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danjvrobertson's review against another edition
4.0
(Part of the review on my blog, The Reader's Commute):
Released earlier this December, V is for Virgin is a surprisingly quick read for its page-length.
The plot is intriguing and the issue is current. Virginity is a hot topic in pop-culture today; The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Virgin Diaries, and Easy A are all examples of the entertainment industry trying to tackle the "issue" of virginity. While these examples are certainly humorous, they don't get to the "heart" of the debate like V is for Virgin does. Certainly, Oram's novel is funny (even hilarious at times), but what really struck me was depth of the main character's beliefs. As the story unfolds we learn Val's reasons for waiting until marriage, and as a reader I became emotionally-invested in her decision.
At the start of Val's story, I was worried that the narrative would be rushed. Her description of her breakup with Zach and the day that followed includes a lot of "showing" and not a lot of "telling." I understood that the real plot begins when Val launches her "V is for Virgin" campaign, but I wish the setup was a little less hurried. I think the pacing of the rest of the story was great. Like I mentioned earlier, the pages went by surprisingly fast. Oram's writing style is easy and fun.
Val, as a main character, is certainly admirable. Her level of success is kind of astounding in a way that almost made it hard to connect with her. I couldn't imagine dealing with a breakup, a viral video, name-calling, a campaign that quickly goes global, a budding jewelry line, and the persistent romantic attentions of a rockstar. If you handed me just one of those issues to deal with I would probably crack! There are some convincing moments of emotional and physical strain, especially towards the book's climax; for the most part, however, Val deals with all of these issues while wearing a brave face and possessing a charming sense of humor. Despite my inability to connect with her situation, I think that Valerie is a strong, opinionated female who could be seen as a role model for young adult readers. I'm not suggesting that everyone who reads this book (especially teens) should buy into Val's stance on virginity and abstinence - everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I can certainly see the benefit in emulating Val's willpower and determination.
Also, I know that I was supposed to like Kyle as a character and a romantic interest. I get that the sexy, cheeky rock singer is supposed to be cute and endearing and frustrating. I appreciate the eventual level that Kyle and Val's relationship reaches. Throughout the novel, however, I found myself sort of disturbed by Kyle's forwardness and sense of entitlement. Especially in today's society, when the big message is "no means no," I found Kyle's approach to be frightening.
Despite my dislike of Kyle's behavior, I found him and the rest of the supporting cast to be fleshed-out, unique characters. I didn't feel like I was dealing with caricatures here. Kelly Oram has crafted a handful of teens that I learned to care for over the course of the novel.
Released earlier this December, V is for Virgin is a surprisingly quick read for its page-length.
The plot is intriguing and the issue is current. Virginity is a hot topic in pop-culture today; The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Virgin Diaries, and Easy A are all examples of the entertainment industry trying to tackle the "issue" of virginity. While these examples are certainly humorous, they don't get to the "heart" of the debate like V is for Virgin does. Certainly, Oram's novel is funny (even hilarious at times), but what really struck me was depth of the main character's beliefs. As the story unfolds we learn Val's reasons for waiting until marriage, and as a reader I became emotionally-invested in her decision.
At the start of Val's story, I was worried that the narrative would be rushed. Her description of her breakup with Zach and the day that followed includes a lot of "showing" and not a lot of "telling." I understood that the real plot begins when Val launches her "V is for Virgin" campaign, but I wish the setup was a little less hurried. I think the pacing of the rest of the story was great. Like I mentioned earlier, the pages went by surprisingly fast. Oram's writing style is easy and fun.
Val, as a main character, is certainly admirable. Her level of success is kind of astounding in a way that almost made it hard to connect with her. I couldn't imagine dealing with a breakup, a viral video, name-calling, a campaign that quickly goes global, a budding jewelry line, and the persistent romantic attentions of a rockstar. If you handed me just one of those issues to deal with I would probably crack! There are some convincing moments of emotional and physical strain, especially towards the book's climax; for the most part, however, Val deals with all of these issues while wearing a brave face and possessing a charming sense of humor. Despite my inability to connect with her situation, I think that Valerie is a strong, opinionated female who could be seen as a role model for young adult readers. I'm not suggesting that everyone who reads this book (especially teens) should buy into Val's stance on virginity and abstinence - everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I can certainly see the benefit in emulating Val's willpower and determination.
Also, I know that I was supposed to like Kyle as a character and a romantic interest. I get that the sexy, cheeky rock singer is supposed to be cute and endearing and frustrating. I appreciate the eventual level that Kyle and Val's relationship reaches. Throughout the novel, however, I found myself sort of disturbed by Kyle's forwardness and sense of entitlement. Especially in today's society, when the big message is "no means no," I found Kyle's approach to be frightening.
Despite my dislike of Kyle's behavior, I found him and the rest of the supporting cast to be fleshed-out, unique characters. I didn't feel like I was dealing with caricatures here. Kelly Oram has crafted a handful of teens that I learned to care for over the course of the novel.
thequeenreads's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it. I am still thinking if I'll write a booktalk about this and the second book so im putting that on hold for the moment but I loved it. And I really think it should have ended the way it ended and I think the sequel was kind of unnecessary.
rads_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Read this book, loved it so much. So inspirational. Hot romance, ugh KYLE why u no exist!!!!!! AH! Val is awesome. Actually all Kelly Orams heroines are awesome, awesome and awesome!!!!!
Go read it now! Available on all e-readers, I think...
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now it has a cover!
Awesome cover!!
Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!
I think that maybe, just maybe, I overused exclamation marks...
Go read it now! Available on all e-readers, I think...
OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now it has a cover!
Awesome cover!!
Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!
OMG!
I think that maybe, just maybe, I overused exclamation marks...
r3adsl3epr3peat's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
beccasbibliotheca's review against another edition
4.0
Ich habe absolut gemischte Gefühle gegenüber diesem Buch. Ich kann es nicht mal wirklich in Worte fassen. Eigentlich ist die Message eine tolle und auch der Schreibstil ist sehr leicht und schön zu lesen, aber irgendwas stört mich sowohl an Kyles als auch an Person. Darum keine vollen 5 Sterne, aber es war dennoch ein tolles Buch!
Man sollte sich nur vor Augen halten, dass es sich hier um Fiktion handelt :)
Man sollte sich nur vor Augen halten, dass es sich hier um Fiktion handelt :)
bluebeereads's review against another edition
4.0
Istyria book blog ~ B's world of enchanted books
I can always count on Kelly Oram to get me out of a slump. If I want a light, fun and sweet romance, I just have to read one of her books and I feel better instantly! V is for Virgin is one of the books of hers I hadn't read yet and now I have to wonder why that is because it's just as good as the other ones are!
V is for Virgin is about Valerie. After being dumped by her boyfriend because she wants to wait until marriage with sex, she starts the V is for Virgin campaign. It doesn't take long to excalade into something bigger than she could've imagined. The downside is Kyle. Lead singer of Tralse, the band that helped her campaign more than they realise. He's made it his personal mission to her change her mind.
Going into this I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to relate to the main character because we are so different. But of course I didn't need to be scared. I loved Valerie and I did understand how she felt. I didn't find this unrealistic either. In these times, I think it's very possible for something like this to happen. People have become famous for a lot less in the past few years.
I did hate Zach at first because of how he treated Valerie but he redeemed himself. I did love Kyle but I wanted to know more about him! I didn't buy the "romance" with Isaac. Didn't feel it and it felt a bit forced. I loved Cara at first, but I hated how she started treating Valerie after she got Shane as a boyfriend. He's Kyle's bandmate and best friend and while I didn't see enough of him to hate him, I didn't like how it changed Cara. I loved the rest of the side characters though.
Ugh this review is all over the place. That's how it feels anyway. I'm not feeling 100% so sorry for babbling away! I love this author and I needs to read more from her.
caceves's review against another edition
3.0
This one really took me by surprise. I originally picked it up because it was a list for best romance books with some others that I loved, but I didn't think I was going to like it based on the title, cover, and synopsis. Boy was I wrong.
Everything about it screams high-school-girl-teen-cliche-romance, but the writing in this was impeccable to the point where it turned what would have been a tired high-school drama with never ending annoying stereotypes and an overly used plot line into something much, much more.
The people in this book are incredibly real. The friendship between Cara and Val, right down to the heart breaking split, the way the popular kids aren't all snobby and rich, but a variety of types of people who are teasing and funny, and the way that Val interacts with her elderly boss liven up the story immensely. The only thing that I felt was a stretch was the way that Val's adoptive parents were hardly ever in the story- I mean realistically, who would let their teenage daughter go to a club in a miniskirt in LA on a school night?
Kyle. Amazing character who brings the book to life. I've read some reviews that say that the entire dialogue was flat, or even cheesy, but I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few of the things that he says, because they're both familiar and unexpected. Kyle's sexual challenges make this book happen, they keep it steamy and suspenseful. Again, the biggest complaint against Kyle is that he's sexually harassing her, but I don't think it ever gets that far. Additionally, for those of you who think this is superficial, WAKE UP! Passion doesn't have to have a foundation of knowing someone very well, it's an irrational and wild attraction! Haven't you ever met someone who made you shaky if you were physically close to them, so much so you almost forgot yourself and your clear-headed thinking? If not, well it's an experience. I also love that he's young and bullheaded and arrogant but still has moments of weakness, and Val knows it!
Unlike a ton of YA heroines, Val is confident, makes choices, and acknowledges the faults of the male lead- she doesn't blindly follow him because she can't help herself and her attraction is oh-so-strong *dramatic sigh* but figures out pretty quickly that he's bad news and actually makes an honest attempt to stay away from him when she thinks he's going to do something douchey. Most stupid heroines go, "Oh I probably should stay away from him, but I'm not going to because he has FANTASTIC abs!" but not Val Jenson! High-five Kelly Oram!
In fact, I like Val as the lead so much, that even though I think the entire premise of what she's doing is kind of silly, and that she should have compromised once he admitted and proved he loved her, I admire how strongly she believes in her principles and even root for her to cling to them.
Another amazing thing about this book was the timeline! Instead of being super-crammed and forced, filled with moments of extreme fortune where the main character magically stumbles over the one-in-a-million magic artifact they need or where interactions are repeatedly coincidental, this book gives room to breathe. It follows a handful of interactions over about a year, and doesn't give us all the details from in between.
The main thing that pissed me off about this book was the way it ended. In the epilogue, when Kyle reappears four years later and announces that he wants to wait for her, I nearly ripped my hair out. Not because of the suspense, but because I though that it gave too much of the next book away and was going to make it more boring (it did, it's like the first fifty pages). As soon as I read the last few pages, I knew what was going to happen, in general (and I was right, but the second book was still really good anyways, but I almost didn't bother because of this). Maybe I'm just being super picky, but I wish the book ended with both of them waking up four years later in separate places, not having seen each other since the night of the concert and kiss, still missing each other. It would have kept the mystery and intrigue alive and been much more tragically romantic. But that's just me for ya, a sucker for the sad and unsettling ones!
Everything about it screams high-school-girl-teen-cliche-romance, but the writing in this was impeccable to the point where it turned what would have been a tired high-school drama with never ending annoying stereotypes and an overly used plot line into something much, much more.
Spoiler
The people in this book are incredibly real. The friendship between Cara and Val, right down to the heart breaking split, the way the popular kids aren't all snobby and rich, but a variety of types of people who are teasing and funny, and the way that Val interacts with her elderly boss liven up the story immensely. The only thing that I felt was a stretch was the way that Val's adoptive parents were hardly ever in the story- I mean realistically, who would let their teenage daughter go to a club in a miniskirt in LA on a school night?
Kyle. Amazing character who brings the book to life. I've read some reviews that say that the entire dialogue was flat, or even cheesy, but I actually found myself laughing out loud at a few of the things that he says, because they're both familiar and unexpected. Kyle's sexual challenges make this book happen, they keep it steamy and suspenseful. Again, the biggest complaint against Kyle is that he's sexually harassing her, but I don't think it ever gets that far. Additionally, for those of you who think this is superficial, WAKE UP! Passion doesn't have to have a foundation of knowing someone very well, it's an irrational and wild attraction! Haven't you ever met someone who made you shaky if you were physically close to them, so much so you almost forgot yourself and your clear-headed thinking? If not, well it's an experience. I also love that he's young and bullheaded and arrogant but still has moments of weakness, and Val knows it!
Unlike a ton of YA heroines, Val is confident, makes choices, and acknowledges the faults of the male lead- she doesn't blindly follow him because she can't help herself and her attraction is oh-so-strong *dramatic sigh* but figures out pretty quickly that he's bad news and actually makes an honest attempt to stay away from him when she thinks he's going to do something douchey. Most stupid heroines go, "Oh I probably should stay away from him, but I'm not going to because he has FANTASTIC abs!" but not Val Jenson! High-five Kelly Oram!
In fact, I like Val as the lead so much, that even though I think the entire premise of what she's doing is kind of silly, and that she should have compromised once he admitted and proved he loved her, I admire how strongly she believes in her principles and even root for her to cling to them.
Another amazing thing about this book was the timeline! Instead of being super-crammed and forced, filled with moments of extreme fortune where the main character magically stumbles over the one-in-a-million magic artifact they need or where interactions are repeatedly coincidental, this book gives room to breathe. It follows a handful of interactions over about a year, and doesn't give us all the details from in between.
The main thing that pissed me off about this book was the way it ended. In the epilogue, when Kyle reappears four years later and announces that he wants to wait for her, I nearly ripped my hair out. Not because of the suspense, but because I though that it gave too much of the next book away and was going to make it more boring (it did, it's like the first fifty pages). As soon as I read the last few pages, I knew what was going to happen, in general (and I was right, but the second book was still really good anyways, but I almost didn't bother because of this). Maybe I'm just being super picky, but I wish the book ended with both of them waking up four years later in separate places, not having seen each other since the night of the concert and kiss, still missing each other. It would have kept the mystery and intrigue alive and been much more tragically romantic. But that's just me for ya, a sucker for the sad and unsettling ones!
Spoiler
ailinnr's review against another edition
3.0
WHAT??
just- thank god there's a second book. I really hope it doesn't dissapoint me omg. I have hope.
just- thank god there's a second book. I really hope it doesn't dissapoint me omg. I have hope.
siieenchen's review against another edition
3.0
————Minor Spoilers———
Nach cinder&ella musst ich unbedingt auch die nächste Reihe von Kelly Oram lesen. Die Storyline an sich fand ich super interessant, auch wenn die Kontroversen des Themas Jungfräulichkeit meiner Meinung nach nicht genügend diskutiert wurden.
Val ist ein toller, aber auch etwas flacher Charakter. Ich bewundere ihr Selbstbewusstsein und ihr Engagement.
Kyle dagegen fand ich furchtbar. Ich konnte nicht verstehen, wie Val ihn auch nur ansatzweise in ihrer Nähe haben konnte. Ja, in der ersten Szene sind Funken geflogen aber danach wurde die Beziehung nur noch drängender und nerviger mit jeder Konversation. Er hatte ihr Entscheidung eigentlich gar nicht angenommen und sich über sie lustig gemacht. Wenn Männer im 21 Jahrhundert so ihre Gefühle ausdrücken, tue ich mir als Frau selbst sehr leid.
Von Vals „besten Freundin“ will ich gar nicht erst anfangen. Oberflächlich und selbstsüchtig. Sowas muss man nicht annehmen.
Der Epilog war dann auch nochmal eine andere Sache. Ein Sprung von vier Jahren und auf ein Mal ist alles Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen?
Meiner Meinung nach ist dieses Buch nicht an die Realität gebunden. Es war schnell und einfach zu lesen, ich würde es aber auch nicht vermissen. Den zweiten Teil werde ich nur aus dem Grund lesen, dass ich ihn schon vorbestellt habe. Mal gucken ob Kyle und Val noch ein paar mehr Dimensionen bekommen.
Nach cinder&ella musst ich unbedingt auch die nächste Reihe von Kelly Oram lesen. Die Storyline an sich fand ich super interessant, auch wenn die Kontroversen des Themas Jungfräulichkeit meiner Meinung nach nicht genügend diskutiert wurden.
Val ist ein toller, aber auch etwas flacher Charakter. Ich bewundere ihr Selbstbewusstsein und ihr Engagement.
Kyle dagegen fand ich furchtbar. Ich konnte nicht verstehen, wie Val ihn auch nur ansatzweise in ihrer Nähe haben konnte. Ja, in der ersten Szene sind Funken geflogen aber danach wurde die Beziehung nur noch drängender und nerviger mit jeder Konversation. Er hatte ihr Entscheidung eigentlich gar nicht angenommen und sich über sie lustig gemacht. Wenn Männer im 21 Jahrhundert so ihre Gefühle ausdrücken, tue ich mir als Frau selbst sehr leid.
Von Vals „besten Freundin“ will ich gar nicht erst anfangen. Oberflächlich und selbstsüchtig. Sowas muss man nicht annehmen.
Der Epilog war dann auch nochmal eine andere Sache. Ein Sprung von vier Jahren und auf ein Mal ist alles Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen?
Meiner Meinung nach ist dieses Buch nicht an die Realität gebunden. Es war schnell und einfach zu lesen, ich würde es aber auch nicht vermissen. Den zweiten Teil werde ich nur aus dem Grund lesen, dass ich ihn schon vorbestellt habe. Mal gucken ob Kyle und Val noch ein paar mehr Dimensionen bekommen.