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mbrandmaier's review against another edition
4.0
I completely related to the main character... she is terrified to admit her feelings for her friend Eddie thanks to low self-esteem. But boy, does she have some awesome snappy comebacks for the bee otches in her class that are constantly insulting her gigantic nose! Aw, yeah!
lauroberge's review against another edition
3.0
Meh... Kind of average. It's not bad, but there are tons of missed oportunities to makes readers actually feel something.
readerziyya's review against another edition
2.0
its the heroine, i just think that she talks a lot.
joyagoffney's review against another edition
3.0
My critiques: Franklin used a lot of parenthesis to clarify her points and to further explain when she could have just included them as sentences. I didn't enjoy that stylistic choice. Also, her mean girl, popular clones were often very commercial, which is fine I suppose, but it didn't seem very realistic. Lastly, the story was very outdated given that the story revolved around teenagers using email to message each other which does not happen and definitely won't happen in the future. However, I do commend Franklin on writing an interesting book that revolved around a crush and teenage angst. It was very simple, and yet still entertaining. Not a waste of time.
sarahconnor89757's review against another edition
2.0
The one thing you have to be able to write in a Cyrano re-telling is witty dialogue
Franklin fell short in this
Franklin fell short in this
wilde_book_garden's review
1.0
1.5 stars
Apparently this is a contemporary set in a fantasy world, where there are two kinds of girls: bitches (who are stupid and vapid and have the audacity to like feminine things) and REAL GIRLS (who are smart and worthy of winning the guy and have righteous contempt for all other girls.)
If you're lucky, you can try to be both, like Leyla! Except not really. Because she is, sadly, still stupid. And pretty. This will be repeatedly pointed out to you for the entire novel. Leyla: stupid, but she tries! And the noble Cyrie applauds her efforts to become a REAL GIRL.
Ugh. I thought we were getting away from this girl-on-girl hate in writing. The halfhearted attempts at the end of the book to give some depth to these two "breeds" of girls fell very flat after a couple hundred pages of consistent hatred disguised as pity. (And the personalities of the male characters are about as shallow.)
My advice? If the premise of this book sounds interesting, read the original Cyrano de Bergerac (I know, I'm gonna be that person.) I recommend the Brian Hooker translation. It's beautiful and hilarious and heart-breaking and one of the best things--play or novel--I've ever read.
Apparently this is a contemporary set in a fantasy world, where there are two kinds of girls: bitches (who are stupid and vapid and have the audacity to like feminine things) and REAL GIRLS (who are smart and worthy of winning the guy and have righteous contempt for all other girls.)
If you're lucky, you can try to be both, like Leyla! Except not really. Because she is, sadly, still stupid. And pretty. This will be repeatedly pointed out to you for the entire novel. Leyla: stupid, but she tries! And the noble Cyrie applauds her efforts to become a REAL GIRL.
Ugh. I thought we were getting away from this girl-on-girl hate in writing. The halfhearted attempts at the end of the book to give some depth to these two "breeds" of girls fell very flat after a couple hundred pages of consistent hatred disguised as pity. (And the personalities of the male characters are about as shallow.)
My advice? If the premise of this book sounds interesting, read the original Cyrano de Bergerac (I know, I'm gonna be that person.) I recommend the Brian Hooker translation. It's beautiful and hilarious and heart-breaking and one of the best things--play or novel--I've ever read.
cpliego's review
3.0
This is a cute, fun, witty and quick read. A modern take on the Cyrano de Bergerac tale, At Face Value is like a any other romantic high-school comedy with seventeen year old, Cyrie Bergerac falling in love with someone she shouldn't.
I liked Cyrie, who is a near-perfect student with outstanding grades, a great relationship with her parents and best friend. However, her appearance is less than flawless. Specifically, her nose, and it's size.
Although its completely predictable from the beginning, it is a sweet book to enjoy over the weekend with clever, enjoyable characters and laugh-out-loud moments.
I liked Cyrie, who is a near-perfect student with outstanding grades, a great relationship with her parents and best friend. However, her appearance is less than flawless. Specifically, her nose, and it's size.
Although its completely predictable from the beginning, it is a sweet book to enjoy over the weekend with clever, enjoyable characters and laugh-out-loud moments.
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