I loved this, it shows the importance of having a place in society, an escapism and a place to discuss all things taboo. Dealt with serious topics in a great way.

The story centers on newly seventeen Tavi, who, when her boyfriend dumps her just before her birthday, receives a vibrator from her friends Ella and Liss as a breakup gift. This event inspires the trio to establish the "Buzz Club," a secret group where they explore topics ranging from sexuality to societal issues. Whilst this topic will no doubt provoke some debate about the suitability of stocking the book in school libraries , I think it's brilliant , very 'girl power' (lol!) and a great read for girls starting to explore their sexuality. It portrays toxic masculinity well and shows how easy it is for girls to mistake possessiveness etc and sexual attraction for love. Though not explicit the story talks about vibrators and how having one is very positive and helps self confidence and the story is definitely encouraging of activism and challenging societal norms. It's also very funny with a strong dose of the ridiculous and had me giggling several times.

So I wasn't sure how I felt reading this at the start. I was kind of like Tavi in that I also was being held back by the taboo of female personal pleasure but damn this helped! By the end I was rooting for buzz club 🙌🏻 Viva la vulva!

This book had so many memorable hilarious moments but also many an important issue raised. Xena Knox is a mastermind at this as I remember Sh!tbag being the same.

Get buzzy girls 😜 🙌🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder Children's Books for the ARC.

Buzz Club by Xena Knox is a fun and fearless young adult novel that dives into topics like female empowerment, sexuality, and the everyday struggles young women face.

The book is full of laugh-out-loud moments, mixing humour with serious issues in a way that feels honest and easy to connect with. That said, the pacing can feel a bit rushed, and some parts of the story—like certain plot points and character arcs—don’t get as much attention as they deserve. It’s a bit of a shame because the overall idea and vibe of the book are so strong.

Knox doesn’t hold back when exploring big topics like misogyny, how porn can shape young people’s views, and the messy dynamics of teenage relationships. Through Tavi’s story and her conversations with friends, the book shines a light on what it’s like for teens trying to figure out sex, consent, and how to push back against society’s expectations. The way it encourages open, honest discussions about these things is one of its biggest strengths.

Even though it could’ve taken more time to develop the story, Buzz Club is still a fresh, thought-provoking read. It’s funny, bold, and doesn’t shy away from talking about things that really matter, making it stand out in today’s YA books.

For me, this book dealt with stigmatised and serious topics in a relatable and sometimes lighthearted way. I really enjoyed the story and characters and I think it’s a great read for YAs.

I really loved Xena Knox's previous YA book "Sh!t Bag" so was very excited to read this one, but unfortunately it didn't hit me in the same way that one did. I found the premise interesting, a great feminist message overall, but mostly found the premise too unbelievable to find myself immersed in the story.

Thank you for the chance to read this book, and I do look forward to reading more books by Knox in the future cos I like their writing style.

A brilliant YA novel, written exceptionally well. I feel that there is definite lack of good, empoweing feminist YA books, but this has made it near the top of my list. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for allowing me to read this, I will absolutely be handselling this title.

3.5

Started this and read it within 4 hours because my insomnia said finish it and here we are...

I didn't expect this book to play out like it did, with the feature of such heavy and stigmatised topics. It's good that authors like Xena are writing about said topics with teenage characters as I mostly see them play out with adult ones.

Well I’m not the demographic for this. Having loved the author’s first book I wanted to read more. This is aimed at 16+ and may invoke a few challenges if on school bookshelves. But the message of toxic masculinity does come through and is important.
Tavi is dumped by her boyfriend who continues to treat her badly throughout their subsequent ups and downs. Her best friend Ella is not entirely supportive, mainly because of her strong opinions but the girl Tavi thought ‘an enemy’ proved to be the best ally she could have. All girls have their own problems, the main being the boys, and action needs to be taken.
It is forthright in its telling and hopefully girls will see the message and be able to spot if experiencing any similarities in their own lives and be empowered to act.