Reckless (The It Girl, No. 3)

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Amazing........2007-07-01

The other two books have been disapointing on how things turn out. Though they are still both very good books, I like this one the best. I like better endings rather than bitter and based on that fact I naturally loved reading this book! I couldnt put it down.

It's FAB-U-LOUS!!!!.......2007-04-22

This book is amazing! In my opinion it's the best in the series. Alot of the characters secrets were revealed in this book which leaves youwanting more. In the first book I had a bad feeling about Easy Walsh. In book 2 I still wasn't sure but I did like him more then I did in the 1st. Then in this one I realized my felling was correct! He turned out to be a total (to put it nicely) jerk!! I won't tell you why but I'm pretty mad about. I like Jenny, she's a tie for my favorite character with Callie and what he does to both of them will make you have the same exact feeling I do. I can't wait for Unforgettable. YOU SHOULD READ THIS BOOK!!!!!! Remember that. TA!

I liked but............2007-04-19

With the book previous to "Reckless", Zeigesar published it later than the due date. And it was a great book. However, this one came out a little earlier and i did not get the satisfaction that i got with the previous 2. the tone of the book made me feel that she rushed into stores and did not pay attention to the quality like she did for "The it girl" or "Notorious". Hopefully, the next book,"Unforgettable", she gave hersself enough time to meet her release date and give the book the quality that any book deserves.Even though "Reckless" was an okay book and left me disappointed, i will continue to follow the series.

Great Read .......2007-04-15

The 3rd installment in the It Girl series was the best so far. It starts off kinda slow but but after I got about 40 pages in to it couldn't stop reading it. It was so addictive! The ending has alot of twist to it but i think just enough. I won't say what but some are going to make you want to read the next in the series Unforgettable. i recommend The Clique, Gossip Girl, The A-list, Private, Internet Girls (TTYL,TTFN, L8r, G8r), Summer Boys, and of course The It Girl.

Started slow and the ending lacked something, but an enjoyable read anyway.......2007-03-01

This latest book in The It Girl series is the first one where I have noticed the ghost writers who have started writing for Cecily von Ziegezar. The beginning lacked punch, enough so that it took me three tries to get involved enough to keep going with it. But about a third of the way through, the book picked up speed and became a lot more of what I have come to expect from these books - smart and sassy writing with a lot of wicked plot twists.

Jenny and Easy continue their new relationship, but with Jenny having to share a room with the girl she stole Easy away from, and with Tinsley and Brett sharing a room now (Tinsley had been, shall we say, indiscreet with Brett's teacher/ boyfriend last semester!) things are beyond awkward in the dorms. When a wild party gets the girls locked down in their dorm for the weekend, tempers flare, more partying ensues, and nothing is the same for Jenny, Brett, Callie, and Tinsley afterwards.

The ending felt a little too rushed, but the middle of the book provided enough entertaining times and moved the book forward in such interesting ways that I will continue buying the books in this series to find out what happens.

Average customer rating:

Anxious For the Third Book, Yet Hate To See the Trilogy End...
An incredible novel, a must-read for all fans of fiction and magic!
rebel angels
Great YA read
Review for Rebel Angels

Rebel Angels
Libba Bray
Manufacturer: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Sweet Far Thing

ASIN: 0385730292
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Amazon.com

In this sequel to the Victorian fantasy A Great and Terrible Beauty, Gemma continues to pursue her role as the one destined to bind the magic of the Realms and restore it to the Order--a mysterious group who have been overthrown by a rebellion. Gemma, Felicity and Ann, (her girlfriends at Spence Academy for Young Ladies), use magical power to transport themselves on visits from their corseted world to the visionary country of the Realms, with its strange beauty and menace. There they search for the lost Temple, the key to Gemma's mission, and comfort Pippa, their friend who has been left behind in the Realms. After these visits they bring back magical power for a short time to use in their own world. Meanwhile, Gemma is torn between her attraction to the exotic Kartik, the messenger from the opposing forces of the Rakshana, and the handsome but clueless Simon, a young man of good family who is courting her. The complicated plot thickens when Gemma discovers a woman in Bedlam madhouse who knows where to find the Temple; Ann shows signs of being enamored of Gemma's loutish brother Tom, and their father's addiction to laudanum lands him in an opium den. A large part of the enjoyment of this unusual fantasy comes from the Victorian milieu and its restrictive rules about the behavior of proper young ladies, as contrasted with the unimaginable possibilities of the Realms, where Gemma has power to confront gorgons and ghosts and the responsibility to save a world. (Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

Ah, Christmas! Gemma Doyle is looking forward to a holiday from Spence Academy, spending time with her friends in the city, attending ritzy balls, and on a somber note, tending to her ailing father. As she prepares to ring in the New Year, 1896, a handsome young man, Lord Denby, has set his sights on Gemma, or so it seems. Yet amidst the distractions of London, Gemma’s visions intensify–visions of three girls dressed in white, to whom something horrific has happened, something only the realms can explain. . . .
The lure is strong, and before long, Gemma, Felicity, and Ann are turning flowers into butterflies in the enchanted world of the realms that Gemma alone can bring them to. To the girls’ great joy, their beloved Pippa is there as well, eager to complete their circle of friendship.
But all is not well in the realms–or out. The mysterious Kartik has reappeared, telling Gemma she must find the Temple and bind the magic, else great disaster will befall her. Gemma’s willing to do his intrusive bidding, despite the dangers it brings, for it means she will meet up with her mother’s greatest friend–and now her foe, Circe. Until Circe is destroyed, Gemma cannot live out her destiny. But finding Circe proves a most perilous task.

Customer Reviews:

Anxious For the Third Book, Yet Hate To See the Trilogy End..........2007-09-11

I am (by far) no longer a teenager, and I don't usually read YA books (just never really thought about it before). Further, I don't usually even read Fantasy--except that I have read the first 4 Harry Potter books, of course, because, at the time my son was reading them and he insisted that I read them too. And I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed them! HOWEVER, I must say that I absolutely enjoyed the first book of this trilogy, "Great and Terrible Beauty" even MORE!!! I then ran right out and bought the sequel, "Rebel Angels", and loved it just as much!! I have already told my husband and kids that I want the third book of the trilogy (The Sweet Far Thing) for Christmas (even though it's release date is set for AFTER Christmas--I simply suggested to them to pre-order it for me and make that my gift). I can't wait!

HERE'S SOME ANTICIPATED NEWS FOR FANS OF THIS TRILOGY: I just found out that the movie adaptation of "Great and Terrible Beauty" is in production (Mel Gibson productions), and is set for release sometime in 2008!!!

Unfortunately, as much as I hate to be a pessimist, I rather wonder if the movie could hold up to the book. In most cases, it seems that whenever books are made into movies, it's always lacking and often a disappointment. The book is always better, and I worry that such will be case here. One's own imagination is always better than the movie, and each of us visualize the books in our own unique ways. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if it can work on the big screen...

An incredible novel, a must-read for all fans of fiction and magic!.......2007-09-09

Libba Bray's novel Rebel Angels was a stunning sequel to her first book, A Great and Terrible Beauty. It was filled with suspense and mystery; once I set down to read it, it wouldn't let me go until the last page. Even at the end, it left me hungering for the next book, The Sweet Far Thing, which releases in December 2007.
The story begins with a prologue from the point of view of Kartik, a gypsy member of a group of questionable motives called the Rakshana and a love interest of the protagonist, Gemma. It is interesting insight on a character whose thoughts we didn't get to see in A Great and Terrible Beauty, and the reader gains clarity and insight into the Rakshana's inner workings. However, when chapter 1 comes, the focus is back on Gemma and her friends, now on Christmas holiday from their boarding school. Haunted by strange dreams, Gemma investigates and unlocks secrets about her mother, about her enemies, and about the strange dreamlike realms her friends and she travel to. The book switches between views of the realms and their real lives, where typical teenage problems occur such as romantic relationships, prejudice and its effects, and substance abuse.
In conclusion, I highly recommend Rebel Angels. Libba Bray transports the reader into Victorian times, an all girls boarding school, and mystical realms without losing a bit of credibility along the way. Her characters are believable, reacting to the situations in different but equally realistic ways. They are not perfect, all possessing unique flaws that make them more interesting to read about, but they are not so flawed that they cause the reader to dislike them. It is a thoroughly enthralling novel, and I suggest everyone who has read A Great and Terrible Beauty read the sequel.

rebel angels.......2007-09-08

"Rebel Angels" strongly continues the saga of Gemma Doyle, begun in "A Great & Terrible Beauty." In Bray's second installment, Gemma's friendships are tested, & the magic of the realms is given more shape. As in the first installment, "Rebel Angels" deals with social attitudes in the Victorian period, which is a great plus. The characters of Ann & Felicity are the main players in the social commentaries, & they end "Rebel Angels" with greater depth than before. Felicity, in particular, turns into a more sympathetic character.

In the way of magic, Gemma's task becomes more defined, something I greatly appreciated after feeling that the magic was too vague in "A Great & Terrible Beauty." This time, the story was truly suspenseful, & the ending was a great shocker. I'll surely buy "The Sweet Far Thing" in hardback.

Great YA read.......2007-07-16

Thought this one started a little slow but really picked up towards the end. I am looking forward to the sequel.

Review for Rebel Angels.......2007-07-14

Between a Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels, I'd have to say Rebel Angels so far is my favorite out of this series. Our favorite characters are brought back from the last novel and are just as wonderful and well developed as ever.
This novel is full of mystery and wonder and it certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end! The imagery and romance in this novel is also wonderful, and it definitely pulls you into another place and time.
I absolutely love this novel and I hope you all enjoy just as much as I have.

Average customer rating:

A jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and various plot revelations make this 'It Girl' installment 'Unforgettable'
Unforgettable...
best one yet!
Interesting and Compelling, but....
The best one in the series so far...

Unforgettable (It Girl Novel #4)
Cecily Von Ziegesar
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316113484

Book Description

The New York Times bestselling spin-off series to the #1 bestselling Gossip Girl is set in an elite East Coast boarding school and features favorite Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey. Having a roommate at elite Waverly Academy means nightly sleepovers and double the designer wardrobe. But Callie Vernon never really liked late-night girl talk or swapping cashmere sweaters with her younger, rosy-cheeked roomie, Jenny Humphrey. So when Jenny stole her longtime boyfriend, Easy Walsh, Callie didn?t feel that guilty about turning right around and kissing him behind Jenny?s back. Okay, maybe a little guilty, but it certainly didn?t stop her from enjoying it. Now, if only Easy would stop being so irritatingly indecisive and dump Jenny already!While the two roommates are sharing a boyfriend, the rest of Dumbarton?s residents are sharing their feelings at the newly founded Women of Waverly club?aka, WOW! Everyone is totally bonding, revealing their most personal secrets, and hugging out their past rivalries. But despite the sharing-is-caring vibe, there are some things these girls aren?t spilling?like who?s making special late-night trips to the crater . . . and with whom.Now it?s only a matter of time before all the newfound girl power explodes into a massive girl fight. But this battle goes well beyond the ivy colored brick walls of Dumberton?it?s about who will be Waverly?s next It Girl.

Customer Reviews:

A jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and various plot revelations make this 'It Girl' installment 'Unforgettable'.......2007-09-29

Waverly Academy Sophomore, Jenny Humphrey, has done everything in her power to convince herself that her relationship with the resident horse-loving, sullen artist, Easy Walsh, was picture perfect. But after a game of I Never...initiated by the queen of mean herself, Tinsley Carmichael, Jenny is forced to face facts and come to terms with the knowledge that everything between her and Easy is certainly not as smooth sailing as she'd hoped. Easy has been wooing his ex-girlfriend - and Jenny's current Dumbarton roommate - Callie Vernon. What Jenny is still completely oblivious to, however, is the fact that not only have Easy and Callie gone out to dinner on more than one occasion, they've also shared more than a few secret kisses between one another. Jenny is heartbroken, and convinced that she needs time away from Easy to get her thoughts together. Callie, sucking up her me, me, me attitude suddenly becomes Jenny's best friend, sharing hugs, and telling secrets. It appears that she's realized how un-worth her time Easy is, and is much more interested in making nice with Jenny. But things can't stay that way forever. Especially when Easy is currently contemplating the situation, weighing the pros and cons of each girl to figure out who, exactly, holds the key to his heart. Sure, he thinks Jenny's fresh-faced innocence is adorable, but he has history with Callie. It seems like a simple decision, but even the moody Easy is having trouble balancing his feelings. Speaking of feelings, Tinsley - the girl who possesses none - is still hooking up with the ultra-hot freshman, Julian McCafferty. Of course, the violet-eyed beauty is concerned about her reputation, and, much to the chagrin of Julian, insists that the two keep their trysts on the down-low, to ensure that no one learns that Tinsley has gone the way of Mrs. Robinson, and begun to rob the cradle with a younger boy - even if he is as handsome as Julian. Flaming-haired Brett Messerschmidt, on the other hand, is fed up with the entire male population, as well as trouble-making Tinsley. After learning that her steady boyfriend, Jeremiah, cheated on her with another girl during their brief break-up, and having her heart stomped on by the gorgeous Mr. Dalton, all within a few weeks of one another, Brett comes to the conclusion that boys just aren't worth her time. So she, along with the help of her new best friend, Kara Whalen decide to organize the Women of Waverly (WOW) club - a forum where all the female students at Waverly can get together to vent, fume, and just discuss boys, love, life, and any other topic plaguing their minds. The club instantly brings everyone together, as they reveal some of the most personal secrets of their lives. But some things need to remain unspoken - like who's hooking up at the crater, and who's cheating on whom. All this bonding, however, can't last long, as the sudden rush of girl power is sure to end up in a knock-down, blow-up girl fight that can't possibly stay contained within the ivy-covered walls of Waverly, and will determine who, exactly the next It Girl will be.

While many YA series lose steam after the first or second book, Cecily von Ziegesar manages to introduce new characters, and fresh plot situations within the pages of each IT GIRL installment, that keep the reader hooked on not only the storyline, but each and every new face that appears. GOSSIP GIRL's Jenny Humphrey still seems to stay on top. Her unfaltering naivete, and fresh-faced innocence make her an adorable, unthreatening character whom you can't help but sympathize with, and adore. Combine that with her fun-loving, caring personality, and you have the makings of a character who resembles your best friend, and is impossible to resist. Callie's mean streak falters slightly within UNFORGETTABLE, and manages to reveal a vulnerable side to her personality - one that makes the reader see her struggle with an eating disorder, and problems within her family. The raw emotion she displays as she claws her way into Easy's heart is hard to ignore; while her attempts to win Jenny's friendship work to show the reader that she does, indeed, have a heart. There is always that slight hesitation from the reader, however, that makes you think her nastiness could return at any moment, making her a hard character to trust. Kara's introduction to the series in RECKLESS was interesting, yet she remains a prevalent addition to the cast within the pages of UNFORGETTABLE. Her offbeat personality, and style make her the perfect pal for Brett, and seeing their slightly confusing relationship - for them - grow from page to page is no doubt interesting. The party-hardy, beer-loving, grass-smoking, Heath Ferro, on the other hand, is still as humorous as ever. And, oddly enough, he's suddenly palling around with both Brett and Kara, which instantly makes his presence more prevalent than ever. It's also nice to see more of Julian in the picture, as he has more to his personality than just the ability to hook-up with an older woman, and that shines through within the pages of UNFORGETTABLE. Tinsley, however, is slightly cast out of the limelight within this installment, taking a backseat to not only Kara, but Heath and Julian, as well. However, while her character is seen much less than usual within UNFORGETTABLE, the few times she does hit the spotlight are both memorable, and nasty to the bone, making it obvious that she has something planned for the students of Waverly that no one ever expected. A jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and various plot revelations make this IT GIRL installment UNFORGETTABLE.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Unforgettable..........2007-07-07

I was so excited once this book came out. Its most definatley the best It Girl novel yet. It seems that the series just keeps getting better and better with each book. Unforgettable definately keeps you on your toes and wantng more. Poor Jenny just keeps getting stuck in complicated situatiins and boy can girls be vicious.....especially if it involves a hot guy. I wonder whos going to take the fall for the fire? There are so many possibilities.

best one yet!.......2007-07-07

I thought this book was the best one out of the four and I can't wait until the next one. The only thing I didn't like is how the author leaves you hanging at the end. The more I read about Brett and Kara the more respect I had for Heath. Also B and K remind me of Willow and Tara of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In my opinion Easy needs to stay with Callie this time so Jenny and Julian can have a chance. Tinsley was the character that made me mad at the end of this book because of how extra, extra mean she was. Can't wait until number 5 to see how or if things will work out.

Interesting and Compelling, but...........2007-06-23

The characters that i was beginning to like, Von Ziegesar made me hate at the end. I don't like the way Ziegesar creates a friendship between 2 characters but just to have them broken apart at the end. If Brett, Jenny, Kara and Heath were not in this book, this book would be about trashy whores with a lot of money.

The best one in the series so far..........2007-06-14

i bought this book expecting to be dissapointed like i was with Reckless. i was greatefully proven wrong. it was fulfilling, everything happened in a way that made you want to immediately grab the next book in the series. to the people that are die-hard gossip girl fans, dont miss out on the It girl series b/c it can hold its own. there were times where the characters had me laughing, crying, at the edge of my seat with excitement, and envy b/c they were having so much fun. dont miss out on this series!

Average customer rating:

16 year olds review
The author knows prep school like she does rocket science
wow
Notorious
Notorious: An It Girl Novel

Notorious: An It Girl Novel
Cecily von Ziegesar
Manufacturer: Poppy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 031601186X

Book Description

Popular Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey is making a splash at Waverly Academy, an elite boarding school in New York horse country where glamorous rich kids don't let the rules get in the way of an excellent time.It's less than a week into school, but Jenny's already been caught with her roommate's boyfriend (in bed!), flashed the whole school at a field hockey game, and gone up against the Disciplinary Committee. She's become notorious, just like Tinsley Carmichael, Waverly's former It Girl, who was expelled last year and is rumored to be jet-setting around the world.So what happens when Tinsley arrives back on campus and moves in with Jenny? After all, there can only be one It Girl.

Customer Reviews:

16 year olds review.......2007-09-08

I disagree with anyone who does not like the book. It does what a book is supposed to do. It keeps you intrigued. So what if you think it is unrealisitc, so was the notebook and No Place Like Home by Mary Higgins Clark. Books are supposed to stretch the imagination. personally I think all of the It Girl books are great. I just started reading Unforgettable, and I can't wait for Lucky to come out.

The author knows prep school like she does rocket science.......2007-07-22

Totally unrealistic. The author might know about the lives of the rich and famous, but she clearly knows nothing about attending an actual, realistic boarding school. Jenny Humphrey and her friends would all been have expelled by now.

A boarding school let an expelled girl, especially one who had been caught using drugs, back in? Wow. Ok. Stick to the gossip girl series, please.

wow.......2007-04-18

I started this book and was amazed at how the author could just put the f word anywhere like it was nothing! It had very strange and akward senerios like a girl making out with a teacher. I didn't finish the book but from what i read it was bad.

Notorious.......2006-12-20

I got immediately got addicted to the It Girl series when I was at a book store and randomly decided It Girl looked like a good book to read so I picked that one out and ended up falling in love with the series.
The book Notorious is one of the best books I have ever read, it's such a page turner you never want to stop reading it, I swear it's impossible. The main plot of the book is when a girl Tinsley Carmichael returns to Waverly Academy and elite boarding school after being expelled the semester before. Tinsley just happened to be best friends with her former roommates Brett and Callie. Jenny Humphrey then took Tinsley's spot and Waverly and ended up rooming in Dumbarton 303 with Brett and Callie. All this drama between the four girls and their secrets, lies, and just being teenage girls causes hatred.
I would recommend this book to anyone that loves drama and gossip but doesn't want to get involved in it in reality. When you read this book you can visualize everything and put yourself in their shoes and not worry about your real life. Teenage girls with LOVE this book!

Notorious: An It Girl Novel.......2006-12-14

The book that i read was "Notorious: An It Girl Novel". It is about when Tinsley Carmichael comes back to Waverly Academy after she got expelled the previous spring. But once she finds out that big-chested Jenny is getting all the attention now, its war. Jenny also shares a room with Brett and Callie who were Tinsley's roomates before she got expelled so now shes friends with them. But at the end of the book Tinsley and Callie get caught in Boston with (a boy named Heath Ferro) in Boston by the Dean of Waverly so they get split up. So when Brett's and Jenny's relationship is just getting better they get split up too because of Tinsley and Callie. So Brett and Tinsley have to share a room with eachother now and they are fighting, and Jenny and Callie have to share a room now and they are fighting because Callie says that Jenny stole Easy Walsh from her when they were broken up in the first place.

I enjoyed this genre because I enjoy reading realistic fiction and that's what this book was. It was a page-turner because it was really exciting so you didn't want to stop reading. I would like to read another book by this author because she is a really great author and I like her style of writing. I think that most girls like realistic fiction would like this book. This was one of the best books I ever read.

Average customer rating:

The It Girl
The It Girl
READ THIS BOOK!**the it girl**
great new chic lit
'The It Girl' is, without a doubt, the must-have accessory of the season

The It Girl (It Girl #1)
Cecily von Ziegesar
Manufacturer: Little Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0316011851

Book Description

Popular Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey is leaving Constance Billard to attend Waverly Academy, an elite boarding school in New York horse country where glamorous rich kids dont let the rules get in the way of an excellent time. Jennys determined to leave her crazy Manhattan past behind and become a sophisticated goddess on campus. But first shell have to contend with her self-absorbed roommates, Callie Vernon and Brett Messerschmidt. Hot guys, new intrigue, and more delicious gossip all add up to more trouble than ever for Jenny. But if getting caught with boys and going up against the Disciplinary Committee is what it takes, Jennys ready. Shell do all that and more to be The It Girl.

Customer Reviews:

The It Girl.......2007-01-06

The It Girl, a novel, by Cecily von Ziegesar unleashes a whole new kind of clique book which continues the life of the main character Jenny Humphrey who has gotten kicked out of her old school. She realizes that she should get a fresh start at her new school. She has figured out that Waverly is where all the preppy kids go, and in order to go there, she would have to fit in. Soon after Jenny arrives at her new school, she sees that her survival depends on a new Jenny instead of the old. Will she survive in this new school and make new friends?

I have never read a clique book this good with so much detail about the characters and their thoughts. The reader can really visualize what the characters look like and how they react to things from the author's detailed description. There are a lot of cliff hangers at the end of the chapters which makes the reader want to read more. I would recommend this book to teenagers that enjoy a realistic fiction dealing with relationships and drama of college life.

The It Girl.......2007-01-06

READ THIS BOOK!**the it girl**.......2006-12-20

If you like books that have gossip, romance, and drama, this is definitely the book for you. This is one of those books that you could keep reading over and over and not get tired of it. Once you get done with this book, it has books that keep the story going that you can consider reading also. This book keeps you interested the whole time and you never want to put it down. Once you start reading, the pages turn themselves and you get lost in time. Usually I don't like reading, but this book definitely changed my perspective on reading. Once I put the book down, I would always wonder what was going to happen next; which is what made me get threw it so fast. I read the book in three days because it kept me so interested. If I had the option of reading this book again I definitely would. Most books I wouldn't want to read again because I'm not as interested, but this book "The It Girl" is so easy to get attached to.
This book is great for girls, but I think boys would be interested in it too. The book connects to you and isn't like most books. It has major detail and you understand what is going on by all the drama. At first it was confusing because they change who's talking the whole time, like a movie, but then after a few chapters, it makes more since. If most books were like this, I would be reading all the time. I'm sure there are more books out there like this so I am going to have to keep my eyes open. I recommend this book to anyone who is like me, and doesn't like to read. Because somehow, this book gets you interested and you fall in love with it. I think its so easy to relate to because its kind of what our age group is going through, all the rumors, lies, and jealously. I think you should read this book.

great new chic lit.......2006-08-14

In Cecily von Ziegesar's new series, Gossip Girl character Jenny Humphrey leaves Manhattan to attend boarding school at the elite Waverly Academy in upstate New York. Jenny is determined to start completely over from who she was at Constance Billard, and create a new, cool, chic persona. Jenny knows she's up for a challenge when her new roomates are the best friends of the former Waverly Academy It Girl, but she's up for it. Nothing can deter her from her path to being elevated to It Girl status. Not her roomates, not the Disciplinary Committe, nothing. This book gives insight into a new side of Jenny Gossip Girl readers had not been previously privy to, and serves up a whole new set of scandals, intrigue, and gossip. Fans of Gossip Girl will love this new read, but it is not neccessary to have read it to enjoy The It Girl.

'The It Girl' is, without a doubt, the must-have accessory of the season.......2006-08-09

Sophomore Jenny Humphrey is finally vacating the city, as well as the illustrious Constance Billard, and heading to the countryside to attend the prestigious Waverly Academy. While it may just be a stone's throw away from the bright lights of Times Square, Jenny knows that it's a place where she can finally reinvent herself, and create a name she feels is worthy. A place where she can become...an It Girl. As soon as she arrives on campus, everything feels different, from the horsey smells, to the lone owls flying around, Jenny feels as if she has arrived, and intends on embracing the goddess she truly is. Now all she needs is a proper boy toy to worship her. But when Jenny encounters her two uber-rich, self-absorbed roommates - Callie Vernon and Brett Messerschmidt - Jenny begins having second thoughts. After all, those two are only ready to lend a helping hand if something's in it for them. And increasing Jenny's popularity doesn't likely hold a very high place on their to-do list. Surrounded by gorgeous girls, and even more gorgeous guys, Jenny knows that she's in the right place, now she just has to find the ability to stay there. And, if taking the fall for someone else, getting caught with "off-limit" boys in "off-limit" areas, and going up against the Disciplinary Committee all in the first week of classes is what it takes, then Jenny's all for it. After all, there's nothing that she wouldn't do to become...an It Girl.

I will admit that I only read the first three GOSSIP GIRL novels before stumbling upon THE IT GIRL series, but I can honestly say that this has got to be one of the juiciest, most riveting spin-offs I've ever laid my hands on. Cecily von Ziegesar has finally made little Jenny Humphrey the star of her own series, and has added handfuls of other memorable characters to accompany her on her many, often risque, excursions. Jenny, as in the GOSSIP GIRLS series, continues on her way of adorableness laced with a "Lolita"-esque personality that drives the guys wild; while the possibly eating disorder plagued Callie; and teacher-loving Brett add even more scandalous-ness to the mix. Throw in a few cute guys - the rugged bad-boy, Easy; the metro, caring ex-boyfriend, Brandon; the playboy Heath; and various others, and you've got yourself an irresistible combination. Ziegesar has created another unstoppable, drool-worthy series that is impossible to put down. THE IT GIRL is, without a doubt, the must-have accessory of the season.

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls)

Average customer rating:

Love and Crime!
Love and Crime!
Better than expected
Great for daughters and mothers!
good writing but plot has holes

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls)
Ally Carter
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1423100042

Book Description

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls schoolthat is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE, the latest in chemical warfare in science; and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes computer class. So in truth, Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniusesbut its really a school for spies. Cammie Morgan is a second generation Gallagher Girl, and by her sophomore year shes already fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti).But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasnt prepared her for is what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks shes an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without his ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her?Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, shes beginning her most dangerous missionshes falling in love.

Customer Reviews:

Love and Crime!.......2007-08-29

This was Alias meets high school. Cameron Morgan is a Gallagher Girl. Translation, she's being trained to be a spy at her private school. She and her other soon-to-be-licensed-to-kill gal pals speak in multiple language, have been using roundhouse kicks for years, and absolutely don't know how to act around normal boys. To make it even worse, Cameron's mother is the principal of said school and so her problems are multiplied. Of course, Cameron meets a normal boy and can't tell him who she really is.

She finds herself on a tight balance, trying to date her hottie and do well in classes such as CoveOps, where she learns to trail people successfully on the DL. Her friends all call her the Chameleon for obvious reasons. What she really loves about her new boypal is that he seems to notice her, whereas usually she has been taught to blend in to the background.

There is a town vs. gown kind of rivalry going on, as well. The townie folk don't trust those Gallagher Girls. They are thought to be snooty and rich. While the Gallagher Girls are for the most part wealthy, they certainly aren't snooty, just can't reveal who they really are to most people. So Cammie has to pretend she is NOT a Gallagher Girl, causing her to tell lie after lie. You know she is going to be caught eventually, but you sympathize because this is her first boyfriend.

There are a lot of funny moments: the girls get ready dressed up for the CoveOps class (the teacher is really hot) only to find themselves facing the creepier paranoid chemistry teacher. I also laughed out loud as said boyfriend drove a forklift into a building while Cammie is performing a simulated heist. He thinks she is being kidnapped. I also enjoyed when they learn how to learn dirt on people through what is in someone's trash. Next thing you know, Cammie, Bex, and the other girls are looking through the boy's trash collecting notes and candy wrappers like they are evidence.

It is an enjoyable read for girls that are sick of the whole Clique or Gossip Girl scene. These are REAL girls with REAL problems (dead parents, how to tell if a boy likes you, choosing your friends over boys). It also had humor reminiscent of Kiki Strike. The girls are feeling bonded as they connect themselves to rappelling cables.

Love and Crime!.......2007-08-29

Better than expected.......2007-08-25

I got this book only because i was at Borders and it looked alittle interesting. I ended up asking my friend about it, who said she only read half of it and then gave up. So when i started the book i was alittle ugg. I started reading it and i was almost tempted to stop only because it was still background information. But half way through it started getting interesting. And surprisingly i ended up really enjoying it. The author seemed to do a lot of studying and all the facts seemed well reserched. The only thing i can still complain about it that sometimes through out the book. especially while drive, i wanted to know how she did but she only talked about her friends. I also didnt like the ending. Not that is wasnt a good ending, it was. But it was one of those endings that you kind of make up what happens. and i dont like those books. but i am looking forward to reading the next one.

Great for daughters and mothers!.......2007-08-16

This is a smart, well written book. Not a lot of gratuitous malice. Even the details are well researched and interesting. I don't know why this book hasn't been picked up as a television show yet. Daughters from about 7 to 15 will enjoy this book and if mothers want to know what's being read, they can enjoy it too, it's that interesting.

good writing but plot has holes.......2007-08-13

I really enjoyed reading the book because the writing was great and I liked the premise of the story. A spy school for girls sound awesome and empowering. And a camouflaged romance is exciting.

The characters, Cammie and her friends, are very likeable. The reason I gave only 3 stars is because:
1. Her lies to Josh (the boy she was sneaking out to meet) were ridiculous. She gave him her real name but made up everything else about herself. It was irritating because it didn't make any sense. You could see how she was mucking up the relationship from the beginning.

2. After all the lies, you have no clue what they had to talk about to build a relationship on!! She lied about her schooling, so they couldn't talk about her 'hopes and dreams'. She lied about her family, so he couldn't sympathize with her parental situation. Basically, I don't know how they got to 'know' each other when her life was a lie.

I think she could have let him get to know her without giving her whole identity away and it would have made this story better.

Average customer rating:

Educating Waverly - a "must read"
Interesting reading
Best of 2003
Romance-Novel Quality
a gem

Educating Waverley
Laura Kalpakian
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0380977680
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Book Description

In the autumn of 1939 young Waverley Scott arrives on remote Isadora Island in the Puget Sound. She is to be a student at Temple School -- banished, she knows, because her features too closely resemble those of hermother's married employer. Alone, abandoned, and unloved, Waverley stepsoff the rain-washed boat and into the eccentric world of Temple School.

The headmistress of this all-girl school, Sophia Westervelt, has amysterious past and a passion for education. She instills achievement intoher students, confident that one day they will have "dinner with theKing of Sweden," that they will win the Nobel Prize. Sophia is animmortal teacher, and under her direction, Waverley grows as her ownabilities and vision expand. But far away in Europe, nations clash, andeven isolated Isadora Island feels the impact.

Sophia Westervelt struggles to keep Temple School going, though formidableforces combine against her. And in the midst of this turmoil, for thefirst time, Waverley experiences love -- a love so fierce and sensual that,like her education, it will shape the rest of her life.

Customer Reviews:

Educating Waverly - a "must read".......2004-12-28

In Educating Waverly, local author Laura Kalpakian delivers an incredibly well-written, engaging tale of student Waverly Scott, her cohorts and teachers at the Temple School. Banished to the school on the remote island of Isadora in the Puget Sound, Scott comes of age amidst a cast of eclectic but lovable characters. Meanwhile, World War II explodes in Europe, soon to indelibly impact Scott's life as a French refugee is sent to the school for protection.

Kalpakian artfully describes Scott and her fellow teens as they discover their world in an alternative, private school owned and operated by Sophia Westervelt, the heir of a local logging family. With compassion and understanding, Kalpakian brings her characters to life with believable, memory-invoking descriptions of teen angst as the students attempt to embrace Westervelt's unconventional teachings on becoming a "North American Woman of the Future."

In spite of the book's cover, the Temple School is unconventional and the students' dress is anything but short skirts and penny loafers. Instead, the students are clad in comfortable tunics, slacks and Roman sandals to instill in them the freedom they will need to "see the unseen" and to "fear nothing save ignorance, untruth and ugliness."

Throughout the 300+ page read, the author interweaves life on the island with the tragic events of the war, each having an impact on the other. Slowly, she allows the character's pasts to unfold creating a fascinating interconnection that can only be understood as each piece is deliciously revealed.

With unmatched skill, Kalpakian smoothly transitions from one historical time to another, in one breath telling the impacts of World War II and the next describing the bitter disappointment of those who fought in the Great War before it. Without following a logical or chronological pattern, the author manages to paint the complete picture of each of the main characters as they move through life, love and loss.

Perhaps without realizing it, Kalpakian creates a suspenseful novel, holding the reader's attention with poignant descriptions of our nation's history, while sharing long forgotten adolescent pain and triumph. Her story is beautifully written, her words well chosen, and her story magnificently told. This novel is not your everyday romance novel. Rather, it is a rare treat to the discerning reader, one not easily forgotten.

Interesting reading.......2004-02-04

I have enjoyed Kalpakian's books in the past and this one was no exception. I liked the way she presented an unusual situation and locale, and how the characters' lives all became so intertwined. This is a testament of the author's skills at weaving a complex story into a believable whole.

The secrets that have been kept over the years, on Isadora Island and beyond, drive the story and keep the reader intruiged. The few students of the mysterious, free-spirited Sophie Westerveldt at Temple School learn unusual lessons that will stay with them far into their futures.

I am not usually fond of books that move around in time, back and forth, but Kalpakian's skill kept the book from seeming choppy. The story emerged gradually and allowed the reader topeel back the layers and put all the pieces together.

A good read.

Best of 2003.......2003-11-04

This is an excellently written and crafted story. Best along with Human Stain. This would actually make a very good movie as opposed to Human Stain which should not be a movie. The story is perfect in every way. I will read all of this author.

Romance-Novel Quality.......2003-10-21

This book was recommended to me by a friend & I found it disappointing - full of purple prose and flat characters. It made me wince sometimes, it was so corny. There's a moany love-triangle between three of the characters which is annoying and unconvincing. Supposedly, two girls, Waverley Scott and Avril Aron, are so smitten with each other that they refer to each other as "Wavril"- one soul and one person. Both of them are also moony and moany over their grocery-delivery boy, Sandy. All three enjoy a kind of romance-novel menage a trois on moonlit nights on the beach, sexed up with hot, melting marshmallows. The marshmallows are a metaphor for their passion? Ick. That's just too gooey, and the book is filled with bits like that. Most disappointing was the character of the "brilliant" teacher, a supposedly inspirational, free-spirited woman who is now past her prime. She's still supposed to inspire us, but she only reminded me of Robin Williams in The Birdcage, doing those imitations of Martha Graham and Madonna - very goofy, not intelligent. EDUCATING WAVERLEY takes itself way too seriously. I found myself shaking my head often and saying "Give me a break," which isn't a good sign. For much better writing about the adolescence of spoiled school girls, read ATONEMENT by Ian McEwan. And if you want the atmosphere of the Pacific Northwest, read SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS by David Guterson. Despite good marketing, EDUCATING WAVERLEY barely makes it out of the romance-novel category. I think Laura Kalpakian can do (and has done) better, and I recommend a skip on this one.

a gem.......2003-08-29

This is a gem of a book. The story line covers three generations and various venues and characters, yet flows beautifully.

Love From London: The Principles of Love

Average customer rating:

How can one not be charmed by Love?
best One Yet!
Love goes to London

Love From London: The Principles of Love
Emily Franklin
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 045121773X

Book Description

After leaving boarding school to study at the London Academy of Drama and Music, Love Bukowski is learning a lot, especially about love. Too bad the guy she's falling for is off-limits. But she's got plenty to take her mind (if not her lips) off said British Boy. And it's not like there isn't enough going on back in the States. For starters, Love's dad has a new girlfriend, her Aunt Mable is fighting breast cancer, the guy she left behind hooked up with the biggest you-know-what on campus, and her vocal lessons keep getting harder. Maybe life is trying to tell her something-or maybe she's just distracted by all that London (and love) have to offer.

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Customer Reviews:

How can one not be charmed by Love?.......2006-04-05

For our third encounter with Love Bukowski, we gladly join her as she travels across the pond to spend a term studying abroad in London. As we were in The Principles of Love and Piece, Love, & Happiness, we are drawn in by her intelligent and insightful writing, her exciting and adventurous experiences, and her intriguing and fascinating acquaintances.

Although it can be an enjoyable and entertaining read on its own, I recommend that Love from London be read in the context of not only books one and two (mentioned above) but of the books to come.

In The Principles of Love series, Emily Franklin has written a story that is never boring, populating it with characters who grab your interest. I can't wait to find out how all the pieces fit together for Love!

best One Yet!.......2006-04-05

This is the best book so far in the Love series! It's fairly obvious from the title, but Love Bukowski heads to London for a semester with her friend Arabella (you meet her in Piece, Love, and Happiness). Love experiences a whole new world, meets new friends, deals with campus life there, and finds out the mystery of Arabella's family. Like the other books, this one made me laugh, think, and really want to know what happens next.

Love goes to London.......2006-04-03

I found myself a little disappointed in this third book in the 'Principles of Love' series. The first two were better than this one.
It just seemed to me that in 'Love From London' not much happens except that she's in a new city and kisses a guy she likes. Hopefully the third book coming out in the fall will pick up a little bit to make up for this one.

Average customer rating:

Love Love Love this book
I Love This Book!!!!
loved this!
You'll fall in love with Love
Must-read new series!

The Principles of Love
Emily Franklin
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451215176

Book Description

The Gilmore Girls meets The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in this fun, sophisticated teen novel about the lovable Love Bukowski. First in a brand-new series.

The "movie version" of Love Bukowski's life is picture perfect. She can roll out of bed and be at class in her new prep school within minutes because she lives in an amazing house on Hadley Hall Campus, where her Dad just happens to be the principal. And though she's just joined the ranks of the nation's future leaders and lushes of America, they've all become her best friends. Gorgeous upperclassmen crowd around her doorstep just to catch a glimpse of her performing her original songs. Life is sweet!

Unfortunately, the not-so-glamorous reality of her life is that her Dad is the principal of the this prototypical New England prep school. Friends are hard to come by, and the only guys who come near her front door are the ones she wants to swat away. Not that there's a shortage of Hadley hotties; it's just that the one Love's singled out is an utterly incredible and totally unattainable senior. Now, Love will have to figure out the true meaning of her name to make her reality as awesome as her fantasies.

Customer Reviews:

Love Love Love this book.......2007-05-16

This book is very great and so is the series. The books are short but packed with details of a young girl named Love. She is smart and funny even though she doesnt always see herself that way. The only downside is every book has a cliff hanger at the end so you have to get the next one or like me wait until they come out about six months apart. Even so, they are still some of the best books out there right now!

I Love This Book!!!!.......2006-01-02

According to a critic this book is suppose to accurately delve into boarding school life, but I think it accurately portrays adolescence whether it's set in public or private school. Of course this book is a fictional creation, so some of the events in the book are unreal (unless you're the luckiest teenager in the world), however this book is highly entertaining and you end up rooting for this character through her triumphs and mistakes. Another plus is the fact that, to a music lover like me, there are several really great (so far) references in the book that I've explored and have yet to explore. If you like fast reads, good plot lines, and music, this book is a must.

loved this!.......2005-10-21

I was hesitant to get this book, and only grabbed it because I couldn't find anything else interesting. It was a good move...this book is fabulous! Love Bukowski is a typical teenager...except she has a wacky name, and is a new student at the prestigous Hadley Hall, where her father is the principle!Hadley Hall is a cool school, and Love wastes no time making friends. She becomes a well known figure, with some of the most popular people on campus as her friends. She gets major crushes on impossible guys, pursues a musical career, and sets some interesting disciplinary precedents. This book takes you through the first exciting year at Hadley Hall, and leaves you wondering: will she end up with the right guy? And what's in store for next year?

You'll fall in love with Love.......2005-07-26

I just finished this teen chick lit book today. I read most of it today too =) . I just couldn't put it down!
It's a story about Love, a just turned 16 year old, who goes to a prep school where her dad is the principal. She has a hard time finding friends and has her little crushes along the way. It was a really cute story. The ending... WOW. Talk about a cliff hanger.
I can't wait for the sequal, Piece, Love, and Happiness: The Principles of Love, to come out!
Pick a copy. You wont be disappointed.

Must-read new series!.......2005-07-13

Love rules! Love Bukowski is not the typical, shallowly portrayed teenager. While the book has the typical highs and lows of high school, what sets it apart from other books in this teen genre is how likeable the main character is - Love is the kind of girl who you'd want as your friend. The writing is more intelligent than many of the other YA/teen fiction I've read (um, the Au Pairs, anyone?) and I appreciate being treated like a smart reader. That said, there are a lot of funny moments, true laugh-out-loud times, and all in all, a really good first book. I looked at the other cover on amazon and it looks good (though weirdly not the same girl as on the first one!!)!

Average customer rating:

Genius
Mesmerizing and intense
Serious Girls, Serious Novel
Nicely written and compelling, but not exactly original
Teenage Intimacy

Serious Girls: A Novel
Maxine Swann
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312288026

Book Description

When her grandmother insists Maya be sent away to boarding school, the sixteen-year-old feels as if her life has turned a new page. Raised in the remote countryside by her emotionally distant hippie-ish mother, Maya finds herself isolated in the all-girl community. When Rea, another outsider, becomes her friend, the two girls tell each other their life stories, and speculate as to what growing up might mean. How do they become 'people' with style and character as opposed to school girls? Their desire to be adults takes them beyond the closed world of the school, into the local town and the city where they experiment-shopping in thrift stores; confronting their fears as they try on new identities; and wondering about sex. Both girls test the precarious line between an emerging sense of self and its total disintegration in the very different relationships from which they eventually escape, wiser and secure once again in their friendship and curiosity about life.

Customer Reviews:

Genius.......2004-10-05

Maxine Swann creates an intriguing world in her first novel. Her prose is expressive, enlightening, and deeply though-provoking. This is an incredible story. Swann opens up a new world for her readers. She is a brilliant writer.
A MUST-READ!!

Mesmerizing and intense.......2004-03-25

An intriguing novel of two young girls as they struggle to fit into boarding school and wait for "life to begin"...tand all the complexities that come with that assumption. Their maturation process and discovery of the outside world and sexual awakening is written with brutal honesty and exacting words that made it eerily painful but beautiful to read certain passages.

Serious Girls, Serious Novel.......2004-02-11

It is a great pleasure to read a first novel that is as lucidly and unprentiously written as Maxine Swann's. It is vivid and thoughtful. It's main characters are full of the intellectual and sexual energy that we associate with that time in in our lives when almost every adventure is new.

Nicely written and compelling, but not exactly original.......2004-01-21

It should be noted that Swann is working within a French tradition (she has a master's degree in French literature & lived in Paris for a number of years). The French influence is obvious: this book owes much to The Lover by Marguerite Duras and to the novels of Jean Rhys (British, but living in Paris). Compare deflowering scenes in The Lover and Serious Girls and you'll see. Not that writing within an established style is bad, but keep in mind that this novel is not "entirely original."

Teenage Intimacy.......2004-01-05

Maxine Swann's first novel flows with the rhythms of the young central character, Maya. She has spent years with her books and thoughts, but finds herself at boarding school aching for life to begin. Maya opens up to a like-minded friend at school and they share their fears, insecurities and philosophical wonderings with each other. They loose their detached coolness and clear headedness when their quest for life experiences delivers them boyfriends. Ms. Swann's style is sublime and beautiful as she leads us from quiet thoughtfulness into new adventures and through psychological unrest. What strikes me the most is how much more intimate the girls are with each other (no, not physically) than they are with their boyfriends (yes, physically). It's a wonderful journey that rings true.

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