The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
vsrkive's review against another edition
3.0
Sarcastic characters that I loved and not so boring leads but I do wish we didn't have that ending
m0rdred_the_fallen's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It was a really nice read, quite funny, a good dose of action and the relationship between Sean Raynes and Paige Nolan is very weirdly endearing, not the AAAAWWWW! kind of endearing, but the relatable-because-felt-called-out kind of endearing. And, for the most part, I really, really, liked the book was going until it came to RAITH and the list of their agents that Raynes has and it becomess clear they're just trying to cover their butts .
FOR ONCE, ONCE, I want the intelligence community to be cripple, if not outright burned to ashes, because setting that and actually going through with it. Now that's an instant five, but no we have to stopSean Raynes from exposing the RAITH list even though he made an excellent point as to why do it but we can't have our protagonist be a killer or a rogue agent pick a side and commit to the bit.Â
Is almost a perfect book for me, almost, and that hurts more than if it wasn't.
FOR ONCE, ONCE, I want the intelligence community to be cripple, if not outright burned to ashes, because setting that and actually going through with it. Now that's an instant five, but no we have to stop
Is almost a perfect book for me, almost, and that hurts more than if it wasn't.
kelseymorris's review against another edition
I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher for the free copy!
This was honestly such a fun read! I went into it with 0 expectations and found myself on a fun, sarcasm-laden journey of a girl with an interesting skill set who is tasked with becoming an international spy. While I have no idea if the Russian characters are stereotyped to hell and back (probably) it was not done in a condescending or problematic way, in my opinion. More just in a kind of goofy, action movie way.
Paige Nolan, the protagonist, is certainly a unique character, but I grew to really love her and her hilarious witticisms and commentary throughout the novel. Frankly, I want to be friends with her. The plot is simple, fun, and somewhat far-fetched at times, but I'm not looking at this to be a super realistic novel. I wanted something light, fun, and entertaining, and this perfectly fit that bill.
Overall I'd say give it a read, and I will keep my eye out for any sequel action (definitely left the ending open for more books!).
This was honestly such a fun read! I went into it with 0 expectations and found myself on a fun, sarcasm-laden journey of a girl with an interesting skill set who is tasked with becoming an international spy. While I have no idea if the Russian characters are stereotyped to hell and back (probably) it was not done in a condescending or problematic way, in my opinion. More just in a kind of goofy, action movie way.
Paige Nolan, the protagonist, is certainly a unique character, but I grew to really love her and her hilarious witticisms and commentary throughout the novel. Frankly, I want to be friends with her. The plot is simple, fun, and somewhat far-fetched at times, but I'm not looking at this to be a super realistic novel. I wanted something light, fun, and entertaining, and this perfectly fit that bill.
Overall I'd say give it a read, and I will keep my eye out for any sequel action (definitely left the ending open for more books!).
amarylissw's review against another edition
2.0
Protagonist was way too hyperactive and inappropriate. Plot was all over the place. What a headache.
kwbat12's review against another edition
4.0
This book was delightful, simply delightful. From the three boyfriends to the fighting to the spy games to the Moscow setting, I enjoyed the title immensely. It was hilarious, and with such a voice. Given this woman's relationship to Pittsburgh and Moscow, and other places that I hold dear, I would say that this is absolutely my kind of book.
liralen's review against another edition
3.0
Super fun—girl runs off to Russia to be a spy, basically. Bonus points for this being set in the present day and for Paige having a more real-life Russian experience (erm, when she's not being a spy)...she's not a tourist and is uninterested in trying to be one, so we're spared the montage of her going to St. Basil's and other Russian equivalents of the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben and so on.
A tangential Seven Sisters quibble: I go to an all-women's college named Bryn Mawr. It's one of the "Seven Sisters," and the thing everyone always says about it is that Katharine Hepburn went here. The other Seven Sisters are, in no particular order, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Vassar (the debutant one), Radcliffe (the Harvard one), Smith (girls in pearls), and Barnard (the one in New York). Bryn Mawr is generally considered the one with the freaks. Also, the most academically challenging. And lesbo central. (32) Nope! Smith is not 'girls in pearls', unless by that you mean, like, pearls-on-their-hands-because-pearls-are-supposed-to-be-the-lesbian-equivalent-of-diamonds. (Smith is lesbo central,* not Bryn Mawr—I mean, outsiders think they're all lesbo central, so it's all relative. But still.) Barnard and Vassar and Radcliffe = the ones that aren't really Seven Sisters anymore, because Barnard is tied to Columbia (if you go to Barnard you get a Columbia diploma), Vassar is coed now, and Radcliffe no longer exists (it's part of Harvard). Wellesley (and damn straight I'm biased, but then, so is Portes) is widely considered the most academically challenging one, as evidenced by its much higher ranking on numerous lists (e.g., US News and World Report: as of July 2017 we had Wellesley, #3; Smith, #12; Vassar, #12; Barnard, #27; Bryn Mawr, #31; and Mount Holyoke, #36). Mount Holyoke is the horse-girl one. Bryn Mawr is the girls-who-make-sacrifices-at-the-full-moon one.
So it's cute that Paige thinks Bryn Mawr is all that, but I digress. Paige goes through her training montage (she gets that instead of the tourist montage) to become a spy, and I am left very curious about her cohort's missions. Paige herself is in some ways very well suited to espionage, as her dissociative disorder makes her quite blasé about minor things like bodily harm. She's also wickedly snarky and reluctant to take orders, which, uh, makes her less well suited to espionage. That also makes the book really fun, though. I love Paige's attitude toward romance—it's not my way of doing things, but it's wonderful to see a YA heroine who isn't all wrapped up in the 'one perfect one', who's not looking for anything serious, etc. A different kind of diversity, kind of. I hope there are more books to come.
*Not a slur. Sometimes I think I should have gone to Smith for just this reason.
A tangential Seven Sisters quibble: I go to an all-women's college named Bryn Mawr. It's one of the "Seven Sisters," and the thing everyone always says about it is that Katharine Hepburn went here. The other Seven Sisters are, in no particular order, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke, Vassar (the debutant one), Radcliffe (the Harvard one), Smith (girls in pearls), and Barnard (the one in New York). Bryn Mawr is generally considered the one with the freaks. Also, the most academically challenging. And lesbo central. (32) Nope! Smith is not 'girls in pearls', unless by that you mean, like, pearls-on-their-hands-because-pearls-are-supposed-to-be-the-lesbian-equivalent-of-diamonds. (Smith is lesbo central,* not Bryn Mawr—I mean, outsiders think they're all lesbo central, so it's all relative. But still.) Barnard and Vassar and Radcliffe = the ones that aren't really Seven Sisters anymore, because Barnard is tied to Columbia (if you go to Barnard you get a Columbia diploma), Vassar is coed now, and Radcliffe no longer exists (it's part of Harvard). Wellesley (and damn straight I'm biased, but then, so is Portes) is widely considered the most academically challenging one, as evidenced by its much higher ranking on numerous lists (e.g., US News and World Report: as of July 2017 we had Wellesley, #3; Smith, #12; Vassar, #12; Barnard, #27; Bryn Mawr, #31; and Mount Holyoke, #36). Mount Holyoke is the horse-girl one. Bryn Mawr is the girls-who-make-sacrifices-at-the-full-moon one.
So it's cute that Paige thinks Bryn Mawr is all that, but I digress. Paige goes through her training montage (she gets that instead of the tourist montage) to become a spy, and I am left very curious about her cohort's missions. Paige herself is in some ways very well suited to espionage, as her dissociative disorder makes her quite blasé about minor things like bodily harm. She's also wickedly snarky and reluctant to take orders, which, uh, makes her less well suited to espionage. That also makes the book really fun, though. I love Paige's attitude toward romance—it's not my way of doing things, but it's wonderful to see a YA heroine who isn't all wrapped up in the 'one perfect one', who's not looking for anything serious, etc. A different kind of diversity, kind of. I hope there are more books to come.
*Not a slur. Sometimes I think I should have gone to Smith for just this reason.
readaroundtherosie's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5
Super fun, fast, and interesting read.
Super fun, fast, and interesting read.
sarahschem's review against another edition
5.0
This book was hilarious. I haven't read anything like it in such a long time. It seems to be set up to be a series, but is definitely perfect to read by itself too, though it does leave me wanting to know more. It's a super fast-paced book that combines action with humor perfectly. I couldn't put it down. Paige's commentary is incredible, quick, and witty. (Paige is our main character, raised by super-cool, progressive parents who went missing in Syria- never to be heard from again) All the characters are complex with big personalities and great senses of humor. Who's a spy and who isn't?
This book was a wonderful surprise and a great introduction for me into [a: Andrea Portes|278993|Andrea Portes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1461268777p2/278993.jpg], who I now can't wait to read more from!
This book was a wonderful surprise and a great introduction for me into [a: Andrea Portes|278993|Andrea Portes|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1461268777p2/278993.jpg], who I now can't wait to read more from!