What do You think about Good Girls (2006)?
I guess it's kind of a theme in YA books that a super smart, high achieving girl who has an intense need for control might sometimes fall for a guy who is either out of her league, or moves in a different social circle (he's a player, The Duff, he's a jock, Not That Kind of Girl, he's too old and taking advantage of her, Story of a Girl also the Duff, or a stoner, At the Party). They have a "relationship" that mostly consists of secret hook-ups, in order to assuage her anxiety about various issues revolving around parents, school, or self-esteem. The reason this works for her is because when they are kissing (or whatev) she is so caught up that she escapes her overthinking, overanalyzing mind for a while, and just feels the moment. Far be it from me to question whether this works in real life (or happens), because there must be something elemental and powerful about this idea in order for it to be so prevalent and popular.So, obvs, this book is in that genre, and it's a good one. The MC is more mixed up than troubled, and seems to just find it unbelievable that the boy could actually like her beyond wanting to hook up, so she breaks off the limited, secretive relationship they do have, without explanation, without thinking about him or his feelings (or that boys even have such things!). So when that sexy times photo someone surreptiously snapped of the two of them makes the rounds at school, it's maybe even more humiliating, more overwhelming than might otherwise be the case, although, it's hard to imagine how it could be moreso, honestly. I found Audrey likeable, believable, and possessed of a quirky, fresh and appealing voice and point of view. The whole issue with her Dad, and how the picture impacts their relationship was maybe the most affecting part of the book for me (cause I'm a Dad maybe?), and the resolution of that element is one of the more touching parts (again, maybe just me). This was the part that was the most like Story of Girl, another great book, btw, if you haven't read it. How Audrey deals with the aftermath of the overexposure, and becomes a more open, forgiving, understanding and less crazy person, makes for a good story, with good supporting characters and, for a change, fairly believable parents.
—Fred
GOOD GIRLS is a gem of a good read. Super-smart Audrey does something completely out of character for her before school starts: she hooks up with Luke, the well-liked, athletic playboy. Party after party, they hook up, yet hardly ever speak in school. Audrey feels more for Luke than she’s felt for any other boy, but as she watches Luke talk to other girls, she can’t help but draw back from a possible romance between the two of them.Then someone takes a picture of Audrey hooking up with Luke, and the picture is passed around to everyone. Even Audrey’s teachers and parents see it. Audrey goes from having a fairly decent reputation to being labeled as a slut. The consequences of the photo are far-reaching: Luke isn’t talking to her and her parents don’t know how to act around her.However, some of what happens in the picture’s aftermath surprises Audrey. She befriends several girls she had always considered as slutty before, and she learns that she does have the ability to be strong while people snicker behind her back.GOOD GIRLS is snidely hilarious and a surprisingly feel-good read. It’s raw and explicit; I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone not in high school yet. However, Audrey is a great, strong protagonist with a wonderful voice. Not everyone has been in Audrey’s particular situation, but I’m sure that everyone knows how it feels to be hurt, and then to rise above it.
—Steph Su
When I first was sent this book, I had doubts that it'd be clique and very predictable, but it turned out great. Its not what i expected it to be.When good girl, star achiever Audrey Porter is caught in a "promiscuous" position, her life turns upside down. It's not just the fact she was caught, its the fact someone took a picture of her and sent it around. She's now gone from good-girl-who-does-everything-right to a ho living in "Slut City" with two other characters, Pam and Cindy. Pam is the real 'slut' of the story, and yet so it Cindy, but she's a virgin. I found that funny. The author writes in an amazing style, that i enjoyed and makes not only the characters fight, but us, as readers fight along with them.Her parents are scared and disappointed in her, the teachers are judging her and everyone else is just talking behind her back. The boy in the picture, Luke, gets the praise and is called a player. Before school started, Luke and Audrey were hooking up at parties and Audrey thought of it as a friends-with-benefits situation, while Luke saw it as something more and never said anything. The ending was fantastic and shocking at the same time. At one point in the book i'm thinking one thing, then the next the ending changes my thinking. One thing that upset me is that I wanted to see the production of the plays, Hamlet, where the main character is a delusional chick and Ophelia, where it's about a man named O, then they went on to Grease. I loved the growth in the characters, like when Aubrey dyed her hair and then her friends and her went on to Prom strongly.Frankly, I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who would want to read it. I'll be on the lookout for Laura Ruby's next book soon.
—Kandee
