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labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
I think the problem is, I should not have started with [b: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks|1629601|The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|E. Lockhart|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1313980820s/1629601.jpg|1623714]. Starting with that amazing book has set me up for disappointment with every other Lockhart book since.
I had to run a couple of errands today, and needed a new audiobook. This one looked short, and I needed something to clear my memory of Lockhart's newest book, We Were Liars. I'd only gotten about halfway through by the time I got home, but I had things to do around the house, so I just let it go. It's a very fast read.
But it's all fluff. I mean, this is a classic mean girls scenario, combined with regular high school bullshit, which is compelling. But it's the same story that could be and has been written a hundred times before. The lists are fun, the cliched movie lists were my favorites. But this is basically Judy Blume. And if I wanted to read Judy Blume, I would've read Judy Blume.
I really should have read DHoFLB last. Then I wouldn't be disappointed by these.
I do have The Boy Book on my shelf, and I will probably read that next, since it's so short. Jury's still out on whether I'll try for the third part.
I had to run a couple of errands today, and needed a new audiobook. This one looked short, and I needed something to clear my memory of Lockhart's newest book, We Were Liars. I'd only gotten about halfway through by the time I got home, but I had things to do around the house, so I just let it go. It's a very fast read.
But it's all fluff. I mean, this is a classic mean girls scenario, combined with regular high school bullshit, which is compelling. But it's the same story that could be and has been written a hundred times before. The lists are fun, the cliched movie lists were my favorites. But this is basically Judy Blume. And if I wanted to read Judy Blume, I would've read Judy Blume.
I really should have read DHoFLB last. Then I wouldn't be disappointed by these.
I do have The Boy Book on my shelf, and I will probably read that next, since it's so short. Jury's still out on whether I'll try for the third part.
kb_hg's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it better when I was in high school but still good
4saradouglas's review against another edition
2.0
Waste of time. Ruby Oliver's world is just way too different from mine for me to really care about her or her problems. I thought for a moment that maybe it was just the age difference since I am now twice her age, but no... I think my teenage self would have despised the people in this book. I don't act that way; I don't treat people that way. That being said, I think some of my high school girls would get a kick out of it so it's not like it's irredeemable... just not for me.
steph01924's review against another edition
4.0
I read E. Lockhart's The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks back when it first came out, and I remember really liking it but more in that vague way rather than because I can really recall passages or specific scenes (which means I should go re-read it!). Ruby Oliver's first book is my second attempt with Lockhart, and while reading I did remember (still sort-of vaguely) what I had liked about Frankie: Lockhart writes really great characters.
Roo is smart, she's funny and totally normal, and she has a great voice. She's fun to hang with throughout reading the book, and you end up empathizing with her through her struggles. She's got some crazy parents, some bitchy friends, and is in love with, frankly, a major tool. In fact, he's kind of the whole tool-bag. She also has a lot of self-esteem and confidence issues, which isn't a lot unlike many teenage girls.
I just wanted to reach out and pat Roo on the back and tell her:
a.) Jackson is a narcissistic, two-timing, game-playing turd, so stop wasting your brain power on him. Right now. (I loved the scene where she calls him about missing their Saturday night plans. Man, I felt like those pages were taken from my life. No one wins in that argument.)
b.) Find better friends. Your 'friend' Kim is a back-stabbing ho-bag, and if Cricket and Nora were worth crap they wouldn't be OK with Kim going out with your ex-boyfriend THREE days after he dumped you. Obviously that is super fishy. (Now, I am already reading the second book, so Nora isn't quite as bad a friend as Cricket, I guess, but it really pisses me off that not one of these girls would even listen to Ruby's side of things.)
c.) Noel is adorable and pleaselikehimthanks.
d.) Stay in therapy, because with parents like yours, you need it, honey. Oy.
While Ruby got much more enlightened by the end of the book because of her therapy sessions, she was still hung up on Jackson which annoyed me. HOWEVER, I can give her a pass because I can sort of understand. She is fifteen, blinded by her first love, and deeply hurt. You can't always turn off your feelings no matter how much you may want to intellectually. Reading this in my twenties means I have more perspective than she does, so of course I can see where that relationship was just all wrong from the start (well, I'm pretty sure I would've known back then too, but I always had more common sense than your 'average' teenager. ...There is really no way to say that without sounding extremely condescending, but it's true. :P). If this continues in the second book though, I'm going to have to slap her upside the head.
The chapters are laid out with each focusing on a boy of interest, and the narrative jumps from past to present to specific memories, yet doesn't become confusing. I also love that there are footnotes. I love footnotes. And lists! (I have an unholy obsession with lists.) I love random asides, but they are so often done horribly wrong. The ones here are mostly pretty funny, while some are obviously for teenagers with limited world-scope that need basic explanations (who hasn't at least HEARD of AC/DC? And it makes me laugh that Ruby keeps describing Aerosmith as 'heavy metal').
Ruby sort of reminded me, loosely, of the style of Georgina Nicholson from Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging and Olive Penderghast from the movie Easy A, though she is definitely her own person. I'm looking forward to continuing on in the series to see what happens to our leper.
Roo is smart, she's funny and totally normal, and she has a great voice. She's fun to hang with throughout reading the book, and you end up empathizing with her through her struggles. She's got some crazy parents, some bitchy friends, and is in love with, frankly, a major tool. In fact, he's kind of the whole tool-bag. She also has a lot of self-esteem and confidence issues, which isn't a lot unlike many teenage girls.
I just wanted to reach out and pat Roo on the back and tell her:
a.) Jackson is a narcissistic, two-timing, game-playing turd, so stop wasting your brain power on him. Right now. (I loved the scene where she calls him about missing their Saturday night plans. Man, I felt like those pages were taken from my life. No one wins in that argument.)
b.) Find better friends. Your 'friend' Kim is a back-stabbing ho-bag, and if Cricket and Nora were worth crap they wouldn't be OK with Kim going out with your ex-boyfriend THREE days after he dumped you. Obviously that is super fishy. (Now, I am already reading the second book, so Nora isn't quite as bad a friend as Cricket, I guess, but it really pisses me off that not one of these girls would even listen to Ruby's side of things.)
c.) Noel is adorable and pleaselikehimthanks.
d.) Stay in therapy, because with parents like yours, you need it, honey. Oy.
While Ruby got much more enlightened by the end of the book because of her therapy sessions, she was still hung up on Jackson which annoyed me. HOWEVER, I can give her a pass because I can sort of understand. She is fifteen, blinded by her first love, and deeply hurt. You can't always turn off your feelings no matter how much you may want to intellectually. Reading this in my twenties means I have more perspective than she does, so of course I can see where that relationship was just all wrong from the start (well, I'm pretty sure I would've known back then too, but I always had more common sense than your 'average' teenager. ...There is really no way to say that without sounding extremely condescending, but it's true. :P). If this continues in the second book though, I'm going to have to slap her upside the head.
The chapters are laid out with each focusing on a boy of interest, and the narrative jumps from past to present to specific memories, yet doesn't become confusing. I also love that there are footnotes. I love footnotes. And lists! (I have an unholy obsession with lists.) I love random asides, but they are so often done horribly wrong. The ones here are mostly pretty funny, while some are obviously for teenagers with limited world-scope that need basic explanations (who hasn't at least HEARD of AC/DC? And it makes me laugh that Ruby keeps describing Aerosmith as 'heavy metal').
Ruby sort of reminded me, loosely, of the style of Georgina Nicholson from Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging and Olive Penderghast from the movie Easy A, though she is definitely her own person. I'm looking forward to continuing on in the series to see what happens to our leper.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
I wish I had had a book like this when I was 15 (or 14, or 13)...
Really hits the nail on the head of how girls are socialized to get along at all costs, even at the cost of lying to themselves. Learning to recognize when people are hiding behind the "oh, I didn't intend to hurt you, please tell me you're not angry" line to protect themselves from the pain they inflict on you is a complex and difficult skill, one that this book portrays with honesty and humor.
Really hits the nail on the head of how girls are socialized to get along at all costs, even at the cost of lying to themselves. Learning to recognize when people are hiding behind the "oh, I didn't intend to hurt you, please tell me you're not angry" line to protect themselves from the pain they inflict on you is a complex and difficult skill, one that this book portrays with honesty and humor.
jessica_the_impressica's review against another edition
4.0
This rating is more specifically 4.5 stars.
This book was so cute. Perfectly written for the teenage crowd: ages 13-18, but great for literally anyone. I really loved the writing style. Lockhart did a phenomenal job at displaying 15 year old Ruby in her sophomore year of high school. Lots of drama, lots of finding herself. I found myself perfectly content with the ending. I tried not to set any expectations for this book, and I could say I’m happy with the outcome.
Pretty much the only reason the book is half a star short for me is because I had a little bit of trouble staying in line with the boys and who was who. However, I love the structure of it all: the flashbacks to middle school, the interaction in school, the therapy sessions, everything.
This book is the first in a 4-part series. I could find myself reading the rest of them eventually, but I won’t be continuing with the second book following Ruby for the moment.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially if you’re looking for a little bit of high school drama.
This book was so cute. Perfectly written for the teenage crowd: ages 13-18, but great for literally anyone. I really loved the writing style. Lockhart did a phenomenal job at displaying 15 year old Ruby in her sophomore year of high school. Lots of drama, lots of finding herself. I found myself perfectly content with the ending. I tried not to set any expectations for this book, and I could say I’m happy with the outcome.
Pretty much the only reason the book is half a star short for me is because I had a little bit of trouble staying in line with the boys and who was who. However, I love the structure of it all: the flashbacks to middle school, the interaction in school, the therapy sessions, everything.
This book is the first in a 4-part series. I could find myself reading the rest of them eventually, but I won’t be continuing with the second book following Ruby for the moment.
I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially if you’re looking for a little bit of high school drama.
eatingwords's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun read.
I liked Ruby's character, although I couldn't quite identify myself with her. She was sometimes unreasonable, but I guess I was the same 5 years ago, when I was fifteen.
Other than that I really liked this novel.
Ruby's parents were hilarious. Her mom always wanted Ruby to always express her anger, while her father wanted her to find forgiveness for other people.
The thing with her "boyfriends" and her shrink was interesting as well.
Although I just rated this with just three stars, I will continue the series. It sounds promising.
I liked Ruby's character, although I couldn't quite identify myself with her. She was sometimes unreasonable, but I guess I was the same 5 years ago, when I was fifteen.
Other than that I really liked this novel.
Ruby's parents were hilarious. Her mom always wanted Ruby to always express her anger, while her father wanted her to find forgiveness for other people.
The thing with her "boyfriends" and her shrink was interesting as well.
Although I just rated this with just three stars, I will continue the series. It sounds promising.