Trigger warnings: Misogyny, bullying
Read this review for context: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5223480183

6/10 I was hoping that after I read another not so good realistic book I would enjoy this one however I did not enjoy this one that much since I found issues with this and I would not pick this one up again, where do I even begin. It started off with the main character known as Josephine Beckett otherwise known as Jo who's a wrestler who wants to overcome the label of "practice girl" but then it dragged and turned into a friendship and love story. I liked how at the beginning there was a definition of the titular word which is something mature. There was a random scene where Jo partied, and danced in the town hall and I'm not sure this is necessary to the plot especially considering how it changed halfway through. By the way the main character was such a narcissist since she insulted her friends and claimed to be better than she was (that she wouldn't be used as a practice girl anymore), but she was still the same person when she hooked up with Dax, at least she developed her character in the end ending this in a high note. ( )

I was to have received this book from Bookish First with my points, but the book never arrived. I was refunded my points, and waited until I found a copy of the book at a much later date to read it.

Jo has loved wrestling her whole life. After losing her father who shared this love, she also finds out when accidentally overhearing the guys talk about her, that she is considered a "practice girl". A girl who is good enough to practice sex with, but not good enough to date or have a real relationship with. Following this revelation, we follow Jo through a journey of learning to love herself, trust her feelings, find true friendship, and learn what a real relationship is like. She doesn't roll over and quit, instead she faces some tough feelings head on. She gains the respect of her peers and learns to appreciate having a supportive friend group. Her growth was inspiring, and I feel this book would have a lot of great discussion points when read in a teen book club.

I enjoyed this book very much and have recommended it to others. ( )

There are books that compassionate and insightful librarians should have in their collection and refer certain readers to them as therapy. This is one such book. While the message will resonate mainly with teen girls, it has merit for any teen regardless of where they might be on the gender spectrum. Is Jo chasing the ghost of her late father? Maybe, but she's eyeball deep in trying to find love and acceptance through sex and when she discovers most of the boys on her wrestling team see her as someone to use and walk away from, she's angry, hurt, and determined to change. However, change is not only hard, but can sometimes take you too far in the other direction. It almost costs her something she's been looking for. A great read and deserving of a place in any library. ( )

Overall, this was a pretty solid read, but I do have some mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I think there were a lot of important messages/lessons included in the book, and I liked the first person point of view of Jo, the protagonist. I also felt that the author, Estelle Laure, gave Jo a fresh voice, and the relationships and friendships between various characters felt extremely realistic.

However, I did find it frustrating how often Jo seemed to judge other girls in the book. I know that was part of her character arc, but it didn't really sit right with me...I failed to really connect with any of the characters, even by the end of the novel. Even though I didn't love this book, I would still recommend it to YA readers looking for a refreshing take on high school.

Thanks BookishFirst for the finished copy in exchange for an honest review! ( )

Jo Beckett has been lost and adrift since the death of her wrestling coach father during her preteen years. She feels disconnected from her mother, stepfather and half-sister, and she has no female friendships. Jo is lonely. She manages the school's wrestling team because staying involved with wrestling is the way she maintains a connection to her father. She wants a caring boyfriend but every time she becomes involved with one of the wrestling team members, he dumps her after they have sex. One night, at a party, she finds out that the boys refer to her as a "practice girl" for practicing sexual techniques, but that they don't consider her girlfriend material. Jo also finds out that her best friend Sam, a boy on the wrestling team, has not spoken out or stood up for her when he has heard the other boys disrespecting her and treating her so poorly. This devastating revelation is a wake-up call for Jo who feels humiliated, ashamed, betrayed, and angry. She distances herself from Sam, reevaluates all the relationships in her life and reconnects with a former female friend. She decides to join the team as a wrestler rather than the manager. As she pieces her life back together, she learns to recognize her own worth and inner strength.
Jo is a well-developed character, and her first-person narration works well. A wide range of teenage experiences is explored including loss of a parent, sexuality and relationships, friendships, family, and the importance of a support system. I appreciated the diversity in this book, and that the main character is a female wrestler. This book would be great for a teen book club and could facilitate discussions about relationships and self-worth. Practice Girl is an inspiring, important, relatable and relevant YA novel. ( )