Three Girls
"We just want to show that friendships forged here are the real deal. Genuine. Built to last. That sort of thing. For the brochure. Do you mind?"
Their school may be making them pose together for photos - but Minnie, Lena and Alice are not friends. And they have other things to worry about. Minnie - The Athlete: her whole life has been sport - but what if that's not all she wants her life to be? How do you even start to change your future all by yourself? Lena - The Princess: she has always resented being in Minnie's shadow - so when a freak accident changes all of her arch-rival's plans, Lena has a chance to become Queen Bee at last. But is ruling the school all she dreamed it would be? And then there's Alice - The Really Tall One. Alice has friends already, she's even got her eye on a potential crush - but she's also got a secret. And that secret is about to bound into all three girls' lives and change them forever.
I absolutely loved this book. You know you are reading something special when you find you cannot put it down and ‘Three Girls’ did just that for me! Told from the viewpoint of each girl in turn, the story skilfully explores relationships and how these change and develop over time.
My favourite character, Alice, is brilliant. Although she seems to be navigating a happy path through life, she constantly faces comments about her size- ‘Big Alice’, ‘the Really Tall One’- and has a feeling that she no longer shares the same interests as her friends. Her initial attempts at running are hilarious and anyone who has taken a similar challenge on a whim will ruefully laugh along with her as she battles through. In contrast, Lena is completely caught up in her obsession with being the best. She comes to re-evaluate her long-term friendships, realising that people can change and grow apart. As other friendships open up for her and develop, she realises how easy it is to misjudge and misunderstand others. It is great to see how she develops as a person as she relaxes. Minnie’s accident, which is the catalyst for all the changes, not only encourages her to reconsider her future but her long-term relationship as well.
‘Three Girls’ is an incredibly accessible, enjoyable read with much to recommend it. I’d love to read more about these girls!
The Girls Katie Clapham
UCLan ISBN: 978-1912979806
You can read my review of ‘The Missing Bookshop’ by Katie in the ‘Reviews from Another Life’ section.
