I love Geek Girl and I think this was one of the best books in the series. I loved that it was a proper ending, and brought back so many previous characters from the series, and I sobbed like a baby towards the end. It felt right that this was the end to Harriet's story, and the difference in her from the first book to this was noticeable. Brillaint finale for the Geek Girl series!

A swansong (for Ugly Ducklings) that combines the usual Harriet humour with pathos and a few surprises...

If I were still 15, I would probably be heartbroken that this is to be the last Manners books. Being the mature thirty-something (super)fan that I am, I am of course sensibly seeing this final foray into Harriet's world as what it is - a goodbye to her adolescence, to our wonderful time with her geeky, control-freak self and quirky family, and not at ALL shedding a tear for my alter-ego. Not one. Nope.

I've read every novel, novella and supplementary Harriet-produced piece of writing Smale has cared to send out into the world. Harriet has been one of the most refreshing and relatable characters I've come across in my twenty years of reading Young Adult fiction, and while I'm very sorry to be losing her, I'm just thrilled that she's out in the world of fiction still, and that this last book ties up her story and leaves us all with happy memories and a feeling (for me at least) of contentment and satisfaction.

I doubt anyone reading this book won't have read the rest, so won't need a recap on the last two years of Harriet's life. Picking up soon after the events of the last book, Harriet and Nat are off to Australia for a holiday/potential modelling assignment, with Bunty, the irrepressible and one-of-a-kind grandmother we all want to know.

But of course, we all know who hails from Oz, don't we? And just how will Harriet and new kind-of-boyfriend Jasper cope with a few continents and time zones between them? And can the recently matured Harriet continue her good work and make this adventure worthwhile for her best friend as well as herself?

We have the expected bungles, random (amazing!) facts, disasters, best-friends-forever scenes, cameos from the best agent ever (Wilbur), love triangle worries, modelling scenes that don't go to plan, the Manners family being one of the best fictional families with not enough page time, and this time we also have an added dimension. I saw the ending coming, but it certainly didn't make it any less poignant. I definitely peeled onions while reading this as well.

A more grown-up Harriet bids us farewell at the end of Forever Geek than the one we've known for the past five or more outings. She's almost ready for the adult world, she knows more clearly who she is (and it's someone to be proud of), and she's not ashamed of her quirks and foibles. Smale has built a wonderful gallery of supporting characters around her as well, from Toby and Rin to the most chilled Dad in the universe and it looks like Harriet has finally learned to both accept them all and want to reciprocate their love and support.

This is a wonderful last fling for Harriet, she's not changed at heart, but has grown up. And though this may be the end, I do wish Smale would revisit Miss Manners in a few years - I want to know where she is after University, what her family are up to, Nat and her other friends. I want to see a Geek at large in the world, shining her own light and inspiring others around her (as well as annoying them).

The book manages to do a written 'montage' of the highlights of the series, with several characters from previous books brought in, even for just a few scenes, bringing it all together (not too subtlely, but it was nice to see them again).

There's also a lovely note, a tribute almost, from Holly Smale at the end, to her creation, a very personal piece of the author if not a portrait of herself.

Lovely series finale. A fantastic series for those of us who have always felt a little different, awkward and apart. Farewell Harriet, I'll miss you.

With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy.

This is it. We’ve been waiting for a whole year, and it’s finally time to finish our beloved Geek Girl series. To say that we were overjoyed to receive this is an understatement. Geek Girl is one of the books that we’re always recommending, and the fact that we’ve re-read the whole series (some of the books multiple times) proves its staying power as one of our favourite series of all time. Forever Geek had a lot of hype to live up to and a lot of expectations to fulfil and both things we think Holly Smale did perfectly. We dare you to find a Harriet fan who isn’t going to be satisfied by all that unfolds in this final book!

PLOT
We knew from the end of Head Over Heels that Harriet was heading out to Australia, part of one of the only continents she was yet to visit. What made the trip so special is that, this time, she was going with her very Best Friend, Nat! It was so lovely to see the two together for such a long time, because their friendship (and unexpected common interest in fashion) is what started the series to begin with.

There’s modelling, a whacking photo shoot, and the Show to End All Shows, with favourite Fleur, and not so favourite Shola and Rose returning with Harriet to the catwalk. There’s facts, lots of them, a road trip, hilarious moments from Annabel and Richard, the return of Toby and Rin’s relationship, which is as strong as ever, and the endearing Bunty acting as chaperone. All the things you’d expect to find in a Geek Girl story, you’ve got here.

This time, there’s a little hint of sadness closing in on Harriet, and that was a new emotion for us readers. During the re-read, we’ve been generally overjoyed with everything that’s happened, but this time the emotional depth of the story is strong. Seriously, we read this whole book on a train, and were crying in public for the last 40 pages, and not just because it’s the end of an era. This is what makes Forever Geek worthy of five stars, because it unlocked that next level emotion I really wasn’t expecting from a series we know we can turn to for belly-laughs.

CHARACTERS
What we really loved about Forever Girl was that there were so many opportunities for Harriet to regress, and instead, she grew. She and Nat have a few fights over the management of her social media, but disasters are always nipped in the bud before they can become full blown catastrophes.

It wouldn’t be a Geek Girl book is Harriet didn’t pretend to be someone she wasn’t, be in Queen Elizabeth I or The Perfect Model, but this time, her facts and insanely cool dance moves (read: adorably lame dance moves) work in her favour.

What we loved the most about this, though, was how it felt like every character had come full circle. Toby was still a polar bear in a rainforest, but this time he had an extremely kawaii girlfriend who loves any kind of bear. Nick was still Harriet’s biggest fan (in a completely cool, slightly aloof, endearing way). Nat knew exactly what she was getting into with Harriet’s modelling past. It feels so great to have read nine books about Harriet and co., and to feel so fulfilled and satisfied by their journeys throughout is quite a feat.

ROMANCE
Australia, as all fans will know, is also where Nick, Harriet’s main love interest, is from. After the events of Picture Perfect, Nick and Harriet were no longer together, and in Head Over Heels, Harriet got a new potential love interest, Jasper. The question on everyone’s lips was whether Harriet had really got over her feelings for Nick, and whether the perfect couple would get back together.

Now, we promise not to spoil anything, but the romantic decisions that Harriet makes are all properly justified by her previous actions and current feelings. We think that the way Harriet deals with other people is one of the ways she’s matured the most throughout the series, and in Forever Geek, she shows real empathy for those she loves. One of the most iconic moments in the series was the Mount Fuji shoot, where Nick and Harriet are In. Love. and it was lovely to see echoes of that moment play out here.

Also important to note that Nick doesn’t actually pop up in the book until 40%, giving Harriet and Nat sufficient best-friend time. Much appreciated.

VERDICT
So, yes, how could Forever Geek get less than 5 stars from Harriet’s biggest fans? It’s not just our deep affection for Harriet that gives the final book this little constellation, but because the finale was everything we hoped it would be and more. We just hope that this isn’t the last we ever see of Harriet! If you haven’t read this series, then it’s there’s a hole in your life that needs to be filled with interesting facts and modelling adventures.

Harriet’s off to Australia and it’s got absolutely nothing to do with Lion Boy. He is out there, but so are millions of other people, what’s the chance of them being in the same place at the same time? Plus, she’s promised Wilbur she’ll do some work whilst she’s out there, that’s the point really. With Nat and Bunty at her side, what can go wrong?

No more Harriet? Waaah! There was a point in the series that I felt it was getting all too samey, and I wondered where it would go, but Holly turned it around. It’s probably the right time to end her journey but I’ll miss her.

As well as having a fantastic and much-deserved holiday with her best friend Nat, Harriet must also work out what she wants in life. Is it modelling and a jet-set career? Has she learned that fashion is more than just clothes? Is Jasper her boyfriend?

Harriet has learned some lessons along the way, even if she doesn’t get it all right all the time. Her heart is in the right place and at least she’s trying to think of others. There’s a typical misunderstanding that I think most readers will see coming but overall a really enjoyable, and immensely sad in one place, ending to a much-loved series.

Brilliant ending to the series. Will look forward to recommending this book (and all the other geek girl books) to teenagers.

I was so glad to have the chance to read the last Geek Girl book, thank you Harper Collins! I started with the usual mix of trepidation, because I think that's how you should read Geek Girl. Harriet is the sort of person who does get herself into inordinate amounts of trouble, makes terrible decisions, and leaves you wondering which bits are going to come right and which bits aren't (because they don't always, and I appreciate that Holly Smale doesn't always smooth things over for Harriet, even if it mostly works out OK). The final instalment starts very soon after the last one finishes, with Harriet and Nat jetting off to Oz with Bunty. I don't want to do spoilers, but let's just say that I liked the way Nat manages to get a shot despite Harriet's well meaning, but disastrous meddling, and the way Harriet's relationships get themselves in order (I wasn't impressed with the way the Lion Boy situation was left, much better now!)? I knew from early on how it was going to end, but that didn't really matter because I still spent a lot of the book cringing over my expectations of how Harriet was going to break some fake news of her own at probably the worst imaginable time! the last few chapters were poignant and lovely too. A great end to an enjoyable YA series.

So I am so excited to review this book! Thanks to the publishers, for sending me a copy, I have finished reading the whole Geek Girl series including the two specials Holly also released.

In this book, we are taken with sixteen year old Harriet, her best friend Nat and her grandma Bunty, to the sunny side of the world; Australia! After a funny scene at the airport upon arrival in Sydney involving Harriet and a way too heavy suitcase for any girl to lift, they find themselves staying in a stunning hotel much to their surprise after who booked it and what it's called.

With promises of time to relax and enjoy the culture, as per Harriet's love of facts, as well as allowing her time to partake in modelling jobs of which there are some surprises in store as another modelling job includes some unexpected events!

Whilst in Australia, Harriet also hatches plans with Nat to help her get her big fashion breakthrough by ensuring team JINTH, aka all their usual friends back home in England have set up social media accounts for Nat and her fashion business and after a slow start, a chance meeting and full fashion flair outfits on display to many open mouthed witnesses, Nat may just get her fashions out there. Possibly after a Harriet based disaster first!

This book features the usual Harriet facts about the random and amazing world, hilarious scenes unimaginable before reading the book and just who will Harriet end up with? Lion boy Nick or Jasper from home?

It's sad to say goodbye to such a brilliant series but whatever Holly writes next is sure to be as crazily fun and addictive, never mind as stunningly successful as this glittering, adventure filled series has been!

I would have loved this if I was 12 years old. that isn't a put down, it's just an acknowledgement that I am not in the target demographic. I've enjoyed all the books in this series that I have read (Geek Girl, Head over Heels, and Geek Forever), and I think Geek Forever brings the series to a satisfying conclusion. Harriet is still completely mad, but she has learnt a few lessons along the way. I'd ha[[ily recommend this to readers between the ages of 12 and whatever age a readers stops wanting to read lighthearted fun fiction with a tiny message - be yourself.

I'm sad to leave Harriet's world behind. Having read the previous 5 novels, 2 novellas and the World Book Day book I feel I know her pretty well by now. In Forever Geek Harriet is her normal ditzy, control-freak, full-of-assumptions self, but she always has the best of intentions no matter how badly her plans go (even if they are all colour coded and laminated!). She's a wonderfully strong and true character, as full of flaws as any one of us.
There were some wonderful turns of phrase and great laugh-aloud moments in this novel, but Holly Smale also has the ability to write beautifully sad scenes without being overly sentimental. Yes, I cried. And laughed. In the same sentence in fact. I don't know how that's possibly, but Holly managed it - kudos.
Forever Geek is a fitting end to a brilliant series. But I'm looking forward to seeing what Ms Smale comes up with next.

I am going to miss Harriet Manners and her gloriously geeky, intense friends so much that I spent quite a bit of this book tearing up. I have enjoyed this series so, so much despite my initial prejudice at the title and the cover. This prejudice stemmed from the fact that I spent most of my teenage years being bullied for being geeky, uncool, a swot, a bookworm etc and so my immediate reaction to the work 'geek' was a defensive one. Smale wrote this series for the teenage me though, and for the thousands of other teenage geeks out there who so badly need to be told that it's ok to be enthusiastic about things, to get things wrong and to 'be yourself'. The series has never had a heavy, moralistic feel to it though, the characters are so adorable and the situations that Harriet gets herself into so funny that you don't notice the wider 'messages' as such which is a difficult thing to pull off I think.

This final book won't disappoint the die-hard Manners fan. I can't say much about the plot without spoilers but I'll just say that she brings all of the lose ends together perfectly to my mind and I'd defy anyone to finish reading it without shedding a tear or two.

I have read all six books from 'Geek Girl' series by Holly Smale, but the last book 'Forever Geek' is definitely the best one. It made me laugh and it moved me to tears. It is the book I wish I had read being a teenager. It deals with love, friendship, family and death in very sensitive and sensible way. It teaches us many virtues and shows us that all our quirks are what we are made of, and we should be proud of them because they make us one of a kind and infinite :) I loved every bit of it! Could somebody tell me where I can buy that solar system necklace? I'm a Geek Girl. One of many, and the only one of a kind at the same time :)