august__avocado's review
3.0
Definitely not Lisi Harrison's best work.
This one is definitely significantly blander than the other books I have read from Lisi Harrison. I don't know what it is about it, but there was no real seriousness in the problem Alicia has here. The whole party at the beginning of the book was a lot more lame than I expected, the dialogue was far-fetched at best and annoying at worst.
The only remarkable thing here was the twist at the end. It was definitely fun.
This one is definitely significantly blander than the other books I have read from Lisi Harrison. I don't know what it is about it, but there was no real seriousness in the problem Alicia has here. The whole party at the beginning of the book was a lot more lame than I expected, the dialogue was far-fetched at best and annoying at worst.
The only remarkable thing here was the twist at the end. It was definitely fun.
hollyplayer's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.25
Lighthearted book about being okay with yourself.
taliac36's review
ALICIA IS IN SPAIN FOR VACATIONS WITH THE INTENTIONS OF BECOMING A SPALPHA(SPANISH ALPHA). NOT ONLY SHE IS HALF AMERICAN, SHE DOESNT KNOW ALOT OF SPANISH.
IN HER STAY SHE GETS TO BE WITH HER COUSINS: NINA, THE ONE WHO STOLE HER THINGS IN WESTCHESTER, AND CELIA AND ISOBEL, THE HAWTIES TWINS.
ONCE SHE GETS THERE, SHE SEES A BILLBOARD ABOUT A POP SINGER LOOKING FOR A TRUE SPANISH GIRL TO BE IN HIS VIDEO and suddenly knows how to become what she wants.
having popularity come with a price and that price is her cousins Nina, Celia, and Isobel.
IN HER STAY SHE GETS TO BE WITH HER COUSINS: NINA, THE ONE WHO STOLE HER THINGS IN WESTCHESTER, AND CELIA AND ISOBEL, THE HAWTIES TWINS.
ONCE SHE GETS THERE, SHE SEES A BILLBOARD ABOUT A POP SINGER LOOKING FOR A TRUE SPANISH GIRL TO BE IN HIS VIDEO and suddenly knows how to become what she wants.
having popularity come with a price and that price is her cousins Nina, Celia, and Isobel.
rray_'s review
1.0
Alicia is the third book of the Summer Collection, a group of side stories revolving around the members of the "Pretty Committee" from Lisi Harrison's "The Clique" series of popular and controversial books. Each of the Summer Collection titles follows one of the characters through her summer vacation in between the seventh and eighth grades (or, chronologically, in between Sealed With a Diss and Bratfest At Tiffany's in The Clique series).
Plot: Alicia Rivera is forced to spend her summer vacation with her reprehensible Spanish cousins, including Nina who crashed the Pretty Committee's party in more ways than one in Invasion of the Boy Snatchers. Nina and Alicia find themselves competing for the attention of ¡i!, Europe's latest pop sensation, and Nina isn't afraid to resort to the dirtiest of tricks to come out on top.
Easily the worst of the Summer Collection, the narrative and plot simply aren't engaging. On top of that, Alicia proves to be even more scheming, backstabbing and underhanded than Massie - and her cousins even moreso. Add to that a disturbing underlying current of these soon-to-be eighth graders being highly sexualized, especially personified in Nina. Upon the novella's conclusion, the narrative becomes little more than an uninteresting hot mess of betraying brats.
Primarily for teen girls; male readers may be put off by the pacing and genre. Girls who love fashion will greatly enjoy the descriptions of clothing within this book. Older readers nostalgic for high school "slice-of-life" stories may also highly enjoy this. Many readers may be put off by potentially negative messages and other controversial or offensive content.
Positives:
- extremely short so at least you don't waste much time
- the twist ending is somewhat interesting if not equally somewhat telegraphed
- Reading level: Medium-easy (2 to 3 hours)
Negatives:
- potentially disturbing depictions of tweens being sexualized feature prominently in the novella
- the plot heavily revolves around tween girls engaging in backstabbing and cheating in order to get ahead with little ill-consequence
Other similar works by the author:
- The Clique series, of which The Summer Collection compliments
- Alphas, a spin-off series revolving around Skye Hamilton who is introduced in It's Not Easy Being Mean
Similar works by other authors:
- The "Castle Heights" series (Cindy Ella, Geek Charming, Little Miss Red, Wicked Jealous) by Robin Palmer (superior writing and characterization, more positive messages)
- The "Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker" series by Robin Palmer (superior writing and characterization, more positive messages)
- "The A-List" by Zoey Dean (flatter writing, even more negative messages and controversial content)
- "How My Personal, Private Journal Become a National Best-Seller" by Julia DeVillers (more positive messages)
- "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" by Jen Calonita (better narrative, more positive messages)
Other Notes:
- I recommend reading the entire Summer Collection in publication order (Massie, Dylan, Alicia, Kristen, Claire) and in-between Sealed With a Diss and Bratfest at Tiffany's in the main Clique series.
Plot: Alicia Rivera is forced to spend her summer vacation with her reprehensible Spanish cousins, including Nina who crashed the Pretty Committee's party in more ways than one in Invasion of the Boy Snatchers. Nina and Alicia find themselves competing for the attention of ¡i!, Europe's latest pop sensation, and Nina isn't afraid to resort to the dirtiest of tricks to come out on top.
Easily the worst of the Summer Collection, the narrative and plot simply aren't engaging. On top of that, Alicia proves to be even more scheming, backstabbing and underhanded than Massie - and her cousins even moreso. Add to that a disturbing underlying current of these soon-to-be eighth graders being highly sexualized, especially personified in Nina. Upon the novella's conclusion, the narrative becomes little more than an uninteresting hot mess of betraying brats.
Primarily for teen girls; male readers may be put off by the pacing and genre. Girls who love fashion will greatly enjoy the descriptions of clothing within this book. Older readers nostalgic for high school "slice-of-life" stories may also highly enjoy this. Many readers may be put off by potentially negative messages and other controversial or offensive content.
Positives:
- extremely short so at least you don't waste much time
- the twist ending is somewhat interesting if not equally somewhat telegraphed
- Reading level: Medium-easy (2 to 3 hours)
Negatives:
- potentially disturbing depictions of tweens being sexualized feature prominently in the novella
- the plot heavily revolves around tween girls engaging in backstabbing and cheating in order to get ahead with little ill-consequence
Other similar works by the author:
- The Clique series, of which The Summer Collection compliments
- Alphas, a spin-off series revolving around Skye Hamilton who is introduced in It's Not Easy Being Mean
Similar works by other authors:
- The "Castle Heights" series (Cindy Ella, Geek Charming, Little Miss Red, Wicked Jealous) by Robin Palmer (superior writing and characterization, more positive messages)
- The "Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker" series by Robin Palmer (superior writing and characterization, more positive messages)
- "The A-List" by Zoey Dean (flatter writing, even more negative messages and controversial content)
- "How My Personal, Private Journal Become a National Best-Seller" by Julia DeVillers (more positive messages)
- "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" by Jen Calonita (better narrative, more positive messages)
Other Notes:
- I recommend reading the entire Summer Collection in publication order (Massie, Dylan, Alicia, Kristen, Claire) and in-between Sealed With a Diss and Bratfest at Tiffany's in the main Clique series.
juliet13's review
3.0
I was so annoyed by all the characters!!! I hated the cousins, I hated the younger one, I hated the people at the hotel. I hated how Alicia can’t handle situations and always ends up screwing things over, she is so naïve. But I mean hate in a good way, that’s how you are supposed to feel.
It may not be the best book in the world, and I gather that the main series is better than this stories collection, but I had fun anyway.
It may not be the best book in the world, and I gather that the main series is better than this stories collection, but I had fun anyway.
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