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Students Across the Seven Seas
Westminster Abby
Abby has always considered herself to be a little vanilla: sweet, plain, but not very exciting. So when she finds herself flying across the ocean to London, trying to forget her problems with her cheating ex-boyfriend and her overprotective parents, she figures her semester abroad is her chance to become one big hot fudge sundae. And she isn't disappointed. London boasts a plethora of funky pubs and shops, drivers on the wrong side of the street, French fries called chips, and a very charming Brit named Ian. As Abby moves closer to the vision of her wild child self, she realizes that sometimes leaving what you know best actually brings you closer to what you best know: yourself.
This S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) novel is one of the first two in our new study abroad fiction series. Teen girls will latch onto these books as they're enmeshed in the lives of characters just like themselves, who are experiencing new cultures, new friendships, and new worlds through study abroad!
This S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) novel is one of the first two in our new study abroad fiction series. Teen girls will latch onto these books as they're enmeshed in the lives of characters just like themselves, who are experiencing new cultures, new friendships, and new worlds through study abroad!
169 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
18 people are currently reading
1779 people want to read
About the author
Micol Ostow
78 books391 followersMicol Ostow has been writing professionally since 2004, and in that time has written and/or ghostwritten over 40 published works for young readers. She started her reign of terror with Egmont with her novel FAMILY, which Elizabeth Burns named a favorite of 2012 on her School Library Journal-syndicated blog, A Chair, a Fireplace, a Tea Cozy. Micol's graphic novel, SO PUNK ROCK (and Other Ways to Disappoint Your Mother), was named a 2009 Booklist Top Ten Arts Books for Youth Selection, a Booklist Top Ten Religion Books for Youth Selection, and a Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. She received her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Her young adult horror novel, AMITY, will release from Egmont in August 2014, and her first chapter book series, LOUISE TRAPEZE, will debut in Spring 2015 from Random House.
She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, alongside her Emmy Award-winning husband, their daughter, and a finicky French bulldog. Visit her at www.micolostow.com.
Her young adult horror novel, AMITY, will release from Egmont in August 2014, and her first chapter book series, LOUISE TRAPEZE, will debut in Spring 2015 from Random House.
She lives and works in Brooklyn, NY, alongside her Emmy Award-winning husband, their daughter, and a finicky French bulldog. Visit her at www.micolostow.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
May 26, 2014
1.5 stars
I like the concept but didn't like the execution.
The writing style was alright. I think my main problem was that Abby annoyed me.
I'm going to try a few of the other books in the series and see if I like them better.
I like the concept but didn't like the execution.
The writing style was alright. I think my main problem was that Abby annoyed me.
I'm going to try a few of the other books in the series and see if I like them better.
January 28, 2009
Westminster Abby tells a relatively predictable story about a teenage girl with overprotective parents who longs to break free and become her own person. She leaves the confines of her home in New York City to explore the wondrous world of London and its environs. There, she befriends a girl who's the complete opposite of her. With the help of her new friend, Abby starts to break out of her shell and become the not-so-vanilla girl she always wanted to be.
Micol Ostow does a nice job in describing the various locales in which her narrative takes place. This novel could serve as somewhat of a guide book for those traveling to London for the first time, as it gives realistic opinions of a first-time visitor's impression of Britain, except that it's intertwined in the story of a young girl who some teens will probably be able to identify with (a cheating ex-boyfriend, parents who expect perfect grades).
Although I raced through the pages to see what adventures Abby would have next, there are no really exciting events in the book, or characters that really stand out -- although Abby is likeable enough. But it's a fun read for the beach or a plane ride. My major disappointment in the book is that the ending left me dissatisfied. I'm sure the author purposely ended the book where she did because she didn't think it was necessary to write much more about Abby after she turned into the new-and-improved Abby, but it still would've been nice to see how everything pans out for her after her transformation.
Micol Ostow does a nice job in describing the various locales in which her narrative takes place. This novel could serve as somewhat of a guide book for those traveling to London for the first time, as it gives realistic opinions of a first-time visitor's impression of Britain, except that it's intertwined in the story of a young girl who some teens will probably be able to identify with (a cheating ex-boyfriend, parents who expect perfect grades).
Although I raced through the pages to see what adventures Abby would have next, there are no really exciting events in the book, or characters that really stand out -- although Abby is likeable enough. But it's a fun read for the beach or a plane ride. My major disappointment in the book is that the ending left me dissatisfied. I'm sure the author purposely ended the book where she did because she didn't think it was necessary to write much more about Abby after she turned into the new-and-improved Abby, but it still would've been nice to see how everything pans out for her after her transformation.
April 4, 2017
Boy oh boy this was the cheesiest book in the history of cheesy books. I think I can see the appeal of it for a younger audience, but this book definitely wasn't for me. I read it for a book challenge I'm completing and I must say I don't think I'll be picking up anymore in the series.
January 19, 2014
YA novel about Abby, a 16-year-old girl from New York whose parents don't allow her to date until she is seventeen. When she sneaks around and dates a college boy, said parents decide she should spend the summer as an exchange student at a college in London...where she gets involved with another college boy and lies to the folks some more. The 16-year-old and her age mates in the study abroad program spend a lot of time roaming London and hitting the pubs. Abby even jets off for a week-end in Dublin with one of the boys.
Travel tidbits were interesting, but the story was really TOTALLY unrealistic!
Travel tidbits were interesting, but the story was really TOTALLY unrealistic!
September 20, 2018
This is my second book in the SASS series.
I wonder if all these books in this series are the same, if the girls have an ulterior motive for doing the study abroads. It would be nice if someone actually wanted to go and do good.
It was annoying how she compared herself to food. Like vanilla cookies, and wanting to be a hot fudge sundae. Or a scoop of vanilla, with sprinkles.
I like that Abby was described as having 'inherent shyness.' Characters like that are always relatable to me.
It's an old trope where the girl is tired of being responsible and thinks she's boring,& wants to change her whole personality. I get wanting to change in certain ways, or come out of your shell, but who just wants to scrap their whole personality?
She tutors peer-to-peer, has a close group of friends, and 'maybe she wasn't captain of the cheerleading squad or anything like that, but she fit in and felt well liked. Terminally boring.'
This instantly irritated me. You don't have to be on the cheerleading squad to be interesting. & some people don't even have that much. If you're well liked and have friends, that should be enough.
I found Abby to be annoying, how her parents get onto her if she gets an A minus on a test, which she rarely does anyway. I never related to that overachiever personality. Grades weren't important to me growing up--which they probably should have been, looking back--but straight A, perfect students like that aren't relatable to me. It's actually annoying.
Abby was such an idiot for using all her savings to buy James a plane ticket so he could visit her. Of course she found out he'd been cheating on her the entire time after buying the plane ticket. Idk why she'd pay for the entire thing, either. You could have at least split the cost or something.
She had the typical wild best friend, Dani, who wanted her to lie to her parents so they could go to a college party. Abby, being the MC, has to be weak willed, and go along with whatever anyone tells her to do. They're drinking at the party. It would be nice if not all YA characters wanted to drink and party.
Like in Getting the Boot, the person the MC befriends at the SASS school is a goth girl. What are the chances of that? They both befriended opposites of themselves, and I guess the opposite of a regular person is a gothic person. Would be nice to switch it up, like with a prep, or you know, also a regular person. No one has to be a caricature.
When MC's move somewhere or are on vacation, idl hearing too much about their home lives, like the scene meeting James, or talking to her best friend Dani or the other girl through e-mail. You're in a new country, let's get to the good stuff, not keep looking behind. I found the e-mails to be pretty unnecessary. I didn't like Dani, and didn't care to hear from her. Or whoever Mara was. She mentioned her once as being a student of SASS in Florence, but she didn't even say how she knew her. She wrote Mara two e-mails, and got no response back. The author couldn't even squeeze in a response or two, so what was the point?
Most of the e-mails didn't include responses to them, so it makes it all the more pointless to even include them.
Simon, the Scottish guy, was unnecessary. We know she's gonna meet Ian, and she already has her ex bf James, so we don't need a third guy. Especially because I thought Zoe liked him. She winked at him when she first told Abby who he was. To make it even more pointless, Simon ends up very quickly liking someone else, so there was no point to him liking Abby. Why do three guys have to be interested in Abby? Couldn't Simon and Zoe get together?
I didn't realize these books were as old as they were. This was published in 2005. So expressions like 'foxiness' and 'macking on you' were dated.
It was weird how Zoe called Abby honey, dear and babe. At first I thought she was pretending to act like a married couple, but then she did it a couple more times.
The first three times she talks to Ian, he'd suddenly appear, overhearing their conversation and jumping in. It was repetitive. I loved when Ian said he's from Manchester, and after he's had a few more pints she'll hear the accent creep out.
Two books in this series (Getting the Boot and now this) made fun of socially challenged people. That is not ok. 'She was shy but she wasn't socially challenged by any means.' This is highly insulting to people who aren't good at talking. Even the term 'socially challenged' is an insult.
It was weird when she said her parents treat her like she's 7, and Ian's like "instead of the sophisticated sixteen-year-old that you are" and Abby says "right, I forgot, because you're so much older and wiser" and he says "and don't forget better looking." It's weird to say he's better looking than a girl.
Talking of her parents and her ex bf right before they kissed was a mood killer.
She said she'd kissed boys before James, of course, but had done little else. The only person she knew with any kind of intimacy was James. It turns out they'd only been dating for four months, so idk how much intimacy you could have had. Not to mention you're only 16.
It was weird when she noticed similarities between Ian and his dad: 'Ian's father was tall with the same broad chest that Abby adored.'
I couldn't believe that as she went with Ian on a day trip to meet his family, James wasn't completely gone from her thoughts,& right after she's hugging and kissing Ian. That's not fair to him.
It was very predictable James would show up, even though they've broken up and haven't talked in like two months.
Abby was seriously stupid for saying because he was with one girl "that almost makes it worse. If it had been more than one girl--lots of girls--I could have just told myself that they didn't mean anything. But you were having a relationship with someone the entire time that you were involved with me."
It was disgusting and in his words, twisted, how he never felt that way about anyone like he did her and he freaked,& that's why he cheated. For four months.
She managed a pretty good speech to James, and realizing she was falling in love with Ian, so I was really disappointed when she still felt affection for him and wanted to pull him in her arms,& then said "idk, I think it's too late."
Do all these girls have to be 16? You can be older in this program. Once I got college-age I just wanted characters closer to my age. It seems the magic age is always 16. It's just so young, especially with the problems of overprotective parents, curfews, and all that. Lying to the parents about James, and now Ian.
Abby was so stupid to even consider going to Ireland with James,& hanging out with him.
I hated that she kissed him.
Zoe asks if James is sure he wanted to be dealt a hand of cards,& I didn't like when he said "oh, I'm sure, sweetie."
She kept telling Ian she didn't ask James to come,& she couldn't ask him to leave. That wasn't even the issue. The issue is that she kissed him and was hanging out with him, all while leaving Ian hanging there. That's the problem.
Her and James visited Dublin, saw some tap dancing, saying that most of the step dancing was geared towards tourists and wasn't entirely authentic.
She joined the dancing in the pub, and didn't wanna look like a wet-blanket, wallflower, and realized she'd look more foolish sulking in the corner than dancing. That's a big revelation for a shy person, something I've realized over the years.
Her parents were really annoying, in a way I can't stand parents to be. Overprotective, overbearing. Calling every Sunday. Talking to Reuben about her time at the school, her grades. Knowing when the midterms are, and that they e-mail her her grades, and to forward the email to her parents.
She forgot about the midterms and says she's never left studying for the last minute before and 'was this also part of the new and improved Abby Capshaw?' How would that be improved if you've gotten worse.
I really hope this series isn't always about the girls slacking off in school.
She told James Ian was her boyfriend, yet they were kissing and appeared to be getting back together. She called Ian her boyfriend to her parents, yet hasn't even made a decision about James. Also, you've been hanging out with him, but he isn't your boyfriend.
I was glad she finally emailed her parents and stood up for herself somewhat.
It was very annoying when her mom made her promise she'd get 4 A's. Even though the courses are pass-fail and don't even count on her transcript.
I loved all the info on London:
A sunny day was a rare occurrence in England. Even in summer, most people carried long sleeve layers with them.
It was funny how at the airport it suggested 'a cuppa whilst you wait for your flight.'
The city of Westminster, now a borough of London, has been the seat of British power for over a thousand years. William the conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1066, and his successors built the Palace of Westminster that would one day house Parliament.'
West End is the theater and restaurant district, and is touristy, so things aren't as authentic there.
Covent Garden is an extension of West End.
British say pants or knickers to mean underwear.
Smart dress means sharp dress, but not necessarily trendy, just pulled together.The style for guys was usually close-fitting jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, halfway between trendy and casual.
London style is somewhere between casual and trendy. Ian wore various pairs of Pumas and lots of layered t-shirts. Pomade in the hair, messenger bags.
There's a large Indian and southeast Asian culture in London. British culture is heavily influenced by it's Indian population, like their movies.
The British were dying to keep up with American media.
I loved the mention of William at Eton. That must have been exciting back then to maybe run into them there, even though when this was written, he prob wasn't going there.
In England, private schools were called public schools. You can pay a fee to tour the chapel, school yard, cloisters and museum of student life. I've heard that unlike us Americans, in England, you have to choose a major early on, instead of being able to wait a couple years and take your basic courses before deciding a major.
I like the British sayings, like "mucking around with the lads" and 'git,' meaning like an idiot.
Knackered means tired.
Single pounds were coins rather than bills.
England is a pub culture, but the point is to relax with friends and socialize, not to get drunk.
Coffee bars were hard to find, because the norm in England was to chat over tea.
The UK DJ scene is supposed to be superior.
Most British buildings referred to the first floor as the ground floor, so Ian's apartment on the third floor was actually the fourth floor.
Speakers' Corner was where anyone could get up and and preach about anything they wanted.
There's the Whispering Gallery at St. Paul's Cathedral, where if you lean and whisper against the wall, the sound will travel along it to the other side.
I love all the sites; the Tower Bridge, the Crown Jewels, the Globe Theatre, Big Ben, and all the other places they went to.
English call living rooms parlors.
Stately homes were where royalty stayed when they were in town.
England's known for Sunday "roasts." They're the pinnacle of traditional English cuisine. Pudding is actually a generic term for dessert.
They did play the most popular American shows, but they're usually at least one season behind.
It was cool a pub was called Nag's Head, because that's a town in my state.
I didn't like all the time her and Ian were apart. And when she sees him at the end, I couldn't believe it when she said she wasn't sure she wanted things to go back to the way they were with him before, that it was appealing being on her own. That she might still love him but didn't have to make any decisions.
She said maybe Ian wasn't the love of her life, especially since she was going home soon. But you never knew, and he was part of the most exciting time Abby had known. The door was open for them.
It became more of a book on empowerment, finding yourself, and being able to live on your own. I really don't like when the heroine doesn't choose either guy, and instead chooses herself.
She didn't even let James know her decision. If she wasn't going to get back together she shouldn't have given him hope and kissed him. She might as well have sent him home from the get go. She basically strung them both along at the end.
I was expecting 192 pages, but it was really 168, so the ending was so sudden. It could have at least covered the entire summer. Of course, the preview at the end was for the one book I've already read, Getting the Boot, so I didn't get to preview one I haven't read.
The love was a lot better in here than Getting the Boot, but I think the whole series is going to be like this. I just want more than this from books. Not so juvenile of a love story, and with a conclusive and happy ending. I think I would have liked these in high school, but they're too juvenile for me now.
The author used from big words in here I've never even heard of, so I hardly doubt teens will know what they mean.
The books I've read in the SASS series have a surprising amount of cuss words, and mention things like nipple rings, and drinking and smoking, yet they're pretty juvenile overall. No descriptions on kissing scenes, which I can't stand. This isn't middle grade books, so you can be more descriptive on that stuff.
After this, just realizing how juvenile and lacking two books in the series was, and that the romance isn't the main factor, I just don't know if I can continue with the series.
I wonder if all these books in this series are the same, if the girls have an ulterior motive for doing the study abroads. It would be nice if someone actually wanted to go and do good.
It was annoying how she compared herself to food. Like vanilla cookies, and wanting to be a hot fudge sundae. Or a scoop of vanilla, with sprinkles.
I like that Abby was described as having 'inherent shyness.' Characters like that are always relatable to me.
It's an old trope where the girl is tired of being responsible and thinks she's boring,& wants to change her whole personality. I get wanting to change in certain ways, or come out of your shell, but who just wants to scrap their whole personality?
She tutors peer-to-peer, has a close group of friends, and 'maybe she wasn't captain of the cheerleading squad or anything like that, but she fit in and felt well liked. Terminally boring.'
This instantly irritated me. You don't have to be on the cheerleading squad to be interesting. & some people don't even have that much. If you're well liked and have friends, that should be enough.
I found Abby to be annoying, how her parents get onto her if she gets an A minus on a test, which she rarely does anyway. I never related to that overachiever personality. Grades weren't important to me growing up--which they probably should have been, looking back--but straight A, perfect students like that aren't relatable to me. It's actually annoying.
Abby was such an idiot for using all her savings to buy James a plane ticket so he could visit her. Of course she found out he'd been cheating on her the entire time after buying the plane ticket. Idk why she'd pay for the entire thing, either. You could have at least split the cost or something.
She had the typical wild best friend, Dani, who wanted her to lie to her parents so they could go to a college party. Abby, being the MC, has to be weak willed, and go along with whatever anyone tells her to do. They're drinking at the party. It would be nice if not all YA characters wanted to drink and party.
Like in Getting the Boot, the person the MC befriends at the SASS school is a goth girl. What are the chances of that? They both befriended opposites of themselves, and I guess the opposite of a regular person is a gothic person. Would be nice to switch it up, like with a prep, or you know, also a regular person. No one has to be a caricature.
When MC's move somewhere or are on vacation, idl hearing too much about their home lives, like the scene meeting James, or talking to her best friend Dani or the other girl through e-mail. You're in a new country, let's get to the good stuff, not keep looking behind. I found the e-mails to be pretty unnecessary. I didn't like Dani, and didn't care to hear from her. Or whoever Mara was. She mentioned her once as being a student of SASS in Florence, but she didn't even say how she knew her. She wrote Mara two e-mails, and got no response back. The author couldn't even squeeze in a response or two, so what was the point?
Most of the e-mails didn't include responses to them, so it makes it all the more pointless to even include them.
Simon, the Scottish guy, was unnecessary. We know she's gonna meet Ian, and she already has her ex bf James, so we don't need a third guy. Especially because I thought Zoe liked him. She winked at him when she first told Abby who he was. To make it even more pointless, Simon ends up very quickly liking someone else, so there was no point to him liking Abby. Why do three guys have to be interested in Abby? Couldn't Simon and Zoe get together?
I didn't realize these books were as old as they were. This was published in 2005. So expressions like 'foxiness' and 'macking on you' were dated.
It was weird how Zoe called Abby honey, dear and babe. At first I thought she was pretending to act like a married couple, but then she did it a couple more times.
The first three times she talks to Ian, he'd suddenly appear, overhearing their conversation and jumping in. It was repetitive. I loved when Ian said he's from Manchester, and after he's had a few more pints she'll hear the accent creep out.
Two books in this series (Getting the Boot and now this) made fun of socially challenged people. That is not ok. 'She was shy but she wasn't socially challenged by any means.' This is highly insulting to people who aren't good at talking. Even the term 'socially challenged' is an insult.
It was weird when she said her parents treat her like she's 7, and Ian's like "instead of the sophisticated sixteen-year-old that you are" and Abby says "right, I forgot, because you're so much older and wiser" and he says "and don't forget better looking." It's weird to say he's better looking than a girl.
Talking of her parents and her ex bf right before they kissed was a mood killer.
She said she'd kissed boys before James, of course, but had done little else. The only person she knew with any kind of intimacy was James. It turns out they'd only been dating for four months, so idk how much intimacy you could have had. Not to mention you're only 16.
It was weird when she noticed similarities between Ian and his dad: 'Ian's father was tall with the same broad chest that Abby adored.'
I couldn't believe that as she went with Ian on a day trip to meet his family, James wasn't completely gone from her thoughts,& right after she's hugging and kissing Ian. That's not fair to him.
It was very predictable James would show up, even though they've broken up and haven't talked in like two months.
Abby was seriously stupid for saying because he was with one girl "that almost makes it worse. If it had been more than one girl--lots of girls--I could have just told myself that they didn't mean anything. But you were having a relationship with someone the entire time that you were involved with me."
It was disgusting and in his words, twisted, how he never felt that way about anyone like he did her and he freaked,& that's why he cheated. For four months.
She managed a pretty good speech to James, and realizing she was falling in love with Ian, so I was really disappointed when she still felt affection for him and wanted to pull him in her arms,& then said "idk, I think it's too late."
Do all these girls have to be 16? You can be older in this program. Once I got college-age I just wanted characters closer to my age. It seems the magic age is always 16. It's just so young, especially with the problems of overprotective parents, curfews, and all that. Lying to the parents about James, and now Ian.
Abby was so stupid to even consider going to Ireland with James,& hanging out with him.
I hated that she kissed him.
Zoe asks if James is sure he wanted to be dealt a hand of cards,& I didn't like when he said "oh, I'm sure, sweetie."
She kept telling Ian she didn't ask James to come,& she couldn't ask him to leave. That wasn't even the issue. The issue is that she kissed him and was hanging out with him, all while leaving Ian hanging there. That's the problem.
Her and James visited Dublin, saw some tap dancing, saying that most of the step dancing was geared towards tourists and wasn't entirely authentic.
She joined the dancing in the pub, and didn't wanna look like a wet-blanket, wallflower, and realized she'd look more foolish sulking in the corner than dancing. That's a big revelation for a shy person, something I've realized over the years.
Her parents were really annoying, in a way I can't stand parents to be. Overprotective, overbearing. Calling every Sunday. Talking to Reuben about her time at the school, her grades. Knowing when the midterms are, and that they e-mail her her grades, and to forward the email to her parents.
She forgot about the midterms and says she's never left studying for the last minute before and 'was this also part of the new and improved Abby Capshaw?' How would that be improved if you've gotten worse.
I really hope this series isn't always about the girls slacking off in school.
She told James Ian was her boyfriend, yet they were kissing and appeared to be getting back together. She called Ian her boyfriend to her parents, yet hasn't even made a decision about James. Also, you've been hanging out with him, but he isn't your boyfriend.
I was glad she finally emailed her parents and stood up for herself somewhat.
It was very annoying when her mom made her promise she'd get 4 A's. Even though the courses are pass-fail and don't even count on her transcript.
I loved all the info on London:
A sunny day was a rare occurrence in England. Even in summer, most people carried long sleeve layers with them.
It was funny how at the airport it suggested 'a cuppa whilst you wait for your flight.'
The city of Westminster, now a borough of London, has been the seat of British power for over a thousand years. William the conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1066, and his successors built the Palace of Westminster that would one day house Parliament.'
West End is the theater and restaurant district, and is touristy, so things aren't as authentic there.
Covent Garden is an extension of West End.
British say pants or knickers to mean underwear.
Smart dress means sharp dress, but not necessarily trendy, just pulled together.The style for guys was usually close-fitting jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, halfway between trendy and casual.
London style is somewhere between casual and trendy. Ian wore various pairs of Pumas and lots of layered t-shirts. Pomade in the hair, messenger bags.
There's a large Indian and southeast Asian culture in London. British culture is heavily influenced by it's Indian population, like their movies.
The British were dying to keep up with American media.
I loved the mention of William at Eton. That must have been exciting back then to maybe run into them there, even though when this was written, he prob wasn't going there.
In England, private schools were called public schools. You can pay a fee to tour the chapel, school yard, cloisters and museum of student life. I've heard that unlike us Americans, in England, you have to choose a major early on, instead of being able to wait a couple years and take your basic courses before deciding a major.
I like the British sayings, like "mucking around with the lads" and 'git,' meaning like an idiot.
Knackered means tired.
Single pounds were coins rather than bills.
England is a pub culture, but the point is to relax with friends and socialize, not to get drunk.
Coffee bars were hard to find, because the norm in England was to chat over tea.
The UK DJ scene is supposed to be superior.
Most British buildings referred to the first floor as the ground floor, so Ian's apartment on the third floor was actually the fourth floor.
Speakers' Corner was where anyone could get up and and preach about anything they wanted.
There's the Whispering Gallery at St. Paul's Cathedral, where if you lean and whisper against the wall, the sound will travel along it to the other side.
I love all the sites; the Tower Bridge, the Crown Jewels, the Globe Theatre, Big Ben, and all the other places they went to.
English call living rooms parlors.
Stately homes were where royalty stayed when they were in town.
England's known for Sunday "roasts." They're the pinnacle of traditional English cuisine. Pudding is actually a generic term for dessert.
They did play the most popular American shows, but they're usually at least one season behind.
It was cool a pub was called Nag's Head, because that's a town in my state.
I didn't like all the time her and Ian were apart. And when she sees him at the end, I couldn't believe it when she said she wasn't sure she wanted things to go back to the way they were with him before, that it was appealing being on her own. That she might still love him but didn't have to make any decisions.
She said maybe Ian wasn't the love of her life, especially since she was going home soon. But you never knew, and he was part of the most exciting time Abby had known. The door was open for them.
It became more of a book on empowerment, finding yourself, and being able to live on your own. I really don't like when the heroine doesn't choose either guy, and instead chooses herself.
She didn't even let James know her decision. If she wasn't going to get back together she shouldn't have given him hope and kissed him. She might as well have sent him home from the get go. She basically strung them both along at the end.
I was expecting 192 pages, but it was really 168, so the ending was so sudden. It could have at least covered the entire summer. Of course, the preview at the end was for the one book I've already read, Getting the Boot, so I didn't get to preview one I haven't read.
The love was a lot better in here than Getting the Boot, but I think the whole series is going to be like this. I just want more than this from books. Not so juvenile of a love story, and with a conclusive and happy ending. I think I would have liked these in high school, but they're too juvenile for me now.
The author used from big words in here I've never even heard of, so I hardly doubt teens will know what they mean.
The books I've read in the SASS series have a surprising amount of cuss words, and mention things like nipple rings, and drinking and smoking, yet they're pretty juvenile overall. No descriptions on kissing scenes, which I can't stand. This isn't middle grade books, so you can be more descriptive on that stuff.
After this, just realizing how juvenile and lacking two books in the series was, and that the romance isn't the main factor, I just don't know if I can continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2022
2.5 stars, rounded down because I am not here for a main character dating two guys at once while she “figures out” herself
Love triangles are bad, but a main character actually dating both guys at the same time is worse.
I was glad that she learned to be happy by herself, but the romance really detracted. I wanted more about London - I feel like this was mostly about the romance. I also hated both of her friends and thought they weren’t a good influence for Abby.
The best part was definitely the punny title.
Love triangles are bad, but a main character actually dating both guys at the same time is worse.
I was glad that she learned to be happy by herself, but the romance really detracted. I wanted more about London - I feel like this was mostly about the romance. I also hated both of her friends and thought they weren’t a good influence for Abby.
The best part was definitely the punny title.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2023
K so. I’ve had this book for years like maybe 17 years?! I knew it wasn’t going to be anything amazing but I’ve always wanted to read it. It’s a cute read for a younger audience. It’s also set in London - anything with London/England is my soft spot
March 13, 2019
3.5 I really enjoyed this book however not one of my favorites
April 27, 2008
Well, I picked this one up for obvious reasons-- my complete obsession with any and all things British. The story sounded "cute" but I pretty much knew ahead of time that the book would lack any real good storytelling or writing, which it did. I WAS pleased with the incredibly detailed account of Abby in London, which was like revisiting all of the touristy spots all over again. But the shallow plot: girl gets in trouble with parents for going behind their backs to "see" her boyfriend, she finds out he's been cheating on her, breaks up with him. Parents then suggest she study abroad in London for 10 weeks to get her thinking less about boys and more about....I don't know, schoolwork?!
Falls for a Brit named Ian, ex-boyfriend James comes to visit, blah blah blah Yawn.
But the description of St. Paul's cathedral was pretty good...
I would recommend this series only to people who enjoy guidebooks and have obsessive tendencies with particular countries other than this one.
Falls for a Brit named Ian, ex-boyfriend James comes to visit, blah blah blah Yawn.
But the description of St. Paul's cathedral was pretty good...
I would recommend this series only to people who enjoy guidebooks and have obsessive tendencies with particular countries other than this one.
July 7, 2011
This book was a very simple and easy read. Nothing too spectacular about it.
The plot, in short: Abby has overprotective parents. They send her away to London to keep her from her ex, James. Abby explores all of London with a new group of friends, particularly Zoe who is the complete opposite of her. Meanwhile, she meets a guy--there's always a guy. Anyway, they fall in love, far too quickly IMO (ugh, why do writers always do this? it's called development people, not everyone falls in love two days, even a week after they meet someone), but that whole thing gets screwed over when her ex-boyfriend James comes back. I'll leave the rest for you to figure out.
All in all, it was an okay story. Something to pass the time, I guess.
The plot, in short: Abby has overprotective parents. They send her away to London to keep her from her ex, James. Abby explores all of London with a new group of friends, particularly Zoe who is the complete opposite of her. Meanwhile, she meets a guy--there's always a guy. Anyway, they fall in love, far too quickly IMO (ugh, why do writers always do this? it's called development people, not everyone falls in love two days, even a week after they meet someone), but that whole thing gets screwed over when her ex-boyfriend James comes back. I'll leave the rest for you to figure out.
All in all, it was an okay story. Something to pass the time, I guess.
August 12, 2013
Westminster Abby is the first book in the S.A.S.S. Series. It follows a girl, Abby, who is struggling to find her independence. In search for it she travels to London as part of her school's foreign exchange program. I enjoyed the fact that this book mostly took place in England; however the author didn't describe the settings as well as I would have hoped. The contemporary plot wasn't necessarily a new idea, but the story progressed smoothly and the ending was surprisingly unpredictable. Previously I have read Girl Overboard by Aimee Ferris, which is another book in the S.A.S.S Series. Comparing the two, Girl Overboard wowed me while Westminster Abby was pleasurable. Overall 3/5 stars; I would pick more of the S.A.S.S novels.
January 8, 2008
This is good, if you're twelve. It was just simple and predictable and not very well written.
December 12, 2008
This really lacked any kind of good writing, which I suppose I expected. It's a very cliche story of a teenage girl's adventures in London. Nothing special.
June 11, 2024
This was exactly the garbage I hoped it would be.
Read
July 11, 2022From the Publisher
Abby has always considered herself to be a little vanilla sweet, plain, but not very exciting. So when she finds herself flying across the ocean to London, trying to forget her problems with her cheating ex-boyfriend and her overprotective parents, she figures her semester abroad is her chance to become one big hot fudge sundae. And she isn't disappointed. London boasts a plethora of funky pubs and shops, drivers on the wrong side of the street, French fries called chips, and a very charming Brit named Ian. As Abby moves closer to the vision of her wild child self, she realizes that sometimes leaving what you know best actually brings you closer to what you best know yourself. This S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) novel is one of the first two in our new study abroad fiction series. Teen girls will latch onto these books as they're enmeshed in the lives of characters just like themselves, who are experiencing new cultures, new friendships, and new worlds through study abroad!
Abby has always considered herself to be a little vanilla sweet, plain, but not very exciting. So when she finds herself flying across the ocean to London, trying to forget her problems with her cheating ex-boyfriend and her overprotective parents, she figures her semester abroad is her chance to become one big hot fudge sundae. And she isn't disappointed. London boasts a plethora of funky pubs and shops, drivers on the wrong side of the street, French fries called chips, and a very charming Brit named Ian. As Abby moves closer to the vision of her wild child self, she realizes that sometimes leaving what you know best actually brings you closer to what you best know yourself. This S.A.S.S. (Students Across the Seven Seas) novel is one of the first two in our new study abroad fiction series. Teen girls will latch onto these books as they're enmeshed in the lives of characters just like themselves, who are experiencing new cultures, new friendships, and new worlds through study abroad!
October 26, 2016
To call this book amazing isn’t really the greatest choice. To call this book good, makes more sense. There were parts of the book that were interesting and then there were parts that were not interesting. This book is a mixture of romance and reality. The book also tells a life lesson, “Sometimes leaving behind what you know best, actually brings you closer to what you should know best------ yourself.” You might be thinking, wow that was confusing. I totally agree with you. The book is told by a narrator or third person point of view. The author, Micol Ostow, adds uncertainty and romance to the novel to make it more appealing to the readers which I really enjoy. If you are looking for a novel that is not part of a book series and has romance, uncertainty, and reality, then I suggest you read Westminister Abbey.
May 27, 2017
Recommend for: anyone who likes stories about complicated relationships
Abby is a typical "good girl" who is trying to be bad. She basically have crazy strict parents who don't allow her to have a boyfriend. But then, she fell in love with a college freshman, James, while James was cheating on her the entire time they were dating. So of course, her parents found out about it and sent her off to England in hope that she will forget about him and continue to be their good girl. However, she met Ian. What would happen next???
I sincerely think that this is a good book if you feel like reading something romantic, sweet and a little bit dramatic. It does really follow the pattern of the SASS series, in which the characters will have some sort of problems at first, then they go through crisis and eventually end up with their princes and have an open happy ending.
Abby is a typical "good girl" who is trying to be bad. She basically have crazy strict parents who don't allow her to have a boyfriend. But then, she fell in love with a college freshman, James, while James was cheating on her the entire time they were dating. So of course, her parents found out about it and sent her off to England in hope that she will forget about him and continue to be their good girl. However, she met Ian. What would happen next???
I sincerely think that this is a good book if you feel like reading something romantic, sweet and a little bit dramatic. It does really follow the pattern of the SASS series, in which the characters will have some sort of problems at first, then they go through crisis and eventually end up with their princes and have an open happy ending.
June 8, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️
¿Me gustó? Leí por primera vez este libro a los 18. En su momento me pareció divertido, ligero de leer y me atrajo la tematica de la heroina en el extranjero fuera de su zona de confort. El yo de ahora no se sintió desafiada ni tan satisfecha con la lectura – considero que hay muchos otros libros clasificados como literatura juvenil con mejor escritura y una historia que contar más atractiva. Así que… daré mi puntuación por la yo del pasado, ya que no es mi culpa no haber hecho una reseña en aquel momento.
¿La recomiendo? Es una lectura SUPER rápida y el vocabulario no es tan complejo, asi que sí.
¿Me gustó? Leí por primera vez este libro a los 18. En su momento me pareció divertido, ligero de leer y me atrajo la tematica de la heroina en el extranjero fuera de su zona de confort. El yo de ahora no se sintió desafiada ni tan satisfecha con la lectura – considero que hay muchos otros libros clasificados como literatura juvenil con mejor escritura y una historia que contar más atractiva. Así que… daré mi puntuación por la yo del pasado, ya que no es mi culpa no haber hecho una reseña en aquel momento.
¿La recomiendo? Es una lectura SUPER rápida y el vocabulario no es tan complejo, asi que sí.
May 11, 2022
This is one of the worst books i have ever read. The 16 year old lies to her parents about dating a college student- who cheats on her for months . Her parents find out and send her to London where she drinks alcohol almost every day, finds a new college boyfriend ( reminder she is 16!!) And then continues to make poor choices. It is unrealistic, not interesting to read, doesnt teach any lessons, and is obviously written by someone who doesnt have a 16 year old girl and doesnt spend time with 16 year old girls !!
April 14, 2020
Obviously I didn’t have a lot of expectations going into this book. I picked it up because it was about a girl studying abroad in London- aka my dream. Anyway, I think the author was trying to do something cool and deep, but that can’t really happen in a book that’s less than 200 pages. I think if this book had maybe 100 pages more, it would have been better.
November 9, 2021
i was super lucky to find this book in a giveaway at a campground ...u know how that works like a person read them and wishes to pass them on ... so i got 3 from different authors. fun read. will read more from Micol soon i hope?? check it out. so cute. love the illustrations or doodle whichever you so desire to call them. fun times.
December 11, 2017
This book was great!!! And it really teaches a lesson by following a story of a teenage girl who from finally is allowed to be free and independent but in a reasonable way, because her parents have finally stopped being so overprotective
February 18, 2018
This book was not my fave. :(
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Read full review at https://shyuniqueonlyme.wordpress.com...
August 16, 2017
glad she decided to fly solo
January 28, 2018
Cute and easy read. Made me excited to visit London!
March 27, 2020
This is code for another book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2020
I loved reading these and learning about the different countries when I was in middle school.
January 15, 2021
The best!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2021
This was awful. This girl couldn’t decided between a good dude and someone who cheated on her, there entire relationship. I did not like this at all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2021
This book was cute but I didn’t realize it was y/a until I started reading it and boy was it y/a. Easy read, a nice little story.
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