literatehedgehog's review against another edition
4.0
A sharp contemporary YA with realistic female friendships.
While my high school friendships may have differed from the dynamics in this book, I could totally see these girls as real friends with complicated interactions. They were different in temperaments, backgrounds, race, and sexuality, but each was recognized and valued for those, and played equal parts in the group (at least by the end, I suppose). Best of all, the plot of the book centers on the changes in their relationships, not romantic relationships. Sure, there is plenty of drama with romance and sex, but the driving force of the story is the friendship.
*minor spoiler ahead.
I didn't always understand the moods and reactions of the girls, but it has been...a few decades since I was a teenager so that difficulty is on me, not on the writing. If I had any one particular annoyance, it was that the setting of so many scenes took place at parties. My mental image populated the background of the teen parties with so many slices of 1990s teen comedies that lessened the power of whatever drama was unspooling. Plus, it made it seem like Lulu's life centered on partying, if you consider percentage of story spent at parties (family, religious, and friends combined), but I don't think that was the intention.
Excellent narration, especially distinguishing each girl's voice, and the fluent Arabic and occasional French used.
While my high school friendships may have differed from the dynamics in this book, I could totally see these girls as real friends with complicated interactions. They were different in temperaments, backgrounds, race, and sexuality, but each was recognized and valued for those, and played equal parts in the group (at least by the end, I suppose). Best of all, the plot of the book centers on the changes in their relationships, not romantic relationships. Sure, there is plenty of drama with romance and sex, but the driving force of the story is the friendship.
*minor spoiler ahead
Spoiler
It was also refreshing that Lulu's main antagonist bothered her currently by sexual harassment, but he had become her antagonist through racist behaviors. There was tension in her hiding why he was such an enemy to her, and it would have been believable, but less forceful, for it to be solely on his unwanted sexual attention. [Which, not to minimize, is barbaric and disgusting as it is].I didn't always understand the moods and reactions of the girls, but it has been...a few decades since I was a teenager so that difficulty is on me, not on the writing. If I had any one particular annoyance, it was that the setting of so many scenes took place at parties. My mental image populated the background of the teen parties with so many slices of 1990s teen comedies that lessened the power of whatever drama was unspooling. Plus, it made it seem like Lulu's life centered on partying, if you consider percentage of story spent at parties (family, religious, and friends combined), but I don't think that was the intention.
Excellent narration, especially distinguishing each girl's voice, and the fluent Arabic and occasional French used.
misterintensity's review against another edition
4.0
Lulu Saad, who is part Iraqi and part American, often makes rash decisions but with her three best friends backing her up she has nothing to worry about. However, during one particularly rough Ramadan she makes a set of decisions that make her girls turn her back on her. Lulu never felt so alone but no matter what she does she cannot make amends with them. Safi makes Lulu and her friends come to life. From the moment she is introduced Lulu shows her tough she is. She comes off as so tough that she may come off as abrasive to some readers. Yet as the story goes on, especially after she faces calamity after calamity, readers get to see how vulnerable Lulu really is. More than once she remarks how she wants to be seen yet unseen. This makes sense considering that while Lulu likes to party with her American friends, she also observes Ramadan which includes fasting until sundown everyday for the duration. The book's strength is in its depiction of friendship. The relationship between Lulu and her friends isn't perfect and is often very messy, yet the four have a shared bond that keeps them together yet like many teenage bonds could also be very fragile. In a lot of ways the imperfection of the various relationships is refreshing in that they veer between moments of affection and moments of vexation. The frank depiction of teenage drinking and sexuality may not be suitable for younger teens. Overall I do recommend Not the Girls You're Looking For.
rosiethespy's review against another edition
3.0
I really appreciate Lulu--she feels like a real teenager struggling with universal teen problems (parents, friends, school, parties), biracial teen problems (not fitting in with either culture), Arab teen problems (terrorism related racism) and female teen problems (sexual assault, slut shaming). I love all the complexities and contradictions that make her fully fleshed out, totally interesting, and relatable. But overall, she was really the only compelling element in the whole book, and one interesting character isn't really enough to make it stand out.
storytimed's review against another edition
3.0
I don't remember anything that happened in this book aside from the fact that the protag was kind of self-centered & the conclusion to the prejudice plotline was... that the protagonist was overreacting and nobody was judging her like she thought they were, which seems. Unrealistic? & very unsatisfying, especially bc the core issue of her being alienated from her culture and community was never actually resolved. Anyway, didn't enjoy it.
puglord's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
iggyebab's review against another edition
2.0
This book was a familiar tale of teens trying to figure out who they are and trying to avoid all the labels peers try to stick to them. I liked the characters but found them difficult to connect to. There was something slightly flat about them.
The story was good but I don’t think it’s one that will stick with me.
The story was good but I don’t think it’s one that will stick with me.
kaycee_k's review against another edition
5.0
This book is amazing! I enjoyed it so much, I love the mix of diversity and cultural, relationships. The main character, Lulu, it one of my new favorites lead characters because she brought so many smiles and giggles to me, just because of her being herself. Another great thing about this book is the girl/women relationships feel real, not forced or fake. But there was some girl-on-girl hate... but it wasn't over the top, felt like fights that do happen in our world today, sadly.
I have a strong bond with my family, (and miss that in many YA books.) however, with this book the family love so spot on. I love the mother-daughter relationships, and father, but my favorite to read was with her brothers. I have to brothers and they drive me crazy sometimes but I know they will always be there.
This is a debut author that I will be reading more books from her because this one is filled with so much feeling, from finding oneself to standing up for yourself to believing in yourself, it's a messy, crazy book with such characterizations. Now back to the writing, so many proses and lines that are breathtaking and real, I wrote down many lines because I just loved them that much.
This is a perfect book, either pick it up to read this summer or save it for a cold winter night, both ways you'll enjoy this book.
(I was given an ARC of this book, however this in all 100% my own thoughts and an honest review by me.)
I have a strong bond with my family, (and miss that in many YA books.) however, with this book the family love so spot on. I love the mother-daughter relationships, and father, but my favorite to read was with her brothers. I have to brothers and they drive me crazy sometimes but I know they will always be there.
This is a debut author that I will be reading more books from her because this one is filled with so much feeling, from finding oneself to standing up for yourself to believing in yourself, it's a messy, crazy book with such characterizations. Now back to the writing, so many proses and lines that are breathtaking and real, I wrote down many lines because I just loved them that much.
This is a perfect book, either pick it up to read this summer or save it for a cold winter night, both ways you'll enjoy this book.
(I was given an ARC of this book, however this in all 100% my own thoughts and an honest review by me.)