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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars
I stopped reading this a while back even though I loved it so much, which was a HUGE mistake. But I do remember loving this. And honestly, if I can remember almost EVER Single character's names, that's a good indication I liked it. Review to come
I stopped reading this a while back even though I loved it so much, which was a HUGE mistake. But I do remember loving this. And honestly, if I can remember almost EVER Single character's names, that's a good indication I liked it. Review to come
Grabbed this for a quick and easy read. Part of Kindle Unlimited for the text (audio would have been extra $7.49, I just read it myself). Very cute. Conversational tone, especially at the start, as Matilda (first person POV) tells the reader "I should probably tell you ..." and "Oh, I forgot to mention..."
Matilda is the "ugly" stepsister. She's not really ugly, just a little goth, tall, nothing like gorgeous, kind, wonderful Ella (no stepmother in this story, Ella's mother had been married to Mattie's dad, they divorced but Ella came to live with them when her mom passed away. Not an evil stepfather, or stepsister in any way). Funny little "Cinderella" toss-ins as Ella just really likes to clean, even though they are quite wealthy and have a cleaning lady (Mattie says she doesn't clean so she doesn't endanger the woman's job!)
Then there is Jake ... the "Prince Charming" ... in some ways he's described as super nice and wonderful (and of course handsome) but then there are a couple interactions where he really seems like a jerk (at the end of the book there are some peeks at his perspective which give a little bit of insight into his thought process, but still, some jerk-like behavior at times).
There are the usual miscommunications, a bit of the "ball" - it was a fun story with the Cinderella theme. I enjoyed the light-hearted comedy and even laughed out loud a few places ... just little things like
"I was constantly amazed by the depths of my own shallowness. Wait. Could shallowness have depths?"
Regarding posters running for Student Body President "They were a candid picture of a shirtless Jake laughing. Underneath it said, “Jake Kingston . . . does a student body good.” Yes, I drooled, but as a feminist, I was highly offended. Highly."
Calculus, shmalculus
"Instead I made a sound like gagrsnarf" and a bit further on "I had another gagrsnarf moment"
The theme of the dance apparently was “We Have a Lot of Money.”
Cute, clean romance - thumbs up!
Matilda is the "ugly" stepsister. She's not really ugly, just a little goth, tall, nothing like gorgeous, kind, wonderful Ella (no stepmother in this story, Ella's mother had been married to Mattie's dad, they divorced but Ella came to live with them when her mom passed away. Not an evil stepfather, or stepsister in any way). Funny little "Cinderella" toss-ins as Ella just really likes to clean, even though they are quite wealthy and have a cleaning lady (Mattie says she doesn't clean so she doesn't endanger the woman's job!)
Then there is Jake ... the "Prince Charming" ... in some ways he's described as super nice and wonderful (and of course handsome) but then there are a couple interactions where he really seems like a jerk (at the end of the book there are some peeks at his perspective which give a little bit of insight into his thought process, but still, some jerk-like behavior at times).
There are the usual miscommunications, a bit of the "ball" - it was a fun story with the Cinderella theme. I enjoyed the light-hearted comedy and even laughed out loud a few places ... just little things like
"I was constantly amazed by the depths of my own shallowness. Wait. Could shallowness have depths?"
Regarding posters running for Student Body President "They were a candid picture of a shirtless Jake laughing. Underneath it said, “Jake Kingston . . . does a student body good.” Yes, I drooled, but as a feminist, I was highly offended. Highly."
Calculus, shmalculus
"Instead I made a sound like gagrsnarf" and a bit further on "I had another gagrsnarf moment"
The theme of the dance apparently was “We Have a Lot of Money.”
Cute, clean romance - thumbs up!
I liked this novel, even though I must admit that the cover wasn't too promising (the one on the NetGalley website is better, at least). I ended up really liking Ella, Mattie's stepsister, so I'm glad that she was part of the story, too. The only issue I have with this novel is the fact that I can't see what made Mattie and her love interest fall for each other. It's kind of the main part of this book, so that's a bit unfortunate. However, I liked many of the smaller parts of this book, so it was a nice read.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for a review.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this novel in exchange for a review.
WARNING - this is a totally self-indulgent and beside the point review!
"O tempora! O mores!" And I might add O juventa! O innocentia! -though there is no way I would take the mickey out of Cicecro. This is added with the deepest respect. :))
Although this is a recently-published book, it still sent me for a long stroll down Memory Lane. It reminded me of the time (long past) when at 15, as a high school junior I had this ginormous C*R*U*S*H on one of the senior guys which obviously was Platonic and (needless to say) unrequited. Or, who knows, if I hadn't been so painfully shy and awkward - Shy and Awkward being my middle names - or if I had a sister like Ella to give me some serious talking-to and boost my ego, I might have believed that the stares and smiles I kept sending HIS way, had some effect and they might have been returned. Well, no point in crying over spilt milk etcetera .....
My only consolation back then was writing wishful-thinking stories where WE -after various and gigantic obstacles were removed from our lives in quite dramatic ways- got together to stroll away into a glorious sunset .... and reading the "Sweet Valley High" series which were translated into Hungarian and published just when a lovelorn teenager needed them the most. :)))
Oh, sorry, got really lost in all this reminiscence, but getting to my point eventually. In a way, [b:The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back|36596197|The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back (The Ugly Stepsister Series)|Sariah Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510696626l/36596197._SY75_.jpg|21570060] reminded me very strongly of these glorious times past and the heroine Mattie of my teenage self (OK, I never stood out and wasn't quirky or artistically talented, but I loved manga & Jane Austen, was supershy and you know ... the crush...).
I also like Cinderella-goes-to-the-ball stories, so I found this book appealed to me on several levels. It was with no little satisfaction my Real-Time-self read this book, while my retarded-romantic-teenage self alternately shed a tear or 2 or did a happy dance.
Although the title & blurb suggests differently, it is a Cinderella-story and a funny, delightful one at that.
I thought I'd get sister rivalry and that stuff, but no: things have taken a better turn, for actually the sisters turned out to love each other despite grievances and gave support to one another when needed. I loved how Mattie's and Ella's relationship developed and how Mattie is learning to accept herself and growing stronger in the process.
The meanies were a bit one-sided to be sure and the "obstacles" a bit repetitive, but all in all I was satisfied when finishing the book. And there is a lovely bonus at the end
"O tempora! O mores!" And I might add O juventa! O innocentia! -though there is no way I would take the mickey out of Cicecro. This is added with the deepest respect. :))
Although this is a recently-published book, it still sent me for a long stroll down Memory Lane. It reminded me of the time (long past) when at 15, as a high school junior I had this ginormous C*R*U*S*H on one of the senior guys which obviously was Platonic and (needless to say) unrequited. Or, who knows, if I hadn't been so painfully shy and awkward - Shy and Awkward being my middle names - or if I had a sister like Ella to give me some serious talking-to and boost my ego, I might have believed that the stares and smiles I kept sending HIS way, had some effect and they might have been returned. Well, no point in crying over spilt milk etcetera .....
My only consolation back then was writing wishful-thinking stories where WE -after various and gigantic obstacles were removed from our lives in quite dramatic ways- got together to stroll away into a glorious sunset .... and reading the "Sweet Valley High" series which were translated into Hungarian and published just when a lovelorn teenager needed them the most. :)))
Oh, sorry, got really lost in all this reminiscence, but getting to my point eventually. In a way, [b:The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back|36596197|The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back (The Ugly Stepsister Series)|Sariah Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510696626l/36596197._SY75_.jpg|21570060] reminded me very strongly of these glorious times past and the heroine Mattie of my teenage self (OK, I never stood out and wasn't quirky or artistically talented, but I loved manga & Jane Austen, was supershy and you know ... the crush...).
I also like Cinderella-goes-to-the-ball stories, so I found this book appealed to me on several levels. It was with no little satisfaction my Real-Time-self read this book, while my retarded-romantic-teenage self alternately shed a tear or 2 or did a happy dance.
Although the title & blurb suggests differently, it is a Cinderella-story and a funny, delightful one at that.
I thought I'd get sister rivalry and that stuff, but no: things have taken a better turn, for actually the sisters turned out to love each other despite grievances and gave support to one another when needed. I loved how Mattie's and Ella's relationship developed and how Mattie is learning to accept herself and growing stronger in the process.
The meanies were a bit one-sided to be sure and the "obstacles" a bit repetitive, but all in all I was satisfied when finishing the book. And there is a lovely bonus at the end
Spoiler
We are offered some aspects of the story from Jake's POV as well.
A very cute book that left me with warm fuzzy feelings, and made me wish (for the first time since high school) I were the heroine of my favorite teen romance movies.
cute, wholesome, ya book thats actually pretty empowering!
It was cute. It was a good book to read after the soul crushing book I just finished.
After having read and loved the author's Royals of Monterra series, I went into this with very high hopes that got dashed within the first 5 chapters.
I really hated Maddie as a character. She wasn't the Ugly Stepsister at all, she was the Lazy one! She didn't want to rock the boat, yet she didn't stand up for herself or talk about how she was feeling to others. And she's supposed to be nearly an adult?! She came off as much younger than 17/18! Most of her actions or inactions led to unnecessary drama, and the sheer abundance of it made the book drag!
Looking at it through the glasses of the target audience, I doubt I could recommend it. I'm not seeing a lot of things to recommend it to the Young Adult crowd. The lessons that could have been touched on got lost in the drama, and wound up being summarized at the end of the book. With the short attention spans going on today, I doubt many teenagers would stick with this to make it to the end of the book! I think I'll stick with the more contemporary works of the author from now on.
I really hated Maddie as a character. She wasn't the Ugly Stepsister at all, she was the Lazy one! She didn't want to rock the boat, yet she didn't stand up for herself or talk about how she was feeling to others. And she's supposed to be nearly an adult?! She came off as much younger than 17/18! Most of her actions or inactions led to unnecessary drama, and the sheer abundance of it made the book drag!
Looking at it through the glasses of the target audience, I doubt I could recommend it. I'm not seeing a lot of things to recommend it to the Young Adult crowd. The lessons that could have been touched on got lost in the drama, and wound up being summarized at the end of the book. With the short attention spans going on today, I doubt many teenagers would stick with this to make it to the end of the book! I think I'll stick with the more contemporary works of the author from now on.