Helpful Score: 2
I read this mostly because E. Lockhart was one of the authors and I've enjoyed everything I read by her. This was, just ok. The book is a story revolving around 3 very different girls and there friendship and how it evolves on a mini roadtrip. It's written by 3 different authors and It's told in first person, however each chapter is the viewpoint of one of the three main characters. this was a smart way to handle the obvious change in writing style. Each writer took the lead with one character. The issue I had was I didn't love the writing style of one of the writers and she was the voice every 3 chapters. I also felt an imbalance when one writer would try to write within her chapter, speech for another character.
The story too was cliche'd and shallow, reminiscent at times of Brtiney Spears' CROSSROADS movie (yikes). Still I finished it relatively quickly and it was entertaining enough to make me want to see it through to the end. There is one character who plays "the christian" and while I feel the author did a decent job of not making her a complete joke for her beliefs, I felt at the end the character completely abandons what she knew to be true to replace it with what she wanted to be true. I guess that's a fair representation of what many people do with faith (cut and paste, remove parts and borrow until it looks like what one wants it to be), but I wish the character had had more conviction to hold to what she knew to be true. SHe was also written as the more naive of the 3 and the least educated which, as a christian, i found offensive. But with the title being "How to be Bad" i guess the warning was right there on the cover, huh?
The story too was cliche'd and shallow, reminiscent at times of Brtiney Spears' CROSSROADS movie (yikes). Still I finished it relatively quickly and it was entertaining enough to make me want to see it through to the end. There is one character who plays "the christian" and while I feel the author did a decent job of not making her a complete joke for her beliefs, I felt at the end the character completely abandons what she knew to be true to replace it with what she wanted to be true. I guess that's a fair representation of what many people do with faith (cut and paste, remove parts and borrow until it looks like what one wants it to be), but I wish the character had had more conviction to hold to what she knew to be true. SHe was also written as the more naive of the 3 and the least educated which, as a christian, i found offensive. But with the title being "How to be Bad" i guess the warning was right there on the cover, huh?
Jesse is looking to get away. So what better to do that than to get her best friend, Vicks and go on a road trip to see Vicks' boyfriend at college in Miami. When Jesse invites Vicks, the new girl, Mel, that they work with at the Waffle House wants to go so bad that she offers to pay for the trip for them. Even though Jesse doesn't like Mel, it's an offer that even she can't refuse. Mel is the rich girl who wants real friends and is trying to fit in. Jesse is having family problems and just wants to get away. And, Vicks is wondering why her boyfriend has left for college and hasn't even called her. The road trip is a long one with a lot of twists and turns on the way. Including breaking and entering, picking up a hitchhiker and even fighting with each other. Will the three girls survive this trip with each other?
Okay, I'm not saying this because I went to the authors reading and signing, but I LOVED this book. It was amazing. One of the best parts, though is the fact that it is told in each of the girls perspective. So, you can see what each is thinking when something is going on. The writers really shine through on this one. This is one of the books that you can't miss this summer!
Reviewed for blog http://writersblockreviews.blogspot.com
Okay, I'm not saying this because I went to the authors reading and signing, but I LOVED this book. It was amazing. One of the best parts, though is the fact that it is told in each of the girls perspective. So, you can see what each is thinking when something is going on. The writers really shine through on this one. This is one of the books that you can't miss this summer!
Reviewed for blog http://writersblockreviews.blogspot.com
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
HOW TO BE BAD is the perfect book for a girl-bonding summer road trip adventure!
Three girls, each with their own internal struggles, head out on a weekend road trip to Miami to visit the one girl's boyfriend. Vicks and Jesse are best friends. Mel is the newcomer but envies the friendship Vicks and Jesse share and invites herself along for the trip, offering to pay for lodging, snacks, and fuel.
Jesse is dealing with her mother's recent cancer diagnosis. She wants more than anything to tell Vicks, for they share everything, but hasn't been able to bring herself to do it.
Vicks is trying to not be a needy girlfriend. Her boyfriend has left for freshman year of university and has barely contacted her in the two weeks he's been gone. She misses him terribly and is convinced he's fooling around with a hot college girl.
Mel's family has just moved to Florida from Montreal, Canada. Florida is an entirely different world to her. She is reserved and lives in the shadow of her popular older sister. She desperately wants to break out of her shell, but doesn't know how. She hopes some of Vicks' outgoing personality will rub off on her.
They begin their trip Friday once Vicks gets off work. Jesse takes her mom's car without proper permission, and the three are off. Their adventures bring them to a giant preserved alligator, a cute hitchhiker, a house party with too much alcohol, Disney World, and a few other places along the way.
As will happen when confined with each other for far too long in a way too hot car, tempers flair, emotions erupt, and friendships are solidified.
HOW TO BE BAD is creatively written in alternating chapters by three popular authors. The story flows seamlessly between each chapter, making the reader curious as to which character belongs to which author. The story is emotional, triumphant, and you come away feeling like you've just received a great big hug. Each author is amazing on her own merits, but as a team, they've taken it up a notch and have written a fantastic book. One that every girl and her best friends will come to love.
HOW TO BE BAD is the perfect book for a girl-bonding summer road trip adventure!
Three girls, each with their own internal struggles, head out on a weekend road trip to Miami to visit the one girl's boyfriend. Vicks and Jesse are best friends. Mel is the newcomer but envies the friendship Vicks and Jesse share and invites herself along for the trip, offering to pay for lodging, snacks, and fuel.
Jesse is dealing with her mother's recent cancer diagnosis. She wants more than anything to tell Vicks, for they share everything, but hasn't been able to bring herself to do it.
Vicks is trying to not be a needy girlfriend. Her boyfriend has left for freshman year of university and has barely contacted her in the two weeks he's been gone. She misses him terribly and is convinced he's fooling around with a hot college girl.
Mel's family has just moved to Florida from Montreal, Canada. Florida is an entirely different world to her. She is reserved and lives in the shadow of her popular older sister. She desperately wants to break out of her shell, but doesn't know how. She hopes some of Vicks' outgoing personality will rub off on her.
They begin their trip Friday once Vicks gets off work. Jesse takes her mom's car without proper permission, and the three are off. Their adventures bring them to a giant preserved alligator, a cute hitchhiker, a house party with too much alcohol, Disney World, and a few other places along the way.
As will happen when confined with each other for far too long in a way too hot car, tempers flair, emotions erupt, and friendships are solidified.
HOW TO BE BAD is creatively written in alternating chapters by three popular authors. The story flows seamlessly between each chapter, making the reader curious as to which character belongs to which author. The story is emotional, triumphant, and you come away feeling like you've just received a great big hug. Each author is amazing on her own merits, but as a team, they've taken it up a notch and have written a fantastic book. One that every girl and her best friends will come to love.
