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12th out of 71 books
—
694 voters
Ruined (How to Ruin #1-3)
Available exclusively through Borders, Simone Elkeles's 'How to Ruin' series combined into one book.
One girl
Two guys
Three hot summers
'How to Ruin a Summer Vacation'
Leaving Chicago to go to Israel with her estranged father is the last thing sixteen-year-old Amy wants to do--until she meets handsome but aloof Avi, an eighteen-year-old soldier in the Israeli army.
'How to Ruin...more
One girl
Two guys
Three hot summers
'How to Ruin a Summer Vacation'
Leaving Chicago to go to Israel with her estranged father is the last thing sixteen-year-old Amy wants to do--until she meets handsome but aloof Avi, an eighteen-year-old soldier in the Israeli army.
'How to Ruin...more
Paperback, Borders Exclusive, 779 pages
Published
September 2010
by Flux
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Hey, Simone! Well, I'll get straight to the point. Yesterday, I was TOTALLY gonna buy the three How to Ruin books at Borders but the first book (How to Ruin a Summer Vacation) wasn't there. But I saw RUINED, which contained ALL 3 BOOKS! I FLIPPED!!!! And it was only $9.99! I couldn't have asked for more. But, the thing is, my dad was there and once he saw the cover it pretty much went down-hill from there. Now, I'm stuck reading the Bible for I don't know how long. No joke. My dad instantly told...more
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After finishing Chain Reaction, I decided to dust off Simone Elkeles's first series which I already had but never got a chance to read. After finishing all three books (How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, How to Ruin My Teenage Life, and How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation), I've decided this particular author has improved leaps and bounds over the years. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy these books, but they were clearly written by a less experienced author. The best way I can put it is this: it...more
Wow! Where do I start?
I'm a HUGE fan of Simone Elkeles, anyone who knows me personally can attest to the fact that many, MANY of my stauts updates include quotes from her books. While many of her other books are humorous, they also take us to a deeper, darker place and teach so many life lessons that I seriously think they should be required reading for all teens in, say, 8th grade english.
The Ruined series, however, not only teaches lessons but cranks that humor up about 12 levels. This woman,...more
I'm a HUGE fan of Simone Elkeles, anyone who knows me personally can attest to the fact that many, MANY of my stauts updates include quotes from her books. While many of her other books are humorous, they also take us to a deeper, darker place and teach so many life lessons that I seriously think they should be required reading for all teens in, say, 8th grade english.
The Ruined series, however, not only teaches lessons but cranks that humor up about 12 levels. This woman,...more
I had fun reading these. Amy is admittedly, incredibly annoying. She's one of those characters that are very immature and has to learn how to grow up. There are times when she does and times when she backtracks into being her. This will probably annoy a lot of people. There were times when she did, but at the same time I liked that the character didn't have one moment that made her alter for good and suddenly change herself completely. It's a process that has to be worked on. However, she was st...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Por alguna razon le di 5 de 5 estrellas a esta saga y preferi hace un comentario sobre los tres juntos. Recomiendo esta saga a cualquiera que quiera reir a carcajadas y ponerse a pensar seriamente sobre lo que estamos haciendo con nuestra vida, aprendi que el amor verdadero existe solo hay que saber en donde buscar, que hasta una chica malcriada de chicago se puede enamorar del mas guapo soldado israeli y mantener esa relacion por muchisimo tiempo. aprendi de la religio judia y me imagine estand...more
The first thought that came to my mind while i was reading this book: DEAR JOHN!!! it's like an israeli version of dear john!!
I really liked this book. i think it was really romantic. i loved Avi and i loved Amy, she was really different from most protagonists in books.
i rarely laugh WHILE im reading a book, but while reading this i found my mom shouting at me from the other room: "WHAtS SO FUNNY?"
Another part of me thought that this book was a little bit unrealistic, i cant really explain...more
I really liked this book. i think it was really romantic. i loved Avi and i loved Amy, she was really different from most protagonists in books.
i rarely laugh WHILE im reading a book, but while reading this i found my mom shouting at me from the other room: "WHAtS SO FUNNY?"
Another part of me thought that this book was a little bit unrealistic, i cant really explain...more
This was another great effort from Simone Eckeles. This book is 3 titles in one (exclusive with Borders) and had a great flow through all 3. This book dealt with teenage romance, Mid East politics, religion and spirituality, family challenges and finding yourself. She did this through humor and heartfelt moments. Though I found Amy annoying at times, I understand what made her unique and why everyone loved her so much. I love the way she took the time to build up Amy's relationships with Avi, Na...more
I read these three books separately but saves me writing a review 3 times :)
I loved these books, they are funny and just plain great. There girly too which is great because I'm a sucker for a good romantic story and these books take it that little bit extra by adding in real life things such as split family's, bad relationships, jealousy, army, war, religion...but it doesn't bore the reader it keeps them entertained and that's what I like about books!
Amy and Avi and are just too CUTE I have got...more
I loved these books, they are funny and just plain great. There girly too which is great because I'm a sucker for a good romantic story and these books take it that little bit extra by adding in real life things such as split family's, bad relationships, jealousy, army, war, religion...but it doesn't bore the reader it keeps them entertained and that's what I like about books!
Amy and Avi and are just too CUTE I have got...more
If you like suspense and adrenaline running through your body while your reading, Ruined, is the book for you. Ruined is a three book romance novel written by Simone Elkeles about a seventeen year old girl name, Amy, who is trying to learn what being herself truly means. While she's dragged to Israel by her father she meets an eighteen year old guy name Avi, and they start to have this romantic summer fling. But when the summer is over Amy is forced to return to America while Avi has to stay beh...more
This is a compilation of all 3 of the ruined books. Part of me wishes Simone Elkeles had stopped at the sequel. I felt like the third book was the same issue as the second book just told from the opposite perspective. I also didn't think it was too realistic that Amy and Avi wouldn't have sex. I get Amy's reasons for holding out, it just didn't seem realistic to the situation they were in. In any case, I thought Amy and Avi were fun, but the secondary characters were really under developed. Defi...more
First off, I have never in my life heard of a Young Adult book that circled around Judaism. None. Simone bases this book on life in Israel, and is very interesting for the people who've never been there or want to learn more. Let's start with the main character, Amy. She's half Jewish, fun, strong willed, stubborn, high-maintenance, and impulsive. If you give her a challenge, she'll take it and wont stop until it's done. She does it without breaking a nail, which is always important to her. In t...more
I really enjoyed reading this series. Though it took me a while to get through it, all the books were great. I loved reading about Amy and learning about her life.
In the first book, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, Amy is dragged to Israel with her non-existent father and there she began to find herself. I loved Amy not discovering who she is but finding her place in this world. All the time she felt lost and insecure. She is one heck of a feisty person. I loved her nicknames for the people for na...more
In the first book, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, Amy is dragged to Israel with her non-existent father and there she began to find herself. I loved Amy not discovering who she is but finding her place in this world. All the time she felt lost and insecure. She is one heck of a feisty person. I loved her nicknames for the people for na...more
I never expected to like this book series (Ruined Book 1-3), but honestly I’ve really enjoyed reading it. It was mostly entertaining because it was about a sixteen-year old young woman’s struggle in understanding her many complexities in her young life.
But Amy’s summer vacation in Israel which she absolutely loathed in the beginning had dramatically changed her many views in life. And as her story unfolded, I was able to appreciate the transformation in her especially when she had had to deal w...more
But Amy’s summer vacation in Israel which she absolutely loathed in the beginning had dramatically changed her many views in life. And as her story unfolded, I was able to appreciate the transformation in her especially when she had had to deal w...more
After over two months, I finally have to accept the fact that I don't really like this book. I've tried to finish it many times, but I just can't force myself to complete it. The cover is fantastic, but the contents aren't quite as good.
This book is an omnibus of three novels: How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, ,i> How to Ruin My Teenage Life, and How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation. As the seal on the cover explains, this omnibus is currently only available at Borders.
The first tells the st...more
This book is an omnibus of three novels: How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, ,i> How to Ruin My Teenage Life, and How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation. As the seal on the cover explains, this omnibus is currently only available at Borders.
The first tells the st...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Not my favorite work by this author, but a fun read nonetheless. My favorite book by Simone is Perfect Chemistry.
As far as Ruined goes I enjoyed the scenery, but I found the development borderline unbelievable. Location and people in the book were also fun to read about.
Simone Elkeles is an author I enjoy. Hence I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes love stories without the intrinsic details of a traditional romance novel.
This is a YA novel. The characters are teens going into adul...more
As far as Ruined goes I enjoyed the scenery, but I found the development borderline unbelievable. Location and people in the book were also fun to read about.
Simone Elkeles is an author I enjoy. Hence I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes love stories without the intrinsic details of a traditional romance novel.
This is a YA novel. The characters are teens going into adul...more
I love Simone Elkeles and this is the only series by her I hadn't yet read, so when I found it all together in one book, of course I had to get it. And I was not disappointed. I devoured this book. I have to remind myself that when I pick up a Simone Elkeles book, that I have to make sure I don't have anything else to do, because I just can't put her books down.
If you haven't read any of these books, I highly recommend doing it in this form, so you have them all at your fingertips and can read...more
If you haven't read any of these books, I highly recommend doing it in this form, so you have them all at your fingertips and can read...more
Oh my god I loved this book so much at first Amy's attitude pissed me off to no extent but as the book went on her characteristics were important to how her and avi's relationship progressed. The fact that she was reckless for love and did anything to be with him made me smile because love is strong whether or not god set you up in the first place. There's always a reason for everything.
I loved this book so much.
It was diffrent from what I usually read. there was isrial, the isriali army, learning hebrew, learning about your religion, and finding out where you came from at 16 relationships( love, friends, and family)
At the end I just wish this book would never end. I would LOVE if there wout be a fourth book.
Over all: AMAZING!
It was diffrent from what I usually read. there was isrial, the isriali army, learning hebrew, learning about your religion, and finding out where you came from at 16 relationships( love, friends, and family)
At the end I just wish this book would never end. I would LOVE if there wout be a fourth book.
Over all: AMAZING!
ooooh. so good. Amy was an interesting sort of heroine-she was a bit spoiled and didn't think things through, but in the end it made situations more interesting. I think Avi was a GREAT character <3
but then again, he was made as one haha.
I actually learned a lot about Israel from this-not in a historical sense, but in the average day to day person-though it's not like simone elkeles is an Israeli. She seems to have done her research.
but then again, he was made as one haha.
I actually learned a lot about Israel from this-not in a historical sense, but in the average day to day person-though it's not like simone elkeles is an Israeli. She seems to have done her research.
I loved having the 3 books bound in one cover. The main character was funny and serious. It made me think of what it would be like to be a teen in Israel. So much history in that country and so much war mixed with heartbreak. I was compelled to finish this story. I almost feel like there could be one more book there. I still think about them.
Amazingly entertaining, funny and a heartwarming tale of one's girl's knack for ruining things - and how maybe, on a trip of family and self-discovery to Israel, she can realise (with a little help from her whacky family, her not-so-father father and Avi (the Brooding One)) that not everything in life is ruined if you know how to look at it.
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this book is now one of my favorites! it's about a girl amy who is sent away to israel to meet her fathers family. the father who walked out on her and her mom. when she goes to see them she meets avi a hot and very strong guy who well hates her just as much as she hates him. the only thing is he is very helpful and nice to her and helps her with all of her problems. so maybe he does like her. when they start to learn about each other there and bond maybe too much for her. and what happens when...more
This is like my favorite series that doesn't involve angels or any other mythical creatures!! I can read this series all day everyday because it's that good!! Amy is somebody any teenage girl who has boy issues can relate to and that's what I like about this series. Also, the guys are pretty hot ;)
This books are AWESOME. I relate soo much to Amy. I think Avi is soo great and at time I didn't think that Amy deserved him. But at other times I felt that she did. Either way I relate to this because I live in the same city as Amy and I am the same religion as hers to. And, I've been to Israel as well. WONDERFUL read!
I absolutely loved this book. I read all three books in about a day or two. I could not put it down. It makes me really want to go to Israel. It is a book i will never forget. It is a great read. It was so good I continue to go back and reread parts of the book.
So i just bought this book yesterday, and i can't put it down. Amy just cracks me up, she just attracks trouble like a magnet. I can't wait to read the end of the book and i'm soo glad that i don't have to wait for all the books to be out!!
It was great! I wish there was another book to Amy and Ari's story!!!
It was great! I wish there was another book to Amy and Ari's story!!!
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Amazing......sad it is over but so enjoyed the ride....never laughed before when reading a book I laughed to where I could not breathe you fell in love with all the crazy characters not just amy and avi loved it
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Simone Elkeles is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of novels for teens. Simone’s books have won many awards including being YALSA Top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, being named to the YALSA Popular Paperbacks and Teens Top Ten lists, and added to the Illinois “Read for a Lifetime” Reading List. Simone also won the coveted RITA award from the Romance Writers of...more
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