Stephanie S. (skywriter319) -
THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE is an unapologetically guilty-pleasure read that will make your insides squirm with half-pleasure, half-horror. With a wonderful voice, tantalizing characters, and a steady plot, this book seems tailor-made for teen girls looking for a fast and furious read.
Natalie reminds me of many unapologetically bitchy and manipulative queens of high school society. Her voice is spot-on and full of judgment against those who cross her path as well as the constant fear that she will be exposed as a fraud. She is the girl you love to hate, and yet can't read enough about. Her actions may be despicable, but she is also wonderfully justified in doing what she did, which is a remarkable achievement on Lauren Kate's part.
Indeed, I found almost all of the characters fascinating with their complicatedly bad sides. Here, there are no perfect characters, and it's almost like watching a CW drama, the way you can't look away from these train wrecks of characters. Nobody really changes much throughout the story, but they are interesting enough that you just might overlook that and focus on the drama itself.
THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE may not be for everyone, but if you're willing to overlook the fact that all of these characters and the entire situation itself are far from admirable, you're in for an enjoyable ride.
Natalie reminds me of many unapologetically bitchy and manipulative queens of high school society. Her voice is spot-on and full of judgment against those who cross her path as well as the constant fear that she will be exposed as a fraud. She is the girl you love to hate, and yet can't read enough about. Her actions may be despicable, but she is also wonderfully justified in doing what she did, which is a remarkable achievement on Lauren Kate's part.
Indeed, I found almost all of the characters fascinating with their complicatedly bad sides. Here, there are no perfect characters, and it's almost like watching a CW drama, the way you can't look away from these train wrecks of characters. Nobody really changes much throughout the story, but they are interesting enough that you just might overlook that and focus on the drama itself.
THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE may not be for everyone, but if you're willing to overlook the fact that all of these characters and the entire situation itself are far from admirable, you're in for an enjoyable ride.
Reviewed by Samantha Clanton aka "Harlequin Twilight" for TeensReadToo.com
There are a few things that Natalie Hargrove wants out of her time at Palmetto High School, but the big one is becoming Palmetto Princess and her boyfriend, Mike, to be Palmetto Prince. And Natalie Hargrove will do anything she has to do to make sure this happens.
When Natalie finds that Mike is at major risk of losing the battle for the crown to the one person Natalie hates, Justin Balmer, we find out just what she will do to make sure that her dreams come true. But what's the cost of fame within the high school setting? And what's that cost when the person she's battling is the one person who has the power to take her down?
Now, when I got this book I hadn't actually read the synopsis about it. All I knew was that it was Lauren Kate's debut novel, I loved the cover, and I wanted to read it before I read FALLEN (out now). But I'm glad. I was totally shocked and surprised at the twists and turns in THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE - and I loved it!
It was a shocking and fun ride to take with Natalie, and let's just say the ending shocked me even more. This is a very Cruel Intentions (1999 Reese Witherspoon/Ryan Phillippe/Sarah Michelle Gellar movie that was totally awesome, which ironically contained a character with the last name Hargrove) kind of story, and that made it even more enjoyable.
The main thing I fault this novel for is that it seemed like some of the characters were just around to move the story along, and then once their job was done you didn't really see them again, or they just got a side mention. But this being a quick read, I can understand why it was like that, so I don't hold that too much against it.
It seems like with all the talk surrounding FALLEN that THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE has been lost in the shuffle, or will be, but I hope that doesn't happen. I really enjoyed Natalie, Mike, the Bambies, and even JB, and the journey they took me on, and I think other people will, too. It's a story of blackmail, desire, darkness, and deeds that are so dark it would make Nyx shiver.
Natalie messed with the Fates - and you just don't mess with the Fates!
There are a few things that Natalie Hargrove wants out of her time at Palmetto High School, but the big one is becoming Palmetto Princess and her boyfriend, Mike, to be Palmetto Prince. And Natalie Hargrove will do anything she has to do to make sure this happens.
When Natalie finds that Mike is at major risk of losing the battle for the crown to the one person Natalie hates, Justin Balmer, we find out just what she will do to make sure that her dreams come true. But what's the cost of fame within the high school setting? And what's that cost when the person she's battling is the one person who has the power to take her down?
Now, when I got this book I hadn't actually read the synopsis about it. All I knew was that it was Lauren Kate's debut novel, I loved the cover, and I wanted to read it before I read FALLEN (out now). But I'm glad. I was totally shocked and surprised at the twists and turns in THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE - and I loved it!
It was a shocking and fun ride to take with Natalie, and let's just say the ending shocked me even more. This is a very Cruel Intentions (1999 Reese Witherspoon/Ryan Phillippe/Sarah Michelle Gellar movie that was totally awesome, which ironically contained a character with the last name Hargrove) kind of story, and that made it even more enjoyable.
The main thing I fault this novel for is that it seemed like some of the characters were just around to move the story along, and then once their job was done you didn't really see them again, or they just got a side mention. But this being a quick read, I can understand why it was like that, so I don't hold that too much against it.
It seems like with all the talk surrounding FALLEN that THE BETRAYAL OF NATALIE HARGROVE has been lost in the shuffle, or will be, but I hope that doesn't happen. I really enjoyed Natalie, Mike, the Bambies, and even JB, and the journey they took me on, and I think other people will, too. It's a story of blackmail, desire, darkness, and deeds that are so dark it would make Nyx shiver.
Natalie messed with the Fates - and you just don't mess with the Fates!
