Loopy and entertaining story about an 18 year old girl in 80s England. Very funny, although things slowed down a bit in the end. A very crazy but mostly lovable cast of characters. I’ll never see a dentist’s office in quite the same way. ( )

Complete and utter drivel, laugh out loud, cringe and cry, kept wanting to put it in the Givrn Up On basket but failed, resigned to wasting a day reading it. Spare your self. ( )

This was such an enjoyable read. It's the sort of parochial humour that is best observed in England (at least in my opinion, though I am biased). Indeed, Lizzie is so good at observing the most trivial of details, and then relating those details in a blunt, droll manner that is guaranteed to make the reader laugh out loud all the way through. I loved seeing the world of dentistry (and Leicester) through her eyes. Though I am quite happy to never attend the practice of JP! The themes throughout the book, which mostly centered on acceptance of self, and others, and practicing kindness to all, were perfectly observed. Satisfyingly sweet without being cloying. ( )

Now 18, Lizzie Vogel is looking for a full-time job and she is employed as a trainee dental nurse. Her boss is prejudiced and desperate to join the Freemasons, he's left his wife for his practice manager and now wants to get her pregnant. Lizzie is falling for Andy, someone she knew as a child but now a dental technician of note (and he rides a moped), but she also dreams of success as a writer.
Following on from Paradise Lodge Stibbe takes up the story of Lizzie on the cusp of womanhood as she explores independent living and sex in her own way. Lizzie is an engaging character and Stibbe's writing gives her a voice. Although rather idiosyncratic in the structure and narrative this is a mildly amusing look at life in the 1980s. ( )