Not Pretty Enough

Not Pretty Enough #1

by Jaimie Admans

“New Year’s Resolutions:
1. Lloyd Layton will know I exist. He once said three whole words to me, so this is obviously progress. If I don’t get a proper conversation out of him soon, then I’ll take my top off and streak through the cafeteria, because nobody could fail to notice these boobs.
2. I will not get expelled for streaking through the cafeteria.”

Those are the words that begin her mission.
Chessie is fourteen, not pretty enough, and very much in love. Lloyd Layton is hot, popular, and unaware of Chessie’s existence.
Her goal is clear: to get Lloyd to love her as much as she loves him, and she has exactly one year to do it.
As Chessie’s obsession with Lloyd reaches boiling point and she starts to spin a web of lies that spiral out of control, Lloyd turns out to be not quite the prince she thought he was. Can Chessie avoid the gathering storm before things go too far?

-- -- -- -- --
Not Pretty Enough is a contemporary young adult comedy suitable for ages thirteen and over.

Book two in the series will be released early 2014.

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, Humor, Realistic Fiction

191 pages, ebook

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

Jaimie is a 32-year-old English-sounding Welsh girl with an awkward-to-spell name. She lives in South Wales and enjoys writing, gardening, watching horror movies, and drinking tea, although she’s seriously considering marrying her coffee machine. She loves autumn and winter, and singing songs from musicals despite the fact she’s got the voice of a dying hyena. She hates spiders, hot weather, and cheese & onion crisps. She spends far too much time on Twitter and owns too many pairs of boots.
She will never have time to read all the books she wants to read.

She is the author of chick-lit romantic comedies The Chateau of Happily Ever Afters and Kismetology, and she has also written young-adult romantic comedies Afterlife Academy, Not Pretty Enough, and North Pole Reform School.

Reviews

[Sab · Rating 2 out of 5]

Also posted on: Sab The Book Eater

I think I would've liked this book if it were written differently. For the first time in a long time (so long I can't even remember the last time) I read a Young Adult book that's actually different... both in a bad and in a good way.

So let's start off with the bad: Chessie. I honestly did not like any part of her. At first I thought I would totally love her because she kept talking about her ginormous breasts in a funny way. Funny/witty female protagonists are always a plus for me. However, Chessie's drive to get Lloyd to notice her went a little overboard in my opinion. Okay it wasn't just a little. It went REALLY overboard. Every chapter involved one of Chessie's plans backfiring. I'm serious, every chapter was the same as the last one. It was tiring seeing the same thing over and over again. I felt sorry for and annoyed at Chessie for being so obsessed on getting his crush to notice him. Chessie getting embarrassed constantly made the book so predictable even before I reached the halfway mark. Chessie's definitely a go-getter and I liked that about her. Unfortunately, she wasn't thinking straight for most of the book - she was so impulsive and downright crush-crazy! Trust me, I know how it feels to be young and crushing hard on someone who seems so unattainable. This was, oh yeah, something else! And I don't really mean that in a good way. I knew that there was a point to it all but I think there could've been some other way to get the message across.

Which now brings me to what I did like: the message. At the end of the book we see just what this book is trying to tell its readers - just be yourself. It's such a meaningful message that plenty of teenage girls should really keep in mind. And it wasn't delivered through a sappy romance. If it weren't for Chessie's moves, I would've appreciated the message more. I just feel that it came in too late. It took one horrific experience with Lloyd for Chessie to see him for what he really is. I mean come on! There were earlier signs!

This book had a lot of potential. It would've been better if the approach was a little different. Less bad decisions maybe? I don't know. But I sure didn't like seeing the protagonist getting humiliated repeatedly. This is not for me but I do think it's okay. Check it out yourself, you might like it more than I did.

(Copy provided for review. This review is based solely on my opinion.)

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating - 2.5

This wasn't awful, but I found the whole thing more annoying than funny.

[Karla Mae (Reads and Thoughts) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about "Not Pretty Enough" is that it reminds us of those awkward, early stage of our teenage years; That certain stage where we are crushing on the cutest guy and will do everything and anything just to get him to notice you.


He's taller than every one.
She have bigger boobs that every one.
Are they really match made in heaven?


Chessie is okay. I liked her. She's good to her friends and her mom and I admire her guts to do those different harebrained schemes but at another side I just don’t get her. Yes, I get gaga over my crushes but not to the point of chasing after them and going to the lengths that this girl does. She let her heart ruined her reasoning. But even though there are a lot of annoying parts about her and her endless stream of schemes and most of her actions makes me raise my eyebrows I still find myself cheering her up into getting Lloyd.


Will Chessie do something that is not humiliating in front of Lloyd?
Will they end up together?


I was shocked and not shocked as to how Lloyd's character came out. Yes, I know something might be terribly wrong with him but throughout the story there wasn’t any reason given to me as a reader to think just that. It was pure gut instinct but I did get it right – he’s not so perfect after all.

The real bit down side for me here is that it seems that our main character, Chessie suffered a great amount of humiliation throughout the book. Yes, she did learn her lesson at the end but she didn’t redeem herself after all those humiliating experiences and things she has done. Too much humiliation is too much I guess.

Not Pretty Enough is unique and good. It’s a story for all young girls out there teaching them that they really don’t have to change for a boy. You’re perfect for just who you are. If you're into romantic-comedy teenage stuff, pick this one up.

*Advance copy kindly provided for review*
*Full Blog tour deets posted at Reads and Thoughts.

[Joana Hill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read more reviews on my blog, Words and Tea Bottles.

Not Pretty Enough just wasn’t worth it in my eyes. On the surface it’s rather rife with formatting problems (mostly dialog tag stuff, which is one of my biggest pet peeves). Once you actually read it, you realize that there really is no plot to this book other than Chessie liking a boy and doing really, REALLY stupid things in her attempts to get him to notice her.

And when I say really, REALLY stupid, I do mean it. This entire book reads like the script for some kind of slapstick comedy, with Chessie constantly hurting herself and smashing into busses, doors and light poles. It isn’t just physical (non)comedy, though; Chessie is a rather terrible and thoughtless person, getting herself into stupid situations just because she doesn’t think how they might pan out or why it might be a bad idea. She actually lets Lloyd believe that she’s being abused by her parents because he sees a bruise from a girl hitting her with her bag in gym, and Chessie refuses to tell him what really happened for whatever reason. It actually gets to the point where her mother is arrested and brought in for questioning about it.

And then she spends several days moping about it and saying how unfair the whole situation is because, you know, it’s totally okay to lie about your parents beating on you if you tell the people involved that you’re sorry.

Not to mention Lloyd is probably the most cardboard cutout character I’ve ever seen. We literally know that he’s tall, likes sports, and that Chessie likes him. When he turns out to be a jerk, I was as shocked as she was, because there sure wasn’t any reason for us to think he was. I realize it might be intended to show that Chessie didn’t actually know him and shouldn’t have been going after him like she was, but it just made it rather boring in my eyes.

Overall, not a great book. Nothing stood out about it in a positive way, so it isn’t really one I’d recommend.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an e-copy of this from Dianne of Oops I Read A Book Again in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly don't know where to start. Oh yes, let me tell you that I was so excited to read this one. It seemed funny. So I was really expecting a good laugh. Well, I did. But not everything funny comes free. There's always a price.

I'll make this short. I didn't like this one. Even if I laughed a couple of times, I just can't bring myself to like it. Chessie was too much for me. Everything that happened to her was her own fault. She seemed to be digging her own grave. I swear, she was funny but the things she did were totally uncalled for. I want to get into the book and slap her so she'll wake up, you know. I mean, I get that some girls totally fall for the wrong guy and do such stuff. But she never learn. I tried my best to sympathize with her. But no can do!

Well, I guess that the only good thing about this one is the ending where Chessie finally came around and learned. Hooray, right? That's the reason why I didn't dislike this one. It has a redeeming value in the end which pretty much teach us a good thing. Another factor that saved me from this was Chessie's friends. They never did give up on her and never failed to remind her about stuff. They were really good and it was a great thing Chessie was friends with them.

So yes, as much as I laughed more than once while reading this, I just wasn't able to connect and relate with Chessie. Maybe you can so give it a try!

Originally posted at The Bookish Confections

[Mikki D · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Not Pretty Enough by Jaimie Admans was a super fun and sweet read. I loved reading about Chessie's adventures to capture the heart of the boy of her dreams. I have to admit that I'm not used to reading books where the MC is a fourteen year old teenager. I was very surprised by this book. I LOL in many occasions and Chessie was a wonderful character to follow. This book was a great read and I found myself turning the pages rather quickly, just to find out what she was planning next. We got to read about her dreams, her insecurities and how a fourteen year old girl sees the world. I loved it!

Oh Boy! Did anything ever go right for our sweet Chessie? I could not believe all the bad luck she was having! What she does to get Lloyd's attention... OMG!!! Freakin' hilarious!!! I found myself making scenarios in my head of what could happen with the situation she was creating, but then how it played out was totally different and much more worse. I felt so bad for her sometimes :( This book brought me back to my high school days when I used to doodle the name of my crush all over my agenda and notebook ... LOL!!! Ahhh! The good old days! ;)

This book has a winning combination of humor, beautiful friendships and a heroine that believes that nothing will get in her way of achieving her goals. The characters were very lovable. I was really happy for the lessons that Chessie learned. She really got an eye-opening experience!

I give Not Pretty Enough by Jaimie Admans 3 1/2 funny and lovable stars! This book is mostly for a teen audience ,but I'm an adult and I liked every single page of it! I'm going to share this book with my nieces :)

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chessie is fourteen years old and she doesn't think she's pretty. She's in love with Lloyd Layton and does everything she can for him to notice her. Unfortunately not all her plans work out very well. Her resolution is to make him see her, to let him be aware she's there. She would even use her boobs as she has a lot in that area that could be noticed. When after many months Lloyd Layton still doesn't pay attention to her she has to take drastic measurements, but they are getting her into serious trouble. Will it be worth it in the end?

Chessie is a young girl with a huge crush. It was really cute to see how she wanted the most handsome boy in school to notice her. She thought they would have a lot of things in common. Slowly she starts to discover more about him. By pretending to like things she actually hates she can be near him from time to time, but is that the way to get his attention? It was really funny when something backfired, I felt so bad for poor Chessie, but I had to laugh as well. I know how I stumbled and made a fool of myself every now and then at that age and it was a nice trip down memory lane. The book ends with a strong and beautiful message. I liked that a lot and think the author has wrapped wise and useful advice in a lovely, clever package.

[Emma Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Pretty Enough is a laugh-out-loud romantic comedy which is perfect for tweens and teens. We follow fourteen-year-old Chessie as she attempts to win the attention – and heart – of Lloyd Layton. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned. From a hair-dying experiment that ends in disaster to an accident with a javelin, Chessie’s increasingly desperate attempts to impress her seven-foot-tall classmate always seem to fail spectacularly. Teens will relate to Chessie’s woes and and cringe as she makes some bad choices and gets herself into sticky situations in this light-hearted, very funny contemporary book.

The characters are all realistic teenagers with the concerns of their age group. Chessie’s narrative voice is great, packed with humour (some unintentional on her part!) and life. Witty and entertaining, this is a great teen contemporary novel which takes us right into the world of young teens and delivers plenty of laughs along the way!

[FeedMyReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a book I would normally go for as I would categorize this as a coming of age teen book but I must say that I read through this and really found myself enjoying it a lot thanks to the excellent character work done by the author and her writing style enabling for a great flow that made character interactions feel very natural and realistic whilst not making for a boring book as a consequence. The story allows for plenty of moments where things go wrong for Chessie and she has hugely embarrassing incidents that make the reader feel real sympathy for her and for me this is something that shows the marks of a really well written book and something you can find missing from many of the books in this genre.
I think that this is a book that would be great for young teens who are going through the same stage of life as Chessie (where you feel like you are the only one who is different and like nobody understands you) as it feels like the kind of book that could have a real connection with people and as it is so close to life in many of the aspects it would help them to see others do go through this.
If you have never read anything by Jaimie Admans then why not give this a shot as it is a really excellent demonstration of an author at the top of their game.

This was a really great read and one I highly recommend people to try as it shows a great writer delivering a great story in style. The book would be perfectly aimed at the young teen market however I think it is a good one for parents (especially mothers) too.

[Rebecca Ravenclaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a digital copy of this book on a read-to-review basis. I’d like to say a huge thank you to Jaimie Admans and Dianne at http://oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.com
The address to follow the blog tour is: (http://oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.c...


What I liked a lot about this story was how relatable it was. I think most of us have been that girl in middle school; awkward, not quite pretty enough, and pining after that perfect guy who would never give us the time of day. Chessie Clemenfield is quite determined to get Lloyd Layton to notice her--and ultimately ask her out. Chessie’s quest involves A LOT of totally humiliating incidents that kept me both cringing and laughing at the comedy-infused situations.

Here’s an excerpt of one such incident:

In technology that afternoon, I’m not concentrating on the block of wood I’m supposed to be sawing, and I don’t even realise I’m still moving the saw until Debs clicks her fingers in my face and says, “Chessie, what are you doing?”
Oops.
I look down and the saw is halfway through the workbench. It’s embedded. In fact, it’s downright stuck. I pull and wiggle it but it won’t come out.
Oh, hell. Why do I always manage to mess something up?
I stick my hand up in the air and hope the teacher won’t make a scene about it. It was an accident, after all. I really don’t need Lloyd thinking that this is another lesson that I’m totally incompetent in. Is it too much to ask that he might think I’m good at something? Even just one thing?
“Miss Clemenfield?” Mr Vale asks in his most patronising voice.
“Sir, I, um, had a little accident,” I say, stepping back so he can see the saw that’s gone right through the wooden workbench.
“Oh dear. A little overzealous with the sawing, were we?”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I thought I was still doing my block. My mind was somewhere else.”
“Thinking about boys, no doubt, eh? I know what kids your age are like.”
I’m just about to put in that I was actually thinking about ways to improve our technology lessons when suddenly Mr Vale’s voice is booming around the classroom.
“Everybody, gather round,” he’s saying, and gesturing with his hand to come over to our table.
Thirty students gather around us. I can feel Lloyd’s imposing frame right behind me. If I leaned back a little I’d be touching him. I wish I had the courage to do that. I wish we were friends. I wish he’d comfort me and tell me that it doesn’t matter that I’ve embarrassed myself yet again and the teacher is making a scene about it. But I don’t really get a chance, because Mr Vale prods me out of the way a little too forcefully, and I fall off my stool. I go to grab something to hold me up, and horror of horrors, I grab at the one thing that I never wanted to meet with in this way.
I have grabbed Lloyd Layton’s crotch.
Oh, crap.
The entire class is practically rolling on the floor in fits of giggles, and up until now, I would have thought it humanly impossible to turn red so fast.
It occurs to me that it might be a good idea to let go, and I drop my hand and jump back like I’ve been burnt.
Even the teacher is laughing. I don’t dare to look up at Lloyd, but I would imagine he’s gone bright red too. At least he’s not laughing like all the others.
“Sorry,” I mumble in an upward direction, and settle myself back on my stool, trying in vain to hide my head in my hands.
“That’s enough excitement for one day,” Mr Vale says finally, even though he’s still giggling himself. “I just wanted you all to see what happens when someone like Miss Clemenfield pays more attention to Mr Layton’s work than to her own.”
Crap. He noticed that?
Oh well, I don’t see what it matters because my face cannot get any redder right now.
Eventually the class file away and Mr Vale removes the saw from the bench and hands it back to me with a grin. I sneak a glance over towards Lloyd. There is a definite hint of a blush in his cheeks.
Great, not only do I embarrass myself beyond belief but I make him feel bad too.
Perfect.
“At least you can’t say he hasn’t noticed you anymore,” Debs whispers.
“Thank you. That makes me feel so much better.”

Chessie’s quest encompasses the course of a year as her obsession with Lloyd Layton completely takes over her life. Her schoolwork, friendships, and family relationship suffer due to her full concentration on Lloyd. At first, the prospects of capturing Lloyd’s attention seem bleak. Then, things start to look up for Chessie. Lloyd actually starts to notice her. However, Chessie eventually finds herself wrapped up in web of lies that she can’t seem to get out of.

From there, things snowball out of control. Eventually Chessie discovers that Lloyd may not be exactly who she thought he was--and he certainly may not be as perfect as she thought.

The incident at the end of the book may shock young girls--I’m 21 and I actually wasn’t expecting it at all. But I think that shock is an appropriate reaction because this situation is very realistic and should serve as a cautionary tale to girls.

At times I found Chessie to be a little crazy… and stalkerish. But still ultimately relatable. I mean, come on, who hasn’t secretly followed a guy they liked? x) Her enthusiasm was a bit off-putting at times, but her intentions were always pure which made her likable.

It takes a lot of unfortunate incidents and a long time for Chessie to realize that she does not need to change herself for a boy. This is great story for young girls to read as it will teach them that they don’t have to change for a boy and if they be themselves, then they’re perfect. This is an important message to get across and I’m glad that Jaimie Admans wrote such a book.

[Anncleire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blog Tour on my blog September 17th
Review + Except + Giveaway
http://pleaseanotherbook.tumblr.com/p...

This book is really, really funny!


“Not pretty enough” è entrato nelle cose da leggere grazie a Dianne di “Oops! I read a book again” con cui ho iniziato a collaborare da pochissimo e con cui mi sto trovando molto bene. Generalmente sono una tipa che non si fa problemi per un libro, che se in qualche modo un volume finisce nelle mie cose da leggere un motivo c’è. In questo caso, come in molti altri, è stata la copertina a colpirmi e sono molto contenta di averlo scelto perché ragazzi questo è il libro più divertente che abbia letto negli ultimi tempi. Non ho mai riso tanto, come con questo libro.


“Buoni propositi per il nuovo anni:
1.Lloyd Layton si accorgerà che esisto. Una volta mi ha detto tre intere parole, e questo è certamente un progresso. Se non riesco ad avere una vera conversazione con lui subito, allora mi toglierò la maglietta e camminerò attraverso la caffetteria, perché nessuno può ignorare queste tette.
2.Non verrò espulsa per camminare attraverso la caffetteria.”
Queste sono le parole che danno inizio alla sua missione.
Chassie ha quattordici anni, non sufficientemente bella, e molto innamorata. Lloyd Layton è bellissimo, popolare e totalmente ignaro dell’esistenza di Chessie. Il suo obiettivo è chiaro: far innamorare Lloyd di lei ed ha esattamente un anno per farlo. Mentre l’ossessione di Chessie per Lloyd raggiunge il punto di non ritorno e lei inizia a tessere una ragnatela di bugie che rapidamente vanno fuori controllo, Lloyd si rivela essere non proprio il principe che lei credeva. Riuscirà Chessie ad evitare il peggio prima che sia troppo tardi.


Questo ya viene presentato come una commedia e vi posso assicurare che corrisponde appieno alla definizione, in maniera totale e senza eccezioni. Davvero lo scrivevo anche nell’introduzione, non ho mai smesso di ridere. Vi dirò di più. Quando lo leggevo stavo andando in università e ho quindi continuato la lettura in treno. Bene i passeggeri pendolari che erano con me mi avranno presa per pazza perché ogni tanto sghignazzavo da sola, come un isterica pensando “ma non è possibile”! Questo libro dovrebbe diventare un film, avrebbe un successo strepitoso, ve lo assicuro. Consigliato dai 13 anni in su, è stato un vero spasso per me che ho 11 anni di più. Uno stile fresco e innovativo, una trama ben congeniata, un passo che non è né lento né veloce, ma assolutamente perfetto per apprezzare la storia. Storia che viene sviluppata per episodi, raccontati dalla voce di Chessie mentre li vive, che mostrano i suoi tentativi, spesso fallimentari, di guadagnarsi il favore di Lloyd.
Chessie è una quattordicenne che si affaccia al mondo dei primi amori, e di una cotta sproporzionata per un ragazzo che viene messo su un piedistallo e che lei guarda da lontano, in maniera totalmente falsata, tanto che va a sbattere contro i pali della luce. Situazioni tragicomiche che mettono in luce il fatto che per amore si sia disposti a fare qualsiasi cosa e a tentare il tutto per tutto. Chessie è una ragazza normale, come ce ne sono tante, non particolarmente bella, non particolarmente brillante a scuola, senza una reale passione. Poco sportiva, poco creativa, poco geniale, si aspetta solo un po’ di considerazione dall’unico ragazzo che fino a quel momento l’ha colpita. Ce la mette tutta, anche improvvisandosi cuoca, parrucchiera e sportiva, per cercare di attirare l’attenzione di Lloyd in maniera positiva.
Lloyd è un ragazzo, molto alto, sportivo, intelligente, bravo a scuola, ricco, popolare, insomma il sogno di ogni ragazza e il ragazzo che i suoi amici vorrebbero imitare. Un guy’s guys uno di quei ragazzi nati per fare il leader. E sembrerebbe una giusta scelta per avere una cotta su di lui. Ma mentre si continua a leggere ci si rende conto che non è tanto perfetto, che a volte, l’apparenza inganna parecchio.
Nella storia abbiamo poi Debs la fedele migliore amica di Chessie che la sostiene in ogni pazzia anche quando non è d’accordo con lei e le consiglia di togliersi il tipo dalla testa. Ewan. Il loro migliore amico, che prova qualcosa in più che semplice amicizia ma che rimane fedele sempre a loro in ogni situazione. C’è anche la mean girl, quella che vorresti riempire di mazzate talmente è stronza Leigh, che non perderà occasione per umiliare Chessie e metterla in situazioni poco confortevoli. Non posso poi non citare Darren, il migliore amico di Lloyd che pare del tutto marginale, ma secondo me avrà un ruolo molto, molto importante.
L’ambientazione, vicino Cardiff, in un piccolo paesino di provincia inglese, è assolutamente ben curata e si sente tutta la pesantezza della vita da liceali in un mondo che non accetta compromessi, che ti vuole sempre al tuo top, senza difetti e impeccabili nell’immagine, quando sono altre le cose importanti nella vita. Favoloso.

Il particolare da non dimenticare? Un cappello nero…

Uscito il primo agosto 2013 questo libro è una piccola meraviglia, in un mondo dove le adolescenti lottano per la supremazia a scuola a suon di popolarità e outfit alla moda, qui Chessie è una sfigata, impopolare a cui ne succedono di tutti i colori e che la rendono assolutamente incapace di difendersi. Vi invito davvero a leggere questo libro, di uno spasso unico. Io intanto aspetto il sequel in uscita ad inizio 2014 che non mi farò di certo scappare, perché penso che sarà bello quanto questo.
Buona lettura guys!


Ringrazio immensamente Dianne di Oops! I read a book again per avermi offerto la fantastica opportunità di leggere in anteprima questo libro in cambio della mia onesta opinione.

[Jess at Such a Novel Idea · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this review and more, visit Such A Novel Idea.


3.5/5 stars

Not Pretty Enough has a lot of things going for it. It is quirky, fun, HILARIOUS, and (eventually) has a good message. It reminded me of Angus, Thongs, and Perfect Snogging. The book begins at January term, where Chessie decides she is going to get the attention of the boy she likes -- even if she has to make a perfect fool of herself in the meantime.

And thus begins a year of ups and downs, laughs and tears, and Chessie learning about who she is and who defines her self worth.

A few things:

1. Books like this one make me feel my age. As much as I like to protest (in my head) that I'm still young and hip, turning 30 is right around the corner. The way you know you are turning 30 is when you identify with the parents on Good Luck Charlie. However, younger YA readers will love (and relate to) this story.

2. Although I never got a crush as serious as Chessie's, I suffer from extreme clumsiness and an overall sense of awkwardness. I swear reading this book made me notice that much more how much of a klutz I really am. I feel your pain Chessie. And while it doesn't go away as you get older, you do find people who love you because of it!

3. Jaimie Admans -- you're writing is so natural. I felt like I was reading a diary of a 14 year old girl. You put me in her head and made me remember, just for a little while, what life was like at that age. And man, I don't miss it one bit! I can also see how much of your heart you poured into this book.

Chessie makes a lot of DUMB decisions all for the sake of like. At times I found myself shaking my head, screaming NOOOOO Internally, and even cringing at the things she said/thought/did. Then I had to remember her age. And how every kid that age does stupid things. And thinks stupid things. It made me remember the stupid things I thought/said/did at that age. WHAT was I thinking!?! Luckily, Chessie's best friends are the voice of reason for Chessie -- and unluckily she doesn't heed there advice too often. Which basically means hilariousness will ensue.

And it was hilarious. I found myself smiling and laughing for most of this book. It's like watching a Ben Stiller movie -- you are going to cringe at the awkward, but you'll laugh all the way through.

The book takes place in Wales, so be prepared for some new vernacular. Once you get the word exchange down, you'll flow right along with the story. Sometimes I have issues with reading British writing because of how different it is. However, with a bit of practice and the help of Google, you'll get the hang of it quickly.

There are a few critiques I have. Mostly, it seems as if there are SO many crazy things happening to Chessie -- and that starts to make the reader feel bogged down. The events start to become repetitive -- which damages the comedic effect the author is going for. My second issue is there are a few things that happen that were quite serious -- and they never seem to really be addressed outside of Chessie's mom. I don't think it would happen this way in reality. However, the book ends on a high point and with a great message for kids. Yeah, we all mess up and do stupid things. That won't change no matter how old you are, but hopefully they will be few and far between as we grow up.

[charlie. · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I don’t want to be popular because a boy likes me, I want to be myself, and if other people like me or if they don’t, at least I will like myself.”

Not Pretty Enough is different from other stories I’ve read. The structure was something I have to adjust at the beginning. It was like a patch of scenes, randomly narrated by Chessie. I had a hard time figuring out how many days or months have passed but after a while I forgot about it and got lost in the story.

No matter how pathetic Chessie was in the book, she is definitely relatable. The awkward phase in her life was something that comes with being in high school, especially when she has something that is different than girls her age. Her pining for Lloyd was understandable too. I’ve had crushes and although I didn’t exactly do what she did, I still went through that stage and it was so true. No matter how pissed I was with her when she was still pining for the guy who is clearly a jerk, everything was still believable and realistic because there were times when we can’t shake off the attraction no matter how unattractive a person is.

Lloyd, on the other hand, made me want to rip my hair off and stick my eyes out. He was a jerk. He was a stupid, hormonal jerk who cares for no one but himself. At the early part of the novel, I really thought that he a good guy. Maybe not the one who’d fall for our protagonist but still a good guy who’d let her down gently and would still care about her feelings. I even brushed off some of his mistakes, thinking that maybe he really meant what he said and just forgot about it and accepted his reasons. For a while, I was like Chessie, eating every word Lloyd said.

Reading this was like reading with split personality. One that can relate to Chessie while the other one is that friend who’d tell you that you’re already being stupid and makes your realize it. Unexpectedly, the epiphany I’ve been waiting for didn’t come sooner. With this kind of story, I expected that she’d realize that she’s doesn’t deserve to be treated like that and move on, and after she’s moved on, Lloyd would realize his mistakes too. WRONG. It didn’t happen that way.

It was said that this one’s the first book of a series and I can’t imagine what will happen in the next book but I am very curious about it. This book is fun, despite being a bit pathetic if you’d use your logical mind. Totally relatable main character and experience. It was like déjà vu. This is for those kids who are going through that awkward phase in high school and secretly (or not) pining for that guy who is (or not) for you but hasn’t realized it yet.



This copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
*This and other reviews can also be found on my blog*

[Jenny in Neverland · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, I knew I was going to enjoy this book and it made a pleasant change from everything long and complicated I’ve been reading lately. I signed up for the blog tour of this book, run by Dianne ( http://oopsireadabookagain.blogspot.c... ) and Jaimie Admans herself and got sent a free copy to read and review. I’m so glad I did because not only is this my first blog tour, it is the first of Jaimie’s book’s I’ve read it’s definitely encouraged me to read more! This is a relatively short and straight-forward story about a teenage girl called Chessie who is in love with a boy in her school called Lloyd. However, Lloyd doesn’t seem to know she exists. The story takes you through the journey of Chessie’s school year and her unique attempts to get Lloyd to notice her but with Chessie’s bad luck, none of them seem to go as planned.

This book reminded me a lot of Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal snogging as it was the same sort of idea and it was so easy to read, I finished it in a day and a half! I loved that it was in first person from Chessie’s point of view because it helped me imagine her and her world very easily and you begin to feel like a part of it. So much so that at times when something embarrassing was about to happen to her, I felt my heart racing because I knew what was coming! I’m sure just as Chessie would have felt in the book. Jaimie puts into words what every teenage girl thinks and feels at some point during their adolescent years. Not only Chessie, I think all the characters are very relatable and recognisable and the way everyone talks to each other is very believable. When you’re 14 and at school, you’re bound to know people similar to the different characters in the book, for example, the class bully and a group of boys mad about cars and football. But I think the thing that made this such an enjoyable read for me is that it was so funny and definitely my kind of humour. It’s all very well having a book about a girl who likes a boy but when all the girl does is mope around it’s no fun! Chessie actually goes well out of her way to make this boy notice her and ends up in some hilarious situations, some of which genuinely made me cringe out loud!

If you’re not into anything long, hard-going and complicated and fancy a few laughs this is definitely the book for you! It’s hilarious, cringe-worthy, ridiculous and emotional with a very un-expected ending. I think Jaimie teaches you some important life lessons along the way too like lying will never get you what you want, some people aren’t what they seem and never forget the importance of friendship. It will definitely take you back to all those awkward moments when you were 14 and trying to impress a boy however, if you were as unlucky as Chessie was, I feel sorry for you! The sequel is coming out in 2014 and I for one cannot wait! 5 out of 5 stars!

See all my reviews here: www.jennyinneverland.wordpress.com

[Hazel (Stay Bookish) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out this review at Stay Bookish

We all have our obsessions, whether it be books, food, or even people. It just so happens that Chessie Clemenfield’s obsession is Lloyd Layton. She’s convinced it’s love. And she’s even more convinced to fight for it- or to at least get him to notice her.

This book drove me crazy. Several times, I found myself laughing so hard my stomach hurt, but other times, I had the urge to bang my head on a desk or a wall. (The only thing that stopped me was the fact that I didn’t want to damage my precious head.)

“I’m doing the javelin and the long jump.” But please don’t come and watch the long jump because my boobs will probably escape my bra and hit me in the eye.

While I was not a fan of Chessie’s immature decisions and actions, I did like her hilarity and determination. Granted that her determination was for all the wrong reasons and led to a lot of foolish missteps, I have to give her props. Chessie’s fixation on Lloyd, although stalkerish and over-the-top, is comparable to real life situations. Some girls really go out of their way to get a guy to notice or like them. Yes, their try-hard, too-desperate act is dumb but we really can’t hate them for that.

As I read Not Pretty Enough, I realized a few things. First, ‘love,’ especially when misinterpreted, makes us lose our senses. Chessie had really screwed-up reasoning and lied extensively just so Lloyd would like her. She forgot her responsibilities as a student, friend and daughter because she was way in over her head. This was the main reason I disliked some parts of the book. Second, our fixations can blind us. Chessie’s romantic interest, Lloyd, was a jerk. I never really liked him. The thing is Chessie actually knew about his flaws, yet she chose to ignore them because she though they were meant to be. Finally, crushing on someone sometimes makes us insecure. While being conscious of our appearance is unavoidable, we should not be so critical of ourselves. Nor should we alter our looks and personalities just to please someone. It’s sad how some people become different (in a negative way) when they like somebody.

“You don’t need a boyfriend to complete you, and you certainly don’t need one to make you popular, prettier or smarter. As long as you’re being yourself, then you’re perfect.”

I think this book could have been more developed and insightful if only it were longer. Regardless, it was a good, silly read. Not Pretty Enough reminded me of Awkward, what with the laugh out loud embarrassing moments Admans artfully devised. It was nice that it also delivered a message to teenage girls. A second book will be out next year and I’m hoping Chessie finds her HEA then!

[Carrie Stadtler · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Oh dear. A little overzealous with the sawing, were we?”
“I’m sorry,” I say. “I thought I was still doing my block. My mind was
somewhere else.”
“Thinking about boys, no doubt, eh? I know what kids your age are like.”
I’m just about to put in that I was actually thinking about ways to improve our
technology lessons when suddenly Mr. Vale’s voice is booming around the classroom.
“Everybody, gather round,” he’s saying, and gesturing with his hand to come over
to our workbench.
Thirty students gather around us. I can feel Lloyd’s imposing frame right behind
me. If I leaned back a little I’d be touching him. I wish I had the courage to do that. I
wish we were friends. I wish he’d comfort me and tell me that it doesn’t matter that
I’ve embarrassed myself yet again and the teacher is making a scene about it. But I
don’t really get a chance, because Mr. Vale prods me out of the way a little too
forcefully, and I fall off my stool. I go to grab something to hold me up, and horror of
horrors, I grab at the one thing that I never wanted to meet with in this way.
I have grabbed Lloyd Layton’s crotch.
Oh, crap.
The entire class is practically rolling on the floor in fits of giggles, and up until
now, I would have thought it humanly impossible to turn red so fast.
It occurs to me that it might be a good idea to let go, and I drop my hand and
jump back like I’ve been burnt.
Even the teacher is laughing. I don’t dare to look up at Lloyd, but I would
imagine he’s gone bright red too. At least he’s not laughing like all the others.
“Sorry,” I mumble in an upward direction, and settle myself back on my stool,
trying in vain to hide my head in my hands.
“That’s enough excitement for one day,” Mr. Vale says finally, even though he’s
still giggling himself. “I just wanted you all to see what happens when someone like
Miss Clemenfield pays more attention to Mr. Layton’s work than to her own.”
Crap.

This is a really funny story that every girl can relate to in some way or another. It is about your first hard crush and the crazy things we will do to get noticed by that boy. When 14 year old Chessie decides to get Lloyd to notice her she does everything wrong, she walks into doors, blows snoot on him while sneezing, colors her hair a terrible pink/red color, tells him her step dad (which she does not have a step dad) abuses her, etc..
The hardest thing for me while reading this is the writer is from Wales and some of the words were confusing.
The story was pretty predictable but still was very funny and makes you realize as an adult what crazy things we did as teenagers for "love". I would recommend this for any YA reader.

REVIEW by DEBBIE @ BOOKS,COFFEE AND WINE

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Pretty Enough is a young adult comedy/romance. I’m far from a young adult but that didn’t stop me from enjoying this novel.

Francesca (or Chessie, as she is better known) is fourteen years old. She goes to school, she has exceptionally large boobs, she is the clumsiest girl I’ve come across since my young self and she’s in love with Lloyd Layton. Or, at least she is as in love with Lloyd Layton as a fourteen year old girl who has barely said two words to Lloyd Layton can be.

We follow a year of Chessie’s life as she slowly strives to make Lloyd notice her, but often for the wrong reasons. Chessie is particularly accident prone, especially when distracted by the six foot teenage hunk that is Lloyd Layton and tends to find herself in sticky situations when he is around. She offers herself to tasks she would otherwise avoid, such as volunteering for sports events in an attempt to impress the boy of her dreams. Some of the events are a little far-fetched but this book is not one to take itself too seriously and the majority of unfortunate events make for a very funny read.

Amongst all the humour (and trust me, I got many a strange look giggling away to this book on the bus to work!), Not Pretty Enough is also scattered with a few more serious topics, such as domestic abuse and self esteem issues. It is a Great, British coming of age story. We see Welsh Chessie grow up over the course of the 12 months, learning right from wrong and discovering what she really wants. Will Lloyd Layton still be the apple of her eye as she edges towards 15? That remains to be seen, but you’ll have a good laugh whilst you wait to find out.

Whilst no doubt more fitting to a teen audience, I enjoyed reading Not Pretty Enough as a thirty-something. Set in Britain, it paid homage to several typically British school customs and brought back a flood of memories from my own school days. I do like to reminisce!

My Rating 4/5 – Short and sweet, Not Pretty Enough is a funny, quick and quirky read. Laugh out loud funny, although sometimes a little over the top, this would make a great book for both teenage girls as well as Women looking to take a trip down memory lane to their own teenage years. A great look into life as a British teenager with boys on the brain – this novel is awkward and clumsy but so very sweet.

*I was provided with a copy of the book for review purposes. I have not been paid for my review and all opinions are my own.

You can read this review and others on my Blog

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on my blog, Ramblings of a Daydreamer. You can find it, and many more reviews at the blog.

Not Pretty Enough is a hilarious coming-of-age story. We meet 14-year-old Chessie, who has made it her mission to get Lloyd Layton, her as-of-yet unrequited love, to notice her and hopefully fall in love with her. What follows is like a comedy of errors full of cringe-worthy embarrassing moments that make you laugh despite yourself because they’re just so horrific (and often horrifically relatable).

I could relate to Chessie in so many ways. At her age, I was overweight, didn’t have many friends, and more often than not had unhealthy, obsessive crushes on boys. I related to her desire to be noticed, and her tendency to stalk (oh yes, I was a definite stalker back in the day, and I wasn’t very good at it either - just ask my childhood best friends), do stupid things to get attention, and really just do stupid things in general. In her mind, she’s not pretty enough, she’s not smart enough, she’s not popular enough, plus she’s a total klutz who tends to draw attention to herself in all the wrong ways.

While this book will likely appeal to most fans of YA, I’d recommend it more for a younger teen audience, I think. At my age, even though I related to and sympathized with Chessie, there were many times I wanted to shake her…hard. I have the life experience she hasn’t had yet and know that boys often aren’t worth obsessing over and trying to change yourself to become what you think they’d like. My fourteen-year-old self would have been bffs with Chessie, and I’d likely have been right there egging her on to get Lloyd’s attention, while making her help me do stupid things (that wouldn’t have seemed stupid at the time, of course) to get my love interest’s attention.

Like any good romantic comedy, at the heart of it, this book had a good message, especially for teenage girls. I don’t want to give anything away, but I really did appreciate that after all she went through and after all the dumb things she did, Chessie really did learn a few important life lessons along the way.

Laugh-out-loud funny, relatable, and with a true-to-life message, Not Pretty Enough is another winner from Jaimie Admans. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

[Chamera · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received Not Pretty Enough by Jaimie Admans in digital format for the Not Pretty Enough blog tour hosted by Oops! I Read A Book Again.

Chessie, the main protagonist in Admans novel, was quite a character. She was just as dramatic and unreasonable as you'd expect any young teen to be, but honestly even a bit more.

Chessie, who is absolutely obsessed with Lance, a boy who goes to school with her, spends a lot of her time trying to find ways to get her guy.

From the beginning, I have no idea why she likes Lance so much. He's popular, sure, and even cute, but besides that it is obvious that they have nothing in common, and honestly, he seemed the tad bit like a jerk.

Chessie would have gasped dramatically if she were to hear me say that (and if her hearing me was possible) but Lance actually became more likeable throughout the novel. That is until the end when something happens that makes me regret ever redeeming him of his 'LAME LOSER' title earlier in the book.

But even Lance, despicable as he is, wasn't my main problem with Not Pretty Enough. It was actually Chessie. She was everything a young lady should grow up not to be. She wasn't confident in her self, and she'd easily go to drastic measures to change herself for someone who wasn't even worth it.

However these problems actually made the story good because though I cringed every time she acted completely moronic, and yes, she did screw up a lot, she learned a lesson at the end.

"You don't need a boyfriend to complete you, and you certainly don't need one to make you popular, prettier, or smarter. As long as you're being yourself, then you're perfect."

Lines like these at the end made the book more enjoyable, and made me hate Chessie's actions a lot less.

I like my tea with a good amount of sugar and a nice splash of lemon, and I think it's obvious that this book just wasn't my cup of tea. That doesn't make it horrible however. The book had plenty of morals that are definitely beneficial, tons of activity, and could be engaging.

For these reasons, I give Not Pretty Enough a three star review.

However, I'd recommend this book to my middle grade and lower YA crowd as the dialogue and the characters are definitely more MG geared than YA, and the lessons enclosed are presented in a way that is more MG & Lower YA appropriate.

[Michelle Sedeño · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on The Escapist.

***

* Might contain spoiler! I did not, actually. It just happened that the book contained a certain sequence. Just thought I'd warn you.

With a blurb like that, I pictured a fun, light and sweet contemporary read--perfect for my stressed-out state a few months ago. I'm even excited to start reading it after receiving the ecopy from Dianne (tour host).

The first chapter was fun to read, it excite me even more how she'll get Lloyd Layton, you know like in movies. It was funny and somehow relatable (for the awkward and weird moments in front of your crush) and I thought it was the story of my life. Until I read the next chapter. And another. And another. Til I feel like I'm still reading the supposed-to-be intro of the book but realizing I'm few pages away from finishing it.

The turn of events (or somehow lack thereof) wasn't flattering, it was rather annoying. The lead character, Chessie, kept on embarrassing and harassing herself in front of her friends, Lloyd and the entire school. I thought it's okay and funny in the beginning but I realized it kept happening to her--page after page--that I can predict what will happen and it disappoints me even before I get to the point. Then the sequence (saw Lloyd, makes move, hurts self, embarrass in front of everyone, talks to friends that she'll notice by Lloyd even she did hurt and embarrass herself. Oops. Sorry if I sound spoiler-ish!) goes on and on I feel like giving up but I urged myself not to because there's still part of me wishing there could be something, anything I'd like about it.

Seeing this book turn to..nothing makes me sad. I had beautiful expectations and I didn't get anything from it. I can't believe an entire book was spent humiliating the main character. I wasn't also impressed at the ending. I wished it gave more insight or lesson--actually, that could be a lesson: don't be like Chessie--or a nice HEA. This book might not be for me, but I could be for you. Try it and tell me what you think.



*Thanks to Dianne of Oops! I Read A Book Again for hosting the tour and a way to receive an ecopy of this book for review and to author Jaimie Admans!

[Sorcha O'Dowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love losing myself in a young adult story. Whilst I’d be horrified at the thought of ever having to go through that mortifying and confidence shattering time in my life, reading of the woes of a teenager at that age is one of my guilty pleasures and I adored ‘Not Pretty Enough’ for its realistic yet hilarious storyline.

As I started reading ‘Not Pretty Enough’ it wasn’t long before I was sighing with relief and thinking ‘Finally! A young adult book that is actually relatable to young adults!’ The daily trials that young Chessie’s faces in her quest to get the attention (and affection) of popular and dishy Lloyd, were a wonderful mix of humour and that second hand sympathy and embarassment you feel for Chessie that I think many readers will remember feeling all too often when they watched their own friends attempts at guy-catching in their teen years. This is something that always love in Jaimie Admans books. Because we join the characters through their journey, and see first hand the flaws they have we then suffer along with them when consequences of their actions hit. I love how there is no false description is made of heroine Chessie and how well her thoughts and actions were so true to that of a teenage girl.

When I was a teenager I remember finding it hard to relate to some of the characters in young adult fiction as the thought processes and actions of the characters were so mature and grown up. Chessie was a wonderful example of a real, teenage girl, flaws and all. Not every teenage crush gets a happy, fairytale ending, and this book was perfect in how it portrayed this chapter of Chessie’s life.

‘Not Pretty Enough’ also raised some important issues that I think are hugley important for teenagers to remember in today’s society. The seriousness of issues like child abuse and how unfounded accusations can be dangerous not only to the child but also to a parent, was very well portrayed, and I admire the way that Jaimie Admans was able to put this issue across without detracting from the main storyline.

A brilliant book that had me laughing out loud and reminiscing of my own school years. A realistic portrayal of a teenagers daily troubles that will be a perfect read for young adults!

5 stars!

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!*

When I first heard about ‘Not Pretty Enoush’ I was really excited about this book. It seemed like a fun, relaxing read that I needed. So I immediately signed up for the blog tour when I received the invite.

My opinion about ‘Not Pretty Enough’? It is, indeed, a fun read. It’s funny, it’s easy to read, it’s relaxing. But one aspect made me rate this book with 4 stars out of 5: the main character. But I will talk about her later.

‘Not Pretty Enough’ made me laugh with tears. Even though I wanted to kill the main character sometimes, I have to recognize that she was funny. And very clumsy and awkward. And her best friend was also soooo funny!

I think we’ve all been there: having a crush on a jerk. I have been there. A year or so ago. But I didn’t do any of the things that Chessie. And it passed, really fast. But yeah, “Not Pretty Enough” is a book that describes the life of most teenagers. There is so many reality in this book!

I consider Jaimie Adams a great author! She wrote this book in a great way and the language she used is specific for a teenager.

The editing was greate, btw!!

Now, let’s talk about the amin character, Chessie. She is annoying, clumsy, sometimes stupid and blind. I mean, seriously! She’s only 14! Why does she have this “hobby”? Why does she think that Lloyd is ‘hot’? How hot can a 14 y/o can be? And seriously, why does Chessie make all those stupid things? She has not brain! A boy doesn’t deserve all that attention. And even if she saw that Lloyd isn’t interested in her, she was making herself look awkward and stupid just to catch his attention. She made me put down the book and read something else once!!

Now, the ending was n.i.c.e.! Finally, Chessie saw who Lloys actually is and she stopped throwing herself at him.

I think more teenagers should read this book. Because, in the end, it showed me, again, that throwing myself at a guy isn’t something I should do. It taught me that no guy is worth so many work.

“Not Pretty Enough” is a fun read and I recommend it! It was an easy read that is worth the time! J

Rate: 4 stars out of 5

[Arely · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the blurb of this book, I thought it sounded pretty interesting. I thought it was going to be a romantic comedy of sorts, and I was looking forward to it.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Instead of being comedic, Chessie’s actions were downright embarrassing and I’m left wondering if the author actually thinks 14-year-olds are willing to do the things Chessie did in school.

First of all, I’ve got to give props to Chessie. She’s very determined and stubborn—I’ll give her that. But it gets to a point where honestly I was left going, “Oh no, what’s she going to do now?” I got tired of her antics to try and get Lloyd’s attention—and quite honestly, I was pretty shocked and worried in one specific circumstance.

It seemed like there wasn’t a shortage of embarrassing circumstances that the author could use. She put Chessie through so many problems and troubles. It felt like I was reading a sort of soap opera where everything is exaggerated and there is one problem after another.

Chessie will go to any lengths to get Lloyd to notice her, and I’m not even kidding on this one. She even tells him that she’s being abused by her step-father (she doesn’t have one and she’s not being abused) to get him to keep talking to her. What? That’s not a joking matter and in that scene I pretty much gave up on the book.

The only thing that kept me reading was figuring out how in the hell she was going to get to her “happy ending” after everything she’s been through. But even that was a disappointment. I thought she was going to end up with someone—not necessarily Lloyd but someone who’d see that she was worth it and would give her the attention she very obviously needed. But nope. Lloyd turned out to be a creepy asshole who led Chessie on and only wanted sex.

It looks like this book was really only meant to show girls that you don’t need a guy to make you happy, which is not a bad thing, but the way the author did it wasn’t my cup of tea.

All in all, I don’t recommend this book for those who want a funny romance, but instead like seeing high school girls make fools of themselves and get in horrible situations so boys notice them and then in the end learn that the don’t need boys anyway.

[Michelle (Pink Polka Dot Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chessie is an awkward girl who is in love with a boy that doesn't know she exists. In order to gain his attention, she goes to massive lengths, embarrassing herself time and time again. I was literally cringing while reading how bad Chessie ended up embarrassing herself. It's weird but when I see or read about someone embarrassing themselves to such an extreme, I actually feel embarrassed inside. Like I'm so embarrassed for them that I become embarrassed myself... ok it's hard to explain.

Chessie reminded me of a young Becky Bloomwood (of Confessions of a Shopaholic). She got herself into some CRAZY situations. And while she was trying to dig herself out of what she'd gotten into, she'd only end up in deeper. These situations were really silly, but actually really funny too. I felt bad that Chessie liked some guy so much that she was willing to sacrifice all of her dignity in order to get his attention, but I could also relate... a little. I don't think I've ever done anything quite like Chessie, but I will admit to having some intense crushes in my day and feeling dumb when they witnessed me do something stupid in class... or if they caught me staring at them. But unlike Chessie, I learned my lesson! Chessie was definitely not taking no for an answer and it lead to some crazy, funny, silly, messed up, offensive,annoying, laugh-out-loud situations. Seriously, you all should read this just to witness all the things that Chessie does for love.

OVERALL: Reminiscent of Becky Bloomwood's behavior, this book features a girl with no shame. And hilarity ensues. Definitely recommended for anyone looking for a light, silly read. You might cringe your way through half the book, but at least you'll realize the stuff you did to get a guy to notice you wasn't so bad after all!

My Blog:

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I obviously did quite enjoy this one. I like stories which are like comedies but sometimes it's not enough. Or, even, it can be too much. Just, Chessie is too much. She's almost average- she just starts off a bit clumsy & we get to know the characters and then things change... I started to not like them. Chessie became too silly, too hyperbole. She wasn't just a ditzy, average girl. She developed quite a bit, a lot of the characters did (Lloyd! Oh my!), but she never really fixed all her issues. You'd think she'd learn. Chessie hasn't turned from slight idiot to genius but really, that'd be taking the fun out of the story.
Anyway, as I said- I loved the humour; it had me in fits of REAL laughter at certain points. Thank goodness I don't take my kindle to English lessons (a curse for a reader that we can't sometimes) or I would have half the dignity I used to... I never saw the things coming (perhaps because I'm not very good at imagining funny things, which might be why I love reading it so much!).

It's hard to sympathize with her all the time. Your pity meter just runs out; I know that mainly what I gained from 'Not Pretty Enough' was a few laughs. I'm not really sure I got Lloyd that much either. He's kinda quite average... Chessie doesn't do enough to annoy Lloyd on purpose... But she does. That didn't teach her anything. All the knock-backs. Everything. And in the end it all ended kinda... strangely. I mean, Chessie ended up learning something but do I like how she learnt? Do I like serious stuff? Sure. But the sudden switch? It teaches us something but really makes it hard to just summarize this one.
Is it just a comedy? No. Will Chessie mature some more in Book 2 because of more normal factors? I hope so. If that makes a book, that is.
In the end, I'm sure you'll understand Chessie & even like her but it does depend on how much you can rationalize her tale!... :D

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover is so beautiful. If I knew nothing about this book then I would think he would have a heartbreak element to it because of the title and the look on her face... if you get what I mean....

Anyways...Wow! Let me just say... WOW. Chessie reminded me of those really crazy fangirls that are so out of control. The writing and the scenes was so very well written that I lost count of how many times and buried my head in my hands due to me cringing for her or just wondering why?

Chessie is a very impulsive person who was blinded by the idea of love to this guy who was apparently hot and swoon-worthy. She put herself through torture and total embarrassment for this guy. I mean, no matter how hot a guy is, you have to think about yourself first! It was so embarrassing for me to read and if she was a real person, I can't really imagine how she felt.

This is a story that anyone can really relate to I guess. Um, I don't really know if this book is going to attract male readers but this book is definitely great for a female.
Since she is around the same age as me, I can really connect with her- ish- kinda- a bit....

I felt she was really dumb at times and her really stupid decisions led to other people around getting hurt. For me as a reader, some of the decisions she makes are absolutely hilarious and I felt really sorry for her.

This book is quick and fun to read. It can make you feel the character's emotions even though you are not experiencing it first hand.

I was going to talk about the ending but I think that will give away the whole story so I'm just going to say that I'm really pleased with the ending but kinda frustrated at the same time. I really don't know why.

There is going to be a sequel to this book and I'm really excited to see what's going to happen next and how the relationships are going.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant writer Jaimie is! Not Pretty Enough is about a 14 year old girl called Chessie (great nickname) who really really likes a boy in her year called Lloyd Layton. The problem is he doesn't seem to like her back and Chessie does all sorts of really crazy things to make him like her! And when I say crazy, I mean seriously cringeworthy, extremely awkward, laugh-out-loud things.

I really liked Chessie, she reminded me of me at school. I will thankfully say I was not quite as extreme as Chessie, but I was always getting into embarrassing situations that still make me cringe today! When I say Chessie will do anything to get Lloyd to like her, she really will do anything. There were some serious laugh-out-loud, hysterical moments for me in this and as I do a lot of reading on my commute, I did get some quite funny looks when I couldn't contain my laughter! I've got to hand it to Chessie, there were a lot of things she did that I would not have had the confidence to do at that age. She seems to take things in her stride when they don't quite go according to plan.

Throughout this, I was really hoping that Chessie would see sense and realise that Lloyd Layton was not worth her time of day. He's a complete idiot and does not deserve Chessie's attentions. I did get a little frustrated with her at times, because she didn't seem to be learning from her mistakes and I did think, how many crazy situations can one person get themselves into. However I'm sure a lot of 14 year olds will be able to relate to Chessie and I absolutely loved the ending. It came as a little surprise, but I think it's a great message for young girls to take away with them.

This was a great young adult read that I read really quickly. It will definitely have you laughing out loud and I'm already looking forward to Book Two. Well done Jaimie!

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm here with another blog tour! This time it's the Not Pretty Enough blog tour by Oops! I read a book again. So on to the review!

Not Pretty Enough follows Chessie as she tries to get the attention of who she thinks is the love of her life - the freakishly tall Lloyd. Chessie's reasoning is because her chest is huge, she understands what it's like to be different. Never mind that Llyod is popular and she's not.

And well, she does get his attention - but not in the way she wants. She tries to dye her hair but it becomes green. She draws a picture of him in IT and it gets shared to every computer in class. She even pretends to be abused because it gets his sympathy.

To be honest, I don't understand Chessie. I have never been that type of girl that chases after guys, yes, even when I was younger and was just bossing people around. I would never go to the lengths that she goes. But, I liked Chessie. She has good friends and family, and she does realise how silly she is (although she chooses to continue). Plus she has guts to do all her harebrained schemes.

My favourite part of the book was the ending. I wish I could tell you all the ending, but that would be spoiler-ish! Although I cringed quite a lot while reading Chessie's schemes put into action (they were really embarrassing!), the ending was awesome! And I think it's fairly unique, especially considering that this is a romance-centric novel.

Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book as part of a blog tour in exchange for a free and honest review.

This review was first posted to Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis as part of the ‘Not Pretty Enough’ Blog Tour. Thanks to Jaimie Admans, and Oops I Read A Book Again.)
14-year-old Francesca (Chessy) has DD cup boobs, isn’t good at sports, and wants her crush Lloyd to finally notice her.
Unfortunately though, it seems that all her attempts to get him to realise she exists have all ended with her being horribly embarrassed.
Will Lloyd ever notice her? Will Chessy’s hair ever be the same again? And will Chessy ever recover from the embarrassment?


This was a humorous story about a teenage girl with big boobs, and the awful things that happened to her as she tried to get her crush to notice her.

Chessy was a normal if slightly naïve 14-year-old, who just couldn’t help but end up in embarrassing situations. I laughed and cringed at the things she got up to, and couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. Yikes! If some of those things had happened to me I think I’d still be in hiding now! Somehow Chessy managed to muddle through though, and ultimately I think she learned from these encounters.

The storyline in this book was pretty typical teenage stuff – school and boys, but it was the embarrassing events that really made this special. Some of the things that went wrong for Chessy were deceptively simply to set-up, but cringingly embarrassing and funny, which was the real charm of the story. I did have to cover my eyes at times at the things she did, but thankfully it all worked out okay in the end!
Overall; a funny story about a teen trying to get her crush to notice her.
6.75 out of 10.

[Olivia (Bookcomet) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely hilarious and witty, Not Pretty Enough had me at the first page. It's one of the funniest books I've read this year.

Chessy was such a great character. She was so clumsy and completely accident prone. She made some really funny mistakes and her decisions in general made me wince. I feel as if I know her in real life, Jaimie Admans' described her in such a way that I got to know her for her personality. Sometimes I find that I would only recognise a character based on appearance but this wasn't the case. Chessy was really easy to picture and her actions were very realistic.

Not Pretty Enough was a very short book (under 200 pages). But hey - I'm not complaing. It kind of added to my enjoyment of the story. It wasn't dragged out or description less. Perfect length. I think it may become one of my go to books when I want something light and fun to read.

I am so, so glad there is going to be a sequel. The only bad thing is I have to wait unitl next year. I could see this becoming one of those really funny teen series', sort of like The Princess Diaries or the Georgia Nicholson series. Not Pretty Enough would without a doubt be a series I continue, especially if all the books are as funny and great as this one, I'd like to see more of Chessie's story!

If you are looking for a great summery read - look no further. Not Pretty Enough is just that. Light, fun, short and funny, it makes for great reading. I would recommend this to teens and up, especially someone in need of a fun read.

4/5 stars

*I received this book as part of a blog tour. This is my honest opinion.