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Material Girls
In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?
Smart, provocative, and entertaining, this thrilling page-turner for teens questions the cult like mentality of fame and fashion. Are you in or are you out?
Smart, provocative, and entertaining, this thrilling page-turner for teens questions the cult like mentality of fame and fashion. Are you in or are you out?
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2015
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2011 people want to read
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March 30, 2015
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
Did you know .gifs annoy certain people on Goodreads? Yeah, you probably didn’t. It’s not like they complain ALL THE FUCKING TIME ABOUT IT or anything.
Sorry to the aforementioned folks, but when the tag line for a book is “Are you in or are you out?” it’s pretty much just begging to have the poop giffed out of it with Project Runway quotes.
My initial reaction to Material Girls . . .
The blurb said this story was going to be Project Runway meets Divergent . . .
Although my love for the Divergent franchise turned south come book three, I really liked the first one and therefore was all over this ARC.
At minimum, it was guaranteed to feature some crazy ass clothing trend descriptions, right?
And what could possibly have more potential to be absolutely cutthroat and drama filled than a world filled with designers trying to stay ahead of the competition?
Wellllll, turns out probably just about anything. Sadly the trendy clothing and new and improved lingo all the youngsters used was about the only thing I found entertaining. This was a book I thought I would really enjoy, but it ended up just kind of floundering around. The idea was there, that people need to stop worrying about material things and the latest trends and whatnot and instead focus on important issues like the environment and making a change in the world and the MC had a bit of a Norma Rae/William Wallace taking a stand kind of moment and I held out hope that my frown would eventually get turned upside down and run on sentence is super run on-y. However, it took what seemed like an eternity to finally get to that point and at the end of the book nothing really was changed and the lesson learned was that maybe change will happen but it takes time so you’re not gonna be privy to seeing any of it in within the pages you just spent all day reading (which leaves me horrified that there will be a #2 to this shallow bit of nothing).
Now I realize that (on paper) I wouldn’t be considered the target demographic for Material Girls and I was going to give it 2 Stars because of that fact. But really 2 Stars means “it was okay” and 1 Star means “I didn’t like it.” I didn’t like it and if someone told me their young human was interested in reading this book I would probably react like . . .
If your kid is interested in reading about living in a world where everyone does what they are told and never divvies from the expected, have them read The Giver instead of this.
Oh, and if we do end up living in a world where people are “tapped” into choosing what I have to wear, can I please put in a request?
(Without the constant rain shower falling on my head, if possible – or at least provide me with a coordinating umbrella.)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Did you know .gifs annoy certain people on Goodreads? Yeah, you probably didn’t. It’s not like they complain ALL THE FUCKING TIME ABOUT IT or anything.
Sorry to the aforementioned folks, but when the tag line for a book is “Are you in or are you out?” it’s pretty much just begging to have the poop giffed out of it with Project Runway quotes.
My initial reaction to Material Girls . . .
The blurb said this story was going to be Project Runway meets Divergent . . .
Although my love for the Divergent franchise turned south come book three, I really liked the first one and therefore was all over this ARC.
At minimum, it was guaranteed to feature some crazy ass clothing trend descriptions, right?
And what could possibly have more potential to be absolutely cutthroat and drama filled than a world filled with designers trying to stay ahead of the competition?
Wellllll, turns out probably just about anything. Sadly the trendy clothing and new and improved lingo all the youngsters used was about the only thing I found entertaining. This was a book I thought I would really enjoy, but it ended up just kind of floundering around. The idea was there, that people need to stop worrying about material things and the latest trends and whatnot and instead focus on important issues like the environment and making a change in the world and the MC had a bit of a Norma Rae/William Wallace taking a stand kind of moment and I held out hope that my frown would eventually get turned upside down and run on sentence is super run on-y. However, it took what seemed like an eternity to finally get to that point and at the end of the book nothing really was changed and the lesson learned was that maybe change will happen but it takes time so you’re not gonna be privy to seeing any of it in within the pages you just spent all day reading (which leaves me horrified that there will be a #2 to this shallow bit of nothing).
Now I realize that (on paper) I wouldn’t be considered the target demographic for Material Girls and I was going to give it 2 Stars because of that fact. But really 2 Stars means “it was okay” and 1 Star means “I didn’t like it.” I didn’t like it and if someone told me their young human was interested in reading this book I would probably react like . . .
If your kid is interested in reading about living in a world where everyone does what they are told and never divvies from the expected, have them read The Giver instead of this.
Oh, and if we do end up living in a world where people are “tapped” into choosing what I have to wear, can I please put in a request?
(Without the constant rain shower falling on my head, if possible – or at least provide me with a coordinating umbrella.)
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
May 14, 2015
“Yes, because that’s really what this whole multibillion-dollar industry is all about, isn’t it? Inner beauty.”
----The Devil Wears Prada
Elaine Dimopoulos, an American author, pens her debut YA dystopian novel, Material Girls where two teenagers try to cope with the pressures of the world where staying in the latest trends is the top priority, whereas there are people who are trying to put an end to this kind of industry.
Synopsis:
In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?
Marla Klein works as an adviser who approves the latest trends and designs. Ivy Wilde is a coming-age and a top pop-star who embraces those latest trends and show it off to the world. Unfortunately Marla faces difficulty in picking out the latest trends and her team mates thinks otherwise that maybe she can't do this anymore. Ivy feels guilty about the clothes that she wears for only one time, since she is a diva and she is allowed to wear one apparel at a time, and because of her changing trends, people, with less money, are facing trouble in buying those clothes. And one day, Marla and Ivy decide to put an end to the way the fashion industry runs.
All the The Devil Wears Prada and Confessions of a Shopaholic will love reading this book, as this book is rich and deep with fashion and trends and glitter and sparkle. Moreover, the author enlightens us about how a finished apparel begins it's journey from being a piece of cloth to ending up behind the glossy and shiny windows of a top-notch fashion brand's store. It was really delightful to read about those technical stuffs related to creation of apparels.
The author created a parallel world to ours in her story where trends last only for few weeks and they are decided the governing body and everybody must stay "in" trend and must obey them blindly. Apart from that the dystopian world that the author created in her book was pretty vague with no supporting back-story to tell us about how these trends became the lifeline of the government etc and other stuffs like that, so it was a big let down for me.
The author have vividly portrayed the vulnerable yet glamorous life of a pop-diva who tried real hard to stay on top of the billboard, who is everyday threatened by her competitors to take away her limelight, who tries hard to sty with the latest fashion trends despite of those free samples of clothes and other accessories. Her life is equally beautiful, sad and dangerous, and that the author have captured well.
The writing is good, the narrative style is also kind of articulate, in fact the book has got a steady pace without much drama, but there are lot of actions against the government, especially the rebels who can't afford to follow those trends.
Overall it is a strong and compelling book with an edgy theme but not very promising. Fashion freaks will have a great time while reading this book, and if you're a huge sci-fi YA fan, the you must read this book.
Verdict: Don't miss out this enchanting and enlightening dystopian novel about latest trends in fashion.
Courtesy: I'd love to thank the publisher for getting me a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
----The Devil Wears Prada
Elaine Dimopoulos, an American author, pens her debut YA dystopian novel, Material Girls where two teenagers try to cope with the pressures of the world where staying in the latest trends is the top priority, whereas there are people who are trying to put an end to this kind of industry.
Synopsis:
In Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde’s world, teens are the gatekeepers of culture. A top fashion label employs sixteen-year-old Marla to dictate hot new clothing trends, while Ivy, a teen pop star, popularizes the garments that Marla approves. Both girls are pawns in a calculated but seductive system of corporate control, and both begin to question their world’s aggressive levels of consumption. Will their new “eco-chic” trend subversively resist and overturn the industry that controls every part of their lives?
Marla Klein works as an adviser who approves the latest trends and designs. Ivy Wilde is a coming-age and a top pop-star who embraces those latest trends and show it off to the world. Unfortunately Marla faces difficulty in picking out the latest trends and her team mates thinks otherwise that maybe she can't do this anymore. Ivy feels guilty about the clothes that she wears for only one time, since she is a diva and she is allowed to wear one apparel at a time, and because of her changing trends, people, with less money, are facing trouble in buying those clothes. And one day, Marla and Ivy decide to put an end to the way the fashion industry runs.
All the The Devil Wears Prada and Confessions of a Shopaholic will love reading this book, as this book is rich and deep with fashion and trends and glitter and sparkle. Moreover, the author enlightens us about how a finished apparel begins it's journey from being a piece of cloth to ending up behind the glossy and shiny windows of a top-notch fashion brand's store. It was really delightful to read about those technical stuffs related to creation of apparels.
The author created a parallel world to ours in her story where trends last only for few weeks and they are decided the governing body and everybody must stay "in" trend and must obey them blindly. Apart from that the dystopian world that the author created in her book was pretty vague with no supporting back-story to tell us about how these trends became the lifeline of the government etc and other stuffs like that, so it was a big let down for me.
The author have vividly portrayed the vulnerable yet glamorous life of a pop-diva who tried real hard to stay on top of the billboard, who is everyday threatened by her competitors to take away her limelight, who tries hard to sty with the latest fashion trends despite of those free samples of clothes and other accessories. Her life is equally beautiful, sad and dangerous, and that the author have captured well.
The writing is good, the narrative style is also kind of articulate, in fact the book has got a steady pace without much drama, but there are lot of actions against the government, especially the rebels who can't afford to follow those trends.
Overall it is a strong and compelling book with an edgy theme but not very promising. Fashion freaks will have a great time while reading this book, and if you're a huge sci-fi YA fan, the you must read this book.
Verdict: Don't miss out this enchanting and enlightening dystopian novel about latest trends in fashion.
Courtesy: I'd love to thank the publisher for getting me a copy of the book in return for an honest review.
August 21, 2015
5 Words: Fashion, creativity, change, fame, teenagers.
I enjoyed this so so much. It reminded me at times of Uglies, then at times of Matched, and despite it being such a truly weird idea, I couldn't get enough of it.
I have to say that coming into this, I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. So I was very pleasantly surprised by this unexpectedly awesome story. I could not put it down.
I loved how Marla changed as the story progressed, how she grew up so much. She had a pretty challenging journey in this book and I loved reading her parts. Ivy was a bit hit and miss... Sometimes she really annoyed me with her shallow-ness but then other times she'd be astonishingly deep. And I did't like Madison.
And I thought the ending was quite sad, in a way.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I really really enjoyed it far more than I ever thought I would when I first saw it. I was expected fluff, something that I wouldn't ever take seriously, and yet I got so invested in the story I couldn't put it down, and I really started to feel for the characters.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
I enjoyed this so so much. It reminded me at times of Uglies, then at times of Matched, and despite it being such a truly weird idea, I couldn't get enough of it.
I have to say that coming into this, I didn't think I'd enjoy it as much as I did. So I was very pleasantly surprised by this unexpectedly awesome story. I could not put it down.
I loved how Marla changed as the story progressed, how she grew up so much. She had a pretty challenging journey in this book and I loved reading her parts. Ivy was a bit hit and miss... Sometimes she really annoyed me with her shallow-ness but then other times she'd be astonishingly deep. And I did't like Madison.
And I thought the ending was quite sad, in a way.
Overall, this was a fantastic read. I really really enjoyed it far more than I ever thought I would when I first saw it. I was expected fluff, something that I wouldn't ever take seriously, and yet I got so invested in the story I couldn't put it down, and I really started to feel for the characters.
I received a copy of this for free via NetGalley for review purposes.
Read
May 4, 2015There were things I liked about this book and others I didn't like so much. Overall it reminded me a lot of Bumped by Megan McCafferty. Both books are sort of "dystopian light" -- futuristic, with a breezy writing style, a hint of satire, and a bit of political commentary.
Liked:
Material Girl starts off strong as a Cinderella story. In this future world, your career is decided in seventh grade. After that, there's nowhere to go but down. Trendy, judgy teens rule and if you're labeled an "Adequate," you have to endure the tedium of being a doctor or lawyer. Poor you!
Marla is a girl who gets tapped to work for a fashion house as a trend-vetter but suddenly learns that, as Heidi famously says: "in fashion one day you're in and the next day .. you're out." After Marla's taste is deemed too quirky, she's demoted and assigned to a sweatshop-like environment where she sketches designs to be judged by her former colleagues. I liked Marla's story and she was very relatable.
I also liked the way the book looked at the environmental impact of the fashion industry. I've been textile recycling for years now and I was happy that the author tried to draw attention to the way that our current worship of cheap, trendy clothing has led to huge amounts of clothes and shoes ending in landfills rather than being donated or recycled.
Didn't Love
Either my attention flagged, or this book deteriorated about a third of the way through. It started to read a little flat to me, like a movie treatment. And as the story progressed, I felt that it lost focus. There were two narrators, Marla, who I mentioned above, and Ivy, who's a pop star terrified of losing relevance and hoping that the right clothes can help her stay on top. I didn't think the Ivy POV added much to the story.
I'll confess: light/satirical dystopians often fall flat for me. I liked that this book tried to raise issues -- environmentalism, the tyranny of trends, our cultural worship of youth and trendiness -- but as Mary Poppins said, you need that spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, and at times it felt like issues were overtaking the plot. If you like your YA books with romance, you're not going to find much here. And the ending was ... odd. Maybe leaving things open for a sequel? That seems to be the trend these days. idk, but it wasn't a satisfying ending.
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
Liked:
Material Girl starts off strong as a Cinderella story. In this future world, your career is decided in seventh grade. After that, there's nowhere to go but down. Trendy, judgy teens rule and if you're labeled an "Adequate," you have to endure the tedium of being a doctor or lawyer. Poor you!
Marla is a girl who gets tapped to work for a fashion house as a trend-vetter but suddenly learns that, as Heidi famously says: "in fashion one day you're in and the next day .. you're out." After Marla's taste is deemed too quirky, she's demoted and assigned to a sweatshop-like environment where she sketches designs to be judged by her former colleagues. I liked Marla's story and she was very relatable.
I also liked the way the book looked at the environmental impact of the fashion industry. I've been textile recycling for years now and I was happy that the author tried to draw attention to the way that our current worship of cheap, trendy clothing has led to huge amounts of clothes and shoes ending in landfills rather than being donated or recycled.
Didn't Love
Either my attention flagged, or this book deteriorated about a third of the way through. It started to read a little flat to me, like a movie treatment. And as the story progressed, I felt that it lost focus. There were two narrators, Marla, who I mentioned above, and Ivy, who's a pop star terrified of losing relevance and hoping that the right clothes can help her stay on top. I didn't think the Ivy POV added much to the story.
I'll confess: light/satirical dystopians often fall flat for me. I liked that this book tried to raise issues -- environmentalism, the tyranny of trends, our cultural worship of youth and trendiness -- but as Mary Poppins said, you need that spoonful of sugar to make the medicine go down, and at times it felt like issues were overtaking the plot. If you like your YA books with romance, you're not going to find much here. And the ending was ... odd. Maybe leaving things open for a sequel? That seems to be the trend these days. idk, but it wasn't a satisfying ending.
Read more of my reviews on YA Romantics or follow me on Bloglovin
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July 28, 2015
Buy this book on AMAZON
or buy this book on BookDepository with FREE WORLDWIDE SHIIPPING
I received a free advanced reader's edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I just finished reading this title. Full review to come. I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS. STAY TUNED.
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
or buy this book on BookDepository with FREE WORLDWIDE SHIIPPING
I received a free advanced reader's edition of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I just finished reading this title. Full review to come. I HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THIS. STAY TUNED.
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
May 29, 2015
*I received a free ARC from HMH Books for Young Readers via Netgalley in exchange of an honest and unbiased review*
Material Girls definitely has a very interesting concept, in this universe, kids as young as 13 are 'tapped' to become fashionistas instead of going to school, they are trend-setters, making sure the people spend their money so that the rich can always become richer.
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
Material Girls definitely has a very interesting concept, in this universe, kids as young as 13 are 'tapped' to become fashionistas instead of going to school, they are trend-setters, making sure the people spend their money so that the rich can always become richer.
Full review to come soon.
This and all my other reviews are originally posted on my blog (un)Conventional Bookviews
March 30, 2015
Received from NetGalley - probably no need to add that this is an "honest review" with a two-star rating?
I was drawn to this book by the premise, as well as the catchy "PROJECT RUNWAY meets DIVERGENT" description. Taking on consumerism and its high costs through a YA dystopian novel is an admirable and potentially very appealing concept. Unfortunately I didn't find the execution successful. The slang was relentless and became intrusive to the point that I started wondering why clothing fads changed so quickly but slang seemed set in stone. "Obsoloser"? You can imagine how tedious that became. As well as that, the world-building wasn't strong enough to carry the plot - having your citizens buy their way out of a deep recession may be the dream for some government leaders, but achieving it by what amounts to child labor? Or doing so and managing the demotion of powerful groups like lawyers and doctors to second-class citizens who can never participate fully in what your society has to offer? Not at all convincing.
I had many other smaller problems with the book ("placidophilus" for one - the name is bad enough, but it should have been a legal drug in this society), but most significantly, the romance didn't work at all. The relationship between the couple themselves wasn't too bad, though I never cared about it, but the "hero" says another main character acts like a "big slut" all the time. (This is a bit of a spoiler, so if you want to read the book and not know where it's going, you should stop now.) Slut-shaming is never okay, and it's certainly not okay for him to do it and not to be called on it. I'm struggling a bit because the last thing I want to do is say it's not okay to slut-shame because it's not justified here - it's just not okay. I guess you could call it a problem of logic that he doesn't actually seem entitled to any kind of resentment for this character's behavior (when she was thirteen!) anyway. There seems to be a rather unsuccessful attempt to get across the message that everyone always has the ability to make a choice - but doing it by contrasting the two girls (both interested in this charmer, 'natch) hardly seems fair, even without the good girl/slut problem.
I would give this one four stars for the concept, but am quite bemused that so many others are rating it so highly.
I was drawn to this book by the premise, as well as the catchy "PROJECT RUNWAY meets DIVERGENT" description. Taking on consumerism and its high costs through a YA dystopian novel is an admirable and potentially very appealing concept. Unfortunately I didn't find the execution successful. The slang was relentless and became intrusive to the point that I started wondering why clothing fads changed so quickly but slang seemed set in stone. "Obsoloser"? You can imagine how tedious that became. As well as that, the world-building wasn't strong enough to carry the plot - having your citizens buy their way out of a deep recession may be the dream for some government leaders, but achieving it by what amounts to child labor? Or doing so and managing the demotion of powerful groups like lawyers and doctors to second-class citizens who can never participate fully in what your society has to offer? Not at all convincing.
I had many other smaller problems with the book ("placidophilus" for one - the name is bad enough, but it should have been a legal drug in this society), but most significantly, the romance didn't work at all. The relationship between the couple themselves wasn't too bad, though I never cared about it, but the "hero" says another main character acts like a "big slut" all the time. (This is a bit of a spoiler, so if you want to read the book and not know where it's going, you should stop now.) Slut-shaming is never okay, and it's certainly not okay for him to do it and not to be called on it. I'm struggling a bit because the last thing I want to do is say it's not okay to slut-shame because it's not justified here - it's just not okay. I guess you could call it a problem of logic that he doesn't actually seem entitled to any kind of resentment for this character's behavior (when she was thirteen!) anyway. There seems to be a rather unsuccessful attempt to get across the message that everyone always has the ability to make a choice - but doing it by contrasting the two girls (both interested in this charmer, 'natch) hardly seems fair, even without the good girl/slut problem.
I would give this one four stars for the concept, but am quite bemused that so many others are rating it so highly.
August 14, 2014
I LOVED this book! I started it yesterday, was up until 2AM reading it because I just couldn't put it down, and finished it this afternoon. Easy to read, enjoyable characters, exciting ideas. Definitely recommend to anyone who likes to read YA novels :)
May 5, 2015
There were quite a few things that I enjoyed about this book. Things like:
The main characters are very well written, and give incredible perspectives into their industries. Marla works in the fashion designing world, and Ivy is a huge pop star who wears aforementioned fashion, thus connecting the two. In a society where you're a has-been by the time you hit 20, it's interesting to see how these girls grapple with the inevitable decline of their careers at an age when we can't even fathom having careers.
Obviously, it seems ridiculous to us to be putting twelve year olds to work, but the way it's portrayed in this society is frighteningly realistic. The "taps" are basically kids who were tapped to work in the entertainment industry based on evaluations of work they submit. If you're not tapped, you go to school and get a "crappy" job, like a doctor or teacher or something. To me, this spoke volumes as to how our culture really does act. There is such a value put on youth and entertainment, while people who work in much needed service industries are neglected and underpaid.
I love how we're shown the dark sides of being a "tap". It isn't all just glamour and fabulousness, there is a lot going on behind closed doors that is just plain messed up. I imagine some of the things that Ivy and Marla go through are not too far off from some of what happens in today's entertainment industry, and that part is quite fascinating.
The decisions the girls had to make were quite compelling. Both girls had to decide for themselves what they wanted out of life, whether the prestige of being a tap was worth the nonsense they had to (and will have to) put up with. It wasn't easy, since there were all kinds of pressure from families, peers, and superiors. And then things get much, much more serious and the girls have to make decisions that will impact not only their lives, but the lives of a lot of people around them.
Speaking of friends and family, some of them were kind of great. I loved the storyline that surrounded Ivy's family and her industry friends. Marla's family, especially her mother, made me kind of insane and infuriated. Some of her industry friends were kind of fabulous too, but that all comes later in the book so you'll have to just take my word for it.
The things I wasn't so fond of:
Some of the more technical fashion stuff, I just didn't understand or care about. Talking about trends or a dress or something was fine, but there were a lot of details into the fashion. Which is fine, if you are really into fashion, but I started to get a bit bored with those parts. Like, I really don't care how patterns for clothes are made or whatever, so I kind of zoned out.
The world building just wasn't enough for me. I mean, we knew what was happening in... wherever this was supposed to take place. But how did society get to this point? What was happening in the rest of the world (or country or whatever)? It was set in a place that I assumed to be almost like Hollywood, but again, I have no idea. Was it America? What was everyone who was not in this area doing? Again, confused.
The romantic elements didn't do it for me. I think it was clear from pretty close to the beginning who the romantic interest was going to be, but I just didn't feel it. When the time came, I was underwhelmed, though I liked both characters. I just didn't feel like there was enough of a connection between them to justify a romance, really. It seemed unnecessary, really.
The pacing was a little off at times. Some parts moved quite slow, but then the ending seemed to move really fast. A bit more moderation would have been appreciated.
Bottom Line: I liked the messages that the book was trying to give. I think it was subtle in places, not so subtle in others, but very well done. I think with a bit more explanation, it would have led to more believability and a bit of a deeper connection, but overall I liked it.
**Copy provided by publisher for review.**
This review was originally posted on It Starts at Midnight
October 25, 2015
In the future, creative industries like fashion and video game design are staffed by teenagers (hired at thirteen) because everyone knows that young people know what is cool. Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde both rose to the top of their fields, but now their teens are almost over and their afraid of becoming obsolosers. When Marla loses her prestigious position and Ivy gets threatened by a new pop starlet, the girls start seeing the downside to their world and getting the gumption to fight back.
I found that MATERIAL GIRLS took awhile to kick into gear. I think it was a mix of two things. Elaine Dimopoulos built a dystopian that took a lot of set up to explain and ground the setting, and both girls start out shallow and unquestioning in order to make their journey more satisfying. I found that the plot didn't really move until Marla and Ivy met each other.
I thought MATERIAL GIRLS was full of good ideas. The way it mocks trends and commercialism reminds me of Scott Westerfeld's slicker SO YESTERDAY. I liked the way the girls' revolution came about, and that all the leaders had different ideas about what they wanted to achieve and how. I liked the messy, slightly ambiguous ending, that doesn't provide the story with unearned resolution. As the slow start showed, the execution could use some work.
MATERIAL GIRLS is the first novel by Dimopoulos, and I think it proves she has talent. If I were on a court picking the next big thing, I don't think I'd pass this book on to the next level. I would, however, encourage the artist to keep submitting ideas and honing her craft. There's a good foundation here.
I found that MATERIAL GIRLS took awhile to kick into gear. I think it was a mix of two things. Elaine Dimopoulos built a dystopian that took a lot of set up to explain and ground the setting, and both girls start out shallow and unquestioning in order to make their journey more satisfying. I found that the plot didn't really move until Marla and Ivy met each other.
I thought MATERIAL GIRLS was full of good ideas. The way it mocks trends and commercialism reminds me of Scott Westerfeld's slicker SO YESTERDAY. I liked the way the girls' revolution came about, and that all the leaders had different ideas about what they wanted to achieve and how. I liked the messy, slightly ambiguous ending, that doesn't provide the story with unearned resolution. As the slow start showed, the execution could use some work.
MATERIAL GIRLS is the first novel by Dimopoulos, and I think it proves she has talent. If I were on a court picking the next big thing, I don't think I'd pass this book on to the next level. I would, however, encourage the artist to keep submitting ideas and honing her craft. There's a good foundation here.
January 7, 2016
I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley
DNF - 30%
Marla has been demoted to the basement in the fashion industry and she starts to question the world's level of consumption which has gone to the extreme. Ivy is a pop star and both her and Marla are pawns used by the corporate bosses in their own game.
Not really a review considering I didn't finish this but I couldn't really get into this and I think it is due to the book's topic and content. I like fashion but not the extent that I would want to read a book about it, I don't care much for trends or the creation of fashion etc which is why I felt that this book was a bit dull and boring, but it is a personal preference. I also didn't really care much for the characters either, but obviously considering that I didn't get very far I never really saw much development, so I can't really comment.
Overall, not really my thing.
Also sorry for the really rubbish 'review', I've been busy.
DNF - 30%
Marla has been demoted to the basement in the fashion industry and she starts to question the world's level of consumption which has gone to the extreme. Ivy is a pop star and both her and Marla are pawns used by the corporate bosses in their own game.
Not really a review considering I didn't finish this but I couldn't really get into this and I think it is due to the book's topic and content. I like fashion but not the extent that I would want to read a book about it, I don't care much for trends or the creation of fashion etc which is why I felt that this book was a bit dull and boring, but it is a personal preference. I also didn't really care much for the characters either, but obviously considering that I didn't get very far I never really saw much development, so I can't really comment.
Overall, not really my thing.
Also sorry for the really rubbish 'review', I've been busy.
April 23, 2015
Definetly differnt book but really was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Review to come.
May 3, 2015
I won't be putting spoiler tags as I'm not sure how much of what I write could be considered spoilers as there are different blurbs in different websites. Read at your own risk.
For me, Material Girls is a hard book to review. I know that I liked it and I would recommend it, but I also know it didn't deliver much of what it had promised. So, while writing this review, I re-rated it and gave it a 3/5 (I rated it as a 4/5-read before).
First of all, I have never watched Project Runway. In fact, I learned that it was a TV show when I tried to look it up on Goodreads and encountered Project Runway: The Show That Changed Fashion, that's how oblivious I was. So, I don't know if this is anything like Project Runway meets Divergent, but as a person that has read the whole series plus novellas, I know it wasn't anything like Divergent except that people are tapped into their future lives and jobs. It's getting annoying that more and more books are using the names of popular books to sell more. Seriously.
That said, I liked the world-building in Material Girls. Instead of bombing you with explanations of a dozen terms in the first five pages, it simply tells you the stories of two main characters, Marla Klein (first-person POV) and Ivy Wilde (third-person POV), and lets you learn the meanings of everything and how that world works as you go. After reading all those dystopian novels that do the exact opposite, I appreciate it.
What I had a real problem was the characters. They weren't characters exactly, they were merely stereotypes that were created to advocate the point the author was trying (rather hard) to make. I liked Ivy and the internal challenges she faced, but it all felt like she changed too fast too soon. Marla was even worse, after living her whole life to be a judge in Torro, all she needed to change her mind altogether and start/join the upright against the Big Five and the system. It simply wasn't realistic.
Unlike everyone else, my favorite part was the ending. Okay, that, too, was created to make the same thing I complained above, but I liked that the book didn't have a happy ending with even more unrealistic victories. I had fun reading those pages more than I liked the rest of the book.
Overall, 3/5. Could have been way better.
For me, Material Girls is a hard book to review. I know that I liked it and I would recommend it, but I also know it didn't deliver much of what it had promised. So, while writing this review, I re-rated it and gave it a 3/5 (I rated it as a 4/5-read before).
First of all, I have never watched Project Runway. In fact, I learned that it was a TV show when I tried to look it up on Goodreads and encountered Project Runway: The Show That Changed Fashion, that's how oblivious I was. So, I don't know if this is anything like Project Runway meets Divergent, but as a person that has read the whole series plus novellas, I know it wasn't anything like Divergent except that people are tapped into their future lives and jobs. It's getting annoying that more and more books are using the names of popular books to sell more. Seriously.
That said, I liked the world-building in Material Girls. Instead of bombing you with explanations of a dozen terms in the first five pages, it simply tells you the stories of two main characters, Marla Klein (first-person POV) and Ivy Wilde (third-person POV), and lets you learn the meanings of everything and how that world works as you go. After reading all those dystopian novels that do the exact opposite, I appreciate it.
What I had a real problem was the characters. They weren't characters exactly, they were merely stereotypes that were created to advocate the point the author was trying (rather hard) to make. I liked Ivy and the internal challenges she faced, but it all felt like she changed too fast too soon. Marla was even worse, after living her whole life to be a judge in Torro, all she needed to change her mind altogether and start/join the upright against the Big Five and the system. It simply wasn't realistic.
Unlike everyone else, my favorite part was the ending. Okay, that, too, was created to make the same thing I complained above, but I liked that the book didn't have a happy ending with even more unrealistic victories. I had fun reading those pages more than I liked the rest of the book.
Overall, 3/5. Could have been way better.
March 3, 2020
Material Girls is set in a world where children are "tapped" as they are entering adolescence to take over key roles in all of the the creative industries. They get demoted as they age to jobs that aren't considered "prime". It follows two girls in alternating chapters. The first one - Marla - is a judge on the superior court for one of the five major fashion houses, determining what will become a trend. The second one - Ivy - is a pop star, showcasing all of the major new trends.
This book did a good job of showing just how far people will go to fit in. I also really liked the "Be Yourself" message it gives.
I didn't really like how the POV switched from first person with Marla, to third person following Ivy. I didn't find their voices to be very different, even with that switch.
I liked it, but didn't love it. I didn't find there to be enough action or controversy and it didn't really explain why their world was the way it was.
I would recommend this book to younger teens who are interested in the fashion industry or pop culture.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book did a good job of showing just how far people will go to fit in. I also really liked the "Be Yourself" message it gives.
I didn't really like how the POV switched from first person with Marla, to third person following Ivy. I didn't find their voices to be very different, even with that switch.
I liked it, but didn't love it. I didn't find there to be enough action or controversy and it didn't really explain why their world was the way it was.
I would recommend this book to younger teens who are interested in the fashion industry or pop culture.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2015
Project Runway meets Nashville meets intelligent YA dystopia in this brand new book by my writing buddy Elaine which debuts this May. Told from two points of view, Material Girls tells the story of Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde, two girls living in a society where fashion and fame are everything and teens call all the shots. But when Marla is fired from her cushy job as a fashion judge and pop star Ivy Wilde begins to teeter in the charts, their lives unravel slowly and intertwine in unexpected ways. They rise together to fight the status quo and end up learning who’s really in charge of their whole world—and it isn’t who they thought.
Elaine’s world building is lush and realistic, and I am in awe of her fashion descriptions. Kirkus reviews called it “Sly, subversive fun,” and I think that’s a spot on description as the novel really raises questions about the value of art in our own society and about, yes, who’s really calling the shots.
Congratulations on a wonderful book, Elaine!
Disclaimer: This review is based on a free ARC received directly from the author.
Elaine’s world building is lush and realistic, and I am in awe of her fashion descriptions. Kirkus reviews called it “Sly, subversive fun,” and I think that’s a spot on description as the novel really raises questions about the value of art in our own society and about, yes, who’s really calling the shots.
Congratulations on a wonderful book, Elaine!
Disclaimer: This review is based on a free ARC received directly from the author.
March 10, 2015
Smart, sharp, so vivid and so fresh...I loved—and tore through—MATERIAL GIRLS. At 16, Marla Klein has reached the pinnacle of power as a judge at one of the "Big Five" fashion houses, where she's paid to dictate trends that range from bizarre (feathers, military, space-age) to cruel. Her voice alternates with Ivy Wilde, a teen pop star who is also living a life and career dictated entirely by creepy corporate puppeteers. As Marla and Ivy begin to question the social order around them, they start making their own (sometimes dangerous) choices.
I was completely taken by Marla and Ivy's world, which glitters on the outside but seethes underneath...This is a place where teens chew strawberry-flavored drugs like bubble gum and seventeen is considered over the hill. It was enough to give me chills more than once. More than just a page-turner—although it's certainly that—MATERIAL GIRLS is a sharp critique of consumer culture, peopled with fiercely independent young women who fight for the right to think for themselves.
I was completely taken by Marla and Ivy's world, which glitters on the outside but seethes underneath...This is a place where teens chew strawberry-flavored drugs like bubble gum and seventeen is considered over the hill. It was enough to give me chills more than once. More than just a page-turner—although it's certainly that—MATERIAL GIRLS is a sharp critique of consumer culture, peopled with fiercely independent young women who fight for the right to think for themselves.
March 24, 2015
Full review to come in April!
If you love a good dystopian, then you're going to fall in love with Material Girls! From the very first page, I was rooting for Marla Klein. Each character has a strong and unique voice that I appreciated. The world that the author creates is as much a cautionary tale about the woes of consumerism as it is entertaining. Fans of the dystopian genre will be thrilled with this newest addition!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
If you love a good dystopian, then you're going to fall in love with Material Girls! From the very first page, I was rooting for Marla Klein. Each character has a strong and unique voice that I appreciated. The world that the author creates is as much a cautionary tale about the woes of consumerism as it is entertaining. Fans of the dystopian genre will be thrilled with this newest addition!
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.
May 3, 2015
(I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Material Girls is a dystopian novel set in the fashion world, and the focus alternates between Marla and Ivy. Marla is a judge for one of the top five fashion houses, and Ivy is a popular singer who wears the fashions (only once, of course), and therefore sets the trends.
After Marla "loses her touch" for picking trends, she is demoted to the basement, where she must work as a drafter - someone who sketches the designs and ideas, and then submits them to the judges for consideration. She loathes this at first, but she slowly becomes friends with the other drafters at her station. She realizes that her new friends are keen to start a revolution, and she is swept up with them, eventually leading the revolt.
Ivy is the world's current most popular singer, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to stay at the top. She has seen what happens to the "has-beens", and she is determined to avoid that fate. Unfortunately, after one torturous trend, she becomes disillusioned with the idea of trends, and with the help of Marla, she tries to reinvent herself. Her management, however, has other ideas.
While I'm not really a fan of fashion, and I've never even watched an episode of "Project Runway", I still found myself not wanting to put this book down. While the plot may seem a little frivolous at first, the author does have deeper ideas hidden behind the fashion talk and vain starlets.
The only problem I had was at the very end. It seemed a little too rushed, and things were tied up a little too neatly for one of the girls. The other girl's story, however, felt like it needed a little more closure. Though, I suppose the author may have left it that way intentionally, as we don't always get closure in real life. I would like to go into more detail about the ending, but I really don't want to spoil it for those who haven't yet read it. So, if you'd like to discuss it, feel free to email or message me!
Material Girls is quick-paced and well-written, and I really liked the character development. If you enjoy fashion and stand-alone YA dystopian novels that make you think, I would say give this a try.
Material Girls is a dystopian novel set in the fashion world, and the focus alternates between Marla and Ivy. Marla is a judge for one of the top five fashion houses, and Ivy is a popular singer who wears the fashions (only once, of course), and therefore sets the trends.
After Marla "loses her touch" for picking trends, she is demoted to the basement, where she must work as a drafter - someone who sketches the designs and ideas, and then submits them to the judges for consideration. She loathes this at first, but she slowly becomes friends with the other drafters at her station. She realizes that her new friends are keen to start a revolution, and she is swept up with them, eventually leading the revolt.
Ivy is the world's current most popular singer, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to stay at the top. She has seen what happens to the "has-beens", and she is determined to avoid that fate. Unfortunately, after one torturous trend, she becomes disillusioned with the idea of trends, and with the help of Marla, she tries to reinvent herself. Her management, however, has other ideas.
While I'm not really a fan of fashion, and I've never even watched an episode of "Project Runway", I still found myself not wanting to put this book down. While the plot may seem a little frivolous at first, the author does have deeper ideas hidden behind the fashion talk and vain starlets.
The only problem I had was at the very end. It seemed a little too rushed, and things were tied up a little too neatly for one of the girls. The other girl's story, however, felt like it needed a little more closure. Though, I suppose the author may have left it that way intentionally, as we don't always get closure in real life. I would like to go into more detail about the ending, but I really don't want to spoil it for those who haven't yet read it. So, if you'd like to discuss it, feel free to email or message me!
Material Girls is quick-paced and well-written, and I really liked the character development. If you enjoy fashion and stand-alone YA dystopian novels that make you think, I would say give this a try.
May 10, 2015
4.5/5
What a delightful read, peeps! Dystopian YA is always touch and go for me, and I didn't know what to expect from this one, but it's actually very clever and paints a caricature representation of today's society.
Some years ago in a grip of deep economical crisis some countries came up with an idea of testing kids in school for creative aptitude, and if they have any inclination and talent for creative jobs, take them out and put them to work in massive consumer and entertainment industries. So, some kids would finish school as normal and then decide what job they will do, others won't have that choice and will be put to work in certain industries.
The clever part is that such way of life is so glamorised and praised in a massive consumer society, that the majority of kids will be crushed not to become Creatives.
Marla Klein works in fashion industry, and at her sixteen years old she climbed the ranks quickly and now presides as one of the judges in trends court. Trends in her society change every month or so, and masses of people throw away their "old" clothes and buy new. Same happens in any other creative industry, where teenage judges decide on what next will become the trend of the month.
Of course it's an artificial, over-inflated economy, and frankly I couldn't imagine how it could sustain itself for a long time while consuming such enormous amounts of products. Never mind, - this book was fascinating.
So, Marla is a judge in one of the five biggest fashion houses, and she loooves her work! Although, recently her opinion differs too much from her fellow judges, secretly she finds outrageous trends more and more ridiculous, while her maturing mind develops its individual taste. Inevitably, she is disgraced and sent to work in the basement with the other designers, where she gets smack into a middle of cultural rebellion!
I won't give you any more spoilers, but, my God, I loved this quiet, lovely read and I hope to see more from Elaine Dimopoulos. Material Girls is quirky and smart, and I would dearly love to read more books like that. Recommended.
What a delightful read, peeps! Dystopian YA is always touch and go for me, and I didn't know what to expect from this one, but it's actually very clever and paints a caricature representation of today's society.
Some years ago in a grip of deep economical crisis some countries came up with an idea of testing kids in school for creative aptitude, and if they have any inclination and talent for creative jobs, take them out and put them to work in massive consumer and entertainment industries. So, some kids would finish school as normal and then decide what job they will do, others won't have that choice and will be put to work in certain industries.
The clever part is that such way of life is so glamorised and praised in a massive consumer society, that the majority of kids will be crushed not to become Creatives.
Marla Klein works in fashion industry, and at her sixteen years old she climbed the ranks quickly and now presides as one of the judges in trends court. Trends in her society change every month or so, and masses of people throw away their "old" clothes and buy new. Same happens in any other creative industry, where teenage judges decide on what next will become the trend of the month.
Of course it's an artificial, over-inflated economy, and frankly I couldn't imagine how it could sustain itself for a long time while consuming such enormous amounts of products. Never mind, - this book was fascinating.
So, Marla is a judge in one of the five biggest fashion houses, and she loooves her work! Although, recently her opinion differs too much from her fellow judges, secretly she finds outrageous trends more and more ridiculous, while her maturing mind develops its individual taste. Inevitably, she is disgraced and sent to work in the basement with the other designers, where she gets smack into a middle of cultural rebellion!
I won't give you any more spoilers, but, my God, I loved this quiet, lovely read and I hope to see more from Elaine Dimopoulos. Material Girls is quirky and smart, and I would dearly love to read more books like that. Recommended.
June 17, 2015
When I first read the synopsis of Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos I was really excited as the concept sounded amazing and brought to mind So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld which I loved. Unfortunately, though the idea behind this book truly is excellent, the execution fell flat.
This book seemed like the author was trying too hard to make a social commentary about consumerism, trends, and fame. Whilst it certainly is thought provoking to an extent, it all just seems too forced and the storyline doesn't flow naturally. Much of the storyline doesn't make sense and is unbelievable (this coming from a huge fan of dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy novels) and this takes what could have been an amazing concept and makes it a little bit silly.
What I did like about this book - the idea and the writing. That is about it really. The characters did have a few great moments but overall I didn't feel much of a connection with them. Like many YA novels nowadays, Material Girls has an element of romance and this was probably my least favourite part of the entire book. It simply didn't fit in properly with the story and seemed to have been added in at the last minute as an after thought.
Also, the ending fell flat and made much of what happens in the book completely pointless. Whilst it was refreshingly different to the typical YA dystopia ending, it was not satisfying and made the story feel incomplete even though this is apparently NOT the first in a series.
To top this all off this book is very highly priced - nearly £10 in the UK for a kindle edition which is I think the highest price I have ever seen for a standard length YA novel! Overall I wouldn't recommend this one but if it really sounds like your cup of tea then maybe get a copy from the library.
This book seemed like the author was trying too hard to make a social commentary about consumerism, trends, and fame. Whilst it certainly is thought provoking to an extent, it all just seems too forced and the storyline doesn't flow naturally. Much of the storyline doesn't make sense and is unbelievable (this coming from a huge fan of dystopian, paranormal, and fantasy novels) and this takes what could have been an amazing concept and makes it a little bit silly.
What I did like about this book - the idea and the writing. That is about it really. The characters did have a few great moments but overall I didn't feel much of a connection with them. Like many YA novels nowadays, Material Girls has an element of romance and this was probably my least favourite part of the entire book. It simply didn't fit in properly with the story and seemed to have been added in at the last minute as an after thought.
Also, the ending fell flat and made much of what happens in the book completely pointless. Whilst it was refreshingly different to the typical YA dystopia ending, it was not satisfying and made the story feel incomplete even though this is apparently NOT the first in a series.
To top this all off this book is very highly priced - nearly £10 in the UK for a kindle edition which is I think the highest price I have ever seen for a standard length YA novel! Overall I wouldn't recommend this one but if it really sounds like your cup of tea then maybe get a copy from the library.
October 15, 2014
Check out my blog for this & more reviews on New & Upcoming Young Adult Books at UtopiaNeverComes.blogspot.com
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When I picked Material Girls as my next read, I thought it sounded like an interesting concept... teenagers hired on before they are even finished with school to make the choices on what would be the next big craze in fashion. These pre-teens, starting at the age of 13, would be chosen for different artistic careers, like fashion, music, movies, & video game production & would peak at work before the age of 20. Their schooling would end & their new lives would begin before they were even finished growing. I didn't know how much I would really love this book until I started reading it.
I was entranced by this world that Marla & Ivy live in. They were "tapped" in their 7th grade in high school and now 3 years later are making their way through lucrative careers. The only problem is, every year more kids are tapped to begin work assignments. So their world is ever changing & moving forward, with or without them. At any point, they can be viewed as old news & left behind for something or someone younger & fresher.
This book is definitely chocked full of moral dilemmas and values. It has a definite moral about the wastefulness of today's society. When something is out in fashion, we usually discard it. It also has a lot of information on the usefulness of eco-friendly living & the value in purchasing eco-friendly clothing.
It took me only 2 days to read, because of how much I loved it. I think Material Girls would be perfect for fans of The Selection by Kiera Cass, Matched by Ally Condie, & Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
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When I picked Material Girls as my next read, I thought it sounded like an interesting concept... teenagers hired on before they are even finished with school to make the choices on what would be the next big craze in fashion. These pre-teens, starting at the age of 13, would be chosen for different artistic careers, like fashion, music, movies, & video game production & would peak at work before the age of 20. Their schooling would end & their new lives would begin before they were even finished growing. I didn't know how much I would really love this book until I started reading it.
I was entranced by this world that Marla & Ivy live in. They were "tapped" in their 7th grade in high school and now 3 years later are making their way through lucrative careers. The only problem is, every year more kids are tapped to begin work assignments. So their world is ever changing & moving forward, with or without them. At any point, they can be viewed as old news & left behind for something or someone younger & fresher.
This book is definitely chocked full of moral dilemmas and values. It has a definite moral about the wastefulness of today's society. When something is out in fashion, we usually discard it. It also has a lot of information on the usefulness of eco-friendly living & the value in purchasing eco-friendly clothing.
It took me only 2 days to read, because of how much I loved it. I think Material Girls would be perfect for fans of The Selection by Kiera Cass, Matched by Ally Condie, & Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.
May 11, 2015
Material Girls is a Dystopian novel that features a world where thirteen year olds get "tapped" which determines what will the rest of their life look like. Arty type rule the world. Designers, programmers, video game buffs, musicians - all of these are more creative fields are what determines what is cool.
The story itself jumps from two POVs - Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde. Marla has worked for one of the Top 5 Design Houses that determined what trends would be popular. Being on the Court, she had the ability to pick and choose what was in style until she was sent to the Basement to join the drafters. Ivy is a signer, a pop-star who has to put together a front to show people that she is "Wild" until she is so sick and fed up with everything, she wants to be her own person. But she has to behave if she wants to be the number one star out there.
When Marla's and Ivy's paths intertwined, they start working towards a protest that eliminates trends and makes the whole world that everyone knows, disappear. Of course, the "Fashion Revolution" is a lot harder than they thought they would be but with the right system and people by the side, something might happen at the end.
I really did like the book. Although it reminded me a little big of Project Runway, the book wasn't too overwhelmed on the fashion itself but the Dystopia and the rebellion which I appreciated. Really wish it was a little bit faster but overall, I really liked the world building and the story.
The story itself jumps from two POVs - Marla Klein and Ivy Wilde. Marla has worked for one of the Top 5 Design Houses that determined what trends would be popular. Being on the Court, she had the ability to pick and choose what was in style until she was sent to the Basement to join the drafters. Ivy is a signer, a pop-star who has to put together a front to show people that she is "Wild" until she is so sick and fed up with everything, she wants to be her own person. But she has to behave if she wants to be the number one star out there.
When Marla's and Ivy's paths intertwined, they start working towards a protest that eliminates trends and makes the whole world that everyone knows, disappear. Of course, the "Fashion Revolution" is a lot harder than they thought they would be but with the right system and people by the side, something might happen at the end.
I really did like the book. Although it reminded me a little big of Project Runway, the book wasn't too overwhelmed on the fashion itself but the Dystopia and the rebellion which I appreciated. Really wish it was a little bit faster but overall, I really liked the world building and the story.
March 5, 2016
A fun, fast-paced and thought provoking look at a not-too-distant youth-obsessed future. The premise of this novel is that youth are the buying force and drivers of the economy. The entertainment industry is the pinnacle of success, but with a tiny window from about age 13 to age 20.
Entertainment comes polished and packaged. It helps sell the trends - which are everything! And the trends are short-lived to keep the economy rolling.
I loved the crisp writing and engaging plot. The novel has a wide appeal across age groups and has much to say about the death - and re-birth - of creativity. I love the glimmer of hope for the future. And I would be delighted to read a sequel to this novel.
Entertainment comes polished and packaged. It helps sell the trends - which are everything! And the trends are short-lived to keep the economy rolling.
I loved the crisp writing and engaging plot. The novel has a wide appeal across age groups and has much to say about the death - and re-birth - of creativity. I love the glimmer of hope for the future. And I would be delighted to read a sequel to this novel.
October 23, 2014
4.5 Read as digital ARC.
Material Girls was great--felt like it was tailored for me. I had high hopes for it as I love depictions of the future and would easily read The Hunger Games had it been written from Cinna's viewpoint and finished before Katniss's year. Material Girls isn't that high stakes, but it's exactly the type of book you try to read before sleeping that then results in you not actually going to sleep.
Material Girls was great--felt like it was tailored for me. I had high hopes for it as I love depictions of the future and would easily read The Hunger Games had it been written from Cinna's viewpoint and finished before Katniss's year. Material Girls isn't that high stakes, but it's exactly the type of book you try to read before sleeping that then results in you not actually going to sleep.
September 13, 2014
A smart feminist take on the possible near-future. A dystopia without the apocalypse, this is razor sharp look at corporate values and consumerism, filtered through the eyes of two girls who think they're at the top, discover that they have been manipulated and used, and try to fight back.
September 14, 2014
Fans of fashion, music, and the corruption in these teen-driven industries will race through this one like the latest issue of Vogue. Vibrant characters, a tightly woven plot, and smart writing make this dystopian universe rise above the rest.
June 17, 2015
I'm not impressed.
Review to come.
Review to come.
March 13, 2015
The last 40% was a bit of a let down.
July 10, 2015
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
I’ve been blogging for two years. In that time, I’ve only had one book that I rated below 3 stars and still reviewed. For me, less than 3 stars usually means a DNF. But in that case – and now in this case, with Material Girls – I feel like I have a lot to say and I feel like I can say it in a constructive, respectful way. It took me a long time to start Material Girls. I tried three times – and I didn’t make it past the second page any of those times – before I was successful. But I was intrigued by the premise and I kept putting it aside, hoping I’d be in the mood for it at some point. I finally managed to read it and I was pretty disappointed. But as bad as this book was, there was obviously SOMETHING about it that I enjoyed, because I didn’t DNF it, couldn’t put it down AND I finished it in a day.
Before I begin, fair warning: This review has spoilers, both minor and major. So read with caution or, if you don’t want to be spoiled, don’t read this review until after you’ve read the book.
So let’s start with the plot. I love Dystopian but, with all the Dystopian books out there, a lot of them are the same or very similar. Material Girls intrigued me because it seemed different. I’m not a huge fashion person, but I hoped it would be about more than that – that it would have a greater lesson, or something. Sadly, it was almost exclusively about fashion. For those who read Dystopian, this was basically the “rebellion” happening against the “Big Five” fashion houses instead of the entire government.
In this world, kids are “Tapped” at 13 to work in a certain creative industry, at a certain company and in a certain role. And they do that until they’re 16-19 and then they’re considered obsolete and either demoted or let go. So… You peak in your career before you’re even out of your teens. If you aren’t “Tapped,” you’re considered an “Adequate” and take on “menial” jobs like being a teacher, doctor, etc. People who are Tapped look down on the Adequate’s and treat them as lesser human beings. Basically, as with any typical Dystopian, this creates the divide that sparks a rebellion.
Marla is at the top of the food chain at one of the Big Five fashion houses, but she speaks up to defend fashions that no one else likes. This gets her demoted. Of course, getting demoted means she falls in with the group that desires to rebel and “fix the system.” Marla doesn’t have any significant character growth until 73% in to the book, roughly. She wasn’t very likable, though I did feel bad for her when she lost everything. Her story ended in an intriguing way, however, giving me hope that things might turn out okay.
Ivy is a hugely successful pop star who’s tired of her image and wants to change it up in order to get her ex-boyfriend back. Unlike Marla, she had a lot of character growth in the beginning. Unlike Marla, her character growth became stagnant roughly half-way in to the book and then tapered off until she ended up right back where she stared at the beginning of the book. Only, she was worse off by the end than she was at the beginning, in my opinion. Honestly, I had high hopes for her and the way her story ended was very disappointing.
I was incredibly annoyed and upset with the way Marla and Ivy’s friendship ended. Them working together was incredibly predictable, but I thought they’d be together at the end, fighting the good fight or something. I didn’t like the way Felix came between them. That whole weird love triangle was just… weird. And unnecessary. Ivy acted as though Marla was an evil home-wrecker, when Marla didn’t even know about Ivy and Felix’s history until after the fact.
There were a lot of secondary characters in this book and I really didn’t connect with any of them and, therefore, didn’t really care about them. Most of the were shallow and had no sense of loyalty. Marla’s best friend and boyfriend were quick to dump her and run when they thought associating with her would jeopardize their Tap positions. Everyone was mean to each other, doing anything they could to stay relevant and at the top. It was heartbreaking to see some of the things that happened. And a lot of the characters blended together, so I had a hard time remembering who was who.
My biggest beef with this book was the ending. It was disappointing, anti-climatic and left me hanging. The rebellion was snuffed out and nothing really changed. At one point, Vivienne mentioned that change doesn’t happen over night, so I understand why the rebellion fizzled and I get the point the author was trying to make – it takes years and years and constant fighting to make change happen. But as a reader reading a book, this made for a very disappointing ending. I felt jipped, like I’d spent my time reading this book for nothing. I guess the lesson is “be the change you want to see.” Don’t give up, even if you lose. It’s a great lesson, but it made the ending feel anti-climatic and unfinished.
Despite all that, there must have been SOMETHING good/interesting about this book because I never DNF’d and I finished it in roughly a day. But I honestly don’t know why. I have no clue why I held on or what intrigued me so much. I guess I connected with these characters on some level, enough to want to know how their stories ended and if they got their happily ever after. The plot/world kept me intrigued enough that I couldn’t put it down and read it super fast. But if you asked me for exact reasons why I kept reading, or what about it was interesting enough… Well, I couldn’t tell you. It was entertaining in some level, though.
I think if I knew this was part of a duology, trilogy or series, I wouldn’t mind the ending as much. If I knew that at some point, we’d get closure for these characters, that there was a point to the rebellion (and it was successful), I’d give this book the benefit of the doubt and maybe attempt to pick up the second book when it released. Who knows, if we get a second book, I might even come back and revise this review and bump it up to a 3-star rating. But until that happens, I’m standing firm with my rating and my reasons why.
I have a lot more thoughts on this book and I could discuss them all in great detail. But, as always, I hate thinking that my reviews might discourage someone from reading a book. I might not have enjoyed Material Girls, but someone else might love it. I saw a number of positive 4-star reviews for it on Goodreads. I will NEVER tell someone NOT to read a book. Though I won’t go out of my way to recommend it, I won’t tell you not to read it, either. So if you were excited for this book, give it a chance. You might love it! I truly hope you do! If you love fashion, especially, then this book is likely for you. If you DO read it and DO love it, let me know in the comments – tell me why you loved it!
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
I’ve been blogging for two years. In that time, I’ve only had one book that I rated below 3 stars and still reviewed. For me, less than 3 stars usually means a DNF. But in that case – and now in this case, with Material Girls – I feel like I have a lot to say and I feel like I can say it in a constructive, respectful way. It took me a long time to start Material Girls. I tried three times – and I didn’t make it past the second page any of those times – before I was successful. But I was intrigued by the premise and I kept putting it aside, hoping I’d be in the mood for it at some point. I finally managed to read it and I was pretty disappointed. But as bad as this book was, there was obviously SOMETHING about it that I enjoyed, because I didn’t DNF it, couldn’t put it down AND I finished it in a day.
Before I begin, fair warning: This review has spoilers, both minor and major. So read with caution or, if you don’t want to be spoiled, don’t read this review until after you’ve read the book.
So let’s start with the plot. I love Dystopian but, with all the Dystopian books out there, a lot of them are the same or very similar. Material Girls intrigued me because it seemed different. I’m not a huge fashion person, but I hoped it would be about more than that – that it would have a greater lesson, or something. Sadly, it was almost exclusively about fashion. For those who read Dystopian, this was basically the “rebellion” happening against the “Big Five” fashion houses instead of the entire government.
In this world, kids are “Tapped” at 13 to work in a certain creative industry, at a certain company and in a certain role. And they do that until they’re 16-19 and then they’re considered obsolete and either demoted or let go. So… You peak in your career before you’re even out of your teens. If you aren’t “Tapped,” you’re considered an “Adequate” and take on “menial” jobs like being a teacher, doctor, etc. People who are Tapped look down on the Adequate’s and treat them as lesser human beings. Basically, as with any typical Dystopian, this creates the divide that sparks a rebellion.
Marla is at the top of the food chain at one of the Big Five fashion houses, but she speaks up to defend fashions that no one else likes. This gets her demoted. Of course, getting demoted means she falls in with the group that desires to rebel and “fix the system.” Marla doesn’t have any significant character growth until 73% in to the book, roughly. She wasn’t very likable, though I did feel bad for her when she lost everything. Her story ended in an intriguing way, however, giving me hope that things might turn out okay.
Ivy is a hugely successful pop star who’s tired of her image and wants to change it up in order to get her ex-boyfriend back. Unlike Marla, she had a lot of character growth in the beginning. Unlike Marla, her character growth became stagnant roughly half-way in to the book and then tapered off until she ended up right back where she stared at the beginning of the book. Only, she was worse off by the end than she was at the beginning, in my opinion. Honestly, I had high hopes for her and the way her story ended was very disappointing.
I was incredibly annoyed and upset with the way Marla and Ivy’s friendship ended. Them working together was incredibly predictable, but I thought they’d be together at the end, fighting the good fight or something. I didn’t like the way Felix came between them. That whole weird love triangle was just… weird. And unnecessary. Ivy acted as though Marla was an evil home-wrecker, when Marla didn’t even know about Ivy and Felix’s history until after the fact.
There were a lot of secondary characters in this book and I really didn’t connect with any of them and, therefore, didn’t really care about them. Most of the were shallow and had no sense of loyalty. Marla’s best friend and boyfriend were quick to dump her and run when they thought associating with her would jeopardize their Tap positions. Everyone was mean to each other, doing anything they could to stay relevant and at the top. It was heartbreaking to see some of the things that happened. And a lot of the characters blended together, so I had a hard time remembering who was who.
My biggest beef with this book was the ending. It was disappointing, anti-climatic and left me hanging. The rebellion was snuffed out and nothing really changed. At one point, Vivienne mentioned that change doesn’t happen over night, so I understand why the rebellion fizzled and I get the point the author was trying to make – it takes years and years and constant fighting to make change happen. But as a reader reading a book, this made for a very disappointing ending. I felt jipped, like I’d spent my time reading this book for nothing. I guess the lesson is “be the change you want to see.” Don’t give up, even if you lose. It’s a great lesson, but it made the ending feel anti-climatic and unfinished.
Despite all that, there must have been SOMETHING good/interesting about this book because I never DNF’d and I finished it in roughly a day. But I honestly don’t know why. I have no clue why I held on or what intrigued me so much. I guess I connected with these characters on some level, enough to want to know how their stories ended and if they got their happily ever after. The plot/world kept me intrigued enough that I couldn’t put it down and read it super fast. But if you asked me for exact reasons why I kept reading, or what about it was interesting enough… Well, I couldn’t tell you. It was entertaining in some level, though.
I think if I knew this was part of a duology, trilogy or series, I wouldn’t mind the ending as much. If I knew that at some point, we’d get closure for these characters, that there was a point to the rebellion (and it was successful), I’d give this book the benefit of the doubt and maybe attempt to pick up the second book when it released. Who knows, if we get a second book, I might even come back and revise this review and bump it up to a 3-star rating. But until that happens, I’m standing firm with my rating and my reasons why.
I have a lot more thoughts on this book and I could discuss them all in great detail. But, as always, I hate thinking that my reviews might discourage someone from reading a book. I might not have enjoyed Material Girls, but someone else might love it. I saw a number of positive 4-star reviews for it on Goodreads. I will NEVER tell someone NOT to read a book. Though I won’t go out of my way to recommend it, I won’t tell you not to read it, either. So if you were excited for this book, give it a chance. You might love it! I truly hope you do! If you love fashion, especially, then this book is likely for you. If you DO read it and DO love it, let me know in the comments – tell me why you loved it!
You can also find more from me on my blog: Pandora's Books
June 30, 2022
I liked the themes of this book and how they connect to the real world. However, I wished the author focused more on that then some of the other stuff that happened in the book. But it was a fast read to get me motivated for Pakistan, so I accept it.
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