Reviews

Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles by Cathy Hopkins

half_bloodreader's review against another edition

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2.0

Nesta's confidence on her good looks takes a blow when she has to use braces for a year. Her friends tell her she still looks fabulous, to no avail. Nesta gives up auditioning for the school play, but she signs for acting classes mostly frequented by older people, where she won't be embarrassed about her braces.

Then she meets Luke, a cute boy with a dream to become an actor too, who is passionate about cinema. Nesta feels like she isn't as knowledgeable as him, and starts wondering if her friends were right about her being superficial.

Who do Izzie and Tj think they are to talk all high and mighty about superficiality? Let us all remember how both of them went for the unreliable handsome dirtbags first, how TJ’s weakness is for attractive guys, not interesting guys, and how Izzie just completely judged Ben negatively on an isolated occasion with no further information. She didn’t even deserve to date the guy as far as I’m concerned. I still remember her thinking he was going to embarrass himself at the gig, bore everybody and she didn’t want people to see she knew him.

At the same time, seriously, reading does not qualify one as a bookworm or a nerd. If it did, then I’d have some unflattering terms for Nesta who watches soaps. Previously, Nesta’s favourite band was Destiny’s Child. Now it’s Red Hot Chili Peppers. What a big change, did the author make a mistake?

I thought the whole Italian feud drama was so cliché. Her father behaved in an unreasonable, rude, childish manner too. He was expecting not be challenged and to obeyed without logic? The UK is still a free country! It felt completely unnecessary and stereotyped, especially when Nesta reaches the dubious conclusion Luke is her brother. Yet another cliché? Is this a soap?

So this book’s meant to say even beautiful people feel unattractive and insecure at some point. Even dazzling people aren’t perfect. And that it is okay to be who you are, just because you don't know much about certain subjects or prefer certain genres and dislike others, it doesn't mean you can't still be insightful.

It seems like these books tell you you don't need to improve yourself though, except for getting boys. I mean, if Nesta wants to work on the showbiz, it really is better if she studies more about that medium. It's good to be and accept who you are, sure. Nevertheless, keeping the brain active and search for continuous growth are important too.