Category: Reviews-Egmont USA

TITLE: The Cinderella Society
AUTHOR: Kay Cassidy
PUB DATE:
April 2010
PAGES: 336

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Sixteen-year-old Jess Parker survives by staying invisible. After nine schools in ten years, she’s come to terms with life as a perpetual new girl, neither popular nor outcast. At Mt. Sterling High, Jess gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret club of the most popular girls in school, where makeovers are the first order of official business. But there’s more to being a Cindy than just reinventing yourself from the outside, a concept lost on Jess as she dives tiara-first into creating a hot new look.

With a date with her popular crush and a chance to finally fit in, Jess’s life seems to be a perfect fairy tale. That is until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s archenemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers her new sisterhood is about much more than who rules Mt. Sterling High School. It’s a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys need Jess on special assignment. But when the mission threatens to destroy her new dream life, Jess is forced to choose between this dream realized and honoring the Sisterhood. What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

MY THOUGHTS:
The Cinderella Society is being released today and I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. The next book is suppose to be released sometime in 2011.

This is Kay Cassidy’s debut novel. I really enjoyed the book and had a hard time to put it down.

Jess is just your typical girl trying to fit into a new school. We discover that in the world there are Cinderella’s, Wickeds and Reggies. Cinderella’s are the good girls, the Wickeds are the bad girls and the Reggies are just your regular people, like me.

The Wickeds want to rule the world and dominate over everyone and they basically will step on anyone who gets in there way and they use the Reggies to spy and to control them. Enter the secret society of Cinderella’s. They want to bring good to the world one step at time.

Jess is tormented by Lexy on a daily bases and Jess always wonders when Lexy will get tired of tormenting her. Lexy’s other victim is Heather. Lexy is the common bond for these two girl and Jess tells Heather that its okay to stand up to Lexy and not let her blackmail her. That basically once your secret is out Lexy has no control over her.

When Jess is invited to be a part of the Cinderella Society she is happy and excited to be a part of something good and hopes that she can bring good to the Reggies. In order to be a Cinderella there is a whole book of things you must do and follow and one of those things is to look the part. Which means a whole new make over.

With the new make over she attracts the attention of a popular guy, Ryan who just happens to be Lexy’s brother. Jess is happy to finally be fitting into something. Ryan appears to be the your typical guy who is good looking and keeps his sensitive side hidden not even letting Jess see the real him.

How will Jess handle the new situation she is placed in and will she be surprised when she learns who the other ladies are that have been part of the Cinderella society? Will she risk it all to save the reggies?

Thanks to Egmont USA for sending me a copy of this book to read and review.

TITLE: of all the stupid things
AUTHOR: Alexandra Diaz
PUB DATE: December 2009
PAGES: 258

ABOUT THE BOOK:
When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend Brent has been sleeping with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment after being deserted by her father. Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave this beauty to look for meaning in all the wrong places. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she’s never stopped missing. This friendship that promised to last forever is starting to break under the pressure of the girls’ differences.

And then new-girl Riley arrives in school with her long black hair, athletic body, and her blasé attitude, and suddenly Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl–and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay–or does she just love Riley? And can her deepest friendships survive when all of the rules have changed?

MY THOUGHTS:

This is Alexandra’s debut novel. I enjoyed reading the book.

The book is told from the alternating points of view of three best friends and they are Tara, Whitney Blair and Pinkie. They are all high school students.

This is the opening line of the book “Of all the stupid things he could have done, Brent Staple had to go and do that.” In reading just that I had to find out what Brent had done. What did Brent do that was so stupid?

We quickly discover that Tara’s relationship with Brent isn’t so picture perfect as she thinks it is. Her best friend Whitney Blair is quick to tell Tara about a rumour she heard about Brent. Apparently this rumor is that Brent cheated on Tara. We all know that is bad enough but when Tara discovers that the person he supposedly cheated with isn’t a girl but a guy cheerleader. This news devastates Tara. She decided to move on and try to leave Brent and that rumor behind her.

Then suddenly a new girl named Riley moves to town and Tara is instantly drawn to her. I have to admit when I was reading it I kept saying to myself Tara watch out she isn’t who she seems to be.

Tara’s friends accuse Riley of being gay and that Tara is choosing her over her friends. Tara actually begins to questions her friendships with Whitney Blair and Pinkie wondering if they are really true friends and her own sexuality. Everything in Tara’s live is suddenly turned upside down. Is Tara gay? Can this friendship saved?

This book was provided for review by Egmont USA.