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Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn (Midvale Academy #1)

3.43 of 5 stars 3.43 · rating details · 821 ratings · 88 reviews

What if you could get inside the head of the boy you love? Hear his every thought...? Know his every dream...? Listen in on his every fantasy...?

The narrator of Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn can, and she tells us the story of her beloved Gid, an adorably clueless boy who flukes his way into one of the fanciest New England prep schools. Gideon's more than a little out o...more

Paperback, 304 pages

Published May 29th 2007 by St. Martin's Griffin (first published May 2nd 2006)

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Jul 17, 2011 EMi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Teen wannabes

If I’m not mistaken, the review on the front cover of this book reads something like, “Being inside Gideon’s mind is like reading the diary of a boy you have a huge crush on.”

Number one, I would never have a crush on a boy who keeps a diary. Enough said.

Number TWO, this cannot possibly be like reading the diary of the boy you have a huge crush on because the book is written by a woman. Is anybody else ever annoyed about “guide to boys”-like books that are written by women? I know this is an all-...more If I’m not mistaken, the review on the front cover of this book reads something like, “Being inside Gideon’s mind is like reading the diary of a boy you have a huge crush on.”

Number one, I would never have a crush on a boy who keeps a diary. Enough said.

Number TWO, this cannot possibly be like reading the diary of the boy you have a huge crush on because the book is written by a woman. Is anybody else ever annoyed about “guide to boys”-like books that are written by women? I know this is an all-in-good-fun, fictional novel, but it’s irritating, nonetheless, seeing as we’re not any closer to understanding the male sex than we were before we read the book. Because it’s written by a woman. Which doesn’t help us at all.

This story takes place at a boarding school for the beautiful. Now, I’m all for beautiful people, but it was a little annoying to be introduced to every character through their flawless skin, pearly white teeth, and/or designer clothing. Even more annoying was the fact that there were only two less-than-gorgeous people attending the school, and they happened to be the two main characters. What a drag.

The plot of this book, basically, is Gideon is a weird virgin and spends the entirety of the next 300 pages trying to lose his innocence. And there’s a bet. And a girl named Pilar who leaves a square patch of skin unshaved above her thigh-high Chanel boots, which Gideon finds alluring. Ew? And all the while a nameless, faceless girl is reading Gideon’s thoughts 24/7, leading the reader to believe that she is living her own life on autopilot.

There’re a few girls involved in the book, and essentially, the big question is who gets Gideon’s v-card at the end of the book? Big surprise, it is autopilot girl. The way Sarah Miller closes the book, finally revealing to us who the narrator is, would be cute and creative, if the book weren’t so god damn predictable.

It’s an okay read, but you’re better off reading something else. This book just revolves around stupid teens obsessed with not being a virgin and getting high before class.(less)

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Nov 20, 2012 kingshearte rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, teen

Although the premise here tries to make it more, ultimately, this book is really just a boy's coming of age story. The whole told-from-the-perspective-of-the-girl-inside-his-brain thing? Eh, it didn't really work for me. For one thing, despite the endorsements from a couple of (female) authors, who claim that reading this book is just like actually being in a guy's head!, I'm not sure I buy that. Leaving aside the fact that even if you could get into one guy's head, that's not necessarily an acc...more

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Oct 09, 2010 Jessica Lawlor rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

Ever wonder what it would be like to be inside the mind of your crush? The narrator of Inside The Mind Of Gideon Rayburn by Sarah Miller (her identity is a secret until the end of the book) knows just what it’s like. When Gideon Rayburn is in the car on the way to his first day at Midvale Academy, our narrator hears a voice inside her head that’s definitely not hers. She isn’t sure why, but she has just entered the mind of Gideon Rayburn.

Throughout the book, our narrator begins to have a crush o...more Ever wonder what it would be like to be inside the mind of your crush? The narrator of Inside The Mind Of Gideon Rayburn by Sarah Miller (her identity is a secret until the end of the book) knows just what it’s like. When Gideon Rayburn is in the car on the way to his first day at Midvale Academy, our narrator hears a voice inside her head that’s definitely not hers. She isn’t sure why, but she has just entered the mind of Gideon Rayburn.

Throughout the book, our narrator begins to have a crush on Gideon. He is the perfect guy for her; sweet, caring, a little insecure. Gideon becomes roommates with two of the most popular guys at school, Cullen and Nicholas. Cullen and Nicholas convince Gideon to start drinking, smoking pot and hanging out with their group of friends, all of whom comprise most of the popular kids on campus.

Cullen and Nicholas decide to challenge Gideon to a little bet. If Gideon can sleep with the girl of their choosing by Halloween, they will give Gideon a car. Gideon is a little skeptical but accepts the bet. Cullen and Nicholas choose Molly McGarry, a cute, but unassuming girl in their grade. Gideon is worried about how he will get Molly’s attention, especially when he finds himself falling for Pilar, the most gorgeous and exotic girl at Midvale. Can Gideon win the bet, fall in love and maintain his growing popularity?

It took me a long time to get into this book, but once I did, I was hooked.

The most interesting part of this book was getting to hear the story from both the perspective of Gideon and from the perspective of the girl in his head, who was slowly falling for him. I loved hearing the witty banter between the three main male characters, especially since I don’t read many novels with males as the focus. The dialogue between the three male roommates definitely sounded accurate, and it was interesting to “get in the head” of Gideon.

What didn’t I like about the book? Well, it was very slow-going. Several times in the first hundred pages, I wanted to just put down the book and give up. I didn’t think the story was going anywhere and I was sick of reading about Gideon, Cullen and Nicholas getting high and drunk.

However, I’m definitely glad that I didn’t put the book down because the ending was worth it and the sequel (review later this week!) was absolutely amazing.(less)

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May 31, 2010 Kate (VerbVixen) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

nside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn- Sarah Miller

Characters: Gideon Rayburn-newbie at prep school and overall nice guy. Unknown female narrator who sees what Gid sees and hears what he thinks, remains anonymous until the end of the book. Molly McGarry-the girl that Gid is supposed to sleep with to win “the bet”. I really got into Gideon and Molly’s story. I rooted for them. I wanted to hit him when he got distracted by other girls and say, “No you moron you’re supposed to be with her!”.

Plot: While...more

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Mar 29, 2010 Michael rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, young-adult

It's interesting to read "Carter Finally Gets It" and "Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn" within the same time span. Both novels attempt to get inside the mind of a teenage boy and find out what makes him tick. I imagine this is a valid concern for many teenage girls, trying to figure out what makes certain guys tick and why we act that we do. And while each novel concludes that guys are driven by one thing, it's interesting to see how differently each novel approaches that driving factor.

With "...more It's interesting to read "Carter Finally Gets It" and "Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn" within the same time span. Both novels attempt to get inside the mind of a teenage boy and find out what makes him tick. I imagine this is a valid concern for many teenage girls, trying to figure out what makes certain guys tick and why we act that we do. And while each novel concludes that guys are driven by one thing, it's interesting to see how differently each novel approaches that driving factor.

With "Gideon" the feeling I got was that guys are motivated only by one thing--sex. And that's it. The insight into the guy's mind is that teenage boys think about sex A LOT. They think about the ways they could possibly have sex, where they could have sex and who they would like to have sex with. And that drives just about everything they do in trying to win over and impress girls.

Honestly, the story doesn't go much deeper than that and, in the end, it becomes a bit repetitive by the halfway mark of the book. What will keep you reading is the curiosity factor over which of the characters is the first-person narrator with the all access pass to Gideon's mind. There were times I felt like skipping ahead to find out, but I kept thinking I might miss some pivotal moment or some character development. Alas, that never quite happens.

On the other hand, you've got "Carter Finally Gets It," a story about high school freshman Will Carter and his journey though his first year of high school. Carter and his fellow male friends are clearly motivated by lust for their fellow females, but most of them would clearly have no idea what to do with a willing female should they get one. In fact, Carter and his crew really have no clue as to who they really are and instead put on airs and try to be the stud they all think the should be. The results are humorous and realistic. Carter starts off the book in a romance with his home ec partner from the previous year who has blossomed a bit. Helped by his older sister's advice, Carter is able to at first woo her but allows his early small successes such as holding her hand, kissing her and getting to first base to cloud his judgment and boost his ego. Before you know it, Carter is trying to have his cake and eat it too instead of just being the guy that he liked being and that most people liked him being.

It all catches up to him in a realistic way and then the rest of the novel finds Carter finally "getting it" and figuring out who he is. Yes, by the novel's end Carter is still a hormonally imbalance waiting to happen, but there's been some growth and learning by Carter along the way. There's also been a couple of nice laughs that are grounded in the character. As I said in my review of "Swim the Fly," the tone is similar to the early "American Pie" movies where you had some crude humor but it was balanced by some heart. That's the case with "Carter" and while the book isn't necessarily perfect, it's still an interesting and enjoyable enough read.

(less)

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Oct 31, 2009 Debbie rated it 2 of 5 stars

This is closer to a 2.5 stars.
As I was reading this book I had to wonder if this is really what goes on in the mind of a teenage boy. I know the stereotype is that they constantly think about sex but I seriously thought I was going to go crazy reading his thoughts about getting laid, where a good place to have sex is, how beautiful the girls all around him were. Geez, it's amazing guys are able to function if that is what their minds are like. I did like the concept of this book though. It was s...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-2012

Have you ever wondered what the opposite sex was thinking? Well in this book, a nameless girl (you have to figure out who she is throughout the book) gets inside Gideon Rayburn's head, she can hear and see what Gid is thinking and see what hes doing. Gideon's new at a Connecticut Prep School called Midvale Academy, where he meets his two roommates and friends, Cullen and Nicholas. Cullen and Nicholas are popular, handsome, and wealthy-everything Gideon is not. To help Gid "fit in", they make a b...more

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May 09, 2013 Peyton Staroscik rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn" is a contemporary romance/comedy style of book. It's different from others of its kind though in the sense that it goes through the perspective of the boy involved. It shows what a boy truly thinks, while other books like this show the story through the girl and what the girl thinks. It's about a boy, Gideon Rayburn, and the girl who happens to end up inside his head at all times. She sees what he sees and feels what he feels, but he has no idea she is there....more

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Dec 12, 2010 Toria rated it 4 of 5 stars

Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn is such a good read, it makes your heart throb with every page you turn thinking how Gideon is going to survive his new boarding school with so many beautiful girls, and guys theres no way he can compete with. Gideon is confused about who he should be, who he should like, and who his real friends are. Through this whole book, a girl is in his mind. (Eventually you'll figure out who it is, i did). But in the middle somewhere, through Gideon trying to figure out w...more

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Jun 21, 2010 Josh rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The book tells the story of Gideon Rayburn's first few months at prep school. Gideon falls in with his two roommates, who are the cool kids on campus, and struggles with love. The story would be completely uninteresting, except for the narrator. The narrator is some unnamed girl who magically knows Gideon's every thought and comments on many of them. The narrator is also a character in the story and it adds a compelling element of mystery to try and figure out who the narrator is by the end of t...more

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Jan 23, 2012 Miranda Kelley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this book was pretty weird at first. I mean, how many girls get to know what exactly is going on in guy's head. However, I do love the fact how the girl in his head starts to fall in love with him. Despite the fact that he is not the brightest or the most good-looking. I also think it is pretty cool that we get to know and idea of what goes through an male teenager's mind. This story really reflects on how teenagers act and how they get in trouble and also how they get out of trouble....more

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Oct 12, 2010 Kelly Hager rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A girl accidentally is able to read the mind of a boy at her prep school. Gideon Rayburn is kind of a dork and he’s also the new kid. His roommates are two of the most popular boys at the school and they decide to help him lose his virginity. There’s a bet involved. It’s basically like every teen movie you’ve seen since the late 90s. There’s a lot of American Pie and some She’s All That thrown in for good measure.

I really wasn’t a huge fan. I’m not sure if it’s because I didn’t think Gideon was...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Kelly Oram rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just read this one and though the premiss was clever, I was disappointed that it actually had nothing to do with the story. I liked that it kept you guessing which girl was telling the story, but in the end the reveal was predictable and somewhat anti-climactic. And it just frustrated me that the twist was never explained. BUT Gid was a very charming character, and it was fun to hear the narrators thoughts about his thoughts. And Gids roommates were both very strong characters who you couldn't...more

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Oct 13, 2012 Els rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: didn-t-make-sense, dissappointed, icky-romance, no-point, unbelievable, strange

Okay, inside the mind of Gideon Rayburn. Yep, we were definitely inside it, kinda, sorta, maybe.

Im not sure if there's a purpose to this book or not but if the purpose is to help girls understand boys then this book has failed at its job. Everything written in this book I knew already, I don't know if its just because I'm best friends with a few boys and I have a boyfriend so I talk to boys a lot or if it was just a pants book and didn't serve its purpose but I learnt nothing.

Another thing, it...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, trt-gold-star-award-winner

Reviewed by Amanda Dissinger for TeensReadToo.com

Ever wondered what exactly is going on in the mind of a teenage boy? Then INSIDE THE MIND OF GIDEON RAYBURN by Sarah Miller is the perfect book for you.

This is a captivating story about a girl at a prep school in Massachusetts who suddenly finds herself experiencing all of the thoughts, feelings, and sights of Gideon Rayburn, a new student at the school. She faces all of the problems Gid faces, from the embarrassing to the sweet to the sexual to...more

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Jun 11, 2009 Jenn rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-owned, couldnt-finish

I don't really know what to say about this one. I read the first fifty pages and trust me, that was really hard to do. I don't really understand the premise: A girl, a real person who is somewhere in the story, can be inside this guy's mind (hear what he's thinking, see what he's seeing etc.) all the time, yet also function and live her life normally. I don't know...I mean, I love using my imagination while reading, but this just doesn't make any sense.

I think another part of the reason I didn'...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Jen Barth rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: high, school, male, narrator, prep, relationships

This book is narrated by a girl inside the mind of the main character, Gideon Rayburn. Gideon starts at a new prep school, and, before he settles in, his roommates make a bet that he can/can't hook up with the girl of their choice by a certain date. But there's more than one girl on Gideon's mind (not to mention the one in it). Will he end up with the hot fashionista or the cute girl-next-door? And who's this girl inside his head?

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Aug 19, 2010 Alana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is one of the funniest books I have ever read. Want to know what guys are thinking? This book tells it all. Gideon moves to a prep school where he knows NO ONE, and his roommates make a bet with him. Follow Gideon as the girl in his mind does, as she falls in love with him, and he tries to make a girl named Molly fall in love with himself. I laughed so much while reading this book!!!

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May 23, 2010 Cassidy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I liked the books overall concept, but it the writing itself was so vulgar that it became repetitive and annyoing. The only parts I laughed at were the narrator's thoughts on his thoughts. His thoughts were... eww. And the excuse of raging teenage hormones is not going to work. The drugs weren't necessary, but overall it was a so-so book. I wished I'd spent my money on Thirteen Days to Midnight.

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Jan 02, 2009 Kayla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed reading this one. Being a girl, I understood and related to the plot. It was an interesting interpretation of the 'inside' of Gideon's mind.
I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a simplier read. It brings alot to the table; love triangles, mystery, and humor. The surprise ending is just a bonus.

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May 12, 2009 Jess rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio

I only managed to find the audiobook of this one, and I'm disappointed because I wanted more of the other characters and a fleshed-out climax (no pun intended!!) and I don't know if I didn't get these things because it was an abridged version of the book or if they just don't exist. I've been searching for a paper copy in book stores, but so far, no luck

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Apr 30, 2010 Suzi Katz rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Yep

Recommended to Suzi by: saw it in Borders

I really liked this book. I've never read anything like this before and although it was a bit confusing in the beginning trying to figure out the different characters who were speaking, it was great. How cool is it to be in someone's mind and hear everything they think about? Read it and find out.

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Apr 16, 2009 Leah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked this book I just found it really slow. It took me forever to finish it and I don't know why. I don't regret reading it though bacause I did like it I just wish it wouldn't have been such a slow book.

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Jul 30, 2011 Sophie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: teen-fiction

Like eating a packet of tim-tams: so good yet so bad! This book won't be winning the Orange prize any time soon, but its a hell-of-a good read forwhen you want something fun and colourful.

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Jan 30, 2012 Tina rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: no

I absolutely hated this book. If I could have given it 0 stars, I would.

The whole plot of the book is absolutely ridiculous. The only reason the guy ends up liking her is because she's being someone she isn't. She's simply playing out the ideals and fantasies of one guy and disregarding the fact that he doesn't love her for who she actually is. She's coming across as manipulative and desperate rather than sweet, which I will assume Sarah Miller wanted the reader to think.

I probably would have gi...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Kacie added it

I'm still undecided as to whether or not I enjoyed it. The whole being is someone else's mind idea was kind of cool, but I don't think it was written well. Good concept, though.

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Jul 27, 2011 Teri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Ridiculous, but let's be honest, I couldn't put it down.

I wish there were more prominent girls in the book so it would be more work to figure out which one was the narrator.

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May 02, 2013 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't really think of this as high end literature, but I do think I'll keep it around for my daughters to read. I'd like them to be a bit more clued-in than I was!

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Jun 22, 2010 Sarah Snyder rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

I read this book a few months ago after I read about it on amazon. I read the beginning of the book on google books and then ordered myself a copy offline, because most bookstores don't carry it in store. I concept of the book sounded unique and the format of the book was very entertaining. The story is laid out as a mystery, where the reader has to try and determine who the narrator is. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. Some parts were a bit predictable - especially who the narrato...more

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Mar 01, 2009 Kathryn rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, read-aloud

While this wasn't a terrible book, I never really got into it. I kept expecting the story to take off on the next page, but it never really did. And it wasn't as funny as the book jacket led me to believe it would be. Just because a book talks about drugs, sex and drinking doesn't make it an edgy, contemporary read. It just fell kind of flat.

It's saving grace? The fact that I read it aloud with my roommate, which always makes a book better.

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“I spend a lot of time trying to convince myself that nothing really matters except being alive.” — 3 people liked it

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