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Spoiled #1
Spoiled
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Young Adult Fiction (2011)You say Spoiled like it's a bad thing.
Sixteen-year-old Molly Dix has just discovered that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular. Intrigued (and a little) terrified by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Los Angeles and plunges headfirst into the deep of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her life couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half-sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a smothering dose of "sisterly love"...but in this town, nothing is ever what it seems.
Set against a world of Redbull-fuelled stylists, tiny tanned girls, popped-collar guys, and Blackberry-wielding publicists, Spoiled is a sparkling debut from the writers behind the viciously funny celebrity blog GoFugYourself.com.
Sixteen-year-old Molly Dix has just discovered that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular. Intrigued (and a little) terrified by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Los Angeles and plunges headfirst into the deep of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her life couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half-sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a smothering dose of "sisterly love"...but in this town, nothing is ever what it seems.
Set against a world of Redbull-fuelled stylists, tiny tanned girls, popped-collar guys, and Blackberry-wielding publicists, Spoiled is a sparkling debut from the writers behind the viciously funny celebrity blog GoFugYourself.com.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2011
About the author
Heather Cocks
8 books1,413 followersHeather Cocks is a die-hard sports fan, a Leo, an ex-reporter, a Notre Dame grad, a dual citizen of the U.S. and U.K., a sandwich enthusiast, and a former producer for America's Next Top Model.
Together, Heather and Jessica Morgan skewer celebrity fashion crimes on their popular blog, Go Fug Yourself, which draws millions of monthly readers and made Entertainment Weekly's Must List. They have covered New York Fashion Week for Cosmopolitan and New York magazine, and have written two young adult novels, Spoiled and Messy. The Royal We, their debut contemporary fiction novel, comes out April 7.
Together, Heather and Jessica Morgan skewer celebrity fashion crimes on their popular blog, Go Fug Yourself, which draws millions of monthly readers and made Entertainment Weekly's Must List. They have covered New York Fashion Week for Cosmopolitan and New York magazine, and have written two young adult novels, Spoiled and Messy. The Royal We, their debut contemporary fiction novel, comes out April 7.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 761 reviews
August 10, 2011
If this book were a dress, Chloe Sevigny would wear it.
July 8, 2011
As a junior high English teacher, I always feel the need to keep up with what the kids are reading...but I totally bought this one for myself! (though I plan to add it to the shelves in the fall) The story of sibling rivalry reminded me a bit of Popular meets Mean Girls, and while it's nothing new, it's still done in a highly entertaining fashion.
Since the authors spend most of their time writing about and mocking the ridiculous activities of celebrities, the whole novel feels like a tongue in cheek nod to that world. Cocks and Morgan are completely aware that they've created a ridiculous world, inhabited by equally ridiculous characters, and they're obviously having a ball with it. It's that level of self awareness that made me love the book more than I might have otherwise. I felt like every time I read about, say, a character named Arugula, the authors were laughing right along with me. Spoiled doesn't take itself too seriously; it's like cotton candy or popcorn, only in book form!
Since the authors spend most of their time writing about and mocking the ridiculous activities of celebrities, the whole novel feels like a tongue in cheek nod to that world. Cocks and Morgan are completely aware that they've created a ridiculous world, inhabited by equally ridiculous characters, and they're obviously having a ball with it. It's that level of self awareness that made me love the book more than I might have otherwise. I felt like every time I read about, say, a character named Arugula, the authors were laughing right along with me. Spoiled doesn't take itself too seriously; it's like cotton candy or popcorn, only in book form!
Read
February 1, 2018Spoiled is about a Park Avenue princesses caught in a glamorous panic of wealthy-people problems (status, sex scandals, where to summer) and using wealthy-people medication (gossip, Barneys, Grey Goose with a twist of Valium) to keep their despair as recessed as the lighting in their nurseries.
**SPOILER**
Molly Dix is a regular girl in Indiana, reading celebrity magazines and running and going to school and coping with her mom’s illness, until her mother, days away from death due to cancer, reveals that her father is really Brick Berlin, a mega-whopping movie star in Beverly Hills. When her mom dies, Molly is surprised to learn that Brick wants her to come live with him and his teenage daughter Brooke.
Brooke, as you can imagine, is not at all in favor of this plan but has little say in it. So Molly moves to Beverly Hills, attends Brooke’s incredibly posh private school, and gets thrown into the very deep end of LA celebrity culture. Cue half-sister battles for attention!
**SPOILER**
Molly Dix is a regular girl in Indiana, reading celebrity magazines and running and going to school and coping with her mom’s illness, until her mother, days away from death due to cancer, reveals that her father is really Brick Berlin, a mega-whopping movie star in Beverly Hills. When her mom dies, Molly is surprised to learn that Brick wants her to come live with him and his teenage daughter Brooke.
Brooke, as you can imagine, is not at all in favor of this plan but has little say in it. So Molly moves to Beverly Hills, attends Brooke’s incredibly posh private school, and gets thrown into the very deep end of LA celebrity culture. Cue half-sister battles for attention!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2011
Well, I didn't think much of the book frankly and wouldn't have read it if I hadn't been gifted it. The first word, line, page didn't prompt me to read further. But I still give the book 2 stars because it has a plot and there are no grammar or other issues, so it is writing! Never mind the plot is so repeated in the history of books that it is nothing new. Frankly, if I had read what the book was about, I would never have been interested. It was only the cover that pulled me towards itself. Great cover, by the way.
The book may work for teenagers, as noted, especially those who are into fashion and celebs, which I am so not into. Possibly another reason why I didn't like the book so much. Another was, that even if I get past all the fashion, the book is terribly predictable, each move, each theme has been gone into endless times by endless books. It doesn't give something new. There is no humor, as I saw it. I didn't smile even once during the whole book. Some characters were too nice to believe actually, really filmy sort. So if you are into fantasy and fashion, this may be the book for you. If not, stay away.
The book may work for teenagers, as noted, especially those who are into fashion and celebs, which I am so not into. Possibly another reason why I didn't like the book so much. Another was, that even if I get past all the fashion, the book is terribly predictable, each move, each theme has been gone into endless times by endless books. It doesn't give something new. There is no humor, as I saw it. I didn't smile even once during the whole book. Some characters were too nice to believe actually, really filmy sort. So if you are into fantasy and fashion, this may be the book for you. If not, stay away.
June 28, 2012
It’s unfortunate, but not surprising, I guess, that there is a backlash to Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan’s Spoiled, a novel that is a fun and important read. Important? Yes, because as a YA novel these keen observers of the nexus of celebrity and fashion took a subject matter that fascinates young people and exposes it for what it is. I covered red-carpet events for legit media and when I talk to young people all they care about is: who did you meet?, what did they wear?, how many Tweets of yours got “Re-Tweeted”? Spoiled is an entertaining antidote to that trend. And for those of you looking for something more biting, try the authors' blog GoFugYourself and following their live Sarcastic Sartorial Screed on Twitter (@Fuggirls) during any of the big celebrity gatherings is a must for any Red Carpet "looky-loo". I haven’t yet cracked the spine on Messy, but I’m looking forward to reading the further adventures of Brooke Berlin and Molly Dix.
April 10, 2017
4/8/2016
On reread, I'm downgrading this from 4 stars to 3.5 stars, and to be honest? It's getting a bonus half star because it's written by the Fug Girls and it's a lot like reading their blog.
I've become a lot more critical as a reader in the past four years. On reread, it took me a while to get into this one. It's funny, yes. But it's also a little bit...generic? Maybe it's because YA has come a long way in the past four years, or maybe it's just because there are seven million YA books out there where a parent dies of cancer.
So yeah. The insta-half-sibling stuff was pretty on the money. But the rest of it? Kind of middle of the road.
9/5/2012
Plot summary: 16 year old Molly Dix's mother has just died of cancer, and she's moving from Indiana to Los Angeles to live with the father she never knew she had - Brick Berlin, movie star and A-list celebrity. Brooke Berlin is Brick's other daughter, who's also 16. She's grown up in luxury and is something of a spoiled brat. When the two girls have to live together, Brooke's claws come out.
Thoughts: I can relate to the whole "oh hey, BTDubs, you have a half sibling. So...yeah." thing that Brooke has to deal with. I thought her reaction to that was pretty perfect. I love Go Fug Yourself, so it wasn't particularly surprising that I loved the writing style of this. I think my favourite line was one about something that reflects something being like "a teen movie that's terrible but also secretly awesome". (Or something like that, anyway. I didn't mark the page and now can't find the exact reference)
Sure, it's not filled with perfect characters and some of the chains of events are a little convoluted. But it's a good, fun young adult book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
On reread, I'm downgrading this from 4 stars to 3.5 stars, and to be honest? It's getting a bonus half star because it's written by the Fug Girls and it's a lot like reading their blog.
I've become a lot more critical as a reader in the past four years. On reread, it took me a while to get into this one. It's funny, yes. But it's also a little bit...generic? Maybe it's because YA has come a long way in the past four years, or maybe it's just because there are seven million YA books out there where a parent dies of cancer.
So yeah. The insta-half-sibling stuff was pretty on the money. But the rest of it? Kind of middle of the road.
9/5/2012
Plot summary: 16 year old Molly Dix's mother has just died of cancer, and she's moving from Indiana to Los Angeles to live with the father she never knew she had - Brick Berlin, movie star and A-list celebrity. Brooke Berlin is Brick's other daughter, who's also 16. She's grown up in luxury and is something of a spoiled brat. When the two girls have to live together, Brooke's claws come out.
Thoughts: I can relate to the whole "oh hey, BTDubs, you have a half sibling. So...yeah." thing that Brooke has to deal with. I thought her reaction to that was pretty perfect. I love Go Fug Yourself, so it wasn't particularly surprising that I loved the writing style of this. I think my favourite line was one about something that reflects something being like "a teen movie that's terrible but also secretly awesome". (Or something like that, anyway. I didn't mark the page and now can't find the exact reference)
Sure, it's not filled with perfect characters and some of the chains of events are a little convoluted. But it's a good, fun young adult book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
December 11, 2012
I think I just need to stop reading fiction for myself. I have so much more fun that way.
Spoiled was the book that my 14-year-old tutoring student picked out for her English assignment, so there was nothing for me to do but saddle up and spend a few hours in her world: celebrities, makeup, fashions, and gossip galore.
What REALLY worries me is how much I liked it.
Here's how I think they got me.
1. Enthusiasm. You know, it doesn't really matter what a streaker looks like. What you admire about them is the exuberant bravery with which they tear bare-ass-naked down the street, their fleshy parts bouncing with reckless, joyful hedonism. These authors have exactly that mentality: what they have written is thoroughly loud, flashy, ridiculous, and implausible. That's a feature, not a bug.
2. Smarts. There is a real wit to the writing - plenty to entertain my jaded old brain. And the characters themselves (well, the main characters, at least) are no dim-bulbs either. It is a real treat to read a book whose main conflict is generated by the mostly-intelligent decisions of mostly-intelligent characters - where nobody has to be a terrific idiot in order to turn the plot or draw out its drama.
3. Heart. Probably I'm just suffering from dizzyingly low expectations, but it was so refreshing to read about a couple of believable, relatable, intermittently admirable young ladies. The loud one isn't naturally a despicable shrew - she behaves that way when it serves her own interests. The shy one doesn't break down crying after the first cruel prank - she chins up, knuckles down, and starts figuring out how to fight back. Their emotions are believable in magnitude and duration, and underneath all the candy and bombast, they're characters worth caring about.
The tone did seem uneven in places - it was irksome to go from fun and borderline-believable (A kid named Arugula? Sure, it's LA) to wearingly cliché (Wacky inventor-dad's wacky inventions cause trouble? You don't say...) That's not so bad for the bit parts, but I wish the authors hadn't made a caricature of the Clueless Dad whose cluelessness is supposed to be a source of genuine frustration and anxiety for the leading ladies.
So, all right: this book is a candy-coated bombshell with some rough spots, and I'm not as ashamed of myself as I'd like to be for enjoying it. But do pick it up soon if you're so inclined: this thing is saturated to the gills with pop culture references, and it's going to date faster than... uh... last year's Louie Guccis.
Spoiled was the book that my 14-year-old tutoring student picked out for her English assignment, so there was nothing for me to do but saddle up and spend a few hours in her world: celebrities, makeup, fashions, and gossip galore.
What REALLY worries me is how much I liked it.
Here's how I think they got me.
1. Enthusiasm. You know, it doesn't really matter what a streaker looks like. What you admire about them is the exuberant bravery with which they tear bare-ass-naked down the street, their fleshy parts bouncing with reckless, joyful hedonism. These authors have exactly that mentality: what they have written is thoroughly loud, flashy, ridiculous, and implausible. That's a feature, not a bug.
2. Smarts. There is a real wit to the writing - plenty to entertain my jaded old brain. And the characters themselves (well, the main characters, at least) are no dim-bulbs either. It is a real treat to read a book whose main conflict is generated by the mostly-intelligent decisions of mostly-intelligent characters - where nobody has to be a terrific idiot in order to turn the plot or draw out its drama.
3. Heart. Probably I'm just suffering from dizzyingly low expectations, but it was so refreshing to read about a couple of believable, relatable, intermittently admirable young ladies. The loud one isn't naturally a despicable shrew - she behaves that way when it serves her own interests. The shy one doesn't break down crying after the first cruel prank - she chins up, knuckles down, and starts figuring out how to fight back. Their emotions are believable in magnitude and duration, and underneath all the candy and bombast, they're characters worth caring about.
The tone did seem uneven in places - it was irksome to go from fun and borderline-believable (A kid named Arugula? Sure, it's LA) to wearingly cliché (Wacky inventor-dad's wacky inventions cause trouble? You don't say...) That's not so bad for the bit parts, but I wish the authors hadn't made a caricature of the Clueless Dad whose cluelessness is supposed to be a source of genuine frustration and anxiety for the leading ladies.
So, all right: this book is a candy-coated bombshell with some rough spots, and I'm not as ashamed of myself as I'd like to be for enjoying it. But do pick it up soon if you're so inclined: this thing is saturated to the gills with pop culture references, and it's going to date faster than... uh... last year's Louie Guccis.
September 13, 2015
I’ve never been particularly girly – at the age of five, my favorite color was green and I spent the majority of my time collecting bugs in the backyard and bringing them into the house (much to my mother’s dismay). Not much has changed since then – I don’t own a single piece of designer clothing, have barely figured out that mascara goes on one’s eyelashes, and find myself routinely shoveling manure at the barn. Therefore, I was well aware going into this book that I might not be the happiest camper coming out of it.
To my surprise, I made it through the book in its entirety and found that I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. The plot lends itself to a variety of cliches, all of which I’ve read countless times before. The high school clicks and rivalries also gave it a certain Mean Girls feel, right down to the recurring theme of sabotage and betrayal. From the summary alone, I’m sure you could take a decent guess as to the plot and its minimal, easily predictable twists and turns.
For the most part, the characters appeared relatively fake, not far removed from your average Hollywood celebrities. Combine this with extremely privileged, stuck-up teenagers attending an elite, private institution, and you have a recipe for disaster. Rumors flew nearly every other page and the gossip was pretty much off the charts. Characters divided their time among moping about their oh-so-miserable lives, shopping/applying makeup/perfecting their appearances, backstabbing, and attending parties and press events. Definitely your average high schoolers.
The romances were very poorly developed and executed. For the majority of the book, the main character, Molly, carries on a long-distance relationship with an old childhood friend. Yet his name is rarely mentioned. She speaks to him on the phone perhaps three or four times over the course of multiple months, and neither of them seemed particularly concerned. But keep in mind, they still considered their relationship exclusive. Hence Molly’s immediate feelings of guilt the instant she felt attracted to any other person. Molly’s stereotypical indecisiveness and uncanny ability to pick up jerks became a rather annoying combo after the first one hundred pages or so.
Overall, I wasn’t expecting much of this book, and it didn’t amount to a whole lot. If you’ve been reading young adult novels for a long enough period of time, they all start to sound very similar, and Spoiled was no exception. Nothing exceptional stood out throughout the novel, causing it to blend into its young adult contemporaries. While it was a relatively fast and painless read, I likely won’t be rereading it or continuing on with the series.
To my surprise, I made it through the book in its entirety and found that I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. The plot lends itself to a variety of cliches, all of which I’ve read countless times before. The high school clicks and rivalries also gave it a certain Mean Girls feel, right down to the recurring theme of sabotage and betrayal. From the summary alone, I’m sure you could take a decent guess as to the plot and its minimal, easily predictable twists and turns.
For the most part, the characters appeared relatively fake, not far removed from your average Hollywood celebrities. Combine this with extremely privileged, stuck-up teenagers attending an elite, private institution, and you have a recipe for disaster. Rumors flew nearly every other page and the gossip was pretty much off the charts. Characters divided their time among moping about their oh-so-miserable lives, shopping/applying makeup/perfecting their appearances, backstabbing, and attending parties and press events. Definitely your average high schoolers.
The romances were very poorly developed and executed. For the majority of the book, the main character, Molly, carries on a long-distance relationship with an old childhood friend. Yet his name is rarely mentioned. She speaks to him on the phone perhaps three or four times over the course of multiple months, and neither of them seemed particularly concerned. But keep in mind, they still considered their relationship exclusive. Hence Molly’s immediate feelings of guilt the instant she felt attracted to any other person. Molly’s stereotypical indecisiveness and uncanny ability to pick up jerks became a rather annoying combo after the first one hundred pages or so.
Overall, I wasn’t expecting much of this book, and it didn’t amount to a whole lot. If you’ve been reading young adult novels for a long enough period of time, they all start to sound very similar, and Spoiled was no exception. Nothing exceptional stood out throughout the novel, causing it to blend into its young adult contemporaries. While it was a relatively fast and painless read, I likely won’t be rereading it or continuing on with the series.
May 13, 2011
I received this ARC from the publisher, along with an ARC of Sweetly. Which one to read first? I love the Go Fug Yourself blog so I'd been hearing about Spoiled for some time now. This isn't my favorite genre of YA, but I was still interested to see how the bloggers' snarkiness would play out in novel form.
Brooke Berlin has just discovered that thanks to her famous actor father Brick Berlin's fooling around, she has a half-sister about the same age. Unluckily for her, Midwesterner Molly Dix has recently lost her mother to cancer, and the only solution is for Molly to come to L.A. and live with her new family. Brooke is less than thrilled to have a sister stealing her spotlight, and comes up with a number of evil plans to make Molly run back to Indiana. Brooke's archenemy, Shelby, the daughter of the tabloid Hey!'s editor, decides to befriend Molly in search of a good story and some revenge on Brooke...
Spoiled was a light, fun read, full of name-dropping and poking fun of the shallow Hollywood culture. There was a little romance and a lot of pranks, although nothing too cruel. The characters weren't especially deep - I wasn't expecting them to be. I also didn't really see too much behavior that would prompt the title "spoiled." The characters weren't over-the-top about their spending, and there weren't a lot of things expected from such a title: extended shopping montages, more than one event where the characters had to dress in formal attire, or long descriptions of the crazy fashion and designer dresses the characters might wear to red carpet events. Most of the story takes place in a private L.A. high school. It wasn't the Gossip Girl / L.A. Candy readalike I dreaded / expected to read, but more of a country mouse / city mouse, sibling rivalry story.
There was little to no offensive language and no sex, with the only really inappropriate thing being a note taped to Molly's back that said, "My name is Molly Dix. Ask me about my middle name." (Which, I just noticed, might have been an insult from author Heather Cocks's personal experience?).
Brooke Berlin has just discovered that thanks to her famous actor father Brick Berlin's fooling around, she has a half-sister about the same age. Unluckily for her, Midwesterner Molly Dix has recently lost her mother to cancer, and the only solution is for Molly to come to L.A. and live with her new family. Brooke is less than thrilled to have a sister stealing her spotlight, and comes up with a number of evil plans to make Molly run back to Indiana. Brooke's archenemy, Shelby, the daughter of the tabloid Hey!'s editor, decides to befriend Molly in search of a good story and some revenge on Brooke...
Spoiled was a light, fun read, full of name-dropping and poking fun of the shallow Hollywood culture. There was a little romance and a lot of pranks, although nothing too cruel. The characters weren't especially deep - I wasn't expecting them to be. I also didn't really see too much behavior that would prompt the title "spoiled." The characters weren't over-the-top about their spending, and there weren't a lot of things expected from such a title: extended shopping montages, more than one event where the characters had to dress in formal attire, or long descriptions of the crazy fashion and designer dresses the characters might wear to red carpet events. Most of the story takes place in a private L.A. high school. It wasn't the Gossip Girl / L.A. Candy readalike I dreaded / expected to read, but more of a country mouse / city mouse, sibling rivalry story.
There was little to no offensive language and no sex, with the only really inappropriate thing being a note taped to Molly's back that said, "My name is Molly Dix. Ask me about my middle name." (Which, I just noticed, might have been an insult from author Heather Cocks's personal experience?).
September 8, 2015
Overall, great book for teenage girls interested in social media or other social platforms. I first encountered this book and with my love for science fiction I was a bit skeptical that it would be a cheesy teenage girl story, but when I started reading it I could barely put the book down and had to tear myself away when my eyes were straining to go to sleep. Very engaging story and it never really has those parts where you just try to read through them fast so you can get onto the interesting parts. Loved the book and will recommend it to anyone.
October 19, 2011
i didn't expect this to be great literature. i picked it up solely because i have been reading the go fug yourself blog for six years, i think it's fun & clever, & i was curious to see how those ladies transferred their wit to a young adult book. this was just as frothy & silly as i expected (in a fun way!), but it was also a little more formulaic than i expected. it was as if they outlined it using a guidebook on how to write chick lit (such things exist). down-to-earth indiana girl molly dix's mother dies after a struggle with cancer, but not before confessing that molly's father is in fact the world-famous actor brick berlin. it's is molly's mother's dying wish that molly move in to brick's palatial estate in los angeles & get to know him. one hitch: brick has another 16-year-old daughter, brooke, by another woman (apparently he married brooke's mother before molly's mother got in touch to let him know she was pregnant...even though brooke is a couple of months older? wouldn't that mean that he cheated on brooke's mother with molly's mother & then went home & married brooke's mother? whatever). & brooke is not excited about sharing her father & the possibility of an attendant celebrity spotlight, with another girl.
it's your typical fish-out-of-water story, as brooke backstabs molly & makes her life miserable. of course a couple of good samaritans (who inevitably turn out to be loyal, intelligent, funny, & if male & straight, attractive) take molly under their wing & help her learn the ropes. molly is befriended by crafty shelby, whose father runs "hey!" magazine, a celebrity tabloid. molly's new friends max & teddy warn molly that shelby is only using her to pursue a life-long vendetta against brooke, but molly doesn't listen & hijinks ensue. eventually the shit hits the fan & molly & brooke repair their relationship, only for an accidental betrayal to rip it asunder again, which causes molly to flee back to indiana to take care of some unfinished business & try to make her peace with her new life.
there is A LOT about this book that makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. if i were dying of cancer, i'm sure i would be very distracted, but hopefully i'd be able to get it together enough to realize that maybe the best course of action for my teenage daughter would NOT to be to rip her away from the only world she has ever known, including a boyfriend, a best friend, a spot on the cross-country team, & loving grandparents, & send her packing to a celebrity in los angeles. i don't know if this was some kind of satirical winking conceit on the parts of cocks & morgan, or if it was just a very sloppy & implausible way to set up the story. & although molly is always pretty upfront about the fact that she's in los angeles because her mother died, you'd think that she'd be a little bit more emotionally destroyed. when my dad died, i was pretty fucked up for like three years, & i wasn't a teenager when he died, nor was i still living at home & relying on him for full-time parenting.
the "black moment" at the end also made no sense. (the "black moment" is when it looks like everything is going wrong for the protagonist, the ultimate conflict.) it didn't really seem any worse than anything else that had happened in the book. that only thing that made it worse was molly's reaction, & her reaction was fairly inexplicable. it's like cocks & morgan had her react more dramatically in order to amp up the drama of the moment, but they didn't really earn it, you know?
which...fine. it's not like these ladies were gunning to be national book finalists or anything. they're not looking to supplant war & peace on any book lists. so it's not the best writing (or plotting, or characterization...) in the world. i expected froth, i got froth. i only felt sad because the book is chock-full of name-dropping & pop cultural references. it's what i expected from the fug girls, but it means the book is going to be unforgivably dated within a year. there were some cute little winks, like naming a character jennifer parker (mary mcfly's girlfriend's name in the "back to the future" movies)...at the end of the day, i have read far worse young adult books. i mean, this is arguably better than bumped, which i reviewed a couple of months ago. just know what you're getting into & don't expect anything more.
it's your typical fish-out-of-water story, as brooke backstabs molly & makes her life miserable. of course a couple of good samaritans (who inevitably turn out to be loyal, intelligent, funny, & if male & straight, attractive) take molly under their wing & help her learn the ropes. molly is befriended by crafty shelby, whose father runs "hey!" magazine, a celebrity tabloid. molly's new friends max & teddy warn molly that shelby is only using her to pursue a life-long vendetta against brooke, but molly doesn't listen & hijinks ensue. eventually the shit hits the fan & molly & brooke repair their relationship, only for an accidental betrayal to rip it asunder again, which causes molly to flee back to indiana to take care of some unfinished business & try to make her peace with her new life.
there is A LOT about this book that makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER. if i were dying of cancer, i'm sure i would be very distracted, but hopefully i'd be able to get it together enough to realize that maybe the best course of action for my teenage daughter would NOT to be to rip her away from the only world she has ever known, including a boyfriend, a best friend, a spot on the cross-country team, & loving grandparents, & send her packing to a celebrity in los angeles. i don't know if this was some kind of satirical winking conceit on the parts of cocks & morgan, or if it was just a very sloppy & implausible way to set up the story. & although molly is always pretty upfront about the fact that she's in los angeles because her mother died, you'd think that she'd be a little bit more emotionally destroyed. when my dad died, i was pretty fucked up for like three years, & i wasn't a teenager when he died, nor was i still living at home & relying on him for full-time parenting.
the "black moment" at the end also made no sense. (the "black moment" is when it looks like everything is going wrong for the protagonist, the ultimate conflict.) it didn't really seem any worse than anything else that had happened in the book. that only thing that made it worse was molly's reaction, & her reaction was fairly inexplicable. it's like cocks & morgan had her react more dramatically in order to amp up the drama of the moment, but they didn't really earn it, you know?
which...fine. it's not like these ladies were gunning to be national book finalists or anything. they're not looking to supplant war & peace on any book lists. so it's not the best writing (or plotting, or characterization...) in the world. i expected froth, i got froth. i only felt sad because the book is chock-full of name-dropping & pop cultural references. it's what i expected from the fug girls, but it means the book is going to be unforgivably dated within a year. there were some cute little winks, like naming a character jennifer parker (mary mcfly's girlfriend's name in the "back to the future" movies)...at the end of the day, i have read far worse young adult books. i mean, this is arguably better than bumped, which i reviewed a couple of months ago. just know what you're getting into & don't expect anything more.
March 31, 2011
Let me start off, in the spirit of full disclosure, by saying that Jessica and I go way back. Way back. Way, way back. The kind of way back *cough*freshmen year of college*cough* that knows where the bodies are buried...
That said, even if I didn't know Jessica personally, the international success of her and Heather's celebrity fashion blog Go Fug Yourself, a snarkilicious guilty pleasure of over four million readers a month, plus the Fug Girls' front row presence at every fashion week from New York to Paris would make this novel a must read for me. I expected glamor and parody and wit and angst all wrapped up in a sushi roll of celebrity encounters and A-list locales.
And the girls knocked it out of the park.
Now SPOILED could very easily have been just another entry in the Clueless-slash-Mean Girls-meets-Princess Diaries genre and on the surface that's what it seems: after her mother's death, unassuming, Midwestern every girl Molly discovers her biological father is the hottest action star in Hollywood and moves out to live in his mansion with the half-sister she never knew existed, the rich, popular (and bitterly resentful of Molly) Brooke. And I would have been perfectly okay with that trope, people. Trust me, there's a reason Cinderella stories work. But SPOILED is actually so much more than that, it caught me off guard.
First off, the book isn't told from Molly's point-of-view, but instead alternates between Brooke and Molly, giving us insight into both sisters. Secondly - and perhaps the most disarming thing of all - I'm not entirely sure Molly is the heroine of this novel Because for me, the character I loved most... was Brooke.
I know, right? The spoiled mean girl? The privileged celebutante? ME?
Yep. Absolutely. 100%. And here's why - Jessica and Heather have humanized Brooke so much that despite some of the heartless, back-biting crap she pulls in the book, I couldn't help but root for her.
I fell in love with Brooke right from the get-go: we learn in the first scene how Brooke has been abandoned by both of her parents - the one she lives with AND the one she doesn't. Suddenly all of her passive-agressive actions are justified. Er, well, most of them. And I found myself loving Brooke's narrative despite myself.
Yes, I'm dramatic like that. Sue me.
SPOILED has been described as "the perfect beach read" and while I personally don't see that as a slight, I think it does the book a disservice. It's so much more than a bit of fluff, so much deeper (albeit obscured under a delightful layer of name-dropping snark and modern LA pop references) than your average YA chick lit that I found myself thinking about these characters well after I read the last page.
Oh yes. Sidenote. In a book filled with fake movie and TV show titles, I must say that Tequila Mockingbird might be the best fake title ever thought up. Ever. In the history of the freaking world.
Seriously.
That said, even if I didn't know Jessica personally, the international success of her and Heather's celebrity fashion blog Go Fug Yourself, a snarkilicious guilty pleasure of over four million readers a month, plus the Fug Girls' front row presence at every fashion week from New York to Paris would make this novel a must read for me. I expected glamor and parody and wit and angst all wrapped up in a sushi roll of celebrity encounters and A-list locales.
And the girls knocked it out of the park.
Now SPOILED could very easily have been just another entry in the Clueless-slash-Mean Girls-meets-Princess Diaries genre and on the surface that's what it seems: after her mother's death, unassuming, Midwestern every girl Molly discovers her biological father is the hottest action star in Hollywood and moves out to live in his mansion with the half-sister she never knew existed, the rich, popular (and bitterly resentful of Molly) Brooke. And I would have been perfectly okay with that trope, people. Trust me, there's a reason Cinderella stories work. But SPOILED is actually so much more than that, it caught me off guard.
First off, the book isn't told from Molly's point-of-view, but instead alternates between Brooke and Molly, giving us insight into both sisters. Secondly - and perhaps the most disarming thing of all - I'm not entirely sure Molly is the heroine of this novel Because for me, the character I loved most... was Brooke.
I know, right? The spoiled mean girl? The privileged celebutante? ME?
Yep. Absolutely. 100%. And here's why - Jessica and Heather have humanized Brooke so much that despite some of the heartless, back-biting crap she pulls in the book, I couldn't help but root for her.
I fell in love with Brooke right from the get-go: we learn in the first scene how Brooke has been abandoned by both of her parents - the one she lives with AND the one she doesn't. Suddenly all of her passive-agressive actions are justified. Er, well, most of them. And I found myself loving Brooke's narrative despite myself.
Yes, I'm dramatic like that. Sue me.
SPOILED has been described as "the perfect beach read" and while I personally don't see that as a slight, I think it does the book a disservice. It's so much more than a bit of fluff, so much deeper (albeit obscured under a delightful layer of name-dropping snark and modern LA pop references) than your average YA chick lit that I found myself thinking about these characters well after I read the last page.
Oh yes. Sidenote. In a book filled with fake movie and TV show titles, I must say that Tequila Mockingbird might be the best fake title ever thought up. Ever. In the history of the freaking world.
Seriously.
April 12, 2012
Originally featured on www.yareads.com, reviewed by Jocie
Molly Dix’s mother, Laurel recently died. On her deathbed, Laurel confesses to Molly that her father is world famous movie star, Brick Berlin. Thus, Molly moves to Hollywood, and starts a new life there. Navigating past a vindictive half-sister, the tabloids and a new school, Molly tries to fit her old life into her new one.
I was not impressed by this book. The plot was lacking, and really quite slow. I was bored for the first one hundred pages, and kept hoping something would happen. Nothing really did happen at all in this novel.
The writing was just average. There were some funny moments, but they were quite far and sparse. However I do think, the authors’ did a good job at including pop culture references and appreciate the almost satirical nature in which they plotted the novel. It was a clever move.
Furthermore, the characters in this novel were vapid, infuriating, and not very memorable. They were just there. Brooke annoyed me to no ends with the depth of her shallowness, and Molly just didn’t really do anything. I had a lot of trouble empathising with the characters, and couldn’t relate at all, pretty much.
I was really quite disappointed by this book. It was quite average, and I had a hard time liking anybody at all. I got painted a very insipid picture of what Hollywood is like, and if the way the Hollywood-ians act in this book is any indication of what to expect there, I’m not planning a trip anytime soon.
Molly Dix’s mother, Laurel recently died. On her deathbed, Laurel confesses to Molly that her father is world famous movie star, Brick Berlin. Thus, Molly moves to Hollywood, and starts a new life there. Navigating past a vindictive half-sister, the tabloids and a new school, Molly tries to fit her old life into her new one.
I was not impressed by this book. The plot was lacking, and really quite slow. I was bored for the first one hundred pages, and kept hoping something would happen. Nothing really did happen at all in this novel.
The writing was just average. There were some funny moments, but they were quite far and sparse. However I do think, the authors’ did a good job at including pop culture references and appreciate the almost satirical nature in which they plotted the novel. It was a clever move.
Furthermore, the characters in this novel were vapid, infuriating, and not very memorable. They were just there. Brooke annoyed me to no ends with the depth of her shallowness, and Molly just didn’t really do anything. I had a lot of trouble empathising with the characters, and couldn’t relate at all, pretty much.
I was really quite disappointed by this book. It was quite average, and I had a hard time liking anybody at all. I got painted a very insipid picture of what Hollywood is like, and if the way the Hollywood-ians act in this book is any indication of what to expect there, I’m not planning a trip anytime soon.
December 19, 2013
This book opens up on a teenage girl who is shopping with her best friend in the sunny California. Brooke Berlin is the daughter on one of the most successful actors in Hollywood, Brick Berlin. On the other side of America, Molly Dix is just discovering that her biological father is Brick Berlin, after her mother passes away she now must move to California and settle into the rich lifestyle that her dad and her step sister inherit. As she moves to her new home, she finds that it's difficult to adjust to the rich and famous life. The audience would be most be appealing to teenage girls who enjoy the magazines and the latest gossip of the stars of Hollywood. It is very dramatic with the back and forth fighting between the two main characters. It can relate to how girls dislike each other and the different lifestyles of two very different girls. Being able to relate to this was really easy as I understand the feeling of becoming a sister to someone you aren't entirely sure about, but in the end everything turns out to be great. The gossip and the rich lifestyle also drew me into reading this book as I always wonder what it's like.
Read
October 22, 2016I enjoyed The Royal We so much I decided to make this my next treadmill book.
******Well, this was definitely not up to the same standard as The Royal We, but it was intended to be no more than a YA trifle and that's exactly what it was. Teenage Molly Dix's mother dies and she learns that her father is matinee idol Brick Berlin, so instead of living with her grandparents, whom she's known all her life, she departs Indiana to live with Berlin and his teenage daughter Brooke who hates Molly on sight. No real surprises here - lots of brand names, but none of the spirit of the other book. I won't be in any hurry to read the one sequel.
******Well, this was definitely not up to the same standard as The Royal We, but it was intended to be no more than a YA trifle and that's exactly what it was. Teenage Molly Dix's mother dies and she learns that her father is matinee idol Brick Berlin, so instead of living with her grandparents, whom she's known all her life, she departs Indiana to live with Berlin and his teenage daughter Brooke who hates Molly on sight. No real surprises here - lots of brand names, but none of the spirit of the other book. I won't be in any hurry to read the one sequel.
June 6, 2011
I love gofugyourself.com, so when the writers of that blog announced they were writing a YA book, I was totally in. I knew it wasn't going to be high class literature, and instead was going to be my favorite kind of YA summer read: vapid high school drama that involved fashion, bitchiness and Hollywood. That's exactly what I got: a superfast read that let me escape my boring world for a while. It's not a great book, but it's amusing and kept me reading while drinking a fruity cocktail.
I'd actually give the book 3.5 stars, if that was allowed. The book is obviously going to have a sequel, which I'll read. Also, if it doesn't end up a series on the CW or a really terrible teen summer movie, I'll be sorely disappointed. I would definitely watch those with a fruity cocktail as well.
I'd actually give the book 3.5 stars, if that was allowed. The book is obviously going to have a sequel, which I'll read. Also, if it doesn't end up a series on the CW or a really terrible teen summer movie, I'll be sorely disappointed. I would definitely watch those with a fruity cocktail as well.
May 31, 2013
I found this book really easy to read although i did take my time to finish it because it is quite big.I found that the tittle connected to me and i was expecting some kind of teenage princess.I also thought the blurb really summed up the story really well.My favourite quote is probably between the two main characters at a magazine interview."i was nearly reluctant to leave the perfect plush dress and felt that i was going to hug it good bye but than i was whisked away to make-up".I think this really shows the confusion of this whole new world.My favourite scene is definitely the welcome party it is so fill with glam but everyone feels so distant and uncaring.This book is full of drama but can be confusing i enjoyed but i have read better.
October 21, 2011
Dear Heather Cocks,
Whaddup with the ending?
Best Regards, Claire
Whaddup with the ending?
Best Regards, Claire
September 26, 2019
I have had this book on my tbr for a bit now and love the way the cover is done. I have read a few other stories with a similar theme but I still really enjoyed the progression of the characters and it almost felt a bit like a guilty pleasure. I was into it.
Good Read!
Good Read!
August 10, 2011
Spoiled is written by the women who run Go Fug Yourself (Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan), so when I started reading it, I knew there would be snark, some romantika (I have no idea why I typed it like that, it just came out), and general fluff.
Spoiled does have all of those things, and yes, maybe it is a bit cliche, but it's really an enjoyable beach read. No, I'm not dying to read the (apparent) sequel. No, I didn't cry...
But I did laugh and was generally happy with the book. And it's what I was expecting.
Molly and Brooke, the main characters of this story, seem like they're going to fall into two main archetypes, the small-town-good-girl, and the spoiled-Hollywood-celebuspawn. But they're actually very well drawn, and I think part of the reason Heather and Jessica could pull something like this off so well is because they live in L.A. and so they see this kind of stuff everyday. That celebrity you see in the tabloids everyday who has a daughter? Yup, this could be her. Like it or not, the children of celebrities are actual people, and they feel the same way you do about nasty comments on their facebook page.
So neither Molly or Brooke are perfect, and they walk that fine line between being so normal it makes you want to go:
And being so obnoxious it makes you want to do this:
Like the gifs? Yes, you like the gifs.
Also, there were a few times during the book when I was all "Yay! Everything's going to be awesome and happily-ever-after!" And then H&J throw in this *thing* that made me go like this:
So yeah, this book invokes physical reaction sometimes. Just so you know.
Spoiled is a great beach read, and I 100% recommend it for fans of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski.
Plot= 12/20 | Characters = 16/20 | Writing= 10/15 | Dialogue= 12/15 | Ending= 6/10 | Cover (beauty) = 2.5/5 | Cover (relates to story) = 3/5 | Rereadability = 3/5 | Unputdownability = 3.5/5
Total= 68/100
Spoiled does have all of those things, and yes, maybe it is a bit cliche, but it's really an enjoyable beach read. No, I'm not dying to read the (apparent) sequel. No, I didn't cry...
But I did laugh and was generally happy with the book. And it's what I was expecting.
Molly and Brooke, the main characters of this story, seem like they're going to fall into two main archetypes, the small-town-good-girl, and the spoiled-Hollywood-celebuspawn. But they're actually very well drawn, and I think part of the reason Heather and Jessica could pull something like this off so well is because they live in L.A. and so they see this kind of stuff everyday. That celebrity you see in the tabloids everyday who has a daughter? Yup, this could be her. Like it or not, the children of celebrities are actual people, and they feel the same way you do about nasty comments on their facebook page.
So neither Molly or Brooke are perfect, and they walk that fine line between being so normal it makes you want to go:
And being so obnoxious it makes you want to do this:
Like the gifs? Yes, you like the gifs.Also, there were a few times during the book when I was all "Yay! Everything's going to be awesome and happily-ever-after!" And then H&J throw in this *thing* that made me go like this:
So yeah, this book invokes physical reaction sometimes. Just so you know.Spoiled is a great beach read, and I 100% recommend it for fans of Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski.
Plot= 12/20 | Characters = 16/20 | Writing= 10/15 | Dialogue= 12/15 | Ending= 6/10 | Cover (beauty) = 2.5/5 | Cover (relates to story) = 3/5 | Rereadability = 3/5 | Unputdownability = 3.5/5
Total= 68/100
May 15, 2015
I debated giving this two stars, but this book is extremely creative and that counts for something I guess.
The basis of this story has so much potential its ridiculous. It's about a girl finding out she's the daughter of a celebrity. You think this would be exciting and something we can live vicariously through since I'm sure we've all day dreamed about being related to someone rich and famous. Instead, this book downslopes almost immediately with the cliche, expected story of two sisters who hate each other- one of them being completely shallow and SPOILED and the other being shy, boring and from a small town. It's a pretty story because we all know it will send a beautiful message about sisterhood and love and eventually it will work out. That's what kind of happens...
For starters, the war that ignites between the two sisters isn't even that bad. They don't really do anything to each other than throw insults and wish the other away and then suddenly (with 100 pages left) the makeup you expected in the last chapter happens very suddenly. But the story is still pretty interesting and it's not the reason I'm rating this book how i am.
What killed me was the dialogue. Yes, the dialogue is hilarious at times (I was laughing out loud) but it is. so. unrealistic. I was shaking my head in public at the "fake" and "dramatic" words being said. This book refers to shopping as one character's "cure for the common cold".... I really didn't know how to respond to that, and so much else in this story. From my experience as a human, NO ONE talks like that. I don't know how people in L.A exist but I'm pretty sure no one can be that shallow and materialistic. If they are, omg.
I'm undecided as to what the authors could have been thinking when they wrote this.
Are they actually convinced people talk like this and were trying to be realistic in regards to celebrity lifestyles?
Were they trying to make a statement about superficial people by poking fun at them?
Were they mirroring EVERYTHING they've ever seen in the media with regards to rich people and therefore being completely cliche?
I don't know which one is better. If they were trying to be realistic, they failed miserably. If they were trying to make a statement, they did that enough with their plot. Stephen King says that characters should be honest, meaning that the way they talk should be how they would talk if they were real people. I am sure no one on earth says a person with a scowl looks as if they have "swallowed a brain tumour."
Bottom line: The story is predictable but sweet. The dialogue and therefore majority of the book is brutally fake and overdramatic and the author's intent gets completely driven off the road by bad speech.
The basis of this story has so much potential its ridiculous. It's about a girl finding out she's the daughter of a celebrity. You think this would be exciting and something we can live vicariously through since I'm sure we've all day dreamed about being related to someone rich and famous. Instead, this book downslopes almost immediately with the cliche, expected story of two sisters who hate each other- one of them being completely shallow and SPOILED and the other being shy, boring and from a small town. It's a pretty story because we all know it will send a beautiful message about sisterhood and love and eventually it will work out. That's what kind of happens...
For starters, the war that ignites between the two sisters isn't even that bad. They don't really do anything to each other than throw insults and wish the other away and then suddenly (with 100 pages left) the makeup you expected in the last chapter happens very suddenly. But the story is still pretty interesting and it's not the reason I'm rating this book how i am.
What killed me was the dialogue. Yes, the dialogue is hilarious at times (I was laughing out loud) but it is. so. unrealistic. I was shaking my head in public at the "fake" and "dramatic" words being said. This book refers to shopping as one character's "cure for the common cold".... I really didn't know how to respond to that, and so much else in this story. From my experience as a human, NO ONE talks like that. I don't know how people in L.A exist but I'm pretty sure no one can be that shallow and materialistic. If they are, omg.
I'm undecided as to what the authors could have been thinking when they wrote this.
Are they actually convinced people talk like this and were trying to be realistic in regards to celebrity lifestyles?
Were they trying to make a statement about superficial people by poking fun at them?
Were they mirroring EVERYTHING they've ever seen in the media with regards to rich people and therefore being completely cliche?
I don't know which one is better. If they were trying to be realistic, they failed miserably. If they were trying to make a statement, they did that enough with their plot. Stephen King says that characters should be honest, meaning that the way they talk should be how they would talk if they were real people. I am sure no one on earth says a person with a scowl looks as if they have "swallowed a brain tumour."
Bottom line: The story is predictable but sweet. The dialogue and therefore majority of the book is brutally fake and overdramatic and the author's intent gets completely driven off the road by bad speech.
July 8, 2011
I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
From the back of the book:
"Sixteen year old Molly Dix loves her ordinary life in suburban Indiana. When her single mother passes away, she's shocked to discover that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular.
Equally intrigued and terrified by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Southern California and plunges headfirst into the deep end of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her new life and family couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a healthy dose of passive-aggressive "sisterly" love."
I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book. I enjoy most teen/young adult novels, but I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy a story about Paris Hilton wannabes. I'm glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised. This was an emotionally tough read - all the animosity, one mom's death, and the other mom's complete lack of care for her daughter - all made this a challenging read, but one that I truly enjoyed.
What I liked about the book: It was very well written, with great pacing and good plotting. It was a real page turner. I liked both sisters, even Brooke, who on the surface, seems nothing more than a spoiled brat. However, Cocks and Morgan have created characters with great depth (well, maybe not Shelby) making it easy for the reader to care about them. The ending was enjoyable as well. Yes, it's a happy 30 minute sitcom happy ending, but it felt right.
Some reviewers have complained that there are too many mentions of Molly's dead mom. Considering it has only just been months since she died and taking into account how close Molly was with her mom, it makes sense for her mom's death to be a dominant theme.
What I didn't like about the book: The parents. Brick Berlin is such a self centered airhead with no clue about what to do with teenage daughters. Perhaps that's a realistic portrayal of Hollywood parents, but it still bothered me. As a parent I was embarrassed for him. Brooke's mother, whom the reader never meets, is another bad example. Though to be honest, it is Brooker's reaction to being abandoned by her mother and neglected by her father that give depth to her character.
Readers who enjoy Hollywood tabloid like stories or enjoyed the movie "Mean Girls" will enjoy this book. It's a good summer beach read.
Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
From the back of the book:
"Sixteen year old Molly Dix loves her ordinary life in suburban Indiana. When her single mother passes away, she's shocked to discover that her biological father is Brick Berlin, world-famous movie star and red-carpet regular.
Equally intrigued and terrified by her Hollywood lineage, Molly moves to Southern California and plunges headfirst into the deep end of Beverly Hills celebrity life. Just as Molly thinks her new life and family couldn't get any stranger, she meets Brooke Berlin, her gorgeous, spoiled half sister, who welcomes Molly to la-la land with a healthy dose of passive-aggressive "sisterly" love."
I wasn't sure I would enjoy this book. I enjoy most teen/young adult novels, but I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy a story about Paris Hilton wannabes. I'm glad to say that I was pleasantly surprised. This was an emotionally tough read - all the animosity, one mom's death, and the other mom's complete lack of care for her daughter - all made this a challenging read, but one that I truly enjoyed.
What I liked about the book: It was very well written, with great pacing and good plotting. It was a real page turner. I liked both sisters, even Brooke, who on the surface, seems nothing more than a spoiled brat. However, Cocks and Morgan have created characters with great depth (well, maybe not Shelby) making it easy for the reader to care about them. The ending was enjoyable as well. Yes, it's a happy 30 minute sitcom happy ending, but it felt right.
Some reviewers have complained that there are too many mentions of Molly's dead mom. Considering it has only just been months since she died and taking into account how close Molly was with her mom, it makes sense for her mom's death to be a dominant theme.
What I didn't like about the book: The parents. Brick Berlin is such a self centered airhead with no clue about what to do with teenage daughters. Perhaps that's a realistic portrayal of Hollywood parents, but it still bothered me. As a parent I was embarrassed for him. Brooke's mother, whom the reader never meets, is another bad example. Though to be honest, it is Brooker's reaction to being abandoned by her mother and neglected by her father that give depth to her character.
Readers who enjoy Hollywood tabloid like stories or enjoyed the movie "Mean Girls" will enjoy this book. It's a good summer beach read.
October 13, 2011
From Books and Threads
There’s no doubt that Spoiled is a really, really fun book. I’ve enjoyed the Fug Girls’ snarky fashion and celebrity blog for years, and Spoiled is written in the same breezy and hilarious style. The plot isn’t as fantastic as the writing style, but I wanted to forgive the book anything just because the ride was a blast.
As mentioned in the synopsis, our co-heroines are half-sisters suddenly introduced to each other after the death of Molly’s mother. And their father just happens to be one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Very often Molly comes across as just too sweet to be real. She forgives insult after insult and even when she decides to fight back, she instantly feels terribly about it. Her naivety is also played up a little too much especially when she first meets Brooke. Brooke’s insincerity and sabotage of Molly nearly drips off the page, but Molly doesn’t even suspect anything until she’s been publicly ridiculed for the results of Brooke’s actions.
Brooke, on the other hand, is delightfully mean though she doesn’t quite reach the heights of her hero, Blair Waldorf. Her nastiness is a lot more interesting than Molly’s sweetness, and as badly as I felt for Molly, I tended to root for her mean girl sister. Brooke’s dark secret is also maybe a little too easily revealed. Once she’s hugged, she lets go of that mean girl image almost instantly to try to form a sisterly bond with Molly.
My absolute favourite character was the movie star father, Brick Berlin. Every time he appeared, I couldn’t help laughing at the perfect satire the authors created. He was hilariously over sincere, and his ever-present iPhone with its note taking app provided more than a few laughs even as the reader felt badly for any child of this self-absorbed man.
I definitely want to read the upcoming sequel to Spoiled. None of the plot devices or characterizations (other than maybe the father Berlin) were terribly original, but the writing more than made up for it. Also the authors really seemed to enjoy themselves. You know how sometimes you read a book by established authors just entering the YA field, and it feels like they figured it’d be easy money so no need to actually write well? The Fug Girls are the complete opposite. The authorial voice is obviously having a great time, and it pulls the reader along for the ride.
There’s no doubt that Spoiled is a really, really fun book. I’ve enjoyed the Fug Girls’ snarky fashion and celebrity blog for years, and Spoiled is written in the same breezy and hilarious style. The plot isn’t as fantastic as the writing style, but I wanted to forgive the book anything just because the ride was a blast.
As mentioned in the synopsis, our co-heroines are half-sisters suddenly introduced to each other after the death of Molly’s mother. And their father just happens to be one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Very often Molly comes across as just too sweet to be real. She forgives insult after insult and even when she decides to fight back, she instantly feels terribly about it. Her naivety is also played up a little too much especially when she first meets Brooke. Brooke’s insincerity and sabotage of Molly nearly drips off the page, but Molly doesn’t even suspect anything until she’s been publicly ridiculed for the results of Brooke’s actions.
Brooke, on the other hand, is delightfully mean though she doesn’t quite reach the heights of her hero, Blair Waldorf. Her nastiness is a lot more interesting than Molly’s sweetness, and as badly as I felt for Molly, I tended to root for her mean girl sister. Brooke’s dark secret is also maybe a little too easily revealed. Once she’s hugged, she lets go of that mean girl image almost instantly to try to form a sisterly bond with Molly.
My absolute favourite character was the movie star father, Brick Berlin. Every time he appeared, I couldn’t help laughing at the perfect satire the authors created. He was hilariously over sincere, and his ever-present iPhone with its note taking app provided more than a few laughs even as the reader felt badly for any child of this self-absorbed man.
I definitely want to read the upcoming sequel to Spoiled. None of the plot devices or characterizations (other than maybe the father Berlin) were terribly original, but the writing more than made up for it. Also the authors really seemed to enjoy themselves. You know how sometimes you read a book by established authors just entering the YA field, and it feels like they figured it’d be easy money so no need to actually write well? The Fug Girls are the complete opposite. The authorial voice is obviously having a great time, and it pulls the reader along for the ride.
May 9, 2012
Brooke Berlin, daughter of famous action movie actor/director/producer Brick Berlin, is determined to become a star, and she wants her birthday party to be the event that launches her on her way to stardom. So when she discovers that she has a long lost half sister, who's coming to live with her and Brick in Hollywood, but that Brick feels that the birthday party would be the perfect way to welcome Molly to their home (and introduce her to the world in a carefully orchestrated media event), she is less than pleased.
Not that being Molly Dix is easy. Having grown up in the Midwest with her mother and grandparents, she finds out her father's true identity on her mother's deathbed (cancer). Suddenly she has a super celebrity as her dad, and a sister she never knew about. Determined that her grandparents should get a chance at their around the world trip, she leaves her best friend, and small town boyfriend behind, to face the adventure that is Hollywood. Brooke seems super friendly and helpful at first, until Molly learns the hard way that her sister only really cares about herself.
Brick is determined that his daughters become friends, and orders them to share a room, and drive to school together every day. Brooke and entourage try to make Molly's existence in school as difficult as possible, but not everyone is wanting to side with Brooke. Teddy, the easy-going son of the principal, and his opinionated and rebellious little sister Max both seem to want to help Molly, and then there are Brooke's enemies, who are only too happy to offer Molly assistance in the escalating sibling feud.
I've been a huge fan of Heather and Jessica's work on Go Fug Yourself for years and years, so when I discovered that they'd written a YA novel, I didn't really hesitate to get it as soon as it was released in paperback. The book is funny, silly and just the right amount of over the top melodramatic (both the Fug girls are after all huge fans of soap operas). There's a ton of pop culture references in there, and one of my favourite things was all the various mentions of Brick Berlin's various movies over the years. As long as you're not looking for something deep and meaningful, Spoiled is highly entertaining, and I will be checking out the sequel when it's out in paperback next year.
Not that being Molly Dix is easy. Having grown up in the Midwest with her mother and grandparents, she finds out her father's true identity on her mother's deathbed (cancer). Suddenly she has a super celebrity as her dad, and a sister she never knew about. Determined that her grandparents should get a chance at their around the world trip, she leaves her best friend, and small town boyfriend behind, to face the adventure that is Hollywood. Brooke seems super friendly and helpful at first, until Molly learns the hard way that her sister only really cares about herself.
Brick is determined that his daughters become friends, and orders them to share a room, and drive to school together every day. Brooke and entourage try to make Molly's existence in school as difficult as possible, but not everyone is wanting to side with Brooke. Teddy, the easy-going son of the principal, and his opinionated and rebellious little sister Max both seem to want to help Molly, and then there are Brooke's enemies, who are only too happy to offer Molly assistance in the escalating sibling feud.
I've been a huge fan of Heather and Jessica's work on Go Fug Yourself for years and years, so when I discovered that they'd written a YA novel, I didn't really hesitate to get it as soon as it was released in paperback. The book is funny, silly and just the right amount of over the top melodramatic (both the Fug girls are after all huge fans of soap operas). There's a ton of pop culture references in there, and one of my favourite things was all the various mentions of Brick Berlin's various movies over the years. As long as you're not looking for something deep and meaningful, Spoiled is highly entertaining, and I will be checking out the sequel when it's out in paperback next year.
June 28, 2012
OK, so I probably should have guessed from the cover and from the plot summary that I would hate this book. It’s about a 16 year old girl named Molly who finds out (on her mother’s deathbed) that she is the love-child of a famous fictional movie star named Brick Berlin. So she goes to live with him and his official-by-marriage 16 year old daughter Brooke (her mother has since abandoned her and Brick). Brooke is like every stereotypical Mean Rich Girl you can imagine. The first ⅔ of the book is the whole stereotypical mean girl / new girl rival story. You know what I mean. Then in the last third they suddenly bond and become friends. And of course Molly has boy issues since she both has a steady bf she left in Indiana and a new love interest in Beverly Hills. Yadda yadda yadda.
The only character I really liked was the father, Brick. I sort of pictured him as Zap Branigan from Futurama, but more sympathetic. He is hunky and self-centered and perpetually on his phone doing Hollywood stuff but you can tell he loves his daughters and he also says the most ridiculously funny aphorisms. They are like little zen sayings about powerbars and self-tanner.I would totally read a whole book about Brick.
So why did I even buy this book for the library and read it? It’s written by the “Fug Girls” of gofugyourself.com, a hilarious fashion blog. I think they are so funny and smart and they have a Friday feature called “Fugs and Pieces” where they post links and usually half the links are about reading or books or libraries and they are total Hunger Games fans. So I was hoping that they would manage to produce a non-stereotypical YA book. *sigh*.
One last thing: one if the authors is Heather Cocks. The main character in the book is Molly Dix. There is a joke in the book where the Mean Boys keep asking Molly what her middle name is and then they snicker. Poor childhood Heather Cocks.
The only character I really liked was the father, Brick. I sort of pictured him as Zap Branigan from Futurama, but more sympathetic. He is hunky and self-centered and perpetually on his phone doing Hollywood stuff but you can tell he loves his daughters and he also says the most ridiculously funny aphorisms. They are like little zen sayings about powerbars and self-tanner.I would totally read a whole book about Brick.
So why did I even buy this book for the library and read it? It’s written by the “Fug Girls” of gofugyourself.com, a hilarious fashion blog. I think they are so funny and smart and they have a Friday feature called “Fugs and Pieces” where they post links and usually half the links are about reading or books or libraries and they are total Hunger Games fans. So I was hoping that they would manage to produce a non-stereotypical YA book. *sigh*.
One last thing: one if the authors is Heather Cocks. The main character in the book is Molly Dix. There is a joke in the book where the Mean Boys keep asking Molly what her middle name is and then they snicker. Poor childhood Heather Cocks.
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January 9, 2013I thought this book was a good book. I usually don't read drama books or books about things that aren't vampires, fairies, etc. from the beginning this book had a good catch. Since when does a lonely lost girl find out her father is famous?!
A girl named Molly was a smart, funny, ad nice girl. She had a boyfriend named Danny who she has dated since forever ago. Molly's mother passed away and Molly is lost and confused. Molly's mother was a costume maker for plays and was an inspiration to Molly. Once Molly's mother passed away Molly's father who she doesn't know about contacts her and wants her to move in with her. Molly is nervous she had lived in a little town with the same kids forever and she has a boyfriend. She's afraid her father won't accept her or either will her new sister.
Meanwhile Brooke, a famous and gorgeous star is planning her sweet 16 where her father is going to show her off finally to the cameras. Before she can find a dress for her party her spirits are crushed by her father telling berthas she has a step sister that will be moving into their house and will be sharing their father. Brooke complains to her friends and they plan to get rid of her.
The story is filled with fighting, revenge, compassion, and sister hood. They try to get at each other for the first half of the book. Then halfway through they come together to beat a common enemy. Their enemy is a snob who's rather owns a magazine so she tries to get juicy stories out of Molly about Brooke. She tries to break the relationship up between the sisters but it ends up making their relationship stronger.
This story is really good and everyone should read it, it can help with real life challenges.
A girl named Molly was a smart, funny, ad nice girl. She had a boyfriend named Danny who she has dated since forever ago. Molly's mother passed away and Molly is lost and confused. Molly's mother was a costume maker for plays and was an inspiration to Molly. Once Molly's mother passed away Molly's father who she doesn't know about contacts her and wants her to move in with her. Molly is nervous she had lived in a little town with the same kids forever and she has a boyfriend. She's afraid her father won't accept her or either will her new sister.
Meanwhile Brooke, a famous and gorgeous star is planning her sweet 16 where her father is going to show her off finally to the cameras. Before she can find a dress for her party her spirits are crushed by her father telling berthas she has a step sister that will be moving into their house and will be sharing their father. Brooke complains to her friends and they plan to get rid of her.
The story is filled with fighting, revenge, compassion, and sister hood. They try to get at each other for the first half of the book. Then halfway through they come together to beat a common enemy. Their enemy is a snob who's rather owns a magazine so she tries to get juicy stories out of Molly about Brooke. She tries to break the relationship up between the sisters but it ends up making their relationship stronger.
This story is really good and everyone should read it, it can help with real life challenges.
June 23, 2011
What do you get when you mix step-sisters as different as sweet and sour with a self-absorbed movie star father in a Hollywood setting? Spoiled, of course! With a whopping dose of funny, Spoiled spins family drama upside down and inside out.
Molly and Brooke have virtually nothing in common, except their famous father, Brick. Oh my gosh, this guy is hilarious! Brick is a stereotypical air-head of an egomaniac. So, why do I like Brick so much? Because underneath it all, he cares about his daughters.
The antics that go on between Brooke and Molly are crazy! Brooke is the instigator as she tries to get Molly to move back to where she came from. Molly does her own damage as well, even siding with Brooke’s enemy to get revenge. These girls are creative.
On the exterior Brooke is mean and calculating while Molly is sweet and naïve. Dig deeper though, to understand WHY they act the way they do. Brooke has been abandoned by her mother and craves her father’s attention. She feels Molly is taking away some of that precious attention. Molly is scared because she has just lost her mother and she feels alone in the world.
Will the girls turn the corner and realize that having each other is actually a good thing? I hope you’ll read Spoiled to find out.
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
So cute! Spoiled is written with makeup – fake eyelashes, lipstick, nail polish, eye shadow. I like it and the white background is a perfect backdrop.
Molly and Brooke have virtually nothing in common, except their famous father, Brick. Oh my gosh, this guy is hilarious! Brick is a stereotypical air-head of an egomaniac. So, why do I like Brick so much? Because underneath it all, he cares about his daughters.
The antics that go on between Brooke and Molly are crazy! Brooke is the instigator as she tries to get Molly to move back to where she came from. Molly does her own damage as well, even siding with Brooke’s enemy to get revenge. These girls are creative.
On the exterior Brooke is mean and calculating while Molly is sweet and naïve. Dig deeper though, to understand WHY they act the way they do. Brooke has been abandoned by her mother and craves her father’s attention. She feels Molly is taking away some of that precious attention. Molly is scared because she has just lost her mother and she feels alone in the world.
Will the girls turn the corner and realize that having each other is actually a good thing? I hope you’ll read Spoiled to find out.
RATING
5 Loved
COVER COMMENTS
So cute! Spoiled is written with makeup – fake eyelashes, lipstick, nail polish, eye shadow. I like it and the white background is a perfect backdrop.
June 27, 2012
This is a 3.5 star book. The beginning started off really slow. I mean it took over 100 pages just to get to the first day of her new school. But then it really starts to pick up and I didn't complain. The opposite really, I couldn't put it down.
Let's start with the beginning of the book. That's always a good place to start. We are introduced to Molly whose mother has recently died and she has come into contact with her father, a superstar in the Hollywood world. She decides to move out to LA and blah blah blah. Her boyfriend and best friend, Danny and Charlimaine are pretty cool. Charlimaine was a good friend and helped Molly through everything. Danny was her best friend and boyfriend. He did really sweet things that any girl would be lucky to have. I can see why Molly liked him.
She gets to LA and meets Brick and Brooke. Brooke is a character, and so Is Brick. Actually, Brick is a total celebrity fruit job. But he is pretty cool and an overall good guy. Brooke and Molly have some ups and downs and are enemies and sisters all at the same time.
And Teddy and Max. Max turns out to be a good friend to Molly and pretty funny. I liked her crush on the QB, Jake. She was so cute. Oh Teddy, I have no words. Whoever is reading this, go read the book to find out about him;)
July 2, 2011
You know right off the bat that a book isn't going to take itself too seriously when a character named Arugula is the first thing to appear, word one, page one. And although I really liked this book (that's what four stars means, right?) the "Arugula" issue seemed to typify the ambivalence the authors felt between going for the cheap laugh, or telling a story with real characters, capable of evoking real emotions. Happily, for me at least, the latter impulse seems to predominate, although there are plenty of laugh out loud lines peppered throughout ("You look like ten pounds of sexy in a five pound bag of awesome!") But I really did like this book (four stars worth!), and its retelling of the girl who discovers she's royalty (ok, Hollywood royalty, in this instance), only to have to deal with palace intrigue, jealous courtiers and an inattentive but loving King, is told with a fresh, freewheeling trendalicious voice, and with a main character, Molly, who is just the right mix of naivete and gumption. This is not one of those books where you are guessing about how it's going to turn out. But just like old bluesmen can take three chords, time worn themes and phrases, and recombine them in seemingly infinite iterations, the authors take the familiar elements and spin them into a funny and touching narrative full of great characters and witty banter.
September 15, 2014
I personally thought that Heather Cocks, made it really easy to be able to picture yourself being one of the many characters in this book. The great detail helps put into perspective that this could happen to anyone. It combines struggles of being a sibling and being a normal teenager. I really enjoyed the book because it is about a girl who struggles getting along with her sibling and the struggles of going to high school just like any teenager, including me but with a different scenario. I really enjoyed the book and couldn't put it down until I was finished. Personally, I did not like the skipping around in the timeline of certain situations (like flashbacks). This made the book a little confusing and hard to follow. Also some of the flashbacks seemed irrelevant and seemed like they had nothing to do with the plot of the story. I think the strengths of the book are that it can help teenagers relate and figure out how to get through some of the troubles in life. I think a weakness is that some may judge the book by its cover. I believe that the back of the book summary does the book no justice and it is better than it sounds. I recommend this book to any high school student looking for a good read and a book to relate to but not directly.
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