Exposure by Kathy Reichs

Goodreads Description: "When twin classmates are abducted from Bolton Prep, Tory and the Virals decide there’s no one better equipped than them to investigate. But the gang has other problems to face. Their powers are growing wilder, and becoming harder to control. Chance Claybourne is investigating the disastrous medical experiment that twisted their DNA. The bonds that unite them are weakening, threatening the future of the pack itself. The Virals must decipher the clues and track down a ruthless criminal before he strikes again, all while protecting their secret from prying eyes. And everyone seems to be watching."

My Review: LOVED IT. I don't know, sometimes I think I'm a little biased when it comes to this series, simply because it combines everything I love: great, witty, realistic teenage characters + action/adventure + science + slow, realistic romance + humor + media references + gorgeous setting (seriously, I have a love affair with Charleston). So maybe I'm biased. Orrrrrrr maybe Kathy and Brendan Reichs are just great writers! I'll go with the latter. 

Here, to show that I'm not biased, I'll point out the flaws (or what can be construed as flaws, since they didn't really actually bother me that much) in the book. For one thing, the writing was---as usual---not very complex or poetic. It was short, brief, to-the-point. Honestly, I kind of even liked it, because it seemed realistic. When we narrate our lives to ourselves and think to ourselves, we think in very short, to-the-point, fragmented thoughts and sentences. Our internal narrative is not wordy or flowery. I think the basic language kind of words for an action series but I can see where it might annoy people or where it could be slightly more descriptive. And secondly, the mystery in this book...was a bit weaker than the ones in all the other books. I can admit this. I mean, I still totally enjoyed the mystery! But it wasn't as brilliantly-put-together as the other mysteries nor was it as dramatic. You could tell it almost took a backseat to the other issues: Chance lurking around and the emotional fallout from what happened in Code. And I kind of understand; so much happened in Code that SOMETHING had to take a backseat in this book and it appears the mystery did. But there you go, that could be seen as a flaw.

Otherwise...this book was perfect. The action/adventure aspect was fast-paced and totally enjoyable as always. We met some new characters in this book, such as a certain hacker who I really hope shows up in future books because he was hilarious and Tory's friend, Ella, who was also a fun character to read about. I liked her confidence and totally don't-care attitude in the face of bullies. That's the way to bring mean people down: literally do not care. I had all the Tory and Ben feels in this book and Hi really outdid himself with the humor this time. I burst out laughing several times and I really appreciated the Game of Thrones references, being a huge fan of the show and the ASOIAF books. 

Also...the whole plot with Chance killed me. I'm still so torn on how I feel about Chance. On one hand, he's a meddling jerk creep and I wish he'd just back off of from the Virals. On the other hand, his blatant confusion and mental distress makes him slightly pathetic and I kind of feel sorry for him. All I'm gonna say is that I really CANNOT believe what Chance has done now. The ending of this book made my jaw drop. Talk about a cliffhanger. The ending of this book changes everything for the Virals and it makes me simultaneously so excited and yet so uneasy. And now we have to wait yet another year for the next book! Waiting for a new book each year is painful but I guess I should be thankful we don't have to wait two years for each book (God forbid). 

Oh, and shout out to two things. One: I love how Kathy and Brendan Reichs tie the scenery and setting into the books. It's really fun and creative and since I love history and travel as well, it's kind of like taking a trip throughout Charleston, SC, and I just love how the kids are always going to historic locations and abandoned locations. It adds to the flair of the series, the fact that the setting really adds to the story. Two (and I've gushed about this before): I love how the kids actually do research, actually use science and chemicals to search for, and document clues, how they actually look things up and plan things and break into places... It just seems way more realistic than most action/mystery novels where the kids randomly stumble across the clues or wander around blindly looking for them and don't even use science to reason things out. That whole thing with Tory using that chemical to spray for remnants of blood? Made my respect for the series shoot WAY up because it's the proper way to do things, rather than just have the kids be like, "Ohmygod, look, bloodstains!" I admire the fact that the Reichs take the time to put these details into their books. It also helps Tory's science genius cred. Too many times books have these characters who claim they're smart and intelligent but never actually show it. Tory SHOWS that she's a science geek, as do the rest of the Virals. 

Cover: Okay, I've stated before HOW MUCH of an issue I have with these covers. They're not catchy and they're not particularly fun or inspired. I was a HUGE fan of the original covers with the kids running through the jungle, etc. But I can admit that of the new covers, I like this one the best because the green colors and the imagery of falling vines and leaves makes me think of the South Carolina wildlife, so it does seem more connected to the Virals than the other new covers. Still not a huge fan, though.

Overall Grade: A+

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Goodreads Description: "Cath is a Simon Snow fan.

Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan...

But for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.

Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words... And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this?

Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? Writing her own stories?

And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?"

My Review: I admit it: Fangirl belongs to the type of genre I dislike immensely. I've never been sure what to call it---indie-lit? Contemporary-lit? You know, those books that are basically coming-of-age stories about regular, every day teenagers; that don't have any larger plot except for feelings. The type of books that John Green and Sarah Dessen usually write. I've enjoyed a few books from this type of genre...but not many. I tend to avoid them. And I admit it: the only reason I even picked up this book was the title. Fangirl. "Fangirl" is pretty much a word that can be used to describe like 99% of my life, since fandoms---of books, video games, TV shows, movies, celebrities, even fashion---is basically what my life revolves around. I am a fangirl. It's what I am. And the word "fangirl" is a pretty recent term, actually, that hasn't been around for ages, so when I saw this book, I was immediately intrigued. 

And I loved it. I think what set Fangirl apart, for me, from other books in this genre that I usually so intensely loathe was it's simplicity. Fangirl didn't pretend to be something it's not. It wasn't pretentious and filled with profound realizations of life and grand philosophical discussions and revelations. The beauty lay in the simplicity. There was no overt drama and no flashy displays of "HERE, feel some emotion now!" moments by the author. The emotion crept up on you in little bits and pieces and that's the best kind of emotion, honestly. The kind you don't expect, the kind that sort of just...infiltrates your heart. Fangirl was beautiful because it was so simple in its reality. The characters didn't walk around dramatically quoting pretentious quotes or smoking cigarettes while laying under the stars or all the things that teenagers usually DON'T do in real life. The people in this book did things that, while quirky, were still real and normal enough for me to be able to digest. 

And the characters---and their issues---were winning, again, because of their simplicity. Reagan was snarky but not overly so to the point where you wanted to kill her. Levi was sweet but just when he started to seem a little too friendly and overly-sweet, you suddenly realized that he had his own small struggles as well...but most people didn't see them because he was just a Friendly Guy. Let me tell you, it was SO refreshing to read about a guy who wasn't dark, brooding, cocky, arrogant, tortured... Those can all be fun in their own ways. But they've been done to death. Levi was a breath of fresh air and made you think, "Where's MY Levi?" 

And Cath! Oh, Cath. Rarely have I ever found someone so relatable. I admit, I'm not 100% like Cath. Though I suffer from anxiety as well, I'm more outgoing and able to handle new situations. But I could relate 100% to her reluctance and fear of change and her internal panic to new situations and her world changing. I'm not a famous fan-fiction writer nor am I heavily invested in one slash ship as Cath was, but I am heavily invested in several fandoms and several ships/OTP's and I could 100%---nay, 200%---relate to Cath's desire to withdraw from normal life into her fandoms. Sometimes it's easier to worry about your favorite character's problems than your own problems. To focus on analyzing your favorite characters' lives than to analyze your own life. So I admit, at times, I had to pause because I was so impressed with how well Rainbow Rowell got into the head of a fangirl. I admit, I don't think I take any of my ships AS seriously as Cath does...but then again, Cath has way more social anxiety, so I can understand. Her relationships with her father were touching and yet sad and really did send some important messages about the complexity of mental illnesses. And I loved her relationship with Wren. I liked how Rowell didn't just make Wren this one dimensional "bitch" who abandons her sister---she showed Wren's struggle to stay connected to this person she used to be, the person Cath loves, and to also become a slightly new person. 

And what really took this book to the next level? The writing. It was simple, elegant at times, but also appropriately choppy and ragged to show that level of teenager emotion and modern-day fast-paced thinking. We live in a fast world with instant gratification and our thoughts and internal narratives reflect it. The dialogue was fun, flawed, realistic, and I loved it. It felt like real things real people would say. And I really enjoyed how the ending wasn't super-perfect and fairy tale-ish but it was still uplifting and light. You will feel sad at parts of this book but you won't finish it feeling depressed. 

All in all, this is one of those realistic coming-of-age type of books that I really did enjoy...simply because it delivered on its promise and gave me some entertaining-yet-touching REALITY, not a heavy dose of forced emotions and pretentiousness like other books in this genre tend to do.

Cover: I like it! The fact that it's hand-drawn seems to kind of pay homage to the fact that fan art is a HUGE part of fandoms (and this is something I do do!) and the colors are bright and cheery. 

Overall Grade: A+ 

Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt

Goodreads Description: "There are two sides to every breakup.

This is Jordan and Courtney, totally in love. Sure, they were an unlikely high school couple. But they clicked; it worked. They're even going to the same college, and driving cross-country together for orientation.

Then Jordan dumps Courtney -- for a girl he met on the Internet.

It's too late to change plans, so the road trip is on. Courtney's heartbroken, but figures she can tough it out for a few days. La la la -- this is Courtney pretending not to care.

But in a strange twist, Jordan cares. A lot.

Turns out, he's got a secret or two that he's not telling Courtney. And it has everything to do with why they broke up, why they can't get back together, and how, in spite of it all, this couple is destined for each other."

My Review: I'll be honest: I was not a fan of this book. I really liked Barnholdt's One Night That Changes Everything so I thought I'd really like this book too (even though this book is older than ONTCE...so perhaps her writing got better...?) but I really didn't. 

        That's not to say I hated this book. I didn't. It wasn't really so horrible that it would be worth hating. But it was nothing special. The characters were actually semi-okay, had they been fleshed out further...but they weren't, so they both came off as awkward and whiny children. I mean, Courtney pretty much stews for the majority of the trip over Jordan's "mysterious Internet girlfriend" when it would have been more mature (and normal) to ask about her. It's not desperate---I mean, you're on a road trip with the dude. May as well get cozy. And Jordan...is an idiot. He had a dilemma and what did he do? Did he try to solve the dilemma by being honest or just WORKING through his issues? No. No, he dumped Courtney after panicking and caused a whole bunch of emotional issues for them. I don't know, they both just seemed immature and childish to me. They were going to college but they were acting like 13-year-olds. 

         What annoyed me even MORE than the characters was the plot. A road trip together? Really? And I know some people would be, "Duh. THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THE BOOK," to which I respond, "Then it's a really stupid point." I mean, sometimes a boy and a girl taking a trip together makes sense---and this book was not one of those times. You're REALLY telling me that Courtney's dad is willing to let Courtney go on a frickin' road trip with the guy who dumped her AND knows his secret...despite the fact that he calls Jordan every 2 minutes to check to see if he's spilled his secret yet? Really? I mean, really? How does that make sense for the character of Courtney's dad? If he REALLY didn't want Courtney to know the secret, he'd have been willing to buy her a plane ticket to her college. And I'm really failing to comprehend what mom would force her daughter to go on a road trip with the boy who broke up with her daughter. I'm sorry, that's just weird. They were all acting like the road trip couldn't have been cancelled and I guess that annoyed me so much because yeah, it could have. Don't even lie. 

        And the whole book was pretty much...Jordan and Courtney squabbling and having a few "moments" and some puking...and some random bits about their best friends back home (which were actually the most interesting part of the book---I'd rather read a book about THEM, to be honest)...and that was it. It was a relatively short book, nothing much else. Nothing special. I guess the ending was decent because it wasn't the typical happy fairy tale ending where everything works out perfectly...but still, this book was just average and not anything great. Sorry, Lauren. 

Cover: The cover IS cute! It doesn't actually make sense regarding the scenery, or the type of car being driven, and Courtney never had to fix the car. But yeah, the cover is cute, I'll admit.

Overall Grade: C-

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Amazon Description: "Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.

Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones."

My Review: Confession time: I watched Game of Thrones before I started reading the books. Because even though I love this fantasy genre, I could never bring myself to read these types of books, because a lot of them seemed super cliched and formulaic. Was it biased of me? Yes. Do I regret it? Yes. But anyway, GoT was such a fantastic show that I felt like I needed to read the books right away, since people told me the books were way better. If that makes me a "fake" fan...who cares. Because I like the show AND I like the books (I'm on the second one currently). 

         But anyway. On to my review. To be completely honest, all I can say is that this was a FANTASTIC book. I know I'm only repeating what thousands of fans have said about his books for years now, but I'll say it again: fantastic. One of the reasons I tended to avoid adult fantasy books like the plague is because  they all seemed, like I said, formulaic: a golden hero who never seems to die, a somewhat dim-witted evil bad guy (always named something like the Dark One or the Cold One or the Lord of Night or something kind of dorky like that), a fair princess who fell in love with the hero, maybe some dragons or something to slay, some knights to fight... It all just feels so cheesy and weird to me. But AGOT was nothing like this. It was fresh, it was intriguing, it was filled with witty and clear prose and dialogue. It had a smattering of characters, good and bad, moral and immoral, young and old, men and women. The plot had that medieval-ish feel to it but it didn't use any of the cliches that I abhor. There was no Big Bad Evil Guy. There was no Lovely and Fair Maiden. There was no One True Hero. The reason I liked this book so much was mostly the fact that there were so many characters---and complex characters, on top of that! Rarely was anyone 100% good or 100% bad (although, okay, let's all agree that Joffrey is a vile loathsome little monkey beast with no redeeming qualities). GRRM wasn't afraid to kill multiple people off, even main characters, and that felt really realistic (and it seriously hurt me). And the fact that there were so many characters who we got to read about, and read from the points of view of, felt so realistic! It actually felt like we were in Westeros, traveling between Winterfell and King's Landing and everything between and beyond. 

        Not only did I love the use of multiple, complex characters and POVs, I loved the writing. I had feared that it might be kind of old-fashioned and stuffy and hard to decipher, and while it WAS a bit old-fashioned---to be more historically accurate---it was never hard to understand and was, in fact, perfectly clear. I have an odd habbit of picking up speech/accent/language patterns from people around me, or media around me, and I'm pretty sure I phrased a few things the Westerosi way while I read this book. And the descriptions that GRRM gave were fantastic. I could literally picture every castle, every feast, every scene he described perfectly. And sure, my knowledge from watching the show probably helped a little in that---but oddly enough, I conjured up a lot of my OWN images, even cancelling out some of the TV show ones, because that's how descriptive he was. But let me be clear: he was descriptive but not overly-flowery. I hate overly-flowery, descriptive, honeyed prose, and he didn't stray anywhere near that dangerous territory. 

         And can I express my admiration over how accurate the TV show seemed to follow the books? Or follow AGOT at the very least (who knows, it may stop following later books...). A lot of things were changed but I found that the main plots and points were mostly kept in tact, and that impressed me.

        Basically, this really was a tale of adventure and danger and mystery and intrigue. I totally got sucked in by the amazing writing and plethora of characters who really seemed to build a cast for me to root for (or root against). I was hooked the whole time and I am seriously looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series! I suppose the ONLY thing I didn't like..and this is only due to the fact that I've watched the show before...I feel like the first book moved a little slowly and not much actually happened in the first book, except for the MAJOR death at the end. But it was still a really great read.

        And who knows...I may even start giving other books in the adult fantasy genre a chance. 

Cover: This cover's alright, I guess. It's simple and nice to look at, so there's nothing really wrong with it, per se. But I actually do sort of like the TV show cover a little better, it just has a cooler, darker, more thrilling feel to it. 

Overall Grade: A-

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd

Goodreads Description: "In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father's gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father's handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father's madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island's inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father's dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it's too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father's genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells's classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman's Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we'll do anything to know and the truths we'll go to any lengths to protect."

My Review: The Madman's Daughter was...interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about it. The book started off very good, with a strong and determined protagonist, an intriguing male character, and the promise of sinister plot regarding her father. I liked Juliet and I liked her morals. The beginning bits with her in England were a bit boring, I'll grant that, but when she arrived on the island, I got really excited, because things were beginning to look like they were getting exciting---

         But that was it. I'm serious. Juliet moped around a lot on the island, had a lot of fights with her dad (who, by the way, was seriously creepy; he was a well-written character. He really did exclude a sociopath-ic vibe), kind of flirted with both Montgomery and Edward, and then she basically got lost in the jungle for a LONG time and was chased by a lot of scary, half-human, half-animal creatures. And then the whole jungle set on fire and there were some "fights" with the creatures and her dad and then everyone tried to escape the jungle.

         If my review sounds convoluted and a little vague, that's because the book was convoluted and vague. It had all the MAKINGS of a great novel: Gothic feel; a strong heroine; vaguely interesting male characters; an actually creepy father; a lot of creepy creatures crawling around; sinister things happening... It was like the book was always teetering on the brink of falling into "Pure Awesome" territory---because there WERE some parts that had the potential to take the book into that territory. I really do like how the author wrote Juliet's father and how he slowly was revealed to be more and more insane. I liked how she described Juliet's inner turmoil at her own origins and the bloodlust she feared was inside her, her fear that she wasn't human. And the action scenes and the suspense scenes were entertaining enough. 

        It just wasn't enough. No one really DID anything. Juliet kind of just stumbled around. She got lost in the jungle a lot, for a long time, and got chased by creatures. She went on walks and picnics. The whole book was kind of just walking and running around and her thinking a lot. 

       And the book didn't end on a cliffhanger---but it did end sort of vaguely, leaving room for more. A sequel is out, so I wonder if the sequel will actually kick things into high-gear, because this whole book seemed like a vague dream. Bordering on good but definitely a bit hazy and random.

Cover: I think the cover is pretty, but also kind of irrelevant. I think my dislike of YA novels with girls in sweeping gowns for NO reason is pretty well known. Of course, Juliet does have a reason to wear a gown, being that this was a Gothic novel---but still, it looks like she's standing in the middle of the woods when she was actually supposed to be in a tropical jungle. I think they could have done better with the cover.

Overall Grade: B-

Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Goodreads Description: "Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection program. Entering the program alongside her, is her father and sister Darcy. The trio starts a new life and a new beginning leaving their friends and family behind without a goodbye. 

Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. Just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?"

My Review: Shadowlands is probably going to be one of the...STRANGER books I'll read this year. Not saying that that's a bad thing...but yeah, this was definitely a different YA book than you normally find. It is NOT what I was expecting, that's for sure. 

          I'm going to break this book into three parts: plot, setting, characters. 

          My expectations when I picked up this book: a heart-racing thriller/action type of novel. And that is what I got...sort of. Shadowlands ended up being less James Bond and more Clue. There wasn't as much action and adventure as I'd thought there'd be (which was kind of disappointing, in a way, because I love crime dramas) but it was really suspenseful and eerie and whodunit? I actually kind of liked that, to be honest. It was something sort of different from the many YA books out there that have a lot of action and fighting in them, and the slow pace kind of made it more creepy. I liked having Steve Nell's POV, because it allowed some insight into his serial killer-mind and it was also creepy and weird! So good job there.

        And then there was the setting: Juniper Landing. Either it's the fact that I'm a HUGE New England fanatic or that Kate Brian is a really good writer, but I immediately had an idea of what Juniper Landing was supposed to look like. Picture Martha's Vineyard, but less sunny and more foggy and hidden-in-the-mist, and with weirder locals---but still the same quiet, disconnected East Coast tiny-coastal-town feeling. The setting really worked for the plot, because it seemed so removed from the rest of the world that it helped add to the creepiness. Also, like I said, I absolutely love settings like that, so that was just a personal treat. 

       Last but not least: characters. This was the interesting part. Kate Brian didn't write an revolutionary or AMAZING characters (like Lisbeth Salander). But she did write different characters and this was cool. Rory was pretty plain and average, but she was smart and cautious and likable. Her sister, Darcy, was funny and light-hearted and more into having fun, but she was still a good person. The sisters bickered and fought, but they still cared about each other---which is realistic. And their dad---I LOVED how Kate Brian wrote him. Often in books, parents are written as 100% kind angel accepting mom and dads or really mean and terrible parents. Shadowlands showed that even when your parents can be snappy and distant and sometimes you don't get along with them, you still love them and care for them---and they for you. To be honest, their dad kind of reminded me of my dad, with his temper (ha ha). The secondary characters in Juniper Landing were also appropriately mysterious and odd. 

         And then there was the ENDING. Wow, talk about a total plot twist! And this plot twist is the strangest part about Shadowlands. My feelings about it are undecided. I'm not sure if it's going to be the downfall of this series...or something kind of cool. I'm going to reserve judgment until I read the next book! 

Cover: It's pretty! And mysterious. I kind of like it, even if the model on the cover doesn't look like how Rory was described. I wish they'd shown a little more of Juniper Landing, but oh well, as far as covers go, this one's not bad! 

Overall Grade: A-

        

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

Goodreads Description: "Don't mess with a girl with a great personality! Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it."

My Review: I have so much to say about this book. I was expecting a slightly-boring, cliche, boy-filled chick-lit...but that's not at all what I got. 

          To start with, Lexi is a great character. She's very relatable. She was a very honest mix of insecurity and confidence, of vanity and intelligence. She's a smart girl who's funny, is well-liked, and a hard worker. She's not too hard on her looks or her body and she knows she's a good person. But at the same time, she does feel depressed sometimes when she compares herself to her pretty little sister and she wishes people would pay her more attention and she gets sick of always being "the funny one" and not "the pretty one"---because, let's face it, in our world, looks do matter. And what girl can't relate to this? Even the most confident of girls feel insecure sometimes and some girls may be beauty queens, but a lot of us are a lot more average. And while that doesn't bother us 95% of the time, sometimes it can be a bit upsetting to not be really gorgeous. 

        Also, Lexi loved fashion, and since I love fashion, that was a nice thing to relate to. 

        So to say I liked and related to Lexi would be an understatement. Not only did I relate to her frustrations at always being "the funny one", I related SO much to her struggles with her family. Not that my family is that extreme---this is a novel, after all---but I can relate 100% to my parents taking my little sister's side 24/7 and blaming me for everything, even when it has nothing to do with me or was never my fault. I love my little sister but things like that make resentment hard to ignore, so I almost wept with relief when I finally found a character who GOT IT: who knew the feeling of loving her little sibling and wanting to protect her, but being frustrated by her parents and always being the one to give up HER time for her little siblings. 

        The secondary characters were also very winning. Mac was a huge brat at times, but she was also sweet at times. This is literally how my little sister is (and most little kids, to be honest). Lexi's mom frustrated me a lot. Parents need to start LISTENING to their kids a little more. The things Lexi's mom said and did made me want to throw the book at a wall and literally scream, that's how angry they made me. But on the other hand, Lexi's best friends were great. Benny was sweet and funny. Cam was sassy and loyal and seemed like she really had a heart of gold. 

       I also liked the message the book sent about beauty. Look, we all know that inner beauty is what TRULY matters---but like I said, everyone wants to feel pretty on the outside, too. So I liked that the author let readers know that it was okay to want to feel this way, as long as it didn't turn you into a total witch on the inside. Lexi initially dolled herself up as a dare, but she ended up liking looking a little girlier. She acknowledged that being a nice person is WAY more important than being pretty---which I totally agree with---but she also acknowledged that there's nothing wrong with wanting to be cute sometimes too. It's all a matter of balance.

      And I like that Lexi followed her head and was more faithful to HERSELF than she was to any boy, because at the end, she chose to respect herself and not hook up with any of the boys who liked her. She knew finding herself was more important. 

      Like I said: I was expecting a fluffy chick-lit. Instead I got an amazing story about insecurities, best friends, family struggles, and striving for the best despite all the hardships in your life. I was really pleasantly surprised by this book---even though it made me really sad at times, because of Lexi's family problems---but I'm very glad I read it. 

Cover: It's nice! It's very simple and understated. The name is pretty attention-catching and the fact that it's written in lipstick is a nice, subtle nod to the themes of inner and outer beauty layered throughout this book. Well done.

Grade: A+