Synopsis
Harriet Manner’s life is forever changed when she gets “discovered” by fashion’s number one talent scout, Wilbur Evans, on a school trip to London Fashion Week. From small-town geek to global runway model, Harriet must navigate the new world she’s thrust into while experiencing the harsh but ever-loving growing pains of being a 16-year-old girl.
Review
What a lovely surprise! I had no idea this beloved book series would become a Netflix TV show until a few days before it premiered. You can only imagine my childish scream of excitement when I saw the poster advertisement boldly displayed on the background of my Netflix profile. Talk about a blast from the past! Holly Smale’s Geek Girl series was a HUGE part of my childhood. So, of course, I had to review it!
I vividly remember reading the first instalment and loving every second of it (even the cringeworthy embarrassing moments that made me want to hide under the covers of my bed). Despite my second-hand embarrassment scale being overwhelmingly high, I still eagerly anticipated all the books that followed, which is nothing but a true testament to the fantastic writing of the author herself. Harriet Manner is a clumsy, loveable geek that you can’t help but cheer on. A true underdog that captures you to the end.
Emily Carey, who played Harriet Manner, did an amazing job embodying these traits. She was just how I imagined the character, down to her mannerisms and childlike naivety. Her endearing behaviour is her biggest attraction and is most definitely translated from page to screen. Her funny, relatable inner dialogue and nervous habit of babbling random facts reminded me of the painfully anxious early years of being a young kid trying to fit in but not quite understanding how. The show does an excellent job illustrating how difficult and demanding it is to be a teenager, much less a newly recognised model.
Cool, fashionable, and popular are not the words you would use to describe our main character. Harriet is more closely associated with being the antithesis of these qualities. She is not a stereotypical model, a fact that she and everyone around her are very aware of. Watching her stumble her way through the ups and downs of the fashion world was both entertaining and heart-warming.
The Netflix series also subtly alludes to Harriet being autistic. Her wearing headphones in class and being overly excited about random subjects are obvious signs, but in the series, she isn’t diagnosed. However, I can understand why, as it successfully avoids the possible trap of seeing Harriet through the lens of her condition rather than as an individual herself. The show also normalises autistic behaviours by not having to explicitly clarify them as we grow to love and appreciate Harriet for being her true, authentic self.
The touching moments she has with her family and friends and the charming Nick Park give Harriet the moral boots she needs to keep going. Wilbur Evans (played by Emmanuel Imani) more than lived up to his role as Harriet’s self-appointed “fairy godmother” whilst also being the funniest character on screen. His comedic timing and flair for the dramatics had me giggling non-stop. I always looked forward to seeing him on screen because, with Wilbur, you knew you were in for a good laugh!
The budding relationship between Harriet and Nick was sweet and refreshing to watch. They both exhibited the awkward, nervous, but exciting phase of teenage dating. I liked that they showcased Nick’s vulnerable side, in that he too felt just as insecure around Harriet as she did around him, despite being a handsome international model. This made their interactions even more genuine and cuter to see.
Final Thoughts
I had fun watching this book series come to life. My favourite scene is when they pay a hilarious homage to the iconic book cover image, which left the childhood fan in me grinning from ear to ear.
Netflix’s Geek Girl is a lovable teen cliché filled with drama, laughter, and a touch of romance that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy.
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