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The Ashleys #4
Popularity Takeover (4)
Are the Ashleys finished forever, or can their enemy-turned-ally find a way to save them? Find out in the fourth and final book in The Ashley Project series from bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz.
Lauren Page thought her plan was pretty Get a fabulous makeover, become one of the Ashleys, and once she was securely in their good graces, completely destroy them from the inside.
There’s only one little Now that Lauren is seventh-grade royalty she isn’t so sure she wants to follow through—especially because Sadie, her former best friend and current best frenemy, has a new scheme to bring down the Ashleys.
So Lauren comes up with a different save the Ashleys. But with Ashley Spencer dating a penniless boy, Lili shunning makeup and fashion, and A.A. questioning everyone’s loyalty, can it be done? Or will the Ashleys actually go down for good?
Lauren Page thought her plan was pretty Get a fabulous makeover, become one of the Ashleys, and once she was securely in their good graces, completely destroy them from the inside.
There’s only one little Now that Lauren is seventh-grade royalty she isn’t so sure she wants to follow through—especially because Sadie, her former best friend and current best frenemy, has a new scheme to bring down the Ashleys.
So Lauren comes up with a different save the Ashleys. But with Ashley Spencer dating a penniless boy, Lili shunning makeup and fashion, and A.A. questioning everyone’s loyalty, can it be done? Or will the Ashleys actually go down for good?
272 pages, Paperback
First published November 25, 2008
12 people are currently reading
1096 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
185 books15.9k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 3, 2016
It's a fun, easy going read and it is supposedly the finale of The Ashleys series? It doesn't feel very completed then. It's always funny to see how the three Ashleys and Lauren are doing with their rich-girl daily lives and the wars between two rivaling groups, although the favoritism and the backstabbing among girls really annoy me at times, still this book is entertaining enough.
February 5, 2009
This book was satisfactory. These type of books always bring out the vain side of me because I sometimes like reading things with all the designer labels (probably because I don't have any of them). This series is a lot like the Clique so readers of that series would definitely enjoy this. I liked the introduction of the S. Society (some competition for the Ashleys) and the ending leaves you in a bit of suspense wondering how everything is going to get resolved. I'm guessing that there definitely is going to be another book in the series just because of the way it ended.
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June 17, 2022I'm in my 20's and somehow I very much enjoy these books. They're basic and shallow, not very subtle, there's no real development in them and I find them just the tiniest bit unsettling. You get the sense that something eerie is underfoot, I'm always tensing for the moment Lauren snaps and kills everyone. Though it's an equal toss between her and Ashley. It's ironic how alike they become.
That's the part I like the most. This feels like a psychological study on group think mentality or the hierarchy in the popular kids' table. No 13 year olds should be speaking or thinking this way, or buying designer brands. That said, the outfits are so intricately described, you feel like you're trying them on yourself.
I could see this being adapted into a Netflix series, kind of a modern take on Heathers.
That's the part I like the most. This feels like a psychological study on group think mentality or the hierarchy in the popular kids' table. No 13 year olds should be speaking or thinking this way, or buying designer brands. That said, the outfits are so intricately described, you feel like you're trying them on yourself.
I could see this being adapted into a Netflix series, kind of a modern take on Heathers.
Read
April 29, 2014Lip Gloss Jungle, this was an okay book. Do I recommend you to read it , maybe depends on what type of books you like. You see Laurens had a simple plan to become one of the Ashley.. How? Simple she had a whole plan that was suppose to help her become an Ashley, and once she waas in their group , she was just gong to tear them all apart from the inside. But all her plans got ruined, once she knew her old friend, was trying to bring the Ashkeys down her self, with her own clan. Now Lauren is stuck between the two, and does not think she is going to go through with the plan . Now she shes going to help them , but will she be able to save them?
February 17, 2016
'The Ashleys' is an ok series to read if your impatient for some girl drama in the next Clique book to get out. 'The Clique' books totally dominate 'The Ashleys'. Massie Block is always more Alpha than Ashley Spencer.
Want to read
October 4, 2008i want to read this really badly!
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June 12, 2024Lip Gloss Jungle
A month has gone by since Ashley’s party. Lauren is late joining her clique at Starbucks. Now they are on their way to Mrs. Gamble’s school. They catch up on boyfriend news and head toward their spot on the bench. Lauren gets a little nervous when Ashley mentions Sadie Gram being the reason she’s late. Then they all start talking about what’s up with her swich from nottie to hottie. Lauren thinks about how she partly had a hand in this. But when they reach “The Bench of judgement” its already oppcupied by Sadie and Shridan. But since when did they become friends? Catty remaks are exchanged back and forth.Lauren feels a little betrayed by Sadie’s 180.
Ashley says she has something to ask A.A. She thinks she’s finally goting to confess tht Tri was the one that broke up with her. Instead Ashley just wants to talk about why Cooper won’t get serious with her. A.A throws out some reasons (lack of interest, scared of intimacy, msybr hr judy wants to take things slow, maybe he’s inexperienced, maybe he’s just nervous) but she shoots down everything A.A suggests. She tells them there is no logical reason. A.A says boys aren’t always logical. Ashley and A.A once in class gets notes about what’s in and out. The Ashley’s are out. The ‘S” Society is in.
Liliy decides to spend some time alone after school. She walks past Max’s school in hopes of seeing him.When she passes the dinner, she sees Max inside with his friends and Cassandra and Jezzebel. There’s aother girl sitting next to Max. He gives the Amy Winhouse look a like the same look he use to give her. She was hoping they’d make up but then she realizes he must have broken up with her because he had already moved on. Then Cassandra sees her looking and points her out to the girl and she takes off running. Max comes out and calls her name, but Lili keeps going.
Ashley comes home to find her mom redecorating her room and told she’ll be moving upstairs.Because her room is closer to theres. Thus they’ll be closer to the baby. Her dressing room will be the sits sitting room. First the S Society and now this. The ashley’s meet with the Charm teacher to talk about Conge (the mother daughter fashion show). The teacher says there’s been talk they’ve been too exclusive for too long. She says there will be two committes this year. The one with the best idea gets to plan the event. She then gives them the date and tells them they have a month to submit there plan. The comptitors are the “S” Society. Ashely blames Lauren, but it’s not that she knows the secret. She blames her for inviting them to her party. Ashley orders Lauren to find out what the “S” Society had planned. Otherwise, she’s out.
A.A is hanging out with Tri riding their bikes, Shes enjoying herself until they bump into Asheley who thinks its weird that its weird that AA and Tri can hang out but its clear he’s not into her so maybe they can be friends. This kills the mood for a.A. Meanwhile, Lauren makes plans with Sadie to go to the mall. Lauren finds out that the “S” stands for Signature and each member of the club has to have a signature thing. Sadie starts to vent about the fashion show and how its only fun for the people who are in it. It just makes the other girls feel insecure. Lauren thinks of some girls that are considered “Plain” that she should try to get into the fashion show. Sadie says she got the headmistress to see her point and this year there’s going to be some changes. She purposely doesn’t say what these changes are.Lauren buys her the sweas she wants in hopes to bribe her into saying more, but she knows she’ll have to think of a better plan.
Ashley has her suspicions about Sadie’s loyalties. She suspects it was no coincidence she showed up to the party looking like she did. If she can’t prove her loyalty to the Ashleys she’s out. So when they have a spa day Ashley doesn’t invite her. The “S” Society show up and again put ther claim on the spa. They’ve added two new members. They go back and forth about Conge until the S Society is called. Surprising Ashley, Lili and Ashley want different colors than the one she’s picked for all of them.Lili says its time to prove they have their own brains and to make their own style choices.
Lili finds a funky vintage store she likes and is excited to tell the other Ashley’s about it, but outside eruns into Max. After a few awkward attempts, shes finally able to tell him there was no other guy but him and the reason she couldn’t contact him was because she was grounded. Then her mother shows up and she has to leave abruptly before he can respond. Ashley chews Lauren out for not finding out anything at a Conge planning stategy. They agree to each come up with three ideas that have outdone anything they’ve thought of in the past. Ashley puts more pressure on Lauren to find something out from Sadie.
Ashley and Cooper continue to date. Cooper continues to not want to be exclusive. There’s a weird man in a blue raincoat talking into a headset that seems to be following them around everywhere on one of their dates. Ashley just thinks it’s Cooper’s bodyguard and can’t wait to tell the other Ashleys. Lili test the waters by wearing a different purse and different shoes than the others the next school morning. Sadie and Sheridan win the bench battle that moning. Ashley is actually nice to them for some reason. More cattiness back and forth about Conge and each others style. But when they get up there new coats look like their smudged with charcoal. Ashley looks innocent and says she’s been telling the school for weeks the bench’s need cleaning. Then she warns lauren to be careful where she sits. Sadie threatens her that she’ll pay.
A.A’s mother tells her (her) new boyfriend wants to cast her in a small part in a movie. (He’s a director). A.A isn’t thrilled about it but says ok.When A.A goes to look for Ned, Tri is cold and dismissive-unlike when they were having fun riding their bikes together before Ashley came-. The mother daughter fashion show has a Paris theme. Lili notices Lauren sneaking over to talk to the three plain Janes that got selected for the show. To add insult to injury, Matilda can’t fit the white dress sha and Ashley usually wear at the end of the show and she offers Sadie and her mother the chance to wear them. Lauren is able to inspire confidence in Guinevere, Daria, and Cass finally, but AA and her mom find out that someone sabatauged all their shoes. They don’t let it stop them. They walk the catwalk barefoot.
The prpranks continue so Lauren calls a meeting. She proposes they stop until after the winner of Conje is announced. The winner of Conge she proposes will get to keep the bench. Sadie also throws in the refractory 9thier table in the lunchroom) and the social club. Ashley agrees to this easily.
During a discussion of a movie in French class, Max finds out that the reason his calls aren’t being answered by Lili is because she has a new number. Cooper is invited to Ashley’s and acts unimpressed by her house. Ashley wonders if AA was right but when they leave for their date he picks her up so her feet won’t get wet from a puddle. While bonding with Sadie over playing dolls, Lauren finds out that the S Club plans to have Conge at “Great America’. She promises she won’t tell the Ashleys and feels guilty because she knows she’ll do just that.
Lili sneaks out for another camping trip with Max. This time by themselves. They decide to cut their loses after Max proves to her she’s just too high maintenance and they should cut their loses. While at a restaurant with her brother, mother, her mother’s boyfriend (the director), and his son (Jake) AA decides it won’t be so bad if her mom marries the director. She thinks Jake is cool. She text Tri and he doesn’t text back. He’s been acting weird again since she saw him last. Ned says he was on the set with him and Jake but (well they tried to get him to come on the set) but he said he’d rather sta y outside.
Ashley gets stood up by Cooper. She runs into Jake and AA coming out of the restraint and lies and said Cooper left. She’s immediately attracted to Jake and thinks later how messed up her life is later at home. Lauren is on a date with Christian, but she’s thinking of ideas for Conge. Christian starts to reminisce about the Japanese Tea Garden. Lauren starts to day dream about dressing up like geisha’s and then she has an idea. That’s what they can do for Conge. Her father can get them silk kimonos, and they can have chefs prepare sushi. He can fly them in and the teachers will like it because they’ll learn something. Ashley is impressed. Christian gets fed up Lauren talking about the Ashley’s. The date ends on a sour note.
The Ashley’s have another meeting without Lauren. They look over the tea garden idea. Then they talk about the Great America booking. Ashley says her father found out someone put down a deposit for every day of Gonge. Her father paid full fee to open the park to anyone but them and the word will be the park is doing maintenance. The Society will find out tomorrow moning before they submit the propsol. They win! Ashley proposes they go to Stinson Beach because Cooper has a yatch and they can The guys will be there because of a camping geology trip. So Tri, Christianall hang out. Max’[s Spring Break will be starting and he’ll be able to come to. They say Lauren won’t mind if she can hang out with Christian. Ashley says they shouldn’t tell lauren about the change in plans. Ashley says she knows she’s been hard on her but she’s on there side. Lauren then brings up helping the other girls at the fashion show (her seeing her). Ashley says Lauren isn’t smart enough to double cross them. Lili thinks she knew about Sadie’s plans all along. They decide to freeze her out. Ashley is doubtful. Lili says she’ll tell her she’s the one presenting the plan.
The Ashley’s win and Ashley announces they are going to Stinson Beach. Lauren wasn’t even told Gonge was on that day. But Ashley takes pity on Lauren and brings her a monogrammed swim suit. Lili brings a different suit entirely. CORRECTIO: I thought Conge was about the fashion show. It’s a one day vacation off school Spring Break event. The bad news is the beach is cold that day. Ashley just suggest they have a bonfire and roast marshmallows. Lauren feels betrayed but seeing Christian makes it better. It starts to rain and Tri rescues AA from tripping up with a volley ball net. He guides her to a ledge. There he confesses he’s been trying to avoid her but its because he loves her. She tells him she loves him too. When they see each other, Max and Lili are stunned. Lili has her vintage look and Max has his changed his look to preppty (It reminds me a little of the video Mesmerize with Ashanti and Ja Rule).
When Cooper arrives he’s wearing a uniform. He says the yatch isn’t his. His family can barely afford a car. It belongs to a Hollywood director whose in town. Hid uncle works on the boat and sometimes so does he. The body guard he says HER parents probably hired for dating someone from the wrong side of the tracks. Ashley doesn’t care that he’s poor. She has enough money for both of them. He says he’ll call her. He has to get back to work. AA finally gets a chance to confront Ashley. AA tells her she’s dropping out of the ashley’s. AA tells the other two to choose because they can’t be friends with them both. Laure says Ashley is the only one that apologized to her about the change of plans. Lili says because they don’t trust her. Lili takes AA’s side. Because they admit it wasn’t Ashley’s idea, Lauren chooses Ashley.
My Thoughts
The plot around Conge was just ok. Lauren truthfully really did have the beast idea. It probably would have been better to read about than the beach or Great America. I didn’t even get the full sense of what Great America had to offer other than being a theme park. It didn’t leave any kind of impression that this would be some place fun to on a day off. Not that the beach isn’t a good choice. I have memories of bus trips to the beach that I took with my aunts old school that were good. But this trip did NOT sound fun. You would have thought the Ashley’s would have checked the weather, but then again I’m really not surprised they didn’t either . Why would they be concerned about something so logical.? I can’t even see Ashley watching a weather forecast. I can’t see her watching anything outside make up tutorials on You Tube. I think that was kind of the point tho. She was so busy trying to outdo lauren that her own trip blow up up in her face.
The fasion show would have been ok if there was FASHION in it. There was a lot of time spent on the details around the Paris theme, but not the CLOTHES t themselves. When a fashion show is mentioned in a book, I want to hear about some of the clothes. And in this book were clothes are mentioned all the time because its what rules these girls you would think that more than one outfit would be mentioned.
The breakup was the most intereting thing. Firstly, I didn’t see it coming. Secondly I’m not sure why Lauren thought Ashely was on her side. Yeah, she apologized but it made it seem like she wasn’t at fault for how the ceach trip went down. But Ashley was behind the whole thing. IT WAS HER IDEA! Doesn’t matter that she felt guilty abouty about it AFTER it happened. Then the whole thing with lAA and Ashley was dumb because it was just as much Trii’s fault. TRI could have told AA and told Ashley to kiss his behind. HE was the one that went along with it. But he gets off scott free and that’s what I don’t get about females sometimes that place all this blame and anger on the other female but not the guy. NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.
Rating: 6
A month has gone by since Ashley’s party. Lauren is late joining her clique at Starbucks. Now they are on their way to Mrs. Gamble’s school. They catch up on boyfriend news and head toward their spot on the bench. Lauren gets a little nervous when Ashley mentions Sadie Gram being the reason she’s late. Then they all start talking about what’s up with her swich from nottie to hottie. Lauren thinks about how she partly had a hand in this. But when they reach “The Bench of judgement” its already oppcupied by Sadie and Shridan. But since when did they become friends? Catty remaks are exchanged back and forth.Lauren feels a little betrayed by Sadie’s 180.
Ashley says she has something to ask A.A. She thinks she’s finally goting to confess tht Tri was the one that broke up with her. Instead Ashley just wants to talk about why Cooper won’t get serious with her. A.A throws out some reasons (lack of interest, scared of intimacy, msybr hr judy wants to take things slow, maybe he’s inexperienced, maybe he’s just nervous) but she shoots down everything A.A suggests. She tells them there is no logical reason. A.A says boys aren’t always logical. Ashley and A.A once in class gets notes about what’s in and out. The Ashley’s are out. The ‘S” Society is in.
Liliy decides to spend some time alone after school. She walks past Max’s school in hopes of seeing him.When she passes the dinner, she sees Max inside with his friends and Cassandra and Jezzebel. There’s aother girl sitting next to Max. He gives the Amy Winhouse look a like the same look he use to give her. She was hoping they’d make up but then she realizes he must have broken up with her because he had already moved on. Then Cassandra sees her looking and points her out to the girl and she takes off running. Max comes out and calls her name, but Lili keeps going.
Ashley comes home to find her mom redecorating her room and told she’ll be moving upstairs.Because her room is closer to theres. Thus they’ll be closer to the baby. Her dressing room will be the sits sitting room. First the S Society and now this. The ashley’s meet with the Charm teacher to talk about Conge (the mother daughter fashion show). The teacher says there’s been talk they’ve been too exclusive for too long. She says there will be two committes this year. The one with the best idea gets to plan the event. She then gives them the date and tells them they have a month to submit there plan. The comptitors are the “S” Society. Ashely blames Lauren, but it’s not that she knows the secret. She blames her for inviting them to her party. Ashley orders Lauren to find out what the “S” Society had planned. Otherwise, she’s out.
A.A is hanging out with Tri riding their bikes, Shes enjoying herself until they bump into Asheley who thinks its weird that its weird that AA and Tri can hang out but its clear he’s not into her so maybe they can be friends. This kills the mood for a.A. Meanwhile, Lauren makes plans with Sadie to go to the mall. Lauren finds out that the “S” stands for Signature and each member of the club has to have a signature thing. Sadie starts to vent about the fashion show and how its only fun for the people who are in it. It just makes the other girls feel insecure. Lauren thinks of some girls that are considered “Plain” that she should try to get into the fashion show. Sadie says she got the headmistress to see her point and this year there’s going to be some changes. She purposely doesn’t say what these changes are.Lauren buys her the sweas she wants in hopes to bribe her into saying more, but she knows she’ll have to think of a better plan.
Ashley has her suspicions about Sadie’s loyalties. She suspects it was no coincidence she showed up to the party looking like she did. If she can’t prove her loyalty to the Ashleys she’s out. So when they have a spa day Ashley doesn’t invite her. The “S” Society show up and again put ther claim on the spa. They’ve added two new members. They go back and forth about Conge until the S Society is called. Surprising Ashley, Lili and Ashley want different colors than the one she’s picked for all of them.Lili says its time to prove they have their own brains and to make their own style choices.
Lili finds a funky vintage store she likes and is excited to tell the other Ashley’s about it, but outside eruns into Max. After a few awkward attempts, shes finally able to tell him there was no other guy but him and the reason she couldn’t contact him was because she was grounded. Then her mother shows up and she has to leave abruptly before he can respond. Ashley chews Lauren out for not finding out anything at a Conge planning stategy. They agree to each come up with three ideas that have outdone anything they’ve thought of in the past. Ashley puts more pressure on Lauren to find something out from Sadie.
Ashley and Cooper continue to date. Cooper continues to not want to be exclusive. There’s a weird man in a blue raincoat talking into a headset that seems to be following them around everywhere on one of their dates. Ashley just thinks it’s Cooper’s bodyguard and can’t wait to tell the other Ashleys. Lili test the waters by wearing a different purse and different shoes than the others the next school morning. Sadie and Sheridan win the bench battle that moning. Ashley is actually nice to them for some reason. More cattiness back and forth about Conge and each others style. But when they get up there new coats look like their smudged with charcoal. Ashley looks innocent and says she’s been telling the school for weeks the bench’s need cleaning. Then she warns lauren to be careful where she sits. Sadie threatens her that she’ll pay.
A.A’s mother tells her (her) new boyfriend wants to cast her in a small part in a movie. (He’s a director). A.A isn’t thrilled about it but says ok.When A.A goes to look for Ned, Tri is cold and dismissive-unlike when they were having fun riding their bikes together before Ashley came-. The mother daughter fashion show has a Paris theme. Lili notices Lauren sneaking over to talk to the three plain Janes that got selected for the show. To add insult to injury, Matilda can’t fit the white dress sha and Ashley usually wear at the end of the show and she offers Sadie and her mother the chance to wear them. Lauren is able to inspire confidence in Guinevere, Daria, and Cass finally, but AA and her mom find out that someone sabatauged all their shoes. They don’t let it stop them. They walk the catwalk barefoot.
The prpranks continue so Lauren calls a meeting. She proposes they stop until after the winner of Conje is announced. The winner of Conge she proposes will get to keep the bench. Sadie also throws in the refractory 9thier table in the lunchroom) and the social club. Ashley agrees to this easily.
During a discussion of a movie in French class, Max finds out that the reason his calls aren’t being answered by Lili is because she has a new number. Cooper is invited to Ashley’s and acts unimpressed by her house. Ashley wonders if AA was right but when they leave for their date he picks her up so her feet won’t get wet from a puddle. While bonding with Sadie over playing dolls, Lauren finds out that the S Club plans to have Conge at “Great America’. She promises she won’t tell the Ashleys and feels guilty because she knows she’ll do just that.
Lili sneaks out for another camping trip with Max. This time by themselves. They decide to cut their loses after Max proves to her she’s just too high maintenance and they should cut their loses. While at a restaurant with her brother, mother, her mother’s boyfriend (the director), and his son (Jake) AA decides it won’t be so bad if her mom marries the director. She thinks Jake is cool. She text Tri and he doesn’t text back. He’s been acting weird again since she saw him last. Ned says he was on the set with him and Jake but (well they tried to get him to come on the set) but he said he’d rather sta y outside.
Ashley gets stood up by Cooper. She runs into Jake and AA coming out of the restraint and lies and said Cooper left. She’s immediately attracted to Jake and thinks later how messed up her life is later at home. Lauren is on a date with Christian, but she’s thinking of ideas for Conge. Christian starts to reminisce about the Japanese Tea Garden. Lauren starts to day dream about dressing up like geisha’s and then she has an idea. That’s what they can do for Conge. Her father can get them silk kimonos, and they can have chefs prepare sushi. He can fly them in and the teachers will like it because they’ll learn something. Ashley is impressed. Christian gets fed up Lauren talking about the Ashley’s. The date ends on a sour note.
The Ashley’s have another meeting without Lauren. They look over the tea garden idea. Then they talk about the Great America booking. Ashley says her father found out someone put down a deposit for every day of Gonge. Her father paid full fee to open the park to anyone but them and the word will be the park is doing maintenance. The Society will find out tomorrow moning before they submit the propsol. They win! Ashley proposes they go to Stinson Beach because Cooper has a yatch and they can The guys will be there because of a camping geology trip. So Tri, Christianall hang out. Max’[s Spring Break will be starting and he’ll be able to come to. They say Lauren won’t mind if she can hang out with Christian. Ashley says they shouldn’t tell lauren about the change in plans. Ashley says she knows she’s been hard on her but she’s on there side. Lauren then brings up helping the other girls at the fashion show (her seeing her). Ashley says Lauren isn’t smart enough to double cross them. Lili thinks she knew about Sadie’s plans all along. They decide to freeze her out. Ashley is doubtful. Lili says she’ll tell her she’s the one presenting the plan.
The Ashley’s win and Ashley announces they are going to Stinson Beach. Lauren wasn’t even told Gonge was on that day. But Ashley takes pity on Lauren and brings her a monogrammed swim suit. Lili brings a different suit entirely. CORRECTIO: I thought Conge was about the fashion show. It’s a one day vacation off school Spring Break event. The bad news is the beach is cold that day. Ashley just suggest they have a bonfire and roast marshmallows. Lauren feels betrayed but seeing Christian makes it better. It starts to rain and Tri rescues AA from tripping up with a volley ball net. He guides her to a ledge. There he confesses he’s been trying to avoid her but its because he loves her. She tells him she loves him too. When they see each other, Max and Lili are stunned. Lili has her vintage look and Max has his changed his look to preppty (It reminds me a little of the video Mesmerize with Ashanti and Ja Rule).
When Cooper arrives he’s wearing a uniform. He says the yatch isn’t his. His family can barely afford a car. It belongs to a Hollywood director whose in town. Hid uncle works on the boat and sometimes so does he. The body guard he says HER parents probably hired for dating someone from the wrong side of the tracks. Ashley doesn’t care that he’s poor. She has enough money for both of them. He says he’ll call her. He has to get back to work. AA finally gets a chance to confront Ashley. AA tells her she’s dropping out of the ashley’s. AA tells the other two to choose because they can’t be friends with them both. Laure says Ashley is the only one that apologized to her about the change of plans. Lili says because they don’t trust her. Lili takes AA’s side. Because they admit it wasn’t Ashley’s idea, Lauren chooses Ashley.
My Thoughts
The plot around Conge was just ok. Lauren truthfully really did have the beast idea. It probably would have been better to read about than the beach or Great America. I didn’t even get the full sense of what Great America had to offer other than being a theme park. It didn’t leave any kind of impression that this would be some place fun to on a day off. Not that the beach isn’t a good choice. I have memories of bus trips to the beach that I took with my aunts old school that were good. But this trip did NOT sound fun. You would have thought the Ashley’s would have checked the weather, but then again I’m really not surprised they didn’t either . Why would they be concerned about something so logical.? I can’t even see Ashley watching a weather forecast. I can’t see her watching anything outside make up tutorials on You Tube. I think that was kind of the point tho. She was so busy trying to outdo lauren that her own trip blow up up in her face.
The fasion show would have been ok if there was FASHION in it. There was a lot of time spent on the details around the Paris theme, but not the CLOTHES t themselves. When a fashion show is mentioned in a book, I want to hear about some of the clothes. And in this book were clothes are mentioned all the time because its what rules these girls you would think that more than one outfit would be mentioned.
The breakup was the most intereting thing. Firstly, I didn’t see it coming. Secondly I’m not sure why Lauren thought Ashely was on her side. Yeah, she apologized but it made it seem like she wasn’t at fault for how the ceach trip went down. But Ashley was behind the whole thing. IT WAS HER IDEA! Doesn’t matter that she felt guilty abouty about it AFTER it happened. Then the whole thing with lAA and Ashley was dumb because it was just as much Trii’s fault. TRI could have told AA and told Ashley to kiss his behind. HE was the one that went along with it. But he gets off scott free and that’s what I don’t get about females sometimes that place all this blame and anger on the other female but not the guy. NEVER CEASES TO AMAZE ME.
Rating: 6
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2017
Lip Gloss Jungle is the fourth Ashleys’ book by Melissa de la Cruz. It follows Ashley, Lili, A.A. and Lauren as they get a rude awakening that the made-over Sadie and a former Ashley hanger-on, Sheridan, start their own clique to steal all the things that are important to the Ashleys, from their bench to their school clubs that are exclusively Ashley run. This new S. Society results in all the Ashleys (except Ashley Spencer) questioning why on Earth they do everything she dictates. Lili starts wearing her own style of clothing (she’s secretly always loved vintage). A.A. is trying to figure out how she feels about Tri and about the secret Ashley kept about their break up. Lauren starts to play the double agent to find out what the S. Society has planned for Congé, a free day that the school has every year in the spring that one group of students gets to plan, while everyone else has no idea what day it is going to be. Once she finds out, the Ashleys sabotage the Society’s plan and try to find their own. Lauren comes up with a good one, where they rent out the Japanese Tea Garden and have a dress up day playing like they are in Japan. Lili decides on a different plan, going to the beach, and convinces the other Ashleys to block Lauren from finding out anything. Lili’s idea ends up winning by default, but the actual day is a total bust as it is cold and a storm blows in. Can the Ashleys survive all the stuff bubbling up?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2024
SO this book was on the list of books I wanted to read when I was 12 and now I’m 23 and due to life circumstances I finally read it! Anyways, as a finale it’s incomplete and I hated the weird unfinished feeling this series gives. But it was able to entertain me as an adult and keep my focus as it’s been over a decade since I read the first three books and for that I give it three stars.
December 2, 2021
O lectură ușoară,plăcută , ideala dupa ceva mai greu.
June 10, 2022
Wonderful end to the Ashley's series. Simple teen drama which is extremely light
July 6, 2023
3.5/5
WHAT THE EFF TYPE OF ENDING IS THAT.... im actually so pissed.....
WHAT THE EFF TYPE OF ENDING IS THAT.... im actually so pissed.....
October 11, 2023
Ultimul volum primește 3 steluțe, la fel ca la prima citire și cu siguranță este cel mai bun volum din serie, mai ales finalul (gen ultimele 15 pagini).
A fost cel mai bun volum din serie: dramatism, dezvoltarea personajelor, tensiune și un villain. Cam multe puncte de interes și foarte frustrant ca efectiv unul din story line-urile principale ale unuia din personaje putea fi rezolvat ușor dacă ar fi discutat și nu ar mai fi bănuit atat. Frustrant asta. Dar pana la urma sunt copile de 12-13 ani, deci le ofer mai multă clemență.
Cele mai amuzante parti din carte au fost: Societatea Secretă S si continua injunghiere pe la spate dintre fetele Ashelys (și Lauren). Dacă citiți seria, veți ști despre ce tastez aici. O altă parte bună considerabilă a fost mama lui A. A. Fantastică femeia și foarte distractiv de citit despre ea.
Cărțile din seria Ashelys în ordinea preferințelor sunt: Volumul 4 (de departe cel mai spumos și interesant), Volumul 2 (am adorat acel aer de Gossip Girl), Volumul 1 și Volumul 3 (prea mult despre acea petrecere că deja te plictisea, iar majoritatea story line-urilor au fost deapre băieți; efectiv A. A. a devenit definiția plictiselii în volumul ăsta.
Personajele principale în orodinea preferințelor mele: Lili, Lauren, A.A., Ashelys Spencer.
Lauren ar fi fost inițial pe primul loc. Însă cumva ultimul volum din serie a detronat-o. Mă enervează total ca nu își creează propria personalitate, ci tot ce face se leagă de Ashleys. Pus că nici măcar nu face mare scofala pentru planul ei, dovada fiind faptul că niciuna din acțiunile ei nu a dus la finalizarea cu succes a planului ei.
Lili e cu siguranță preferata mea, mai ales în volumul 3 și volumul 4 când are un story bine definit și amuzant. A avut chiar singura poveste bună din volumul 3. Ador stilul vestimentar creat in ultimul volum, ca este inteligenta, creativa, ca este determinata si ca avea mereu acel conflict cu Ashley. Interesant cum o ura, dar cumva era dependenta de ea si de părerile ei. Interesanta creare de personaj.
A. A. imi placea la nebunie in primul volum, dar odata ce storyurile romantice se dezvoltau, devenea din ce in ce mai boring, mai anosta. Desi cumva cu ea ma potriveam cel mai bine ca personalitate. Avea foarte mult potențial.
Ashley este doar naspa, desi imi place ca a încercat sa ii creeze layere. Toate dramele sale mi se par plictisitoare. Nimic interesant la ea, iar de cateva ori m-a plictisit total. A încercat autoarea sa creeze o Blair de 13 ani, doar ca i-a ieist un fâs.
Cred ca cea mai mare critica pe care oricine i-ar putea adresa-o este suprasexualizarea fetitelor. Mai exact: fetele poarta ca un "must" purtarea tocurilor de 10 cm, machiajul puternic, fustițele "minuscule", și folosirea cuvântului "t**fă".
A fost cel mai bun volum din serie: dramatism, dezvoltarea personajelor, tensiune și un villain. Cam multe puncte de interes și foarte frustrant ca efectiv unul din story line-urile principale ale unuia din personaje putea fi rezolvat ușor dacă ar fi discutat și nu ar mai fi bănuit atat. Frustrant asta. Dar pana la urma sunt copile de 12-13 ani, deci le ofer mai multă clemență.
Cele mai amuzante parti din carte au fost: Societatea Secretă S si continua injunghiere pe la spate dintre fetele Ashelys (și Lauren). Dacă citiți seria, veți ști despre ce tastez aici. O altă parte bună considerabilă a fost mama lui A. A. Fantastică femeia și foarte distractiv de citit despre ea.
Cărțile din seria Ashelys în ordinea preferințelor sunt: Volumul 4 (de departe cel mai spumos și interesant), Volumul 2 (am adorat acel aer de Gossip Girl), Volumul 1 și Volumul 3 (prea mult despre acea petrecere că deja te plictisea, iar majoritatea story line-urilor au fost deapre băieți; efectiv A. A. a devenit definiția plictiselii în volumul ăsta.
Personajele principale în orodinea preferințelor mele: Lili, Lauren, A.A., Ashelys Spencer.
Lauren ar fi fost inițial pe primul loc. Însă cumva ultimul volum din serie a detronat-o. Mă enervează total ca nu își creează propria personalitate, ci tot ce face se leagă de Ashleys. Pus că nici măcar nu face mare scofala pentru planul ei, dovada fiind faptul că niciuna din acțiunile ei nu a dus la finalizarea cu succes a planului ei.
Lili e cu siguranță preferata mea, mai ales în volumul 3 și volumul 4 când are un story bine definit și amuzant. A avut chiar singura poveste bună din volumul 3. Ador stilul vestimentar creat in ultimul volum, ca este inteligenta, creativa, ca este determinata si ca avea mereu acel conflict cu Ashley. Interesant cum o ura, dar cumva era dependenta de ea si de părerile ei. Interesanta creare de personaj.
A. A. imi placea la nebunie in primul volum, dar odata ce storyurile romantice se dezvoltau, devenea din ce in ce mai boring, mai anosta. Desi cumva cu ea ma potriveam cel mai bine ca personalitate. Avea foarte mult potențial.
Ashley este doar naspa, desi imi place ca a încercat sa ii creeze layere. Toate dramele sale mi se par plictisitoare. Nimic interesant la ea, iar de cateva ori m-a plictisit total. A încercat autoarea sa creeze o Blair de 13 ani, doar ca i-a ieist un fâs.
Cred ca cea mai mare critica pe care oricine i-ar putea adresa-o este suprasexualizarea fetitelor. Mai exact: fetele poarta ca un "must" purtarea tocurilor de 10 cm, machiajul puternic, fustițele "minuscule", și folosirea cuvântului "t**fă".
June 6, 2009
This book continues on with the sequel of The Ashleys. After Ashley's spencer fabulous birthday party, Ashley has broken up with Tri, but didnt tell A.A that Tri wanted her instead of Ashley. But of course Ashley Spencer loves to always be number#1 and loves attention. Besides that, the annual Congee event is finally here and Lauren is very excited to be able to finally be in with the secret club and join in with the group. But all hopes are crushed when the S.S society comes barging into the congee meeting and challenges the Ashley's to an all out girl competition.The friendship betweeen the Ashleys and Lauren are not always perfect either.
I can connect to this book with a text to self conection because I know how it's like to be betrayed by one of your friends.I think many people had experience the similar problem, where friendship turns terrible. but I believe that if theres a 5th book, I predit they'll be friends again.
i rate this book 5 stars because many parts were so juicy, it made me want to skip a few pages to know what happened to that character or conflict.It had specific details about every scene and clique.It was written beautifully and it made me exited because this was the last book to the sequel of "The Ashleys" i recommend this book to teens who love books about romance and friendship and teens who admire the author Melissa De la Cruz.
I can connect to this book with a text to self conection because I know how it's like to be betrayed by one of your friends.I think many people had experience the similar problem, where friendship turns terrible. but I believe that if theres a 5th book, I predit they'll be friends again.
i rate this book 5 stars because many parts were so juicy, it made me want to skip a few pages to know what happened to that character or conflict.It had specific details about every scene and clique.It was written beautifully and it made me exited because this was the last book to the sequel of "The Ashleys" i recommend this book to teens who love books about romance and friendship and teens who admire the author Melissa De la Cruz.
September 15, 2011
I am trying to keep in mind that Melissa does portray twelve and thirteen year olds well because that is a very dramatic age. Ashley Alioto and Lauren are very unique characters, and I'm definitely going to miss them. I'd recommend this book to others who like a light read.
I only gave it three stars for two reasons.
1. I still can not stand Ashley Li. She spends the entire book trying to "be unique" and still obsessing over the same guy from the whole last book. I mean, no wonder she scared the guy away. She's a thirteen year old hipster.
2. There were a few things I didn't like about the book. Melissa De La Cruz finished this book with the intent to continue the series, but then moved on, so we're left hanging for eternity unless you're smart enough to track down her blog. She wrote all four books a bit too quickly, which is easy to tell by the occasional typos without looking at the publish date. Also, I don't think it makes sense for any pair of twelve year old kids to spend all their time making out, cuddling, and declaring their love for each other. Maybe the 2000s kids have changed since us 90s kids, but it seems too weird.
I only gave it three stars for two reasons.
1. I still can not stand Ashley Li. She spends the entire book trying to "be unique" and still obsessing over the same guy from the whole last book. I mean, no wonder she scared the guy away. She's a thirteen year old hipster.
2. There were a few things I didn't like about the book. Melissa De La Cruz finished this book with the intent to continue the series, but then moved on, so we're left hanging for eternity unless you're smart enough to track down her blog. She wrote all four books a bit too quickly, which is easy to tell by the occasional typos without looking at the publish date. Also, I don't think it makes sense for any pair of twelve year old kids to spend all their time making out, cuddling, and declaring their love for each other. Maybe the 2000s kids have changed since us 90s kids, but it seems too weird.
June 9, 2009
Its all about the back stabbing isnt it? Ashely has broken up with Tri, but didnt tell A.A that Tri wanted her instead of Ashely. But of course Ashely Spencer loves to on top didnt want to tell anyone of her "best friends" that actually Tri broke up with Ashely for A.A. Besides that, the annual Congee event is finally here and Lauren is so hyped to be able to finally be in with the secret. But all hopes are crushed when the S.S society comes barging into ta congee meeting and challenges the Ashely's to an all out girl competition. Lauren's plan goes all wrong when "lili" disses lauren behind her back. Will the Ashely's break at the seams? or will everything will come out perfectly? Lip Gloss Jungle by Melissa de la Cruz really shows us the meaning of survival of the fittest and i recommend this book to any girl who wants something good to read.
May 5, 2009
The lip gloss jungle is the newest and juiciest book of them all! Will the Ashleys come apart and seperate or will they be stronger than ever. Is there still jealousy with Ashley and A.A. between the lax player that lives in the hotel? What will happen next. This book is very good and that answers all the questions!
May 13, 2009
OMG so *spoiler* alert!!
At the end of the book i COULD NOT put the book down. SO many juicy secrets and questions?
will Ashley accept her blue-collar bf?
Will AA&Lili and Lauren and Ashley ever get the ashleys back together?
i am dying to see what happens next...
At the end of the book i COULD NOT put the book down. SO many juicy secrets and questions?
will Ashley accept her blue-collar bf?
Will AA&Lili and Lauren and Ashley ever get the ashleys back together?
i am dying to see what happens next...
January 10, 2009
Pretty good! Better than Birthday Vicious. Nice when Tri and A.A make up. But mean when the Ashleys betrayed Lauren. The sad part is the Ashleys break-up. Lauren actually becomes BFFs with Ashley!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2009
almost done!
Read
November 25, 2009I really can't wait to read this!
June 22, 2010
SOO MUCH DRAMA......with a twist of events at the end of the novel :P
October 18, 2010
Yes! The last book in the series! I was kind of getting tired of this series. But I couldn't just stop reading. I have to finish the whole series. I would recommend this series to pre-teens.
April 9, 2011
The ending actually surprised me. U SHOULD READ THE WHOLE SERIES!
October 24, 2012
this series is like....fr two year olds
March 15, 2013
It was great
November 3, 2013
This book was a bit predictable. The ending was good, I like the way she ended it. This was my least favorite book from the series. But overall I liked the series.
June 24, 2013
ughhhh, girl drama! Loved it
February 16, 2015
This book seemed really boring. I read the first chapter and I was not interested.
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