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Ditched: A Love Story

by Robin Mellom (Goodreads Author)

3.56 of 5 stars 3.56 · rating details · 1,650 ratings · 318 reviews

There's a girl.
Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. That said, she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

And there's a boy.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at...more

Hardcover, 277 pages

Published January 10th 2012 by Disney-Hyperion

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Lists with This Book

2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

50th out of 793 books — 4,492 voters

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

2012 YA Contemporaries

33rd out of 239 books — 1,803 voters

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Community Reviews

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Jun 07, 2012 Ashleigh Paige rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, i-screamed-at-it, makes-feminist-me-very-unhappy, please-no-more-slut-shaming, rage-rage-rage, so-bad-that-i-refuse-to-finish-it, take-your-sexism-and-get-out, the-shameful-shelf-of-get-rid-of-it, worst-books-i-ve-ever-read, yeah-i-was-giggling, main-character-needs-to-shut-up

Also appears on The Screaming Nitpicker.

Maybe you do this too or maybe you don't, but I never go anywhere without at least two books: my focus and my fallback. Two came with me when I went about my day today: my fallback Ditched and my main novel Taken at Dusk. I decided to focus a little more on Ditched instead because I liked the first chapter and you know what? It turned out Ditched was the book I needed a fallback for. Wow. I thought it would be a fun, fluffy novel, not the astoundingly offe...more

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Mar 05, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Justina was just thrown out of a car the morning after prom by someone who was not her prom date. She bumped her head, looks a mess and can't remember what happened. Oh wait it all just came back but she sure wish it hadn't. What was supposed to be the perfect night to take things to the next level with her best friend Ian turned into the worst night of her life. Heading to the nearest 7 Eleven to call for a ride, Justina ends up telling her story to a lady that works there. Maybe she can figure...more Justina was just thrown out of a car the morning after prom by someone who was not her prom date. She bumped her head, looks a mess and can't remember what happened. Oh wait it all just came back but she sure wish it hadn't. What was supposed to be the perfect night to take things to the next level with her best friend Ian turned into the worst night of her life. Heading to the nearest 7 Eleven to call for a ride, Justina ends up telling her story to a lady that works there. Maybe she can figure out where everything went wrong.

The book is told through flashbacks. While at 7 Eleven Justina goes through the story of every stain and bruise on her. And we actually find out about that hideous dress on the cover! LOL There is actually a reason behind that (I was totally wondering that too ever since I first saw the cover) and it sort of began the epic prom disaster. Everything went downhill from there. Like most books (and real life) the main problem throughout the story was just a lack of communication. I read reviews where others were annoyed by Justina jumping to conclusions but I felt like Ian was just as much to blame. They were both scared of ruining their friendship so they both held back on letting everything out. Poor Justina suffered a stream of epic disasters, and yes some were a bit much, but then again honestly I've had nights where everything just goes wrong!

As I followed Justina's story I definitely got angry along with her and was confused by Ian's behavior. I admit the scenes in the 7 Eleven store were a bit boring and I mostly wanted to skip through them to get to the good stuff but they didn't overly annoy me. There were some hilarious after prom scenes such as when they head to In-N-Out. I laughed because when I was in high school that was totally the place to meet up before and after parties. I was in desperate need of an easy going fun read and that was exactly what I got. Lots of laughs, cute moments and an inevitable HEA which makes you go awwwwwwwww. Sometimes you just need that.

Go to prom with me? Please?
We could totally carpool.
Check the correct box
[ ] Yes

"Dude. It's In-N-Out. Toasted buns. Natural cut fries. I'm not going anywhere."(less)

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Jan 11, 2012 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is such a cute story that left me laughing and smiling so much! I adored that characters and her story-telling of what happened that night. It 's so crazy and exciting that it totally leaves you smiling!

This story starts off with a girl crazy in love, swirling into a turn of events that will have you laughing. One thing I enjoyed about this book is the main character Justina. After fighting her feelings about Ian, things have turn out not what she expected. I enjoyed reading about Justina a...more

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Apr 30, 2013 Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-2013

Oh my gosh, it’s been a long time since I’ve read a romance where I couldn’t wait for the two main characters to just fall in love and get on with it. Justina and Ian are definitely going to be added to my “Top Ten Book Couples of 2013” list. This has been an incredibly fun book to read, and I love the way in which it was written and how the story unfolds through each stain on Justina’s prom dress and every bruise and injury on her body.

First of all I really love the cover. It’s colorful and ey...more Oh my gosh, it’s been a long time since I’ve read a romance where I couldn’t wait for the two main characters to just fall in love and get on with it. Justina and Ian are definitely going to be added to my “Top Ten Book Couples of 2013” list. This has been an incredibly fun book to read, and I love the way in which it was written and how the story unfolds through each stain on Justina’s prom dress and every bruise and injury on her body.

First of all I really love the cover. It’s colorful and eye-catching, but mostly it shows the dress which forms a fundamental part of the story, in its exact style and color. Justina feels like a blueberry and Oompa Loompa in this dress with its matching blue corsage and blue dyed shoes, and looking at the cover I’m bound to agree with her. Justina is such a lovely character, but her self-doubt and assumptions were slightly bothersome from time to time. Nevertheless, by the middle of the book it made complete sense why she is the way she is and I have to hand it to this girl: she endured each blow with dignity. If I was ridiculed by two of the most popular girls, the zip of my prom dress ripped off, been bitten by a three-legged Chihuahua named Chomper, and unwillingly been kissed by Dan-O the Man-O whose dad accidentally spilled a bowl of soy sauce on my dress, I would’ve cracked like an egg in no time.

Ian was undoubtedly my favorite character. He is all-out boyfriend material, and because I liked Justina and fell in love with Ian, I was rooting for this friends-to-lovers couple all the way. They just couldn’t seem to be in the same spot at the same time, and their prom night ended being an incredibly hilarious, but also sentimental journey not only for Justina, Ian, Donna (the self-proclaimed cougar), Gilda (the shop assistant at the 7-Eleven), the two stoner Mikes with their girlfriends Serenity and Bliss, but also for the reader who gets tagged along on Justina’s numerous quests in finding Ian, who disappeared without an explanation.

Ditched is a quirky, feel-good romantic comedy which, while reading it, can make you believe that there is such a thing as “the perfect love”. It had such a cheesy, clichéd, typically romcom-movie ending, but it was perfect. I wouldn’t have written it differently. I’m not a fan of romance books, so the mere fact that I enjoyed this book so much I couldn’t put it down until I’ve devoured the last chapter, speaks volumes about what a terrific read this is! I assure you it is as awesome as the beautiful cover promises it would be.(less)

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Dec 31, 2012 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: caitlin, contemporary, young-adult

I’m not entirely sure why I wanted to read this book. I don’t particularly like the cover. It makes it look a little juvenile.

I guess I thought it looked cute and I do enjoy the contemporary trope of the “all in one night adventure.” You know, books like Graffiti Moon and Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. Where everyone’s lives are changed irrevocably in one night.

And this book delivered. There was a dance, a cute boy, life changing realizations, and all the other things I’ve come to expect fro...more I’m not entirely sure why I wanted to read this book. I don’t particularly like the cover. It makes it look a little juvenile.

I guess I thought it looked cute and I do enjoy the contemporary trope of the “all in one night adventure.” You know, books like Graffiti Moon and Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist. Where everyone’s lives are changed irrevocably in one night.

And this book delivered. There was a dance, a cute boy, life changing realizations, and all the other things I’ve come to expect from these types of books.

I enjoyed the crazy locations we were brought to and the insane cast of characters. I will say, sometimes the story did seem a little juvenile but that just made the crazy case of characters fit in a little better.

Like, and this might be seen as a slight spoiler, what mother would actually call your date on prom night to help recover dogs that had been swapped? (Don’t ask.)

But it was fun. And funny. I giggled quite a bit while reading this. It wasn’t a life altering read or anything but very enjoyable.

Other than one thing.

For most of this book I wanted to slap Justina. I’m sure all of us can empathize with being self-conscious and worrying about what others think of us but she takes it to an entirely new level and I found it very difficult to like her. I loved Ian and the rest of the cast but I just could like Justina as she made poor decision after poor decision and didn’t seem to trust any of her friends.

And the whole deal with the ring? Who gives a present back? Who? Especially when it comes from a boy you like! Like…ugh. She got a little better at the end but she very nearly ruined the book for me. Someone just needed to slap her and tell her to stop worrying so much about what all these people so unconnected to her and her life thought about her.

Other than Justina the book was a fun romantic comedy that I highly recommend if you’re looking for a light book with laughs.

Will I read more by this author? Hrmmm, I’m not sure. Her next book looks a little young for my personal tastes so it would depend on where she takes her writing. I would probably borrow or library her next book before buying it. Just in case I want to kill the main character again.

This book was reviewed at WhatchYAreading.net on August 29, 2012.(less)

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Jun 18, 2012 Cierra (The Book Lover's Report) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: loved

This story starts off at the end of Justina's whole ordeal. She has just jumped (or fell) out of a moving car and into a ditch at the side of a back road. Her dress is bedraggled, she has no money and no way to call anyone (no phone, either). That's when she walks into the 7-eleven (The good one, mind you), where she makes an unlikely acquaintance with the cashier, Gilda, who listen's to Justina as she tells her whole story about how she got ditched by her date (and also the guy she loves), Ian....more This story starts off at the end of Justina's whole ordeal. She has just jumped (or fell) out of a moving car and into a ditch at the side of a back road. Her dress is bedraggled, she has no money and no way to call anyone (no phone, either). That's when she walks into the 7-eleven (The good one, mind you), where she makes an unlikely acquaintance with the cashier, Gilda, who listen's to Justina as she tells her whole story about how she got ditched by her date (and also the guy she loves), Ian.

At first, I was kind of confused. By the way the prologue sounded, it was like she didn't remember how she got to be there (the ditch, keep up!). Then, when she starts to talk to Gilda, you learn that she did know, but she didn't quite understand how she got ditched.

So, as she's telling her story, you think the whole time, 'Gah! Ian is such a scumbag!' (which is the name they called him almost the entire time). First, you feel sympathy for Justina's kiss-less awkwardness around Ian (because, come on, it's turning into a case of 'wrong time for the moment'). Then, you want to kick Ian in the shins, or somewhere a bit higher (if you know what I mean). Finally, you figure out that it's kind of like a game of Clue (but you're reading it, instead). You have to piece together what happened as Justina tells the story of each stain, rip, and broken zippers.

I thought it was awesome how every other chapter was Justina talking to Gilda and the other chapters was her telling her dress's journey to that moment. First it starts with dying her shoes to match the dress, and it end with her jumping out of a car. I also liked how every chapter about her journey was started off by an arrow pointing to the stain(s).

So, as you can tell from my blabbering on and on about this book that I really liked it. I thought Justina and Ian's dilemma about having a relationship together was cute, too. They just happened to be perfect together, but kept missing the opportunities. So, you all shouldn't be surprised at the rating of five that this book gets from me.(less)

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Feb 13, 2012 Jodi Papazian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-reads

Prom is the last thing Justina would ever plan on attending. However, when her best friend Ian asks her to be his date, she finds it impossible to resist. She can't deny her overwhelming feelings for Ian and decides that prom will provide the perfect opportunity to go from good friends to boy/girl friend - not to mention provide the right ambiance for a long awaited kiss. Rather than consult with friends or teen magazines, Justina allows her mother to plan her outfit - resulting in a horrifying...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Carmel Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ditched begins literally when Justina Griffith wakes up in a ditch at 6:15 a.m and struggles to remember just how she ended up there (after what was meant to be the best prom night ever) in an lustrous blue dress full of stains. She finds herself at the closest 7-11 reliving her night of disaster to the cashier and an overly regular customer.

Justina, as a character appealed and did not appeal to me. She is like most other girls, dreaming of having a perfect moment with that guy. I really did fee...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Sarai rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-romance, young-adult-fiction

I did not love this book. The storyline was implausible. The parts with Gilda and Donna I just started skipping because I wanted to read the main story. The main character irritated me because she was constantly jumping to conclusions and never verifying her information, just getting mad about it. And the whole smelling guys thing turning her to jelly - that reminded me of a scene from Porky's (if you've seen it, you know which scene and if you haven't, you're probably better off). I did like Se...more

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Feb 05, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Never let your mom pick out your prom dress. This the first think I want to tell Justina. Somehow I think her whole night would have been a lot simpler if Justina would have followed those prom magazines and not let her mom dress her in head-to-toe blue, with shoes dyed to match and a blue corsage. Next I want to tell her to bring a tide pen with her. This poor girl gets into more incidents with food and she's got the stains to prove it.

Justina had the prom night from hell. She is was super exci...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

OMG! I was laughing so hard throughout this whole book! There is SO much going on in this book and it will keep you reading, laughing and in some parts crying.

I will start with Justina WOW! She is the true definition of "hot mess". She is freaking crazy and I love her! She is a real character, someone to relate to and what happens to her in this book could have or could happen to us in the future. i about died throughout this whole book. So Justina is going to prom with Ian her best guy friend,...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Sharon Tyler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ditched by Robin Mellom is a young adult novel scheduled for release on January 10 2012. The story opens with high school senior Justina Griffith waking up in a ditch and struggling to remember just how she came to be there in a iridescent blue gown and matching footwear. When she notices the stains on her gown, and remembers how her prom night began, she is not quite sure she wants to remember the events that led to her situation. She stumbles to the closest store, a 7-Eleven, and begins to put...more

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Dec 13, 2011 Bailey (IB Book Blogging) rated it 4 of 5 stars

DITCHED is a cute and lively YA debut that had me giggling the whole way through! Justina is a vivacious protagonist that I couldn't help put feel for. The absolute ridiculousness of her situation makes for a hilarious and crazy story that fans of contemporary will love! It isn't at all serious, but it is right up your alley if you want a light and fluffy read.

Justina came off a bit annoying at first, but the more her story continues, the more I understood where she was coming from. She is a bit...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Amanda (GoodChoiceReading) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ditched seemed cute, but it is actually more lighthearted than I expected. It reminded me a lot of the classics—Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club etc. It has that fast paced, silly charm that those movies have, and it was a lot of fun to read.

The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the main character, and I think if she had been a bit different, I would have liked it a lot more. Justina didn’t seem consistent. She’s a girl who didn’t even want to attend prom and dresses in all black...more

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Oct 11, 2011 Katy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm usually a sucker for cute, fun reads, and I thought this would be what I was looking for, but I was wrong. I gave it a two rating for being "okay."

I mean the concept of falling for your best friend is cute, and her crazy adventures were funny, but I thought the MC was super annoying with her personality and the constant interruptions. And I don't like it when books are narrated in this ditzy tone a lot of chick-lits tend to do. The story was told in flashbacks (like the Hangover movie), but...more

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Aug 26, 2011 Rachael rated it 4 of 5 stars

Justina Griffith is not the type of girl to get excited about prom. She could care less about fancy dresses and heels. In fact, she’d have to admit that she doesn’t even know the first thing about formal attire. But when her best friend Ian Clark asks her to prom, Justina realizes that she’ll have to put all her fears and doubts about prom aside because, well, Ian’s kind of amazing. But that doesn’t explain why Justina finds herself on the side of the road on the morning after prom with bruises,...more Justina Griffith is not the type of girl to get excited about prom. She could care less about fancy dresses and heels. In fact, she’d have to admit that she doesn’t even know the first thing about formal attire. But when her best friend Ian Clark asks her to prom, Justina realizes that she’ll have to put all her fears and doubts about prom aside because, well, Ian’s kind of amazing. But that doesn’t explain why Justina finds herself on the side of the road on the morning after prom with bruises, a Tinker Bell tattoo, and a very ruined prom dress—alone. At the nearby 7-Eleven, Justina takes inventory of each dress stain, bruise, and bite mark from the night where she got ditched by what was supposed to be her perfect date. She thinks the last thing she wants is to see Ian again, but there’s another side to the story of prom night that she hasn’t heard yet. After all the damage and miscommunication, Justina will see that maybe missing out on prom doesn’t mean she’s missed out on love.

Ditched is a very cute story of high school romance. The cast of characters isn’t necessarily the most original, but they still remain quirky and pretty realistic. I’d say that plot and character development were satisfactory overall, if not stellar, but what really made this novel stand out for me was the way in which protagonist Justina told her story. Justina’s narrations alternate between her present conversation with two colorful women in a 7-Eleven and flashbacks which correspond with some physical mark on her unruly physical appearance. It’s kind of hilarious to read along as Justina recounts the story behind each stain and bruise; this more unusual way of storytelling certainly made Ditched very entertaining to read. Though the story overall is rather predicable, Ditched is still an adorable, fun, and heartwarming story perfect for all those high school prom cynics.

Ditched is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Prom Kings and Drama Queens by Dorian Cirrone, The Espressologist by Kristina Springer, and Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci.

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com (less)

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Aug 08, 2011 Alex rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, rainy-day-reads, teen-ya, for-review, net-galley

At First Sight: Justina Griffith wasn't the kind of girl who dreamed about prom night, until her best friend Ian Clark asked her to their senior prom.

So, she left behind her black clothes and decked herself out in a royal blue dress - with matching shoes, watch and bag - and hoped the night would be magical. The night when she and Ian would finally cross the friend barrier.

Instead, she ends up in a ditch, miles from home, without her phone, her purse or even her dignity; she has a big bump on he...more

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Jan 11, 2012 The BookWhisperer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Justina is not like most girls, but when she agreed to attend prom with none other than her best friend Ian is promises to be a night she will remember. Anticipating the best night of her life, she never anticipated what the night would actually hold. When the night goes terribly a rye, and she finds herself in a ditch the following morning she left to decipher how she ended up here. After months of secretly admiring Ian she had a plan, but nothing turns out the way she thought it would. Ditched...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Amie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult

Prom is supposed to be every girl’s dream, right? Except Justina’s. Prom really isn’t her thing, but she agrees to go with her best friend, Ian Clark. Justina is hoping that tonight will be the night, the night a girl will remember forever, the night that maybe things with Ian will change. But instead, she ends up ditched, literally and figuratively, and explaining what happened to her, and her dress, to two ladies in a 7-Eleven. If she can piece it all together, she might be able to figure out...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Jac (For Love and Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, netgalley

Ditched had me at dyed iridescent shoes! Justina is pretty much everything I was in high school (except she's cool and I was kind of a giant geek with my thrift store shopping at my "rich side of town" school.) And she gets to go to prom with her dream date!

I could tell you my prom story, but I won't. My Junior Prom kind of sucked. But after Justina's story? I'll quit complaining. This poor girl, she had me both shaking my head at her choices and wanting to pull her under my wing.

In her debut b...more

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Aug 27, 2011 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: y-a, netgalley

3 and a half stars

I really enjoyed this. I thought that it was a funny, cute story and it kept my interest. It's nice to read a cute romantic comedy now and then. It wasn't as good as "Anna and the french kiss" by Stephanie Perkins or "Amy and Roger's epic detour" by Morgan Matson(for example) but it was quite sweet.

Some people might not like the main character but I did. She's just a girl trying to get rid of a "reputation", basically a girl trying to find out who she is and not be known for he...more

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Feb 26, 2012 Connie Ballesteros rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Warning before reading: The book goes back and forth in a "Now and Then" story telling way. If you don't like these type of books probably shouldn't read this one. If you don't mind, please read this one!

This book was FUN! Fun because of all the things that the characters do or say. Fun because it has enough turns to make your head spin, but still manages to stay in this side of "it could happen...". Fun even in the teary eyed moments.

Robin Mellon writes this story in a way it kept me hooked un...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley

Justina's story begins on the morning after Prom. She indulges in a bit of temporary amnesia, for the audience's benefit, not hers. She wonders about a tattoo, a bruise in the shape of a french fry and the various stains on her dress, even though it soon becomes apparent that she remembers everything. This is definitely the low point of the novel. It certainly does grab your interest, but I didn't appreciate the pretense that she didn't know what had happened.

However, even as her clearly perfect...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Alissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

I know why Ditched was ditched. When it comes down to it all - the story, the purpose... it's all rather lacking. I went into Ditched thinking it'd be a cute, fun read. And while it's a bit cute (the latter half of the story), it's not very fun. The story has no feel-good emotions. It's mostly a downer. Justina being ditched at prom turns into one exhausted exaggeration after the next.

As a character, Justina makes little sense. She's strong, she's weak, she's flirty, she's reserved, she's a slu...more

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Dec 15, 2011 Jen Bigheart (I Read Banned Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Justina isn't the prom type, but she has promised her best friend, Ian, that she would go. Lately, Ian is looking a little fetching and Justina thinks it's about time to end her no kissing streak. They have both danced around the subject of getting together and Justina thinks the prom is the perfect opportunity to lay it all out there. Things don't exactly go her way and she ends up jumping out of a moving car and limping to 7-11 at 6am...with no date. How she gets there is a whirlwind...more 3.5 stars

Justina isn't the prom type, but she has promised her best friend, Ian, that she would go. Lately, Ian is looking a little fetching and Justina thinks it's about time to end her no kissing streak. They have both danced around the subject of getting together and Justina thinks the prom is the perfect opportunity to lay it all out there. Things don't exactly go her way and she ends up jumping out of a moving car and limping to 7-11 at 6am...with no date. How she gets there is a whirlwind ride full of mishaps, misunderstandings, and the wrong boys putting on the moves.

Ditched is pure entertainment and equivalent to watching a sitcom where everything under the sun goes wrong. Her story starts at the end and we learn about her crazy night one stain at a time. Literally. Each chapter points out a stain and she fills us in on how she got it. Cute! She is not only informing the reader, but listening ears at the 7E. I really enjoyed how the story was laid out through her retelling. As she is filling us in on her curry stain, she is slowly but surely learning a little bit about herself and her expectations of love. Maybe she doesn't have all the right answers and just maybe she is partly to blame for this awful night.

Towards the end I became a little frustrated with Justina and her constant missteps. That is probably the mom in me. That girl was always finding herself in a new predicament or situation where trouble would ensue. I wanted just one little thing to go right for her, but understand why they didn't. Justina and Ian put a fresh look on love. Each one has their hangups and faults alike. It was nice to see that the boy wasn't the constant jerk and the girl wasn't following the terrible advise of her dumb friends. Refreshing!

I really like this cover! I think it says so much about the book and it compliments the story. Justina looks like she has been through a rough night and that is exactly what happened. Rough is putting it mildly. Girls will flock to the cover and will enjoy a light read full of laughs and tons of talk about kissing. Win, win!(less)

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Aug 10, 2012 Savvy rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 06, 2011 Cleffairy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reviewed at: Over A Cuppa Tea
Review date: 7th Oct 2011
Review link: http://cleffairy.wordpress.com/2011/10/06/ditched/

Reading ‘Ditched’ by Robin Mellom makes me feel like a teenage girl once again. It is not only refreshing, but it’s also highly entertaining. It’s definitely an easy read and it’s that sort of book that you’d like to pick up whenever you had a bad day in school or thinks that you had just screwed up your math test.

This story was told in a very playful manner and I couldn’t help bu...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Donna rated it 2 of 5 stars

Well, I will say I liked the voice. Mellom carried it off with a quirkiness that didn't feel contrived or disingenuous to the character. That voice alone could have carried the story without the ridiculous TV sitcom-like execution of the plot itself shoving the story ahead with dangling tease after dangling tease after dangling tease. That voice, in my opinion, was quite frankly fantastic. It would have been enough. It alone would have made all of the wacky elements that happened in Justina's ni...more Well, I will say I liked the voice. Mellom carried it off with a quirkiness that didn't feel contrived or disingenuous to the character. That voice alone could have carried the story without the ridiculous TV sitcom-like execution of the plot itself shoving the story ahead with dangling tease after dangling tease after dangling tease. That voice, in my opinion, was quite frankly fantastic. It would have been enough. It alone would have made all of the wacky elements that happened in Justina's night seem a little more genuine. It alone would have made Justina feel more real.

Instead the motivating factor of the plot was the execution of the story. Told in twelve and a half minute segments with convenience store commercial interruptions thrown in, it felt like the author didn't trust the story enough to let it tell itself. Instead information was dangled in front of me and the only way to get it was to read the next chapter. Was it an effective method to get me to read on? Absolutely. Goddamn it, I wanted to know what happened. It doesn't mean it wasn't a cheap tactic.

From the beginning you know Justina's night was filled with epic fail. This is not new information. The story starts at the end and is then told from the beginning (see bad sitcom moment above). You know it ends bad. What you don't know are the details and instead of just coming out with it, the story's dragged out as long as humanly possible, with each chapter ending on the edge of a cliff. This story-telling tactic made me irrationally angry, simply because it's such a cheap tactic. The story could have actually been told from the beginning, as Justina lived it and, personally, I think it would have been so much better. It wouldn't have felt like a knock-off of Ferris Beuller's Day Off after being bastardized by Fox. Or enter your choice of outrageous teen movie. So yeah. It's one thing to read a book to find out what happens. That's usually why we read them. But when you already know what happens and reading the book feels like being pecked to death by a chicken, waiting for the story to unfold can become ingratiating.

Not to mention the events that happened fell so far beyond by suspension of disbelief that it stopped being entertaining (see above re: outrageous teen movie). You remember those teen magazines, like Cosmo Girl, Teen People and whatever and they had those write-in columns for embarrassing moments? And they were so ridiculously outrageous that there's no way they could be true (and I remember one editor actually ranking on them for it)? Well shove a bunch of those together and you'll get this plot. So many shit-ass things happened that you have to wonder why Justina just didn't go Cartman and say screw you guys, I'm going home.

That's probably because Justina needs to be on some heavy-duty medication to control that bi-polar psychosis she's got going on. I don't think people this unhinged exists in psychology textbooks. Here's a girl that's so all over the board with her emotions, that's so pessimistic and fatalistic and at times downright nasty, I was really hoping Ian would see the forest for the trees and be like holy shit! And run. People tried to help her and she screamed at them. She abandoned all notion of logic and thought of the worst in every single situation despite the numerous people shoving calm logic down her throat. One second she would show some semblance of rationality and then go completely off her rocker the next. I really just wanted someone to throw a bucket of water on her head and maybe give her a slap or two. Unhinged is putting it nicely. As someone that has a tendency to spiral in the brain department, I can half understand her pessimism but she takes it to an extreme that renders psychiatric help.

The thing is, when I finally found out why Ian ditched her, I didn't feel it was an excuse. Because he just up and left her hanging without an explanation and without some kind of notice until something like a half hour later. Of course the people that did know what he was doing didn't divulge the information but it's not like Justina gave them a chance. Funny that she was just as judgmental of Miss Jimmy Choo Shoes (Allyson?) as she claimed Allyson was of her. Except Justina was unhinged about it. Still, Ian was a dick for doing what he did without letting her know where he was going. I personally wouldn't have forgiven him very easily, irrespective of my night turning out like Justina's or not.

The ending was sugary sweet and quite frankly I'm not sure the parties involved deserved it (see above re: dick and irrational headcase). It was a nice ending to a crazy night (honestly, as if one couldn't see that coming a million miles away, since that's how all crazy teen movies end) but it didn't fit the supposed reality of the situation. Someone should have been slapped and someone else should have been chastised for treating people like shit and using them for their own selfish means. But that's just my opinion.

At the end of the day the story was nominally entertaining in a brainless current teen movie sort of way (because the 80s teen movies are INFINITELY better than this) but I didn't see Justina as too likable of a character so I couldn't empathize with her plight and the lack of, whether it's trust in the reader or in the story itself, on the author's part and thus the execution of the story itself made me want to inflict pain on small woodland creatures. But I can definitely see how some people would get a kick out of this, simply because it's so zany and out there. But it was a little too much for me and the way the story was told was a killer. Plus I don't like sitcoms.(less)

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Dec 23, 2012 Jenia. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, contemporary, humor, realistic, romance, realistic-fiction-challenge-2012, 2012-da-challenge, 2012-sa-challenge, favorites, books-read-in-2012

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Ditched: A Love Story was unlike any book I read this past year, it was original, unique. I didn’t actually know how much I would enjoy the story, I thought maybe it be too cheesy for me. I was wrong, I ended up loving it more then I actually thought I would. I was observed by the story, the narration and the characters, and only after few pages, I was curious how it all would end. There was so much in this story, to keep your interest. Humor, Romance, Adventure and even some bit of mystery. Th...more Ditched: A Love Story was unlike any book I read this past year, it was original, unique. I didn’t actually know how much I would enjoy the story, I thought maybe it be too cheesy for me. I was wrong, I ended up loving it more then I actually thought I would. I was observed by the story, the narration and the characters, and only after few pages, I was curious how it all would end. There was so much in this story, to keep your interest. Humor, Romance, Adventure and even some bit of mystery. This was an amazing debut novel and I can’t wait, to see what author comes up with next.
GOODREADS SUMMARY

THERE'S A GIRL
Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. That said, she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

AND THERE'S A BOY.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

THERE'S A DITCH
But when Justina is ditched, figuratively and literally, she must piece together--stain-by-stain on her thrift store dress--exactly how she ended up dateless...with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven.

To get the whole store, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. Can losing out at her prom ultimately lead to finding true love?

A story about someone who was ditched at prom? That’s the type of story that I never came across before and that’s what actually captured me about this book, the story. I was curious to see how it happened, how it led up to it. Especially when I read the prologue, where it mentioned all of those stains, bruises and fact that she was thrown out of someone’s car that wasn’t Ian’s, during the prom. I was engaged in the story right from that point, I needed to know what happened, how she got all of those stains, to begin with, why she was ditched on the road to begin with and why her prom ditched her in first place, mostly interested in how, when. I had a feeling that there was a reason for all of it, of course I was curious if Justina actually remembered what happened, because in beginning it seemed like she didn’t.

I enjoyed how this story was told like a story, in a way. Since most of the book, Justina was telling what happened to her, how she got to that 7 Eleven to begin with. I was actually surprised that she knew, I felt she didn’t know, at least that the feeling that I got after reading the prologue. It’s her telling the others story, that made the story even more interesting to read. I loved seeing the reaction of Gilda and Donna and of course their opinions, on the choices that she made and how they even gave her advice or at least try to. I could tell by halfway through the book that two of them became Justina’s friends, just way they started acting towards her. I loved fact that all of them bonded, because Justina told them the story. Because she walked into that 7 Eleven. I also enjoyed the pictures in each chapter, explaining each, such as stain, bruises and how it happened; it was easier to picture what was going on that way

Ian, I wasn’t sure what to think about him. At start she made him sound like a such great guy, and that’s why I couldn’t understand why he ditched her to begin with, especially after he promised her a great time, then he disappears. I did have a feeling that he somehow was planning something but I never would guess it a surprise for Justina. Somehow I got feeling, at least in beginning that he didn’t feel the way that she felt about him. I actually had my suspicious feelings about him and Allyson, especially when she was the one that he called when he was doing his errands. But by end, I could see how much he cared for Justina and the ending made me smile, when they finally kissed.

My favorite part of the book was all of her adventures. I can’t ever happen to me, honestly I would give up after first two incidents and go home and that’s what I love about Justina, despite that, she kept on going. I enjoyed the humor in the stories, made it even more interesting to read about it. Ditched is a book worth checking out, you will smile, laugh, cry and even get angry but you won’t put book down, till the end.
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Jan 03, 2012 Paige Bradish rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I wanted to read Ditched because I hadn’t read a love story in a long time and it seemed cool because of the whole prom night theme. I got it as part of an ARC tour on Friday and I finished it last night I couldn’t put it down but I had to a few times to open presents! I have to say though Robin did an awesome job on this book. There was so many times when I just wanted to put the book down because it wasn’t going my way but I kept reading because I knew the ending was going to be good. I also l...more I wanted to read Ditched because I hadn’t read a love story in a long time and it seemed cool because of the whole prom night theme. I got it as part of an ARC tour on Friday and I finished it last night I couldn’t put it down but I had to a few times to open presents! I have to say though Robin did an awesome job on this book. There was so many times when I just wanted to put the book down because it wasn’t going my way but I kept reading because I knew the ending was going to be good. I also like that the book was able to make me chuckle and tear up most books can’t put that into one very easily.

I really liked the characters a lot Justina was a fun character she was just a girl who wanted to have an amazing prom night with her best friends who she has feelings for. But that didn’t happen for her. The journey she took around town all night was crazy and I’m not sure I would’ve been able to handle that I probably would’ve broke down after he left her at the prom. But Justina was determined to find her man even if she had to dog swap in the middle.

Now when she first started telling the story I was like wow who is this Ian guy and why does he keep running away. Where is he going? And why is he talking to Alyson! I didn’t like him at first because I really thought that he was being a jerk and ditching her which is why I couldn’t stop reading because I just had to figure out why he actually left. In the end thought Ian turned out to be a amazing guy and I’m happy about that. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if this book didn’t have a happy ending like it did.

While Justina was telling her story to the ladies in the 7-Eleven I was thinking about my 7-Eleven the whole time I kept wondering if this would ever really happen. My favorite characters for some reason where the mikes and their dates. I have no clue why but they just made me laugh something about how they wouldn’t give up on Justina but they still partied in the middle of it all was pretty cool and I liked it. In the end I would give this book a solid 5 stars!
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About Robin Mellom

Robin Mellom is the author of DITCHED, her debut teen novel coming January 2012 from Disney-Hyperion. And also THE CLASSROOM, a middle grade series coming from Disney-Hyperion June 2012.

Robin has taught grades 5 through 8 and has a master's degree in education. She lives with her husband and son on the Central Coast of California. Visit her at http://www.robinmellom.com.

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