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cameesreads's review against another edition
4.0
The cool thing about American Girls was that it really straddled the line between everyday YA fiction and literary fiction. At times I forgot I was reading a YA book at all; it was so well written with great lines and solid character development.
I think in 2016 young people, teens and adults in their 20s included, are pretty obsessed with the idea of fame, Hollywood, and LA. Everyday people can be "Instagram" famous, or rack up a hundred thousand views on YouTube. California and LA seems to be the fashion trend for the moment, and people believe it to be something it really isn't. The book details some truths behind fame and the kind of city LA is and the craziness of many of its inhabitants. The book had thick dark humor that at times made me laugh out loud but also made me feel a little sad.
Another version of this book has a different title - "My Favourite Manson Girl". If the U.S. version had this title I never would have picked it up as I would have thought it was some goth writer's idea of fantasizing Charles Manson and his clan of psychotic women. "American Girls" isn't really a perfect title for the book either, but its a little more accessible. Manson and his crimes are mentioned through out the entire book, but the main character Anna is disturbed by the tales, not gothfully gleeful over them. She compares Manson's LA to the LA of today and it is really quite terrifying and gives the reader a lot to chew on. Were Manson's "girls" any different than the lost girls of LA today? How does our upbringing affect who we are and who we choose to become as adults?
Not one character in the book was perfect and I really loved that. My opinions of all the characters also changed through out - illustrating the fact that no one is ever as they first seem, especially not in LA. It was a perfect book for the time we are living in.
I think in 2016 young people, teens and adults in their 20s included, are pretty obsessed with the idea of fame, Hollywood, and LA. Everyday people can be "Instagram" famous, or rack up a hundred thousand views on YouTube. California and LA seems to be the fashion trend for the moment, and people believe it to be something it really isn't. The book details some truths behind fame and the kind of city LA is and the craziness of many of its inhabitants. The book had thick dark humor that at times made me laugh out loud but also made me feel a little sad.
Another version of this book has a different title - "My Favourite Manson Girl". If the U.S. version had this title I never would have picked it up as I would have thought it was some goth writer's idea of fantasizing Charles Manson and his clan of psychotic women. "American Girls" isn't really a perfect title for the book either, but its a little more accessible. Manson and his crimes are mentioned through out the entire book, but the main character Anna is disturbed by the tales, not gothfully gleeful over them. She compares Manson's LA to the LA of today and it is really quite terrifying and gives the reader a lot to chew on. Were Manson's "girls" any different than the lost girls of LA today? How does our upbringing affect who we are and who we choose to become as adults?
Not one character in the book was perfect and I really loved that. My opinions of all the characters also changed through out - illustrating the fact that no one is ever as they first seem, especially not in LA. It was a perfect book for the time we are living in.
ravenousbookeater's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
🗡❤️🖤🙂
hellalibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Flatiron Books in exchanged for an unbiased review.
In the beginning of American Girls, we first meet Anna, a fifteen-year-old who has stolen her mother’s credit card and run away to LA to live with her older sister for the summer, who is also an actress.
As the story progresses, Anna becomes entangled with her sister’s world in Hollywood, meeting producers, and other actors, and while helping her sister in her new role, she becomes completely enraptured with Charles Manson and the Manson girls who committed his murders for him in the late 1960’s.
The more she learns about the Manson girls, the more she feels connected to them, and how much her life has become to parallel theirs.
Not only that, she quickly realizes that the glamorous and glitzy life of Hollywood isn’t all that it appears to be.
This is a very character-driven novel about being a young woman and coming into your own, and trying to figure out who you are in the world, the problem I found, however, was that I didn’t think that Anna was that strong of a character. I found her to be too whiny at times as well as incredibly selfish. I couldn’t connect with her voice.
The story was compelling enough for me to want to keep reading, but I felt that something was missing. A lot of parts seemed to drag for me and whenever an interesting storyline was introduced and I felt that things were speeding up, it was pushed away to the side with no real resolutions.
There were some complex characters as well as a complicated relationship between Anna and her family and a strong theme of redemption throughout the book that I did enjoy.
I wanted it to be more though.
In the beginning of American Girls, we first meet Anna, a fifteen-year-old who has stolen her mother’s credit card and run away to LA to live with her older sister for the summer, who is also an actress.
As the story progresses, Anna becomes entangled with her sister’s world in Hollywood, meeting producers, and other actors, and while helping her sister in her new role, she becomes completely enraptured with Charles Manson and the Manson girls who committed his murders for him in the late 1960’s.
The more she learns about the Manson girls, the more she feels connected to them, and how much her life has become to parallel theirs.
Not only that, she quickly realizes that the glamorous and glitzy life of Hollywood isn’t all that it appears to be.
This is a very character-driven novel about being a young woman and coming into your own, and trying to figure out who you are in the world, the problem I found, however, was that I didn’t think that Anna was that strong of a character. I found her to be too whiny at times as well as incredibly selfish. I couldn’t connect with her voice.
The story was compelling enough for me to want to keep reading, but I felt that something was missing. A lot of parts seemed to drag for me and whenever an interesting storyline was introduced and I felt that things were speeding up, it was pushed away to the side with no real resolutions.
There were some complex characters as well as a complicated relationship between Anna and her family and a strong theme of redemption throughout the book that I did enjoy.
I wanted it to be more though.
sydboll's review against another edition
Absolutely love this novel! Umminger perfectly creates the voice of Anna and let's us see the world through her eyes as she discusses the meaning of family, friendship, and the Manson girls.
gretafaith's review against another edition
5.0
I actually liked this book considerably more than I intended to. I originally picked it up because the tagline reminded me of my favorite tv relationship (yes I realize how embarrassing that is) and when I read the description, I was expecting another corny, larger-than-life teen novel.
What I actually got was a well thought-out and poignant novel that considered countless themes from the outsiders of society to the facade of fame. It compares the world's view of shiny, promising L.A. with the true gritty details of the fame-seekers. Not what I expected, but actually better.
What I actually got was a well thought-out and poignant novel that considered countless themes from the outsiders of society to the facade of fame. It compares the world's view of shiny, promising L.A. with the true gritty details of the fame-seekers. Not what I expected, but actually better.
ainsleyc's review against another edition
4.0
I did like this book, so don't be put off by the 3.5 star rating.
I thought American Girls was a beautifully written, introspective novel about the mysterious and magical and often two faced culture that surrounds Hollywood and then by extension, America herself.
I liked Anna, even though she was pretty bitchy, and I think her weird obsession with the unhinged (Charles Manson being the focus) is pretty relatable.
Some of the situations felt a little forced to happen which is part of the negative rating but it didn't really take away from the book.
My biggest issue was that I think it takes more than one read to really 'get' it. Some of it was a little too introspective for the first read. Maybe that's just me, but that's what I felt like. It was a bummer to read because it switched off all the bright lights all the dirt and grime could really be seen.
Which was the point.
I can't wait to see what Allison Umminger writes next!
I thought American Girls was a beautifully written, introspective novel about the mysterious and magical and often two faced culture that surrounds Hollywood and then by extension, America herself.
I liked Anna, even though she was pretty bitchy, and I think her weird obsession with the unhinged (Charles Manson being the focus) is pretty relatable.
Some of the situations felt a little forced to happen which is part of the negative rating but it didn't really take away from the book.
My biggest issue was that I think it takes more than one read to really 'get' it. Some of it was a little too introspective for the first read. Maybe that's just me, but that's what I felt like. It was a bummer to read because it switched off all the bright lights all the dirt and grime could really be seen.
Which was the point.
I can't wait to see what Allison Umminger writes next!
saintboleyn's review against another edition
2.0
Meh. Not entirely what I was looking for. More of a meditation on themes than a novel with a strong story - I'm sure someone out there will love it, and judging by the reviews, quite a few of you do. I just flat-out couldn't connect to any of the characters and found the storyline a little alienating. Nothing horribly wrong with it, but not my cup of tea.
tbrov's review against another edition
4.0
There was a lot going on in this relatively short YA book. It takes place in LA, which represents the obsession with youth, beauty and superficiality. Our main character is 15 and flawed; her crime is that of being self-centered and unaware of how her actions affect those around her. She runs away from home to spend a summer in LA with her sister, who is trying to make it as an actor. She is given a job researching the Manson girls. So details of the Manson murders parallel the experiences of Anna, as the book examines what role beauty and conformity plays in our culture and what people will do to become famous, and what fame does to corrupt people. Although it juggled a lot, it did it successfully. I enjoyed it, my almost 17 year old enjoyed it, and my 15 year old is halfway through. I can't think of many books that are suitable for all 3 of us.
alytodd's review against another edition
3.0
2019 has so far been the year of "fine" for me, book-wise. This book is no exception. it was good, it was fine, i enjoyed it. But i didn't LOVE it, you know?
The characters were well developed - i could totally picture Roger, the creepy director, and Delia, the waifish sister looking for her big break. Anna's relationship with Jeremy felt authentic and i loved how Dax really took Anna under his wing.
My biggest complaint is that thestalking storyline felt rushed at the end.
I wouldn't rush to recommend it, but it's a quick read and given the hype around it, i'm glad i checked it out.
The characters were well developed - i could totally picture Roger, the creepy director, and Delia, the waifish sister looking for her big break. Anna's relationship with Jeremy felt authentic and i loved how Dax really took Anna under his wing.
My biggest complaint is that the
I wouldn't rush to recommend it, but it's a quick read and given the hype around it, i'm glad i checked it out.
jamiebooksandladders's review against another edition
4.0
Full review to come on Books Are My Fandom!