corbear's review against another edition
4.0
This one felt a little forced compared to the previous three books. The characters seemed crazier than usual and I wanted to strangle nearly all of them. Great series though overall.
33p3barpercent's review against another edition
5.0
As always with E Lockhart books, they're not just about boyfriends and girl troubles. They're not just about parents who fight and don't understand you. They're not about inexplicable boys and embarrassing situations. They're about girls with real problems, just learning thing about themselves and the world in a thoroughly entertaining way. I think E Lockhart books are really heavy, actually. I don't mean "heavy" as in they have rape scenes or an abusive father in them. I mean "heavy" as in they don't just fill your head with fluff while you read, and that fluff immediately flies out of your brain when you close the book. They're "heavy" in the way that she teaches you things. She uses the medium of a girl with a boy problem to show you to love yourself, despite your flaws. Despite your inability to keep your hands to yourself. Despite the fact that you keep messing things up with your best friends, to the point where everyone hates you and thinks you're a slut.
That's my favorite thing about Ruby Oliver. She's flawed. A lot of the time, she's in the wrong. A lot of the time she does things and you just want to yell at her, "NO! Ruby, don't!" but she does because she's human. She does because she's not perfect. Her story isn't sunshine and rainbows. She doesn't fall on her face in front of the Cute Boy (TM) in the cafeteria, only to find out later that that's the moment when he fell in love with her. She doesn't have the showdown with the Evil Cheerleader That Everyone Hates (TM). Her best friend steals her boyfriend, but she ends up doing the same to her only remaining friend.
Ruby, honestly, in another, less complicated, book would be that Mean Girl (TM) that the Heroine has to overcome. But she's not. She's your hero, and despite all the stuff that she does that you, the reader, disagree with, you still root for her and want her to succeed.
I love the Ruby books, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone--and I mean ANYONE, young and old--that they read them and read them quick. And while you're at it, pick up some [b:The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|1629601|The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|E. Lockhart|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1313980820s/1629601.jpg|1623714].
Read more reviews at maggiehasabookproblem.blogspot.com
That's my favorite thing about Ruby Oliver. She's flawed. A lot of the time, she's in the wrong. A lot of the time she does things and you just want to yell at her, "NO! Ruby, don't!" but she does because she's human. She does because she's not perfect. Her story isn't sunshine and rainbows. She doesn't fall on her face in front of the Cute Boy (TM) in the cafeteria, only to find out later that that's the moment when he fell in love with her. She doesn't have the showdown with the Evil Cheerleader That Everyone Hates (TM). Her best friend steals her boyfriend, but she ends up doing the same to her only remaining friend.
Ruby, honestly, in another, less complicated, book would be that Mean Girl (TM) that the Heroine has to overcome. But she's not. She's your hero, and despite all the stuff that she does that you, the reader, disagree with, you still root for her and want her to succeed.
I love the Ruby books, and I would definitely recommend them to anyone--and I mean ANYONE, young and old--that they read them and read them quick. And while you're at it, pick up some [b:The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|1629601|The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks|E. Lockhart|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1313980820s/1629601.jpg|1623714].
Read more reviews at maggiehasabookproblem.blogspot.com
holly_tree's review against another edition
3.0
Sadly, my least favorite of the series. There seems to be less randomness than usual, less lists, less footnotes... and I think Ruby only said "Spankin" once!
However, there was a seriously brilliant scene about an intended Meatloafery... You know how sometimes you come across things and you're like, "DANG, I wish I wrote that...." This is one of those things. Sheer random genuis.
Ruby Oliver, I'll miss you.
However, there was a seriously brilliant scene about an intended Meatloafery... You know how sometimes you come across things and you're like, "DANG, I wish I wrote that...." This is one of those things. Sheer random genuis.
Ruby Oliver, I'll miss you.
steph01924's review against another edition
3.0
So we finally get to the conclusion of Ruby Oliver. I read this immediately after the third book, so some of it sort of blurs in my mind, but I will try to keep it separate.
I liked the way it wrapped up, but I am sort of peeved by the beginning and middle. I was wondering how Lockhart was going to keep the 'drama' up in this book when Noel and Ruby got together at the end of the last one. Well, she certainly went for it. I just...eh, I don't really care for this type of thing. She sets it up well with Noel's reluctance to discuss his asthma issue with anyone in the second book, but I just don't like the contrivance. "There won't be a book if they're happy, so let's just fuck it all up."
I feel, like Ruby, that she should've asked different questions. And then she gave up so easily! If the boy I'd been mooning over for more than a year just goes cold turkey on me, I'd dig deeper. I'd assume that SOMETHING big happened to him. Ruby KNOWS him; she should know that he wouldn't become a pod-bot just overnight.
It bugs me that I get a happy ending of the last book and then I have to slog through another entire book of them broken apart again just for the sake of having a fourth book to wrap it up. The ending was cute, with her climbing up to his window but...I would have rather just made the third book a little longer to include maybe some of her parents' issues and then wrap it up from there.
And I know some people might say, well this is just a realistic look at what you get AFTER the big "I love you", not everything's roses and sunshine. That is true, relationships are work. But this is such a dramatic trope that it felt like a plot contrivance and not something organic.
So...I liked being able to hang out with Roo for one more book, but I didn't like the lack of Noel (another reason I don't like this--when the love interests are fighting and we have a first person narrative, we as readers miss out on great characters we like) and the breakup drama. I loved Ruby's breakdown at Greg's house and her dad's faith in his marriage. Sometimes people need breathing room. I liked her friendship arc with Nora and that she realizes she's no longer crazy. Really didn't like Ruby's mother in this book...I can't stand people like her, overly dramatic and self-centered. It was almost too much to try to get through in this book. Her complete shock that no one liked her meatloafery idea? Is she shitting me? Just...no wonder Ruby is in therapy. Seriously.
Looking forward to reading more from Lockhart in the future.
I liked the way it wrapped up, but I am sort of peeved by the beginning and middle. I was wondering how Lockhart was going to keep the 'drama' up in this book when Noel and Ruby got together at the end of the last one. Well, she certainly went for it. I just...eh, I don't really care for this type of thing. She sets it up well with Noel's reluctance to discuss his asthma issue with anyone in the second book, but I just don't like the contrivance. "There won't be a book if they're happy, so let's just fuck it all up."
I feel, like Ruby, that she should've asked different questions. And then she gave up so easily! If the boy I'd been mooning over for more than a year just goes cold turkey on me, I'd dig deeper. I'd assume that SOMETHING big happened to him. Ruby KNOWS him; she should know that he wouldn't become a pod-bot just overnight.
It bugs me that I get a happy ending of the last book and then I have to slog through another entire book of them broken apart again just for the sake of having a fourth book to wrap it up. The ending was cute, with her climbing up to his window but...I would have rather just made the third book a little longer to include maybe some of her parents' issues and then wrap it up from there.
And I know some people might say, well this is just a realistic look at what you get AFTER the big "I love you", not everything's roses and sunshine. That is true, relationships are work. But this is such a dramatic trope that it felt like a plot contrivance and not something organic.
So...I liked being able to hang out with Roo for one more book, but I didn't like the lack of Noel (another reason I don't like this--when the love interests are fighting and we have a first person narrative, we as readers miss out on great characters we like) and the breakup drama. I loved Ruby's breakdown at Greg's house and her dad's faith in his marriage. Sometimes people need breathing room. I liked her friendship arc with Nora and that she realizes she's no longer crazy. Really didn't like Ruby's mother in this book...I can't stand people like her, overly dramatic and self-centered. It was almost too much to try to get through in this book. Her complete shock that no one liked her meatloafery idea? Is she shitting me? Just...no wonder Ruby is in therapy. Seriously.
Looking forward to reading more from Lockhart in the future.
breadedbookpages's review against another edition
5.0
The beginning made me panic a lot but then I read more and felt more assured. This was an overall excellent series.
kyleg99's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sarahjanet's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man, these books were just gloriously satisfying. I believe I shall be buying the box set for at least one of my friends for Christmas this year.
howattp's review against another edition
4.0
As always, Lockhart's Ruby Oliver really packs a neurotic, twitchy punch with a real dose of emotion.
Further review to follow.
Further review to follow.
kmc3050's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars. Ruby Oliver is one of my favorite characters. She is so lifelike and so reminiscent of myself as a teenager that I can't help but sympathize and root for her. Reading this last installment makes me want to re-read the series. So good yet so underrated.