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At the Party #3
Getting Close
Gabriella is afraid. Afraid of what it means to be in love with Landon, afraid of what it means to let herself fall for another person so completely. Landon knows Gabriella’s scared, and he’s not about to give up on her. But will he be able to convince her that they’re meant to be?The third novella in the romantic At the Party series by Lauren Barnholdt…
21 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 1, 2011
3.9/5
Because it’s a novella...Here is the book-o-meter:
Characters: 8/10
What can I say? I liked these characters a lot more than I liked Brooke and Ry. They were a lot funnier and for them it wasn't lust at first, they had actually dated and were dealing with their very recent break up. And what can I say? I liked that.
Writing: 8/10
Like most of Lauren Barnholdt’s other writing.
Plot: 6/10
It’s so short that of course there isn’t enough time for a plot but there is one there and the plot that is there is short and sweet. Also, I like the fact that the novellas are all set over the same night. And some of the novellas overlap, like we got to see what was happening to other people from the outside. But the plot in a sentence:
Enjoy-ability: 8/10
No comment.
Overall interestingness: 8/10
Best plot/back story, it was pretty interesting.
Because it’s a novella...Here is the book-o-meter:
Characters: 8/10
What can I say? I liked these characters a lot more than I liked Brooke and Ry. They were a lot funnier and for them it wasn't lust at first, they had actually dated and were dealing with their very recent break up. And what can I say? I liked that.
Writing: 8/10
Like most of Lauren Barnholdt’s other writing.
Plot: 6/10
It’s so short that of course there isn’t enough time for a plot but there is one there and the plot that is there is short and sweet. Also, I like the fact that the novellas are all set over the same night. And some of the novellas overlap, like we got to see what was happening to other people from the outside. But the plot in a sentence:
Enjoy-ability: 8/10
No comment.
Overall interestingness: 8/10
Best plot/back story, it was pretty interesting.
September 4, 2011
Everyone is always so annoying when you break up with someone.
- Gabriella
Although now that I think about it, isn’t that what guy’s do after they break up with someone? Get drunk and high and go watch random women get naked? It’s like the guy’s equivalent of eating ice cream and watching chick flicks. It figures that when a girl gets a broken heart, she does things that will cause her to get fat and compare herself to whatever perfect-looking Hollywood starlet is in the movie she’s watching, while guys get to go have naked chicks rub up on them. So unfair.
- Gabriella
You can’t just fall out of love with someone in a day.
- Landon
That’s the thing about girls- - even when they break up with you, their friends hate you because they always think you did something wrong.
- Landon
I just take another big sip, deciding to bury my feelings in the alcohol.
- Landon
It’s better to just cut it off right now, before I get really hurt.
- Gabriella
“The best way to get over someone is to get under
someone else?” It sounds stupid, sure, but there has to be some truth to it.
- Gabriella
The thing about loving someone is that yelling at them only feels good
while you’re doing it -- as soon as they’re gone, all you want to do is take it all back.
- Landon
The whole break up doesn’t have anything to do with me not loving him.
- Gabriella
I want to be with her. I don’t care how it turns out. I can’t be worried about that.
- Tucker
You’re sad right now anyway. And if you’re going to be sad right now, you’re not really saving yourself anything. You’re just making yourself sad now instead of later.
- Tucker
And then he’s rushing over to me and I’m in his arms and I’m melting into him and suddenly, I feel amazing and perfect.
- Landon
- Gabriella
Although now that I think about it, isn’t that what guy’s do after they break up with someone? Get drunk and high and go watch random women get naked? It’s like the guy’s equivalent of eating ice cream and watching chick flicks. It figures that when a girl gets a broken heart, she does things that will cause her to get fat and compare herself to whatever perfect-looking Hollywood starlet is in the movie she’s watching, while guys get to go have naked chicks rub up on them. So unfair.
- Gabriella
You can’t just fall out of love with someone in a day.
- Landon
That’s the thing about girls- - even when they break up with you, their friends hate you because they always think you did something wrong.
- Landon
I just take another big sip, deciding to bury my feelings in the alcohol.
- Landon
It’s better to just cut it off right now, before I get really hurt.
- Gabriella
“The best way to get over someone is to get under
someone else?” It sounds stupid, sure, but there has to be some truth to it.
- Gabriella
The thing about loving someone is that yelling at them only feels good
while you’re doing it -- as soon as they’re gone, all you want to do is take it all back.
- Landon
The whole break up doesn’t have anything to do with me not loving him.
- Gabriella
I want to be with her. I don’t care how it turns out. I can’t be worried about that.
- Tucker
You’re sad right now anyway. And if you’re going to be sad right now, you’re not really saving yourself anything. You’re just making yourself sad now instead of later.
- Tucker
And then he’s rushing over to me and I’m in his arms and I’m melting into him and suddenly, I feel amazing and perfect.
- Landon
January 4, 2012
So, since I read books 1 and 2 from the "AT THE PARTY" series by Lauren Barnholdt, I might as well finish up with 3 and 4, right? Okay, this one is number 3, GETTING CLOSE, and it's at the same party that is being thrown by the girl, in book 2, with the irresponsible mother who encourages teenage drinking to make her daughter more popular. Except this time it's from the perspective of Gabriella, the girl who we learned, from the whiny chick in book 1, flashed everyone at Emily's party.
Anyways, Gabriella is madly in love with her perfect boyfriend, Landon, so of course she dumps him. Now, we learn that she, like both of the other girls in this series so far, blames her inability to maintain a relationship not on her nutty teenage hormones and emotions but on the fact that her parents didn't love her enough and do a good enough job modelling relationships for her (UGH). Basically, there are three huge trends I've noticed in this book so far:
1. Every teen girl in this series has nothing on the brain but finding a boyfriend.
2. Every teen girl in this series blames her every issue on her parents.
and
3. Everyone on this series assumes that any female talking to any male must be involved in a sexual relationship.
The only thing I liked about this book was the fact that a random drunk guy was the one to get them together. Okay, that was a spoiler, but if you've read the other two it's not entirely shocking that everyone ends up with a boyfriend so far. I'm hoping that the 4th story will have a different pattern, but I'm not expecting much.
So, what would my 12 year old self think? I couldn't decide between one and two stars, so I'm giving Barnholdt the benefit of the doubt here.
Anyways, Gabriella is madly in love with her perfect boyfriend, Landon, so of course she dumps him. Now, we learn that she, like both of the other girls in this series so far, blames her inability to maintain a relationship not on her nutty teenage hormones and emotions but on the fact that her parents didn't love her enough and do a good enough job modelling relationships for her (UGH). Basically, there are three huge trends I've noticed in this book so far:
1. Every teen girl in this series has nothing on the brain but finding a boyfriend.
2. Every teen girl in this series blames her every issue on her parents.
and
3. Everyone on this series assumes that any female talking to any male must be involved in a sexual relationship.
The only thing I liked about this book was the fact that a random drunk guy was the one to get them together. Okay, that was a spoiler, but if you've read the other two it's not entirely shocking that everyone ends up with a boyfriend so far. I'm hoping that the 4th story will have a different pattern, but I'm not expecting much.
So, what would my 12 year old self think? I couldn't decide between one and two stars, so I'm giving Barnholdt the benefit of the doubt here.
September 7, 2015
Getting Close would have been great if it were somewhat longer. I liked it the best. It has all the elements of a contemporary young adult book from humor to sarcasm to emotions and slight misunderstandings.
Gabriella is going through a scared-of-permanency phase because according to her, it never lasts long. So better to just end it when going good than when the chances of getting hurt are more later. Whereas, Landon has been left a very confused ex-boyfriend who wants doesn't want to end anything.
In all, I enjoyed reading Getting Close and this one had some realistic things going on.
Gabriella is going through a scared-of-permanency phase because according to her, it never lasts long. So better to just end it when going good than when the chances of getting hurt are more later. Whereas, Landon has been left a very confused ex-boyfriend who wants doesn't want to end anything.
In all, I enjoyed reading Getting Close and this one had some realistic things going on.
February 19, 2011
I really enjoyed Reading this book I love how she told 3 love story's within the one party for the series. Gab's is a great character and I started this book totaly mis judging her but when Reading you can tell she is just putting up a front for everyone else to see. This book had the type of ending I love! A must read mini series
August 7, 2018
Nuevamente tenía un mejor potencial. Le hizo falta de todo. Tierno pero incompleto.
November 2, 2011
At the Party Series is getting better; I love "Getting Closer" more the the last two books I was read. The story is kind of bitter with no reason. Okay, it's a reason but I kind of don't like it. Still it can't happen to anyone.
"Getting Close" is the story about Gabriella and Landon...the perfect couple in everyone's eyes. They broke up in the morning before the party but they still love each other. And what happen at the party will change everything...
I love these characters more than Brooke and Ry though. In "Telling Secret," I though Gabriella is the worst friends, it turns out I was wrong (she's a good friend who cares for Brooke). However, all of it happen because of her...Gabriella's afraid of love. She's afraid that love will cause her pain (in this point, I don't agree with her because I thinks we should cherish every moment of our life). Landon's the best boyfriend. I love how he acts and how he describes the way he acted after the damage was done. It makes me feel like he's real.
I give this book 3.5 stars. I love it...it's bitter; it's sweet; it's easy to read. The bad thing is it's end too fast.
"Getting Close" is the story about Gabriella and Landon...the perfect couple in everyone's eyes. They broke up in the morning before the party but they still love each other. And what happen at the party will change everything...
I love these characters more than Brooke and Ry though. In "Telling Secret," I though Gabriella is the worst friends, it turns out I was wrong (she's a good friend who cares for Brooke). However, all of it happen because of her...Gabriella's afraid of love. She's afraid that love will cause her pain (in this point, I don't agree with her because I thinks we should cherish every moment of our life). Landon's the best boyfriend. I love how he acts and how he describes the way he acted after the damage was done. It makes me feel like he's real.
I give this book 3.5 stars. I love it...it's bitter; it's sweet; it's easy to read. The bad thing is it's end too fast.
April 26, 2011
This was a very good quick read, which had me laughing out loud like an idiot in the middle of my class.
The alternating POV really came in handy this time, and really let us know that there's more to Gabriella than meets the eye. I thought at the beginning of the series that she's just another b*tch who does nothing but talk about people and b*tch about everything in life. But in truth, although she does seem to have the perfect life, she actually is just any other girl who's afraid of what her feelings may lead her to do.
After reading this, I liked Gabriella way more than I did before, and I agree with how she felt at the start of this novella. And like I said "Leave before you are left."
But ya know, that's not always the smart thing to do. It depends, i guess :P
I also liked Tucker, aka Uncle Tucker, and though he was in his drunken state, he's still one hilarious dude! I hope he sticks around in this series, though I don't know if that's possible, but still, a girl can hope right? ^_^
The alternating POV really came in handy this time, and really let us know that there's more to Gabriella than meets the eye. I thought at the beginning of the series that she's just another b*tch who does nothing but talk about people and b*tch about everything in life. But in truth, although she does seem to have the perfect life, she actually is just any other girl who's afraid of what her feelings may lead her to do.
After reading this, I liked Gabriella way more than I did before, and I agree with how she felt at the start of this novella. And like I said "Leave before you are left."
But ya know, that's not always the smart thing to do. It depends, i guess :P
I also liked Tucker, aka Uncle Tucker, and though he was in his drunken state, he's still one hilarious dude! I hope he sticks around in this series, though I don't know if that's possible, but still, a girl can hope right? ^_^
August 4, 2011
These seem extra short, even for novellas, so they don't offer a whole lot. Just a little romance, at first glance. But honestly, I think there's more to it. This one specifically is from the perspective of a girl Brooke (MC in the first of the "series") didn't really like all that much. (She also didn't like Emily, from the second in the "series") Now I don't know about everyone else, but I automatically imagined these girls as types that I personally wouldn't like, because Brooke didn't. I saw what she saw. And then I read THEIR stories, and I liked them. Because I didn't see what Brooke saw anymore. I saw them for who they really were. It just kind of reminded me how quick we are to judge, and how we never really know what's going on beneath the surface. Never.
August 20, 2011
It's more of a 1.5 star actually...
A glimpse, a moment, that's how it feels.
Like a back story in the middle of a good book, a chapter even.
You can't really blame it, the shortness of the story is its weakness, not being able to explore or build enough to make an impression. It couldn't have made an impact even if it really wanted to.
I say it's okay, for a back story, something that would be a good part of a more elaborate story.
You may say I'm crazy for continuing to read the series, but then again, I was bored and this was such a short read.
A glimpse, a moment, that's how it feels.
Like a back story in the middle of a good book, a chapter even.
You can't really blame it, the shortness of the story is its weakness, not being able to explore or build enough to make an impression. It couldn't have made an impact even if it really wanted to.
I say it's okay, for a back story, something that would be a good part of a more elaborate story.
You may say I'm crazy for continuing to read the series, but then again, I was bored and this was such a short read.
May 5, 2012
This one was really cute! It was a nice love story since Landon and Gabriella really are in love and Landon doesn't push Gabriella into anything since she's not ready. They're perfect for each other and the issue with Gabby being afraid of being too in love is realistic. It's not like a relationship where teens are instantly falling in love and they don't think about it. Gabby did think about it and was concerned. That's what I'm liking about this mini series, the characters actually think about the consequences which make them more realistic.
March 7, 2011
This is the third book in the At The Party series by Lauren Barnholdt.
Again this is a short novella, like the other 2 books in the series, back once again at Emily's party (wow, quite a lot of drama going on at this party!) and we see another 2 new characters, Gabriella and Landon.
Gabriella ended her relationship with Landon that morning, and when she sees him at the party she begins to realise her mistake, but is it too late?
Again this is a short novella, like the other 2 books in the series, back once again at Emily's party (wow, quite a lot of drama going on at this party!) and we see another 2 new characters, Gabriella and Landon.
Gabriella ended her relationship with Landon that morning, and when she sees him at the party she begins to realise her mistake, but is it too late?
March 27, 2011
Getting Close is my favorite book from the series so far. I totally connected with Gabriella, the girl is like my long lost older sister. As I too have a really big fear of commitment and getting hurt I knew exactly what she was thinking and how scared she was. Landon was just amazing. It was so sweet to see how they matched each other so well.
P.S I love it when they use a scene from the book for a cover.
P.S I love it when they use a scene from the book for a cover.
March 26, 2011
Gabriella broke up with her boyfriend Landon this morning, for no apparent reason. She is still in love with him, and him her. Crazily. During the party at Emilys house, they both try to pretend they are over each other, while also getting insanely jealous of anyon the other talks to.. Again, a cute, fast read. I will have to check out Laurens other short novella series now.
January 19, 2012
Stories in that short series are alike but okay when you don't want get your brain involved just be entertained by some party stories... What annoyed me a little about Getting Close were the many typos and even the name of one character changed twice withing the story. So that is def. a lack in the author's writing. If a story is that short, you should at least remember the characters name....
January 14, 2015
¡AL FIN! Que bien que hice en seguir estos relatos, ya que este sí me ha gustado. Gabriella se ha hecho un lío por, lo que a mi respecta, tonterías, ¡pero está justificada! Su personalidad, la de Landon, todo me pareció correcto. ¡Este si tiene derecho a ponerse celoso como un toro y golpear al mundo! Tucker, un genio. Creo que va a ser mi personaje favorito de estas cuatro historias fiesteras.
March 30, 2011
I really liked the fact that in this short story, the main characters were already together and that the girl had to be strong enough to try and let herself love him even though she knew she could get hurt.
Still missing something, though.
Still missing something, though.
July 27, 2011
This is the third novella of the "At The Party" series and it's was also enjoyable. As I said for the other, they are all fun & easy reads. They probably should have been brought out together in a book of short stories though.
February 26, 2022
Not as good as the 2nd and the 4th but definitely better than the first one. I understand Gab's problem and I love Uncle Tucker XD Landon is obviously a sweet guy, would love to know what will happen regarding Gab's issue about their future but oh well. This was a fun sweet little series!
February 25, 2013
I love how Lauren Barnholdt had some characters in more than one of the books, Tucker was yet again hilarious. I felt so bad for Landon. Landon's friend Mark was super funny. <3 I glad that Landon and Gabriella got back together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2011
2 1/2 Stars!
May 2, 2011
These are more like chapters within a single book, but they are super charming and real feeling.
June 10, 2011
Really liked it. Sweet and refreshing. I've liked this one the most so far.
August 8, 2011
This is my favorite At The Party story so far. Landon is such a sweet boyfriend material. Really not much to say.. I just simply liked it. :)
November 8, 2011
El mejor de la serie, porque es nuevo, oh vamos, la serie es un cliché xD pero los dos últimos me gustaron mucho ;) no tan típico!
February 6, 2012
Fanfiction. A teenage girl's daydream in science class.
November 2, 2012
It was a short read but I loved it none the less. I would reccommend this to anyone as I've enjoyed it 100%
I now know why the cover is them two in the water, you'll find out in the end:)
I now know why the cover is them two in the water, you'll find out in the end:)
November 3, 2012
I enjoyed this the most out of the crop.
Though really, that isn't saying much.
Though really, that isn't saying much.
March 22, 2016
Una vez más, lo único que es salvable de estas historias son los personajes. Especialmente Tucker, que es lo máximo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews