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No Good Deed
He's not asking for much. All Gregor Maravilla wants to do is feed all of the starving children on the planet. So when he's selected to join Camp Save the World, a special summer program for teenage activists from all over the country to champion their cause, Gregor's sure he's on the path to becoming Someone Great.
But then a prize is announced. It will be awarded at the end of summer to the activist who shows the most promise in their campaign. Gregor's sure he has the prize in the bag, especially compared to some of the other campers' campaigns. Like Eat Dirt, a preposterous campaign started by Ashley Woodstone, a famous young actor who most likely doesn't even deserve to be at the camp. Everywhere Gregor goes, Ashley seems to show up ready to ruin things. Plus, the prize has an unforeseen side effect, turning a quiet summer into cutthroat warfare where campers stop focusing on their own campaigns and start sabotaging everyone else's.
But then a prize is announced. It will be awarded at the end of summer to the activist who shows the most promise in their campaign. Gregor's sure he has the prize in the bag, especially compared to some of the other campers' campaigns. Like Eat Dirt, a preposterous campaign started by Ashley Woodstone, a famous young actor who most likely doesn't even deserve to be at the camp. Everywhere Gregor goes, Ashley seems to show up ready to ruin things. Plus, the prize has an unforeseen side effect, turning a quiet summer into cutthroat warfare where campers stop focusing on their own campaigns and start sabotaging everyone else's.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 30, 2017
30 people are currently reading
2476 people want to read
About the author
Goldy Moldavsky
13 books754 followersGoldy Moldavsky was born in Lima, Peru, and grew up in Brooklyn, where she still lives. Her novels include the New York Times bestseller, KILL THE BOY BAND, the Publishers Weekly bestseller, THE MARY SHELLEY CLUB, and the upcoming OF EARTHLY DELIGHTS, and BUBBLEGUM SHOES. You can find her on X and Instagram @goldywrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
February 1, 2024
I was an incredibly smart teenager. Much wiser than my parents, for sure. For the most part, I received exactly the adoration I deserved, which is to say my inexplicable intellectual arrogance was essentially ignored. But, once in a while, I did get called out. I never appreciated my parents’ glee when this happened and felt their enthusiasm for my public dressing down was a bit harsh. It is to that end that I so easily identify with and wholly support our hapless hero, Gregor Maravilla.
As he ecstatically, albeit a bit egotistically, prepares for what is most certainly the summer camp of his dreams, Camp Save the World, Gregor tries to tune out his family’s fascination with the anticipated attendance of ‘surprise’ camper, super-star Ashley Woodstone. He isn’t a fan solely because he’s never seen any of the thousands of certainly cliché shows and movies that she’d done. But, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that she must have enough money to fund whatever project she wants; she’s going to be a waste of space and a huge distraction for everyone except him. He will leave this camp with his grand plan to Feed the Children clearly articulated and outlined and that will most certainly show everyone.
Oddly, upon arrival, what he sees doesn’t exactly mesh with the mental images he’s created, but appearances aren’t everything, so he confidently sends his slightly concerned family on their way. Gregor’s summer camp experience includes some classics; pranks and awkward initial boy-meets-girl moments; but when the camp agenda abruptly changes from ‘everyone will work together to help each individual realize his goal’ to a vague competition with no rules, but one big winner, the entire tone turns.
Ms. Moldavsky shares a slightly quirky story that is quickly captivating, with a light and fun feel; while managing to touch on topics that actually matter. I particularly love the fact that a gratuitous event wasn’t invented in order for her to bring the balance.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
As he ecstatically, albeit a bit egotistically, prepares for what is most certainly the summer camp of his dreams, Camp Save the World, Gregor tries to tune out his family’s fascination with the anticipated attendance of ‘surprise’ camper, super-star Ashley Woodstone. He isn’t a fan solely because he’s never seen any of the thousands of certainly cliché shows and movies that she’d done. But, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that she must have enough money to fund whatever project she wants; she’s going to be a waste of space and a huge distraction for everyone except him. He will leave this camp with his grand plan to Feed the Children clearly articulated and outlined and that will most certainly show everyone.
Oddly, upon arrival, what he sees doesn’t exactly mesh with the mental images he’s created, but appearances aren’t everything, so he confidently sends his slightly concerned family on their way. Gregor’s summer camp experience includes some classics; pranks and awkward initial boy-meets-girl moments; but when the camp agenda abruptly changes from ‘everyone will work together to help each individual realize his goal’ to a vague competition with no rules, but one big winner, the entire tone turns.
Ms. Moldavsky shares a slightly quirky story that is quickly captivating, with a light and fun feel; while managing to touch on topics that actually matter. I particularly love the fact that a gratuitous event wasn’t invented in order for her to bring the balance.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
October 27, 2017
Not to be weird, but this is one of the funniest books ever written.
There's something about the way Goldy Moldavsky writes parody novels. It never feels like she's making fun of boy band fangirls or people who fight for social justice, even when she writes parodies. In fact, her two parodies so far have sent a positive message about their respective groups. Part of her positive message comes from the fact that she writes from the point of view of an actual character inside that sect of people. Her parodies feel like loving fun rather than fitting into the “lmao, those sjws” type of humor. That's what sets them apart.
In No Good Deed, Moldavsky managed to poke fun at the more toxic elements of mainstream social justice culture... while also endorsing the social justice movement. Which is quite an achievement, honestly. She pokes fun at the way racism pops up in the movement. And her parody of the men's rights movement is perfect.
But this is a poignant story too, with good characters and a great message. Ashley is a sweet character, and while she's a bit out there, she also comes off as very human. And Moldavsky really points out the importance of the social justice movement, which I was exceptionally pleased about.
Basically my only issue was the book's weird pacing. This book transitions well from funny to poignant. However, there are thirty-page sections where nothing funny happens and then thirty-page sections where it's a laugh a minute. The pacing is just a bit messy.
However, this book is absolutely redeemed by how fucking hilarious it is. The humor might not work for everyone, but it sure works for me.
Thanks to my local bookstore for allowing me to borrow the arc!
“You going to paint me like one of your French girls?”
“How do you know about my French girls?”
There's something about the way Goldy Moldavsky writes parody novels. It never feels like she's making fun of boy band fangirls or people who fight for social justice, even when she writes parodies. In fact, her two parodies so far have sent a positive message about their respective groups. Part of her positive message comes from the fact that she writes from the point of view of an actual character inside that sect of people. Her parodies feel like loving fun rather than fitting into the “lmao, those sjws” type of humor. That's what sets them apart.
In No Good Deed, Moldavsky managed to poke fun at the more toxic elements of mainstream social justice culture... while also endorsing the social justice movement. Which is quite an achievement, honestly. She pokes fun at the way racism pops up in the movement. And her parody of the men's rights movement is perfect.
But this is a poignant story too, with good characters and a great message. Ashley is a sweet character, and while she's a bit out there, she also comes off as very human. And Moldavsky really points out the importance of the social justice movement, which I was exceptionally pleased about.
Basically my only issue was the book's weird pacing. This book transitions well from funny to poignant. However, there are thirty-page sections where nothing funny happens and then thirty-page sections where it's a laugh a minute. The pacing is just a bit messy.
However, this book is absolutely redeemed by how fucking hilarious it is. The humor might not work for everyone, but it sure works for me.
“I'm Poe.”
“Like Kung Fu Panda?”
“Like Edgar Allan.”
Thanks to my local bookstore for allowing me to borrow the arc!
December 24, 2020
2.5 stars
This one tried too hard *shakes head*
After the masterpiece that was Kill the Boy Band I was expecting so much more from this author’s second book. This was a book I had started in the year it came out and immediately put down after 2 chapters. At the time I thought I wasn’t in the right mood, so I planned to pick it back up sometime. Well, I guess my first impression of this book wasn’t really that far from reality.
The main character was lovely, interesting and fun enough for me to care about what was going to happen to him, but almost all of the other characters were too ridiculous to even laugh about them. Take Ashley, all the things she says or does are just too much. There’s a line you shouldn’t get past, even in black comedy, but as a character she keeps surpassing it to the point where you don’t know if she was given a peculiar personality or she was given none. The way she acts just doesn’t make sense, and it’s annoying.
You can see this book was written by the same author as KTBB, but there’s no spark in the humor, characters or plot. It tries too hard to be funny and obtains the opposite. There is no balance between ridiculous humor and actual stuff that makes sense, and that’s where this book falls for me.
This one tried too hard *shakes head*
After the masterpiece that was Kill the Boy Band I was expecting so much more from this author’s second book. This was a book I had started in the year it came out and immediately put down after 2 chapters. At the time I thought I wasn’t in the right mood, so I planned to pick it back up sometime. Well, I guess my first impression of this book wasn’t really that far from reality.
The main character was lovely, interesting and fun enough for me to care about what was going to happen to him, but almost all of the other characters were too ridiculous to even laugh about them. Take Ashley, all the things she says or does are just too much. There’s a line you shouldn’t get past, even in black comedy, but as a character she keeps surpassing it to the point where you don’t know if she was given a peculiar personality or she was given none. The way she acts just doesn’t make sense, and it’s annoying.
You can see this book was written by the same author as KTBB, but there’s no spark in the humor, characters or plot. It tries too hard to be funny and obtains the opposite. There is no balance between ridiculous humor and actual stuff that makes sense, and that’s where this book falls for me.
June 3, 2017
An ARC of this book was sent to me unsolicited by the publisher
I've seen a good amount of positive reviews for this book so maybe I'm the odd one out on this but I wasn't into No Good Deed at all.
I thought the plot sounded really original and it had a lot of potential but the characters prevented this book from becoming likable for me. I was not a fan of the main character at all and because of that, I was never able to get into the book. The main character, Gregor, was so incredibly annoying to me. I also died a few times from second hand embarrassment from Gregor's awkwardness and sometimes his inner monologue was very strange as well.
I really liked the idea of a teen activists camp but a majority of the kids had a social justice warriors persona and that was not for me.
I did really like how Gregor's Mexican roots are mentioned early on and had a place in the story. Even if I didn't really enjoy this book, I really appreciated the diversity.
I've seen a good amount of positive reviews for this book so maybe I'm the odd one out on this but I wasn't into No Good Deed at all.
I thought the plot sounded really original and it had a lot of potential but the characters prevented this book from becoming likable for me. I was not a fan of the main character at all and because of that, I was never able to get into the book. The main character, Gregor, was so incredibly annoying to me. I also died a few times from second hand embarrassment from Gregor's awkwardness and sometimes his inner monologue was very strange as well.
I really liked the idea of a teen activists camp but a majority of the kids had a social justice warriors persona and that was not for me.
I did really like how Gregor's Mexican roots are mentioned early on and had a place in the story. Even if I didn't really enjoy this book, I really appreciated the diversity.
May 13, 2018
If you liked Goldy Moldavsky's brand of dark satirical humor in Kill the Boy Band, you absolutely need to try her follow up No Good Deed. Fair warning, it's set in the same world as her first novel (Ashley's ex is one of the Ruperts) and it's just as absurd (in a great way). In the end, I don't think I enjoyed this one quite as much, but it's still pretty fantastic. Plus, the audiobook is narrated by Michael Crouch (he also narrated Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda) who does an excellent job and really brings all of the characters to life.
September 30, 2017
rlly short review:
5 stars to Goldy Moldavsky's newest AMAZING book. we all know this was my most anticipated book of the year... from page one, i knew i was gonna love this. reading goldy's books feels like watching a really really hilarious youtube skit. she's got the BEST imagination and her stories are always wild and unforgettable. but at the same time, the teens she writes about are relatable and authentic. even if i tried, i could not think about ONE thing I disliked about either of her books. they are completely unpredictable and original. seriously y'all need to go to the bookstore RIGHT NOW and get this amazing book.
longer rambly gush review
• I LOVE THIS BOOK !!! AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!! here are some reasons to read it
• this is set at a summer camp. i'm obsessed w summer camp books. going to my sleepway camp is one of the best parts of every summer, so reading about other camps makes me smile. plus this book features the weirdest camp i've ever heard of (though the administration insists that it is the most "normal" camp ever), so it has fresh takes on many classic camp things- like color wars, campfires, and pranking.
• team internet!!! since campers can't have their phones w/ them at Camp Save The World, there aren't many opportunities for glorious internet references like there were in Kill the Boy Band. but gregor's older brother is a Youtube star known for minecraft videos. i love seeing characters who are internet creators in books so that made me smile!
relatable mc…. advocate for change who realized his motivations aren’t always the right reason?
• ktbb crossover moments involving the ruperts!! i actually screamed
• a super wild plot w even wilder plot twists. goldy moldavsky is SO CREATIVE and it makes her books so fun to read bc you legit can not predict what will happen. she's such a great writer & ill continue to buy everything she publishes!!
• super interesting characters- despite the fun in this book, it got a lil deep. also goldy moldavsky is amazing at writing authentic teens-- of course, the teens in her book can sometimes be pretty out of the box and do some crazy things, but their thoughts and their voices are super authentic and relatable.
• asked some rlly interesting questions about activism and how we go about it!! i was just shook for the entire book
• while i disliked the cover change at first, i now think its awesome. just like with kill the boy band, this book looks so cool. the inside pages are decorated with Camp Save The World picket signs and without the dust jacket, the US hardcover is neon green and has another cover design. so freaking cool.
• diversity!! the mc is biracial (white & mexican). his friend is black, his crush is asian, and his arch nemesis is latinx. there are multiple lgbt+ characters whose sexualities aren't revealed until toward the end. click right here for more info on what sexualities are represented (character names omitted) ----> (i know there's debate when it comes to sexualities being "spoilers" and such so i hope that was a good approach to this situation?)
some updates i posted pre- release:
january 24 2017: update- THERE IS A NEW COVER & TITLE!!! ok honestly i adored the original and don't like the new one as but its okay!!! the content on the inside is sure to be AWESOME and thats what counts. wheeeeeeeeeeee I'm so psyched omg
december 2016:: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMGGGGGG ANOTHER GOLDY MOLDAVSKY BOOK????? WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME! I'm such kill the boy band trash I nEEEEEEED this in my life
5 stars to Goldy Moldavsky's newest AMAZING book. we all know this was my most anticipated book of the year... from page one, i knew i was gonna love this. reading goldy's books feels like watching a really really hilarious youtube skit. she's got the BEST imagination and her stories are always wild and unforgettable. but at the same time, the teens she writes about are relatable and authentic. even if i tried, i could not think about ONE thing I disliked about either of her books. they are completely unpredictable and original. seriously y'all need to go to the bookstore RIGHT NOW and get this amazing book.
longer rambly gush review
• I LOVE THIS BOOK !!! AND EVERYTHING ABOUT IT!!! here are some reasons to read it
• this is set at a summer camp. i'm obsessed w summer camp books. going to my sleepway camp is one of the best parts of every summer, so reading about other camps makes me smile. plus this book features the weirdest camp i've ever heard of (though the administration insists that it is the most "normal" camp ever), so it has fresh takes on many classic camp things- like color wars, campfires, and pranking.
• team internet!!! since campers can't have their phones w/ them at Camp Save The World, there aren't many opportunities for glorious internet references like there were in Kill the Boy Band. but gregor's older brother is a Youtube star known for minecraft videos. i love seeing characters who are internet creators in books so that made me smile!
relatable mc…. advocate for change who realized his motivations aren’t always the right reason?
• ktbb crossover moments involving the ruperts!! i actually screamed
• a super wild plot w even wilder plot twists. goldy moldavsky is SO CREATIVE and it makes her books so fun to read bc you legit can not predict what will happen. she's such a great writer & ill continue to buy everything she publishes!!
• super interesting characters- despite the fun in this book, it got a lil deep. also goldy moldavsky is amazing at writing authentic teens-- of course, the teens in her book can sometimes be pretty out of the box and do some crazy things, but their thoughts and their voices are super authentic and relatable.
• asked some rlly interesting questions about activism and how we go about it!! i was just shook for the entire book
• while i disliked the cover change at first, i now think its awesome. just like with kill the boy band, this book looks so cool. the inside pages are decorated with Camp Save The World picket signs and without the dust jacket, the US hardcover is neon green and has another cover design. so freaking cool.
• diversity!! the mc is biracial (white & mexican). his friend is black, his crush is asian, and his arch nemesis is latinx. there are multiple lgbt+ characters whose sexualities aren't revealed until toward the end. click right here for more info on what sexualities are represented (character names omitted) ----> (i know there's debate when it comes to sexualities being "spoilers" and such so i hope that was a good approach to this situation?)
some updates i posted pre- release:
january 24 2017: update- THERE IS A NEW COVER & TITLE!!! ok honestly i adored the original and don't like the new one as but its okay!!! the content on the inside is sure to be AWESOME and thats what counts. wheeeeeeeeeeee I'm so psyched omg
december 2016:: OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMGOMG OMGGGGGG ANOTHER GOLDY MOLDAVSKY BOOK????? WHY DID NO ONE TELL ME! I'm such kill the boy band trash I nEEEEEEED this in my life
May 27, 2021
excruciatingly funny
November 14, 2018
No Good Deed....is okay. I found it categorized by my library under the subcategory 'humor.' But with the black cover with the spray paint plus the synopsis talking about ruin and warfare, I expected mischief and violence and maybe some mystery. Let me just tell you, there is
none of the above (humor included).
So Gregor Maravilla (last name always included) goes away to summer camp with lofty ambitions to save the world by feeding the children. Everyone else at "Camp Save the World" has similar ambitions. Feminism, Men's Rights, Eat Dirt, Anti-Robotics, etc. As you can sort of see, some of them are a little sideways, some of them are common. The camp turns these campaigns into competitions to gain the campers points to try to win an internship with the head honcho who can't seem to find time to actually leave his office in the big city and visit camp in person. Of course things get cutthroat and quite crazy.
I hardly found there to be any depth or connection to this book. I really liked the 'love interest' Ashley Woodstone, who Gregor swore to hate from the very beginning. She was really the best part, even though when she did finally open up about herself, it was relatively brief and Gregor had a hard time taking it all in. Ashley was the most spirited person at the camp, and everyone else looked at her like she was crazy!
The biggest thing about the book that I had a problem with, I think, was that the ending felt like a loose end. In the first third of the book, Gregor and Ashley break into Jimmy's office and Gregor finds something very revealing about the camp and how the campers all came to be there. Basically he finds a boatload of information he could expose that would make a huge impact on future summers. When there is a press conference at parents weekend, Gregor only exposes information about the internship. WHY?! All the way to the end of the book, the info about the campers is never brought to light. Again, WHY!??! You know all of this, why don't you fix it? Do something?! All this talk about 'causes' and needing to better public speaking and bla bla bla. Jimmy and his father being exposed and the camp coming to justice just seems like a big loose end to me! Gah!!
So that's my take. The book has some fun ideas. Its relatively unique. Some of the causes are worthy of a good chuckle. I still wouldn't eat the dirt even if my favorite celebrity told me to. I have a deep love for summer camps in my heart but my bias for them did not envelop this one. Better luck next time, Goldy.
So Gregor Maravilla (last name always included) goes away to summer camp with lofty ambitions to save the world by feeding the children. Everyone else at "Camp Save the World" has similar ambitions. Feminism, Men's Rights, Eat Dirt, Anti-Robotics, etc. As you can sort of see, some of them are a little sideways, some of them are common. The camp turns these campaigns into competitions to gain the campers points to try to win an internship with the head honcho who can't seem to find time to actually leave his office in the big city and visit camp in person. Of course things get cutthroat and quite crazy.
I hardly found there to be any depth or connection to this book. I really liked the 'love interest' Ashley Woodstone, who Gregor swore to hate from the very beginning. She was really the best part, even though when she did finally open up about herself, it was relatively brief and Gregor had a hard time taking it all in. Ashley was the most spirited person at the camp, and everyone else looked at her like she was crazy!
The biggest thing about the book that I had a problem with, I think, was that the ending felt like a loose end. In the first third of the book, Gregor and Ashley break into Jimmy's office and Gregor finds something very revealing about the camp and how the campers all came to be there. Basically he finds a boatload of information he could expose that would make a huge impact on future summers. When there is a press conference at parents weekend, Gregor only exposes information about the internship. WHY?! All the way to the end of the book, the info about the campers is never brought to light. Again, WHY!??! You know all of this, why don't you fix it? Do something?! All this talk about 'causes' and needing to better public speaking and bla bla bla. Jimmy and his father being exposed and the camp coming to justice just seems like a big loose end to me! Gah!!
So that's my take. The book has some fun ideas. Its relatively unique. Some of the causes are worthy of a good chuckle. I still wouldn't eat the dirt even if my favorite celebrity told me to. I have a deep love for summer camps in my heart but my bias for them did not envelop this one. Better luck next time, Goldy.
June 7, 2017
Not for the first time, I wondered what the hell was happening at this camp.
Question:What do you get if a bunch of social justice warriors went to a summer camp together?
Answer: A hilariously captivating book called No Good Deed.
The writing and imagery was so vivid in this book that reading it felt like watching a movie. I've read Goldy's previous book, Kill the Boy Band and absolutely loved it. (If you haven't read Kill the Boy Band yet, you should. One of the characters in this book is mentioned in it) And this book just confirmed that Goldy Moldavsky is now one of new favorite authors.
The best part of this book was the characters. Everybody was unique. From the campers, to the counselors, Pika and even Gregor's family. Their unique personalities clash all the time which leaves no dull moment in this book.
Men's Rights was my favorite character in this book. He was an asshole and a jackass but he's so damn hilarous. I loved how stupidly mean he was. He kept bullying Gregor by giving him money. I wished somebody bullied me that way.
There were so many moments where I laughed out loud while reading this and though it is a comedy book there were parts that made me tear up.
If still not sure whether or not to read this book. Here's some excerpts to quell your doubts.
“I don’t want to be here. But it was either this camp or a summer of forced volunteer work at my church after I had a minor arson incident.”
“Arson?”
“Everyone always focuses on the ‘arson’ part of that sentence instead of the ‘minor’ part.”
--
“She likes Adam Levine and the color plum. Not Bruce Willis eating ass.”
--
I knew I shouldn’t have given Adam Levine googly eyes.
--
“This is ridiculous. I love everyone!” That sounded weird. I shook my head quickly and tried again. “I love children!” That sounded even worse.
I want to say so much more but I don't think anything that I'll say will give this book justice. You just have to read it and enjoy the crazy for yourself.
I’d known this for a while, but now it was finally starting to hit me.
This camp was fucking weird.
Question:What do you get if a bunch of social justice warriors went to a summer camp together?
Answer: A hilariously captivating book called No Good Deed.
The writing and imagery was so vivid in this book that reading it felt like watching a movie. I've read Goldy's previous book, Kill the Boy Band and absolutely loved it. (If you haven't read Kill the Boy Band yet, you should. One of the characters in this book is mentioned in it) And this book just confirmed that Goldy Moldavsky is now one of new favorite authors.
The best part of this book was the characters. Everybody was unique. From the campers, to the counselors, Pika and even Gregor's family. Their unique personalities clash all the time which leaves no dull moment in this book.
Men's Rights was my favorite character in this book. He was an asshole and a jackass but he's so damn hilarous. I loved how stupidly mean he was. He kept bullying Gregor by giving him money. I wished somebody bullied me that way.
There were so many moments where I laughed out loud while reading this and though it is a comedy book there were parts that made me tear up.
If still not sure whether or not to read this book. Here's some excerpts to quell your doubts.
“I don’t want to be here. But it was either this camp or a summer of forced volunteer work at my church after I had a minor arson incident.”
“Arson?”
“Everyone always focuses on the ‘arson’ part of that sentence instead of the ‘minor’ part.”
--
“She likes Adam Levine and the color plum. Not Bruce Willis eating ass.”
--
I knew I shouldn’t have given Adam Levine googly eyes.
--
“This is ridiculous. I love everyone!” That sounded weird. I shook my head quickly and tried again. “I love children!” That sounded even worse.
I want to say so much more but I don't think anything that I'll say will give this book justice. You just have to read it and enjoy the crazy for yourself.
I’d known this for a while, but now it was finally starting to hit me.
This camp was fucking weird.
May 29, 2017
As per Goldy's style this book was hilarious and an absolute mind fuck.
I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Kill the Boy Band. When I first read the blurb, I wasn't that interested, but I picked it up any way cause I will probably read anything Goldy puts out. She has such an addicting writing style. I feel like I'm watching a movie in my head. It was super entertaining and the humor was similar to Kill the Boy Band as was the whole "what the fuck is happening? what am I reading?" vibe I get from her books lol. It was still pretty different though and I think that has everything to do with the romance, which I actually liked. I thought it was done pretty well. This book is pretty hard to describe. It's all about causes and being problematic and I honestly don't know what. You'll just have to read it to find out I guess. It's definitely not a book for everyone and you can't take anything you read in this book seriously. Goldy's books are just fun reads and I really hope they do get picked up as movies sometime in the future because they would be fantastic.
I didn't enjoy it as much as I did Kill the Boy Band. When I first read the blurb, I wasn't that interested, but I picked it up any way cause I will probably read anything Goldy puts out. She has such an addicting writing style. I feel like I'm watching a movie in my head. It was super entertaining and the humor was similar to Kill the Boy Band as was the whole "what the fuck is happening? what am I reading?" vibe I get from her books lol. It was still pretty different though and I think that has everything to do with the romance, which I actually liked. I thought it was done pretty well. This book is pretty hard to describe. It's all about causes and being problematic and I honestly don't know what. You'll just have to read it to find out I guess. It's definitely not a book for everyone and you can't take anything you read in this book seriously. Goldy's books are just fun reads and I really hope they do get picked up as movies sometime in the future because they would be fantastic.
October 18, 2021
YUPPPPP GOLDY MOLDAVSKY IS MY NEW FAVOURITE AUTHOR I LOVE READING HER BOOKS HER PLOTS ARE ALWAYS SO INTERESTING AND FUNNY!!!!!!🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣
This whole plot was so weird and funny. I truly had a blast reading it I was laughing so much in some of the parts I highly recommend reading it. It deserves more recognition!!!!
This whole plot was so weird and funny. I truly had a blast reading it I was laughing so much in some of the parts I highly recommend reading it. It deserves more recognition!!!!
May 26, 2017
Full review tomorrow for First Reads Friday!
May 24, 2017
I was largely indifferent to the majority of the novel. I thought our protagonist was annoying and had his head up his own ass and he whined constantly. I am sure it was meant to be funny but it was lost on me.
The camp itself was perfectly ludicrous and I loved it. Easily the best side story was I Like Paint's, a boy who speaks a language no one understands. When we found out what actually happened with him, I burst out laughing on my flight. I couldn't help it; it was completely unexpected and I gleefully followed along with his side struggle while our protagonist was a dunce.
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the blossoming friendship between Ashley and Gregor. Ashley was drawn to the one person who treated her like any annoying person instead of a celebrity, and slowly (after continuously being irritated by her in awfully great situations) Gregor learns that she's not quite as Looney Tunes as he thought. I particularly liked Pika the bodyguard as well.
It's a sweet story at its core. I believe the Chinese businessman who asked me in rough English if he could have it when I was done will be very happy with his choice.
The camp itself was perfectly ludicrous and I loved it. Easily the best side story was I Like Paint's, a boy who speaks a language no one understands. When we found out what actually happened with him, I burst out laughing on my flight. I couldn't help it; it was completely unexpected and I gleefully followed along with his side struggle while our protagonist was a dunce.
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the blossoming friendship between Ashley and Gregor. Ashley was drawn to the one person who treated her like any annoying person instead of a celebrity, and slowly (after continuously being irritated by her in awfully great situations) Gregor learns that she's not quite as Looney Tunes as he thought. I particularly liked Pika the bodyguard as well.
It's a sweet story at its core. I believe the Chinese businessman who asked me in rough English if he could have it when I was done will be very happy with his choice.
July 20, 2017
I kind of felt like this was a pointless book with not a really big plot. It just was not for me
January 25, 2018
Oh boy, this was so stupid and corny. I am definitely the wrong target audience for this novel. I can see how it would be fine and cute for 12-16 year olds but good god this was not worth my time.
May 19, 2017
Review to come.
July 13, 2017
I have a lot of thoughts on this book. It's gonna take some time to sort them all out. It was good but like... super weird?? Idk man.
February 4, 2018
I loved this book and finished it quickly because of the interesting plot and the sabotages that happen. I liked the character Ashley because of her uniqueness like what she does with dirt. Overall this was an amazing book and I definitely recommend it.
June 29, 2017
Mon avis
Actual rating : 4,5/5
Gosh, I love Goldy Moldavsky's books. They're so different from what I'm used to read, it's really refreshing.
I'm glad that I liked No Good Deed as much as I liked Kill the Boy Band (which I really want to re-read now). It was hilarious and heartwarming and even a bit sad at times, but mostly funny, ahah. I'm sure that not everyone will like this kind of unrealistic, crazy story but it totally works on me, so there's that. And the characters were adorable. Basically, I loved everything about this book.
If you haven't read any of Goldy's books, PLEASE DO, maybe you'll like it as much as I do (or maybe you'll hate it but you'll never know until you try :P) (and start with Kill the Boy Band because we see one of the characters in No Good Deed !)
Actual rating : 4,5/5
Gosh, I love Goldy Moldavsky's books. They're so different from what I'm used to read, it's really refreshing.
I'm glad that I liked No Good Deed as much as I liked Kill the Boy Band (which I really want to re-read now). It was hilarious and heartwarming and even a bit sad at times, but mostly funny, ahah. I'm sure that not everyone will like this kind of unrealistic, crazy story but it totally works on me, so there's that. And the characters were adorable. Basically, I loved everything about this book.
If you haven't read any of Goldy's books, PLEASE DO, maybe you'll like it as much as I do (or maybe you'll hate it but you'll never know until you try :P) (and start with Kill the Boy Band because we see one of the characters in No Good Deed !)
November 4, 2021
I was absolute dazzled by Kill the Boy Band last year and it featured a stellar narration by Barrett Wilbert Weed. Michael Crouch delivered with his own vibrant narration, but I was missing the spunk in No Good Deed. NGD gave off a different vibe than KTBB almost immediately because it was told from the perspective of a teenage chump. Gregor was a rudderless potato who didn't fully support his own cause and was easily snared in the web of politically correctness. For somebody who was quick to mock other's principles, he wasn't very strong in his own convictions. Gregor wasn't the best protagonist because he ended getting heart eyes over a girl he spent the entire book making fun of her eccentricities.
Lame protagonist aside, Moldavsky definitely delivered the humor. There was an iconic side character who went by "I Like Paint" and could only repeat their name like a frightened European Pokemon. The full satire of activism was explored well in No Good Deed like men's rights, calling someone "fascist" when they don't agree with your cause, and the incredible outrageous campaign to literally eat dirt. The narrator did a great job of giving the characters different voices and helped really sell the jokes with his delivery. No Good Deed delivered on the humor, even if Gregor was a wishy-washy lil scamp.
No Good Deed may not have lived up to my expectations, but I'll continue to read more of Moldavsky's work. She's got great promise and I love how she incorporates humor into her strange stories. They're always offbeat and definitely original. No Good Deed perfectly showcased the importance of principles but warned how sometimes you get so caught up in your cause that you forget what you're really fighting for in the first place. That, and please don't eat dirt!
Lame protagonist aside, Moldavsky definitely delivered the humor. There was an iconic side character who went by "I Like Paint" and could only repeat their name like a frightened European Pokemon. The full satire of activism was explored well in No Good Deed like men's rights, calling someone "fascist" when they don't agree with your cause, and the incredible outrageous campaign to literally eat dirt. The narrator did a great job of giving the characters different voices and helped really sell the jokes with his delivery. No Good Deed delivered on the humor, even if Gregor was a wishy-washy lil scamp.
No Good Deed may not have lived up to my expectations, but I'll continue to read more of Moldavsky's work. She's got great promise and I love how she incorporates humor into her strange stories. They're always offbeat and definitely original. No Good Deed perfectly showcased the importance of principles but warned how sometimes you get so caught up in your cause that you forget what you're really fighting for in the first place. That, and please don't eat dirt!
June 12, 2017
I'm so disappointed. Kill the Boyband was one of my favorite books of last year but this book wasn't what I was expecting at all.
I thought that this was supposed to be dark comedy. Unfortunately, that wasn't what I got. I can hardly fault the book for not being a genre that I expected. However, an over the top comedy book like this does not work if you take out the dark aspects, in my opinion at least. Meaning, it becomes too ridiculous to be even remotely funny. Yes, Kill the Boyband was also insane, otherworldly, and completely ridiculous, but it was balanced out with higher stakes (like an accidental murder) and immoral characters. That book was also completely over the top but the ridiculously immoral characters somehow made it hilarious. This type of over the top humor just doesn't work for me unless it is within the bounds of dark comedy, apparently.
My other complaint is that this book was apparently supposed to be funny but it wasn't. Like I was saying, if you take the dark out of this sort of comedy, it doesn't work as well. Taking out the dark aspects resulted in an over the top sort of humor that makes no sense. Kill the Boyband had that balance, and No Good Deed unfortunately did not.
I was so excited about this book because Kill the Boyband was so unique. I LOVE dark comedy. If done right, it is a genre that makes you laugh but also leaves a slightly unsettling/uneasy feeling at its conclusion. That is what I was expecting from No Good Deed but unfortunately, it was just too ridiculous for me. I'm disappointed, but I still love Goldy Moldavsky, as Kill the Boyband was unlike anything I have ever read. I'm hoping she returns to the dark comedy genre in her next book if she chooses to continue to write her books in this weird, otherworldly manner.
Side note: there is actually a character that eats dirt. Literally, eats dirt. This book was just too weird for me, and not my kind of weird. Sorry.
I thought that this was supposed to be dark comedy. Unfortunately, that wasn't what I got. I can hardly fault the book for not being a genre that I expected. However, an over the top comedy book like this does not work if you take out the dark aspects, in my opinion at least. Meaning, it becomes too ridiculous to be even remotely funny. Yes, Kill the Boyband was also insane, otherworldly, and completely ridiculous, but it was balanced out with higher stakes (like an accidental murder) and immoral characters. That book was also completely over the top but the ridiculously immoral characters somehow made it hilarious. This type of over the top humor just doesn't work for me unless it is within the bounds of dark comedy, apparently.
My other complaint is that this book was apparently supposed to be funny but it wasn't. Like I was saying, if you take the dark out of this sort of comedy, it doesn't work as well. Taking out the dark aspects resulted in an over the top sort of humor that makes no sense. Kill the Boyband had that balance, and No Good Deed unfortunately did not.
I was so excited about this book because Kill the Boyband was so unique. I LOVE dark comedy. If done right, it is a genre that makes you laugh but also leaves a slightly unsettling/uneasy feeling at its conclusion. That is what I was expecting from No Good Deed but unfortunately, it was just too ridiculous for me. I'm disappointed, but I still love Goldy Moldavsky, as Kill the Boyband was unlike anything I have ever read. I'm hoping she returns to the dark comedy genre in her next book if she chooses to continue to write her books in this weird, otherworldly manner.
Side note: there is actually a character that eats dirt. Literally, eats dirt. This book was just too weird for me, and not my kind of weird. Sorry.
February 20, 2017
The plot line was cute and fun and promising enough, but I found it hard to get past the inauthentic characters. The "social justice warriors" persona felt forced, and I couldn't tell whether the author intended for constant grimacing from the awkwardness or not. Either way, I didn't find this book enjoyable or believable, but fans of Kill The Boy Band might still like it, so give it a shot!
abandoned
July 8, 2017DNF @ 20%. Didn't like the narrative instantly and had to push myself to keep giving it a chance to get better before finally calling it. Maybe it /does/ get better the more you read on, as the premise is hilarious, but.
December 8, 2018
Review on my blog • Twitter • Instagram
Rep: biracial Mexican and white mc
I really liked Moldavsky's debut Kill The Boy Band, so I was excited to read her sophomore novel. It did have elements to it that I enjoyed in Kill the Boy Band but it wasn't all around as good, and had elements that I've seen done better.
Story
If you're going into this book, it's pretty integral to know that it is parody. The humour is grounded in over exaggerations and punchlines that rely on absurd situations. If you like that kind of humour, then the book might work for you. It was especially done well in Kill the Boy Band, but this time around it didn't feel as strong. Who was the butt of the joke in this book? People who advocate for their own ego? Okay. But then there's running jokes that didn't make sense, like a Latinx character (whose thing was Men's Rights, which was his dubbed in name) giving Gregor a hard time for saying he wanted to feed children in Latin America. Men's Right's then framed him a white saviour, and Gregor had to keep saying he was half-Mexican. It kept happening and I don't get what the author was trying to say.
Characters
The characters were for sure an attempt at parody, critiquing how sometimes in activism people beat down other important issues, or how peoples entire personality becomes their activism. They didn't act like how people really would, which was the point. A lot of the humour relied on turning up characterisations to 1000. Which a lot of people do for sure enjoy. I enjoy it but there didn't always seem to be a point. This made most of the characters blur together unless the author wanted you to remember them.
I didn't like Gregor too much though. He was pretty flat and a little grating. There was this one moment I did find funny though. He was friends with one girl (she was queer and her thing was QUILTBAG) and when she mentioned to him that his roommate was gay, he acted in typical straight person fashion and thought she shouldn't have done that and she told him that said guy was "out and proud." That was a funny moment, but the kind only a queer person would find funny.
It has been some time since I read it and really? That characters just weren't memorable. The celebrity side character was interesting and her presence was probably my favourite part of the book. I would've liked to see much more of her, maybe be the POV over Gregor.
Themes
The major theme of this book I would say is fake activism, self righteousness, and humour drawn from the absurdity of it all. And, well, there's only one thing I can think of when I think about humour drawn from parody and over exaggerations: South Park.
I don't know how many of you guys are actually fans of South Park. If you've seen the show, or maybe just know from its reputation, the way Trey Parker writes humour is taking a thing from pop culture, or politics, or a concept, or a characterisation, or an idea, etc., and cranking it up to 1000. Whether that be Tom Cruise staying inside of a literal closet, people 'talking shit' by literally defecating orally, the meterosexual fad of circa 2003 changing all the mens and boys personalities, etc.. It's a thing very distinct in South Park.
This is how Moldavsky attempt to write humour too. I don't know if that is what she's going for but that's what I thought of when I read this book. The book itself reminded me of a not as good (and not as gay) version of the season 21 episode, Put it Down. It has similar themes of how people view activism in a way that you can only focus on one thing at a time. In that episode, it was suicide awareness vs distracted driving (with jokes about Trump thrown in between). Where No Good Deed fails is that it had no focus. It was funny to see Cartman pretend he cared about suicide awareness so people would stop laughing at him. The fake activism jokes in the book didn't always land. Was the author mocking activism in itself? No, and we find out more about the camp later in the book. But there was a major issue of not being sure what the authors point was all the time. That goes back to Men's Rights always calling Gregor a white saviour. Am I meant to know this guy is wrong because he's a misogynist who keeps erasing Gregor's ethnicity? But then what does that say about white saviours? It got muddled a lot of the time. There was definitely an attempt but what it was fully was confusing.
Overall thoughts
This book was okay. That's all I can really say. It did some things good, and did other things that others have done better. It was a little unfocussed and unclear at times, and maybe sometimes relied on the readers own biases. There's better books of parody out there, but this isn't the worst.
March 1, 2021
Overall, I found this book to be an entertaining, wild ride that had plenty of humour throughout that kept it light, even when things began getting more serious and, well, more down to earth toward the end. While many of the characters were fairly 2d, with not much depth to them other than a few personality traits and their various causes, they still provided me with some entertainment and on the whole, the dialogue was good--not the best, not the worst, still enough to keep me going through to the end.
I also feel like we did get some character development out of our main protagonist, even though it was all toward the end, where he realises what being a hero and saving the "world" really means. I also appreciated that the first girl he met, though attracted to her, he quickly realised had little in common with, and thus his attentions went elsewhere (won't spoil it though.) I've read plenty of male protags that have decided to go after a girl that they have nothing in common with anyway because she's hot as *beep*.
However, I feel like the plot was the weakest point in the whole novel. I could see some semblances of it, like people trying to win/compete for the internship, and there was the whole romance subplot (which I personally couldn't get invested in, but YMMV). Sometimes the events got a little too ridiculous for me, to the point that on occasion my suspension of disbelief was barely hanging on, and a lot of what happened toward the end went by so fast, I felt out of breath just reading it.
Overall, I'd give this a 3/5 for a quick, entertaining, and light romp for an afternoon read (actually for me it was three days, because university, but hey. At least I'm achieving my goal to find time to read even despite final year of my geology degree!)
I also feel like we did get some character development out of our main protagonist, even though it was all toward the end, where he realises what being a hero and saving the "world" really means. I also appreciated that the first girl he met, though attracted to her, he quickly realised had little in common with, and thus his attentions went elsewhere (won't spoil it though.) I've read plenty of male protags that have decided to go after a girl that they have nothing in common with anyway because she's hot as *beep*.
However, I feel like the plot was the weakest point in the whole novel. I could see some semblances of it, like people trying to win/compete for the internship, and there was the whole romance subplot (which I personally couldn't get invested in, but YMMV). Sometimes the events got a little too ridiculous for me, to the point that on occasion my suspension of disbelief was barely hanging on, and a lot of what happened toward the end went by so fast, I felt out of breath just reading it.
Overall, I'd give this a 3/5 for a quick, entertaining, and light romp for an afternoon read (actually for me it was three days, because university, but hey. At least I'm achieving my goal to find time to read even despite final year of my geology degree!)
January 21, 2018
The premise of this book is terrific--a summer camp for social activists who are all determined to make a difference in the world. For Gregor Maravilla, it's a chance to start fresh, maybe reinvent himself, and work on his social skills among teens who are just as committed to their own causes as he is. He's stoked to have been selected for a place supported by his inspiration, Robert Drill, who gained wealth through his technology but is now dedicated to spending that money for good causes. What could possibly go wrong? But once Gregor arrives, he realizes that all is not as it seems, and the selection process for camp attendees was flawed, leading to some very strange causes being espoused by the attendees. Between his crush on a fellow camper and his own insecurities, Gregor has a pretty hard time of it. Things go from bad to worse when the camp director turns everything into a competition. Oddly, the only bright spot in his summer seems to be his interactions with Ashley Woodstone, a Hollywood starlet whose campaign is one of the odder ones and whose Superman movie left Gregor stupefied because of the liberties the director and filmmaker took with his superhero. Clearly, he and Ashley have nothing in common--or do they? There were some very mean individuals in this book and plenty of bad behavior, which goes to show that good intentions aren't always enough. Although I enjoyed this book fairly well, I was puzzled about the connection between Gregor [called Children after his cause to Feed the Children] and Ashley. Undoubtedly, he's one of the most awkward book characters I've ever met.
July 12, 2019
This book is one of the most laugh-out-loud funny books I’ve ever read. Even though it’s subtle in its humour. I was cackling almost the whole way through.
I say ‘almost’ because there were also some poignant moments, moments of seriousness and enlightenment. Yes, even though this is mostly a parody on social justice warriors. But, though it does poke fun at a certain group of people, it never feels like it’s mocking or done by someone feeling superior and looking down their nose.
And, yes, lots of characters were not very great, but there were also quite a lot that you could sympathise with, ones who, in the end, weren’t so bad. I saw myself in a few characters - the main character especially. I was just like him when I was younger. Still am, in some way. And this book kinda reawakened my love for organising events and collaborating and creating with other people. I think that’s the point of it - though it’s told through a film of absolute hilarity, I think the message is that we should fight for what we believe, in whatever way we can. Only then can anything change.
Overall, absolutely loved it. 4.5 stars. Maybe even 5. It was so much fun and I am definitely getting to Kill the Boy Band ASAP.
Oh also! Ashley totally reminded me of Amy Adams’ Giselle in Enchanted. I really liked her. Gregor was also a really great protagonist.
I say ‘almost’ because there were also some poignant moments, moments of seriousness and enlightenment. Yes, even though this is mostly a parody on social justice warriors. But, though it does poke fun at a certain group of people, it never feels like it’s mocking or done by someone feeling superior and looking down their nose.
And, yes, lots of characters were not very great, but there were also quite a lot that you could sympathise with, ones who, in the end, weren’t so bad. I saw myself in a few characters - the main character especially. I was just like him when I was younger. Still am, in some way. And this book kinda reawakened my love for organising events and collaborating and creating with other people. I think that’s the point of it - though it’s told through a film of absolute hilarity, I think the message is that we should fight for what we believe, in whatever way we can. Only then can anything change.
Overall, absolutely loved it. 4.5 stars. Maybe even 5. It was so much fun and I am definitely getting to Kill the Boy Band ASAP.
Oh also! Ashley totally reminded me of Amy Adams’ Giselle in Enchanted. I really liked her. Gregor was also a really great protagonist.
July 5, 2017
Rating: 4.2 Stars.
Short Summary: Gregor heads to Camp Save the World a special summer program for teenage activists who are looking to enhance their cause. When the prize for the demonstration of the greatest activism is announced, things slowly get out of control.
Having read “Kill the Boy Band”, I’ve been deeply intrigued with what Moldavsky would do next. I loved how over the top her first book was, and I was so hoping for more of that fantastic dark humour. I was not disappointed.
What I liked: I laughed. It’s hard to find books that really make me laugh out loud. There are books that make me smile, that make me happy, but I’ve got a unique humour that this book really grabs at that dark humourist in me.
I am a fan of creating and supporting teenage activists, but there is so much out there that gives us a deeply flawed understanding of the world. This book does an excellent job of mocking those fractured ideals. But she mocks them without destroying the reason why we have them in the first place. It’s a fine well executed balance.
I loved the cast of characters. They were perfect for enhancing the mocking tone and it was the actions of those around Gregor that really made the story sing.
What I didn’t: There are definitely believability issues within the novel, but it’s part of Moldavsky’s style. Some are easier to look past than others.
Gregor was an okay character and an appropriate lens in which to tell the story, but he had few redeeming qualities of his own that I would call likable. In any other setting, I would not have enjoyed following him through a story.
Recommendation: It takes a special kind of person to thoroughly dig this kind of book. If you’re willing to suspend reality and enjoy the mockery, it’s hilarious.
Short Summary: Gregor heads to Camp Save the World a special summer program for teenage activists who are looking to enhance their cause. When the prize for the demonstration of the greatest activism is announced, things slowly get out of control.
Having read “Kill the Boy Band”, I’ve been deeply intrigued with what Moldavsky would do next. I loved how over the top her first book was, and I was so hoping for more of that fantastic dark humour. I was not disappointed.
What I liked: I laughed. It’s hard to find books that really make me laugh out loud. There are books that make me smile, that make me happy, but I’ve got a unique humour that this book really grabs at that dark humourist in me.
I am a fan of creating and supporting teenage activists, but there is so much out there that gives us a deeply flawed understanding of the world. This book does an excellent job of mocking those fractured ideals. But she mocks them without destroying the reason why we have them in the first place. It’s a fine well executed balance.
I loved the cast of characters. They were perfect for enhancing the mocking tone and it was the actions of those around Gregor that really made the story sing.
What I didn’t: There are definitely believability issues within the novel, but it’s part of Moldavsky’s style. Some are easier to look past than others.
Gregor was an okay character and an appropriate lens in which to tell the story, but he had few redeeming qualities of his own that I would call likable. In any other setting, I would not have enjoyed following him through a story.
Recommendation: It takes a special kind of person to thoroughly dig this kind of book. If you’re willing to suspend reality and enjoy the mockery, it’s hilarious.
May 17, 2019
When I read Goldy Moldavsky's debut last year, I had a great time. Kill the Boy Band was a crazy ride into the absolute insanity that can be fangirl culture, but it was also tempered with what good can come out of that same place. Add to that a dangerous mission, a diverse cast, and enough slapstick dark comedy to keep me entertained while simultaneously cringing, and I had a blast!
I had no idea Moldavsky would have a follow-up out so quickly, so I was excited to read more of her trademark humor. The summer camp premise, the switch in the protagonist's gender, and a social activist focus right in the middle of this nasty political climate (not to mention YA Twitter) all sounded like fun, so I picked this up when I last visited my grandparents in Rockford and took it home with me. Reading it just at the end of summer did make me a little nostalgic, but I'm glad I read it now instead of in the middle of the winter.
Is No Good Deed absolutely bizarre? Yes. That's why I enjoy it so much. Moldavsky has the talent of writing absolutely absurd scenes in a way that makes them delightful. None of the stuff makes any sense, and that's why it works. Granted, this style of humor won't work for everyone, especially if things being relentlessly mocked for their weaknesses isn't your forte. But Moldavsky always remembers to reinforce the positives of what she's parodying. Here, it's the social justice movement. How far one is willing to go for the things they believe in, all to win an internship with some tech billionaire, is shown in ridiculous ways. But why people are so passionate about what they want? That's always shown in a redeeming light (well, except if we're talking about Men's Rights; we all know one of those people who thinks masculism is more important than equal rights for all people on the gender spectrum). That's why I really like Moldavsky as a writer. She reinforces her bizarre satire with genuine advocacy. Also, she never fails to make me laugh as a reader.
But her strengths don't stop there. I really found Gregor Maravilla to be a strong protagonist. His evolution from someone who was solely advocating his cause and simply calling out things on their problems to someone who actually realized his cause wasn't the only one to support was nice. He was the right mixture of geeky, in way over his head, and adorable. I love how he was more self-aware than a lot of YA protagonists. He not only realized the flaws in people around him; he realized the flaws in himself and was willing to confront them.
I also liked his relationship with Ashley Woodstone, the popular Hollywood actress who actually was briefly mentioned in Kill the Boy Band as the ex-girlfriend of one of the Ruperts (this was also mentioned here; the relationship wasn't pretty). She advocated for everyone to eat dirt, which always had me on the floor howling with laughter, but she also didn't really pay any mind to the competition. She was more willing to enjoy her time at camp and have fun. Gregor at first found this very weird, but he actually grew more tolerant of her when he realized she was the only one who was there when he needed someone to talk to. They always had such amusing conversations and interactions throughout the book.
All of the characters come from rich ethnic backgrounds, something that I love. From Poe, Gregor's initial crush who's East Asian, Gregor himself (biracial, white and Mexican/Latin-American), the African-American "perfect boy" Win Cassidy, "I Like Paint" , Latin-American Men's Rights , Unity through Multiculturalism's Indian-American roots, and others throughout. I love that this cast wasn't filled with all white and straight faces (there was also sexuality rep as well), but I do wish some of them did get more development. All of them kind of have their own small arcs , but I definitely felt some of their roles could have been expanded.
Additionally, some parts of the book became too absurd and nonsensical for my tastes, but I can see why they were hilarious . Also, the ending felt both like a parody of a traditional camp story/romantic comedy, but it also felt genuine at the same time. It clashed, but also worked at parts.
Needless to say, if you're looking for something that'll make you laugh until you cry, here's your book. There are some absolutely bizarre and wonderful moments in this book that will hopefully continue to be a part of Moldavsky's absurd comedy writing. Even with its flaws (maybe more so in the romantic aspects), No Good Deed takes the social justice movement on a ride through Crazy Town, pointing out the ridiculousness of some of it, while also showing its true humanity in why people are willing to be a part of it. There's a solid protagonist, witty writing, and enough self-awareness to give this a real dark bite above comedies where no one knows what the heck is going on. Moldavsky knows what she's doing, and she's unapologetic. I respect the heck out of that.
In the meantime, I'm currently thinking about the possibility of this becoming a movie. I would love to see a film adaptation of this! I'm willing to learn about writing screenplays so I can make one for this.
An edited version of this review was published on my school newspaper's website in August 2017.
I had no idea Moldavsky would have a follow-up out so quickly, so I was excited to read more of her trademark humor. The summer camp premise, the switch in the protagonist's gender, and a social activist focus right in the middle of this nasty political climate (not to mention YA Twitter) all sounded like fun, so I picked this up when I last visited my grandparents in Rockford and took it home with me. Reading it just at the end of summer did make me a little nostalgic, but I'm glad I read it now instead of in the middle of the winter.
Is No Good Deed absolutely bizarre? Yes. That's why I enjoy it so much. Moldavsky has the talent of writing absolutely absurd scenes in a way that makes them delightful. None of the stuff makes any sense, and that's why it works. Granted, this style of humor won't work for everyone, especially if things being relentlessly mocked for their weaknesses isn't your forte. But Moldavsky always remembers to reinforce the positives of what she's parodying. Here, it's the social justice movement. How far one is willing to go for the things they believe in, all to win an internship with some tech billionaire, is shown in ridiculous ways. But why people are so passionate about what they want? That's always shown in a redeeming light (well, except if we're talking about Men's Rights; we all know one of those people who thinks masculism is more important than equal rights for all people on the gender spectrum). That's why I really like Moldavsky as a writer. She reinforces her bizarre satire with genuine advocacy. Also, she never fails to make me laugh as a reader.
But her strengths don't stop there. I really found Gregor Maravilla to be a strong protagonist. His evolution from someone who was solely advocating his cause and simply calling out things on their problems to someone who actually realized his cause wasn't the only one to support was nice. He was the right mixture of geeky, in way over his head, and adorable. I love how he was more self-aware than a lot of YA protagonists. He not only realized the flaws in people around him; he realized the flaws in himself and was willing to confront them.
I also liked his relationship with Ashley Woodstone, the popular Hollywood actress who actually was briefly mentioned in Kill the Boy Band as the ex-girlfriend of one of the Ruperts (this was also mentioned here; the relationship wasn't pretty). She advocated for everyone to eat dirt, which always had me on the floor howling with laughter, but she also didn't really pay any mind to the competition. She was more willing to enjoy her time at camp and have fun. Gregor at first found this very weird, but he actually grew more tolerant of her when he realized she was the only one who was there when he needed someone to talk to. They always had such amusing conversations and interactions throughout the book.
All of the characters come from rich ethnic backgrounds, something that I love. From Poe, Gregor's initial crush who's East Asian, Gregor himself (biracial, white and Mexican/Latin-American), the African-American "perfect boy" Win Cassidy, "I Like Paint" , Latin-American Men's Rights , Unity through Multiculturalism's Indian-American roots, and others throughout. I love that this cast wasn't filled with all white and straight faces (there was also sexuality rep as well), but I do wish some of them did get more development. All of them kind of have their own small arcs , but I definitely felt some of their roles could have been expanded.
Additionally, some parts of the book became too absurd and nonsensical for my tastes, but I can see why they were hilarious . Also, the ending felt both like a parody of a traditional camp story/romantic comedy, but it also felt genuine at the same time. It clashed, but also worked at parts.
Needless to say, if you're looking for something that'll make you laugh until you cry, here's your book. There are some absolutely bizarre and wonderful moments in this book that will hopefully continue to be a part of Moldavsky's absurd comedy writing. Even with its flaws (maybe more so in the romantic aspects), No Good Deed takes the social justice movement on a ride through Crazy Town, pointing out the ridiculousness of some of it, while also showing its true humanity in why people are willing to be a part of it. There's a solid protagonist, witty writing, and enough self-awareness to give this a real dark bite above comedies where no one knows what the heck is going on. Moldavsky knows what she's doing, and she's unapologetic. I respect the heck out of that.
In the meantime, I'm currently thinking about the possibility of this becoming a movie. I would love to see a film adaptation of this! I'm willing to learn about writing screenplays so I can make one for this.
An edited version of this review was published on my school newspaper's website in August 2017.
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