Scan barcode
shhchar's review against another edition
3.0
Belles was a cute book that kept me actively reading, but it's nothing overly special. That being said, I will still read the rest of the series!
celjla212's review against another edition
2.0
Isabelle Scott is happily living with her grandmother in the town of Harborside, North Carolina. The town has a bad reputation, and her grandmother's health is in decline, but she's making it day by day with the help of her community. She can escape to the beach for her lifeguard job and time with her recently met surfer friend, Brayden.
Then Izzie gets a bombshell dropped on her: her grandmother is being admitted to a nursing home, and she must go to live with her long-lost uncle and his family in ritzy Emerald Cove. She will also be going to the exclusive private school, Emerald Prep, with her cousins Hayden and Mirabelle.
Of course not everyone in the family or in the school are too excited to have a newcomer from the wrong side of the tracks in their midst. Mirabelle is not happy to have a new girl unceremoniously dumped into her lap, and her best friend Savannah plots to take Izzie down. What will happen when Mira and Izzie discover the truth about their connection?
I read through this book rather quickly, mostly because I was in a hurry to get it over with. Almost every aspect of this book was something I had seen before in another movie or book. There was no mystery at all. I saw every event coming, even the "big twist"...because someone thought it was a good idea to include it in the blurb on the book's back cover!!
Speaking of unoriginal ideas, I feel like the author was running out of names for characters while she was writing. The two girls' names are Mirabelle and Isabelle, and I get that the book title is a play off of their names. But the main boys in the novel are named Hayden and Brayden, and there is also a Kellen. Come on.
I really thought Izzie would have stood up more for herself while she was being antagonized, but I was disappointed on that front as well. When we finally get to the end of the story, I just felt like no one really got what they deserved, and it left me unsatisfied.
Then Izzie gets a bombshell dropped on her: her grandmother is being admitted to a nursing home, and she must go to live with her long-lost uncle and his family in ritzy Emerald Cove. She will also be going to the exclusive private school, Emerald Prep, with her cousins Hayden and Mirabelle.
Of course not everyone in the family or in the school are too excited to have a newcomer from the wrong side of the tracks in their midst. Mirabelle is not happy to have a new girl unceremoniously dumped into her lap, and her best friend Savannah plots to take Izzie down. What will happen when Mira and Izzie discover the truth about their connection?
I read through this book rather quickly, mostly because I was in a hurry to get it over with. Almost every aspect of this book was something I had seen before in another movie or book. There was no mystery at all. I saw every event coming, even the "big twist"...because someone thought it was a good idea to include it in the blurb on the book's back cover!!
Speaking of unoriginal ideas, I feel like the author was running out of names for characters while she was writing. The two girls' names are Mirabelle and Isabelle, and I get that the book title is a play off of their names. But the main boys in the novel are named Hayden and Brayden, and there is also a Kellen. Come on.
I really thought Izzie would have stood up more for herself while she was being antagonized, but I was disappointed on that front as well. When we finally get to the end of the story, I just felt like no one really got what they deserved, and it left me unsatisfied.
shirleymak's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 STAAARSSS. lol totally my book. The cover's so pretty toooo(:
fyrekatz's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty cute story, I love Jen's writing style not to mention character writing. They are so real-life and this book had some real mean girls in it! And i will most definitely be revisiting this world and reading book 2 and 3 real soon!
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
Jen Calonita is a master of light contemporary girl-centered novels. I fell in love with her Secrets of My Hollywood Life series and have since read every single one of her books. What do I mean by girl centered? Her stories feature girls in various - often unusual - life situations, who are dealing with the same problems as every teenage girl. Family drama, peer pressure, friends, forming a self-identity, boys. Romance is present in each book, but the heart of the stories are always the girls themselves. Jen's books are always fun to read and I finish them feeling satisfied.
Belles is the first edition in a new series. It is the classic tale of poor girl being taken in by rich family and the drama that ensues (this is a very loose interpretation of the plot, but you get the basic idea). The highlights of Belles are (1) Izzy and Mirabelle and (2) the North Carolina setting.
I loved Izzy and Mirabelle. Izzy's sudden arrival into the Monroe household is not welcome news to either Izzy or Mirabelle. They are fundamentally different people being forced to live together. Izzy grew up with her grandmother in a poor neighborhood. She is independent, resourceful, and headstrong. A natural leader. She's the type of girl I really admire. She understandably feels like a fish out of water in ritzy Emerald Cove. Can she fit into her new world without fundamentally changing who she is? Does she want to?
Mirabelle is a weaker girl than Izzy, which is logical since she has always had her family and plenty of money to fall back on. She runs with a popular crowd, but is more of a lady in waiting than a queen bee. As such, she is under constant pressure to perform to the cruel bidding of meannie Savannah. Despite not always being the nicest person, I liked Mirabelle. Her instincts are good, but like many of us she struggles between doing what benefits her socially versus doing what's right. Can Mira grow a backbone?
The setting is fantastic. I've read plenty of YA books set in the South, but not that many where Southern culture feels like its own character. North Carolina is just as interesting a setting as New York City or Los Angeles. Belles is partially set in a beach town. I could almost smell the salt water taffy and ocean air as I was reading about the boardwalk. The rest of the book is set in a wealthy town. Reading about private school, country club Southern belles and gentleman was like traveling back to a different era of a slower lifestyle and rigid formality. I felt like I should be wearing a dress and white gloves.
The plot of Belles was not overly surprising, but I didn't expect it to be. I was perfectly happy reading about Izzy and Mira's personal challenges and moral dilemmas and their steps in the right direction. Belles hasn't fully captured my love for Secrets of My Hollywood Life yet, but it is by far Jen's best non-SOMHL book yet. I can't wait to read the next installment!
Rating: 4 / 5
Belles is the first edition in a new series. It is the classic tale of poor girl being taken in by rich family and the drama that ensues (this is a very loose interpretation of the plot, but you get the basic idea). The highlights of Belles are (1) Izzy and Mirabelle and (2) the North Carolina setting.
I loved Izzy and Mirabelle. Izzy's sudden arrival into the Monroe household is not welcome news to either Izzy or Mirabelle. They are fundamentally different people being forced to live together. Izzy grew up with her grandmother in a poor neighborhood. She is independent, resourceful, and headstrong. A natural leader. She's the type of girl I really admire. She understandably feels like a fish out of water in ritzy Emerald Cove. Can she fit into her new world without fundamentally changing who she is? Does she want to?
Mirabelle is a weaker girl than Izzy, which is logical since she has always had her family and plenty of money to fall back on. She runs with a popular crowd, but is more of a lady in waiting than a queen bee. As such, she is under constant pressure to perform to the cruel bidding of meannie Savannah. Despite not always being the nicest person, I liked Mirabelle. Her instincts are good, but like many of us she struggles between doing what benefits her socially versus doing what's right. Can Mira grow a backbone?
The setting is fantastic. I've read plenty of YA books set in the South, but not that many where Southern culture feels like its own character. North Carolina is just as interesting a setting as New York City or Los Angeles. Belles is partially set in a beach town. I could almost smell the salt water taffy and ocean air as I was reading about the boardwalk. The rest of the book is set in a wealthy town. Reading about private school, country club Southern belles and gentleman was like traveling back to a different era of a slower lifestyle and rigid formality. I felt like I should be wearing a dress and white gloves.
The plot of Belles was not overly surprising, but I didn't expect it to be. I was perfectly happy reading about Izzy and Mira's personal challenges and moral dilemmas and their steps in the right direction. Belles hasn't fully captured my love for Secrets of My Hollywood Life yet, but it is by far Jen's best non-SOMHL book yet. I can't wait to read the next installment!
Rating: 4 / 5
judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book as first I have read from this Jen. Full of scandals, sisterhood, politics, Southern charm, and secrets!
A native of the south, can relate as so realistic of nasty Belles and social climbers. Great characters (loved Isabelle), funny, and true to life settings--- with a great story! Look forward to reading Winter White to continue the saga of these two girls, and how they will be one step ahead of the backstabbers like Savannah!
Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.
A native of the south, can relate as so realistic of nasty Belles and social climbers. Great characters (loved Isabelle), funny, and true to life settings--- with a great story! Look forward to reading Winter White to continue the saga of these two girls, and how they will be one step ahead of the backstabbers like Savannah!
Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.
yungokssss's review against another edition
5.0
Having read one of Calonita's other books (RealityCheck), I was skeptical about trying this one. BUT it was so good, and didn't have any of the annoying stuff that sometimes appeared in RealityCheck. I actually ENJOYED this book and wanted more!! Can't wait to read the second book!! Everyone should try this book out - they won't regret it.
lmthompson's review against another edition
3.0
This book was what I needed. A cheesy, predictable, rags-to-riches story.
bookishbrooke's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5, I remember reading this a LONG time ago and had completely forgot about it! A quick and easy read!