Like sitting down with a good friend, ready to put the world yo rights, What A Girl Wants us an endearingly relatable read that will capture the heart of anyone who reads it.

This was a very relatable read that made me think about my own journey of growing up. It was a fantastic read that dealt with so many different themes of growing up in a beautiful way.

An engaging memoir with a compelling narrative; reading What a Girl Wants felt like sitting down to put the world to rights with a good friend. Bourdillon's style of writing is easy to enjoy, flowing from one personal point to the next whilst also linking those experiences with key cultural and political moments, such as the release of The L Word and Section 28.

I think LGBTQ+ millennials are likely to find at least one aspect of this book with which they can identify. In reality most will find more than just one aspect that resonates; I know I certainly did. From coming out to finding the Leeds gay scene, there is a plethora of aspects to explore in this book.

I was initially drawn to picking up What a Girl Wants for review due to the author's role as editor in chief of Diva magazine: as a subscriber I recognised the name immediately. Within the first few chapters I was hooked as it became apparent that we're not too far apart in age, home location, or indeed upbringing, which always makes a memoir that more interesting as a reader. I love the memoir genre for this exact reason: its books often have the ability to be both fascinating and validating - What a Girl Wants is no different.

At one stage in her story Bourdillon reflects on the word 'lesbian' - how it became weaponised by the patriarchy (amongst others), and the impact this had on her use of the word; these reuminations deeply resonated within me. To this day it is a word I dislike, and I completely recognise that comes as a direct result of my own lived experiences such as those Bourdillon shares with her audience.

What a Girl Wants is a nostalgia filled, personable, and deeply relatable book... which will without doubt stand the test of time, as every inspirational LGBTQ+ memoir should - our stories are more important now than ever.

<i>What a Girl Wants</i> is a captivating memoir that takes you on Roxy Bourdillon's journey of self-discovery. From early sapphic encounters and people-pleasing patterns to dead-end jobs and Pride celebrations, Bourdillon's story really resonates on a personal level. I laughed and cried since I related to some of my own and many of my friends’ experiences.

Ms. Bourdillon's writing style is refreshing; it feels like having a conversation with a friend. Hearing about her experiences of heartbreak, loss, and family troubles was moving. I appreciated the honesty of her accounts and how grounding it was to hear about her path to her dream job at DIVA. I always love reading something littered with pop culture references, in this from the 1990s through to 2024.

Written with an obvious eye on helping women and the LGBTQIA+ community to feel understood (within themselves and outwardly)—especially for young queer people who want to feel <i>seen</i> and <i>understood</i>—this book’s strength lies in its relatability as the author strives to ensure her personal experiences resonate on a broader level, particularly for those who share similarities in age, upbringing, or life trajectory. Her reflections on school life and feminism, for example, are likely to strike a strong chord, a picture of familiar and validating experiences and struggles.

Ms. Bourdillon also skillfully contextualizes her personal experiences within wider cultural and political moments. Her reflections on media milestones, like the premiere of The L-Word, and political events, like the impact of Section 28 in the UK, add layers of depth to her narrative. These references provide a broader lens through which to understand her story, making it not just a personal memoir but also a reflection on cultural shifts and their effects on individual lives.

<i>What a Girl Wants</i> is a heartwarming, funny, inspiring, and touching read, blending personal storytelling with social reflection that makes this a book well worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher, Pan Macmillan Bluebird, the author, and to NetGalley for the opportunity of "living" this memoir.

This book is a beautiful trip down memory lane, filled with nostalgia that truly resonated with me. 🌸💖
Roxy Bourillon masterfully captures the essence of growing up and the bittersweet moments that shape us. The writing is both witty and heartfelt, making it hard to put down. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and reminisce about your own experiences, this is the one!

"I wield the word 'lesbian' with ease and authority, although I note that the word still makes those around me nervous.
I secretly enjoy that it holds the power to shock a room."

From early sapphic encounters and people-pleasing patterns to dead-end jobs and Pride celebrations - Roxy Bourdillon guides us through her journey of self-discovery in this captivating memoir!

This book had me going through the MOTIONS!! I laughed, I sobbed, and above all - I related! Roxy's writing style is so refreshing to read, it feels like having a conversation with a close friend. Hearing about her experiences with heartbreak, loss and family troubles was really moving and I found myself tearing up on more than one occasion.

I appreciated how honest her accounts were and it was so grounding to hear about how she made it to her dream job at DIVA after being stuck in a loop for so long! It was also really cool to read something so current - with pop culture references from 2024 and mentions of the pandemic, it was fascinating to read about it all through someone else's perspective!!

This book is a love letter to women and the LGBTQIA+ community, a beautiful reminder of the power we hold and the love we share. A must-read for young queer people who just want to feel seen and understood!

4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Roxy Bourdillon for this ARC!

This was a really fun memoir to read! I enjoyed how many queer references were included and the way it almost felt quite blog-like in its friendliness and open heartedness. This would be such an incredible resource for younger queer people who are looking to feel seen in the books that they read. I personally found the tone of voice a little bit forced and because of that, there were points that felt a lot less earnest than others but that is definitely a personal preference thing, I can definitely see how it could be more easily accessible to other readers.

Thank you so much to the publishers & netgalley for this amazing read!

“From body image and mental health to love and loss, it's all in here and it's all straight from my heart.”

For lovers of Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love to anyone who is looking for a heart warming, funny, inspiring & touching read this ones for you.

I love this book with my whole heart. I laughed, I cried, i felt empowered and was hooked from the very beginning. It is an intriguing & relatable read no matter how you identify, I think any human can relate to Roxy Bourdillion’s wise words. As she states “Some lessons have to be lived to be learnt” and “most people are doing their best with their own limited experience of the world”.

I felt so empowered & inspired after reading this warm & welcoming memoir, that I was so sad when I had finished it. It was laugh out loud funny, easy to read, thought provoking and felt like I was just chatting to a friend over coffee. Lots of topics were discussed, some hard hitting but all done in a brilliant way, balancing the humour with the hurt beautifully, whilst all bringing so many issues to light and even though I don’t have the same life experiences and identify differently as the author, I felt heard & seen with the similarities we did share as a Woman but also felt compassion and anger for what she and others have had to deal with on top of everything else. I think this is a book everyone should read and it is relatable in some aspect, but whether you relate to it or not, there is something in it for everybody and maybe it will bring compassion for people to start being better humans to each other.

As the author says herself “It's a love letter to the defining women in my life, and most of them are not romances”, “The relationships I have had with remarkable women, whether a partner, friend or family member, have brought the most strength, meaning and beauty to my life”. It’s about self discovery, community, self acceptance, the importance of female friendships & love and how to be unapologetically you.

“However you identify, you deserve to feel seen, empowered and entertained” and this is exactly how Roxy Bourdillion made me feel reading this book and I cannot sum up it up any better.

“So, what does this girl want? Well, I want the world to be a kinder, safer place for me, my partner, for women and for every member of my glorious, diverse community.” I will be raving about this book to anyone that will listen

Roxy Bourdillon’s What a Girl Wants is an engaging and deeply relatable read that feels a lot like having a conversation with a close friend.

Written in a clear and accessible style, Bourdillon’s voice is warm, conversational, and inviting, while still tackling deeper and more nuanced topics with insight and sincerity.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its relatability.

Bourdillon’s experiences, though personal, resonate on a broader level, particularly for those who share similarities in age, upbringing, or life trajectory.

Her reflections on school life and feminism struck a particularly strong chord, painting a picture of experiences and struggles that feel familiar and validating.

Her journey into journalism, with all its challenges, was also particularly poignant - especially for readers from working-class backgrounds who have navigated similar barriers in breaking into the media industry.

Another compelling aspect of What a Girl Wants is how Bourdillon contextualises her personal experiences within wider cultural and political moments.

Her reflections on media milestones, such as the premiere of The L-Word, and political events, like the impact of Section 28, add layers of depth to her narrative.

These references provide a broader lens through which to understand her story, making it not just a personal memoir but also a reflection on cultural shifts and their effects on individual lives.

Overall, What a Girl Wants is an enjoyable, insightful, and highly relatable read.

For many queer millennials, I think it will strike an especially personal note, offering both nostalgia and validation.

Bourdillon’s ability to blend personal storytelling with cultural reflection makes this a book well worth picking up.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Not being part of the LGBTQi community this was a real eye opener. I felt disappointed in myself for my ignorance of not realising how truly hard it can be. In my naive world, everyone is accepted no matter what so it's heartbreaking hear the prejudice that still happens.
I found the humour side of this biography a bit too much on occasions but it's a book I am glad to have read.
I loved all the 90's references, being just a little older than Roxy, it was very nostalgic. I particularly connected to her when it comes to grief, I have never read anything before that describes the raw overwhelming pain that true loss feels like at the time and for years after, I will remember how Roxy let her loved one pass with stories of happiness forever, and intend on doing the same myself when the awful inevitable happens again.
Thank you #NetGalley for this arc. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

What an absolute delight of a heartwarming, life affirming book. Roxy writes with such warmth, tenderness and humour, this book was like a big nostalgic hug. A truly beautiful and vulnerable exploration of sexuality and womanhood. Highly recommend!

A huge thank you to Roxy Bourdillon, Pan Macmillan | Bluebird & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Such a lovely memoir! It was funny and emotional, and I found myself relating to it a lot. I really enjoyed the writing style of this as it felt so personal while still discussing her experiences in a wider social and political context. Overall an enjoyable and moving read!

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

What A Girl Wants is best described as Dolly Alderton, but make it queer. The writing style is chatty, fast-paced and likely to appeal to Gen Z readers. For this Gen X-er who lived through many of the things Bourdillon discusses - Section 28, the absolute primacy of The L Word in earl 00s lesbian culture - it sometimes felt a bit basic, but I think would be absolutely perfect for younger readers who want to understand more about recent lesbian history.

What a Girl Wants: A (True) Story of Sexuality and Self-discovery by Roxy Bourdillon is an honest, hilarious and heartwarming journey through the twists and turns of self-identity, love, and growing up. Told with refreshing candour, Bourdillon’s memoir takes the reader from her teenage years in Leeds to her adventures in Sydney, London and beyond, all the while exploring the many layers of what it means to truly understand who you are.

From the innocent crushes of youth to navigating queer relationships and discovering sexual identity, What a Girl Wants is a celebration of joy, empowerment and freedom. With relatable reflections on body image, heartache, and the search for belonging, this book resonates with anyone who has ever struggled to find their place in the world. Bourdillon’s narrative is engaging and conversational, making it feel as though you’re chatting with a close friend. She tackles difficult topics with humour and grace, making even the most nuanced of experiences feel accessible and authentic.

A laugh-out-loud read that is as heartwarming as it is insightful, What a Girl Wants is perfect for fans of Dolly Alderton and Caitlin Moran—though with a vibrant, queer twist that adds a unique layer of joy to the narrative. Whether you're looking for a story of love, friendship or empowerment, this book is a true celebration of the messy, beautiful process of discovering who you are.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

Early DNF

The writing style is very chatty and in-your-face jokes and references. I thought that it would work for me, however, it was a bit too much for my personal taste so I DNF'd. Would recommend if you love '90s/2000s references and a very chatty writing style.

This was a really engaging read, that felt a lot like chatting to a friend. Bourdillon writes in a really clear and accessible way, that was conversational while still being able to discuss deeper and more nuanced topics.

I found a lot of this book very relatable! Bourdillon is older than me, but we’re close enough in age, upbringing, and life experiences, that I saw a lot of myself in the things she discussed. Particularly the way she talked about her (then closeted) queerness influencing her teenage years, her time at school, and her approach to feminism, all rang very true.

I also really liked how she drew on wider cultural moments to retrospectively put her experiences in context. Some of them were media related, such as the premiere of The L-Word, and some of them were political, such as Section 28. I thought it was really interesting how she looked back at the different things that had impacted her life, and really added to the story she was telling.

Overall this was a very enjoyable and relatable read, that will hit very close to home for many queer millennials!

I received a free copy for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this memoir from Roxy Bourdillion. I related to the 90s nostalgia, the wonderful relationship with her granny and the woe of being cursed genetically with big boobs that men have always assumed they can comment upon. I was horrified but unsurprised sadly to learn that the Conservative government under Thatcher introduced Section 28 forbidding schools to teach the acceptability of homosexuality….. just WHAT?! I’m glad Roxy seems to have found her happy ending and I’m grateful to her and others like her who campaign for the rights of marginalised groups, as a mother of two it’s reassuring to feel like my children won’t grow up in quiet such an indoctrinated society.