Think again

My Review of Think Again by Jacqueline Wilson

I’ll admit, I fell asleep three times trying to get through this book, and I came away feeling disappointed. The story felt immature, predictable, and far removed from the depth I expected.

Ellie, who was once so driven and ambitious in her teens, is now a single mother living in a council flat after a one-night stand. While that might reflect some people’s reality, it didn’t feel authentic to her character. It’s hard to believe someone so practical wouldn’t take precautions or at least consider the morning-after pill.

Nadine and Magda, once such dynamic and central figures, were reduced to side characters with little purpose. Nadine’s arc of casual flings, including a disturbing choking incident with a stranger, felt unresolved and hollow. Meanwhile, Magda’s story about navigating her new partner’s disapproving children lacked depth and focus. Neither of their stories tied into Ellie’s in any meaningful way, which made their inclusion feel pointless.

The storyline about Ellie’s relationship with her ex-teacher was downright disturbing. The fact that they slept together and that he referred to her as his “favourite” back when she was a student was incredibly unsettling. What made it worse was how no other character called out how creepy or inappropriate this was—it was presented as just another part of the story. It left me feeling sick and deeply concerned that such a dynamic wasn’t properly scrutinized within the narrative.

The portrayal of men in this book also felt one-sided. Ellie’s father, who offered her money to help improve her living situation, was written as overbearing and controlling, even though he seemed to genuinely care. Her ex-teacher was similarly portrayed as manipulative and unlikeable, but his flaws didn’t feel any worse than what plenty of women are capable of. Ellie, however, came across as ungrateful and immature for someone nearing forty.

Her sudden realisation of her attraction to women felt rushed and unconvincing, as if it was thrown in for the sake of ticking a box rather than being thoughtfully developed. Why couldn’t one of the characters find happiness in a meaningful, stable relationship?

The book didn’t feel like it was written for the original fans of the series. It lacked the charm and relatability of Jacqueline Wilson’s earlier works, and it didn’t reflect strong millennial women in a way that resonated. Nadine’s and Magda’s shallow storylines, Ellie’s poor decisions, and the creepy teacher-student dynamic made the whole thing hard to stomach.

Ellie honestly seemed more mature as a teenager than she does now. The story lacked emotional depth and left me questioning who the intended audience was supposed to be. It’s not one I’ll be revisiting, and sadly, I’d struggle to recommend it to anyone else.