She's So Dead to Us by Kieran Scott

Ally Ryan had it all: the money, the perfect family, and the coolest friends. Part of the elite group of "Cresties," residents of the affluent Crest community, Ally got whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted it. But that all ended when her father formed a hedge fund gone bad with all of her friends' families' money. Money that those families liked having, to form trust funds and buy new cars - families who especially didn't like to be reminded that they were scammed by Ally's father. So with the scandal behind them, Ally and her mother left Orchard Hill, leaving everything they had behind. Two years later, Ally returns to Orchard Hill, but returning into the more middle-class side of town, living in a condo with her mom, who got a job as the school librarian at her old high school. Great, right? And now Ally is relegated back to the site of her downfall, with all her old Crestie friends who despise her. Making friends with Annie and David, two non-Crestie kids, is her only bright spot in her days at Orchard High. Well, them and Jake Graydon, a handsome, wealthy, and bored boy who has moved into Ally's old house and is part of the Crestie crowd. Jake knows nothing about Ally's scandal, only knowing that his friends despise her and that he likes her. A lot. But Jake's friends disapprove, because that would make Ally Ryan happy. And Ally Ryan doesn't deserve to be happy. And as Ally finally starts settling in to her new life, old secrets and friends come back to haunt her, because everyone knows that money is never devoid of drama.

Kieran Scott has done it again. This novel shows what our society has become - one dominated by money and material possessions. Although Ally did nothing wrong, her classmates shun her for a bad investment that her father made. Yes, the lost money affected many people, but it was a small amount compared to what Ally's friends had. I really liked how she spun such a cliche plot into a storyline that kept readers guessing. The characters were somewhat believable, and I found myself cheering for Ally from the beginning. However, I wish Jake would grow a spine sometimes and stand up to his friends. It seemed like it took him too long to decide what he wanted, and find his true feelings for Ally. The Crestie kids were so self-centered that I couldn't believe what they would do to help themselves. And David made you wish that everything worked out for him, because nothing did. And I was lift hanging at the end- her cliffhanger left me wanting to read more of this gripping novel. Scott spins such a funny, poignant, and romantic story, but also with biting wit and laugh-out-loud moments. Soon, every teenage girl will be grabbing it off the shelves, because I, for one, cannot wait for the sequel in this trilogy.

Rating: 4 stars

the daughters by Joanna Philbin

The only daughter of supermodel Katia Summers, witty and thoughtful Lizzie Summers likes to stick to the sidelines.
The sole heir to Metronome Media and daughter of billionaire Karl Jurgensen, outspoken Carina Jurgensen would rather climb mountains than social ladders.
Daughter of chart-topping pop icon Holla Jones, stylish and sensitive Hudson Jones is on the brink of her own music breakthrough.

Lizzie Summers is the only daughter of world famous supermodel Katia Summers, whose looks are said to rival Kate Moss'. As a shy and quiet girl perpetually hiding behind books, she is used to hiding from the limelight and letting her famous mother shine. As freshman year starts, Lizzie is sick and tired of constantly being compared to her mother's beauty and her mother dragging her into the spotlight. So when one misspoken sentence at Fashion Week about her mother's new clothing line propels her into sudden fame, what can she do? And her old childhood friend, Todd Piedmont, has made a reappearance, but no matter how hard she tries, Lizzie doesn't understand Todd's moody actions. And when a photographer approaches her believing that Lizzie's unconventional face is the new "face of beauty", Lizzie discovers that the spotlight can be blinding but fun. But as she gets sucked deeper and deeper into the competitive world of fashion, Lizzie discovers that the spotlight is not all fun and games. With the help of her best friends, Hudson and Carina, Lizzie learns what it truly means to shine- both inwardly and outwardly.

I enjoyed this book, because it teaches a very satisfying lesson. Although many of us think that celebrities live easy lives, we're wrong, because they're under the constant scrutiny of the general public. Also, it teaches the lesson that true beauty is not measured by how gorgeous someone is on the outside, but how beautiful someone is on the inside. Lizzie who was a believable character, is sometimes insecure, and at other times confident and sassy. Carina and Hudson are truly supportive friends that are there for Lizzie every step of the way. Todd and Lizzie's frequent miscommunication is just ridiculous sometimes, but you always can sympathize with both confused parties. Overall, this book was similar to most other young adult books out there that are written for young girls - it had wonderful, empowering writing, but a generic storyline that was somewhat predictable. Joanna Philbin spins a well - written story, that almost every teen girl can compare themselves to.

Rating: 3 stars

some girls are by Courtney Summers

Regina Afton is part of the Fearsome Fivesome, the most popular clique in school. They are feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High, and Regina hasn't spared anything - or anyone- in her climb up the social ladder. But climbing it isn't as hard as falling from it. One night, one party changes everything, and soon, vicious rumors are spread about her and her best friend Anna's boyfriend. As Regina tries to recover from that disastrous night with almost more disastrous consequences, her ex-best friends declare her "out", and are looking for revenge. But the truth isn't in the rumors, and as each day progresses, the rumors and bullying get more intense. She seeks solace in the comfort of a misfit, Michael Hayden, who she used to bully, and friendship does not come easily for the two of them. As Regina tries to make amends for her previous mistakes, she realizes that Michael has been there all along, and suddenly he could be so much more than just a friend. As threats from the new Fearsome Foursome get worse, she realizes that their actions could affect everyone she now holds dear, and has to make a decision: save herself? Or save the ones she loves? Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year come to a explosive conclusion.

Courtney Summers has done a great job describing the turbulence of high school bullying. Every school has its cliques, with the mean girls and the victims, and this story is no exception. Every character is complex and conflicted with hidden problems that really make people wonder what people are like under their outlying facade. Regina is shallow, but underneath the guise, she agonizes over the horrible thing she has done. Michael is a truly good person, and as he supports Regina with unfailing conviction, you understand why Regina starts to like him. Anna is shallow and selfish, with an agenda to control everything in the school. Her abuse of Regina compels me to wonder how a girl could be so venomous. Kara and Donnie honestly disgust me with their appalling behavior, and although I can understand Kara's inner conflict, she still goes to enormous lengths to torture everyone else. This book satisfied me, and I can't help but ponder the outrageous actions of some people to an event that will not really matter. Summers managed to make me feel all of the anger, desperation, exhaustion, loneliness, fear, exaltation, and hope that the characters feel. She delves into the gritty, dangerous world of high school with honesty and a painfully real perspective. Her portayal of the sometimes twisted, mean, brutal, and tormented space that is the mind of a teenage girl is uncomfortably real, but accurate. She spins a wonderful tale of strength through the hardest times.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars

before i fall by Lauren Oliver

What if today was your last day? What would you do? Who would you spend it with? And how far would you go to save your life? Samantha Kingston has it all: the friends, the popularity, and the hot boyfriend. But one day changes everything....Friday February 12, should be a normal day in her perfect life - but it isn't. Instead, it's her last. And she gets a second chance. Seven second chances, to be able to relive that last day over and over again. Because her last day centers around the two words: what if? What if she only had one day to live- and seven chances to fix it? What if her life wasn't as perfect as she imagined? What if she was blindly staring past what had been right for her all along? Maybe you can afford to wait. To have a tomorrow, or a thousand tomorrows. Time you can waste. But for Samantha, there's only that Friday. And the truth is, you never really know. As Samantha relives her last day, she has chances to fix what she did wrong, realize all that she had missed before, and discover the true value of what she is in danger of leaving behind.

This book has inspired me in so many ways. Lauren Oliver does not disappoint with her debut novel. I can't even begin to describe the myriad of emotions this book and its characters has put me through. I have felt affection for their silly but lovable personalities, frustration with their ignorance at what really was important, compassion during the sad times of grief, and anger during fate's cruel interference. Samantha is smart, but first, she had to open her eyes to what she thought was wrong for her- and is actually completely right. Kent tugged at my heartstrings, trying to be the hero, the knight in shining armor that Sam never had. Lindsay, Elody, and Ally are shallow and selfish, but underneath the facade are girls who would sacrifice anything for each other. And Juliet, although resigned to her supposed fate, has no idea of the way her life is going to change forever in the blink of an eye, and the sacrifices some are willing to make to ensure she does not make a tragic mistake. This book has really opened my eyes to the recurring ignorance in people's lives. We don't appreciate the simple things life gives us, and we only see what we want to see. We don't realize that all our actions cause a chain reaction, larger than we could've ever expected. So, before your next harsh word, avoided stare, pointed accusation, or cruel action, ask yourself: What if today was my last day? It teaches a lesson that all of us can learn, and Lauren Oliver has truly written a book that opens eyes, touches hearts, and will stay with you throughout the ages.

Rating: 5 stars

A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker

Senior year is finally here for Fiona. That means a new chance at getting her crush, Gabe, and her chance to end high school with a bang... right? WRONG! Her principal is taking out her bitterness from her divorce on the seniors, by making them participate in a mandatory marriage course called Trying the Knot! This was definitely not how Fiona imagined her last year of high school to be. So when she has to "try the knot" with the school's super-jock Todd Harding, she despairs at how bad her senior year is gonna be. Nothing could get worse...until her crush gets assigned to her arch-enemy - Todd's super popular, beautiful girlfriend Amanda. And her best friend Marcie's fate isn't much better - a year with Johnny Mercer, who's very goofy and very big. As Fiona and Todd tentatively enter their newfound "marriage", hijinks ensue and from the start, they enter a series of pranks trying to best one another. And it leaves Fiona wondering: Is her best friend really telling her everything? Does Johnny really have more to him than an awesome taste for music? And the most stunning one of all: Does Todd Harding actually have a heart under his jock-boy exterior?

As soon as I picked up this book, I could not stop laughing. Kristin Harding provides a original, surprisingly not cliche plot that leaves you guessing and wondering: what will happen next? Se creates a love-hate relationship between both the characters themselves and also your relationship with the characters. You will groan at their mindless mistakes, laugh at their hilarious pranks, and grin at their moments of loyalty and friendship. Fiona, although headstrong and clever, sometimes cannot think of anyone other than herself and can really make clueless mistakes. Todd, although an arrogant jerk at first, leaves you guessing throughout the entire book about his true character. Johnny lets you sigh a little at his romantic nature and wonderful personality, and Marcie can make you scream out in frustration but sympathize with her other times. Kristin Harding creates a masterful tale of laughs, groans, and truly wonderful experiences that would make even the most commitment conscious teens want to experience this marriage course.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars

The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott

Sarah has a problem. A big problem. She broke the unwritten rule: never fall in love with your best friend’s boyfriend. But hey, in her defense, she saw him first. And fell for him first. Ryan is everything she’s ever wanted: he’s smart, easy to talk to, and totally gets her. If only he wasn’t her best friend’s boyfriend! But he is. And Sarah feels so guilty, because the last thing she wants to do is hurt Brianna. She’s trying really hard, but she can’t push away her undeniable connection with Ryan. And when she and Ryan are pushed together on one fateful day, something happens…something both wonderful yet terrible and Sarah’s feelings are not fleeting or short of addiction, and she can’t stop… What will happen when a girl defies all the rules of friendship for a chance at true love?

Elizabeth Scott has always been one of my favorite authors, and her previous books Something, Maybe, Perfect You, and Bloom have made me laugh, contemplate the turbulent feelings of friendships & family, and sympathize with the character’s confusing feelings of a new relationship. This one is not any different. Through the eyes of the conflicted and caring heroine, Sarah, I experience the pain of seeing someone you love with someone else, overwhelming guilt for betraying her best friend, and happiness in the rare moments she can have with her friends and family. Sarah, although unique and a genuinely good person, has a low self esteem from being in her best friend’s beautiful shadow, and is meek and compliant at times. Brianna is self-centered and vain, and although her distant parents are cruel and ignorant, she is still starved for attention and a little insensitive at times to the people who care for her most. Ryan seems indecisive over whether to just go with the girlfriend he has tolerated for two months or to go with the girl he has liked from the beginning. Overall, it is an entertaining book to read, and makes you question two big life choices: friendship or love? This book is wonderfully written, and you can instantly connect with the characters.

Rating: 4 stars