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chllybrd's review against another edition
2.0
If you like a book with a lot of Drama this is the book for you. I found that about half way threw it took me twice as long to read because I just couldn't get into it.
neenor's review against another edition
3.0
I first picked this book up not because I have previously read a different book by Sheldon, but because I like the initial plot idea - it sounded like a typical coming-of-age novel about a teenage girl discovering who her true friends were. And at the end, I did feel a kind of satisfaction from reading it. But while I was reading it, I wasn't so keen. For one thing, I wanted to strangle Gracie's best friend, Savanna. She has to be one of my top five most annoying fiction-novel girls. I mean, for one thing, she said 'like' as many times as 'blood' is mentioned in Shakespeare's Macbeth (which is a lot, let me tell you). And it's a shame to say this, but my strong dislike for just one character really did spoil the rest of the book for me. But also, I don't think the actual plot was strong enough - I reckon that if Sheldon had developed the character of Gracie a bit more, it could have been really good - but half of the time, I just wanted to scream at her "Stick up for yourself, girl!". She is just so infuriatingly wimpy - there is practically zero confrontation with her, she lets Savanna walk all over her, and she has the personality of a haystack. The pair are more than 'totally different' - they are literally one end of the scale to the other. There was no in between, which made the novel really unstable. I'm not saying I hated it, but there wasn't anything remarkable or special about it - however, for what it's worth, I do have a bit of a soft spot for Sheldon's novels, and I have to say that, all-in-all, I did still like it.
foreveralicexox's review against another edition
4.0
This story follows the life of Gracie, a school-aged teen whose best friend, Savanna, can be more than a little self-involved. They navigate together through school, boys, essential shopping trips and parties - but the friendship is rarely and somehow Savanna always seems to get her own way, but how long will Gracie stand for it?
I enjoyed this book as an easy read after a few more thought provoking titles previous to this. I was able to relax into the mind of a young teenaged girl with their all-consuming problems being those of school tests and boys.
I found the character of Savanna annoying from the start, and Gracie a bit of a wet wipe at times for never standing up to her or challenging her and feeling guilt in every situation where Savanna was being self-centred. However, it was quite a good portrayal of how you can be totally oblivious of being manipulated in a friendship or relationship like that. When you care about someone, especially a friend you've had for a long time and grown up with so are therefore loyal to without a second thought, you can be completely blind and naive to how badly they are treating you. As a reader from the outside perspective, we can see from the beginning that Gracie is far too good for Savanna and shouldn't be putting her friend's needs before her own, especially when Savanna repays no such dept and guilt-trips and manipulates Gracie every time she doesn't get her own way. However, if we were in Gracie's shoes we may not necessarily stand up to Savanna and call her out like we want Gracie to from the beginning, as the perspective would be different and we may not see all the flaws we see as the reader.
I felt that there was a lot crammed into the last few chapters, which I guess amplifies drama and hooks the reader in, but I found myself wanting that a bit more a couple of chapters earlier, with more conclusion of Gracie's life after Savanna and her thoughts or realisations of her naivity before. However it was the author's choice to end it the way she hid and perhaps not hone in on the realities of toxic relationships due to the target audience I suspect being early-teen.
The complete polar opposites of Savanna and Gracie's personalities was totally needed for the storyline, and actually make a lot of sense in reality as young girls that age are often friends with people they realise years later are so different from them, yet don't notice until looking back. However, the extremity and stereotyping of Savanna being so vain, only into boys, her looks and arguing with her mom, and Gracie being so conservative and interested in staying in, books and the environment, was perhaps stretching the relatablity a bit far, but again, this made sense for the target audience.
I enjoyed this book as an easy read after a few more thought provoking titles previous to this. I was able to relax into the mind of a young teenaged girl with their all-consuming problems being those of school tests and boys.
I found the character of Savanna annoying from the start, and Gracie a bit of a wet wipe at times for never standing up to her or challenging her and feeling guilt in every situation where Savanna was being self-centred. However, it was quite a good portrayal of how you can be totally oblivious of being manipulated in a friendship or relationship like that. When you care about someone, especially a friend you've had for a long time and grown up with so are therefore loyal to without a second thought, you can be completely blind and naive to how badly they are treating you. As a reader from the outside perspective, we can see from the beginning that Gracie is far too good for Savanna and shouldn't be putting her friend's needs before her own, especially when Savanna repays no such dept and guilt-trips and manipulates Gracie every time she doesn't get her own way. However, if we were in Gracie's shoes we may not necessarily stand up to Savanna and call her out like we want Gracie to from the beginning, as the perspective would be different and we may not see all the flaws we see as the reader.
I felt that there was a lot crammed into the last few chapters, which I guess amplifies drama and hooks the reader in, but I found myself wanting that a bit more a couple of chapters earlier, with more conclusion of Gracie's life after Savanna and her thoughts or realisations of her naivity before. However it was the author's choice to end it the way she hid and perhaps not hone in on the realities of toxic relationships due to the target audience I suspect being early-teen.
The complete polar opposites of Savanna and Gracie's personalities was totally needed for the storyline, and actually make a lot of sense in reality as young girls that age are often friends with people they realise years later are so different from them, yet don't notice until looking back. However, the extremity and stereotyping of Savanna being so vain, only into boys, her looks and arguing with her mom, and Gracie being so conservative and interested in staying in, books and the environment, was perhaps stretching the relatablity a bit far, but again, this made sense for the target audience.
bookish_bobbin's review against another edition
4.0
All the way through the book I was yelling "SELFISH SELFISH Can't you see what she's doing??" But I was in the same position. But still a really good book and excellent characterisation! You can really hear the different voices! Brilliant. Truly.
dukesangel002's review against another edition
3.0
An entertaining read about best friends, worst friends, and the trouble some people can have telling the difference between the two. This book was a quick read that was light and fun while dealing with something a little more heavy. The thing that it really makes you realize is that sometimes you just have to let people go, even if it hurts, to make your life better.
Gracie was a great character, she was smart, and tough, and very concerned with the environment. She was the complete opposite of her best friend Savannah, who is the ultimate it girl. Savannah is a fly by the seat of her pants, worry about the consequences if they come type of girl. They had figured out that sometimes opposites attract, and they become best friends who are thick as thieves. The problems start when Savannah starts using Gracie as her alibi (without even telling her) and causing Gracie to lie to the people she loves.
I really couldn't stand Savannah, she was very self-involved and was constantly using Gracie and not thinking anything about her feelings. She really was a horrible best friend and I was screaming at Gracie all the way through the book to open her eyes and see what was going on! Gracie's love interest, Cooper, was probably my favorite character of the book. He was funny and quirky and just an excellent guy that was such a joy to read.
I suggest this book to all YA lovers. By the time the book is through you'll either be much more appreciative of your best friend, or you'll be realizing you need a new one!!
Gracie was a great character, she was smart, and tough, and very concerned with the environment. She was the complete opposite of her best friend Savannah, who is the ultimate it girl. Savannah is a fly by the seat of her pants, worry about the consequences if they come type of girl. They had figured out that sometimes opposites attract, and they become best friends who are thick as thieves. The problems start when Savannah starts using Gracie as her alibi (without even telling her) and causing Gracie to lie to the people she loves.
I really couldn't stand Savannah, she was very self-involved and was constantly using Gracie and not thinking anything about her feelings. She really was a horrible best friend and I was screaming at Gracie all the way through the book to open her eyes and see what was going on! Gracie's love interest, Cooper, was probably my favorite character of the book. He was funny and quirky and just an excellent guy that was such a joy to read.
I suggest this book to all YA lovers. By the time the book is through you'll either be much more appreciative of your best friend, or you'll be realizing you need a new one!!
monixa__'s review against another edition
3.0
although it brought out a lot of frustrated feelings, but it was a pretty darn good read. but i guess that's how a good book is supposed to be. it's supposed to bring out emotions and i ain't gonna lie but it really did transport me to gracie's world. seeing the protagonist portrayed in such a real manner and not imbibed with the need to have a makeover in order to connect to her "inner girl" that seems to be the priority of so many teen novels really kept me enraptured as the story unfolded.
p.s. ngl but if i had been in gracie's place , my inner bitch self wouldn't have let me handle the matter in such a dignified manner
p.p.s kisskissbyebye
p.s. ngl but if i had been in gracie's place , my inner bitch self wouldn't have let me handle the matter in such a dignified manner
p.p.s kisskissbyebye
meganlouise815's review against another edition
4.0
I used to love this book! I had a friend like this when I read it and I really empathised with Gracie.
sofiasaghir's review
2.0
This book was one I bought when I was quite young and its clearly set towards young girls. Unfortunately I didn't really enjoy it that much. It was too childish for me. The only thing I really liked was Cooper. He was interesting. I wanted more of him. If a book was written completely about him, I would probably enjoy it more. I recommend it to any young girl who is just getting into reading.
mldavisreads's review
2.0
A teen fiction story about two girls-- one who is pretty, flirty, and manipulative while the other is a tomboy, cares about the environment, and believes the best of people. However, the friendship was the least interesting part of the book. Savanna was a terrible person, not just a terrible friend, and Gracie seemed to have some really cool interests. The most fun to read parts of the book were when Gracie explored these other interests, however these things happened predominantly off-stage and the reader did not hear about them. I wouldn't recommend this book, the most likable characters are not in enough of the book.