Tag: chick lit

YA

Review: Girl Online by Zoe Sugg and Siobhan Curham

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Girl Online #1

girl online -zoe suggI had no idea GirlOnline would take off the way it has – I can’t believe I now have 5432 followers, thanks so much! – and the thought of opening up to you all about this is terrifying, but here goes…

Penny has a secret.

Under the alias GirlOnline, she blogs about school dramas, boys, her mad, whirlwind family – and the panic attacks she’s suffered from lately. When things go from bad to worse, her family whisks her away to New York, where she meets the gorgeous, guitar-strumming Noah. Suddenly Penny is falling in love – and capturing every moment of it on her blog.

But Noah has a secret too. One that threatens to ruin Penny’s cover – and her closest friendship – forever.

3.5 Drink Me Potions

Girl Online started off really slowly, to be honest. Penny Porter was first introduced as someone who could be klutzy, says all the wrong things when she’s around guys, and suffers from panic attacks from a car accident she was in. I like that there was an effort to introduce us into this girl’s life, but come on! I was waiting desperately for the appearance of Noah in New York (and it took a while to get there).

However, once in New York, the pace picked up a bit. There were many sweet moments between Noah and Penny, and I found it lovely to see how he seemed to accept and even enjoy the quirks that Penny was so embarrassed of. I was originally going to rate this a 3 stars at most, but their romantic night together before she left back to the UK was way too cute to not enjoy. Think fairy lights wrapped inside a tent with a picnic set out on comfy cushions within. Doesn’t that just sound swoon-worthy? And with a guy who looks like Noah does.

As the blurb implies, there’s something that Noah is keeping from Penny throughout their time together in New York. And ya know what? It’s like the most OBVIOUS secret ever. What with the few clues that were dropped into the story, I’m surprised Penny herself couldn’t figure it out. So don’t think that plot “twist” is going to be even somewhat surprising.

My favourite part would definitely be the actual blog pieces that Penny wrote as Girl Online. They are actually great topics that is relevant to anyone, and I can really see people responding to such a personality on the internet. It’s totally obvious that the author has experience blogging (or should I say, vlogging?). Either way, I LOVED them, and they tied the story together very well.

All I can say is, Girl Online is a fun read that’s not meant to be surprising or unpredictable. The whole plot pretty much went the way I thought it would. However, it’s the way the authors wrote it that kept it enjoyable. And for once, it’s a nice change of pace to see a protagonist have such a healthy relationship with her family, and with parents who still clearly love each other very much.

Overall Recommendation:
Girl Online is basically everything that one would expect of the book from reading its blurb. Romantic, possible heartbreak from a hidden secret, and a really hot (but mostly such a sweet!) American guy. For a debut novel by a vlogger (with the help of other writers), it was very enjoyable. With a loveable, supporting family and set in the gorgeous backdrop of Manhattan, this romance story takes a while to dive into the fun but trust me, it’s worth the wait. And in between, it may teach you a life lesson or two about facing your fears, toxic friendships and finding yourself.

YA

Review: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Superlatives #2

perfect couple -jennifer echolsPerfect Couple is #2 in the Superlatives series about seniors at a Florida high school who are selected for their class’s superlative categories in the yearbook, and how the labels change the way they view themselves and alter the course of their lives.

Can your heart be put to a popular vote?

As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for capturing those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents’ bitter divorce has left her wondering what a loving relationship would look like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody the “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been on her case to ask Brody out.

Brody doesn’t lack in female admirers, but Harper can’t see herself with him. He seems confused about why they were matched together, too. They’re total opposites—the last people in the world who would ever be compatible, let alone the “perfect couple.” Yet ever since the class paired the two of them, they’ve found themselves drawn together–first by curiosity, then by an undeniable bond.

The trouble is, though they’re very attracted to each other and both of them admit this, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating clearly. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But after they walk away, both of them feel so changed from making the effort that they can’t forget each other. What if that means this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?

2.5 Drink Me Potions

I had a lot higher hopes for Perfect Couple after reading its predecessor, Biggest Flirts. Cute and slightly erratic football player paired up with the yearbook photographer who’s his total opposite in every way? Sounds intriguing with a room full of potentially sweet moments in the plot.

It didn’t really happen that way.

First off, I’ve never really read any of Jennifer Echols’ writing before this series. I can honestly say, it may just be her writing style that doesn’t quite mix well with me.

Oh, and the anti-climatic way she ends her books. This is 2 of 2 so far where I felt the end could’ve gone better. It left me with this dissatisfied taste in my mouth. The way the two protagonists, Brody and Harper, had ‘got back together’ after their big fight within like, 20 pages or less because that was where the book ended, was so rushed. Honestly. Suddenly everything was okay again between them? That was the question floating through my head the moment I realized I had reached the last page. Followed by “And then what?!” . How are they going to be able to work out their obvious differences THIS time? I wouldn’t know…at least until I read the next book I guess.

I did feel a little happier that the tension between the protagonists of Biggest Flirts were somewhat smoothed out in this book. At least there was the resolution I had wanted to see at the END of the PREVIOUS book. Was it too much to ask that it would’ve been placed in a book where those characters were actually central to the plot? I sure hope not. So this little taste of their new relationship there helped quench something at least.

What I will give kudos to Echols for is the ability to create such flawed characters. Brody isn’t necessarily some sweet and charming popular boy who suddenly would do anything for the shy and slightly quirky girl he’s falling for. Nope. Not that kind of Prince Charming ideal here. He has no concerns at all for his own safety, tending to dive head in to any situation without too much thought about it. He also doesn’t “cheat” on girls because he doesn’t quite consider himself with any girl. So he can do whatever he wants and not feel bad about it.

Harper was a quirky in the beginning, wearing retro-style glasses and clothes that she handsewn together for herself. Then over time, she starts wearing more “normal” clothes like a t-shirt and shorts or a bikini and contacts to…I’m not sure still. To impress Brody? That was the rumour around school, but I don’t even know why she ended up sticking to her new style. It’s not that I don’t like her change in fashion sense, but Echols didn’t make her as the kind of protagonist who’d ALWAYS be a little unique. Harper wasn’t perfect either, even if it meant changing a little of what she thought made her her and into something more like the other girls.

Either way, I think it’s nice to see imperfect characters come to realize their imperfections and work it out together. I think the storyline could’ve gone better and definitely come up with a better ENDING. Other than that, it was an average book in a genre that is full of similar plots that were probably executed better.

Overall Recommendations:
Possibly going into the book with far too high of an expectation, Perfect Couple isn’t a story where two total opposites magically find themselves falling for each other. Echols kept it realistic with two rather flawed characters trying to figure out if they were meant to be when they had such HUGE differences in their way.

It wasn’t a perfect book, nor was the ending satisfactory at all. It felt way too rushed, like Echols wanted to get rid of the climax and quickly complete the story on a somewhat happy note. There just wasn’t any true resolution of the problems that Brody and Harper faced. The plot could’ve been written better. Either way, I can say I’m not a huge fan of Jennifer Echols’ writing style, but the book was still somewhat enjoyable for an idle afternoon of reading.

YA

Review: Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Superlatives #1

biggest flirts -jennifer echolsTia and Will’s lives get flipped upside down when they’re voted Yearbook’s Biggest Flirts in this sassy novel from the author of Endless Summer and The One That I Want.

Tia just wants to have fun. She’s worked hard to earn her reputation as the life of the party, and she’s ready for a carefree senior year of hanging out with friends and hooking up with cute boys. And her first order of business? New guy Will. She can’t get enough of his Midwestern accent and laidback swagger.

As the sparks start to fly, Will wants to get serious. Tia’s seen how caring too much has left her sisters heartbroken, and she isn’t interested in commitment. But pushing Will away drives him into the arms of another girl. Tia tells herself it’s no big deal…until the yearbook elections are announced. Getting voted Biggest Flirts with Will is, well, awkward. They may just be friends, but their chemistry is beginning to jeopardize Will’s new relationship—and causing Tia to reconsider her true feelings. What started as a lighthearted fling is about to get very complicated…

2.5 Drink Me Potions

Biggest Flirts had such a huge potential for me to love it. I love stories where the least likeliest people find out that they can be more than what their surface selves are like, and see that they’re meant for each other.

Tia had just met Will, the New Guy. Now, Tia is a rather strong protagonist. She is very open with boys and looks forward to hook ups rather than relationships. She absolutely gets terrified of any position of authority and tries her best to weasel out of them. She’s smart, but only lets it come out when she’s upset and wants to “put things in order”. Like on a multiple choice test. Or cleaning out her house. It’s a different look for a main character that isn’t seen so often, plus she actually has a vivid personality that isn’t necessarily reminiscent of someone else. I didn’t have a problem with that.

Now, what I did have a problem with was the way she would string Will along. She knew he wasn’t the type of guy that only wanted meaningless hook ups. He wanted a relationship, one with her in fact, and he would do anything to chase her for a date.

Their cute flirting in the first week of school made sense, since Tia had secret feelings for him too. But NO! It didn’t matter that she herself knew she felt something…more for Will. No boyfriend. Period.

And to make things worse, when she saw him with another girl, she wasn’t making it easy on him to find someone else. Yes, Will was also at fault for still carrying feelings for her, but she turned him down. Repeatedly. A guy can only handle so much rejection, right? Apparently not Will.

So for most of the story, I’m waiting for her to admit that he’s the exception she should make in her no-boyfriend rule. It was torturous though! It was obvious that Will loved her, but love is a scary concept for Tia Cruz.

Just when it was getting good (finally!), the story just ends. ENDS. I’m so upset at that! I feel like I didn’t have enough of the two of them, together. The flirting between them was the only highlight for me in this story. I sat in suspense for 300+ pages to find that the story stopped way too soon.

All I can say is, I hope the next book, Perfect Couple will be less torturous for me. This was a disappointment, and I literally skimmed the last bits of the book to see if my eyes were REALLY deceiving me at the way it ended.

Overall Recommendations:
What could’ve been a really good romantic story of a girl who won’t let anyone close to her heart, and a sweet new guy who had such good chemistry with her, it turned out to be a major disappointment.

Tia was a flawed and realistic girl, wonderfully made, but she literally led Will on for the longest time. Although she said no with her mouth, her body language clearly showed she wanted to say yes. Ughh, it was torturous to wait out for her decision about him, but the ending wasn’t worth that wait. It cut off the story too soon, just as it was finally getting exciting.

Biggest Flirts may just be my most disappointing read so far. Don’t carry too many expectations at the beginning and it may be somewhat decent.