Product Description

An official tie-in novel to Channel 4's streetwise teen soap; As If is a ground-breaking series following the everyday lives of a group of London's teenagers, as they grow up in the 21st century's complex times. This is a brilliantly scripted, street-wise teen drama, that is already a major feature of T4 in its first series. The book would tie in to the second series and will be a fullcast novelisation, elaborating on the sometimes comic, sometimes serious, stories from the series, and covering many of the issues faced by teenagers today. This is a British Dawson's Creek: more grungey, more eclectic and more real.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #654954 in Books
• Published on: 2002-02-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Review
Two official tie-in novels with Channel Four's new teenage soap series that follows a group of London teenagers as they grow up in the complex world of the 21st century. The books will feature a full cast novelisation and elaborate on the sometimes comic, sometimes serious storylines that cover many of the issues facing teenagers today.

Excerpted from As If: Nicki's Secrets by Mary Hooper. Copyright © 2002. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Je suis Serge
The music’s loud, the man is French and gorgeous and I tell you, I’m really up for it. He’s talking to Sooz for a bit and then she goes off and I think – now.

Hook that guy (Tip 2)
I deliberately turn my back on him. I wriggle – just a little – swaying to the music. Then I rub the back of my neck, up and down, up and down…

He comes over.
Quelle surprise.

He can’t speak much English but who needs words? He has the most expressive eyes I’ve ever seen.

He burrows his nose into my neck and we play a little game of Guess the Perfume. So French! Imagine finding an English guy who can tell Gaultier from Goat.

We start dancing. Dirty dancing.
After a few moments I look at Serge enquiringly. I’m wondering what the French is for ‘You’re really doing it for me.’ But I think he’s got the message anyway. He gives me a sexy smile and we go upstairs.
Limpet
I have a new top. It’s got little coloured beads on it and is probably the most gorgeous top in the world. I am just admiring it hugely when the doorbell goes.
I know it’s Louise (more commonly known as Limpet because of her habit of attaching herself when she’s not wanted) and I know she’s going to have a go at me. She was at the party where I made the French Connection. I rather abandoned her when I set eyes on Serge. For a moment I think about hiding, but then decide I’d better get it over with.
She starts on me immediately. Apparently I don’t think about anyone except myself, I put down my friends and – biggest sin – do not espouse values of sisterhood.
‘You upset Sooz by barging in on the French guy, and then just left me wandering about on my own all night!’ she says.
I’m offended. ‘What d’you mean? I didn’t know Sooz was after him. If she fancied a bit of French, why didn’t she say?’
‘I came up and tried to tell you, but you were practically doing it on the dance floor by then!’
‘Yeah, it did get a bit heavy,’ I say. I drift off, thinking about Serge and the interesting time we had under the coats on the spare room bed.
She’s still glaring at me. In a moment of weakness I ask what I can do to make it up to her. She looks at my new top and I think, No! I don’t want to make it up that much.
But yes, the top is what she wants. She puts it on and I have to say, it doesn’t look nearly as good on her as it does on me. I think she must go to a chain store for her underwear. Still, as no one ever sees it, that’s probably good enough.
We go to the café. Sooz and Jamie are there. He really does seem to have got over me.

Hook that guy (Tip 3)
I do the leg twine: slide onto a stool at the bar, cross my knees and then absent-mindedly stroke my calf and let my shoe half fall off.
Jamie doesn’t notice!
I say sorry to Sooz for moving in on Serge. ‘I didn’t realize you liked him,’ I say.
She shakes her piercings at me. ‘Nicki, you’re so shallow,’ she says.
I don’t reply. Shallow? I’m doing four A-levels, for God’s sake.
Outside, I see Alex getting out of some guy’s car. Some gorgeous guy’s car. Must be Dan, I suppose. How come all the decent blokes are gay?

Customer Reviews

Funny and raunchy
I loved this! It sounds just like naughty Nicki talking. OK, it's mainly the story of the first series but I missed some so it was just what I wanted. But it's got some extra bits about Nicki as well, and these really made me laugh. The other book, LOVE HURTS is great, too. Hope there's going to be two more books for the second series.

As if...
This book was disappointing compared to the TV series. It didn't really have a main story line, and ended rather abruptly.
It seemed to just be a re-write of series one, with not many extra bits. But, having said all of that, this book is OK if you just want a light read, but don't expect it to make you want to turn the page.