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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I was actually pleasantly surprised by the "romance" in this book; I feel like over the years, Zach had kind of melded with the slew of other 'tall, dark, handsome, and dangerous' YA book boyfriends of the late 00s/early 10s era when I was in middle school and early high school, but I was wrong. Zach is actually a nice enough boy, and even though Cammie definitely likes him, the actual romance is much more of a slow burn than I thought it was, and it also always takes a back seat to the sisterhood, so I am really glad to be singing the Stan Wrong song about it!
Anyway, I FLEW through this book, and really enjoyed it, and now it's on to the next one!!
Anyway, I FLEW through this book, and really enjoyed it, and now it's on to the next one!!
There’s something really special about a book that makes you smile the whole way through; despite the fact that finishing the book left me with incredibly sore cheeks. ‘Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy’ was an amazing sequel to the first Gallagher Girls book, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.
I finished the first Gallagher Girls book with the feeling that I loved the series, that I was addicted already, but I wanted a bit more action and a bit more spying. The second book definitely gave me what I had been looking for. We start off during Winter break, between semesters; Cammie Morgan – spy-in-training – is making her way into CIA headquarters to be debriefed on her short-lived “normal” romance and wondering how she’ll ever get back to the life she had before boys entered her immediate radar. Little does she know that normal boys are just the beginning. I know I said it in my review of book 1, but I just adore Cammie. The mix of teenage spy and teenage girl makes Cammie super interesting. You’re never sure which side is going to push through more and when they collide, you can’t help smiling.
While the Gallagher Girls series is ultimately a story that focuses on Cammie, it’s not just about her. One of my favourite things about this series so far is the friendships. In YA books, the main character tends to have one or two stand out friends who sometimes know what’s going on in their weird and wacky lives, but despite how close they appear to be with each other the best friends are almost never completely involved in the story. For Gallagher Girls, this is totally different. Cammie has three incredible best friends: Bex, Liz and Macey; and they help her through everything. There is rarely a mission within or out of the school that doesn’t involve a team effort to achieve an outcome. These girls are always there for Cammie, in whatever way she needs and I love it.
‘Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy’ puts a lot more focus on spying and missions. There’s a hell of a lot more action and I couldn’t have hoped for more. Ally Carter has a way of making you feel like you’re really part of the missions; probably because of the way she has Cammie and her friends write up reports of their spy activities. There are whole sections of the book written out with Cammie and the gang referred to as ‘The Operatives’ and their mission target ‘The Subject’. Not in a third person sense, but in a fun we’re-learning-to-be-spies-and-writing-these-reports-are-what-spies-do way. They’re funny and they have random inserts that help interpret information in different ways; but most importantly they give you an insight into the life of a Gallagher Girl - and a spy-in-training - which makes you feel like you’re part of the story.
I’ll admit I was a little worried about the issue of boys for the series. After eliminating the town boys as an option for romance I figured we were in for a lack of heart-racing and tingly feelings. Boy was I wrong! It becomes painfully obvious the girls of Gallagher Academy, while incredibly smart and excellent spies, are at a disadvantage by not being able to socialise and work with the opposite sex – the people they may have to interact with in the future. So what’s the solution? Why bring 15 boys to the school for a semester, of course. Cammie can’t escape the attention of one particular guy. I won’t say more about him, because it’s really better to experience the relationship for yourself; but I will say, he made me smile so much!
This book was an excellent sequel. I think I’ve become a Gallagher Girl addict.
5/5 stars
I finished the first Gallagher Girls book with the feeling that I loved the series, that I was addicted already, but I wanted a bit more action and a bit more spying. The second book definitely gave me what I had been looking for. We start off during Winter break, between semesters; Cammie Morgan – spy-in-training – is making her way into CIA headquarters to be debriefed on her short-lived “normal” romance and wondering how she’ll ever get back to the life she had before boys entered her immediate radar. Little does she know that normal boys are just the beginning. I know I said it in my review of book 1, but I just adore Cammie. The mix of teenage spy and teenage girl makes Cammie super interesting. You’re never sure which side is going to push through more and when they collide, you can’t help smiling.
While the Gallagher Girls series is ultimately a story that focuses on Cammie, it’s not just about her. One of my favourite things about this series so far is the friendships. In YA books, the main character tends to have one or two stand out friends who sometimes know what’s going on in their weird and wacky lives, but despite how close they appear to be with each other the best friends are almost never completely involved in the story. For Gallagher Girls, this is totally different. Cammie has three incredible best friends: Bex, Liz and Macey; and they help her through everything. There is rarely a mission within or out of the school that doesn’t involve a team effort to achieve an outcome. These girls are always there for Cammie, in whatever way she needs and I love it.
‘Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy’ puts a lot more focus on spying and missions. There’s a hell of a lot more action and I couldn’t have hoped for more. Ally Carter has a way of making you feel like you’re really part of the missions; probably because of the way she has Cammie and her friends write up reports of their spy activities. There are whole sections of the book written out with Cammie and the gang referred to as ‘The Operatives’ and their mission target ‘The Subject’. Not in a third person sense, but in a fun we’re-learning-to-be-spies-and-writing-these-reports-are-what-spies-do way. They’re funny and they have random inserts that help interpret information in different ways; but most importantly they give you an insight into the life of a Gallagher Girl - and a spy-in-training - which makes you feel like you’re part of the story.
I’ll admit I was a little worried about the issue of boys for the series. After eliminating the town boys as an option for romance I figured we were in for a lack of heart-racing and tingly feelings. Boy was I wrong! It becomes painfully obvious the girls of Gallagher Academy, while incredibly smart and excellent spies, are at a disadvantage by not being able to socialise and work with the opposite sex – the people they may have to interact with in the future. So what’s the solution? Why bring 15 boys to the school for a semester, of course. Cammie can’t escape the attention of one particular guy. I won’t say more about him, because it’s really better to experience the relationship for yourself; but I will say, he made me smile so much!
This book was an excellent sequel. I think I’ve become a Gallagher Girl addict.
5/5 stars
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I didn't love it as much as the first one, at least I already knew the concept but Zach was way cooler than Josh who is just sweet.
But what I loved the most out of this book is how Ally Carter is able to raise the stakes higher and higher every chapter.
And how she makes pace so fast and yet keep always in the head of a teenage girl who in the middle of trouble worries about boys.
"Bloody brilliant", as Bex would say :).
But what I loved the most out of this book is how Ally Carter is able to raise the stakes higher and higher every chapter.
And how she makes pace so fast and yet keep always in the head of a teenage girl who in the middle of trouble worries about boys.
"Bloody brilliant", as Bex would say :).
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy was a good, fast read. It was the type that I needed to get out of my book slump I am in (I am slowly trying to get out of it still.) I immediately checked the rest of the series out from the library and was pleased to find out that my new library had most of the books except for the latest books. I'm hoping this will keep me busy for awhile!
There were a few things that were endearing in this book series. Some of the side characters were my favorite parts about the book. I really like Bex as a character. She just seemed like the type of side kick I'd want to have along any spy missions if I was a spy as well.
Zach also was one of my favorites. He reminded me of one of my favorite characters, Adrian Ivashkov, just very slightly. I liked his smiles he gave her that said "I know something you don't know," and I'm pretty sure that those smiles signaled his crush on her early on. And that ending was SUPER adorable.
The cover is also a pretty cool cover. I like the Goodreads book covers better than the Kindle edition of the covers, though those aren't terrible to look at. These just seem much cuter. I think the paperback books have the original cover so I will definitely be buying those sometime in the near future.
Overall it was a pleasantly fast read for me. Can't wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer!
There were a few things that were endearing in this book series. Some of the side characters were my favorite parts about the book. I really like Bex as a character. She just seemed like the type of side kick I'd want to have along any spy missions if I was a spy as well.
Zach also was one of my favorites. He reminded me of one of my favorite characters, Adrian Ivashkov, just very slightly. I liked his smiles he gave her that said "I know something you don't know," and I'm pretty sure that those smiles signaled his crush on her early on. And that ending was SUPER adorable.
The cover is also a pretty cool cover. I like the Goodreads book covers better than the Kindle edition of the covers, though those aren't terrible to look at. These just seem much cuter. I think the paperback books have the original cover so I will definitely be buying those sometime in the near future.
Overall it was a pleasantly fast read for me. Can't wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer!
Original review at Gabic Reads
The general idea: There are boys at my all-girl school. And they might be here to compromise us.
Thoughts upon seeing the cover art: The jacket and the uniform are cute.
It made me feel: Don't trust spies, especially boy spies.
Highlight: Zach, he's so epic.
Read it if you like: Spies, boarding schools, Washington DC
The general idea: There are boys at my all-girl school. And they might be here to compromise us.
Thoughts upon seeing the cover art: The jacket and the uniform are cute.
It made me feel: Don't trust spies, especially boy spies.
Highlight: Zach, he's so epic.
Read it if you like: Spies, boarding schools, Washington DC
Again, reading the Gallagher Girls is fun, light, and entertaining that sometimes you wish you attended that school!