In Capital Girls, a group of young teens in Washington D.C. share an unbreakable bond. They all have parents in high places, which constantly puts them in the spotlight. However, when one of them (Taylor Cane) dies in a car accident, the group's bond is put to the test and they struggle to cope. To make matters even more complicated, Jackie begins to fall for another guy even though she's in a "perfect" relationship, and Whitney, the daughter of a famous gossip columnist, infiltrates their group to get new information.Now, I usually make it my duty to finish any book that I start (especially if the summary is this good), but unfortunately, this was one exception to the rule. It was very disappointing because I was so exited to get this free copy from Goodreads. But I struggled to get through this book. I read the first two chapters and then I put it down, leaving it untouched for several weeks. Then I picked it back up again, read a few more pages and stopped reading it altogether. I couldn't manage to read another line because I felt like I was punishing myself.Here are the main reasons why:1. Although I did like the drama, it was not realistic. The main characters were so young (16 to 17 years old) but they acted twice their age. Most of these girls were self-absorbed, spoiled little girls who only cared about popularity and boys. Even the most intelligent girl of the group didn't stand out to me because she was more like the group’s lap-dog. 2. None of these girls were likable. I didn’t connect with any of them because their personalities were so shallow. It’s hard to relate to a group of stunning young rich girls who can get away with almost anything and are always in the spotlight. It's hard to sympathize with them over their loss when they only value their public image and their status... Perhaps if more depth were added to each of these characters, then I would have been able to finish the entire book.3. I expected this to be a suspenseful mystery, but it was not even close. In fact, I felt like I was reading a rich girl’s diary, and it was so, so predictable. 4. If someone were to ask me what the point of this story was, I don’t think I’d be able to give a straight answer—which is a huge problem for me. Judging from what I was able to read, it's about a group of young rich friends who decide to take in the daughter of a gossip columnist (of all people), after one of them passes away. They take risks together and go on adventures, living the fairy-tale life. But things just aren't the same, and it's clear that their friend's recent death is still putting a strain on their relationships.I understand that the book was intended to be a fun and fast-paced read but I just could not stand any of the characters. I also felt like there was nothing substantial that I could take from this novel. I was so excited to have won this copy through a Good Reads giveaway! It is the first in a series and I'm a fan of series books.To be honest, the book didn't grab me at first. The characters exist in a world that I can't wrap my brain around: the ridiculous wealth of Washington, DC. The authors name dropping throughout the book was a bit much. I realize it was to establish the world these people live in, but since most people don't have a clue which designers and IT and which neighborhoods and restaurants are the most desirable in the DC are, I found myself skimming over those parts.There are several characters so it was a bit difficult at times remembering who was who. But I really enjoyed the story flowing through most of the character's voices. Once that pattern was established, it became a bit easier to understand which story line belonged with which character.Again, it took several chapters for me to be REALLY interested in the story because it takes several chapters to get to the meat of the secrets they're all either holding or working to uncover. I'm interested in seeing how the rest of the series plays out. The characters grew on me and I think the plot is relatively unique to this particular demographic of characters.Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to seeing what the Capital Girls are going to do next!
What do You think about Capital Girls (2012)?
An entertaining, quick read. Can't wait for the next one in this series...leaves you wanting more!
—Brandon
I really enjoyed this book. I am planning to check and see what else the author had written.
—katiekieft
