Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend blog tour: spotlight and reviews
Welcome to our stop on the Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. We have our reviews of both books in this series and there's a giveaway. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule and thanks for stopping by.
Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend (Confessions #2) by Louise Rozett
YA contemporary romance
Paperback/eBook, 288 pages
Release Date: 06/18/13
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rose Zarelli has big plans for sophomore year—everything is going to be different. This year, she’s going to be the talented singer with the killer voice, the fabulous girl with the fashionista best friend, the brainiac who refuses to let Jamie Forta jerk her around...
...but if she’s not careful, she’s also going to be the sister who misses the signals, the daughter who can only think about her own pain, the “good girl” who finds herself in mid-scandal again (because no good deed goes unpunished) and possibly worst of all...the almost-girlfriend.
When all else fails, stop looking for love and go find yourself.
Confessions of an Angry Girl (Confessions #1) by Louise Rozett
YA contemporary romance
Paperback/eBook, 288 pages
Release Date: 08/28/12
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rose Zarelli, self-proclaimed word geek and angry girl, has some confessions to make…
1. I'm livid all the time. Why? My dad died. My mom barely talks. My brother abandoned us. I think I'm allowed to be irate, don't you?
2. I make people furious regularly. Want an example? I kissed Jamie Forta, a badass guy who might be dating a cheerleader. She is nowenraged and out for blood. Mine.
3. High school might as well be Mars. My best friend has been replaced by an alien, and I see red all the time. (Mars is red and "seeing red" means being angry—get it?)
Here are some other vocab words that describe my life: Inadequate. Insufferable. Intolerable.
(Don't know what they mean? Look them up yourself.)
(Sorry. That was rude.)
About the Author
Louise Rozett is an author, a playwright, and a recovering performer. She made her YA debut with Confessions of an Angry Girl, published by Harlequin Teen. The next book in the series, Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend, is due out June 2013. She lives with her 120-pound Bernese Mountain dog Lester (named after Lester Freamon from THE WIRE, of course) in one of the world's greatest literary meccas, Brooklyn...and also in sunny Los Angeles. (Being bi-coastal is fun!) Visit www.Louiserozett.com for more info.
(Caity review) Too many changes. That's what Rose has to suddenly deal with in Confessions of an Angry Girl by Louise Rosett. Her father passes away. Her mother is lost in her own grieving. Her brother escapes back to college. And her best friend, Robert, adds to her list by admitting he wants to be more than friends. Oh, and did I mention Rose is beginning her freshman year of school?
As someone who just finished her freshman year herself, I can totally relate to Rose and I haven't experienced the tragedy she has. Preparing for the first day of high school is stressful enough. A new building. New teachers and new schedules. It's scary and yet, full of promise of meeting new kids and getting to check out new classes and activities. Rose has to deal with a lot. The guy she likes, Jamie, has a girlfriend, Regina, who is a prime A witch. Her friend Tracy is dating a guy Rose doesn't think is worthy of her. Poor Rose. There's a lot going on in Confessions of an Angry Girl, and story touches upon many things teens face like bullying, sex, cheating and living with the repercussions of one's actions. Rose may be angry which comes out in her snark, but the story is so much more. Fast paced, I thought this book raised some interesting questions and made me think about things. I finished reading with some questions about the story and hope to find the answers in the next book in this series.
One may think she's this really mad girl from the title and synopsis, but I didn't find Rose that way. I thought she was mixed up, slightly annoying at times, a confused good girl acting out from having to deal with too much life. The promiscuity of some girls and the labeling of 'slut' to others was eyebrow raising. Not everyone is that way and I think some of these girls were too young to be sexually active, but that's me. I'm also tired of the stereotypical depiction of cheerleaders in YA books, movies and on TV as being horrendous and dripping evil. It's tiring. I didn't really see the attraction to Jamie besides his being "hot," another YA stereotype I could read less of. Why did he like Rose and why couldn't he defend her when needed? Rose didn't need a guy like that in her life when she had a nice guy like Robert within her reach. I did like the author's writing. She kept me involved in Rose's world and kept me reading. Facing high school can be stressful enough and in Confessions of an Angry Girl, author Louise Rozett gives readers a fourteen year old girl named Rose who has to find herself amidst all of the drama and emotion of her home and school lives and wind up with someone she's comfortable with under her skin. Realistic, thought-provoking, sarcastic and funny, I give this book an "R" for Realistic and Really good.
Experiencing sophomore year is what Confessions of an Almost-Girlfriend is about. The Rose from the first book undergoes some changes as does some of the other characters we've already met. Rose seems to take a step forward and then two steps back which only made her more realistic to me. At times she thinks she's not pretty. She's still dealing with her grief over missing her dad and finds solace in setting up a memorial website for him and in singing. Rose wants to join a band. She's also Tracy's friend again and Jamie is back. I actually began to see him differently, maybe he should be with Rose (he should). We also learn more about Regina and her obnoxious behavior. Her brother, Conrad, is a freshman and is bullied for being gay. Both Rose and Jamie try to help out but an angry Conrad doesn't want their aid.
I found myself liking and understanding more of the characters in this second book. From Rose's family to her friends to Rose herself, the author explores more of the people in her life. Rose herself continues to grow and I admire her ability to stand back and be so aware of what's going on. So many of us at this age could change things if we only took a deep breath, stepped back, and soaked in what's in front of us. What I also like about Rose is she's real. She makes mistakes, overacts, gets angsty, and deals with things even if she can't fix them. And I have to mention the toe-curling kiss between Rose and Jamie. Wow! I may not always agree with what Rose does, reacts or how she thinks, and that's okay. I connect with her and 'get' her as though she was my own friend.
Solid writing, entertaining, humorous, and delectably addicting, Confessions of an Angry Girl is a wonderful addition to Louise Rozett's Confessions series. As I prepare for my sophomore year in two months, I can't help but wonder what I'll find out about Rose's junior year. I can't wait!
Rating: Both books, 4
Cover comment:
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these covers. They're so cool and catchy.
Book source:
Netgalley
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these covers. They're so cool and catchy.
Book source:
Netgalley
***GIVEAWAY***
One lucky winner will get a signed copy of ANGRY GIRL, a signed copy of ALMOST-GIRLFRIEND, and a $25 iTunes gift card! (US only)
I enjoyed this sequel a lot too-I'm so impressed with the writing and its commitment to be smart, real, and accessible. I'm so excited for more of Rose and co.!
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