Reviews

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

atnea's review against another edition

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2.0

Rating: 1.5/5

If you'd like to see this review on my blog.

Ghostgirl is the story about Charlotte, a seventeen year old girl who's been invisible for her whole life. The summer before her last school year she decides to change things, and comes back with the new resolution of becoming popular. But everything changes when on the first day, she dies.

I read this book when I was 10 years old or so. I tough they were really good. They brought this new idea of how was life after death, specially life after dead for teenagers. And I'm not going to lie, I fell for it. The whole idea was very attractive to me, the characters where awesome, they listened to good music, the book itself was very beautiful, amazing art job. And I must confess, I did something that it's kind of a sin, but back them I didn't know. I read the second book first. You see, my dad gave me this book as a gift, because I asked, but he didn't know anything about it and back then I didn't know about Goodreads or Booktube or anything like that, so I read the book and only after I finished it did I realized that it was the second book. A year later, I read this book.

The overall idea of this book is really nice, very interesting and kind of unique. It's about Charlotte and her life after dead, and how she has to deal with unfinished business and growing up and letting go. It really is a very good plot. And I would have loved it, if it wasn't for the execution. Wow, really, was I blind back when I started reading.

This book has one of the most annoying, not believable, very frustrating characters I've ever read. They're so immature it's ridiculous, they do this things that don't have a reason to be and think stuff so ludicrous and ridiculous. And Charlotte is just plain annoying. She just makes decisions without thinking about anyone else and then says "Oh, poor me, I'm so lonely, nobody likes me, it's all my fault" and then does it again. And then we have Scarlet. She is actually one of the best characters, i believe. I think she's ok, I don't have much to say about her.
SpoilerThe only thing I do hate about them is that they claim so fiercely that they are best friends and that they are forever when I doubt they ever talked for more than 10 minutes about themselves and they have literally nothing in common.
Then we have the others like Petula and her friends. Oh, for God's sake WTF. Really. That it just plain ridiculous and stupid. And lastly, Damen (typical high school hottie name), if he's so nice, why is he with Petula? Just going to live it there.

Then we have the plot. Like I said, the idea is interesting, but the execution? The plot is based in one stupid decision behind another and all turns around the high school prom. Apparently, that's the only thing that matters. And the whole book increasingly fills with problems and more problems, and when the end comes, it all just ties together like if nothing ever happened. It all worked out just perfect, even though she kind of screwed a lot of people lives and pissed almost all of them. We all love each other at the end. Yeah, right -.-'''

One thing that really annoyed me is how the narrator tells you everything. Like "She was a quiet girl, the kind that does this and that and she probably didn't know about this, but she likes her anyway, etc" and I'm just sitting there like "NO!", you're supposed to tell me about all of this through character development, which it has none by the way. And it continues to do this trough out all the book. It's like having a constant interruption for things that are unnecessary, have nothing to do with plot or I already knew. Or all of them.

I like a few things, like the concept of teenagers having to pass a class before going to heaven because of the unfinished business. That's really original. I liked it. Also, all those quotes at the beginning of every chapter. Those were really cool. And also the physical decoration of the book is beautiful. It really is.

At the end, a book that was unique and fun to read when I was younger, is now a very badly written book with annoying characters and unrealistic moments. The most I can recommend is for you to read this when you're younger, not after.

If you'd like to see my review of Homecoming.

If you'd like to see my review of Lovesick.

uutopicaa's review against another edition

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3.0

Compré este libro en un Walmart de Nueva York, durante un viaje hace ya casi seis años. Me gustó mucho la tapa y no podia creer que se encontrara tirado en un cajon de descuentos a tan solo 3 dolares. Lo compré sin saber de qué se trataba. La edición de tapa dura posee una portada troquelada con la silueta en primer plano (al cerrar el libro) y una imagen completa al abrirlo. Increíblemente hermoso.

Esta primera introducción a la historia parece un poco floja. Los primeros capítulos dan a entender que la trama es simplemente otra estúpida novela romántica de la High School estadounidense. Hasta que la protagonista muere.

De ahí en adelante, no pude dejar de leer.

Charlotte es un fantasma, y la única persona capaz de verla es Scarlet, la chica “rara” y “antisocial” de la escuela. Poco a poco forman una gran amistad.

El sueño de Charlotte era ser popular, algo que no alcanzó en vida. El sueño de Scarlet es pasar desapercibida, algo bastante difícil teniendo a Charlotte inmiscuyéndose en su vida.

La frontera entre quién es Scarlet y quién es Charlotte se vuelve más delgada conforme pasan las páginas. Scarlet quiere ayudar a su amiga a lograr lo que no pudo en vida (para que pueda descansar en paz), pero teme que eso la ponga en una situación que le resulta incómoda: la popularidad.

Entre idas y venidas, veremos traiciones, miedos y aventura. Nos toparemos con algo de romance y los valores de una amistad sincera.

PERSONAJES

Como lo imaginarán, el diseño de personajes es extremadamente pobre. Lo cuál no hace que la novela sea mala.

Charlotte es "la chica linda" que sueña con ser popular y se esfuerza al máximo para lograrlo. Cliché.
Scarlet es la "inadaptada", típica de las historias estadounidenses. Se viste de negro, no habla con nadie, etc.
Damen (el chico) es el "deportista popular" con el que TODAS quieren salir, pero él no es de ese estilo. Es un "buen chico" -al estilo del protagonista de High School Musical- que guarda su corazón para la persona indicada.

Nada nuevo en los protagonistas. Nada especial, salvo porque Charlotte está muerta y su única conexión con el mundo es una chica totalmente opuesta a ella. La elaboración de la historia es muy buena a pesar de los personajes que nos resultan familiares porque ya los hemos visto millones de veces.

PUEDEN LEER la reseña completa en mi blog http://pardonmispanglish.blogspot.com/2016/08/resena-ghostgirl-1-tonya-hurley.html#more

angelicprose's review against another edition

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INSTANT dnf, not only is this giving woe-is-me pick me vibes, but on page like 21 they introduce an obviously special needs "referred to as slow" character who they only call A/V retard. That's gross. Fck this book.

shani_do's review against another edition

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funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

gahvriela's review against another edition

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2.0

I remember reading this when I was younger and liking it okay but now that I’m older? It was awful. I don’t think I liked any of the characters. If you’re a preteen or a teen you should enjoy this book but if you’re older you’re just going to find yourself rolling your eyes the entire time.

natwc's review against another edition

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1.0

When I checked this book out of the library, I was really excited to read it because it was one of the books I wanted to read since high school - it didn't even come close to reaching my expectations. The main character, Charlotte, is annoying and superficial about popularity. She's the type of girl who wanted to do everything she can to be popular, putting on makeup, wearing the wardrobe that's in, the works. I could have looked pass Charlotte and her popularity craving but how the book was written sent me over the edge. It was written so poorly! It felt like a 14 year old wrote this.

rjdenney's review against another edition

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5.0

I actually really liked this book! it was unique and fun. I can't wait to read the sequel and do a video review so I can explain a lot more. most people also might think that because the cover looks a bit "middle grade" that it's played safe, which it's not. there's bad words, bits of nudity and it mentions sex a bit which i thought was cool! I love when books push boundaries and don't play it safe. if you want to know more about this book please visit my youtube, there will be a video up soon. - Richard

youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DevvourBookReviews

leocald's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny inspiring mysterious
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

oliviaverde's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5
Creo que ya no estoy para lecturas tan juveniles en las que la protagonista es más terca que un rábano, que desespero de páginas soportarla y soportar su egoísmo.
Le daría 2 pero Scarlet es todo lo que esta bien y que salva el libro.

carladelgado's review against another edition

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4.0

I smh at people who get mad that she chokes on a gummy bear and they were expecting a serious book. Like, c'mon guys! Were you really expecting that? You can actually read her COD at the back of the book. If you're looking for serious stuff, this is not the book for you. However, if you're looking for feel-good books with applicable life lessons that tells you in a totally not boring way, this is the way to go! :bd