What do you think?
Rate this book
Solving For Ex #2
First World Problems
Sofia Cole has always been able to get anything she wants through begging, flirting, and shameless manipulation of everyone around her.
Sofia doesn't think that Dad sending her on a gap service year to Guyana to address how "spoiled" she is will change any of that.
Sofia just might be proven wrong.
(A companion novel to SOLVING FOR EX (February 2014,) FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS is a standalone Upper YA/Lower NA contemporary romance. Fuller synopsis below.)
*****
Sofia's had a really rough year - busted for cheating at prep school, dumped - dumped! - for the first time ever, and her new non-profit working stepmother is turning out to be an uppity bitch.
She deserves to treat herself. But when she throws herself a birthday party with 20 of her closest friends in Paris and (accidentally!) maxes out her dad's credit card in the process, he’s had enough of her attitude. As punishment, he switches her planned gap year touring Europe to one doing community service work with the evil stepmother’s relief organization in Guyana.
The rural village of Dabu needs help in every area from education to getting safe drinking water. But Sofia’s more concerned about her roommate Callum, the gardening expert, who calls Sofia "Princess" and scoffs at her distaste for sweaty, muddy, iguana-eating, outhouse-using life in Guyana.
Eventually, life on the equator, her work in the village, and especially Callum - with his brooding eyes and bewitching New Zealand accent - start to grow on Sofia. Life is rough in Guyana, but it’s roughest on the girls, whose families are too poor to send only the most promising boys in school. They’re trapped in a cycle that will keep them from ever making a better life for themselves, or for the village. Worse, Callum doesn’t seem to think any of the changes Sofia envisions are actually necessary.
Determined to change the girls’ futures, she comes up with a strategy to help them and, ultimately, the village. But what starts out as a plan to convince Callum and her father that she’s fallen in love with Guyana, turns into the realization that maybe she’s falling for Callum, too. And that by changing these girls’ lives, she might also be changing her own.
Sofia doesn't think that Dad sending her on a gap service year to Guyana to address how "spoiled" she is will change any of that.
Sofia just might be proven wrong.
(A companion novel to SOLVING FOR EX (February 2014,) FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS is a standalone Upper YA/Lower NA contemporary romance. Fuller synopsis below.)
*****
Sofia's had a really rough year - busted for cheating at prep school, dumped - dumped! - for the first time ever, and her new non-profit working stepmother is turning out to be an uppity bitch.
She deserves to treat herself. But when she throws herself a birthday party with 20 of her closest friends in Paris and (accidentally!) maxes out her dad's credit card in the process, he’s had enough of her attitude. As punishment, he switches her planned gap year touring Europe to one doing community service work with the evil stepmother’s relief organization in Guyana.
The rural village of Dabu needs help in every area from education to getting safe drinking water. But Sofia’s more concerned about her roommate Callum, the gardening expert, who calls Sofia "Princess" and scoffs at her distaste for sweaty, muddy, iguana-eating, outhouse-using life in Guyana.
Eventually, life on the equator, her work in the village, and especially Callum - with his brooding eyes and bewitching New Zealand accent - start to grow on Sofia. Life is rough in Guyana, but it’s roughest on the girls, whose families are too poor to send only the most promising boys in school. They’re trapped in a cycle that will keep them from ever making a better life for themselves, or for the village. Worse, Callum doesn’t seem to think any of the changes Sofia envisions are actually necessary.
Determined to change the girls’ futures, she comes up with a strategy to help them and, ultimately, the village. But what starts out as a plan to convince Callum and her father that she’s fallen in love with Guyana, turns into the realization that maybe she’s falling for Callum, too. And that by changing these girls’ lives, she might also be changing her own.
300 pages, Paperback
First published July 23, 2014
5 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
About the author
LeighAnn Kopans
12 books414 followersRaised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole.
Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)
Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again.)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
September 10, 2014
This is one of my favorite contemps I think I've ever read. Funny, sincere, heartfelt...I loved it. I have NO idea how I loved such a potentially unlikeable character right from the beginning. And the boy...ah, Callum. I have a new book boyfriend. Seriously, as someone who has volunteered overseas, this book really hit a lot of the issues I came to face. I loved learning about the country-- the only thing I felt was missing was that I wanted more! More of the people who lived there, more of the culture...it made me want to go to Guyana. It felt more NA than YA, which suited the story well, and readers not comfortable with a mild bit of mature content should be aware there is a little. It's a companion novel, but it stands on its own perfectly well, so if you haven't read Solving for Ex, you won't be lost at all. And you'll probably want to go read Solving for Ex right after.
Overall, LOVED. Anyone want to book a flight to Guyana with me?
Overall, LOVED. Anyone want to book a flight to Guyana with me?
August 17, 2014
First World Problems by Leigh Ann Kopans was one of my favorite reads this month. I loved how Kopans took this girl (Sophia) and put her in a situation that was completely foreign to her but somehow she survives and ends up making an impact. Sophia is a character in Kopans’ book Solving for Ex which meant I was going in with feelings about her - I don’t think that necessarily hurt anything but it absolutely made it more difficult for Sophia to win me over.
Sophia is very obviously spoiled. When her mother died, Sophia’s dad basically threw money and things at her and her brother Vincent to compensate and it essentially created a monster….and I mean this in the nicest way. I say this mostly because Sophia sees it and doesn’t call him out for it. I can’t really blame her for that either but when she takes things too far by expensing a birthday trip for her and a bunch of friends to Paris, her dad has had enough.
This is where I have mixed feelings about Sophia because Kopans does a wonderful job of showing us that she is someone who really just wants things back to the way they were when her mother was around and her father was more engaged in her life. Ever since he remarried, her dad has checked out even more and when he blows off her birthday (something that they had a bit of a tradition around) I couldn’t blame Sophia for holding it against him and making him pay.
When Sophia’s dad finds out just how much she spent on her party and he gives her an ultimatum which Anne, her stepmother, had a hand in coming up with. The ultimatum is she either spends a year doing service for I.D.I. (International Development Initiatives), a company Anne works for, or he will cut her off. That means regardless of her decision, her original plan of studying in Paris is off the table.
So clearly there isn’t really a choice to be made here so Sophia decides that she will head to Guyana and try to manipulate her father to try to get out of it as soon as she possibly can. Once she gets to where she is going Sophia realizes she is definitely in for a rough time. There is no electricity, the plumbing is questionable, and the food options aren’t what she is used to. Despite all that, the people she is to live with over the next year don’t seem that bad. The girls, Lena and Arielle, both understand what she is going through because it took them time to adjust when they came to Guyana so they do cut Sophia some slack.
Callum on the other hand isn’t as forgiving and immediately puts Sophia into the “spoiled” category (he’s not wrong) and expects the worst from Sophia. So…Callum is an interesting character. He has been in Guyana for two years and although his parents are rich, he prefers the life he has in Guyana to anything else. He is doing something he loves that he feels will bring a better life to those who live in the area…unfortunately his parents don’t see that and image is everything to them so he knows he is there on borrowed time because any day now they will make him come home.
Let me pause here to say that while Callum is somewhat standoffish to Sophia at first, their relationship changes over time. I loved the way that Kopans built this out because Callum had been burned before and while Sophia was used to guys falling over themselves for her, she needed a dose of Callum to bring her back to earth…or Guyana. I need to also tell you that Callum is from New Zealand and has been building gardens for 2 years…what I’m telling you is he has a nice body and an accent. Don’t judge me for calling it out. In addition to that, he wants to do something good with his life and make an impact that doesn’t revolve around his parent’s money.
As Sophia and Callum’s relationship changes, so does Sophia. She begins to realize just how different life is for those who live in Guyana and she realizes she wants to make a difference too. After she meets Riya, a fourteen year old girl who has a way with plants, Sophia comes up with an idea. I do have to say that Sophia isn’t stupid. She knows what she wants and she tries to get it and this is no different. She begins to develop an idea for a beauty line that revolves around the natural products in Guyana and in order to get it moving, she knows she is going to have to ask her dad for help. With that in mind, she begins to think of a way to get home so that she can sell him on the idea. Because Callum is the lead project manager who reports to Anne, he is also responsible for providing reports on Sophia’s progress and Sophia is counting on him to help her get home.
I loved seeing the change in Sophia and then ultimately the change in Sophia’s relationships with those around her. She definitely had some growing up to do and I don’t know what kind of person she would have turned out to be if she hadn’t gone on the trip. In my mind, this story is about Sophia finding out who she really is and what she is truly capable of.
If you haven’t read one of Leigh Ann Kopans’ books yet, I encourage you to do it as soon as you can. She writes real characters and wonderful stories that pull you right into the pages. She is one of the authors I have on my auto-buy list and I should mention that list is pretty exclusive so that should tell you something. While I mentioned that Sophia was in Solving for Ex, I don’t necessarily think you have to read that book before you read this one but please note that there are some references to things that happened in that book so if you are going to read both (which I absolutely recommend) you should read that one first. If you like a fun contemporary definitely check this out as soon as you can!
Sophia is very obviously spoiled. When her mother died, Sophia’s dad basically threw money and things at her and her brother Vincent to compensate and it essentially created a monster….and I mean this in the nicest way. I say this mostly because Sophia sees it and doesn’t call him out for it. I can’t really blame her for that either but when she takes things too far by expensing a birthday trip for her and a bunch of friends to Paris, her dad has had enough.
This is where I have mixed feelings about Sophia because Kopans does a wonderful job of showing us that she is someone who really just wants things back to the way they were when her mother was around and her father was more engaged in her life. Ever since he remarried, her dad has checked out even more and when he blows off her birthday (something that they had a bit of a tradition around) I couldn’t blame Sophia for holding it against him and making him pay.
When Sophia’s dad finds out just how much she spent on her party and he gives her an ultimatum which Anne, her stepmother, had a hand in coming up with. The ultimatum is she either spends a year doing service for I.D.I. (International Development Initiatives), a company Anne works for, or he will cut her off. That means regardless of her decision, her original plan of studying in Paris is off the table.
So clearly there isn’t really a choice to be made here so Sophia decides that she will head to Guyana and try to manipulate her father to try to get out of it as soon as she possibly can. Once she gets to where she is going Sophia realizes she is definitely in for a rough time. There is no electricity, the plumbing is questionable, and the food options aren’t what she is used to. Despite all that, the people she is to live with over the next year don’t seem that bad. The girls, Lena and Arielle, both understand what she is going through because it took them time to adjust when they came to Guyana so they do cut Sophia some slack.
Callum on the other hand isn’t as forgiving and immediately puts Sophia into the “spoiled” category (he’s not wrong) and expects the worst from Sophia. So…Callum is an interesting character. He has been in Guyana for two years and although his parents are rich, he prefers the life he has in Guyana to anything else. He is doing something he loves that he feels will bring a better life to those who live in the area…unfortunately his parents don’t see that and image is everything to them so he knows he is there on borrowed time because any day now they will make him come home.
Let me pause here to say that while Callum is somewhat standoffish to Sophia at first, their relationship changes over time. I loved the way that Kopans built this out because Callum had been burned before and while Sophia was used to guys falling over themselves for her, she needed a dose of Callum to bring her back to earth…or Guyana. I need to also tell you that Callum is from New Zealand and has been building gardens for 2 years…what I’m telling you is he has a nice body and an accent. Don’t judge me for calling it out. In addition to that, he wants to do something good with his life and make an impact that doesn’t revolve around his parent’s money.
As Sophia and Callum’s relationship changes, so does Sophia. She begins to realize just how different life is for those who live in Guyana and she realizes she wants to make a difference too. After she meets Riya, a fourteen year old girl who has a way with plants, Sophia comes up with an idea. I do have to say that Sophia isn’t stupid. She knows what she wants and she tries to get it and this is no different. She begins to develop an idea for a beauty line that revolves around the natural products in Guyana and in order to get it moving, she knows she is going to have to ask her dad for help. With that in mind, she begins to think of a way to get home so that she can sell him on the idea. Because Callum is the lead project manager who reports to Anne, he is also responsible for providing reports on Sophia’s progress and Sophia is counting on him to help her get home.
I loved seeing the change in Sophia and then ultimately the change in Sophia’s relationships with those around her. She definitely had some growing up to do and I don’t know what kind of person she would have turned out to be if she hadn’t gone on the trip. In my mind, this story is about Sophia finding out who she really is and what she is truly capable of.
If you haven’t read one of Leigh Ann Kopans’ books yet, I encourage you to do it as soon as you can. She writes real characters and wonderful stories that pull you right into the pages. She is one of the authors I have on my auto-buy list and I should mention that list is pretty exclusive so that should tell you something. While I mentioned that Sophia was in Solving for Ex, I don’t necessarily think you have to read that book before you read this one but please note that there are some references to things that happened in that book so if you are going to read both (which I absolutely recommend) you should read that one first. If you like a fun contemporary definitely check this out as soon as you can!
will-not-read
July 7, 2015I'd like someone to tell me where the fuck this village named 'Dabu' is located in Guyana. Please. Because in all my years I have never heard of it. And whether this author bothered to do any kind of research about Guyana before she wrote about "First World Problems"...
Want to read
August 9, 2014NEED
September 8, 2014
4.5/5
Originally posted at Fly to Fiction.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my thoughts in any way, nor am I being compensated for this review.
GUYYYSSSSS. You have NO idea how excited I was to finally be able to read this lovely book! I've been eagerly awaiting this book since I finished Solving for Ex, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I even wrote a song inspired by the book! Anyway, I'm happy to say First World Problems lived up to my expectations.
Of course, I must start out by talking about Sofia. In Solving for Ex, you're meant to dislike her. For the most part, I'd say you do. But First World Problems really changes the way you view her. Of course, you start off still not liking her. She's spoiled and bratty and everything you remember from SfE. But as the story progresses, you really start to see her change. Some of it is very subtle and/or slowly developed, and some of it occurs very obviously. They both work well for the different aspects of Sofia's character. Her character arc reminds me a lot of Lainey's character arc in The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes. That being said, of course, there were many moments when Sofia really annoyed me for one reason or another, even towards the middle/end. She's determined, but part of that also means she's incredibly stubborn. There were times when I wanted to shake her and just gahhh! Frustrating! But maybe that's the intended response; I'm not quite sure. The thing is, she really did change.
You can really see her change when she is finally able to get back home. Wow, what a difference that made. It's then that you especially see how much she's gone through and how different she is now. Yet she remains determined through everything she does, which pays off in the end. I just can't put into words you how well-done this part of the story is. It makes you start to view our world and our lifestyles in a different light. I can't even explain how impactful it is. It highlights Sofia's change in so many ways, and it's one of my favorite aspects of the story.
However, there was one aspect of her character change that I found to be really sudden. It was really the transition from her doing all the great stuff to please Callum and get a good report so she could go back home to suddenly realizing she really loves it and actually does like Callum, not just for show. The thing is, there was a part where I personally thought she had made that transition through Kopans' showing not telling. Then, it seemed like a few pages later, I was told that she was still just manipulating Callum. Then, a bit later in the book, she suddenly goes no, I actually do like this, and I'm not pretending anymore. Uhh...
Speaking of Callum, I love him, and I love how he's written as a character. Oftentimes, swoony guys are written to come off as nearly perfect. But Callum is different. He is completely flawed, and we know it. But just like Sofia, we come to see the other side of Callum. I love Callum because of good parts, but I also love Callum because he is flawed and imperfect and moody and everything, yet he's genuine, and he cares so much. And it's so real because every person you love in this world is like Sofia and Callum and all the characters in this book too: flawed, yet loved. And I can't tell you how powerful that message is. While it certainly exists in most books, for some reason, it really stuck out to me in this book. Maybe it's because of how stripped down the book is. When you take away all these prized possessions and are left with the bare basics, if that, you really view everything differently. You get to see who a person is when they have nothing to hide behind.
And Callum's relationship with Sofia is beautiful in the way it evolves throughout the story. It's so far from perfect, but I liked how it was slow-burning in the best way possible. They start off at great odds and for good reason. But their evolving relationship also serves to highlight the character development both of them go through. It's obvious they'll end up together, and it'll be happily ever after for them in the end, but it progresses at just the right pace, changing at the right moments as they correlate with the character's arc up to that point. (Also, can we talk about how interesting it is to learn about Sofia's thoughts on her past relationships?!)
I also really enjoyed the other characters in the story: Lena, Arielle, Anne, Riya, etc. Vincent serves as a nice reminder of who Sofia used to be, but it's also really nice to get a small glimpse into their side of the Solving for Ex story. It's a great way to tie the two together, though they're very different stories. In a similar way that Callum and Sofia's changing relationship shows how they're both changing, her relationship with Anne, her stepmother, also highlights Sofia's change throughout the book.
Arielle and Lena are interesting characters to say the least. It was interesting to see their interactions with both one another and with Sofia on a separate basis. Particularly at the beginning, it really went to highlight how foreign the situation and environment is to Sofia. So I don't really agree with how they react to some of her actions, but overall, I liked what they added to the story. The plot arc and interactions between Arielle and Lena were interesting, but I'm not sure why it didn't occur before. I mean, I get it, but it felt like they'd been in Guyana for a while, so I'm not quite sure what exactly brought about what happened between the two of them. Just something to think about...
And of course I have to mention Riya and the other girls, especially in terms of how they influence the story. It's really through this storyline that we see Sofia's transformation. She's completely dedicated to her/their project, and I think it's really great that Sofia's really trying to help them. I do have some qualms about it, but that's my interested-in-international-development part showing. I don't know...I do think what she's trying to do is great and beyond amazing, but at the same time, I wonder how it works into their culture and society. The Guyanese people don't seem to particularly want to be influenced by Western society and culture, and I'd be interested to see how the project will affect them in the future. Because yes, it's amazing for the girls. It's empowering and educational and it allows them to use their skills to help themselves and their families, but there's always more to an issue than that. (As you can tell, I'm really interested in this kind of stuff. Hence why I want to study International Relations/International Development.)
Which somehow brings me to one of my last points. This book has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of one of my own experiences. Three summers ago (summer 2012), I visited Brazil so I could see my family. But I also went to volunteer. It turns out, just a few minutes/blocks away from one of my uncles' apartments is one section of one the biggest favelas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And so, I spent one of the two months I was in Brazil teaching English to kids and teens in a church-run center. I can't tell you how much that experience changed the way I view the world. Have I given up my unnecessary possessions? No. But it really did change how I view myself in the world. It's an experience I will never forget. The teens I taught showed me so much love, and they really showed me that some things span across language barriers because in the end, at the heart of everything, we're all human, and we always find ways to communicate. It was beautiful, and it was also so heartbreaking to see the conditions under which they were living. A handful of the students have such potential, and it still breaks my heart to know that the world will likely never see that potential because they're poor and don't have the means. Unlike Sofia, I didn't have to live in the conditions they were living in, but even knowing it was like a bullet in my heart. I wasn't able to help them as much as Sofia was able to help Riya and the villagers in Guyana, but I hope I inspired someone to continue their education. I hope I inspired someone to learn. I hope I inspired someone to continue to study English. I admire Sofia's courage and determination to set up the project for the girls in Guyana because I wish I could've done something to help the people I met in that favela more than teaching them the bare bones of English in one month. And so I greatly connected to Sofia's story and her experiences.
(On a separate note: A few months after I got back home and got back to school, I learned that a large portion of the favela had been burned down. I also learned that the government was planning to get rid of the homes the residents had made, kicking out all the residents and leaving them to figure out what to do. Part of that included knocking down the center I had volunteered at. The government is planning to build a new Metro stop there for the Olympics (and at that time, supposedly the World Cup). The last I heard, most of the homes were knocked down, but the center hasn't been knocked down yet. More recently, I learned that one of the girls I taught gave birth to a baby boy. She's younger than I am. I can't necessarily say I'm surprised, but it's one of the issues facing residents in favelas. I do wish her happiness, but I can only imagine how different her life would be if she had been born into a different life.)
My only other qualm that I want to address really quickly is there are a couple of inconsistencies in the book, if I recall correctly. None of it is major, which is why I'm making this short and to the point. The one that stuck out to me the most was how Sofia started off being afraid of heights (when faced with the hammock). Then, later in the story, she claimed to love, or at the very least not be afraid of, heights. But again, it's just something small.
I really enjoyed this book, and I really hope a bunch of people will check out the book and love it too. It reminded me of many of my own experiences, and I treasure this book for it. The romance is perfect, but it's also secondary to Sofia's character growth and development, and I find that fact really valuable. Her growth is what really makes this book shine. It's thought-provoking, at least for me, and I hope to book push this when possible. Please check it out, especially if you read and enjoyed Solving for Ex but also if you haven't or didn't. This is a very different story in the best way possible.
Originally posted at Fly to Fiction.
Disclaimer: I received an eARC from the author. This did not affect my thoughts in any way, nor am I being compensated for this review.
GUYYYSSSSS. You have NO idea how excited I was to finally be able to read this lovely book! I've been eagerly awaiting this book since I finished Solving for Ex, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I even wrote a song inspired by the book! Anyway, I'm happy to say First World Problems lived up to my expectations.
Of course, I must start out by talking about Sofia. In Solving for Ex, you're meant to dislike her. For the most part, I'd say you do. But First World Problems really changes the way you view her. Of course, you start off still not liking her. She's spoiled and bratty and everything you remember from SfE. But as the story progresses, you really start to see her change. Some of it is very subtle and/or slowly developed, and some of it occurs very obviously. They both work well for the different aspects of Sofia's character. Her character arc reminds me a lot of Lainey's character arc in The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes. That being said, of course, there were many moments when Sofia really annoyed me for one reason or another, even towards the middle/end. She's determined, but part of that also means she's incredibly stubborn. There were times when I wanted to shake her and just gahhh! Frustrating! But maybe that's the intended response; I'm not quite sure. The thing is, she really did change.
You can really see her change when she is finally able to get back home. Wow, what a difference that made. It's then that you especially see how much she's gone through and how different she is now. Yet she remains determined through everything she does, which pays off in the end. I just can't put into words you how well-done this part of the story is. It makes you start to view our world and our lifestyles in a different light. I can't even explain how impactful it is. It highlights Sofia's change in so many ways, and it's one of my favorite aspects of the story.
However, there was one aspect of her character change that I found to be really sudden. It was really the transition from her doing all the great stuff to please Callum and get a good report so she could go back home to suddenly realizing she really loves it and actually does like Callum, not just for show. The thing is, there was a part where I personally thought she had made that transition through Kopans' showing not telling. Then, it seemed like a few pages later, I was told that she was still just manipulating Callum. Then, a bit later in the book, she suddenly goes no, I actually do like this, and I'm not pretending anymore. Uhh...
Speaking of Callum, I love him, and I love how he's written as a character. Oftentimes, swoony guys are written to come off as nearly perfect. But Callum is different. He is completely flawed, and we know it. But just like Sofia, we come to see the other side of Callum. I love Callum because of good parts, but I also love Callum because he is flawed and imperfect and moody and everything, yet he's genuine, and he cares so much. And it's so real because every person you love in this world is like Sofia and Callum and all the characters in this book too: flawed, yet loved. And I can't tell you how powerful that message is. While it certainly exists in most books, for some reason, it really stuck out to me in this book. Maybe it's because of how stripped down the book is. When you take away all these prized possessions and are left with the bare basics, if that, you really view everything differently. You get to see who a person is when they have nothing to hide behind.
And Callum's relationship with Sofia is beautiful in the way it evolves throughout the story. It's so far from perfect, but I liked how it was slow-burning in the best way possible. They start off at great odds and for good reason. But their evolving relationship also serves to highlight the character development both of them go through. It's obvious they'll end up together, and it'll be happily ever after for them in the end, but it progresses at just the right pace, changing at the right moments as they correlate with the character's arc up to that point. (Also, can we talk about how interesting it is to learn about Sofia's thoughts on her past relationships?!)
I also really enjoyed the other characters in the story: Lena, Arielle, Anne, Riya, etc. Vincent serves as a nice reminder of who Sofia used to be, but it's also really nice to get a small glimpse into their side of the Solving for Ex story. It's a great way to tie the two together, though they're very different stories. In a similar way that Callum and Sofia's changing relationship shows how they're both changing, her relationship with Anne, her stepmother, also highlights Sofia's change throughout the book.
Arielle and Lena are interesting characters to say the least. It was interesting to see their interactions with both one another and with Sofia on a separate basis. Particularly at the beginning, it really went to highlight how foreign the situation and environment is to Sofia. So I don't really agree with how they react to some of her actions, but overall, I liked what they added to the story. The plot arc and interactions between Arielle and Lena were interesting, but I'm not sure why it didn't occur before. I mean, I get it, but it felt like they'd been in Guyana for a while, so I'm not quite sure what exactly brought about what happened between the two of them. Just something to think about...
And of course I have to mention Riya and the other girls, especially in terms of how they influence the story. It's really through this storyline that we see Sofia's transformation. She's completely dedicated to her/their project, and I think it's really great that Sofia's really trying to help them. I do have some qualms about it, but that's my interested-in-international-development part showing. I don't know...I do think what she's trying to do is great and beyond amazing, but at the same time, I wonder how it works into their culture and society. The Guyanese people don't seem to particularly want to be influenced by Western society and culture, and I'd be interested to see how the project will affect them in the future. Because yes, it's amazing for the girls. It's empowering and educational and it allows them to use their skills to help themselves and their families, but there's always more to an issue than that. (As you can tell, I'm really interested in this kind of stuff. Hence why I want to study International Relations/International Development.)
Which somehow brings me to one of my last points. This book has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of one of my own experiences. Three summers ago (summer 2012), I visited Brazil so I could see my family. But I also went to volunteer. It turns out, just a few minutes/blocks away from one of my uncles' apartments is one section of one the biggest favelas in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And so, I spent one of the two months I was in Brazil teaching English to kids and teens in a church-run center. I can't tell you how much that experience changed the way I view the world. Have I given up my unnecessary possessions? No. But it really did change how I view myself in the world. It's an experience I will never forget. The teens I taught showed me so much love, and they really showed me that some things span across language barriers because in the end, at the heart of everything, we're all human, and we always find ways to communicate. It was beautiful, and it was also so heartbreaking to see the conditions under which they were living. A handful of the students have such potential, and it still breaks my heart to know that the world will likely never see that potential because they're poor and don't have the means. Unlike Sofia, I didn't have to live in the conditions they were living in, but even knowing it was like a bullet in my heart. I wasn't able to help them as much as Sofia was able to help Riya and the villagers in Guyana, but I hope I inspired someone to continue their education. I hope I inspired someone to learn. I hope I inspired someone to continue to study English. I admire Sofia's courage and determination to set up the project for the girls in Guyana because I wish I could've done something to help the people I met in that favela more than teaching them the bare bones of English in one month. And so I greatly connected to Sofia's story and her experiences.
(On a separate note: A few months after I got back home and got back to school, I learned that a large portion of the favela had been burned down. I also learned that the government was planning to get rid of the homes the residents had made, kicking out all the residents and leaving them to figure out what to do. Part of that included knocking down the center I had volunteered at. The government is planning to build a new Metro stop there for the Olympics (and at that time, supposedly the World Cup). The last I heard, most of the homes were knocked down, but the center hasn't been knocked down yet. More recently, I learned that one of the girls I taught gave birth to a baby boy. She's younger than I am. I can't necessarily say I'm surprised, but it's one of the issues facing residents in favelas. I do wish her happiness, but I can only imagine how different her life would be if she had been born into a different life.)
My only other qualm that I want to address really quickly is there are a couple of inconsistencies in the book, if I recall correctly. None of it is major, which is why I'm making this short and to the point. The one that stuck out to me the most was how Sofia started off being afraid of heights (when faced with the hammock). Then, later in the story, she claimed to love, or at the very least not be afraid of, heights. But again, it's just something small.
I really enjoyed this book, and I really hope a bunch of people will check out the book and love it too. It reminded me of many of my own experiences, and I treasure this book for it. The romance is perfect, but it's also secondary to Sofia's character growth and development, and I find that fact really valuable. Her growth is what really makes this book shine. It's thought-provoking, at least for me, and I hope to book push this when possible. Please check it out, especially if you read and enjoyed Solving for Ex but also if you haven't or didn't. This is a very different story in the best way possible.
January 3, 2019
You guys know how much I loved Solving for Ex, so of course when I heard she was writing a companion about Sofia getting what was coming to her, I had to have it. And it did not disappoint.
This was interesting to begin with, because if you've read Solving for Ex, you already have an opinion of Sofia. And let's face it, it's not a pretty one. Which means its going to take a lot more for her to win you over, to prove that she's changed. I will say, I admire that Sofia knows what she is and doesn't try to hide it. She knows that she's manipulative, and she has perfected it down to an art form. She knows her father just throws money at her and her twin, Vincent, to "make up" for her mother dying, but she isn't above taking the money and making him pay for mentally checking out of their life. But when Sofia makes him pay a little too much, her dad takes notice and decide he's had enough. So, he cancels her year abroad in Paris and makes her go volunteer for her stepmother's company in third-world Guyana.
Sofia is very hard to like in the beginning, but she's supposed to be that way. She's used to being the queen everywhere she goes. She's used to her money and looks being able to get her everything she wants. But, now she no longer has her daddy's money, and for some reason, her usual flirtations aren't working on the only boy in this awful place, Callum. But Sofia knows how to play her cards right: play along enough for Callum to send good reports to her stepmother, and she can get out of this place early. But she never thought that she would fall for Callum and Guyana.
Seeing Sofia struggle in the beginning was, I admit, humorous. But I have to hand it to her, she did survive. Here she is, thrown into a place with no running water, no toilets, much less any of the luxuries she was used to. Heck, I don't know if I could do that well. But Sofia proved that she wasn't just a dumb cheerleader type persona (cue Taylor Swift...I got nothing in my brain...at least that's what people say....mmhmm). She decided that she was going to stick it out and prove to everyone that she wasn't just a "princess". And she did it.
And Callum.......I loved watching their relationship progress from not being able to stand each other to falling in love. It was definitely fun and entertaining to watch them banter back and forth, but also had its sweet moments. I loved that the relationship didn't progress too fast, but worked perfectly for the book, even adding to the plot instead of taking away from it like I so often see romances do sometimes in books.
I also really loved all the characters in this book, from the bus driver to the other housemates, to the little girls that Sofia falls in love with in the town. It's obvious that a lot of research went into writing this book, to write the town and the people and the problems they face so accurately.
But I think most of all, I loved seeing how much Sofia changed. From being the spoiled princess that she was, to actually seeing the townspeople and their troubles, to wanting to help them. It wasn't an unrealistic change that happened over night, but one that happened gradually, so that we could really see that she was genuine.
So yes. I looooved this book. I loved everything about it. And while I may never love it more than Solving for Ex, it was pretty darn close. Plus, I hear the finished version has pictures. I mean, you can't beat that.
I received a copy from the author, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
This was interesting to begin with, because if you've read Solving for Ex, you already have an opinion of Sofia. And let's face it, it's not a pretty one. Which means its going to take a lot more for her to win you over, to prove that she's changed. I will say, I admire that Sofia knows what she is and doesn't try to hide it. She knows that she's manipulative, and she has perfected it down to an art form. She knows her father just throws money at her and her twin, Vincent, to "make up" for her mother dying, but she isn't above taking the money and making him pay for mentally checking out of their life. But when Sofia makes him pay a little too much, her dad takes notice and decide he's had enough. So, he cancels her year abroad in Paris and makes her go volunteer for her stepmother's company in third-world Guyana.
Sofia is very hard to like in the beginning, but she's supposed to be that way. She's used to being the queen everywhere she goes. She's used to her money and looks being able to get her everything she wants. But, now she no longer has her daddy's money, and for some reason, her usual flirtations aren't working on the only boy in this awful place, Callum. But Sofia knows how to play her cards right: play along enough for Callum to send good reports to her stepmother, and she can get out of this place early. But she never thought that she would fall for Callum and Guyana.
Seeing Sofia struggle in the beginning was, I admit, humorous. But I have to hand it to her, she did survive. Here she is, thrown into a place with no running water, no toilets, much less any of the luxuries she was used to. Heck, I don't know if I could do that well. But Sofia proved that she wasn't just a dumb cheerleader type persona (cue Taylor Swift...I got nothing in my brain...at least that's what people say....mmhmm). She decided that she was going to stick it out and prove to everyone that she wasn't just a "princess". And she did it.
And Callum.......I loved watching their relationship progress from not being able to stand each other to falling in love. It was definitely fun and entertaining to watch them banter back and forth, but also had its sweet moments. I loved that the relationship didn't progress too fast, but worked perfectly for the book, even adding to the plot instead of taking away from it like I so often see romances do sometimes in books.
I also really loved all the characters in this book, from the bus driver to the other housemates, to the little girls that Sofia falls in love with in the town. It's obvious that a lot of research went into writing this book, to write the town and the people and the problems they face so accurately.
But I think most of all, I loved seeing how much Sofia changed. From being the spoiled princess that she was, to actually seeing the townspeople and their troubles, to wanting to help them. It wasn't an unrealistic change that happened over night, but one that happened gradually, so that we could really see that she was genuine.
So yes. I looooved this book. I loved everything about it. And while I may never love it more than Solving for Ex, it was pretty darn close. Plus, I hear the finished version has pictures. I mean, you can't beat that.
I received a copy from the author, this did not affect my honest opinion.
This review first appears on The NerdHerd Reads
September 15, 2014
Find this review and more at
kimberlyfaye reads
.
Leigh Ann Kopans hit my radar with Solving for Ex. It was such a great YA contemporary. I loved the characters (except the ones you aren't supposed to love) and all the little nerdy bits in it made my geek heart happy. When I learned she was writing "mean girl" Sofia's book as a companion novel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Oh my word. I loved this book so hard. I didn't think I would wind up a Sofia fan, but I was so very wrong.
After spoiled Sofia blows more money on a birthday party than I can comprehend spending my life, her father finally puts his foot firmly down and tells her she's not spending her gap year in Europe like she planned. Instead, her mother-in-law has signed her up for a year-long service trip to Guyana. For a pampered princess like Sofia, this is pretty much the end of the world. She decides she'll only do it as long as she needs to and then she'll convince her dad to bring her home early. After dealing with bugs and snakes, monkey poo, back-breaking work and living with no indoor plumbing or electricity, it all seems worse than she could have even imagined. After her dad refuses to bring her home after her first attempt to sway him, she decides to play along, thinking that maybe glowing reports home from the project manager Callum will help her cause. Little does she know, the time spent working with Callum will lead her to a new passion, a new romance and a new-and-improved overall attitude.
As you can probably imagine, Sofia wasn't the most likable character at the beginning of this book. She was spoiled, prissy and self-centered. She was good at manipulating people to get her way. These are all the things Callum sees in her when she first arrives in Guyana. Callum couldn't be any different from Sofia if he tried. He was a giver. He cared about others and frequently put their needs in front of his. He was such a sweet and swoony guy, even in the beginning when he was fairly intolerant of Sofia's antics. My love for him only grew as the book went on. He wasn't perfect. He had a temper and could be pretty judgmental, but it was obvious he had a reason for it. Once his past came out, it was abundantly clear.
I loved Sofia and Callum together from the start. I liked how Callum insisted on helping Sofia even though it was obvious she drove him about half nuts. He spent a large part of the book fighting his feelings for her, thinking she was no different than the last spoiled brat to show up at his camp. But they had all these great little funny (and sometimes sweet) moments together and the feelings between them developed so naturally that it felt completely believable to me. It was never forced. I loved their banter. They were easy to root for, even with all the ups and downs.
As wonderful as the story was, the characters were even better. Sofia, Callum, Lena and Arielle are all brilliant in their own way. Each of them brought something very special to the book and I can't imagine it without them. They made quite a great little team there in Guyana. I wouldn't be opposed to a little more of Lena and Arielle's story (hint, hint).
Sofia's transformation during the course of this story was beyond incredible. The spoiled brat who was afraid to get her hands dirty at the beginning of the book became a strong and independent woman by the end. She took a look at the lives around her and found a way to make an impact. By finding something important to her AND the others, she truly made a giant difference in the lives of those she worked with. The fact that she did it in such an old Sofia kind of way made it even more realistic. She didn't completely forget who she was. She just found a better version of herself along the way.
I've done my share of service projects and volunteer efforts, but I can't even begin to comprehend what it takes to go on a year-long journey like Sofia did in this book. I'm not a spoiled brat, but I definitely have my prissy moments, so the thought of living without indoor plumbing and electricity in an area filled with snakes and mosquitos isn't high on my list of things I ever want to do. It definitely takes a special type of person to do this, as Sofia found out. It would definitely put life in perspective. All that said, there was something about this book that made me want to do more and give back. I'm not hopping on a plane to Guyana anytime soon, but Leigh Ann definitely got me thinking.
There are so many great things about this book that I could keep talking about all of them for hours. I can't think of a thing I would change about First World Problems. From the characters to the setting to the humor and the romance, this book had it all. Once I picked it up, I literally couldn't walk away from it. The world-building was so vivid that I felt like I was right there with Sofia the entire time. I just can't say enough about how great this book is. I can't wait to see what Leigh Ann gives us next. In the meantime, I think I'll go check out her backlist...
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Leigh Ann Kopans hit my radar with Solving for Ex. It was such a great YA contemporary. I loved the characters (except the ones you aren't supposed to love) and all the little nerdy bits in it made my geek heart happy. When I learned she was writing "mean girl" Sofia's book as a companion novel, I jumped at the chance to read it. Oh my word. I loved this book so hard. I didn't think I would wind up a Sofia fan, but I was so very wrong.
After spoiled Sofia blows more money on a birthday party than I can comprehend spending my life, her father finally puts his foot firmly down and tells her she's not spending her gap year in Europe like she planned. Instead, her mother-in-law has signed her up for a year-long service trip to Guyana. For a pampered princess like Sofia, this is pretty much the end of the world. She decides she'll only do it as long as she needs to and then she'll convince her dad to bring her home early. After dealing with bugs and snakes, monkey poo, back-breaking work and living with no indoor plumbing or electricity, it all seems worse than she could have even imagined. After her dad refuses to bring her home after her first attempt to sway him, she decides to play along, thinking that maybe glowing reports home from the project manager Callum will help her cause. Little does she know, the time spent working with Callum will lead her to a new passion, a new romance and a new-and-improved overall attitude.
As you can probably imagine, Sofia wasn't the most likable character at the beginning of this book. She was spoiled, prissy and self-centered. She was good at manipulating people to get her way. These are all the things Callum sees in her when she first arrives in Guyana. Callum couldn't be any different from Sofia if he tried. He was a giver. He cared about others and frequently put their needs in front of his. He was such a sweet and swoony guy, even in the beginning when he was fairly intolerant of Sofia's antics. My love for him only grew as the book went on. He wasn't perfect. He had a temper and could be pretty judgmental, but it was obvious he had a reason for it. Once his past came out, it was abundantly clear.
I loved Sofia and Callum together from the start. I liked how Callum insisted on helping Sofia even though it was obvious she drove him about half nuts. He spent a large part of the book fighting his feelings for her, thinking she was no different than the last spoiled brat to show up at his camp. But they had all these great little funny (and sometimes sweet) moments together and the feelings between them developed so naturally that it felt completely believable to me. It was never forced. I loved their banter. They were easy to root for, even with all the ups and downs.
As wonderful as the story was, the characters were even better. Sofia, Callum, Lena and Arielle are all brilliant in their own way. Each of them brought something very special to the book and I can't imagine it without them. They made quite a great little team there in Guyana. I wouldn't be opposed to a little more of Lena and Arielle's story (hint, hint).
Sofia's transformation during the course of this story was beyond incredible. The spoiled brat who was afraid to get her hands dirty at the beginning of the book became a strong and independent woman by the end. She took a look at the lives around her and found a way to make an impact. By finding something important to her AND the others, she truly made a giant difference in the lives of those she worked with. The fact that she did it in such an old Sofia kind of way made it even more realistic. She didn't completely forget who she was. She just found a better version of herself along the way.
I've done my share of service projects and volunteer efforts, but I can't even begin to comprehend what it takes to go on a year-long journey like Sofia did in this book. I'm not a spoiled brat, but I definitely have my prissy moments, so the thought of living without indoor plumbing and electricity in an area filled with snakes and mosquitos isn't high on my list of things I ever want to do. It definitely takes a special type of person to do this, as Sofia found out. It would definitely put life in perspective. All that said, there was something about this book that made me want to do more and give back. I'm not hopping on a plane to Guyana anytime soon, but Leigh Ann definitely got me thinking.
There are so many great things about this book that I could keep talking about all of them for hours. I can't think of a thing I would change about First World Problems. From the characters to the setting to the humor and the romance, this book had it all. Once I picked it up, I literally couldn't walk away from it. The world-building was so vivid that I felt like I was right there with Sofia the entire time. I just can't say enough about how great this book is. I can't wait to see what Leigh Ann gives us next. In the meantime, I think I'll go check out her backlist...
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2014
First World Problems was a positively delightful novel that is sure to induce some goofy grins and some swoony sighs from readers. It's cute and fluffy, but it also sends a brilliant message to teenagers and adults alike.
There is something incredibly satisfying about reading a book that shows the growth and journey of a spoiled brat into a mature young woman. I'm always on the look-out for books that tackle that, so it was obvious that I was going to pick up First World Problems. Additionally, I pretty much despised Sophia in the companion novel, Solving for Ex, so I was curious to see how the author would redeem her character. And she did it wonderfully. Sophia underwent so much development and growth in this book. It was fun watching her go from this whiny teenager into someone who cared about an issue and wanted to do everything she possibly could to help solve that issue. She started off a bit frustrating with how she much fought to return to the US from Guyana, but over the course of the book, she found people who inspired her and a cause that she was very passionate about. It was a subtle growth, but it was believable. I loved the secondary characters in First World Problems. They were all wonderfully and realistically developed. They weren't secondary characters that were left to the sidelines. They all played a pivotal role in helping Sophia grow. My favorite character has to be the little local girl Sophia befriended in Guyana, Riya. I was kind of in awe of Riya because she made her own beauty products using local flora. It was quite impressive and when she and Sophia became a team, they were unstoppable.
Sophia also had her chance at romance with Callum, who was both infuriating and swoon-worthy. He was so mean to Sophia at first, because he had these preconceived ideas about girls like her who come from wealthy families, but he too underwent some growth whereby he learned not to judge people from their appearance. Their romance was so lovely. It started off antagonistically, and then they slowly started to work things out, which ultimately developed into something more. I loved their little arguments in the beginning, but I loved it when they worked together. I also have to say kudos to the author for implementing sex in First World Problems and doing it in a tasteful way. While the romance was definitely a great factor in the book, my favorite part was the setting. I'm not going to lie. I knew nothing about Guyana although I had heard of it before. Life their seemed really rough, especially through the eyes of Sophia. I probably would have had the same reaction as she did if I had to sleep in a hammock and be fed iguana meat, but I grew to love Guyana along with Sophia. I felt like I was there along with her learning the beauty that lay beyond the rough exterior. There is this saying about how reading books can be equivalent to traveling the world and LeighAnn Kopans definitely helped me do that through this book.
As you can tell, First World Problems was a winner for me. If you like sweet contemporary novels that also spread very strong messages about growing up, this is the perfect book for you. I've read two books by LeighAnn Kopans, and I've been thoroughly pleased both times. She's definitely an author who shines at the genre.
October 23, 2014
I think it will be good for you, Sofia, to see how most of the world lives. To understand exactly how privileged your situation is.
On a normal day this suggestion would probably not sound so bad, after all you would get to travel and see how others live. But if you had just maxed out your credit card throwing yourself a party, spending half a million dollars, these words are probably the very last things you wanted to hear. Unfortunately for Sofia, these words don't mean a travelling holiday, they mean a gap year in Guyana working in a minute village, helping the villagers out, her plans to go to Paris most definitely put on hold.
Those of us who read Solving For Ex will remember Sofia and know that working is the last thing in the world she would ever want to do. When I began reading First World Problems I found it hard to actually like Sofia, I even tweeted to Leigh Ann about it, Sofia really comes across as an extremely spoilt person, and her attitude towards others matched her lifestyle perfectly. However, having such awful feelings for her in the beginning, made it easier to really see her throughout the book, and see the changes she makes as a person. One of the first instances where I did actually feel sorry for her was her first real meal there. She eats with abandon, never really feeling so hungry before, and really enjoys what she is eating until she is told what it is.......iguana, this little dude below.
I would have had the exact same reaction as she did if I was told I had just eaten iguana.
First World Problems is a book that really makes you feel things, that gets you emotionally invested in not only the protagonists, or the secondary characters, but every single character that you meet. Leigh Ann has done a great job of ensuring you become emotionally invested in the characters and their situation, but also making a not so great location sound picturesque and quaint....if you ignore the hard work, and the monkey poo ;)
First World Problems really opens you eyes to what you have got and how lucky we are to actually have the luxuries of internet, computers etc, but it also draws you in with the romance, friendships, and occasional humorous writing.
Some things that I liked about First World Problems were the ending, we actually got an epilogue that takes place a few years later, so we get to see what happened after the story ends and what is being done. I also loved the images that were placed throughout the pages, they added a little extra touch to the story and allowed us to see what was being talked about or being planned.
First World Problems was a page turner from start to finish, and as usual I look forward to reading more of Leigh Ann's work.
September 5, 2014
Loved this one! Perfect comfort read that made me feel happier about things and this awful world sometimes!
I'm not the biggest contemporary fan, as I keep saying over and over, but I keep finding lil gems here and there that make me realize I might not love the genre, but I need to keep giving it a try.
First World Problems is a companion novel to Solving For Ex, one of my fave contemporaries of the year, so when I got the chance to get an ARC for this one sent by the author (thanks LeighAnn!) I jumped at it!
We first met Sofia in Solving For Ex and she was not a nice or sympathetic character, she's the one you love to hate, and she hasn't really improved much by the time we meet her again in this book, but since this is her story, we get to see what's behind that mean girl face of hers.
It all starts with Sofia going a bit overboard with a credit card (a bit = waaay too much) and her father decides that he needs to put a stop to her selfishness and sense of entitlement, so between him and his wife (Sophia's stepmom) they decide to send her to Guyana, to do community service work to help the people there into sustainable development in very dire situations.
It goes without saying, she rages, cajoles and tries every trick in her book to avoid it, but there is sent to the middle of the jungle to join a group of young people trying to make a difference.
The character development of Sofia during this book was fantastic! We meet her at first and we know she's the spoiled and entitled brat from the previous book and we're glad to see her dumped into a tough place and hope she'll be taught a lesson. And she does get her lesson and we also get one, in character development, cause from a character that I couldn't stand, little by little I was give a character I wanted to peel layers from and a character I wanted to cheer for and finally a character to feel proud of!
I loved the other characters in the book, Callum and Arielle and Lena. They were all quite well rounded up and I couldn't help but love the hate to truce to love between Callum and Sofia, and the way she found friends in Arielle and Lena, despite each others reservations.
Another thing that I loved and really made the book work for me was how realistic the whole setting of Guyana felt and read. You just feel like you are there, from the latrines, to the chicken of the trees to the shit flinging! I loved the descriptions of the treks through the jungle, the work in the gardens, the indian style cooking, the preparation of handmade cosmetics... And add to that the lovely drawings scattered through the book (not in the ARC, but yes in the finished copy) and you get yourself a fantastic and vivid setting.
If you loved contemporaries, you must add this one to your list and if you don't, give it a try, it might surprise you! Still a bit undecided between 4 to 4.5 stars, but planning a re-read already!
I'm not the biggest contemporary fan, as I keep saying over and over, but I keep finding lil gems here and there that make me realize I might not love the genre, but I need to keep giving it a try.
First World Problems is a companion novel to Solving For Ex, one of my fave contemporaries of the year, so when I got the chance to get an ARC for this one sent by the author (thanks LeighAnn!) I jumped at it!
We first met Sofia in Solving For Ex and she was not a nice or sympathetic character, she's the one you love to hate, and she hasn't really improved much by the time we meet her again in this book, but since this is her story, we get to see what's behind that mean girl face of hers.
It all starts with Sofia going a bit overboard with a credit card (a bit = waaay too much) and her father decides that he needs to put a stop to her selfishness and sense of entitlement, so between him and his wife (Sophia's stepmom) they decide to send her to Guyana, to do community service work to help the people there into sustainable development in very dire situations.
It goes without saying, she rages, cajoles and tries every trick in her book to avoid it, but there is sent to the middle of the jungle to join a group of young people trying to make a difference.
The character development of Sofia during this book was fantastic! We meet her at first and we know she's the spoiled and entitled brat from the previous book and we're glad to see her dumped into a tough place and hope she'll be taught a lesson. And she does get her lesson and we also get one, in character development, cause from a character that I couldn't stand, little by little I was give a character I wanted to peel layers from and a character I wanted to cheer for and finally a character to feel proud of!
I loved the other characters in the book, Callum and Arielle and Lena. They were all quite well rounded up and I couldn't help but love the hate to truce to love between Callum and Sofia, and the way she found friends in Arielle and Lena, despite each others reservations.
Another thing that I loved and really made the book work for me was how realistic the whole setting of Guyana felt and read. You just feel like you are there, from the latrines, to the chicken of the trees to the shit flinging! I loved the descriptions of the treks through the jungle, the work in the gardens, the indian style cooking, the preparation of handmade cosmetics... And add to that the lovely drawings scattered through the book (not in the ARC, but yes in the finished copy) and you get yourself a fantastic and vivid setting.
If you loved contemporaries, you must add this one to your list and if you don't, give it a try, it might surprise you! Still a bit undecided between 4 to 4.5 stars, but planning a re-read already!
September 11, 2014
This review is going to be slightly shorter than normal, just because I have been incredibly busy lately. I meant to have this review up a few days ago, but a lot of things keep getting in the way. With that out of the way, lets start talking about First World Problems. I absolutely loved this book. I was able to read it quite quickly, even with everything I have going on, which is always a huge plus. I don’t like books that seem to be drawn out when I am busy with a lot of other things.
Leigh Ann did an incredible job with pretty much every aspect of the book. There were times I did find myself getting annoyed with Sofia, especially early on. But with her attitude towards things, it is really hard not to let her snob like behavior get to you. I feel like it’s definitely what Leigh Ann wanted to portray Sofia as early on, because the amount of character growth that Sofia goes through by the end of the book is quite phenomenal. Some might think that the idea of going through the cycle of being incredibly spoiled, and coming to respect the fact that you have a life that is so much better than most people in the world might be a little cliché, but I feel like Leigh Ann really does an amazing job with the story and it really did end up feeling unique and extremely enjoyable to read.
It was just great to see how Sofia adapted to living somewhere so unlike what she was use too. I feel like it would be hard for anyone to adapt to that, but she tended to make things more dramatic than they ever needed to be. I loved that over time, she really came to appreciate the people around her, and actually want to do what she could to help them.
I’m not really going to go into the relationship aspect of the story. While it plays a role, I feel like there were so many more important aspects of the story, especially in regards to Sofia. For all of you that are interested in the romance aspect, I would just say that it was a good part of the story. I didn’t find it to be captivating or anything, but it was a nice addition to a story that already has a lot of great aspects.
I really hope you all will check out this book. I can’t wait to read more of Leigh Ann’s works in the future. If you haven’t read any of her books, this is a great one to start with! While I had the few minor issues with the relationship, and also trying to relate to Sofia early on, I loved where this story ended up and I am glad that I took the time to read it. Hopefully you all will enjoy it as much as I did.
Leigh Ann did an incredible job with pretty much every aspect of the book. There were times I did find myself getting annoyed with Sofia, especially early on. But with her attitude towards things, it is really hard not to let her snob like behavior get to you. I feel like it’s definitely what Leigh Ann wanted to portray Sofia as early on, because the amount of character growth that Sofia goes through by the end of the book is quite phenomenal. Some might think that the idea of going through the cycle of being incredibly spoiled, and coming to respect the fact that you have a life that is so much better than most people in the world might be a little cliché, but I feel like Leigh Ann really does an amazing job with the story and it really did end up feeling unique and extremely enjoyable to read.
It was just great to see how Sofia adapted to living somewhere so unlike what she was use too. I feel like it would be hard for anyone to adapt to that, but she tended to make things more dramatic than they ever needed to be. I loved that over time, she really came to appreciate the people around her, and actually want to do what she could to help them.
I’m not really going to go into the relationship aspect of the story. While it plays a role, I feel like there were so many more important aspects of the story, especially in regards to Sofia. For all of you that are interested in the romance aspect, I would just say that it was a good part of the story. I didn’t find it to be captivating or anything, but it was a nice addition to a story that already has a lot of great aspects.
I really hope you all will check out this book. I can’t wait to read more of Leigh Ann’s works in the future. If you haven’t read any of her books, this is a great one to start with! While I had the few minor issues with the relationship, and also trying to relate to Sofia early on, I loved where this story ended up and I am glad that I took the time to read it. Hopefully you all will enjoy it as much as I did.
April 22, 2016
2.5 stars. There were things I liked about this a lot, and things I didn't like. They combine to a decidedly middle of the road rating.
What I liked:
- The writing. It's compelling and fun and generally very readable.
- The relationship between Sofia and Callum. It's sweet and slow burning and they-hate-each-other-but-will-totally-end-up-together-y.
- The setting. It's rare enough to find young adult novels set in South America, but this is definitely the first novel I've ever come across that's set in Guyana!
- The humour. This was pretty damned funny a lot of the time.
- Sofia's character development.
What I didn't like:
- Sofia. While I liked her character development, I REALLY didn't like Sofia herself until the last handful of pages. She's an abrasive, grating spoiled-little-rich-girl character and I really struggled to see past that, even when she'd "redeemed" herself. I wanted her to fall in love with Guyana as it was, not constantly be seeking ways to improve it in the ways that SHE thought it needed improving. I wanted her to hack off her hair with a machete and not care about her appearance and want to do a degree in development and sustainability. I wanted her to go home asking to do the whole thing again with another community in another country. And while I got development, I didn't get those things. Though perhaps my hopes were set too high.
- There were some weird inconsistencies. At first, it says Sofia spent $100,000 on her 18th birthday party. A few pages later, it's $500,000. And Sofia tells us repeatedly that she's 5'8" and that Callum's about six inches taller than her, but she's constantly saying he's not a tall guy. Um. 6'2" isn't exactly short... And in the beginning, Sofia's so scared of heights that she can't fathom sleeping in a hammock. But fast forward 200 pages and she's totally okay with heights, including scaling a waterfall?!?!
- It felt a little white saviour-y. If it had been the girls in the community going to Sofia and being all "Hey, we have this cool idea but we don't know how to make it happen. Can you help?", it would have been different. But instead it's a rich spoiled white girl coming up with the idea and utilising the local community to make it happen. Sure, it improves their quality of life and gives them a degree of empowerment. But it still felt white saviour-y to me.
So yeah. I liked it? But I also didn't??? Basically, I dunno, you guys. I dunno.
What I liked:
- The writing. It's compelling and fun and generally very readable.
- The relationship between Sofia and Callum. It's sweet and slow burning and they-hate-each-other-but-will-totally-end-up-together-y.
- The setting. It's rare enough to find young adult novels set in South America, but this is definitely the first novel I've ever come across that's set in Guyana!
- The humour. This was pretty damned funny a lot of the time.
- Sofia's character development.
What I didn't like:
- Sofia. While I liked her character development, I REALLY didn't like Sofia herself until the last handful of pages. She's an abrasive, grating spoiled-little-rich-girl character and I really struggled to see past that, even when she'd "redeemed" herself. I wanted her to fall in love with Guyana as it was, not constantly be seeking ways to improve it in the ways that SHE thought it needed improving. I wanted her to hack off her hair with a machete and not care about her appearance and want to do a degree in development and sustainability. I wanted her to go home asking to do the whole thing again with another community in another country. And while I got development, I didn't get those things. Though perhaps my hopes were set too high.
- There were some weird inconsistencies. At first, it says Sofia spent $100,000 on her 18th birthday party. A few pages later, it's $500,000. And Sofia tells us repeatedly that she's 5'8" and that Callum's about six inches taller than her, but she's constantly saying he's not a tall guy. Um. 6'2" isn't exactly short... And in the beginning, Sofia's so scared of heights that she can't fathom sleeping in a hammock. But fast forward 200 pages and she's totally okay with heights, including scaling a waterfall?!?!
- It felt a little white saviour-y. If it had been the girls in the community going to Sofia and being all "Hey, we have this cool idea but we don't know how to make it happen. Can you help?", it would have been different. But instead it's a rich spoiled white girl coming up with the idea and utilising the local community to make it happen. Sure, it improves their quality of life and gives them a degree of empowerment. But it still felt white saviour-y to me.
So yeah. I liked it? But I also didn't??? Basically, I dunno, you guys. I dunno.
September 28, 2014
Character development. Those are the words I think of as I finish this book. Sofia amazed me. I was so afraid she was going to be a spoiled brat the entire book, but she changed. She completely changed and it was so wonderful and surprising to see.
Sofia, at first, was a "princess." She got everything she wanted.. until her dad became tired of the way she acted. She had spent a ridiculous amount of money on a birthday party and he decided that she needed to learn a lesson-- so he sent her to Guyana.
At first she was resistant to everything about Guyana-- the people, the living conditions, the food, the lack of everything we are used to having. I really enjoyed reading about how she adapted to everything. Her mind was opened up to these people and the help that they needed.
I was so worried that she would somehow convince her dad to get her a flight home (or that he would bring her home) before she was able to find a way to help the people there. I won't tell you if that actually happens-- you'll need to read that for yourself-- but I must say that I loved the book overall.
I really liked the other characters; particularly Callum. He was so passionate about helping the people of Guyana find ways to grow food. His relationship with Sofia was very sweet. Their friendship (and maybe something more? You'll have to read it and see...) was so enjoyable to read.
The fact that this book was, for the most part, set in Guyana made it very different from most contemporaries. There were no catty girls to spread rumors, and I was incredibly thankful for that. The story was about Sofia turning into a mature and respectable woman. The ideas she comes up with for the people of Guyana are so clever.
I really loved this book and think you will, too.
Sofia, at first, was a "princess." She got everything she wanted.. until her dad became tired of the way she acted. She had spent a ridiculous amount of money on a birthday party and he decided that she needed to learn a lesson-- so he sent her to Guyana.
At first she was resistant to everything about Guyana-- the people, the living conditions, the food, the lack of everything we are used to having. I really enjoyed reading about how she adapted to everything. Her mind was opened up to these people and the help that they needed.
I was so worried that she would somehow convince her dad to get her a flight home (or that he would bring her home) before she was able to find a way to help the people there. I won't tell you if that actually happens-- you'll need to read that for yourself-- but I must say that I loved the book overall.
I really liked the other characters; particularly Callum. He was so passionate about helping the people of Guyana find ways to grow food. His relationship with Sofia was very sweet. Their friendship (and maybe something more? You'll have to read it and see...) was so enjoyable to read.
The fact that this book was, for the most part, set in Guyana made it very different from most contemporaries. There were no catty girls to spread rumors, and I was incredibly thankful for that. The story was about Sofia turning into a mature and respectable woman. The ideas she comes up with for the people of Guyana are so clever.
I really loved this book and think you will, too.
February 11, 2015
We first met this book's main character, the self-centered and spoiled mean girl Sofia, when she was the villain in Kopans' previous novel, Solving for Ex. Now we're getting the story from Sofia's perspective. And perspective is exactly what Sofia's father expects her to gain when he ships her away to do service work in Guyana for a year as a punishment for taking her spoiled privilege a little too far.
This premise had very strong potential to completely fall flat, descending into a predictable tale of the miraculous redemption of an archetypal spoiled character who magically redeems herself as she interacts with a bunch of other one-dimensional archetypal characters. However, it is to Kopans' credit as an author that the characters were multi-dimensional and the story was thought-provoking. Nobody was all good or all bad, and nobody made a miraculous overnight transformation. Right and wrong weren't always clear, and the solutions weren't always obvious. The reader is left to ponder all kinds of issues regarding poverty, privilege, and the plight of those in developing countries. None of these are problems that could be miraculously solved and wrapped up with a neat little bow, and Kopans doesn't attempt any bow-tying with her ending. And yet, the ending is completely satisfying as the reader walks away knowing that nobody single individual can change the world, but we can all play our parts.
This premise had very strong potential to completely fall flat, descending into a predictable tale of the miraculous redemption of an archetypal spoiled character who magically redeems herself as she interacts with a bunch of other one-dimensional archetypal characters. However, it is to Kopans' credit as an author that the characters were multi-dimensional and the story was thought-provoking. Nobody was all good or all bad, and nobody made a miraculous overnight transformation. Right and wrong weren't always clear, and the solutions weren't always obvious. The reader is left to ponder all kinds of issues regarding poverty, privilege, and the plight of those in developing countries. None of these are problems that could be miraculously solved and wrapped up with a neat little bow, and Kopans doesn't attempt any bow-tying with her ending. And yet, the ending is completely satisfying as the reader walks away knowing that nobody single individual can change the world, but we can all play our parts.
September 1, 2014
She did it again. it's after 3am in Munich but I just had to finish. HAD TO. Put this one on your list!!
Actual review to come.
--
You think there's no way you'll ever like Sofia Cole...but then you see where she's living. What she's facing. Where she comes from and the real struggle to reconcile fantasy with reality.
And if you don't like her, you at least understand her.
You think sexy, thoughtful, but more than a little rigid Callum will never learn to see the good in Sofia. The potential people have to touch him, the capacity people have for change.
But he does.
First World Problems is the story of two people who never should have met - never would have CHOSEN to meet - but end up not only changing each other's worlds, but the bigger one, because they do. And they allow each other to grow in the process. This is a perfect example of a YA/NA transition from youth to young adulthood that had me laughing, sighing, wanting to shake people, and in the end, grinning like a fool. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Actual review to come.
--
You think there's no way you'll ever like Sofia Cole...but then you see where she's living. What she's facing. Where she comes from and the real struggle to reconcile fantasy with reality.
And if you don't like her, you at least understand her.
You think sexy, thoughtful, but more than a little rigid Callum will never learn to see the good in Sofia. The potential people have to touch him, the capacity people have for change.
But he does.
First World Problems is the story of two people who never should have met - never would have CHOSEN to meet - but end up not only changing each other's worlds, but the bigger one, because they do. And they allow each other to grow in the process. This is a perfect example of a YA/NA transition from youth to young adulthood that had me laughing, sighing, wanting to shake people, and in the end, grinning like a fool. I can't recommend it highly enough.
September 4, 2014
LeighAnn Kopans writes amazing romances, but this one might just be my favorite. Following Sofia as she transforms from a spoiled rich girl into something so much more is an amazing journey. This story is filled with with well rounded characters, an engaging plot, and a swoony love story. Even better, Sofia becomes someone to care about and root for, even after the rocky start we have with her. LeighAnn is a genius at creating unlikeable characters and making them likeable!
The setting of Guyana is both unique and fascinating, and learning about the area is almost as much fun as watching Sofia deal with the differences between her old life and the new. And her romance with Callum builds so slowly and gradually I fell in love with him along with her!
If you're looking for a fun, New Adult romance, I highly recommend this book. It's one of my favorites this year.
The setting of Guyana is both unique and fascinating, and learning about the area is almost as much fun as watching Sofia deal with the differences between her old life and the new. And her romance with Callum builds so slowly and gradually I fell in love with him along with her!
If you're looking for a fun, New Adult romance, I highly recommend this book. It's one of my favorites this year.
June 25, 2014
This book was utterly and completely fantabulous. I was up until at least one a.m. swooning. And every time I turned the page to a new chapter I was PRAYING it wasn't the last. Who knew I could love Sofia so much? And who knew I would be at the edge of my seat in anticipation for her to get her own shot at love?
Ugh. This book, people. THIS BOOK made me LITERALLY squeal. Out loud. I'm just happy I was at home. And can I just say A GUY WITH A NEW ZEALAND ACCENT? SAH-WOON. This book is gonna make you all wish you could go to a third world country and find a super buff, super swoony boy like Callum, I'm telling you now. It almost makes the lack of plumbing, electricity, and air conditioning not seem that bad...
I SAID ALMOST.
Five stars, absolutely and completely without a doubt. Get ready to swoon.
Ugh. This book, people. THIS BOOK made me LITERALLY squeal. Out loud. I'm just happy I was at home. And can I just say A GUY WITH A NEW ZEALAND ACCENT? SAH-WOON. This book is gonna make you all wish you could go to a third world country and find a super buff, super swoony boy like Callum, I'm telling you now. It almost makes the lack of plumbing, electricity, and air conditioning not seem that bad...
I SAID ALMOST.
Five stars, absolutely and completely without a doubt. Get ready to swoon.
September 4, 2014
I loved this book. As an avid reader of LeighAnn's books, I can definitely say this is a favorite. Solving for Ex wasn't my absolute favorite, but this book took Sofia, a normally bitchy rich-girl wannabe and turned her into the kind of girl everyone wants their daughters to be. I could feel her emotions, I was angry when she was angry, upset when she was upset, and swooning when she was swooning. LeighAnn does an incredible job of making you feel the character's emotions and painting a beautiful and vivid picture of life in Guyana. 6/5 :)
June 9, 2015
LeighAnn does a fantastic job of taking a completely unlikable character and making you care about and root for her. Sofia is one of those people I've always been grateful I haven't had to associate with. She's cold, manipulative, and spoiled. But as the book progresses, she grows up--literally and figuratively. She becomes someone I could see myself friends with.
Also, I love that the book was set in an actual country. I found myself asking if I could live and work in the conditions Sofia did. The book made me grateful for what I have, even if it's "only" one bathroom and no central A/C. :)
Also, I love that the book was set in an actual country. I found myself asking if I could live and work in the conditions Sofia did. The book made me grateful for what I have, even if it's "only" one bathroom and no central A/C. :)
August 13, 2015
2.5
Well I yelled and screamed and railed. The author overdid trying to make the mean girl bully sympathetic, so I was too on her side while everyone was taking shots at her. Callum is still a jizzrag. But the gardening/beauty stuff was actually good. The end was a little White Savior-y, especially with the revelation of a 5m buyout at NINETEEN. Christ. But I stopped hating the book around the halfway mark, so it gets a half-score.
Well I yelled and screamed and railed. The author overdid trying to make the mean girl bully sympathetic, so I was too on her side while everyone was taking shots at her. Callum is still a jizzrag. But the gardening/beauty stuff was actually good. The end was a little White Savior-y, especially with the revelation of a 5m buyout at NINETEEN. Christ. But I stopped hating the book around the halfway mark, so it gets a half-score.
November 30, 2014
I did not think I would like this book as I did not like Sofia in the first book. I was surprised to see how easily the author changed my opinion of Sofia and I was actually cheering for her. This was a fun read. I hope the author writes others in this series as I would love to see how some of the others developed.
September 15, 2014
Dear. God.
What a fantastic story. I loved everything about it. The changes in Sophia had me all weepy by the end.
The slow, simmering romance between her and Callum was delicious.
The ending was perfect. Ugh. my heart is still smiling.
Pure awesomeness.
What a fantastic story. I loved everything about it. The changes in Sophia had me all weepy by the end.
The slow, simmering romance between her and Callum was delicious.
The ending was perfect. Ugh. my heart is still smiling.
Pure awesomeness.
April 29, 2015
this was so good!! Sophia really grew on me. I loved watching her change but also stay true to herself. It was a realistic change that didn't happen over night. Plus Callum was just perfect.
June 28, 2014
SO GOOD GUYS.
SO.
GOOD.
SO.
GOOD.
June 21, 2014
OMG I loved every first world second of this one!
LAK--you better keep writing contemps!
LAK--you better keep writing contemps!
August 7, 2014
Such a great book! Review coming soon...
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews