michellesantiago's review against another edition
4.0
Secrets & Lies contain 2 short stories Abbreviations & Alliterations and People Worth Knowing:
Abbreviations & Alliterations is a follow up to The Duff, the story is about Casey (Bianca's best friend--the tall, blonde one) and it is set after their first semester of college during winter break. Basically, Casey and Toby start to date and Casey hides it from Bianca because of she felt that she was betraying her for dating B's ex-boyfriend.
I never considered Casey and Toby when I read The Duff but they work. They were so cute together! Toby was a such a sweetheart. And while Casey's constant use of abbreviations (OMG, WTF, STFU, etc.) in everyday speech was a kinda silly (this habit of people drives me bonkers in real life--it did come to play in Casey's big gesture in the end that was just... cute, so I guess I can forgive her), I liked her too.
Even though the story was short, it was well-paced and satisfying. I also enjoyed "seeing" [still-cranky] Bianca and Wesley again. Overall, a great follow up to The Duff.
I was more to read more Casey, Toby, Bianca, Wesley and Jessica! I think Jessica needs an HEA too, Kody! Especially now that she may finally be "seeing the light" about Harrison Carlyle.
People Worth Knowing is about Bailey James, Whitley's stepsister in A Midsummer's Nightmare. We know that Bailey made the cheer squad at the end of AMS. But being a cheerleader and trying to become friends with the most popular girl in school was way more complicated than Bailey first thought. When she unintentionally helped said popular girl bully another classmate, she knew had to make things right again.
Bailey's story was more serious but just wonderful as Abbreviations & Alliterations. I really loved Bailey in AMS and it was fun reading more about her. How she handled the bullying situation with a little help from Whitley and Nathan--Go Bailey! The sort of twist in the end with the bullied girl was kinda unexpected. Kody Keplinger even managed to include an adorable "start of something" between Bailey and a cute sophomore. Great read!
Secrets & Lies is a must-read for fans of The Duff and A Midsummer's Nightmare or if you're new to Kody Keplinger's books, it will give you a taste of the awesomeness (though the stories can be read as standalones, they are better if you read The Duff and A Midsummer's Nightmare first). Despite the short length, both stories managed to be well-paced, satisfying and very enjoyable. More please, Ms. Keplinger!
Abbreviations & Alliterations is a follow up to The Duff, the story is about Casey (Bianca's best friend--the tall, blonde one) and it is set after their first semester of college during winter break. Basically, Casey and Toby start to date and Casey hides it from Bianca because of she felt that she was betraying her for dating B's ex-boyfriend.
I never considered Casey and Toby when I read The Duff but they work. They were so cute together! Toby was a such a sweetheart. And while Casey's constant use of abbreviations (OMG, WTF, STFU, etc.) in everyday speech was a kinda silly (this habit of people drives me bonkers in real life--it did come to play in Casey's big gesture in the end that was just... cute, so I guess I can forgive her), I liked her too.
Even though the story was short, it was well-paced and satisfying. I also enjoyed "seeing" [still-cranky] Bianca and Wesley again. Overall, a great follow up to The Duff.
I was more to read more Casey, Toby, Bianca, Wesley and Jessica! I think Jessica needs an HEA too, Kody! Especially now that she may finally be "seeing the light" about Harrison Carlyle.
People Worth Knowing is about Bailey James, Whitley's stepsister in A Midsummer's Nightmare. We know that Bailey made the cheer squad at the end of AMS. But being a cheerleader and trying to become friends with the most popular girl in school was way more complicated than Bailey first thought. When she unintentionally helped said popular girl bully another classmate, she knew had to make things right again.
Bailey's story was more serious but just wonderful as Abbreviations & Alliterations. I really loved Bailey in AMS and it was fun reading more about her. How she handled the bullying situation with a little help from Whitley and Nathan--Go Bailey! The sort of twist in the end with the bullied girl was kinda unexpected. Kody Keplinger even managed to include an adorable "start of something" between Bailey and a cute sophomore. Great read!
Secrets & Lies is a must-read for fans of The Duff and A Midsummer's Nightmare or if you're new to Kody Keplinger's books, it will give you a taste of the awesomeness (though the stories can be read as standalones, they are better if you read The Duff and A Midsummer's Nightmare first). Despite the short length, both stories managed to be well-paced, satisfying and very enjoyable. More please, Ms. Keplinger!
wilda85's review against another edition
4.0
This rating is for Abbreviations & Alliterations only.
Very cute story about Casey, Bianca's best friend in the Duff and Toby, a shy, quiet guy Bianca dated briefly. There's a nice lesson about keeping secrets from your best friend as well. definitely worth the quick read.
Very cute story about Casey, Bianca's best friend in the Duff and Toby, a shy, quiet guy Bianca dated briefly. There's a nice lesson about keeping secrets from your best friend as well. definitely worth the quick read.
theloveofinches's review against another edition
4.0
cute little stories about some great side characters from Keplinger's novels. they were a bit cheesier than her usual stuff, and a bit message-y, but fun and all nonetheless. suuuuuuuuuuuper excited for Run!!
clarynathanwill's review against another edition
4.0
This was actually a really fun idea. I loved just kinda checking in with everyone.
This makes me really excited for Lying Out Loud!
This makes me really excited for Lying Out Loud!
lonnnneke's review
5.0
This novella was just like the books Kody writes. I really liked coming back to the same characters you get to know in The DUFF and A Midsummer's Nightmare. These two are my favourites of Kepling so that works out perfectly for me. If you need something easy, quick and cute this is defenitely the way to go.
moonagestar's review
2.0
This was an 'okay' book, I didn't expect much from it since it only contains two short stories. I would only recommend it to a fan of The DUFF or A Midsummer's Nightmare.
Abbreviations & Alliterations:
Casey, one of Bianca's BFFs from The DUFF, starts to date Toby Tucker (yeah, the ex that "dated" Bianca for like two weeks) which ends up in Casey falling in a web of secrets and lies.
Things I liked:
- It was mostly funny and cute.
- The appearances of characters from The DUFF.
- I'm part of the ILTT club.
Things I didn't like:
- Casey's abbreviations. It's cool for people to text with stuff like OMG, WTF, BRB, and such, but it's pretty annoying just picturing a girl saying that out loud, can't you just speak like a normal human being?
- All the drama was really stupid and pointless.
- The end.
You could say Casey's character is pretty lame and quite frustrating, but in general terms the story is cool.
People Worth Knowing:
Bailey, Whitley's stepsister from A Midsummer's Nightmare wants to be popular in her new school, and well... The stereotypical drama from popular girls happen.
To be honest, this one was a bit boring. I wasn't a big fan of Bailey as a main character, she plays better the supporting character act. The conclusion was that bitches are always going to be bitches? I don't know, it was a pretty inconclusive end, which in this case made the whole story seem irrelevant.
Abbreviations & Alliterations:
Casey, one of Bianca's BFFs from The DUFF, starts to date Toby Tucker (yeah, the ex that "dated" Bianca for like two weeks) which ends up in Casey falling in a web of secrets and lies.
Things I liked:
- It was mostly funny and cute.
- The appearances of characters from The DUFF.
- I'm part of the ILTT club.
Things I didn't like:
- Casey's abbreviations. It's cool for people to text with stuff like OMG, WTF, BRB, and such, but it's pretty annoying just picturing a girl saying that out loud, can't you just speak like a normal human being?
- All the drama was really stupid and pointless.
- The end.
Spoiler
I get it, they're both really into each other, but how long were they together? About three weeks or less? How can you possibly be serious about someone and tell them you love them after seeing each other for that amount of time?You could say Casey's character is pretty lame and quite frustrating, but in general terms the story is cool.
People Worth Knowing:
Bailey, Whitley's stepsister from A Midsummer's Nightmare wants to be popular in her new school, and well... The stereotypical drama from popular girls happen.
To be honest, this one was a bit boring. I wasn't a big fan of Bailey as a main character, she plays better the supporting character act. The conclusion was that bitches are always going to be bitches? I don't know, it was a pretty inconclusive end, which in this case made the whole story seem irrelevant.