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Avery Sisters Trilogy #2
Gorgeous
She's looking good...but Allison Avery can't believe it. Growing up with beautiful, blond sisters, Allison has always been the dark-haired, "interesting-looking" Avery. So when the devil shows up and offers to make her gorgeous, Allison jumps at the chance to finally get noticed. But there's one tiny catch, and it's not her soul: The devil wants her cell phone.
Though her deal with the devil seems like a good idea at the time, Allison soon realizes that being gorgeous isn't as easy as it looks. Are her new friends and boyfriend for real, or do they just like her pretty face? Allison can't trust anyone anymore, and her possessed phone and her family's financial crisis aren't making things any easier. Plus when she finds out that she might be America's next teen model, all hell breaks loose. Allison may be losing control, but how far is she willing to go to stay gorgeous forever?
Following the critically acclaimed LUCKY, Rachel Vail continues her poignant sisterhood trilogy with the rebellious middle Avery sister, Allison. Fiery, sarcastic, and just plain fun, GORGEOUS captures the heartbreak and hilarity in one girl's attempt to have it all.
Though her deal with the devil seems like a good idea at the time, Allison soon realizes that being gorgeous isn't as easy as it looks. Are her new friends and boyfriend for real, or do they just like her pretty face? Allison can't trust anyone anymore, and her possessed phone and her family's financial crisis aren't making things any easier. Plus when she finds out that she might be America's next teen model, all hell breaks loose. Allison may be losing control, but how far is she willing to go to stay gorgeous forever?
Following the critically acclaimed LUCKY, Rachel Vail continues her poignant sisterhood trilogy with the rebellious middle Avery sister, Allison. Fiery, sarcastic, and just plain fun, GORGEOUS captures the heartbreak and hilarity in one girl's attempt to have it all.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 26, 2000
71 people are currently reading
1776 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Vail
56 books457 followersBirth
I was born on July 25, 1966, in NEW YORK CITY, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, with my mother, my father, and my younger brother Jon. (And down the street from my future husband, though of course I didn't know that until much later.)
Interests
Some details, I do know-I was very into reading and theater, so I read every book I could get my hands on (especially realistic fiction, either contemporary or historical) and took acting workshops and auditioned for every play in school, camp, or the community. I played Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and lots of extremely memorable chorus parts-for instance, I was "girl number two" in Fiddler on the Roof-the one who said "We heard about your sister, Chava". I didn't care -I just wanted to be on stage. Waiting backstage before curtain call, after giving my all in a performance, was the best feeling I knew. In seventh grade I started taking magic lessons, and by eighth grade I was making all my own spending money by performing at kids' birthday parties as a clown named Tallulah. I liked the freedom of wearing all that grease-paint-I could be as wacky and un-cool as I wanted. I tried dance but felt so clumsy. I faked a sprained ankle to get out of the recital. I took voice lessons which made me a little light-headed (and I was afraid of the voice teacher's growling, drooling Doberman) and both saxophone and piano, neither of which I ever practiced. I did well in school but started a lot of my work at the last minute, in a crazy mad dash, so that it was never late but there were usually careless errors or areas I had to fudge. I had this idea that to work hard at something was sort of a negative, an admission that I didn't have natural talent. If I wasn't going to be Mozart and have the music (or dance, or math, or social studies term paper, or whatever) channeled through me from God, then I was just embarrassing myself by all that workmanlike effort. I didn't get over that idea until after college, by the way.
Career Ambitions
I never really planned to be a writer. I planned to be a financial wizard after learning about option-spreading at age 10, then a poet after discovering Shakespeare at 11. After overhearing "the real power is held by the lobbyists" on a class trip to Albany, I planned to become a lobbyist. Secretly, of course I always imagined myself as an actress, but that didn't seem hard or important enough, and also I worried I wasn't naturally gifted enough.
Parents
My parents were always great. I liked to make them proud, and they trusted me and supported my efforts and interests, which was sometimes weirdly tough. There was so little for me to rebel against.
As a Kid
When people ask me what I was as a kid, I always feel like my answer is at best incomplete.What are you like, as a kid? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm like as an adult.
Socially
Well, things went in waves. Sometimes I felt very "in", very aware of and tied in to the whole scene, excited by who liked whom, all the gossip, some of it less than kind. Other times I felt so alone-like there was nobody like me, nobody who liked me, nobody to talk to. And much of the time it was somewhere in between. A best friend when I was lucky, and a few people in each crowd I liked and who liked me. I resisted being classified as a brain or a jock or alternative or popular-too limiting. I would have to shut down too many parts of myself to be just one type.
Adolescence
I went through a very intense stage in middle school (Junior High). I worried about being too ordinary. I also worried about being too weird. I also worried about changing states of matter, my inability to be morally certain, ignorance (my own and world-wide), and making a fool of myself.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rachel...
I was born on July 25, 1966, in NEW YORK CITY, and grew up in New Rochelle, NY, with my mother, my father, and my younger brother Jon. (And down the street from my future husband, though of course I didn't know that until much later.)
Interests
Some details, I do know-I was very into reading and theater, so I read every book I could get my hands on (especially realistic fiction, either contemporary or historical) and took acting workshops and auditioned for every play in school, camp, or the community. I played Peter Pan, Miss Hannigan in Annie, Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and lots of extremely memorable chorus parts-for instance, I was "girl number two" in Fiddler on the Roof-the one who said "We heard about your sister, Chava". I didn't care -I just wanted to be on stage. Waiting backstage before curtain call, after giving my all in a performance, was the best feeling I knew. In seventh grade I started taking magic lessons, and by eighth grade I was making all my own spending money by performing at kids' birthday parties as a clown named Tallulah. I liked the freedom of wearing all that grease-paint-I could be as wacky and un-cool as I wanted. I tried dance but felt so clumsy. I faked a sprained ankle to get out of the recital. I took voice lessons which made me a little light-headed (and I was afraid of the voice teacher's growling, drooling Doberman) and both saxophone and piano, neither of which I ever practiced. I did well in school but started a lot of my work at the last minute, in a crazy mad dash, so that it was never late but there were usually careless errors or areas I had to fudge. I had this idea that to work hard at something was sort of a negative, an admission that I didn't have natural talent. If I wasn't going to be Mozart and have the music (or dance, or math, or social studies term paper, or whatever) channeled through me from God, then I was just embarrassing myself by all that workmanlike effort. I didn't get over that idea until after college, by the way.
Career Ambitions
I never really planned to be a writer. I planned to be a financial wizard after learning about option-spreading at age 10, then a poet after discovering Shakespeare at 11. After overhearing "the real power is held by the lobbyists" on a class trip to Albany, I planned to become a lobbyist. Secretly, of course I always imagined myself as an actress, but that didn't seem hard or important enough, and also I worried I wasn't naturally gifted enough.
Parents
My parents were always great. I liked to make them proud, and they trusted me and supported my efforts and interests, which was sometimes weirdly tough. There was so little for me to rebel against.
As a Kid
When people ask me what I was as a kid, I always feel like my answer is at best incomplete.What are you like, as a kid? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm like as an adult.
Socially
Well, things went in waves. Sometimes I felt very "in", very aware of and tied in to the whole scene, excited by who liked whom, all the gossip, some of it less than kind. Other times I felt so alone-like there was nobody like me, nobody who liked me, nobody to talk to. And much of the time it was somewhere in between. A best friend when I was lucky, and a few people in each crowd I liked and who liked me. I resisted being classified as a brain or a jock or alternative or popular-too limiting. I would have to shut down too many parts of myself to be just one type.
Adolescence
I went through a very intense stage in middle school (Junior High). I worried about being too ordinary. I also worried about being too weird. I also worried about changing states of matter, my inability to be morally certain, ignorance (my own and world-wide), and making a fool of myself.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rachel...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
February 13, 2013
*WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*
((Side Note: I've just started the book, but I'm writing a review because sooooooo many little things make me angry and the status update only allows 400 characters ._. ))
So, I started the Avery Sister Trilogy. On the second book. God, what am I doing with my life. I will read the first book never some day.
As quoted from my little updatethingymabobber status:
Boebwfvoucedbuiodcebuioedwbucuobeduicdebuoidecbufwieobvfhciubcdoiubuiovwebuiovbuoibuiobuioewfbuioevwbuoiwbuiovefwbuvewfiobvefuoifwbuivfeowbfveuobvfewuobwvuiovbewuovefbuoiewvbouivfeiueobvfeiuowefvbuiovewfbufeiwvobufveivbefuoiwvbuiowvefuievfwobvwefuobefvwuoibevfwuioefwouwbuofvwbuwvfeiovbefuiovewfbuioevfbuovewbveuo
Sorry. That was my face. Hitting the keyboard. At five miles per hour.
GAH!
This book. It frustrates me for some reason. I've only read like, 15 pages and already, it frustrates me. *spoiler* When the devil says she can only choose 7 people to think she's gorgeous....
IT IRKS ME!
I have a caps lock issue...
I don't know why it irks me. It just does.
Agh! I can't find one character that I like so far. I just want one character who I can rely on, relate to, cheer for. ONE! But Allison seems like the pushover idiot everyone's making her out to be, I hate Jade, I hate the boy Jade and Allison both like, I strongly dislike Roxie and everyone else is irrelevant.
Also, I hate the whole "blondes are better than dark haired girls" concept they've got going on. I'm dark haired! I'mpretty attractive a girl who people can look at without going blind! Forget blondes have more fun. Dark haired girls are the party! :,(
To me, the whole "middle child who's overshadowed by her younger and older siblings, turned pretty/ smart/ friggin' awesome" idea is overplayed. Seriously overplayed. Have authors run out of ideas as well? Have they turned into another version of... *gasp* Hollywood?!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go scream into a pillow and spend the next 4 hours watching reruns of Tom and Jerry.
Side Note: I've officially finished Gorgeous. It was okay. 3 stars at best. I do feel strongly about most of the characters though....
Allison: I still hate you.
Jade: I have a little story for you, so please, sit down, grab a mug of hot chocolate or something.
Once, there was a stupid pushover bitch who thought she could rule the world with an iron fist, starting with her twomonkeys best friends. Then, one day, she fell in a pit and died. The End.
Quinn: I like you.
Tyler: I like you.
Roxie: I dislike you, but not strongly.
Mom and Dad: Your parenting skills need [a lot of] tweaking.
Phoebe: Irrelevant
Shanna Sandra Susan Serena: Irrelevant
((Side Note: I've just started the book, but I'm writing a review because sooooooo many little things make me angry and the status update only allows 400 characters ._. ))
So, I started the Avery Sister Trilogy. On the second book.
As quoted from my little update
Boebwfvoucedbuiodcebuioedwbucuobeduicdebuoidecbufwieobvfhciubcdoiubuiovwebuiovbuoibuiobuioewfbuioevwbuoiwbuiovefwbuvewfiobvefuoifwbuivfeowbfveuobvfewuobwvuiovbewuovefbuoiewvbouivfeiueobvfeiuowefvbuiovewfbufeiwvobufveivbefuoiwvbuiowvefuievfwobvwefuobefvwuoibevfwuioefwouwbuofvwbuwvfeiovbefuiovewfbuioevfbuovewbveuo
Sorry. That was my face. Hitting the keyboard. At five miles per hour.
GAH!
This book. It frustrates me for some reason. I've only read like, 15 pages and already, it frustrates me. *spoiler* When the devil says she can only choose 7 people to think she's gorgeous....
IT IRKS ME!
I have a caps lock issue...
I don't know why it irks me. It just does.
Agh! I can't find one character that I like so far. I just want one character who I can rely on, relate to, cheer for. ONE! But Allison seems like the pushover idiot everyone's making her out to be, I hate Jade, I hate the boy Jade and Allison both like, I strongly dislike Roxie and everyone else is irrelevant.
Also, I hate the whole "blondes are better than dark haired girls" concept they've got going on. I'm dark haired! I'm
To me, the whole "middle child who's overshadowed by her younger and older siblings, turned pretty/ smart/ friggin' awesome" idea is overplayed. Seriously overplayed. Have authors run out of ideas as well? Have they turned into another version of... *gasp* Hollywood?!
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go scream into a pillow and spend the next 4 hours watching reruns of Tom and Jerry.
Side Note: I've officially finished Gorgeous. It was okay. 3 stars at best. I do feel strongly about most of the characters though....
Allison: I still hate you.
Jade: I have a little story for you, so please, sit down, grab a mug of hot chocolate or something.
Once, there was a stupid pushover bitch who thought she could rule the world with an iron fist, starting with her two
Quinn: I like you.
Tyler: I like you.
Roxie: I dislike you, but not strongly.
Mom and Dad: Your parenting skills need [a lot of] tweaking.
Phoebe: Irrelevant
Read
October 16, 2021Best first two sentences ever:
"I sold my cell phone to the devil.
In my own defense, it had been a really crappy day."
I picked this book up at the library and laughed out loud when I read those first two sentences. SOLD! In fact the first two pages are super concise. Succinct. Great voice. Funny. And then...
I dunno. It wasn't awful. It just wasn't good.
Maybe I'm just not a fan of the beautiful girl who doesn't realize how hot she is. I mean, REALLY? And how many times do the other characters hit her (Allison Avery) over the head telling her how hot she is, and she's like, "No, no, no, you're all making fun of me." Come on, dummy. If that's the case and she's really that dense, then she needs to be dense across the board. But she can't be insightful, funny, and then TOTALLY clueless about herself. If you're insightful, then you have a clue into how people perceive you. Maybe not always accurate, but not clueless either.
Also, if she's so funny as the other characters say she is, then I wanted to see her humor come out in her dialogue a little more. I didn't get to know the hot boy (Tyler Moss?) enough to care about him or root for to get together. Plus, he sounded like her. If you cover up who says what and you just look at the quotes, you can't tell if it's him talking to her or vice versa. He's flirty and witty, and so polished in his short conversations in the school hallways with her.
Mom and dad give the parental speeches that feel like a platform for the author to express her opinions of "inner beauty" and "self-esteem". The devil/modeling manager at the end gives her the choice of "all the fame in the world at the cost of humiliating her family". She, of course, comes out strong and gorgeous on the inside... and can you tell which choice she makes?
However, Disney channel could probably cut 200 pages and make this a fun original movie. It drags in the middle, but the concept is good, and if tightened with a lot more action and fun school-ditching trips to New York City, it would make a great tween screenplay.
Anyway, I finished it, but doubtful I'll read the other two books in the series. Sadly, I had high hopes after hearing a very reputable editor praise it at a conference last year.
"I sold my cell phone to the devil.
In my own defense, it had been a really crappy day."
I picked this book up at the library and laughed out loud when I read those first two sentences. SOLD! In fact the first two pages are super concise. Succinct. Great voice. Funny. And then...
I dunno. It wasn't awful. It just wasn't good.
Maybe I'm just not a fan of the beautiful girl who doesn't realize how hot she is. I mean, REALLY? And how many times do the other characters hit her (Allison Avery) over the head telling her how hot she is, and she's like, "No, no, no, you're all making fun of me." Come on, dummy. If that's the case and she's really that dense, then she needs to be dense across the board. But she can't be insightful, funny, and then TOTALLY clueless about herself. If you're insightful, then you have a clue into how people perceive you. Maybe not always accurate, but not clueless either.
Also, if she's so funny as the other characters say she is, then I wanted to see her humor come out in her dialogue a little more. I didn't get to know the hot boy (Tyler Moss?) enough to care about him or root for to get together. Plus, he sounded like her. If you cover up who says what and you just look at the quotes, you can't tell if it's him talking to her or vice versa. He's flirty and witty, and so polished in his short conversations in the school hallways with her.
Mom and dad give the parental speeches that feel like a platform for the author to express her opinions of "inner beauty" and "self-esteem". The devil/modeling manager at the end gives her the choice of "all the fame in the world at the cost of humiliating her family". She, of course, comes out strong and gorgeous on the inside... and can you tell which choice she makes?
However, Disney channel could probably cut 200 pages and make this a fun original movie. It drags in the middle, but the concept is good, and if tightened with a lot more action and fun school-ditching trips to New York City, it would make a great tween screenplay.
Anyway, I finished it, but doubtful I'll read the other two books in the series. Sadly, I had high hopes after hearing a very reputable editor praise it at a conference last year.
May 24, 2013
Okay, this book is very bad, forget “ehh”. It doesn't really take itself seriously.
There’s the cliche girl who is the middle child and feels like her family treats her older sister and the baby of the family way better than her. And she is a MAJOR pushover. Her so-called best friend Jade basically judges any and every one from the amount of make-up they were to their grades and how many extracurriculars they're involved in. I especially don’t like Jade because she tells Allison that by skipping ONE DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 9TH GRADE colleges weren't going to accept her.
Um, okay because that’s not a strict exaggeration.
And she expects everyone to abide by her rules. And if they don’t, she gives them the silent treatment. It’s like her go-to solution. For example: Allison laughs too loudly at a joke Jade makes in the cafeteria and Jade and their other friend (basically Jade’s lackey) Serena just follows her example.
And then the boy of the story, Ty/Tyler is ugh. He’s fickle. He flirts with Allison’s new friend Roxie and then her best friend Jade (another reason I don’t like her because she knows that Allison has had a crush on him for forever and she just disregards that) and then starts going after Allison when she gets pretty. And then the author tries to make him seem like a good guy by humanizing him and throwing in that he has a brother with Down Syndrome and he is his hero.
I’m confused. Is he good or bad?
And Allison is kind of naive too. Like when Tyler admits to her that he only/started liking her because she got hot, she seems surprised
And don’t even get me started on the devil part.
This really makes no sense. It’s used as a plot device to get the actions of the book started but it's not properly executed at all. Like when the devil first shows up, Allison doesn't freak out. She just goes pee and keeps herself covered because she doesn't want to expose herself to him. And then they haggle over a deal that makes no sense. He tries to offer Allison her sisters metabolism in exchange for her soul (but apparently she doesn't have one? I didn't understand this part) but she asks to be gorgeous instead...in exchange for her CELL PHONE! And the devil takes it. What does he need a cell phone for???? He doesn't even take it away. Instead, he merely “possesses it” which means it basically does whatever it wants, whenever it wants. Making weird sounds, playing the music randomly and loudly. And he allows her to keep it...um, okay? Then the devil turns out to be the editor-in-chief of the magazine Allison is a finalist in. And he expects her to tell all about her family's financial problems and her trouble with Jade and Roxie and Ty and her stuff with her sisters. Which I guess is the author's way of saying something about beauty and culture and magazines and the people behind them.
And it ends the way it began, Allison rips up a photo of her looking gorgeous and walks out choosing to be noble and to keep her family's secrets out of the spotlight at the expense of herself. Which is kind of a predictable ending. And with that she decides she's good enough to date Ty and they start dating.
-_-
The end. Talk about time waster.
There’s the cliche girl who is the middle child and feels like her family treats her older sister and the baby of the family way better than her. And she is a MAJOR pushover. Her so-called best friend Jade basically judges any and every one from the amount of make-up they were to their grades and how many extracurriculars they're involved in. I especially don’t like Jade because she tells Allison that by skipping ONE DAY OF HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 9TH GRADE colleges weren't going to accept her.
Um, okay because that’s not a strict exaggeration.
And she expects everyone to abide by her rules. And if they don’t, she gives them the silent treatment. It’s like her go-to solution. For example: Allison laughs too loudly at a joke Jade makes in the cafeteria and Jade and their other friend (basically Jade’s lackey) Serena just follows her example.
And then the boy of the story, Ty/Tyler is ugh. He’s fickle. He flirts with Allison’s new friend Roxie and then her best friend Jade (another reason I don’t like her because she knows that Allison has had a crush on him for forever and she just disregards that) and then starts going after Allison when she gets pretty. And then the author tries to make him seem like a good guy by humanizing him and throwing in that he has a brother with Down Syndrome and he is his hero.
I’m confused. Is he good or bad?
And Allison is kind of naive too. Like when Tyler admits to her that he only/started liking her because she got hot, she seems surprised
And don’t even get me started on the devil part.
This really makes no sense. It’s used as a plot device to get the actions of the book started but it's not properly executed at all. Like when the devil first shows up, Allison doesn't freak out. She just goes pee and keeps herself covered because she doesn't want to expose herself to him. And then they haggle over a deal that makes no sense. He tries to offer Allison her sisters metabolism in exchange for her soul (but apparently she doesn't have one? I didn't understand this part) but she asks to be gorgeous instead...in exchange for her CELL PHONE! And the devil takes it. What does he need a cell phone for???? He doesn't even take it away. Instead, he merely “possesses it” which means it basically does whatever it wants, whenever it wants. Making weird sounds, playing the music randomly and loudly. And he allows her to keep it...um, okay? Then the devil turns out to be the editor-in-chief of the magazine Allison is a finalist in. And he expects her to tell all about her family's financial problems and her trouble with Jade and Roxie and Ty and her stuff with her sisters. Which I guess is the author's way of saying something about beauty and culture and magazines and the people behind them.
And it ends the way it began, Allison rips up a photo of her looking gorgeous and walks out choosing to be noble and to keep her family's secrets out of the spotlight at the expense of herself. Which is kind of a predictable ending. And with that she decides she's good enough to date Ty and they start dating.
-_-
The end. Talk about time waster.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2009
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
As the middle sister, Allison feels neglected.
She’s not beautiful or lucky like her other sisters; she’s merely interesting. With all the family drama – something’s up with her mom and her job - Allison feels left out.
Allison’s best friend is also getting on her nerves. When she hangs out with Roxie Green one day; she just might discover that fun is missing from her life.
She also might have made a bargain with the devil in exchange for people thinking she’s gorgeous.
When Allison and Roxie skip school to get a modeling gig, things start to change. All of a sudden Allison has a new best friend and the interest of her crush. Could all this really be happening to her?
GORGEOUS is the simultaneous sequel to LUCKY, the story from Phoebe’s perspective - the youngest sister. This is another fun, exciting read from Rachel Vail.
As the middle sister, Allison feels neglected.
She’s not beautiful or lucky like her other sisters; she’s merely interesting. With all the family drama – something’s up with her mom and her job - Allison feels left out.
Allison’s best friend is also getting on her nerves. When she hangs out with Roxie Green one day; she just might discover that fun is missing from her life.
She also might have made a bargain with the devil in exchange for people thinking she’s gorgeous.
When Allison and Roxie skip school to get a modeling gig, things start to change. All of a sudden Allison has a new best friend and the interest of her crush. Could all this really be happening to her?
GORGEOUS is the simultaneous sequel to LUCKY, the story from Phoebe’s perspective - the youngest sister. This is another fun, exciting read from Rachel Vail.
November 20, 2016
I was so intrigued by Allison's character, I never truly knew what she was going to do, or what was going to happen, it kept me guessing, and left me wanting more.
April 30, 2018
I thought it was good because the point of view is a teenager. Allison shows perspective by sharing her thoughts on ideas throughout the story'
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2020
I like this book because it was about three sisters who thought they all had different lives than each other. I read this book on 7th grade and I thought it funny.
January 3, 2020
I think the theme is to appreciate how you look on the inside, if you become obsessed with how you look on the outside it doesn't end well..
April 23, 2011
Title: Gorgeous
Author: Rachel Vail
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 271
Source: CO Teen Literature Conference Bookstore
My Review:
Characters:
Allison Avery is a fun character, though not as fiery and sarcastic as the summary implies. As the novel progresses, she begins to stand up for herself, and becomes more and more fiery. I had a difficult time empathizing with Allison in the novel because she wasn't the character I had been introduced to in Rachel Vail's first novel, Lucky.
The one character that I really enjoyed was Roxanne Greene. I enjoyed her character, finding her amusing and authentic. The other character that I found to be authentically crafted was Allison's ex-best friend Jade. There is always the one friend who thinks they know what is best for you, but what that is is usually what they think is best for THEM.
Plot/Conflict/Theme:
When I first heard about this book, I just couldn't wait to read it. I thought that plot would be very clever and entertaining. I was sorely disappointed. The 1st half of the novel was telling Phoebe's story in Lucky from Allison's point of view. It felt like someone was summarizing what I had just read. I had expected the story to pick up where Phoebe's story ended. It did eventually, but it was so far into the book that there was little of the story left. Similar to Lucky, Gorgeous leaves its meaty and interesting plots/conflicts/and themes to the very end. The potential was there for Ms. Vail to burrow deep into the superficial world of money and modeling, and create well developed themes and conflicts to capture the heart of the reader, but she fell short.
Quality of Writing:
The quality of writing was okay, but again, I felt like much of the story was spent summarizing what was happening instead of really delving in and creating a world for the reader to immerse themselves into. There were some clever lines and interesting word play, but for the most part it was only average.
Favorite Line: Allison is having an important conversation with Jade.
"[...] A person needs her friends to believe in her more than she believes in herself. Not less. A good friend sticks with you even wehn weird stuff happens- even when good stuff happens" (Vail 260).
Rating:
Book: A for Average
Cover: A for Average
Review taken from my blog: Inkslingersindex.blogspot.com
Author: Rachel Vail
Publisher: Harper Teen
Pages: 271
Source: CO Teen Literature Conference Bookstore
My Review:
Characters:
Allison Avery is a fun character, though not as fiery and sarcastic as the summary implies. As the novel progresses, she begins to stand up for herself, and becomes more and more fiery. I had a difficult time empathizing with Allison in the novel because she wasn't the character I had been introduced to in Rachel Vail's first novel, Lucky.
The one character that I really enjoyed was Roxanne Greene. I enjoyed her character, finding her amusing and authentic. The other character that I found to be authentically crafted was Allison's ex-best friend Jade. There is always the one friend who thinks they know what is best for you, but what that is is usually what they think is best for THEM.
Plot/Conflict/Theme:
When I first heard about this book, I just couldn't wait to read it. I thought that plot would be very clever and entertaining. I was sorely disappointed. The 1st half of the novel was telling Phoebe's story in Lucky from Allison's point of view. It felt like someone was summarizing what I had just read. I had expected the story to pick up where Phoebe's story ended. It did eventually, but it was so far into the book that there was little of the story left. Similar to Lucky, Gorgeous leaves its meaty and interesting plots/conflicts/and themes to the very end. The potential was there for Ms. Vail to burrow deep into the superficial world of money and modeling, and create well developed themes and conflicts to capture the heart of the reader, but she fell short.
Quality of Writing:
The quality of writing was okay, but again, I felt like much of the story was spent summarizing what was happening instead of really delving in and creating a world for the reader to immerse themselves into. There were some clever lines and interesting word play, but for the most part it was only average.
Favorite Line: Allison is having an important conversation with Jade.
"[...] A person needs her friends to believe in her more than she believes in herself. Not less. A good friend sticks with you even wehn weird stuff happens- even when good stuff happens" (Vail 260).
Rating:
Book: A for Average
Cover: A for Average
Review taken from my blog: Inkslingersindex.blogspot.com
May 1, 2013
I decided to read this book because the blurb interested me and it seemed like a book I would enjoy.
This novel is about a 16 year old girl called Allison Avery who befriends the new girl, the beautiful Roxie Green. Allison meets the devil and wants to be gorgeous so she sells something to the devil. Not her soul, but her cellphone.
This book fits in the category on the bingo board of "your own choice." I think this category was good to have on the board because then I can read something that is not necessarily confined to one category.
My favorite quote from this book is after Allison got off the phone with Roxie; "But the devil was right: Telling who has your best interests at heart is not an easy trick." I like this quote because it reflects the way that Allison's friendships are going. Her friendship with Jade is slowly getting weaker but she is building a stronger friendship with Roxie each day. This quote shows that even though she has been good friends with Jade for many years it doesn't necessarily mean she has her best interests at heart, but Roxie might. Quality not quantity.
Something knew I learnt from this book is that family is very important, because when you friends seem to be moving on, your family will always be there. This is shown throughout the book because Allison's friendships are on and off but he relationship with her family stays strong.
A character that was interesting in the book to me was Roxie because she had faith in Allison that she could win the modelling contest, even though Allison gave up in the end. Roxie was one of my favourite characters because she was a good friend to Allison and her personality kept the story interesting because she would often change her perspective/mood on things and it kept me engaged.
I quite enjoyed this novel because it was a good story and it was something that could happen, but with a twist (the devil). I liked it because it wasn't predictable and it had an interesting twist to it. I give it 4 out of 5.
This novel is about a 16 year old girl called Allison Avery who befriends the new girl, the beautiful Roxie Green. Allison meets the devil and wants to be gorgeous so she sells something to the devil. Not her soul, but her cellphone.
This book fits in the category on the bingo board of "your own choice." I think this category was good to have on the board because then I can read something that is not necessarily confined to one category.
My favorite quote from this book is after Allison got off the phone with Roxie; "But the devil was right: Telling who has your best interests at heart is not an easy trick." I like this quote because it reflects the way that Allison's friendships are going. Her friendship with Jade is slowly getting weaker but she is building a stronger friendship with Roxie each day. This quote shows that even though she has been good friends with Jade for many years it doesn't necessarily mean she has her best interests at heart, but Roxie might. Quality not quantity.
Something knew I learnt from this book is that family is very important, because when you friends seem to be moving on, your family will always be there. This is shown throughout the book because Allison's friendships are on and off but he relationship with her family stays strong.
A character that was interesting in the book to me was Roxie because she had faith in Allison that she could win the modelling contest, even though Allison gave up in the end. Roxie was one of my favourite characters because she was a good friend to Allison and her personality kept the story interesting because she would often change her perspective/mood on things and it kept me engaged.
I quite enjoyed this novel because it was a good story and it was something that could happen, but with a twist (the devil). I liked it because it wasn't predictable and it had an interesting twist to it. I give it 4 out of 5.
June 12, 2010
Summary: The second book in a trilogy dealing with the Avery sisters, whose mother, the breadwinner, has just lost her job affecting them in a variety of ways. This book is about the middle daughter Allison who has always felt herself to be the least pretty and least valued of the family. She ends up selling her cell to the devil for a chance at gorgeousness.
I know that I read Lucky, the first book, but I didn't really remember it. That is okay; these books can be read in any order as they cover the same events from the different perspectives [It looks like the third book will be called Brilliant and is due out in May.:] I have to say that I love all three covers for this trilogy-they're...gorgeous!
I mostly liked Allison (especially her obsession with the slightly obscure historical figure Gouverneur Morris) and I really liked her new best friend Roxie Green. But the obsession with being gorgeous annoyed me. I know that it's the plot of the book and obviously she will talk about it a lot but it annoyed me especially because it was totally obvious to me that she really was pretty but just couldn't see it. The story itself is pretty predictable but the writing style is very engaging. I've enjoyed the series and am eager for the third.
Overall: 4 out of 5 for cute story although slightly annoying narrator.
I know that I read Lucky, the first book, but I didn't really remember it. That is okay; these books can be read in any order as they cover the same events from the different perspectives [It looks like the third book will be called Brilliant and is due out in May.:] I have to say that I love all three covers for this trilogy-they're...gorgeous!
I mostly liked Allison (especially her obsession with the slightly obscure historical figure Gouverneur Morris) and I really liked her new best friend Roxie Green. But the obsession with being gorgeous annoyed me. I know that it's the plot of the book and obviously she will talk about it a lot but it annoyed me especially because it was totally obvious to me that she really was pretty but just couldn't see it. The story itself is pretty predictable but the writing style is very engaging. I've enjoyed the series and am eager for the third.
Overall: 4 out of 5 for cute story although slightly annoying narrator.
November 2, 2013
The book "Gorgeous" by Rachel Vail, is about a teenage girl named Allison Avery that feels like she is a nobody. She has two perfect sisters and a stunning best friend named Jade that all make her feel like an outcast. It happens to be one night, when a devil appears in her room. She trades her cell phone just to be gorgeous. Allison and her new best friend Roxie, cut school to go to the city to apply to be models in the magazine, Zip. When Allison gets a call from Zip magazine that she is a semi-finalist, she is shocked. Everything that Allison could imagine, is starting to go her way. The boy she likes is starting to like her, people are inviting her to parties, and she is finally being noticed. Until her old best friend starts spreading rumors about her, Allison's amazing life is slowly going down hill.
This book was amazing and kept me really interested during the whole book. This story teaches you to accept yourself for who you are. Rachel Vail is an incredible author that makes you want to just read all of her books. I am definatly going to read the other books in this series. I would totally recommend this book to teenage girls that can relate to feeling like an outcast.
This book was amazing and kept me really interested during the whole book. This story teaches you to accept yourself for who you are. Rachel Vail is an incredible author that makes you want to just read all of her books. I am definatly going to read the other books in this series. I would totally recommend this book to teenage girls that can relate to feeling like an outcast.
October 28, 2015
I thought that Gorgeous was just an ok book. I enjoyed all the drama and getting to know the character Allison, I just didn't like the concept of her trading her cell phone to the devil for her to pretty to 7 people.
This story is about Allison Avery, a girl who just wants to be pretty even though she already is but doesn't know it. She sells her cell phone to the devil to be gorgeous which she thought was just a dream. Her phone would do weird things and text random people things she didn't want them to know. Like her best friend cheating with her boyfriend. In return, people thought she was so pretty that she had the opportunity to be a well-known model. The dream actually happened. I think they could have made this story even better by taking out the devil and just having the problem being her mom loosing her job and school drama.
I would recommend this book to readers that are interested in reading about Allison Avery, a typical teenagers high school life.
This story is about Allison Avery, a girl who just wants to be pretty even though she already is but doesn't know it. She sells her cell phone to the devil to be gorgeous which she thought was just a dream. Her phone would do weird things and text random people things she didn't want them to know. Like her best friend cheating with her boyfriend. In return, people thought she was so pretty that she had the opportunity to be a well-known model. The dream actually happened. I think they could have made this story even better by taking out the devil and just having the problem being her mom loosing her job and school drama.
I would recommend this book to readers that are interested in reading about Allison Avery, a typical teenagers high school life.
February 20, 2013
1-31-13
I am still reading Gorgeous by Rachel Vail. You can definitely tell the theme is don't lie or things won't go the way you want them to, and I know this because the main character, Allison, is going through some trouble because she is lying to her best friends. She is saying that her mom grounded her from ditching class but really her mom doesn't even know she did that. Allison's friends think she isn't going to be able to go to Tennis Europe but the reason that she isn't going is because her parent don't have enough money to pay for the trip. Her friends are just figuring out her scheme she's been playing and are very mad.
I am still reading Gorgeous by Rachel Vail. You can definitely tell the theme is don't lie or things won't go the way you want them to, and I know this because the main character, Allison, is going through some trouble because she is lying to her best friends. She is saying that her mom grounded her from ditching class but really her mom doesn't even know she did that. Allison's friends think she isn't going to be able to go to Tennis Europe but the reason that she isn't going is because her parent don't have enough money to pay for the trip. Her friends are just figuring out her scheme she's been playing and are very mad.
June 12, 2013
Really soul baring.
March 26, 2019
GORGEOUS is a charming tale of a girl trying to figure out who she is.
July 29, 2017
I just finished reading Gorgeous by Rachel Vail. I rated this book a 5/5 because it was really interesting seeing a girl get what she wants but from the devil. This book was about a girl who wasn't pretty and one day the devil came in and asked for her soul and she would get to be gorgeous, but it turns out her soul wasn't worth anything so he took her phone. But she didn't know who to trust anymore because she gets a new friend Roxie Green. She thinks people are just being nice to her because she looks pretty and she turns out her family are having financial problems. So she starts changing and being different with everybody. I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading books about normal teenage girls. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
October 5, 2018
Allison Avery sold her cell phone to the devil in return for people to think she's gorgeous. When she walks into school the next day, her very popular crush starts to talk to her in the hallway. But when her mom unfairly loses her job and her family is in economic trouble, Allison decides to go to a photo shoot for ZIP, the biggest teen magazine. If she gets on the cover of the magazine she could win 10,000 dollars.
Read
October 25, 2019It’s easier to believe the bad stuff, true, but maybe that’s not a good enough reason to decide to believe it.
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“Any advice you can give me?” I asked her. “I really hate having my picture taken—I feel so stripped down and ugly, and like the camera is a predator…”
She laughed her great loud, barky laugh. “Pretend it’s a friend. Pretend it’s me! Reveal everything. Pretend you are safe, loved, and gorgeous, and you will be."
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“Any advice you can give me?” I asked her. “I really hate having my picture taken—I feel so stripped down and ugly, and like the camera is a predator…”
She laughed her great loud, barky laugh. “Pretend it’s a friend. Pretend it’s me! Reveal everything. Pretend you are safe, loved, and gorgeous, and you will be."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 1, 2017
Gorgeous was an amazing book it captured so many emotions. I could relate to the book, which made it a lot better to read. This book is filled with plot twists especially at the end. I rewrote the end because I thought that it should have gone another way. I love Vail's style of writing . It makes it feel as if a high schooler herself wrote this book.
December 14, 2020
I enjoyed this book because of its portrayal of teenagers. It accurately showed how each person is jealous of the other and how they think everyone is better than them. By the end of the book, the author manages to teach the reader that they are special and that they should love themselves just the way they are.
March 21, 2018
Lol just realized this was a sequel to a book I had never read before 🙈
September 11, 2019
I loved every page of this book! Not only was it sweet and lovely, but it also had turns that was so unpredictable! Great way to start of the school year.
March 27, 2020
I loved this!! So much fun!! I read this a while ago but I know I really loved this so much. I loved these sisters.
Want to read
July 19, 2020elibrary
September 23, 2024
im sorry i just felt no connected to it... it was slow and the way it was written just didnt click
January 27, 2022
This book was so weird. Seriously. None of the subplots felt connected and everything about the book just felt choppy and unfinished. The ending lesson was great. However, the middle content felt lacking and just fell flat. This took me a little more than an hour to read.
July 22, 2009
Allison Avery is the middle child in the perfect Avery family, and the only one who isn't perfect. She's smack in the middle of brilliant, hardworking Quinn and charmed, adorable Phoebe. She's the one her father has to read parenting books about, and has to count to ten and take deep breaths when he talks to her. She's the one her grandmother, after complimenting the looks of both her sisters, called interesting.
Allison moves through school hidden behind bangs and sweatshirts, trailing in the shadow of her best friend Jade who constantly puts her down. She's unnoticed. She's nobody. And she hates it.
That's when the devil shows up in a dream, and offers to make her gorgeous, for a price. He doesn't want her soul, though. He wants her cellphone. Allison hardly believes it, but then her cellphone starts going nuts, and she thinks--maybe there's something to all of this, after all.
And then Roxie Green enters her life. Roxie Green from New York, ex-model, exciting and funny and for some reason interested in Allison. With Roxie, Allison feels more exciting and more interesting. When Allison cuts school to accompany Roxie to the tryouts of a modeling competition--and gets a callback--she begins to realize that this gorgeous thing may be spiralling a little far out of her control. How far is Allison willing to go in the pursuit of being somebody?
Rachel Vail's teen voice is, as always, spot on. When this book is being Allison's inner voice (or her outer voice), it wins spectacularly. But the devil element threw me a little.
I'll be the first person to say I love a little supernatural in my books, especially when it's mixed in with a great teen voice. But the devil element in this book threw me for a loop. The Avery books (at least as they started out in Lucky) feel so grounded in the real world and reality that it seems a little silly that part of the plot is driven by a deal with the devil. The elements of feeling like a nobody, of wanting to beautiful, of feeling like the only useless one in a perfect family, of being constantly belittled by a supposed friend--these are all real-world things, that feel honest and true and right. The devil element--just didn't work for me. It felt like a contrived plot device to make Allison's cellphone go wild and do things she would never do herself. And her epiphany at the end about what the cellphone really stands for--I guess it works in a cellphone dependant generation, but still felt more like cleverness than truth to me.
I love the voice, and that's this book's saving grace. Even though Allison drove me over a wall more than half the time, my heart goes out to her. But it was harder to empathize when most of her troubles were stemming from a potentially hallucinatory devil, and when she kept making certain obvious mistakes again and again and again.
Allison moves through school hidden behind bangs and sweatshirts, trailing in the shadow of her best friend Jade who constantly puts her down. She's unnoticed. She's nobody. And she hates it.
That's when the devil shows up in a dream, and offers to make her gorgeous, for a price. He doesn't want her soul, though. He wants her cellphone. Allison hardly believes it, but then her cellphone starts going nuts, and she thinks--maybe there's something to all of this, after all.
And then Roxie Green enters her life. Roxie Green from New York, ex-model, exciting and funny and for some reason interested in Allison. With Roxie, Allison feels more exciting and more interesting. When Allison cuts school to accompany Roxie to the tryouts of a modeling competition--and gets a callback--she begins to realize that this gorgeous thing may be spiralling a little far out of her control. How far is Allison willing to go in the pursuit of being somebody?
Rachel Vail's teen voice is, as always, spot on. When this book is being Allison's inner voice (or her outer voice), it wins spectacularly. But the devil element threw me a little.
I'll be the first person to say I love a little supernatural in my books, especially when it's mixed in with a great teen voice. But the devil element in this book threw me for a loop. The Avery books (at least as they started out in Lucky) feel so grounded in the real world and reality that it seems a little silly that part of the plot is driven by a deal with the devil. The elements of feeling like a nobody, of wanting to beautiful, of feeling like the only useless one in a perfect family, of being constantly belittled by a supposed friend--these are all real-world things, that feel honest and true and right. The devil element--just didn't work for me. It felt like a contrived plot device to make Allison's cellphone go wild and do things she would never do herself. And her epiphany at the end about what the cellphone really stands for--I guess it works in a cellphone dependant generation, but still felt more like cleverness than truth to me.
I love the voice, and that's this book's saving grace. Even though Allison drove me over a wall more than half the time, my heart goes out to her. But it was harder to empathize when most of her troubles were stemming from a potentially hallucinatory devil, and when she kept making certain obvious mistakes again and again and again.
August 14, 2009
It sucks to be the one who is stuck in between two amazing siblings. This is how Allison Avery feels. Her sisters are pretty and talented while she is just... plain.
In the middle of the night, Allison wakes up to find the devil in her room! Instead of freaking out, she more or so assumes it is a dream. She trades her cellphone in exchange for having seven people to think she is gorgeous.
Now everywhere she goes, she gets complimented on her appearance. After tagging along to a photoshoot with popular girl Roxie, Allison receives news that she is picked as a semi-finalist for the teen contest! It is quite a surprise for herself and when her classmates heard about it, they start becoming friendlier. But at the same time, Allison runs into some troubles with her own friends.
The price for being admired, is it worth it? I have read one of Rachel Vail's older novels about three years ago called, If We Kiss. I don't remember much about it except my friend liked it.
The first thing I noticed about her writing in Gorgeous was that it was very brief. A lot more dialogue than actual description of what was happening. It made it a very quick read (and not a lot of character development involved because the feelings were not expressed). I finished it so fast that I didn't know I was done until I closed the book.
There were a couple of times when I was lost with Allison's and her best friend's relationship. One moment they were fighting and the next day they made-up. I was unsure of what to expect. The ending with the two was a little more different than what a regular YA reader would expect.
However, I really enjoyed the beginning where Allison and the devil were making their "deal". The scene was most amusing, making me think that the chapter would have been funnier as a cartoon strip. I wished to learn more about the devil but he was only there when needed. He appeared to be a very cool guy.
I related quite a bit to Allison in the novel. She skipped out on school to go downtown without telling her parents at one point in the story. After they discovered what she did, her mother completely flipped out on her, worrying that something could have happened and no one would know. I get that a lot from my own parents because I tend to go out without saying anything. Every time I get home, I have to face the disappointment. Since her family was running into some problems because of the economy's recession, I could totally sympathize. I am much in her shoes.
Gorgeous is the second novel in the series but you do not need to read the first, Lucky, to catch up on anything like I did. It is the kind of book to take to the beach, read in the car on a road trip, or chill with in the backyard. Doesn't require braincells to take in and gives you a light novel to kill time.
In the middle of the night, Allison wakes up to find the devil in her room! Instead of freaking out, she more or so assumes it is a dream. She trades her cellphone in exchange for having seven people to think she is gorgeous.
Now everywhere she goes, she gets complimented on her appearance. After tagging along to a photoshoot with popular girl Roxie, Allison receives news that she is picked as a semi-finalist for the teen contest! It is quite a surprise for herself and when her classmates heard about it, they start becoming friendlier. But at the same time, Allison runs into some troubles with her own friends.
The price for being admired, is it worth it? I have read one of Rachel Vail's older novels about three years ago called, If We Kiss. I don't remember much about it except my friend liked it.
The first thing I noticed about her writing in Gorgeous was that it was very brief. A lot more dialogue than actual description of what was happening. It made it a very quick read (and not a lot of character development involved because the feelings were not expressed). I finished it so fast that I didn't know I was done until I closed the book.
There were a couple of times when I was lost with Allison's and her best friend's relationship. One moment they were fighting and the next day they made-up. I was unsure of what to expect. The ending with the two was a little more different than what a regular YA reader would expect.
However, I really enjoyed the beginning where Allison and the devil were making their "deal". The scene was most amusing, making me think that the chapter would have been funnier as a cartoon strip. I wished to learn more about the devil but he was only there when needed. He appeared to be a very cool guy.
I related quite a bit to Allison in the novel. She skipped out on school to go downtown without telling her parents at one point in the story. After they discovered what she did, her mother completely flipped out on her, worrying that something could have happened and no one would know. I get that a lot from my own parents because I tend to go out without saying anything. Every time I get home, I have to face the disappointment. Since her family was running into some problems because of the economy's recession, I could totally sympathize. I am much in her shoes.
Gorgeous is the second novel in the series but you do not need to read the first, Lucky, to catch up on anything like I did. It is the kind of book to take to the beach, read in the car on a road trip, or chill with in the backyard. Doesn't require braincells to take in and gives you a light novel to kill time.
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