For teens navigating the tricky world of friendships, crushes, and self-discovery, this witty novel offers a relatable and humorous look at growing up.
A parent might reach for this book when their early teen is navigating the shifting sands of friendship, feeling insecure, or struggling to balance fitting in with being themselves. 'LBD: It's a Girl Thing' captures the chaotic and hilarious world of three best friends starting secondary school. Their tight-knit group is tested by new social hierarchies, crushes on the same boy, and the overwhelming pressure to be 'cool.' The book brilliantly explores themes of friendship loyalty, self-identity, and jealousy with a sharp, witty voice. It’s an ideal read for ages 12 to 15, offering a humorous and validating look at the very real anxieties of growing up, reassuring readers that their feelings are normal and that true friendship can weather the storms of teen life.
Portrays intense friendship conflict, feelings of jealousy, and loneliness.
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with identity, peer pressure, and intense friendship drama. The approach is direct and realistic, framed through a humorous, first-person narrative. The resolution is hopeful and realistic: friendships are repaired, but the characters acknowledge the challenges they faced and the changes they've undergone. The focus is secular and centered on social-emotional learning.
Ideal Reader
A 12 or 13-year-old girl who just started a new school or is feeling her long-standing friend group begin to change. She might feel left out, insecure about not being "cool" enough, and confused by the new social rules of being a teenager.
Parent Prep
No specific prep needed. The language and situations (school dances, crushes, minor acts of rebellion) are very typical for the genre and age group. The book can be read cold and will likely feel very familiar to anyone who has been a young teen. The parent hears their child say something like, "My friends don't like me anymore," "She's friends with [new person] now and ignores me," or "Everyone is changing and I feel left behind."
Age Experience
A younger reader (12) will focus on the plot, the humor, and the immediate friendship drama, relating strongly to Ronnie's feelings of being left out. An older reader (14-15) might appreciate the more nuanced commentary on social dynamics, identity performance, and the satire of "coolness." They might also have more perspective on the fleeting nature of these intense dramas.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many books that focus on a singular romantic plot, this book prioritizes the complexity and importance of female friendship. Its strength is its sharp, witty, British humor and its diary-like, confessional tone which makes the protagonist's anxieties feel incredibly immediate and relatable.
Read plot summary
Three best friends, Ronnie, Fleur, and Claude (the LBD, or "Les Bonnes Dames"), start secondary school with high hopes. Their bond is immediately tested when the impossibly cool, French new girl, Sacha, arrives. Sacha befriends Fleur, creating a rift in the trio. Adding to the drama, all the girls develop a crush on the same boy, Jimi. The story follows their individual and collective struggles with jealousy, loyalty, and finding their place in a new social landscape.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ronnie feels left out when Fleur starts spending all her time with Sacha. Have you ever felt like a friend was drifting away? What did Ronnie do right, and what could she have done differently?
2
Sacha seems to have it all: she's cool, French, and everyone wants to be her friend. Why do you think the other characters were so impressed by her? Do you think she was a good friend to Fleur?
3
The LBD trio has a rule about not liking the same boy, but it gets broken. Why are crushes so complicated for friendships? How did Ronnie, Fleur, and Claude eventually handle their shared crush on Jimi?
4
At the end, Ronnie realizes that being a 'Bonne Dame' is about more than just a club. What do you think she learned about what makes a true friend?
