Author: Kay Cassidy
Publisher: Egmont
Pages: 320
Read Time: 4 days
Rating (1-5): 4
Tag Words: 2011 2010 debut author challenge, Secret Societ, High School, Cinderella, The Wickeds, The Charmings, leadership, girl power, Clean Read
My Summary:
Jess Parker has always felt like an outcast, on the brink of popularity and acceptance; as a cheerleader she still remains on the outside looking in. Then she meets the Cindy’s and finds the acceptance she has been longing for all her life while others remain targets for The Wickeds. What can one girl do against an army?
My Review:
I loved the heart of this story, the girl power, the confidence, the truthfulness on what it’s like to be a young girl in today’s world. The whole book was very symbolic of the true lives of the ‘Girl Next Door.’ I found myself reminding my brain, “no wicked chatter” while facing down a mirror earlier today. That was great, and I think Cassidy succeeded in writing from her heart.
Cassidy is also a great writer, and a good storyteller. Her female characters are likable, but flawed, and you feel surrounded by your best friends while reading the book. Sarah Jane, or SJ is amazing. I want to be her, or at least have a daughter like her! My problem was in the details, really.
This story is perfectly unbelievable and a bit “too,” if you know what I mean. I usually chide authors on not making strong enough choices, well Cassidy makes up for their lack of drama. This book was not about balance, it was go big, or go home, and by the time you got around to understanding exactly how a group of teenage girl bullies- called Wickeds- were such an international deal, the book was about twenty pages to being over. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around the monumental repercussions of the “Cindy Mission” until it was too late.
My other major problem has a name, and that name is Ryan who is not Jessica’s soul mate, at least, he shouldn’t be. Some male love interests are accused of being too perfect, but I think Ryan was too calculated, and no, I don’t think they are the same thing. Ryan is flawed, yes, but he is flawed in such a way that makes him robotic and uncomfortable to have a literary crush on. Alec is my man, and I hope he sweeps Jess off her Glass Slippers in book two!
Notes on the Names: Really fabulous names to go with the characters Cassidy put so much time into. I can’t decide if Cassidy picked the perfect name for each, or if the beauty of each of the ‘Cindy’s’ brought out the stellar qualities of every moniker. I would like to point out that there is a Gabrielle and a Gwendolyn in the book, which made me smile, one being my name, the other being my future daughters name.
Thoughts on the Cover: Do the boxes bother no one else? They look cheap! I can see where the cardboard isn’t fully secured just right. (ARC copy) That is driving me up the wall. I hope the second book cover has something to do with the Charm bracelets!
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