Scan barcode
acrosstickx's review against another edition
4.0
Fast read, kept me interested throughout. I was a little disappointed with the ending - I sorely wanted Maybe to realize that Sammy was the only father she would ever need, and for Sammy to throw Chessy out on her butt. But decent read overall, even I would have concluded it slightly differently.
msmo's review against another edition
3.0
pretty predictable story: teen that does not fit in with the usuals overcomes adversities, alongside friends who also are not usuals. still, some pretty unique elements makes this an entertaining read and worthwhile way to pass a couple of hours.
msbotticelli's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book. I thought that Maybelline had a very funny personality, and I loved the characters. A few parts of the book actually made me laugh out loud (but that is might just be me...)! Personally, I liked this better than the other one of Lisa Yee's books I've read (Millicent Min, Girl Genius).
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
the utterly charming story of maybe chestnut, who flees florida and her alcoholic-charm-school-owning mother for hollywood, hoping to find her real father. the only thing she has to go on is an old photograph and the name "gunnar," but she has the support of her friends: hollywood, an aspiring filmmaker who conveniently owns a car, and ted, maybe's lovable chatterbox best friend, who comes along for support.
it turns out, however, that finding a man named gunnar in a large city is not that easy. and it's hard to get a job to support yourself when your purse and ID get stolen. but just when maybe feels most alone, support comes through from the people who've loved her all along. recommended.
bonuses: the cover is adorable, and the entire second half of the book you will become ravenously hungry for tacos.
it turns out, however, that finding a man named gunnar in a large city is not that easy. and it's hard to get a job to support yourself when your purse and ID get stolen. but just when maybe feels most alone, support comes through from the people who've loved her all along. recommended.
bonuses: the cover is adorable, and the entire second half of the book you will become ravenously hungry for tacos.
dawnoftheread's review against another edition
3.0
Great teen read (I just didn't love it as much as I loved Millicent Min, Girl Genius).
missprint_'s review against another edition
5.0
Last Wednesday my CLW book was Vibes by Amy Kathleen Ryan (released 2008). I procured that book on the same day I requested a copy of Absolutely Maybe by Lisa Yee (released Feb. 2009). While reading this book I was struck by the similarities between the two characters (apathetic/angry, fixated on eyeliner) and even the books themselves (the covers just seemed very close to me for some reason perhaps because I really liked them both). I don't know if it's relevant to the review, but I just wanted to get that out of the way.
Onward to the review:
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut ("Maybe" for short). Maybe was named for her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara and two of Chessy's favorite Miss Americas. Living above her mother's charm school, perhaps it's not surprise that a lot of what Maybe does is part of a backlash against her mother.
Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez (and soon to be Himmler) is a serial marryer. Somehow she winds up married to every man she dates--everyone except Maybe's father who remains a mystery.
Most of the time, Maybe can deal with all of that. Sure, her mother's charm school students taunt her and constantly make fun of her baggy clothes and funky hair colors, but they don't matter. Neither do Chessy's not-always-so-gentle criticisms. Maybe is above all of that. At least until Chessy chooses her sketchy fiance over Maybe, which is the last straw and convinces Maybe that she has to leave her hometown. And her mother. For good.
So Maybe recruits her best friends Ted and Hollywood to go with her to Los Angeles to find Maybe's father. Once the trio gets to LA they soon realize that the search will not be easy. Finding money and a place to live is hard enough, but finding a man you know nothing about on top of that is even harder. While Ted is building his career and Hollywood is making a film, Maybe finds herself adrift in her search.
Along the way they encounter a lot of things: a screen idol, a Rolls-Royce, a taco truck. Eventually, Maybe finds the father she's been searching for albeit not where she had expected. More important than that, Maybe finds herself. Not the beauty queen daughter her mother wanted, or the angry Goth teen she became in response to Chessy's hopes, just herself: Absolutely Maybe.
Although this book is bizarrely similar to Vibes I'd say that Absolutely Maybe is for older teens. This novel is gritty. Nothing about Maybe's life is easy at the beginning of the novel. Even when she gets to LA, Maybe and Ted find themselves homeless and scrounging for meals. Yee handles all of this with enough gravitas to make it realistic and enough humor to make it bearable.
Maybe is a really fun character with lots of snark and heart, the only problem (and maybe this is me) was that I kept misreading her name as the word "maybe" which required some necessary re-reading. This story is also populated with some of the best side characters ever. To say Ted and Hollywood are awesome is to belittle the greatness of both characters. Ted's exhuberance and enthusiasm are infectious, coming straight from the page to the reader. And Hollywood is Hollywood. He was so well-realized as I read this story that when Maybe referred to his as "cowboy" it was enough to picture his entire personality.
I'm a bit torn about the ending of the novel because it is not the ending I wanted per se. In a way this further illustrates the "gritty" realism of the novel. I wanted the Hollywood/fairy tale ending whereas the book gave me a more realistic, still satisfying, ending. I am not, however, holding that against Lisa Yee or Absolutely Maybe. It just means this book requires more imagination about what happens outside of the pages.
An excellent coming-of-age novel, Absolutely Maybe is like nothing else, which is appropriate since Maybe is an unforgettable, unique heroine (and her friends are pretty memorable too).
Onward to the review:
Meet Maybelline Mary Katherine Mary Ann Chestnut ("Maybe" for short). Maybe was named for her mother Chessy's favorite brand of mascara and two of Chessy's favorite Miss Americas. Living above her mother's charm school, perhaps it's not surprise that a lot of what Maybe does is part of a backlash against her mother.
Chessamay Chestnut Abajian Wing Marshall Wing Sinclair Alvarez (and soon to be Himmler) is a serial marryer. Somehow she winds up married to every man she dates--everyone except Maybe's father who remains a mystery.
Most of the time, Maybe can deal with all of that. Sure, her mother's charm school students taunt her and constantly make fun of her baggy clothes and funky hair colors, but they don't matter. Neither do Chessy's not-always-so-gentle criticisms. Maybe is above all of that. At least until Chessy chooses her sketchy fiance over Maybe, which is the last straw and convinces Maybe that she has to leave her hometown. And her mother. For good.
So Maybe recruits her best friends Ted and Hollywood to go with her to Los Angeles to find Maybe's father. Once the trio gets to LA they soon realize that the search will not be easy. Finding money and a place to live is hard enough, but finding a man you know nothing about on top of that is even harder. While Ted is building his career and Hollywood is making a film, Maybe finds herself adrift in her search.
Along the way they encounter a lot of things: a screen idol, a Rolls-Royce, a taco truck. Eventually, Maybe finds the father she's been searching for albeit not where she had expected. More important than that, Maybe finds herself. Not the beauty queen daughter her mother wanted, or the angry Goth teen she became in response to Chessy's hopes, just herself: Absolutely Maybe.
Although this book is bizarrely similar to Vibes I'd say that Absolutely Maybe is for older teens. This novel is gritty. Nothing about Maybe's life is easy at the beginning of the novel. Even when she gets to LA, Maybe and Ted find themselves homeless and scrounging for meals. Yee handles all of this with enough gravitas to make it realistic and enough humor to make it bearable.
Maybe is a really fun character with lots of snark and heart, the only problem (and maybe this is me) was that I kept misreading her name as the word "maybe" which required some necessary re-reading. This story is also populated with some of the best side characters ever. To say Ted and Hollywood are awesome is to belittle the greatness of both characters. Ted's exhuberance and enthusiasm are infectious, coming straight from the page to the reader. And Hollywood is Hollywood. He was so well-realized as I read this story that when Maybe referred to his as "cowboy" it was enough to picture his entire personality.
I'm a bit torn about the ending of the novel because it is not the ending I wanted per se. In a way this further illustrates the "gritty" realism of the novel. I wanted the Hollywood/fairy tale ending whereas the book gave me a more realistic, still satisfying, ending. I am not, however, holding that against Lisa Yee or Absolutely Maybe. It just means this book requires more imagination about what happens outside of the pages.
An excellent coming-of-age novel, Absolutely Maybe is like nothing else, which is appropriate since Maybe is an unforgettable, unique heroine (and her friends are pretty memorable too).
kellyjcm's review against another edition
4.0
Touching story, fast-paced read, Maybe is a character I alternately sympathized with and wanted to lecture; very realistic teen! Fans of books that feature journeys as a coming-of-age technique, like So B. It, will enjoy immensely.
I do wish more had been done with Maybe's relationship with Jess. Additionally, I the incorporation of cooking/serving food. That reminded me of Hope Was Here and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye.
I do wish more had been done with Maybe's relationship with Jess. Additionally, I the incorporation of cooking/serving food. That reminded me of Hope Was Here and The Fortunes of Indigo Skye.
annieotter's review against another edition
3.0
UGH.
AKFJKSDJFKLSDJFLJDKLAJSFKLDS
Before I read this book I wanted to hate it. I really did, something about made me think I would hate.
Then, I started reading it and I desperately wanted to like it. It had potiental for me to LOVE the main character.
With her dyed hair and I-don't-care attiude.
But alas, it was not meant to be.
The MC just struck me as a bit dim. I mean, she goes to LA without a job and without really any plan, and then just sits there and does nothing. She only gets by because she finds a old friend and a taco truck. Eh.
It just didn't hold my attention. I wary on the plot and all the characters were a bit faded, like they were just their for fillers. It was weird.
Soooo it was okay. Three stars.
AKFJKSDJFKLSDJFLJDKLAJSFKLDS
Before I read this book I wanted to hate it. I really did, something about made me think I would hate.
Then, I started reading it and I desperately wanted to like it. It had potiental for me to LOVE the main character.
With her dyed hair and I-don't-care attiude.
But alas, it was not meant to be.
The MC just struck me as a bit dim. I mean, she goes to LA without a job and without really any plan, and then just sits there and does nothing. She only gets by because she finds a old friend and a taco truck. Eh.
It just didn't hold my attention. I wary on the plot and all the characters were a bit faded, like they were just their for fillers. It was weird.
Soooo it was okay. Three stars.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
This is filled with the usual suspects: mother who is over-beautiful and over-married, guys for best friends, girl who doesn't fit in... and yet somehow it all works. Maybe (short for Maybelline) has a life in Kissimmee that isn't enviable, and when she and her friends Ted and Hollywood leave for LA (Hollywood to attend USC, Ted to spend the summer and Maybe to get away from Mom), her life doesn't seem to get much better. Of course, the usual coincidences happen and her life does get better, including that all-important Finding Herself piece. I think MS girls will like it, particularly if they haven't read too many of this type of book before.
jbojkov's review against another edition
3.0
Cute book about a young woman trying to find her way in a world that seems set on her failure. She's got a couple of good friends who help her. Funny in parts and touching in others. I would give this to teens who like quirky, realistic fiction that's not too heavy-handed.