twin narrative for the primary time, which is a complete new problem in itself. Hopefully we’ll be again speaking in regards to the completed guide earlier than too lengthy!
THE NICEST GIRL was printed by UCLan in August 2022. Thanks to Antonia Wilkinson for organising a assessment copy and the chance for a Q&A.
