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Something's Rotten in the State of Maryland
Content with her role as the girlfriend of a jock, Marie begins a class project with the "drama crowd" that makes her realize that she deserves a personality and friends of her own.
- GenresYoung AdultClean Romance
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 3, 2015
I don't expect that this is a popular book at all, or that many other people have heard about it. I don't even remember how I ended up with or it how I came to read it. But I kept my copy and haven't parted with it since (I first read it when I was in middle school).
There's Marie, who has always fit in at school because she's so non-confrontational and so pleasant. She avoids making people angry and standing out. She's dating a popular jock and has a lot of superficial friends. For a school assignment she accidentally writes an outstanding play that the thespians decide to act out for the school play, and she's brought on board to help with the production. This happens much to Simon's chagrin. Simon is a dark and broody thespian who looks down at Marie because she doesn't aspire to be much of anything in school. Prejudice ensues as do some really good kissing scenes and before long, Marie is beginning to realize that she might prefer to stand out a bit more and Simon begins to realize that Marie isn't the airhead she sometimes pretends to be.
This was a really great book and a fantastic memory. If you can find it, read it.
There's Marie, who has always fit in at school because she's so non-confrontational and so pleasant. She avoids making people angry and standing out. She's dating a popular jock and has a lot of superficial friends. For a school assignment she accidentally writes an outstanding play that the thespians decide to act out for the school play, and she's brought on board to help with the production. This happens much to Simon's chagrin. Simon is a dark and broody thespian who looks down at Marie because she doesn't aspire to be much of anything in school. Prejudice ensues as do some really good kissing scenes and before long, Marie is beginning to realize that she might prefer to stand out a bit more and Simon begins to realize that Marie isn't the airhead she sometimes pretends to be.
This was a really great book and a fantastic memory. If you can find it, read it.
January 15, 2022
This was my all-time favorite book in high school. I read it so many times back then. But it took some Google sleuthing to figure out the name and then find it on eBay. (I kept getting the actual title mixed up with the title of the play that she writes in the book "Something's Rotten in Culpeper County")
It was fun to revisit this. Even though it's been 25+ years since reading it, the lines were all very familiar, having read it so many times as a teen. There's nothing spectacular about this book, but it earns stars for nostalgia.
It was fun to revisit this. Even though it's been 25+ years since reading it, the lines were all very familiar, having read it so many times as a teen. There's nothing spectacular about this book, but it earns stars for nostalgia.
November 26, 2023
Saw the ending coming from the beginning but it was pretty satisfying. Marie and her group of "friends" are such a pain, and it took WAY too long for her to drop her act and ditch them. Her character development was nice but like I said, it took way too long to happen. A lot of good moments that made it worth reading. If you're the type to get angry and annoyed at characters to the point where it makes it hard to keep reading, maybe skip this book. Or don't. Whatever you want.
March 20, 2008
Maybe a better idea than execution, but pretty good. Points for having a non-bookish heroine.
December 28, 2009
I probably have given it more stars if I had read it as a YA. It was fun.
October 26, 2012
I loved this book when I read it in high school. So cute!
July 23, 2014
Not exactly spectacular in plot or writing style but a childhood favorite.
September 25, 2023
When Marie’s script is chosen to be produced by her high school’s drama club, Marie is stunned. Marie is used to flying under the radar and going with the flow, but this new role as script writer forces her to advocate for her own ideas, especially as she butts heads with the arrogant but handsome play director, Simon.
I needed a break from my spooky season books, so I read Something’s Rotten in the State of Maryland. Unfortunately, the book isn’t that great. While I like Marie’s boyfriend Brian zero percent of the time, I only like Simon fifty percent of the time, which is far from flattering. Most of the book is ruined by Marie’s inability to break up with Brian (which I guess is the point, but it’s still boring). I see how Hamlet is relevant to the book’s main plot (“to thine own self be true”), but I honestly wish the author had just picked one of Shakespeare’s comedies to be part of the plot instead; Hamlet’s tone is too serious for this, uh, trifle.
Something’s Rotten in the State of Maryland has good bones but doesn’t amount to much.
I needed a break from my spooky season books, so I read Something’s Rotten in the State of Maryland. Unfortunately, the book isn’t that great. While I like Marie’s boyfriend Brian zero percent of the time, I only like Simon fifty percent of the time, which is far from flattering. Most of the book is ruined by Marie’s inability to break up with Brian (which I guess is the point, but it’s still boring). I see how Hamlet is relevant to the book’s main plot (“to thine own self be true”), but I honestly wish the author had just picked one of Shakespeare’s comedies to be part of the plot instead; Hamlet’s tone is too serious for this, uh, trifle.
Something’s Rotten in the State of Maryland has good bones but doesn’t amount to much.
October 9, 2023
This was my favorite book in middle school. I can’t believe other people loved it to. We should all be best friends, guys.
October 16, 2008
When Marie rewrites Hamlet for a school assignment she finds her unexpected masterpiece being produced by the high school drama club...
March 16, 2008
Kiddie read. But such a beautiful love story!
March 14, 2009
I think it reminded me a whole lot about Twilight. It just had some parts that had that Twilightish feeling but i really really likes it!!!
July 11, 2013
Loved this as a teenager and it's not bad for a reread. Although as a teenager I would have given it 4 stars.
December 13, 2018
I really enjoyed this book when I read it in middle school.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews