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Ditched: A Love Story
There's a girl.
Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. That said, she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.
And there's a boy.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.
Then there's a ditch.
But when Justina is ditched, figuratively and literally, she must piece together--stain-by-stain on her thrift store dress--exactly how she ended up dateless...with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven.
To get the whole store, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. Can losing out at her prom ultimately lead to finding true love?
Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. That said, she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.
And there's a boy.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.
Then there's a ditch.
But when Justina is ditched, figuratively and literally, she must piece together--stain-by-stain on her thrift store dress--exactly how she ended up dateless...with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven.
To get the whole store, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. Can losing out at her prom ultimately lead to finding true love?
277 pages, Hardcover
First published January 10, 2012
48 people are currently reading
6270 people want to read
About the author
Robin Mellom
23 books122 followersRobin Mellom is the author of CONFESSIONS FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S KID (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt),THE PAGES BETWEEN US (middle grade book co-written with Lindsey Leavitt; HarperCollins), THE CLASSROOM, a middle grade series (Disney-Hyperion) and a picture book series, HANNAH SPARKLES, (HarperCollins).
Robin has taught grades 5 through 8 and has a master's degree in education. She lives with her husband and son on the Central Coast of California. Visit her at http://www.robinmellombookd.com.
Robin has taught grades 5 through 8 and has a master's degree in education. She lives with her husband and son on the Central Coast of California. Visit her at http://www.robinmellombookd.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 390 reviews
March 5, 2012
Justina was just thrown out of a car the morning after prom by someone who was not her prom date. She bumped her head, looks a mess and can't remember what happened. Oh wait it all just came back but she sure wish it hadn't. What was supposed to be the perfect night to take things to the next level with her best friend Ian turned into the worst night of her life. Heading to the nearest 7 Eleven to call for a ride, Justina ends up telling her story to a lady that works there. Maybe she can figure out where everything went wrong.
The book is told through flashbacks. While at 7 Eleven Justina goes through the story of every stain and bruise on her. And we actually find out about that hideous dress on the cover! LOL There is actually a reason behind that (I was totally wondering that too ever since I first saw the cover) and it sort of began the epic prom disaster. Everything went downhill from there. Like most books (and real life) the main problem throughout the story was just a lack of communication. I read reviews where others were annoyed by Justina jumping to conclusions but I felt like Ian was just as much to blame. They were both scared of ruining their friendship so they both held back on letting everything out. Poor Justina suffered a stream of epic disasters, and yes some were a bit much, but then again honestly I've had nights where everything just goes wrong!
As I followed Justina's story I definitely got angry along with her and was confused by Ian's behavior. I admit the scenes in the 7 Eleven store were a bit boring and I mostly wanted to skip through them to get to the good stuff but they didn't overly annoy me. There were some hilarious after prom scenes such as when they head to In-N-Out. I laughed because when I was in high school that was totally the place to meet up before and after parties. I was in desperate need of an easy going fun read and that was exactly what I got. Lots of laughs, cute moments and an inevitable HEA which makes you go awwwwwwwww. Sometimes you just need that.
Go to prom with me? Please?
We could totally carpool.
Check the correct box
[ ] Yes
"Dude. It's In-N-Out. Toasted buns. Natural cut fries. I'm not going anywhere."
The book is told through flashbacks. While at 7 Eleven Justina goes through the story of every stain and bruise on her. And we actually find out about that hideous dress on the cover! LOL There is actually a reason behind that (I was totally wondering that too ever since I first saw the cover) and it sort of began the epic prom disaster. Everything went downhill from there. Like most books (and real life) the main problem throughout the story was just a lack of communication. I read reviews where others were annoyed by Justina jumping to conclusions but I felt like Ian was just as much to blame. They were both scared of ruining their friendship so they both held back on letting everything out. Poor Justina suffered a stream of epic disasters, and yes some were a bit much, but then again honestly I've had nights where everything just goes wrong!
As I followed Justina's story I definitely got angry along with her and was confused by Ian's behavior. I admit the scenes in the 7 Eleven store were a bit boring and I mostly wanted to skip through them to get to the good stuff but they didn't overly annoy me. There were some hilarious after prom scenes such as when they head to In-N-Out. I laughed because when I was in high school that was totally the place to meet up before and after parties. I was in desperate need of an easy going fun read and that was exactly what I got. Lots of laughs, cute moments and an inevitable HEA which makes you go awwwwwwwww. Sometimes you just need that.
Go to prom with me? Please?
We could totally carpool.
Check the correct box
[ ] Yes
"Dude. It's In-N-Out. Toasted buns. Natural cut fries. I'm not going anywhere."
June 5, 2013
3.5 stars
Reading Ditched felt like I was unravelling an onion with so many intricate layers incorporated into the story. The book at times felt highly like a mystery novel rather than a contemporary YA (not that I’m complaining). I enjoyed uncovering the story behind what was meant to be Justina’s biggest night in high school and discovering why it ended up going disastrously wrong instead.
Justina had finally decided to take the plunge with her date Ian on prom night, they had been good friends for the last couple of months and although unsure of his feelings Justina decided to make the first move. But before she knew it her plans started going horribly wrong. Maybe it was a bad idea to get her mum to pick out her prom dress and dye her matching shoes, so she looked like a blueberry compared to everyone else who was glammed up. And from then it just got worse and worse.
I liked the mystery aspect of this book; how the beginning of each chapter started off with Justina noticing another stain on her dress, which would lead to unravelling a story behind the meaningful mark. Poor Justina had it all to deal with; all she wanted was a few quick moments with Ian, but something always ended up getting in the way. My relationship with her in this book was a topsy-turvy one, with the little clues were given along the way, I was hoping that she hadn’t gone back to the way she was before; the reputation that everyone expected of her, but she always made me assume the worst about her. And as the book progressed she didn’t become the easiest person to like, she was quick to jump to assumptions about people before really knowing what they were like based on snippets of information she had overheard. The decision she made at the end was the best possible one she could make and it did show greater character progression, but part of me wished she’d opened her eyes and realised what was before her a lot sooner. But I guess without the stumbling around in the dark there would have been a huge chunk of fun missing out of this book.
Ditched was a lot different to what I had been expecting, I enjoyed how each character sucked you in with a different story of Justina’s eventful prom night. There were some cute and unexpected road bumps along the way which made Ditched quite an addictive read. But I wish we had the chance to get to know some of the characters a lot more especially Ian. But overall Ditched was a fun book which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Reading Ditched felt like I was unravelling an onion with so many intricate layers incorporated into the story. The book at times felt highly like a mystery novel rather than a contemporary YA (not that I’m complaining). I enjoyed uncovering the story behind what was meant to be Justina’s biggest night in high school and discovering why it ended up going disastrously wrong instead.
Justina had finally decided to take the plunge with her date Ian on prom night, they had been good friends for the last couple of months and although unsure of his feelings Justina decided to make the first move. But before she knew it her plans started going horribly wrong. Maybe it was a bad idea to get her mum to pick out her prom dress and dye her matching shoes, so she looked like a blueberry compared to everyone else who was glammed up. And from then it just got worse and worse.
I liked the mystery aspect of this book; how the beginning of each chapter started off with Justina noticing another stain on her dress, which would lead to unravelling a story behind the meaningful mark. Poor Justina had it all to deal with; all she wanted was a few quick moments with Ian, but something always ended up getting in the way. My relationship with her in this book was a topsy-turvy one, with the little clues were given along the way, I was hoping that she hadn’t gone back to the way she was before; the reputation that everyone expected of her, but she always made me assume the worst about her. And as the book progressed she didn’t become the easiest person to like, she was quick to jump to assumptions about people before really knowing what they were like based on snippets of information she had overheard. The decision she made at the end was the best possible one she could make and it did show greater character progression, but part of me wished she’d opened her eyes and realised what was before her a lot sooner. But I guess without the stumbling around in the dark there would have been a huge chunk of fun missing out of this book.
Ditched was a lot different to what I had been expecting, I enjoyed how each character sucked you in with a different story of Justina’s eventful prom night. There were some cute and unexpected road bumps along the way which made Ditched quite an addictive read. But I wish we had the chance to get to know some of the characters a lot more especially Ian. But overall Ditched was a fun book which I thoroughly enjoyed.
January 8, 2016
I finally finished it took some time because of stuff getting in the way but I found some time and read!! So this book was good I liked it very much it gave me a lot of feels and made me laugh from time to time. This is the type of book u can read when your sad or just need so laughs or your just getting over a book hangover I highly recommend u read this! The writing was amazing I was kind of if'y about the book at first but I'm glad I gave it a chance it put a smile on my face:)
July 25, 2016
A sweet prom story that takes a sort of "Hangover" like approach to the protagonist's prom night. Very cute, very lovable. I really liked how the author portrayed Justina as a sort of reformed party girl - she illuminated the thought process behind girls who are often seen as sluts and gave us a bit more insight into how and why girls do the things they do.
Also, Ian? Totally crush-worthy.
My only wish was for a bit more interaction between Ian and Justina - other than that, the book was well-written and the voice never faltered. Very enjoyable.
Also, Ian? Totally crush-worthy.
My only wish was for a bit more interaction between Ian and Justina - other than that, the book was well-written and the voice never faltered. Very enjoyable.
February 2, 2012
My favorite book so far this year! It made me LOL and I <3 the love interest.
January 11, 2012
This is such a cute story that left me laughing and smiling so much! I adored that characters and her story-telling of what happened that night. It 's so crazy and exciting that it totally leaves you smiling!
This story starts off with a girl crazy in love, swirling into a turn of events that will have you laughing. One thing I enjoyed about this book is the main character Justina. After fighting her feelings about Ian, things have turn out not what she expected. I enjoyed reading about Justina and see her crazy roller coaster emotions. I remember being a teen and realize now that the things I thought were so important that if they didn't get fixed right away that I would die, were petty things. Justina has bouts of her emotions going everywhere. And like her, I did the same thing too. Always crying, whining over dumb things. It was good to see a teenage girl act the way I acted when I was young.
The love interest in this story is nice. I like how both were scared after what was done to both of them and seeing them enjoy each other's company is a nice touch to the story. Seeing them around like chickens with no head and the crazy things they did is even funnier. I admit that some of the things done may seem overboard, but it did come together nicely at the end of the story.
With that said, this book reminded me of the movie The Hangover. Dog swapping, late night burger stops, and plenty of drama, Justina night is filled with stories I'm sure the reader will never forget. Have a crazy dress you mom made you wear to prom? Well then, read this story. It will give you a prom night you will never forget.
This story starts off with a girl crazy in love, swirling into a turn of events that will have you laughing. One thing I enjoyed about this book is the main character Justina. After fighting her feelings about Ian, things have turn out not what she expected. I enjoyed reading about Justina and see her crazy roller coaster emotions. I remember being a teen and realize now that the things I thought were so important that if they didn't get fixed right away that I would die, were petty things. Justina has bouts of her emotions going everywhere. And like her, I did the same thing too. Always crying, whining over dumb things. It was good to see a teenage girl act the way I acted when I was young.
The love interest in this story is nice. I like how both were scared after what was done to both of them and seeing them enjoy each other's company is a nice touch to the story. Seeing them around like chickens with no head and the crazy things they did is even funnier. I admit that some of the things done may seem overboard, but it did come together nicely at the end of the story.
With that said, this book reminded me of the movie The Hangover. Dog swapping, late night burger stops, and plenty of drama, Justina night is filled with stories I'm sure the reader will never forget. Have a crazy dress you mom made you wear to prom? Well then, read this story. It will give you a prom night you will never forget.
December 28, 2011
OMG! I was laughing so hard throughout this whole book! There is SO much going on in this book and it will keep you reading, laughing and in some parts crying.
I will start with Justina WOW! She is the true definition of "hot mess". She is freaking crazy and I love her! She is a real character, someone to relate to and what happens to her in this book could have or could happen to us in the future. i about died throughout this whole book. So Justina is going to prom with Ian her best guy friend, add in some jealousy * Justina* a blue wardrobe,mean girls, the stains, the dogs, tattoo parlor and jumping from cars and she is going to find out what happened and spill it to the lady at the Seven -11 where she is stranded! This is one of my most favorite YA books yet, because the plot hasn't been used it is kind of like One Night That Changes Everything but not really.
Now add in Ian who is a mystery. You can tell right away that Justina is into him but he is hard for me. He is totally 100% awesome. He does ditch prom but not for the reasons Justina is coming up with and all her assumptions she is making. He is panicking because he has no idea where she is and what is going on. But all in all he is another awesome character who is real that you can relate too, we girls have all fallen for our best guy friend at one point or another or at least thought he was hot.
This book was just plain amazing!!! I loved every page and it will steal your heart just from the description, you will buy it just to see if it is as funny and the description and if funny isn't the word then interesting because how can you say no to a night that has all that listed in it!
I will start with Justina WOW! She is the true definition of "hot mess". She is freaking crazy and I love her! She is a real character, someone to relate to and what happens to her in this book could have or could happen to us in the future. i about died throughout this whole book. So Justina is going to prom with Ian her best guy friend, add in some jealousy * Justina* a blue wardrobe,mean girls, the stains, the dogs, tattoo parlor and jumping from cars and she is going to find out what happened and spill it to the lady at the Seven -11 where she is stranded! This is one of my most favorite YA books yet, because the plot hasn't been used it is kind of like One Night That Changes Everything but not really.
Now add in Ian who is a mystery. You can tell right away that Justina is into him but he is hard for me. He is totally 100% awesome. He does ditch prom but not for the reasons Justina is coming up with and all her assumptions she is making. He is panicking because he has no idea where she is and what is going on. But all in all he is another awesome character who is real that you can relate too, we girls have all fallen for our best guy friend at one point or another or at least thought he was hot.
This book was just plain amazing!!! I loved every page and it will steal your heart just from the description, you will buy it just to see if it is as funny and the description and if funny isn't the word then interesting because how can you say no to a night that has all that listed in it!
February 26, 2012
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog
Looking at the cover and reading the summary of Ditched, I thought I would be reading a fun, light,hilarious and enjoyable book. Unfortunately, Ditched didn't manage to extract any emotion from me apart from frustration.
We are introduced to Justina who's lying in a ditch early in the morning after what was supposed to be the best night of her life. Her dress has all kinds of stains on it and she is a complete mess.
Justina then goes into a store. There, she starts to tell the story of her prom night to the store clerk.
All of this started out as being interesting. However, at some point I realized that I strongly disliked Justina's character. I honestly wanted to smack her in the head.
She had a despicable attitude. She was full of hate and jealousy.
Let me give you an example of her disgusting attitude. At one point in the book, she's going to enter the prom when she sees girls from her school. She downright points out that one of the girl is a "slut" because she was wearing a dress with a long slit.
I don't think it's okay to accuse someone of being slut just because of the way she dresses.
At another point, she says she wants to drag this girl Allison by her hair and push her into the pool because she was talking to Ian. They weren't doing anything. They were just freaking talking. I found her behavior bitchy and psychotic.
Moreover, she is the kind of girl who assumes things. She assumed that Ian would kiss her and she even planned out the location, the exact angle and well you get the vibe!
I found it terribly difficult to connect with her. I just couldn't.
To say that I didn't like her would be an understatement.
Ian was the only character I might have liked in this book. He was sweet, caring and a very good listener. I loved how he bore all of Justina's antics. I love how he listened to Allison when she was complaining about her work load.
Overall, yes, Ian was my favorite character.
I didn't like the romance in this book. I didn't like how Justina assumed that Ian wanted to be her boyfriend. I didn't like how she planned their whole first kiss.
I didn't understand why Ian liked Justina although the opposite was understandable.
I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the two main characters.
The plot is basically about Justina making an account of her disastrous evening through flashbacks.
The idea of flashbacks reminded me a lot of the Hangover movie!
The problems that Justina faced were at times excessive. I mean, can all this happen in one single night ?
Robin Mellom's writing is fairly good. It's easy to read and everything flows smoothly. I would say it was enjoyable.
Overall, I didn't like this book. I think this reviews depicts a lot of negative ideas on my part, but it's how I felt upon reading this book. I was disappointed because I thought I would like this book, but in the end the book was a giant failure for me all because of Justina.
Looking at the cover and reading the summary of Ditched, I thought I would be reading a fun, light,hilarious and enjoyable book. Unfortunately, Ditched didn't manage to extract any emotion from me apart from frustration.
We are introduced to Justina who's lying in a ditch early in the morning after what was supposed to be the best night of her life. Her dress has all kinds of stains on it and she is a complete mess.
Justina then goes into a store. There, she starts to tell the story of her prom night to the store clerk.
All of this started out as being interesting. However, at some point I realized that I strongly disliked Justina's character. I honestly wanted to smack her in the head.
She had a despicable attitude. She was full of hate and jealousy.
Let me give you an example of her disgusting attitude. At one point in the book, she's going to enter the prom when she sees girls from her school. She downright points out that one of the girl is a "slut" because she was wearing a dress with a long slit.
I don't think it's okay to accuse someone of being slut just because of the way she dresses.
At another point, she says she wants to drag this girl Allison by her hair and push her into the pool because she was talking to Ian. They weren't doing anything. They were just freaking talking. I found her behavior bitchy and psychotic.
Moreover, she is the kind of girl who assumes things. She assumed that Ian would kiss her and she even planned out the location, the exact angle and well you get the vibe!
I found it terribly difficult to connect with her. I just couldn't.
To say that I didn't like her would be an understatement.
Ian was the only character I might have liked in this book. He was sweet, caring and a very good listener. I loved how he bore all of Justina's antics. I love how he listened to Allison when she was complaining about her work load.
Overall, yes, Ian was my favorite character.
I didn't like the romance in this book. I didn't like how Justina assumed that Ian wanted to be her boyfriend. I didn't like how she planned their whole first kiss.
I didn't understand why Ian liked Justina although the opposite was understandable.
I didn't feel a lot of chemistry between the two main characters.
The plot is basically about Justina making an account of her disastrous evening through flashbacks.
The idea of flashbacks reminded me a lot of the Hangover movie!
The problems that Justina faced were at times excessive. I mean, can all this happen in one single night ?
Robin Mellom's writing is fairly good. It's easy to read and everything flows smoothly. I would say it was enjoyable.
Overall, I didn't like this book. I think this reviews depicts a lot of negative ideas on my part, but it's how I felt upon reading this book. I was disappointed because I thought I would like this book, but in the end the book was a giant failure for me all because of Justina.
March 5, 2012
My Rating: 4.0 / 5
First thoughts:
This is a very cute and refreshing novel that I could finish reading very fast. It's chaotic, full of misunderstandings and a romance that will make your heart beat faster. As a story that is told in two different time periods - the present and (long) flashbacks to the past, it is easy to follow and no questions are left at the end. Lovers of light-hearted contemporary YA romance will definitely enjoy this.
More detailed:
When seeing the cover of Ditched, A Love Story, I actually expected it to end up being more Middle Grade, but I loved finding out that it's definitely a Young Adult novel. Justina, who has a very unique name, which I love, is telling the story of her prom. A prom, which should have been the best night of her life but turned out to be a horrible disaster.
The narration is split in two different time periods: the present, in which Justina tells her story to a couple of quite awesome people, and the past, in which we can witness how her prom night turned into an exciting but disappointing event. Justina is a wonderful main character who is slightly paranoid, sarcastic but just wants to be loved.
All of the other character we meet in Ditched, A Love Story are just as amazing. Some of them are the cliché-high-school-students that need to be in almost every light-hearted YA story, others are perfect friends who I just wanted to hug all the time. Characters of the latter category are The Mikes, Serenity, Bliss, Hailey and, of course, Ian.
All in all, Ditched, A Love Story is a cute story about love and a girl's journey to finally find it. I would recommend it for everyone who is looking for a fun novel to distract them from heavier topics. It's a fast read and will definitely not fail to make you smile. Actually I'm sure that it will make you laugh out loud at certain points, as it did with me.
---
I received an eARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
First thoughts:
This is a very cute and refreshing novel that I could finish reading very fast. It's chaotic, full of misunderstandings and a romance that will make your heart beat faster. As a story that is told in two different time periods - the present and (long) flashbacks to the past, it is easy to follow and no questions are left at the end. Lovers of light-hearted contemporary YA romance will definitely enjoy this.
More detailed:
When seeing the cover of Ditched, A Love Story, I actually expected it to end up being more Middle Grade, but I loved finding out that it's definitely a Young Adult novel. Justina, who has a very unique name, which I love, is telling the story of her prom. A prom, which should have been the best night of her life but turned out to be a horrible disaster.
The narration is split in two different time periods: the present, in which Justina tells her story to a couple of quite awesome people, and the past, in which we can witness how her prom night turned into an exciting but disappointing event. Justina is a wonderful main character who is slightly paranoid, sarcastic but just wants to be loved.
All of the other character we meet in Ditched, A Love Story are just as amazing. Some of them are the cliché-high-school-students that need to be in almost every light-hearted YA story, others are perfect friends who I just wanted to hug all the time. Characters of the latter category are The Mikes, Serenity, Bliss, Hailey and, of course, Ian.
All in all, Ditched, A Love Story is a cute story about love and a girl's journey to finally find it. I would recommend it for everyone who is looking for a fun novel to distract them from heavier topics. It's a fast read and will definitely not fail to make you smile. Actually I'm sure that it will make you laugh out loud at certain points, as it did with me.
---
I received an eARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 27, 2011
3 and a half stars
I really enjoyed this. I thought that it was a funny, cute story and it kept my interest. It's nice to read a cute romantic comedy now and then. It wasn't as good as "Anna and the french kiss" by Stephanie Perkins or "Amy and Roger's epic detour" by Morgan Matson(for example) but it was quite sweet.
Some people might not like the main character but I did. She's just a girl trying to get rid of a "reputation", basically a girl trying to find out who she is and not be known for her past mistakes. She's not always perfect but I liked her character. She was funny and genuine.
The plot was fast paced and entertaining. It follows Justina on her prom night. She wants to take her friendship with her friend Ian to the next level and thinks prom night is the perfect night to do it. This leads to a funny night of mishaps. If this book is nothing else, it's amusing. Just the fact that she is wearing a blue dress with matching shoes, nail polish and corsage is enough to make me giggle. Especially when she describes herself as a blueberry.
And the daisy ring. Both sweet and funny. As well as the idea of the "Robin Hounds".
I like that the story is told in flashbacks to a couple of people at a convienence store. My only complaint(and its not huge) is that I wish I had gotten to see more of Ian and Justina together. Or even just Ian in general. He wasn't present in much of the book so there was no real sexual tension really. Because he was MIA most of the story.
However, from flashbacks and such, I got to see what a caring, sweet guy he was.
Yeah. This book has personality. It would make an entertaining movie.
I really enjoyed this. I thought that it was a funny, cute story and it kept my interest. It's nice to read a cute romantic comedy now and then. It wasn't as good as "Anna and the french kiss" by Stephanie Perkins or "Amy and Roger's epic detour" by Morgan Matson(for example) but it was quite sweet.
Some people might not like the main character but I did. She's just a girl trying to get rid of a "reputation", basically a girl trying to find out who she is and not be known for her past mistakes. She's not always perfect but I liked her character. She was funny and genuine.
The plot was fast paced and entertaining. It follows Justina on her prom night. She wants to take her friendship with her friend Ian to the next level and thinks prom night is the perfect night to do it. This leads to a funny night of mishaps. If this book is nothing else, it's amusing. Just the fact that she is wearing a blue dress with matching shoes, nail polish and corsage is enough to make me giggle. Especially when she describes herself as a blueberry.
And the daisy ring. Both sweet and funny. As well as the idea of the "Robin Hounds".
I like that the story is told in flashbacks to a couple of people at a convienence store. My only complaint(and its not huge) is that I wish I had gotten to see more of Ian and Justina together. Or even just Ian in general. He wasn't present in much of the book so there was no real sexual tension really. Because he was MIA most of the story.
However, from flashbacks and such, I got to see what a caring, sweet guy he was.
Yeah. This book has personality. It would make an entertaining movie.
October 12, 2011
I'm usually a sucker for cute, fun reads, and I thought this would be what I was looking for, but I was wrong. I gave it a two rating for being "okay."
I mean the concept of falling for your best friend is cute, and her crazy adventures were funny, but I thought the MC was super annoying with her personality and the constant interruptions. And I don't like it when books are narrated in this ditzy tone a lot of chick-lits tend to do. The story was told in flashbacks (like the Hangover movie), but I found it to be too chaotic.
Like I said, focused more on Justina's crazy adventures than the romance. Mellom shows enough of Ian for me to like him, but most of the story was more about Justina's "everything is going wrong" night. So I didn't have the connection to Ian or the relationship that I thought I would.
As for the telling of the story. It was all over the place. I'm sure Mellom wanted to imitate the movie Hangover, where they character goes back through to the story to figure out what happened that night. But it's not like Justina got drunk or anything to forget what happened. She was just telling the story to the store clerk and visitors.
And I was very annoyed the way the story was told. Justina's narration kind of annoyed me. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it but she almost talks about it in a ditzy way with all these interruptions. You know exactly what I was picturing? Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde as she was talking to her nail technician.
The story was still cute, but unfortunately, I was just disappointed the way the story was told.
I mean the concept of falling for your best friend is cute, and her crazy adventures were funny, but I thought the MC was super annoying with her personality and the constant interruptions. And I don't like it when books are narrated in this ditzy tone a lot of chick-lits tend to do. The story was told in flashbacks (like the Hangover movie), but I found it to be too chaotic.
Like I said, focused more on Justina's crazy adventures than the romance. Mellom shows enough of Ian for me to like him, but most of the story was more about Justina's "everything is going wrong" night. So I didn't have the connection to Ian or the relationship that I thought I would.
As for the telling of the story. It was all over the place. I'm sure Mellom wanted to imitate the movie Hangover, where they character goes back through to the story to figure out what happened that night. But it's not like Justina got drunk or anything to forget what happened. She was just telling the story to the store clerk and visitors.
And I was very annoyed the way the story was told. Justina's narration kind of annoyed me. I'm not sure exactly how to explain it but she almost talks about it in a ditzy way with all these interruptions. You know exactly what I was picturing? Reese Witherspoon in Legally Blonde as she was talking to her nail technician.
The story was still cute, but unfortunately, I was just disappointed the way the story was told.
February 13, 2012
Prom is the last thing Justina would ever plan on attending. However, when her best friend Ian asks her to be his date, she finds it impossible to resist. She can't deny her overwhelming feelings for Ian and decides that prom will provide the perfect opportunity to go from good friends to boy/girl friend - not to mention provide the right ambiance for a long awaited kiss. Rather than consult with friends or teen magazines, Justina allows her mother to plan her outfit - resulting in a horrifyingly, one-note, blue ensem.
Justina can't even get out the door with Ian without her prom experience taking a hit - a spilled curry on her dress. From there, her evening only gets worse. While at the prom, Ian mysteriously disappears leaving Justina to believe that she has been ditched. Before she knows it, Justina is on a wild goose chase trying to track Ian down all while trying to figure out if her feelings for him could ever amount to something more after this horrible mistreatment.
The story has a great hook - Justina finds herself thrown from a moving vehicle and ambles her way up to the local 7-11 for some free food and a pay phone. While at the 7-11, she earns the sympathy of the clerk and one of the customers. They lend an ear, and some advice, while she relays the events of her evening in flashback form.
Ditched was a cute story - very reminiscent of the movie Serendipity with all those missed-meetings with Ian. I think that it will definitely find an audience with the older YA readers.
Justina can't even get out the door with Ian without her prom experience taking a hit - a spilled curry on her dress. From there, her evening only gets worse. While at the prom, Ian mysteriously disappears leaving Justina to believe that she has been ditched. Before she knows it, Justina is on a wild goose chase trying to track Ian down all while trying to figure out if her feelings for him could ever amount to something more after this horrible mistreatment.
The story has a great hook - Justina finds herself thrown from a moving vehicle and ambles her way up to the local 7-11 for some free food and a pay phone. While at the 7-11, she earns the sympathy of the clerk and one of the customers. They lend an ear, and some advice, while she relays the events of her evening in flashback form.
Ditched was a cute story - very reminiscent of the movie Serendipity with all those missed-meetings with Ian. I think that it will definitely find an audience with the older YA readers.
December 23, 2011
I know why Ditched was ditched. When it comes down to it all - the story, the purpose... it's all rather lacking. I went into Ditched thinking it'd be a cute, fun read. And while it's a bit cute (the latter half of the story), it's not very fun. The story has no feel-good emotions. It's mostly a downer. Justina being ditched at prom turns into one exhausted exaggeration after the next.
As a character, Justina makes little sense. She's strong, she's weak, she's flirty, she's reserved, she's a slut, she's not a slut. See a pattern? Ultimately, she adds up to one big contradiction. The other characters get maybe a word to describe them. Otherwise, they're just names. I like a little more substance than this, even for a quick read. Even a bit of background info would've been nice.
The plot is frustrating, to say the least. It drags and drags. You know when you're watching a really bad horror movie and you end up shouting at the characters on screen, calling them out for their stupidity? That's the reaction I had to the plot of Ditched.
Needless to say, it just wasn't for me.
Highlight of the book? I really liked that the progression of the story depended on the back stories of every stain on Justina's dress. It's a concept I've seen before, yet still neat and kept me wondering.
(www.thegrammariansreviews.blogspot.com)
As a character, Justina makes little sense. She's strong, she's weak, she's flirty, she's reserved, she's a slut, she's not a slut. See a pattern? Ultimately, she adds up to one big contradiction. The other characters get maybe a word to describe them. Otherwise, they're just names. I like a little more substance than this, even for a quick read. Even a bit of background info would've been nice.
The plot is frustrating, to say the least. It drags and drags. You know when you're watching a really bad horror movie and you end up shouting at the characters on screen, calling them out for their stupidity? That's the reaction I had to the plot of Ditched.
Needless to say, it just wasn't for me.
Highlight of the book? I really liked that the progression of the story depended on the back stories of every stain on Justina's dress. It's a concept I've seen before, yet still neat and kept me wondering.
(www.thegrammariansreviews.blogspot.com)
November 4, 2015
*3.5 out of 5 Stars*
This is a SPOILER-FREE review. Full review (WITH SPOILERS) is on my blog http://bookilyeverafter.weebly.com Check it out if you're interested!
This books is just light and cute. The problems encountered weren't that much of a deal. But it was hella annoying though. I loved how each stain and wound she got that night has a story to tell. Each leading to the possible answer of why Ian Clark, the handle-first guy, would ditch Justina, when he promised her that this would be the best night of their lives! But what I just don't get is why a girl who used to kiss alot of boys suddenly become timid and paranoid. Everything could've been perfect if how the main character reacted to the series of events happening fit to personality that has been built to the character.
Anyway, I still loved how the problem has been resolved. I loved the way the events turned out. I'm gonna be talking more detailed about this book on my website. Check it out if you're interested!
This is a SPOILER-FREE review. Full review (WITH SPOILERS) is on my blog http://bookilyeverafter.weebly.com Check it out if you're interested!
This books is just light and cute. The problems encountered weren't that much of a deal. But it was hella annoying though. I loved how each stain and wound she got that night has a story to tell. Each leading to the possible answer of why Ian Clark, the handle-first guy, would ditch Justina, when he promised her that this would be the best night of their lives! But what I just don't get is why a girl who used to kiss alot of boys suddenly become timid and paranoid. Everything could've been perfect if how the main character reacted to the series of events happening fit to personality that has been built to the character.
Anyway, I still loved how the problem has been resolved. I loved the way the events turned out. I'm gonna be talking more detailed about this book on my website. Check it out if you're interested!
November 12, 2011
ARC provided by netgalley(dot)com.
Ditched is the story of Justina and Ian. They have been ‘just friends’ for nine months, and then Ian asks Justina to prom. Something will finally happen between them. This is it. Only…. Justina ends up in a ditch, ditched. She picks herself up and walks to the 7 eleven, hungry, hurt, and with her prom dress full of stains. The stains really tell the story of how her night went so wrong. Justina eventually befriends the clerk at the 7 eleven and starts to tell her how she ended up ditched on prom night by her perfect guy. It all starts with a yellow stain on the hem of her dress.
This was a fast, fun read that I think teens will really enjoy. Justina makes some mistakes, makes new friends, has a run in with the police, and is very hungry by the time she ends up in the ditch.
Ditched is the story of Justina and Ian. They have been ‘just friends’ for nine months, and then Ian asks Justina to prom. Something will finally happen between them. This is it. Only…. Justina ends up in a ditch, ditched. She picks herself up and walks to the 7 eleven, hungry, hurt, and with her prom dress full of stains. The stains really tell the story of how her night went so wrong. Justina eventually befriends the clerk at the 7 eleven and starts to tell her how she ended up ditched on prom night by her perfect guy. It all starts with a yellow stain on the hem of her dress.
This was a fast, fun read that I think teens will really enjoy. Justina makes some mistakes, makes new friends, has a run in with the police, and is very hungry by the time she ends up in the ditch.
June 17, 2011
I saw others describe this book as worthy of being a John Hughes' movie and honestly, that is so true. It is like the Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Sixteen Candles all rolled into one.
It is hilarious, heartwarming, full of antics (anything that can go wrong does), romance, jealousy, pranks, teenage angst (but in a good way!), a horrible prom dress, a hot leading guy, four outrageous friends that bond in an unlikely way and a night from nightmares and an ending that will blow you away.
This book was amazing, truly. It was so funny, the characters were completely loveable and real and the things that went wrong, well they were classic.
This book is brilliant.
It is hilarious, heartwarming, full of antics (anything that can go wrong does), romance, jealousy, pranks, teenage angst (but in a good way!), a horrible prom dress, a hot leading guy, four outrageous friends that bond in an unlikely way and a night from nightmares and an ending that will blow you away.
This book was amazing, truly. It was so funny, the characters were completely loveable and real and the things that went wrong, well they were classic.
This book is brilliant.
August 12, 2011
So absolutely charming and fun, like Sixteen Candles! Justina is adorable, and Ian is boy perfection. The ending left me fizzy with joy. Loved it! Read courtesy of NetGalley.
December 31, 2011
Well, I will say I liked the voice. Mellom carried it off with a quirkiness that didn't feel contrived or disingenuous to the character. That voice alone could have carried the story without the ridiculous TV sitcom-like execution of the plot itself shoving the story ahead with dangling tease after dangling tease after dangling tease. That voice, in my opinion, was quite frankly fantastic. It would have been enough. It alone would have made all of the wacky elements that happened in Justina's night seem a little more genuine. It alone would have made Justina feel more real.
Instead the motivating factor of the plot was the execution of the story. Told in twelve and a half minute segments with convenience store commercial interruptions thrown in, it felt like the author didn't trust the story enough to let it tell itself. Instead information was dangled in front of me and the only way to get it was to read the next chapter. Was it an effective method to get me to read on? Absolutely. Goddamn it, I wanted to know what happened. It doesn't mean it wasn't a cheap tactic.
From the beginning you know Justina's night was filled with epic fail. This is not new information. The story starts at the end and is then told from the beginning (see bad sitcom moment above). You know it ends bad. What you don't know are the details and instead of just coming out with it, the story's dragged out as long as humanly possible, with each chapter ending on the edge of a cliff. This story-telling tactic made me irrationally angry, simply because it's such a cheap tactic. The story could have actually been told from the beginning, as Justina lived it and, personally, I think it would have been so much better. It wouldn't have felt like a knock-off of Ferris Beuller's Day Off after being bastardized by Fox. Or enter your choice of outrageous teen movie. So yeah. It's one thing to read a book to find out what happens. That's usually why we read them. But when you already know what happens and reading the book feels like being pecked to death by a chicken, waiting for the story to unfold can become ingratiating.
Not to mention the events that happened fell so far beyond by suspension of disbelief that it stopped being entertaining (see above re: outrageous teen movie). You remember those teen magazines, like Cosmo Girl, Teen People and whatever and they had those write-in columns for embarrassing moments? And they were so ridiculously outrageous that there's no way they could be true (and I remember one editor actually ranking on them for it)? Well shove a bunch of those together and you'll get this plot. So many shit-ass things happened that you have to wonder why Justina just didn't go Cartman and say screw you guys, I'm going home.
That's probably because Justina needs to be on some heavy-duty medication to control that bi-polar psychosis she's got going on. I don't think people this unhinged exists in psychology textbooks. Here's a girl that's so all over the board with her emotions, that's so pessimistic and fatalistic and at times downright nasty, I was really hoping Ian would see the forest for the trees and be like holy shit! And run. People tried to help her and she screamed at them. She abandoned all notion of logic and thought of the worst in every single situation despite the numerous people shoving calm logic down her throat. One second she would show some semblance of rationality and then go completely off her rocker the next. I really just wanted someone to throw a bucket of water on her head and maybe give her a slap or two. Unhinged is putting it nicely. As someone that has a tendency to spiral in the brain department, I can half understand her pessimism but she takes it to an extreme that renders psychiatric help.
The thing is, when I finally found out why Ian ditched her, I didn't feel it was an excuse. Because he just up and left her hanging without an explanation and without some kind of notice until something like a half hour later. Of course the people that did know what he was doing didn't divulge the information but it's not like Justina gave them a chance. Funny that she was just as judgmental of Miss Jimmy Choo Shoes (Allyson?) as she claimed Allyson was of her. Except Justina was unhinged about it. Still, Ian was a dick for doing what he did without letting her know where he was going. I personally wouldn't have forgiven him very easily, irrespective of my night turning out like Justina's or not.
The ending was sugary sweet and quite frankly I'm not sure the parties involved deserved it (see above re: dick and irrational headcase). It was a nice ending to a crazy night (honestly, as if one couldn't see that coming a million miles away, since that's how all crazy teen movies end) but it didn't fit the supposed reality of the situation. Someone should have been slapped and someone else should have been chastised for treating people like shit and using them for their own selfish means. But that's just my opinion.
At the end of the day the story was nominally entertaining in a brainless current teen movie sort of way (because the 80s teen movies are INFINITELY better than this) but I didn't see Justina as too likable of a character so I couldn't empathize with her plight and the lack of, whether it's trust in the reader or in the story itself, on the author's part and thus the execution of the story itself made me want to inflict pain on small woodland creatures. But I can definitely see how some people would get a kick out of this, simply because it's so zany and out there. But it was a little too much for me and the way the story was told was a killer. Plus I don't like sitcoms.
Instead the motivating factor of the plot was the execution of the story. Told in twelve and a half minute segments with convenience store commercial interruptions thrown in, it felt like the author didn't trust the story enough to let it tell itself. Instead information was dangled in front of me and the only way to get it was to read the next chapter. Was it an effective method to get me to read on? Absolutely. Goddamn it, I wanted to know what happened. It doesn't mean it wasn't a cheap tactic.
From the beginning you know Justina's night was filled with epic fail. This is not new information. The story starts at the end and is then told from the beginning (see bad sitcom moment above). You know it ends bad. What you don't know are the details and instead of just coming out with it, the story's dragged out as long as humanly possible, with each chapter ending on the edge of a cliff. This story-telling tactic made me irrationally angry, simply because it's such a cheap tactic. The story could have actually been told from the beginning, as Justina lived it and, personally, I think it would have been so much better. It wouldn't have felt like a knock-off of Ferris Beuller's Day Off after being bastardized by Fox. Or enter your choice of outrageous teen movie. So yeah. It's one thing to read a book to find out what happens. That's usually why we read them. But when you already know what happens and reading the book feels like being pecked to death by a chicken, waiting for the story to unfold can become ingratiating.
Not to mention the events that happened fell so far beyond by suspension of disbelief that it stopped being entertaining (see above re: outrageous teen movie). You remember those teen magazines, like Cosmo Girl, Teen People and whatever and they had those write-in columns for embarrassing moments? And they were so ridiculously outrageous that there's no way they could be true (and I remember one editor actually ranking on them for it)? Well shove a bunch of those together and you'll get this plot. So many shit-ass things happened that you have to wonder why Justina just didn't go Cartman and say screw you guys, I'm going home.
That's probably because Justina needs to be on some heavy-duty medication to control that bi-polar psychosis she's got going on. I don't think people this unhinged exists in psychology textbooks. Here's a girl that's so all over the board with her emotions, that's so pessimistic and fatalistic and at times downright nasty, I was really hoping Ian would see the forest for the trees and be like holy shit! And run. People tried to help her and she screamed at them. She abandoned all notion of logic and thought of the worst in every single situation despite the numerous people shoving calm logic down her throat. One second she would show some semblance of rationality and then go completely off her rocker the next. I really just wanted someone to throw a bucket of water on her head and maybe give her a slap or two. Unhinged is putting it nicely. As someone that has a tendency to spiral in the brain department, I can half understand her pessimism but she takes it to an extreme that renders psychiatric help.
The thing is, when I finally found out why Ian ditched her, I didn't feel it was an excuse. Because he just up and left her hanging without an explanation and without some kind of notice until something like a half hour later. Of course the people that did know what he was doing didn't divulge the information but it's not like Justina gave them a chance. Funny that she was just as judgmental of Miss Jimmy Choo Shoes (Allyson?) as she claimed Allyson was of her. Except Justina was unhinged about it. Still, Ian was a dick for doing what he did without letting her know where he was going. I personally wouldn't have forgiven him very easily, irrespective of my night turning out like Justina's or not.
The ending was sugary sweet and quite frankly I'm not sure the parties involved deserved it (see above re: dick and irrational headcase). It was a nice ending to a crazy night (honestly, as if one couldn't see that coming a million miles away, since that's how all crazy teen movies end) but it didn't fit the supposed reality of the situation. Someone should have been slapped and someone else should have been chastised for treating people like shit and using them for their own selfish means. But that's just my opinion.
At the end of the day the story was nominally entertaining in a brainless current teen movie sort of way (because the 80s teen movies are INFINITELY better than this) but I didn't see Justina as too likable of a character so I couldn't empathize with her plight and the lack of, whether it's trust in the reader or in the story itself, on the author's part and thus the execution of the story itself made me want to inflict pain on small woodland creatures. But I can definitely see how some people would get a kick out of this, simply because it's so zany and out there. But it was a little too much for me and the way the story was told was a killer. Plus I don't like sitcoms.
April 15, 2017
Originally posted at Small Review.
I almost DNF-ed after the first chapter
The story starts out with Justina waking up in a ditch with no memory of what happened the night before. But she very quickly begins alluding to events from the previous night, so she sort of does remember. And then she does remember. Confusing? Yeah, I was confused, too.
To make it even more confusing, Justina's first person narration started out relating the events in a broken, cryptic, half-explained manner (frequently noting "but I'm getting ahead of myself" and then dropping that train of thought!) and I had NO CLUE what was going on.
I wanted to shake her and tell her to just spit it out already--COHERENTLY! I don't like feeling lost as to what is going on in a story, so the whole first chapter really bugged me. I almost DNF-ed right there.
Like a teen movie
But I WAS intrigued so I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Once Justina gets to the 7-11 and starts telling her story to the cashier, the story picks up and the narrative smooths out a lot. I wasn't confused anymore.
At this point I totally felt like I had been sucked into a teen romantic comedy movie. Even the narrative style (tone and execution) made me think "MOVIE SCRIPT." This is a good thing. I love those kinds of movies, and I loved this book version just as much.
It goes something like this
The book alternates between the present in the 7-11 and the events of the night before.
The 7-11 chapters are short and serve as little interludes where the 7-11 cashier and, later, one of the customers who stays to listen, chime in with their opinions and sympathy. I liked these sections and they made me feel like I was another random person who stopped to listen to Justina tell her crazy story.
I also liked how these chapters provided a frame for the plot to work within. Justina's story can be mapped by the stains on her dress, and each interlude nudged Justina toward explaining how she got every stain, rip, and bruise (and tattoo).
Between each of these interludes is a larger chapter chronicling a part of Justina's prom night. These parts were the meat of the story.
Since I knew Justina ends her night alone, dumped out of a car, and hating the guy she was supposed to be in love with, my curiosity was super high. I read these chapters with rapt attention, trying to piece together the events of her evening and guess how she ended up where she did. It was almost like a mystery, complete with clues, red herrings, and suspects.
Feeling sorry for yourself? Read this book
I decided to pick up Ditched because I was in one of those two-ice-cream-tubs pity party moods. I put on my pajamas, curled up in bed, grabbed a chocolate bar and settled into Justina's tale. It was perfect. Perfect.
Ditched made me smile and laugh out loud. I commiserated with Justina and snacked on junk food right along with her. I groaned out loud as her night went from bad to unbelievably worse. I grinned with fluffy happiness when the most unexpected people came through for her. Ditched was exactly what I was looking for.
Bottom line
After the rocky start, Ditched held my interest completely. The story moved along at a good pace with pieces of the puzzle coming together in each chapter. Ditched is a standalone.
Ditched is Robin Mellom's first book and already I can't wait to see what she writes next. Definitely a good pick if you're looking for a fun romantic comedy. Only drawback is that the guy is absent from the story for a large chunk of the book, but, don't worry, Justina more than makes up for that.
Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key
Originally posted at Small Review.
I almost DNF-ed after the first chapter
The story starts out with Justina waking up in a ditch with no memory of what happened the night before. But she very quickly begins alluding to events from the previous night, so she sort of does remember. And then she does remember. Confusing? Yeah, I was confused, too.
To make it even more confusing, Justina's first person narration started out relating the events in a broken, cryptic, half-explained manner (frequently noting "but I'm getting ahead of myself" and then dropping that train of thought!) and I had NO CLUE what was going on.
I wanted to shake her and tell her to just spit it out already--COHERENTLY! I don't like feeling lost as to what is going on in a story, so the whole first chapter really bugged me. I almost DNF-ed right there.
Like a teen movie
But I WAS intrigued so I kept reading and I'm glad I did. Once Justina gets to the 7-11 and starts telling her story to the cashier, the story picks up and the narrative smooths out a lot. I wasn't confused anymore.
At this point I totally felt like I had been sucked into a teen romantic comedy movie. Even the narrative style (tone and execution) made me think "MOVIE SCRIPT." This is a good thing. I love those kinds of movies, and I loved this book version just as much.
It goes something like this
The book alternates between the present in the 7-11 and the events of the night before.
The 7-11 chapters are short and serve as little interludes where the 7-11 cashier and, later, one of the customers who stays to listen, chime in with their opinions and sympathy. I liked these sections and they made me feel like I was another random person who stopped to listen to Justina tell her crazy story.
I also liked how these chapters provided a frame for the plot to work within. Justina's story can be mapped by the stains on her dress, and each interlude nudged Justina toward explaining how she got every stain, rip, and bruise (and tattoo).
Between each of these interludes is a larger chapter chronicling a part of Justina's prom night. These parts were the meat of the story.
Since I knew Justina ends her night alone, dumped out of a car, and hating the guy she was supposed to be in love with, my curiosity was super high. I read these chapters with rapt attention, trying to piece together the events of her evening and guess how she ended up where she did. It was almost like a mystery, complete with clues, red herrings, and suspects.
Feeling sorry for yourself? Read this book
I decided to pick up Ditched because I was in one of those two-ice-cream-tubs pity party moods. I put on my pajamas, curled up in bed, grabbed a chocolate bar and settled into Justina's tale. It was perfect. Perfect.
Ditched made me smile and laugh out loud. I commiserated with Justina and snacked on junk food right along with her. I groaned out loud as her night went from bad to unbelievably worse. I grinned with fluffy happiness when the most unexpected people came through for her. Ditched was exactly what I was looking for.
Bottom line
After the rocky start, Ditched held my interest completely. The story moved along at a good pace with pieces of the puzzle coming together in each chapter. Ditched is a standalone.
Ditched is Robin Mellom's first book and already I can't wait to see what she writes next. Definitely a good pick if you're looking for a fun romantic comedy. Only drawback is that the guy is absent from the story for a large chunk of the book, but, don't worry, Justina more than makes up for that.
Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key
Originally posted at Small Review.
July 15, 2017
The plot was hard to follow. but its very interesting.
March 28, 2013
What I enjoyed about this book:
Ditched: A Love Story wasn’t your typical read. I had also assumed it would be a cute read and I had kind of already predicted how the story would go, but once I started reading, I totally had it wrong. The main character; Justina, really had to go through the ringer in order to process her feelings and of course, figure out how one of the best nights of her life goes so wrong. The love interest; Ian, comes across as a jerk to start with but as the book progresses you can see that it’s Justina that has everything mixed up. I really enjoyed how the story was told, it was through flash backs of the night while Justina was telling her story to two random women she meets and although it story dragged at times, it was still enjoyable.
What surprised you the most about this book:
Definitely the humour and the amount of crazy in this book. Robin Mellon gives our main character a fantastic personality – she’s bold and brave, she’s not afraid to say what she thinks (this isn’t including Ian because come on, all girls get nervous around boys, lol) but she’s a teenage girl that just really wants a fantastic night and because of that, it’s makes her do crazy things. Each character we are introduced comes with another crazy idea and I liked reading about it.
Favourite scene:
When Justina really learns what Ian feels for her, he turns up to aka rescue her and it’s a really sweet moment in front of a lot of witnesses.
Favourite character:
I’d love to say Ian because he was a great love interest but he didn’t really get much of a spotlight, so I’ll go with Justina, because I loved her as a person. She makes mistakes like any normal teenager does and I loved that not everything wasn’t perfect in her world.
Favourite quotes:
“All I could think about was throwing something at her— something made of glass. Or spikes. Or a viral disease. They really should invent Herpes In A Jar for moments like these”
"It's true. I'm not that girl anymore. And there will be a time when I'll be The Girl. It is all about timing--and one day when I'm not planning it, and organizing it and strangling it, love will become possible. There won't be any more leapfrogging. We'll land in the exact spot at the same precise moment. And I will wait."
General thoughts and final rating:
3 stars. Ditched: A Love Story was a quirky and fun read, one that really takes you on a journey of self-discovery and first love. I really enjoyed it and although Justina’s night wasn’t what her and us as readers wanted it to be for her, I think she got so much more from that night that she will cherise even more.
Ditched: A Love Story wasn’t your typical read. I had also assumed it would be a cute read and I had kind of already predicted how the story would go, but once I started reading, I totally had it wrong. The main character; Justina, really had to go through the ringer in order to process her feelings and of course, figure out how one of the best nights of her life goes so wrong. The love interest; Ian, comes across as a jerk to start with but as the book progresses you can see that it’s Justina that has everything mixed up. I really enjoyed how the story was told, it was through flash backs of the night while Justina was telling her story to two random women she meets and although it story dragged at times, it was still enjoyable.
What surprised you the most about this book:
Definitely the humour and the amount of crazy in this book. Robin Mellon gives our main character a fantastic personality – she’s bold and brave, she’s not afraid to say what she thinks (this isn’t including Ian because come on, all girls get nervous around boys, lol) but she’s a teenage girl that just really wants a fantastic night and because of that, it’s makes her do crazy things. Each character we are introduced comes with another crazy idea and I liked reading about it.
Favourite scene:
When Justina really learns what Ian feels for her, he turns up to aka rescue her and it’s a really sweet moment in front of a lot of witnesses.
Favourite character:
I’d love to say Ian because he was a great love interest but he didn’t really get much of a spotlight, so I’ll go with Justina, because I loved her as a person. She makes mistakes like any normal teenager does and I loved that not everything wasn’t perfect in her world.
Favourite quotes:
“All I could think about was throwing something at her— something made of glass. Or spikes. Or a viral disease. They really should invent Herpes In A Jar for moments like these”
"It's true. I'm not that girl anymore. And there will be a time when I'll be The Girl. It is all about timing--and one day when I'm not planning it, and organizing it and strangling it, love will become possible. There won't be any more leapfrogging. We'll land in the exact spot at the same precise moment. And I will wait."
General thoughts and final rating:
3 stars. Ditched: A Love Story was a quirky and fun read, one that really takes you on a journey of self-discovery and first love. I really enjoyed it and although Justina’s night wasn’t what her and us as readers wanted it to be for her, I think she got so much more from that night that she will cherise even more.
December 27, 2011
I have heard mixed reviews about Ditched, but I had high hopes for this debut! While it wasn't as fantastic as I would have hoped, I did enjoy Ditched quite a bit and was able to finish it in just a few hours. The way the book was told was my favorite part. I loved how it alternated between the past and the present and how Justina was telling the story. Some people have complained about this aspect of the novel, but I think it worked perfectly and made me enjoy it that much more. Ditched is an utterly sweet and romantic read that is perfect for any teenager, male or female.
Justina's prom does not go the way she expected. Actually, it probably doesn't go the way anyone expected. After her best friend Ian asks her, Justina decides this is going to be the night she tells him how she really feels. Until she wakes up in a ditch and finds herself recounting her story to a pair of ladies in a local 7-Eleven and piecing everything together while she talks. One thing is for sure, anyone who reads this will never look at prom the same way again!
This was certainly a love story, and I especially adored that aspect of the book. I only wish we could have gotten more of Ian! He was such a sweet and truly nice guy, which made him an absolute winner in my book! I felt for Justina as she tried to figure out what was really going on between the two of them. I also couldn't believe how insane her prom was, although at times unbelievable, I enjoyed the ride nonetheless!
Justina is an intriguing character. She doesn't seem like someone I would befriend in real life, yet I somehow connected with her over the course of the story. Her personality was infectious and I really liked her sarcasm and independence. The other characters, especially the Mikes and Serenity, were great. Justina met a variety of people over the course of a few hours and each of them impacted her in some way.
Robin Mellom has written an entertaining and fun story that is the perfect read for a rainy afternoon. The unique way Ditched was told made me like it even more and it was an adventure watching Justina piece together her night and to see how everything came together in the end. Some parts were a tad predictable, but I still found myself smiling at the end. If you're a fan of contemporary YA, this is certainly not one to miss. I'm looking forward to seeing what Robin writes next!
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Justina's prom does not go the way she expected. Actually, it probably doesn't go the way anyone expected. After her best friend Ian asks her, Justina decides this is going to be the night she tells him how she really feels. Until she wakes up in a ditch and finds herself recounting her story to a pair of ladies in a local 7-Eleven and piecing everything together while she talks. One thing is for sure, anyone who reads this will never look at prom the same way again!
This was certainly a love story, and I especially adored that aspect of the book. I only wish we could have gotten more of Ian! He was such a sweet and truly nice guy, which made him an absolute winner in my book! I felt for Justina as she tried to figure out what was really going on between the two of them. I also couldn't believe how insane her prom was, although at times unbelievable, I enjoyed the ride nonetheless!
Justina is an intriguing character. She doesn't seem like someone I would befriend in real life, yet I somehow connected with her over the course of the story. Her personality was infectious and I really liked her sarcasm and independence. The other characters, especially the Mikes and Serenity, were great. Justina met a variety of people over the course of a few hours and each of them impacted her in some way.
Robin Mellom has written an entertaining and fun story that is the perfect read for a rainy afternoon. The unique way Ditched was told made me like it even more and it was an adventure watching Justina piece together her night and to see how everything came together in the end. Some parts were a tad predictable, but I still found myself smiling at the end. If you're a fan of contemporary YA, this is certainly not one to miss. I'm looking forward to seeing what Robin writes next!
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
January 7, 2012
Reviewed at http://bookstobrightenyourmood.blogsp...
Oh well,one thing is for sure!I will remember Ditched for a very long time,but not because I was so thrilled with the story,but more because it is the first ever contemporary book,YA or adult,I ever struggled to finish...
Ditched was a rather huge disappointment to say the least.From the premise,I got the assumption that it was a humorous and sweet read but what I got instead was a rather boring story that I couldn't wait to reach the last page.Literally.
First of all,my main problem were the characters of this book and especially the main one,Justina...She easily falls into the category of my most disliked female characters, ever!She was self absorbed,acting stupidly and a little bit slutty and all of her babbling, inner and outer, just made me yawn again and again and again.If all teenage girls at the age of 16 were thinking like her or behaved like her, I would seriously start to think that something is going very wrong with the way kids are viewing the world (seriously, prom being more important than family...?And especially if you think Justina didn't want to go in the first place...God forbid what would have happened should she wanted it!)..But I'd like to think that teenagers don't act or think that way.Maybe some do,but not the majority.After all it's not that many years since I was a teenager and our main problem then was certainly not how many boys we've kissed.
From the beginning until the very end this story is...a huge bubble full of air.Nothing strikes me as possible from the very improbable events described and I couldn't connect to any character or sympathise with Justina.Nothing!I just couldn't care less for her drama of a prom disaster where her main regret was that she wasn't able to fulfil mission unlock lips.Yeah right!You see Justina hasn't kissed a boy for over 8 months and that is so huge a thing cause she's a kiss junky.For the love of God she's 16 and already kissed more than 12 boys and has to go to some kind of self inflicted rehab and that only because her reputation has been damaged...!Do I really need to continue why I couldn't like Justina no matter what?
Anyway,I can probably say more things I didn't like in Ditched but I don't see the point.The book was fairly good written,despite the typos of the galley, so my main problem was the story itself.I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Oh well,one thing is for sure!I will remember Ditched for a very long time,but not because I was so thrilled with the story,but more because it is the first ever contemporary book,YA or adult,I ever struggled to finish...
Ditched was a rather huge disappointment to say the least.From the premise,I got the assumption that it was a humorous and sweet read but what I got instead was a rather boring story that I couldn't wait to reach the last page.Literally.
First of all,my main problem were the characters of this book and especially the main one,Justina...She easily falls into the category of my most disliked female characters, ever!She was self absorbed,acting stupidly and a little bit slutty and all of her babbling, inner and outer, just made me yawn again and again and again.If all teenage girls at the age of 16 were thinking like her or behaved like her, I would seriously start to think that something is going very wrong with the way kids are viewing the world (seriously, prom being more important than family...?And especially if you think Justina didn't want to go in the first place...God forbid what would have happened should she wanted it!)..But I'd like to think that teenagers don't act or think that way.Maybe some do,but not the majority.After all it's not that many years since I was a teenager and our main problem then was certainly not how many boys we've kissed.
From the beginning until the very end this story is...a huge bubble full of air.Nothing strikes me as possible from the very improbable events described and I couldn't connect to any character or sympathise with Justina.Nothing!I just couldn't care less for her drama of a prom disaster where her main regret was that she wasn't able to fulfil mission unlock lips.Yeah right!You see Justina hasn't kissed a boy for over 8 months and that is so huge a thing cause she's a kiss junky.For the love of God she's 16 and already kissed more than 12 boys and has to go to some kind of self inflicted rehab and that only because her reputation has been damaged...!Do I really need to continue why I couldn't like Justina no matter what?
Anyway,I can probably say more things I didn't like in Ditched but I don't see the point.The book was fairly good written,despite the typos of the galley, so my main problem was the story itself.I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
February 9, 2013
Justina didn't really care about going to Prom, until her best guy friend Ian convinced her to go with him. Ever since he wore that one shirt, she can't help but imagine how their first kiss would go. Justine has been in self-imposed non-kissing mode since that one party last summer which started all the rumors. But she knows if she's going to break her rule, Ian is the guy to do it with. Now only if she knew if he wanted to kiss her...
Right off the bat Prom day doesn't go well. Her dress is not good, her shoes are even worse. Her mom gets involved, she starts getting random stains on her dress immediately, Alison keeps trying to mack on Ian, Ian keeps disappearing.... and then she wakes up in a ditch the next morning, DITCHED!
This book was so Ehh for me. Just not what I was expecting at all. I LOVE books about prom and popularity and trying to get the guy to like you. LOVE that stuff when it's done right. This book just didn't get there for me at all.
So you have Justina who shows up at a convenience store in her prom dress and proceeds to tell the middle-aged clerk and another self-proclaimed Cougar the story of her night... stain by stain. Like these women care! And then not only do the women care, they totally relate and agree that kissing moves Heaven and Earth. KISSING! Maybe I'm just too old, but kissing is not a big deal.
Here's the good part: Justina goes on some crazy-amazing adventures during her prom night- and those I loved. The adventures were funny, silly, and the only part of the book I liked. There are these 2 stoner guys Mike and Mike and their dates who take Justina under their wing... and honestly I wish the book was about them! They were funny and endearing. I didn't like Justina... she's so dense, judgemental, and unlikable. In the end Ian DID ditch her... even if there is a reason, it's not good enough to leave your prom date and not let her know what you are doing. The writing in this book isn't bad, it's the implausibility of the story that got me.
Sorry if this sounded awful, the book is totally read-able. It flows good and I think there is an audience out there for it. I think that audience is middle-grade though.
More @
http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com
Right off the bat Prom day doesn't go well. Her dress is not good, her shoes are even worse. Her mom gets involved, she starts getting random stains on her dress immediately, Alison keeps trying to mack on Ian, Ian keeps disappearing.... and then she wakes up in a ditch the next morning, DITCHED!
This book was so Ehh for me. Just not what I was expecting at all. I LOVE books about prom and popularity and trying to get the guy to like you. LOVE that stuff when it's done right. This book just didn't get there for me at all.
So you have Justina who shows up at a convenience store in her prom dress and proceeds to tell the middle-aged clerk and another self-proclaimed Cougar the story of her night... stain by stain. Like these women care! And then not only do the women care, they totally relate and agree that kissing moves Heaven and Earth. KISSING! Maybe I'm just too old, but kissing is not a big deal.
Here's the good part: Justina goes on some crazy-amazing adventures during her prom night- and those I loved. The adventures were funny, silly, and the only part of the book I liked. There are these 2 stoner guys Mike and Mike and their dates who take Justina under their wing... and honestly I wish the book was about them! They were funny and endearing. I didn't like Justina... she's so dense, judgemental, and unlikable. In the end Ian DID ditch her... even if there is a reason, it's not good enough to leave your prom date and not let her know what you are doing. The writing in this book isn't bad, it's the implausibility of the story that got me.
Sorry if this sounded awful, the book is totally read-able. It flows good and I think there is an audience out there for it. I think that audience is middle-grade though.
More @
http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com
December 18, 2014
This story starts off at the end of Justina's whole ordeal. She has just jumped (or fell) out of a moving car and into a ditch at the side of a back road. Her dress is bedraggled, she has no money and no way to call anyone (no phone, either). That's when she walks into the 7-eleven (The good one, mind you), where she makes an unlikely acquaintance with the cashier, Gilda, who listen's to Justina as she tells her whole story about how she got ditched by her date (and also the guy she loves), Ian.
At first, I was kind of confused. By the way the prologue sounded, it was like she didn't remember how she got to be there (the ditch, keep up!). Then, when she starts to talk to Gilda, you learn that she did know, but she didn't quite understand how she got ditched.
So, as she's telling her story, you think the whole time, 'Gah! Ian is such a scumbag!' (which is the name they called him almost the entire time). First, you feel sympathy for Justina's kiss-less awkwardness around Ian (because, come on, it's turning into a case of 'wrong time for the moment'). Then, you want to kick Ian in the shins, or somewhere a bit higher (if you know what I mean). Finally, you figure out that it's kind of like a game of Clue (but you're reading it, instead). You have to piece together what happened as Justina tells the story of each stain, rip, and broken zippers.
I thought it was awesome how every other chapter was Justina talking to Gilda and the other chapters was her telling her dress's journey to that moment. First it starts with dying her shoes to match the dress, and it end with her jumping out of a car. I also liked how every chapter about her journey was started off by an arrow pointing to the stain(s).
So, as you can tell from my blabbering on and on about this book that I really liked it. I thought Justina and Ian's dilemma about having a relationship together was cute, too. They just happened to be perfect together, but kept missing the opportunities. So, you all shouldn't be surprised at the rating of five that this book gets from me.
At first, I was kind of confused. By the way the prologue sounded, it was like she didn't remember how she got to be there (the ditch, keep up!). Then, when she starts to talk to Gilda, you learn that she did know, but she didn't quite understand how she got ditched.
So, as she's telling her story, you think the whole time, 'Gah! Ian is such a scumbag!' (which is the name they called him almost the entire time). First, you feel sympathy for Justina's kiss-less awkwardness around Ian (because, come on, it's turning into a case of 'wrong time for the moment'). Then, you want to kick Ian in the shins, or somewhere a bit higher (if you know what I mean). Finally, you figure out that it's kind of like a game of Clue (but you're reading it, instead). You have to piece together what happened as Justina tells the story of each stain, rip, and broken zippers.
I thought it was awesome how every other chapter was Justina talking to Gilda and the other chapters was her telling her dress's journey to that moment. First it starts with dying her shoes to match the dress, and it end with her jumping out of a car. I also liked how every chapter about her journey was started off by an arrow pointing to the stain(s).
So, as you can tell from my blabbering on and on about this book that I really liked it. I thought Justina and Ian's dilemma about having a relationship together was cute, too. They just happened to be perfect together, but kept missing the opportunities. So, you all shouldn't be surprised at the rating of five that this book gets from me.
December 20, 2011
This book was so funny and absolutely adorable. I love stories about prom and this story about prom disaster was such a fun read! We start off the story with Justina at the end of her night/morning, literally sitting in a ditch, trying not to remember everything that happened the night before. With no purse and no cell phone, Justina wanders into a nearby convenience store, and that is where she meets Gilda and Donna. Over the course of the morning she tells them all about what happened on prom night. Gilda and Donna were absolutely hilarious! I loved their advice, or lack thereof, about guys, dating and what exactly Justina might have done wrong.
Justina's night was mapped out with various stains on her shiny blue prom dress and bumps and bruises on her person. Each stain or bruise had a story to go along with it and as she pieced them all together they made a fantastic story. I loved that the story was told in flashback. After each memory we get some sage wisdom from Gilda and Donna about what she did wrong or how she misread the situation. We also get to know all of the people that make up Justina's world. The Mikes and their dates were such good companions for Justina during most of her adventures. They may have been a little wild, but they also proved to be loyal and great friends. Any guy who calls a girl by her essence, is a guy I wouldn't mind hanging around with. Even some of the popular kids weren't all bad. And I don't know where Robin Mellom came up with it, but dog swapping is so awesome, if not a little bit cruel.
This was a hilarious prom adventure with a sweet contemporary romance mixed in. This is one to read anytime you need a fun story and a good laugh. I can't wait to see what Ms. Mellom gives us next! Also, never let anyone convince you to dye your prom shoes :0)
http://sarahliveslovesreads.blogspot.com
Justina's night was mapped out with various stains on her shiny blue prom dress and bumps and bruises on her person. Each stain or bruise had a story to go along with it and as she pieced them all together they made a fantastic story. I loved that the story was told in flashback. After each memory we get some sage wisdom from Gilda and Donna about what she did wrong or how she misread the situation. We also get to know all of the people that make up Justina's world. The Mikes and their dates were such good companions for Justina during most of her adventures. They may have been a little wild, but they also proved to be loyal and great friends. Any guy who calls a girl by her essence, is a guy I wouldn't mind hanging around with. Even some of the popular kids weren't all bad. And I don't know where Robin Mellom came up with it, but dog swapping is so awesome, if not a little bit cruel.
This was a hilarious prom adventure with a sweet contemporary romance mixed in. This is one to read anytime you need a fun story and a good laugh. I can't wait to see what Ms. Mellom gives us next! Also, never let anyone convince you to dye your prom shoes :0)
http://sarahliveslovesreads.blogspot.com
January 31, 2012
Ditched had to be the most fun I have had reading a book since I read Lola and the Boy Next Door. The quirkiness of Justina and the relationship between her and Ian was truly enjoyable to immerse myself in. Seriously Justina was completely off her rocker and I loved every minute of it. She was exactly what all of us girls are when we like a boy and have no idea if they like us. We overreact, jump to conclusions, second guess everything and make general fools of ourselves. It is what a crush does and Mellom wrote that to PERFECTION.
The book starts off the Justina in ditch on the side of the road wearing her busted prom dress. Right off the bat you know you are for a story based on the stains, bruises and rips over her dress and body. Heading to a local 7-11 she meets the store clerk and one of the regulars and proceeds to tell them exactly how she ended up looking like she did a d just exactly how her night turned out so bad. In a mix of The Hangover and Whatever It Takes Justina's stories go from bad to worse until finally the whole truth is unveiled and shows maybe everything isn't as it seems.
In order for me to properly describe Justina, I am going to use a phrase directly from the book...she is completely CRAZY CRACKERS! The things that go through her head are equal parts hysterical and disturbing and I loved her to pieces. It has been a long time since a leading character made me giggle and shake my head at the same time. The logic she came up with half the time was pure comical. And the way she told her story was just genius. It was predictable but I don't care because I loved it from beginning to end and I wished it was longer.
Please please please don't wait to read this one! I was Crazy Crackers for it and I think a lot of you will be too. I can't wait for more from Mellom. Fantastical!
The book starts off the Justina in ditch on the side of the road wearing her busted prom dress. Right off the bat you know you are for a story based on the stains, bruises and rips over her dress and body. Heading to a local 7-11 she meets the store clerk and one of the regulars and proceeds to tell them exactly how she ended up looking like she did a d just exactly how her night turned out so bad. In a mix of The Hangover and Whatever It Takes Justina's stories go from bad to worse until finally the whole truth is unveiled and shows maybe everything isn't as it seems.
In order for me to properly describe Justina, I am going to use a phrase directly from the book...she is completely CRAZY CRACKERS! The things that go through her head are equal parts hysterical and disturbing and I loved her to pieces. It has been a long time since a leading character made me giggle and shake my head at the same time. The logic she came up with half the time was pure comical. And the way she told her story was just genius. It was predictable but I don't care because I loved it from beginning to end and I wished it was longer.
Please please please don't wait to read this one! I was Crazy Crackers for it and I think a lot of you will be too. I can't wait for more from Mellom. Fantastical!
February 7, 2012
I did not love this book. The storyline was implausible. The parts with Gilda and Donna I just started skipping because I wanted to read the main story. The main character irritated me because she was constantly jumping to conclusions and never verifying her information, just getting mad about it. And the whole smelling guys thing turning her to jelly - that reminded me of a scene from Porky's (if you've seen it, you know which scene and if you haven't, you're probably better off). I did like Serenity, Bliss and the Mikes, but that was about it. I'm apparently the only one because Goodreads and Amazon reviewers' rankings were higher than mine. Ah, well.
Book Description
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.
And then ditched her.
Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...
But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.
Filled with humor, charm, and romance, Ditched: A Love Story by debut novelist Robin Mellom will have readers dreaming of love on their own prom nights.
Book Description
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.
Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat, handle first.
Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.
Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.
And then ditched her.
Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together -- stain by stain on her thrift-store dress -- exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...
But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.
Filled with humor, charm, and romance, Ditched: A Love Story by debut novelist Robin Mellom will have readers dreaming of love on their own prom nights.
December 9, 2011
Ditched seemed cute, but it is actually more lighthearted than I expected. It reminded me a lot of the classics—Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club etc. It has that fast paced, silly charm that those movies have, and it was a lot of fun to read.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the main character, and I think if she had been a bit different, I would have liked it a lot more. Justina didn’t seem consistent. She’s a girl who didn’t even want to attend prom and dresses in all black every single day, and yet she loves daisies, worried what everyone thought of her, and had locked lips with half of the boys in her school. She was difficult to imagine because all of the things didn’t seem to add up. She also made excuse after excuse for her actions, saying everything was “an accident”, and her unwillingness to own up to the things she did annoyed me to no end. Ian was adorable (although a little too perfect to seem real) and I wish we had seen a whole lot more of him. I also loved the women she was telling her story too, and the chapters in which they’re giving Justina advice were my favorites parts of the story.
I think the author did a great job with the way she told the story. Despite the fact that I didn’t care for Justina, I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to see what other shenanigans Justina managed to get herself into in the span of one evening. It was a lot of fun to read and perfectly paced. I think it’s supposed to be fun and quirky, and it accomplishes that. I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for a very lighthearted read.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the main character, and I think if she had been a bit different, I would have liked it a lot more. Justina didn’t seem consistent. She’s a girl who didn’t even want to attend prom and dresses in all black every single day, and yet she loves daisies, worried what everyone thought of her, and had locked lips with half of the boys in her school. She was difficult to imagine because all of the things didn’t seem to add up. She also made excuse after excuse for her actions, saying everything was “an accident”, and her unwillingness to own up to the things she did annoyed me to no end. Ian was adorable (although a little too perfect to seem real) and I wish we had seen a whole lot more of him. I also loved the women she was telling her story too, and the chapters in which they’re giving Justina advice were my favorites parts of the story.
I think the author did a great job with the way she told the story. Despite the fact that I didn’t care for Justina, I wanted to know what happened next. I wanted to see what other shenanigans Justina managed to get herself into in the span of one evening. It was a lot of fun to read and perfectly paced. I think it’s supposed to be fun and quirky, and it accomplishes that. I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for a very lighthearted read.
March 14, 2012
I really liked this book. The whole idea was bizarre and new, ya know? You don't get to read about stained prom dresses very often. I couldn't stop laughing while reading this....Yeah, it was that hilarious. I was kind of angry when I was reading this at the beginning but after I finished this, I had a stupid, goofy smile spread across my face. It wasn't just hilarious but also compelling and a little mind-spinning. Justina's character and personality were really fun to read about. How she described things (herself, mostly) wasn't bad, either. I also really like the characters....Ian, mostly.
At first, I thought I wasn't going to finish the book (the beginning was a little confusing and not that interesting--for me) but as I skimmed through the pages I realized it was much, much better than I thought. And I just loved how the chapters were done. One chapter would be about the prom and her so-called adventures and the one after would be about her discussing her so-called adventures with some people (strangers, really. That's all I'm saying. Read and find out :) )
Anyway, I enjoyed every minute of this (well most of them, really). Ditched was a cute kind of book(not in a sickening way...not really, anyway) and the plot was well done. I just thought that it was kind of odd to speak to a perfect stranger about well, every detail in your life. Kind of desperate but well, Justina was desperate. But, well. Thumps up, anyway :)
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At first, I thought I wasn't going to finish the book (the beginning was a little confusing and not that interesting--for me) but as I skimmed through the pages I realized it was much, much better than I thought. And I just loved how the chapters were done. One chapter would be about the prom and her so-called adventures and the one after would be about her discussing her so-called adventures with some people (strangers, really. That's all I'm saying. Read and find out :) )
Anyway, I enjoyed every minute of this (well most of them, really). Ditched was a cute kind of book(not in a sickening way...not really, anyway) and the plot was well done. I just thought that it was kind of odd to speak to a perfect stranger about well, every detail in your life. Kind of desperate but well, Justina was desperate. But, well. Thumps up, anyway :)
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