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Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy
"Liz Maccie's debut novel is as tough, optimistic, and beautiful as her heroine, Roberta Romano. Roberta's voice is heartfelt and funny. Her story is exceptionally moving and honest. I love this book and the hope it has for young women everywhere." —Stephen Chbosky, New York Times bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The most important lessons aren't learned in the classroom.
It’s the first day of sophomore year for Roberta Romano, but instead of the comfort of her local high school, she's been thrust into the elitist embrace of the affluent Meadowbrook Academy.
Surrounded by wealth, Roberta battles her own insecurities to prove her worth and maybe land the boy of her dreams. With the help of two unlikely allies—and an inflatable toy raft—Roberta embarks upon a journey of dark secrets and self-discovery to learn the true meaning of friendship and acceptance.
"Roberta will charm and delight you with a voice that’s candid, hilarious, and hopeful, as she narrates her first day at a new high school, reminding us of the epic nature of each hour in our adolescent lives. Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy will make you laugh, cringe, cry, and cheer for the power of friendships that can change us in a single day." —Ava Dellaira, author of Love Letters to the Dead
"You wish your first day of prep school was this epic! Every single page of Lessons I Never Learned sparkles with heart and humor. Like a teenage Bridget Jones, Roberta Romano will make you laugh, cry, and cringe as she tries to navigate her first day at Meadowbrook Academy. She finds friends and enemies, earns detentions and serious respect, and makes memories that will last her a lifetime." —Siobhan Vivian, author of The List
The most important lessons aren't learned in the classroom.
It’s the first day of sophomore year for Roberta Romano, but instead of the comfort of her local high school, she's been thrust into the elitist embrace of the affluent Meadowbrook Academy.
Surrounded by wealth, Roberta battles her own insecurities to prove her worth and maybe land the boy of her dreams. With the help of two unlikely allies—and an inflatable toy raft—Roberta embarks upon a journey of dark secrets and self-discovery to learn the true meaning of friendship and acceptance.
"Roberta will charm and delight you with a voice that’s candid, hilarious, and hopeful, as she narrates her first day at a new high school, reminding us of the epic nature of each hour in our adolescent lives. Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy will make you laugh, cringe, cry, and cheer for the power of friendships that can change us in a single day." —Ava Dellaira, author of Love Letters to the Dead
"You wish your first day of prep school was this epic! Every single page of Lessons I Never Learned sparkles with heart and humor. Like a teenage Bridget Jones, Roberta Romano will make you laugh, cry, and cringe as she tries to navigate her first day at Meadowbrook Academy. She finds friends and enemies, earns detentions and serious respect, and makes memories that will last her a lifetime." —Siobhan Vivian, author of The List
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
2 people are currently reading
329 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 3, 2018
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley.com and Diversion Books in exchange for an honest review. Thanks, guys!
Roberta's first day at a upper class private school is chronicled in all of its silly, intertwined, dirty glory. That's right: whole book = 1 day. Maccie thoughtfully gives you the time at the beginning of each chapter, which was very helpful. I found the "feel" of this book to be reminiscent of The Breakfast Club. It was raw, delved into a lot of issues fluidly and without preaching, and giggle out loud funny. Some things made me a little uncomfortable but don't hold that against the book. They were all deliberately planned to culminate in this fantastic ending that really comes out of nowhere. I enjoyed this book and am likely to purchase it for my high school library. However, I am unlikely to recommend it to my more conservative patrons due to certain discussions and scenes (sexual questions and situations that not all kids may be ready for but many will find parallels to their own lives and/or will have enough compassion to deal). This is a book from a teen girl's perspective so expect it to be rather limited in her initial attitudes towards adults and her new school. She also grows through the day and adjusts her narrative as such. I did not find her point of view to be unrealistic and often when I laughed it was because of her perspective on her teachers. Again, I cannot say how much I enjoyed the ending. Please read if you like contemporary YA lit that is a quick but powerful read. It will keep you thinking about it long after you've put it down.
Bonus note: Thank you, Liz Maccie and Diversion Books, for publishing a YA novel that stands alone and is under 200 pages! I have patrons who won't touch a "big" book but some shorter books make them feel like little kids. I hope this becomes a YA trend! As much as I love big books, not all do and many of my patrons simply don't have time to read those. I predict this one will appeal and circulate well AND it's good!
Roberta's first day at a upper class private school is chronicled in all of its silly, intertwined, dirty glory. That's right: whole book = 1 day. Maccie thoughtfully gives you the time at the beginning of each chapter, which was very helpful. I found the "feel" of this book to be reminiscent of The Breakfast Club. It was raw, delved into a lot of issues fluidly and without preaching, and giggle out loud funny. Some things made me a little uncomfortable but don't hold that against the book. They were all deliberately planned to culminate in this fantastic ending that really comes out of nowhere. I enjoyed this book and am likely to purchase it for my high school library. However, I am unlikely to recommend it to my more conservative patrons due to certain discussions and scenes (sexual questions and situations that not all kids may be ready for but many will find parallels to their own lives and/or will have enough compassion to deal). This is a book from a teen girl's perspective so expect it to be rather limited in her initial attitudes towards adults and her new school. She also grows through the day and adjusts her narrative as such. I did not find her point of view to be unrealistic and often when I laughed it was because of her perspective on her teachers. Again, I cannot say how much I enjoyed the ending. Please read if you like contemporary YA lit that is a quick but powerful read. It will keep you thinking about it long after you've put it down.
Bonus note: Thank you, Liz Maccie and Diversion Books, for publishing a YA novel that stands alone and is under 200 pages! I have patrons who won't touch a "big" book but some shorter books make them feel like little kids. I hope this becomes a YA trend! As much as I love big books, not all do and many of my patrons simply don't have time to read those. I predict this one will appeal and circulate well AND it's good!
March 24, 2015
Thank you to Netgalley and Diversion Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this novel.
Wow, this book really caught me by surprise! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I can honestly say that I was impressed with the level of depth and intelligence displayed here.
Roberta is an excellent character! I just loved her!!! So. Much! She's got so many facets, and I'm not going to describe all of them here, but she was continually surprising me. I will say this - that cafeteria scene? Friggin' awesome!
I loved how Maccie was able to thoroughly immerse me in Roberta's brain so I felt that I knew her. For a rather quick read, I had no problem connecting with Roberta and her two new friends. In fact, I loved Annie and Mervin almost as much as I loved Roberta, and that doesn't happen to me often with supporting characters. Although there wasn't really a cliffhanger ending, I would love to read more about these three characters if Maccie were to continue writing this book into a series.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend "Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy" to anyone looking for a quick YA read with lovable characters and some good laughs mixed in with some valuable life lessons. I'm also looking forward to reading whatever Liz Maccie comes out with next!
Wow, this book really caught me by surprise! I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I can honestly say that I was impressed with the level of depth and intelligence displayed here.
Roberta is an excellent character! I just loved her!!! So. Much! She's got so many facets, and I'm not going to describe all of them here, but she was continually surprising me. I will say this - that cafeteria scene? Friggin' awesome!
I loved how Maccie was able to thoroughly immerse me in Roberta's brain so I felt that I knew her. For a rather quick read, I had no problem connecting with Roberta and her two new friends. In fact, I loved Annie and Mervin almost as much as I loved Roberta, and that doesn't happen to me often with supporting characters. Although there wasn't really a cliffhanger ending, I would love to read more about these three characters if Maccie were to continue writing this book into a series.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend "Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy" to anyone looking for a quick YA read with lovable characters and some good laughs mixed in with some valuable life lessons. I'm also looking forward to reading whatever Liz Maccie comes out with next!
February 11, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Diversion Books in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good coming of age story. It's why I requested this title. And I wasn't disappointed.
Roberta Roman is starting her first day at a richy school. And she definitely doesn't want to go. Finally feeling like she's fitting in in her old high school, the idea of going to this new school isn't appealing. After all, how is she going to fit in when all the other kids are perfect and rich and she's not?
This book takes place in one day and it's a surprisingly easy read considering how much is discussed. Liz Maccie covers a whole multitude of issues in a way that flows and doesn't feel awkward. In fact, this book is the complete opposite of choppy. It flows almost like poetry. It transitions from funny to serious to funny with such ease that's enviable.
Roberta is a little naive, a little wise, and a whole lot of character. Her thought process and her Italian family reminded me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding for young adult readers. It's that kind of funny and that kind of serious. While Roberta tries to (unsuccessfully) get out of going to school, and then tries to (unsuccessfully) have a normal day at a rich person school, she is muttering and saying this that will make you cringe, but will also make you laugh. She is real, and flawed, and a little unstable, and that's okay.
Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy is a surprising mix of light, fun, funny story and dark, unsettling reality. Not everything is fine. Sometimes the people who appear normal are the most broken. Sometimes the weirdest people are the sanest.
And sometimes the people you'd never even give a second glance turn out to be the best friends you could ever ask for.
EDIT: This book comes out November 4th. So we have the same birthday <3
I love a good coming of age story. It's why I requested this title. And I wasn't disappointed.
Roberta Roman is starting her first day at a richy school. And she definitely doesn't want to go. Finally feeling like she's fitting in in her old high school, the idea of going to this new school isn't appealing. After all, how is she going to fit in when all the other kids are perfect and rich and she's not?
This book takes place in one day and it's a surprisingly easy read considering how much is discussed. Liz Maccie covers a whole multitude of issues in a way that flows and doesn't feel awkward. In fact, this book is the complete opposite of choppy. It flows almost like poetry. It transitions from funny to serious to funny with such ease that's enviable.
Roberta is a little naive, a little wise, and a whole lot of character. Her thought process and her Italian family reminded me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding for young adult readers. It's that kind of funny and that kind of serious. While Roberta tries to (unsuccessfully) get out of going to school, and then tries to (unsuccessfully) have a normal day at a rich person school, she is muttering and saying this that will make you cringe, but will also make you laugh. She is real, and flawed, and a little unstable, and that's okay.
Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy is a surprising mix of light, fun, funny story and dark, unsettling reality. Not everything is fine. Sometimes the people who appear normal are the most broken. Sometimes the weirdest people are the sanest.
And sometimes the people you'd never even give a second glance turn out to be the best friends you could ever ask for.
EDIT: This book comes out November 4th. So we have the same birthday <3
September 28, 2014
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley.)
This was an okay story, but I didn’t like the main character.
Roberta wasn’t a bad person, but she was selfish and stupid. Why she was surprised that her parents wanted her to change schools when she was drinking, smoking, and failing all her classes was a bit silly. Did she really expect them to just let her carry on that way? And why didn’t she consider how much it was costing her parents to send her to the new school?
The storyline in this took place over the course of Roberta’s first day at her new school, so actually covered only a small amount of time. It seemed that Roberta had learned nothing concerning her behaviour at her old school though, as she spent most of this book slacking off, and getting herself into trouble, both at school, and with the law! I couldn’t believe that she thought ‘I didn’t feel like going’ to be an acceptable excuse for why she didn’t go to class, and lying about her Nonna being dead was just disgusting!
There was some romance in this in the way of a major crush that Roberta had concerning a boy at her new school, and there was some kissing. Considering that this book was about her first day at school, she certainly moved quick.
The ending to this was alright, but I was just glad it was over really. I don’t think I’d want to read another book if this turned into a series.
6 out of 10.
This was an okay story, but I didn’t like the main character.
Roberta wasn’t a bad person, but she was selfish and stupid. Why she was surprised that her parents wanted her to change schools when she was drinking, smoking, and failing all her classes was a bit silly. Did she really expect them to just let her carry on that way? And why didn’t she consider how much it was costing her parents to send her to the new school?
The storyline in this took place over the course of Roberta’s first day at her new school, so actually covered only a small amount of time. It seemed that Roberta had learned nothing concerning her behaviour at her old school though, as she spent most of this book slacking off, and getting herself into trouble, both at school, and with the law! I couldn’t believe that she thought ‘I didn’t feel like going’ to be an acceptable excuse for why she didn’t go to class, and lying about her Nonna being dead was just disgusting!
There was some romance in this in the way of a major crush that Roberta had concerning a boy at her new school, and there was some kissing. Considering that this book was about her first day at school, she certainly moved quick.
The ending to this was alright, but I was just glad it was over really. I don’t think I’d want to read another book if this turned into a series.
6 out of 10.
November 3, 2014
I’ve never seen Stephen Chbosky blurb anything. Maybe he has and I just haven’t come across them. But when I saw his recommendation for Lessons I was encouraged by it and decided to request it on Netgalley. What I learned from this is just because I adore Stephen Chbosky’s book, that doesn’t mean we’re going to have the same reading tastes. I don’t know what else he likes to read, but we definitely don’t agree on this one.
Due to a series of misdemeanours and the influence of a bad friend at her local high school, Roberta Romano’s parents have pooled their resources to send their daughter to the elite Meadowbrook Academy where they hope she will get her act together. She does not want to go. Over the course of her first day, where she is surrounded by the kids of the wealthy, Roberta must handle her own insecurities about fitting in. Along the way she makes friends with Annie and Mervin, who each have their own problems. The whole story takes place over that first day.
I normally pride myself on my ability to sum up a novel in my own words. But I didn’t agree with the Goodreads synopsis and as I didn’t like this it’s hard to be objective. My summary does sum it up, I guess, but not well.
If I was the sort of person who DNF’d, this one would undoubtedly have ended up that way. Roberta was ungrateful and bratty and never appreciated the lengths her parents must have gone to for her to end up at that school. The school was one big cliché, as were all of the students. The perfect blondes, the enormous wealth, the girls who wear heels to school. It was a boring and unrealistic description. There was also Thaddeus, yes Thaddeus who she adores from first sight and then has a strange encounter with in the auditorium which leaves her in tears. There are Mervin and Annie, her first real friends with a multitude of problems each. There’s also mean teachers and jerky football players and secrets abound. But the main problem (other than the fact I couldn’t stand Roberta) is there was too much for one day.
Lots can happen in a day, I get that. But when you cram all the possible events and problems you can possibly think of into a novel that takes place in one day, it just feels rushed and unrealistic. There were also trains of thoughts or memories that came to Roberta over the day that weren’t relevant. I don’t like the dismissal of things you learn in the classroom as not being important, because no matter whether you like school or not there is a reason for it. And I really don’t feel that Roberta learned that much outside the classroom either. There were also events that I just didn’t believe, like that the maths teacher who took detention, after discovering Roberta was a maths prodigy (I wouldn’t have called her that, I would have just said she was smart), fell asleep? Really, just like that? How has he kept his job for so long when students can sneak out of detention so easy? The students themselves all had too many problems, all stacked on top of each other, and it felt like it was for narrative purposes, to make something meaningful out of the story, rather than because this was who the characters were. It felt forced. I didn’t believe it nor was I at any point invested in the characters.
This may have been a completely different novel had the events taken place over a couple of days or weeks. But there was too much revealed in a short time and it didn’t feel real or honest. I just didn’t like it and its only redeeming factor is that it was under two hundred pages so I didn’t have to suffer through it for too long.
Due to a series of misdemeanours and the influence of a bad friend at her local high school, Roberta Romano’s parents have pooled their resources to send their daughter to the elite Meadowbrook Academy where they hope she will get her act together. She does not want to go. Over the course of her first day, where she is surrounded by the kids of the wealthy, Roberta must handle her own insecurities about fitting in. Along the way she makes friends with Annie and Mervin, who each have their own problems. The whole story takes place over that first day.
I normally pride myself on my ability to sum up a novel in my own words. But I didn’t agree with the Goodreads synopsis and as I didn’t like this it’s hard to be objective. My summary does sum it up, I guess, but not well.
If I was the sort of person who DNF’d, this one would undoubtedly have ended up that way. Roberta was ungrateful and bratty and never appreciated the lengths her parents must have gone to for her to end up at that school. The school was one big cliché, as were all of the students. The perfect blondes, the enormous wealth, the girls who wear heels to school. It was a boring and unrealistic description. There was also Thaddeus, yes Thaddeus who she adores from first sight and then has a strange encounter with in the auditorium which leaves her in tears. There are Mervin and Annie, her first real friends with a multitude of problems each. There’s also mean teachers and jerky football players and secrets abound. But the main problem (other than the fact I couldn’t stand Roberta) is there was too much for one day.
Lots can happen in a day, I get that. But when you cram all the possible events and problems you can possibly think of into a novel that takes place in one day, it just feels rushed and unrealistic. There were also trains of thoughts or memories that came to Roberta over the day that weren’t relevant. I don’t like the dismissal of things you learn in the classroom as not being important, because no matter whether you like school or not there is a reason for it. And I really don’t feel that Roberta learned that much outside the classroom either. There were also events that I just didn’t believe, like that the maths teacher who took detention, after discovering Roberta was a maths prodigy (I wouldn’t have called her that, I would have just said she was smart), fell asleep? Really, just like that? How has he kept his job for so long when students can sneak out of detention so easy? The students themselves all had too many problems, all stacked on top of each other, and it felt like it was for narrative purposes, to make something meaningful out of the story, rather than because this was who the characters were. It felt forced. I didn’t believe it nor was I at any point invested in the characters.
This may have been a completely different novel had the events taken place over a couple of days or weeks. But there was too much revealed in a short time and it didn’t feel real or honest. I just didn’t like it and its only redeeming factor is that it was under two hundred pages so I didn’t have to suffer through it for too long.
October 21, 2014
When I got an email from Diversion Books/Netgalley inviting me to read & review Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy, I thought it sounded super interesting and on reading the first few pages, that initial though held through, but come the end of the novel, I was left with questions. I didn't understand why the novel only took place over the course of one day - it seemed way more drawn out than that, and it could have done with being set over a term or a semester, whatever, rather than a day.
I wanted to like Roberta so much - I liked her spunk initially, but it soon wore off, when she was telling little while lies here, there and everywhere. If you get your period and miss the start of class, just tell your teacher you got your period. There was no need for the big fat lie. It was childish.
I like Roberta's friends Annie and Mervin, Mervin in particular was sweet. Annie was a bit weird. The novel went some place with her, leaving us hanging come the end of the novel. I was just left with so many questions - why did Thaddeus spent a free period with Roberta & then flip a switch and go all cray-cray? What happened to Annie? What happened the next day, never mind anything else? It just wasn't my kind of read, there are better novels set at posh schools than this one.
I wanted to like Roberta so much - I liked her spunk initially, but it soon wore off, when she was telling little while lies here, there and everywhere. If you get your period and miss the start of class, just tell your teacher you got your period. There was no need for the big fat lie. It was childish.
I like Roberta's friends Annie and Mervin, Mervin in particular was sweet. Annie was a bit weird. The novel went some place with her, leaving us hanging come the end of the novel. I was just left with so many questions - why did Thaddeus spent a free period with Roberta & then flip a switch and go all cray-cray? What happened to Annie? What happened the next day, never mind anything else? It just wasn't my kind of read, there are better novels set at posh schools than this one.
June 15, 2015
Just got back from the Santa Barbara Writers Conference. I picked up Lessons... after hearing the author speak.
I loved the smart and rebellious Roberta Romano. She had people who loved her who she rejected, a friend she needed who wasn't doing her any favors and a day that changed everything.
This is about friendship, getting a clue, exploring, trusting and finding out what matters.
I fell into her world head first, relating to so much about it.
Even when nothing was really happening it was lively with the detail of life and therefore, happening anyway. I just like how she writes.
I loved the smart and rebellious Roberta Romano. She had people who loved her who she rejected, a friend she needed who wasn't doing her any favors and a day that changed everything.
This is about friendship, getting a clue, exploring, trusting and finding out what matters.
I fell into her world head first, relating to so much about it.
Even when nothing was really happening it was lively with the detail of life and therefore, happening anyway. I just like how she writes.
January 23, 2021
This book was genuinely a hilarious and heart warming read. It's true to life, the characters are vibrant and likable, and the author captures a sense of place amazingly well.
I really enjoyed this, and will definitely be reading it again, probably sometime soon.
I really enjoyed this, and will definitely be reading it again, probably sometime soon.
dnf-or-not-for-me
November 4, 2015After reading about 50 ish pages I decided not to carry on reading this one. I couldn't get into the story and really disliked the main character's personality.
March 5, 2018
Similar to Love Letters To The Dead. A moving, heartbreaking story, that also tells how the power of friendship can make all the difference in life.
December 30, 2014
Check out this review and others on my blog SleepsOnTables
Actual rating: 3.5
First things first: Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy is an insanely long title to type so in this post I will be referring to it as LINLAMA.
LINLAMA follows Roberta as she starts her first day of school at Meadowbrook Academy, where her parents are sending her to get her away from the bad influences of her friends at her public school. Throughout the day Roberta must battle her own insecurities for not fitting in. She makes friends with Annie and Mervin who each have their own issues too. The three of them really bond and Roberta learns that no one is perfect and she shouldn’t hold her own flaws against herself. She also learns the value of true friendship.
I don’t think I’ve read a book that’s read this quickly before. When I said LINLAMA follows Roberta as she starts her first day of school, I meant it. The whole book is what happens in one day. It makes for a very quick read, but at the same time, we get more detail than I think I’ve read for a typical high schooler’s day. This was refreshing for me because I’m one of those people who get a little annoyed when books and movies skirt past details like bathroom breaks and seemingly meaningless conversations.
One thing I wasn’t a fan of is Roberta. I totally understand why she is the way she is in the beginning but when I was her age just a few years ago I was eons more mature and I feel like most people are so the immatureness of Roberta bothered me. In the beginning, she doesn’t understand why her parents would take her away from a situation where she was doing drugs and alcohol and she begs to go back to her old school so she can see her one friend–who wasn’t even really her friend because the girl made back-handed comments to Roberta all the time. Roberta also failed to realize how much is was costing her parents to send her to Meadowbrook which annoyed me because I’m the type of person who feels so guilty whenever my parents have to pay for something for me.
All of that being said, Roberta starts to become a more appealing character after she meets Annie and Mervin. It’s her relationship with those two that really save Roberta as a character. Actually, separately Roberta, Annie, and Mervin kind of suck as characters but when they get mashed together in a friendship they balance each other out and make like a giant super-character that you can enjoy.
Another issue I had with LINLAMA is the very short and random bit of romance that comes with Thaddeus. It’s the weirdest thing ever. Him and Roberta meet, decide they like each other, kiss, and then Thaddeus decides he hates Roberta. Like what even? It was so disjointed and I feel unnecessary to the story because we never hear anything more about Thaddeus (even though before his character ‘left’ the main plot something was revealed that could’ve been developed more).
My favorite thing about LINLAMA was the humor. There was a lot of it with Roberta, Annie, and Mervin and that made the story enjoyable for me. Without it, I’m not sure it would’ve flowed the same and I probably wouldn’t have finished it.
Overall I generally liked LINLAMA. I think the ending brought the story of true friendships full circle which was great because according to the synopsis that was kind of the point. However, there’s so many things that happen in the one day that it makes them all feel a little unbelievable. Also, there’s so many little pieces of knowledge we get concerning issues and other characters–like Thaddeus for example–that I wanted to know more about. I think if LINLAMA were longer and spanned more time than just one day, allowing for more development with the story outside of just Roberta, I would’ve enjoyed it more.
I think most people would generally enjoy this one but it’s easy to get caught up on the issues that I had with the book. As well as LINLAMA was blurbed, I was expecting more from it.
Actual rating: 3.5
First things first: Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy is an insanely long title to type so in this post I will be referring to it as LINLAMA.
LINLAMA follows Roberta as she starts her first day of school at Meadowbrook Academy, where her parents are sending her to get her away from the bad influences of her friends at her public school. Throughout the day Roberta must battle her own insecurities for not fitting in. She makes friends with Annie and Mervin who each have their own issues too. The three of them really bond and Roberta learns that no one is perfect and she shouldn’t hold her own flaws against herself. She also learns the value of true friendship.
I don’t think I’ve read a book that’s read this quickly before. When I said LINLAMA follows Roberta as she starts her first day of school, I meant it. The whole book is what happens in one day. It makes for a very quick read, but at the same time, we get more detail than I think I’ve read for a typical high schooler’s day. This was refreshing for me because I’m one of those people who get a little annoyed when books and movies skirt past details like bathroom breaks and seemingly meaningless conversations.
One thing I wasn’t a fan of is Roberta. I totally understand why she is the way she is in the beginning but when I was her age just a few years ago I was eons more mature and I feel like most people are so the immatureness of Roberta bothered me. In the beginning, she doesn’t understand why her parents would take her away from a situation where she was doing drugs and alcohol and she begs to go back to her old school so she can see her one friend–who wasn’t even really her friend because the girl made back-handed comments to Roberta all the time. Roberta also failed to realize how much is was costing her parents to send her to Meadowbrook which annoyed me because I’m the type of person who feels so guilty whenever my parents have to pay for something for me.
All of that being said, Roberta starts to become a more appealing character after she meets Annie and Mervin. It’s her relationship with those two that really save Roberta as a character. Actually, separately Roberta, Annie, and Mervin kind of suck as characters but when they get mashed together in a friendship they balance each other out and make like a giant super-character that you can enjoy.
Another issue I had with LINLAMA is the very short and random bit of romance that comes with Thaddeus. It’s the weirdest thing ever. Him and Roberta meet, decide they like each other, kiss, and then Thaddeus decides he hates Roberta. Like what even? It was so disjointed and I feel unnecessary to the story because we never hear anything more about Thaddeus (even though before his character ‘left’ the main plot something was revealed that could’ve been developed more).
My favorite thing about LINLAMA was the humor. There was a lot of it with Roberta, Annie, and Mervin and that made the story enjoyable for me. Without it, I’m not sure it would’ve flowed the same and I probably wouldn’t have finished it.
Overall I generally liked LINLAMA. I think the ending brought the story of true friendships full circle which was great because according to the synopsis that was kind of the point. However, there’s so many things that happen in the one day that it makes them all feel a little unbelievable. Also, there’s so many little pieces of knowledge we get concerning issues and other characters–like Thaddeus for example–that I wanted to know more about. I think if LINLAMA were longer and spanned more time than just one day, allowing for more development with the story outside of just Roberta, I would’ve enjoyed it more.
I think most people would generally enjoy this one but it’s easy to get caught up on the issues that I had with the book. As well as LINLAMA was blurbed, I was expecting more from it.
October 16, 2014
This is a review of an ARC from NetGalley.
This one just did not do it for me. The story centers on Roberta, a high school sophomore on her first day at Meadowbrook Academy, a fancy private school in the New Jersey suburbs. Roberta’s parents have sent her there because they’re worried she’s “throwing her life away” at West Orange High, cutting classes, drinking, and hanging out wit, well, not a bad crowd, because having only one friend can hardly be called a crowd. Roberta has had it tough, after years of being teased for being overweight, she lost weight only to find that the bullying just kept right on.
You can’t fault the book for lack of plot. Roberta’s first day at Meadowbrook is filled with it: new best friends, a crush, a hookup, a breakup, cutting classes, detention, a fight in the cafeteria, learning classmates’ dark secrets, learning teachers’ dark secrets (and seeing the headmaster’s genitals), a rafting trip, and police intervention. Yes, her first day. I think the idea was that a new school can change your life, but this was just ridiculous and over the top. There’s no reason all of this couldn’t have happened over a semester or a few months. I just kept going “wait, this is still the SAME DAY?”
I did fault the book for the writing. It’s just not very polished, and there are too many cases where Maccie explicitly tells you exactly what the characters are feeling or what lessons they are learning. For instance, we’ve been told that Roberta’s older brother Anthony is very smart, and is the first in their family to go to college (albeit community college, because he still needs to work). When he’s dropping her off at her fancy school, he yells, frustrated that she’s blowing off an opportunity he never got.
“I slowly back up in my seat. I hadn’t even thought about Anthony’s feelings. I was too busy thinking of my own. My chest filled with shame.”
Oof. It’s just so heavy-handed. Maccie was a television writer and much of the writing feels like it’s actually character notes for an actor who will have to portray this silently. There’s also an extremely awkward bit at the end where a character gets a chapter length monologue to reveal one of those deep,dark secrets but with language that sounds not like a person telling a story, but a writer describing a scene. To the point it took me out of the story entirely while I wondered where her editor went.
A major quibble I did have - I chose this book in part because of the positive press I saw about it, including a blurb from Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). Apparently Maccie and Chbosky are married. That’s not spelled out on her web site or in any of the other publicity for the book that I could find, although Chbosky’s quote is displayed a lot. I’m not saying he doesn’t appreciate the book as a writer, but I felt like that needed to be disclosed a little more obviously.
This one just did not do it for me. The story centers on Roberta, a high school sophomore on her first day at Meadowbrook Academy, a fancy private school in the New Jersey suburbs. Roberta’s parents have sent her there because they’re worried she’s “throwing her life away” at West Orange High, cutting classes, drinking, and hanging out wit, well, not a bad crowd, because having only one friend can hardly be called a crowd. Roberta has had it tough, after years of being teased for being overweight, she lost weight only to find that the bullying just kept right on.
You can’t fault the book for lack of plot. Roberta’s first day at Meadowbrook is filled with it: new best friends, a crush, a hookup, a breakup, cutting classes, detention, a fight in the cafeteria, learning classmates’ dark secrets, learning teachers’ dark secrets (and seeing the headmaster’s genitals), a rafting trip, and police intervention. Yes, her first day. I think the idea was that a new school can change your life, but this was just ridiculous and over the top. There’s no reason all of this couldn’t have happened over a semester or a few months. I just kept going “wait, this is still the SAME DAY?”
I did fault the book for the writing. It’s just not very polished, and there are too many cases where Maccie explicitly tells you exactly what the characters are feeling or what lessons they are learning. For instance, we’ve been told that Roberta’s older brother Anthony is very smart, and is the first in their family to go to college (albeit community college, because he still needs to work). When he’s dropping her off at her fancy school, he yells, frustrated that she’s blowing off an opportunity he never got.
“I slowly back up in my seat. I hadn’t even thought about Anthony’s feelings. I was too busy thinking of my own. My chest filled with shame.”
Oof. It’s just so heavy-handed. Maccie was a television writer and much of the writing feels like it’s actually character notes for an actor who will have to portray this silently. There’s also an extremely awkward bit at the end where a character gets a chapter length monologue to reveal one of those deep,dark secrets but with language that sounds not like a person telling a story, but a writer describing a scene. To the point it took me out of the story entirely while I wondered where her editor went.
A major quibble I did have - I chose this book in part because of the positive press I saw about it, including a blurb from Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). Apparently Maccie and Chbosky are married. That’s not spelled out on her web site or in any of the other publicity for the book that I could find, although Chbosky’s quote is displayed a lot. I’m not saying he doesn’t appreciate the book as a writer, but I felt like that needed to be disclosed a little more obviously.
October 15, 2014
Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy var på mange måder en bog jeg højst sandsynligt burde have dømt som forudsigelig, stereotyp og ligegyldig. Og de to første ting var den også på alle områder. Alligevel fandt jeg den aldrig ligegyldig.
Roberta er bogens hovedperson, og er egentlig ikke en voldsomt sympatisk karakter i starten. Hun er teenager med stort T og hendes usikkerhed og kejtethed har trængt hende ud i ekstremerne for at beholde den ene ven hun nogensinde har haft. Hun ryger og drikker, pjækker fra skole og er umulig at holde styr på. Hun har trængt sig selv så langt ud, at faderen nu arbejder med overtid for at forældrene kan sende hende på privatskole og få hende på ret køl igen. Håber de i hvert fald.
Hele bogen strækker sig over én dag i Robertas liv, den første dag på hendes nye skole. Hun kommer fra mere almindelige kår, og er sikker på at hun vil falde uden for og være hende den sære på stedet. Ud over at være usikker og kejtet, er hun også sur på alt og alle, forurettet og teenageblind for alt andet end sig selv. Hun er i virkeligheden den type fiktive karakter, som man bør hade for fuld hammer, men der var noget ved Liz Maccies måde at støbe hende på, som greb mig om hjertet. Jeg tror at det i mit tilfælde var min rimelig lette måde at relatere til hende på. Ja, hun var r*vbelastende i flere dele af bogen, og alt for selvcentreret på andre, men jeg forstod hende bare godt alligevel. Jeg genkendte godt hendes følelser og hendes desperate ønske om bare at have én ven at hænge ud sammen med. Og jeg forstod godt at hendes kejtethed og normale plads som ”outsideren” får hende til at gå over grænsen, for at beholde interessen fra den ene ”ven” hun nu engang har. Også selvom det kan virke dybt latterligt for andre.
Bogen er på lidt under 200 sider og er en enkeltstående historie, så der er selvsagt ikke plads til den helt store dybde og udforskning af store baggrundshistorier og nuværende traumer. Som første skoledag skrider frem fra Roberta lærer hun dog af sine tidligere fejl, og hun begynder at lære hvad rigtige venner er, og hvad der betyder noget for hendes liv. Selvom der ikke er plads til de helt store armbevægelser, så formår Liz Maccie også at få et par moraler og historier ind fra højre, og selvom de er rimelig klassiske, er de ikke mindre vigtige. Bogen vil være god at have stående på et skolebibliotek, eller som anbefaling til yngre teenagere, for selvom den på en eller anden måde virker som et afsnit af Gossip Girl, så er den også ærlig og reel på samme tid. Den går ikke i dybden, men den forsøger heller ikke at feje sig selv ind under gulvtæppet.
Læs alle anmeldelser her
Roberta er bogens hovedperson, og er egentlig ikke en voldsomt sympatisk karakter i starten. Hun er teenager med stort T og hendes usikkerhed og kejtethed har trængt hende ud i ekstremerne for at beholde den ene ven hun nogensinde har haft. Hun ryger og drikker, pjækker fra skole og er umulig at holde styr på. Hun har trængt sig selv så langt ud, at faderen nu arbejder med overtid for at forældrene kan sende hende på privatskole og få hende på ret køl igen. Håber de i hvert fald.
Hele bogen strækker sig over én dag i Robertas liv, den første dag på hendes nye skole. Hun kommer fra mere almindelige kår, og er sikker på at hun vil falde uden for og være hende den sære på stedet. Ud over at være usikker og kejtet, er hun også sur på alt og alle, forurettet og teenageblind for alt andet end sig selv. Hun er i virkeligheden den type fiktive karakter, som man bør hade for fuld hammer, men der var noget ved Liz Maccies måde at støbe hende på, som greb mig om hjertet. Jeg tror at det i mit tilfælde var min rimelig lette måde at relatere til hende på. Ja, hun var r*vbelastende i flere dele af bogen, og alt for selvcentreret på andre, men jeg forstod hende bare godt alligevel. Jeg genkendte godt hendes følelser og hendes desperate ønske om bare at have én ven at hænge ud sammen med. Og jeg forstod godt at hendes kejtethed og normale plads som ”outsideren” får hende til at gå over grænsen, for at beholde interessen fra den ene ”ven” hun nu engang har. Også selvom det kan virke dybt latterligt for andre.
Bogen er på lidt under 200 sider og er en enkeltstående historie, så der er selvsagt ikke plads til den helt store dybde og udforskning af store baggrundshistorier og nuværende traumer. Som første skoledag skrider frem fra Roberta lærer hun dog af sine tidligere fejl, og hun begynder at lære hvad rigtige venner er, og hvad der betyder noget for hendes liv. Selvom der ikke er plads til de helt store armbevægelser, så formår Liz Maccie også at få et par moraler og historier ind fra højre, og selvom de er rimelig klassiske, er de ikke mindre vigtige. Bogen vil være god at have stående på et skolebibliotek, eller som anbefaling til yngre teenagere, for selvom den på en eller anden måde virker som et afsnit af Gossip Girl, så er den også ærlig og reel på samme tid. Den går ikke i dybden, men den forsøger heller ikke at feje sig selv ind under gulvtæppet.
Læs alle anmeldelser her
April 8, 2015
The book starts off strongly and to be honest Roberta really came off as a spoilt brat; not a good first impression on me. However even though that was the case, the beginning of the book tells you a lot about Roberta's situation and that kind of explains why she's quite rebellious. I think I would feel the same if I was in the same place as her - feeling like the odd one out and being scared, and not knowing how to deal with that.
Roberta's personality is to actually be naturally really caring and it really came across when she was with Mervin particularly, I feel. She knows exactly how to make him happy and all their parts together are really sweet. It seems as if Roberta was very lucky; finding the only sane people around at Meadowbrook Academy and managing to befriend them. Also, the little side story of Roberta finding out she was a maths prodigy was sweet and it really lifted Roberta's confidence up.
Mervin was actually so funny and I didn't really expect that. The conversations between Annie and him always made me laugh. The main event, the rafting adventure, really gave you a look into Annie and Mervin's heads and I loved reading about the stories each of them told. Roberta, Mervin and Annie formed a close friendship within one day and yet it seemed perfectly natural. It even went so far as to Roberta's parents comforting Annie in her time of need.
It was good to read about the topic of teenage depression because I feel like it's quite a taboo topic but I think we need to talk about it more, especially as it's so common nowadays, so I really appreciate the fact that more people feel comfortable bringing it up now.
I liked the flashbacks, but I feel like there were maybe too many for such a short book, which is why I gave this book only 4 stars.
I really liked the ending, and how it focused on Roberta and her parents, as it showcased how their relationship had changed for the better.
Roberta's personality is to actually be naturally really caring and it really came across when she was with Mervin particularly, I feel. She knows exactly how to make him happy and all their parts together are really sweet. It seems as if Roberta was very lucky; finding the only sane people around at Meadowbrook Academy and managing to befriend them. Also, the little side story of Roberta finding out she was a maths prodigy was sweet and it really lifted Roberta's confidence up.
Mervin was actually so funny and I didn't really expect that. The conversations between Annie and him always made me laugh. The main event, the rafting adventure, really gave you a look into Annie and Mervin's heads and I loved reading about the stories each of them told. Roberta, Mervin and Annie formed a close friendship within one day and yet it seemed perfectly natural. It even went so far as to Roberta's parents comforting Annie in her time of need.
It was good to read about the topic of teenage depression because I feel like it's quite a taboo topic but I think we need to talk about it more, especially as it's so common nowadays, so I really appreciate the fact that more people feel comfortable bringing it up now.
I liked the flashbacks, but I feel like there were maybe too many for such a short book, which is why I gave this book only 4 stars.
I really liked the ending, and how it focused on Roberta and her parents, as it showcased how their relationship had changed for the better.
November 12, 2014
This was an okay book. There were parts that I truly enjoyed but there were also parts that made me want to scream.
Roberta, the main character, wasn't really likable. She's selfish and stupid. She made me want to strangle her. I didn't like that she was telling WHITE LIES every freaking where. The two other characters, or should I say, Roberta's new-found friends: Mervin and Annie, their personalities were likable and tolerable unlike Roberta. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed their banters between each other.
I thought this book was a really light read but boy was I wrong! This book dealt with so much dark issues and problems. I was shocked, to be honest, every thing happened so fast and Maccie's thrown a lot of information at her readers! I was absolutely taken aback and needed time to put my eReader down to process every thing. Some readers might like it, others might not.
However, Lessons I Never Learn At Meadowbrook Academy was so short and that's the problem with it! Even though the issues that they dealt with were realistic. .it felt forced, rushed and a little unbelievable. There was some development in Roberta's character but it was not enough. One day is not enough. One day is too short. ONE DAY IS TOO SHORT FOR EVERY THING. There were some important things that were left undealt with because of how short this book is. For example, Thaddeus, the "love" interest, what really happened to him? Why did he kissed Roberta and said that he liked her then suddenly go crazzzzzzy? What happened to Annie after that incident?
I think if Lessons I Never Learn At Meadowbrook Academy was much longer because If its longer it will allow more development in the story and the characters and I would have liked it more.
For more reviews, check out Perky Reads!
Roberta, the main character, wasn't really likable. She's selfish and stupid. She made me want to strangle her. I didn't like that she was telling WHITE LIES every freaking where. The two other characters, or should I say, Roberta's new-found friends: Mervin and Annie, their personalities were likable and tolerable unlike Roberta. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed their banters between each other.
I thought this book was a really light read but boy was I wrong! This book dealt with so much dark issues and problems. I was shocked, to be honest, every thing happened so fast and Maccie's thrown a lot of information at her readers! I was absolutely taken aback and needed time to put my eReader down to process every thing. Some readers might like it, others might not.
However, Lessons I Never Learn At Meadowbrook Academy was so short and that's the problem with it! Even though the issues that they dealt with were realistic. .it felt forced, rushed and a little unbelievable. There was some development in Roberta's character but it was not enough. One day is not enough. One day is too short. ONE DAY IS TOO SHORT FOR EVERY THING. There were some important things that were left undealt with because of how short this book is. For example, Thaddeus, the "love" interest, what really happened to him? Why did he kissed Roberta and said that he liked her then suddenly go crazzzzzzy? What happened to Annie after that incident?
I think if Lessons I Never Learn At Meadowbrook Academy was much longer because If its longer it will allow more development in the story and the characters and I would have liked it more.
For more reviews, check out Perky Reads!
November 9, 2014
Originally posted on www.readingwithabc.com
1.5/5 stars
I'm gonna keep this review short and sweet because this book is.... short.
Let me tell you, Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Ava Dellaira (Love Letters to the Dead), AND Siobhan Vivian (The List) all RAVED about this book, I however did not share their feelings. I honestly feel like I must have missed something but alas, this was just not a book for me. If you like any of the authors listed above then you should give it a shot though!
Roberta, our MC, is starting her first day at Meadowbrook Academy when we first meet her; she was attending the local high school but she got into some trouble and her parents removed her from the situation. This book got off to a bad start for me when I could not find it in my heart to like/care about Roberta; she's dramatic (aren't we all a little) but her choices and thoughts never made any sense to me. We find out some about her but it doesn't all align with me; also, since it's a shorter book, I didn't feel like I got enough information.
She is quickly befriended by Mervin, a nerdy student who helps her with her locker, and his friend Annie. Mervin would have to be my favorite part of the book but his character didn't make a whole lot of sense (in my opinion). Annie was.... crazy? She was quick to anger and her mood flipped back and forth more than the Mayor in Halloween Town.
The entire book spans one day, Roberta's first day at Meadowbrook Academy, which was quite the busy day; EVERYTHING happened in the confines of this one day.
Overall, this book wasn't for me but I think that other people could like it if they're a fan of story with a dark side.
1.5/5 stars
I'm gonna keep this review short and sweet because this book is.... short.
Let me tell you, Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower), Ava Dellaira (Love Letters to the Dead), AND Siobhan Vivian (The List) all RAVED about this book, I however did not share their feelings. I honestly feel like I must have missed something but alas, this was just not a book for me. If you like any of the authors listed above then you should give it a shot though!
Roberta, our MC, is starting her first day at Meadowbrook Academy when we first meet her; she was attending the local high school but she got into some trouble and her parents removed her from the situation. This book got off to a bad start for me when I could not find it in my heart to like/care about Roberta; she's dramatic (aren't we all a little) but her choices and thoughts never made any sense to me. We find out some about her but it doesn't all align with me; also, since it's a shorter book, I didn't feel like I got enough information.
She is quickly befriended by Mervin, a nerdy student who helps her with her locker, and his friend Annie. Mervin would have to be my favorite part of the book but his character didn't make a whole lot of sense (in my opinion). Annie was.... crazy? She was quick to anger and her mood flipped back and forth more than the Mayor in Halloween Town.
The entire book spans one day, Roberta's first day at Meadowbrook Academy, which was quite the busy day; EVERYTHING happened in the confines of this one day.
Overall, this book wasn't for me but I think that other people could like it if they're a fan of story with a dark side.
July 14, 2015
Liz Maccie’s "Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy" is an important novel. It is a story of adolescence, hardship, difficult secrets, and finding true friendship amidst a path of self-discovery. Maccie creates a lovely array of characters, especially the book’s star, Roberta Romano. Roberta’s path is riddled with rites of passage moments that bring us close to her and closer to ourselves. At the end, I felt inspired by and grateful for the deep meanings weaved in each page. Some passages were so moving, so full of life’s most poignant lessons, I reread them several times. What a delightful read of full of insight, humor, and hope.
June 26, 2015
True, the story of a poor, unsophisticated girl in an upper-crust school has been done, but I loved that Maccie's debut novel did it right. The story happens in one day, which sounds crazy, but it works. The action flows as Roberta Romano, the scrappy underdog at the heart of this story, keeps us guessing about her next move. She bounces between less-than-perfect choices and heroic moves. In the end she finds true friendship and discovers things about herself and her family that make her grow up a bit during that 24 hour period, while we grow to love Roberta.
October 26, 2014
Roberta starts her sophomore year at a private school for wealthy students after her parents decide she's spent too much time with the wrong influences at her local public high school. Roberta isn't happy about this turn of events and feels left out until she starts making new friends. This story is told over the course of one day and this shortness of time makes the novel feel more like a novella than a full-fledged novel.
January 4, 2015
I'd have loved this in high school. It's more of a vignette than a novel and yet you still get to know a few characters. My only quibble is the editing -- so many typos and grammar misses that a better editor would not have missed. But I wish the author success and I'd read other books or stories by her.
April 26, 2015
3.5/5
It was really good, and very in-tune with the true nature of teenagers. But I also feel like there's so much that wasn't touched on, and I wanted to know about the characters. Especially Thad! Still, an enjoyable read.
It was really good, and very in-tune with the true nature of teenagers. But I also feel like there's so much that wasn't touched on, and I wanted to know about the characters. Especially Thad! Still, an enjoyable read.
August 4, 2015
This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 Stars
Full review to be posted on November 13th, 2014!
3.5 Stars
Full review to be posted on November 13th, 2014!
September 28, 2014
Review to come closer to release date!
November 10, 2014
Review Coming Soon!!!
January 19, 2015
Love Roberta and her crew. It brought all the emotions of high school back. I look forward to reading more from this exciting new author.
dnf
October 9, 2014Not for me sorry.
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