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x_librarian's review
2.0
I really really want to like Maureen Johnson's books, but so far they just aren't living up to my expectations. Her blog is hilarious, but so far her books... not so much.
anxiouslyreading33's review
2.0
I usually love maureen Johnson but this book annoyed me. the characters show really no personal growth and the love story felt pushed. I just was not happy with this one
melissa_who_reads's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this. Light, with some odd quirks I thoroughly enjoyed.
Scarlett lives in a run-down hotel in New York City: her family is barely making ends meet. Her oldest sibling wants to be an actor; their parents want him to go to culinary school. Her next sibling is dating a very rich guy who gives her nice things. Her youngest sibling has survived childhood cancer, and is part of a cancer-survivor group that gets to go out to things. Scarlett is left in NYC for the summer while her friends are all off doing things ... while she inherits a suite in the hotel to keep clean. And when Amy Amberson moves in ... Scarlett also acquires a job as a personal assistant to Mrs. Amberson. And that gets more complicated when Mrs. Amberson rescues her brother's theatre troupe from disaster when they lose their rehearsal space ... just as Scarlett is falling hard for one of her brother's fellow actors.
Can Scarlett save the day? Can she navigate Mrs. A's wild schemes and come out with a way to save the hotel? What happens when the boy you like is being mysterious and odd, even though he clearly likes you back? How many times can you wear a black Dior dress and still look good?
Scarlett lives in a run-down hotel in New York City: her family is barely making ends meet. Her oldest sibling wants to be an actor; their parents want him to go to culinary school. Her next sibling is dating a very rich guy who gives her nice things. Her youngest sibling has survived childhood cancer, and is part of a cancer-survivor group that gets to go out to things. Scarlett is left in NYC for the summer while her friends are all off doing things ... while she inherits a suite in the hotel to keep clean. And when Amy Amberson moves in ... Scarlett also acquires a job as a personal assistant to Mrs. Amberson. And that gets more complicated when Mrs. Amberson rescues her brother's theatre troupe from disaster when they lose their rehearsal space ... just as Scarlett is falling hard for one of her brother's fellow actors.
Can Scarlett save the day? Can she navigate Mrs. A's wild schemes and come out with a way to save the hotel? What happens when the boy you like is being mysterious and odd, even though he clearly likes you back? How many times can you wear a black Dior dress and still look good?
labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
I've been wanting to read more Maureen Johnson since reading [b:The Name of the Star|13595639|The Name of the Star (Shades of London, #1)|Maureen Johnson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1338652359s/13595639.jpg|14037039]. It was so good, so well written. And I knew that she is a very well respected YA author. So, I went hunting through my library's audiobook collection to see what they had for her. Apparently, only the Scarlett series. It sounded fluffy, but I decided to give it a shot anyway.
I was right. It is super fluffy. As in, floating away on the breeze fluffy. There's no real core to this book. I guess her brother's play is supposed to be the anchor that the rest of the book centers around, but it doesn't feel that way. There's so many variables. I suppose if she's planning on carrying this series out for quite some time, this book lays ground work for future stories. But as is, it's rather disjointed.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy it! Because I did. Scarlett is absolutely adorable. Her family is crazy likable (well, all except Marlene, any way), and her relationship with Spencer is so super sweet. All the siblings have interesting personalities, and it's interesting to see how their stories play out.
Mrs Amberson was kind of a twat, though. I realize she plays a huge role in this, and I assumed she was going to do something magical to save the hotel from eventual demise, but she's just so annoying. The narrator does an excellent job with her voice, though.
As for the Eric storyline. Meh. Romance is never my favorite part of any story, and this one just didn't do it for me.
Not a terrible book, and I do have the second one to listen to down the road.
But the best part is, this made me look up the Shades of London series and realize I'm two books behind. Whee.
I was right. It is super fluffy. As in, floating away on the breeze fluffy. There's no real core to this book. I guess her brother's play is supposed to be the anchor that the rest of the book centers around, but it doesn't feel that way. There's so many variables. I suppose if she's planning on carrying this series out for quite some time, this book lays ground work for future stories. But as is, it's rather disjointed.
That's not to say I didn't enjoy it! Because I did. Scarlett is absolutely adorable. Her family is crazy likable (well, all except Marlene, any way), and her relationship with Spencer is so super sweet. All the siblings have interesting personalities, and it's interesting to see how their stories play out.
Mrs Amberson was kind of a twat, though. I realize she plays a huge role in this, and I assumed she was going to do something magical to save the hotel from eventual demise, but she's just so annoying. The narrator does an excellent job with her voice, though.
As for the Eric storyline. Meh. Romance is never my favorite part of any story, and this one just didn't do it for me.
Not a terrible book, and I do have the second one to listen to down the road.
But the best part is, this made me look up the Shades of London series and realize I'm two books behind. Whee.
jackieyvette's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Read this when I was in middle school and it is exactly what I remembered it being. There's a 15 year old having a, what some people would a relationship and what I would call a, one sided first love with a college student. Either way it's gross.
Shows it's age with the pop culture references.
Every one in the family is annoying except Scarlett and Spencer. I love Mrs. Amberson.
Crying score: none.
Shows it's age with the pop culture references.
Every one in the family is annoying except Scarlett and Spencer. I love Mrs. Amberson.
Crying score: none.
missbookiverse's review against another edition
4.0
Endlich habe ich es getan und mein erstes Buch von Maureen Johnson gelesen (ich kannte bisher nur ihre Let It Snow Kurzgeschichte). Ich musste zwar nicht permanent laut lachen, aber ihr schlagfertiger Humor und ihre Kreativität lassen sich hier definitiv finden, z.B. wenn Schubladenjenga gespielt wird (wie viele Schubladen kann man aus der Kommode ziehen bis sie umfällt) oder wenn Scarlett und ihr Bruder sich einen Schlagabtausch leisten.
Die Geschichte ist eher fluffig, aber sie hat viele Nebenhighlights zu bieten, unter anderem New York als Setting, das Theater als ein wichtiges Handlungselement und ein Hotel als Zuhause für die Protagonistin. Nicht zu vergessen Scarletts Familie. Die Eltern und ihre drei Geschwister sind chaotisch, liebenswert und jeder hat seine ganz speziellen Eigenarten. Außerdem halten sie am Ende immer zusammen ♥.
Endet zwar in sich abgeschlossen, aber ich will das nächste trotzdem. Die passende Hot Key Ausgabe erscheint im Juli 2014.
Die Geschichte ist eher fluffig, aber sie hat viele Nebenhighlights zu bieten, unter anderem New York als Setting, das Theater als ein wichtiges Handlungselement und ein Hotel als Zuhause für die Protagonistin. Nicht zu vergessen Scarletts Familie. Die Eltern und ihre drei Geschwister sind chaotisch, liebenswert und jeder hat seine ganz speziellen Eigenarten. Außerdem halten sie am Ende immer zusammen ♥.
Endet zwar in sich abgeschlossen, aber ich will das nächste trotzdem. Die passende Hot Key Ausgabe erscheint im Juli 2014.
kelmcfly's review against another edition
2.0
I lost interest less than halfway through the book. Definitely not Maureen Johnson's best.
shelsmccullough's review
4.0
It was really cute! I really liked the story line, and even though it was a bit confusing at times, I overall enjoyed it (:
kraley's review
2.0
This had an interesting premise, kids living in a failing NY hotel, but failed to deliver. It was a free Kindke download, so I don't feel too cheated. There is a relationship between a 15 and 18 yr old which is not realistic to me. I wouldn't let a 15 yr old date, let alone date a man. Also, the parents are often absent. Characters don't seem to show remorse for their actions and didn't learn what they needed to.