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book_nerd_bri23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Although I thought I had sworn off YA works, this one was a delight for fans of Sex and the City or anyone who remembers the horrors that were past high school years. The girl drama, the boy drama and the power of cliches is all experienced through the eyes of Carrie Bradshaw before she took NYC by storm.
Carrie is an aspiring writer, confined her small northeastern hometown. She encircles herself with best friends, swim meets and family drama. When she first applies to a writing summer program, and is initially rejected, she finds herself looking for the true meaning of life. As if that was not bad enough, she falls in love with the hot new guy at school who ends up disrupting her friendship with one of her oldest friends.
Carrie, even at such a young age, in true Carrie fashion, turns her experiences into an adventure all while documenting everything through the school news paper.
Enlightening and uplifting, this is a true tale of following one’s dreams no matter the pitfalls along the way. As I said before, this is perfect for fans of the hit HBO series and anyone that wants a reprieve from normal life. Give it a try if you are looking for something reminiscent of the high school days we were so in a hurry to leave behind.
whendevreads's review against another edition
4.0
** Actual rating is 4.5 stars **
Ever since Elvis hit the theaters, I have been seeing Austin Butler’s face everywhere. And don’t get me wrong, I am NOT complaining about that. But, seeing his face reminds me of one thing & one thing only: The Carrie Diaries. AKA the Sex and the City prequel. I will never forget when the Carrie Diaries came out, I believe I was in middle school. I used to watch it on some sketchy website every week the day after a new episode came out. And seeing Austin Butler everywhere led to me having the most insane urge to rewatch the Carrie Diaries. A series that I didn’t know was originally a book until about a year or two ago, when I found it at a Half Price Books for $3.00. It just sat on my shelf collecting dust. Until now. I told myself I could only rewatch The Carrie Diaries after I read the book… and here we are.
Coming from watching the tv show first, there are many things that are different in the book. For one, it totally makes sense that the book focuses on Carrie as a writer (like she is in Sex and the City)— from what I can remember, the tv show had the entire fashion industry subplot that conflicted with her work at a law office. It is much, much less complicated in the book, which I was immensely grateful for. As well, there are a few differences in characters. For one, Larissa does not exist in the book, unless she comes in book 2. She is such a great part of the tv show that I was sad she didn’t exist in the book. The amount of cigarettes smoked in the book is staggering. I know it’s set in the 80s but damn… is that what it was like back then?????
The main difference between the book and the tv show, in my opinion, is how I feel about one character: Sebastian Kydd. Now, it’s been probably 5 years since I watched the Carrie Diaries. However, the number one thing I remember is how much I loved Sebastian Kydd (and Austin Butler for playing him). I loved Sebastian and Carrie together, he was such a dreamy character, and we all know what Austin’s voice sounds like… swoon. However, the book made me dislike Sebastian! I was absolutely shocked & am trying to keep the two versions of him separate. Book Sebastian is so bad… he’s insensitive, gaslights Carrie, and he cheats on her with her best friend and feels absolutely no remorse doing so. I have to say, Carrie is a better person than me, because if my best friend and my boyfriend did that to me… I would probably commit murder.
Overall, I am glad that I watched the show before reading the book. That is pretty rare for me, but it’s so much easier for me to start out liking Sebastian and then see the bad version of him in the book. I think, if I had read the book first, even Austin Butler wouldn’t have redeemed him.
I am so glad I chose to read this book. It is a cute 80s story about one of the most iconic female characters in television: Miss Carrie Bradshaw. I just wish I liked Sex and the City as much as I like this teenage version of her. I was recently a teen, which is maybe why I relate to the teenage version of Carrie more than adult Carrie. I am so excited to rewatch the show, and maybe I will eventually branch out into rewatching Sex and the City.
Ever since Elvis hit the theaters, I have been seeing Austin Butler’s face everywhere. And don’t get me wrong, I am NOT complaining about that. But, seeing his face reminds me of one thing & one thing only: The Carrie Diaries. AKA the Sex and the City prequel. I will never forget when the Carrie Diaries came out, I believe I was in middle school. I used to watch it on some sketchy website every week the day after a new episode came out. And seeing Austin Butler everywhere led to me having the most insane urge to rewatch the Carrie Diaries. A series that I didn’t know was originally a book until about a year or two ago, when I found it at a Half Price Books for $3.00. It just sat on my shelf collecting dust. Until now. I told myself I could only rewatch The Carrie Diaries after I read the book… and here we are.
Coming from watching the tv show first, there are many things that are different in the book. For one, it totally makes sense that the book focuses on Carrie as a writer (like she is in Sex and the City)— from what I can remember, the tv show had the entire fashion industry subplot that conflicted with her work at a law office. It is much, much less complicated in the book, which I was immensely grateful for. As well, there are a few differences in characters. For one, Larissa does not exist in the book, unless she comes in book 2. She is such a great part of the tv show that I was sad she didn’t exist in the book. The amount of cigarettes smoked in the book is staggering. I know it’s set in the 80s but damn… is that what it was like back then?????
The main difference between the book and the tv show, in my opinion, is how I feel about one character: Sebastian Kydd. Now, it’s been probably 5 years since I watched the Carrie Diaries. However, the number one thing I remember is how much I loved Sebastian Kydd (and Austin Butler for playing him). I loved Sebastian and Carrie together, he was such a dreamy character, and we all know what Austin’s voice sounds like… swoon. However, the book made me dislike Sebastian! I was absolutely shocked & am trying to keep the two versions of him separate. Book Sebastian is so bad… he’s insensitive, gaslights Carrie, and he cheats on her with her best friend and feels absolutely no remorse doing so. I have to say, Carrie is a better person than me, because if my best friend and my boyfriend did that to me… I would probably commit murder.
Overall, I am glad that I watched the show before reading the book. That is pretty rare for me, but it’s so much easier for me to start out liking Sebastian and then see the bad version of him in the book. I think, if I had read the book first, even Austin Butler wouldn’t have redeemed him.
I am so glad I chose to read this book. It is a cute 80s story about one of the most iconic female characters in television: Miss Carrie Bradshaw. I just wish I liked Sex and the City as much as I like this teenage version of her. I was recently a teen, which is maybe why I relate to the teenage version of Carrie more than adult Carrie. I am so excited to rewatch the show, and maybe I will eventually branch out into rewatching Sex and the City.
reader4evr's review against another edition
4.0
This was definately a fun read. The ending was great (didn't put 2 and 2 together with who Donna's crazy frined/aunt/cousin was). Didn't know there is going to be a sequel.
I have never read anything by Candace Bushnell but I love the Sex and the City series/movie (didn't like the 2nd one).
I have never read anything by Candace Bushnell but I love the Sex and the City series/movie (didn't like the 2nd one).
letsbebookfriends's review against another edition
3.0
I was excited to see what the infamous Carrie Bradshaw was like in high school. However I was met with disappointment. I did not like any of the relationships in this book. The romances and even some of the friendships. Actually, the only thing I can say that I did like about this book was Carrie's development into a writer, and her growth into young woman from a bratty teenager.
byp's review against another edition
3.0
This took me longer to get into (100 pages), than a YA book should, and part of that is due to some very corny feminism. But overall, I liked it in a trashy, 80s way.
jordongmc's review against another edition
2.0
I bought this book years ago, when the TV series was airing, as I really enjoyed the show and wanted to read the book. I’m not entirely sure how I finished this book as it is just a lot of teenage immature heterosexual drivel. The only likeable characters are The Mouse and Walt. And surprisingly Donna LaDonna (I cannot take that name seriously). All the other characters are just... awful, horrible, annoying people (minus Carrie’s siblings and father). And that includes Carrie. That being said I want to read the sequel because the last line of the book pulled me into the Sex and the City world. Samantha is one of my all time favourite characters and I want as much of her as I can possibly get.
marthamaereads's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a flashback to high school! The boy drama, the friend drama, the mean girl drama, this book has it all. I literally felt like i was reliving my senior year of high school all over again, but this time with Carrie Bradshaw as my best friend (I wish).
After watching the Sex and the City TV series and movies, I was extremely excited to see how Candace Bushnell would portray Carrie in her younger years, and she did not disappoint me one bit. I loved this look into Carrie's last year of high school before she goes on to tackle "The City".
The best part of this whole book though.. is the ending! Candace Bushnell leaves the story with Carrie getting in touch with none other than.. well you will just have to read it for yourself to see! But I will tell you this, I cannot wait to read Summer and the City!
After watching the Sex and the City TV series and movies, I was extremely excited to see how Candace Bushnell would portray Carrie in her younger years, and she did not disappoint me one bit. I loved this look into Carrie's last year of high school before she goes on to tackle "The City".
The best part of this whole book though.. is the ending! Candace Bushnell leaves the story with Carrie getting in touch with none other than.. well you will just have to read it for yourself to see! But I will tell you this, I cannot wait to read Summer and the City!
rjdenney's review against another edition
4.0
i read this a while back and i loved it. the only chic lit i like lol can't wait for the second book :)