The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet

Ellie Sweet #2

by Stephanie Morrill

For once, Ellie Sweet has it all together. Her hair now curls instead of fuzzes, she’s tamed the former bad-boy, Chase Cervantes (she has, right?), and her debut novel will hit shelves in less than a year. Even her ex-friends are leaving her alone. Well, except for Palmer Davis, but it can’t be helped that he works at her grandmother’s nursing home.

Life should feel perfect. And yet, it’s not that easy. Ellie’s editor loves her, but the rest of the publishing biz? Not so much. And they’re not shy about sharing their distrust over Ellie’s unlikely debut.

Ellie has always been able to escape reality in the pages of her novel, but with the stress of major edits and rocky relationships, her words dry up. In fiction, everything always comes together, but in real life, it seems to Ellie that hard work isn’t always enough, the people you love can’t always be trusted, and the dream-come-true of publishing her book could be the biggest mistake she’s made yet.
________

Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Inspirational

346 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 2013

About the author

Stephanie Morrill writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world. She is the author of several contemporary young adult series, as well as two historical young adult novels, The Lost Girl of Astor Street and Within These Lines. Within These Lines was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, as well as a YALSA 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Since 2010, Stephanie has been encouraging the next generation of writers at her website, GoTeenWriters.com, which has been on the Writer’s Digest Best Websites for Writers list since 2017. She lives in the Kansas City area, where she loves plotting big and small adventures to enjoy with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Allyson]

As both a writer and lover of contemporary YA romance, I highly enjoy this series and recommend it to writers of all ages.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So...

Mrs. Morrill, if you see this, sorry it's taken me so long to write this review! I've had it on my to-do list whiteboard thing for months!

--Anyway, now that we've got that horrified apology out of the way...

THIS BOOK WAS AWESOME.

I liked the first Ellie book pretty well, with the exception of a few things that bothered me some. If you want to know, just...go read my review of the first book.

So when I first read this sequel, I summed it up something like this: Mrs. Morrill basically took everything that happened in book one and flipped it around 180 degrees in book two. And it was the best thing ever.

So Ellie's book has been accepted and now she's got edits to deal with. Bronte isn't so friendly anymore. In fact, she's really a bit of a stinker as we find out. Chase and Ellie seem to be teetering along here. One minute things are okay, the next...not so great. Ellie's grandmother breaks her hip, so Ellie's spending a lot of time handing around in her room in the rehab center during the summer. Her aunt Karen has some...things going on. And Ellie's relationships with Palmer, Harper, Lucy, and other friends are just plain confusing.

Poor girl! There was never a moment of rest for her, but in a true-to-life kinda way. Not all action-adventurey. It felt real. And can I just say I love her sarcastic remarks? I'll have to find one of those later. If I remember. We'll see. But just know that they'll have you laughing or at least grinning.

Now let's get a little specific. First, the characters. I love them! Well, most of them. Not so much Bianca and Marie and Bronte. Or Chase towards the middle/end there. Palmer...well...can't say much there, but let's just say I feel like he deepened a lot in this book. And Ellie's aunt Karen has a few rare moments of vulnerability here. As for Ellie herself...by the end of the book, I was literally in tears because I could see myself so much and because forgiveness is hard, and asking for forgiveness is hard, and she managed both. Beautifully.

Another thing I need to mention is the sort of theme in here about the reality of the publishing industry. It really struck me, really made me think and some of it I don't think I'll ever forget. The importance of staying humble, staying loving towards people is huge no matter what your job is.

Big thank you to Mrs. Morrill for this amazing sequel! I love it to death and I keep reading it over and over. :) Yay Ellie!

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can always tell I'm reading a Stephanie Morrill book from the first page. Her voice perfectly captures the life and feelings of teenagers in such a unique way that makes her stories stand out. Morrill's books have yet to disappoint me, and The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet was no exception!

It was great to reunite with the main character, Ellie Sweet. She's kind, smart, and courageous with all the qualities of a perfect friend, yet she's still flawed and realistic. I adore her witty and humorous personality, and I constantly marked down quotes from Ellie that I loved...and you know a book is good if it's quotable. ;) I could relate to Ellie so well, and found myself laughing and crying alongside her throughout the book.

Both Palmer and Chase won my heart again, and I went back and forth between rooting for each of them. Stephanie Morrill does a wonderful job of making each character memorable, even those with the smallest of roles. Ellie's family is so encouraging and I loved how Ellie had older writer friends to help inspire her.

As a teen writer myself, I enjoyed reading about Ellie's writing life. In this book, she's busy preparing for her novel to debut. I could relate to many of the scenes where she has writer's block or feels stressed out from the looming workload. It was very exciting to see where her life would lead after her novel made it onto store bookshelves.

The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet is a clean and enjoyable read, and I can hardly wait for the next book in the series. I highly recommend the Ellie Sweet books to all teen girls! Readers of YA contemporary books will not want to miss this series.

Many thanks to the author for providing an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well... I enjoyed the first book of this series, but the second one didn't live up. While the first book was nothing new or fresh, it was a cute, clean romance that I could enjoy and root for the characters to get their happy ending.

The main problem I had with this book was that it took a romance I had high hopes for, that had been building up for about 1.5 books, and trashed it in the last 30% of so of the novel. Ellie and Chase break up because Chase has apparently been lying to her about their relationship and his desire to change for the better the whole time, and Ellie then ends with Parmer(who she previously dated for a short time in the previous novel, and he tried to keep their relationship a secret with made things quite tense and uncomfortable for them both).

Normally, I don't even read romance(because of these sorts of things happening), but I stumbled across this series because of the interesting premise of being from the perspective of a teen writer, so I decided to give it a shot. And immediately, I had singled out which characters I liked(and didn't). Chase isn't perfect, but he does seem like he's trying to make a genuine attempt to change for the better for near 1.5 books, and go beyond just the cards he's been dealt. I enjoy that sort of a drive in a character, and when it's motivated also because of romance... well, I'm a big softy at heart. Parmer, on the other hand, was far too cocky and flirtatious to really be a character I enjoyed reading about from the start. He seemed more like just all the good parts of a crush slapped together for Ellie to blush about, without much personality or motivations. When he and Ellie dated for a short while in the first book, it quickly turned toxic because of his pride.

Unfortunately, I couldn't enjoy this book, because it simply didn't come off as realistic or believable for me. I would have been fine with the turn of events that happened in the last 30% or so of the book if there had been hints or foreshadowing towards this outcome - but it completely blindsided me, and not in the good way. While perhaps it could be argued that it's supposed to do exactly that, I don't think that was the author's intention. So what it felt like was rather the author throwing away one romance with a quick excuse for another romance they and/or the readers of the first book wanted to see more of. In short - Ellie ends up with Parmer because Chase admits he was lying about wanting to change and actually doesn't want to work that hard for their relationship, after we went through nearly two whole books of Chase trying to do nothing but work to change for Ellie and their relationship. While it might be a believable ending in real life, the way it happened in this book just wasn't satisfying or believable. Chase's character seemed to flip on it's head for me, and while Parmer gained a little more depth than he had in the first novel through some parental problems, he still seemed like a bland, boring character that was just supposed to be the epitome of a crush.

I'm sad that I can't like this book. I enjoyed the first one as a fun, clean romance read with ship-able main characters, but I just can't enjoy this book.

To add - Christianity was a near non-existent topic in this book. While in the first book church and youth groups were mentioned and/or attended by characters, in this book it's more of a fleeting glance. I would have expected a book that is supposed to be a "clean, Christian YA romance" to have more Christian elements in it.

[Anna Schaeffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie has changed a lot since her debut in The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet. Her writing life is no longer a secret (her novel is about to be published!), she's more confident in herself, and she's learned some valuable lessons. But along with all of the good things, Ellie also finds herself struggling to meet the demands of her editor, figure out the whole guy situation (which she thought she had under control), and learn to love her own, unique life story.

One of the hallmarks of a Stephanie Morrill novel is the authentic teenage voice. She gets it. Whether it's parent problems, friend problems, or the myriad other problems that come with being a teen, the voice always rings true. This draws readers into the story world and, if you are or ever have been a teenager (I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and assume you've at least been thirteen), you'll find yourself nodding and exclaiming, "I so get that!" while you read.

Another strength of the story is the story itself. There are no easy answers for Ellie - Just when she thinks she's got something figured out, she's proven otherwise. As a writer, I can totally relate to the insecurities, doubts, and questions that come with this dream, but as a human being who was a teenager until pretty recently, I can empathize with some of her other struggles.

Over all, it's a fun story. While reading it, I often found myself laughing out loud or smiling to myself. It's more than that, though. There are several serious circumstances the characters find themselves faced with, and they're heartbreaking. In fact, my two favorite scenes in the story each deal with one of the two guys (Chase and Palmer). For the sake of preventing spoilers, I can't say what they are. But I can say this: Wow. No matter how complicated those characters can be, I can't help but feel for them. And if an author is able to make you care about even the most flawed characters, the story is a success in my book (no pun intended).

Even if you're not a writer, you can still love this story. Ellie is a Christian, but that's not the focus of the story. I actually wanted to see Ellie learn to surrender situations to God more, rather than constantly try to handle things on her on. And yet, she's authentic. She's learning and journey is relatable. I can't help but believe she's got great things ahead of her. So saying, the book definitely doesn't preach. What it does do, though, is offer a clean read for teens. That's really refreshing. Because the book addresses some of the real-life issues highschoolers face, I recommend it for older teens.

I don't know if Ellie's story is finished, but I hope not! I'm already looking forward to Stephanie Morrill's next book.

Special thanks to the author for providing an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Cate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ellie Sweet! I can relate to her so much. A need-to-read for any female teen writer.

[Heather Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Idea:
I absolutely love the idea of this novel. It is the sequel to the first Ellie Sweet novel by Stephanie Morrill, and it definitely did not disappoint.
Ellie has a boyfriend, Chase, and her debut novel is about to come out. Her life is perfect, right?
But things keep going wrong. After she goes through a series of stressful events, she experiences a bout of writer's block and worries if she is doing the right thing by publishing her book.
The Characters:
The characters are extraordinary. I completely, one hundred-percent can identify with Ellie. We were both published at the same age, and she honestly acts just like me. I could understand everything she was going through.
Chase is the "reformed" bad-boy, who is struggling with issues of his own. He finally got the girl he had been wanting for years, and yet their relationship struggles.
Palmer is still as dashing as ever, and is working in a nursing home over the summer--the same one that Ellie's grandma is in. He has stopped chasing every girl he sees, and has changed a lot as a person as he goes through some family struggles. I admired Palmer in this book.
The Plot:
The plot was excellent. I could not put the down, and got it finished in a very short amount of time. I loved every twist and turn.
It seemed very much like real life.
The Setting:
The setting was great for the story. I enjoyed how the struggles of life in high school applied to Ellie and doubled the issues she faced.
Overall:
Overall, I really enjoyed the second Ellie Sweet novel!
I'm not sure if there is a third book planned to round it out into a trilogy, but I really hope there is. I loved the characters to death. I definitely recommend this book!

[Cookielover · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm filled with the sensation you get when you finish a great book. When you've fallen in love with the characters and the adventure and the beauty of it all. When you dread flipping that last page and reading the final words. When you're forced to leave the story, and you wish it had all been real." --Ellie Sweet

Another amazing book by Stephanie Morrill. I fell in love with the characters all over again, and I liked how I finished it thinking differently of everyone I had met before. There wasn't anything I didn't like about the book. and you know how you're avoiding the school books and pick up a good book to read your favorite scene then you find yourself just starting all over and reading the whole thing again? Stephanie writes books like that.

it was crazy how I didn't like Palmer much in the book before and preferred Chase and now it's reverse. I usually stick to my opinions toward book people so it was cool how I finished the book thinking differently of a lot of things. anyway, it's a great read and you won't be able to put it down.

[Roseanna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored the first book, but the sequel somehow managed to be even better. The wit was wittier, the sass was sassier...and the truths were truer. Morrill took what I loved about The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet, flopped it on its side, and made me realize there was MORE. That takes real talent.

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than the first one and the first one was great.

[Jade · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved Stephanie Morrill's books before and this series is no different. While a little predictable, I felt that it beautifully represented the anxious feelings that writers feel and did a good job of balancing the good and bad qualities of each character. There were times when I felt like there was too much going on and felt like it was hard to keep up with the plot, but I enjoyed seeing all of the character dynamics as the story unfolded. However, the romance left me feeling quite unsatisfied, the entirely of both relationships feeling messy. I understand that relationships are typically quite messy, but the developments that occurred seemed forced with unnecessary drama. It also felt like there were a lot of loose ends, unresolved miscommunications, and other things that didn't quite make sense to me. While it can be argued that this is for a touch of realism as many relationships in our world don't end with a pretty bow, this book makes itself out to be that type of book, and so the realism feels out of place with the YA love story it finds itself in.

Next, I didn't quite feel that the writer understood how many teenagers act and feel, often falling into the cliche of having the main character "not be like other girls" and often almost blindly following the order of her parents. While the first book felt almost like a bash against "other girls", Ellie's relationships with the other females in the book definitely developed more throughout this book which I enjoyed.

The last major thing that left a big question mark in my mind is the approach to Christianity throughout the story which may be a more personal critique. While Christianity is undoubtedly a big part of many of the character's lives, the message that being a Christian means following a set of rules and that you should either strive to fix people or let them go is what I got from this book which I don't agree with. I believe that being a Christian is about your own relationship with God, not about how many times you avoid swearing or choose to go to church, and this book was oddly lacking in that department despite being quite centred around this concept. It felt more like a book about what it meant to be the "perfect Christian" than anything else, and this narrative carried over into how Ellie treated Chase. What I loved about the first book was Ellie choosing to look beyond the reputation Chase had garnered and loving him anyway, which is what God calls us to do. However, in this book, it felt like the excuse of miscommunication and coming from two different backgrounds was used to force their separation.

However, despite these gripes, reading this series gave me a beautiful insight into what it truly took to be in the writing world, and having it told through the perspective who is so blindly honest and committed despite how awkward it may be was refreshing.

[Keturah Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the first book right at two years ago - and loved it! Here was a romance book I could love (no pun intended). A young christian girl (around my age at the time) struggling to figure out her place in life as a writer while still maintaining a social life and such. And of course, boy(s) appearing on the scene didn't help much ;)

Book two was JUST as good. Man, I loved it sooooo much. I bought it months ago (but just got to reading it). Anyways. Wow. I love how much I relate to Ellie. We both love people and feel hurt way too deeply. We both have strange methods of revenge. We both have complicated, interesting lives. And then there's the whole writing part of life...

I really loved Palmer in this book. He grew up a lot. Of course, being from the south, I have a special place for people like him in my heart. Oh, and I love how he calls Ellie "sweetheart".

And Ellie's boyfriend, Chase. To be honest my thoughts about him changed so much. I loved the guy. He had so much potential. He was great - yet he chose to be a jerk. He made no sense...yet he didn't care to make sense.

I love Ellie's aunt Karen - she really is so happy and fun. And I'm so happy for her little story that unfolds :p

And I'm so glad that things were addressed with Ellie's bitterness and revenge, and that she made choices. Good choices. And acted on those choices.

The book just felt so realistic - and relate-able. And it gives me hope for my own writing/ social life. Which can be rocky, as not all people are essentially selfless, as I used to think ;p

I think even those who don't really care for romance will love this book. I mean the kissing can get a little overbearing...but it's so easy to connect to feel with Ellie! So, it's worth it ;)

[allison riera :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

again, super cute and fluffy. I loved the writing aspect, just like the first. although I feel like Ellie's journey to publishing is very easy....but it's a book ;).

like the first book, not too keen on the romance angle. I'm not a fan of romance in young adult books, partially because everyone's so young. Ellie's sixteen in this book (she turns seventeen in the middle). idk. just my opinion. ;)

also, I wish that Ellie's faith would be emphasized more. I love how authentic Stephanie Morrill's writing is--I relate so much to Ellie. but, I wish that there was more of an emphasis on faith, etc. ;) also, while I'm pretty sure Chase is not a Christian, I'm unsure about Palmer??

all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this <3<3. and I really hope that there is more to Ellie Sweet's story. ;)

[Diana Day-Admire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite loved this one more

Loved the first o. But the second one even topped it.... I found Stephanie from the tee writing site go teen writers I am far from the teen stage, but will never grow up.
Reading about a writer is one of my favorite themes.
I remember those years with tears and fears. Ms Morrill did a fantastic job of capturing those times.. I find myself wanting the series to continue, could Ellie have a third one in the works?

Write On,
Diana

[Natalie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this whole book in about a day. It's very well written and the characters are very flawed and real! I enjoyed reading this book but I will say that the relationship the main character was in wore on me and I actually like the character better before her character arch. That said, I was very satisfied with the way the story wrapped up and I really related to the main character's journey as a writer. I also loved how Palmer grew throughout these books.

[Diana Day-Admire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will there be a third in this series?

[Kate Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was perfect in every way! The plot was realistic and well-balanced when it came to showing both Ellie's writing life and her social life, I could easily relate to Ellie as a teen writer, and I found myself highlighting entire chapters in my Kindle because they were just so. Good.

Let start with the plot.

Like I said before, the plot was realistic and well-balanced. Ellie's writing journey wasn't a perfect, lollipop-lined, road of success. She had ups and downs just like any writer, and that's what made her so human. The plot twists were perfect in the sense that they alluded to them, but you didn't really see it happening until it happened. You really saw through Ellie's eyes, felt what Ellie felt, hoped for what Ellie hoped for.

Which brings us to characters.

I loved Ellie. She could be me in four years, except I probably won't have won the Great Debut Contest (and not only because it's fictional). I was able to relate to her as a fellow teen writer trying to make it in the world, but even if you aren't a writer, she definitely goes through normal teenage girl things. (Breakups, fussy relatives, friendships that don't always work out, etc.)

I loved Ellie so much, that I felt everything as she felt it, figured everything out as she figured it out. I saw through her eyes, and I thought that was awesome. When Ellie was swooning over Chase, I thought he was the greatest guy ever. When he frustrated her, I was frustrated. When he broke up with her, I was sad on her behalf (although I did recover more quickly than she did). The only thing I disagreed with her about was Palmer. Well, Palmer during her relationship with Chase. I thought Chase was too protective of Ellie. Palmer was right. When Ellie was dating him, being friends with Chase was a given, but when Ellie was dating Chase, Palmer was excluded. I didn't think that was cool at all.

I cheered when Palmer showed up on Ellie's doorstep with her book and they talked about "Rafe" (*cough* Palmer *cough*) and they finally kissed. Like in all the good romance novels, the heroine does end up with her best friend.

I even loved the "smaller" characters, like Tori and Betsy Ann. Jayna, the teenage girl who shows up to Ellie's signing and has been stalking her online for ages now, could've been me.

But the small things I loved in this book really made everything count. I loved . . .

Ellie blog, "Sweet Scribbles"
The way she and Palmer finally got together, through her writing.
Bianca and Marie showing up to her signing to forgive her.
The way Palmer asked Ellie to the dance.
The ending line (so perfect).
The way Chase called her Ellie Jane.
The plot twist with Bronte and the Barefaced Book Reviews (SO SO SO PERFECT!!!!).
The way Palmer called her Gabrielle.
When Stephanie Morrill mentioned "Gilmore Girls" . . . twice!!!
Karen's support towards Ellie.
The snippets of Invisibly Yours.
All of the behind-the-scenes shown about the publishing industry.
Palmer, Palmer, Palmer.
And everything. :)

Ellie 'til the end,
The Magic Violinist :)

[Jessica Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly this book I’m reviewing is a sequel, I did a review of the first book (the revised life of Ellie Sweet) a while ago and just adored it and I have no idea what took me so long to read the next book. This series follows a girl named Gabrielle Sweet who is a teen writer, in the first book she over comes so much turmoil and I won’t go into the plot of this book too much in this review because spoilers might occur. So this book is called the unlikely debut of Ellie Sweet and once again Ellie Sweet is the perfect point of view character with her self-deprecating thoughts never seeming annoying but just a natural realistic part of her character, sometimes I forget she’s not exactly a real person but just a fictional character. While a lot of the novel is focused on her romances in the little love triangle that established itself in the first book that wasn’t the thing I loved the most personally. The romances both were highly fleshed out and never felt forced but what kept me reading was Stephanie Morril’s honest portrayal of being a teen writer and not really knowing what you’re doing. I started writing novels when I was thirteen and Ellie’s Character seems absolutely spot on for me. I’m with her every step of the way rooting for her ideals and her story to make a big impression on its readers. Chase and Palmer both make excellent love interests with their differences blinding you and probably keeping readers spilt between the two (I personally was with a different boy at different parts of the book). I loved her struggles with her friends and balancing school and writing and it all had me on board with her the whole way through. Stephanie creates a believable scenario for Ellie taking her on her journey to publication filled with heartbreak, writers block, frenemies and boy troubles and all the while making the reader feel like we’re right there comforting Ellie when she’s down and out. The side character’s stories also helped the story in easily feeling like a real life scenario as Ellie handled her aunt’s romances and her parent’s approval of her boyfriend along with her brother’s dating life. By the end of the book I felt like hugging Ellie because of how proud I was of how well she’s done in this book (yes I’m forgetting again that she’s fictional).
A solid five out of five stars!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet, I had high hopes for its sequel, The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet.

The relationships in this book were really fun to read, from Ellie's friendship with her aunt, to the characters her grandparents are, and of course the complications with Chase and Palmer. I was kept entertained throughout and I was anxious to see how her life would turn out at the end of the story.

This book was more than an entertaining read, however. Ellie's journey is what resonated most with me; her trials as she works to make her debut, the friendships she forms, and some that are broken. Every part of this book is authentic and honest. As an aspiring novelist, I could definitely identify with Ellie's feelings in this book, and I balked at first at some of the lessons she learned, because they hit close to home. Ellie's journey gave me hope in my own writing. As nearly any novelist you might ask will tell you, the road from writing a book to publishing is long and hard and not that many make it. Reading about Ellie's debut, fictional though it is, bolstered my resolve and gave me the hope that I sometimes lose sight of.

Just like its predecessor, The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet has found its own little nook on my bookshelf. This was a very entertaining and fun read (especially since Ellie and I have so much in common) but, like I already said, what I loved most was the hope that Morrill infused into the story. Hope for relationships as well as hope for what some days seems impossible.

[Barbara Hartzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you have those books that you just love and know you'll read again, forever? Well I do, and Stephanie Morrill's Ellie Sweet sequel is going on my Read Again shelf with all the other awesome books that spoke to me on a spiritual level.

Just because success has come to Ellie Sweet, doesn't mean her life is any easier. She's still flawed and relatable, and the haters are piling up against her in both her school and writing life. This time she's learning to be humble enough to admit her mistakes, even overcome them. It just makes her feel that much more genuine, like she'd be one of my friends.

This book is so real in its coming-of-age glory that it's hard not to picture yourself as Ellie Sweet on some level. Even in her writing success there are pitfalls, some people love her book and some people can't handle that she's getting published as a teenager. Life gets even more complicated when her relationships turn rocky. This is where the author really shines.

Boys and friends are still tricky subjects for Ellie, but not everything is wrapped up in a nice little bow. The messy parts of teenage life are left messy, giving a whole new meaning to our own personal struggles. Life is hard--but it still moves forward and there's still joy in it.

Bottom line: The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet is just that, an unlikely portrait of coming-of-age teenage life, mixed with genuine perspectives on building a dream career, dealing with family, and fixing rough relationships.

A great, fun read that makes you think. I seriously can't wait to see what Stephanie writes next! :)

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The exciting, long anticipated, sequel to The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet is out!

Technically, it came out a few months ago, but I didn't get a chance to read it until recently. Anyway, I don't exaggerate when I say I couldn't put my ereader down. Okay, so I did. But only because I was dragged from the house to go somewhere. Once I came home it was me, the ereader, and the recliner for the next couple hours.

I am amazed, yet again, at the strength of Ellie's voice. She's sounds so real. She sticks out. Ellie is a character I'd love to spend a day with. Something else I adore about her, is her stubbornness. She doesn't like giving up. I wish I could elaborate on this, but that would spoil the fun. ;-)

After the first book released, there was some debate about Ellie's suitors. I think many people may find themselves surprised when they read The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet, in a good way, of course. I know I was. I enjoyed this book so much more than I could have imagined, and it certainly is a new favorite. This is probably Mrs. Morrill's best yet!

I'll draw the review to a close now, because I think if I went on I might spoil something. Hehehe... Fans new and old will love, love, love, this new Ellie Sweet story. I recommend to ages fourteen and up.

I purchased an ebook copy of this book, no review required.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so sad this wasn't like the first book! *Major spoilers/rant!* Why did Ellie end up with Palmer?! It was amazing what happened! The first book ended with sweet but rebellious Chase getting Ellie and hott and playboy Palmer longing for her.
In this one their whole personalities changed! Palmer became more withdrawn and sad because of his parent's divorce and became a total sweetheart to Ellie.
Chase decided Ellie wasn't worth it anymore and grew into a big brat and dumped her. It frusturated me so much!
It was still a good book, I'm just sad that the love interests changed so drastically! Even though Palmer was definitely the best choice in the end, it made me sad that Chase was tossed aside. I really liked him and I'm sad the character decided to be like his friends, instead of the man Ellie knew he could be. And Chase really could have been a great husband and father. He had immense potential, it seemed, and yet he tossed it all aside! I would have liked it better if Ellie had truly changed him and he did it for her and himself. That would have been the better romance, in my opinion.
But, still another fun novel and I'm glad Ellie and Palmer are together now. They are super cute, and they are good for each other.

[Julia Nashif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another amazing novel from Stephanie Morrill! I love it.

Her relationship with Chase is brilliantly written. They both work really hard for it. I also like how it ended, and Chase showed that what he had been to her was an act.

Her relationship with Bronte is well written also. Bronte was so kind before, but it turns out she's a jerk. She posted a glowing review on her own book, and trash everyone else's. Doesn't she realize how this hurts other authors? Oh, Bronte...you sure were interesting.

The plot? ...Uh, where was it? The book is about boy troubles and writing troubles. Ellie doesn't really overcome anything. She says she gets over her bitterness to Bianca, Marie, and Lucia, but she had never seemed bitter to begin with.

Just as Abbie Ross suggests to Ellie that her main character in her novel should have a friend, I think Ellie should have as well. At the end it hints at one, but I wish it could have come in earlier.

But Ellie's book, Invisibly Yours sounds fantastic. I want to read it! I would totally buy it.

Would I buy a third book about Ellie Sweet? You bet I would! I hope one will come. :)

[Sofia Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Her debut novel close to being published and a great guy unmistakably liking her, Ellie Sweet should be happy. Doesn't she have it all? But strained friendships, a complex relationship with her boyfriend, and the stresses of editing grip Ellie with uncertainty and fear. Will anyone like her book? Will she ever regain lost friendships? And will Chase follow through with his hints at forever?

"The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet" is an amazingly captivating story with writing that will make you hunger for more. However, I miss Ellie's sarcasm from the first book. I am also disappointed about how the book lacks spiritual nourishment. It mentions church and prayer only a couple times throughout the story and not as something essentially real and moving. Ellie learns about humility, relationships, and forgiveness in this hard-to-put-down novel.

This is the sequel to "The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet." Another book of Stephanie Morrill's is her novella "Throwing Stones," which is free on her website. She also has a captivating trilogy: "Me, Just Different;" "Out with the In Crowd;" and "So Over It."

[Kasey Giard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The day Ellie has been longing for is fast approaching: she is about to become a published author! But first, she has to wade through lengthy editor's notes, juggle school assignments, maintain a healthy relationship with her boyfriend Chase (who promised to be good), and comfort her grouchy post-surgery grandmother. It's a full plate for any girl. Complicating matters further, Ellie's ex suddenly wants to be friends. She's okay with this, but convincing Chase to relax isn't going to be easy.

This is yet another witty, charming, funny and yet deeply heart-wrenching story. Readers who thought they couldn't fall more in love with Ellie than they did in book one are about to be surprised. I read this novel in one sitting because I couldn't peel myself away. Her journey through love, loss and forgiveness is spell-binding and wonderful. Morrill is a fantastic storyteller, bringing humor and wit together with emotional depth and growth.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's just something about this series that really works for me - and I think it's Ellie Sweet. The continuation of the main plot (teenage girl writes a book, signs with a publisher, and has to work out the details) is a decent background - but what really steals the show here is the main character and how we follow her life. I'm very impressed with how most of the plot lines speak directly to some very real-life situations that teens can (and do) face. And frankly, there's a lot in here that adults can appreciate as well. There's confusion, disappointment, betrayal, and stress - complemented by growth and a fairly realistic amount of redemption.

There's a subplot or two that stick out a little - but the book doesn't suffer much for it. Ellie Sweet is a read that reminds you that life is not and will not be perfect - but that we can become perfected through it. I enjoyed this read immensely.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evaluation
Every author faces writer’s block, especially me. I might not have any of the rocky relationships that Ellie has, but I can relate to her in that respect. And the imposter’s syndrome. Like book one, The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet, this book was well written. I was disappointed with how things turned out with Chase. Don’t get me wrong though! I’d never wish for (POSSIBLE SPOILER) Ellie to stay in that relationship. I just wish there had been a better arch for him. But other than that, I really enjoyed it!

Conclusion
So in conclusion, I enjoyed it. It’s funny, sad and “sweet”. So I’m giving it a 4.5/5. If you like the bad-boy-and-goody-two-shoes trope, love triangles, coming of age stories, teen writing characters, or The Wedding Planner, then I recommend this novel to you. Enjoy!

You can read my full review here on my blog: https://www.hannah-beth.com/blog/the-...

[Arlette · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet is the second book about Ellie Sweet, and I think I liked this one even a bit more than I did with the first one.
I love writing myself and all these tips and (fictional) experiences are therefore such a fun thing to read for me. Some things I can slightly relate to, sometimes I wish I could relate to it at some point if I would ever publih something myself. Also recognising some names of the GTW group is a fun addition too. Love that Stephanie Morrill add in those names (it was by competition or something I believe) of readers.

I enjoyed reading more about Ellie's life and see how everything progressed from last time. I saw some things coming for a while, but it didn't really bother me as much. The ending of the book was very satisfying.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I loved Chase from the first book. Palmer, the guy Ellie originally liked is nice but a tad boring in book 1. However, not everything works out like it does in a book. (Pun intended)

As Ellie and Chase figure out how to balance their two very different backgrounds and outlooks, Ellie is also dealing with her debut novel releasing and its effect on her relationships.


I loved seeing Ellie grow in this book. My heart hurt for her, but I found the ending satisfying as she's learning to balance fiction and reality.


I think the author did a great job with the relationship between Chase and Ellie--very authentic.

[Rebekah Gyger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book answered questions left from the first book, The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet. Does Ellie get away with the things she wrote about her classmates? Does she end up with Chase?

Just as with the first, I was drawn into Ellie's story and her dramatic high school career. I just was not able to connect with her as much as in the first. I am not published, nor have I dealt with much of the same things as she did in this novel.

Yet I still enjoyed reading it. If there happens to be a third, I will be sure to read it and get lost in another Ellie Sweet adventure.

If you wish to know what other books I back, go to my blog at http://backingbooks.blogspot.com/