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lunaseassecondaccount's review
3.0
BSC fight! BSC fight! Weren't BSC fights the only reason we read the books?
So Stacey's found a new boy, as usual. And Claudia likes said boy. And then BSC FIGHT SMACKDOWN time. What I found unusual was that Stacey and Ethan never truly break up, something Stacey seemingly forgets when she starts to date Jeremy... until Ethan comes along, of course, and asks about it. Furthermore, just how easy is it for a fifteen-year-old boy to catch a train from New York to Connecticut? And how can he work in a seemingly upper class art gallery?
Of course, this is Stoneybrook and Ann M. Martin (or in this case, Suzanne Weyn), so I shouldn't even be asking these questions.
I enjoy the Friends Forever series because they actually deal with character interactions. There's no forced baby-sitting chapters, and no horrendous Chapter Twos that are so familiar in the BSC world.
And finally... BSC fight!
So Stacey's found a new boy, as usual. And Claudia likes said boy. And then BSC FIGHT SMACKDOWN time. What I found unusual was that Stacey and Ethan never truly break up, something Stacey seemingly forgets when she starts to date Jeremy... until Ethan comes along, of course, and asks about it. Furthermore, just how easy is it for a fifteen-year-old boy to catch a train from New York to Connecticut? And how can he work in a seemingly upper class art gallery?
Of course, this is Stoneybrook and Ann M. Martin (or in this case, Suzanne Weyn), so I shouldn't even be asking these questions.
I enjoy the Friends Forever series because they actually deal with character interactions. There's no forced baby-sitting chapters, and no horrendous Chapter Twos that are so familiar in the BSC world.
And finally... BSC fight!
magic_at_mungos's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
inthelunaseas's review
3.0
BSC fight! BSC fight! Weren't BSC fights the only reason we read the books?
So Stacey's found a new boy, as usual. And Claudia likes said boy. And then BSC FIGHT SMACKDOWN time. What I found unusual was that Stacey and Ethan never truly break up, something Stacey seemingly forgets when she starts to date Jeremy... until Ethan comes along, of course, and asks about it. Furthermore, just how easy is it for a fifteen-year-old boy to catch a train from New York to Connecticut? And how can he work in a seemingly upper class art gallery?
Of course, this is Stoneybrook and Ann M. Martin (or in this case, Suzanne Weyn), so I shouldn't even be asking these questions.
I enjoy the Friends Forever series because they actually deal with character interactions. There's no forced baby-sitting chapters, and no horrendous Chapter Twos that are so familiar in the BSC world.
And finally... BSC fight!
So Stacey's found a new boy, as usual. And Claudia likes said boy. And then BSC FIGHT SMACKDOWN time. What I found unusual was that Stacey and Ethan never truly break up, something Stacey seemingly forgets when she starts to date Jeremy... until Ethan comes along, of course, and asks about it. Furthermore, just how easy is it for a fifteen-year-old boy to catch a train from New York to Connecticut? And how can he work in a seemingly upper class art gallery?
Of course, this is Stoneybrook and Ann M. Martin (or in this case, Suzanne Weyn), so I shouldn't even be asking these questions.
I enjoy the Friends Forever series because they actually deal with character interactions. There's no forced baby-sitting chapters, and no horrendous Chapter Twos that are so familiar in the BSC world.
And finally... BSC fight!
finesilkflower's review
2.0
Stacey is immediately drawn to Jeremy Rudolph, the cute new Pacific Northwestern boy in school, but she encourages Claudia to go after him, as Claudia is single and Stacey is not: she has Ethan. Claudia is enthusiastic but enlists Stacey’s help, as she’s too nervous to manage on her own. Stacey accordingly invites Jeremy to go to a movie with her and Claudia, then gracefully bows out and plays sick, sending them off together.
In the midst of this, Stacey and Ethan are having relationship problems. Ethan has a new Sunday art class which cuts into the only time they could have spent together, and Stacey takes this as a sign that he’s losing interest. She wonders if she’s gotten involved with a workaholic, just like her mother did. Just as things seem to be coming together for Claudia and Jeremy, Stacey and Ethan break up.
Jeremy drops by after his date with Claudia to tell Stacey how sorry he is that she couldn’t come to the movie. He asks her to go out with him some other time. Stacey tells him she’d like to, but asks for time to think it over. Stacey asks for Claudia’s blessing, but Claudia, upset to find out that Jeremy doesn’t like her, refuses to give it. This is why you should never ask for permission, especially if you plan on going ahead and doing what you’re going to do anyway.
Stacey feels guilty, but doesn’t stop flirting with Jeremy, and becomes angry at Claudia when Claudia tells Jeremy that Stacey has a boyfriend. Stacey and Claudia has a huge fight, in which Stacey wounds Claudia by slamming her with the hard truth that, regardless of what Stacey does or does not do, Jeremy will NEVER like her.
In a last-minute page-count-padding twist, moments before Stacey is supposed to leave for her Big Date with Jeremy, Ethan shows up at her door and tries to win her back! She says no. So. There that is. Stacey goes on the date with Jeremy and has a good time.
A weird subplot has Stacey befriending Rachel Griffin, another new kid, sort of. She’s returning to Stoneybrook after moving away in sixth grade, conveniently before we joined the series. All the old-school BSCers hate Rachel, but Stacey likes her, leading her to conclude that people can change, but suggesting to us that Stacey has gone over to the dark side. Rachel and Stacey’s bonding over being so much more worldly than everyone else because they’ve lived in London and New York, respectively, and Rachel pushing an all’s-fair-in-love-and-war philosophy does nothing to discourage this reading.
There’s a sympathetic Stacey story in here somewhere. Fighting over a boy can certainly drive a wedge through a friendship, with both parties feeling high emotions and neither one being at fault. Stacey arguably did the right thing by asking for Claudia’s permission, and Claudia’s refusal to grant it is understandable too, but has that every swayed anyone? Stacey could have put a little more effort into refusing Jeremy’s advances after that, but when two people are attracted to each other, no promise is going to keep them apart. Stacey has a point that her dating or not dating Jeremy won’t change Jeremy’s (lack of) feelings for Claudia, and I even sympathize--in a wincing kind of way--with Stacey’s tactless way of putting that fact. However, Stacey’s obnoxious bonding with the redeeming-quality-free Rachel and her cavalier discarding of poor Ethan really make her seem hateful, even in her own book.
Timing: September
Revised Timeline: Third academic year postgrad. I guess Jeremy is the new boy in Claudia and Stacey’s--group of friends? workplace? regularly-scheduled social group (e.g. kickball team)?
In the midst of this, Stacey and Ethan are having relationship problems. Ethan has a new Sunday art class which cuts into the only time they could have spent together, and Stacey takes this as a sign that he’s losing interest. She wonders if she’s gotten involved with a workaholic, just like her mother did. Just as things seem to be coming together for Claudia and Jeremy, Stacey and Ethan break up.
Jeremy drops by after his date with Claudia to tell Stacey how sorry he is that she couldn’t come to the movie. He asks her to go out with him some other time. Stacey tells him she’d like to, but asks for time to think it over. Stacey asks for Claudia’s blessing, but Claudia, upset to find out that Jeremy doesn’t like her, refuses to give it. This is why you should never ask for permission, especially if you plan on going ahead and doing what you’re going to do anyway.
Stacey feels guilty, but doesn’t stop flirting with Jeremy, and becomes angry at Claudia when Claudia tells Jeremy that Stacey has a boyfriend. Stacey and Claudia has a huge fight, in which Stacey wounds Claudia by slamming her with the hard truth that, regardless of what Stacey does or does not do, Jeremy will NEVER like her.
In a last-minute page-count-padding twist, moments before Stacey is supposed to leave for her Big Date with Jeremy, Ethan shows up at her door and tries to win her back! She says no. So. There that is. Stacey goes on the date with Jeremy and has a good time.
A weird subplot has Stacey befriending Rachel Griffin, another new kid, sort of. She’s returning to Stoneybrook after moving away in sixth grade, conveniently before we joined the series. All the old-school BSCers hate Rachel, but Stacey likes her, leading her to conclude that people can change, but suggesting to us that Stacey has gone over to the dark side. Rachel and Stacey’s bonding over being so much more worldly than everyone else because they’ve lived in London and New York, respectively, and Rachel pushing an all’s-fair-in-love-and-war philosophy does nothing to discourage this reading.
There’s a sympathetic Stacey story in here somewhere. Fighting over a boy can certainly drive a wedge through a friendship, with both parties feeling high emotions and neither one being at fault. Stacey arguably did the right thing by asking for Claudia’s permission, and Claudia’s refusal to grant it is understandable too, but has that every swayed anyone? Stacey could have put a little more effort into refusing Jeremy’s advances after that, but when two people are attracted to each other, no promise is going to keep them apart. Stacey has a point that her dating or not dating Jeremy won’t change Jeremy’s (lack of) feelings for Claudia, and I even sympathize--in a wincing kind of way--with Stacey’s tactless way of putting that fact. However, Stacey’s obnoxious bonding with the redeeming-quality-free Rachel and her cavalier discarding of poor Ethan really make her seem hateful, even in her own book.
Timing: September
Revised Timeline: Third academic year postgrad. I guess Jeremy is the new boy in Claudia and Stacey’s--group of friends? workplace? regularly-scheduled social group (e.g. kickball team)?
sammah's review
3.0
So far? I'm really digging these! They're just so much better than the end of the regular series was. I'm glad it might go out on a somewhat high note! This one was very, very middle school haha.
Stacey ends up breaking it off with Ethan, and she and Claudia like the same guy. Que the giant fight when he likes Stacey and not Claudia. They have a very nasty argument, wherein Stacey calls Claudia dumb, and damn! It's on!
GIVE ME MORE OF THIS DRAMA PLEASE!
Stacey ends up breaking it off with Ethan, and she and Claudia like the same guy. Que the giant fight when he likes Stacey and not Claudia. They have a very nasty argument, wherein Stacey calls Claudia dumb, and damn! It's on!
GIVE ME MORE OF THIS DRAMA PLEASE!
ssshira's review
2.0
this is my first time reading this book.
in this book by ghostwriter [a:Suzanne Weyn|99836|Suzanne Weyn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1225668404p2/99836.jpg], stacey and claudia break up because they like the same boy. first, ethan tells stacey he is taking a class during the only time they would generally have to see each other. then he sort of breaks up with her, or at least says they should take a step back for now. a new boy starts at the school, jeremy rudolph, and both stacey and claudia like him. claud asks stacey to help her “get” jeremy, not knowing that stacey likes him too. stacey sucks it up and tries to help her by saying the three of them should go to the movies and then pretending to get sick so it will just be claudia and jeremy. it works out great, at least according to claudia, until jeremy shows up at stacey’s house the next day and says he doesn’t like claudia like that and asks stacey out. he asks stacey to tell claudia about it (see lowlights - I seriously hate jeremy a lot, as you will find out soon) and when she does, claudia is understandably upset. she thinks jeremy actually like-liked her and that stacey cast her wiles upon him or something. this drama could probably have been avoided if jeremy had been the one to break it to claudia in the first place. anyway, stacey and jeremy go out but jeremy is upset because claudia had told him that stacey had a boyfriend, ethan. stacey confronts claud about it and and it turns into a much much bigger fight (see highlights for the incredibly harsh things s+c say to each other). oh and at some point ethan shows up with flowers trying to win stacey back but it’s too late because now she’s crushing on jeremy. meanwhile, another new character is introduced (what is this, faith, hope & trick?), rachel griffin. apparently she went to school with kristy, mary anne, and claudia before stacey moved to town and they all hated her. but she and stacey become friends, because rachel lived in london for the last few years so they bond over being sophistamacated grown women types from the windy apple or something.
highlights:
-stacey ponders whether you're supposed to be able to notice cute guys if you're truly into the person you're dating when she and mary anne are noticing the new cute boy (jeremy). and then stacey justifies it and says that ethan and logan probably notice other girls, but then both she and mary anne. are bummed out and pretend to themselves that they believe their boyfriends don't think about other girls. lol.
-stacey thinks "maybe all guys from olympia were cooler than the ones in stoneybrook." lol.
-claud says rachel is like lucy van pelt, helga pataki, and angelica pickles rolled up into one. aside from lucy, who is pretty timeless, this statement hilariously dates this book as late 90s.
-some of the moments in the fight are SO HARSH I LOVE IT. stacey is so mad that she calls claud brainless and says, "what else would you call someone who can't even spell, who was held back a grade?" claud says stacey is stuck up and acts like she's special because she comes from nyc even though 10 million people live there. stacey says claud's art isn't that great. claud calls stacey a big liar and stacey says claud is a big loser: "what are you going to do? follow jeremy around forever and try to break up his romances? even if you do, it won't matter. he will never want to date you." WOW.
lowlights/nitpicks:
-jeremy is a scumbag. what else do you call a guy who goes on a date with a girl, decides he only likes her as a friend, and asks her best friend out the following day? AND THEN AS IF THAT WEREN’T BAD ENOUGH, he makes the friend he is dating dump the other girl on his behalf. how in the world do stacey and claudia let themselves get swept up into drama that mostly destroys their friendship because of some jerky jerkface?
outfits
claudia:
-"[Claudia] was wearing bright yellow tights with black stripes under a short tie-dyed jumper and long-sleeved neon-pink T-shirt [with] ankle-high vinyl boots."
rachel:
-"Her brown hair was pulled back into a French braid and she wore a short denim skirt under a soft bright yellow sweater."
stacey:
-"The blue thermal-knit shirt with the row of small white buttons up the front was a good choice...It was great with jeans." With the look, Stacey also wears black ankle boots and a French braid, with "a touch of mascara and some berry-colored lipstick" and Rachel's "dangly blue-and-silver earrings."
jeremy:
-"He wore an open-collared blue denim shirt over a bright white T-shirt. His black jeans were neat."
snacks in claudia’s room
-ring-dings (n.s.)
-potato chips under her bed
-carrots and dip (n.s.)
in this book by ghostwriter [a:Suzanne Weyn|99836|Suzanne Weyn|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1225668404p2/99836.jpg], stacey and claudia break up because they like the same boy. first, ethan tells stacey he is taking a class during the only time they would generally have to see each other. then he sort of breaks up with her, or at least says they should take a step back for now. a new boy starts at the school, jeremy rudolph, and both stacey and claudia like him. claud asks stacey to help her “get” jeremy, not knowing that stacey likes him too. stacey sucks it up and tries to help her by saying the three of them should go to the movies and then pretending to get sick so it will just be claudia and jeremy. it works out great, at least according to claudia, until jeremy shows up at stacey’s house the next day and says he doesn’t like claudia like that and asks stacey out. he asks stacey to tell claudia about it (see lowlights - I seriously hate jeremy a lot, as you will find out soon) and when she does, claudia is understandably upset. she thinks jeremy actually like-liked her and that stacey cast her wiles upon him or something. this drama could probably have been avoided if jeremy had been the one to break it to claudia in the first place. anyway, stacey and jeremy go out but jeremy is upset because claudia had told him that stacey had a boyfriend, ethan. stacey confronts claud about it and and it turns into a much much bigger fight (see highlights for the incredibly harsh things s+c say to each other). oh and at some point ethan shows up with flowers trying to win stacey back but it’s too late because now she’s crushing on jeremy. meanwhile, another new character is introduced (what is this, faith, hope & trick?), rachel griffin. apparently she went to school with kristy, mary anne, and claudia before stacey moved to town and they all hated her. but she and stacey become friends, because rachel lived in london for the last few years so they bond over being sophistamacated grown women types from the windy apple or something.
highlights:
-stacey ponders whether you're supposed to be able to notice cute guys if you're truly into the person you're dating when she and mary anne are noticing the new cute boy (jeremy). and then stacey justifies it and says that ethan and logan probably notice other girls, but then both she and mary anne. are bummed out and pretend to themselves that they believe their boyfriends don't think about other girls. lol.
-stacey thinks "maybe all guys from olympia were cooler than the ones in stoneybrook." lol.
-claud says rachel is like lucy van pelt, helga pataki, and angelica pickles rolled up into one. aside from lucy, who is pretty timeless, this statement hilariously dates this book as late 90s.
-some of the moments in the fight are SO HARSH I LOVE IT. stacey is so mad that she calls claud brainless and says, "what else would you call someone who can't even spell, who was held back a grade?" claud says stacey is stuck up and acts like she's special because she comes from nyc even though 10 million people live there. stacey says claud's art isn't that great. claud calls stacey a big liar and stacey says claud is a big loser: "what are you going to do? follow jeremy around forever and try to break up his romances? even if you do, it won't matter. he will never want to date you." WOW.
lowlights/nitpicks:
-jeremy is a scumbag. what else do you call a guy who goes on a date with a girl, decides he only likes her as a friend, and asks her best friend out the following day? AND THEN AS IF THAT WEREN’T BAD ENOUGH, he makes the friend he is dating dump the other girl on his behalf. how in the world do stacey and claudia let themselves get swept up into drama that mostly destroys their friendship because of some jerky jerkface?
outfits
claudia:
-"[Claudia] was wearing bright yellow tights with black stripes under a short tie-dyed jumper and long-sleeved neon-pink T-shirt [with] ankle-high vinyl boots."
rachel:
-"Her brown hair was pulled back into a French braid and she wore a short denim skirt under a soft bright yellow sweater."
stacey:
-"The blue thermal-knit shirt with the row of small white buttons up the front was a good choice...It was great with jeans." With the look, Stacey also wears black ankle boots and a French braid, with "a touch of mascara and some berry-colored lipstick" and Rachel's "dangly blue-and-silver earrings."
jeremy:
-"He wore an open-collared blue denim shirt over a bright white T-shirt. His black jeans were neat."
snacks in claudia’s room
-ring-dings (n.s.)
-potato chips under her bed
-carrots and dip (n.s.)
leighannsherwin's review
5.0
Say it isn't so? Stacey and Claudia are fighting? And over a boy? Who could've seen this coming? Well pretty much anyone really. The two most boy crazy members of the BSC both fall in love with the new boy Jeremy. Stacey already has Ethan so she lets Claudia have him until she and Ethan break up and Jeremy says he really wants to date Stacey not Claudia. Ouch. It was a tough read seeing two good friends torn apart by a guy, but also a tale as old a time. I'm sure I would've been angry if I'd read this as a teen but the adult me was happy that those angst filled times were long gone for me. I am interested in seeing the story from Claudia's side though which is a couple books away. Also Mary Anne hints she's about to dump Logan's ass which is the next book so there's that to look forward too.
sidhe's review
2.0
This wasn't a great book. It wasn't terrible but if you weren't a BSC fan, you probably wouldn't get much out of it other than two teenage girls fighting over a boy.
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