Scan barcode
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
I was surprised to find that I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. Something in the writing felt fresher and tighter and it probably helps that I'd grown accustomed to the cast of characters. I also really loved Oliver - probably more than I'd liked Keith in book one.
thrscldrn's review against another edition
4.0
"People always say they can't do things, that they're impossible. They just haven't been creative enough. That's how you win life, Gin. You imagine your way through. Never say something can't be done. There's always a solution, even if it's weird." - Aunt Peg
London - Paris - Belgium - Amsterdam - London - Wales -Ireland - London
Ginny finds herself in another thrilling adventure, thanks to the letters her aunt gave her (which she lost and somebody else found). I always expected it to be so similar to the first book, but I was mistaken. This book stirred so many emotions in me that I can't even understand. The characters will make you love them one minute and hate them the next. Every chapter makes you want to read more. Ginny put this journey into words pretty well, painful and strange. Painful but rewarding and strange but unveiling. She was able to overcome it and at the end she was able to find herself. The ending wasn't exactly something so extravagant and big, it was actually quite simple and confusing at some points. But I guess, that is exactly what this book wants me to see and understand: that life is not always what we make it. Unexpected things happen and we are not always entitled to the luxury of time. Some things in life end and begin when we least expect it. This is what this book taught me: no matter how much we plan our lives it is always better lived spontaneously. With this spontaneity everything remains to be exciting and amazing.
(I cannot believe that the Ginny-Keith team-up went from 'kind of something' to 'not even anything' and that the Ginny-Oliver team-up has become so abrupt and unexpected. Ellis is amazing but I was really in denial about her and Keith. How I wish I could learn more about their love stories. RICHARD IS JUST AWESOME!)
London - Paris - Belgium - Amsterdam - London - Wales -Ireland - London
Ginny finds herself in another thrilling adventure, thanks to the letters her aunt gave her (which she lost and somebody else found). I always expected it to be so similar to the first book, but I was mistaken. This book stirred so many emotions in me that I can't even understand. The characters will make you love them one minute and hate them the next. Every chapter makes you want to read more. Ginny put this journey into words pretty well, painful and strange. Painful but rewarding and strange but unveiling. She was able to overcome it and at the end she was able to find herself. The ending wasn't exactly something so extravagant and big, it was actually quite simple and confusing at some points. But I guess, that is exactly what this book wants me to see and understand: that life is not always what we make it. Unexpected things happen and we are not always entitled to the luxury of time. Some things in life end and begin when we least expect it. This is what this book taught me: no matter how much we plan our lives it is always better lived spontaneously. With this spontaneity everything remains to be exciting and amazing.
(I cannot believe that the Ginny-Keith team-up went from 'kind of something' to 'not even anything' and that the Ginny-Oliver team-up has become so abrupt and unexpected. Ellis is amazing but I was really in denial about her and Keith. How I wish I could learn more about their love stories. RICHARD IS JUST AWESOME!)
alicebme's review against another edition
2.0
Today I picked up 6 books on reserve at the library. I read this one in a couple of hours, and it was fine. Nice to have an ending to the story. I think I wanted to read about some teenagers doing it though, and there was no doing it in this book. My 2 star rating is biased. Apologies.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
This was enjoyable, but certainly not ground breaking. I find that I always expect Maureen Johnson's books to be more like her Twitter feed, offbeat and kooky, but instead they come off as straight romantic YA fiction. Not that this is a bad thing to be, but I miss her over the top style and find myself waiting for something crazy to happen.
That said, I do like Ginny and I appreciate that her stories have a purpose. The quest of the little blue envelopes keeps the story moving and always provides the reader with something to wonder about and look forward to discovering. I read the first book so long ago that I wasn't invested in Ginny's relationship with Keith at all, and when I reread my review of that book, it looks like I didn't care about it to begin with, so her finding out he had a girlfriend and the awkwardness and tension that arose from that played out way better than a simple will they/won't they scenario. I like that Johnson chose to have Ellis be a very likeable character and for Ginny to have a healthy appreciation of her and not just be madly jealous and bitter.
I wasn't sure what to think about Oliver and I still am not sure. I think his exploitation of Ginny was underplayed enough that he was able to be likeable in the end, but if I really think about what he did, it really doesn't make me want to give him any kind of benefit of the doubt. We all knew Ginny would end up romantically involved with him from the start and he was given positive qualities to suit that end, but it came off more as an literary ploy than something believable. Perhaps I am seeing the world too much in black and white, but I just didn't like what he did and I don't think it was given enough justification to make it alright.
That said, I do like Ginny and I appreciate that her stories have a purpose. The quest of the little blue envelopes keeps the story moving and always provides the reader with something to wonder about and look forward to discovering. I read the first book so long ago that I wasn't invested in Ginny's relationship with Keith at all, and when I reread my review of that book, it looks like I didn't care about it to begin with, so her finding out he had a girlfriend and the awkwardness and tension that arose from that played out way better than a simple will they/won't they scenario. I like that Johnson chose to have Ellis be a very likeable character and for Ginny to have a healthy appreciation of her and not just be madly jealous and bitter.
I wasn't sure what to think about Oliver and I still am not sure. I think his exploitation of Ginny was underplayed enough that he was able to be likeable in the end, but if I really think about what he did, it really doesn't make me want to give him any kind of benefit of the doubt. We all knew Ginny would end up romantically involved with him from the start and he was given positive qualities to suit that end, but it came off more as an literary ploy than something believable. Perhaps I am seeing the world too much in black and white, but I just didn't like what he did and I don't think it was given enough justification to make it alright.
mpatterson610's review against another edition
I was so intrigued by the first book that I had to read the sequel. It was overall fine. The writing and vibe is similar to the first book but I was a little let down by an element in the ending.
I want a book following aunt peg’s life!
I want a book following aunt peg’s life!
aliaspaine's review against another edition
2.0
I am sooo mad that Keith and Ginny didn't end up together. Though with him being such a douche through most of the book, I found myself thinking he deserved to end up with Ellis (I really HATED her. Such an annoying girl LOL) but really, I couldn't let my love of K and G go! Adored Oliver too and, if I couldn't get K & G, I'd have settled for K & O being the couple to remain together... but I got nothing. And I am SO beyond disappointed.
lburden03's review against another edition
3.0
So I found this book for like $3 online and decided to pick it up, even though I hadn't read the first book in the series yet. I enjoyed the first book enough to continue reading this one. I loved the travel in that book, but was disappointed with the repeat travel in this novel. Again, I found the characters to be a bit too young as I did in the first novel, and especially in this novel (not so much in the first novel), I found some of the situations to be highly unrealistic. I really was thrown off by the introduction of a new male character and how he fit into the story. Overall, it was an alright read, but not a favorite.
For a more in-depth review, check out my new book blog, A Nook of Blankets and Books!
http://anookofblanketsandbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/little-blue-envelope-series-series.html
For a more in-depth review, check out my new book blog, A Nook of Blankets and Books!
http://anookofblanketsandbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/little-blue-envelope-series-series.html