Heart of Glass

A-List #8

by Zoey Dean

High school is officially over, but the graduation celebration is cut short when unlikely pair Anna and Cammie find themselves in an even more unlikely situation--caught trespassing on a celeb's beach estate--and are forced to don steel handcuffs along with their Tiffany tennis bracelets. Luckily, the girls are spared a summer stuck in tacky orange jumpsuits when their hotshot lawyer lands them a cushy community service gig: helping plan a charity fashion show. But while it may seem like a plush job, Anna and Cammie are in for a challenge. Can the girls handle the pressure of the vicious fashion world? Or will they fall to pieces faster than a Louis Vuitton knockoff?

Genres: Young Adult, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, Teen, High School

297 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

The author of The A-List series and How to Teach Filthy Rich Girls, which has been renamed and turned into a TV show known as Privileged on the CW in September 2008. Zoey Dean's books are produced by the media packager Alloy Entertainment, which created Gossip Girl, The Clique Series, and The A-List and sold them to Little, Brown and Company.
Zoey is currently working on The Talent series. She is also working on The A-List: Hollywood Royalty.
Zoey Dean divides her time between Beverly Hills, California, and her favorite small islands in the Caribbean.

See also: Cherie Bennett

Reviews

[Katya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't expect anything from trashy books for bored teenage girls, but I have to say, I expected better from Dean's editor. Don't they have a fact checker? Or, I don't know, common sense? No woman with a master's degree in literature would be wasting her time playing maid to spoiled Hollywood brats. Contrary to popular opinion, Russians are good for more than just being maids and mail-order brides. Why is Sam getting angry at Citron for her salad being wrong? That's the kitchen's fault, not the server. You don't make espresso in a French press (note to Cammie) and there is no such thing as endless memory in a computer. Most people don't need to smoke more than one joint to get stoned, and smoking three would probably make the smoker incredibly sick, much less able to actually read a book. How does it magically happen that the at-risk girls in the New Visions program all happen to be gorgeous? And the two-boys-after-one-girl thing is getting old after it happened to three of the four girls in one book. I don't expect these books to break any boundaries, and I'm just reading them for mindless entertainment, but honestly, what's Dean's editor reading?

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly I think these books are getting worse... I just want to be done with the series. I think Caine is maybe the only character I like at this point.

[Nicole Felten Castillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #8 in the A-List series by Zoey Dean-

I really enjoyed this one, it was one of my favorites in the series. Cammie and Anna find themselves in an unlikely situation together; having recently been arrested for trespassing on a Malibu beachfront house, their sentence is to do community services, which happens to be helping with a charity fashion show for a youth program! As they start planning and getting things ready they meet one of the program girls, Champagne, and take her under her belt. She longs to be a fashion model but doesn't have height on her side. Can Anna and Cammie help her? And what's going on with Anna and new beau Caine? What about Ben?? Overall I found this storyline to be really fun and entertaining. It's not a masterpiece but I really enjoyed the story; probably one of my favorite in the series!

Favorite Quote: "Love was something that happened slowly, because you gave it time to grow. It couldn't come from fear or even from seduction. It came because you felt whole enough and strong enough all on your own to let another person in."

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh. It was an alright book if I’m going to be honest. I can get addicted to the trashy books like Gossip Girl if I’m just in need for some light, easy book. This novel however was not for me. I picked it up just expecting something to read, and that’s all that it was. I didn’t really like the plot to begin with because them planning a fashion show as their community service already seems like a book that isn’t too entertaining. Overall it just wasn’t something I’d pick up again. It wasn’t terrible it just wasn’t something that had me gripped on the edge of my seat or really hooked in. “Eh” is really all I can use to describe it.

[Maria Beristain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good. I loved all the characters, especially Anna and Cammie. I thought the author did a great job with the character development of Cammie, whom I hated at first due to her terrible attitude and rudeness, but later turns into one of the most encouraging and loyal characters I've read about.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quick and easy installment with the last 80% being read in one sitting. I liked the overall premise of this one with Cammie and Anna having to spend some time together. I really don't remember who ends up with who in this series, so I'm eager to bang through the next two books and see how they all fare.

[Kyra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two books left. I'm getting bored but now I feel compelled to finish. One annoying thing about this book - one of the main characters is supposedly fluent in Spanish, but the Spanish he speaks is so grammatically incorrect that I wonder if this book had an editor. Whatever.

[Heather Lisson · Rating 3 out of 5]

About what I’ve come to expect from this series, a fun and quick read!

[Lynecia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm just utterly addicted to this series. What can I say?

[♡ thea ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i literally can’t with the back and forth between ben and anna. girl dump his ass he’s not that special. also i’m annoyed with cammie again i do not want her going after ben. i thought this book was going to be the start of anna and cammie’s friendship but i fear we will never get that :(

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize when I got this book that it's really Young Adult but it kept my interest - mostly about all the haves and only a couple of have nots. Young people exceptionally entitled, exposed constantly to substance abuse, casual sex, too much money and power.

[Maddison Funnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun, easy read. I found myself finally starting to like Cammie and liking Anna a lot more. Looking forward to the next!

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Does have a slight semblance of a plot, but is just as boring and mindless as the rest of the series.

[Courtney]

See my review of The A-List for my take on revisiting this series and omitting ratings:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Chasity · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Heart of Glass’ blew me away; it was by far the best book in the series yet. To start with, the cover pulled me in. It is very colorful and has a Cinderella feel to it, with a very pretty girl in a green corseted dress walking barefoot down a staircase.

The book had quite a few elements that the others lacked. This one showed new sides to characters that I think a lot of readers have been longing to see. It had very touching moments. Which I will discuss later in this review, but this book was truly an enjoyment to read. It was a very fast read, once I started it I couldn’t put it down. ‘Heart of Glass’ has very memorable characters and very memorable scenes.

In this volume we follow the outrageously different group of characters in their first summer after graduating high school. Some pretty unbelievable and amazing things happen to all of them as well as some pretty terrible things.

Anna and Cammie find themselves in some legal trouble, that even the most expensive lawyer cannot get them out of without doing community service. However if you are thinking orange jumpsuits and picking up garbage on the side of the road for these two fashionistas, you are very mistaken. Even these girls’ punishments are glamorous. They end up helping to organize a charity fashion show, for a charity called New Visions to help at risk teens set their lives on the right track. It seems to be a pretty cushion filled job for Cammie and Anna but there are lots of twists and turns that could very well knock these girls right off their extremely expensive stilettos.

Cammie and Anna surprisingly got along in this book for the most part and end up helping each other out a lot through this book. Anna brings out the good side in Cammie and Cammie brings out the wild side in Anna. The girls bonded over helping one New Visions girl, Champagne reach her dream of being a model. Although the question is after the fashion show is over will Anna and Cammie go back to hating each other?

Sam is back with Eduardo and couldn’t be happier except she is convinced that Poppy, her stepmother is cheating on her father. So she asked Parker to help her bust Poppy in exchange for three scenes in her father’s new movie Ben-Hur; but how far will she go to take Poppy down and will it be worth it?

Dee and Jack are getting serious, a little too serious for either of them to handle but when another guy, Aaron moves in on Dee with Jack fight to make it work or just let Dee go?

Anna was so sure she was done with Ben in the end of the last book, but Ben isn’t nearly done with Anna. He is planning to wait around until she comes to her senses, even though she’s dating someone else who is covered in tattoos. But when Anna finds out some possibly incriminating information about Caine will she go running back to Ben?

Cammie is tired of being put on the back burner for Adam’s precious Michigan. It will only be a matter of time before Cammie’s horns start to poke out again and demand attention.

‘Heart of Glass’ showed a new dimension to the A-List characters. I can honestly say that I fell in love with this book. Just when I thought I had something all figured out, I was thrown for another loop, some parts I was so shocked that I couldn’t even put it into words and other times the brilliance in the scenes just blew me away. I have loved this series since the moment I picked up the first novel ‘The A- List’ however I think this one set the stakes higher.

‘Heart of Glass’ is a real work of art and I would recommend anyone who is a fan of the ‘Gossip Girl’ series or any works like that to get this series immediately. It was a very touching story especially when it comes to the story of the girls helping Champagne and the New Vision girls. I found this book very relatable except for the fact that if I had to do community service I can guarantee it would be much less glamorous and there is no way I would be so lucky.

Fantastic book with great, memorable characters and scenes that definitely give you something to talk about, I love how it can be touching and yet catty at the same time, truly impressive.
‘Heart of Glass’ is one you don’t want to miss.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen for TeensReadToo.com

In the last book in the A-LIST series (AMERICAN BEAUTY), the gang had finally graduated while discovering some juicy secrets. Cammie had discovered more information on what really happened to her mother. Sam was finally reunited with Eduardo, and Anna met Caine, who was nothing like her boyfriend, Ben. And Ben's dirty little secret wasn't a secret any longer.

The A-Listers are back again in HEART OF GLASS, and this time with a little twist.

Anna and Cammie have to work together - that's right, together - on a charity fashion show. But they got off easy, since this little community service project was the result of getting caught trespassing on a celebrity's estate. No worries, these two can work together, right?

Anna and Caine are getting a little closer, while Ben doesn't seem to worry so much. While Adam and Cammie are trying to make things work, we're hoping that opposites really do attract. Sam is still trying to adjust to living with Poppy, and maybe trying to get rid of her at the same time, while making sure nothing goes wrong with her and Eduardo. And Dee, well, she's Dee, trying to get back on her feet.

The gang is back and it's going to be one sizzling summer.

Eighth in the series, HEART OF GLASS is still filled with secrets, lies, and plenty of drama. The best thing about this series is that the material is never old and it still keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. The cast is still great and you just love Anna more and more after each book. Lets just say that HEART OF GLASS is more appealing than another episode of a certain teen drama on a new network - at least I'm experiencing something I haven't seen before!

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

I said it before: this was a bestseller? Seriously?! A few random thoughts:
1) I do this to myself in allowing summer reads to be more fluffy and things I might not ordinarily read.
2) When a book was marked down to $3 and then $1 at a brick and mortar bookstore, slowly walk away.
3) The problem with name dropping and brand name dropping is that 9 years later different things are cool and different names are dropped.
4) Yes, you can read this as a standalone.
5) No character development, possibly they were developed in previous books but not here.
6) Name dropping and brand name dropping doesn't make a person cool.
7) This read like someone who isn't rich was writing about what they thought rich would be like.
8) When the DA got involved in a missing dress -- let me say that again, DA...missing DRESS -- I was done.
9) A person can only take so many love triangles in one story.
10) The drama oozing off this silliness almost caused me to slip and fall.
11) It was I, and only I, who kept reading when I was done.
Overall, the book is fluff and sadly not what I would want a teenage girl to read and accept as the role of women in today's society. It was empty. I was skimming by the end and don't feel like I missed a thing in doing so. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, but this book is all the reasons why people think there is something wrong with being wealth.
I am completely supportive of guilty pleasures but I think guilty pleasures can have SOME redeeming qualities.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of an 'A-List' series written by Zoey Dean. I have read the earlier books in this series and I really liked it because its one of those books that keep you at the edge of your seat, wanting to know what will happen to the character's next. In this book, the characters are already graduates of high school and are wanting to spend their summers carefree. It starts off with Anna Percy, the main character, and Cammie, trespassing on a celebrity's home. After they get caught, they are let go. In return, the girls have to do community service together. They have to organize a fashion show for less-fortunate girls. While keeping track of what's going in their lives, Zoey Dean also discusses what is going on in the other character's summer. I really enjoy reading this book because I liked the previous books in this series. I like how the author keeps the reader interested by switching stories of the characters. In one chapter, you find out what's happening with Anna and Cammie, and in another chapter, you get to see what Ben, Sam, Dee and other character's are doing. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read this series or likes reading series.

[Samantha Sant · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when you are caught trespassing? Maybe some community service, like picking up trash at the side of the highway? Well, not for Anna and Cammie. For these lucky girls, being rich has its benefits. Instead, of ridding the highway of litter they get to help out with a charity fashion show. Working with elite fashion designers and the newest fashion is certainly not a bad punishment. But these girls actually learn a lot from this experience and turn out to have fun, despite them being forced to help out. Someone would want to read this book because, it is really fun and its not like many normal books.
For instance, most books focus on one or two characters only. But in this book it also includes the lives of all of their friends and family and it all connects, so it's really interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes drama or anyone who enjoys books like the Gossip Girl series, because it is a lot like those books. I really enjoyed this book and believe others would too because, it's fun to see how the extremely rich live and you can really get tied up in the drama of the entire book. Overall it was super fun to read and I loved all of the drama.

[Yasmina · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Anna and Cammie are arrested they get a deal to help in a fashion show and Cammie finally realizes that she can be a good person and helps a girl clear her name and get a modeling job. And just when Anna and Cammie seem to be getting along, Cammie makes a promise to come after Ben and Anna is stuck between Caine and Ben. Sam's step-mom Poppy is kicked out after pictures of her cheating on the famous actor, Jackson Sharpe, are published. Sam had photos but didn't use them which makes Eduardo very happy.

I can connect to Anna when she was surprised that Cammie had turned on her in a snap. My friends had did the same to me and I was also in shock like Anna.

I gave this book 5 stars because it was fun and interesting to read. Plus, I couldn't put the book down! ***** (5)

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I loved all the intrigue, gossip and wicked schemes like I always did in all A-list novels, I'd have to say i was a bit dissapointed with this one though. It LACKED something I couldn't quite put a finger on. . I expected something hot from Ben and Anna here, but no it wasn't present. I looked forward to reading this book so, so much but then I ended up nawg. Love here didn't seem that real. I mean, sure they cared for each other, but it didn't seem genuine! Ben still flirts with other girls while trying to get Anna back. What girl would like that?

Anyway, I was supposed to give it a 3, but I loved the novels so much that I couldn't bring myself to do it. So here's a four for all your satisfaction.

[Tiny Pants · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering it's the eighth book in the series, this one isn't horrible: Again, the series has moved away from a focus on Anna Percy to an equal focus on all four female characters, and in my opinion, this is a major plus. The bulk of the plot revolves around Anna and Cammie being forced to work together on a project even they recognize as pretty vapid; the rest is basically all four of the girls evaluating the states of their respective relationships. While I would describe it as abundantly readable (especially as compared with some of the earlier books like "Tall Cool One" and "Back in Black") I wouldn't exactly describe it as good.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't that interesting. I liked the turn in the main characters to be stronger morally and stronger when it came to themselves. But there wasn't anything exciting that was making me sit down to keep reading. I only kept reading cuz I wanted to finish the book. I could root for champagne and I was excited to see what happened for her but that was only a small section of the book. There was nothing else suspenseful in any way about the stories of the other characters in this book. I didn't hate it. I didn't like it. It was just ok.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Anna and Cammie are arrested they get a deal to help in a fashion show cammie finds she can be a good person and helps a "at risk" teen clear her name and get a modleing job and just when Anna and Cammie seem to be getting along, Cammie cuts if off with a promise to come after GBeen and Anna is stuck between Caine and Bend. Sam's step mom Poppy is kicked out after pictures of her cheating are published. Same had pics but didn't use them which pleases Eduardo.

[dearlittledeer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hadn't read an A-List in a while, but I guess I still love 'em! This is the first post-graduation book, and we find Anna and Cammie coming together as an unlikely duo. I enjoyed that, as well as seeing a less selfish side of Cammie. Bored of the whole Anna/Ben thing, but that didn't really bog down the book.

[Aileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had to be my least favorite, I think it was because it seemed as though it was a lot more filler for the next book, or because I never liked Cammie, no matter what she had beem through. It was still a good book and I liked it, it jsut wasn't my favorite, I don't think I have a favorite, since Zoey Dean's books are just so good.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahh, the A List. It is like the California counterpart to Gossip Girls. Which of course means I love it. And they sometimes talk about places I know about or have been to. And the main character is more likeable.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

well...this one was less offensive than the others at least. anna finally grows some balls and becomes less wallflowery. and a couple of things actually caught me by surprise. still not great by any means but this one didnt make me want to vomit at least

[Anjanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although it's mostly a bunch of fluff, there is some heart behind the story. There's lots of fashion worked in, which means absolutely nothing to me, but if you like that kind of stuff you'll probably like this series.

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

it ENDS. i stopped reading because I looked on the wikipedia page.
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I don't like Anna anymore after her decision in this book. I don't think I'm going to continue reading this series since I kinda spoiled myself, so I'm very uninterested.