'Geek Girl': Netflix brings Holly Smale's beloved novel to life with star-studded cast and captivating plot
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Geek Girl,' an upcoming Netflix series starring Emily Carey, Sarah Parish, Emmanuel Imani, and Liam Woodrum in pivotal roles, is based on the novel of the same name by Holly Smale.
'Geek Girl' follows the story of Harriet Manners (Emily Carey), a geeky teenager who has always wanted to remain invisible to other people's eyes.
Her life takes an unexpected turn when she catches the eye of a modeling agent during a school trip to London Fashion Week.
Harriet, who is more comfortable with books than fashion, suddenly finds herself thrust into the glamorous world of modeling.
The highly anticipated 'Geek Girl' is set to premiere on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
Netflix's 'Geek Girl' brings Holly Smale's popular novel to the screen
'Geek Girl' is the debut novel by Holly Smale, first published in 2013. Swiftly gaining acclaim, it clinched the Waterstones Children's Book Prize in the Teen category in 2014, followed by the Leeds Book Award in the 11-14 category in the same year.
The success of 'Geek Girl' marked the beginning of a beloved book series, with Smale continuing to explore the adventures of Harriet in subsequent novels. Smale released 'Model Misfit' later in 2013, carrying forward Harriet's journey in the modeling world.
The book series expanded with 'Picture Perfect' in 2014, where Harriet encountered new challenges and growth. Then, in 2015, Smale published 'All That Glitters,' delving even deeper into Harriet's personal and professional life.
The series continued with 'Head Over Heels' in 2016, where Harriet's adventures took another thrilling turn. Wrapping up the main storyline, 'Forever Geek' was released in 2017, providing a satisfying conclusion to Harriet's journey.
Additionally, Smale wrote several novellas, including 'Geek Drama' (2015), 'All Wrapped Up' (2015), and 'Sunny Side Up' (2016), offering fans deeper insights into Harriet's world.
'Geek Girl,' Smale's debut novel, narrates the tale of Harriet, a socially awkward 15-year-old English girl with a small circle of friends. With her extensive knowledge of obscure facts and a love for all things geeky, Harriet has always stood out among her peers.
Harriet's life takes a surprising turn when she catches the eye of a modeling agent, propelling her into overnight stardom within the fashion industry.
Moreover, she also has a supermodel boyfriend, bringing both excitement and pressure to her life. However, despite her success, at school, she continues to be bullied by her classmates, especially by one who is particularly determined to make her life difficult.
After facing various hardships, including the pressures of sudden fame, the challenges of balancing her modeling career with her personal life, and the relentless bullying at school, Harriet ultimately finds solace with her boyfriend.
In January 2023, Netflix announced that they had given a series order to adapt Smale's debut novel, 'Geek Girl,' into a 10-part series.
The series stars Emily Carey as Harriet Manners, Sarah Parish as Jude Paignton, Emmanuel Imani as Wilbur Evans, Liam Woodrum as Nick Park, Zac Looker as Toby Pilgrim, Tim Downie as Richard Manners, and Jemima Rooper as Annabel Manners.
The adaptation is highly anticipated, with many looking forward to seeing how the beloved characters and storylines would be interpreted for the series.
Is 'Geek Girl' based on a true story?
'Geek Girl' is partially based on Smale's own experiences as a teenage model, with some of the novel's more dramatic scenes rooted in real-life events.
Drawing from her background, Smale infuses the story with authentic details and emotions, offering readers a genuine glimpse into the world of modeling through the lens of her protagonist, Harriet.
At the age of fifteen, Smale was spotted by a top London fashion agency, marking the start of her journey as a teenage model.
However, her journey in the modeling world was far from smooth sailing; for two years, she often felt like a misfit, struggling with the intense pressures of the industry.
After graduating with a Master's degree in Shakespeare Studies, she decided to transition full-time to writing.
It was during this period of transition that she wrote her debut novel, 'Geek Girl,' drawing inspiration from her own experiences as a teenager and model.
How to stream 'Geek Girl'?
'Geek Girl' will be available to stream on Netflix starting Thursday, May 30. To watch the series, viewers will need to have a Netflix membership.
Don't have a Netflix subscription? Worry not! We have got you covered.
Netflix offers several membership plans to choose from. The basic plan, which includes ads, starts at $6.99 per month.
For an ad-free experience, viewers can opt for the standard plan, priced at $15.49 per month.
The premium plan, which offers additional features such as Ultra HD streaming and the ability to watch on multiple screens simultaneously, is priced at $22.99 per month.
Members can enjoy unlimited access to a wide range of shows, movies, and original content, including 'Geek Girl,' as part of their Netflix subscription.
'Geek Girl' trailer