sc104906's review against another edition
2.0
Ever since he was young, Carlos has been obsessed with style. He dreams of being a famous stylist. His first step to his dreams is working behind the makeup counter at Macy's. Carlos is forced to overcome homophobia and jealousies from other makeup artists. In the end, he learns more about himself and learns how to stick up for what is his.
Carlos was a bit too judgey of others and it was very off putting. His negative comments about others made it hard for me to like him. I am glad that he stuck up for himself and was able to triumph.
Carlos was a bit too judgey of others and it was very off putting. His negative comments about others made it hard for me to like him. I am glad that he stuck up for himself and was able to triumph.
devoftheshire's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the story, but would love to read a sequel. Loved Carlos! He was a great character full of a true sense if self. Good read, but the ending was kind of a let down.
a_manning11's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so refreshing. Throw expectations and stereotypes overboard, and meet Carlos, a self-proclaimed 'big' high-school student with a talent for make-up. The reader figures out sooner or later that apart from being a make-up genius, Carlos is also gay, but (as far as I saw) the term 'gay' is never used. It's just that he has an unusual thing for fashion, handbags and drama - and has a crush on a boy.
Carlos is a 'real' person, thank goodness for that. He works part-time looking after kids, has great (girl)friends, and his family has problems like everyone else's.
As a character completely different from me, I really appreciated Carlos for his self-proclaimed importance, his sense for drama and his drive for success. Go Carlos!
(Would it be too much to ask for a sequel???)
Carlos is a 'real' person, thank goodness for that. He works part-time looking after kids, has great (girl)friends, and his family has problems like everyone else's.
As a character completely different from me, I really appreciated Carlos for his self-proclaimed importance, his sense for drama and his drive for success. Go Carlos!
(Would it be too much to ask for a sequel???)
librarydragonfly's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
jshettel's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this Stonewall award-winner. Great voice!
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
Kind of a mess.
There's nothing really at stake in this novel, so from the onset, it was all about Carlos being too weirdly nervous to ask for an application to work at the Macy's make up counter so he has his friend do it, but he suddenly has the confidence when he interviews and takes the job. For being gay and being sort of an outsider culturally/socially, I found it pretty terrible he was so mean to Angie about being fat. Constant fat comments and discussions of the food she was eating (he even made a point of saying anything she touched eventually got covered in food). It sort of made me lose any sympathy I could have had for him. Perhaps his outlook changed later in the book, but after 100 pages, I was too bored to continue.
A lot of what could/should be at stake is buried and for no real reason.
There's nothing really at stake in this novel, so from the onset, it was all about Carlos being too weirdly nervous to ask for an application to work at the Macy's make up counter so he has his friend do it, but he suddenly has the confidence when he interviews and takes the job. For being gay and being sort of an outsider culturally/socially, I found it pretty terrible he was so mean to Angie about being fat. Constant fat comments and discussions of the food she was eating (he even made a point of saying anything she touched eventually got covered in food). It sort of made me lose any sympathy I could have had for him. Perhaps his outlook changed later in the book, but after 100 pages, I was too bored to continue.
A lot of what could/should be at stake is buried and for no real reason.
cybercommie's review against another edition
3.0
It was okay. DNF in the middle for a week just out of disinterest, picked it up again and finished it in an hour. Mostly, it was predictable. Overall, it was enjoyable but forgettable.
williamsdebbied's review against another edition
2.0
I had mixed feelings about Carlos and about this book. I wanted to love it.
Carlos Durante is an openly gay teen who dreams of a career as a makeup artist. He's fabulous and he knows it. While I loved his self-confidence, I didn't like the way he treated his friends. A job at the FeatureFace makeup counter at Macy's sets him on the path to achieving his dreams. Distracting him from stardom is his crush on a classmate who may or may not return his feelings, his sister's abusive boyfriend, and his mom's unexpected unemployment.
Carlos Durante is an openly gay teen who dreams of a career as a makeup artist. He's fabulous and he knows it. While I loved his self-confidence, I didn't like the way he treated his friends. A job at the FeatureFace makeup counter at Macy's sets him on the path to achieving his dreams. Distracting him from stardom is his crush on a classmate who may or may not return his feelings, his sister's abusive boyfriend, and his mom's unexpected unemployment.