Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend

Confessions #2

by Louise Rozett

Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...

...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.

When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Chick Lit, Fiction, High School

279 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2013

About the author

Louise Rozett is an author, a playwright, and a recovering performer. She made her YA debut with Confessions of an Angry Girl, followed by Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, both published by HarlequinTEEN. And then came No More Confessions, in January 2015! She lives with her 120-pound Bernese Mountain dog Lester (named after Lester Freamon from THE WIRE, of course) in sunny Los Angeles, and pines for New York City. Visit www.Louiserozett.com for more info.

Reviews

[Jasprit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose has come a long way since we last met her in Confessions of an Angry Girl. She still has that fire and passion which we see from time to time in little fiery outbursts. And she continually finds herself tangled up in other people’s messes even though she tries to stay away from it all. But she brings so much flair and spunk that you can’t but help forming such a strong connection with her.

Rose is still dealing with what happened at last year’s prom, she hasn’t heard a single peek from Jamie over the summer, so she has no clue where she stands with him. And Jamie is also the worst person to get anything out of, he’s kind, considerate and extremely hot, but the most closed off person ever, he never even gives an inch away in his facial expressions. So when Jamie finally makes an unexpected appearance, Rose is confused, she wants nothing more than to be with him, but he doesn’t even seem to acknowledge her. On top of stressing out over Jamie; Rose’s mother is on her case about taking down her site dedicated to her father. Rose doesn’t get why she’s being all uptight about it, she finds it’s her only outlet. Her mother feels the need to take her to joint counselling sessions too. Her brother Peter has gone off the rails and has turned to drugs, her mother isn’t either aware of the situation or is completely ignoring it and her best friend has finally staked her name at school with her big website The Sharp List. But what’s left for Rose? She still needs to figure out so much and people constantly holding out on her doesn’t help in the slightest.

I adored Rose’s character, even though she was up to her eyeballs in her own problems, she was always there making an effort (where as others saw this as poking her nose) with others. She was the only one to stand up to a bunch of bullies, but then to be blamed as ratting them out. It’s not Rose’s fault that she discovered things she wasn’t meant to, if people told the truth in the first place people wouldn’t have so many problems. Also I fully understood Rose’s outbursts; she had so much stress to deal with, that she was one of those people who used to be kept awake at night because of over thinking. That she could only take everything for so long before she had to find and outlet of some sort. Whereas I adored Jamie in Confessions of an Angry Girl, I had kind of mixed feelings about him in this book. He constantly blew hot and cold with Rose, although I enjoyed some of the dreamy scenes between him and Rose I wish he would make his mind up already and decide what he wanted. The way things ended were kind of expected, I wished that things had been different, but I feel that the stance Rose took in the end really illustrated just how much she had matured.

Despite there being so much chaos in Rose’s life, there was once again lots of humour littered through the book. Rose’s snark and honest judgements were refreshingly funny. Then there was also Robert and Angelo who had me in hysterics with their antics. Rozett also introduced some great new characters who brought wit, charm and charisma to the story making me want to hug this book and never let it go.

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend was an epic follow up to Confessions of an Angry Girl. I didn’t think it was possible to love these characters anymore but Rozett managed to work her magic once again. I can’t wait to be back with this wonderful world that Rozett has created once more.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

See more reviews at YA Midnight Reads

4.5 stars

Thank you YA Bound for the copy.

'I feel like maybe—just maybe—I could actually make something of myself this year. Rose 2.0. '

Just like it's predecessor, Confessions on an Almost Girlfriend not only promises an entertaining ride of a teenager, but also many harsher situations which were lightly peppered with some humour. This book was so so close to being flawless that I turned into 'an almost spaz'. Not only can Rozett perfect a young teen's voice, but she can also draw genuine relationships of all sorts with an original tone bleeding through.

Contemporary characters, in some cases, can tend to lean towards a weird 'off' ego which makes me reluctant to acquaint with the main character. Nonetheless, in Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend, Rose kept her loveable spirit that was a mixed bag. While this could've been irritating, Rozett sprinkles her fairy magic and boom. We have a confused, protective and strong main character that was relatable to the point were I felt like I had just found my character soul mate. It's mind-boggling to attempt to comprehend that an author could illustrate a young teen with such real aspects-Rose reacted and moved in every way I would've done. Being close to Rose's age was a huge help for me and just. Ugh. I want to go and give Rosie a hug.

I feel like I am going to repeat myself by saying this, like in instalment 1, Jamie and the romance has made me hesitant. I get it, hormones and what not is the direction of Jamie's personality, yet I couldn't help but want to rip my hair out when the romance when back and forth, hot and cold. Steamy and foggy. I swear, if it were to be more severe, I'd get bookish mood swings. Anyway, I still loved Jamie, despite all. He was protective underneath the secretively. Caring behind all the bitterness. And most importantly, had Rose as an Almost Girlfriend.

This book is not a fluffy romance book, boys and girls. You see, this book can get nastily harsh and deep. In a spectacularly lightish-good way. The technique of incorporating high school drama was skilfully accomplished. It wasn't cliché or stereotypical at all. Bullying, family issues and average school life are just some examples of where this book explores. It wasn't repetitive of Confessions of an Angry Girl and had a refreshing new plot that was enlightened with provocative writing and well developed characters.

All in all, Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend led a new journey through high school with more humour, swoony chemistry and different topics. Loud and impulsive, are just two starting words to describe this masterpiece of a novel. I recommend this book so highly, I'll shove them in your face if you ask me for a YA contemporary.

[Booknut 101 · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Instead of closing the door to get away from the mirror like I usually do, I stand there and take a good look.

It's weird. I'm disappointed when I look in the mirror but it's not because I don't like what I see. I mean, I don't, but that's not what bugs me. What bugs me is that what I see in the mirror doesn't match what I see in my head. In my head, I'm prettier than I am in real life, so when I look in the mirror and see what I see, I feel let down. And also a little crazy.

Where did I get that image in my head if not from the mirror?'

Sometimes we need a little change.

If there is one thing Rose Zarelli has learnt from her experiences, is that if you want something done, you need to do it yourself. Hence, her brilliant plan to be 'Rose 2.0' for her sophomore year.

A new Rose. A stronger Rose. A more talented, independent Rose that is going to wow everyone around her with her sass, killer voice and new image.

A Rose that doesn't lock herself in her room for three days with no food or communication with the outside world.
A Rose that doesn't let what other people think about her penetrate the defences she's constructed for herself.
A Rose that deals with death rather than being exposed and made grief-stricken by it.
A Rose that doesn't hang on to every word that falls from Jamie Forta's perfect lips.

Rose 2.0 will be different. But will she be real?

Life is a balancing act. But Rose doesn't know how to juggle.

Everyone needs something from her - each person needs her to be someone different. Tracy needs Rose the Best Friend, Mrs. Zarelli needs Rose Sane And Moving-On Daughter, Peter needs Rose the Mature Younger Sister, her teachers need Rose the Responsible Student and Jamie needs Rose to just forget about him and move on to better things.

It's enough to drive a person crazy. And Rose is slowly losing her hold - not only on her image as Rose 2.0, but on the people she truly cares about, as they get swept up by Change, moving on with their lives.

Rose can't let go. And they can't hold on.

As trouble in and out of school rises to the surface, hearts are mended and broken, and tensions reach their breaking point, Rosie must decide for herself who she is and who she wants to be.

And if they can't handle Rose 2.0, then that's their loss.


My thoughts:

This book was painful to read. What I mean is, that is was painful because Louise's beautifully woven story - it's raw dialogue, real, unpretentious characters and heart-wrenching evoking of emotions - cut me to the core, making me see myself in a way I never had before. I don't know if I can say I can 100% relate to Rose (her story is far too complex for that), but I saw myself in her.

Louise captures those moments in life that change us for better or for worse - and she captures them with a skill rarely seen in modern literature. Her characters are as flawed as you and me, their words aren't mediated before hand. Rosie has awkward moments, she has a temper, she says things she shouldn't and isn't a perfect heroine. You love her, you hate her, you want to shake her and you want to hold her in your arms as she cries. You want to ask the world why it has drawn her this lot in life - why no one can see the struggles she goes through.

And then you realise that it's because we all have our own cross to bear.

I've had personal experiences that remind me a lot of Rosie's. There have been times in our lives when we have reached out to people and they've written us off. They've shut us down. They've tried to 'fix' the problem only to make it worse.

'"His life sucks right now," Jamie says.
"Yeah, well, so does mine," I answer.
"No shit," Jamie says, making it completely clear that he doesn't understand my lack of compassion.
I don't either, to be honest.'

It reminded me a lot of The Breakfast Club - which I happened to be watching yesterday evening, coincidently. There's that bit where they're all sitting on the floor together. Each one has issues, but each one sees their problems as bigger than everybody else's. But they find common ground in the fact they all have struggles. They become stronger.

What was aggravating about Rosie's situation was that often there was no right or wrong way.

It's not like it's black and white - like murder, for example. People have their own problems and secrets. And when you become privy to them, that opens up a realm of problems for you. Do you tell someone else? Do you help them at the expense of them hating you for it? Do you keep their secret and watch them suffer?

Rosie learns that you have to be yourself, as cliche as that sounds. She learns that it doesn't matter if you don't do something their way - it doesn't make your way wrong if it differs from theirs. You live with your own decisions.

'I did the wrong thing, and I lost him for real.
But did you do the wrong thing? Jamie thinks it was the wrong thing. But do you?
No. I don't.
I didn't do what Jamie would have wanted me to do, but that doesn't mean it was wrong.'

This is a fascinating, mind-blowing emotional rollercoaster of a book, that I am incredibly humbled and to have been given the privilege of reading an ARC of. A big thank you to Louise, Netgalley and Harlequin Publishing :)
_____________________
Pre-reading review:

The cover...THE COVER!!

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

*This review is spoiler free for the series*

After enjoying Confessions of an Angry Girl more than I expected to, I'm happy to report that this is a strong sequel with impressive character growth. I may even have enjoyed it more than the first.

What surprised me in the first book was the amount of depth there was to the story. You think it will be this whiny drama-filled book, but while there is definite drama, everything feels so realistic and raw. The protagonist, Rose, does come off as someone very confused at first, especially in the first book. She's mean to herself and lacks self confidence, in this sequel, however, her character comes out of her shell and she finds where she truly belongs; where she wants to belong. I loved this dramatic change in her. She's realizing that being like everyone else is not what will make her happy. She figures out who she's really meant to be and takes the leap, transforming into a confident, passionate girl who had me cheering her on. Her supporting characters don't let down either. We have the same old charismatic friends who bring it up a notch. With everyone a year older, we have louder, more distinguished personalities of people who are... can I be cheesy and say "spreading their wings"? >.< My favorite side character is Angelo; he just amuses me. Though Tracy is pretty fabulous, too!

As for the romance... GAH! It's just as frustrating as the first if not moreso. It's realistic in its high school-ish mess, I'll give you that, but it has me wishing Rose would let Jamie go. He has obvious issues and plenty of secrets, I don't trust him nor his intentions. It feels like he's stringing Rose along just because he can - exactly as Conrad told her. They do have swoony chemistry, but he either has to give in or leave her alone. I think Rose is finally thinking the same way by the end, at least, so hopefully in the next book she'll kick him to the curb if he doesn't figure himself out stat! I'm actually hoping she ends up with Angelo to be honest. That guy is just so caring and... uncomplicated. I think that's exactly what she needs.

The first book touched a lot on Rose's grief from the death of her father, this sequel follows this largely through emotionally charged therapy sessions with Rose and her mother who are both struggling with anger and heartache. Her brother is more present as well; we learn what changed him so much since starting college while he reconnects with his family. Family oriented books always touch my heart. I found the complicated relationships to be full of realistic conflict and heartfelt emotions. Furthermore, we also explore some serious topics in this book: anti-gay bullying, drugs, physical abuse. Each one is handled skillfully without being cheesy after school special-ish or stereotypical. It's honest, even a little gritty. It all adds up to being a surprisingly profound novel.

Confessions is a perfectly balanced series with just enough drama, just enough humor, and just enough emotion to get us invested without being overwhelmed. I'd recommend it for when you're looking for a quick, vibrant read speckled with life's turmoils.

Read my review of Confession of an Angry Girl (Book 1) here.

--
An advance copy was provided by the publisher for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 angst-ridden stars

Holy hell! What a ride! It felt like I was taken by aliens and dropped into the set of Mean Girls/My So-Called Life or something. This one was really angsty but sooo good. Pure YA but the story is much more complicated than that and the characters are layered, complex and totally interesting.

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend is a sequel to Confessions of an Angry Girl. I didn't read the first one. I actually didn't connect the two of them until I after I logged on to Goodreads and saw the first book. But you know what? It was totally okay. You can totally follow the story from book one to this book. Although I would probably the first to admit that it would totally enhance your reading experience if you read book one first.

Anyway, this series tells a story about Rose or Rosie as she was known. She's coping with the loss of her dad, going into therapy with her mother and basically just trying to survive high school. She's in love with this boy, Jaime, who might be or not be into her. Jaime used to date this head cheerleader who made Rosie's life miserable because of it during the first book. Now, Jaime is back after avoiding Rosie all summer and he wants to continue what him and Rosie left off or does he?

Gah, this book is all about the angst especially with Rosie dealing with her non-relationship with Jaime. But aside from that there are some serious shit going in her life which includes but not limited to homophobic bullying, domestic abuse, drug use, etc. See? Total angst galore. And this thing with Jaime is totally out of whack since he's still "involved" somehow with his ex-girlfriend's family and their drama. Poor Rosie, being strung along the whole thing.

The bright spot in this whole cornucopia of angst is Angelo, Jaime's best friend who totally took Rosie's back by giving her an outlet for all that angst through punk music. Angelo is totally cool.

This story is probably not for everybody seeing that it's YA and it has full of angst but I find one to be really well written and I connected to Rosie as a character. I'm thinking there's going to be another book in this series none of the issues are resolved yet. So I can't wait to for the next book!

[Irina Villacis · Rating 4 out of 5]

antes de la lectura

no esperaba mucho pero estaba emocionada porque aunque me adelanté hace años y me spoilee algunas cosas del segundo libro no sabia para nada como todo terminaba .

durante la lectura
este libro al igual que su predecesor fue corto y ligero. de una forma suave y natural nos enseña , nos abre a este mundo de cosas reales pero vistas de un ángulo de positivismo. no es que la protagonista lo fuera , pero en mi caso . en mi mente la forma en como narraba Rosie sabia que todo iba a ir bien incluso cuando no fuera bien . este libro trata cosas serias como el bullying y aparte acerca de la discriminación sexual. muchas cosas las deduje sola. como que Conrad estaba enamorado de Jaime . pero otras cosas no me lo esperaba como la situación del hermano y las razones por las cuales Regina es tan mala. me senti un poco triste también pero no tan triste como el primero.
aqui vemos gente normal que tiene problemas y como los enfrenta. y que como muchos no lo enfrentamos bien , tomamos los errores de otros y lo hacemos nuestros. o simplemente decimos que no estan ahi.
la inseguridad de Rose en este libro raya de lo sicotico , demasiado para mi me dio ganas de meterle golpe . no soy violenta pero hay cosas que me enloquece como que tal persona es guapa y ella no.
cada cierto tiempo desconfiaba de su capacidad de cantar o de cualquier cosas pero luego ella misma se reintegraba , resurgia y eso es algo que aprecio muchisimo en alguien. la capacidad de seguir adelante. la admiro por eso

al finalizar la lectura
bueno , lo terminé pero no me senti a gusto con el final. se sentia como si me faltara un capitulo. y otra vez no avanza la relación o no relación con Jaime. ya deberia olvidarse de él pero como sabemos a muchas de nosotros nos gustas las cosas que no podemos o debemos tener. incluso yo. este libro lo senti como mas relleno como una introducción de hechos pasados y como afectará al último libro. .

[Tzippy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend picks up at the beginning of sophomore year, a few months after Confessions of an Angry Girl left off. Rose and Tracy are best friends again (and Tracy is awesome, all of a sudden), Rose and her mother are having big problems because of the dedication website Rose set up in her father's memory, and Jamie has been avoiding Rose ever since Regina set him up for possession of alcohol.

On the first page, we're introduced to a new character: Conrad Deladdo. Conrad is Regina's younger brother, an incoming freshman, on the swim team, and bullied for being gay. He also has anger issues that could give Rose a run for her money, and when she and Jamie (separately) step in to help him out, he doesn't exactly fall over in appreciation. When the faculty at school hear about the incident and start a tolerance campaign with Conrad singled out, he's even less happy.

We get to know the characters from Angry Girl a lot better over the course of Almost-Girlfriend, especially the Deladdos. Regina herself is fleshed out, and although her personality doesn't change, she becomes a lot easier to understand.

It's interesting how Rose and Regina are juxtaposed--they have very similar personalities and very different circumstances. If Rose had grown up with Regina's life, she probably would have turned out just like her, and vice versa.

I love how Jamie's former relationship with Regina isn't brushed off as insignificant or a mistake. You can almost see how Jamie and Regina were falling apart just as Jamie and Rose were starting up. We see this from Regina's point of view, and even better, Rose sees this from Regina's point of view.

This is one of my favorite things about Rose, by the way--she's not always likable, but she's always self-aware. I love her, and I love Jamie, and I love Tracy despite the fact that she was a jerk in the first book, and I love Regina despite the fact that she's still a jerk, and I love Conrad and I love Angelo and I love Rose's mother and brother, and I'd like to get to know Holly better, and I find Robert amusing.

As for Rose and Jamie, I hope those crazy kids make it.

Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

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Pre-review (April 18, 2013): Even better than the first book. For anyone who was bothered by the mean-girl aspect of Confessions of an Angry Girl, the whole thing is turned on its head here.

Full review to come.

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Original review (August 20, 2012): Not exactly sure that Confessions of an Angry Girl needs a sequel, but okay, I'll bite.

[Fanny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Confessions Of An Almost Girlfriend es el segundo libro de la trilogia llamada Confessions creada por la autora Loiuse Rozett y continua narrando la historia de Rose.
Al comenzar la lectura me senti un poco perdida, hacia mas de dos años que habia leido el primer libro y no recordaba casi nada, pero segun fui avanzando se hizo mas facil de entender.
Los que me conocen saben que no soy mucho de leer este tipo de libros, prefiero leer historias mas adultas pero ultimamente he leido varios libros de este genero que me han sorprendido ( Adorkable, Whatever Life Throws At You ) por lo que de ahora en adelante intentare leer mas libros juveniles.
Confessions Of An Almost Girlfriend es una lectura ligera, agil, divertida y mucho mas profunda de lo que pueda parecer al leer la sinopsis, a mi me sorprendio gratamente ( al igual que el libro anterior ), espero poder leer el ultimo pronto, este finalizo en la mejor parte.

3.5 Estrellas!

[Mely Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book <3

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars

Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend is the sequel to Confessions of an Angry Girl, a contemporary novel I have read and loved last year. The reason why I loved the first book is mainly because of the refreshing POV of Rose, our main protagonist. Last year had been a tough year for Rose and her family without her father. In Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend, we now don't have a zombie like mother, but one who wants to discuss everything in therapy, as well as a brother who seems to party way more than study. We also have Jamie Forta, the boy who's got Rose all confused, especially with the way things ended in the first book. However this book is much more than the romance, it is actually more to do with how Rose starts learning to cope with everything that has happened to her and learn to deal with the people around her.

I was not disappointed in this sequel. I love Rose even more than I did in the first book and I completely identify with her most of the time. She is one of those girls that isn't afraid to speak her mind and is just so real. Too many times there are female protagonists that act too perfect, but Rose is real. She gets royally pissed at someone? She's not above imagining punching them. Heck, I've had my fair share of imaginary punching. She has feelings, she feels angry, jealous, pissed, and betrayed and that makes her more human in my opinion. This is why I love Rose, she's not little miss perfect protagonist. She's also not out to impress anyone, even Jamie Forta. Speaking of Jamie, I loved seeing more of him in this novel.. while he is still as mysterious and elusive as ever, we do see a very vulnerable and sincere side whenever he is with Rose. I really need a happily ever after for those two!

You will also notice how Rose is developing throughout this novel, how her reactions to similar situations in the first and second book are different. Rose actually started calling herself Rose 2.0, and I really believed her... most of the time. A girl can only take so much right? especially when Rose has to deal with a ton of issues and problems that are thrown at her in this book. Overall, I enjoyed her train of thoughts and how her relationship with Jamie didn't become her everything. I can't wait for the third book and tie all the loose ends, especially the one concerning Jamie. I recommend this novel to all contemporary fans; You are seriously missing out if you haven't started this series.

[Nemo (The ☾Moonlight☾ Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

See this review and more on The Moonlight Library!

Six stars, bitches!
Challenge: to review a book using only gifs to sum up the reading experience.
Challenge accepted.










Thanks to HarlequinTEEN and Netgalley for providing this advanced reader copy for an honest review.

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I can find some spare time tomorrow to go back through my notes, I will add more to this review.

A few brief thoughts until then : I just went back and read my review for the first book in the Confessions series and had the urge to want to copy/paste the entire thing into my assessment of book 2.

Everything has changed, but I still feel the same.

The stumbling block for me is that the books still seem on the young end (even for YA). I lived a completely different life in high school, so I don't always relate to what this girl is thinking.

It is fun to watch Rose grow up in front of our eyes, and there's a certain angsty charm in Louise Rozett's writing which pulls me in to Rose's world. I want to know what happens on the next installment of Rose's journey, so I'll be reading on in the series, just to see if she comes out unscathed on the other side.

This book provided from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Atmika Singh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh... Oh the cover is so cool! The girl looks like Taylor swift. No? OK maybe it's just me. *sigh*

UPDATED: Review

It's weird. I'm disappointed when I look in the mirror but it's not because I don't like what I see. I mean, I don't, but that's not what bugs me. What bugs me is that what I see in the mirror doesn't match what I see in my head. In my head, I'm prettier than I am in real life, so when I look in the mirror and see what I see, I feel let down. And also a little crazy.

Rose isn't crazy about how she looks. She made the website for her father but it turns out that her mother doesn't approve of it and wants her to shut it down, her brother who was supposed to be there for her, is in college doing drugs. What about her friends? Holly has transformed from a caterpillar to a butterfly over the summer and Tracy has started a fashion blog which has become popular overnight. But Rose is still the same. Still trying to find her place. And, Jamie you ask, well he like always, is mysterious and closed off. One moment he is telling her to stay away and the next he is kissing her. So yeah, there's that.

As you see, Rose is knee-deep into problems. I was scared for her, I was angry at people for being too hard on her. I just wanted to protect her. She is still grieving over her dad's death, over all the changes that happened in her life. All of it can make anyone go crazy.

Rose is not a perfect character, she has flaws, sometimes you will hate her because she tends to say the wrong things and is still dealing with her anger issues. She is also awkward and then there is High School drama. How thankful am I to be done with that? But the thing about Rose is, that she is self aware.

'"His life sucks right now," Jamie says.
"Yeah, well, so does mine," I answer.
"No shit," Jamie says, making it completely clear that he doesn't understand my lack of compassion.
I don't either, to be honest.

She tries to be a better person and that's not always easy. The right thing is not always that obvious. It can sometimes lead you into a bigger mess. She doesn't like interfering in other people's life but she ends up getting tangled in their problems and that's because she has a good heart and wants to help.

Sometimes people help each other, and get messed up in each other's business; sometimes we stay out of it and let people find the way themselves. It's always right to offer help, but not all help is right.


Everybody around Rose is going through something, they are all fighting their own problems and nobody is really the bad guy. It's just the situation which sucks. I was on Rose's side all along but I could understand everyone else's perspective too.

I think the author has done a great job with the book. It's better than the first one. It's more emotional and there is more depth to the characters. I hated Regina in the first book but in this one all I saw her vulnerable side and it makes sense why she is the way she is.

The romance, it's really sweet but with Jamie comes a lot of uncertainty because you just don't know what's going in that boy's mind. He is great. He cares about people, is loyal and has his heart in the right place but he needs to not be so confusing. It's great that he helps others out but if he loves Rose, he needs to show it.

In the end, it was Rose's journey to find herself and accept who she is. I'm so happy and feel like a proud parent, you know, when she finally realizes that if Jamie isn't going to give her a chance, it's his loss.


Wonderful book and I definitely recommend the series.

Giveaway on my blog here

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

"His kiss ricochets throughout my entire body in a nanosecond. He grabs my arms and turns me, practically lifting me off the ground as he backs me up against his car, pinning me to the driver's-side door with his body as his tongue lashes across my lips and into my mouth. It's like he's been waiting for this to happen again as long as I have."

I fell in love with Louise Rozzet's novel; Confessions of an Angry Girl when I read it last year, and once again, she's wowed me with the sequel; Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend.

This time around we see Rose Zarelli dealing with her drama filled lifestyle. Her relationship with her mother is still as rocky as ever, and so is her relationship with her brother because of his new girlfriend. But most of all, Jamie Forta, the guy she's in love with, is still messing her around.....and Rose doesn't know where she stands with him. In order to forget about all her troubles, Rose decides she wants to become a singer, so she tries out for the school musical. But has she really got what it takes to be a singer? And will her feelings for Jamie Forta ever go away?

I loved Rose in Confessions of an Angry Girl and I love her even more in this time around. When we first meet her she's a teenage girl, struggling with the death of her father and dealing with high school drama - mainly sex. But now, she's that little bit stronger and older, she finds different ways and better ways to deal with her pain, frustration or anger. I wasn't sure what to expect in the sequel but Rose really does have an emotional life and for a teenager her age, she sure does have to deal with a lot. I'm pleased she has friends around her and by the end, even more friends that she can confide in, because without them, I'm not sure where she would be. I also loved that Rose wasn't afraid to go after what she wanted, okay, well she was a little bit but, she overcomes her fears. I was proud of her and was constantly rooting for her!

Rose's mother is a stronger fixture in this story and while I kind of liked her in the first book, I couldn't stand her this time around. She handles things so badly with Rose, she can't control the things she says and it's sad to see a mother-daughter relationship like this. I know the family are still trying to overcome their loss, but I believe Rose's mother could try listening to Rose more, instead of just telling her what she should do. She was definitely my most hated character for this series, so far.

And Jamie, Jamie Forta! He's a YA version of a NA jerky boy who I can't help but love. When I finally thought I'd figured him out, he would do the complete opposite. There were many times I wanted to strangle him and tell him to get his act together but then, the nice version of Jamie would come out, and I would be sighing like a teenage girl. He's a unique character, one that comes with many struggles and I honestly believe it was going to happen for Jamie and Rose this time around, and you can imagine my surprise when I finished the book, and was like huh? There's a third book? How did I not know this wasn't the end for Jamie and Rose? I'm glad though, I want more of Rose and Jamie. They need their happy ending and I'm hoping they will get it.

In all, the Confession's series is easily one of my favourite contemporary reads around right now, because Louise Rozett writes Rose's life very realistic and with so much passion! I adore this series and I can't wait for more.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I thought: I absolutely loved Confessions of an Angry Girl, so I had really high expectations for this one - and Louise Rozett did not disappoint. In fact, I would go all the way and say she really exceeded them! I find that sequels for contemporary novels don't always work well, but this one really hit the mark.

My first reaction was literally "How can it end like that?" Especially when there doesn't seem to be another book confirmed, and yes I cried (and died) a little. Rose is back and this time she's 2.0 - a new and improved version of herself. Jamie is back and well, let me just say, he is hotter than ever!

"Jamie," I whisper as he kisses my neck, his thumbs tracing circles on my sensitive skin, making it hard for me to speak.

Yes, the heat and the tension is hotter than ever. Peter is back and Tracey has a new fashion blog that has exploded with popularity. Even Rose's mum is going on a few dates. Everyone around Rose is moving on, but can she keep up? There is just as much love and lust, hate and anger in this book, than there was in the first, but Rose's journey is different and I loved taking it with her.

If you loved the first one, then you should love this one too! If you haven't read the first, go do it now!


The Good: I just can't get over how good this book was, just like the first one.


The Bad: The ending leaving us hanging, without mention whether there will be a next book or not!


Rating: 5 bookstacks

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose Zarelli begins grade ten with a pool party that sets the tone for the year to come. The swim team - or "swim thugs" as everyone calls them - are initiating a new member, a trendily-dressed boy called Conrad, by throwing cups of beer at his face until he falls into the swimming pool while the boys yell homophobic insults at him, and blasting water from a hose into his mouth until he chokes. When Conrad is pushed into the pool he lets himself sink and isn't coming back up; only Rose seems to even notice, but when she leans over the edge to check on him she's pushed in too.

That's when Jamie Forta arrives, just in time to help Rose out of the pool. She hasn't seen him since the end of the last school year and has no idea what he's been doing over the summer or where they stand or what he is to her. Is he even her friend still? He still seems awfully close to Regina, the girl who made Rose's life hell last year, and it turns out that Conrad is Regina's younger brother - Conrad who is, he tells Rose and her best friend Tracy, actually gay, and one very angry boy who's taking out his feelings of anger and impotence on everyone around him (he also hates Rose because Jamie likes her).

Anger is in the air it seems. Only Tracy is handling adolescence well, and turning some petty bullying into something positive: her own fashion website where she profiles the looks of her peers. Suddenly Tracy is someone everyone wants to be friends with, while Rose can only think: how come she's never taken a photo of me? At home things haven't improved much: Rose is still attending counselling with her mother, who wants Rose to take down the memorial website she created in honour of her father, who died in a roadside bomb in Iraq where he was working as an engineer. Her brother, Peter, is clearly doing more drugs at uni than studying, and it's no surprise to Rose when he's kicked out and arrives home to face the wrath of their mother.

But this year Rose is determined to take control of her life in whatever way she can, and that means trying out for the school musical - or maybe even a friend's band, as lead singer. It certainly gives her a chance to channel her inner angst, all her anger at everything she can't control in her life: her dad's death, her problems with her mother and brother, the elusive Jamie Forta, and all the crap that comes with being a teenager. Rose is still angry, but she's looking for an outlet, and she's also learning how to stand up for herself when it comes to Jamie, who's still dicking around with her feelings, going hot and cold on her, and making her choose between doing the right thing by him or the right thing by her worst enemy. Grade ten is going to be one messy year.

All the things I said in my review of the first book, Confessions of an Angry Girl , is just as true for this sequel. Rozett has created, with Rose, a truly distinct, relatable, identifiable heroine who is wading through adolescence in a realistic urban American high school setting and trying to deal with everything that involves. I may not have had the same high school experiences as Rose, but I had similar ones, and there's something universal about being a white middle class teenager in a western country that makes it easy to relate and identify with Rose and her experiences.

Rose is on a noticeable character-development arc, and she's not the same girl she was in grade 9. She's already grown up since then and finding some of her inner strength. She loses her starry-eyed perspective of Jamie, for one, and that was deeply satisfying. I like Jamie, as a character and a love interest for Rose, but he too is a teenager and he's been through some crap of his own. He's far from the perfect, gentlemanly boys the heroines of so many YA books fall in love with. He's a flawed character, as is Rose, and has a lot of growing up to do himself. He does shitty things, and this time Rose calls him on it. She learns how to tease him, how to express herself better, and she faces head-on her own limits: how far would she go with Jamie?

The mess of Rose's personal life is set against a backdrop of bullying and homophobia that is depressingly relevant today. This certainly isn't the first YA book or series to tackle these issues, but the way Rozett presents them and handles them is refreshing: they're not the point of the story, rather they're ever-present alongside the school lockers and the cat-fights and the homework assignments. It's the way Rose views the world around her and her seemingly callous dithering over whether to intervene or tell the truth about something she's witnessed. This, too, makes her a very realistic teenager. Telling the truth about what happened to Conrad at the party before school started, for instance, isn't a black-and-white matter. After what happened the year before, when Rose called 911 after a girl needed medical attention at a party where there was a lot of underage drinking going on, she's learned the consequences of "ratting" on her peers the hard way, and she's also learned that sometimes its important for the person being bullied or abused etc., to make that stand themselves, that you can't do it for them.

What I'm trying to say is that, Rozett doesn't moralise or try to slip in messages for "right" behaviour or even pretend that these things don't happen, because they very much do. I love that Rozett doesn't shy away from the worst of teenage behaviour, and I appreciate that she isn't trying to under-handedly moralise, which is something I've come across in other YA novels. In fact, she doesn't even need to. Simply creating Rose, a character I'm sure many teens will be able to identify with, and showing her own conflicts and her struggles in deciding what is the right thing to do - which isn't always as obvious as adults like to think it is - is enough. Show, don't tell. Nothing could be more true of teenagers, surely; nothing can get their back up more than being told how to behave etc. But they still look for guidance, reassurance, support, in their own way. And this is the kind of series to offer that.

What was funny - in an ironic way - for me was how much anger I felt while reading this. I felt furious at Rose's mum for the way she's handling her relationship with her daughter, and the joint therapy sessions they have with her mother's therapist, and how completely ineffective she is at expressing her own true feelings - you can't fault Rose for not being honest with her about her own feelings in turn. I felt anger at the injustice of the stupid "slut list", and all the forms of bullying that go on. I felt anger at Jamie for being a dick, and for being quite lovely when he wants to be, and for what happens at the end of the book. But I also felt unbearably sad - sad for Regina and Conrad, sad for Jamie, sad for Rose who's mourning her father yet feels that she's not allowed to grieve anymore, that, what, she should have moved on? It made me angry all over again.

In part, that's intense emotional connection is what makes this book really work. That and the gritty realism. These characters - not just Rose and Jamie but the supporting characters as well - are true-to-life, flawed human beings. They make mistakes. They struggle to express themselves. They can make bad situations worse. They lash out at each other. But such is Rozett's skill at depicting these people and giving them room to breathe and grow and be, you also see all their good points, their vulnerabilities, their strengths, their pain and their sense of honour. I liked this even more than the first book: the story only gets stronger and the adolescent stakes higher, as Rose continues to grow up and figure out who she is and what she wants out of life. This is YA fiction at its best.

Also, COVER LOVE! ;)

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend by Louise Rozett is a perfect example of a sequel that successfully improves upon the previous book. The aspects that I disliked in Confessions of an Angry Girl were mostly absent here; the aspects that I loved were further expanded upon and I was still surprised at the new twists and turn of events that developed the story in a satisfying way. Despite having mixed feelings towards the first book, I’m extremely glad that I gave the Confession series a second chance as this book significantly felt more realistic in terms of the plot and characters. Rozett is no doubt an engaging storyteller who can effortlessly put us into the shoes of a 15 year old teenager and I would whole-heartedly include this book as one of my favourite YA contemporary reads this year.

"As Mike struts around checking the beer level of the bottomless red plastic cups that were given only to the prettiest freshman girls when they skittered through the tiki-torch gauntlet, Matt Hallis and the rest of the swim thugs are lined up on the edge of the pool like a fitting squad."

From the very beginning, I was immediately reminded of the frustrating high school stereotypes and clichés that were previously prevalent in the first book. We find the main character in the middle of a high school party as she witnesses even more bullying and hazing rituals. However instead of cheerleaders, the award for the biggest douchbags of the year now goes to the jocks from the swim squad, or “swim thugs” as Rose likes to mentally call them. Unsurprisingly, they are dumb, drunk, homophobic and downright dangerous sophomores as they gang up upon the new gay character called Conrad.

"The cups nail the freshman like a spray of bullets, and he staggers backward, arms pinwheeling as he tries to cope with the beer in his eyes and mouths. He missteps and falls into the water on his back. The thugs cheer as loafers pop up and float on the pool’s surface."

Rozett’s writing style has really started to grow on me ever since reading Confessions of an Angry Girl. The ridiculousness of these teenagers’ behaviour is emphasised through the use of VERY colourful language that portrays them as larger than life caricatures. Cheerleaders "screech" and have a "fake butter voice", with their lines filled with “like” and “totally”. They are literally "straight out of a nightmare”, “bouncing around" with pom poms. The swim quad doesn’t fare much better as Rose refers to them as "thuglets" and "brainless underlings". Now this is the sort of thing that would make me want to roll my eyes and tear my hair out like there’s no tomorrow. Although I strongly disliked these over-the-top clichés present in Confessions of an Angry Girl, they didn’t seem to bother me as much in this book. I think I’ve finally begun to appreciate Rozett’s satirical portrayal of high school which is reduced to a “caste system” full of gossip, politics, drama, angst and backstabbing. If it weren’t for the obvious exaggeration (or a least I hope it was intentional), I would have lost faith in every single high-schooler from the very beginning.

(I swear I will avoid quoting excessively from now on, I promise...)

Despite the initial clichés and stereotypes, what makes Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend stand out from other similar YA books set in high schools is the main character Rose Zarelli who is extremely engaging and likable. I’ve lost count of all the times where I’d written “Rose is awesome” or something similar in my notes. Her voice is very strong so a person’s reaction to this book will most likely depend on how they view Rose as a character. Personally I found her inner thoughts to be interesting to read and I absolutely loved her wry sense of humour and sarcasm. Rose is definitely far from flawless. She can be insecure, selfish, judgemental, immature, melodramatic, insensitive and seemingly devoid of a mental filter. Nevertheless despite all the stupid things she does, there is an unmistakably endearing quality to her that always makes me want to root for her no matter what. It was satisfying to see her develop and grow as a person as we can see the events in the book gradually shaping her perspective and identity.

Rozett’s portrayal of the supporting characters was also very well done. I liked how Tracey grows from the previous book and refocuses her efforts from trying to fit in with the popular cheerleaders to pursuing her interests in fashion. One of the interesting characters in this book is Conrad who turns out to be Regina’s brother. We catch glimpses of their troubled and complicated relationship and it was intriguing to see the tables turned as we watch how Regina, the antagonistic ‘queen bee’ in Confessions of an Angry Girl, reacts to her own brother being picked on. We also find out more about her relationship with Jamie and her family background, so it was refreshing to see her character being humanised and more fleshed out in this book. Speaking of Jamie, I STILL don’t get his appeal. I’m not a fan of his character so far as he always seems to be perfect/right all the time. Rose often feels very childish and stupid compared to him and I don’t think there is a healthy power balance in their relationship despite only being a few years apart.

Like the previous book, Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend deals with a lot of issues such as peer pressure, homosexuality and self-esteem issues that most teenagers can relate to. It is easy to sympathise with Rose’s desires to start afresh with a new identity, her jealousy over the friends' success, her lingering grief over her father’s death and her resentment towards her family. Drama ensures and the complications from the first book are continued and further developed here. I liked how there was a lot more depth to the characters here and it was interesting to see their different sides (especially in regards to Regina).

Overall, this is a heartfelt, coming of age story about growing up, moving past obstacles and finding one’s self (unfortunately, I cannot think of another way to summarise this book without sounding very cheesy). Obviously I would recommend this book for fans of Confessions of an Angry Girl however for those who had only lukewarm feelings, I still believe it’s worth checking out. Who knows, you may also be pleasantly surprised.

An electronic advance reading copy was provided by the publisher. This did not influence my opinion in any way.

For more reviews, check out my blog Reading in the Dark

[Desi · Rating 2 out of 5]

SINOPSIS:

Rose Zarelli tiene grandes planes para el segundo año: todo va a ser diferente. Este año, ella va a ser la talentosa cantante con la voz asesina, la fabulosa chica con la mejor amiga fashionista, la cerebrito que se niega a dejar que Jamie Forta la tenga dando vueltas… pero si no tiene cuidado, también va a ser la hermana que pasa por alto las señales, la hija que solo puede pensar en su propio dolor, la “niña buena” que se encuentra a sí misma en medio del escándalo otra vez (porque ninguna buena acción queda impune) y posiblemente lo peor de todo… la casi novia.

Cuando todo lo demás falla, deja de buscar el amor y ve a encontrarte a ti mismo.

No me gustó esta continuación, muchas cosas que pasaron las detesté... muchos de los personajes me decepcionaron...yyy sorpresa!!! sigue sin gustarme Rose y Jamie...

Porque sigo con este drama??? No lo entiendo!!

Pero quiero lograr ver por lo menos en el 3ero:
1. Que Rosie termine de madurar de una vez por todas, porque para unas cosas es madura pero para otras no tanto...!!
2. Que le de una patada por ese ass a Jamie y YA definitivamente lo olvide y se consiga un chico buena gente, que la quiera y la respete y no la deje siempre de lado. (NO ENTIENDO SU ENAMORAMIENTO POR JAMIE, ES UN TOTAL IDIOTA CON ELLA Y ELLA COMO UNA BOBA BESANDO EL SUELO QUE ÉL PISA!!)
3. Que pase algo interesante pero para bien... xq lo que por lo que he leído esto va de mal en peor!!

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how she does it every time, but Louise Rozett has an uncanny ability to portray teenagers as realistically as possible. Confessions of an Angry Girl was a brilliant debut and I did not think it could get any better, but the author proved me completely wrong by producing a sequel that's even better than the predecessor. This book, right here, is a fine example of why I love YA books although I'm outgrowing my teenage years.

Rose has always been a wonderful main character. She has a good side and her bad side, which both complement her and make her a very real person. Rose was what a teenager really is, insecure, full of passions, emotions and life-goals. I felt like I could recognize her in many of her actions although I'm no longer 15 years old. The situations Rose went through and her reaction to them were depicted in such a believable way that I could feel like it was the way I would react too. Rose has grown tremendously from the previous book, but that does not mean she has completely matured. She still had a lot to learn both at the beginning of this book and at the end. I loved watching her level of maturity grow as she learned from her mistakes. I also loved how she went about her passion for singing. That was yet another great addition to Rose's character, in my opinion. What I loved the most about Rose was that she was not the kind of girl to pine over her bumpy romance with Jamie Forta. Unlike other readers who seem to adore Jamie, I didn't really like the guy in this book. His constant hot and cold behavior towards Rose frustrated me and I thought Rose deserved better after what she had gone through. Jamie could be sweet and caring at times, but for the most part, I just wanted to slap him into his senses.

The secondary characters in Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend also played significant roles in the book. The author took her time to develop them and their relationships with Rose was crucial for Rose's growth in this book. The romance, like I mentioned, was infuriating. It frustrated Rose as well, but by the end of the book, she refused to pine over Jamie and did what's best for her. I absolutely loved Rose's attitude to her disastrous relationship which is why I approved of the presence of the romance in this book. Fans of Jamie might hate on me, but I sincerely hope that Rose gets a new guy (or no guy at all) in the next book because the girl deserves someone who will respect her, care for her and love her no matter what. There was a lot of themes going on in this book, from gay-bashing to relationship issues, but the author tackled them beautifully without confusing the reader. There was just so much to learn from this book, and not just teenagers, but adults too can take away something useful from this story. Despite this book being serious, it also had a humorous tone to it in the form of Rose's sarcastic voice which made this book even better than it already was with the subject matter. Overall, Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend was beautifully written.

Louise Rozett once again proved her talent as an author with Confessions of an Almost Girlfriend. Rose's realistic voice will make her vouch for her throughout this series and I can assure you that you will be able to find part of yourself in her. The Confessions series is a must-read for teenagers and adults alike.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

First off! Let me just say that I think Louise is a genius when it comes to teen angst and coming into your own. With this book and the last, I think she has captured the pure essence of growing up and the drama of friends, family and relationships.

Now let's start with Rose for some reason she keeps getting herself in the middle of everything.



It starts to take a toll on her.



For her she is just trying to fit in without truly knowing herself. Now let's add Regina the school bitch



But we start to find out more about Regina this time and realize there is a reason for her being the way she is. Which only confuses the matter for Rose. Now lets add Jamie back into the mix.





But Jamie is just as confused as Rose is but he might even be more unaware of it than she is. He doesn't show too much emotion but he does show his stubborn and protective sides with Regina and Conrad. He shows Rose this side by pushing her away.



Now if this isn't enough try having your BFF and brother get together.



As much as near the end was frustrating it was also reality. There are so many possibilities still to come and also the art of communication if Jamie will put down his walls and let Rose in or at least just listen to her instead of ALWAYS jumping to conclusions on his own.



But in the end, it's about Rose and the growth of her and finally starting to find her OWN identity in a big world of bullshit called reality.



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[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Harlequin (UK) Limited and Netgalley.)
This is book 2 in the ‘confessions’ series.
15-year-old Rose still doesn’t know where she stands with Jamie Forta, her mother is still making her go to therapy with her, and once again Rose is labelled as a tattle-tale and a sl*t, and all before the first day at school.
She’s also worried that her brother is doing drugs, and her memorial website for her father isn’t getting the attention it once was.
Where does Rose stand with Jamie? What is her brother getting involved in? And does she really need to be in therapy?


This was an interesting second insight into Rose’s life, and her continuing boyfriend troubles and grief over her dead father.

Rose once again was a little grumpy at times, but I think she had a right to be. Everyone seemed to think that her anger was unwarranted, while I thought it was completely justified, and I’d have been angry in her position too. I didn’t actually think her outbursts were all that bad though, I’d have been much worse in her situation.

I disliked the way that Jamie treated Rose really. One moment he would act interested, and then the next he’d be treating her like she wasn’t old enough to know her own feelings, which was unfair.
Rose’s mother seemed to treat her the same way, and didn’t seem to care what Rose’s feelings were about anything as long as they didn’t interfere with her own.

There wasn’t a lot of romance in this book at all. Rose’s interactions with Jamie were mainly him stringing her along and pushing her away, and the other surprise relationship didn’t offer us any romance either. Most of the storyline was just about Rose’s life, and those of her friends. It was nice that Rose found something that she was good at in singing, but it seemed a bit unfair she was even criticised for that!
I did enjoy this book overall, but for me it wasn’t quite as good as the previous one. The ending was positive, but I still felt that some things weren’t really finished, and I’m still not sure what the future really holds in store for Rose and Jamie.
Overall; an good YA story about a girl’s struggles with grief and high school.
7 out of 10.

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rose's journey continues in this sequel to 'Confessions of an Angry Girl', and she's still angry - but maybe now she's learning to control it a little more, but of course, there's more and different things to be angry at/with...

Rose is totally believable. She makes so many mistakes, it's easy to get angry with her. And she doesn't always manage to fix her errors, and just as she has to live with it, so do we (Oh Rose).

But I am happy to see Peter's progress and I loved meeting snippy, snipe-y Cal (Oh Cal), and when Rose and Jamie connect, it is hot and delicious.

The writing is sharp and Rose's voice is clear and consistent. Her sessions with her mother and their shrink, Caron are both frustrating and enlightening.

Jamie remains enigmatic. His hot and cold attitude to Rose is understandable and forgivable. And yet, I want him to be more, to want more I guess... He is worthy of Rose, but he needs to know it. And he doesn't, yet.

Be warned there isn't even a HFN resolution, so I will wait (slightly patiently) for #3, which, if you're reading this Ms Rozett, should be entitled, 'Confessions of a Wannabe Rock Star'. You're welcome.

Highly recommended. Coming out June 2013. This preview copy was provided by the publisher with thanks via Netgalley.

[Sarika Patkotwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating- 3.5

*NOTE: We (The Readdicts) received a copy of Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend (Confessions #2) by Louise Rozett from Net Galley. We thank Louise and Net Galley for the book!

I had read some absolutely great things about the first book in Louise Rozett's Confessions series, Confessions of an Angry Girl. For me, the book turned to be full of teenage drama which was like watching a TV series that I didn't quite like as much as the others did. But the second book, Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, was much better with a lot of content and many things happening.
Rose Zarelli, the protagonist is about to start her new school year after summer break. She wants the school to meet a new Rose, Rose 2.0. After everything that happened with Rose in the first book, it is hard not to feel anything for her. I like how Rose stands up not only for others but for herself as well. I liked her more in the second book than I did in the first one. I really admired how Rose was, slowly and steadily, starting to do what she wanted to do. The memorial website she starts to honour her dad was a nice gesture.
The Confessions series, has a ton of characters and I found this phenomenon very confusing in Confessions Of An Angry Girl, but in Confessions Of An Almost-Girlfriend, I had a strong hold on all the characters I was reading about and I even wanted to get to know them better.
Along with a lot of changes in situations and personalities, in the second book, we get a look at the general scenarios of all the characters who matter most. Some stories were heartbreaking while others gave a new outlook on the same situation. I felt a lot while reading this book because it had a lot of emotions- something that the first book lacked.
The huge number of secondary characters makes it difficult to write about them. Prominent among them were Jamie, who was there a lot in this book and the few romance scenes between him and Rose were well shown. I also like Jamie's best friend and Rose's friend Angelo. He's an awesome guy who is funny and sweet. Rose's family (her mom Kathleen and her brother Peter) were broken in their own way and were trying their best to get things back on track. All of Rose's friends made for great supporting characters and had a major role to play when it comes to the plot.
I really liked how an important issue was taken up in a dramatic yet casual way by author Louise Rozett. That was what got me and made me like the book more than I thought I would. Overall, even though the book didn't exactly end abruptly or on a cliffhanger, it ended on such a note that shows there's more to come. Confessions Of An Almost-Girlfriend was way better than the first book and it was an emotional yet highly enjoyable read that Young Adult fans will devour.

[Pooja Sathyanarayanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted here: http://aandhowareyou.blogspot.in/2013...

It's 3AM and my mind is reeling as in the past few hours, I have chuckled, smiled and cried into the early morning hours reading this beautiful gift for teens. I vaguely recall the numerous teen reads that filled my bookshelf when I was still in high school and NONE of them match up to the complexity and depth with which Confessions of An Almost-Girlfriend explores various issues that grapple us at the age of sixteen.

Confessions of An Almost-Girlfriend is the second part of the Confessions series, so if you're reading this review and haven't read the previous book, you would probably want to look up the first part.

The second Confessions book turns up the angst, conflict and confusion a notch which I thought would be impossible. The first book was an angry emotional rollercoaster on its own! Here, Rose struggles even more with standing out versus blending in, taking a stand versus staying away, figuring herself out and figuring others out. She finds it impossible to stay away from her grief over her father's passing away one and a half years ago as that's the only way she finds herself holding on to him. She struggles with trying to understand her mother's feelings as she wants Rose to shut down the memorial website she made for her father and cannot understand Jamie, the boy she adores, who is tapping at her window one minute and telling her they will not work out the next second.

Rose wonders if she's cut out for anything as her friends seem to blossom and shine around her. At the same time, she doesn't know what to do with compliments, always second guessing them and doubting herself. I felt so involved as she struggled and came closer and closer to facing up to who she was and accepting herself for it. A lot of things were beyond her control and a lot of decisions slipped out of her reach and that only added to the realism of the plot.

On the surface, Confessions has all the elements any teen series would have: cheerleaders, best friend problems, hook ups, break ups, crushes, bullying, mean girls and partying. What makes this series so much more intense is the layers with which various social issues that involve teens are explored; from identity to tolerance.

What more, there is so much more to these characters than what high school stereotype they fall under or the clique they belong too. There's a flicker of humanity even in the heartless "swim thug" the protagonist used to relate to in the eighth grade; before he entered high school and his ego grew with it. The mean girl has a story of her own. The protagonist is jealous, inconsiderate, irrational, self-doubting and indecisive at times but never refuses to acknowledge it. Nothing is black or white and the dynamics between various characters run deep. And they learn. They learn so much about real world issues without making it look like an After School Special.

By the end of the novel, I was proud. Of all of these characters. Of everything they had become when just a novel ago (Confessions #1), they had just started high school and had been scorned and stomped over in every way. Despite the feeling that at times, there felt like there were too many issues and it felt like everyone had way too much on their plate, I still applaud this novel and the series for what it is. I cannot wait to read the next novel for more of this wholesome, emotional, honest and REAL series that I wish was written and published when I was still in high school.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Genre* YA Contemporary
*Rating* 3.5-4

*Thoughts*

After reading Confessions of an Angry Girl last year, I knew that I was going to read the sequel Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend. 16-year old Rose Zarelli has a unique voice and one that I can totally follow and understand without rolling my eyes from all the angst, and ugly moments that she experiences over the course of the story.

Rose has definitely come a long way from the first book but her life hasn't exactly been a box of chocolates. She's been forced into therapy by her mother Kathleen because of her web page dedicated to her deceased father. Her brother Peter is a hot mess and needs some real help quickly. Her best friend Tracy has completely engrossed herself in the fashions of her fellow students. Her supposed boyfriend Jamie Forta is keeping a distance which frustrated Rose to no end until he shows up and teases her to the point of losing control.

Rose once again finds herself in a difficult situation when she has to make yet another snap decision about staying out of someone's life, or speaking up and hoping it doesn't cause her to be completely ostracized by her school mates including mean girl Regina Deladdo. Naturally, everyone blames Rose for their own problems including the person that Rose tries to help.

It's interesting how Rozett captures the essence of what it means to be mourning the loss of someone she was close to. Although time has continued to roll onward, Rose is still grieving over the loss of her father in Iraq. Now that her only outlet to connect to others who may have lost someone has been deemed inappropriate by her mother, she needs another outlet.

I found the story actually more interesting than the first book in that Rose actually finds an outlet, besides sitting in her room and closing herself off from everyone, in wanting to be a singer. I actually didn't scream and run in the other direction when Rozett stayed on the subject of bullying and in this case whether or not a student has the right to participate in sports if he/she is gay. They absolutely do! I also found the inclusion of the story about Matthew Sheppard an American student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered to be poignant and not in your face.

I am probably one of those reviewers who will get kicked and screamed at because of my absolute desire to kick Jamie in the balls and watch him run away screaming especially with the books ending. He sends so many different signals to Rose that I didn't bother to scream in frustration, I just continued reading hoping that Rose's inner voices would finally guide her on the right path.

Definitely worth the time and effort it takes to read this book. Will be looking forward to Confessions #3 soon!

*Recvd via Netgalley 04/19/2013* Expected publication: June 18th 2013 by Harlequin

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars!

My first confession - I did not read the first book in this series. Did I miss a ton of background info? Probably. But, I still really enjoyed this second book!

My second confession - I love a good YA novel. Ahhhhhh... to be 15 again! To go to school dances, to crush on the hot older guy who may or may not be your boyfriend/friend/something more? To have fights with your mom and best friend and ex-friends. All of these things happened in this book, and so much more.

Rose is now 15 and a sophmore in high school. Drama with high-school mean girl Regina is still going strong. Her sometimes/something relationship/friendship with Jamie is still happening. She resolves some issues with best friend Tracey, but then a whole new set of problems comes up. She's still dealing with the death of her father, her joint therapy sessions with her mom, and now added drama surrounding her brother, Peter.

The whole book is told from Rose's perspective. I loved her inner monologue - it was so typical 15 year old girl. She's so unsure of herself - so positive that all of her friends are prettier, more stylish and overall "better" than her. She wants to just fit in, but knows that she doesn't, not really. She wants Jamie, but she's just so.... and he's so..... I mean, I just loved it. The only thing that would have added to the book was more interaction between her and Jamie. I'm not sure if I missed a lot in the first book, but I just didn't find that there was much upon which to build their relationship. More secret meetings or just plain interactions between them would have added so much more to the dynamic of their relationship.

Don't you remember what it was like to be an awkward 15 year old girl? I certainly do. I thought the author captured the essence of what it is like to be a teenager in high school. And a teenager with significant issues at that. Yeah, Rose is sometimes annoying. And, yeah, a few times I wanted to yell at her to grow up and stop being such an idiot. But isn't that what being 15 is all about?

Overall, a great YA book. Perfect for anyone who likes that genre of book and is cool with a lot of PG action. I do hope the author continues with this series so that we can keep tabs on Rosie as she continues to grow up and mature.

[Sanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louise Rozett’s Confessions Series is everything a good YA book should be.

The writing had me completely captivated and I struggled right along with Rose, the main character. The emotions were there through the entire book and I must say that it wasn’t always an easy read, after all Rose’s life isn’t always easy. While reading, the emotions are always right there on the surface and I admit there was a tear or two since Lousie Rozett made it incredibly easy to feel along with Rose.

Rose is a great heroine because she has faults and makes mistakes. She’s a teenager that struggles through life, first love and the hardships life throws at her. And throughout it all, she is witty, sarcastic and has a temper. Sometimes she is insensitive and more often than not she struggles to accept herself. And all that is why she is one of the best characters I’ve encountered in YA books. Because she isn’t perfect, she makes mistakes, learns how to own up to them and that doing the right thing is often harder than simply choosing the easy way out.

Not only is Rose a complex character but so are her relationships. Be it her mother, her brother, her best friend Tracey, her online friend Vicky, her crush Jamie or Jamie’s friend Angelo. There are so many people to care about, to feel for and to understand that you won’t be able to catch a break. And in my eyes that’s an amazing thing. Even if the back and forward between her and Jamie drove me nuts at times.

The relationships are constantly changing and it’s a pleasure to read about; for example: one moment Rose and Tracey are best friends and then there stands this thing between them. And then you can see how their characters grow and adapt, they adjust to the new situation and while it might change their relationship, that’s not always a bad thing.

Last but not least, it was amazing to follow Rose’s development, watch her learn and finally find something that makes her happy; something that’s all herself. Life might not be perfect for her but that doesn’t stop her and I can’t wait to see how things will develop in the next installment.

ARC provided by Harlequin Teen via NetGalley.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man Louise ROCKED MY SOCKS with this second book. Rose oh sweet Jesus Rose had a rough Freshmen year and she survived it by the skim of her teeth. So much has happened after losing her father but her brother and mother are coming around. So now Rose is going into her sophomore year and she has decided she will let the cards fall where they may. She cares for Jamie and even thinks she loves him but she is not going to force him to do anything. Plus she is singing and she has such a kick a$$ voice that she is trying out to be in a band.

As everyone knows school is hard enough but add so serious drama between Jamie and Rose and Rose and her best friend and Lord all you can do is sit back and wish for the best. Rose knows that she has had anger issues and she is working through them but with all the drama going on at school it is hard to let go of that anger.

Will sophomore year be different for Rose? Will she get Jamie or will he stay with Regina? What will happen to her brother? What will happen to her mother? There are so many things going on in this book that at one minute I would be happy and then the next I would be yelling at the book telling Rose to smarten up and open her eyes. Things happen for a reason and in the end Rose may lose the one thing she has always wanted but she will gain one thing that will make her whole!

This is a must read series like I said before and I need book three like ASAP man I need it like I need to breathe!

[Henrietta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession: I haven’t read Confessions Of An Angry Girl.

But when I opened Confessions Of An Almost-Girlfriend, I felt immediately drawn into the world of Rose. I was so hooked that I finished reading the book in one setting! Even though I haven’t read book one, I felt I understood the characters quite well – Rose, Jamie, Regina, Conrad and Peter – I felt their anxiety, nervousness, anger and silliness, and I laughed and cringed and sighed as I read, not wanting to miss out on any of the ups and downs that they went through. Not sure when (maybe it’s mid-way through the book), I began to silently pray, hoping to see the characters got what they wanted, or at least moved in a better direction before the story ended, and while I felt like not all my prayers have been answered, the bittersweet ending made me wonder if we might be able to see Rose again – perhaps in her junior year?

To read a character interview between author Louise Rozett and Conrad, click here.

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A copy of the book was provided by publisher for review purposes.

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Confessions of an Angry Girl but Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend is so much better. It’s more emotional, complex and really hard to put down.

About to return to school after the train-wreck of her the previous year Rose is at a party and ends up in the spotlight again and not in a good way. From an outside perspective Rose is doing the right thing but none of her classmates agree and neither does the person she helps.

Throughout Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend you can’t help but feel bad for Rose because no matter what she does it always seems to blow up in her face. At times it really feels like everyone and everything is conspiring against her.

Unlike the previously book I was completely convinced by Rose’s emotions in this story. Despite the fact that she is more sympathetic this time round Louise Rozett doesn’t distract from Rose's faults. Sometimes I sided with her family/friends but more often than not I was on Rose’s side.

Louise Rozett now has me hooked, there is no way I won’t be reading the next book.