The Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge By Clare Strahan

Vanessa (Van) Partridge is curious about the idea of having sex. But she can't tell anyone. And no one would believe her anyway - because everyone knows she's a goody-two-shoes. But over the summer holidays, Van rebels and everything changes.

At first it feels like delicious freedom as she explores her independence, practising her favourite cello pieces, reconnecting with her long-time summer friend Kelsey and exploring her attraction to environmental activist Bodhi.

But when her sense of self is shaken, Van wrestles with issues of desire and consent, and the questions that have been plaguing her all along… Can someone with sensible plaits and an interest in philosophy really be a raving sex-o-maniac? And if they are, is there anything wrong with that?

The Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge is a funny and warm coming-of-age novel about love, sex, friendship, family, and finding your voice.

'A wonderfully original voice and an irresistible protagonist who captures the complex, hilarious, and messy inner life of girls. Witty, funny and heartbreaking - I wished I could lean into the pages and give Vanessa a hug.' - Melissa Keil The Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge

Clare Strahan ✓ 3 free read

4.5 stars

This obviously brought a whole heap of topical topics into it at the same time of a teenage rom-com childhood-breaking story.

The only thing was that it lacked her thoughts and opinions. It doesn't seem like it, because Van is just such a strong personality, but during times when you'd think she wouldn't get over something for weeks, or even just go ah, shit, this is terrible at the time, she doesn't. Like when she falls over, does a stupidly terrible speech, and then shows her massive undies to the entire school (I was getting Georgia Nicholson vibes there), including Darith, she doesn't even think about it a few hours later. And not on purpose. A normal teenager would go hide in their bed for the summer..... Especially if they knew all the other stuff would happen.

This book was just told with such wit and endearing originality that I loved it.
Especially since (excuse me if my calculations are a little off) they mentioned: Bowie 5 times; Patti Smith once; Prince twice; The Mighty Boosh twice; and probably some others I have forgotten because I was too wrapped up in the last third of the plot. English I was so disappointed in this book. The premise is filled with so much potential, and, personally, something unusual but perfectly necessary in YA. If you're not into a detailed review; don't bother reading this book. It isn't worth your time. But alas. I must waffle on.

Unfortunately, the book was executed pretty poorly. The characters were snooty and privileged - and even when countered with it, didn't really approach that with any real empathy/sympathy or intellect. And sure, they're 15. But if you're going to bring it up, Strahan should've implemented some character growth. That was few and far between. I felt the references to composers was clumsy and often very showy, the use of 'rare' words was simply unlikely. It's pretentious, and any teenager in 2018 caught saying those things would be laughed at. And Vanessa's habit of spewing random facts? I've only ever seen that happen with fictional characters. That trope annoys the hell out of me.

Ultimately, the book lightly followed what it promises in the blurb. Really, it has so many tangental branches that are never fulfilled. While I appreciate the effort to integrate issues of sexuality, race, environmentalism, familial relationships and platonic relationships, it was done clumsily. I think Strahan should've stuck with Vanessa developing her sexuality.
An aside: Vanessa wasn't a terribly likeable character, but she's made out to be. I felt she was incredibly pretentious and self-righteous, and didn't really ever confront that (until the very end when discussing Aboriginal issues with Darith - but that was a mere paragraph, if less). This bothered me, because it did seem like she had gone through a revolutionary experience.
The true 'climax', I believe, was her sexual assault/attempted rape. I felt it was a bit cheap to lump this under her developing sexuality, because it was made out to be a positive journey. There were interspersed moments of her discovering sex, but it was nearly all negative until the final few pages. Whilst holistically realistic - negative sexual experiences, that is - I felt Strahan sold the book a very different way.

What was more 'important' than Vanessa's sexuality was the environmental problems / governmental cheating plot. It started as a subplot then became, well, the entire plot. It seemed rushed and slightly strange, to have a full government scheme in a YA novel that was supposed to be about sexuality. What was worse? It was resolved in a matter of lines by her father apologising. Though, it wasn't really, because that loose end was never truly tied up; the whole plan may have gone ahead, who knows.

Overall, completely disappointing. I think there is ample space for YA novels with female protagonists who are discovering their sexualities, which are well-written, not ridiculously ambitious and are clean, sharp and timely. This book completely missed the mark. Had potential, but had so many threads that remained untied that the plot was falling apart at the seams. English Wonderful, marvellous, funny, sad, gripping, cathartic...

Great characters, who I feel very strongly about. I love Van; I want to slap her dad; I'd happily watch her brother Ash and his friend Darith play cricket or go swimming...

Beautiful settings - the elegant splendour of Shearwater house, the sand dunes (poor Tim!), the cliffs, the ocean, the funny little caravan park...

I love how the book raises lots of questions in the most natural way, because they're part of life and Van is full of thoughts and feelings. And it gives the reader (and Van) enough resolution but without pretending there are easy answers. English Beautifully written and absolutely engaging and funny. I loved every bit of this book.
Is one I would highly recommend every 14/15+ year old teenager to read.

Deals with a lot of issues and the author has managed to weave it all together extremely well. I loved Van, and related to her on a huge level. And all the background characters were really well filled out and very multi dimensional. English I have to admit, this novel did not make a huge impact on me and I struggled to finish it. It is being pitched at the level of a somewhat younger YA reader, probably someone in middle school would have enjoyed the novel more than I did.⁣
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There was so much potential for a great plot but unfortunately the book was poorly executed. The characters were snooty and privileged and showed very little signs of growth. While I appreciate the effort to integrate issues of sexuality, race, environmentalism, familial and platonic relationships, it was done clumsily. I think Strahan should've stuck with Vanessa developing her sexuality and not included anything about sexual assault or the governenment scheme.⁣
⁣ English

I loved this. By that I mean, I entirely and utterly loved this.

English If only I had Vanessa to learn from in those giddy dark age days when I had so much to learn about boys and sex and the whole damn thing (God knows, Sweet Dreams never covered this territory!). This is a thought provoking novel that covers issues of consent. There's an early experience for Van which is kind of an experiment that goes too far and I think that's something many young women will relate to. I loved the music sub-plot. And as my 16-year-old daughter would say Darith (the crush) sounded like an absolute BAE (that's Before Anyone Else). Also, liked the sub-plot of Mum's mental breakdown - something many teenagers must have to grapple with. A great read! English

You just have to be you.

English A novel written by an Australian author, The Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge follows Van, a high school student who is exploring her sense of self and the different relationships around her including friends and family.

I have to admit, this novel did not make a huge impact on me- I can hardly remember most of the story now that I'm writing this review a month or so after I read the book. I remember it feeling as if it was being pitched at the level of a somewhat younger YA reader, probably someone in high school would have enjoyed the novel more than I did. Good thing I filled out my ratings at the time I read the novel, because I honestly wouldn't currently be able to accurately rate the novel.

Ratings
Overall: 5/10
Plot: 3/5
Romance: 2.5/5
Writing: 3/5
Characters: 2/5
Cover: 3/5 English I really enjoyed this book, well written with humour while exploring serious issues. My review will appear on the Reading Time website. English