The Darlings are Forever (The Darlings are Forever, #1) by Melissa Kantor

Jan 03, 2011 Carly added it

Shelves: tbf-author

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of “The Darlings Are Forever” (thank you, Stephanie!) and when I, in turn, lent it to another awesome TBF planning committee member, I described it to her as “reminiscent of ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.’” There are no traveling pants. In fact, there are no traveling items of any sort, but that idea of growing up, and more importantly, growing up with great friends, is omnipresent in “Darlings.”

Jane, Victoria, and Natalya have been friends...more

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Jul 23, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Cover:

The Darlings Are Forever, actually had a recent cover change, going from the picture of three girls picnicking in a field, to a bright pink background with fortune cookies. If I was up to me to select a cover, it would be the newer one; it's just brighter and I feel it matches the story and the characters' personalities a lot more!

My Thoughts:

Darlings in Love was what got me into my summer romance novel kick; even though the story itself doesn't take place in the summer months, but it's ju...more Cover:

The Darlings Are Forever, actually had a recent cover change, going from the picture of three girls picnicking in a field, to a bright pink background with fortune cookies. If I was up to me to select a cover, it would be the newer one; it's just brighter and I feel it matches the story and the characters' personalities a lot more!

My Thoughts:

Darlings in Love was what got me into my summer romance novel kick; even though the story itself doesn't take place in the summer months, but it's just a nice and light read to indulge on a hot day at the beach. Loving it so much, I decided to research if Melissa Kantor wrote any other novels I could pick up and gulp down; she does...and one of them is called The Darlings Are Forever, the first book in the series...

So yes, yet again, I read the series out of order, simply because I didn't do my share of research ahead of time.

But now I'm back on track, and again head over heels for the three darlings and Melissa Kantor's writing style! The Darlings Are Forever, is about three teenage girls going into their first year of high school, but each to a different school. Promising each other on the last day of summer, things would never change and they'll always be friends, the girls can't wait to see what high school has in store for them.

Victoria creates her own baking club, Jane gets a part in a major play production, and Natalya becomes friends with a few of her school's most popular girls. Things seems to be going just right, school is treating everyone of them great and they're all still really close, even with their busy schedules!

But things aren't always what they seem to be, and those things start going down hill. Jane starts to have feelings for her play's producer, Victoria gets caught going to a party, and Natalya realizes the girls she thought she became so close with only want to be associated with her because of Victoria and her dad.

The Darlings Are Forever was packed with action, romance, and scandal! If you're looking for that book to get you started on your summer reading this series is it!(less)

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Jun 03, 2012 Julia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Melissa Kantor has been one of my favorite authors since I was in middle school, when Confessions of a Not-It Girl became the first chick-lit novel I ever owned. I've devoured most of her other books, so, even though I'd be hesitant to pick up a novel about high school freshmen by any other writer, I figured I'd give this one a try.

The first few chapters left me doubtful, but Kantor soon developed the three girls into strong, realistic characters. I appreciated how they each had their own streng...more

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Feb 01, 2012 BAYA Librarian rated it 2 of 5 stars

Jane, Victoria and Natalya are best friends living in New York City. They were all very fond of Jane’s sophisticated grandmother Nana who recently passed away. Nana always referred to each girl as “darling”. She encouraged them to be daring and do nontraditional things like ordering virgin pina coladas instead of Shirley Temples. In Nana’s memory, and because nobody else would be calling them darling any longer, the girls decided to name themselves “The Darlings.” The story begins as the girls a...more

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Jul 31, 2011 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

Jane, Victoria, and Natalya are best friends facing a challenge--they're starting high school now, but at three different schools in NYC! Can they maintain their close connection? Jane will be attending a performing arts high school and is immediately drawn into multiple dramas of all types, including a role in the fall production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with a totally crushworthy director. Victoria will attend a magnet school close to her home, but her dad is running for the Senate and she...more

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Jul 08, 2011 Cindy Hudson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane, Victoria and Natalya have gone to the same New York City school since day one, but now that they’re about to enter high school, they’ll all be headed to different places. Super smart Natalya got a scholarship to a prestigious school, artsy Jane was accepted into the performing arts school and quiet Victoria is headed to the same high school her sister graduated from with honors.

To quell their nerves at starting new adventures, they remind themselves that Jane’s grandmother had once advised...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Jane, Victoria and Natalya have been friends since they were 5 and began attending school together in NYC. Now they are about to begin their freshman year at 3 separate high schools. Jane is thrilled to be attending the Academy of Performing Arts. Natalya was honored to be accepted at the prestigious Gainsford Academy. And, Victoria is enrolled at Morningside Magnet High School. While each of the girls are excited about their new schools, they are also concerned about what it will mean to their...more Jane, Victoria and Natalya have been friends since they were 5 and began attending school together in NYC. Now they are about to begin their freshman year at 3 separate high schools. Jane is thrilled to be attending the Academy of Performing Arts. Natalya was honored to be accepted at the prestigious Gainsford Academy. And, Victoria is enrolled at Morningside Magnet High School. While each of the girls are excited about their new schools, they are also concerned about what it will mean to their friendship. How will they find time to go to school, do homework, be involved in extracurricular activities and still find time to spend together? Jane has her eyes set on being in the cast of the main stage production even though only one freshman has ever been chosen. And it didn't hurt that Mr. Robbins, the director, was so young and good-looking. Victoria is dealing with being in the spotlight since her father is running for the U.S. Senate and also trying to step out of her older sister's shadow and find her own place. Jack, the cute photographer from the school newspaper, might be just the person she needs to help her. Natalya is wondering how a girl from a working class family will fit in with the kids from some of the wealthiest and most well-known families in the city. Will they like her for who she is or because she is friends wit a future Senator's daughter? Each of the girls will face unforeseen challenges and decisions that will test not only their friendship but also their own core values.

My Thoughts:
I liked these girls. Each one was an individual and was a nice girl trying to do the best she could be. I also liked the challenges that each girl faced in the story. They seemed to be real problems that high school girls would face. The situations weren't huge, overly dramatic issues like sex, drugs, illegal activity, etc, but things like fitting in, making friends, loyalty, trustworthiness and so on. I found myself wondering if these were the thoughts and activities of young 14 year olds or if they would have been more consistent with girls a couple of years older. The difference may be that I was raised and raised my children in small-town Midwest whereas these girls live in NYC and have freedoms that seem unrealistic to me.

I would recommend this book to younger teens.

Janeth (Andye's mom)
http://ReadingTeen.net/(less)

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Mar 23, 2011 Rachael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jane, Victoria, and Natalya have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They have their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, matching necklaces, and even a motto: may you always do what you’re afraid of doing. But when the girls start their freshman year at three different high schools around New York City, facing their fears may not be as easy now that each is on her own. The Darlings are finding it hard enough to find the time to get together amidst all of Natalya’s homework, Victoria’s fat...more Jane, Victoria, and Natalya have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They have their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, matching necklaces, and even a motto: may you always do what you’re afraid of doing. But when the girls start their freshman year at three different high schools around New York City, facing their fears may not be as easy now that each is on her own. The Darlings are finding it hard enough to find the time to get together amidst all of Natalya’s homework, Victoria’s father’s political campaign, and Jane’s drama rehearsals. With so much time apart and feeling alone in scary new settings, the wonderful friendship these girls share starts to fray at the seams. Can Jane, Victoria, and Natalya find out what being a Darling really means and come together again before it’s too late?

The Darlings Are Forever is a heartwarming and innocent look at friendship in a tumultuous time in life. What I loved most about this novel was most definitely the characters. Every girl who can recall the scary transition between middle and high school, high school and college, or transferring to a new school will be able to relate to Jane’s, Victoria’s, and Natalya’s struggles and insecurities as they begin high school without their support group of friends. I really like that this story was so clean; Kantor is free to really delve into each Darling’s personal issues without the distractions of alcohol, drugs, shoplifting, or the like. I feel that the innocence of the story makes it stronger because it makes it all the more accessible for teen girls whose primary concerns include boys, friends, and being accepted. The whole story is enjoyable to read, as it entertains readers with a wonderful mix of New York City glitz and the lighter side of high school drama. I was quite won over by The Darlings Are Forever and its sweet portrayal of high school life and friendship, and I can’t wait to see more of the Darlings in The Darlings in Love.

This novel is sure to be enjoyed by fans of The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer, Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci, and Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.

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

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Feb 24, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

This one sounded like a fun read but it did not have the bling of the paranormal young adult books out there these days. I was pleasantly surprised as it gripped me the same way that the Baby-Sitter's Club books did way back in the day. I think most people will be able to relate to at least one of the Darlings as they all face a variety of fears as they enter their first year of high school and to top it off they are all going to different schools. The insecurities each experiences are ones I im...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Danna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

I haven’t read any of Melissa Kantor’s books, but I have wanted to for a while so I was glad to receive a copy for review.
The Darlings are three best friends (Jane, Victoria, and Natalya) who are about to start high school. The thing is that they’re going to different high schools! I found it enjoyable how even though they were going to different schools, they still found time to be best friends. I think that my favorite character was Victoria. I could relate to her because she was the “goody tw...more

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Jan 25, 2011 The Bookologist rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs-i-own, for-review, jan2011

Light-hearted and charming, The Darlings Are Forever beautifully shadows the life of three teenagers on a test of their friendship. Kantor has created a realistic contemporary novel that bases on friendship and a little on romance.

Kantor’s writing is smooth and fluent. It gets a bit chatty at times, which I love because it’s friendly and not too formal. The different points of view in each chapter helped me understand and get into their minds. Each chapter always left me desiring to read more.

Ja...more

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Jan 15, 2011 Christi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

I thought this was a very sweet book and a great start to a new series. For much of the novel I was thinking it was a very sweet, innocent story (and it many ways it remained so), but there were just a few scenes that had me remembering that these girls are high school freshmen, not middle school girls.

Is freshman year awkward for everyone, or was that just me? Starting a new school, being a little fish in a really big pond...add to that not knowing a soul in that new school, and perhaps you can...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Darlings are Forever by Melissa Kantor follows three best friends as they have to separate for the first time as they attend different high schools and face different problems. Jane is a talented actress attending a performing arts high school dealing with the pressures of being the only freshman in the big school play. Victoria is the daughter of a senate hopeful who is looking to find an identity and a voice in her life. Natalya is a genius who has won a scholarship to a very exclusive pri...more

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May 17, 2012 Brittany Brown added it

"The Darlings Are Forever", is about three girls who have grown up together, and always went to the same school. their senior year they all move to different schools. Which is very difficult for them because they are so close. Then main character jane her grandmother passes away which is very hard for the girls because she was so close to them. This was a light and easy read and also pretty good.

The author of this book is Melissa Kantor writes similar books to this. In a way that they all involv...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Angelc rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book uses what I call "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" format, where the story alternates chapters told from different girls' points of view. This format is a win for me nearly every time and "The Darlings" is no exception. The author succeeds in writing three very different, very likable girls and their adventures on their own and together.

The book has a great message- "always do what you're afraid of doing." Of course, the girls discover there's a limit, and sometimes you're scared...more

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Jan 26, 2011 Britta rated it 4 of 5 stars

See review on I Like These Books

The Darlings Are Forever is a really cute novel and a great beginning to a new series by Melissa Kantor. It took a few chapters to get into, but once I did, I was hooked! I was delighted by the humor and friendship the girls share. I was also very surprised when a few scandals came out, I was not expecting them, but boy (pun intended) did I like them.

This novel follows the lives of three best friends: Jane, Victoria and Natalya. Having spent every minute togethe...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Cristina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Well, after a lengthy hiatus, I am back! Did you miss me?

The last 2 books I read, were period pieces. So this time I decided I'd like to bring things into the modern ages. Introduce, the Darlings!

Now don't get me wrong, the last 2 books were both phenominal. But I did want to break things up a little. Needless to say when your on a good streak, it has to end at some point. And for me it ended with this book.

Now I have to say, my opinion of this book may be a little influenced. While I was read...more Well, after a lengthy hiatus, I am back! Did you miss me?

The last 2 books I read, were period pieces. So this time I decided I'd like to bring things into the modern ages. Introduce, the Darlings!

Now don't get me wrong, the last 2 books were both phenominal. But I did want to break things up a little. Needless to say when your on a good streak, it has to end at some point. And for me it ended with this book.

Now I have to say, my opinion of this book may be a little influenced. While I was reading this book I was experiencing a week long migraine that had me in tears, and major dizzyness. That being said, it was pretty hard to conentrate on reading, or anything else for that matter. Being that I was in extreme pain I feel like my review, or opinions, of this book my be influenced by that. So this is one book you may want to read and decide for yourself!

This book is about 3 best friends Natalya, Victoria and Jane, the "Darlings" as Nana called them. This book follows the story of these 3 girls, or Darlings, through their first year of highschool. The Darlings have always done everything together, so this year will be a true test to their friendship as they embark on their lives at 3 seperate schools! This is the story of fear, loss, highschool freshman, and friendship!

I do have to say, I was not at all in love with this book. It could have been the horrible migraine, but I found the story very hard to keep up with. The story is told from the viewpoint of all 3 girls, and goes back and forth in the story telling. I found it very hard to keep straight, again this could be the migraine. 3 diffrent girls, going to 3 diffrent schools, with 3 diffrent sets of families, 3 diffrent love intrests ( each girl had her own, some more than one, oh my! ) 3 diffrent sets of famillies, 3 diffrent sets of school friends, you get the idea! Needless to say, I was a good half to 3 qaurters of the way through with this book before I finally got the girls and their lives straight!

I found the storyline to be very predictable, and not very intresting. Definately not a book I recommend, but again you will probably want to read this one for yourself! My massive migraine I am sure would have kept any book, regardless of what it was, from being enjoyable!

The one aspect of the book that I did enjoy, was the author's honesty of childhood friends growing up. When you hit that critical age, are you going to stay friends forever? or will you grow apart and go your own ways?

There is a sequel, "The Darlings in Love" ( is that any suprise with so many love intrests???) that will be out in January 2012. *sigh* I will probably read that one too, grudgingly, mainly because the book cover is cute, and also because I want to see if I will enjoy the Darlings more minus the headache.

This is one book I am glad I checked out from my local library!
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Feb 06, 2011 Amber rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, reviews

With a market crowded with dark paranormal romances, a lot of the younger teenage audience is forgotten. This is absolutely a novel for them.The Darling Are Forever follows three girls as they go their seperate ways for their first year in high school. Filled with a girl for every teen, a bunch of real life situations, and the power of real friendship, I defy any reader not to be charmed up until the last word.

Victoria is the plain jane type of girl. She doesn't think there is anything special a...more With a market crowded with dark paranormal romances, a lot of the younger teenage audience is forgotten. This is absolutely a novel for them.The Darling Are Forever follows three girls as they go their seperate ways for their first year in high school. Filled with a girl for every teen, a bunch of real life situations, and the power of real friendship, I defy any reader not to be charmed up until the last word.

Victoria is the plain jane type of girl. She doesn't think there is anything special about herself but she's wrong. Victoria was the even center, the one that held the other two girls together, and she was my favorite. I felt like she was the most grounded of the three and I related to her problems the most. She was a bit of a baby but I could understand why she acted the way she did and it seemed the most plausible to me. Plus, I fell in love with Jack right along with her.

I liked Natalya because she was intelligent but she also bothered me because of that same fact. I felt like Natalya was too smart to end up in the situation that she did. She had found some good friends that were nice to her so I don't see why she decided to dump everyone else because the popular girls decided to talk to her. It would have been one thing if she didn't figure out why they liked her but she knew that it was because of Victoria. I guess if I'd had a bit more of an inkling that she was unhappy with who she was or what she came from in the beginning of the novel, it would have made more since for her to head down this path.

I think we were supposed to be mad at Jane while reading the chapters that followed Natalya but I couldn't be because I really thought Jane was right. Jane doesn't really have a sensor and she felt like something was off with Natalya so she told her. Good for Jane. Though Jane's big mouth and reckless abandon did get her in trouble, her character added the spice to the novel that it would have otherwise been lacking. I really enjoyed being in the theater with her and found myself most engaged in those chapters.

The plot was predictable but it was okay. I was expecting these girls to end up spreading apart from each other only to be pushed back together when they realized this. Even the way they did it was predictable. But the writing was charming and so were the characters so it didn't bother me. I do feel like this one is definitely for younger audiences and at times I felt The Darlings boarded dangerously close to being a bit preachy. The "moral of the story" wasn't covered up too much. But again, for younger audiences, this isn't a bad thing. Plus it was written well and the pages were easy to turn so it will definitely keep interest.

I gave this one a 3.5 because while it was a great contemp, it was a bit young for my taste. I should say that this in no way means that it wasn't well written or adorable. It was absolutely both. It just wasn't my cup of tea but I'm absolutely happy to have read it. With a great cast of girls that any teen can relate to, a well written plot with something to say and a whole lot of fun, The Darlings Are Forever is a charmer.(less)

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Feb 02, 2011 Brandi Kosiner added it

The Darlings are forever follows three friends in their process of growing up and finding themselves. It is not the most original but I was caught up in their stories. The blend of interests, nationalities, and personalities really made the story.
I can't wait to read more about the girls, because all of the plots were not wrapped up the way I would have wanted. But its in a good way, wanting more!
Victoria's crush on Jack is sweet, and it is refreshing not to have a love at first sight.
Jan...more

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Feb 02, 2011 Mary (BookHounds) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, from-publisher-author, young-adult

May you always do what you are afraid of doing!

This is the motto of three girls together from grade school and now off to separate high schools. This trio now has to face life without the support of each other on a daily basis. They each go their own way and have to make choices about how they want their lives to go now.

Jane, who wants to be an actress ends up at the High School for the Performing Arts. She gets a part in a main stage play, which is rare for a freshman. She ends up a little bit...more May you always do what you are afraid of doing!

This is the motto of three girls together from grade school and now off to separate high schools. This trio now has to face life without the support of each other on a daily basis. They each go their own way and have to make choices about how they want their lives to go now.

Jane, who wants to be an actress ends up at the High School for the Performing Arts. She gets a part in a main stage play, which is rare for a freshman. She ends up a little bit over her head and imagines her director has feelings for her which in reality are just his way of supporting her in a difficult part.

Natalya, probably my favorite, ends up a scholarship student at a fancy private high school where she tries hard to fit in with the in crowd. These new friends end up using her and causing problems for Victoria. Natalya tries so hard to be everything to everyone and when she finally finds herself noticed (for all the wrong reasons), she has a true learning experience.

Victoria, the perfect one, well, not in her eyes, but that is how she is viewed by her family. She normally keeps to herself and her long trusted friends, but when thrust into public high school by herself, she loses her identity. Victoria's father is running for Senate, so everything she does is now front page news. Innocent, normal teenage issues cause her untold grief.

The story unites the friends through all of these issues and strengthens the bond between them at the end. The Darlings, as they have named themselves, all have major learning lessons in the story. I read this one straight through and if you are looking for a book to give a young teen, this should be your pick. This is one of the few books that don't have a lot of romance, but show what really happens to 14 year old girls when they face the world on their own. It is just so positive how Kantor has the girls work through their issues and remain friends. I cheered for them throughout the book.

This one is probably safe for those over 12. There is one instance of drinking at a party, yet the girls left as soon as they realized it. Not much romance and just once instance of a school girl crush on a teacher that the teacher handled perfectly. Of course, there is a safe sex lesson in here with one scene about how to use a condom with a banana. I really recommend this one to everyone!

I received this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
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Feb 28, 2011 Lizzy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've found that in many YA books, I tend to have major issues with characters who have unrealistic problems. The Darlings Are Forever is a book which deals with realistic issues, and strong teen characters. Jane, Natalya, and Victoria are all headed to separate high schools, and this strains their friendship. They each have their own individual issues, and those build up until things reach a breaking point in their friendship. Fights/arguments in YA always risk the possibility of seeming silly....more

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Jan 30, 2011 Liz Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: authors-i-have-interviewed, recommended, ultimate-ya-authors

This book is a tale of 3 best friends learning how to live apart for the first time as the enter a new phase of their lives: high school. As they find new struggles they wonder: will the Darlings truly be forever?

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Apr 08, 2012 Cordelia Schiller rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you liked The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants you will LOVE this book. It follows three best friends,each starting at different high schools. My favorite is Victoria, a shy girl who finds herself in the spotlight because her dad is running for office. Then there's Jane, the dramatic, spunky,confident actress at theater school. And Natalya, a smart girl with a scholarship to one of the top schools in New York City, which, by the way, is where the book is set. There is romance and friendship...more

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Jan 29, 2011 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book is not something I would normally read because of its girly-ness, but the girly-ness is exactly what I ended up liking about it. In the tradition of all tales that explore girl friendships and the ties that bind them, The Darlings Are Forever follows three friends as they attempt to stay friends when entering three different high schools. At the beginning of the book, they vow to try to do things they are afraid to do in memory of Jane's beloved Nana, who has recently passed away. The...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Kathryn (Beastie Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was such a cute and fun book! I love contemporary fiction, but it seems like there's a battle between the gritty emotional contemporary and the light and fun contemporary. While I'm a fan of both it's nice to sit back and relax with a fun books every now and again.

Going into The Darlings Are Forever I was worried for two reasons. (1) There were three main characters and the chapters switched off on who it was about. (2) It was in third person.

Now I don't have a problem with third person...more This was such a cute and fun book! I love contemporary fiction, but it seems like there's a battle between the gritty emotional contemporary and the light and fun contemporary. While I'm a fan of both it's nice to sit back and relax with a fun books every now and again.

Going into The Darlings Are Forever I was worried for two reasons. (1) There were three main characters and the chapters switched off on who it was about. (2) It was in third person.

Now I don't have a problem with third person narration per se, but I usually have a harder time connecting with characters in a third person narrated novel. That was not the case here. I found each of the girls voice and personality completely separate and distinct so I had no trouble at all keeping the characters straight.

I love the plot of this book. It's always scary going somewhere new, and being separated from your best friends only makes it worse. I think Melissa did a wonderful job capturing the friendship between these three girls and made it very realistic and believable.

Now let's talk about each character, shall we?

Jane: I could tell that she was the confident one who wasn't afraid of speaking her mind and going for what she wanted. She was a fun character to read because she always had big dreams and wasn't afraid to do what needed to be done to get them. I found the whole thing with Mr. Robbins kind of weird, but I was happy that she finally came to her senses.

Victoria: She was definitely the nice girl who wasn't accustomed to a lot of attention (as noted by her reactions to the media). Something about her made her my favorite to read about. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn't very confident yet she still did the things that scared her and learned to deal with hard situations.

Natalya: Natalya was possibly my least favorite character. She irked me throughout the whole novel. Now don't get me wrong, she was a great friend. I understand why she wanted to fit in with Morgan and her clique, but what annoyed me was that she knew they just wanted to be her friend to get close to Victoria yet she did nothing to stop them. If anything she tried harder to please them. Thankfully (like Jane) she came to her senses.

Overall this was a very fun book. It had good believable characters who make mistakes just like everyone. I think it will be easy for a lot of girls to relate to the Darlings. The plot was great and well paced, and I was quite pleased to see there's a sequel, The Darlings In Love. (less)

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Jan 07, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

THE DARLINGS ARE FOREVER, by Melissa Kantor, is definitely a girl-bonding book. Three best gal pals from New York City are entering high school, at three different schools. They make a promise that their friendship won't change, but without each other they are forced to find who they are as individuals. They encounter cliques, boys, and the desire to fit in.

Honestly in after the first chapter I didn't think I would like this book. I have an issue when too many characters are introduced in a book...more

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Jan 31, 2011 Melissa (i swim for oceans) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, chick-lit

Jane, Victoria and Natalya are best friends – always have been, always will be. They’ve been inseparable since kindergarten, but the time has finally come for the three girls to separate when they entered high school. One is in school for performing arts, one is desperate to stay under the radar while her father runs for Senate, and the third is attending a prestigious private school on scholarship. Three best friends now have three separate paths and must find the time to remain the best of fri...more Jane, Victoria and Natalya are best friends – always have been, always will be. They’ve been inseparable since kindergarten, but the time has finally come for the three girls to separate when they entered high school. One is in school for performing arts, one is desperate to stay under the radar while her father runs for Senate, and the third is attending a prestigious private school on scholarship. Three best friends now have three separate paths and must find the time to remain the best of friends or go their separate ways and grow apart.

When I received this book for review, it was described as a cross between The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Sex & the City for the younger lot. First of all, let me say how much I loathe people saying this book is the “next something,” or “this book for the younger lot.” It implies too much, and it takes something away from the originality of the story for me, making it feel a bit lackluster and unappealing. I tend to look for things that break the mold. All that aside though, The Darlings are Forever is a sweet and sassy tale of three friends growing up and learning to stay the best of friends through both thick and thin. Melissa Kantor has a definitive writing voice that’s simple but accessible, and masters multiple points of view with ease.

The Darlings of Forever is, perhaps, not the most original story, but it’s definitely well-written and appealing despite not necessarily thinking outside of the contemporary fiction box. The three girls, Jane, Victoria and Natalya were each well-rounded and individual, they had their own voices and story lines, and the plot delicately wove these three stories into a single, sweeping arc about growing up and the value of friendship overpowering differences. The Darlings are Forever manages to balance three separate viewpoints and still hold individual voices for each, which is tricky, so I definitely appreciated that. I also thought the individual love interests were sweet and simple – not overdone or cliché – just nice and sweet, going with the theme of the book.

We all know I’m not the biggest fan of contemps, so when a book defies the odds and exceeds my expectations, you better believe I’m going to sing its praises. The Darlings are Forever is sweet and refreshing, and perhaps the most realistic portrayal of young girls growing up and being friends because, hey, not all teens are into drugs/sex/partying. I give it a very strong 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend this to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy a good chick-lit and contemporary fiction.(less)

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Oct 12, 2011 J.Elle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Three best friends are about to start high school at three different prestigious New York schools. It will be the first time in “forever” that they are separated. And thus begins an account of how they weather being their own individual selves at their new schools while still maintaining their friendship. Personally, this was too young for my tastes. It’s definitely aimed at the younger YA market. But I cannot blame the book for this since I’m the adult still reading YA. I suspect this would be...more

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Feb 14, 2011 Christina (Confessions of a Book Addict) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Three best friends, Jane, Victoria, and Natalya, all are starting high school, but will be attending three different schools in New York City. Jane is attending a school to pursue acting, Victoria is attending a private school, but feels like she can never live up to her sister's greatness, and finally, Natalya is attending a prestigious school, but it's filled with wealthy girls and Natalya definitely isn't wealthy as she is there on scholarship. All three girls are nervous to branch out and st...more Three best friends, Jane, Victoria, and Natalya, all are starting high school, but will be attending three different schools in New York City. Jane is attending a school to pursue acting, Victoria is attending a private school, but feels like she can never live up to her sister's greatness, and finally, Natalya is attending a prestigious school, but it's filled with wealthy girls and Natalya definitely isn't wealthy as she is there on scholarship. All three girls are nervous to branch out and start new chapters in their lives, but they know that they have each other; after all, they are the Darlings. Melissa Kantor's The Darlings Are Forever is a start to a new contemporary series that promises a lot of fun for three best friends in New York City.

I think most teenage girls can find a little bit of themselves in at least one of these characters. It was interesting to follow each girl and although they encounter many different problems that inevitably occur in high school, it was nice to see such strong friendships through it all. I probably haven't encountered this since reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, which I adored. Jane is truly a drama queen and is gutsy, which I liked. Victoria comes from an ambitious family; her father is in politics, her mother is successful and her sister attends Princeton. Victoria often feels "not as important" in her family as she would rather bake something than watch CNN and discuss politics. Natalya is a sweet girl that is trying to adjust to attending school with a bunch of rich "mean" girls. She is super-smart and has a love connection with a "nerd," who was such a cutie and I was a big fan of him! All three girls are very different, but Kantor does a great job of making them relatable.

I like the message for girls in this book. The main theme of the novel and the motto the girls refer to is "may you always do what you are afraid of doing." I think this is a good message for girls at the middle school and high school level. Oftentimes fear holds many girls back, but all three girls really branched out and grew. They supported each other and didn't hold each other back, like many friends at this age do; in fact, they challenged each other to "go for it" and I thought it was powerful.

I will definitely be putting this one in my classroom library and I haven't been able to say that lately. I think my middle school girls will really enjoy this book and will be able to relate quite easily to all three characters. Granted some parts of this story were slow and predictable, but overall, it was an entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what else Kantor has up her sleeve for these three lovely young ladies in the sequel, The Darlings in Love. (less)

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May 01, 2012 Sara (of the Page Sage) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Page Sage

The Darlings are Forever feels like a grown up version of The Beacon Street Girls (anyone else read those when they were younger?) and a slightly younger version of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. The friendship has so much heart and warmth. Each of the girls grow as their first year of high school progresses, and the problems that arise are realistic, if a little trite. Much of the plot line was predictable, but Darlings is perfect for anyone looking for a light, fun read.

Ka...more

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