Girlcrush: The #1 Sunday Times Bestseller

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The main character Eartha is in her mid 20s in 2030 and somehow a VOICE OF A GENERATION for drunkenly announcing that she is bisexual on social media (wow?). She's been friends with Rose (a non binary lesbian who has slept with every woman in the city) since high school. They didn't even need to come out as gay or non-binary because "the way they would recline into chairs with their legs wide open did that for them". I actually don't have words for how much I hate this line and how detrimental it is for non-binary people who aren't androgynous looking people who take up space like men so I'm just going to leave it there for you to reflect on. There are parts of this book that were so ridiculous that it made me angry (why had she never heard of an INCEL? I know that biphobia is a thing but why are people acting like it's so ALIEN?). Florence Given won a legion of fans with her debut book, Women Don't Owe You Pretty, thanks to its unique illustrations and empowering message, encouraging women across the world, of all generations, to recognise their worth.

Basically, Florence uses the “F” slur far too comfortably throughout the novel, when it wasn’t ever a word for queer women to reclaim. Phrases like “d**e daddy” and “a random butch in leather” have pissed people off, too. The general consensus seems to be that Florence – a bisexual woman – has massively reduced her lesbian characters down to stereotypes. This is the perfect example of someone who is successful in one area believing that that success and skill will translate into others…… and it did not. a b Bown, Chloe (14 October 2022). "Florence Given on why we need more 'messy' characters in books". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved 19 December 2022.I’m sure Florence would say that sentiments like these are exactly what she’s talking about in the overarching message of the book but like, I’m sorry, you had the makings of a book handed to you on a silver platter and you still managed to make it an unbearably frustrating (for all the wrong reasons) read.

She reflects on how same-sex dating can easily become blurred too. “As women, you're almost expected to be okay with being friends, but actually you're getting your heart broken. If someone asks 'do you want to be friends?' and you know you don't because you know deep down you secretly hope to sleep together again, don’t do that and maintain that boundary.” Florence Given (born 1998 [1] [2]) is a British illustrator, writer, feminist social activist, and influencer. In Given's debut novel, we follow Eartha on a wild, weird and seductive modern-day exploration as she commences life as an openly bisexual woman whilst also becoming a viral sensation on Wonderland, a social media app where people project their dream selves online."

She SELF-REFERENCES!!!

Florence Given released her first fiction novel, Girl Crush, last week (9th August). And it’s safe to say she probably won’t be hailed as this generation’s Jacqueline Wilson anytime soon. Get to Know Florence Given, an Artist Who Empowers Women". Glitter Magazine. 21 October 2019 . Retrieved 27 January 2020. a b Clark, Alex (7 August 2022). "Florence Given: 'People don't want you to break the mould... I needed to". The Observer . Retrieved 19 December 2022. a b Petter, Olivia (12 July 2019). "Meet Florence Given, the 20-year-old illustrator who wants you to 'dump him' ". The Independent.

As an out bisexual woman myself, and as someone who has a podcast with an advice section, I get hundreds of questions from women every day. Most of them are: “Am I bisexual? I don’t know if I am.” And I can’t tell people! I’m not you. I don’t have the answers. I don’t know your life. What I wanted to do in this novel is say that it’s OK not to know. And it’s OK to be confused. Florence was handed the keys to the kingdom here and yet, this book was undoubtedly one of the worst things I’ve ever read. If Florence wasn’t Florence, this manuscript wouldn’t even have made it past the assistant’s desk at the publishing firm let alone onto bookshelves globally.Young, Sarah (10 December 2020). "Chidera Eggerue accuses Florence Given of 'copying' her book: 'This is exactly how white supremacy works' ". The Independent . Retrieved 20 December 2020.