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thebookishlibrarian's review against another edition
Jules McCallister-Morgan is your quintessential over-achiever. She is a senior in high school who dreams about becoming editor of the school newspaper and getting accepted into her first-choice Ivy-league college. She already has the all-important job of being on the welcoming committee and is responsible for showing new students around the school. Jules is stopped in her tracks, however, when the new kid just so happens to be Alex Powell, a super-cute former teen heartthrob. Does she let on that she knows who he is? Does she pretend he wasn’t famous for being in the boy band Chaos 4 All? And, worst of all, does she ignore the fact that she can totally tell he’s into her?
humphrey_and's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lilliangretsinger's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf at 46%
I just didn't care about the stories or the characters.
I just didn't care about the stories or the characters.
charmaineac's review against another edition
4.0
Ahhh, I was a huge fan of this book! Amy Spalding makes the perfect vanilla-fluffy rom coms. Yes, some parts are a little young for me now. And Chaos 4 All is exactly the kind of cringey thing that haunts one-hit-wonders. But I relate a lot to Jules, and Alex is swoon-worthy. All these people in Jules's life are AMAZING, and I just want to live in her world. Let's face it — I'd probably be Natalie here, but I admire Jules and think she's learning and growing into a great member of society.
I wish Jules's pessimistic outlook on the inevitable loss of her friendship with Sadie and Em was somehow addressed more. I also wish we got a chance to find out about her be-all, end-all goal of getting into Brown. These are important aspects of her life... friends and academia! They need to be resolved! Also, here's what I wished would happen: for her not to get into Brown (maybe waitlisted or something sucky, but also something that a lot of high school seniors have to face), but getting into, say, Columbia. In the City of New York. Do you see what I'm getting at here? Em and Sadie plan to study in New York (NYU and Julliard, maybe?)! It would be such a satisfying way to tie up that loose thread.
Aside from that, I really like how a lot of this was handled. Jules does have some skewed priorities, and she's passionate to the extreme, but I UNDERSTAND THAT. It's not often that you see someone so driven and hyper-competitive shown in a positive light. I'm glad that part of one's psyche is now explained to people who aren't like Jules (or me). I'm also glad we got to read about someone so well-adjusted socially and with such close familial ties. These are all things that I relate to, and what more could you ask for from a book?
Well, I suppose you could also ask for swoony scenes in a supply closet. :)
I wish Jules's pessimistic outlook on the inevitable loss of her friendship with Sadie and Em was somehow addressed more. I also wish we got a chance to find out about her be-all, end-all goal of getting into Brown. These are important aspects of her life... friends and academia! They need to be resolved! Also, here's what I wished would happen: for her not to get into Brown (maybe waitlisted or something sucky, but also something that a lot of high school seniors have to face), but getting into, say, Columbia. In the City of New York. Do you see what I'm getting at here? Em and Sadie plan to study in New York (NYU and Julliard, maybe?)! It would be such a satisfying way to tie up that loose thread.
Aside from that, I really like how a lot of this was handled. Jules does have some skewed priorities, and she's passionate to the extreme, but I UNDERSTAND THAT. It's not often that you see someone so driven and hyper-competitive shown in a positive light. I'm glad that part of one's psyche is now explained to people who aren't like Jules (or me). I'm also glad we got to read about someone so well-adjusted socially and with such close familial ties. These are all things that I relate to, and what more could you ask for from a book?
Well, I suppose you could also ask for swoony scenes in a supply closet. :)
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Prefectly servicable romance between an organized, driven HS senior and the new guy in school (who just happens to be a former boyband member). Great for Sarah Dessen and Stephanie Perkins fans.
AC provided by publisher.
AC provided by publisher.
auburnedge's review against another edition
3.0
I would rate this a solid good. Mediocre but enjoyable.
Jules is your non average high school senior. Focusing only on getting into Brown and the newspaper. That is until the new guy, a former boy band singer, comes to school. Now she must decide what is more important. With a lot of problems, misteps, and mistakes Jules must learn what it means to be a good friend and a team player.
While I enjoyed the premise and the cute couples I found myself skimming to get to the end faster.
Perfect for those who want a lot of drama with their stories.
Jules is your non average high school senior. Focusing only on getting into Brown and the newspaper. That is until the new guy, a former boy band singer, comes to school. Now she must decide what is more important. With a lot of problems, misteps, and mistakes Jules must learn what it means to be a good friend and a team player.
While I enjoyed the premise and the cute couples I found myself skimming to get to the end faster.
Perfect for those who want a lot of drama with their stories.
ezichinny's review against another edition
2.0
Jules McAllister-Morgan was a senior at Eagle Vista Academy when a former teen heartthrob named Alex Powell enrolled at her school. While Jules has a crush on Alex as every teenager has on boy band members, Jules is very determined to attend Brown University. In her pursuit of academy excellence, Jules becomes slightly fixated on certain extra-curricular activities such as the school paper.
As Jules and Alex began spending time together, the newspaper faltered and a rival started to disseminate school news via other avenues such as using email or school televisions. Jules became obsessed with beating her rival. It began exposing Jules relationship with others, more specifically how she never really spend time getting to know others and what was important to others.
I get that the author was trying to portray a flawed young senior, but I found Jules to be self-centered and difficult to connect with. I could tell that the writing was supposed to be humorous but it felt lost in translation. I would have liked more attention focused on how Alex brought out the better side of Jules instead of the super competitive self-absorbed Jules that was prevalent in the book. This teen romance fell flat for me as I never quite warmed up to Jules. I was looking for a book with more depth to the characters and this book didn’t deliver that.
*Special Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers via Netgalley for the e-book.
As Jules and Alex began spending time together, the newspaper faltered and a rival started to disseminate school news via other avenues such as using email or school televisions. Jules became obsessed with beating her rival. It began exposing Jules relationship with others, more specifically how she never really spend time getting to know others and what was important to others.
I get that the author was trying to portray a flawed young senior, but I found Jules to be self-centered and difficult to connect with. I could tell that the writing was supposed to be humorous but it felt lost in translation. I would have liked more attention focused on how Alex brought out the better side of Jules instead of the super competitive self-absorbed Jules that was prevalent in the book. This teen romance fell flat for me as I never quite warmed up to Jules. I was looking for a book with more depth to the characters and this book didn’t deliver that.
*Special Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers via Netgalley for the e-book.
bookmarkedbylauren's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
shanameydala's review against another edition
2.0
This was too light for me, the obstacles didn't feel serious enough. This is probably how high school should be, but I like my YA with a bit more teeth.
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
Love, love, love this romcom about a high-achieving senior girl who finds herself falling for the former boy band member Alex when he transfers to her school. It's funny, fun, and it's full of heart. Jules's problems aren't the kind that will shatter the world, but they make HER world tough. That's what I love about Spalding's books -- they're stories about girls who have challenges in their everyday lives and find ways to work with those challenges, rather than against them. The newspaper editor angle and rivalry with the new media here was particularly enjoyable for me as a former newspaper editor turned online publication editor. Jules is also the daughter of two moms, is open and frank about wanting to be sexually active and takes proactive steps to make this possible, and she's imperfect, despite her desire to be perfect.
Also, the passive aggressive dog walking was hilarious.
This is what you read when you need a smile and what you hand to teens who want feel-good books. Totally fine for even the young YA readers.
Also, the passive aggressive dog walking was hilarious.
This is what you read when you need a smile and what you hand to teens who want feel-good books. Totally fine for even the young YA readers.