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Fast Girls, Hot Boys #1
Cruel Summer
One gorgeous celebutante. One hip-hop dreamer. One second-generation Hollywood badboy. One anime-obsessed Latina. One British hottie....
They're five friends living the highlife in sexy South Beach, Miami. And one of them won't make it to graduation alive.
Life is fast and furious for these A-listers and their friends: the hottest bars, the hippest clubs, the coolest, most exclusive parties.
But not everybody loves this fabulous five from the Miami Academy for Creative and Performing Arts...and if they think they're untouchable, they're about to find out that they're wrong.
Dead wrong.
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 2006
8 people are currently reading
1008 people want to read
About the author
Kylie Adams
33 books27 followersNobody writes novels that are Hot Wild Crazy Sexy Cool like USA TODAY bestselling author Kylie Adams. Her books are bubbling over with steamy passion, state-of-the-trend glamour, wicked humor, and beautiful people living life so fast that 100 mph is standing still.
Her books have been translated into several languages, and she is known for giving her readers a savvy insider's knowledge of the habits, haunts, and histrionics of not only the gorgeously privileged but the nakedly ambitious wannabes nipping at their Jimmy Choo heels.
Major influences include Jackie Collins, whose HOLLYWOOD WIVES inspired Kylie to become a writers, and Jacqueline Susann, whose VALLEY OF THE DOLLS inspired Kylie to actually finish her first novel, and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink disaster that was NEVER published!
Kylie lives in the Southwest. Her hobbies include exercise, spoiled pets, celebrity gossip, building iPod playlists, Blackberry obsessing, TiVo viewing management, telling friends and family what to do with their lives/relationships, and decorating plans for a dream condo.
Her books have been translated into several languages, and she is known for giving her readers a savvy insider's knowledge of the habits, haunts, and histrionics of not only the gorgeously privileged but the nakedly ambitious wannabes nipping at their Jimmy Choo heels.
Major influences include Jackie Collins, whose HOLLYWOOD WIVES inspired Kylie to become a writers, and Jacqueline Susann, whose VALLEY OF THE DOLLS inspired Kylie to actually finish her first novel, and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink disaster that was NEVER published!
Kylie lives in the Southwest. Her hobbies include exercise, spoiled pets, celebrity gossip, building iPod playlists, Blackberry obsessing, TiVo viewing management, telling friends and family what to do with their lives/relationships, and decorating plans for a dream condo.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 24, 2021
Cruel Summer is a young adult novel that can catch you by surprise. It relates really well to teens in real life. I rate this book a 8.5 out of 10.
November 25, 2020
This book was a blast from the past -set in the pre-social media and smartphone era. Back then, tabloids and magazines were dominated by paparazzi snaps of socialites and troubled actresses' party antincs. Low-rise jeans, flashy chains and small tops were the uniforms and the only plan was to get high, wasted and laid while crashing Miami's coolest clubs.
In this context, from page 1 we know one of 'the Fabulous Five' won't make it to graduation. Then, the author introduces Pippa (the English socialite gone poor), Vanity (the rich socialite with daddy issues), Max (the douche celebrity offspring), Christina (the closeted manga fan) and Dante (the latin wannabe rapper).
The book is a constant repeat of parties after parties, name-dropping celebrities they encounter or fashion brands they wear or songs they hear. It does a good job of capturing what life was about during that time, but it becomes drainful because there's no major conflict and the story doesn't develop. Turns out this is the first installment of the series -and we'll only find out who dies on the last one. I think I'll pass.
In this context, from page 1 we know one of 'the Fabulous Five' won't make it to graduation. Then, the author introduces Pippa (the English socialite gone poor), Vanity (the rich socialite with daddy issues), Max (the douche celebrity offspring), Christina (the closeted manga fan) and Dante (the latin wannabe rapper).
The book is a constant repeat of parties after parties, name-dropping celebrities they encounter or fashion brands they wear or songs they hear. It does a good job of capturing what life was about during that time, but it becomes drainful because there's no major conflict and the story doesn't develop. Turns out this is the first installment of the series -and we'll only find out who dies on the last one. I think I'll pass.
November 23, 2017
Since it's a murder mystery and I already own the other two I'll probably still finish the series. It's trashy like Gossip Girl but not nearly as entertaining. The characters are even more shallow then GG if that's even possible and lack any depth or motivation.
June 24, 2024
Extremely unrealistic. Unless my high school experience was way off.
July 29, 2013
The first book in the Fast Girls, Hot Boys series begins with a prologue during which the valedictorian of Miami Academy for Creative Performing Arts is about to begin her speech. She looks out over her audience. A seat is empty. One of the school's Fabulous Five didn't make it to graduation day.
After being introduced to the school's A–listed Fabulous Five, the reader might decide not to care. They are bratty, arrogant, conceited, and exploitive, but little by little Kylie Adams deftly turns the tide as she introduces their insecurities, anxieties and fears, including the things they won't even admit to each other.
Vanity St. John, daughter of a record producer who ignores her, is a sought after personality with a handler who schedules her social events and photo sessions. Christina is a talented artist who is secretly a lesbian. Her mother, a republican politician, thinks taking on Miami's gay lifestyle will win her the election. Max, the son of a famous actor, worries about his fifteen-year-old sister and the boob job her dad gave her as a birthday gift. Dante is a scholarship student and Pippa is a beautiful Brit whose amoral father has squandered his fortune on drugs.
Full of interesting characters we gradually begin to care about, Cruel Summer rockets along, interweaving plots and the lives of the Fabulous Five. The cruelest part is when the story rumbles to an unsatisfying end with a startling cliff hanger. The reader will have to decide whether a sneak peak into the next episode, Bling Addiction, makes up for the lack of plot resolution.
After being introduced to the school's A–listed Fabulous Five, the reader might decide not to care. They are bratty, arrogant, conceited, and exploitive, but little by little Kylie Adams deftly turns the tide as she introduces their insecurities, anxieties and fears, including the things they won't even admit to each other.
Vanity St. John, daughter of a record producer who ignores her, is a sought after personality with a handler who schedules her social events and photo sessions. Christina is a talented artist who is secretly a lesbian. Her mother, a republican politician, thinks taking on Miami's gay lifestyle will win her the election. Max, the son of a famous actor, worries about his fifteen-year-old sister and the boob job her dad gave her as a birthday gift. Dante is a scholarship student and Pippa is a beautiful Brit whose amoral father has squandered his fortune on drugs.
Full of interesting characters we gradually begin to care about, Cruel Summer rockets along, interweaving plots and the lives of the Fabulous Five. The cruelest part is when the story rumbles to an unsatisfying end with a startling cliff hanger. The reader will have to decide whether a sneak peak into the next episode, Bling Addiction, makes up for the lack of plot resolution.
October 28, 2008
This book was about the lives of five senior high school students who live like the rich and famous. These students are: Vanity, Dante, Max, Pippa and Christina. Their separate stories connect with each other to a point leading to an even that changed them. Each of these characters were spoiled and materialistic. They cared about money, sex, popularity, etc. I thought that these issues are modern today because some teenagers think about it too. I liked this book because of the many different views of characters and how they interacted with each other. They always had something they want and did anything they can to have it. I feel that the theme or main idea from this novel is to always think of the consequences for your actions. In the case of the five high school students, they lived the way they wanted and got everything in a command, hand and foot. I would recommend this book to anyone because it has views from girls and guys. I would want to continue reading the series when I find the books.
November 30, 2011
'You can be rich and famous. You could be famous and not be rich. But to be rich and famous is a special category all by it self."(Kimora Lee Simons). Thats what this five freinds try to do to become famous in the Miami night light. In their last year in Miami's Academy of Perfoming Arts one of these freinds wont make it out alive. In Cruel Summer Kylie Adams only introuduces the characters and describes them and their personality in the most vivid way possible. Her writing style is very much like a teenager it self. But in this book you never find out who gets murdered not until the next book. Cruel Summer for the most part did keep me well entertained. But never to the point where it had me wanting to constantly pick it up and read it immensly. The books drama seems very realistic to what a teenager may go through in life. I have not yet read the second book to this and I dont think I might but I very much enjoyed it. Cruel Summer is attended for a teenage audience or just anyone who wants a good summer read.
January 10, 2012
The Fast Girls, Hot Boys series remains one of my favorite series to date. Not only is it an addicting read, you'll be turning pages at lightening speed to get some clue as to who won't be at graduation, but it's extremely interesting. As I mentioned in a review for the other books in the series, this was my Gossip Girl series, Nate, Blair and Serena held nothing for me when compared to the characters in this book.
October 17, 2007
Being rich and famous isn't always a good thing I think. The teens in this book are partying everyday and night. Just because you are rich and famous, oh yeah and gorgeous doesn't mean your life is perfect. I think all the girls should read this.
March 10, 2014
An addicting read that is easy to get through and a fast page turner. In a way this was liked a second gossip girl for me. But more of a summer feel to it. Definitely, a typical YA read. i would recommend to girls for a light read.
September 28, 2009
Some parts of this book were boring but overall it was quite interesting. (a little gross at some parts. ;(
February 4, 2013
Well Damn. wasn't what I expected, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. I actually really liked it. onto the next book!
May 21, 2015
Great summer read!!
July 24, 2015
It's soapy, melodramatic and it's a novel published by MTV. It fits in well with the MTV name. It's crazy, sexy fun!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews