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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
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
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
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.
sandeeisreading's review against another edition
4.0
Did you ever feel like an outcast when you were in high school?
Did you ever get that feeling that no one wants to talk to you because of a rumor?
Did you ever have a fight with your friend because of a guy?
Did your friends abandon you because of something bad that you did but you were never given the chance to explain why you did it?
The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver would have to be one of the funniest and cutest book I’ve ever read.
Seriously.
Just look at the title.
Isn’t it just so long and cute?
This book was an immediate love at first read.
This would have to be my first E. Lockhart book and I was so impressed with how real and how three dimensional Ruby (or Roo) was.
I couldn’t really say the same for the other characters because I felt this story focused more on Ruby and her teenage struggles and less on the other people involved.
I mean you get a glimpse of her friends and the boys on her list but you’ll read more of her, her reactions and how she was feeling.
Ruby was not a perfect character which was why she was perfect.
She made all sorts of wrong decisions that lead to even more trouble but then again who doesn’t make mistakes and we also have to take note that she’s only 15 years old.
I liked the fact that this book sounded exactly like a 15 year old venting out her frustrations and thoughts.
It was so realistic.
I would have to say that I have my first boyfriend when I was 13 years old (or 12) I couldn’t really remember.
I believe I’ve had the same struggles that she had though not in the extremes kind of way that you become an outcast because of a rumor and stuff like that.
What I could relate to was how hard it was to maintain a relationship at a young age.
There are people who could do that but in my case I wasn’t able to muddle through with the relationship which ended up in a bad note.
I wish though that I met him when I was a little older because I think I would have handled the relationship a little differently.
And I think Ruby had the same issue.
All in all, I really loved this book.
I enjoyed every page, every paragraph, every sentence and every word including the footnotes which I thought was pretty good addition to the already good writing for the author.
It dealt with teen angst, love, ostracism and high school reality.
I give this 4 stars!
------------------
PS:
I hated Roo’s friends.
Expecially Kim.
If given the chance to choose to have friends like that or no friends at all, I would definitely choose no friends at all.
If those are the type of friends I’ll have I prefer not to have any at all.
Did you ever get that feeling that no one wants to talk to you because of a rumor?
Did you ever have a fight with your friend because of a guy?
Did your friends abandon you because of something bad that you did but you were never given the chance to explain why you did it?
The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver would have to be one of the funniest and cutest book I’ve ever read.
Seriously.
Just look at the title.
Isn’t it just so long and cute?
This book was an immediate love at first read.
This would have to be my first E. Lockhart book and I was so impressed with how real and how three dimensional Ruby (or Roo) was.
I couldn’t really say the same for the other characters because I felt this story focused more on Ruby and her teenage struggles and less on the other people involved.
I mean you get a glimpse of her friends and the boys on her list but you’ll read more of her, her reactions and how she was feeling.
Ruby was not a perfect character which was why she was perfect.
She made all sorts of wrong decisions that lead to even more trouble but then again who doesn’t make mistakes and we also have to take note that she’s only 15 years old.
I liked the fact that this book sounded exactly like a 15 year old venting out her frustrations and thoughts.
It was so realistic.
I would have to say that I have my first boyfriend when I was 13 years old (or 12) I couldn’t really remember.
I believe I’ve had the same struggles that she had though not in the extremes kind of way that you become an outcast because of a rumor and stuff like that.
What I could relate to was how hard it was to maintain a relationship at a young age.
There are people who could do that but in my case I wasn’t able to muddle through with the relationship which ended up in a bad note.
I wish though that I met him when I was a little older because I think I would have handled the relationship a little differently.
And I think Ruby had the same issue.
All in all, I really loved this book.
I enjoyed every page, every paragraph, every sentence and every word including the footnotes which I thought was pretty good addition to the already good writing for the author.
It dealt with teen angst, love, ostracism and high school reality.
I give this 4 stars!
------------------
PS:
I hated Roo’s friends.
Expecially Kim.
If given the chance to choose to have friends like that or no friends at all, I would definitely choose no friends at all.
If those are the type of friends I’ll have I prefer not to have any at all.