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Smith High #4
Awkwardly Ever After
It's prom season at Smith High School and love is in the air. . .for some people.
Melanie Morris knows she shouldn't keep flirting with her best friend's brother, Dylan Wellesley, even though the last thing she feels is "sisterly" around the cute soon-to-be freshman. But attending prom with somebody else might mean losing him for good. . .
Isobel Peters accepts the fact that she's a huge geek, but she never expected renowned player, Spencer King, would want to get his hands on. . .her reputation. What begins as a bargain could turn into something real--or a Notable disaster!
Corey O'Neal is dating the boy of his dreams, rockstar Timothy Goff. But it isn't easy to trade in anonymity for instant celebrity status, especially now that swarms of protesters want them both banned from prom. Dating Prince Charming in real life is a whole lot harder than it sounds in fairytales.
Happily ever after? Try awkwardly ever after!
Melanie Morris knows she shouldn't keep flirting with her best friend's brother, Dylan Wellesley, even though the last thing she feels is "sisterly" around the cute soon-to-be freshman. But attending prom with somebody else might mean losing him for good. . .
Isobel Peters accepts the fact that she's a huge geek, but she never expected renowned player, Spencer King, would want to get his hands on. . .her reputation. What begins as a bargain could turn into something real--or a Notable disaster!
Corey O'Neal is dating the boy of his dreams, rockstar Timothy Goff. But it isn't easy to trade in anonymity for instant celebrity status, especially now that swarms of protesters want them both banned from prom. Dating Prince Charming in real life is a whole lot harder than it sounds in fairytales.
Happily ever after? Try awkwardly ever after!
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
Marni Bates
11 books388 followersMarni Bates' autobiography MARNI (part of HCI's Louder Than Words series) was on the New York Public Library Stuff for the Teen Age 2010 List. She then signed a five book deal with KTeen. Her first YA novel, AWKWARD, has been optioned by the Disney Channel as a made-for-TV movie and translated into several languages. Her latest YA novel DIAL EM FOR MURDER is with Merit Press.
In her free time she can be found reading romance novels, hiking, singing really loudly (and off-key) in public and watching copious amounts of television--strictly for artistic inspiration, of course.
In her free time she can be found reading romance novels, hiking, singing really loudly (and off-key) in public and watching copious amounts of television--strictly for artistic inspiration, of course.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 7, 2014
1.5 stars
You never forget your first... Meg Cabot was the author that popped my YA cherry.
There I was, an impressionable 14-year-old (late bloomer, I know) with a perchance for horror, then I discovered The Princess Diaries sitting on a library shelf. The rest is history.
Even now that I'm older and can see all the flaws her books have (i.e popular mean girl, arguably recyclable MC, and that trainwreck Abandon. Why did you have to jump on the PR bandwagon, Meg, why!?), they'll always have a special place in my heart.
So when a book comes along, claiming to follow in the footsteps of one of my favorite authors and endorsed by another one of my literary gods, Julie Kagawa...
From Netgalley page and on cover of Awkwardly Ever After
...I tend to have expectations. And Awkwardly Ever After failed to meet them. Spectacularly.
The best way I can describe this is discount Meg Cabot. It partially follows Cabot's writing style (that's the 0.5 star), but lacks the spark that makes her works so relatable and endearing.
For one, there's so much telling. In the first story, centering around Melanie who's crushing on Dylan, her BFF's little brother, she tells me right in the first line that she's in love with him, followed by a whole lot of angsty monologue. And more. And more.
By the 10% mark, I'd already been informed four times that Melanie lurrrves Dylan without him showing up once. That, to me, is poor foresight on the author's part. If you let Dylan show up and have the heroine blush and act awkward around him, then it would provide the same use as the onslaught of internal monologue.
As a direct result, I can never pinpoint why she likes him. Is it because he makes her laugh? The rock-hard abs? The faux forbidden element of being in love with your BFF's little brother, which by the way is as weak as China's structures? If I saw some of their interactions sooner, I can sympathize more instead of being like:
The plot, or conflict, is as foreboding as a breeze. There is no evidence to suggest that Mackenzie, her BFF, would be upset with her dating her little brother. Oh, sure, Mel tells us, just like she tells and explains every little action she does because apparently, we are as dumb as rocks.
Yes, thank you for telling me you're not a bitch. That's so reassuring.
Anyways, back to the woe-is-me drama. In Harry Potter, we see evidence that Harry would be in hot water if he asked Ginny out. Ron has freaked out over each and every one of Ginny's boyfriends, so Harry's dilemma is plausible. But in this case, we don't see that. Mel simply comes up with a bullshit Girl Code she pulled from her ass, saying how wrong it is to date Dylan.
And here I always thought the Girl Code only applied to ex-boyfriends.
But wait, that's not the only reason! Mel thinks she shouldn't date Dylan because she's not good for him.
Her noble reason: Alcoholic dad.
Yeah, I'm going to call bullshit on that. Let the fucking boy decide on his own! When Mia from the Princess Diaries fell in live with her best friend's brother, she didn't shy away or play hot and cold games with him like Mel does, she actively made plans to get him to notice her. Realistic ones too, like writing secret admirer notes, instead of that ridiculous crap they pull in YA contemporaries these days like using The Art of War to get a boyfriend back or amnesia revenge plans. I get that she's being selfless (I'm so fucking over that trait), but either grow a backbone or stop messing with Dylan's head.
And its depiction of an alcoholic dad is just juvenile. Where's the scene of him lying in a pool of his own vomit? Or forgetting his keys in the middle of the night, drunk? The fear of him showing up at any school events because he's sure to be wasted?
I counted. The number of times Mel's dad actually shows up in the narrative in his supposedly drunken glory? One. As opposed to the numerous times Mel tells me her life sux and she's so embarrassed by by a deadbeat who stays at home and drinks all day.
Give your audience some credit. This is Y-fucking-A, not middle-grade kiddie lit. Actually that would be an insult to middle-grade. Percy Jackson does a damn better job of portraying an abusive dad than this does an alcoholic. It's a serious subject and this book slaps a fucking rainbow over it and calls it contemporary and realistic.
I don't have much to say about the next two stories because I was just skimming after the choking unicorn poop of the first story, but judging from this conversation:
Yeah, that's not the conclusion I would've reached.
It's just as juvenile and cliche as the rest. I love YA, but I also want real teenagers, not High School Musical carbon copies.
Have a nice picket-fence life with sex only used for reproduction.
ARC received through Netgalley
You never forget your first... Meg Cabot was the author that popped my YA cherry.
There I was, an impressionable 14-year-old (late bloomer, I know) with a perchance for horror, then I discovered The Princess Diaries sitting on a library shelf. The rest is history.
Even now that I'm older and can see all the flaws her books have (i.e popular mean girl, arguably recyclable MC, and that trainwreck Abandon. Why did you have to jump on the PR bandwagon, Meg, why!?), they'll always have a special place in my heart.
So when a book comes along, claiming to follow in the footsteps of one of my favorite authors and endorsed by another one of my literary gods, Julie Kagawa...
"Fans of Meg Cabot will find Marni's voice equally charming and endearing." --Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling author
From Netgalley page and on cover of Awkwardly Ever After
...I tend to have expectations. And Awkwardly Ever After failed to meet them. Spectacularly.
The best way I can describe this is discount Meg Cabot. It partially follows Cabot's writing style (that's the 0.5 star), but lacks the spark that makes her works so relatable and endearing.
For one, there's so much telling. In the first story, centering around Melanie who's crushing on Dylan, her BFF's little brother, she tells me right in the first line that she's in love with him, followed by a whole lot of angsty monologue. And more. And more.
By the 10% mark, I'd already been informed four times that Melanie lurrrves Dylan without him showing up once. That, to me, is poor foresight on the author's part. If you let Dylan show up and have the heroine blush and act awkward around him, then it would provide the same use as the onslaught of internal monologue.
As a direct result, I can never pinpoint why she likes him. Is it because he makes her laugh? The rock-hard abs? The faux forbidden element of being in love with your BFF's little brother, which by the way is as weak as China's structures? If I saw some of their interactions sooner, I can sympathize more instead of being like:
The plot, or conflict, is as foreboding as a breeze. There is no evidence to suggest that Mackenzie, her BFF, would be upset with her dating her little brother. Oh, sure, Mel tells us, just like she tells and explains every little action she does because apparently, we are as dumb as rocks.
"I thought that all it would take was a little confirmation that, yes, I could be that bitchy and rude. Usually, I tried to keep that side of me from showing, but when provoked... well, let's just say I have a tendency to be a little on the defensive side. Maybe some of that comes from years spent bracing myself for a comment about my dad."
Yes, thank you for telling me you're not a bitch. That's so reassuring.
Anyways, back to the woe-is-me drama. In Harry Potter, we see evidence that Harry would be in hot water if he asked Ginny out. Ron has freaked out over each and every one of Ginny's boyfriends, so Harry's dilemma is plausible. But in this case, we don't see that. Mel simply comes up with a bullshit Girl Code she pulled from her ass, saying how wrong it is to date Dylan.
And here I always thought the Girl Code only applied to ex-boyfriends.
But wait, that's not the only reason! Mel thinks she shouldn't date Dylan because she's not good for him.
Her noble reason: Alcoholic dad.
"I didn't feel I had the right to be anywhere near him... I'm not good enough for him. And it was only a matter of time before he realized it too."
Yeah, I'm going to call bullshit on that. Let the fucking boy decide on his own! When Mia from the Princess Diaries fell in live with her best friend's brother, she didn't shy away or play hot and cold games with him like Mel does, she actively made plans to get him to notice her. Realistic ones too, like writing secret admirer notes, instead of that ridiculous crap they pull in YA contemporaries these days like using The Art of War to get a boyfriend back or amnesia revenge plans. I get that she's being selfless (I'm so fucking over that trait), but either grow a backbone or stop messing with Dylan's head.
And its depiction of an alcoholic dad is just juvenile. Where's the scene of him lying in a pool of his own vomit? Or forgetting his keys in the middle of the night, drunk? The fear of him showing up at any school events because he's sure to be wasted?
I counted. The number of times Mel's dad actually shows up in the narrative in his supposedly drunken glory? One. As opposed to the numerous times Mel tells me her life sux and she's so embarrassed by by a deadbeat who stays at home and drinks all day.
Give your audience some credit. This is Y-fucking-A, not middle-grade kiddie lit. Actually that would be an insult to middle-grade. Percy Jackson does a damn better job of portraying an abusive dad than this does an alcoholic. It's a serious subject and this book slaps a fucking rainbow over it and calls it contemporary and realistic.
I don't have much to say about the next two stories because I was just skimming after the choking unicorn poop of the first story, but judging from this conversation:
"I'm still getting to know you, so... I want us to be friends who also make out."
[...]
Spencer (love interest): "You want to be my girlfriend."
Yeah, that's not the conclusion I would've reached.
It's just as juvenile and cliche as the rest. I love YA, but I also want real teenagers, not High School Musical carbon copies.
Have a nice picket-fence life with sex only used for reproduction.
ARC received through Netgalley
August 18, 2019
When I started reading this I had no idea it was three stories in one.(As you can guess I forgot to read the back) It was a god book , but I'll would have liked it more if the three stories were put in three different books and had them longer. They were just too short for my liking . So I, giving this book as you can see three Stars. As I said it would have had more if it was three different books. Well enjoy:)
January 28, 2015
I received an ARC through NetGalley.
Awkwardly Ever After sounded like it was going to be an adorable finale to this cutely awkward series, but sadly, it wasn't. I liked how it was following the supportive characters, and giving three of them their happy endings, but none of the three stories actually impressed me. The first two felt too young for me, and the third just missed the mark entirely.
The first part of Awkwardly Ever After is Melanie's story. She's had a crush on Mackenzie's younger brother Dylan for awhile, but doesn't think she can date him because of "Girl Code." Then Mackenzie tries to set her up with one of her boyfriend's friends, and it just doesn't work out, since her heart is elsewhere. I did think this part was really cute, but it felt too young for me. Melanie is a freshman and Dylan is in middle school. I can totally understand why that relationship would seem awkward at first, but it doesn't really go into it much. Nor do they ever talk to Mackenzie about their feelings for each other, even though she was one of the main obstacles of them being together. It was essentially a "I like you. I like you, too. Let's kiss." type tale, without much else. Melanie's father's alcoholism is brought up, but again, it never really amounts to anything.
The middle portion of Awkwardly Ever After switches to Melanie's BFF, and picks up right where the first part left off: with Isobel, queen of the geeks, stuck with Spencer, king of the notables. I really liked the beginning of this part, since Isobel essentially gives Spencer a full psychoanalysis. She picks that boy apart! And, of course, she's right about everything. He's trying to lose some popularity to not get voted prom king, so faking dating a geek! Kind of. Actually, I don't even know what direction this the story took, and was quite confused. Isobel offers to be his friend not girlfriend, but then they're fake dating for like a day, but then they're for real dating. I don't know. It was kind of jumbled.
Sadly, Corey and Tim's story was my least favorite part of Awkwardly Ever After. I was expecting more from them, since they've been featured in every book. The press is going crazy over them attending prom together, since Tim just came out. Of course, the school is having some concerns about it too, which is natural. Unfortunately, the author tried to turn a non-issue into a social justice issue and it just didn't make sense. Especially since one detail was completely glossed over, which was a missed opportunity to point out a double standard! Without the aforementioned issue, there could have been a great story about Corey having doubts about dating a rock star and still feeling hurt over Tim denying being gay in the first place. Those things do come up, but I was too annoyed by the rest of it to fully care.
In the end, Awkwardly Ever After was an awkward read, but not in a fun way. It had its cute moments, but overall, I feel like all of these characters were robbed. Good ideas and storylines were presented but none of them were fully realized. All three of these could have easily been their own full-length book, and that's probably what should have been done instead of condensing them into just a few pages each.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
Awkwardly Ever After sounded like it was going to be an adorable finale to this cutely awkward series, but sadly, it wasn't. I liked how it was following the supportive characters, and giving three of them their happy endings, but none of the three stories actually impressed me. The first two felt too young for me, and the third just missed the mark entirely.
The first part of Awkwardly Ever After is Melanie's story. She's had a crush on Mackenzie's younger brother Dylan for awhile, but doesn't think she can date him because of "Girl Code." Then Mackenzie tries to set her up with one of her boyfriend's friends, and it just doesn't work out, since her heart is elsewhere. I did think this part was really cute, but it felt too young for me. Melanie is a freshman and Dylan is in middle school. I can totally understand why that relationship would seem awkward at first, but it doesn't really go into it much. Nor do they ever talk to Mackenzie about their feelings for each other, even though she was one of the main obstacles of them being together. It was essentially a "I like you. I like you, too. Let's kiss." type tale, without much else. Melanie's father's alcoholism is brought up, but again, it never really amounts to anything.
The middle portion of Awkwardly Ever After switches to Melanie's BFF, and picks up right where the first part left off: with Isobel, queen of the geeks, stuck with Spencer, king of the notables. I really liked the beginning of this part, since Isobel essentially gives Spencer a full psychoanalysis. She picks that boy apart! And, of course, she's right about everything. He's trying to lose some popularity to not get voted prom king, so faking dating a geek! Kind of. Actually, I don't even know what direction this the story took, and was quite confused. Isobel offers to be his friend not girlfriend, but then they're fake dating for like a day, but then they're for real dating. I don't know. It was kind of jumbled.
Sadly, Corey and Tim's story was my least favorite part of Awkwardly Ever After. I was expecting more from them, since they've been featured in every book. The press is going crazy over them attending prom together, since Tim just came out. Of course, the school is having some concerns about it too, which is natural. Unfortunately, the author tried to turn a non-issue into a social justice issue and it just didn't make sense. Especially since one detail was completely glossed over, which was a missed opportunity to point out a double standard! Without the aforementioned issue, there could have been a great story about Corey having doubts about dating a rock star and still feeling hurt over Tim denying being gay in the first place. Those things do come up, but I was too annoyed by the rest of it to fully care.
In the end, Awkwardly Ever After was an awkward read, but not in a fun way. It had its cute moments, but overall, I feel like all of these characters were robbed. Good ideas and storylines were presented but none of them were fully realized. All three of these could have easily been their own full-length book, and that's probably what should have been done instead of condensing them into just a few pages each.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
August 17, 2017
I want mooooooooooooore!!!!!!!
Ok, this was awesome. I'm so sad that this is the end... I loved this. I was practically drooling over the love lives. Since I don't have one of my own nor do I intend to have one of my own, I spend hours drooling over every one else's! Spencer and Isobel are sooooooooo cute!!!! I adored them. The one thing I objected strenuously to was the saying that some verses in the Bible are ridiculous. As a Christian I find that insulting. That kind of ruined it for me. Other then that it was a really sweet book.
Ok, this was awesome. I'm so sad that this is the end... I loved this. I was practically drooling over the love lives. Since I don't have one of my own nor do I intend to have one of my own, I spend hours drooling over every one else's! Spencer and Isobel are sooooooooo cute!!!! I adored them. The one thing I objected strenuously to was the saying that some verses in the Bible are ridiculous. As a Christian I find that insulting. That kind of ruined it for me. Other then that it was a really sweet book.
October 1, 2016
This review is also available on my blog, Bows & Bullets Reviews
Awkwardly Ever After is a novel broken into three parts, each following a different couple on their way to...well coupledom. Instead of giving a broad summery of all three up here as per usual, I'm just going to break it down in the character analysis bit because I don't like summarizing several different stories together, even if they all follow a similar path.
The first tale is about Melanie Morris and her love for her best friend's younger brother, Dylan. She is scared this crush will not only ruin her friendship with her bestie, but also won't lead to the relationship she is hoping for. She also hates the idea of feeling like a cradle robber, which is a concept I find funny. Girls in high school are constantly dating boys in college or in a higher grade and the guys in those relationships aren't looked down upon. Hell, in any relationship really, it seems acceptable for the man to be older, but there is a stigma attached to the older woman. It's a bit fascinating to think about and more than a little stupid. ANYWAY....my point is, Melanie wants to move forward but she's too terrified by the possible consequences to act. And doing nothing may have the same result because it's obvious to anyone with eyes that Dylan feels the same way she does.
I really enjoyed both characters. Melanie is smart and sweet and brave. Dylan is mature for his age and clearly wants to move things forward with Melanie, but at her pace. He understands her fears, but at the same time, he thinks she worries about it a bit too much and should just let people get over it, because we all know they will. The chemistry and angsty romance between them was easy to get behind and cheer for.
The second story is about Isobel and Spencer. Here are two people that couldn't be more different. Isobel is the chubby nerd and Spencer is a star athlete. But the attraction that has just flared up between them can't be denied and the only real question is, can they get over themselves and make it work or is it doomed to failure. I feel like this story could have been taken to a whole new level. Here we have it, finally a chubby heroine, and I feel like Bates just skips over that topic. I was looking for a bigger, better speech from Spencer about how he likes her as she is and how her size doesn't matter and all that jazz. I was looking for reassurance and Isobel finding her confidence in herself and her beauty. We do get a bit of that, but I feel like it could have been more. Despite that, both Isobel and Spencer were enjoyable characters and their banter was quite amusing. I enjoyed watching them fight and then make up. I loved seeing them work it all out and realize that they didn't need to have all the answers right now.
The final story is about Corey & Timothy. Corey is a student at Smith High and Timothy is a rockstar. This is about their relationship and their fight to be allowed to attend prom as a couple. I could go into more detail than that, but that's basically it. They want to be together despite the odds and though their relationship is good, they still have a lot to work on. The biggie is communication. Corey has to learn to speak his mind and let Tim know what's going on, or things are never going to work out long term.
I really enjoy their relationship. I like how it isn't perfect and they have a real struggle, but it's a normal struggle, like communication issues. In a lot of YA stories about gay couples, their problems always seem to center around coming out and getting the world to accept them and I loved that this didn't focus on that. That part of the story is over. They are both out, the world knows they are together. Get the hell over it. While there is a bit of a struggle getting particular people to get on board with them attending prom, this is much more about them and their issues. It's obvious they both care, but Tim needs to learn to allow Corey to have input and Corey needs to step up and demand a say.
All three stories in this where entertaining and fun, with just enough seriousness to have them feeling too light. My only issue with them is I feel like they all need to be longer. I've made it pretty well known that I don't like short stories or anthologies overly much because I feel like you can't tell the story clearly enough in that short space. These are a bit longer, but I still wanted more. They all felt a bit rushed, like there were trying to make the story fit into this allotted space instead of letting the story lead. Now, that feeling may be because I haven't read any of the other novels in this series. I know they other novels aren't specifically about these characters, but I'm sure we get some development for each of them there, so maybe that is my issue, but either way, it bugged me. That has been a problem in many a book lately, it has felt rushed. Stories need time to grow and evolve and I'm willing to read however many more pages they require to do so.
All I'm really saying is that these stories are great little tales, that could use a bit more time, but work well enough in the space you are given. They all have that must keep reading quality, once you get just a little ways in. They all allow you to disappear into their world for short stent, and really, that's all I look for in a book. I want to be entertained and enraptured and lost to the real world because of this fascinating fictional one. On that count, this succeeds with flying colors. I think most people will enjoy it, love it probably, because most people aren't quite as picky as I am about the length of the story. :)
****Thank you to KTeen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review****
Awkwardly Ever After is a novel broken into three parts, each following a different couple on their way to...well coupledom. Instead of giving a broad summery of all three up here as per usual, I'm just going to break it down in the character analysis bit because I don't like summarizing several different stories together, even if they all follow a similar path.
The first tale is about Melanie Morris and her love for her best friend's younger brother, Dylan. She is scared this crush will not only ruin her friendship with her bestie, but also won't lead to the relationship she is hoping for. She also hates the idea of feeling like a cradle robber, which is a concept I find funny. Girls in high school are constantly dating boys in college or in a higher grade and the guys in those relationships aren't looked down upon. Hell, in any relationship really, it seems acceptable for the man to be older, but there is a stigma attached to the older woman. It's a bit fascinating to think about and more than a little stupid. ANYWAY....my point is, Melanie wants to move forward but she's too terrified by the possible consequences to act. And doing nothing may have the same result because it's obvious to anyone with eyes that Dylan feels the same way she does.
I really enjoyed both characters. Melanie is smart and sweet and brave. Dylan is mature for his age and clearly wants to move things forward with Melanie, but at her pace. He understands her fears, but at the same time, he thinks she worries about it a bit too much and should just let people get over it, because we all know they will. The chemistry and angsty romance between them was easy to get behind and cheer for.
The second story is about Isobel and Spencer. Here are two people that couldn't be more different. Isobel is the chubby nerd and Spencer is a star athlete. But the attraction that has just flared up between them can't be denied and the only real question is, can they get over themselves and make it work or is it doomed to failure. I feel like this story could have been taken to a whole new level. Here we have it, finally a chubby heroine, and I feel like Bates just skips over that topic. I was looking for a bigger, better speech from Spencer about how he likes her as she is and how her size doesn't matter and all that jazz. I was looking for reassurance and Isobel finding her confidence in herself and her beauty. We do get a bit of that, but I feel like it could have been more. Despite that, both Isobel and Spencer were enjoyable characters and their banter was quite amusing. I enjoyed watching them fight and then make up. I loved seeing them work it all out and realize that they didn't need to have all the answers right now.
The final story is about Corey & Timothy. Corey is a student at Smith High and Timothy is a rockstar. This is about their relationship and their fight to be allowed to attend prom as a couple. I could go into more detail than that, but that's basically it. They want to be together despite the odds and though their relationship is good, they still have a lot to work on. The biggie is communication. Corey has to learn to speak his mind and let Tim know what's going on, or things are never going to work out long term.
I really enjoy their relationship. I like how it isn't perfect and they have a real struggle, but it's a normal struggle, like communication issues. In a lot of YA stories about gay couples, their problems always seem to center around coming out and getting the world to accept them and I loved that this didn't focus on that. That part of the story is over. They are both out, the world knows they are together. Get the hell over it. While there is a bit of a struggle getting particular people to get on board with them attending prom, this is much more about them and their issues. It's obvious they both care, but Tim needs to learn to allow Corey to have input and Corey needs to step up and demand a say.
All three stories in this where entertaining and fun, with just enough seriousness to have them feeling too light. My only issue with them is I feel like they all need to be longer. I've made it pretty well known that I don't like short stories or anthologies overly much because I feel like you can't tell the story clearly enough in that short space. These are a bit longer, but I still wanted more. They all felt a bit rushed, like there were trying to make the story fit into this allotted space instead of letting the story lead. Now, that feeling may be because I haven't read any of the other novels in this series. I know they other novels aren't specifically about these characters, but I'm sure we get some development for each of them there, so maybe that is my issue, but either way, it bugged me. That has been a problem in many a book lately, it has felt rushed. Stories need time to grow and evolve and I'm willing to read however many more pages they require to do so.
All I'm really saying is that these stories are great little tales, that could use a bit more time, but work well enough in the space you are given. They all have that must keep reading quality, once you get just a little ways in. They all allow you to disappear into their world for short stent, and really, that's all I look for in a book. I want to be entertained and enraptured and lost to the real world because of this fascinating fictional one. On that count, this succeeds with flying colors. I think most people will enjoy it, love it probably, because most people aren't quite as picky as I am about the length of the story. :)
****Thank you to KTeen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review****
February 13, 2016
After thinking about this I realized this was my least favourite of the series. I'm not found of short stories so that could have been why but honestly maybe the storyline just ran out.
June 19, 2015
3.5 stars
January 14, 2015
İlk 2 novellayı okudum, 3.süne gücüm yetmedi artık. Belki bir gün döner okurum.
May 21, 2014
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
My troubles and woes this week, or at least the most major tribulation would be the fact that in the upcoming week I have a vital presentation of twenty (20) minutes due, coupled with the fact that I have to write 4 to 5 pages on the same topic in APA Style. Of course, it might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of school work, but the fact that this is a six week course, and that there is only two paramount projects then I would say a copious amount of value is placed on my group assignment. In other related-not really-news, rather the most trivial of all if you want to look at the bigger picture is the fact that this essential package won’t be getting until a little over a month from the desire date, and I will be letting someone down on a rather significant and meaningful day. That’s what my life is looking at right now, or my education and personal life, from the weighty decisions to the mundane nuisances in life and so I decided to delve into the past drama induced novels.
Back in high school, and I won’t lie to you, a lot of life revolved around boys. The talks, the thoughts, everything was intertwined with the notion of getting your crush to look at you, or to talk and if you were really lucky to flirt back. And I’m glad to see that somethings never change. Because in this school, well, that special time of the year is just around the corner. For three special people decisions are just as crucial and who to ask to accompany them on that once in life experience.
Melanie
Before you go yelling cougar at Melanie, know that the “little brother” is just a year younger. The freshman girl is infatuated with her best friend’s brother, and my younger self rejoiced at finding the chance to read one, and I got to stop writing in the third person point of view because it is just too creepy. Back in my younger years (sarcasm), there was a period where I wanted the whole my “best friend’s brother is the one for me, b.f.b. (Victoria Justice song, for those of who looking at the screen with that “what-the-flip” face)” shedang, and I might have been swayed by that premise.
At surface glance, the story seems frivolous, childish even, but there’s more to the story. There’s problems just like what we everyday had to deal with. The realization that sometimes your family is different than other, that you might have to grow up because your parents need you.
For any child, at any given age, seeing a parent deteriorate is hard. It’s heartbreaking. To know or to acknowledge that they are human, that they make mistakes, and that sometimes what you want and what you have don’t precisely coincide, but that doesn’t mean giving up, it just means leaving on that light at the end of a gruesome day and hoping that who ever comes through the door will come safe and sound one day.
In spite of some rather grown up issues, the book is filled with it’s comical moments that seem to be changing with the times, and you can’t forget those awkward thoughts that definitely occurred to some of us.
hey @dylanwellesley, i like you. want to be seen in public with me ? on a date ? #sorryaboutyesterday #mybad
Isobel
That’s probably what Isobel would probably have under her yearbook picture, well according to her. I particularly enjoying her POV, because we have that girl, you know the one with the luscious body who others don’t appreciate.
Bullying has always been a subject that is hard for me to read about, to witness, and despite this being a breezy book it touched on some sore wounds. It had an older tone of voice, and it puts into perspective that despite the person wanting to be strong, to not have such callous and hurtful insults flung at him or her that is a testing challenge . Regardless if the person had amazing, loving parents, and equally caring friends, a person is made of flesh and words sting and leave behind an imprint.
We might even have dealt with some of them ourselves, even if we didn’t get bully, but just everyday stress, and doubts.
Isobel had a quirky voice, and she definitely had fun with Spencer. Her analytical way of thinking was both predictable and new in that the story wasn’t as lightweight as one would expect from such novel, but it still carried it’s youthful simplicity.
That specific question is something that I think most high school sweethearts question, and ponder. Will their relationship survive high school, college, and are they really meant to be? Are they too young? And this answer was perfect. An answer, to an unanswerable question.
For Corey, it might be broad, and not exactly related to his relationship, but in someways it answers some of his uncertainties of the future. Corey is dating a rock star, and it might not be happily ever after as he had imagined, but is love enough to triumph everything?
And guess who won Prom Queen?
Now, don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the beejezus out of my prom, but it is way to overdone and there is so much expectation and I’ll sum it up with a distinct scene from the book, loves:
Lovelies, it might not have been a definite happily ever after, or an awkwardly constructed novel, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. With it’s carefree humor, geeky and notable couples, and real life situations issues, this novel was engaging and a break from the hectic-ness that is the ever after in our real lives.
Everly recommended.....whatever that means.
***Copy of the book provided by publisher, Delacorte Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Some quotes were omitted, but I'll be posting them closer to the date. Also, if you'd life to see the completed review he'd over to Keep Holding On To Books Review
My troubles and woes this week, or at least the most major tribulation would be the fact that in the upcoming week I have a vital presentation of twenty (20) minutes due, coupled with the fact that I have to write 4 to 5 pages on the same topic in APA Style. Of course, it might seem insignificant in the grand scheme of school work, but the fact that this is a six week course, and that there is only two paramount projects then I would say a copious amount of value is placed on my group assignment. In other related-not really-news, rather the most trivial of all if you want to look at the bigger picture is the fact that this essential package won’t be getting until a little over a month from the desire date, and I will be letting someone down on a rather significant and meaningful day. That’s what my life is looking at right now, or my education and personal life, from the weighty decisions to the mundane nuisances in life and so I decided to delve into the past drama induced novels.
Back in high school, and I won’t lie to you, a lot of life revolved around boys. The talks, the thoughts, everything was intertwined with the notion of getting your crush to look at you, or to talk and if you were really lucky to flirt back. And I’m glad to see that somethings never change. Because in this school, well, that special time of the year is just around the corner. For three special people decisions are just as crucial and who to ask to accompany them on that once in life experience.
Melanie
“ There’s no good way to tell your friend that you’ve got a crush on her little brother.”
Before you go yelling cougar at Melanie, know that the “little brother” is just a year younger. The freshman girl is infatuated with her best friend’s brother, and my younger self rejoiced at finding the chance to read one, and I got to stop writing in the third person point of view because it is just too creepy. Back in my younger years (sarcasm), there was a period where I wanted the whole my “best friend’s brother is the one for me, b.f.b. (Victoria Justice song, for those of who looking at the screen with that “what-the-flip” face)” shedang, and I might have been swayed by that premise.
At surface glance, the story seems frivolous, childish even, but there’s more to the story. There’s problems just like what we everyday had to deal with. The realization that sometimes your family is different than other, that you might have to grow up because your parents need you.
For any child, at any given age, seeing a parent deteriorate is hard. It’s heartbreaking. To know or to acknowledge that they are human, that they make mistakes, and that sometimes what you want and what you have don’t precisely coincide, but that doesn’t mean giving up, it just means leaving on that light at the end of a gruesome day and hoping that who ever comes through the door will come safe and sound one day.
In spite of some rather grown up issues, the book is filled with it’s comical moments that seem to be changing with the times, and you can’t forget those awkward thoughts that definitely occurred to some of us.
hey @dylanwellesley, i like you. want to be seen in public with me ? on a date ? #sorryaboutyesterday #mybad
Isobel
“Smith High School’s biggest geek. The girl most likely to be asked to fake a relationship with a hockey player in order to lower his social standing.”
That’s probably what Isobel would probably have under her yearbook picture, well according to her. I particularly enjoying her POV, because we have that girl, you know the one with the luscious body who others don’t appreciate.
Bullying has always been a subject that is hard for me to read about, to witness, and despite this being a breezy book it touched on some sore wounds. It had an older tone of voice, and it puts into perspective that despite the person wanting to be strong, to not have such callous and hurtful insults flung at him or her that is a testing challenge . Regardless if the person had amazing, loving parents, and equally caring friends, a person is made of flesh and words sting and leave behind an imprint.
“ I’ve never been to ignore other people, maybe because I’d been n the receiving end of being shunted aside too many times to count.”
We might even have dealt with some of them ourselves, even if we didn’t get bully, but just everyday stress, and doubts.
“..at night recalling every uncomfortable social interaction he’d had over the course of the day and then systematically berating himself for each and every screwup.”
Isobel had a quirky voice, and she definitely had fun with Spencer. Her analytical way of thinking was both predictable and new in that the story wasn’t as lightweight as one would expect from such novel, but it still carried it’s youthful simplicity.
“You really think you’ll be together with Logan in college?
I Hope so. But even if we’re not...it won’t changed the way I feel about him right now. That’s enough for me.”
That specific question is something that I think most high school sweethearts question, and ponder. Will their relationship survive high school, college, and are they really meant to be? Are they too young? And this answer was perfect. An answer, to an unanswerable question.
For Corey, it might be broad, and not exactly related to his relationship, but in someways it answers some of his uncertainties of the future. Corey is dating a rock star, and it might not be happily ever after as he had imagined, but is love enough to triumph everything?
And guess who won Prom Queen?
Now, don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the beejezus out of my prom, but it is way to overdone and there is so much expectation and I’ll sum it up with a distinct scene from the book, loves:
“There’s not a whole lot to do at a school dance. I mean, you basically have three options: you can dance with a group of friends, you can stand around the edges of the room and compliment people on wearing something you’ve never seen them in before, or you can eat.”
Lovelies, it might not have been a definite happily ever after, or an awkwardly constructed novel, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. With it’s carefree humor, geeky and notable couples, and real life situations issues, this novel was engaging and a break from the hectic-ness that is the ever after in our real lives.
Everly recommended.....whatever that means.
***Copy of the book provided by publisher, Delacorte Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
Some quotes were omitted, but I'll be posting them closer to the date. Also, if you'd life to see the completed review he'd over to Keep Holding On To Books Review
June 5, 2021
Let’s just say I held no expectation on this, IDK, having an entire compilation of the last friends of Kenzie and Jane was a little shitty from the author instead of giving them their own book but after reading it I kinda get why most of these characters were side-kicks instead of protagonist material. However, overall I liked it, I mean I gave it five full stars… Mostly because of Isobel and Spencer, but you get my drill.
MEL.
Her story had potential, and it was realistic, however, her POV was really boring and annoying because she kept saying how popular she could be if she wasn’t friends with Izzy, and that was her whole character arch. Moaning about not giving her dad an intervention and not being with little down-to-Earth Dylan, and I obviously didn’t enjoy her part of the book.
THE BEST STORY EVER.
Ever since we met her in Jane’s book, I fell for Izzy. She caught my attention immediately, she was honest and bullied because she was chubby which caused her some mental problems so yeah, I could relate to her path. And I was damn sure, that I was not expecting her to be in a relationship with Spencer, I mean in the beginning, he seemed like your typical rich boy jock who’s actually not an asshole, but only that. However, once we dive into their relationship and their dynamics, damn I fell for these feminist icons. He wants to be a fireman and is a kinky kind soul who researched her geeky interests and loves when she expresses her sexuality! And hell yeah, we stan this!
COREY IS KINDA COOL.
I was okay with Corey breaking up with his rock star boyfriend, I mean the little artist was starting to make decisions for him, and I’ll never forget what both these guys did to poor Jane. So when he broke up and then made up with him, I was like whatever… I don’t even like you both, so meh. Besides, we need to address that Tim is dating a minor when he’s 21 and nobody is making this an issue, just like with badass Chelsea and Houston, so so so so so disturbing. Anyway, I only enjoyed Corey’s part of the book because he was a legend and THE moment when he addressed every bully in school at prom without being drunk and dropped that mic!
MEL.
Her story had potential, and it was realistic, however, her POV was really boring and annoying because she kept saying how popular she could be if she wasn’t friends with Izzy, and that was her whole character arch. Moaning about not giving her dad an intervention and not being with little down-to-Earth Dylan, and I obviously didn’t enjoy her part of the book.
THE BEST STORY EVER.
Ever since we met her in Jane’s book, I fell for Izzy. She caught my attention immediately, she was honest and bullied because she was chubby which caused her some mental problems so yeah, I could relate to her path. And I was damn sure, that I was not expecting her to be in a relationship with Spencer, I mean in the beginning, he seemed like your typical rich boy jock who’s actually not an asshole, but only that. However, once we dive into their relationship and their dynamics, damn I fell for these feminist icons. He wants to be a fireman and is a kinky kind soul who researched her geeky interests and loves when she expresses her sexuality! And hell yeah, we stan this!
COREY IS KINDA COOL.
I was okay with Corey breaking up with his rock star boyfriend, I mean the little artist was starting to make decisions for him, and I’ll never forget what both these guys did to poor Jane. So when he broke up and then made up with him, I was like whatever… I don’t even like you both, so meh. Besides, we need to address that Tim is dating a minor when he’s 21 and nobody is making this an issue, just like with badass Chelsea and Houston, so so so so so disturbing. Anyway, I only enjoyed Corey’s part of the book because he was a legend and THE moment when he addressed every bully in school at prom without being drunk and dropped that mic!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2017
Review in Process.
I love Marni Bates. I ADORED Awkward. Invisible and Decked with Holly were delightful reads, but with Notable> and even more so with Awkwardly Ever After I was let down sightly. I seriously considered giving Awkwardly Ever After just a two-star review, but that didn't see quite right. I rounded up for several reasons. All the things I have loved about Awkward were still there: the modern plot, the strong female characters, the geek references, Bates' strong and humorous writing. Despite this, I just didn't get invested as I did with the previous books. I greatly missed the lack of the partners point of view, particularly Spencer and Tim's. The short stories wrapped up the characters nicely, but I wanted more, or could have done with less.
One was Spencer and Isobel. I've loved each of their characters in the previous books and greatly enjoyed the development they received in their story.
I love Marni Bates. I ADORED Awkward. Invisible and Decked with Holly were delightful reads, but with Notable> and even more so with Awkwardly Ever After I was let down sightly. I seriously considered giving Awkwardly Ever After just a two-star review, but that didn't see quite right. I rounded up for several reasons. All the things I have loved about Awkward were still there: the modern plot, the strong female characters, the geek references, Bates' strong and humorous writing. Despite this, I just didn't get invested as I did with the previous books. I greatly missed the lack of the partners point of view, particularly Spencer and Tim's. The short stories wrapped up the characters nicely, but I wanted more, or could have done with less.
One was Spencer and Isobel. I've loved each of their characters in the previous books and greatly enjoyed the development they received in their story.
November 20, 2017
I knew this was kind of a wrap up to the earlier stories in the series but I didn't realize it was actually three separate novellas. So, really, this is an anthology, about the boy with the rock star boyfriend, and the chubby girl with attitude and the boy who doesn't want to be prom king, and the girl who likes her best friend's little brother. It was fun and I enjoyed reading them.
October 21, 2019
2.5 stars
November 14, 2019
My least favorite of this series; the only actual 3 (not 3.5)
June 21, 2020
Another Dollar Tree find. So enjoyed how similar it was to a great favorite of mine, the DUFF. yummy romance.
Read
April 9, 2024look i can't choose what i get brainrot over
December 10, 2014
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
`Awkwardly Ever After is the fourth book in the Awkward series by Marni Bates. I read the first one (“Awkward”) two years ago, but surprisingly enough, the story picks up shortly after it ended with enough references to the events that I was able to catch on pretty quickly. Just as Awkward ended up being a really refreshing YA read, Awkwardly Ever After doesn’t disappoint, though I had some major problems with one of the characters and the way his story was handled which is why I can’t give it more stars.
At first, I was having trouble delving into the mind of a fifteen year old girl again, but Bates’ writing style is absolutely infectious. While the story has its action, what hooks you is the internal monologue of the narrators, over-analyzing every situation, obsessing over how they come across or what other people are going to think of them, and yet they don’t (always) come across as naive and immature, but as really accurate portrayal of teenagers in love.
Awkwardly Ever After contains three stories of Smith High School’s characters one after the other, and each has its redeeming qualities and its drawbacks.
The first narrator we see is Melanie. Melanie is a good narrator because although her story is a lot about romance like the other two, she and her love interest also have to deal with important family issues. Melanie’s backstory relies heavily on the events of the first book in the series and nothing particularly noteworthy happens to her in this novel, but it’s a nice conclusion to what we’ve read about her before. After her section, she becomes pretty irrelevant.
My personal favorite is Isobel. Isobel is a shy, nerdy freshman who would do anything for her friends. She wants to be a psychologist and her perceptions of other people are keen and insightful for someone who prefers not to branch out too far beyond her friend group. I like her because even though her story is rife with clichés, she was the one who showed the most introspection to me because she admits that when it comes to high school politics, she’s just as judgmental as everyone else. The sexual tension in her part of the novel literally made me put the book down for a second to embrace the feels. Isobel is able to grow and change while still remaining true to who she is.
And finally, you have Corey. Corey is also an important player in the first book of the series, best known for his relationship to a 21 year old rock star who made waves when he openly came out as gay. Corey really annoyed me. I think that it really confused some important issues to make Corey’s orientation as relevant as the fact that he was dating a rock star. I found it interesting that while the other characters of the novel are saying “frick” and “frack,” he was the only one allowed to curse. The big conflict of Corey’s story is that his “homophobic” principal is trying to prevent Corey’s boyfriend from attending prom “because they’re gay”. Maybe as a teenager, I might’ve found that to be the issue as well, but as an adult, I see a 21 year old man taking a 16/17 year old boy to a school-functioned event where his mere presence requires a security team and a police force a little bit more of a problem. It wouldn’t have been allowed in my high school, and it has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the people involved. At the same time, Corey brings up issues with his relationship that have nothing to do with his boyfriend’s rockstar status, they are completely dropped without ever being resolved.
On the whole, the writing is great, the characters are authentic, and I was rooting for all of them to get what they wanted. I thought it was a great touch when Bates includes a conversation with the original heroine of the series about whether she thinks her relationship will last into college.
On the other hand, some of the clichés really annoyed me. I think Bates takes it too far when these “geeky,” “awkward” girls are literally, constantly tripping over their own feet and face-planting in front of their enemies and crushes alike. I was also annoyed with the whole idea that the popular jocks are all secretly really sweet and down to earth and actually not concerned with appearances at all. But these are just YA stereotypes we’ve all come to accept.
I really, really liked the first two parts of this novel and I wish I could rate it higher. It was a fun, light read and I devoured it all in one sitting, but Corey’s story just didn’t sit right with me for a number of reasons that I can’t get into without giving away spoilers. I think it tried to cover some important gay rights issues, and it just fell completely flat.
`Awkwardly Ever After is the fourth book in the Awkward series by Marni Bates. I read the first one (“Awkward”) two years ago, but surprisingly enough, the story picks up shortly after it ended with enough references to the events that I was able to catch on pretty quickly. Just as Awkward ended up being a really refreshing YA read, Awkwardly Ever After doesn’t disappoint, though I had some major problems with one of the characters and the way his story was handled which is why I can’t give it more stars.
At first, I was having trouble delving into the mind of a fifteen year old girl again, but Bates’ writing style is absolutely infectious. While the story has its action, what hooks you is the internal monologue of the narrators, over-analyzing every situation, obsessing over how they come across or what other people are going to think of them, and yet they don’t (always) come across as naive and immature, but as really accurate portrayal of teenagers in love.
Awkwardly Ever After contains three stories of Smith High School’s characters one after the other, and each has its redeeming qualities and its drawbacks.
The first narrator we see is Melanie. Melanie is a good narrator because although her story is a lot about romance like the other two, she and her love interest also have to deal with important family issues. Melanie’s backstory relies heavily on the events of the first book in the series and nothing particularly noteworthy happens to her in this novel, but it’s a nice conclusion to what we’ve read about her before. After her section, she becomes pretty irrelevant.
My personal favorite is Isobel. Isobel is a shy, nerdy freshman who would do anything for her friends. She wants to be a psychologist and her perceptions of other people are keen and insightful for someone who prefers not to branch out too far beyond her friend group. I like her because even though her story is rife with clichés, she was the one who showed the most introspection to me because she admits that when it comes to high school politics, she’s just as judgmental as everyone else. The sexual tension in her part of the novel literally made me put the book down for a second to embrace the feels. Isobel is able to grow and change while still remaining true to who she is.
And finally, you have Corey. Corey is also an important player in the first book of the series, best known for his relationship to a 21 year old rock star who made waves when he openly came out as gay. Corey really annoyed me. I think that it really confused some important issues to make Corey’s orientation as relevant as the fact that he was dating a rock star. I found it interesting that while the other characters of the novel are saying “frick” and “frack,” he was the only one allowed to curse. The big conflict of Corey’s story is that his “homophobic” principal is trying to prevent Corey’s boyfriend from attending prom “because they’re gay”. Maybe as a teenager, I might’ve found that to be the issue as well, but as an adult, I see a 21 year old man taking a 16/17 year old boy to a school-functioned event where his mere presence requires a security team and a police force a little bit more of a problem. It wouldn’t have been allowed in my high school, and it has nothing to do with the sexual orientation of the people involved. At the same time, Corey brings up issues with his relationship that have nothing to do with his boyfriend’s rockstar status, they are completely dropped without ever being resolved.
On the whole, the writing is great, the characters are authentic, and I was rooting for all of them to get what they wanted. I thought it was a great touch when Bates includes a conversation with the original heroine of the series about whether she thinks her relationship will last into college.
On the other hand, some of the clichés really annoyed me. I think Bates takes it too far when these “geeky,” “awkward” girls are literally, constantly tripping over their own feet and face-planting in front of their enemies and crushes alike. I was also annoyed with the whole idea that the popular jocks are all secretly really sweet and down to earth and actually not concerned with appearances at all. But these are just YA stereotypes we’ve all come to accept.
I really, really liked the first two parts of this novel and I wish I could rate it higher. It was a fun, light read and I devoured it all in one sitting, but Corey’s story just didn’t sit right with me for a number of reasons that I can’t get into without giving away spoilers. I think it tried to cover some important gay rights issues, and it just fell completely flat.
July 3, 2014
3.5/5
This series is just so fluffy and cute, perfect for a nice day outside and if you want something that will make you grin from start to finish. I've loved all of the books in the series and I was excited to see this one up on NetGalley. However, I didn't realize that the book would feature 3 different couples in 3 different stories. They were essentially novellas and as many of you know, I struggle with those a lot, so I wound up not loving all three stories as much as the previous books.
Melanie & Dylan
Melanie has been in love with her best friend's little brother for a long time, but she's afraid of having a relationship with him despite him also seeming to reciprocate her feelings. She doesn't want it to tear apart her relationship with her best friend and for the most part, she struggles with her growing feelings for Dylan and her not wanting to "betray" her best friend. I personally thought she and Dylan made a super adorable couple, but I wanted to see them interact more and because each story is so short, it was hard for me to connect on any level with them. Some issues regarding Dylan's family were also very briefly touched upon, but by the end, I didn't feel like much had been resolved. Still, it was a cute read that gave me warm cuddly feelings once Dylan and Melanie finally got together.
Isobel & Spencer
This was definitely my favorite story in Awkwardly Ever After. Isobel was such a lovely character. She was genuine and very much realistic. I loved how she speaks out her thoughts without mincing her words. She was pretty much a sweetheart and very difficult not to love. She and Spencer pretend to be dating for a while because Spencer has had enough of all the female attention he seems to attract. I love this trope of fake relationship that eventually turns into something more and I think it was particularly done well in this book. Their banter together was so much fun and they had a ton of chemistry together. I also loved how despite the story being short, there was no insta-love to it. Marni Bates shows their progression from acquaintances to friends to more. It was absolutely delightful!
Corey & Timothy
This story was a little difficult for me to enjoy mostly because I struggled with Corey's character and also because I didn't think it was okay for a 21 year old man to be dating and going to prom with a 16 year old high-school student. I did however enjoy how the author tackled all the issues that comes with being in a relationship with someone who is constantly in the spotlight because of how famous they are. The involvement of the paparazzi was especially done well.
Overall
In the end, I don't regret reading Awkwardly Ever After despite the stories not being as satisfying as a full length novel. Maybe I sound selfish, but I would have loved if Marni Bates had written a full story for each of these characters, particularly Isobel and Spencer. Her writing is just so lovely, I could read on and on!
This series is just so fluffy and cute, perfect for a nice day outside and if you want something that will make you grin from start to finish. I've loved all of the books in the series and I was excited to see this one up on NetGalley. However, I didn't realize that the book would feature 3 different couples in 3 different stories. They were essentially novellas and as many of you know, I struggle with those a lot, so I wound up not loving all three stories as much as the previous books.
Melanie & Dylan
Melanie has been in love with her best friend's little brother for a long time, but she's afraid of having a relationship with him despite him also seeming to reciprocate her feelings. She doesn't want it to tear apart her relationship with her best friend and for the most part, she struggles with her growing feelings for Dylan and her not wanting to "betray" her best friend. I personally thought she and Dylan made a super adorable couple, but I wanted to see them interact more and because each story is so short, it was hard for me to connect on any level with them. Some issues regarding Dylan's family were also very briefly touched upon, but by the end, I didn't feel like much had been resolved. Still, it was a cute read that gave me warm cuddly feelings once Dylan and Melanie finally got together.
Isobel & Spencer
This was definitely my favorite story in Awkwardly Ever After. Isobel was such a lovely character. She was genuine and very much realistic. I loved how she speaks out her thoughts without mincing her words. She was pretty much a sweetheart and very difficult not to love. She and Spencer pretend to be dating for a while because Spencer has had enough of all the female attention he seems to attract. I love this trope of fake relationship that eventually turns into something more and I think it was particularly done well in this book. Their banter together was so much fun and they had a ton of chemistry together. I also loved how despite the story being short, there was no insta-love to it. Marni Bates shows their progression from acquaintances to friends to more. It was absolutely delightful!
Corey & Timothy
This story was a little difficult for me to enjoy mostly because I struggled with Corey's character and also because I didn't think it was okay for a 21 year old man to be dating and going to prom with a 16 year old high-school student. I did however enjoy how the author tackled all the issues that comes with being in a relationship with someone who is constantly in the spotlight because of how famous they are. The involvement of the paparazzi was especially done well.
Overall
In the end, I don't regret reading Awkwardly Ever After despite the stories not being as satisfying as a full length novel. Maybe I sound selfish, but I would have loved if Marni Bates had written a full story for each of these characters, particularly Isobel and Spencer. Her writing is just so lovely, I could read on and on!
June 23, 2014
- The Story Goes...> -
*I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
First of all when I requested this book I did not realize it was part of a series, but once I figured that out I read some reviews for the books and realized that it probably wasn't necessary to have read the other three first so I decided to jump right it! And I'm really glad I did. I was confused a couple times but it was very easy to figure things out and get lost in this book even without having previously read the other three books.
Synopsis - Basically this book is split up into three parts(Awkwardly, Ever and After, I think?) the first part is about Melanie who is in love with her best friends little brother, then there's Isobel who is a major geek, that I loved, who some how gets tangled up with one of the most popular boys in school and finally Corey who is gay and dating a rock star and struggling to handle all that dating said rock star entails. All of this is told over a manner of a week or two, I want to say, leading up to and ending on the night of Prom.
My thoughts - My first impression of this book is that it's fun. It has a few more serious issues of alcoholism and gay bashing but for the most part it was a light read about these characters learning to fight for what they want whether it be the right to go to prom with your gay rock star boyfriend or to not be afraid of putting yourself out there even if you might get hurt. Honestly I really loved this book, it was a nice fast read and really there was nothing I disliked about it, it had funny lovable characters and plenty of laugh out loud moments and cringing in sympathy moments. I loved that the basis is on geeks and geeks that are proud to be geeks, I think my favorite character was Isobel she was just awesome, I also loved Corey though and a ton of the secondary characters namely Sam she was badass. I didn't love Melanie she was kinda whiny but I didn't hate her either.
Overall - this book was really enjoyable and I can't wait to go back and read the first three books to learn more about this awesome group of characters.
*I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
First of all when I requested this book I did not realize it was part of a series, but once I figured that out I read some reviews for the books and realized that it probably wasn't necessary to have read the other three first so I decided to jump right it! And I'm really glad I did. I was confused a couple times but it was very easy to figure things out and get lost in this book even without having previously read the other three books.
Synopsis - Basically this book is split up into three parts(Awkwardly, Ever and After, I think?) the first part is about Melanie who is in love with her best friends little brother, then there's Isobel who is a major geek, that I loved, who some how gets tangled up with one of the most popular boys in school and finally Corey who is gay and dating a rock star and struggling to handle all that dating said rock star entails. All of this is told over a manner of a week or two, I want to say, leading up to and ending on the night of Prom.
My thoughts - My first impression of this book is that it's fun. It has a few more serious issues of alcoholism and gay bashing but for the most part it was a light read about these characters learning to fight for what they want whether it be the right to go to prom with your gay rock star boyfriend or to not be afraid of putting yourself out there even if you might get hurt. Honestly I really loved this book, it was a nice fast read and really there was nothing I disliked about it, it had funny lovable characters and plenty of laugh out loud moments and cringing in sympathy moments. I loved that the basis is on geeks and geeks that are proud to be geeks, I think my favorite character was Isobel she was just awesome, I also loved Corey though and a ton of the secondary characters namely Sam she was badass. I didn't love Melanie she was kinda whiny but I didn't hate her either.
Overall - this book was really enjoyable and I can't wait to go back and read the first three books to learn more about this awesome group of characters.
March 21, 2017
This is the fourth book in an adorable series about “Nerds” and “Notables” at fictional Smith High School in Forest Grove, Oregon.
This particular book places the main focus on the trials and tribulations of Melanie Morris; her best friend Isobel Peters; or “Izzie”; and their mutual friend Corey O’Neal. While these are all characters we have "met" before, the author doesn't assume you know any back story.
Melanie is embarrassed of her alcoholic father, Izzie is not as slender as is considered socially acceptable, and Corey is struggling with a relationship with member of a very popular boy band, meaning that he not only has to deal with the usual harassment over being gay, but the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi as well.
In addition, there is the whole nightmare of high school in general, especially as prom approaches. As Izzie muses:
"If my high school experience was a rollercoaster, it would probably be called ‘Crap Mountain’ and involve a lot of gut-wrenchingly sharp twists and turns.”
The author (through the voice of Izzie) perfectly identifies the high school places least likely to provide good hide-outs:
"…bathrooms are notorious for being the place where the worst possible stuff goes down in high school. Bathrooms, locker rooms, and cafeterias. The place where everyone is supposed to be able to peacefully coexist are the ones most fraught with danger.”
But if all this sounds like the book is dark and depressing, it is in fact just the opposite. Not only does Marni Bates load her books with laugh-out-loud humor, but the good guys always come out on top.
Evaluation: This book is a little more serious than the preceding three, but it is still fun, and will provide a boost to high school kids struggling to make it through high school. Bates even provides a “High School Survival Playlist” at the end of the story, annotated with supportive comments, like this one for “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You” by Ben Folds:
"This song is directed at anyone who tries to make you feel tiny in order to make themselves feel tall. And yes, there is always someone cooler than you. But the really cool people are the ones who become your best friends.”
Rating: 3.5/5
This particular book places the main focus on the trials and tribulations of Melanie Morris; her best friend Isobel Peters; or “Izzie”; and their mutual friend Corey O’Neal. While these are all characters we have "met" before, the author doesn't assume you know any back story.
Melanie is embarrassed of her alcoholic father, Izzie is not as slender as is considered socially acceptable, and Corey is struggling with a relationship with member of a very popular boy band, meaning that he not only has to deal with the usual harassment over being gay, but the relentless pursuit of the paparazzi as well.
In addition, there is the whole nightmare of high school in general, especially as prom approaches. As Izzie muses:
"If my high school experience was a rollercoaster, it would probably be called ‘Crap Mountain’ and involve a lot of gut-wrenchingly sharp twists and turns.”
The author (through the voice of Izzie) perfectly identifies the high school places least likely to provide good hide-outs:
"…bathrooms are notorious for being the place where the worst possible stuff goes down in high school. Bathrooms, locker rooms, and cafeterias. The place where everyone is supposed to be able to peacefully coexist are the ones most fraught with danger.”
But if all this sounds like the book is dark and depressing, it is in fact just the opposite. Not only does Marni Bates load her books with laugh-out-loud humor, but the good guys always come out on top.
Evaluation: This book is a little more serious than the preceding three, but it is still fun, and will provide a boost to high school kids struggling to make it through high school. Bates even provides a “High School Survival Playlist” at the end of the story, annotated with supportive comments, like this one for “There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You” by Ben Folds:
"This song is directed at anyone who tries to make you feel tiny in order to make themselves feel tall. And yes, there is always someone cooler than you. But the really cool people are the ones who become your best friends.”
Rating: 3.5/5
July 23, 2014
Received from NetGalley as an ARC for review.
First off, I should tell you I have not read Marni Bates’s other books in this Smith High series, but after this one (the fourth in the series), I might grab the other ones and read them.
I really liked how the story is divided into three novellas, basically: 1) Awkwardly, 2) Ever, and 3) After. How neat is that, three bangs for your buck!
The first story is about Melanie, a freshman, who has a crush on her friend’s brother, an 8th grader--aWKwaRd, nice title connection. The second story is about Isobel, an amazingly geeky girl who likes to observe people and doesn’t think a cool guy could EVER like her. And the third story is about Corey who has fallen in love and is in a relationship with a rockstar but now faces the challenge of being in the spotlight--can the paparazzi ruin his relationship even after they’ve admitted they love each other?
I had a lot of fun reading the stories involving Melanie and Isobel. I think part of it was their relationship. They cracked me up several times. Here is one of my favorite exchanges between Melanie and Isobel. Melanie wants Isobel’s advice about how to get out of a date with the super cool Spencer King. Isobel’s suggestion: “I would let my trusty dragon take care of the situation. Or ask a warlock friend to intervene. Those things are way more likely to happen than a date with Spencer King. At least for me.” *still chuckling*
While I really enjoyed the first two stories, I struggled to connect with Corey in the third because of the rockstar storyline. I liked the character, had me chuckling a couple times, too, but I just couldn’t get past my brain which was going...really? really?...teenager falls in love with a rockstar and rockstar loves him back?...really? I mean I like fantasy stories, but after being grounded firmly in realistic fiction for the first two, I couldn’t alleviate the disbelief for the final storyline.
Anyway, I will be looking into getting this four book series for my classroom bookshelf. I think they will appeal to my students who eat up my Meg Cabot and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books.
First off, I should tell you I have not read Marni Bates’s other books in this Smith High series, but after this one (the fourth in the series), I might grab the other ones and read them.
I really liked how the story is divided into three novellas, basically: 1) Awkwardly, 2) Ever, and 3) After. How neat is that, three bangs for your buck!
The first story is about Melanie, a freshman, who has a crush on her friend’s brother, an 8th grader--aWKwaRd, nice title connection. The second story is about Isobel, an amazingly geeky girl who likes to observe people and doesn’t think a cool guy could EVER like her. And the third story is about Corey who has fallen in love and is in a relationship with a rockstar but now faces the challenge of being in the spotlight--can the paparazzi ruin his relationship even after they’ve admitted they love each other?
I had a lot of fun reading the stories involving Melanie and Isobel. I think part of it was their relationship. They cracked me up several times. Here is one of my favorite exchanges between Melanie and Isobel. Melanie wants Isobel’s advice about how to get out of a date with the super cool Spencer King. Isobel’s suggestion: “I would let my trusty dragon take care of the situation. Or ask a warlock friend to intervene. Those things are way more likely to happen than a date with Spencer King. At least for me.” *still chuckling*
While I really enjoyed the first two stories, I struggled to connect with Corey in the third because of the rockstar storyline. I liked the character, had me chuckling a couple times, too, but I just couldn’t get past my brain which was going...really? really?...teenager falls in love with a rockstar and rockstar loves him back?...really? I mean I like fantasy stories, but after being grounded firmly in realistic fiction for the first two, I couldn’t alleviate the disbelief for the final storyline.
Anyway, I will be looking into getting this four book series for my classroom bookshelf. I think they will appeal to my students who eat up my Meg Cabot and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books.
June 11, 2014
Book Review- Awkwardly Ever After by Marni Bates
Melanie and Mackenzie are friends and Mel has feelings for Dylan who happens to be Mackenzie’s little brother. He is a year younger and Mel feels it crosses some line. So she tries to hide her feelings and get over them. Mackenzie has plans for Mel when she tries to pair her with Spencer King, king of the notables. Melanie panics and enlists her best friend Isobel to go as a fifth wheel. Of course when plans get changed and the group ends up at Mackenzie’s house, Dylan is there. Everything blows up in Mel’s face.
Isobel gets thrown in with Spencer when things get crazy at Mackenzie’s house. Isobel has to accept a ride home from Spencer. He lets her psychoanalyze him which leads to his proposition. Isobel is shocked but ends up entering into a deal. The repercussions were more than she bargained for and she panics. Plus she is confused about Spencer and waiting for him to turn on her like all the other notables.
Prom is approaching and Corey has plans to go with his friends Jane and Mackenzie. However when his rock star boyfriend decides to go too, things get crazier than usual. Corey is already having trouble dealing with the fans and paparazzi making his privacy nonexistent. When the school board threatens to cancel the prom because of the gay couple, everything hits the fan. Corey doesn’t know how to handle all the things that accompany his relationship.
This book was fabulous. It showed how some students made it passed the bullying from the notables and grabbed a hold of what they wanted even if it was hard to do. There were three stories focusing on three main characters but they were all friends at the same high school. They were considered geeks and they triumphed. I also liked the gay love story. Every teen should read how difficult it is to deal with the backlash you get just for loving someone. It is a true theme throughout the book and how the characters did it anyway. The messages are positive and I recommend this book to any teenage reader. I give it a 5 out of 5.
Melanie and Mackenzie are friends and Mel has feelings for Dylan who happens to be Mackenzie’s little brother. He is a year younger and Mel feels it crosses some line. So she tries to hide her feelings and get over them. Mackenzie has plans for Mel when she tries to pair her with Spencer King, king of the notables. Melanie panics and enlists her best friend Isobel to go as a fifth wheel. Of course when plans get changed and the group ends up at Mackenzie’s house, Dylan is there. Everything blows up in Mel’s face.
Isobel gets thrown in with Spencer when things get crazy at Mackenzie’s house. Isobel has to accept a ride home from Spencer. He lets her psychoanalyze him which leads to his proposition. Isobel is shocked but ends up entering into a deal. The repercussions were more than she bargained for and she panics. Plus she is confused about Spencer and waiting for him to turn on her like all the other notables.
Prom is approaching and Corey has plans to go with his friends Jane and Mackenzie. However when his rock star boyfriend decides to go too, things get crazier than usual. Corey is already having trouble dealing with the fans and paparazzi making his privacy nonexistent. When the school board threatens to cancel the prom because of the gay couple, everything hits the fan. Corey doesn’t know how to handle all the things that accompany his relationship.
This book was fabulous. It showed how some students made it passed the bullying from the notables and grabbed a hold of what they wanted even if it was hard to do. There were three stories focusing on three main characters but they were all friends at the same high school. They were considered geeks and they triumphed. I also liked the gay love story. Every teen should read how difficult it is to deal with the backlash you get just for loving someone. It is a true theme throughout the book and how the characters did it anyway. The messages are positive and I recommend this book to any teenage reader. I give it a 5 out of 5.
July 24, 2015
Ah, Spring, a time when pollen is in the air, as is love. For the kids at Smith High, there's a certain amount of craziness in the air, too. It's prom time. This is the fourth book in the series, and you can't help but appreciate these young people because of the way Marni Bates writes.
Spencer King has it all. He's the rich kid with successful parents, and he has the looks necessary to attract pretty much any girl he wants until he tires of one and moves on to the next conquest. Izzie Peters isn't your typical starved-skinny girl. She's a little heavier than the average, wears glasses, and figures that a guy like Spencer is out of her league big-time, and she's even ok with that. So why are she and Spencer suddenly taking note of one another in a way that goes beyond casual pass-in-the-hall kind of stuff?
I'm not doing the plot any real justice here. This is a grandly fun story that brings you up to date on these characters in an often laugh-out-loud way.
You'll immerse yourself in some serious high-school crazy sauce. It will be simultaneously jarring in spots and touching in others.
Some parts of the book seemed a bit contrived and difficult to believe. The principal is depicted as an anti-gay administrator who makes life hard for Corey and his rockstar boyfriend. This is Portland, Oregon, folks, not some small town in a conservative state. It almost felt like Bates crafted this guy as a vehicle to defiantly wave the pro-gay flag. I get that Portland isn't a left-leaning monolith, but I felt the position taken by the principal felt a bit unrealistic.
That said, this is yet another example of Marni Bates's magnificent sparkly writing style.
Those who prefer not to read sexual descriptions and profanity in their books may want to skip this one. Bates writes unusually well, and she tells a compelling story. This has been a fun series to read, and I started the series by reading the Christmas book associated with it.
I read this from Bookshare, so I can't speak to the audio edition.
Spencer King has it all. He's the rich kid with successful parents, and he has the looks necessary to attract pretty much any girl he wants until he tires of one and moves on to the next conquest. Izzie Peters isn't your typical starved-skinny girl. She's a little heavier than the average, wears glasses, and figures that a guy like Spencer is out of her league big-time, and she's even ok with that. So why are she and Spencer suddenly taking note of one another in a way that goes beyond casual pass-in-the-hall kind of stuff?
I'm not doing the plot any real justice here. This is a grandly fun story that brings you up to date on these characters in an often laugh-out-loud way.
You'll immerse yourself in some serious high-school crazy sauce. It will be simultaneously jarring in spots and touching in others.
Some parts of the book seemed a bit contrived and difficult to believe. The principal is depicted as an anti-gay administrator who makes life hard for Corey and his rockstar boyfriend. This is Portland, Oregon, folks, not some small town in a conservative state. It almost felt like Bates crafted this guy as a vehicle to defiantly wave the pro-gay flag. I get that Portland isn't a left-leaning monolith, but I felt the position taken by the principal felt a bit unrealistic.
That said, this is yet another example of Marni Bates's magnificent sparkly writing style.
Those who prefer not to read sexual descriptions and profanity in their books may want to skip this one. Bates writes unusually well, and she tells a compelling story. This has been a fun series to read, and I started the series by reading the Christmas book associated with it.
I read this from Bookshare, so I can't speak to the audio edition.
June 28, 2014
So I really liked both Invisible and Notable, though Notable had a slightly unlikely plot, so I was expecting some light fluff with these 3 stories and that's what I got.
I'd already 'met' Melanie in Invisible and if I remember correctly, her being in love with Dylan was already hinted at there, but as everyone knows, falling in love with your best friend's younger brother is pretty much a no-no. Except that it worked here. I liked Dylan, I liked that he was willing to put himself out there and be with Melanie, even if she wasn't really encouraging him so much. I thought Melanie should man up and own up to her crush to her best friend and I was a bit disappointed that part isn't in the story, so I hope that somewhere off-page that is actually happening.
I really liked the story about Isobel and Spencer King, because let's face it, Spencer King is hot. And Isobel is pretty awesome, she calls him out on his bullshit, even though she's somewhat afraid to admit to her own feelings. I think they're good for each other. I was actually kinda sad that this wasn't a full length novel, because I think a lot more could have been written about these two and their developing relationship and it was just a whole lot of cute.
So I was all ready to dive into the last story, the one about Corey and his boyfriend, but sadly, my ARC malfunctioned and I couldn't read more than 5 or 6 pages into this story, which was a disappointment.
It was pretty cute and fluffy, but it didn't make me squeal in happiness with the cuteness of it, and I have a couple more questions instead of closure, but I liked what Marni Bates did with these characters.
My rating: 3 stars
I'd already 'met' Melanie in Invisible and if I remember correctly, her being in love with Dylan was already hinted at there, but as everyone knows, falling in love with your best friend's younger brother is pretty much a no-no. Except that it worked here. I liked Dylan, I liked that he was willing to put himself out there and be with Melanie, even if she wasn't really encouraging him so much. I thought Melanie should man up and own up to her crush to her best friend and I was a bit disappointed that part isn't in the story, so I hope that somewhere off-page that is actually happening.
I really liked the story about Isobel and Spencer King, because let's face it, Spencer King is hot. And Isobel is pretty awesome, she calls him out on his bullshit, even though she's somewhat afraid to admit to her own feelings. I think they're good for each other. I was actually kinda sad that this wasn't a full length novel, because I think a lot more could have been written about these two and their developing relationship and it was just a whole lot of cute.
So I was all ready to dive into the last story, the one about Corey and his boyfriend, but sadly, my ARC malfunctioned and I couldn't read more than 5 or 6 pages into this story, which was a disappointment.
It was pretty cute and fluffy, but it didn't make me squeal in happiness with the cuteness of it, and I have a couple more questions instead of closure, but I liked what Marni Bates did with these characters.
My rating: 3 stars
July 28, 2014
Awkwardly Ever After is the fourth book in the fun and adorable, Smith High series, and contains three short stories told from a different characters point of view.
I have really enjoyed this entire series. Marni Bates has this fun youthful energy about her writing that is purely infectious! This last book helps to wrap up some of the involvements from the other books and I really liked getting to visit Smith High one last time.
The first section focuses on Melanie and her feelings for Mackenzie's little brother Dylan. I was very happy that this story was told after seeing the beginning of their relationship blossom in previous books.
The second part focuses on Isobel after the mess Melanie gets her into at the beginning of the book. This is my favorite of the three points of view and is downright laugh out loud worthy. The witty banter that I love so much in Marni's writing is full force here and may have even produced a snort laugh or two from me.
The last section is narrated by Corey and although I wanted to find out more about his relationship after reading the previous books, I wasn't particularly fond of this one. Corey actually annoyed me most of the story and I didn't agree with the outcome of the story after all of his lengthy complaints. But I did like getting a conclusion to his story and overall the book was a great read.
** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. **
I have really enjoyed this entire series. Marni Bates has this fun youthful energy about her writing that is purely infectious! This last book helps to wrap up some of the involvements from the other books and I really liked getting to visit Smith High one last time.
The first section focuses on Melanie and her feelings for Mackenzie's little brother Dylan. I was very happy that this story was told after seeing the beginning of their relationship blossom in previous books.
The second part focuses on Isobel after the mess Melanie gets her into at the beginning of the book. This is my favorite of the three points of view and is downright laugh out loud worthy. The witty banter that I love so much in Marni's writing is full force here and may have even produced a snort laugh or two from me.
The last section is narrated by Corey and although I wanted to find out more about his relationship after reading the previous books, I wasn't particularly fond of this one. Corey actually annoyed me most of the story and I didn't agree with the outcome of the story after all of his lengthy complaints. But I did like getting a conclusion to his story and overall the book was a great read.
** I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. **
March 24, 2016
Originally posted here.
You know how I have enjoyed Marni Bates' previous books and AEA was no exception. It centered around three stories concerning Melanie Morris, Isobel Peters and Corey O'Neal in the manner of the name of the book.
Freaking enjoyed the first two stories with Isobel winning the best story for me. The last story seemed a bit rushed though it might just be me.
To say I was borderline satisfied won't be wrong cos I love these stories and I thought they were too short. I enjoyed all of these and I am content with how this book was but I would still have been happy if they had been full books about them. Tehe.
Overall, more serious issues were touched in this book.And I know for a fact that if I am in need for a light read, with that touch of seriousness to give it a reality dose, Marni is the author if I am craving Meg Cabotism or the likes. I had fun reading this last piece to the Smith High geeks. And I will miss them. Sweet endings don't come so often. XP
Teaser:
You know how I have enjoyed Marni Bates' previous books and AEA was no exception. It centered around three stories concerning Melanie Morris, Isobel Peters and Corey O'Neal in the manner of the name of the book.
Freaking enjoyed the first two stories with Isobel winning the best story for me. The last story seemed a bit rushed though it might just be me.
To say I was borderline satisfied won't be wrong cos I love these stories and I thought they were too short. I enjoyed all of these and I am content with how this book was but I would still have been happy if they had been full books about them. Tehe.
Overall, more serious issues were touched in this book.And I know for a fact that if I am in need for a light read, with that touch of seriousness to give it a reality dose, Marni is the author if I am craving Meg Cabotism or the likes. I had fun reading this last piece to the Smith High geeks. And I will miss them. Sweet endings don't come so often. XP
Teaser:
August 9, 2014
I'm really sad to see yet another awesome series go. Yet, I am happy to say that it ended on a good note, and will forever be loved by me for its witty banter and relationships.
Awkwardly Ever After follows three stories from three perspectives: Melanie about Dylan, Isobel about Spencer, and Corey about Tim. They were all set right around each other, with little to no overlap in time. Personally, Corey's story was a little dull compared to the rest, but maybe it was just like that to me because they were already in the relationship since the first book, this was more like closure. Melanie's was a FINALLY kind of story, one you knew would happen but loved reading firsthand. And Isobel's was my absolute favorite because the witty banter, true lifestyle, and cute dramatic romance was absolutely the best.
I've been in a contemporary drought lately, but this really loosened up my mood. It's quite an underrated series because to me, though some parts are not that great, the laughter it brings is infectious and amazing. Honestly, it was amazing and definitely should be read by all (after reading the other books first).
Marni Bates, I really hope you release more books with witty banter and cute relationships :)
Awkwardly Ever After follows three stories from three perspectives: Melanie about Dylan, Isobel about Spencer, and Corey about Tim. They were all set right around each other, with little to no overlap in time. Personally, Corey's story was a little dull compared to the rest, but maybe it was just like that to me because they were already in the relationship since the first book, this was more like closure. Melanie's was a FINALLY kind of story, one you knew would happen but loved reading firsthand. And Isobel's was my absolute favorite because the witty banter, true lifestyle, and cute dramatic romance was absolutely the best.
I've been in a contemporary drought lately, but this really loosened up my mood. It's quite an underrated series because to me, though some parts are not that great, the laughter it brings is infectious and amazing. Honestly, it was amazing and definitely should be read by all (after reading the other books first).
Marni Bates, I really hope you release more books with witty banter and cute relationships :)
May 29, 2014
I requested this book from Netgalley to give an honest review knowing that I enjoyed the first story in the series but forgetting that I hadn't read the two others in between. So I raced around to read the two that I had missed. Book 2 in the series came in and I really didn't care for it. Book 3 still hasn't come in from interlibrary loan so I decided to skip it and go directly to this title. I felt I missed a bit of the back story but on the whole I liked these main characters, Corey and Isobel, better than the ones in the 2nd but the biggest thing that knocked a 3 star book down to 2 for me was that I had difficulty figuring out 1st person narration character changes. I really hope for other readers that because of the messy ARC formatting that I just missed something in the chapter transitions. I tried to skip back to see if I simply missed something, but I couldn't find anything. Isobel's story also just stopped leaving me to wonder if it will be continued in book 5. Good story, not a complete stand alone and I hope the publisher fixes the formatting before the ebook goes on sale.
ARC courtesy of publisher and netgalley.
ARC courtesy of publisher and netgalley.
September 21, 2014
Verdict: Middle of the road....3 stars
The book is broken up into 3 separate stories. A short one, a longer one, and another short one. Each story deals with one POV of one particular character.
This felt disjointed, when I read. The 2 short parts were too short and felt glossed over.
This is part 4 of the series and while it can be read as a stand alone, it helps to know the characters and backstory.
Each story end with a happy ending, maybe a little too predictable and pat.
There are maybe too many stereotypes in this book: geek and athlete, older girl and younger boy, and lets not forget a token gay relationship. This last one was handled really well, and I give the author props for going there. But I would have preferred that story to be longer and better developed. It was the last story in the book and seemed to be an afterthought.
What I liked was the middle story, the one where the athlete IT boy falls for the geek girl. The writing was good, this was the longest story and thus had a chance to develop.
The book is broken up into 3 separate stories. A short one, a longer one, and another short one. Each story deals with one POV of one particular character.
This felt disjointed, when I read. The 2 short parts were too short and felt glossed over.
This is part 4 of the series and while it can be read as a stand alone, it helps to know the characters and backstory.
Each story end with a happy ending, maybe a little too predictable and pat.
There are maybe too many stereotypes in this book: geek and athlete, older girl and younger boy, and lets not forget a token gay relationship. This last one was handled really well, and I give the author props for going there. But I would have preferred that story to be longer and better developed. It was the last story in the book and seemed to be an afterthought.
What I liked was the middle story, the one where the athlete IT boy falls for the geek girl. The writing was good, this was the longest story and thus had a chance to develop.
August 16, 2014
This was a cute end to the Awkward series. I was happy and disappointed because Marni Bates introduces these lovable characters and puts them in the spotlight and I'm thinking THIS IS ALL?!! I liked Melanie and I really wanted to see how relationship with Dylan would pan out, and the aspect of bringing Dylan and Mackenize's father back in to the picture with no resolution? Isobel and Spencer really pissed me off! I found the the most adorable and I wanted to read more about their love story, and I wanted to see what happened at prom? Corey and Tim, I was satisfied because it was a conclusion to a story we have read about in all the books before. The 3 stars is not because I didn't enjoy reading, is more that I felt unfinished and a huge gap that might never bee filled. Feeling furious!
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