I read a good review of the sequel to this book, The Stars in the Bright Sky, so picked this up at my local library. It was a good read and well written. Like Irvine Welsh, Warner uses Scottish slang which forces the reader to take their time reading it (well, readers who aren't Scottish). It also meant that I really felt like I was watching the events described as a bystander.

The plot focuses on a group of Catholic schoolgirls who are off to sing in a singing competition in a big city (probably Edinburgh) but who manage to engage in underage sex and drinking to a mindboggling extent before well and truly losing the competition. At times I questioned Warner's right to tell the story of sex-mad teenage girls and I did feel uncomfortable with some of the plot throughout, but generally it was a gripping read and I would like to read the sequel. ( )

A book about the adventures and lives of a group of late teenage girls, out on a wild spree in the Scottish capital. The story rattles along, but the book is some much more than the hilarious language and scrapes the main group of characters get into. It's also about life in a small town, the ambitions (or lack of), and without sounding too cheesy the coming of age of the protagonists. The heavy scottish brogue is a little tricky at first, but then feels so right for the book. Laugh out loud with quite a few tender observations too. ( )

Very good book about early adulthood. Not the best book by the author, but still very readable. ( )

i enjoyed this coming of age story about a group of high school girls. The end is still shocking as well as some scenes. but it's great. ( )