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maimaitu's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
verbie's review against another edition
2.0
So I decided to clean up my Goodreads bookshelf and pick up something I'd shelved in 2017. I don't know why I keep punishing myself by reading YA books when I know I don't like them. But I do, nonetheless.
There are spoilers in this review.
This book tells the story of Amelia, a girl with a pathological love for Project Runway and Pinterest, whose mother and grandmother work for a rich family, the Laurentis. She is madly in love with their son Ethan. Then she goes to NYC for a fashion internship, comes back, and slowly but surely falls in love with Ethan's twin brother, Liam.
(I wrote this before finishing my read of this book, that's how predictable it was)
Apparently, the story is a retelling of the 1954 film 'Sabrina', which I haven't watched, so I can't really say anything on that end. But it did spike my curiosity to go watch this film.
General thoughts about this book:
- A nice, predictable, storyline.
I like predictable storylines: they're safe and, sometimes, when they're done right, they feel organic. This one was predictable in the bigger picture, but it was strange how everything fell into place.
So much unnecessary drama ensued: from Amelia lying about dating Ethan Laurenti to her new friends during the internship, to a literal reality TV show being filmed in the Laurenti's mansion... there was a lot of filler and angst over trivial matters.
- The writing.
There's cringey, and then there's Alterations-level cringey writing. I have this huge gripe with authors who try to write like teenagers; most of the times it just sounds clunky and strange.
So I decided to log a few weirdly phrased sentences, but there were too many and I lost track.
Here are a few expressions I found absolutely hilarious but also extremely odd:
"OTP"
"I needed a good, long think session and some time spent rearranging my Pinterest boards"
"I took out my phone and snapped pictures of everyone's outfits, since we looked so fab and all."
"Please don't be offended, even though I just accused your sweet abuela of wanting to get down with a teen pool cleaner"
"Tess's hair was spiked and ready to go."
"Her always active mom-dar picked up on my awkward reaction frequencies."
I have to admit I was uninvested and uninterested for most of this book. The storyline, despite all the drama, was flat for most of the book, although it picked up the pace and got somewhat interesting towards the end. I suspect that was mostly because I was waiting for some romance (or anything to make me feel... something towards this book).
If you like YA and fashion, maybe give this a try? I don't know.
There are spoilers in this review.
This book tells the story of Amelia, a girl with a pathological love for Project Runway and Pinterest, whose mother and grandmother work for a rich family, the Laurentis. She is madly in love with their son Ethan. Then she goes to NYC for a fashion internship, comes back, and slowly but surely falls in love with Ethan's twin brother, Liam.
(I wrote this before finishing my read of this book, that's how predictable it was)
Apparently, the story is a retelling of the 1954 film 'Sabrina', which I haven't watched, so I can't really say anything on that end. But it did spike my curiosity to go watch this film.
General thoughts about this book:
- A nice, predictable, storyline.
I like predictable storylines: they're safe and, sometimes, when they're done right, they feel organic. This one was predictable in the bigger picture, but it was strange how everything fell into place.
So much unnecessary drama ensued: from Amelia lying about dating Ethan Laurenti to her new friends during the internship, to a literal reality TV show being filmed in the Laurenti's mansion... there was a lot of filler and angst over trivial matters.
- The writing.
There's cringey, and then there's Alterations-level cringey writing. I have this huge gripe with authors who try to write like teenagers; most of the times it just sounds clunky and strange.
So I decided to log a few weirdly phrased sentences, but there were too many and I lost track.
Here are a few expressions I found absolutely hilarious but also extremely odd:
"OTP"
"I needed a good, long think session and some time spent rearranging my Pinterest boards"
"I took out my phone and snapped pictures of everyone's outfits, since we looked so fab and all."
"Please don't be offended, even though I just accused your sweet abuela of wanting to get down with a teen pool cleaner"
"Tess's hair was spiked and ready to go."
"Her always active mom-dar picked up on my awkward reaction frequencies."
I have to admit I was uninvested and uninterested for most of this book. The storyline, despite all the drama, was flat for most of the book, although it picked up the pace and got somewhat interesting towards the end. I suspect that was mostly because I was waiting for some romance (or anything to make me feel... something towards this book).
If you like YA and fashion, maybe give this a try? I don't know.
the_discworldian's review against another edition
3.0
A very cute but uneven young adult retelling of the film Sabrina (or films, if you prefer...I'm actually totally fine with the remake, too). This time around, our Sabrina is Amelia, a 16 year-old who is only SLIGHTLY obsessed with the boy next door. Her mother and grandmother convince her to go to New York City for fashion camp, which is where she develops some maturity and self respect but also makes a lot of mistakes.
Amelia is obsessed with "Project Runway," but I kept thinking of a different reality show while I was reading, especially towards the beginning. Specifically:
Seriously.
The cringe was serious in this book. The reality show plot point was a reasonable stand-in for "the important business deal that has to be sealed with a marriage" in the original, but it was also deeply irritating. Sure, it poked fun at the Kardashian/Real Housewife-type reality show, but not in a way that was especially original or funny. All the kids in this family have a "y" shoehorned into their name somewhere! LOL ROTFL. Some of the supporting characters were sketchily developed, mostly the adults.
This, for example, was running through my head during the scene between Liam and his father. Guess which one is dear old dad?
I frequently wanted to smack some sense into Amelia, especially towards the beginning (the lying! The obsessing! The pinterest boards!). At the same time, this was also the strength of the book. More than either film, this book focused on the heroine and her growth as a person. Amelia undergoes a real transformation over the course of the book, and it's less about learning how to dress fashionably and a lot more about her growing up. Equal time is spent on the development of her platonic friendships as on her romantic relationship. Which brother she ends up with is more about her developing values and sense of herself and what she wants than anything else. This is Amelia's book, and if you can handle a lot of awkward teenage girl growing pains, you might enjoy it.
Amelia is obsessed with "Project Runway," but I kept thinking of a different reality show while I was reading, especially towards the beginning. Specifically:
Seriously.
The cringe was serious in this book. The reality show plot point was a reasonable stand-in for "the important business deal that has to be sealed with a marriage" in the original, but it was also deeply irritating. Sure, it poked fun at the Kardashian/Real Housewife-type reality show, but not in a way that was especially original or funny. All the kids in this family have a "y" shoehorned into their name somewhere! LOL ROTFL. Some of the supporting characters were sketchily developed, mostly the adults.
This, for example, was running through my head during the scene between Liam and his father. Guess which one is dear old dad?
I frequently wanted to smack some sense into Amelia, especially towards the beginning (the lying! The obsessing! The pinterest boards!). At the same time, this was also the strength of the book. More than either film, this book focused on the heroine and her growth as a person. Amelia undergoes a real transformation over the course of the book, and it's less about learning how to dress fashionably and a lot more about her growing up. Equal time is spent on the development of her platonic friendships as on her romantic relationship. Which brother she ends up with is more about her developing values and sense of herself and what she wants than anything else. This is Amelia's book, and if you can handle a lot of awkward teenage girl growing pains, you might enjoy it.
foreveryoungadult's review against another edition
Graded By: Jennie
Cover Story: Keeping Me In Stitches
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Project Runway: Miami
Bonus Factors: Fashion, Sabrina Retelling, Diversity
Relationship Status: Little Sibling
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Keeping Me In Stitches
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Project Runway: Miami
Bonus Factors: Fashion, Sabrina Retelling, Diversity
Relationship Status: Little Sibling
Read the full book report here.
tomesandtextiles's review against another edition
4.0
This is a solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 because of local flavor (MIAMI!) and positive portrayal of the fashion industry and positive, encouraging story to follow your dreams. You can find my full review on YAWednesdays.com.
acdom's review against another edition
3.0
Cute and quick read YA romcom retelling of "Sabrina", a movie of which I love both versions.
cpcabaniss's review against another edition
3.0
*I received a copy of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
There were parts of this I really liked, but there was a bit of a disconnect between the first quarter or so and the rest of tge novel.
Amelia was difficult for me to connect with at first because of the lying and obessession over Ethan. I did enjoy thw fashion side of things though. And she progressed nicely later on.
Liam was a cute and likable character, but I was somewhat disappointed by how insecure he was. I got why he was that way, it just would have been nice if he had been somewhat more confident.
The ending, while cute, was very rushed to me. Too much was crammed into the final two or three chapters.
Full review will be up on my blog soon.
There were parts of this I really liked, but there was a bit of a disconnect between the first quarter or so and the rest of tge novel.
Amelia was difficult for me to connect with at first because of the lying and obessession over Ethan. I did enjoy thw fashion side of things though. And she progressed nicely later on.
Liam was a cute and likable character, but I was somewhat disappointed by how insecure he was. I got why he was that way, it just would have been nice if he had been somewhat more confident.
The ending, while cute, was very rushed to me. Too much was crammed into the final two or three chapters.
Full review will be up on my blog soon.
cozykrysti's review against another edition
4.0
Wine Pairing: I would recommend a Pink Sparkling Wine to match this book's ADORABLE cover and all the warm, bubbly feelings you'll get while reading it.
Book Rating: This book is light, fun, and the perfect weekend read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: No other way to describe this one besides TOTES ADORBS!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Swoon Worthiness: Swoon times two! You get two adorable Laurenti boys to swoon over.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drama: Amelia Blanco gets herself into some predictable scrapes along the way. Though you might be able to guess what's going to happen next, the journey getting there is a downright pleasure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Retelling: This charming story is a retelling of the movie Sabrina, one of my all time favorite Audrey Hepburn movies. If you haven't seen it yet, read this book and then watch it. You'll thank me, and Stephanie Scott, later!
The Big Picture: When Amelia's abuelita secretly enrolls her in a summer internship program at one of New York City's top fashion schools, she has to leave the safety of the fantasy life she's built on her Pinterest boards and start living her dreams for real.
Fitting in with a new crew of young fashionistas proves intimidating, and Amelia embellishes the truth of her humble life back home to fit in, including telling everyone that she is actually dating the boy she's been crushing on her entire life, Ethan Laurenti.
When Amelia returns home newly confident, and newly made over, Ethan finally begins paying her the kind of attention she's always wanted. The only problem is so does his twin brother Liam, the quieter, nerdier version of Ethan.
As Amelia begins spending more time with both brothers predictable yet entertaining drama ensues and Amelia has a choice to make, one that exceeds even her wildest of imaginings.
Why You Should Read This Book: Amelia Blanco is the penultimate teenage girl. Reading this story was like taking a tardis back to the sixteen-year-old version of myself and made for the perfect Friday night book date.
Amelia has not one but TWO delightful character ARCs that keep you turning those pages late into the night. It's so much fun to watch her learn how to believe in herself while figuring out what, and WHO, she really wants.
This book also gets bonus points for including multiple Harry Potter references.
If you like your YA contemporary and charming, this is the book for you. It quite simply delightful to read.
The Nitty Gritty: Published by Bloomsbury Spark. Release Date: 12/06/2016.
*Wine recommendations are, of course, for those of legal drinking age only.*
Book Rating: This book is light, fun, and the perfect weekend read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cover Rating: No other way to describe this one besides TOTES ADORBS!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Swoon Worthiness: Swoon times two! You get two adorable Laurenti boys to swoon over.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Drama: Amelia Blanco gets herself into some predictable scrapes along the way. Though you might be able to guess what's going to happen next, the journey getting there is a downright pleasure.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Retelling: This charming story is a retelling of the movie Sabrina, one of my all time favorite Audrey Hepburn movies. If you haven't seen it yet, read this book and then watch it. You'll thank me, and Stephanie Scott, later!
The Big Picture: When Amelia's abuelita secretly enrolls her in a summer internship program at one of New York City's top fashion schools, she has to leave the safety of the fantasy life she's built on her Pinterest boards and start living her dreams for real.
Fitting in with a new crew of young fashionistas proves intimidating, and Amelia embellishes the truth of her humble life back home to fit in, including telling everyone that she is actually dating the boy she's been crushing on her entire life, Ethan Laurenti.
When Amelia returns home newly confident, and newly made over, Ethan finally begins paying her the kind of attention she's always wanted. The only problem is so does his twin brother Liam, the quieter, nerdier version of Ethan.
As Amelia begins spending more time with both brothers predictable yet entertaining drama ensues and Amelia has a choice to make, one that exceeds even her wildest of imaginings.
Why You Should Read This Book: Amelia Blanco is the penultimate teenage girl. Reading this story was like taking a tardis back to the sixteen-year-old version of myself and made for the perfect Friday night book date.
Amelia has not one but TWO delightful character ARCs that keep you turning those pages late into the night. It's so much fun to watch her learn how to believe in herself while figuring out what, and WHO, she really wants.
This book also gets bonus points for including multiple Harry Potter references.
If you like your YA contemporary and charming, this is the book for you. It quite simply delightful to read.
The Nitty Gritty: Published by Bloomsbury Spark. Release Date: 12/06/2016.
*Wine recommendations are, of course, for those of legal drinking age only.*
guardianofthebookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Grade: C
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: If you love cute, fluffy romances, Alterations is the book for you. Except...I tend to like those types of books, and Alterations was not a hit for me.
I think my biggest problems had to do with Ethan, the dialogue, and Amelia's fashion interests.
The plotline with Ethan felt unoriginal, and I was just ready for Amelia to warm up to Liam and really notice him and stop focusing on his obnoxious brother. He added so much unnecessary drama after the first half or so of the story. The dialogue felt very unrealistic at times. That's something I've been working on in my fiction writing class this fall, and so it's becoming glaringly apparent to me that, while some things might sound like a good thing to say, people wouldn't really say them (especially teenage boys). Amelia talked about fashion, and she seemed to back up her words with support of why she liked it, but I couldn't feel her passion. I didn't fully grasp why fashion was her "thing."
Other small notes: Haylo was a weird character for me; her personality didn't seem well-formed because it seemed to flip-flop at times. I did like how Amelia had to own up to the lies she told her New York friends. And I really liked Liam and Amelia together.
The Verdict: This one might be a miss honestly.
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: If you love cute, fluffy romances, Alterations is the book for you. Except...I tend to like those types of books, and Alterations was not a hit for me.
I think my biggest problems had to do with Ethan, the dialogue, and Amelia's fashion interests.
The plotline with Ethan felt unoriginal, and I was just ready for Amelia to warm up to Liam and really notice him and stop focusing on his obnoxious brother. He added so much unnecessary drama after the first half or so of the story. The dialogue felt very unrealistic at times. That's something I've been working on in my fiction writing class this fall, and so it's becoming glaringly apparent to me that, while some things might sound like a good thing to say, people wouldn't really say them (especially teenage boys). Amelia talked about fashion, and she seemed to back up her words with support of why she liked it, but I couldn't feel her passion. I didn't fully grasp why fashion was her "thing."
Other small notes: Haylo was a weird character for me; her personality didn't seem well-formed because it seemed to flip-flop at times. I did like how Amelia had to own up to the lies she told her New York friends. And I really liked Liam and Amelia together.
The Verdict: This one might be a miss honestly.