What do you think?
Rate this book
What Goes Around: Cracked Up to Be / Some Girls Are
Courtney Summers fans are in for a treat! Two of her most critically acclaimed titles bound together for the price of one. In Cracked Up To Be, Perfect Parker Fadley isn’t so perfect anymore. She’s quit the cheerleading squad, she’s dumped her perfect boyfriend, and she’s failing school. Her parents are on a constant suicide watch and her counselors think she’s playing games…but what they don’t know, the real reason for this whole mess, is that a horrible thing has happened and it just might be her fault. In Some Girls Are, climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder. Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome. And just like the other members of this all girl clique, she was both feared and revered by the students of Hallowell High... that is until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.
480 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2013
About the author
Courtney Summers
14 books7,575 followersCOURTNEY SUMMERS is an uncompromising writer¹ known for a history of risky artistic choices² and pushing boundaries³ with novels that are not for the faint of heart.⁴ She has received over 20 starred reviews and numerous awards and honors, including the Edgar and ITW Thriller Awards.
¹ Quill & Quire ² Kirkus Reviews
³ Shelf Awareness ⁴ The New York Times
Instagram
Newsletter
¹ Quill & Quire ² Kirkus Reviews
³ Shelf Awareness ⁴ The New York Times
Newsletter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 15, 2014
I'm rating it for the first part of the book only. 'Cracked up to be' is mesmerizing and I love Parker's voice so much. Everytime she opened her mouth to say something, I tried to up her by saying someting back--something wittier, smarter, bitchier--but I failed. Parker was unbeatable :)
I love both Chris and Jake, but I'm leaning toward Chris more. Okay. A lot. I'm pretty sure majority of the readers would take Jake's side, but boy, do I adore Chris. xoxo...
I DNF-ed the second part 'Some Girls Are.' Bullying is a serious issue which I hate with passion. The author's writing is great, I'm sure, but I just couldn't take more of this brutality. It's insane what these kids had done to each other. And to think that this could, are, happening in the real world is just sickening.
Stop bullying! Stop it anyway you can!
I love both Chris and Jake, but I'm leaning toward Chris more. Okay. A lot. I'm pretty sure majority of the readers would take Jake's side, but boy, do I adore Chris. xoxo...
I DNF-ed the second part 'Some Girls Are.' Bullying is a serious issue which I hate with passion. The author's writing is great, I'm sure, but I just couldn't take more of this brutality. It's insane what these kids had done to each other. And to think that this could, are, happening in the real world is just sickening.
Stop bullying! Stop it anyway you can!
April 18, 2015
CRACKED UP TO BE
Grade: C-
Perfect, popular, Parker has never been a nice girl, but since she turned to drinking after her best friend went missing, she's taken uber-bitch to a new level. If Courtney Summers didn't write with such raw, compelling voice, I probably wouldn't have finished CRACKED UP TO BE.
Yes, Parker was a complicated character and she carried pain with her, but in real life, I haven't seen a lot of teenagers have so much pain that this was an excuse for acting like they didn't care if their dog died. She wasn't a believable character, and was difficult to root for, despite being able to tell that her tough, often cruel exterior was supposedly masking her pain. I'm a child psychologist so I've seen defense mechanisms and faux tough exteriors. Parker's felt like it was written for a character in a novel rather than authentic.
I like Summers' writing style, the only criticism is that a few of the words she used seemed too beyond the vocabulary of a high school student, even a very bright, well-spoken one. I would definitely read another Courtney Summers novel, I even have one on my Amazon Wish List.
Themes: high school, dating, cheating, substance abuse, mean girls,
SOME GIRLS ARE
Grade: C
When Regina is almost raped by her best friend's boyfriend, she becomes a target of bullying from the same group of friends she used to bully others. Even though she's being physically and emotionally abused by her former friends, she wants back at the popular table in the school. Now she's sitting with Michael, the morose son of her dead therapist, and one of her former bullying victims
Bullying is one of the most serious social problems facing teenagers today. SOME GIRLS ARE is bullying on steroids. The level of meanness in this goes far beyond anything 99% most victims will face. The righteous indignation and lack of empathy would classify some of these girls as sociopaths. Although a recent victim of the bullying, Regina isn't much better and she commits some acts as cruel as the others. Some readers might see this as payback, but I saw her behavior as a lack of growth in her character. Michael was the only person who semi-reached out to her. I'm surprised nobody reported the physical attacks on Regina or that there was never a school employee or teacher in the halls.
I enjoy Courtney Summers' style of writing. She gave Regina a great voice. I empathized with her and felt disappointed when she made poor choices. The concept for the story was great, I only wish the bullying wasn't so over the top. The actions on their own weren't outside the realm of typical bullying, but the totality of the daily exchanges exceed anything that would go unnoticed for such a long time. I wish the attempted rape had been addressed further and also that Regina would have stopped engaging her tormentors.
THEMES: bullying, alcohol and drugs, peer pressure, mean girls
A lukewarm recommendation for those who enjoy realistic YA literature.
Grade: C-
Perfect, popular, Parker has never been a nice girl, but since she turned to drinking after her best friend went missing, she's taken uber-bitch to a new level. If Courtney Summers didn't write with such raw, compelling voice, I probably wouldn't have finished CRACKED UP TO BE.
Yes, Parker was a complicated character and she carried pain with her, but in real life, I haven't seen a lot of teenagers have so much pain that this was an excuse for acting like they didn't care if their dog died. She wasn't a believable character, and was difficult to root for, despite being able to tell that her tough, often cruel exterior was supposedly masking her pain. I'm a child psychologist so I've seen defense mechanisms and faux tough exteriors. Parker's felt like it was written for a character in a novel rather than authentic.
I like Summers' writing style, the only criticism is that a few of the words she used seemed too beyond the vocabulary of a high school student, even a very bright, well-spoken one. I would definitely read another Courtney Summers novel, I even have one on my Amazon Wish List.
Themes: high school, dating, cheating, substance abuse, mean girls,
SOME GIRLS ARE
Grade: C
When Regina is almost raped by her best friend's boyfriend, she becomes a target of bullying from the same group of friends she used to bully others. Even though she's being physically and emotionally abused by her former friends, she wants back at the popular table in the school. Now she's sitting with Michael, the morose son of her dead therapist, and one of her former bullying victims
Bullying is one of the most serious social problems facing teenagers today. SOME GIRLS ARE is bullying on steroids. The level of meanness in this goes far beyond anything 99% most victims will face. The righteous indignation and lack of empathy would classify some of these girls as sociopaths. Although a recent victim of the bullying, Regina isn't much better and she commits some acts as cruel as the others. Some readers might see this as payback, but I saw her behavior as a lack of growth in her character. Michael was the only person who semi-reached out to her. I'm surprised nobody reported the physical attacks on Regina or that there was never a school employee or teacher in the halls.
I enjoy Courtney Summers' style of writing. She gave Regina a great voice. I empathized with her and felt disappointed when she made poor choices. The concept for the story was great, I only wish the bullying wasn't so over the top. The actions on their own weren't outside the realm of typical bullying, but the totality of the daily exchanges exceed anything that would go unnoticed for such a long time. I wish the attempted rape had been addressed further and also that Regina would have stopped engaging her tormentors.
THEMES: bullying, alcohol and drugs, peer pressure, mean girls
A lukewarm recommendation for those who enjoy realistic YA literature.
March 10, 2014
In the first half of the book, Cracked Up to Be, Courtney Summers gives you a look into how cruel some girls can be in high school. The main character Regina, struggles with popularity and addiction. This book gives you an inside look at the reality of high school. In Cracked Up to Be Regina struggles with loosing friends, loosing her popularity status, and being raped. Here is a quote that is relatable to many high school students, "Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses, countless drunken antics, pantsings, spilled food, theft, fights, broken limbs, turf wars–every day, a turf war–six months until graduation and no one gets a medal when they get out. But everything you do here counts."
In the second half of the book, Some Girls Are, Courtney Summers gives us another inside look to cruel high school incidents that many other girls struggle with. Some Girls Are gives you a look into rape, romance, death of loved ones, and how important the social status is of high school. Here is a quote that shows you this, "I’m ushered in by whispers and stares. Half the student body relishes it; they’ve waited a long time to show me just how much they hate me. The other half doesn’t know what to make of it after spending four years fearfully revering me."
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a very deep inside look at high school life.
In the second half of the book, Some Girls Are, Courtney Summers gives us another inside look to cruel high school incidents that many other girls struggle with. Some Girls Are gives you a look into rape, romance, death of loved ones, and how important the social status is of high school. Here is a quote that shows you this, "I’m ushered in by whispers and stares. Half the student body relishes it; they’ve waited a long time to show me just how much they hate me. The other half doesn’t know what to make of it after spending four years fearfully revering me."
I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a very deep inside look at high school life.
October 20, 2013
Wonderful duo. Can't wait for Summers' next.
May 26, 2023
⭐⭐⭐ - Cracked Up to Be
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Some Girls Are
This anthology collects two novels by Courtney Summers: Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are. The stories are unrelated, though both are wickedly well written and carried by a theme of Adults Not Noticing Things. Trigger warnings apply for current and prospective parents.
What I thought: Cracked Up to Be was good, but Some Girls Are was outstanding. If you've read Ecstasy by Ré Ó Laighléis (Ecstasy and Other Stories), then you'll love this.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - Some Girls Are
This anthology collects two novels by Courtney Summers: Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are. The stories are unrelated, though both are wickedly well written and carried by a theme of Adults Not Noticing Things. Trigger warnings apply for current and prospective parents.
What I thought: Cracked Up to Be was good, but Some Girls Are was outstanding. If you've read Ecstasy by Ré Ó Laighléis (Ecstasy and Other Stories), then you'll love this.
December 2, 2013
Courtney Summers’ This Is Not a Test turned out to be one of my favorite books of 2012, though I never would have guessed it. Thus, I was thrilled to get a review copy of What Goes Around, which conveniently contains the two Summers books I have yet to read. I do not know what I’ll do with my life now that I have no more Courtney Summers. All the Rage needs to hurry up.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
Read the full review at A Reader of Fictions.
October 22, 2013
At first, I was really excited to read this book but I was just sooo disappointed at everything. The characters to me were so cliche and I could not realte to any of them. Idk why this book has high ratings. In my opinion it was an epic FAILURE!
October 13, 2015
publisher: St. Martin's Press
YA
Man, being a teenager is hard. Reading these brings back so many memories. Luckily I didn't experience some of the things these girls experienced. Flailing, feeling like what your peers think is the most important thing in the world, feeling like no one understands you, not having anywhere to turn... those are universal teenager experiences that this book, really these two books, address.
In Cracked Up To Be, Parker Fadley was once one of the golden children of her high school. Popular and feared, she was captain of the cheerleading team and part of a power couple with Josh. But the pressure to keep it up, to be perfect and meet expectations, gets to her. When she has an experience that shakes her perfect world, she doesn't respond very well. She shuns everyone and is destructive to herself. Cracked Up is all about her coming to terms with what has happened and finding a new ground where she can be herself and be happy.
In Some Girls Are, Regina Afton also goes from top to bottom when her big-girl-on-campus "best" friend Anna's boyfriend Donnie tries to rape Regina at a party. Regina turns to a girl she bullied for being overweight who tells Anna that Regina slept with Donnie and they proceed to destroy her. They create YourSpace pages for hating on Regina and spread vicious rumors. Regina responds the only way she knows, by fighting back. When she again turns to some old friends who she destroyed to get win Anna's approval, she realizes how it feels to be on the receiving end of that kind of "fun".
I picked up this title because of the recent book challenge to Some Girls Are at a high school in South Carolina. Here is a BookRiot article about the challenge: http://bookriot.com/2015/07/30/girls-...
The response by the Internet was fantastic! Over 800 copies of the book were donated and sent to the local public library who gave out copies to the teens in the community: http://bookriot.com/2015/07/30/girls-...
Summers lays out a no-sugar-coating of how tough it can be in high school. It continued to amaze me how clueless these girls' parents seem to be. They had to face these battles completely alone. Luckily, through all of the horrible times they faced, they both seemed to have a beacon of hope in a friend. These are not easy books to read but provide an honest look at bullying and pressure as a teen.
YA
Man, being a teenager is hard. Reading these brings back so many memories. Luckily I didn't experience some of the things these girls experienced. Flailing, feeling like what your peers think is the most important thing in the world, feeling like no one understands you, not having anywhere to turn... those are universal teenager experiences that this book, really these two books, address.
In Cracked Up To Be, Parker Fadley was once one of the golden children of her high school. Popular and feared, she was captain of the cheerleading team and part of a power couple with Josh. But the pressure to keep it up, to be perfect and meet expectations, gets to her. When she has an experience that shakes her perfect world, she doesn't respond very well. She shuns everyone and is destructive to herself. Cracked Up is all about her coming to terms with what has happened and finding a new ground where she can be herself and be happy.
In Some Girls Are, Regina Afton also goes from top to bottom when her big-girl-on-campus "best" friend Anna's boyfriend Donnie tries to rape Regina at a party. Regina turns to a girl she bullied for being overweight who tells Anna that Regina slept with Donnie and they proceed to destroy her. They create YourSpace pages for hating on Regina and spread vicious rumors. Regina responds the only way she knows, by fighting back. When she again turns to some old friends who she destroyed to get win Anna's approval, she realizes how it feels to be on the receiving end of that kind of "fun".
I picked up this title because of the recent book challenge to Some Girls Are at a high school in South Carolina. Here is a BookRiot article about the challenge: http://bookriot.com/2015/07/30/girls-...
The response by the Internet was fantastic! Over 800 copies of the book were donated and sent to the local public library who gave out copies to the teens in the community: http://bookriot.com/2015/07/30/girls-...
Summers lays out a no-sugar-coating of how tough it can be in high school. It continued to amaze me how clueless these girls' parents seem to be. They had to face these battles completely alone. Luckily, through all of the horrible times they faced, they both seemed to have a beacon of hope in a friend. These are not easy books to read but provide an honest look at bullying and pressure as a teen.
October 13, 2014
Really liked this, both books had their strengths and weaknesses.
Cracked Up to Be: I really enjoyed Parker's ability to just bulldoze people with sheer honesty and by not giving a single fuck about social conventions and the like. She is not unsociable because of some quirk or whatnot or because she doesn't understand people or anything like that.
She does, she knows people, knows how communication works, how people use little lies and ignore some things to be civil and talk and she ignores all of that, uses it even to just drive people away. Her self-destructive dedication is a sight to behold and one gets rather invested in her.
The weak point of this book was the ending, because the end just seemed to come out of nowhere. I mean, I get why it happened as it did, but it just felt...off.
Also, what kind of weird school was that where they treated a student which such a good record like that? Did 4 years of perfect grades mean nothing to them?
Some Girls Are: Here, I enjoyed the situation, a bully who falls from grace and has to deal with being bullied. I love how this is not really a cautionary tale as to "do not bully", or simply another victim story. Regina does learn that she went too far and that bullying is horrible, but, at the same time, she never really distances herself from the methods. Her best options of fighting back are pretty much still the same methods the other side uses and that was interesting to witness.
If the ending of the first book was disappointing, however, this was doubly so. The resolution came way too sudden. Just "and now this happened" and book is over. I would have liked to see how the new status quo played out and how people like Kara reacted to this.
I've read both books in one sitting, so, they are definitely engaging, very well written with a strong, engaging voice. The characters were distinct, enjoyable and unconventional, as both weren't exactly normal YA protagonists. They were flawed, not very nice people and able and willing to inflict harm on other people for more or less good reasons. Some times for bad reasons.
The endings on both could have been better or less abrupt though. All in all, really enjoyed this. Am definitely going to read more from Courtney Summers.
Cracked Up to Be: I really enjoyed Parker's ability to just bulldoze people with sheer honesty and by not giving a single fuck about social conventions and the like. She is not unsociable because of some quirk or whatnot or because she doesn't understand people or anything like that.
She does, she knows people, knows how communication works, how people use little lies and ignore some things to be civil and talk and she ignores all of that, uses it even to just drive people away. Her self-destructive dedication is a sight to behold and one gets rather invested in her.
The weak point of this book was the ending, because the end just seemed to come out of nowhere. I mean, I get why it happened as it did, but it just felt...off.
Also, what kind of weird school was that where they treated a student which such a good record like that? Did 4 years of perfect grades mean nothing to them?
Some Girls Are: Here, I enjoyed the situation, a bully who falls from grace and has to deal with being bullied. I love how this is not really a cautionary tale as to "do not bully", or simply another victim story. Regina does learn that she went too far and that bullying is horrible, but, at the same time, she never really distances herself from the methods. Her best options of fighting back are pretty much still the same methods the other side uses and that was interesting to witness.
If the ending of the first book was disappointing, however, this was doubly so. The resolution came way too sudden. Just "and now this happened" and book is over. I would have liked to see how the new status quo played out and how people like Kara reacted to this.
I've read both books in one sitting, so, they are definitely engaging, very well written with a strong, engaging voice. The characters were distinct, enjoyable and unconventional, as both weren't exactly normal YA protagonists. They were flawed, not very nice people and able and willing to inflict harm on other people for more or less good reasons. Some times for bad reasons.
The endings on both could have been better or less abrupt though. All in all, really enjoyed this. Am definitely going to read more from Courtney Summers.
Read
March 10, 2014In Cracked Up To Be, Courtney Summers really shows how cruel high school-aged girls can be. The main character, Regina struggles with both addiction and popularity.The author paints a picture of the horrible things that can go down in High School like rape, alcoholism, abusive relationships, and struggling to fit in. This quote from the book shows the reality and harshness of the teenage years and High School. “Imagine 4 years.
Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses, countless drunken antics, pantsings, spilled food, theft, fights, broken limbs, turf wars–every day, a turf war–six months until graduation and no one gets a medal when they get out. But everything you do here counts.
High school.”
I highly enjoyed Cracked Up To Be, and as a High School student, I found it very relatable.
In Some Girls are, the author yet again shows the reality of High School. It shows, rape, romance, death of loved ones, and social status. The books shows how an outcast sees the world, how an outcast can get by in a High School full of bullies and careless teens.
One of my favorite quotes from this book is “The repeat is always the killer. Everything inside you goes into saying the word once, but sorry is the kind of word the person you say it to always wants to hear twice. ”
I did not enjoy this book as much as Cracked Up to be, but would still recommend it because of the insight it gives you.
Four years, two suicides, one death, one rape, two pregnancies (one abortion), three overdoses, countless drunken antics, pantsings, spilled food, theft, fights, broken limbs, turf wars–every day, a turf war–six months until graduation and no one gets a medal when they get out. But everything you do here counts.
High school.”
I highly enjoyed Cracked Up To Be, and as a High School student, I found it very relatable.
In Some Girls are, the author yet again shows the reality of High School. It shows, rape, romance, death of loved ones, and social status. The books shows how an outcast sees the world, how an outcast can get by in a High School full of bullies and careless teens.
One of my favorite quotes from this book is “The repeat is always the killer. Everything inside you goes into saying the word once, but sorry is the kind of word the person you say it to always wants to hear twice. ”
I did not enjoy this book as much as Cracked Up to be, but would still recommend it because of the insight it gives you.
March 24, 2014
The first half of the book, Cracked Up to Be, gave a real thought on how rude some people can be to others in high school. Regina was one of the main characters and she had problems with popularity and what turned into addiction. Regina struggled with losing her friends and popularity and being raped. One of the quotes from the book that I felt describes how high school drama is, “The sooner you make a mistake and learn to live with it, the better. You’re not responsible for everything. You can’t control the way things end up.” Parker, another character from the book keeps thinking that he is responsible for many things in the book when he can’t control it. Here’s the quote that I found saying it, “You’re not responsible for everything, Parker. You can’t control the way things end up. Stop trying.”
In the second half of the book, Some Girls Are, it gives you more of an inside on what girls struggle with, and how important the social status is of high school. Here’s a quote from the second half, “I wonder if, even after all of this, he understands how fragile good things are in my hands and how many times they’ve been taken away from me.” I feel like this quote shows how hurt some girls get after break ups.
In the second half of the book, Some Girls Are, it gives you more of an inside on what girls struggle with, and how important the social status is of high school. Here’s a quote from the second half, “I wonder if, even after all of this, he understands how fragile good things are in my hands and how many times they’ve been taken away from me.” I feel like this quote shows how hurt some girls get after break ups.
August 28, 2013
Because I've read and reviewed them before, separately, this is going to be an unusual review. It's not so much about these particular books as why you need to read Courtney Summers.
This omnibus is the perfect introduction to this author. Her books tend to be pretty bleak. There's humor, but it tends to be incredibly dark and sardonic (my favorite kind of humor). Ultimately, though, it's an incredibly realistic portrayal of high school. This isn't Grease or even Mean Girls; this is Welcome to the Dollhouse on steroids.
And even though both Parker and Regina have suffered a massive decline in their social status, they aren't particularly chastened or broken (or even really likable). They are unapologetic and unbowed, sarcastic and fierce. You will probably dislike them intensely, but you'll like their tormentors even less.
My favorite thing about Courtney Summers is the fact that she doesn't make the obvious choices in her books. You may think you know where her stories are going, but you probably don't.
Highly, highly recommended.
This omnibus is the perfect introduction to this author. Her books tend to be pretty bleak. There's humor, but it tends to be incredibly dark and sardonic (my favorite kind of humor). Ultimately, though, it's an incredibly realistic portrayal of high school. This isn't Grease or even Mean Girls; this is Welcome to the Dollhouse on steroids.
And even though both Parker and Regina have suffered a massive decline in their social status, they aren't particularly chastened or broken (or even really likable). They are unapologetic and unbowed, sarcastic and fierce. You will probably dislike them intensely, but you'll like their tormentors even less.
My favorite thing about Courtney Summers is the fact that she doesn't make the obvious choices in her books. You may think you know where her stories are going, but you probably don't.
Highly, highly recommended.
Read
July 17, 2017This book is on my TBR stack. It contains Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are, the latter of which was originally a book on the reading list of West Ashley High School for this summer, but then pulled because of parent protest. What happened next is very cool, much cooler than banned books. Book lovers of the internet rose to the occasion and have supplied literally hundreds (yes, hundreds. 830 at the last count, I think) of copies for teens to read. Read about the adventure here. I have picked up this copy to give to my granddaughter, who fits the age of the target audience. And I will read it, too, though there are elements of the story that seem not to my taste. But hey, I believe in freedom to read, and freedom to choose when to stop reading.
July 9, 2016
I didn’t like “Cracked Up To Be.” The main character (Parker) was not likeable at all. Something major had happened which was why she was depressed and trying to push everyone away, but we don’t really get to know what exactly happened until all the small snippets throughout the book come together near the end. I had nothing for this character; she was so horrible to people. But I didn’t understand those people either... You can only save a person who doesn’t want to be saved so many times. I did feel bad for Jake and her dog. She did not deserve the love of either. Luckily, it was a short book.
I bought the double story book because I wanted to read “Some Girls Are.” It was better than the first book (and that's where my stars for the rating come from). I was actually sympathetic towards the main character, although she wasn't the nicest to begin. Her ex friends were godawful. I was a little surprised at the ending; thought it would go out bigger.
I bought the double story book because I wanted to read “Some Girls Are.” It was better than the first book (and that's where my stars for the rating come from). I was actually sympathetic towards the main character, although she wasn't the nicest to begin. Her ex friends were godawful. I was a little surprised at the ending; thought it would go out bigger.
August 5, 2016
I was disappointed in these books, both deal with the issue of rape (as did a third book by summers that k currently read). While I think it's a topic that needs to be discussed and summers does it well, the books ended up being to similar for my liking. I liked the first a tad more because I related more to Parker and her need to be perfect. But the girls are always so mean and the boys just fall them for them even when they are being treated like crap. It would be nice to see boys who don't take that kind of sh*t and girls who don't have to be nasty. I also didn't get some things like how a girl who doesn't eat gains ten pounds? Inconsistencies like that drive me nuts. My rating is 2.5 stars and my recommendation is to read the books but not back to back had I read them at different times they would have gotten at least a solid three star rating from me. Summers does a good job with storytelling and drawing the reader in, but when all the stories are similar it lacks originality.
November 24, 2013
Quick thoughts because I may have totally stayed up passed midnight to finish this omnibus.
Cracked Up to Be - mixed bag, didn't care for it. There were a few parts I really enjoyed, but overall I REALLY disliked Parker and found her to be someone too difficult to sympathize with half the time. 2.5/5, may be a 3.
Some Girls Are - I'd give all the stars to it. I was completely glued from start to finish and I couldn't stop turning the pages. Regina's voice was infectious and she was wonderfully awful, imperfect and strangely lovable. The ending, I wish there had been a bit more to it, but it worked for me. Lovelovelovelovelove this one. Definitely reading the rest of Courtney Summers' books now.
And why yes, I did read this big book in a day. Don't regret it at all because SOME GIRLS ARE. HOLY CRAP.
Cracked Up to Be - mixed bag, didn't care for it. There were a few parts I really enjoyed, but overall I REALLY disliked Parker and found her to be someone too difficult to sympathize with half the time. 2.5/5, may be a 3.
Some Girls Are - I'd give all the stars to it. I was completely glued from start to finish and I couldn't stop turning the pages. Regina's voice was infectious and she was wonderfully awful, imperfect and strangely lovable. The ending, I wish there had been a bit more to it, but it worked for me. Lovelovelovelovelove this one. Definitely reading the rest of Courtney Summers' books now.
And why yes, I did read this big book in a day. Don't regret it at all because SOME GIRLS ARE. HOLY CRAP.
November 18, 2013
I have this copy, but posted my review for each novel in their actual separate spots.
Cracked Up to Be
Some Girls Are
Though if you would prefer the tl;dr version:
It's freaking amazing. Go buy it. And come suffer with me as you realize Summer's next book doesn't come out until 2015.
*sobs* The only one I haven't read is Fall for Anything! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE?!
4.5-5/5
Cracked Up to Be
Some Girls Are
Though if you would prefer the tl;dr version:
It's freaking amazing. Go buy it. And come suffer with me as you realize Summer's next book doesn't come out until 2015.
*sobs* The only one I haven't read is Fall for Anything! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO LIVE?!
4.5-5/5
October 19, 2013
Two of my favorite books in one. I actually this was a brilliant idea to put these two books together as they are very similar and short. So, you are going to want to dive right into the next book. It was pretty interesting reading the books back to back like that, and I hadn't read Cracked Up to Be in so looooong, I was weeping all morning. Parker is one of my favorite characters and I am sad to say goodbye to her yet again. I will be re-reading both books forever.
December 26, 2013
If you're looking for a "school is hell" novel, this is the book to read. Courtney Summers writes with a visceral wit and a kind of clarity that can be quite rare. She portrays a side of youth that seems almost too horrible to be real, but at the same time feels horrifyingly familiar. Yet, at the end of the day, her heroines seem to find some way through the pain to a kind of light.
An enjoyable, albeit painful, read.
An enjoyable, albeit painful, read.
March 10, 2014
This novel shows you how private school or high school in general can suck, but it also shows you how you can deal with things, giving bad and good examples. This book talks about the real truth of alcoholism, drugs, sex and romance so young in high school. The second half is called Some Girls Are, I didnt enjoy the second half as much as a did the first.
March 13, 2014
I really found the first story very hard to follow and un interesting I was able to finish it but it was very dull...
The second story however..
Very much reminded me of mean girls, I loved the second story
it raises attention to bullying and I feel like a lot of teens can relate to this story!! In other words if you loved mean girls you will love this!!
The second story however..
Very much reminded me of mean girls, I loved the second story
it raises attention to bullying and I feel like a lot of teens can relate to this story!! In other words if you loved mean girls you will love this!!
January 30, 2017
A very stark and blunt book about high school drama. I did not like the main character very much, but her attitude was purposely meant to drive people away. The reason for the drama was drawn out over the course of the story, and when i got to it, I was surprised at what it was. I just didnt care for it that much. The second book included in it did not appeal to me.
Want to read
August 28, 2013Dyou see this?? :D And you can win yourself a copy right here:
July 15, 2020
I am currently reading this book 📚 as of today Tuesday 7/14/2020 chapter 3 page 25, my best friend Ashley Robinson mailed me this book with a lot more Christmas 🎄 gifts a entire box full of Christmas gifts Christmas 🎄 2018, so it was really a nice thing for her to do for me. :)
October 9, 2013
Love this author
December 30, 2014
YEUP.
BOOK OF BOOKS.
BOOK OF BOOKS.
Read
July 31, 2016.
August 8, 2016
Loved both books, but did feel that both ended rather abruptly and could have continued at least another chapter or two.
August 3, 2016
I'm not going to lie I liked these books so much a shed a tear. And I never cry in books.
December 2, 2016
Content wise it would have had more stars but I really didn't like any of the characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews