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Never Been Texted
When Ashlee’s stepdad completely forgets her birthday she takes matters into her own hands to get the one thing she really wants: her own cell phone. But text messages start rolling in from a broken-hearted boy, and though Ashlee knows not all stories end happily, she’s determined to make hers the best it can be.
- GenresYoung Adult
211 pages, Paperback
First published August 31, 2015
2 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Linda Joy Singleton
100 books470 followersI started writing at 8 years old and when I speak to kids at schools or libraries I show them the stories I wrote as a child. I loved mystery series like Judy Bolton and Nancy Drew, and my DREAM was to write a series of my own. This happened when My Sister the Ghost was published by Avon books in 1994.
Since then I’ve been fortunate to write other series like The Seer, Dead Girl trilogy, Strange Encounters, Regeneration and Curious Cat Spy Club. I recently added a mini mystery to the Curious Cat Spy Club series titled Dog Rescue Time Warp which has a surprise ending.
I love hearing from fans and always write back. And I’ll send a spy activity packet to anyone that asks. Email link at www.LindaJoySingleton.com
Since then I’ve been fortunate to write other series like The Seer, Dead Girl trilogy, Strange Encounters, Regeneration and Curious Cat Spy Club. I recently added a mini mystery to the Curious Cat Spy Club series titled Dog Rescue Time Warp which has a surprise ending.
I love hearing from fans and always write back. And I’ll send a spy activity packet to anyone that asks. Email link at www.LindaJoySingleton.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 26, 2015
A year ago, Ashlee lost her mother in a car accident, leaving only her and her Step-father to take care of each other and their dog kennel business. Once, the two were close, but after the tragedy their relationship became strained. Even after everything, she was sure that he would remember her sixteenth birthday and the promise he made to buy her a cell phone of her own, but sadly, he doesn't. When a dejected Ashlee stumbles upon a mysterious shop and buys the exact cell phone she's always wished for, she thinks it's all too good to be true. She soon starts receiving texts from a mysterious, heartbroken stranger who turns out to be Derrick, the boyfriend of her worst enemy. It just so happens that Derrick is a perfect guy that she Ashlee could totally fall for, but he's taken. Not only that, but he's one of the most well known people in town, he's the son of the Mayor. Ashlee is definitely not in his league, so she tries to forget about him. When a local talent show puts Ashlee in the spotlight, she just might get her chance to really shine. And with a little magic, you never know what might happen.
Never Been Texted is such a sweet, wonderful book! It's like a modern day fairy tale, reminiscent of Cinderella, that totally warmed my heart. It's got a little bit of magic, charming and innocent first love, true friendship and it explores what it really means to be a family. I'd definitely recommend this to even younger readers (tweens) without hesitation since it's pretty clean, content wise. As an adult, I enjoyed the story and characters. This is a lovely, heartwarming story that will put a smile on your face.
Never Been Texted is such a sweet, wonderful book! It's like a modern day fairy tale, reminiscent of Cinderella, that totally warmed my heart. It's got a little bit of magic, charming and innocent first love, true friendship and it explores what it really means to be a family. I'd definitely recommend this to even younger readers (tweens) without hesitation since it's pretty clean, content wise. As an adult, I enjoyed the story and characters. This is a lovely, heartwarming story that will put a smile on your face.
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August 14, 2019This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Never Been Texted is a sweet, cute take on Cinderella. Ashlee just wants her stepfather to notice her – and a phone – for her birthday. When she gets neither she is sorely disappointed. But when she happens upon a phone deal rather mysteriously, things start to get strange. First of all, she’s getting texts from “Prince” – and though they’re obviously not meant for her, she is intrigued. But then the phone starts showing signs of being something more than just an everyday object – it just might be that this phone has a little magic behind it, magic that might be able to help Ashlee win the local talent show, win the guy, and even save her family before it falls apart.
What I loved:
The twists on Cinderella.
I thought that the fairy godfather phone was a fun technological twist on the old theme – very appropriate for the modern YA reader. And I loved that, instead of a ball, Ashlee was preparing for a talent show. There were no evil stepsisters in this book – just a bullying girl from school (which was more relatable). Oh, and the “prince” was definitely still charming!
Family.
My favorite twist on the original story had to do with Ashlee’s family, though. Instead of an evil stepmother, Ashlee had a stepfather who loved her but had kind of forgotten her a bit in his pain over losing Ashlee’s mother. The relationship here was complex and much more satisfying than the typical stereotypical mean stepmother role that’s usually in Cinderella retellings. Ashlee’s dad struggled with wanting to provide for her and feeling like he was failing – and with the possibility of losing the one thing that kept them closer to Ashlee’s mom. I think that the family relationships in this book will ring a lot more true with many teenagers.
The dogs.
Ashlee’s Queen Bee stole the show – both the show in the book and the book itself at times! She was super cute, and I loved hearing about all of the dogs that Ashlee took care of! (They were dog breeders.)
The negatives:
Nothing specific.
There wasn’t anything really wrong with this book. It just felt a little young to me (but I am not actually the target audience, of course – for some YA that works out fine and sometimes I feel my age when I read it). It didn’t always hold my attention completely, so I found myself drifting away from it sometimes, but again, I think this might just because it felt a little too young for me.
Overall, this was a fun read that I would especially recommend to younger YA readers. It was definitely a cute and original take on Cinderella! I give it 3/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Never Been Texted is a sweet, cute take on Cinderella. Ashlee just wants her stepfather to notice her – and a phone – for her birthday. When she gets neither she is sorely disappointed. But when she happens upon a phone deal rather mysteriously, things start to get strange. First of all, she’s getting texts from “Prince” – and though they’re obviously not meant for her, she is intrigued. But then the phone starts showing signs of being something more than just an everyday object – it just might be that this phone has a little magic behind it, magic that might be able to help Ashlee win the local talent show, win the guy, and even save her family before it falls apart.
What I loved:
The twists on Cinderella.
I thought that the fairy godfather phone was a fun technological twist on the old theme – very appropriate for the modern YA reader. And I loved that, instead of a ball, Ashlee was preparing for a talent show. There were no evil stepsisters in this book – just a bullying girl from school (which was more relatable). Oh, and the “prince” was definitely still charming!
Family.
My favorite twist on the original story had to do with Ashlee’s family, though. Instead of an evil stepmother, Ashlee had a stepfather who loved her but had kind of forgotten her a bit in his pain over losing Ashlee’s mother. The relationship here was complex and much more satisfying than the typical stereotypical mean stepmother role that’s usually in Cinderella retellings. Ashlee’s dad struggled with wanting to provide for her and feeling like he was failing – and with the possibility of losing the one thing that kept them closer to Ashlee’s mom. I think that the family relationships in this book will ring a lot more true with many teenagers.
The dogs.
Ashlee’s Queen Bee stole the show – both the show in the book and the book itself at times! She was super cute, and I loved hearing about all of the dogs that Ashlee took care of! (They were dog breeders.)
The negatives:
Nothing specific.
There wasn’t anything really wrong with this book. It just felt a little young to me (but I am not actually the target audience, of course – for some YA that works out fine and sometimes I feel my age when I read it). It didn’t always hold my attention completely, so I found myself drifting away from it sometimes, but again, I think this might just because it felt a little too young for me.
Overall, this was a fun read that I would especially recommend to younger YA readers. It was definitely a cute and original take on Cinderella! I give it 3/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
January 27, 2020
It was reaaally boring
August 25, 2015
Super cute and fun read. Great for younger teens or as a MG crossover.
July 24, 2018
It was so boring
February 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book on many levels, including it's contemporary appeal, it's nod to versions of the Cinderella fairy tale and the fun information and dog references. Highly recommended!
September 11, 2015
Ashlee’s mother died a year ago and she lives with a caring yet distant stepfather. She’s never had a cell phone and he promises her one for her birthday, yet he forgets! She takes matters into her own hands and gets a great deal on a phone. The phone seems to malfunction with sound and light. Also, on it she receives text messages from the most popular boy in town.
The phone number must surely have belonged to the boy’s girlfriend. Derrick is the son of the mayor and the boyfriend of Beatrice, an enemy who constantly belittles and sabotages her. When Derrick becomes interested in her, she’s not sure if a real relationship is in the horizon. There’s also an upcoming talent show she needs to prepare for. Since her phone is acting magical, perhaps it can guide her in these pursuits.
Ashlee had a complicated relationship with her stepfather considering her mother’s death and the grief they both share. Ashlee’s friend Rory is a great secondary character. Beatrice is an antagonist who really gets on the reader’s nerve. I wondered why a great guy like Derrick was interested in her in the first place. This novel is a wonderful, modern retelling of the Cinderella fairytale.
The phone number must surely have belonged to the boy’s girlfriend. Derrick is the son of the mayor and the boyfriend of Beatrice, an enemy who constantly belittles and sabotages her. When Derrick becomes interested in her, she’s not sure if a real relationship is in the horizon. There’s also an upcoming talent show she needs to prepare for. Since her phone is acting magical, perhaps it can guide her in these pursuits.
Ashlee had a complicated relationship with her stepfather considering her mother’s death and the grief they both share. Ashlee’s friend Rory is a great secondary character. Beatrice is an antagonist who really gets on the reader’s nerve. I wondered why a great guy like Derrick was interested in her in the first place. This novel is a wonderful, modern retelling of the Cinderella fairytale.
September 2, 2015
Ashlee lost her mom and began pushing everyone away except her best friend and her dog. All she wanted for her birthday was a phone, which her step-dad promised to get her and then he forgot. When she goes out and happens upon a magical store and the phone she always wanted, but can only have for a month she jumps at the chance. Then she starts getting texts from someone named “Prince” and when her friend messages back agreeing to meet she sees her “Prince” is the mayors son and the school queen bee’s boyfriend. Derrick the “prince” and Ashlee meet and slowly spend time together and Derrick begins to like Ashlee and vice versa. There’s a talent show and a family emergency and a puppy birth all wrapped up in this lovely Cinderella retelling.
Never Been Texted was a cute story.
Never Been Texted was a cute story.
October 28, 2015
This is a cute endearing story with a modern Cinderella type twist. It's a perfect book for teens and pre-teens, animal lovers (especially dogs), and the romantic.
Ashlee longs for a phone but when her stepdad misses her birthday, she finds a wish store she never had seen before and a strange guy gives her a mauve phone. Soon she gets her very first text from a boy who signs it "Prince". It's a case of mistaken identity and even when they do meet Ashlee is too shy to give him her real name. The climax comes when Ashlee flees a talent show (not a ball) and loses- not a shoe- her cell phone.
This is a well written book with characters well defined and human.
Ashlee longs for a phone but when her stepdad misses her birthday, she finds a wish store she never had seen before and a strange guy gives her a mauve phone. Soon she gets her very first text from a boy who signs it "Prince". It's a case of mistaken identity and even when they do meet Ashlee is too shy to give him her real name. The climax comes when Ashlee flees a talent show (not a ball) and loses- not a shoe- her cell phone.
This is a well written book with characters well defined and human.
January 22, 2016
Fun, cute, clean YA romance.
October 3, 2015
A definite hit at my house!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews