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Belles #1
Belles
Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.
356 pages, Hardcover
First published April 10, 2012
63 people are currently reading
6578 people want to read
About the author
Jen Calonita
110 books3,657 followersHi Goodreads!
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
I'm Jen Calonita, a MG and YA author who loves what I do because it lets me connect with all of you (and no, I wasn't intending for that to rhyme!).
I've been writing ever since I can remember, but it was fourth grade when I put my "three wishes" for a genie down on paper. They were:
#1. Buy all the Cabbage Patch Kids in the world and give them away for free (because apparently that was how I rolled).
#2. I wanted a mansion, limo, lake house, pool and speed boat (still sounds quite nice).
#3. I wanted to be an author for young readers, which I am!
I love writing novels for teens (and for savvy grown ups who know that YA rocks at any age). My first series was "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" and it followed a teen star named Kaitlin Burke who struggled with the fame game. I have also written the stand-alone novels Sleepaway Girls, it's companion book, Summer State of Mind and the Belles series.
I've been writing middle grade too and am having so much fun with my series Fairy Tale Reform School! The fourth book in this series about a school run by former villains is called Tricked and will be out March 2018. Ever wonder what it would be like if your parents got a job with someone like Taylpr Swift? My other middle grade series, VIP, follows super fan Mackenzie Lowell as she tours with her favorite band, Perfect Storm.
I promise to give book updates here, and on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or my website. I hope I hear from you!
xo
Jen
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
April 5, 2012
This was a breath of fresh air for me. Just what I needed to get a nice breather from dark paranormals. Belles gives us a delightful read with loads of personalities and jaw dropping schemes. Imagine living a quiet life in a bad part of town, when you're suddenly whisked away to live with your senator uncle and his glamorous Gossip Girl lifestyle. That's what's happening to Izzie, however, turning into a princess overnight is not as fun as it seems!
Belles is told in an alternating point-of-view between Izzie and her cousin Mira, which is fascinating because these two can't be any more different. We really get to see - as they say - both sides of the track. On Izzie's part, as you can guess, we have conniving queen bees who are not very accepting of this "poor" girl. Izzie has unsurprisingly, a very hard time fitting in and her down-to-earth, don't take any crap, personality is really easy to connect with. As for Mira, she has been leading this privilege life and just happens to be queen bee's right hand, so it's very difficult for her to relate to Mira even the slightest. Mira can seem heartless, even conceited at times, but getting to see her POV makes us actually understand that it's equally hard for her to suddenly have a new family member. I truly enjoyed both characters: Getting two drastically opposite narratives really makes the story that much more entertaining.
With all the gossip and drama, we obviously have to have some romance. It's not a big part of the story, but it's there nonetheless. I loved how it was integrated in the plot lightly, giving it more of a romantic charm. The actual plot has an air of mystery - you know a twist is coming (and it's a good one!) - but it's essentially about Izzie having to adjust to this dazzling lifestyle she's been thrown in while staying true to herself, and dealing with her less-than-charming classmates. If you're a fan of the popular TV series Gossip Girl or 90210, you will greatly enjoy Jen Calonita's Belles!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
Belles is told in an alternating point-of-view between Izzie and her cousin Mira, which is fascinating because these two can't be any more different. We really get to see - as they say - both sides of the track. On Izzie's part, as you can guess, we have conniving queen bees who are not very accepting of this "poor" girl. Izzie has unsurprisingly, a very hard time fitting in and her down-to-earth, don't take any crap, personality is really easy to connect with. As for Mira, she has been leading this privilege life and just happens to be queen bee's right hand, so it's very difficult for her to relate to Mira even the slightest. Mira can seem heartless, even conceited at times, but getting to see her POV makes us actually understand that it's equally hard for her to suddenly have a new family member. I truly enjoyed both characters: Getting two drastically opposite narratives really makes the story that much more entertaining.
With all the gossip and drama, we obviously have to have some romance. It's not a big part of the story, but it's there nonetheless. I loved how it was integrated in the plot lightly, giving it more of a romantic charm. The actual plot has an air of mystery - you know a twist is coming (and it's a good one!) - but it's essentially about Izzie having to adjust to this dazzling lifestyle she's been thrown in while staying true to herself, and dealing with her less-than-charming classmates. If you're a fan of the popular TV series Gossip Girl or 90210, you will greatly enjoy Jen Calonita's Belles!
--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads
May 30, 2012
Red. I see red.
That the Belles are both fifteen is made clear from the word go. Yet, their behavior in this was far from that. About the only thing I actually liked about this was the cover. Oh, beautiful cover, how you have mislead me again! Well, that AND page 270, (and I actually do mean it when I say just that page.) Frankly, just about any negative you could think of might just apply to this one.
Characters. What characters? Card board cut outs, more likely. I felt them ALL one dimensional, never stepping out of the role that had been carved out for them: Izzie is the good one. She’s got the rags to riches story. So unsurprisingly, she’s the tough one with mantras like “not guts, no glory.” Despite such good things, I still found myself feeling distanced from her, asking if the girl was for real. Because despite her being the sad and poor one and even if she was all tough (in the face of absolute bitchiness,) there really was nothing else that was stood out for her. Would I be making make sense in saying she was too good at being the good one? Just picture it: girl with grandmother who’s sick gets plucked out of what’s familiar then inserted into a life so foreign from her own. All very fish out of water, but not as well executed as I was hoping. Time and again there were allusions made to her princess makeover, but what’s disappointing is she just played that part to the hilt.
But wait! She was not alone in that respect. See, there’s Mira too, doing precisely that as the less likable one. I could almost feel sorry for the girl given how foolishly she behaved. Almost. The thoughts going through this girl’s head! Her thoughts! Being fifteen doesn’t equal stupid! But the saints preserve me from the way she connected the dots where she without fail found herself to be ‘poor old pitiful me.’ She had me wondering if she indeed was the exception to aforesaid rule. (Was that too harsh?)
So let’s see: we have the poor one, the misguided one… why don’t we move on to the mean one? Savannah was written to be detested. And boy did she fulfill her part quite effectively! I simply wish there was something more from her. Were she a machine there would be three modes to her: mean, vindictive and bitchy. Why did this girl even have friends?
The Love crap. I’d go into detail over the love interests but I can’t even muster up enough enthusiasm for any of them. There’s Brayden, poor little rich boy, who frankly was no prize. Still there was Kellen to consider. He might very well be one of three characters who were decent. Sadly, he had little to zero face time in this one. Suffice to say I liked him and wish there was more of him in this. He’s not the perfect character, and frankly he still was one note in presence but at least he a “decent” character.
The Secret lives of the rich and the painfully shallow? For starters, the secret is not that hard to figure out. No, really! Unless you’re blind and manage to miss all those early hints of sudden change in topic and “…’s” in the dialogue well, you can pretty much tell what the “big” secret is. And while it’s not actually the focus of the book, I felt kind of shortchanged. By the time anything about it is said, I went, “That’s it?! I’d put that together ages ago!” Actually, it’s not even that secret that’s the focus, BELLES is more about mean girls and figuring out which side they stood. Did they dish it out? Or did they stand at the receiving end? And what if they were neither? That’s it really. I really do wish that there was more depth in this one though. (I seriously do.)
Perhaps I was expecting too much out of this? Were this MG, maybe just, maybe everything would have been just so-so. But I dare you not to roll your eyes at a couple of moments in this one. Dear me, it is only now that I understand why people finish books they hate. I just had to see if there was something more to this than its pretty cover. I must hate myself. But you know what, book-with-intriguing-three-quarter-dust jacket-letting-pretty-girl-peek-through? I think… yes, I think that I might hate you more.
1/5
That the Belles are both fifteen is made clear from the word go. Yet, their behavior in this was far from that. About the only thing I actually liked about this was the cover. Oh, beautiful cover, how you have mislead me again! Well, that AND page 270, (and I actually do mean it when I say just that page.) Frankly, just about any negative you could think of might just apply to this one.
Characters. What characters? Card board cut outs, more likely. I felt them ALL one dimensional, never stepping out of the role that had been carved out for them: Izzie is the good one. She’s got the rags to riches story. So unsurprisingly, she’s the tough one with mantras like “not guts, no glory.” Despite such good things, I still found myself feeling distanced from her, asking if the girl was for real. Because despite her being the sad and poor one and even if she was all tough (in the face of absolute bitchiness,) there really was nothing else that was stood out for her. Would I be making make sense in saying she was too good at being the good one? Just picture it: girl with grandmother who’s sick gets plucked out of what’s familiar then inserted into a life so foreign from her own. All very fish out of water, but not as well executed as I was hoping. Time and again there were allusions made to her princess makeover, but what’s disappointing is she just played that part to the hilt.
But wait! She was not alone in that respect. See, there’s Mira too, doing precisely that as the less likable one. I could almost feel sorry for the girl given how foolishly she behaved. Almost. The thoughts going through this girl’s head! Her thoughts! Being fifteen doesn’t equal stupid! But the saints preserve me from the way she connected the dots where she without fail found herself to be ‘poor old pitiful me.’ She had me wondering if she indeed was the exception to aforesaid rule. (Was that too harsh?)
So let’s see: we have the poor one, the misguided one… why don’t we move on to the mean one? Savannah was written to be detested. And boy did she fulfill her part quite effectively! I simply wish there was something more from her. Were she a machine there would be three modes to her: mean, vindictive and bitchy. Why did this girl even have friends?
The Love crap. I’d go into detail over the love interests but I can’t even muster up enough enthusiasm for any of them. There’s Brayden, poor little rich boy, who frankly was no prize. Still there was Kellen to consider. He might very well be one of three characters who were decent. Sadly, he had little to zero face time in this one. Suffice to say I liked him and wish there was more of him in this. He’s not the perfect character, and frankly he still was one note in presence but at least he a “decent” character.
The Secret lives of the rich and the painfully shallow? For starters, the secret is not that hard to figure out. No, really! Unless you’re blind and manage to miss all those early hints of sudden change in topic and “…’s” in the dialogue well, you can pretty much tell what the “big” secret is. And while it’s not actually the focus of the book, I felt kind of shortchanged. By the time anything about it is said, I went, “That’s it?! I’d put that together ages ago!” Actually, it’s not even that secret that’s the focus, BELLES is more about mean girls and figuring out which side they stood. Did they dish it out? Or did they stand at the receiving end? And what if they were neither? That’s it really. I really do wish that there was more depth in this one though. (I seriously do.)
Perhaps I was expecting too much out of this? Were this MG, maybe just, maybe everything would have been just so-so. But I dare you not to roll your eyes at a couple of moments in this one. Dear me, it is only now that I understand why people finish books they hate. I just had to see if there was something more to this than its pretty cover. I must hate myself. But you know what, book-with-intriguing-three-quarter-dust jacket-letting-pretty-girl-peek-through? I think… yes, I think that I might hate you more.
1/5
August 29, 2012
Jen Calonita has a way of getting into your head and making her books can't-put-down-ers. Belles is no exception.
While the premise is a predictable fish-out-of-water story (poor girl suddenly gets rich and has to deal with snobby people), Calonita never lets that stop her from creating a rich characters or a world that is easy to believe in. Izzie and Mira feel real even if the Emerald Cove world that they live in is a fantasy for most people. Izzie is smart, determined and fights for what she wants. Mira is smart, sweet, and a little confused about her life. They feel like people I knew in high school.
What I loved about this book was that it was never overly cliched. Sure, the story is familiar, and the reactions are predictable, but Izzie is never the hero of the story who totally changes Mira's life. Similarly, Mira is not a complete airhead who treats Izzie horribly. There are moments when these archetypes exist - Izzie does stand up to Mira's best friend, Queen Bee Savannah, and Mira does insult Izzie behind her back. But Izzie isn't perfect. She's not incredibly friendly, and she fully admits to enjoying some of the perks of her new life, even as she's feeling guilty for loving them. When she goes back to Harborside to visit her old friends, she realizes that she idealized Harborside a bit - she doesn't want to spend all of her time hanging out on the boardwalk doing nothing anymore. She wants more from her life, and that's hard for both her and her old friends to realize.
Mira, meanwhile, is someone who is used to being a yes-girl - unable to say no to Savannah or her meathead boyfriend Taylor. But she has a secret passion for art that is spurred on by a possibly love interest, and her realization that maybe she doesn't want to be that yes-girl. Izzie doesn't change that. Rather, Mira takes control of her life by herself, and proves to be a great asset to Izzie in the end.
I think the devil is in the details for this book. I wouldn't say that the writing itself is spectacular, but Calonita has imagined the two worlds of Harborside and Emerald Cove so well that it's hard not to get taken in. You want both Izzie and Mira to succeed, and you recognize the inadequacies of both the heroes and the villains of the book. For me, BELLES works because of the strongly drawn characters and the vibrant wold. If Calonita wanted this to be The O.C. meets Gossip Girl, she definitely succeeded.
4/5 stars
While the premise is a predictable fish-out-of-water story (poor girl suddenly gets rich and has to deal with snobby people), Calonita never lets that stop her from creating a rich characters or a world that is easy to believe in. Izzie and Mira feel real even if the Emerald Cove world that they live in is a fantasy for most people. Izzie is smart, determined and fights for what she wants. Mira is smart, sweet, and a little confused about her life. They feel like people I knew in high school.
What I loved about this book was that it was never overly cliched. Sure, the story is familiar, and the reactions are predictable, but Izzie is never the hero of the story who totally changes Mira's life. Similarly, Mira is not a complete airhead who treats Izzie horribly. There are moments when these archetypes exist - Izzie does stand up to Mira's best friend, Queen Bee Savannah, and Mira does insult Izzie behind her back. But Izzie isn't perfect. She's not incredibly friendly, and she fully admits to enjoying some of the perks of her new life, even as she's feeling guilty for loving them. When she goes back to Harborside to visit her old friends, she realizes that she idealized Harborside a bit - she doesn't want to spend all of her time hanging out on the boardwalk doing nothing anymore. She wants more from her life, and that's hard for both her and her old friends to realize.
Mira, meanwhile, is someone who is used to being a yes-girl - unable to say no to Savannah or her meathead boyfriend Taylor. But she has a secret passion for art that is spurred on by a possibly love interest, and her realization that maybe she doesn't want to be that yes-girl. Izzie doesn't change that. Rather, Mira takes control of her life by herself, and proves to be a great asset to Izzie in the end.
I think the devil is in the details for this book. I wouldn't say that the writing itself is spectacular, but Calonita has imagined the two worlds of Harborside and Emerald Cove so well that it's hard not to get taken in. You want both Izzie and Mira to succeed, and you recognize the inadequacies of both the heroes and the villains of the book. For me, BELLES works because of the strongly drawn characters and the vibrant wold. If Calonita wanted this to be The O.C. meets Gossip Girl, she definitely succeeded.
4/5 stars
April 3, 2012
I've always been more of a paranormal or fantasy girl (preferring made up worlds to our boring old realistic one), but I think that this was exactly the kind of contemporary book that I've been looking for to get me back into the genre — and I kind of want to hug it for that!
Belles zeroes on the lives of two completely different girls who are inexplicably linked: Isabelle (Izzie), the spunky swimmer who comes from the "wrong side of town," and Mirabelle (Mira), the privileged social butterfly who's still finding out who she is. Set in a beachy Southern town, it may not be a fantasy book but it's still kind of magical in its own way.
I loved both of these girls from beginning to end! Even when they made mistakes and trusted the wrong people, they were realistic and fun and easy to relate to. Izzie didn't take crap from anybody, and Mira surprised me by being more artistic and confident than I expected.
And of course no good contemporary is complete without its sweet boys (one of which is a surfer)! The romance was adorable, but it also didn't take away from the surprisingly touching plot. You get to grow to love each of the characters just like you do with Izzie and Mira, and the benefit of this being a standalone is that you get a nicely wrapped up ending.
Filled with a fun cast of characters and one life-changing secret, Belles is a book you'll want to read while sitting by the seaside and burying your feet in the sand. It finds the balance flawlessly between sweet but not too fluffy, drama-filled but not a soap opera, and inspiring but not preaching. I just loved it! :)
BUY or BORROW?: On top of having such a beautiful cover (I probably had to stare at it in my hands for a few minutes — it's even prettier in person!), I'm definitely taking this book with me the next time I suntan on the beach. Can't do that with a library book, right? ;)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
Belles zeroes on the lives of two completely different girls who are inexplicably linked: Isabelle (Izzie), the spunky swimmer who comes from the "wrong side of town," and Mirabelle (Mira), the privileged social butterfly who's still finding out who she is. Set in a beachy Southern town, it may not be a fantasy book but it's still kind of magical in its own way.
I loved both of these girls from beginning to end! Even when they made mistakes and trusted the wrong people, they were realistic and fun and easy to relate to. Izzie didn't take crap from anybody, and Mira surprised me by being more artistic and confident than I expected.
And of course no good contemporary is complete without its sweet boys (one of which is a surfer)! The romance was adorable, but it also didn't take away from the surprisingly touching plot. You get to grow to love each of the characters just like you do with Izzie and Mira, and the benefit of this being a standalone is that you get a nicely wrapped up ending.
Filled with a fun cast of characters and one life-changing secret, Belles is a book you'll want to read while sitting by the seaside and burying your feet in the sand. It finds the balance flawlessly between sweet but not too fluffy, drama-filled but not a soap opera, and inspiring but not preaching. I just loved it! :)
BUY or BORROW?: On top of having such a beautiful cover (I probably had to stare at it in my hands for a few minutes — it's even prettier in person!), I'm definitely taking this book with me the next time I suntan on the beach. Can't do that with a library book, right? ;)
(Original review at Mimi Valentine's YA Review Blog)
July 12, 2012
PLEASE NOTE: This is a DNF (did not finish) review. That means I did not finish this book. If reviews of half-finished books bother you, please look elsewhere. For the rest of you, I am going to try to explain why I didn't feel the need to finish this.
Alright, I feel like this can be pretty brief, actually. There are times when I put something on the DNF shelf because they are horribly written/edited, or because I hate the characters/plot/world/etc. Sometimes I DNF things because they are indescribably boring, confusing, or just personally irritating.
Belles wasn't really any of those things. Or, at least not so much of any one of those things that that's the reason I finally put it down. I put it down because I just. didn't. care. I didn't. I went into this expecting equal parts Southern charm and gossipy family drama, and - though I think maybe they were supposed to be there - I never really got them. Instead, I got a bland story that I'm pretty sure I knew every plot point of loooong before I even hit the 25 page mark (though I guess I can't confirm this, as I didn't keep reading. But I'm pretty sure.). I felt like I was reading an afterschool special. [Think about that. Does that sound in any way appealing?] There was no truth or life in the characters, which, by the 150-page mark (when I gave up, thereabouts), I would have expected someone to come alive.
There was nothing that set this apart and made me want to pick it up, and I didn't really like any of the characters. I didn't dislike them either, though, so I was left feeling so lukewarm that I found myself reading a page or two and then putting it down again. It was becoming a timesuck, and I don't allow myself to finish timesuck books anymore. Life is too short.
The writing and characterization felt really shallow to me. There was nothing beyond the surface - sometimes I'm not even sure there was surface. I didn't feel passion or love in the writing. The injection of a little liveliness and a little more thought could have potentially done wonders; I mean, there were characters named Isabelle and Mirabelle, Hayden and Brayden, for gods sake . . . What the eff is that? If you can't even be bothered to distinguish your characters a bit, how am I supposed to? (Beyond, that is, the good girl/bad girl/poor girl/rich girl scenario that could not be more obvious - seriously. Read 10 pages and I guarantee you'll know who's who with no trouble.)
Now, this is getting a lot of love on Goodreads, I've noticed. So maybe something happens in the last 1/2 of the book that totally makes up for the lack of anything remarkable in the first 1/2. Or maybe it's just not my type of book, but everyone else will love it. I dunno. But I don't think so. I think younger crowds will forgive its simplicity, maybe even like it, but anyone who's read this type of book before and is looking for something - anything - more substantial will move on from this pretty quickly.
Sure does have a pretty cover, though.
Alright, I feel like this can be pretty brief, actually. There are times when I put something on the DNF shelf because they are horribly written/edited, or because I hate the characters/plot/world/etc. Sometimes I DNF things because they are indescribably boring, confusing, or just personally irritating.
Belles wasn't really any of those things. Or, at least not so much of any one of those things that that's the reason I finally put it down. I put it down because I just. didn't. care. I didn't. I went into this expecting equal parts Southern charm and gossipy family drama, and - though I think maybe they were supposed to be there - I never really got them. Instead, I got a bland story that I'm pretty sure I knew every plot point of loooong before I even hit the 25 page mark (though I guess I can't confirm this, as I didn't keep reading. But I'm pretty sure.). I felt like I was reading an afterschool special. [Think about that. Does that sound in any way appealing?] There was no truth or life in the characters, which, by the 150-page mark (when I gave up, thereabouts), I would have expected someone to come alive.
There was nothing that set this apart and made me want to pick it up, and I didn't really like any of the characters. I didn't dislike them either, though, so I was left feeling so lukewarm that I found myself reading a page or two and then putting it down again. It was becoming a timesuck, and I don't allow myself to finish timesuck books anymore. Life is too short.
The writing and characterization felt really shallow to me. There was nothing beyond the surface - sometimes I'm not even sure there was surface. I didn't feel passion or love in the writing. The injection of a little liveliness and a little more thought could have potentially done wonders; I mean, there were characters named Isabelle and Mirabelle, Hayden and Brayden, for gods sake . . . What the eff is that? If you can't even be bothered to distinguish your characters a bit, how am I supposed to? (Beyond, that is, the good girl/bad girl/poor girl/rich girl scenario that could not be more obvious - seriously. Read 10 pages and I guarantee you'll know who's who with no trouble.)
Now, this is getting a lot of love on Goodreads, I've noticed. So maybe something happens in the last 1/2 of the book that totally makes up for the lack of anything remarkable in the first 1/2. Or maybe it's just not my type of book, but everyone else will love it. I dunno. But I don't think so. I think younger crowds will forgive its simplicity, maybe even like it, but anyone who's read this type of book before and is looking for something - anything - more substantial will move on from this pretty quickly.
Sure does have a pretty cover, though.
April 3, 2012
Belles was one of those books that pulled me in and wouldn't let me go until the very last chapter. From the first couple of pages, I was completely sucked into Isabelle Scott's story and the world of Mira Monroe. I seriously could not get enough!
Isabelle "Izzie" Scott is just a down-to-earth kind of girl living in Harborside, a quaint although slightly run-down town full of surfers and pizza joints and not-so-well-off families. She loves to be out in the water, especially if it's with her hunky friend Braydon. But then everything changes-- her grandmother has to go live in a nursing home and Izzie finds out that her only surviving family is a rich uncle and his family who live in Emerald Cove. EC is the complete opposite of Harborside-- the wealthy, privileged families there spend more money on dinner than Izzie makes in a year. Learning how to fit into this new place is anything but easy, especially when Savannah, the Queen Bee of Emerald Prep, decides that Izzie is her most-loathed enemy.
Mira Monroe is Isabelle's cousin and she's been in the lap of luxury her entire life. One of the social elite at Emerald Prep, the only things Mira has to worry about is what expensive designer bag to buy next and where to hold the next fabulous Social Butterfly party. Having Izzie enter her life and live in her house is definitely not easy, but when her best friend Savannah decides to make Izzie's life a living hell, Mira has to decide between sticking up for her cousin or becoming a social outcast too.
The best thing about this book was the characters-- I pretty much loved each and every one of them, because they jumped right off the pages and came to life. I could totally feel Izzie's pain at having to be uprooted from her life in Harborside to go live in a place that doesn't welcome her and where she doesn't feel like she belongs. And I could also relate to Mira, Izzie's rich cousin who does want to do the right thing and help Izzie, but is afraid of losing everything that her society has taught her to care about. Heck, I even loved Savannah as a character-- yes she was downright horrible and I wanted to slap her into next Tuesday for being such a little brat, BUT she was interesting! The dynamics that played out between all the characters just had me dying to read more.
I also really loved the world that Jen created in this book-- it was vibrant, colorful, and I could picture every scene as I was reading it-- the sunny beach at Harborside, the pristine mansions in Emerald Cove, and the over-the-top, totally ridiculous Sweet 16 party that Savannah has-- it was all just so much fun to read and experience! On top of the settings, I really loved that the story was told from both Izzie's and Mira's points of view, alternating between each chapter. This didn't make the story confusing at all, and it allows the reader to get into the heads and see from the perspectives of two very different girls-- I loved that!
The ending was totally unexpected for me, and because I didn't read the summary on the back of my ARC before reading it (hint, hint, if you have the ARC DON'T read the back because it has a huge spoiler in it!) I was completely surprised by the major secret that is revealed. I only wish that the ending itself hadn't seemed quite so rushed, or like there were some strings that still needed to be tied... maybe this means there will be a sequel?! I'm hoping so!
Altogether, Belles was bright, funny, glamorous, and girly, not to mention totally addicting and perfect for the start of my summer-time reads. I thought the characters were awesome, the story was unique, and every chapter ended on some major cliff-hanger that just begged me to keep reading. Light and refreshing, Belles is definitely one you'll want to add to your TBR lists!
Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
Isabelle "Izzie" Scott is just a down-to-earth kind of girl living in Harborside, a quaint although slightly run-down town full of surfers and pizza joints and not-so-well-off families. She loves to be out in the water, especially if it's with her hunky friend Braydon. But then everything changes-- her grandmother has to go live in a nursing home and Izzie finds out that her only surviving family is a rich uncle and his family who live in Emerald Cove. EC is the complete opposite of Harborside-- the wealthy, privileged families there spend more money on dinner than Izzie makes in a year. Learning how to fit into this new place is anything but easy, especially when Savannah, the Queen Bee of Emerald Prep, decides that Izzie is her most-loathed enemy.
Mira Monroe is Isabelle's cousin and she's been in the lap of luxury her entire life. One of the social elite at Emerald Prep, the only things Mira has to worry about is what expensive designer bag to buy next and where to hold the next fabulous Social Butterfly party. Having Izzie enter her life and live in her house is definitely not easy, but when her best friend Savannah decides to make Izzie's life a living hell, Mira has to decide between sticking up for her cousin or becoming a social outcast too.
The best thing about this book was the characters-- I pretty much loved each and every one of them, because they jumped right off the pages and came to life. I could totally feel Izzie's pain at having to be uprooted from her life in Harborside to go live in a place that doesn't welcome her and where she doesn't feel like she belongs. And I could also relate to Mira, Izzie's rich cousin who does want to do the right thing and help Izzie, but is afraid of losing everything that her society has taught her to care about. Heck, I even loved Savannah as a character-- yes she was downright horrible and I wanted to slap her into next Tuesday for being such a little brat, BUT she was interesting! The dynamics that played out between all the characters just had me dying to read more.
I also really loved the world that Jen created in this book-- it was vibrant, colorful, and I could picture every scene as I was reading it-- the sunny beach at Harborside, the pristine mansions in Emerald Cove, and the over-the-top, totally ridiculous Sweet 16 party that Savannah has-- it was all just so much fun to read and experience! On top of the settings, I really loved that the story was told from both Izzie's and Mira's points of view, alternating between each chapter. This didn't make the story confusing at all, and it allows the reader to get into the heads and see from the perspectives of two very different girls-- I loved that!
The ending was totally unexpected for me, and because I didn't read the summary on the back of my ARC before reading it (hint, hint, if you have the ARC DON'T read the back because it has a huge spoiler in it!) I was completely surprised by the major secret that is revealed. I only wish that the ending itself hadn't seemed quite so rushed, or like there were some strings that still needed to be tied... maybe this means there will be a sequel?! I'm hoping so!
Altogether, Belles was bright, funny, glamorous, and girly, not to mention totally addicting and perfect for the start of my summer-time reads. I thought the characters were awesome, the story was unique, and every chapter ended on some major cliff-hanger that just begged me to keep reading. Light and refreshing, Belles is definitely one you'll want to add to your TBR lists!
Lea @ LC's Adventures in Libraryland
March 16, 2013
Belles is an entertaining read. The characters and settings are vibrant, and there is a good, strong message about being yourself, not judging, and having guts. I am looking forward to the next book.
Belles starts off by meeting Izzie Scott and Mira Monroe (Also known as Isabelle and Mirabelle). Izzie is a sweet girl who lives in a poor town, Harborside, where she swims and has ice cream with her friends each day. Her home life isn't so good though. Her grandma has medical issues and on somedays doesn't even know she has a granddaughter. Izzie is only narrowly avoiding foster care.
Mira Monroe is a snobby rich girl who hangs out with other girls like herself. Of course, she doesn't mean to be snobby, it is just the way things are in Emerald Cove, the glamorous part of North Carolina. Mira is best friends with one mean girl, Savannah, and turns a blind eye to her friends cruel comments and actions. Mira is a good girl at heart, just she has no guts.
One day Izzie gets the bad news that her Grandmother is moving into a nursing home. She is sent off to some distant relatives she didn't know she has, the Monroes. Izzy doesn't fit in to Emerald Cove, especially after she makes enemies with Savannah. Even Mira plots with her friends behind Izzies back. She blames Izzie for the changes happening in her family and social life.
Throughout the book there are a lot of good messages. When Izzie is judged unfairly, and laughed at because of where she came from, we learn to not judge without backstory and evidence. We learn to have guts to stand up to not-so-much friends. And to do what you want to do, not what others tell you to do.
I love how Mira grows throughout the story, she becomes not so afraid of being herself. Izzie helps her a lot with this. She sees how Izzie is real, not like her friends. A lot of Mira's attitude in the beginning of the book is caused by the society around her. She doesn't know how to act any other way. Emerald Cove is kinda a snobbish place, but I hope Izzie and Mira can change it. Especially since there are a lot of good people in Emerald Cove, just the mean ones hold the reins.
This book has secrets, blackmail, mean girl plotting, and the hopes of two budding romances. It kept me reading with all it's drama, good messages, and real characters. I highly recommend this book.
4/5 stars
Belles starts off by meeting Izzie Scott and Mira Monroe (Also known as Isabelle and Mirabelle). Izzie is a sweet girl who lives in a poor town, Harborside, where she swims and has ice cream with her friends each day. Her home life isn't so good though. Her grandma has medical issues and on somedays doesn't even know she has a granddaughter. Izzie is only narrowly avoiding foster care.
Mira Monroe is a snobby rich girl who hangs out with other girls like herself. Of course, she doesn't mean to be snobby, it is just the way things are in Emerald Cove, the glamorous part of North Carolina. Mira is best friends with one mean girl, Savannah, and turns a blind eye to her friends cruel comments and actions. Mira is a good girl at heart, just she has no guts.
One day Izzie gets the bad news that her Grandmother is moving into a nursing home. She is sent off to some distant relatives she didn't know she has, the Monroes. Izzy doesn't fit in to Emerald Cove, especially after she makes enemies with Savannah. Even Mira plots with her friends behind Izzies back. She blames Izzie for the changes happening in her family and social life.
Throughout the book there are a lot of good messages. When Izzie is judged unfairly, and laughed at because of where she came from, we learn to not judge without backstory and evidence. We learn to have guts to stand up to not-so-much friends. And to do what you want to do, not what others tell you to do.
I love how Mira grows throughout the story, she becomes not so afraid of being herself. Izzie helps her a lot with this. She sees how Izzie is real, not like her friends. A lot of Mira's attitude in the beginning of the book is caused by the society around her. She doesn't know how to act any other way. Emerald Cove is kinda a snobbish place, but I hope Izzie and Mira can change it. Especially since there are a lot of good people in Emerald Cove, just the mean ones hold the reins.
This book has secrets, blackmail, mean girl plotting, and the hopes of two budding romances. It kept me reading with all it's drama, good messages, and real characters. I highly recommend this book.
4/5 stars
July 4, 2012
In West Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started makin' trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
And said you're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air
Izzy doesn’t get into a fight (Harborside isn’t like that, swear), but this is a story all about how her life got flipped turned upside down. Her grandmother’s failing mental faculties get the attention of social services because at fifteen, Izzy’s not really fit to run a household. Her social worker steps in and drops a new life at Izzy’s feet. She has a distant relative who’s willing to take her in. It might not be far from Harborside, but the chi-chi neighborhood of Emerald Cove might as well be another planet. Izzy has minutes to pack and just days to adjust to her new, privileged life of private schools, galas, and mean girls with the limitless financial backing of rich daddies.
I’m not terribly fond of Cinderella or poor little rich girl stories, but Izzy is no shrinking violet. There are no evil stepmothers or hero-complex Prince Charmings. Instead, the Monroes are a pretty great family and the boy of the story likes the scrappier side of this Harborside heroine. It doesn’t take her long before Izzy figures out she needs to shake up the establishment. The great part is that she keeps her heart and integrity while doing it.
I initially thought of the Fresh Prince, but The OC might be more apt. It wasn’t all Chrismukkah and bad decisions on the beach, though. The book put value into family and had a bit of a social conscience. It read a little young and the dialogue was sometimes odd. Every once in a while I’ll read a book and have to restyle people because they’re dressed so bizarrely (I’m lookin’ at you, Stephanie Plum characters). With this book, I had to reword their conversations—honestly, if I were to get winked at that much in conversation I would be totally weirded out. It could have vibed made-for-Disney-channel (well, more so than it did), but the story was solid. It wrapped up nicely, but wasn’t all puppies and rainbows. There’s more to come and I’ll be checking out the next one.
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
And all shootin' some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started makin' trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
And said you're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air
Izzy doesn’t get into a fight (Harborside isn’t like that, swear), but this is a story all about how her life got flipped turned upside down. Her grandmother’s failing mental faculties get the attention of social services because at fifteen, Izzy’s not really fit to run a household. Her social worker steps in and drops a new life at Izzy’s feet. She has a distant relative who’s willing to take her in. It might not be far from Harborside, but the chi-chi neighborhood of Emerald Cove might as well be another planet. Izzy has minutes to pack and just days to adjust to her new, privileged life of private schools, galas, and mean girls with the limitless financial backing of rich daddies.
I’m not terribly fond of Cinderella or poor little rich girl stories, but Izzy is no shrinking violet. There are no evil stepmothers or hero-complex Prince Charmings. Instead, the Monroes are a pretty great family and the boy of the story likes the scrappier side of this Harborside heroine. It doesn’t take her long before Izzy figures out she needs to shake up the establishment. The great part is that she keeps her heart and integrity while doing it.
I initially thought of the Fresh Prince, but The OC might be more apt. It wasn’t all Chrismukkah and bad decisions on the beach, though. The book put value into family and had a bit of a social conscience. It read a little young and the dialogue was sometimes odd. Every once in a while I’ll read a book and have to restyle people because they’re dressed so bizarrely (I’m lookin’ at you, Stephanie Plum characters). With this book, I had to reword their conversations—honestly, if I were to get winked at that much in conversation I would be totally weirded out. It could have vibed made-for-Disney-channel (well, more so than it did), but the story was solid. It wrapped up nicely, but wasn’t all puppies and rainbows. There’s more to come and I’ll be checking out the next one.
April 21, 2012
This review was first posted on http://www.rubysreads.com.
It's difficult for me to write negative reviews, and this is especially true when I'm dealing with a book I'm also giving away. I toyed with a few alternate ideas, and even asked around a bit. People suggested interviews with the author and things like that, but when it came down to it, I kept coming back to the same thought. It's as important for me to write negative reviews as it is for me to write positive ones. Additionally, I had opinions about this book that I wanted to get off my chest.
The reason that I was so highly anticipating Belles is, perhaps, what made it such a big disappointment for me. The book's title, its description, the tagline, the marketing, the cover--everything about Belles emphasized the South. Unfortunately, it did not deliver. Belles, could have taken place in any part of the United States where there's a substantial difference between classes. So, yeah, pretty much anywhere. There was nothing to add to the charm of the book--not even a single accent or Southern saying--and I had been very much anticipating the opposite.
I'm not from the South. I've spent very little time there, and where I've been does not include North Carolina. I'm willing to concede that there are Southern stereotypes I buy into (and more I'm not even aware of believing). BUT. If you're going to promise a Southern angle, by gum, you need to deliver. Because Belles didn't, I felt cheated. Where, I demand to know, was the sweet tea? The antebellum mansions? THE SPANISH MOSS? Does North Carolina not have these things? Okay, fine. Then tell me what it does have. Do not serve me up a piping hot dish of Anywhere, America, and call it the South.
If, perhaps, the story had made up for the lack of setting, I might have been able to move past the lack of distinct setting. Belles did not do this. It was peppered with shallow, unformed characters and thinly veiled plot lines. I got to page 319 (of 352) and DNF'd it. I usually DNF books far earlier, but I wanted to give this book a chance. Too bad predictability, unrelateable characters and two characters named Hayden and Brayden defeated me.
It's difficult for me to write negative reviews, and this is especially true when I'm dealing with a book I'm also giving away. I toyed with a few alternate ideas, and even asked around a bit. People suggested interviews with the author and things like that, but when it came down to it, I kept coming back to the same thought. It's as important for me to write negative reviews as it is for me to write positive ones. Additionally, I had opinions about this book that I wanted to get off my chest.
The reason that I was so highly anticipating Belles is, perhaps, what made it such a big disappointment for me. The book's title, its description, the tagline, the marketing, the cover--everything about Belles emphasized the South. Unfortunately, it did not deliver. Belles, could have taken place in any part of the United States where there's a substantial difference between classes. So, yeah, pretty much anywhere. There was nothing to add to the charm of the book--not even a single accent or Southern saying--and I had been very much anticipating the opposite.
I'm not from the South. I've spent very little time there, and where I've been does not include North Carolina. I'm willing to concede that there are Southern stereotypes I buy into (and more I'm not even aware of believing). BUT. If you're going to promise a Southern angle, by gum, you need to deliver. Because Belles didn't, I felt cheated. Where, I demand to know, was the sweet tea? The antebellum mansions? THE SPANISH MOSS? Does North Carolina not have these things? Okay, fine. Then tell me what it does have. Do not serve me up a piping hot dish of Anywhere, America, and call it the South.
If, perhaps, the story had made up for the lack of setting, I might have been able to move past the lack of distinct setting. Belles did not do this. It was peppered with shallow, unformed characters and thinly veiled plot lines. I got to page 319 (of 352) and DNF'd it. I usually DNF books far earlier, but I wanted to give this book a chance. Too bad predictability, unrelateable characters and two characters named Hayden and Brayden defeated me.
April 4, 2012
Since her mom died a few years ago, Izzie has lived with her grandmother. It's worked out well, except now Grams is clearly suffering from Alzheimer's. Still, Izzie has managed to get by (thanks to help from her neighbors)...but then her social worker found out. Now they've found a distant relative of her mom's to take care of Izzie until she's old enough. Except her distant cousin is a state senator about to run for the US Senate. The family is crazy wealthy (Izzie made ends meet but that's about it) and on her first weekend there, she gets thousands of dollars worth of new clothes, plus a laptop and iPhone. You'd think Izzie would feel like she's won the lottery, right? But she doesn't fit in.
I liked Izzie and the Monroes (the senator and his wife have three children---Hayden, who's slightly older than Izzie; Mira, who's Izzie's age and Connor, who's 6). Izzie's a character who's had a pretty rotten life (not much money, never knew her dad, mom died at a young age, loses her only home) but she never really falls into self-pity. She gets sad, but I think you're allowed to be sad when you keep losing people. And she's also really grateful for her new circumstances and also never wants to take advantage. I think that speaks volumes, because for me, if all of a sudden money didn't matter, I don't know that I'd have that much restraint. (Although in my case, it'd be different because it would be my money and not someone else's.)
This is an incredibly sweet book and I was happy to see that it's the first book in a series. The directions the storyline will take are pretty obvious from the beginning, but that's not a bad thing. This book is pure comfort food and incredibly fun to read.
This may not be the book to get you out of a reading slump, but if you're in the mood for a contemporary YA novel that will make you smile, Belles is for you.
Recommended.
I liked Izzie and the Monroes (the senator and his wife have three children---Hayden, who's slightly older than Izzie; Mira, who's Izzie's age and Connor, who's 6). Izzie's a character who's had a pretty rotten life (not much money, never knew her dad, mom died at a young age, loses her only home) but she never really falls into self-pity. She gets sad, but I think you're allowed to be sad when you keep losing people. And she's also really grateful for her new circumstances and also never wants to take advantage. I think that speaks volumes, because for me, if all of a sudden money didn't matter, I don't know that I'd have that much restraint. (Although in my case, it'd be different because it would be my money and not someone else's.)
This is an incredibly sweet book and I was happy to see that it's the first book in a series. The directions the storyline will take are pretty obvious from the beginning, but that's not a bad thing. This book is pure comfort food and incredibly fun to read.
This may not be the book to get you out of a reading slump, but if you're in the mood for a contemporary YA novel that will make you smile, Belles is for you.
Recommended.
June 29, 2023
má to úplně stupidní příběh, ale je to celý moje dětství🫶
May 21, 2019
Truly awesome
April 12, 2012
My Thoughts: Oh, what a fun novel. We are introduced to two girls who couldn't be more different, Isabell and Mirabelle. They are total opposites. Izzie is from Harborside which is known as a bad place, thefts happen, not a good place to live. In reality, none of these things really happen, it's just a small little town near a beach. Mirabelle aka Mira is from Emerald Cove, she's popular, goes to a private school, and her dad is running for senator. She lives with her mother, and two brothers.
Izzie is perfectly happy with her life. Yes, its hard as her mother died when she was 10 and she's never known her father. She lives with her grandma whose health is going downhill. It goes downhill so fast that her social worker finds her another family member to live with. Her uncle who in Emerald Cove, where Mira is his daughter. He is soon to be running for senator so once Izzie goes to live with him, she has to be part of their picture perfect family.
Of course she doesn't want to leave her small town. She's a lifeguard, volunteers teaching swimming lessons, hangs out at the community center, has great friends, and a cute guy friend named Brayden. She doesn't want to leave it all but she has no choice.
She ends up in Emerald Cove trying to adapt to her new life and family. But being in a new school where everybody thinks she is scum is hard. And even more difficult is seeing her cousin Mira let her friends bully her.
The other kicker? Brayden. Cute sweet friendly Brayden. I kind of saw that whole thing coming, but I won't ruin it by telling you what happens. We'll leave that a secret, it's something you have to find out on your own. The whole mystery between this boy is enough to make you read this novel and pull at your heartstrings.
Belles was an amazing book but this isn't surprising at all. Calonita has a way to suck you into her stories and make you want to read them as soon as they come out. She can just do it so easily too. She makes you love her characters and want to be friends with them.
I completely understand where Izzie was coming from. When you live in the bad part of town people will judge you just by your appearance or where you were raised. She gets that and she doesn't let it beat her down.
I also did like Mira once she woke up and realized what a mean girl her best friend Savannah was. I wanted to kick Savannah in the face a few times.
And the ending, talk about a major turning point! I was so surprised! I had to read a few lines over again! So funny and jaw dropping! Makes sense though.
Overall: Totally enjoyable. Please give this novel a chance! It may sound too girlish for you or too much like a book about mean popular girls, but there was so much more to it, and the plot and storyline was great. Not to mention, all the characters were awesome and so full of personality. Belles was a fun book with laugh loud moments and real lessons to be learned. Please read it! I'm excited to read the next in the series!
The ending result on my mind is that Belles is a sweet southern novel. I want to go to a hoedown in a barn now.
While you're going to the bookstore to get this one, I also recommend reading Sleepaway Girls by Calonita as well.
Cover: This cover works but its hard to really see anything but I do love how we can see half of her face and her pink bow.
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
Izzie is perfectly happy with her life. Yes, its hard as her mother died when she was 10 and she's never known her father. She lives with her grandma whose health is going downhill. It goes downhill so fast that her social worker finds her another family member to live with. Her uncle who in Emerald Cove, where Mira is his daughter. He is soon to be running for senator so once Izzie goes to live with him, she has to be part of their picture perfect family.
Of course she doesn't want to leave her small town. She's a lifeguard, volunteers teaching swimming lessons, hangs out at the community center, has great friends, and a cute guy friend named Brayden. She doesn't want to leave it all but she has no choice.
She ends up in Emerald Cove trying to adapt to her new life and family. But being in a new school where everybody thinks she is scum is hard. And even more difficult is seeing her cousin Mira let her friends bully her.
The other kicker? Brayden. Cute sweet friendly Brayden. I kind of saw that whole thing coming, but I won't ruin it by telling you what happens. We'll leave that a secret, it's something you have to find out on your own. The whole mystery between this boy is enough to make you read this novel and pull at your heartstrings.
Belles was an amazing book but this isn't surprising at all. Calonita has a way to suck you into her stories and make you want to read them as soon as they come out. She can just do it so easily too. She makes you love her characters and want to be friends with them.
I completely understand where Izzie was coming from. When you live in the bad part of town people will judge you just by your appearance or where you were raised. She gets that and she doesn't let it beat her down.
I also did like Mira once she woke up and realized what a mean girl her best friend Savannah was. I wanted to kick Savannah in the face a few times.
And the ending, talk about a major turning point! I was so surprised! I had to read a few lines over again! So funny and jaw dropping! Makes sense though.
Overall: Totally enjoyable. Please give this novel a chance! It may sound too girlish for you or too much like a book about mean popular girls, but there was so much more to it, and the plot and storyline was great. Not to mention, all the characters were awesome and so full of personality. Belles was a fun book with laugh loud moments and real lessons to be learned. Please read it! I'm excited to read the next in the series!
The ending result on my mind is that Belles is a sweet southern novel. I want to go to a hoedown in a barn now.
While you're going to the bookstore to get this one, I also recommend reading Sleepaway Girls by Calonita as well.
Cover: This cover works but its hard to really see anything but I do love how we can see half of her face and her pink bow.
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
_________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
May 1, 2012
I picked up Belles when I was needing a fresh, fun contemporary read and it easily exceeded my expectations in this area! It's a surprisingly tender and stirring book, one that features a vibrant cast of characters and introduces its readers to a fun, new contemporary series that will leave you eager for the next book, Winter White.
Reasonst to Read:
1.Charming characters:
Izzie quickly grew on me as a character, even though I was worried at first that she would be needy and whiny. Boy, was I ever wrong about her! Izzie is a survivor, one who refuses to let even the worst situations completely bring her down. She acts the way any other teenage girl would in her position, and that's one difficult position to be in. I loved her for that, and especially watching her grow and adapt to her new life. Mira, on the other hand, took a bit longer for me to get used to. Even though she was rather dense and unsympathetic most of the time, there was still something endearing about her and I think we'll see more maturity from her in the next books :)
2.A beautiful story:
I expected Belles to be a lighter, more fun kind of read; and it definitely had its moments. But the story itself is so involved and very intense; there's a real meaning behind all of it, and a lot of painful history and tragedy in the characters' lives. It's truly touching, and adds a good amount of dimension to the story.
3.A brave, remarkable heroine(s):
My favourite thing about Izzie is that she refuses to back down and give up. She is constantly fighting for what she feels is right and I really admire that about her. Even at risk to herself and her own situation, she's constantly thinking of others first and it's this kindness and bravery to stand out and alone that makes her such a memorable character. Also, I have to take a minute to praise Mira's mom for her willingness to "adopt" Izzie so openly into their family. She is such a wonderful, generous woman to have and I loved featuring her as a character in Belles.
Belles is a very quick, easy read. It's enjoyable and it's fun, but it's also lacking in one large area, which is complexity. I was actually surprised that Belles charmed me so much, because normally I don't enjoy books that feature fairly one-dimensional characters, but it wasn't that much of a problem for me in Belles. And when I found out that there would be more books coming out soon to accompany Belles and continue the story- well I was just THRILLED because I think we'll really get to know more about some of these secondary characters in Belles. I'd really love to find out more about Savannah's motivations, and even Mira and her family as well.
Because of this, I have high hopes for the sequel and think I'll enjoy it even more than Belles. Fingers crossed!
ARC received from Hachette Book Group Canada for review.
Reasonst to Read:
1.Charming characters:
Izzie quickly grew on me as a character, even though I was worried at first that she would be needy and whiny. Boy, was I ever wrong about her! Izzie is a survivor, one who refuses to let even the worst situations completely bring her down. She acts the way any other teenage girl would in her position, and that's one difficult position to be in. I loved her for that, and especially watching her grow and adapt to her new life. Mira, on the other hand, took a bit longer for me to get used to. Even though she was rather dense and unsympathetic most of the time, there was still something endearing about her and I think we'll see more maturity from her in the next books :)
2.A beautiful story:
I expected Belles to be a lighter, more fun kind of read; and it definitely had its moments. But the story itself is so involved and very intense; there's a real meaning behind all of it, and a lot of painful history and tragedy in the characters' lives. It's truly touching, and adds a good amount of dimension to the story.
3.A brave, remarkable heroine(s):
My favourite thing about Izzie is that she refuses to back down and give up. She is constantly fighting for what she feels is right and I really admire that about her. Even at risk to herself and her own situation, she's constantly thinking of others first and it's this kindness and bravery to stand out and alone that makes her such a memorable character. Also, I have to take a minute to praise Mira's mom for her willingness to "adopt" Izzie so openly into their family. She is such a wonderful, generous woman to have and I loved featuring her as a character in Belles.
Belles is a very quick, easy read. It's enjoyable and it's fun, but it's also lacking in one large area, which is complexity. I was actually surprised that Belles charmed me so much, because normally I don't enjoy books that feature fairly one-dimensional characters, but it wasn't that much of a problem for me in Belles. And when I found out that there would be more books coming out soon to accompany Belles and continue the story- well I was just THRILLED because I think we'll really get to know more about some of these secondary characters in Belles. I'd really love to find out more about Savannah's motivations, and even Mira and her family as well.
Because of this, I have high hopes for the sequel and think I'll enjoy it even more than Belles. Fingers crossed!
ARC received from Hachette Book Group Canada for review.
April 17, 2012
HOLY ROSES! I would like to give a huge THANK YOU THANK YOU to Around The World ARC Tours for allowing me to read this book! I have to say that I loved this book so much I went out and purchased my own copy. The ARC did not do the cover any justice. It is absolutely STUNNING!
What would you do if one day your life was normal and in that same night your life was turned upside down? What would you do if you lost everyone you loved? You had to leave the only comfort you have ever known. You have to leave your friends to start a new life that is so different from yours you do don't know whether or not your coming or going. Well that is exactly what Isabelle Scott AKA Iz or Izzie had to do.
One day Izzie is swimming and life guarding at her local boardwalk when things change. She goes home and her life is turned upside down. She has to live with distant relatives and she has no idea who they are or where she is going. When she finds out she is not happy at all because she has to pack up and move to a place she will not fit into and she is worried what will happen. She will join a family that comes from money and they are all about power and prestige. What is a girl to do?
To make matters worse the guy she fell in love with and spent everyday of the summer with bumps into her at her new school. She finally will find out what happened to him and where he is from but behind everything at Emerald Cove there are secrets and truths that will be uncovered and at the end of the day Izzie will find out who her friends are and who is not. She will have enimies that will try everything in their power to destroy her. She will have to dig real deep and fight for her life and the ones she loves. She will find friendship in the least likely person and she will gain a love like she has never known.
This is a must read for everyone who loves secrets hidden deep and loves that spring from the smallest Rose Bud. Come along with Izzie and Brayden as they fight to get what they want most.
What would you do if one day your life was normal and in that same night your life was turned upside down? What would you do if you lost everyone you loved? You had to leave the only comfort you have ever known. You have to leave your friends to start a new life that is so different from yours you do don't know whether or not your coming or going. Well that is exactly what Isabelle Scott AKA Iz or Izzie had to do.
One day Izzie is swimming and life guarding at her local boardwalk when things change. She goes home and her life is turned upside down. She has to live with distant relatives and she has no idea who they are or where she is going. When she finds out she is not happy at all because she has to pack up and move to a place she will not fit into and she is worried what will happen. She will join a family that comes from money and they are all about power and prestige. What is a girl to do?
To make matters worse the guy she fell in love with and spent everyday of the summer with bumps into her at her new school. She finally will find out what happened to him and where he is from but behind everything at Emerald Cove there are secrets and truths that will be uncovered and at the end of the day Izzie will find out who her friends are and who is not. She will have enimies that will try everything in their power to destroy her. She will have to dig real deep and fight for her life and the ones she loves. She will find friendship in the least likely person and she will gain a love like she has never known.
This is a must read for everyone who loves secrets hidden deep and loves that spring from the smallest Rose Bud. Come along with Izzie and Brayden as they fight to get what they want most.
June 1, 2012
You can read all of my reviews at Alluring Reads.
Where can I start here? Belles was just so good that I can't even gather my thoughts cohesively. It was a flashback to some of my all time favourite shows, it had a hint of The OC with a whole lot of 90210. I could not put this book down, and as soon as it was over I wanted to go back to page 1 and start all over again. Jen Calonita has put together a contemporary story that is full of laughs, heartbreak and love.
Isabelle Scott is thrust into a foreign world when her grams' dementia takes over and she goes to live in a home. Isabelle goes from living in Harborside, which is widely known in her new digs as the "ghetto", to Emerald Cove, an upper class suburbia that is driven by wealth. Watching Izzie get thrown out of her comfort zone and adjust to her new life was written in such a real way, I felt her emotions, and I totally believed them. It wasn't an easy adjustment and it was really hard on her. It may have been easier had the people in EC been more welcoming to her, but they were cold and judgemental and it had me feeling so angry!
We also get to experience the story from Izzie's cousins perspective which serves the story well in showing two viewpoints that couldn't be any more different. Mira has grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth and she is amongst the popular rich girls at her school. Throughout the story we also get to watch Mira go through changes of her own and really come out of her shell. The group she has situated herself in is headed by Savannah, and Vannah has the evil "queen bee" role down to a T.
There is a lot to be enjoyed in the pages of Belles, and this one will be taking a coveted space on my favourites list. It's heavy on the high school drama and light on the romance. If you're looking for a refreshing contemporary read that has it's own little twist, than this one is definitely for you. I highly recommend Belles to anyone looking for an Alluring Read.
Where can I start here? Belles was just so good that I can't even gather my thoughts cohesively. It was a flashback to some of my all time favourite shows, it had a hint of The OC with a whole lot of 90210. I could not put this book down, and as soon as it was over I wanted to go back to page 1 and start all over again. Jen Calonita has put together a contemporary story that is full of laughs, heartbreak and love.
Isabelle Scott is thrust into a foreign world when her grams' dementia takes over and she goes to live in a home. Isabelle goes from living in Harborside, which is widely known in her new digs as the "ghetto", to Emerald Cove, an upper class suburbia that is driven by wealth. Watching Izzie get thrown out of her comfort zone and adjust to her new life was written in such a real way, I felt her emotions, and I totally believed them. It wasn't an easy adjustment and it was really hard on her. It may have been easier had the people in EC been more welcoming to her, but they were cold and judgemental and it had me feeling so angry!
We also get to experience the story from Izzie's cousins perspective which serves the story well in showing two viewpoints that couldn't be any more different. Mira has grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth and she is amongst the popular rich girls at her school. Throughout the story we also get to watch Mira go through changes of her own and really come out of her shell. The group she has situated herself in is headed by Savannah, and Vannah has the evil "queen bee" role down to a T.
There is a lot to be enjoyed in the pages of Belles, and this one will be taking a coveted space on my favourites list. It's heavy on the high school drama and light on the romance. If you're looking for a refreshing contemporary read that has it's own little twist, than this one is definitely for you. I highly recommend Belles to anyone looking for an Alluring Read.
January 6, 2020
(Just read it again after reading the whole spy school series. In that context I would give it 5 stars this time as it was for a ore mature audience and I needed to feed that part of my brain . Its an intense plot that packs a punch . Though events like Izzie and Millie not immediately pointing at Savannah and blurting out that Savannah put them up to stealing the necklace was unrealistic yet often what makes for an intense drama is stuff that would not normally happen )
I really liked Izzie. She's so down to earth and she's someone that you can't help but like, no matter what she does. Then, when you hear about her past and how she has to move in with her distant Uncle (who happens to be running for senator and has three kids already, including a super popular daughter the same age as her) because her Grandma can't even remember her name, you know you have to root for her throughout the entire story.
I felt really conflicted on wither I liked Mira (the popular daughter) or not, because she was nasty when she was around Savannah (her best friend who I hated) but she knew what she was doing was wrong. I really started to like her, though, when she started to realize her life was so fake, even though she was popular and dating the quarterback of the football team. It was cool how she had a secret passion for art and always wanted to be in the art studio instead of being the plastic barbie best friend and girlfriend.
There were so many new things thrown in Izzie's way (usually thrown by the evil Savannah) and I just couldn't get enough of the story (especially when it came to the rocky relationship between Izzie and Brayden, who happens to be someone Izzie DEFINITELY shouldn't be with). And a twist thrown in the end was SO unexpected that my mouth was actually gaping. Maybe I was too oblivious to have realized it, but I was shocked. Only awesome books have the ability to shock me that much and this one sure did.
I really liked Izzie. She's so down to earth and she's someone that you can't help but like, no matter what she does. Then, when you hear about her past and how she has to move in with her distant Uncle (who happens to be running for senator and has three kids already, including a super popular daughter the same age as her) because her Grandma can't even remember her name, you know you have to root for her throughout the entire story.
I felt really conflicted on wither I liked Mira (the popular daughter) or not, because she was nasty when she was around Savannah (her best friend who I hated) but she knew what she was doing was wrong. I really started to like her, though, when she started to realize her life was so fake, even though she was popular and dating the quarterback of the football team. It was cool how she had a secret passion for art and always wanted to be in the art studio instead of being the plastic barbie best friend and girlfriend.
There were so many new things thrown in Izzie's way (usually thrown by the evil Savannah) and I just couldn't get enough of the story (especially when it came to the rocky relationship between Izzie and Brayden, who happens to be someone Izzie DEFINITELY shouldn't be with). And a twist thrown in the end was SO unexpected that my mouth was actually gaping. Maybe I was too oblivious to have realized it, but I was shocked. Only awesome books have the ability to shock me that much and this one sure did.
July 19, 2012
I thought the concept from Belles was great - take girl from supposedly the wrong side of the tracks and implant her in the lifestyles of the rich and the famous and see what happens. As predicted, it didn't exactly go well. Her cousin is less than welcoming and all the popular girls at school soon freeze her out. Turns out being rich is harder than being poor, but I was proud of Izzie for staying strong.
Izzie was definitely an admirable character and while we can all learn a little something from her, I found her cousin Mira to be much more interesting. Mira ran hot and cold; at times I felt like she wanted to help her cousin and at times I felt she'd rather freeze her out like everyone else. The journey Mira takes in this novel is pretty significant and makes it worth reading.
The only thing that struck me as odd during the novel was Izzie's treatment of Grams. It's obvious she really loved her grandmother by the way she put up a fight about putting her in the home, but after she must leave Grams, there is no scene where she goes back to visit, she only thinks about visiting. I thought that was a little strange and hopefully there will be a visit in the next novel.
Belles is like a Southern-style Gossip Girl, and everyone knows those Southern girls can bite. If you love YA contemporaries about Mean Girls gone meaner, this is a book for you!
...more YA reviews at pandareads.com
Izzie was definitely an admirable character and while we can all learn a little something from her, I found her cousin Mira to be much more interesting. Mira ran hot and cold; at times I felt like she wanted to help her cousin and at times I felt she'd rather freeze her out like everyone else. The journey Mira takes in this novel is pretty significant and makes it worth reading.
The only thing that struck me as odd during the novel was Izzie's treatment of Grams. It's obvious she really loved her grandmother by the way she put up a fight about putting her in the home, but after she must leave Grams, there is no scene where she goes back to visit, she only thinks about visiting. I thought that was a little strange and hopefully there will be a visit in the next novel.
Belles is like a Southern-style Gossip Girl, and everyone knows those Southern girls can bite. If you love YA contemporaries about Mean Girls gone meaner, this is a book for you!
...more YA reviews at pandareads.com
April 7, 2020
I loved this book. This is the first of a trilogy about a 15 year old girl from a very poor town. Her father had left when she was a baby and her mother had died when she was 10 years old. She had lived with her grandmother until her "Grams" was sent to a nursing home. Isabelle was sent to live with her Aunt and Uncle, who is running for the senator of North Carolina. They live in one of the most rich towns in North Carolina. She hates it there and wants to leave until she meets friends. At the end her uncle tells her something that changes her life forever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2017
I almost want to give this a lower rating because it was super predictable and have read these kinds of stories so many times but its like a guilty pleasure and I really actually liked it...
September 15, 2021
Wasn't a fun rich mean girl story like a classic chick flick it was more of a depressingly realistic depiction of how evil privileged rich kids can be
September 3, 2024
Cute, quick read that did in a day.
July 23, 2025
*2.5/5
October 25, 2013
I got halfway through this audiobook - finished four out of eight CDs - and I find I still don't care. Well, that's not ENTIRELY true: I'm slightly curious about whatever the big scandal is. The back of the audiobook box says that Isabelle and Mirabelle (Izzie and Mira) "learn a life-changing secret that will turn both their worlds upside-down." Basically, Izzie has a happy life on the wrong side of the tracks with her grandmother, while Mira is the super-privileged daughter of a state senator running for the grown-up Senate. Then Izzie's grandmother deteriorates, and Izzie's social worker places her with her "distant relatives," Mira's family. Based on how weirdly over-attentive and otherwise weird Mira's parents are from the moment Izzie arrives, and the way that no one seems to know exactly how she's related to them, my guess: she's Mira's long-lost sister AND/OR she and Mira were switched at birth and the family just figured it out. Something of that nature.
Things that the secret probably isn't, but I wish it was, because it would be actually unexpected:
- Izzie is secretly A SELKIE!
- Yeah, I got nothing else. I guess I was irrationally really drawn to the selkie idea.
Anyway, there's some amount of foreshadowing of this secret, whatever it is (*coughSWITCHEDATBIRTHcough*), but not enough to keep up a, "What is going on here?" tension. And I feel the book is not otherwise well-written. There are a lot of clichés and a lot - a LOT - of descriptions of people's hair, clothes, makeup, and so on. I know authors want people to visualize their characters, know what they look like. I sympathize. I sympathize less when it's the third time you're telling me that so-and-so has "pale blonde hair" or "white blonde hair." Okay, I heard you before! Do you think I have some kind of short-term memory loss? Or are you semi-subliminally pushing some kind of Aryan supremacy thing? So much blondness! So much emphatic blondness!
As for the detail about clothes, makeup, etc., there really is a time and place. For example: detail about dresses is perfectly placed during the scene where Mira, Izzie, et al. are dress shopping. But when Izzie is flirtatiously night-swimming/splashing around with Braden (is that how you spell his name? Audiobooks!), and she kicks her feet in the water, that is maybe not the time to mention her "dark cranberry pedicure." Author: think about what is the focus of the scene, and try to consider how close to that focus a given detail is. If the answer is "far," maybe consider omitting it. Just because a thing would be visible if this were a scene in a movie doesn't mean we have to read about that thing.
Also: The guy Mira is crushing on, Kendall or whatever, is a jerk. Oh, let me be more specific: he's uninteresting and bizarrely critical of Mira's artwork for no reason. It's like he's one of those awkward guys who doesn't know how to flirt, so he . . . says mean things to you. Um, Those Guys of the world: if you can't manage flirting, "being randomly rude" is not a close second. And it's not cute or funny - it's just, you know, rude. Which most people don't like.
Anyway! I care just enough about discovering this "life-changing secret" that I will now browse Goodreads reviews and see if I can spoil myself on it. (That's the thing about audiobooks - you can't skim ahead!) I do not care enough to listen to more of this. For those interested in the actual quality of the audiobook: basically, if you like Southern accents, you're good. If not . . . maybe skip it.
EDIT: I was so right about the twist, more or less. If not about the spelling of Brayden's name.
Things that the secret probably isn't, but I wish it was, because it would be actually unexpected:
- Izzie is secretly A SELKIE!
- Yeah, I got nothing else. I guess I was irrationally really drawn to the selkie idea.
Anyway, there's some amount of foreshadowing of this secret, whatever it is (*coughSWITCHEDATBIRTHcough*), but not enough to keep up a, "What is going on here?" tension. And I feel the book is not otherwise well-written. There are a lot of clichés and a lot - a LOT - of descriptions of people's hair, clothes, makeup, and so on. I know authors want people to visualize their characters, know what they look like. I sympathize. I sympathize less when it's the third time you're telling me that so-and-so has "pale blonde hair" or "white blonde hair." Okay, I heard you before! Do you think I have some kind of short-term memory loss? Or are you semi-subliminally pushing some kind of Aryan supremacy thing? So much blondness! So much emphatic blondness!
As for the detail about clothes, makeup, etc., there really is a time and place. For example: detail about dresses is perfectly placed during the scene where Mira, Izzie, et al. are dress shopping. But when Izzie is flirtatiously night-swimming/splashing around with Braden (is that how you spell his name? Audiobooks!), and she kicks her feet in the water, that is maybe not the time to mention her "dark cranberry pedicure." Author: think about what is the focus of the scene, and try to consider how close to that focus a given detail is. If the answer is "far," maybe consider omitting it. Just because a thing would be visible if this were a scene in a movie doesn't mean we have to read about that thing.
Also: The guy Mira is crushing on, Kendall or whatever, is a jerk. Oh, let me be more specific: he's uninteresting and bizarrely critical of Mira's artwork for no reason. It's like he's one of those awkward guys who doesn't know how to flirt, so he . . . says mean things to you. Um, Those Guys of the world: if you can't manage flirting, "being randomly rude" is not a close second. And it's not cute or funny - it's just, you know, rude. Which most people don't like.
Anyway! I care just enough about discovering this "life-changing secret" that I will now browse Goodreads reviews and see if I can spoil myself on it. (That's the thing about audiobooks - you can't skim ahead!) I do not care enough to listen to more of this. For those interested in the actual quality of the audiobook: basically, if you like Southern accents, you're good. If not . . . maybe skip it.
EDIT: I was so right about the twist, more or less. If not about the spelling of Brayden's name.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2012
Jen Calonita is a master of light contemporary girl-centered novels. I fell in love with her Secrets of My Hollywood Life series and have since read every single one of her books. What do I mean by girl centered? Her stories feature girls in various - often unusual - life situations, who are dealing with the same problems as every teenage girl. Family drama, peer pressure, friends, forming a self-identity, boys. Romance is present in each book, but the heart of the stories are always the girls themselves. Jen's books are always fun to read and I finish them feeling satisfied.
Belles is the first edition in a new series. It is the classic tale of poor girl being taken in by rich family and the drama that ensues (this is a very loose interpretation of the plot, but you get the basic idea). The highlights of Belles are (1) Izzy and Mirabelle and (2) the North Carolina setting.
I loved Izzy and Mirabelle. Izzy's sudden arrival into the Monroe household is not welcome news to either Izzy or Mirabelle. They are fundamentally different people being forced to live together. Izzy grew up with her grandmother in a poor neighborhood. She is independent, resourceful, and headstrong. A natural leader. She's the type of girl I really admire. She understandably feels like a fish out of water in ritzy Emerald Cove. Can she fit into her new world without fundamentally changing who she is? Does she want to?
Mirabelle is a weaker girl than Izzy, which is logical since she has always had her family and plenty of money to fall back on. She runs with a popular crowd, but is more of a lady in waiting than a queen bee. As such, she is under constant pressure to perform to the cruel bidding of meannie Savannah. Despite not always being the nicest person, I liked Mirabelle. Her instincts are good, but like many of us she struggles between doing what benefits her socially versus doing what's right. Can Mira grow a backbone?
The setting is fantastic. I've read plenty of YA books set in the South, but not that many where Southern culture feels like its own character. North Carolina is just as interesting a setting as New York City or Los Angeles. Belles is partially set in a beach town. I could almost smell the salt water taffy and ocean air as I was reading about the boardwalk. The rest of the book is set in a wealthy town. Reading about private school, country club Southern belles and gentleman was like traveling back to a different era of a slower lifestyle and rigid formality. I felt like I should be wearing a dress and white gloves.
The plot of Belles was not overly surprising, but I didn't expect it to be. I was perfectly happy reading about Izzy and Mira's personal challenges and moral dilemmas and their steps in the right direction. Belles hasn't fully captured my love for Secrets of My Hollywood Life yet, but it is by far Jen's best non-SOMHL book yet. I can't wait to read the next installment!
Rating: 4 / 5
Belles is the first edition in a new series. It is the classic tale of poor girl being taken in by rich family and the drama that ensues (this is a very loose interpretation of the plot, but you get the basic idea). The highlights of Belles are (1) Izzy and Mirabelle and (2) the North Carolina setting.
I loved Izzy and Mirabelle. Izzy's sudden arrival into the Monroe household is not welcome news to either Izzy or Mirabelle. They are fundamentally different people being forced to live together. Izzy grew up with her grandmother in a poor neighborhood. She is independent, resourceful, and headstrong. A natural leader. She's the type of girl I really admire. She understandably feels like a fish out of water in ritzy Emerald Cove. Can she fit into her new world without fundamentally changing who she is? Does she want to?
Mirabelle is a weaker girl than Izzy, which is logical since she has always had her family and plenty of money to fall back on. She runs with a popular crowd, but is more of a lady in waiting than a queen bee. As such, she is under constant pressure to perform to the cruel bidding of meannie Savannah. Despite not always being the nicest person, I liked Mirabelle. Her instincts are good, but like many of us she struggles between doing what benefits her socially versus doing what's right. Can Mira grow a backbone?
The setting is fantastic. I've read plenty of YA books set in the South, but not that many where Southern culture feels like its own character. North Carolina is just as interesting a setting as New York City or Los Angeles. Belles is partially set in a beach town. I could almost smell the salt water taffy and ocean air as I was reading about the boardwalk. The rest of the book is set in a wealthy town. Reading about private school, country club Southern belles and gentleman was like traveling back to a different era of a slower lifestyle and rigid formality. I felt like I should be wearing a dress and white gloves.
The plot of Belles was not overly surprising, but I didn't expect it to be. I was perfectly happy reading about Izzy and Mira's personal challenges and moral dilemmas and their steps in the right direction. Belles hasn't fully captured my love for Secrets of My Hollywood Life yet, but it is by far Jen's best non-SOMHL book yet. I can't wait to read the next installment!
Rating: 4 / 5
April 6, 2012
What an amazing book. Belles is one of those feel good books, it does have some tough moments but for the most part it's really feel good type of book in my opinion. I had figured I would enjoy Belles, I loved the concept of it and I had heard quite a few good things about it before I actually started reading. I just think it surpassed my expectations by a long shot. This book wasn't just great, it was easily one of best Contemporaries that I have read. Jen is a fantastic author, and I loved the way she wrote this book. It draws you in from the start, and I can almost guarantee you will be just as hooked as I was.
The characters in Belles are awesome. I was extremely impressed by the amount of depth to each of the characters, even the ones you don't hear about much in the book. I've always said that one of the most important things to me when it comes to books, is character depth. If you don't have that depth, it's hard to build connections with the characters and really get drawn into a story. Jen delivered with this amazing cast of characters, and I loved how Jen made the characters seem so real. Especially when it came to Isabelle and Mira's relationship. That was one of my favorite parts of the book, to see how cousins from completely different backgrounds could come to understand and accept each other.
Belles is a beautifully written story. As I said before, I really feel like it's a great feel good type of book. It does have it's sadder moments though, such as the reason why Isabelle goes to live with her Aunt and Uncle. And then just the transition Isabelle has to make to try and fit into this new lifestyle, and the hardships she has to go through especially with it being election time for her Uncle. There was just a ton of positive things in the book to though, I feel like that outweigh the sad/negative situations.
The ending was the biggest shocker for me. I was not expecting it at all, but it really did make things interesting. I think it really solidified the idea of family looking after family, and that no matter what happens things can always work out. It wasn't a bad ending by any means just somewhat shocking, and I actually felt that it really tied the story together very nicely.
If you're looking for a somewhat light, and heartfelt book then Belles is for you. It's got a fantastic story, with an outstanding cast of characters that you can't help but become attached to some of them throughout this book. I really do hope you all will check this book out on the 10th. I just can't think of any other ways to describe just how wonderful of a book this is. It's well worth reading, whenever you get the chance to.
Originally posted on my blog here: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...
The characters in Belles are awesome. I was extremely impressed by the amount of depth to each of the characters, even the ones you don't hear about much in the book. I've always said that one of the most important things to me when it comes to books, is character depth. If you don't have that depth, it's hard to build connections with the characters and really get drawn into a story. Jen delivered with this amazing cast of characters, and I loved how Jen made the characters seem so real. Especially when it came to Isabelle and Mira's relationship. That was one of my favorite parts of the book, to see how cousins from completely different backgrounds could come to understand and accept each other.
Belles is a beautifully written story. As I said before, I really feel like it's a great feel good type of book. It does have it's sadder moments though, such as the reason why Isabelle goes to live with her Aunt and Uncle. And then just the transition Isabelle has to make to try and fit into this new lifestyle, and the hardships she has to go through especially with it being election time for her Uncle. There was just a ton of positive things in the book to though, I feel like that outweigh the sad/negative situations.
The ending was the biggest shocker for me. I was not expecting it at all, but it really did make things interesting. I think it really solidified the idea of family looking after family, and that no matter what happens things can always work out. It wasn't a bad ending by any means just somewhat shocking, and I actually felt that it really tied the story together very nicely.
If you're looking for a somewhat light, and heartfelt book then Belles is for you. It's got a fantastic story, with an outstanding cast of characters that you can't help but become attached to some of them throughout this book. I really do hope you all will check this book out on the 10th. I just can't think of any other ways to describe just how wonderful of a book this is. It's well worth reading, whenever you get the chance to.
Originally posted on my blog here: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...
April 26, 2012
Izzie’s life has been far from easy. She’s had to care for her grandmother for a long time, and she bears a burden far greater than girls her age should carry. Nevertheless, life is a far cry from what she’s about to be plunged into. When a social worker sends her to live with a well-to-do distant relative, Lizzie’s world is turned upside down…in the best possible way. When Izzie’s world becomes one of wealth and prestige, a private school and a glamorous home life with a glitzy cousin, Mira though, it might be a bit too much for her. Can she hack it in this new world, or will her place remain in her roots?
In a world where a lot of YA novels take themselves far too seriously and dark/depressing is the new happy, Belles by Jen Calonita takes a new high ground. Funny and sweet, endearing and unapologetic, this drama and tension-filled story takes a simpler approach to the young adult world. It’s a rags-to-riches sort of tale that takes the immediate clichéd notions and spins them into something for more entertaining. Think – Cinderella meets She’s the Man. Peppered with seriousness but alive with lighthearted, feel-good humour and storytelling, Belles is a real treat.
Guys, there are so many things about Belles that I should have hated simply based on my preconceived notions, my qualms with melodrama and more. However, there was something about the story that was just so charming that I found myself completely engulfed in the story. Izzie was a delightful MC. She was honest and true, and I found that her character had a starkness about her that bolstered her internal strength. Mira was carefully crafted as her antithesis. She was very much a follower, and her personality was very weak. Having been raised in a wealthy household, Mira doesn’t truly think for herself, and I found her to be a bit off-putting, which was actually effective because it made me like Izzie even more. Told in alternating perspectives, Belles featured smooth, seamless transitions, though I’ll say I far preferred Izzie’s chapters to Mira’s. Best of all, however, was the fact that the novel was genuine and heartfelt. With just enough drama and touches of romance, Belles whetted my appetite for a sweet read that wasn’t too heavy and wasn’t too boring.
Overall, I was surprised that I really enjoyed Belles. Usually not my cup of tea, it definitely bested my misconceptions. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with lighthearted romance.
In a world where a lot of YA novels take themselves far too seriously and dark/depressing is the new happy, Belles by Jen Calonita takes a new high ground. Funny and sweet, endearing and unapologetic, this drama and tension-filled story takes a simpler approach to the young adult world. It’s a rags-to-riches sort of tale that takes the immediate clichéd notions and spins them into something for more entertaining. Think – Cinderella meets She’s the Man. Peppered with seriousness but alive with lighthearted, feel-good humour and storytelling, Belles is a real treat.
Guys, there are so many things about Belles that I should have hated simply based on my preconceived notions, my qualms with melodrama and more. However, there was something about the story that was just so charming that I found myself completely engulfed in the story. Izzie was a delightful MC. She was honest and true, and I found that her character had a starkness about her that bolstered her internal strength. Mira was carefully crafted as her antithesis. She was very much a follower, and her personality was very weak. Having been raised in a wealthy household, Mira doesn’t truly think for herself, and I found her to be a bit off-putting, which was actually effective because it made me like Izzie even more. Told in alternating perspectives, Belles featured smooth, seamless transitions, though I’ll say I far preferred Izzie’s chapters to Mira’s. Best of all, however, was the fact that the novel was genuine and heartfelt. With just enough drama and touches of romance, Belles whetted my appetite for a sweet read that wasn’t too heavy and wasn’t too boring.
Overall, I was surprised that I really enjoyed Belles. Usually not my cup of tea, it definitely bested my misconceptions. I give it a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction with lighthearted romance.
April 10, 2012
I was so excited to start Belles. I sounded amazing and of course, took place in the south. Where I reside! I really liked this book. It was beautifully written. Jen Calonita really wrote such a fantastic book with amazing jump off the page characters that I enjoyed throughout the book. I loved watching them grow as individuals and, as a whole as well.
Izzie's mother died when she was 10. Her Father isn't in the picture. So all Izzie has left is her Grandmother, who has cared for Izzie for all this time. But since her grandmother is fighting with Alzheimer's, she is no longer able to give Izzie the care that a girl her age needs! So when she can the grandmother sets up further plans for her. Now that time has come. Izzie must leave the home that she has lived in for so long. And move in with "family" that she has never met before. Everything is so different. Izzie is brought into a life where she does not have to do the things that she “had” to before. She is unsure of what to do and feels very out of place.
No matter how hard Izzie tries at her new school. Izzie cannot get a break from one of the schools mean girls. Savannah. Who makes it her mission to make the new girl who’s from the bad side of town miserable, and it works.
Izzie’s cousin Mira is not sure what to do with the new situation. She is not used to having any other girls around, her being the only one out of 3 boys. But, she has to of course learn to deal with the new situation. She must decide, is she going to let the mean girl keep on torturing Izzie? Or is she going to do the noble thing?
This book was a very heart-felt book. I thought that the characters were very likeable. Loveable, even. You get to know about how both a reacting to different situations because this book is alternating pov’s between both of the girls. You will get to see them struggle, grow and utterly overcome some major things that they are faced with.
The ending of Belles was rather shocking, yes. But as a reader I feel that the ending was rather rushed. It didn’t mean that I did not love it. I would have just liked, a little something more at the end.
Overall, Belles, was a fantastic read. With very amazing characters, and a ending that will leave you speechless.
Jen Calonita knows how to write a perfectly amazing book. I am very much looking for more books in the future.. Maybe a sequel or companion?
Izzie's mother died when she was 10. Her Father isn't in the picture. So all Izzie has left is her Grandmother, who has cared for Izzie for all this time. But since her grandmother is fighting with Alzheimer's, she is no longer able to give Izzie the care that a girl her age needs! So when she can the grandmother sets up further plans for her. Now that time has come. Izzie must leave the home that she has lived in for so long. And move in with "family" that she has never met before. Everything is so different. Izzie is brought into a life where she does not have to do the things that she “had” to before. She is unsure of what to do and feels very out of place.
No matter how hard Izzie tries at her new school. Izzie cannot get a break from one of the schools mean girls. Savannah. Who makes it her mission to make the new girl who’s from the bad side of town miserable, and it works.
Izzie’s cousin Mira is not sure what to do with the new situation. She is not used to having any other girls around, her being the only one out of 3 boys. But, she has to of course learn to deal with the new situation. She must decide, is she going to let the mean girl keep on torturing Izzie? Or is she going to do the noble thing?
This book was a very heart-felt book. I thought that the characters were very likeable. Loveable, even. You get to know about how both a reacting to different situations because this book is alternating pov’s between both of the girls. You will get to see them struggle, grow and utterly overcome some major things that they are faced with.
The ending of Belles was rather shocking, yes. But as a reader I feel that the ending was rather rushed. It didn’t mean that I did not love it. I would have just liked, a little something more at the end.
Overall, Belles, was a fantastic read. With very amazing characters, and a ending that will leave you speechless.
Jen Calonita knows how to write a perfectly amazing book. I am very much looking for more books in the future.. Maybe a sequel or companion?
April 27, 2012
I think my biggest problem with this book is that, though I'm not usually the target audience of a YA novel, this book skews a little bit younger than that. When I finished, I realized that this author had also written the Secrets of my Hollywood Life series, and that made a lot of sense to me. The characters are a little less mature than I prefer reading about, and there is a certain wish fulfillment aspect of this book that isn't my favorite plot. I know that part of the point is that Isabelle didn't wish for any of this and doesn't want it, but that was sort of lost for me. And it also made Isabelle a little unlikable for me. It's ok to say, ok, I'm uncomfortable spending two grand on a dress, but when she is so snotty about it it sort of undermines the idea of it.
Then there's Mirabelle. It's obviously fairly realistic that when someone is thrown into your life who is nothing like you and has a completely different background, you're going to wig out and be embarrassed by things, even if you shouldn't be. And that part of this book worked for me. But Mirabelle kind of drove me nuts with what an inherent follower she was. Only, the book tries to make plain that she's more than that. I just didn't see it so much.
And I'll admit to being disappointed that there wasn't more of the promised "southern charm" in this book. It was one of my primary inducements for reading it, because, being from the south, I'm kind of a sucker for those sorts of characters. Here, the setting felt completely incidental. It could have been anywhere with a beach and a right and wrong side of the tracks. That's probably more of a flaw of my own expectations, but when you call your book Belles and there's a big deal made about southern charm and the setting, the setting should almost be a character in its own right and I just didn't see that here.
This book had it's cute moments, and I loved Isabelle's oldest cousin (And her youngest for that matter). I thought Isabelle's aunt was well done. And really, I think younger readers will probably enjoy this a lot more than I did.
Then there's Mirabelle. It's obviously fairly realistic that when someone is thrown into your life who is nothing like you and has a completely different background, you're going to wig out and be embarrassed by things, even if you shouldn't be. And that part of this book worked for me. But Mirabelle kind of drove me nuts with what an inherent follower she was. Only, the book tries to make plain that she's more than that. I just didn't see it so much.
And I'll admit to being disappointed that there wasn't more of the promised "southern charm" in this book. It was one of my primary inducements for reading it, because, being from the south, I'm kind of a sucker for those sorts of characters. Here, the setting felt completely incidental. It could have been anywhere with a beach and a right and wrong side of the tracks. That's probably more of a flaw of my own expectations, but when you call your book Belles and there's a big deal made about southern charm and the setting, the setting should almost be a character in its own right and I just didn't see that here.
This book had it's cute moments, and I loved Isabelle's oldest cousin (And her youngest for that matter). I thought Isabelle's aunt was well done. And really, I think younger readers will probably enjoy this a lot more than I did.
April 6, 2012
I enjoyed Calonita's previous book series as it was light, fun and clean. I am reasonably certain this will be another series I will enjoy, as well.
The story is somewhat predictable with a couple of concepts that I found well integrated. There is a Cinderella factor to some extent as Izzie goes from poor to rich in a matter of hours. The part I really liked about this was that Izzie didn't believe her life was broken. She lived in a rough town with her grandmother who was slowly losing her cognitive ability. She did all the shopping and housework as well as caring for and covering up her grandmother's failing health. She worked as a lifeguard to make ends meet plus volunteered at the community center. She was poor, yes. But she knew how to navigate her life to make it work. She had good friends, neighbors who watched out for her, and a strong sense of community with strong adults respecting her independence although concerned for her welfare. Her life was not perfect but she had the coping skills to make it work. I liked that.
Of course, Granny's condition worsens and the social worker suddenly finds a distant relative for Izzie to live with. The shocking twist at the end is pretty much not shocking, after all but that's neither here nor there. She enters the world of prestige and money. She also enters a prestigious private school with the requisite mean girl and entourage. That part bored me. Seen it. It's the old story of queen bee being threatened by new girl and mercilessly tries to tear her down. Also, queen bee's boyfriend is the love interest of Izzie. Mira, Izzie's age and her distant cousin won't stand up to queen bee and settles for path of least resistance although a truce is reached at some point.
Closure is minimal because this will obviously be a series, although the ending was enough closure for now. The mean people and political conflict will obviously play a part in the next books. Pleasant read. Wasn't blown over by it but it will be very well received by younger teens.
It's a book I will keep on my bookshelves for my girls to read.
The story is somewhat predictable with a couple of concepts that I found well integrated. There is a Cinderella factor to some extent as Izzie goes from poor to rich in a matter of hours. The part I really liked about this was that Izzie didn't believe her life was broken. She lived in a rough town with her grandmother who was slowly losing her cognitive ability. She did all the shopping and housework as well as caring for and covering up her grandmother's failing health. She worked as a lifeguard to make ends meet plus volunteered at the community center. She was poor, yes. But she knew how to navigate her life to make it work. She had good friends, neighbors who watched out for her, and a strong sense of community with strong adults respecting her independence although concerned for her welfare. Her life was not perfect but she had the coping skills to make it work. I liked that.
Of course, Granny's condition worsens and the social worker suddenly finds a distant relative for Izzie to live with. The shocking twist at the end is pretty much not shocking, after all but that's neither here nor there. She enters the world of prestige and money. She also enters a prestigious private school with the requisite mean girl and entourage. That part bored me. Seen it. It's the old story of queen bee being threatened by new girl and mercilessly tries to tear her down. Also, queen bee's boyfriend is the love interest of Izzie. Mira, Izzie's age and her distant cousin won't stand up to queen bee and settles for path of least resistance although a truce is reached at some point.
Closure is minimal because this will obviously be a series, although the ending was enough closure for now. The mean people and political conflict will obviously play a part in the next books. Pleasant read. Wasn't blown over by it but it will be very well received by younger teens.
It's a book I will keep on my bookshelves for my girls to read.
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