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A review by melindamoor
The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson
4.0
WARNING - this is a totally self-indulgent and beside the point review!
"O tempora! O mores!" And I might add O juventa! O innocentia! -though there is no way I would take the mickey out of Cicecro. This is added with the deepest respect. :))
Although this is a recently-published book, it still sent me for a long stroll down Memory Lane. It reminded me of the time (long past) when at 15, as a high school junior I had this ginormous C*R*U*S*H on one of the senior guys which obviously was Platonic and (needless to say) unrequited. Or, who knows, if I hadn't been so painfully shy and awkward - Shy and Awkward being my middle names - or if I had a sister like Ella to give me some serious talking-to and boost my ego, I might have believed that the stares and smiles I kept sending HIS way, had some effect and they might have been returned. Well, no point in crying over spilt milk etcetera .....
My only consolation back then was writing wishful-thinking stories where WE -after various and gigantic obstacles were removed from our lives in quite dramatic ways- got together to stroll away into a glorious sunset .... and reading the "Sweet Valley High" series which were translated into Hungarian and published just when a lovelorn teenager needed them the most. :)))
Oh, sorry, got really lost in all this reminiscence, but getting to my point eventually. In a way, [b:The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back|36596197|The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back (The Ugly Stepsister Series)|Sariah Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510696626l/36596197._SY75_.jpg|21570060] reminded me very strongly of these glorious times past and the heroine Mattie of my teenage self (OK, I never stood out and wasn't quirky or artistically talented, but I loved manga & Jane Austen, was supershy and you know ... the crush...).
I also like Cinderella-goes-to-the-ball stories, so I found this book appealed to me on several levels. It was with no little satisfaction my Real-Time-self read this book, while my retarded-romantic-teenage self alternately shed a tear or 2 or did a happy dance.
Although the title & blurb suggests differently, it is a Cinderella-story and a funny, delightful one at that.
I thought I'd get sister rivalry and that stuff, but no: things have taken a better turn, for actually the sisters turned out to love each other despite grievances and gave support to one another when needed. I loved how Mattie's and Ella's relationship developed and how Mattie is learning to accept herself and growing stronger in the process.
The meanies were a bit one-sided to be sure and the "obstacles" a bit repetitive, but all in all I was satisfied when finishing the book. And there is a lovely bonus at the end
"O tempora! O mores!" And I might add O juventa! O innocentia! -though there is no way I would take the mickey out of Cicecro. This is added with the deepest respect. :))
Although this is a recently-published book, it still sent me for a long stroll down Memory Lane. It reminded me of the time (long past) when at 15, as a high school junior I had this ginormous C*R*U*S*H on one of the senior guys which obviously was Platonic and (needless to say) unrequited. Or, who knows, if I hadn't been so painfully shy and awkward - Shy and Awkward being my middle names - or if I had a sister like Ella to give me some serious talking-to and boost my ego, I might have believed that the stares and smiles I kept sending HIS way, had some effect and they might have been returned. Well, no point in crying over spilt milk etcetera .....
My only consolation back then was writing wishful-thinking stories where WE -after various and gigantic obstacles were removed from our lives in quite dramatic ways- got together to stroll away into a glorious sunset .... and reading the "Sweet Valley High" series which were translated into Hungarian and published just when a lovelorn teenager needed them the most. :)))
Oh, sorry, got really lost in all this reminiscence, but getting to my point eventually. In a way, [b:The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back|36596197|The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back (The Ugly Stepsister Series)|Sariah Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1510696626l/36596197._SY75_.jpg|21570060] reminded me very strongly of these glorious times past and the heroine Mattie of my teenage self (OK, I never stood out and wasn't quirky or artistically talented, but I loved manga & Jane Austen, was supershy and you know ... the crush...).
I also like Cinderella-goes-to-the-ball stories, so I found this book appealed to me on several levels. It was with no little satisfaction my Real-Time-self read this book, while my retarded-romantic-teenage self alternately shed a tear or 2 or did a happy dance.
Although the title & blurb suggests differently, it is a Cinderella-story and a funny, delightful one at that.
I thought I'd get sister rivalry and that stuff, but no: things have taken a better turn, for actually the sisters turned out to love each other despite grievances and gave support to one another when needed. I loved how Mattie's and Ella's relationship developed and how Mattie is learning to accept herself and growing stronger in the process.
The meanies were a bit one-sided to be sure and the "obstacles" a bit repetitive, but all in all I was satisfied when finishing the book. And there is a lovely bonus at the end