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melthomp13's review
2.0
I first read this book when I was 11 and I loved it. I'm not entirely sure why I decided to reread it five years later but I really wish I didn't.
mbrandmaier's review
3.0
I actually enjoyed this story consisting entirely of IM conversations between 3 bff's. One gets religion (but teacher from church group gets a crush on her, ew!); one tries desperately to be friends with the mean popular bitchy girl; one has an obsessed with making her 2-week long relationship with her boy crush work though he's obviously just not that into her.
surpriseitem's review
3.0
I love the way that these books are written. They're easy to get through but you also get to connect with the characters in a way that I thought you would never be able to.
jennog's review against another edition
3.0
I read this because it was on a banned books list.
This was published in 2004, around the same time AIM was the one and only social media. Maybe MySpace too (more 2005-2007), but AIM and MSN messenger were king. Though not completely accurate as there are not enough acronyms used, and way too much content (have you actually seen a real AIM convo between 15-16 year olds??), it was good enough to get a story across I guess. But, not realistic. I would have been more bothered by this 10+ years ago.
More unrealistic things:
1. The friends were way too interested and engaged in each other’s lives via the Internet. This has never been my experience. Most of the juicy gossip and personality quirks still happen in person, either right after school or during school. These girls are so confrontational via texting/messaging. Yeah, right. The talking behind each other’s back tho? 100% accurate.
2. Texting in 2005 was less unlimited and everything was def AIM. This would be more realistic if there were passive aggressive away messages/lyrics.
3. No one ever said “don’t have a cow”. Talk about social suicide.
4. The planning ahead via road trip? I never encountered anybody during that time who had their sh*t together enough to come up with a plan to convince parents months ahead to go on a road trip. Everyone’s attention spans were way too short for such shenanigans.
5. These girls never discussed their grades or tests. Or even celebrity gossip. Unrealistic.
6. These girls rarely cuss or use slang of the time. I mean I’m sure that’s because this story needs to seem timeless but *eyeroll*. They cussed eventually at the end but the way they did it was very mature. No teen has that much control over their rage lingually. The cold shoulder tho? Def.
Overall, the issues in this book that probably got this banned are nothing compared to what I encountered in high school. Worse things happen. Their problems are problems but...nothing compared to real public school ish.
This was published in 2004, around the same time AIM was the one and only social media. Maybe MySpace too (more 2005-2007), but AIM and MSN messenger were king. Though not completely accurate as there are not enough acronyms used, and way too much content (have you actually seen a real AIM convo between 15-16 year olds??), it was good enough to get a story across I guess. But, not realistic. I would have been more bothered by this 10+ years ago.
More unrealistic things:
1. The friends were way too interested and engaged in each other’s lives via the Internet. This has never been my experience. Most of the juicy gossip and personality quirks still happen in person, either right after school or during school. These girls are so confrontational via texting/messaging. Yeah, right. The talking behind each other’s back tho? 100% accurate.
2. Texting in 2005 was less unlimited and everything was def AIM. This would be more realistic if there were passive aggressive away messages/lyrics.
3. No one ever said “don’t have a cow”. Talk about social suicide.
4. The planning ahead via road trip? I never encountered anybody during that time who had their sh*t together enough to come up with a plan to convince parents months ahead to go on a road trip. Everyone’s attention spans were way too short for such shenanigans.
5. These girls never discussed their grades or tests. Or even celebrity gossip. Unrealistic.
6. These girls rarely cuss or use slang of the time. I mean I’m sure that’s because this story needs to seem timeless but *eyeroll*. They cussed eventually at the end but the way they did it was very mature. No teen has that much control over their rage lingually. The cold shoulder tho? Def.
Overall, the issues in this book that probably got this banned are nothing compared to what I encountered in high school. Worse things happen. Their problems are problems but...nothing compared to real public school ish.
balletbookworm's review
4.0
Picked up as a substitute book for September's read-your-own-book about "Language" (was going to read "The Secret Life of Words: How English Became English" but I can't find it, I think it's packed in my parents' basement, oops). I was expecting it to be predictable but it wasn't - I had a lot of fun with the IM language and the gaps in the narrative (because there's only the IM conversations) provide a little suspense while the girls fill each other in.
I read it in two hours - now I want to read the rest of the series!
I read it in two hours - now I want to read the rest of the series!
tensepopcorn's review against another edition
3.0
I adored this book back in middle school when I first read it. Rereading it at 27, not so much. I get I’m not longer the target demographic, it’s still a fun read. I did like the book only being in texts/back in the day IMs. 3/5
mayahanson's review
5.0
To everyone who thinks this is just about girl IM drama...think again. It's hilarious, relatable, nicely written, and you can learn from it. I LOVE Lauren Myracle.
mrsgrievous's review against another edition
4.0
I graduated from high school around the time this book came out, but didn't get it because it might be too young for me. reading it now was so much fun, and yes the characters write in internet slang, but that's how we talked to each other before cell phones and autocorrect!!
if you want a blow off guilty pleasure book this is great. the situations the girls get into are way more outrageous than anything I ever got into, but their feelings and reactions were relatable, and really gave me nostalgia for chatting with my bff online after school and having sleepovers.
if you want a blow off guilty pleasure book this is great. the situations the girls get into are way more outrageous than anything I ever got into, but their feelings and reactions were relatable, and really gave me nostalgia for chatting with my bff online after school and having sleepovers.