New Girl in Sophomore Reading Challenge

Nov 22, 2011 Kristen rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, src12, azrc12

I read Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier when I was much much younger and enjoyed it so I was very intrigued when I heard about this retelling. I was a little skeptical as I am with most retellings but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.

I'm just going to straight up say the first chapter is painful. Painful to the point where I thought I would hate the rest of the book. It is slow, ridiculously unrealistic, and just difficult to get through. The concept that her parent's would think that it is ...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Hannah rated it liked it

Shelves: 2012

I really don't know what to say about this book - I'm not sure whether I hated it or loved it, which is strange, because I usually already know while reading whether or not I like a book. The idea for New Girl sounded creepy in a good way, but I still wasn't sure what to expect, since I'd heard mixed things about Paige Harbison's debut, Here Lies Bridget. So I can't say my expectations were met or not met - I just have really, really conflicted feelings about New Girl.

Before reading New Girl, I I really don't know what to say about this book - I'm not sure whether I hated it or loved it, which is strange, because I usually already know while reading whether or not I like a book. The idea for New Girl sounded creepy in a good way, but I still wasn't sure what to expect, since I'd heard mixed things about Paige Harbison's debut, Here Lies Bridget. So I can't say my expectations were met or not met - I just have really, really conflicted feelings about New Girl.

Before reading New Girl, I didn't even know it's a retelling of the classic Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, and I probably still wouldn't know if someone hadn't pointed it out to me. Since I didn't read the original, I can't tell how New Girl ties into that story. I think it works as a stand-alone, though, since I didn't feel like I didn't get something because of not having read Rebecca.

The background of the story didn't make all that much sense to me. The new girl had wanted to go to this boarding school when she was thirteen, but her application was rejected. Now, four years later, her parents tell her they'd secretly been applying for her every year, and this year she got in. I'm sorry, but that's just... weird. Why would the parents just assume their daughter still wants to go, four years later, when she hasn't mentioned it since? And why would they think changing schools for your senior year is a good idea, when there's absolutely no reason to leave? I also didn't get why the new girl didn't just say she doesn't want to go - she's always talking about how much life at the boarding school sucks and how much she misses her friends and the weather back in Florida, but she never says anything to anyone and doesn't tell her parents she wants to stay in Florida, which I didn't get.

The situation at school doesn't make much sense, either. A spot opened up because Becca's gone, and that's why new girl can go to that boarding school. When she gets there, there's still some of Becca's stuff in Becca's old room and now the new girl's room, still all of her pictures hanging on the wall. Wouldn't her parents have picked that stuff up, or wouldn't the school have done something about it? What did they expect the new girl to do, live with Becca's pictures on her wall and Becca's sheets on her bed? How can the school possibly think that's a good idea? Isn't it obvious that would cause problems between Dana, Becca's old roommate and now the new girl's roommate, and the new girl? I don't think it's realistic how the school just didn't take care of that at all.

I really liked how the new girl's name isn't revealed until the very end. That aspect is skillfully written, so much so that I didn't even notice until I wanted to take notes on her character and realized I didn't know her name.

Other than that, the MC is an okay, bland character. She's not terrible, and I could feel for her, but she's not special, either - nothing noteworthy about her, really. I got annoyed with her a few times when she doesn't see why people are upset with her - of course it's not her fault, but you have to admit it's got to be hard to accept someone who's now sleeping in your missing friend or classmate's bed, hanging out with the people your missing friend or classmate hung out with, and liking your missing friend or classmate's boyfriend. She got upset when people blamed her and said she as trying to replace Becca, and while of course it's not her fault, I would have liked to see her show some more sympathy towards those who lost Becca.

This book is partially written from Becca's point of view, which I didn't know beforehand. She's a fascinating character. I didn't like her - she's a manipulative bitch who would do anything to get attention, only thinks of herself and doesn't care whom she hurts by trying to get what she wants - but I was strangely mesmerized by her, like the other characters were, too. I found myself enjoying her chapter's more than the new girl's, even though that might just be because of the mystery aspect - I wanted to find out what happened to her, and the mystery is really what kept me turning the pages.

The secondary characters didn't really do it for me, and the relationships between the characters are strange. I got annoyed at Max and the new girl and how they couldn't make up their minds. Usually, I'm a fan of forbidden romance, but the chemistry is missing; there's no spark to their relationship. And there's no chemistry between Becca and Max. I guess that's the point, but there's no real chemistry between Becca and Johnny, either, and Johnny is just a very bland character. Most of the secondary characters are bland and boring - Julia, Madison, Cam and Blake don't seem to have any personalities of their own. Dana is the only really interesting character - I would have liked to know more about her relationship with Becca and seen some more development in her relationship with the new girl. The whole crowd at the boarding school acted strangely, and the rumors they make up about Becca's disappearance are just weird. For example, they think she might be pregnant, but how would that work? The police and Becca's parents don't know where she is, and wouldn't she have gone home if she wanted to hide her pregnancy from the people at school? Those theories just didn't make sense to me.

I know, my review is not what you'd call coherent - just lots of paragraphs about something I liked and something I disliked about New Girl, with no real connections of the paragraphs. I'm sorry, but that's exactly how I feel about this book - there are things I loved and things I hated. While it's not going to be one of my favorites, mainly because the unrealistic background and bland characters, I do recommend this book - a strong, intriguing mystery storyline makes New Girl worth reading.

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo... ...more

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Dec 22, 2011 carole rated it really liked it

I am no stranger to teenage drama, but the level of drama found in New Girl is pretty extreme and quite juicy. Loosely based on the adult book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, New Girl is a mysterious and haunting tale set in a New Hampshire Boarding School that is sure to make the reader feel so many emotions from hate to jealousy to hope.

The book switches points of view and switches back and forth in time. Between the past and what Becca's life was like at Manderly, and the present and the variou I am no stranger to teenage drama, but the level of drama found in New Girl is pretty extreme and quite juicy. Loosely based on the adult book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, New Girl is a mysterious and haunting tale set in a New Hampshire Boarding School that is sure to make the reader feel so many emotions from hate to jealousy to hope.

The book switches points of view and switches back and forth in time. Between the past and what Becca's life was like at Manderly, and the present and the various struggles the 'New Girl' is facing there. It's easy to get drawn in and if you're like me, hard to put down (I read it in one sitting, I had to). Becca and the 'New Girl' have personalities that are nothing alike. I liked how there were two narrators, it was interesting to hear things happen from each of their point of views.

While I liked and respected the 'New Girl', I felt, she was (at times) a little inconsistent in her behavior. Yes, mass volumes of alcohol may have been the culprit as there is plenty of it being consumed in the book and I am well aware of the effects alcohol has (like making one act like an entirely different person) she still did and said some things that I felt were out of character. She's definitely a strong voice in this book, and it didn't take anything away from the story, but there were just a few times that I found myself thinking "I don't think she's say/do that". With that said, no one is perfect. Paige Harbison does an amazing job making characters that, wait for it, make mistakes. The 'New Girl' is strong, but she has her moments and I LOVE THAT!

Becca Normandy was and is my least favorite person in the story. She takes flawed and damaged fictional characters to a whole new high. But, I wouldn't have had it any other way. She was the girl she was for a reason and it worked, I almost ALMOST felt bad for her at times ALMOST. What the rest of the school saw of her, and what the reader learns (I loved her chapters), makes the book quite an exciting adventure. She makes me want to say "Marsha, Marsha, Marsha, Becca, Becca, Becca" I know, how lame a Brady Bunch reference. But, everything is always about her, or so she thinks it should be. We all know someone like that and it makes her easier to reach and understand.

I really enjoyed this book. Once I started reading I was hooked and had to stick with it until the end, even if the end came at 3 in the morning for me. There's a lot of, was that real?, moments found and it's going to make the reader think a lot. I would definitely recommend it for mature YA audiences as there is a lot of underage drinking, strong issues like rape, sex is a frequent backdrop, and language while not constant does appear.

New Girl is a book that has stuck with me and I frequently find myself thinking about it. Overall, this book is captivating and unlike any drama I've ever experienced. Rich in detail and an interesting mystery that still has me going over everything that happened.
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Aug 18, 2011 Sasha rated it it was ok

Shelves: realistic, young-adult, read-in-2012, 2012-publication

2.5 stars

So, imagine what you would do if your parents shipped you off to boarding school for your senior year. Now, imagine that they don't even think of this as a punishment - they think that it's what you want. And THEN, imagine that you get to said boarding school and everyone just calls you 'new girl' because the girl whose spot you've taken, has gone missing and is presumed dead. It feels like no one wants you there, except maybe the missing girl's boyfriend.

Errrr - this was definitely a r ...more

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Dec 23, 2011 Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday) added it

Shelves: netgalley, standalone-challenge-2012, sophomore-challenge-2012, completely-comtemp-2012, rebecca-retelling

Bottom line: if you’re familiar with Rebecca, you’ll enjoy the way New Girl cleverly updates the story and adapts it to fit the YA genre. If you’ve never heard of the original, no problem. You’ll still enjoy this slick, page-turning psychological thriller.

Read the full review at www.jenryland.blogspot.com
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