Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

 

Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Release Date: January 5, 2010 (paperback)
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Pages: 256
Source: Bought
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder.  Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.  Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge.  If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day.  She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully.  Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be. goodreads

I thought that the book had such honesty in it and the characters were compelling. I think it is a very relatable tale, because most people can relate to bullying in high school whether they were the victims or the victimisers. It isn’t very original in the sense of bulling as it is a subject matter almost overdone. However, it was a completely different spin, with the victimiser becoming the victim. A friend of mine was recently completely excluded from her friends and they turned against her, leaving her feeling pretty broken. Friends have the power to break us the most, and this book does show how the people you trust the most can so quickly dismiss you.

Regina, the main character, isn't someone you feel you should like, because she was such a bully, but I grew very attached to her throughout the novel. Summers makes it very clear that when it comes to bullying things aren’t always black and white. Under the surface things are very different to the surface. Michael was a real sweetheart. He taught me a lot about second chances, and though it is not easy to do, sometimes it needs to be done. The hints of romance throughout the novel were a nice break away from the horror that is high school.

The book was difficult to read at times however completely captivated me. I read it in one sitting, and that is something I rarely do. It really demonstrates the way teenage girls can be and what some will do for popularity. The message is extremely powerful and I became a lot more aware of the repercussions of my actions. I highly recommend it.

5 out of 5

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

Its Wednesday, midweek, half gone, half left. I rather like wednesdays, I feel like the weekend is close enough to get happy about. And I don't have school on friday xD More time to read (and work) and read some more. I will hopefully have Beautiful Creatures finished by then, with a review the up next week. I've hit the 400 page mark so it is a strong possibility.

Is anyone else in the christmas mood? I know it is november, and still a month and one day until Christmas but I can't help it. As we speak (or I type) I'm looking at my mini christmas tree, lights and all, I put up an hour ago, with Christmas tunes playing and antlers on my head :) and my dearest mother bought me a Lindt advent calender (thanks mum). She also bought me Christmas PJs last week. Christmas is my favourite holiday, with yummy food and fires and snow :)

Anyway, I apologise, I don't mean to go off on tangents (which is all to do with maths, and the lines touching xD I only just realised the origin of the phrase) I just love Christmas too much. Now Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that are eagerly anticipated. My books this week is:


Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father. 

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Cullen seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered? goodreads

I love Courtney Summers so much. The first book I read by her was Cracked Up To Be which was amazing. The other was Some Girls Are which I thought was the better of the two. I felt such an attachment to the characters and really empathised with them. The characterisations are just superb, which is hard to do. Fall For Anything looks as though it won't disappoint. Summers' protagonists have dealt with a trauma or grief that affects them as a person and throughout the novel the story unfolds and we build a closer relationship with them, which is such a lovely quality, it is like making a best friend.

The book is released next month on the 21st of December so I thoroughly suggest checking it out!