14. stu 2013.

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

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Book summary: 
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.
        Somehow it slipped my mind, but I took part in Courtney Summers read-a-long which is organized by Ciara @Lost at Midnight and last month we read Cracked Up to Be and this month it's time for Some Girls Are (technically this review was supposed to go up in October, but yeah I'd love that I could use blogging as an excuse for not doing my assignments).

         After This is Not a Test I was sure that I'd be reading other books by this author. I loved her writing style and the way she crafts her characters. It's even possible to touch them and you have feeling like you're inside them. In Cracked Up to Be it was a bit different as it's a contemporary read, but Courtney's world is real and as such cruel. He brought that to a new level in Some Girls Are.

          We're once again back in the high school, for some the cruelest parts of their lives. Same is for Regina. A girl who used to to rule Hallowell High life became different now. Once at the wild party where almost all her friends got drunk something happened between her and her best friend's boyfriend. Regina is now facing the wrath of her used-to-be best friend and from the top of the pyramid, she is at the very bottom now. Even though she knows what really happened it's hard to prove that considering her actions towards others before. She is capable of anything, that girl. Now from being a bully she is the bullied one.

         Like I said in the review for Cracked Up to Be, Courtney's pink glasses are lost somewhere as she delivers the real picture in her books. I dare say sometimes she even pushes it too far. Somehow some parts of this book were too cruel to even imagine. I know that kids or teenagers sometime don't have limits but things here went too far at one moment. I wanted to say unbelievable, as I never experienced such things in my high school, but few day ago few girls from one high school beat up one of their friends in my country. I guess things have changed.

        Revenge is something that I usually avoid to read about, as I am a revengeless person and it's hard for me to understand characters who are not. Same is here, at moments things were pushed too far for my liking.

Rating: 4 stars.

Until the next time,


33 komentara:

  1. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Tanja. It's my favorite Summers read following her debut and latest. I feel like Summers just hits all the right notes with these books, making them so realistic but thought-provoking at the same time. Fantastic review, my friend.

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    1. Yes she really deals with some serious issues. Thanks Keertana :)

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  2. I never really experienced, or saw, bullying in my school either. But I know it's a problem. And I always get so emotionally involved in books like this. I have only read one of her books and I really liked it so I should read more of them!

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    1. I know it is, but sometimes it's hard to imagine some things. I hope you'll get to read them. :)

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  3. Like you I never saw this happening when I was in school, I guess I should count my blessings for sure! It worries me though for my children. :(

    This sounds like a great read but an emotional one for sure.
    Great review Tanja!

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    1. I totally understand your worry. I hope they'll never experience that.
      Thanks Ali :)

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  4. Things have changed, and teens scare me senseless sometimes! There was bullying when I was in high school too, but we never resorted to actual physical violence. It just didn't happen!
    I'm still not breave enough to read this, issue books are just not my thing, but I'm glad you did. :)
    Great review.

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    1. Yes they really do. It was more like kid's game at the time.
      Thanks Maja :)

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  5. Wow. I haven't read this one, but I can see how the desire to believe the cruel things that happen in this book couldn't possibly happen in the real world would be really strong, and it's kind of terrifying to know that those things aren't nearly as unbelievable as we might wish them. I still need to read a book by Courtney, though I think like Maja I might not be brave enough to try this one. Maybe I'll start with This is Not a Test instead!

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    1. Maybe you should. But in every her book Courtney brings real world and I love her stories for that. Hope you'll get to read them Jenny :)

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  6. I loved This is Not A Test in fact it made my top ten list..but I wasn't too anxious to her contemporaries..you have me rethinking that..this sounds more complex and darker then I imagined.

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    1. It sounds too light but when you get to read it you see it deals with some serious issues. Hope you'll get to read it :)

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  7. Last year we had those girls beating up other girls in Estonia as well. It was so disturbing to watch on the news and it's just. I don't know. I can't say I was a really popular girl, but I got a long with everyone and knew a lot of people so I've never had to endure bullying myself. Yes, I guess everyone gets the "talk behind one's back" and "why are your eyes/nose whatever so big" etc questions, but nope, never have had someone bullying me. I do think that this'd be so hard for me to read. I love Burn for Burn series which as you know deals with revenge too and I watch Revenge on TV, but I don't think I could stand to read such a raw read since everyone says that Courtney's books are really raw and realistic. So.. I'll finish with this: I love that you loved it, but I'll try another of Courtney's books and leave this to be :) Lovely review, honey!

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    1. I don't remember incidents in my high school, but lately more and more incidents happen in my country too. It's really painful to watch. High school was supposed to be one of the best periods in life. Sad, really side. Maybe you'll give it a try one day. Thanks, Siiri ;)

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  8. I remember liking this one when I read it as well

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  9. Bullying type reads can be hard. I do like the sounds of this one to a point but wonder if it might be a bit too much for me too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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    1. It depends on you. I hope you'll give it a try :)

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  10. I'm glad you were able to enjoy this, despite not relating to the characters or their situation. Unfortunately, bullying is a sad part of schools here.
    Thanks for the review!

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  11. I am a fan of Summer's books, but I am not sure this one would work for me. I despise the mean girl theme and I hate bullying. If you say it goes too far, then I would be disturbed. I am just curious if there was a positive or encouraging message at the end?

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    1. Yes there was. Not only at the end but throughout the whole book. Maybe you'll give it a chance someday :)

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  12. I was going to say, I think you've been reading a lot of CS' books lately--now I know why! Sounds like this was a tough read, I'm glad you connected with the book.

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  13. I need to read more by this author. I loved This is Not a Test and I'm a big fan of contemporary books, so I'm sure I'll love the rest of her stuff.

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    1. I'm sure you'll enjoy them then. I hope you'll get to read them soon :)

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  14. I don't like revenge books either, Tanja. It's such a negative thing to read about and it usually twists my insides. I heard this is a pretty brutal read and I'm too chicken to pick it up. Glad to see you enjoyed it in spite of thinking things went too far at times. Wonderful review! :)

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    1. Yeah it's brutal, but sadly our world is sometimes. Hope you'll give it a try. Thanks Rachel :)

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  15. It's somehow a good thing that this happened to her, as who knows how far she would go. Thanks, Aman :)

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  16. I'm always curious about stories where the bully becomes the bullied person. I think I'd enjoy this, but I don't like when things go too far either. Glad you still liked the book overall. I need to read more of Courtney's books! Lovely review :-)

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    1. I hope you'll get to read this one then. Thanks Lauren :)

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  17. This Is Not A Test has been on my TBR since forever now (don't kill me). This sounds like a good book and you really seem to like all of the author's books. I hope read one or some or all of them someday. Amazing review!

    Sarika @ The Readdicts

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    1. I won't, I know the feeling. Hope you'll get to read them. Thanks Sarika :)

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