Review: New Girl

Title: New Girl
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult- Contemporary
Author: Paige Harbison
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Book: Netgalley

"They call me 'New Girl'...

Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.

Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.

Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.

And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back."

After reading the first page, I was astounded with the rude awakening the new girl Manderly gets. Not only did the author have me hooked but I always enjoy a book with mean people in it. Cause I know in the end, the redemption of what the characters goes through will come out to shine.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the great plot line. Filled with a heavy overload of prejudiced, Manderly is taking the place of a girl who is love by all and missing. The way the girls treated the new girls made me want to go into the book and kick their little butts! These girls were mean, but gave the story so much action. Manderly took no crap from anyone and she held her head high better than anyone I ever known.

The way the plot unfolded with the missing girl is a great story told. The point of view switches back and forth between the new girl and the old new girl Becca gave the story a great filling that I couldn't get enough of. I thought the similarities between the girls was astounding. Not to mention the boy trouble just doused it up a notch for me! 

There wasn't really a love interest in the story but one that is surely starting at the ending of the story. Once everything is said and put to rest, Manderly is able to move on with her life. She created strong friendships with good loyalty. I like that in the end, even though Becca and Manderly seem alike, they are truly not the same.

This book is written so good that I could not get my eyes off of it. I was able to read it fast cause it had all the elements that I like in a book. A mystery disappearance, a new girl, mean girls, and friends harboring a deep secret that just yearns for the truth. 

*drinking/implied sex/cursing/homicide*

I give it 4 BITES!

Happy Reading!

Review: Here Lies Bridget

Title: Here Lies Bridget
Series: No
Genre: Young Adult-Paranormal-ish
Author: Paige Harbison
Publisher: Harlequin
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Book:  Netgalley

"Heroine, Bridget Duke, rules her high school, but when she crashes her car and ends up in limbo, she must confront the people she has wronged, all of whom want her to go to hell. The outcome of these meetings will decide her final destination."

You never know how much you affect someones life until you take walk in their shoes. And after being in limbo, that is what exactly Bridget is forced to do. To see the lives of people she has affected. And she is not happy with what she sees. Bridget has always had everything. With a rich daddy, being popular, and having cool parties is what all that life is about, right? Bridget is forced to see through someone else's eyes just how mean she is. How her words cut through people, how the people she thinks are her friends, aren't. And the people she treated badly were her only friends.

I was glad that Bridget got stuck in limbo to see herself in her own ways.  She did nothing but use, abuse and treat people badly. This book in a sense was a real eye opener. Bridget has no idea what she was doing. In her own mind, what she did was okay. Bridget was given a second chance to make things right with the people she wronged. I was glad to see that she saw the error of her ways and made things right.

At this point I rooted for Bridget. In the end, Bridget learn a valuable lesson. She changed her ways and was able to go free without any regrets. I loved the ending. It is perfect.

Ms. Harbison wrote a fantastic book. It was filled with great life lessons and well as great entertainment. The book also made me realize why I love to read so much. Because with great characters, you get to walk in other persons shoes and see their life for a few pages. Reading has taught me to look at other POV's and not just my own. If you do that, if you give it a chance, you have one great reading adventure.

I give it 5 BITE!

Happy Reading!