Description
'The door creaks open and standing in the entrance is my absolute worst nightmare. Perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect brain. Perfect sneer. Evelyn Tait.' Impulsive Lottie - heavy-metal fan, expert tomato-grower and frequent visitor to the principal's office - is in even more trouble than usual.
Her best friend Grace has dropped an unlikely bombshell: she's dating Lottie's mortal enemy, good-girl Evelyn Tait. Studious Jude, the boy next door, has the perfect war plan. Lottie will beat Evelyn at her own good-girl game, unveiling Miss Perfect's sinister side in the process.
Taking life more seriously starts as fun, but soon offers its own rewards... so long as Lottie can manage gorgeous Sebastian's sudden interest, Jude acting weird, and the discovery that she might actually be good at something. 'Taking Down Evelyn Tait' is a story about family, friends and embracing who you are. Even if that person is kind of weird.
Review
Set a year after Lottie’s family dynamics change dramatically, bringing with them the ‘perfect’ Evelyn Tait, who is suddenly living in Lottie’s house (and even worse, her bedroom). But straight away Lottie is sure that Evelyn is a master manipulator, who is fooling everyone.
Lottie is constantly in trouble at school and is fast becoming sick of being compared (always poorly) to Evelyn. But then her next door neighbour, Jude, suggests that Lottie lift her game and prove to everyone that Evelyn is not all she seems.
Even worse, now Lottie’s best friend Grace is falling for Evelyn - or is this just another one of Evelyn’s plans to get at Lottie? With the boy of her dreams showing a lot of interest and Jude acting very weird, will Lottie ever find love, or even begin to understand where to look for it?
Filled with all of the drama associated with growing up - friendship, family dynamics, loyalty and relationships, while learning to find your place in the world, Taking Down Evelyn Tait is an ideal novel for all teenagers, and will most appeal to secondary aged girls.
Reviewed by Rob
