The Cinderella Society (The Cinderella Society, #1) by Kay Cassidy

Nov 07, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

eviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com

Jess hates her school and desperately needs to find friends to keep her off of the mean girls' radar.

On the final day of the school year (after two humiliating events), she finds an envelope in her bag inviting her to a secret society. At first, she thinks it's just another prank, but then she realizes that it's for real. Jess has no idea why they want her, but she's willing to find out why.

The Cindys recruit girls with special powers of kindness, l...more

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Jul 24, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Empowering... inspirational... girl power!

This book wasn't what I was expecting at all. I was expecting girly, I mean look at the cover, it's pink with a glass slipper, you can't get much more girly than that, and it was girly, the thing that I wasn't expecting however was how this book made me feel. More specifically how this book made me feel about myself. It might sound crazy, but it made me feel better about myself, more confidant and it made me want to be a better person. I did not expect t...more

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Jun 11, 2010 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-y, youngadult, own-it, signed

I have to say, this was the perfect book for me to read during Valentine's day week. I've been putting off the review because I really enjoyed this book and don't think I can suitably tell you why - but I'll attempt it. Jess is a sixteen year old girl who isn't sure of herself and wants to just meld in, but she has the potential to be a great person and even a leader. I love watching her transform and really starting to see what is inside of her and how to let that out. I loved the aspect of the...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Laiba Mustafa rated it 1 of 5 stars

I think it’s fair to say that I really did not like this book. Now there were many parts that made me absolutely HATE this book, but there were also some parts where I would start to think it wasn’t so bad- and then another awful scene would come up. Let me explain to you why I hated this book so much. 1. Everything was too jumbled up to make any sense. 2. The characters were completely obnoxious. 3. The author was trying way too hard to make this some super high-tech spy book.

This book is abou...more I think it’s fair to say that I really did not like this book. Now there were many parts that made me absolutely HATE this book, but there were also some parts where I would start to think it wasn’t so bad- and then another awful scene would come up. Let me explain to you why I hated this book so much. 1. Everything was too jumbled up to make any sense. 2. The characters were completely obnoxious. 3. The author was trying way too hard to make this some super high-tech spy book.

This book is about a girl who moves to a new town, because her mom is pregnant and wants to settle down in the town she grew up in. Her grandmother also lives there and the girl works part-time for her store. The only thing she was ever good at and would always make her feel like she fit in was cheerleading. So when she makes the team at her new school, the “Queen Bee” gets kicked off. Then the evil girl bullies her and she feels miserable because she’s so unconfident and can do nothing to stand up for to her. Then she gets accepted to a secret society that deals with helping kids like her. Turns out that the bully also works for a secret society that deals with using people. So now there’s this whole battle against evil… And the good people are in trouble because the bad people have doubles their forces. And they’ve also made her the new LEADER, when she’s only been there for a few days. Oh, and did I mention that she has an on and off relationship with the brother of the girl who bullied her.
^ This was nowhere close to how much happened in the book (but you get the point)

Now lets talk about the characters. Never have I ever read about more unrealistic characters. The protagonist-Jess- had the lowest self-esteem possible. Some the “good” girls, known as the “Cindys”, were practically saints. The “bad” girls, known as the “Wickeds” were so incredibly evil…(note the sarcasm). Which I why I still don’t understand why they had a whole secret society to defeat these girls when all they were was a couple of teenage high-school bullies. The guys were also completely unrealistic. The “good” guys were called the charmings because they NEVER did anything bad… which is very untrue since her own “charming” boyfriend made her feel cheap and worthless. Then there were the “bad” guys, who were known as the “villains”, and were supposed to be the rudest most flirtatious boys imaginable. When all they were was a couple of high school boys who liked to flirt. The most idiotic things was that ONLY wickeds and villians got together and only cindys and charmings got together…

My last point is that the author was trying WAY to hard to make this some super high-tech book. I’ve already talked about all the things that were going on at once-WAY too many- and how completely obnoxious the characters were, but now lets talk about the plot. I thought this book would be about a girl at school who gets bullied and joins a club, but turns out she was recruited into a world-wide society where all the cindys come together to save the normal people. The weird thing was that they had this whole base where all the girls in their town would meet, and work together to boost their self-esteem (no joke). They had manuals on how to look, talk, and feel better. And that was how they “trained”. Later on in the story, the girl goes to this place that has a secret society underneath and all cindys are there working together. They even had a gadget room and everything. This part may not have been bad if the purpose for why they were there made sense.
Overall, this book made no sense and was a complete waste of time.
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Aug 09, 2012 Sophia Mortimer rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book.
Let's go through the elements that create a good book, then:
1. Writing: There really wasn't anything to critique on the writing. Not extraordinary, but not completely crap. It was medicore. Cassidy knows how to string words together, although at times, the book came apart as choppy. As if she was trying to mash up everything, but could only succeed with a few things: Ryan, ISIS, TCS and Heather. It was a bit disappointing. I found it hard to get...more I'm not entirely sure what to think of this book.
Let's go through the elements that create a good book, then:
1. Writing: There really wasn't anything to critique on the writing. Not extraordinary, but not completely crap. It was medicore. Cassidy knows how to string words together, although at times, the book came apart as choppy. As if she was trying to mash up everything, but could only succeed with a few things: Ryan, ISIS, TCS and Heather. It was a bit disappointing. I found it hard to get into.
2. Characters/C. Developement
Unfortunately, Jess was a sort of two-dimensional character. She did have her odd point for being a loner: cheerleading. I liked that twist. But when she got initiated, all she could focus on was the makeover, which I'm happy to say, she let go of. Every time Paige, SJ or Gabby attempted to explain the workings of the society, she tuned out and thought about makeup. I understand that, but could you please SHUTUP about that freaking move on? You're sort of trying to save the world. Luckily, the developement of Jess was apparent by the end: she was tougher, could think for herself, and sort of inteligent (yes, I know, she was smart at the beginning, but it wasn't as prominent until the end).
Moving on from the main character, I felt that every single person at the TCS was well, a copy/paste. They all had the same do-gooder personalities, the same tough/untouchable-ness and they were all gorgeous. The only people who seemed to have a slight personality was Paige and SJ, and even I didn't notice this until the end.
The romance was somewhat realistic, though Ryan's mood-swings and such were annoying. I know everyone has their flaws, sorry. The argument that Ryan and Jess had near the end was confusing if you didn't read it carefully. What were they arguing about exactly? I don't know.
Alec was definitely my favorite character overall, and I hope to see him in the next book.
3. Plot/Storyline
I told my sister about the TCS mission and she shook her head in disapporval and disappointment. The mission was a bit hazy at the beginning, but I caught on more. It's a creative idea, having girl power and all that. I liked it. Hence the three stars.
All in all, good book if you're bored on a summer afternoon. I might read the rest of the series if I have the chance. (less)

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Feb 18, 2012 Jessica Harrison rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed

full review on Deseret News
Starting a new school is hard enough, but for 16-year-old Jess Parker, making an enemy almost from Day 1 has made things even worse.

So when Jess gets an invitation to join a secret society, she thinks it's just another of a myriad of jokes. But it turns out the Cinderella Society is for real, and the most popular girls in school want her to be a part of their group.

Everything about the society is great until the Wickeds — a society out to make life miserable — begins t...more

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Apr 18, 2011 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: youth-fiction

I'm sort of embarrassed by how much I liked this book. I picked it up on a whim off of the library shelf and felt silly even starting it. But, well, it turned out to be so much better than I thought it would be. Don't think 'earth shattering amazing', but yes, I think it was much better than most teen high school girl novels, and I've read quite a few.

Most of my opinion is due to 2 things, first, the messages are pretty darn good. The cool girls are the ones out trying to make something great o...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Reading Vacation rated it 5 of 5 stars

REVIEW
Every so often I read a book that gets into my heart. This is one of those books. I want to be a Cindy! The Cindys are strong girls with high self-esteem. They go out of their way to be selfless and be kind to others.
At the beginning of the story, Jess is a girl with no confidence and low self-esteem. She is miserable. Once she is brave enough to join the Cindys, all of that changes. Jess becomes confident and her self-esteem soars. In the end, she has even become a leader, something that...more

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Feb 05, 2011 MaryBookSwarm rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'll tell you right now, my girls are going to love this book! (Yes, I'm giving away this copy--but I'm so getting another one to put on my classroom shelf!) It's all about girl power and standing up for yourself and standing up for those who need protecting, all great lessons that everyone should learn (though, unfortunately, some never learn).

The beginning of the book seems like one massive cliche: girl on the outside, mean girl who starts rumor about her and torments her endlessly, the crush...more I'll tell you right now, my girls are going to love this book! (Yes, I'm giving away this copy--but I'm so getting another one to put on my classroom shelf!) It's all about girl power and standing up for yourself and standing up for those who need protecting, all great lessons that everyone should learn (though, unfortunately, some never learn).

The beginning of the book seems like one massive cliche: girl on the outside, mean girl who starts rumor about her and torments her endlessly, the crush on a hot guy who just happens to be the brother of the mean girl...but the author took these cliches and ran with them, creating something completely different.

The "good" girls, the ones with massive girl power and self confidence, are all part of a secret society, The Cinderella Society aka the Cindys. The "bad" girls are the Wickeds, also part of a secret society. (In this book, as in life, no one is completely good or bad; there's always the potential to switch sides.) The Cindys and the Wickeds battle for the Reggies--the regular kids. If the Wickeds can bend the Reggies to their wills, they'll have the Reggies in their power forever (meaning high school, college and beyond). The Cindys work to back the Reggies, helping them find their inner strength and stand up to the Wickeds. The Cindys and Wickeds are kind of good vs. evil, battling for the regular-type folks' souls and a balance of power. Of course, the guys aren't left out--there are Charmings and Villians (You can guess who goes with with, I'm sure), too.

While I loved this story, the whole girl power thing gets too in-your-face sometimes (I'm all for empowerment but, in a story, I need it to be a tad bit more subtle). "Wicked" thoughts being negative ones, being true to yourself, not putting others down, not dwelling on the embarrassing things were themes the author returned to time and time and time again. However, it didn't effect my enjoyment of the overall story.

At the center of the story is Jess, who is just a Reggie until she gets invited into the Cinderella Society. The Cindys help her find true self and her confidence, pushing her to be all she can be (yes, there's cheesiness just like that throughout the story but it's kind of cute). And one thing she wants to be is hottie Ryan's girlfriend (yay--romance!). But first, she has to gain confidence, find her style and get a makeover. She goes from someone being tormented by Wicked princess Lexy to someone who makes long speeches and stands up to said Wicked really quickly. Still, I liked her so I was willing to go with it. I'm not going to say any more about Jess and her rise to power because I don't want to give out any spoilers.

This story is a great set-up for the next book: CINDY ON A MISSION (Coming out Spring 2011). I'm now invested in all the girl-power rah-rah and looking forward to Kay Cassidy's next book. I want to find out if Jess wins...oh, wait. I can't say any more without giving it away! Just go read it (or win it!). You'll feel empowered after you do.(less)

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Dec 01, 2010 Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-100-book-challenge, 2010-debut-author, arcs-i-own, mundie-moms-reviews, signed-books-arcs

Talk about girl power!This is a must read for teen girls. It's full of empowering messages to be proud of who they are. You don't need designer clothes, money, or "the" looks to be proud to be you. It's about being happy in the skin you have. You can decide your own style and be proud of that.

When it comes to chick-lit, I'm extremely picky on what I read, but WOW, Kay blew me away. I adore her writing and this book. If I could give this out to every teen girl I would. I really love the way Kay...more Talk about girl power!This is a must read for teen girls. It's full of empowering messages to be proud of who they are. You don't need designer clothes, money, or "the" looks to be proud to be you. It's about being happy in the skin you have. You can decide your own style and be proud of that.

When it comes to chick-lit, I'm extremely picky on what I read, but WOW, Kay blew me away. I adore her writing and this book. If I could give this out to every teen girl I would. I really love the way Kay writes about the differences in the popular girls and the every day girls. I think she captured the daily issues girls go through very well and she wove this perfectly into a modern retelling of Cinderella.

The Cindys are the modern day Cinderella's, who are out to do good for those around them. Most importantly, they are there to protect each other and the Reggies, the normal kids at school, from the cruel Wickeds. The Wickeds will do whatever they can to torment anyone not in their social group, and our main character Jess has been the blunt of their attacks.

Jessica is someone who I think most girls will be able to relate to her in some way. She's moved to a new high school, a great cheer leader, not in with the popular crowd, very smart, doesn't like to be the center of attention, and is a very nice person to those around her. Jess quickly becomes the target of The Wickeds when she de-throwns the popular Lexy, one of the leaders of the Wickeds, when she wins her coveted varsity cheerleading spot. Jess holds her own for the most part, but the things that Lexy says to her and does starts to really get to her. In one day Jess goes from being a social out cast at her new school, to being apart of a much more elite group of popular, true to heart good doers.

Jess learns a lot about herself when she's invited to become part of the elite Cindy's group. During her journey of learning her self worth, she realizes she is a key person in stopping the Wickeds ruthless bullying to the Reggies. The Wickeds can only get to you if you let them. With a little help from her friends, Jess realizes she can be one person who can bring both the Cindys and Reggies together, and defeat the Wickeds. Jess also learns that looks aren't everything and she soon learns that it's who are that is most important and being true to yourself. While Jess is surrounded by some of the most gorgeous, popular girls at her high school, she learns that their beauty also comes from inner strength.

Full of inspiring messages, a journey of learning self worth, mixed in with some romance from Jess's own Prince Charming, and some good ole fashion good vs evil, makes this book a must read!(less)

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Oct 09, 2010 Jessica Lawlor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy tells the story of Jess Parker, an average high school student whose parents happen to move a lot. Jess is used to being the new girl and never really fitting in. When Jess is invited to join the ultra secret society, The Cinderella Society, otherwise known as “The Cindy’s” she is thrilled.

Being a Cindy means being popular and gorgeous. The first order of business for The Cindy’s is a makeover that helps them find their signature style. Being a Cindy also me...more The Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy tells the story of Jess Parker, an average high school student whose parents happen to move a lot. Jess is used to being the new girl and never really fitting in. When Jess is invited to join the ultra secret society, The Cinderella Society, otherwise known as “The Cindy’s” she is thrilled.

Being a Cindy means being popular and gorgeous. The first order of business for The Cindy’s is a makeover that helps them find their signature style. Being a Cindy also means loving yourself and being kind to everyone. Of course, with a group like the Cindy’s, there has to be some group opposing them, right? That’s where The Wickeds come in. The Wickeds, led by Lexy, Jess’s archnemesis make it their mission to make the lives of the Reggies (the regular people) miserable. It’s the Cindy’s job to defeat The Wickeds.

Along with a battle to beat The Wickeds, Jess has to deal with her crush on the hot brother of Lexy, Ryan. Ryan is the perfect guy and Jess has to have him…but what will it take to get him to like her?

I was definitely surprised by this book. I’ll admit, I was drawn to it because of its cute cover and adorable title. When I found out the book was about secret society’s and good vs. evil, I was a little taken aback, but still excited to get reading.

I’m really conflicted about this book. It had a great message (loving and accepting yourself for who you are) but some parts of the book just weren’t believable to me. Some of the dialogue between the characters seemed immature and juvenile, but then there were intense makeout scenes that made me wonder who the book was really written for. I couldn’t figure out who the target audience of this book was.

I wasn’t really a fan of Jess, the main character. I’ve read other reviews where people said they were able to relate to Jess, but I really wasn’t able to. I’m not sure why. She just didn’t seem like a “normal” teenager to me and I thought she really overreacted in a lot of situations. There were parts of the book where I just wanted to shake her and tell her to “get a grip.”

Another problem I had with this book was that it was extremely slow. It took me almost a full week to get through and there was never really a time where I said, “Oh man! I just have to finish this chapter right now.” I was easily able to put the book down and come back to it later. I felt like the middle of the book dragged on the most and I sort of feel like Jess was just repeating herself over and over again.

Like I said before, this book has an amazing message for young women everywhere. Love yourself and embrace your future. Though I didn’t absolutely love this book like I hoped, I am looking forward to the sequel!(less)

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Oct 09, 2010 Micheeline18 laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

I liked very much the way the author writes and can create characters with whom you feel identified, she can create a story in which things happen that you feel identified, and much of what I like is that she does not need the fantasy or fantasy characters to create a pleasant and enjoyable reading.
The author addresses issues and raises important problems we have in real life. I could say that everyone at some point felt like jess, we've been through those moments of doubt, moments that you do n...more

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Jul 26, 2010 Taffy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-ya

I like the phrase, "Be careful what you wish for..." because reality is popularity and heart throbs are not what they seem on the outside.

Kay Cassidy has given girls a handbook for feeling good about themselves and made it into a story. I have to admit, when eagerly read the ideals of the Cinderella Society and I found myself wanting to be a better person; being nicer and doing my best.

I believe the author went from one extreme-in personalities, message and love-to get her message across, so it'...more
I like the phrase, "Be careful what you wish for..." because reality is popularity and heart throbs are not what they seem on the outside.

Kay Cassidy has given girls a handbook for feeling good about themselves and made it into a story. I have to admit, when eagerly read the ideals of the Cinderella Society and I found myself wanting to be a better person; being nicer and doing my best.

I believe the author went from one extreme-in personalities, message and love-to get her message across, so it's not missed. Because of this, the characters have little depth. I'm hoping the sequel shows more depth because the message is in this book. Ms. Cassidy's story is message driven. The message is a good one and gives girls the power to overcome bullies and mean girls with confidence.

Jessica is a loner but also, surprisingly, a cheerleader. Her family moves around a lot and cheer is her constant. In her new school, she made the team over Lexie, who had been on the squad. Lexie is not happy to be bumped and bullies Jess. But Jess is in for a surprise when she's invited by popular to join a secretive Cinderella Society.

Who wouldn't want a pretty, confidant, kind and popular girl taking you under her wing and teach skills that will not only help you get through turbulent high school years but life.
Jessica is taught = Personality+Appearance+Strength. Jessica makes many mistakes as she tries to do what she thinks she is right but soon loses sight of who she really is inside. She has to learn to be herself.

I don't particularly care that the groups are divided into the Cindy's (Cinderella's) and Charmings, and, Wickeds and Villians but it's quickly pointed out that the Cindy's are not perfect and Wickeds are not evil.

This is a good, clean read that also teaches that alcohol, drugs and sex are not for the Cindy's. Even 'Wicked Chatter' (talking badly about yourself or others) isn't tolerated, yet, on a couple of pages, the author threw in 5-6 swear words which really seemed out of character for the story. I read the ARC and hope those words didn't make it to the final cut.
Overall, I think this is a great book for teen girls.

Rating: PG
V: Bullying
L: A few words
S: Kissing(less)

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Jul 26, 2010 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-authors

Final Grade: 93/A-
322 pages
YA Contemporary

REVIEW: I'll tell you right now, my girls are going to love this book! (Yes, I'm giving away this copy--but I'm so getting another one to put on my classroom shelf!) It's all about girl power and standing up for yourself and standing up for those who need protecting, all great lessons that everyone should learn (though, unfortunately, some never learn).

The beginning of the book seems like one massive cliche: girl on the outside, mean girl who starts rumo...more Final Grade: 93/A-
322 pages
YA Contemporary

REVIEW: I'll tell you right now, my girls are going to love this book! (Yes, I'm giving away this copy--but I'm so getting another one to put on my classroom shelf!) It's all about girl power and standing up for yourself and standing up for those who need protecting, all great lessons that everyone should learn (though, unfortunately, some never learn).

The beginning of the book seems like one massive cliche: girl on the outside, mean girl who starts rumor about her and torments her endlessly, the crush on a hot guy who just happens to be the brother of the mean girl...but the author took these cliches and ran with them, creating something completely different.

The "good" girls, the ones with massive girl power and self confidence, are all part of a secret society, The Cinderella Society aka the Cindys. The "bad" girls are the Wickeds, also part of a secret society. (In this book, as in life, no one is completely good or bad; there's always the potential to switch sides.) The Cindys and the Wickeds battle for the Reggies--the regular kids. If the Wickeds can bend the Reggies to their wills, they'll have the Reggies in their power forever (meaning high school, college and beyond). The Cindys work to back the Reggies, helping them find their inner strength and stand up to the Wickeds. The Cindys and Wickeds are kind of good vs. evil, battling for the regular-type folks' souls and a balance of power. Of course, the guys aren't left out--there are Charmings and Villians (You can guess who goes with with, I'm sure), too.

While I loved this story, the whole girl power thing gets too in-your-face sometimes (I'm all for empowerment but, in a story, I need it to be a tad bit more subtle). "Wicked" thoughts being negative ones, being true to yourself, not putting others down, not dwelling on the embarrassing things were themes the author returned to time and time and time again. However, it didn't effect my enjoyment of the overall story.

At the center of the story is Jess, who is just a Reggie until she gets invited into the Cinderella Society. The Cindys help her find true self and her confidence, pushing her to be all she can be (yes, there's cheesiness just like that throughout the story but it's kind of cute). And one thing she wants to be is hottie Ryan's girlfriend (yay--romance!). But first, she has to gain confidence, find her style and get a makeover. She goes from someone being tormented by Wicked princess Lexy to someone who makes long speeches and stands up to said Wicked really quickly. Still, I liked her so I was willing to go with it. I'm not going to say any more about Jess and her rise to power because I don't want to give out any spoilers.

This story is a great set-up for the next book: CINDY ON A MISSION (Coming out Spring 2011). I'm now invested in all the girl-power rah-rah and looking forward to Kay Cassidy's next book. I want to find out if Jess wins...oh, wait. I can't say any more without giving it away! Just go read it (or win it!). You'll feel empowered after you do.(less)

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Jun 02, 2010 Kailia rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I first heard about this book, I thought it was a great read and I was very excited when I won this book. Then I began reading it.

This book was not what I had been expecting. The beginning was, in one word, boring. There were too much unnecessary detail and things I just didn't care about. I read on and on and it continued to get more boring as I went along. I even had a few yawns, which I thought was just sad.

In another sense, this book was just a self help manual in the form of a book. Th...more When I first heard about this book, I thought it was a great read and I was very excited when I won this book. Then I began reading it.

This book was not what I had been expecting. The beginning was, in one word, boring. There were too much unnecessary detail and things I just didn't care about. I read on and on and it continued to get more boring as I went along. I even had a few yawns, which I thought was just sad.

In another sense, this book was just a self help manual in the form of a book. There was a lot of advice for girls on self-image, self esteem, and things alike. With the occasional dialogue, I thought it would get better. But no, even the dialogue talked about standing up for what you believe and finding the look for you.

The plot was an interesting one but I think it could have been handled better. The Cindys and the Wickeds? The Villains and the Charmings? I mean come on, can you come up with any lamer names? Then why don't you go and add in some Greek and you have the plot line for this book. There were a lot of other characters and I sometimes had to go back and see who she was talking about.

The one thing that was actually good was the fact that the "most-popular-girls-in-school" or the Queens were the kind of girls who helped people. They were nice and sweet and good girls. They went out of their way to help the non-populars aka Reggies (again, what's with the names?). But that was that.

Jess was not one of my favorite characters. I can summarize her in one word: annoying. She begins off as the target for Lexy, the leader of the Wicked (I couldn't have guessed that!), and then she is brought into the Cinderella Society. All this by the way happened without me realizing. I was way to confused to understand at first. She didn't grow out of her self. In a lot of books, the character develops but I think she go worse. She began to wine more and more now that she was a Cindy and she had the power to help the Reggies. She wanted to help others and make it better for them seemed all fake to me. I couldn't really make her stick.

Her relationship with Ryan was one I was looking forward to but I was so dissapointed! I couldn't ever figure out why she liked Ryan and her fantasy with him in the beginning was just stupid. Then when he begins to notice her, she freaks out! OMG RYAN NOTICED ME! Um, no I don't think so. We learn some things about Ryan but it never was clear why he acted so stupid and insecure. I have to admit, there were times when I loved Ryan and Jess together and some of the dialogue was great. But that is the hopeless romantic speaking! It was too cliche for even me!

This was a somewhat disappointing read and I can't really recommend it to a lot of people. But I think we all should give it a try though. An interesting way for Kay to kick off her writing career. I am actually looking forward to her future books! And I hear there is going to be a sequel, so I'm hoping it gets better!
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May 31, 2010 Rachael rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jess Parker thought her worst problems were avoiding Lexy Steele’s bullying and finding a friend. But when she is inducted as a member of the Cinderella Society, she learns about real problems. Sure, a fabulous makeover is part of the package, but catching the eye of her popular crush also invites stress about the real nature of their relationship. Then there’s the fact that Jess isn’t quite sure how to fit in with her new more popular friends. To top that off, as a Cindy, Jess is now involved i...more

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May 26, 2010 Rosalia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chicklit, young-adult, 2010

Jess Parker has moved around from high school to high school and town to town her entire life. Now settled down in her mother's hometown for good she is having a hard time fitting in after having been an outsider for so long, until she is invited to join a secret society called The Cinderella Society. Now she is involved in a fued between the Cindy's and the Wicked's and she's not sure she isn't in over her head.

There is so much more going on in this book then meets the eye, and I don't just mea...more

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Feb 20, 2010 Manda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Always on the outside of things, Jessica Parker became good at hiding in the shadows. That is until a group, calling themselves The Cinderella Society, came into her life. Is she good enough to be in this secret society with some of the most popular girls at school? Why would they want her? With a creed like, "Celebrate your strength, embrace your future and be extraordinary," Jess feels like they definitely have the wrong girl. When her life turns into secret hangouts, secret codes and secret m...more Always on the outside of things, Jessica Parker became good at hiding in the shadows. That is until a group, calling themselves The Cinderella Society, came into her life. Is she good enough to be in this secret society with some of the most popular girls at school? Why would they want her? With a creed like, "Celebrate your strength, embrace your future and be extraordinary," Jess feels like they definitely have the wrong girl. When her life turns into secret hangouts, secret codes and secret manuals, Jess can't help but feel a bit in over her head. Things take a turn for the worst, when she realizes things may be bigger than they seem. This is definitely more than just a high school clique. When the things fall out with the boy of her dreams, Jess may have bitten off more than she can chew. What's in store for Jess Parker? Will things work out with this oh so perfect boy? This may be the first summer of the rest of her life.

Kay Cassidy's debut novel, The Cinderella Story, is an enlightening tale of the classic good versus evil. On one side you have the Cindys and on the other you have the Wickeds. However, Cassidy has taken a very different approach on this widely used storyline. This book also contains a strong group of powerful females, that every teenage girl can look up too. It teaches you to stand up for yourself and always be true to you. In today's society of supermodels, celebrities, and high standards, this is the perfect book for teens everywhere. With well blended amounts of romance and action and an obscure 80's movie reference to ice the cake, Cassidy has definitely won with this book. I was completely drawn into this story, and I can't wait for the sequel.

Reprinted here with permission from Author- I am that author.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from EgmontUSA Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” (less)

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Sep 10, 2012 Kala rated it 1 of 5 stars

I found this at the library and the cover was cute, so I decided to give it a try. I liked it at first, but once you get into the meat of the story it really falls apart. The world building is so beyond silly and I just became lost and confused as to what the message of this story was. I think Cassidy just tried to put way too many things into this book and it spins out of control.

Jess is the "new girl" who happens to be an awesome cheerleader. She is so good that she displaces resident mean gir...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, to-buy, self-reflective-changes, favorite

The book seemed more like an initiation sort of book, preparing for the sequel (which I am sort of anxious for). I really liked how the Cindy's taught their girls how to be comfortable in their skin and seek self-empowerment for the benefit of others (I think that ended up contradictory. I hope you all know what I mean). Reading this book made me want to empower myself.

But something about this book and the good vs. evil motif rubbed me the wrong way. It sounded too general for life. I mean, WOW,...more

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Jun 17, 2012 YAL Book Briefs rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: anti-bullying, good-message, meh-characters, plot-gets-bogged-down, cotton-candy

To See Full Review Click Here: http://yalbookbriefs.blogspot.com/201...

Note, I did not finish reading this book. I tried reading it twice but I could never quite finish it. I skimmed through the rest of it and I think I have read enough to develop a solid opinion of it.

If there was any book I wanted to like this was it. It had a powerful message about girl empowerment and anti-bullying. However, this book just didn't work for me.

There were many problems with this book. I guess to get down with...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Sarah added it · review of another edition

Shelves: novel, ya, realistic

When I told someone I was reading this book, they said "Don't bother, its insipid". And I really really should have listened. This book is terrible. The plot is nonsensical (a group of pretty popular girls are really warriors for good in some epic war of good vs evil) and oftentimes insulting. I kept waiting for The Cindys to turn out to be evil, because between their creepy cultishness, hyper focus on fashion and being pretty (before you can fight evil you need to figure out your signature styl...more

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Apr 25, 2010 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I "met" Kay Cassidy the other day on Twitter. She was talking about her book, and talking about what it means to be a "Cindy" and stand up to those who like to bring others down. She talked with everyone that night for at least four hours. By the end of the night, I knew that I not only wanted to rush out and get this book, but also that I really liked her a lot, and love what she stands for (not to mention that we loved all the same books and movies.) Thanks, Kay, for taking a stand!

The Cindere...more I "met" Kay Cassidy the other day on Twitter. She was talking about her book, and talking about what it means to be a "Cindy" and stand up to those who like to bring others down. She talked with everyone that night for at least four hours. By the end of the night, I knew that I not only wanted to rush out and get this book, but also that I really liked her a lot, and love what she stands for (not to mention that we loved all the same books and movies.) Thanks, Kay, for taking a stand!

The Cinderella Society:
Jess Parker is a sixteen-year-old girl who has moved from town to town, never staying long enough to get close to anyone. But the soon-to-be-birth of twin siblings has brought Jess and her parents back to their home town to settle down. Jess soon makes the cheerleading squad, which she hopes will help her make friends. The problem is, the popular girl, Lexy, who's spot she has taken, isn't going let that happen.

Lexy tries over and over to bully Jess into submission, but when she not only stands up for herself, but also another girl who's being bullied, Jess finds herself being invited to join a secret club against bullies....or Wickeds, as they like to call them. The Cinderella Society is a group of girls who stand up for all that is good, and stands against all that is Wicked. The Wickeds are superficial people who are into bullying, casual sex, drinking, drugs, and Wicked chatter (swearing, gossiping, putting people down).

As Jess learns to re-invent herself, on the inside as well as outside, she also learns that The Cindys are much more than just a popular high school club. And with the help of some amazing friends, and a super-cute Prince Charming, Jess finds out just where she fits into this Society.

What if you had an entire network of people devoted to helping you stand up to the "Wicked" bullies in your life? What if every school had their own Cinderella Society, where people who were being bullied, or people that wanted to stand up for others, could go for help and support. Then again, why stop at high school? What difference could we all make if we embraced our inner Cindy and stood up for those who needed it?

I hope that's what this book inspires. I will be giving away this book on April 30th during Blogmania. Be sure to check back then for a chance to win!

~Andye

P.S.
I love the strength of Jess Parker. Even though she has some self-esteem issues (don't we all) she fights her way through them, and always stands up for what she knows is right. Even when that means she has to stand up to the guy that she's falling for. The relationship between Jess and Ryan is so sweet, but its not without its problems. It's so nice to read a book where the guy knows how to treat the girl, and when he doesn't treat her right, she doesn't take it.

Parents should know: Although the message is overwhelmingly good in this book, there are some (negatively looked upon by the Cindys) sexual comments, and some mild mature language. There is also some fairly detailed kissing. For more detailes go to The Cinderella Society on ParentalBookReviews.com(less)

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Jun 19, 2010 Nian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

Jess Parker's dreams come true when she is invited to an exclusive secret group called the Cinderella Society, whose ultimate goal is to take down the Wickeds before they can gain more power.

I was greatly misleaded by the blurb, but I can't blame anyone. I just took the whole good v. evil thing differently - I thought it would be a Maggie Quinn book, with supernatural elements. (Yes, I think I've been reading too much urban fantasies and paranormal stuff.) So I was vastly disappointed when the...more Jess Parker's dreams come true when she is invited to an exclusive secret group called the Cinderella Society, whose ultimate goal is to take down the Wickeds before they can gain more power.

I was greatly misleaded by the blurb, but I can't blame anyone. I just took the whole good v. evil thing differently - I thought it would be a Maggie Quinn book, with supernatural elements. (Yes, I think I've been reading too much urban fantasies and paranormal stuff.) So I was vastly disappointed when the good v. evil turned out to be power struggles between the popular good girls and the popular bad girls.

I probably should have enjoyed the whole Cinderella theme, but I didn't. I thought it was lame Cassidy named her groups the Cindys (okay, this wasn't as bad), the Wickeds, the Charmings, and, worse of all, the Reggies. Sounds like some attack of the alien thing.

It was hard to get through the beginning. I was constantly picking the book up, then putting it down, and picking it up again. Though I really liked what the Cindys represented and Jess Parker played the part of an independent, willing-to-stand-up-to-the-mean-girl part really well, but I was just bored. Every line I read felt like I was getting life lessons from a very motherly person, and it was just hitting me too much in the face with it. There was a lot of that kind of advice for girls, especially concerning self-esteem. But I think I wanted a more solid story line, because the whole defeating the bad girls thing just wasn't doing it for me. Neither was the relationship between Jess and Ryan an interesting read, either. Ryan is the typical YA boyfriend: delicious eye candy, quarterback, all around golden boy. This time, Ryan is sweet. Not only that, but - oh my god, totally didn't see this coming! - mysterious, and very brooding about the past and his "hero-ness". These qualitites in Ryan just made me laugh. No kidding, I would love Ryan to pieces in real life, but Cassidy's typical portrayal of this boy was just a bit nauseating, as was Jess's attraction. (less)

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Apr 13, 2010 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, by Kay Cassidy, created a modern twist on the classic story of a diamond in the rough rising above negativity to land her Prince Charming. But in high school,it is a bit more complicated than that.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. Kay Cassidy completely reinvented Cinderella to contemporary times. The drama was intensified and the fight against evil was not as easy as a wicked stepmother and stepsisters.

Jess Parker just wanted to get through high school doing what...more THE CINDERELLA SOCIETY, by Kay Cassidy, created a modern twist on the classic story of a diamond in the rough rising above negativity to land her Prince Charming. But in high school,it is a bit more complicated than that.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. Kay Cassidy completely reinvented Cinderella to contemporary times. The drama was intensified and the fight against evil was not as easy as a wicked stepmother and stepsisters.

Jess Parker just wanted to get through high school doing what she loved, cheerleading. But in her case, cheerleading did not make her popular. She was constantly being bullied, which lowered her self-esteem. And her lack of confidence prevented her from taking initiative against her tormentors. With the help of some 'fairy-godmothers', Jess received the guidance she was looking for, just in time.

The major themes in this book certainly concern everyone in high school at some point. At that age, teens are insecure and vulnerable to the situations that surround them each day, and survival of the fittest definitely holds true. Bullies do not make this transition to adulthood any easier, but serve as a towering obstacle that could make or break you. The Wicked's were a jump back in time to my high-school days, where girls could be ruthless for no reason. But these heartless acts feed into their own insecurities. They were definitely a force to be reckoned with.

I loved the Cinderella-like transition that Jess went through in this book. This 'fantasy' journey through her physical and psychological makeover make this story enchanting. And the support system that these girls created was incredible and inspiring. The Cindy's worked hard within their organization to create the best version of themselves. This book is a great pathway for young teen girls to follow to achieve anything they dream.

The relationship between Jess and Ryan was a great example of real-life relationships, which are not always perfect. Ryan was extremely sweet and kind-hearted but only when they were alone. And since Jess was on sensory overload with her metamorphosis, her fear of rejection from Ryan clouded her goals within the Cinderella Society. I appreciated the fact that Cassidy veered off the typical young-adult-book path and did not make it easy between these two. Great relationships take work and effort to be successful, but in the end it is well worth it. I was happy for the change in pace and the realistic nature of this couple, it kept my heart-pounding in anticipation of whether or not they would make it.

Overall, the ideas that this book encompassed were utterly fantastic. The drive to succeed after learning to accept yourself is an excellent framework for young adults. The ability to get passed physical insecurities to shape your mind is a great asset. I give two major thumbs up to this book and I cannot wait for the sequel!(less)

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Sep 02, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: bullying, chick-lit

I'm a big fan of Ally Carter's I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You books, and I thought this book would be similar. And it was, but not as enjoyable.

Jess Parker has always moved around a lot and never fit in. When she settles down in her grandma's small Georgian town, she finds a boy to crush on and a mysterious note in her locker. Jess is invited to join The Cinderella Society, a secret organization of women who empower others to do good. (don't roll your eyes, ok?) Jess fina...more

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Jul 09, 2010 Hannah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC copy of this book. I was especially excited since every blog site I searched, this title constantly came up. So when I got my greedy hands on this read, I was absolutely delighted! Reading the synopsis, you must already have a basic picture of what happens. Unless you are, like, severely depressed or overly dramatic, your guess will be dead on. A cliche' read, but a cute one. One aspect of this I especially enjoyed was the whole 'think positive' idea. I'v...more

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Feb 16, 2011 Stephanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Always on the outside, Jess Parker, a sixteen year old girl starts a new school being the new kid and new cheerleader. Her arch nemesis, Lexy Steele, won't let up on bullying her. When Jess receives a special invitation to join a secret society known as The Cinderella Society, her world turns upside down. With a new makeover and new friends, Jess starts to learn more about the world of Cindys, Wickeds, Reggies, Charmings and Villians.

Soon, she becomes immersed in a new world and with the constan...more Always on the outside, Jess Parker, a sixteen year old girl starts a new school being the new kid and new cheerleader. Her arch nemesis, Lexy Steele, won't let up on bullying her. When Jess receives a special invitation to join a secret society known as The Cinderella Society, her world turns upside down. With a new makeover and new friends, Jess starts to learn more about the world of Cindys, Wickeds, Reggies, Charmings and Villians.

Soon, she becomes immersed in a new world and with the constant changes in her life, she starts to wonder if she's made the right decision to join. Throw that in with her complex relationship with Prince Charming and you have a teen drama.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story between Jess Parker and her romantic love interest, Ryan Steele. I thought Kay Cassidy did a great job with portraying teens going through life and making mistakes along the way. No one is perfect and I love how she tied that into the story especially with Jess going through some difficult decisions of her own. There were some times when I wanted to strangle Jess because of her poor decisions but you are reminded that she's still growing and in the end she redeems herself of her mistakes.

I felt slightly frustrated that the friendships that Jess makes isn't really developed as much as I would like. I felt like Jess's character sort of took her new friendships for granted and wasn't all that thankful or appreciative of where she is today within the story.

The one thing that I was a little annoyed about in the book is the overall arching theme of Cindys versus Wickeds. There seems to be a lot of drama built up between these two groups and yet I think it failed in the end resulting in an anti-climatic ending. It almost seems like the theme is too complex in that there are two warring groups and it's good vs. evil. But what is the true result of warring with each other and going on missions? What do the missions solve?

I was left scratching my head on that one since I felt like the missions themselves really had no point behind it to be a mission.

If you can get over the complicated storyline of Wickeds vs. Cindys, I think it would've been a much better book. Overall, the book was decent. Not one of my favorites but it wasn't something I despised. In a way, I would've given it a 2.5 star rating but since I liked the love story, I tipped it to a 3 star rating instead.
(less)

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Jul 22, 2010 AnnaBnana rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

It's been a couple of weeks since I finished this, so I'm sparse on specific details like character names since I found the whole book to be mostly forgettable...here's what I remember thinking while I was reading though...

This book got a good enough review that I actually put it on hold when I ordered it for my library, which I don't do too often. Sadly, it didn't live up to its potential for me. It felt like it should have wanted to be campy, but was taking itself too seriously. The whole high...more

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Feb 14, 2013 Adrienne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jess Parker is looking forward to summer; her debut as the new kid at her school has been less than wonderful, as she has managed to infuriate popular, powerful bully Lexy, and humiliate herself numerous times in front of Ryan, her crush (and Lexy's adored older brother). However, summer turns out to be way different from what Jess expected, as she is invited to join the Cinderella Society (TCS). TCS is a group all about empowering girls, and the Cindys show Jess how she needs to learn to stand...more

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