Some Girls Are

Nov 03, 2011 Tatiana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Tatiana by: Emily May

Shelves: ala-ya-2011, 2011, ya, b

As seen on The Readventurer

What a mean, ugly, venomous, relentlessly cruel book this is! I almost developed some ulcer myself just by being in the main character's head.

The "mean girls" novels are not something that interests me very much in YA lit. Ever since Before I Fall I feel mildly dissatisfied in how such stories generally unfold. In Before I Fall, for instance, I thought there was a lot of humanizing and excusing of mean girls going on, with not enough of owning up to their actions and...more As seen on The Readventurer

What a mean, ugly, venomous, relentlessly cruel book this is! I almost developed some ulcer myself just by being in the main character's head.

The "mean girls" novels are not something that interests me very much in YA lit. Ever since Before I Fall I feel mildly dissatisfied in how such stories generally unfold. In Before I Fall, for instance, I thought there was a lot of humanizing and excusing of mean girls going on, with not enough of owning up to their actions and atoning. Some Girls Are is more pleasing in that respect.

Regina, one of the school's meanest mean girls, ends up to be the target of her friends' (or frenemies') wrath and finally tastes her own medicine. The treatment of her is vile, but hey, who cares, she was distributing the same sort of punishments just a few days ago. She deserves everything that's coming her way, right?

Hm, maybe. I won't lie, seeing an ex-mean girl suffer was pretty awesome. At first. But once you get to know Regina a little better, you can't help to feel horrified for her. And it's not only about the abuse (the beatings, humiliation, almost rapes) - she gives back almost as much of it as she takes. It's more about her inner world. Her mind, constantly fixated on fighting back, on guilt, on memories of being a part of a group of so-called friends who can squash you in minutes, on pressures of always hating and being hated. It's an awful way to think. It's a damaging way to live.

I can't say I enjoyed this novel. You can't enjoy a punch to your gut that this book is. But I did appreciate it. I appreciated that this novel doesn't make excuses for Regina and forces readers to forgive her. There are some things in life that can't be easily forgotten and fixed with an I am sorry. But something more important happens here - a mean girl breaks out of the circle of hate and violence and maybe becomes a slightly more aware person. She has to continue carrying the burden of her past actions though. No easy fixes here. (less)

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Mar 17, 2011 Flannery rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People who like gritty YA

Shelves: kcls, young-adult-teen, read-in-2011, reviewed-2011

Some girls are...(view spoiler). That's the takeaway from this book. High school is a nightmare for a large number of people and there will always be that crowd of people that finds pleasure in ruining the reputations of others. This book is like watching a trainwreck--it is completely awful, but you just have to keep reading to see how it all turns out.

Regina Afton was second in command to Anna, her best friend and head of the mean girls clique at Hallowell High S...more Some girls are...(view spoiler). That's the takeaway from this book. High school is a nightmare for a large number of people and there will always be that crowd of people that finds pleasure in ruining the reputations of others. This book is like watching a trainwreck--it is completely awful, but you just have to keep reading to see how it all turns out.

Regina Afton was second in command to Anna, her best friend and head of the mean girls clique at Hallowell High School. After an unfortunate event at a party involving Regina and Anna's boyfriend, Anna shuns Regina and turns the entire school against her. Cue 200 pages of torment. The only person (honestly, the only person) who even gives Regina a sliver of the light of day is Michael, a boy whose reputation she and her friends ruined a year or two earlier. (and we don't even know what his motives for speaking to Regina are for a large portion of the book--after all, there is a TON of double-crossing going on) It was interesting to see how all her classmates viewed Regina--her former best friends, the victims of her harassment, people she didn't even know. And I'm glad that Courtney Summers doesn't make Regina out to have an epiphany and complete change of character. She realizes that what she did was wrong but she also realizes that you can't just apologize and forgive and forget. I liked the analysis of right and wrong that went on in this book and especially found it realistic how quickly the tormented can become the tormentor and vice versa. It reminded me of Philip Zimabardo's prison experiments at Stanford.

My first read of Courtney Summers' was Fall for Anything and I was totally impressed with how well she dealt with gritty issues. At times, her books feel almost painfully realistic. This one definitely gives you the feeling of what bullying actually feels like--about the hopelessness and loneliness of it all. And about how either willfully or negligently unaware parents and teachers can be. This book has one of the scariest scenes I've ever read--I'm totally serious. Don't read this spoiler unless you really want it to be spoiled or you have read the book: (view spoiler) I was seriously beyond nervous and scared about what would happen. I have goosebumps just recalling the scene.

While I can't say that this book is a pleasure to read, I'd recommend it to anyone who likes gritty YA contemporary fiction and can stomach reading about verbal and physical abuse for an entire book. (less)

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Nov 02, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Catie by: Flannery, Emily

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya

Wow. Well, I can’t say that this was enjoyable. It made me feel uncomfortable, disgusted, and horrified. The ending, while maybe a bit hopeful, was pretty bleak. But still I say, Wow. This is an extremely unflinching, harsh look at the twisted dynamics of teenage girl “friendship,” and a much more comprehensive picture of the mean-girl psyche than other one-note portrayals I’ve seen.

Regina Afton is the beta to Anna Morrison’s alpha in Hallowell High. She’s been the messenger, the lookout, the to...more Wow. Well, I can’t say that this was enjoyable. It made me feel uncomfortable, disgusted, and horrified. The ending, while maybe a bit hopeful, was pretty bleak. But still I say, Wow. This is an extremely unflinching, harsh look at the twisted dynamics of teenage girl “friendship,” and a much more comprehensive picture of the mean-girl psyche than other one-note portrayals I’ve seen.

Regina Afton is the beta to Anna Morrison’s alpha in Hallowell High. She’s been the messenger, the lookout, the tormentor, the bully. She’s ruined the social lives of friends and enemies alike, all on the whim of Anna. But when she finds herself the subject of vicious rumors, Anna cuts her out, and she becomes the target.

It would have been easy to paint Regina as the unwitting accomplice, or the mean girl with a squishy soft heart of gold trapped inside, but the author never lets that happen. She challenges the reader with Regina’s rage, her spines, and her cowardice. Regina is a damaged girl, who really doesn’t know how to deal with her tormentors except through violence and revenge. It would also have been easy to write off Regina as a complete bitch, unworthy of sympathy, but that never happens either. This is a story about guilt and forgiveness, and about coming to terms with the ugly things that you have done.

It was extremely hard to watch Regina fall right into Anna’s hands, to be outwitted time and again. But it was her lack of flair that also gave me hope for her. I’m not sure that I believed, at the end, that Regina was going to be okay, or that the romance was even a healthy one. This book never takes the easy road; there’s no neat and pretty ending for these characters. I really respect Ms. Summers for writing it that way. It rings true, however difficult it is to read.

Perfect Musical Pairing

Taylor Swift – Mean

I feel like this is exactly how mean girls are typically portrayed: oversimplified characters who exist to be torn down for everyone’s enjoyment (and what does that say about us?). So, this isn’t a pairing that fits right alongside its book; it’s more like a contrast pairing. Listening to this song just makes me realize how complex and thought-provoking Some Girls Are really is. This song, in all its simplicity, makes me like the book even more, and I say that that makes it about perfect.

Also seen on The Readventurer.(less)

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Jan 07, 2010 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-arc, books-i-own, favorites

Three words: (some girls are) very very mean

I really wish I could write an intellectual, well thought out, comprehensive review, that could do an exceptional book justice. Because if a book ever deserved that type of review it would be Some Girls Are.

I honestly don’t know how Courtney does it. How can she write a character that is a bitch, in all essence of the word.... and make me like her.... feel sorry for her even! I should hate her, hate all that she stands for, for all those bitches in hi...more Three words: (some girls are) very very mean

I really wish I could write an intellectual, well thought out, comprehensive review, that could do an exceptional book justice. Because if a book ever deserved that type of review it would be Some Girls Are.

I honestly don’t know how Courtney does it. How can she write a character that is a bitch, in all essence of the word.... and make me like her.... feel sorry for her even! I should hate her, hate all that she stands for, for all those bitches in high school that thought they were.... well that’s another story for a different day.

That’s who Regina is- a bitch, and yet, I empathized with her. I felt sorry for her. I found myself nodding in agreement, with her conniving plans to get back at the girls that were making her life a living hell. Who brainwashed me into feeling this way... Courtney Summers did, that’s who. She manipulated me with her words! She used her amazing talent to deconstruct my view of something that had always been black and white, bitch and non-bitch and made it... GRAY! How dare you!? Now I’m wondering... do bitches have feelings too....? Do bitches deserve second chances. Do bitches deserve the sweetest guy on the planet?

Speaking of sweetest guys on the planet.... was anyone else feeling that tension between those two, or was it just me. I know it couldn’t possibly be just me... but I just wanted to scream..KISS HER ALREADY! I know you hate her, but give her a big ole’ I hate you kiss!

I really wanted to do intellectual, but it’s obviously not happening.

Seriously though... I can’t say enough good things about this book. Courtney has a very distinct style, and I really enjoy reading her books. She has great characterization, the plot is just insane... when you think these girls couldn’t be more mean, well they can and they Are.

I could not put this book down, and yet.. it was hard to read. I literally picked it up hoping to get a few chapters in and ended up reading the whole thing through.

The realistic portrayal of these girls is absolutely disturbing, in a grossly addicting way. You don’t want to see what horrible things they do next... yet you do. How is that possible... am I just a masochist like that?

And here I raise my glass... to Courtney Summers... the queen of mean. Not that I’m saying Courtney is mean, she is in fact very sweet, but damn, she knows how to write some mean ass girls!

I’m ready for book three, NOW. (less)

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Feb 27, 2013 Reynje rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-that-linger, contemp-or-realistic, it-s-complicated, read-2013, writing-envy, young-adult

I thought this book was going to burn a hole in my stomach.

Even now, when I think about it I feel a visceral surge of anxiety; it triggers a physical response that echoes the rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath that accompanied the reading.

I mean this as a compliment to Summers’ writing. The ability to elicit such an intense and provocative reaction is, I think, testament to her skill. Some Girls Are is almost relentlessly harrowing in its portrayal of bullying and abuse, accentuated by Regi...more I thought this book was going to burn a hole in my stomach.

Even now, when I think about it I feel a visceral surge of anxiety; it triggers a physical response that echoes the rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath that accompanied the reading.

I mean this as a compliment to Summers’ writing. The ability to elicit such an intense and provocative reaction is, I think, testament to her skill. Some Girls Are is almost relentlessly harrowing in its portrayal of bullying and abuse, accentuated by Regina’s acerbic voice and Summers’ razor-sharp instinct for pacing and dialogue.

This is an unsettling and compelling story. The tension escalates rapidly as the stakes increase, and the novel (literally) doesn’t pull punches – to the point when beginning each chapter was accompanied by a mental flinch. It’s not always easy to read, but it is hard to put down.

What delineates Some Girls Are from other novels I’ve read about high school bullying is the perspective. Through Regina, we experience the viewpoint of someone who is both victim and perpetrator, someone who is subjected to physical and psychological bullying, and also inflicts it. Taking this further, not only does Regina exhibit mean girl tendencies, but a part of her relishes them. Even as she becomes fully cognizant of how far-reaching and destructive her actions are, she is also aware that on another level, she takes a vicious pleasure in enacting them.

This is an uncomfortable position to be in as a reader. It would be easy to categorise all who carry out this kind of torment as morally reprehensible villains. But Some Girls Are muddies this idea by examining the complex cycle of manipulation and abuse of power amongst the characters. The lines here are not clearly drawn; not all of those culpable are devoid of sympathetic – or at least, understandable – elements. Some Girls Are goes some way to explaining how such a deeply messed up dynamic is perpetuated – feeding off insecurity and intimidation, cultivated to exert control – without attempting to justify it. I don’t believe the novel asks us to defend Regina, but to acknowledge that these situations are rarely black and white. We’re not asked to excuse her actions, but to consider the context of them, to recognise how guilt, abuse and emotionally damaging relationships impact the way she responds to threatening situations.

As such, Some Girls Are challenges the common perception of the high school ‘mean girl’ – often presented as little more than a caricature of evil – with a confronting level of physical and emotional cruelty entangled with “friendship” and the ever-shifting hierarchy within cliques. To deny that girls are capable of this kind of behaviour does a disservice to those who have experienced it, and for that reason I believe this is a brave novel, insisting that we face a disturbing reality.

Considering the circumstances, buying into Michael’s ability to accept Regina is a big ask of readers, and I understand why some would struggle with how this particular plot line develops. I’m okay with this element of the story – in addition to fuelling the conflict in the final chapters of the novel I think it provides an interesting counter-balance to Kara’s consuming hatred and inability to let go. (And maybe I’m naïve but I want to believe that people are as capable of forgiveness as they are of torture).

I feel that the ending is left largely open to interpretation. Personally, I don’t see this as the end of Regina’s story, but rather as the beginning of long, hard road. We don’t know what choices she will make once she leaves those stairs. Even the weaving together of hands is a tentative, fragile thing. A sliver of hope, not a life-preserver thrown into the sea of carnage. Summers offers a reprieve from the harrowing climax in suggesting that Regina has options, a chance to alter her course. But she doesn’t explicitly spell out what lies beyond the final page.. that is left up to you.

I'm pretty sure I need an antacid right now. (less)

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Jan 08, 2013 Cory rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, young-adult, favorites

Re-read: 1/18/12

Somehow, it's even better the second time around.

If you follow my reviews, you know how much I hate clique books and mean girls. I expected to really dislike this book. I thought it would just be another Gossip Girls wannabe. For once, I was wrong. First impressions can be deceiving.

Some Girls Are is a lot like Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen. But unlike Sarah Dessen, Courtney Summers knows how to handle gritty topics.

The protagonist of Some Girls Are is Regina Afton, a sixteen-y...more

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Jan 23, 2011 Janina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, read-in-2010, on-my-shelf, mean-girls, contemporary, given-away

What is there to say about this book? I’m really not sure. It is a book I most definitely did not enjoy reading, yet it was almost impossible to stop. You know, like when you see a car wreck and you know you shouldn’t look at it, but you just can’t help yourself? Some Girls Are is this car wreck. Not in terms of writing or plot, no, certainly not. But in terms of being cruel, dark and almost brutal in its honesty.

Regina is one of these mean girls I can’t understand. She does extremely awful and...more What is there to say about this book? I’m really not sure. It is a book I most definitely did not enjoy reading, yet it was almost impossible to stop. You know, like when you see a car wreck and you know you shouldn’t look at it, but you just can’t help yourself? Some Girls Are is this car wreck. Not in terms of writing or plot, no, certainly not. But in terms of being cruel, dark and almost brutal in its honesty.

Regina is one of these mean girls I can’t understand. She does extremely awful and cruel things to other people just to please her in-crowd friends, and she is too scared of being rejected by them to speak up against what they do. So she goes along with them, bullying fellow students until they are on the verge of committing suicide. Looking back, she reminds me a lot of Sam from Before I Fall. Only that the things she and her ‘friends’ are doing are even worse, and that her friends really can’t be called friends at all, because besides their fear of not being accepted by Anna, their leader and Regina’s ‘best friend’, there is nothing that holds them together. Basically, they hate each other and their only goal is to gain Anna’s appreciation, no matter the cost.

But when Anna’s boyfriend tries to rape Regina – and Anna believes that Regina slept with him and betrayed her, Regina suddenly finds herself in the position of her former victims: Anna freaks out and tries to destroy Regina’s life. Suddenly, Regina finds herself alone and threatened by her former clique. And believe me, what these girls do to her is sometimes hard to take. I'm glad I've never high school girls like them. They trap others in closets, put old meat in their lockers, shove them down stairs, design hate websites, blackmail and beat them up and then leave them alone on a deserted field. It was sometimes hard to imagine and hard to take that there really are girls like that out there.

Even though Regina felt sorry for what she did in the past, I had a rough time relating to her. I felt pity for her, but I also hated her for being such a weak person. If Anna hadn’t rejected her at some point, she never would have quit torturing others, she would have just gone along with it forever – or, at least, as long as high school lasted. Nevertheless, I needed to know what would happen to her, and if she would be able to redeem herself in the end.

All in all, not necessarily a book to enjoy, but I would recommend giving it a try if you are looking for a darker and grittier portrayal of high school life.

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Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-na, 2011, fave-ya, contemporary

I'll get the small amount of negative out of the way first. This book was faultless right up until the very last minute where I felt the ending was pulled together rather hurriedly and just ended up being quite a weak conclusion to a deeply emotional and, at times, horrifying novel. It's the only bad thing I have to say about this book and I was still left feeling certain that I would read Cracked Up to Be and Fall for Anything.

The story in many ways reminded me a lot of Speak. Both novels were...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Warnie B. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2009, first-reads, young-adult

I received this in the mail last night from First Reads and started it immediately. And wow. NOT what I was expecting AT ALL! This book was so hard to read, but practically impossible to put down. I loved the characters and hated them at the same time. It's really fantastically written and Summers managed to make me feel all of the anger and desperation and exhaustion and loneliness and fear and exaltation and...hope...that the characters feel--I was completely stressed out and anxious the entir...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Penny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: games-people-play, ya-fiction, penny-s-favorite-books, mean-girls

This book inspired me to write the following poem:

Some Girls Are

Some girls are nice,
Some girls are funny.
Some girls are smart,
Some girls are pretty...

And some girls
Are evil,
Scum-sucking,
Soul-destroying,
Baby-eating sociopaths
(Who deserve to choke to death on their own vomit!)

(Or, you know,
something like that.)

Okay, so, I'm no poet and I know absolutely nothing about poetry, but it's true: some girls are really jacked up; lack anything resembling a conscience. However, some girls do have he...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) added it

Shelves: its-complicated, conflicted-thoughts, fast-paced-and-engrossing, gave-me-sleepless-nights, favourites

Reading SOME GIRLS ARE was extremely tough for me. Even during the last ten pages or so, I was doubting for the first time if I could finish it. Even as I write this review I'm not sure how I really feel.

I think I'm going to get a little personal here. It's relevant to the story, important, and it seems the only way that I can give you a hint of where I'm coming from.

I had two best friends for over nine years. Nine, excruciating, fucked up years. One was exactly like Anna - the boss, and the ot...more

Reading SOME GIRLS ARE was extremely tough for me. Even during the last ten pages or so, I was doubting for the first time if I could finish it. Even as I write this review I'm not sure how I really feel.

I think I'm going to get a little personal here. It's relevant to the story, important, and it seems the only way that I can give you a hint of where I'm coming from.

I had two best friends for over nine years. Nine, excruciating, fucked up years. One was exactly like Anna - the boss, and the other the sidekick being Regina - the bystander. Regina is right. The fear of being alone is very powerful, and it takes a lot to break free. I did eventually. It's something that's well behind me. So you see Regina is right regarding Liz when she says that she will get over what she did to her once she's left school, but she forgot to mention that she might get past it but she'll never forget. It brought back memories that I have blocked for over three years now. I felt like I was reliving those days all over again, and as much as I hated how it reminded me of the past, I couldn't help but feel intrigued by Regina as much as I couldn't stand her.

You see Regina has always been a part of the popular crowd, but only though staying on Anna' good side by tagging along and at times doing her dirty work for her. So when she's accused of sleeping with Anna' boyfriend, thanks to Kara, everyone turns against her. All the years that she and Anna have spent placing fear into every individual in the school is coming back to haunt her in the following days. As they say - paybacks a bitch. And for Regina this is just the beginning. Suddenly, she finds herself completely isolated and ruthlessly bullied, not only by Anna and her gang, but by countless others who have waited for this opportunity for a long time.

I battled with this book throughout. It seemed unfair to have to see things from Regina' POV when at times I felt like she didn't deserved to tell her story. She didn't deserve for a hint of pity from Michael and Liz. The very two people whose life Anna made hell as she watched on. Two people that she ironically finds herself turning to during this hard time. Regina was cruel, selfish and a straight up bitch. Yet she had this quality about her that made you root for her, that made you want to be there for her. I hurt when she hurt. I grew anxious when I saw something horrible approaching. This girl goes through hell and back and it reminded me how cruel girls and high school can be - how ruthless. But then other times she would leave me conflicted when she acted just as bad as those who hurt her. It made her just like them, so where does the leave the reader? I saw my mate in her and it got to me. That after all these years I had to go through it all over again and through her. But in a freakish way it made me understand those bullies a little better. I might still not be too fond of the the sight of them, but I think I can understand them a little better. Although now I'm past caring.

SOME GIRLS ARE gave me butterflies countless times, made me hold my breath and resulted in me contemplating in asking my brother to leave the room. As I read along the book became intimate, personal and harder to read. It became hard to read what was happening to her, but I also resented how she never learned or seemed to want to admit to her mistakes - not like she meant it anyway. If she had she wouldn't have reacted the way she did. She would have understood Kara a little better, and I don't know what to make of that. Kara took every opportunity to ruin her and take her place as Anna' best friend after she was isolated, but she had her reasons - good reasons. And although that is no excuse, it's understandable. I grew frustrated with Regina so many times throughout this book. Sure it was nice when she changed a little, but why should it take a fall from grace to implement that? Why? Do I feel sorry for her? A little. But that might be down to the fact that I'm disgustingly soft. I don't hate anyone, and never will. I have my own ways in dealing with things but it's girls like Liz - who once trusted our protagonist, who may never fully be able to forgive her. Girls like Kara whose anger will eat them up inside and that's entirely Regina's fault. But Regina is so stubborn that she refuses to see past Kara's actions towards her, to look beneath the surface and understand WHY she is doing what she is. Kara wanted something from her, something simple that she deserved, but when you have two stubborn, hurt, and angry girls like these it's hard to say if either are willing to talk or compromise.

Through all of this she seeks comfort through a boy named Michael. The very boy who has her to blame for being a social outcast. As tough of a time he gives her she is lucky for even that. The thing about Regina is that she's realistic about things. She knows that the teachers will ignore what's happening, that her mother is too stuck in her own world to notice and so she sucks it up and sits with Michael during lunch times who has every reason to hate her. Yet it's this very boy that may be the one to give her old self back - to give her happiness. It's an understatement to say that Michael and Liz were my absolute favourite characters. Out of everything that is wrong and horrible in Regina's life, in that school - they are the two that are grounded, caring and lovable. I wanted to hold on to them and ask them both to hang in there. Like I said, our MC is more lucky to have these two in her life - especially taking into account what she did to them - than she realises.

And so I'm left with a book that blew me away in, I-think-I'm-in-love kind of way. Gripping, heart-breaking and beautifully told - SOME GIRLS ARE is a definite highlight books-wise of 2011.

READ IT <3
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Jul 14, 2012 karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-yes-i-ya, girls-gone-wild, readventurer-made-me-do-it, upstairs-neighbors

some folks...

this was my first book for the readventurer challenge. this was catie's recommendation for me, and i really liked it - yay! i had just finished reading This is Not a Test, so i was glad to read another book by this author, even though this was more of a realistic YA book, and i tend to skew to the dystopian/horror side of the YA field.

this book is about a girl named regina who is nearly raped by her best friend/queen bee anna's boyfriend at a party. they are both part of a super-tox...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Alyssa rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Real people.

Shelves: 2010-read, great-books, great-realistic-fiction, emotional, i-cried, really-excited-for, ya-romance, ya-loved, favorites, own, read-it-but-just-buy-it-anyway, reread, kick-ass, 2011-read, highly-anticipated, a-favourite-author, i-cannot-breathe-without-you, i-love-this-cover, my-favourite-book, mystery-suspense, surprised-me, oh-canada

I cried. All night long. It was that impressive.

I decided to fix up this review, because I remember writing it in a fit of an emotional state, and not knowing how to express my love. Upon finishing Some Girls Are, my mind hadn't been able to process much, and somehow all that had been able to come out of me was mediocre explanation and overuse of the word "good". I'm hoping this change-up will redeem myself.

Speaking from experience, and also of what this novel has reminded me, I can say with tru...more I cried. All night long. It was that impressive.

I decided to fix up this review, because I remember writing it in a fit of an emotional state, and not knowing how to express my love. Upon finishing Some Girls Are, my mind hadn't been able to process much, and somehow all that had been able to come out of me was mediocre explanation and overuse of the word "good". I'm hoping this change-up will redeem myself.

Speaking from experience, and also of what this novel has reminded me, I can say with true seriousness that there is something especially horrifying - yet climatically interesting - about being frozen out of a place of familiarity. Summers takes mean girl, second-in-command Regina Afton and rips apart her life, severs her ties with her best friends/biggest enemies, and throws karma in her face in Some Girls Are. She attacks Regina and the reader with Regina's memories and past decisions, this bringing out guilt and semblance of humanity in Regina, and a shitload of confusion in the reader, because really, is a bully likable, no matter under which circumstances that she was a bully?

This book is one of the more moral-centered in the latest crop of YA releases, but it definitely does morality and humanity without preaching. I respect Summers and what she crafts so much not only for that - which she does in all her novels - but also for her ability to be the teenagers, be their decision-making and feelings. The sobs that wrecked me partway through the book continued as I trudged along, because I could feel, and have felt, exactly what Summers was portraying through her characters.

Regina appears a scared bitch, and then later someone worth pitying, AND then somebody real; Summers stripped the onion of her layers and brought us to a broken girl whose heaviness and soreness was thrice her weight. I have been Regina, and you have been Regina. I have been Michael, and you have been Michael. There's a little bit of everyone in every character presented, as much as you might hate it, and such makes them so real and relatable, what makes this book so meaningful.

The gruesome tortures the Fearsome ~~Five~~ Four created and posed, the hardcore emotions involved, the hate, the love, the bitter, the raw. Grittiness, reality and humanity are blended believably and perfectly in Some Girls Are, a reason in which this is one of my favourite books. I wholeheartedly recommend this novel and all of Summers' others, because I am more than freaking amazed.

Highly recommended, and I dare you not to cry.(less)

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May 05, 2012 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, contemp, an-okay-read, disappointing-books, female-pov, read-2012, has-potential, reviewed, ya

This book really had me stumped. I actually had to sit in front of my computer screen for a whole thirty minutes to decide whether I liked it or not. No, really. This book had me switching sides every time I turned a page.

If there's one thing I appreciated in Some Girls Are, it's the idea it revolves around. Summers opens up this whole new (and very, very terrifying) meaning to high school that keeps you wanting to read more and more even though you don't want to. You see? It's just so contradic...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, favorites, kindle-ebook

This book was pretty good. So glad I read it. I would have most likely given it a 5 star rating if it wasn't for the fact that I wasn't really shocked by the things the characters did to the main character Regina. Yes, they were horrifying, but I've seen a lot in my life so it's hard for me to be shocked by a lot of things. Life is harsh. It always has been.

But man oh man, did this bring back memories. Got me to do a lot of thinking. Things that I've done in the past, things that were done to m...more This book was pretty good. So glad I read it. I would have most likely given it a 5 star rating if it wasn't for the fact that I wasn't really shocked by the things the characters did to the main character Regina. Yes, they were horrifying, but I've seen a lot in my life so it's hard for me to be shocked by a lot of things. Life is harsh. It always has been.

But man oh man, did this bring back memories. Got me to do a lot of thinking. Things that I've done in the past, things that were done to me. Let me just say though that I went to urban schools before heading off to college. Things are done differently there. You have a problem with someone you argue or you fight. I remember there being countless fights in school. Fights happened several times a week. People would drop their book bags and jump over the lunch tables to run to wherever the fight was occurring. Fights could happen in any place at school. It always pissed me off. I thought it was so stupid to fight. Especially because a lot of the time, fights were started for stupid reasons. Like if you bumped into someone, they might get mad enough to punch you and then a fight would break out. Or what I hated the most. When people decided to jump people because they were white or because they were Guatemalan and Puerto Ricans were so much "better." -_- Seriously, always pissed the crap out of me. The injustice of it. The stupidity of it. Filled me with so much hate. I hated almost everyone. It seems like I have always hated most of humanity. Don't want to sound so negative, but it's true. But I fight against the hate inside all the time.

Anyway, what I hated most, what was worst than the hate in some aspects, was feeling alone. Being left alone. I could totally relate to Regina in that sense. It made me mad, especially because no one wanted to listen to her when she was trying to explain what happened and instead she got shunned. It's like people let themselves get ruled by their emotions instead of their minds. Mind over emotion, make better choices. In my opinion anyway. And yes, Regina did a lot of bad things to people. I understand why people didn't even want to bother with her anymore. Sometimes you really do reap what you sow. But what made me angry is the weakness of all of this. Everybody in this book was pretty much weak. The fear of being alone. Yes being alone sucks. It hurts. It marks you. But being driven to do these cruel things just to belong? Just to drive the alone away? Just to show "loyalty" to your "friend?" Just to feel fabricated love? No thank you. I rather be alone, than live a lie. I have always felt this way for what seems like forever and it always frustrated me when people didn't see this. Like in my school, the norm was to be into hip hop, rap, etc. It was weird to like rock and vampires and reading, etc. things which I was into. Still am into. People didn't want to talk to me and they would laugh at me. And not just that, but I have never really felt like I belong anywhere. My parents are Guatemalan and there are a lot of Guatemalan people in this city and to a lot of them I'm a "fake" Guatemalan because of how I am. Not that I care anymore about belonging, but why do things have to be this way? Why do a lot of people have to be so weak and not accept that things can't all be the same? Why do people have to hurt other people because of that?

Though I know the things Regina did throughout the book to get back at the other girls was wrong, I'm glad she did it. She was a bitch herself in the past, but at the same time by doing these things she was sort of standing up for herself. That made me glad. She wasn't going about it quite the right way, but at least she was trying. And I'm glad she wasn't trying to be their friend again because really those weren't friends. It frustrates me when people let themselves get beaten and they just take it all because they want friends. Just can't live that way.

Another thing that I really liked about the book was that we saw how all the things Regina did in the past were hurting her. How she had already been suffering before she got shunned. Not just mentally and emotionally, but also physically. I think the author captured these things really well. I could connect to it. Hate is damaging. To live with hate, to hurt others, not only damages those you are hurting, but also yourself. It kills you inside. Leaves you in a deep pool of never ending blackness. Blackness that chokes you. Blackness that you can't swim away from. I speak by experience.

Middle school was one of the worst times in my life. My friends sucked. My best friend sucked even more. They ignored me all the time because I was quiet and had different interests. Somehow because I was quiet, it meant it was ok to not really talk to me because I apparently didn't care. Which obviously wasn't true. But my best friend didn't listen to me when I told her. She laughed in my face when someone I cared about died. She yelled a lot because I sucked in gym even though I always tried. She only cared about winning. She would get mad when I didn't want to give her the answers to our math work or w/e. She hurt other friends too, but somehow they put up with it. I guess because they were the smart, good girls, they decided not to beat the crap out of her. I don't know. Finally, I got tired of her, of them, of everyone. I hated everyone. I decided to change. I wasn't going to put up with it anymore because they were never going to change. But since I was a smart, good girl, there was no way I was going to ruin my reputation. It was important to me because I felt it was what was going to help me succeed in life. And I didn't want to get in trouble and just like they stood there watching me get hurt, I wanted to watch them get hurt. Long story short I came up with a lot of plans to hurt them. Especially my best friend. The plans all worked well. And it made me laugh because they never knew it was me and some came to me for help. It was draining me though. I was tired. It made me sick. The more I hurt people, the more I hurt. It wasn't guilt, but more like an emptiness. Blackness that I couldn't get away from. Was this really the type of life I was going to live until I died? Hurting people to get revenge? Defending people by hurting those who were hurting them? Wasn't that self righteous? Was it all really necessary? Was this the only way? No.

I know I spent a lot of the time talking about me, but I felt it was necessary to connect it to the book. This book was powerful and realistic. I recommend it to everyone. Anyone who is interested in the subject of how girls deal with their problems should read Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls. It's a psychology book that gives good insight on these problems and how to help girls deal better with their anger.

Oo and just wanted to share this youtube vid with you all. Feel like it kinda goes with all of this. http://youtu.be/YSVtC_NT1H0 (less)

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Oct 15, 2012 Jude rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-my-shelf

This is the first Courtney Summer’s novel I read. When I read the summary I thought it would be a novel with mean girls Gossip Girl like, Just a lot more Blair Waldorf’s around. God I had never been more blown away.

First, I’d like to remark Courtney Summer's writing style. It’s amazing, page turning and I love how it seems like she’s teasing. Telling bits and pieces here and there but never fully giving in. With just writing one sentence or just one word per page she managed to get my heart raci...more

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May 18, 2012 jo mo rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people who want to read a story about a mean girl, her downfall & the facing of repercussions

Shelves: 2010, dramarama, abuse, family, school-life, tough-heroine, reviews, 4-stars, crushworthy-boys, 2010-faves

imagine my surprise, after the disappointing cracked up to be. this book shook me to the bones. it was absolutely painfully horrible in an honest kind of way. (my brain is still mush from reading that book) glee. anger. fear. disgust. scorn. - i'm sure you'll experience a variety of emotions yourself while hungrily devouring this book.

before being frozen out of the fearsome fivesome clique, regina afton was a horrible girl intent on being popular and doing all it took to stay that way. when that...more

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Feb 10, 2010 Katty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: addictive, 2010, favorites

It is weird how I could not shut up about "Cracked Up to Be" after I read it, for sure the longest review I've written on this website. Yet, I sit here wonder what I should say about "Some Girls Are" and am left clueless as to how to express how much I loved this book.

Courtney Summers has got a knack for showing it like it is. Girls are bitches, especially in high school and especially when they are suppose to be your friends. The main character, Regina Afton, is unceremoniously kicked out of t...more

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Mar 21, 2010 Daisy added it

You think vampires that want to kill you in high school are scary? Or maybe werewolves who could rip your throat out?

They’re cotton candy compared to the high school in Courtney Summers “Some Girls Are,” the January 2010 follow-up to her well-received debut “Cracked up to Be.”

No, there’s nothing like the high school hell she makes her characters endure in “Some Girls Are.”

Even standard high school misery, like clueless teachers, cliques and gym are kittens next to Hallowell High, where the Fears...more You think vampires that want to kill you in high school are scary? Or maybe werewolves who could rip your throat out?

They’re cotton candy compared to the high school in Courtney Summers “Some Girls Are,” the January 2010 follow-up to her well-received debut “Cracked up to Be.”

No, there’s nothing like the high school hell she makes her characters endure in “Some Girls Are.”

Even standard high school misery, like clueless teachers, cliques and gym are kittens next to Hallowell High, where the Fearsome Fivesome roam the halls. This girl bully gang loves to hate — they devise cruel tricks and horribly mean pranks in a game of chess with other students as the pawns. Their targets have no recourse, nowhere to go. They become nothing when the quintet is through with them.

Regina Afton is part of this crew. Until she’s kicked out for something she didn’t do. Now, she can’t duck fast enough because they’re pulling out all the stops as the four remaining members seek to destroy her. She hides out in the storage room, in the washrooms, with the so-called “losers,” but even they don’t really want a mean girl hanging with them. Because, can a Grade-A Henchwoman really change her stripes?

That is exactly what Regina desperately wants to do in this story — put her past as a very bad girl behind her — only she has to battle the now Fearsome Foursome, their toady boyfriends who do their dirty work, and worst of all, her own self doubts about whether she can be brave enough. The one bright spot is a loner boy who comes to see the good that is still inside her.

“Some Girls Are” is about what it means to be good, what it means to be bad, what it means to change. It’s about how to stand up and how to forgive and, especially, what not to do. It’s about — like the “Kiterunner” — “how to be good again.”

If you’ve talked to me about books for more than two minutes, you’ve certainly heard me mention Courtney Summers and “Cracked up to Be.” It is one of my favorite books of all time and also inspired me to switch genres from women’s fiction to young adult. Naturally, I was nervous reading “Some Girls Are,” hoping it would stand up to its predecessor. I can’t believe I’m saying this but “Some Girls Are” is even better. I was gripped with fear, anticipation, nerves, my knuckles white, during the second half of this book, wondering how on earth Courtney would possibly pull of a satisfying ending after how she’d tortured her characters.

I won’t spoil the ending, though. You will need to read to find out! The countdown begins to the book’s January release date!(less)

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Oct 12, 2009 Emily Hainsworth added it

Shelves: myfriendwrotethis

I didn't think Courtney Summers could out-do herself after her debut, Cracked Up To Be. It was SO edgy, fierce, written sparingly and effectively. She forced me to identify with a character no one should like, and she left me wanting more.

So I am reluctant to even SAY this, but... I LOVED Some Girls Are even MORE. <3 The meanness of high school girls couldn't have been portrayed more bitterly, more sweetly. Summers shows how the littlest actions/words can be collected, saved, and used against...more

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May 30, 2010 Amanda J rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Pretty Little Liars & Gossip Girl.

Recommended to Amanda J by: Goodreads Giveaway

Shelves: first-reads, young-adult, quick-read

A compelling read about the horrors of high school and the mean girls responsible. Some parents may object to the bad language, sexual subject matter and use of drugs and alcohol, but ultimately the book is about what is really happening in schools. It is written in such a way that teenagers will relate to the characters and hopefully understand the damage bullying does.

In compliance with FTC guidelines, I must disclose that this book was recieved for free through Goodreads First Reads Program...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Kimberly Rex rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

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May 18, 2013 Cecile rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: wtf

3.5*

I'm not sure if I loved this book or hated it.

Highschools in America seem to be in their own little ~~nightmarish~~ bubble. I never experienced this as a teen and I don't think it has to be this way everywhere. Kids are mean. This, we all know. But this? This was psychopathic behavior. The girl gets almost raped and nobody believes her, and worse they BLAME her. But this isn't what shocked me. Her then "ex-friends" try to drown her in self-loathing, as she and them did to others when she was st...more

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Oct 27, 2011 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this one up at my local library along with around 13 other books and Some Girls Are was definatley the best of the bunch. From the very first sentence you're sucked straight into Regina's world of popularity, her little world of perfect (or not so perfect) until an event happens in which a friend in the group of five friends betrays Regina. Regina get 'froze-out' of the in-crowd leaving her to eat lunch with outcast and boy she formerly bullied, Michael. Micheal was completely compellin...more

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Aug 07, 2009 Lori rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: myfriendwrotethis, young-adult

In Some Girls Are, Courtney Summers does what she does best as she portrays a slightly twisted, yet uncomfortably true-to-life view of the modern day high school social scene. This book will surely draw comparisons to movies like Mean Girls and Heathers, but is more grounded in reality than its cinematic predecessors. The characters, from the likable and sympathetic Regina to the evil and conniving Kara, are well-drawn and will certainly remind readers of their own high school classmates. This n...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Abby rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book started off rocky for me.

You could tell from the beginning that it's one of 'those' friendships. I think we've all either seen or experienced it. The ones where they seem perfect on the surface but really they all hate each other, talk about each other, basically just stab each other in the back.

I've seen it myself and I always wonder WHY?

Why would you put yourself through hell, to be popular, to have friends, to have people who 'secretly' hate you and wish you nothing but the worst?

S...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Sarah Marie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ar-books, favorites, i-love-drama, realistic, romance, sexy-guy, young-adult, mind-blown-from-the-awesomeness, best-villains, books-not-in-a-series, crazies

Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

5 stars

Being on the top of Hallowell High’s social ladder means everything, but once fall from the grace you achieved you never come back up. Regina Afton is a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, a clique that is feared, hated, but worshipped by the entire student body. People know not to mess with these girls but what happens when the Fivesome start to mess with each other? Regina Afton made a mistake she told a girl that she knew would backstab her a secret and n

...more

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Jan 28, 2012 Courtney rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: disliked, stupid-hero-heroine, reviewed, ya

When I was in high school, I had my share of bullying, gossip in the locker room and, well, general issues that come with being a girl and being friends with other girls being girls. Some girls were worse than others, and some were pretty decent -- but at some point every girl in high school is going to be at the end or beginning of a rumor: it just happens. So what I was hoping for with Some Girls Are was something real and true and honest about how, at one time or another, we all wrong other p...more

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Feb 03, 2010 Carla rated it 5 of 5 stars

Being the designated driver sucks royally and being the only sober one out of a group of annihilated friends sounds like a riot. That's why Regina hates it, the parties are never fun to begin with, even if you down as many drinks as you can. But trying to find your drunk friends and get them home safely doesn't sound like something dangerous, or does it?

Regina finds her best friend Anna, the most popular girl in school, passed out drunk in the basement. Anna's boyfriend is there, Donnie, but eve...more Being the designated driver sucks royally and being the only sober one out of a group of annihilated friends sounds like a riot. That's why Regina hates it, the parties are never fun to begin with, even if you down as many drinks as you can. But trying to find your drunk friends and get them home safely doesn't sound like something dangerous, or does it?

Regina finds her best friend Anna, the most popular girl in school, passed out drunk in the basement. Anna's boyfriend is there, Donnie, but even though he is as drunk as Anna, he can hold his own. Things start to go horribly wrong when he forces himself on Regina and this sets in motion the events that destroy Regina's so called friendships and spirit. Instead of calling the cops, Regina goes to the only persons house who didn't go to the party; Kara. They decide to keep it a secret because Regina wants to stay friends with Anna, so the attempted rape goes unreported. Well, you see, Kara decides Regina doesn't deserve her place by Anna's side. Monday morning comes as a shock to Regina, she's been frozen out. The Fearsome Fivesome is now the Fearsome Foursome. Can someone who has destroyed lives of others in relentless tirade of attacks, survive senior year in one piece alone, if she is the target?

I have never read a book about bullying, it's not something I have thankfully ever experienced nor witnessed, so I was a but dubious to read this one. Yeah, I've watched movies about the most popular clique in school coming down hard on everyone who gets in their way. I just presumed this was something that was hyped up to be more than it actually was. Yes, I realise bullying is a big issue, I just never really realised how bad bullying can get, how the emotional bullying can hurt just as much as the physical. How one human being can make the lives of others seem worthwhile and not worth living.

This book is a no holds barred tale about severe bullying, how the social structure in high schools can really damage some people, maybe irrevocably. Even though some of the scenes were hard to read, I couldn't look away. I can't stop thinking about this book, it's left a mark on me that only I can see. What I want to know is this, how can people get away with treating others so badly, how can they not realise what they are doing is morally wrong, do they realise that high school is just that. School; a place you go to learn, get yourself ready for the real world, make some life long friends. Not destroy people until you kill their spirit.

And this is where Courtney Summers skill lies; making the characters so lifelike and believeable, you'll be shouting at the pages in horror. The horrors of the extreme lengths some people go to just keep on unfolding, and the only question I asked myself is, why? Regina is a bitch, there's no denying it, and yet I loved her. Does this make me a bad person, or someone who can sympathise with someone who has made mistakes, and realises the damage she may have caused. I'm thinking it's the latter. Even though she continues to plot revenge on her ex-friends and even though she makes some uncalled for moves, I was always certain that she was sorry, actually sorry.

I loved how her friendship with Micheal developed, you could tell from the word choices and dialogue used, just how much he resented her for who she was and what she used to stand for. It was almost subtle how you could see his hatred for her develop into empathy, even though she brought this on herself.

Kara; I can't write this review without saying just a little something about her. I hate this girl. I hate her with all abandon. It's an all consuming thing. I want to drag her out of the pages and kick the crap out of her. I want to knock some sense into her stupid little head. I want to scream at her until my throat hurts. Maybe this makes me as bad as Regina, or maybe as bad as Anna, but seriously, this chick is a bitch with a great big massive capital b.

This is a book that is so complex and a true reflection of what some teens go through every day. Everyone should read this book, in fact, this would be perfect for high school students to read, because maybe they would realise that being mean doesn't get you nowhere, but being kind can carry you where ever you want to go. I am a fully fledged Courtney Summers fan girl, now, where's my pom poms.
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Aug 31, 2010 Book Sp(l)ot rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own, arc, 2010-release

I was lucky enough to get a copy of Courtney Summers' Some Girls Are through Library Thing's Early Reviewer's program--and I'm so glad that I did.

Some Girls Are is a tale of high school bullying (among girls) at, possibly, its worst. Regina Afton is one of the 'Fearsome Fivesome'-the It Girls of her school, but after a rumor starts circulating around school and she's 'frozen out' she sees that as up as she was, she's about to be down.

Reading almost like a Lifetime movie about just how terrible h...more

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Love it or Hate it?	21	169	Nov 10, 2012 07:10am
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