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Paper or Plastic
Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage... Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn't know what's worse―disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only things stranger than the staff are the customers . Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a "Code B" really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute―and adorably geeky―Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her pitching position on the softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst job in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2015
19 people are currently reading
1964 people want to read
About the author
Vivi Barnes
7 books208 followersVivi Barnes was raised on a farm in East Texas where her theater-loving mom and cowboy dad gave her a unique perspective on life. Now living in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, Florida, she divides her time writing, working, goofing off with her husband and three kids, and avoiding dirty dishes.
Find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/ViviBarnes
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Find her on twitter: https://twitter.com/ViviBarnes
Find her on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/vivibarnes.au...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
unfinished
February 3, 2021I suppose it's time to admit that I'm not going to finish this book. I stalled out in the middle and can't bring myself to delve back in. No rating because at least part of the problem is that I've lost all the details or even what I was thinking when I put it down.
April 29, 2015
I received a copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
So, rich girl steals some lipstick and has to work at the place she stole it from for the summer. YA Contemporary isn't something that is brand new or comes up with new, revolutionary storylines, but it does push what you thought you knew about the genre. Our MC, Lexie, is rather self-aware when it comes to her trials and tribulations in life regarding her grandma's Alzheimer's disease, her mom's over-controlling pageant mom-ness, and the fact that she's not being totally honest to her friends that she's working with a guy who snitched out her best friend, Bryce, in the 9th grade. She knows she doesn't have it as hard as other people, specifically the people she works with. At SmartMart, there's a whole cast of characters including Ruthie, who seems to have some sort of developmental disability. Ruthie still has a decent amount of depth, though, especially near the end of the book when the tornado whips through the store.
I also very much enjoyed how much family was in this story. And yeah, SmartMart became like family, but also Lexie's family was a very central part of the story. She's close to her grandma, who just moved in with them because of Alzheimer's. She seems to get along pretty well with her parents, even if she doesn't get along with them ALL the time. I do like that she brought up that they didn't support her love and dreams of softball 100%. I know, it's kind of a tough thing, but it also gets into touching on how society thinks women should dress and act. It's not preachy though. Instead it comes by way of her mother telling her that Lexie's wasted her looks and that she shouldn't put her hair in a ponytail. Lexie, of course, rebels by not wearing makeup or wearing her hair down. There's also a children's beauty pageant, but it's not so much about commenting on such pageants as it was more of an excuse to get Lexie and Noah together.
I totally thought there would be some sort of unveiling of an undying crush situation between Lexie and Bryce especially when he finds out that Noah works at SmartMart (and more). There was definitely an argument there, but there it was refreshing not to have a, "I've always had feelings for you person-i-thought-of-as-a-sibling!" Okay, maybe I watch too much Flash and Barry/Iris is getting to me. IT WAS NICE THOUGH. Also, her ultimatum at the end. That was AWESOME. I know I read a lot of MCs saying, "I don't care what my friends think! I like you!" But Lexie really had to battle through it and show it. Not that Noah ever said she had to prove it, but he did say a few times that she would ignore him at school because she's popular and he's a nerd.
I think one of the not-so-great things about this book is that it seemed like it fast tracked her grandma's battle with Alzheimer's disease. I get that it's sort of explained by the walking pneumonia, but ehhhhh. I think it was just to show how she would be effected by it while balancing work and friends, etc. Even though my grandparents didn't have Alzheimer's, it hit home in that my grandpa moved in with us after my grandma passed away. Just that whole grandchild-grandparent bond. TEAR ALERT: I totally cried when they found her grandma after she had wandered off. AHHH. (no one dies in this book, so that's good I guess)
There are some pretty funny moments in the book and it's also a pretty cute book as well with Lexie and Noah. Yeah, they both had stuff they didn't want to talk about, but they really pushed through AND pushed for each other. They weren't trying to save each other from anything, just more supportive. Even when Miller comes up to Lexie when she's working and tries to tell her off and she thinks about how Syd would do the same for her. It's not necessarily "old for her age" but it was refreshing for her to not just throw a fit or something.
TL;DR - super cute book, but it also has really awesome themes and characters. It has diversity by way of showing a couple of characters with disabilities. The support characters give one another is A++ and I liked their relationships whether they be family, friends, or dating. I did want to punch Bryce in the mouth a few times, though. This book also features a beauty pageant and a tornado. I mean, not in the same place, but it was a wiiiild ride. And I'm pretty sure this book is everything I needed right now.
So, rich girl steals some lipstick and has to work at the place she stole it from for the summer. YA Contemporary isn't something that is brand new or comes up with new, revolutionary storylines, but it does push what you thought you knew about the genre. Our MC, Lexie, is rather self-aware when it comes to her trials and tribulations in life regarding her grandma's Alzheimer's disease, her mom's over-controlling pageant mom-ness, and the fact that she's not being totally honest to her friends that she's working with a guy who snitched out her best friend, Bryce, in the 9th grade. She knows she doesn't have it as hard as other people, specifically the people she works with. At SmartMart, there's a whole cast of characters including Ruthie, who seems to have some sort of developmental disability. Ruthie still has a decent amount of depth, though, especially near the end of the book when the tornado whips through the store.
I also very much enjoyed how much family was in this story. And yeah, SmartMart became like family, but also Lexie's family was a very central part of the story. She's close to her grandma, who just moved in with them because of Alzheimer's. She seems to get along pretty well with her parents, even if she doesn't get along with them ALL the time. I do like that she brought up that they didn't support her love and dreams of softball 100%. I know, it's kind of a tough thing, but it also gets into touching on how society thinks women should dress and act. It's not preachy though. Instead it comes by way of her mother telling her that Lexie's wasted her looks and that she shouldn't put her hair in a ponytail. Lexie, of course, rebels by not wearing makeup or wearing her hair down. There's also a children's beauty pageant, but it's not so much about commenting on such pageants as it was more of an excuse to get Lexie and Noah together.
I totally thought there would be some sort of unveiling of an undying crush situation between Lexie and Bryce especially when he finds out that Noah works at SmartMart (and more). There was definitely an argument there, but there it was refreshing not to have a, "I've always had feelings for you person-i-thought-of-as-a-sibling!" Okay, maybe I watch too much Flash and Barry/Iris is getting to me. IT WAS NICE THOUGH. Also, her ultimatum at the end. That was AWESOME. I know I read a lot of MCs saying, "I don't care what my friends think! I like you!" But Lexie really had to battle through it and show it. Not that Noah ever said she had to prove it, but he did say a few times that she would ignore him at school because she's popular and he's a nerd.
I think one of the not-so-great things about this book is that it seemed like it fast tracked her grandma's battle with Alzheimer's disease. I get that it's sort of explained by the walking pneumonia, but ehhhhh. I think it was just to show how she would be effected by it while balancing work and friends, etc. Even though my grandparents didn't have Alzheimer's, it hit home in that my grandpa moved in with us after my grandma passed away. Just that whole grandchild-grandparent bond. TEAR ALERT: I totally cried when they found her grandma after she had wandered off. AHHH. (no one dies in this book, so that's good I guess)
There are some pretty funny moments in the book and it's also a pretty cute book as well with Lexie and Noah. Yeah, they both had stuff they didn't want to talk about, but they really pushed through AND pushed for each other. They weren't trying to save each other from anything, just more supportive. Even when Miller comes up to Lexie when she's working and tries to tell her off and she thinks about how Syd would do the same for her. It's not necessarily "old for her age" but it was refreshing for her to not just throw a fit or something.
TL;DR - super cute book, but it also has really awesome themes and characters. It has diversity by way of showing a couple of characters with disabilities. The support characters give one another is A++ and I liked their relationships whether they be family, friends, or dating. I did want to punch Bryce in the mouth a few times, though. This book also features a beauty pageant and a tornado. I mean, not in the same place, but it was a wiiiild ride. And I'm pretty sure this book is everything I needed right now.
March 22, 2015
[3.5 Stars]
I received this from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.
I received this from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2015
Oh this book! What a delightful little thing Paper or Plastic was! I enjoyed every minute of it and had butterflies in my tummy by the end.
I initially had some serious doubts about Alexis, our protagonist. She was caught shoplifting and in exchange for not reporting the case, the supermarket owner asks her to work for money at his supermarket, SmartMart. From the start, Alexis was quite condescending of the supermarket and the people working at the store. If she had maintained that attitude, it would have annoyed me to no ends. However, Alexis was someone who really grew throughout the book and as she got to know her fellow employees, she blossomed into this entirely different person who was loveable in every way. Sure, she had her typical teenage-girl moment, but Alexis was never an annoying protagonist. Overall, I was certainly impressed by how much she matured and learned from her experiences in Paper or Plastic. Her manager, and love interest, Noah, was also so adorable as well. He was sweet, down-to-earth and very loving. He worked as many jobs as possible to support his mother and his baby sister. You've got to love a boy who is ready to work his butt off to earn money to help his sister's hobby of entering beauty pageants and who does it without every feeling resentful that his money is basically being wasted a way. As you can tell, I was head over heels in love with Noah and his kind heart.
In addition to two lovely main characters, Paper or Plastic also had a quirky secondary cast. I was very invested in the lives of the supermarket employees and their idiosyncrasies. Ruthie, especially, was a fun girl who grew a strong bond with Alexis over the course of the book. But of course, while the characters were all great, it was the sweet romance between Alexis and Noah that really got me flipping through the pages. It was genuine, romantic and just full of heart. Theirs was a romance that grew out of a friendship and I loved watching them get closer together. They did have some obstacles in their way, in the form of a friend who had "suffered" at the hands of Noah (It's not as serious as I'm making it sound), and Alexis' conflict between choosing between her friend or Noah, but I liked how she finally stood up for what she really wanted at the end. What I really liked about Paper or Plastic though was how the author handled some serious themes in the book. Don't let that cutesy cover fool you into thinking that this is just a light and fluffy read. Topics such as Alzheimers', the ugly side of kids' beauty pageants, and abusive parents. Still though, it never got too angsty or sorrowful and managed to maintain that cuteness factor all throughout.
Paper or Plastic was a feel-good kind of read that managed to make me laugh and smile throughout. It's a sweet and heart-felt story and I highly recommend it to readers looking for cute YA contemporaries with a supermarket romance!
June 21, 2015
A fun Summer read paired with serious issues that made the characters more dimensional. Some of the plot seemed repetitive, but overall the story kept me entertained. 3/5 stars.
March 7, 2015
I saw this book on Goodreads not too long ago and thought that the whole premise sounded really great. After reading Nick's review a couple of weeks ago, I decided to jump right in. Paper or Plastic was such cute, sweet, feel-good young adult romance that left me with a smile on my face.
Alexis had her summer break all planned out. She planned on volunteering at a youth softball camp and hanging out with her friends, Syd, Court, and Bryce, at the pool. A lazy summer. All of this fell through when she and her friends got caught trying to steal lipstick from SmartMart. Instead of pressing charges, the store manager offers her a deal — work at SmartMart for the summer in exchange for a clean record. Her mother takes the deal and Alexis is less than thrilled.
On her first day at SmartMart, she meets several of her coworkers — Bessie, an older woman who is in charge of training Lexie, Ruthie, the enthusiastic greeter who has some limitations, and Noah Grayson, her manager and high school classmate. At school, Noah keeps to himself and is considered a geek. An incident involving Noah and Lexie's best friend that occurred two years made Lexie and Noah mortal enemies. Now, she's being forced to work with him. But she soon finds out that he's not as bad as she thought. She actually starts to like her sweet boss.
Meredith, Lexie's mom, is a former runner-up for the Miss Florida and imposes her obsession with pageants on her children. Her younger sister, Aurora, is very involved in pageants and therefore, the apple of Meredith's eye, whereas Lexie is more focused on softball. Lexie and her mom aren't very close since her mom is so involve with Aurora's pageants. I was so frustrated with the way Meredith treated Lexie. She expected her to be a Aurura's pageants, forcing Lexie to call into work. But at the same time she was trying to teach Lexie accountability and responsibility with a job. I found Meredith to be very selfish and shallow, and it made me really hard to like her. The mom/daughter dynamic was one of many problems the characters faced in this book.
Speaking of problems, Noah and Alexis have them. I really liked Noah. He had the world on his shoulders, yet was so kind and thoughtful to everyone. Noah is from a less affluent family. He works two jobs to help support his mother and little sister, who also happens to be involved in pageants. His work ethnic and family man attitude made me love him even more than I already did. In addition to her mother problems, Lexie's grandmother was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and moved in with Lexie's family. Throughout the book, Lexie is struggling with coming to terms that her spunky and sassy grandma is losing her reality.
I really liked the secondary characters in this book, namely all of the people at SmartMart. I also liked that the author had the characters working through real family issues. I liked the progression of Noah and Lexie's relationship. Their friendship and romance was sweet, natural and flowed beautifully. I found myself smiling most of the time reading this one. I did think that the book was a little on the long side and felt like the ending was a little overly dramatic, but I still liked this one!
3 stars
* I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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February 4, 2015
I loved this book! It was so much fun and romance-y and surprising and just enjoyable. I definitely recommend it for those days when you want a quick romance to get you through the cold days. Lex, the main character, was a bit off-putting in the beginning with her entitlement and bratty attitude but changed her ways by the end. And Noah was mysterious and hot and intriguing and sensitive enough for me to look past his overly-used name. There's also a few more serious issues looked at in this book so it isn't 100% fun but they do change the characters and help bring them together. I hope you guys will give this book a chance if you're a fan of YA romances!
*I picked this book up for free from the publisher at ALA Midwinter. It did not affect my rating or opinions of this book.*
*I picked this book up for free from the publisher at ALA Midwinter. It did not affect my rating or opinions of this book.*
March 21, 2015
That was quite the ending. I thought the twist would be different but I'm glad it didn't turn out the way I thought it would. And thought the twist was good it came out of nowhere? And it was a little rushed at times. But overall 4.5 stars. A review will come on my channel sometime soon.
February 8, 2015
Full Review: http://leaninglights.weebly.com/home/...
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This one started really weak for me - I almost DNFd it but got about 50% through and the story picked up. I liked the climax of the story but felt it was unfinished. Still a cute and quick read though!
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This one started really weak for me - I almost DNFd it but got about 50% through and the story picked up. I liked the climax of the story but felt it was unfinished. Still a cute and quick read though!
April 21, 2015
Overall Entertaining read, not the best but not bad either
April 6, 2015
Actual rating:3.5 it was super cute!
February 4, 2015
Paper or Plastic was amazing, adorable and unputdownable! No, seriously, I read it in four hours! And I only put it down once to take care of the dog and do dinner! The characters in this book were all incredible and realistic and they all tugged at my heartstrings. Pair all that with Vivi Barnes' incredible writing and you've got a winner!
I loved Alexis (Lex). She's pretty, fairly rich and popular. She had some moments where she was a bit oblivious and didn't realize how fortunate she was compared to others. But she never seemed stuck up or snobby, though she had a few moments where she acted as though she were above it all. I know that's a bit contradictory, but it's just how she was. She took her mom's criticism in stride (for the most part). Her relationship with her sister seemed very typical of siblings (they were fine one moment, fighting another). I loved the relationship she had with her grandmother, though some of those moments were hard to read. I was really pleased with Lex's character development from beginning to end.
Noah was so swoony and adorable. In the beginning, he was a bit of an ass to Lex and really, really hard on her. For someone who had been horribly misjudged, he was a very judgey person. He definitely had some trust issues going on and he had a hard time opening his heart. I don't blame him for that, considering the things he was dealing with. But it killed me to see him shutdown just when he should have been opening himself up. I don't think he had as much character development as Lex, but he definitely made progress.
I completely, 100% shipped Lex and Noah. They were so funny and adorable together, I found myself chuckling throughout their encounters. I think I might have even blushed a few times. In some ways, they were complete opposites, yet they complemented each other perfectly. Even when they fought, I still rooted for them.
Court and Syd were... interesting, to say the least. Court was the slightly bitchy friend and Syd was like the peace-keeper. I definitely liked Syd better, but Court had her moments where she pulled through for Lex. Bryce was a fun character, though his ability to hold a grudge kind of knocked him down a few pegs, in my opinion. He was so mean and bitter and, considering he and Lex were supposed to be such amazing friends, he wasn't very nice or fair to her.
I loved Bessie! She was such a kind person, yet pretty sassy, considering Lex saw her as a grandmother-type figure. I was scared to death for her at the end, though! Ruthie was an annoying character in the beginning. But the more I got to know her and her story, the more I sympathized with her and felt bad for the hand she was dealt.
I couldn't stand Lex's mom in the beginning. Just six pages in and I was ready to slap her. She was so dismissive of Lex and her dreams and aspirations. But she sort of made up for her behavior by the end of the book. Lex's sister definitely had her brat moments, too. And don't even get me started on Roxanne... Wow. I wanted to punch her face in on more than one occasion!
And Lex's grandmother... I can't. I LOVED her grandmother, but those parts were the hardest for me to read. I teared up a few times. I can't say much more without spoilers, but I will say I feared for her fate and it was just really tough to read the parts with her.
The ending was... insane and epic and so, so intense. Seriously, my heart was in my throat the whole time. The ending was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. It kind of reminded me of Magnolia by Kristi Cook!!
Overall, Paper or Plastic was an amazing, heartwarming read! I'm probably a little bit biased because I ADORE Vivi Barnes! But if you love contemporary and you're looking for a feel-good book that you can't put down, look no further! I highly recommend this one!!!
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
I loved Alexis (Lex). She's pretty, fairly rich and popular. She had some moments where she was a bit oblivious and didn't realize how fortunate she was compared to others. But she never seemed stuck up or snobby, though she had a few moments where she acted as though she were above it all. I know that's a bit contradictory, but it's just how she was. She took her mom's criticism in stride (for the most part). Her relationship with her sister seemed very typical of siblings (they were fine one moment, fighting another). I loved the relationship she had with her grandmother, though some of those moments were hard to read. I was really pleased with Lex's character development from beginning to end.
Noah was so swoony and adorable. In the beginning, he was a bit of an ass to Lex and really, really hard on her. For someone who had been horribly misjudged, he was a very judgey person. He definitely had some trust issues going on and he had a hard time opening his heart. I don't blame him for that, considering the things he was dealing with. But it killed me to see him shutdown just when he should have been opening himself up. I don't think he had as much character development as Lex, but he definitely made progress.
I completely, 100% shipped Lex and Noah. They were so funny and adorable together, I found myself chuckling throughout their encounters. I think I might have even blushed a few times. In some ways, they were complete opposites, yet they complemented each other perfectly. Even when they fought, I still rooted for them.
Court and Syd were... interesting, to say the least. Court was the slightly bitchy friend and Syd was like the peace-keeper. I definitely liked Syd better, but Court had her moments where she pulled through for Lex. Bryce was a fun character, though his ability to hold a grudge kind of knocked him down a few pegs, in my opinion. He was so mean and bitter and, considering he and Lex were supposed to be such amazing friends, he wasn't very nice or fair to her.
I loved Bessie! She was such a kind person, yet pretty sassy, considering Lex saw her as a grandmother-type figure. I was scared to death for her at the end, though! Ruthie was an annoying character in the beginning. But the more I got to know her and her story, the more I sympathized with her and felt bad for the hand she was dealt.
I couldn't stand Lex's mom in the beginning. Just six pages in and I was ready to slap her. She was so dismissive of Lex and her dreams and aspirations. But she sort of made up for her behavior by the end of the book. Lex's sister definitely had her brat moments, too. And don't even get me started on Roxanne... Wow. I wanted to punch her face in on more than one occasion!
And Lex's grandmother... I can't. I LOVED her grandmother, but those parts were the hardest for me to read. I teared up a few times. I can't say much more without spoilers, but I will say I feared for her fate and it was just really tough to read the parts with her.
The ending was... insane and epic and so, so intense. Seriously, my heart was in my throat the whole time. The ending was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book. It kind of reminded me of Magnolia by Kristi Cook!!
Overall, Paper or Plastic was an amazing, heartwarming read! I'm probably a little bit biased because I ADORE Vivi Barnes! But if you love contemporary and you're looking for a feel-good book that you can't put down, look no further! I highly recommend this one!!!
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
January 27, 2015
I absolutely ADORE Vivi Barnes. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of her debut novel, Olivia Twisted, which I thought was fresh and fun, and super addicting. You can actually read my review for that here. Naturally when I saw that Vivi was releasing a new book and that it was available on NetGalley, I immediately wanted it and was very excited when I got it!
I’ve worked at two grocery stores in my life, and so I immediately was totally in love with this book. This is the horrors and hilarity of working in retail, and I couldn’t stop laughing. The coupon lady, and the messes all over the place, and cleaning up vomit or poop or whatever because a customer left it behind, employee drama, all of that is so familiar, especially since this was my first job ever when I was 18 years old, right around my high school graduation. It all felt so familiar and fun. It made me remember my first job both fondly and gratitude that I’m not still there. But Vivi gets the whole thing completely right and its just plain fun.
I also super enjoyed it because of the fun between Lex and Noah. My ex boyfriend (of 6.5 years) and I met when we both worked at Albertsons, my first job, so that was also fun as well. We had a good parting of ways, so it was fun to remember our relationship fondly while also remembering how it felt to fall in love over a cash register, basically. Haha. It was very very familiar to me so I immediately connected to that story.
But you guys don’t just want to hear the personal connections I had to the story! You want to know if YOU should read it. And the answer to that is: definitely! Its SO fun. SO SO fun. I laughed so much while reading this, and even if you’ve never worked in this particular situation, if you’ve ever worked with people, period, you know exactly what this is like and its just hilarious. It feels familiar, and it makes you think of every crappy job you’ve ever had. The antics of the store, the customers, the zany employees that Lex works with and also the awesome ones as well, the work crush that you inevitably always have…it was all fantastic to read, and just super fun.
But what I really loved about this book was the relationship between the characters. Lex and her relationship with her parents and sister, and especially her grandmother. That was incredible, especially since Lex’s grandmother is sick and you have to watch that through her eyes and its incredibly difficult. Watching Lex struggle to bond with her mother, because they have such different interests. Its great to see the relationship build between Lex and Noah, especially learning all the stuff that Noah goes through in his own personal life. And I especially love the relationships that Lex builds with her fellow coworkers whether they’re a little odd or a bit older than her, its just beautiful. That’s what makes it such a strong book: the relationships, and the real human quality that the book has!
I’ve worked at two grocery stores in my life, and so I immediately was totally in love with this book. This is the horrors and hilarity of working in retail, and I couldn’t stop laughing. The coupon lady, and the messes all over the place, and cleaning up vomit or poop or whatever because a customer left it behind, employee drama, all of that is so familiar, especially since this was my first job ever when I was 18 years old, right around my high school graduation. It all felt so familiar and fun. It made me remember my first job both fondly and gratitude that I’m not still there. But Vivi gets the whole thing completely right and its just plain fun.
I also super enjoyed it because of the fun between Lex and Noah. My ex boyfriend (of 6.5 years) and I met when we both worked at Albertsons, my first job, so that was also fun as well. We had a good parting of ways, so it was fun to remember our relationship fondly while also remembering how it felt to fall in love over a cash register, basically. Haha. It was very very familiar to me so I immediately connected to that story.
But you guys don’t just want to hear the personal connections I had to the story! You want to know if YOU should read it. And the answer to that is: definitely! Its SO fun. SO SO fun. I laughed so much while reading this, and even if you’ve never worked in this particular situation, if you’ve ever worked with people, period, you know exactly what this is like and its just hilarious. It feels familiar, and it makes you think of every crappy job you’ve ever had. The antics of the store, the customers, the zany employees that Lex works with and also the awesome ones as well, the work crush that you inevitably always have…it was all fantastic to read, and just super fun.
But what I really loved about this book was the relationship between the characters. Lex and her relationship with her parents and sister, and especially her grandmother. That was incredible, especially since Lex’s grandmother is sick and you have to watch that through her eyes and its incredibly difficult. Watching Lex struggle to bond with her mother, because they have such different interests. Its great to see the relationship build between Lex and Noah, especially learning all the stuff that Noah goes through in his own personal life. And I especially love the relationships that Lex builds with her fellow coworkers whether they’re a little odd or a bit older than her, its just beautiful. That’s what makes it such a strong book: the relationships, and the real human quality that the book has!
February 2, 2015
ARC provided by publisher in exchange of honest review
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Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes was a light, sweet, cute read for all those YA readers. It was one of those books that really incorporated the themes of friendship, family, life, and a budding new romance.
Alexis Dubios is a young teen who made a stupid mistake of shoplifting lipsticks at SmartMart and in order for her to not have this appear on her record, she has to work for SmartMart for the summer. It was not the summer vacation that Alexis was looking forward to, but it was a summer that taught her so much when she meets the employees of SmartMart. New friendship and romance begins to blossom. Life lessons taught Alexis so much at her time in SmartMart.
So if you are looking for a light, cute read then Paper or Plastic might be the book for you. I enjoyed the book but I felt this book was a tad bit long for my taste. Other than that, it was a book that sweet and left you with a smile on your face.
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Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes was a light, sweet, cute read for all those YA readers. It was one of those books that really incorporated the themes of friendship, family, life, and a budding new romance.
Alexis Dubios is a young teen who made a stupid mistake of shoplifting lipsticks at SmartMart and in order for her to not have this appear on her record, she has to work for SmartMart for the summer. It was not the summer vacation that Alexis was looking forward to, but it was a summer that taught her so much when she meets the employees of SmartMart. New friendship and romance begins to blossom. Life lessons taught Alexis so much at her time in SmartMart.
So if you are looking for a light, cute read then Paper or Plastic might be the book for you. I enjoyed the book but I felt this book was a tad bit long for my taste. Other than that, it was a book that sweet and left you with a smile on your face.
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January 2, 2015
The synopsis of this book was exactly what I was looking for at the time. I had just finished another book that still had me reeling a few days later and I wanted some sweet fluff.
I wasn't a huge fan of Lexie in the beginning. She comes across as really entitled and oblivious to how hurtful she is. It's only with her grandma that we see the real Lexie.
Of course there's a boy, and he's fabulous. Noah is definitely hiding some things and getting to know his story the way Lexie does was one of the best parts of the story.
Yes, there are a few clichéd things throughout, but it didn't take away from my enjoying the book. I liked the growth, I liked the overall plot line and of course, the kissing.
**Huge thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
I wasn't a huge fan of Lexie in the beginning. She comes across as really entitled and oblivious to how hurtful she is. It's only with her grandma that we see the real Lexie.
Of course there's a boy, and he's fabulous. Noah is definitely hiding some things and getting to know his story the way Lexie does was one of the best parts of the story.
Yes, there are a few clichéd things throughout, but it didn't take away from my enjoying the book. I liked the growth, I liked the overall plot line and of course, the kissing.
**Huge thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
February 3, 2015
***Review can also be found at Jackie's Book World*** :)
Rating: 4.5/5
Paper or Plastic was just a cute romantic read that will leave you wanting for more.
From the very start I was intrigued with the synopsis, it sounded very promising, and it did not disappoint at all. Every single character is put in the same setting, and as readers we get to see and learn their stories as well. SmartMart is widely known for its employees, and for the events that happen there that others would find laughable. When Alexis Dubois is caught shoplifting, she only has one option if she does not want what she did in her permanent record, and that is to work there for the time being. She immediately regrets what she did, but her overbearing mother is not about to let that do until Alexis learns her lesson. What her mother does not know is that Alexis is so tired of being “perfect” that she wanted to challenged her mother, and what she got out of it was a summer job. What she also did not realized that she was about to learn just how real, and loyal everyone at SmartMart really is.
Noah Grayson has his own problems to worry about. Even though he is smart, his reputation at school makes him nonexistent. Everyone blames him for what he did to Alexis best friend, and non one wants to be associated with him. Working at SmartMart has giving him the experience that he needs for a job, as a supervisor he knows everyone in the store, and everyone seems to like him there. It becomes a home for him, one that he is proud of. But being surrounded with so many characters in the work force, he is bound to see just about anything that could happen in the store. But when he finds out that Alexis Dubois is about to be his co-worker, things slowly start to spiral out of control when he finds out just how much he really likes her. As the two start to spend time together at work, sharing meals together, it is evident that they both want to be something more than just friends. But what is keeping them apart can hurt Alexis friendship with her best guy friend, and that is something that she is not so sure if that is what she wants.
I absolutely loved the secondary characters in the book, they are all well thought out, and their stories are the ones that bring a little extra to the story. I enjoyed reading about Alexis work at SmartMart, it was entertaining to see her working with her co-workers. There is one employee that likes to play tricks on the customers, and other employees as well that I just found hilarious! Her interaction with Noah Grayson is sweet. He cares for her, and they have a lot in common, since their mothers are into beauty pageants and so Alexis and Noah's little sisters end up in competitions. Noah is one of those characters that has been through a lot, having an abusive dad is what drives him into working ten times harder than others just to maintain his mother, and sister. Whereas Alexis does not have a live like that, she does worry about her grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer's. So they both suffer emotionally, and that is just one of the reasons they fit well together. Overall, I enjoyed reading Paper or Plastic, it was a cute read that I highly recommend. :)
***ARC provided by Entangled: Teen in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
Rating: 4.5/5
Paper or Plastic was just a cute romantic read that will leave you wanting for more.
From the very start I was intrigued with the synopsis, it sounded very promising, and it did not disappoint at all. Every single character is put in the same setting, and as readers we get to see and learn their stories as well. SmartMart is widely known for its employees, and for the events that happen there that others would find laughable. When Alexis Dubois is caught shoplifting, she only has one option if she does not want what she did in her permanent record, and that is to work there for the time being. She immediately regrets what she did, but her overbearing mother is not about to let that do until Alexis learns her lesson. What her mother does not know is that Alexis is so tired of being “perfect” that she wanted to challenged her mother, and what she got out of it was a summer job. What she also did not realized that she was about to learn just how real, and loyal everyone at SmartMart really is.
Noah Grayson has his own problems to worry about. Even though he is smart, his reputation at school makes him nonexistent. Everyone blames him for what he did to Alexis best friend, and non one wants to be associated with him. Working at SmartMart has giving him the experience that he needs for a job, as a supervisor he knows everyone in the store, and everyone seems to like him there. It becomes a home for him, one that he is proud of. But being surrounded with so many characters in the work force, he is bound to see just about anything that could happen in the store. But when he finds out that Alexis Dubois is about to be his co-worker, things slowly start to spiral out of control when he finds out just how much he really likes her. As the two start to spend time together at work, sharing meals together, it is evident that they both want to be something more than just friends. But what is keeping them apart can hurt Alexis friendship with her best guy friend, and that is something that she is not so sure if that is what she wants.
I absolutely loved the secondary characters in the book, they are all well thought out, and their stories are the ones that bring a little extra to the story. I enjoyed reading about Alexis work at SmartMart, it was entertaining to see her working with her co-workers. There is one employee that likes to play tricks on the customers, and other employees as well that I just found hilarious! Her interaction with Noah Grayson is sweet. He cares for her, and they have a lot in common, since their mothers are into beauty pageants and so Alexis and Noah's little sisters end up in competitions. Noah is one of those characters that has been through a lot, having an abusive dad is what drives him into working ten times harder than others just to maintain his mother, and sister. Whereas Alexis does not have a live like that, she does worry about her grandmother, who suffers from Alzheimer's. So they both suffer emotionally, and that is just one of the reasons they fit well together. Overall, I enjoyed reading Paper or Plastic, it was a cute read that I highly recommend. :)
***ARC provided by Entangled: Teen in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
February 11, 2015
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Paper Or plastic is a story about a teenage girl that gets caught shoplifting with her friend and as a punishment, she has to work at the SmartMart, a very uncool store in town, to repay her crime. The whole shoplifting incident happened very early on in the story so some of the details were a blur. But even so, I thought that Paper or Plastic was a very cute and fun fluffy contemporary. Great for a light read.
I thought Vivi Barnes did a wonderful job with her characters. Especially considering the fact that initially Alexis and her friends seemed like real brats, it was a big accomplishment to make me like Alexis as much as I did. I am so happy to report that my initial impression of her was incorrect. Of course my impression of some of her “friends” and of her mom wasn’t incorrect at all, but sometimes those “bad” characters can add to a story too. I mean, hey, at least they pull some strong emotions out of you.
What I appreciated most about Alexis was that she was able to put up with her mom. I know that seems like a silly thing to like the most about her, but even I wanted to choke her mom out a few times.
It was impressive the amount of life that Vivi Barnes was able to breathe into such a large cast of secondary characters. Some I absolutely loved and just want to hug- I’m talking about you Grandma!!, some very the friends that even though they are annoying, you still love them and some I less than liked. And then there was Noah. Noah, who even though he made me roll my eyes a few times, was super adorable and was a hoot with Alexis. All of the characters came together to form a fun and kooky cast. Character driven readers will really enjoy Paper or Plastic, just like I did.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Paper Or plastic is a story about a teenage girl that gets caught shoplifting with her friend and as a punishment, she has to work at the SmartMart, a very uncool store in town, to repay her crime. The whole shoplifting incident happened very early on in the story so some of the details were a blur. But even so, I thought that Paper or Plastic was a very cute and fun fluffy contemporary. Great for a light read.
I thought Vivi Barnes did a wonderful job with her characters. Especially considering the fact that initially Alexis and her friends seemed like real brats, it was a big accomplishment to make me like Alexis as much as I did. I am so happy to report that my initial impression of her was incorrect. Of course my impression of some of her “friends” and of her mom wasn’t incorrect at all, but sometimes those “bad” characters can add to a story too. I mean, hey, at least they pull some strong emotions out of you.
What I appreciated most about Alexis was that she was able to put up with her mom. I know that seems like a silly thing to like the most about her, but even I wanted to choke her mom out a few times.
It was impressive the amount of life that Vivi Barnes was able to breathe into such a large cast of secondary characters. Some I absolutely loved and just want to hug- I’m talking about you Grandma!!, some very the friends that even though they are annoying, you still love them and some I less than liked. And then there was Noah. Noah, who even though he made me roll my eyes a few times, was super adorable and was a hoot with Alexis. All of the characters came together to form a fun and kooky cast. Character driven readers will really enjoy Paper or Plastic, just like I did.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
February 20, 2015
“Paper or Plastic” is exactly what it intends to be: a light ya romance and palate cleanser. It fulfills its purpose wonderfully.
The characters are engaging and fun, all of them with underlying issues that a revealed throughout the book. They grow a surprising amount as people given the length and lightness of the plot. It’s easy to find yourself relating to them in some way and I found myself more invested in their lives more than I expected to be.
The plot is solid and deals with some heavier issues like bullying, Alzheimer’s, and child abuse while somehow managing to keep the tone light and humorous for the most part. The writing is done in a style that makes it a quick read, and the teenagers speak like actual teenagers, which is something I am always appreciative of when digging in to a ya novel.
I can’t finish the review without noting that the author has very obviously worked at a retail chain of some sort in the past. The horrors of retail were enough to bring me back nightmares about my days at a grocery chain. In spite of the nightmares, reading about the customers had me literally laughing out loud. Well done, Vivi Barnes.
“Paper or Plastic” is obviously meant for the teen market, but there are few things explicit enough for parents of younger teens to worry about. I recommend it for those looking for a quick romantic read filled with humor and just the right amount of sweetness.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The characters are engaging and fun, all of them with underlying issues that a revealed throughout the book. They grow a surprising amount as people given the length and lightness of the plot. It’s easy to find yourself relating to them in some way and I found myself more invested in their lives more than I expected to be.
The plot is solid and deals with some heavier issues like bullying, Alzheimer’s, and child abuse while somehow managing to keep the tone light and humorous for the most part. The writing is done in a style that makes it a quick read, and the teenagers speak like actual teenagers, which is something I am always appreciative of when digging in to a ya novel.
I can’t finish the review without noting that the author has very obviously worked at a retail chain of some sort in the past. The horrors of retail were enough to bring me back nightmares about my days at a grocery chain. In spite of the nightmares, reading about the customers had me literally laughing out loud. Well done, Vivi Barnes.
“Paper or Plastic” is obviously meant for the teen market, but there are few things explicit enough for parents of younger teens to worry about. I recommend it for those looking for a quick romantic read filled with humor and just the right amount of sweetness.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2015
What an easy and lovable read! As someone who put in their fair share of time in retail hell, Paper or Plastic had me laughing and nodding along as I read. The situations and customers that Lex is faced with whenever she unhappily takes a job at SmartMart are realistic without being too heavy or overdone. This book was the perfect mix of humor, reality, and romance!
Lex has a lot to deal with at home; an overbearing mother, a bratty little sister, a passive father, and an ailing grandmother. I found her to be more mature than I was expecting, and I was quick to fall into a comfortable place with her character. I felt like the romance between her and Noah was really fitting. It unfolded in an organic way at the perfect pacing! That can be rare in YA these days, so it was very much appreciated.
Even though Paper or Plastic is a fun read, it has surprising depth. It isn't over done or in your face, but when you look closely there's a hidden message about coming of age and growing up. I hope fans of YA contemporaries love it just as much as I have!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
Lex has a lot to deal with at home; an overbearing mother, a bratty little sister, a passive father, and an ailing grandmother. I found her to be more mature than I was expecting, and I was quick to fall into a comfortable place with her character. I felt like the romance between her and Noah was really fitting. It unfolded in an organic way at the perfect pacing! That can be rare in YA these days, so it was very much appreciated.
Even though Paper or Plastic is a fun read, it has surprising depth. It isn't over done or in your face, but when you look closely there's a hidden message about coming of age and growing up. I hope fans of YA contemporaries love it just as much as I have!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
April 6, 2015
I read and loved Vivi Barnes' OLIVIA TWISTED so I was eager to preorder my copy of PAPER OR PLASTIC, and boy am I glad I did! This story is utterly charming, compelling and fun. Such a unique concept and storyline. The characters made me laugh so hard. I read this book in less than a day. I'm eagerly waiting for more of Vivi Barnes' work.
March 14, 2015
Way too shallow for my taste, both the characters and the story. I tried. But then I still ended up skimming a lot of pages. This book is just not for me.
July 10, 2017
DNF at 78%
I don’t have the endurance to continue with this book, even if it’s the last 22%. The story was boring and just dragged. I’m having a challenging time just remembering what I’ve read, aside from the fact that it’s a story about a girl who works at a Walmart-type store with a boy she likes but can’t admit to. Sounds cute, but it’s not that appealing.
I don’t have the endurance to continue with this book, even if it’s the last 22%. The story was boring and just dragged. I’m having a challenging time just remembering what I’ve read, aside from the fact that it’s a story about a girl who works at a Walmart-type store with a boy she likes but can’t admit to. Sounds cute, but it’s not that appealing.
January 31, 2016
Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours and author Vivi Barnes for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes is a delightfully fun contemporary romance that is an easy read with an addictive and sweet romance you’ll just devour whole!
Pretty, popular and athletic Alexis Dubois finds her summer plans taking a drastic turn when she is caught shoplifting a tube of lipstick from Smartmart, a convenience store that sells everything and anything. Rather than face charges that will remain on her permanent record she is given the opportunity to work there for the summer instead. As it seems like she is out of options, Lex resigns herself for a summer of boring shifts with a bunch of awkward people but soon discovers that Smartmart isn’t the hellish place she first thought. Plus the last thing Lex expected was to be attracted to her nerdy, loner manager Noah Grayson and fellow student at her high school; someone whose history with her friends would not make for an easy relationship. Their chemistry can't be denied and soon Lex and Noah find themselves on a whirlwind romance that is not without it's issues....
Paper or Plastic was a really fun book to read. It was sweet and charming, and a great way to spend an afternoon. I was very won over by the characters, romance and the storyline—I pretty much wished I could be working at Smartmart alongside Alexis. Though the concept is simple, the execution complimented the story so well and managed to showcase a great main character who undertook growth, a sizzling romance and plenty of quirky side characters who brought such life to Smartmart.
Alexis was a passionate and popular young woman who found her wants and desires change after working at Smartmart. Though she is popular, I loved that she came to care about the other Smartmart employees and that she enjoyed parts of her time at Smartmart. I think Alexis undertook enough personal growth to compliment her character while still managing to retain the essence of who she already was.
Personally I really loved the chemistry between Lex and Noah. Noah is a bit geeky and by the book, but he also has another side that I found really appealing in Paper or Plastic. There’s something very sexy about a man who loves his family and does right by them, something Noah does in spades in this book. He’s a generally good guy who is very intelligent and has ambition. Noah knows when to be cheeky or serious, and has an endearing shyness to him at times that you can’t help but adore!
Fun, fresh and a great summer read, Paper or Plastic truly did win me over from the opening chapter. Personally I'd love a second novel although I know that's a pipe dream; I'd love to see Lex and Noah take their summer romance back to school and see how things change. I found I loved the storyline and characters within Paper or Plastic and definitely urge those who love contemporary reads to check this out.
Find this review and more on my blog The Rest Is Still Unwritten!
Paper or Plastic by Vivi Barnes is a delightfully fun contemporary romance that is an easy read with an addictive and sweet romance you’ll just devour whole!
Pretty, popular and athletic Alexis Dubois finds her summer plans taking a drastic turn when she is caught shoplifting a tube of lipstick from Smartmart, a convenience store that sells everything and anything. Rather than face charges that will remain on her permanent record she is given the opportunity to work there for the summer instead. As it seems like she is out of options, Lex resigns herself for a summer of boring shifts with a bunch of awkward people but soon discovers that Smartmart isn’t the hellish place she first thought. Plus the last thing Lex expected was to be attracted to her nerdy, loner manager Noah Grayson and fellow student at her high school; someone whose history with her friends would not make for an easy relationship. Their chemistry can't be denied and soon Lex and Noah find themselves on a whirlwind romance that is not without it's issues....
Paper or Plastic was a really fun book to read. It was sweet and charming, and a great way to spend an afternoon. I was very won over by the characters, romance and the storyline—I pretty much wished I could be working at Smartmart alongside Alexis. Though the concept is simple, the execution complimented the story so well and managed to showcase a great main character who undertook growth, a sizzling romance and plenty of quirky side characters who brought such life to Smartmart.
Alexis was a passionate and popular young woman who found her wants and desires change after working at Smartmart. Though she is popular, I loved that she came to care about the other Smartmart employees and that she enjoyed parts of her time at Smartmart. I think Alexis undertook enough personal growth to compliment her character while still managing to retain the essence of who she already was.
Personally I really loved the chemistry between Lex and Noah. Noah is a bit geeky and by the book, but he also has another side that I found really appealing in Paper or Plastic. There’s something very sexy about a man who loves his family and does right by them, something Noah does in spades in this book. He’s a generally good guy who is very intelligent and has ambition. Noah knows when to be cheeky or serious, and has an endearing shyness to him at times that you can’t help but adore!
Fun, fresh and a great summer read, Paper or Plastic truly did win me over from the opening chapter. Personally I'd love a second novel although I know that's a pipe dream; I'd love to see Lex and Noah take their summer romance back to school and see how things change. I found I loved the storyline and characters within Paper or Plastic and definitely urge those who love contemporary reads to check this out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2015
Cute story and romance but I had a problem with Alexis's so called friends. I'm all for flawed characters and Alexis shows maturity over the course of the story but why is she friend with Bryce and Court? They don't really sound all that great to me - yet she has no problem calling out Noah's friends behavior.
March 19, 2019
This book was a good fluffy contemporary book. I feel this would be a great summer read on a beach somewhere. I liked the family themes and it was overall a good read
I received this from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.
I received this from Entangled Teen in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2015
Full review found here!
http://awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com/2...
http://awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com/2...
January 23, 2015
First off, I love this cover and I'd totally buy it in physical format just so I could stare at the cover the whole day. It's pink and white and pink and it's just so pretty! Secondly, I liked this book, a lot more than I thought I would. There were some things that prevented me from giving it a full five cupcakes, but other than that it was a story I took great pleasure in.
Paper or Plastic features Alexis Dubois, a sophomore that was recently caught shoplifting a tube of lipstick with her friend, Court. While her friend gets off free, Alexis has to work the summer at SmartMart, a local shop notorious for the hundreds of weird customers that trickle through on a daily basis. Having to deal with her pageant-obsessed mother, her ill grandmother, the possibility that she could lose her coveted position on the softball team and the fact that she's falling for her new manager - who also happens to be the school outcast and the boy who has bad blood with one of her best friends - Alexis soon learns that perhaps working at SmartMart isn't the worst thing that could happen.
I wasn't expecting to like Alexis as I get extremely mad with people who shoplift, but she grew on me. I I know her friend, Court, wanted her to steal it with her to see whether or not they'd get caught but I don't know why she went along with it, as she doesn't seem like such a stupid person. Although I couldn't quite wrap my head around that, like I said, she grew on me. She could be slightly judgmental but I believe she had everyone's best interests at heart and I also believe she flourished as a person.
What I like about Lex, is that she really cares deeply about those she's close to. When her grandma's health started deteriorating, she went out of her way to be near her grandma and to help her as much as possible, as well as spending most of her free-time with her - especially on the bad days. I really admired Lex for that as sometimes you don't want to be with a person that's sick because it pains you so much, so she definitely earned my respect due to that! I also respected how she stood up for her friends and tried to keep them happy. She knew that if she told Bryce about Noah that he'd get ferociously cross about it and that it would hurt him, so she decided to not tell him to avoid the hurt and confusion he would feel even though she knew it was risky, as if he found out from someone other than her it would make him more upset. However, she did it with good, honest intentions and I felt sorry for her when those good intentions blew up in her face.
Something I didn't like about Alexis, is that I felt she was quite judgmental about Miller, Noah's friend and that at first she seemed ungrateful for getting the chance to have theft off her record by working at SmartMart. She complained at first for having to work her summer away - which was her fault for trying to shoplift - but she accepted it and her attitude improved and her whole person improved, which was a lovely thing to see!
I liked Noah, he was charming, caring, kind, polite and hardworking. He was always good to Alexis and he was pretty much good to everybody. He has integrity and I admire that in a character. I don't understand why people shunned him for so long, though. I understand he told the principal who the culprit of the spray-painting was but I believe that's a good thing to do. Bryce was vandalising the other team's property which is wrong and I'm glad Noah did that because Bryce - and no one else - had the right to do that. I liked Noah a lot and I felt extremely sorry for him when it was revealed that all was not perfect in Noah Grayson's life and I hope they managed to sort it out properly.
The secondary characters were okay but sometimes they didn't feel as fully fleshed out to me as the main characters, but I could always discern one from the other which was a good thing! I didn't like Bryce and Court as they seemed like the kind of people who would easily turn their backs on you. Syd seemed lovely though. It would've been fabulous if the author could've let Alexis interact more with her circle of friends so I could really get to know them, as I felt I only got to know those working at SmartMart and her family quite well, and not her friends. Ruthie was a character I couldn't quite decipher. I wasn't sure if she had a learning disability or had been severely affected by her father leaving her family or if she just had a natural childlike innocence about her. She was said to be 26 but she acted like a child, so I would've liked to know if that was just her disposition or if she perhaps had a disability.
I also enjoyed the romance, when things started heating up between Alexis and Noah, I admit that my heart did in fact beat faster and I may have gotten giddily excited because Vivi Barnes is quite good at writing romantic scenes. Although I thought those scenes were very well-written, I did find some parts of the relationship seemed awkward and that they would argue about petty things (which I wanted to slap them for, at times) and the dialogue didn't always flow particularly smoothly but I enjoyed it nonetheless and like I said, the romance scenes were written well! *fans self*
I also found it interesting how pageantry and extreme couponing was featured in this book. I've seen bits of Toddlers and Tiaras and Extreme Couponing so it was quite amusing to see it in this book and see how it affected those directly involved with it!
The plot was good and so was the writing. It wasn't overly simple, it wasn't overly detailed, it was the perfect pace and writing style for a contemporary (although the dialogue didn't seem that natural at times, but it didn't alter my enjoyment levels of the story) and I was highly addicted to it. Every spare moment I got, I wanted to read it. I wanted to know how things went with Alexis and her friends, with Noah, with her grandma. I really liked Alexis' world and I loved the world the author created and I wanted to live in it. My anxiety/panic attacks have been quite bad the last few days so it was such a comfortable feeling to get completely caught up in the story and the characters and forget about the way I was feeling. So thank you for that, Vivi! x
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a steady pace, comfortable writing, extremely likable characters and a plot that kept me intrigued the whole way through! I didn't want the book to end as I was completely caught up with the characters and the world that Vivi Barnes so wonderfully created. The characters learned lessons on how to be better people due to their mistakes. I highly recommend this to all contemporary lovers, as its a fun, fluffy story to wholly immerse yourself in!
I give it: 4/5 CUPCAKES!
Paper or Plastic features Alexis Dubois, a sophomore that was recently caught shoplifting a tube of lipstick with her friend, Court. While her friend gets off free, Alexis has to work the summer at SmartMart, a local shop notorious for the hundreds of weird customers that trickle through on a daily basis. Having to deal with her pageant-obsessed mother, her ill grandmother, the possibility that she could lose her coveted position on the softball team and the fact that she's falling for her new manager - who also happens to be the school outcast and the boy who has bad blood with one of her best friends - Alexis soon learns that perhaps working at SmartMart isn't the worst thing that could happen.
I wasn't expecting to like Alexis as I get extremely mad with people who shoplift, but she grew on me. I I know her friend, Court, wanted her to steal it with her to see whether or not they'd get caught but I don't know why she went along with it, as she doesn't seem like such a stupid person. Although I couldn't quite wrap my head around that, like I said, she grew on me. She could be slightly judgmental but I believe she had everyone's best interests at heart and I also believe she flourished as a person.
What I like about Lex, is that she really cares deeply about those she's close to. When her grandma's health started deteriorating, she went out of her way to be near her grandma and to help her as much as possible, as well as spending most of her free-time with her - especially on the bad days. I really admired Lex for that as sometimes you don't want to be with a person that's sick because it pains you so much, so she definitely earned my respect due to that! I also respected how she stood up for her friends and tried to keep them happy. She knew that if she told Bryce about Noah that he'd get ferociously cross about it and that it would hurt him, so she decided to not tell him to avoid the hurt and confusion he would feel even though she knew it was risky, as if he found out from someone other than her it would make him more upset. However, she did it with good, honest intentions and I felt sorry for her when those good intentions blew up in her face.
Something I didn't like about Alexis, is that I felt she was quite judgmental about Miller, Noah's friend and that at first she seemed ungrateful for getting the chance to have theft off her record by working at SmartMart. She complained at first for having to work her summer away - which was her fault for trying to shoplift - but she accepted it and her attitude improved and her whole person improved, which was a lovely thing to see!
I liked Noah, he was charming, caring, kind, polite and hardworking. He was always good to Alexis and he was pretty much good to everybody. He has integrity and I admire that in a character. I don't understand why people shunned him for so long, though. I understand he told the principal who the culprit of the spray-painting was but I believe that's a good thing to do. Bryce was vandalising the other team's property which is wrong and I'm glad Noah did that because Bryce - and no one else - had the right to do that. I liked Noah a lot and I felt extremely sorry for him when it was revealed that all was not perfect in Noah Grayson's life and I hope they managed to sort it out properly.
The secondary characters were okay but sometimes they didn't feel as fully fleshed out to me as the main characters, but I could always discern one from the other which was a good thing! I didn't like Bryce and Court as they seemed like the kind of people who would easily turn their backs on you. Syd seemed lovely though. It would've been fabulous if the author could've let Alexis interact more with her circle of friends so I could really get to know them, as I felt I only got to know those working at SmartMart and her family quite well, and not her friends. Ruthie was a character I couldn't quite decipher. I wasn't sure if she had a learning disability or had been severely affected by her father leaving her family or if she just had a natural childlike innocence about her. She was said to be 26 but she acted like a child, so I would've liked to know if that was just her disposition or if she perhaps had a disability.
I also enjoyed the romance, when things started heating up between Alexis and Noah, I admit that my heart did in fact beat faster and I may have gotten giddily excited because Vivi Barnes is quite good at writing romantic scenes. Although I thought those scenes were very well-written, I did find some parts of the relationship seemed awkward and that they would argue about petty things (which I wanted to slap them for, at times) and the dialogue didn't always flow particularly smoothly but I enjoyed it nonetheless and like I said, the romance scenes were written well! *fans self*
I also found it interesting how pageantry and extreme couponing was featured in this book. I've seen bits of Toddlers and Tiaras and Extreme Couponing so it was quite amusing to see it in this book and see how it affected those directly involved with it!
The plot was good and so was the writing. It wasn't overly simple, it wasn't overly detailed, it was the perfect pace and writing style for a contemporary (although the dialogue didn't seem that natural at times, but it didn't alter my enjoyment levels of the story) and I was highly addicted to it. Every spare moment I got, I wanted to read it. I wanted to know how things went with Alexis and her friends, with Noah, with her grandma. I really liked Alexis' world and I loved the world the author created and I wanted to live in it. My anxiety/panic attacks have been quite bad the last few days so it was such a comfortable feeling to get completely caught up in the story and the characters and forget about the way I was feeling. So thank you for that, Vivi! x
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It had a steady pace, comfortable writing, extremely likable characters and a plot that kept me intrigued the whole way through! I didn't want the book to end as I was completely caught up with the characters and the world that Vivi Barnes so wonderfully created. The characters learned lessons on how to be better people due to their mistakes. I highly recommend this to all contemporary lovers, as its a fun, fluffy story to wholly immerse yourself in!
I give it: 4/5 CUPCAKES!
December 9, 2020
Vivi Barnes’ Paper or Plastic is a book that will keep readers interested, intrigued, and laughing. This book is an inspiration to young readers who have strict mothers and chaotic schedules to know that they can always get through whatever they are going through.
The beginning of this book describes the main conflict. Alexis is faced with problems such as an overbearing mother, a busy work schedule, and conflicts between her friends. Alexis was caught stealing a tube of lipstick; therefore, she now has to work at the SmartMart all summer. As a result of her working hours, Alexis now cannot go to her favorite softball camp and her title as the main pitcher will be stripped from her.
Alexis’ job at SmartMart provides her with an opportunity to meet a new guy. Noah Grayson is her manager, overseeing her work all day. The only problem is that he is the school geek and known for ratting out Bryce, Alexis’ best friend. “Noah Grayson was a grade higher than me and known by pretty much everyone at school for ratting out my friend Bryce for vandalizing the rival school two years ago.” Alexis now has to figure out how to make a peace treaty between the two guys.
Furthermore, the best part of this book is the laughter it brings. While working at SmartMart many scenarios can happen. A shopper will casually bring in 50 coupons or, someone will throw up on the floor and leave acting as if nothing happened. All these scenarios are normal to the other employees.
This book twists the imagination of its readers positively. Vivi Barnes’ encouragement and positive writing engage Paper or Plastic readers and help them keep a positive view of life; therefore, all readers in middle/high school will enjoy this superior book.
The beginning of this book describes the main conflict. Alexis is faced with problems such as an overbearing mother, a busy work schedule, and conflicts between her friends. Alexis was caught stealing a tube of lipstick; therefore, she now has to work at the SmartMart all summer. As a result of her working hours, Alexis now cannot go to her favorite softball camp and her title as the main pitcher will be stripped from her.
Alexis’ job at SmartMart provides her with an opportunity to meet a new guy. Noah Grayson is her manager, overseeing her work all day. The only problem is that he is the school geek and known for ratting out Bryce, Alexis’ best friend. “Noah Grayson was a grade higher than me and known by pretty much everyone at school for ratting out my friend Bryce for vandalizing the rival school two years ago.” Alexis now has to figure out how to make a peace treaty between the two guys.
Furthermore, the best part of this book is the laughter it brings. While working at SmartMart many scenarios can happen. A shopper will casually bring in 50 coupons or, someone will throw up on the floor and leave acting as if nothing happened. All these scenarios are normal to the other employees.
This book twists the imagination of its readers positively. Vivi Barnes’ encouragement and positive writing engage Paper or Plastic readers and help them keep a positive view of life; therefore, all readers in middle/high school will enjoy this superior book.
August 7, 2018
Read is you're looking for a short, past timer. Not saying it's boring, but definitely not one of my favorites by Vivi Barnes.
Sincerely,
Fandavia21
P.S. Love this book? Check out Olivia Twisted and Olivia Decoded by Vivi Barnes!
Sincerely,
Fandavia21
P.S. Love this book? Check out Olivia Twisted and Olivia Decoded by Vivi Barnes!
November 5, 2023
i was js bored so i read it but honestly it’s just another cute romance
it’s actually lowkey so cringe tho so i try not to think too hard abt anything they say 💀💀💀
if anyone said any of those things to me irl i would actually laugh and ghost 😭
it’s actually lowkey so cringe tho so i try not to think too hard abt anything they say 💀💀💀
if anyone said any of those things to me irl i would actually laugh and ghost 😭
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