a nice girl that struggles to be one of the "cool ...
936012
Take a dream internship at a magazine in NYC, an eccentric Aunt and a fancy Upper East Side apartment, a nice girl that struggles to be one of the "cool girls" that cool guys would want to date and there you have it ... a splendid debut novel by Laura Stampler.
Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies is fresh, funny and absolutely entertaining.
One of the best YA of this summer!
2707088
Lena Dunham's Not That Kind of Girl was, for the most part, what I wanted "Girls" to be: A series of stories about the real life learning and reflections of a 20-something woman. Through the 3+ seasons of "Girls" I watched, I desperately wanted ANY of the female characters to reflect and actually grow; I wanted them to be demonstrations of the strong, powerful, and intelligent women I've been fortunate enough to know in my generation, rather than the stereotype of a Millennial as lazy, still living with (or off of) Mom and Dad, immature, and selfish. Sure, Dunham addresses her experiences as that Millennial in her book, but she also reflects and shows growth; she tells of her more confident moments, her feminist views, being a female director and writer who gets invited to give presentations and speeches and wins awards. Dunham's writing is lovely in this book. As she guides her reader from starting college, to losing her virginity, to that time she wasn't sure she had been raped but everybody else tells her she was, to finding out her sister is a lesbian, to entering therapy for OCD and continuing to struggle with it, and to filming and directing her own sex scenes...Dunham's words and experiences make her reader feel. As a 20-something female, I still found some moments to be selfish, underdeveloped, or irritating, but Dunham confesses these things herself right as I begin to think them. She's self-aware, for the most part, though not always.
Here's the real best par though: I got it...most of it. Most of her experiences in some way triggered a memory of my own in some way. Most of them made me feel like she understood. Most of them made me less annoyed that she's been dubbed the voice of our generation. Her moments of anguish and terror over becoming an adult were my moments of anguish and terror over becoming an adult....and sometimes I think I need that. I need to feel like someone is actually feeling this process as roughly as I am, and she does.
Not that Kind of Girl got 3 stars from me because I did just "like it." I felt it didn't quite go far enough for me, though I do think it is an important work, if for no other reason than because of Dunham's realness in describing her own experiences and the fact that it's comforting to know someone's been through similar things. Our society doesn't place enough emphasis or value on the experiences of young woman, and Dunham does.
134662
Ms Johnson starts out well but is too pleased with how much she accepts other people.  How patronizing of her as she slams others who look down on people who litter and pollute while she is just so accepting and accepted.  Starts out well but she sure becomes smug talking about others. Guess she is not so accepting afterall.
4374936
Far from the innocent girl that one would  imagine. This was a girl who deceived men and used them.  She was fortunate to get out of her situation but as I said far from the naive, innocent virgin that one expected she'd be. She could lie easily, deceive and throw her body at any man for favors.
Disappointing to see how she cunning she really was.  Not a nice character and a loose girl with no morals.  The story is not as terrifying as one would imagine as she was a manipulating and cunning person who knew exactly what she was doing and knew exactly how to get out of any situation that did not suit her.  I have read many about how these girls really suffer.... Not this one. She was too smart.
3881132
In terms of manga, I'm not that up on the sports genre, e.g. Rebound or Prince of Tennis.  So why get Seo Kouji-san's Suzuka?  Maybe it was the cover of Sakurai Honoka on the cover of Volume 2 that got me.  That and the "Mature content" label.

Anyway, the story goes thus.  Akitsuki Yamato has come to Tokyo all the way from Hiroshima Prefecture.  He is staying at the Asahiyu Heights, a super-spa and all-girl apartment complex owned by his aunt, Ayano, rent-free.  There are two other tenants, the voluptuous dark-skinned blonde Saotome Yuuka, who contributes the skin scenes here, and Matsumoto Megumi, who is well-endowed in the chest department.  When drunk, she complains that that is all men look at her for, and raises her sweater for Yamato to see.

One day, he sees a pretty girl practicing the high jump on a bar and is smitten.  Turns out that the girl is Asahina Suzuka, also a tenant at Ayano's recruited by a track team talent scout.  She has set a record 169 cm and has possibility of representing Japan in the Olympics.  However, she is a bit aloof, and due to unintentional accidents on the part of Yamato, she looks down on him.  Moreover, she's so under pressure from her parents to jump higher, she goes into a sauna past the 12 minute limit and passes out, only to be rescued by Yamato.

Yamato is not only accident prone and clueless, but his attempts to make a good impression on Suzuka go awry.  Tokyo has changed so much, that when he and Suzuka go shopping for Ayano, they accidentally go to a fashion massage parlor instead of a restaurant Yamato used to know.  She seems okay when the two eat croquettes at Shusse Inari Shrine, a nice restful place compared to the hustle and bustle.  However, one serendipitous event is that Yamato accidentally sets the bar higher than expected during Suzuka's practice, result being that Suzuka sets a new record without knowing it, something she grudgingly credits him for.

Things aren't made easier by the reintroduction of Hattori Yasunobu, someone who got Yamato in trouble back when they were little tykes. Hattori was always a "natural at getting attention from girls" and Yamato recounts an event when Hattori got away with going inside a girl's shower room and not get in trouble.  And then there's cute childhood friend Sakurai Honoka, who seems to have a crush on him.  Hmm... better get out that well-worn three-sided plot structure out...the love triangle.

It wasn't until reviewing this that I noticed the parallels to a more famous manga/anime series.  Okay, we have a man staying at an all-girl housing complex run by his aunt.  Hmmm, can anyone say Love Hina?  Like Kaolla Su, there is a dark-skinned girl--here--Yuuka, and a younger girl, Yamato's cousin Miho.  In LH, it was Shinobu-chan.  There's also a hole in the wall between rooms as opposed to the ceiling.  Again Love Hina.

Still, the drawing style is above average despite the usual clichs.  Who knows how much the anime will parallel the series, which is so far 16 volumes in Japan.  Not bad beginning to the series.
2243455
3.5/5 If you know nothing about Marni Bates, know this...she is absolutely adorable!  Marni is a young new author from Oregon that I discovered recently.  Awkward is her first published novel (although I think she might have a self-published memoir from a few years ago).  If you check out Marni's facebook page, you will see just how adorable she is with her constant smiles.  Her posts really show her enthusiasm and excitement over being a published author.  I find Marni's attitude refreshing, especially in a time where it seems so many people are jaded or try so hard to be "cool" (ie shown no emotion).  When you read Awkward, you will find that Marni's personality comes through in her writing.

Mackenzie, the main character, is klutzy and a bit socially awkward.  She doesn't feel like she fits in with everyone in high school.. How many of us can identify with that feeling?  What I loved about Mackenzie is that even when her fortunes changed (designer clothes, cool kid parties, dates with rock stars, etc.) she is still a genuinely nice person.  Unlike many YA protagonists, who seem to tell our young girls that they need to change themselves to get the boy (or vampire),  I feel like the main point of Awkward is to be true to yourself, the people who matter already love you.

Awkward is a bit predictable and a bit unrealistic at points but I think this is almost what made it most enjoyable for me.  Sometimes, you just need to have everything work out for the good guy, know what I mean?  This is definitely a novel that I would encourage my daughter to read. Well, maybe not now since she is only ten but definitely once she is in high school.  I love the message that Marni is sharing in Awkward so I will want my daughter to "hear" it from someone other then her mother.
25087
A story of a young lost girl who finds a place where she belongs, who desperately wants to be better than what society expects her to be, wants to break the cycles that she was born into.
2521761
A Complicated Kindness is a coming of age story. The main character Nomi Nickels is a sixteen year old girl growing up in a strict Mennonite community where, like most teenagers, she feels alienated and alone. The book is an interesting window in the life of a girl who is funny and terribly sad. Toews does an excellent job maintaining Nomi's unique voice and perspective throughout the story. Sometimes it did get to be a little too much for me though. At times it was difficult for me to sympathize with Nomi because I felt like the narrative remained angst filled and annoying. I didn't feel like Toews showed much of the beauty that this girl might have inside.

I enjoyed the exploration of religious restrictions. I know nothing about Mennonites, so reading a story that takes place in a Mennonite community was fascinating to me. I, of course, will take all of what I read with a grain of salt because I have no idea what the author's biases are toward or against Mennonites. I find it difficult to believe Nomi could get away as long as she did with behaving that way. I just wonder about the authenticity. It doesn't ring true to me, but I don't really know.

Nomi lives with her father, Ray. Her mother Trudie and sister Tash have both left the community. Slowly as the book unfolds you find out why.

The narrative style seemed too distant at times, but there were some beautifully written passages that kept me reading. I ended up enjoying the book, but I gave it three stars because if I wasn't reading it for a book club I don't think I would've bothered finishing it.
2567281
The story is interesting, although, it is sometimes hard to like the main character.  She bashes the rich but with her life in shambles has found she has been given 1/2 a business and place to live in uber expensive London by a successful Grandmother.  There is also a lot of self deprecation as well as shallow judgements of other people's appearances.  I wish she was easier to like.
1859059
You never know how strong you really are until you are tested. (Page 263).

Miri Katz is barely keeping her head above water. She is clumsy and nerdy. She has made no friends at her school and is made fun of by the cool kids almost daily. She is an average girl, maybe even below average because she has no special talents. She is failing math. But then everything changes when, in a moment of panic, the amulet her omama gave her transforms her into a cat. Now everyone wants Miri, but not to be her friend.

I almost put this book down. It started off with a historical fiction spin which was really exciting, but then quickly turned into something else entirely that was barely keeping my attention. The writing was a bit stilted and the main character Miri was much too pathetic to like or relate to when we first met her. Miri did very little other than read fantasy novels and write in her notebooks. In her classes she was a mediocre student at best, plus she was clumsy and socially awkward. (Page 65).

But I kept reading. There was something about the story that just wouldnt let me go. And then the story got so much better. The author sucked me into the clutter of Miris life and the deepening intrigue of the multiple subplots that eventually merged into the main story. The author had woven a complicated plot that was not at first visible.

Normally I don't pick up and read paranormal fantasy, but I liked the story and the characters of P.A.W.S. In a world where there are shape shifters, werewolves, and animagi, Kupfer has done a great job sorting through the possibilities of what life would be like in this kind of environment. There are rules and boundaries that make these abilities much more interesting. Kupfer is great at world building.

The essential story Kupfer tells is the one that hooked me. In the beginning I thought it was about a girl trying to find her place in the world (coming of age) and it was, at least to begin with. Then Kupfer adds in complication after complication and the depth of the plot was what held my attention raptly to the end.

If you want a young adult version of Interview with a Vampire, then P.A.W.S. is your book.
944724
This is basically a coming-of-age novel, even though its main character is already of adult years.  But despite her age, she's basically a spoiled child:  self-centered, judgmental, irresponsible, and largely ignorant of  the world.  This has one major flaw:  she's so damned unlikeable that I  found it hared to really get into the book for the first couple of hundred  pages.  Perhaps the authors were a bit heavy handed in their portrayal,  though I've certainly known women lawyers like this character.  At any  rate, as she begins to learn from her experiences, and as new characters  are introduced, the story gets steadily better.  I enjoyed it, and was  sorry when it was over.
683511
I only picked this up because of Bryan Lee O'Malley. For those that don't know, he wrote a little series known as Scott Pilgrim and if you haven't read it, go do so now.

Back to Snotgirl. This book is about a fashion blogger named Lottie Person with some serious allergy issues. It compares her public persona to her real life quite a bit and how there is a disconnect between them. She is friends with a lot of other fashion bloggers and is constantly comparing herself to them. There is an insecurity about the character that makes it seem that despite the title she does care.

This book has some really good elements that bring it to the verge of being great, but there is a quality to the writing that holds it back. The whole subplot about her ex's new girlfriend is a perfect example. There is clearly something going on there and yet the protagonist comes off as petty about the whole thing. Could her fears be real? Sure, but her attitude throws me off too much for it to matter. I do like the bits with "Cool Girl" and think that part of the story has the most potential to bring this book up a level in future volumes. I just need a reason to care about Lottie and it isn't there yet.

I did enjoy the art. The coloring is wonderful. The illustrations seem more fitting to a manga, which usually doesn't appeal to me much. It tends to be overly expressive and that pulls me out of the story. This book reigns that in to a degree. By the end of this volume I was enjoying the story and the small mystery. I'd like to see Lottie grow beyond the petty person in this volume but I'm not sure if I'm willing to come back for more.
1015901
Seventeen-year-old goth girl and foster child Jen Jones has endured a troubled and violent past that has resulted in a nothing-can-hurt-me confidence and unacknowledged low self-esteem. One day, out of sheer boredom, Jen wonders aloud if she can turn the least nerdy boy out of the geeks, Trevor Hoffman, bad like her. Little does she know how much her own challenge will change her life.
According to Jen, Trevor is a nerdy goody two-shoes, but she classifies him as a cool geek because he wears clothes that fit him, does not wheeze, and does not wear glasses.

Jen is completely confident (though her confidence is one of her walls) and once she decides to go after Trevor, she begins immediately, playing the game like an expert. It was really fun to read and see Jen going for Trevor, even if it was to corrupt the poor, unsuspecting kid.

In my opinion, Trevor was not too geeky, but I can understand how he would seem that way to someone like Jen. To me, he just seemed like a really good guy - he is the owner of a cool car he is trying to restore, he volunteers at the senior center regularly, serving food, playing the piano, and signing (and he is good at it). He treats Jen with respect like he would any other person and he does not judge her by her "freak" appearance.

Google "The Musings of ALMYBNENR" to see this review in full in its original format and to follow my book review blog.
3830057
Fun and whimsical book.  The heroine is someone a lot of us can relate to.  She is fighting insecurity on a daily basis, but has courage for 2 or 3 people. The writing is a bit juvenile for me.  Some parts are a bit too steamy for most teens.
120813
I actually read the 2nd book in this series first then came back to this one. Edie was referred to as being cool and relaxed and going with the flow on everything and in this book, her book, she certainly isn't. She picks fights, is insensitive and runs away from Dawg ALL the time. Even in the epilogue it states she still does that. Basically she never grows as a person and while she picks a biker she doesn't accept him for what he is. I do like the style of he book and that why it's getting 3 stars
586153
The  heroine  is pretty, innocent  and  spunky;  the  hero  is a  hard case, uninterested  in  innocents and  unwilling  to  involve  himself  in others' lives.  Yet he takes  her under his wing, inexplicably  fascinated by  her.  No new ground  is broken  here, but  some  interesting  characters, an unusual  situation, and  very  competent  writing  make  it  an enjoyable  read.
668741
Very cute.  It is nice how the girls became friends even though they were from different worlds.  How the princess had to act like a normal high school girl was funny.  Selena Gomez was charming after the initial rudeness.  She realized the other girl was just trying to fit in.