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Alterations
In this YA retelling of Sabrina set in the glam fashion world, Amelia is whisked off to an amazing New York City fashion internship that changes her life--and quickly finds herself caught between two brothers.A RITA finalist for Best First BookIf anyone saw the prom boards Amelia Blanco makes on her favorite fashion app, they'd think Ethan Laurenti was her boyfriend. They wouldn't know that all the plans she's made for them are just dreams, and that she's the girl who watches him from the kitchen while her parents cook for his famous family. When Amelia's abuelita enrolls her in a month-long fashion internship in NYC, Amelia can't imagine leaving Miami--and Ethan--for that long. As soon as she gets to New York, however, she finds a bigger world and new possibilities. She meets people her own age who can actually carry on a conversation about stitching and design. Her pin boards become less about prom with Ethan and more about creating her own style. By the time she returns to Miami, Amelia feels like she can accomplish anything, and surprises herself by agreeing to help Ethan's awkward, Steve-Jobs-wannabe brother, Liam, create his own fashion app. As Liam and Amelia get closer, Ethan realizes that this newly confident, stylish girl may be the one for him after all . . . even though he has a reality TV star girlfriend he conveniently keeps forgetting about. The "new and improved" Amelia soon finds herself in between two brothers, a whole lot of drama, and choice she never dreamed she'd have to make.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2016
16 people are currently reading
2577 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie J. Scott
24 books600 followersStephanie J. Scott writes light-hearted, quirky romance and young adult. She enjoys dance fitness, everything cats, and has a slight obsession with Instagram. A Midwest girl at heart, she resides outside of Chicago with her tech-of-all-trades husband and fuzzy furbabies.
I spend a lot of time on Instagram! @stephaniejaynebooks
More about books & my author newsletter at:
www.stephaniejscott.com
I spend a lot of time on Instagram! @stephaniejaynebooks
More about books & my author newsletter at:
www.stephaniejscott.com
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December 23, 2020Thank you to everyone who picked up Alterations during the recent discount across retailers! As always, HUGE THANKS to everyone who has already left a review.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, leaving a book review births new baby unicorns.
-Stephanie Scott
It is a truth universally acknowledged, leaving a book review births new baby unicorns.
-Stephanie Scott
Want to read
October 25, 2016WHAT!?!?!?!?!
I'm sorry....DID YOU SAY A SABRINA RETELLING!?!?!?
Sabrina is one of my favourite movies. I LOVE Audrey Hepburn, and while yes I love Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear the 1954 version is THE BEST.
Kids, if you haven't seen Sabrina (and no, not Sabrina the Teenage Witch) you need to go watch it!!!
I'm looking forward to some cuteness like this
and more cuteness
I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP!! This is going to be good, I know it will!! Anyone else looking forward to Alterations?!
I'm sorry....DID YOU SAY A SABRINA RETELLING!?!?!?
Sabrina is one of my favourite movies. I LOVE Audrey Hepburn, and while yes I love Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear the 1954 version is THE BEST.
Kids, if you haven't seen Sabrina (and no, not Sabrina the Teenage Witch) you need to go watch it!!!
I'm looking forward to some cuteness like this
and more cuteness
I NEED THIS BOOK ASAP!! This is going to be good, I know it will!! Anyone else looking forward to Alterations?!
December 6, 2016
I was sold at the comparison to Sabrina. I love that movie with a sickness and couldn't wait to see how it translated into a retelling.
I liked Amelia well enough. She's smart and talented and {mostly} focused. Ethan and Liam were great opposites as brothers and their interactions with Amelia were interesting. I could have done with more banter and sweetness, but loved the nerdy references.
My main complaint is that I never saw that burst of confidence from Amelia. After her fashion internship, I wanted her certain of her abilities and she seemed to falter more. Yes, part of it had to do with Ethan, but for me, this aspect came across more as being a people pleaser than being unsure of her future and what she wanted.
Overall, it was a quick and cute read with a great epilogue.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury Spark for providing the arc free of charge**
I liked Amelia well enough. She's smart and talented and {mostly} focused. Ethan and Liam were great opposites as brothers and their interactions with Amelia were interesting. I could have done with more banter and sweetness, but loved the nerdy references.
My main complaint is that I never saw that burst of confidence from Amelia. After her fashion internship, I wanted her certain of her abilities and she seemed to falter more. Yes, part of it had to do with Ethan, but for me, this aspect came across more as being a people pleaser than being unsure of her future and what she wanted.
Overall, it was a quick and cute read with a great epilogue.
**Huge thanks to Bloomsbury Spark for providing the arc free of charge**
March 8, 2017
Alterations was the perfect weekend read!
This book is full of everything we love about contemporaries; young love, self discovery, family, and a little drama. Our main character, Amelia, comes full circle as she goes on a journey to discover who and what she truly wants in her life.. And I loved every minute of reading her story!
As soon as the book begins we learn that Amelia's grandmother has enrolled her in a fashion internship, which Amelia had always planned on applying to but never did. Learning that made me feel as if I knew Amelia a little better. She's shy and insecure, and like most teenagers she's a little unsure of what she wants out of life. She's extremely passionate though. It was inspiring to see her passion for every aspect of her life, from her family to becoming someone in the fashion industry.
Amelia decides to leave behind the comfort of her home and attend the internship at NYFI. This part of the story was incredibly interesting! I loved reading how hard she worked to achieve her goals. There were also a lot of strong girl friendships, guys! I love when any strong friendships are represented and I'm happy this book didn't disappoint me. Amelia gains a lot of new friends at NYFI and they each brought something to Amelia's life. All of her friendships felt genuine and relatable, especially as they continued to encourage one another to reach their goals.
As the story progresses, we start to see more of Amelia outside of the shy and insecure girl we first met. New York changed her, in a good way, and as she's feeling more confident she heads back home to Miami. There's a lot of changes in Amelia's everyday life and with her relationships. Which the drama brought something to the story while managing not to be so dramatic or cheesy, and I appreciated that.
The Laurenti brothers, I should probably talk about Ethan and Liam.. I actually didn't really care for Ethan's character, to be honest. Liam on the other hand, he was definitely dorky and swoon-worthy! I love a good slow-burn relationship because they are always sweet and adorable in every way. The story always stays focused on Amelia though, and how she learns to stop living in her daydreams and appreciate what's right in front of her.. And that is very much present in her love life as well.
I really enjoyed all of the characters though! This is a perfect book to pick up if you're looking for a diverse read. The characters each develop in a natural way as the story wraps up. Amelia had the biggest transformation, going from being an insecure girl who was too afraid to live in the present to a confident girl who did nothing but appreciate all that she had in that moment.
The epilogue was perfection! Stephanie Scott is a fantastic writer and did a wonderful job showing the importance of loving yourself first and allowing that love to help you appreciate the people in your life. I highly recommend Alterations!
| Originally Published on Simply Nicollette |
- - -
INITIAL THOUGHTS 11/6:
This book was so inspiring! The main character's growth throughout the story was something special. The romance was sweet!! So many great friendships also.
Proper RTC, but if you're looking for a light and sweet contemporary this holiday season then add this to your TBR list!
This book is full of everything we love about contemporaries; young love, self discovery, family, and a little drama. Our main character, Amelia, comes full circle as she goes on a journey to discover who and what she truly wants in her life.. And I loved every minute of reading her story!
As soon as the book begins we learn that Amelia's grandmother has enrolled her in a fashion internship, which Amelia had always planned on applying to but never did. Learning that made me feel as if I knew Amelia a little better. She's shy and insecure, and like most teenagers she's a little unsure of what she wants out of life. She's extremely passionate though. It was inspiring to see her passion for every aspect of her life, from her family to becoming someone in the fashion industry.
Amelia decides to leave behind the comfort of her home and attend the internship at NYFI. This part of the story was incredibly interesting! I loved reading how hard she worked to achieve her goals. There were also a lot of strong girl friendships, guys! I love when any strong friendships are represented and I'm happy this book didn't disappoint me. Amelia gains a lot of new friends at NYFI and they each brought something to Amelia's life. All of her friendships felt genuine and relatable, especially as they continued to encourage one another to reach their goals.
As the story progresses, we start to see more of Amelia outside of the shy and insecure girl we first met. New York changed her, in a good way, and as she's feeling more confident she heads back home to Miami. There's a lot of changes in Amelia's everyday life and with her relationships. Which the drama brought something to the story while managing not to be so dramatic or cheesy, and I appreciated that.
The Laurenti brothers, I should probably talk about Ethan and Liam.. I actually didn't really care for Ethan's character, to be honest. Liam on the other hand, he was definitely dorky and swoon-worthy! I love a good slow-burn relationship because they are always sweet and adorable in every way. The story always stays focused on Amelia though, and how she learns to stop living in her daydreams and appreciate what's right in front of her.. And that is very much present in her love life as well.
I really enjoyed all of the characters though! This is a perfect book to pick up if you're looking for a diverse read. The characters each develop in a natural way as the story wraps up. Amelia had the biggest transformation, going from being an insecure girl who was too afraid to live in the present to a confident girl who did nothing but appreciate all that she had in that moment.
The epilogue was perfection! Stephanie Scott is a fantastic writer and did a wonderful job showing the importance of loving yourself first and allowing that love to help you appreciate the people in your life. I highly recommend Alterations!
| Originally Published on Simply Nicollette |
- - -
INITIAL THOUGHTS 11/6:
This book was so inspiring! The main character's growth throughout the story was something special. The romance was sweet!! So many great friendships also.
Proper RTC, but if you're looking for a light and sweet contemporary this holiday season then add this to your TBR list!
Read
April 21, 2022Graded By: Jennie
Cover Story: Keeping Me In Stitches
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Project Runway: Miami
Bonus Factors: Fashion, Sabrina Retelling, Diversity
Relationship Status: Little Sibling
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Keeping Me In Stitches
BFF Charm: Maybe
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Project Runway: Miami
Bonus Factors: Fashion, Sabrina Retelling, Diversity
Relationship Status: Little Sibling
Read the full book report here.
November 9, 2016
I really wanted to like this novel, because the concept sounded so cute! And while there were elements that I thought had a ton of potential, overall, this one just wasn't my cup of tea. Underdeveloped in many ways, if I were to say what I thought the issue was.
March 30, 2017
Alterations is an entertaining and refreshing new take on the age-old "Sabrina" story. In the original Sabrina story, Sabrina goes off to learn how to "be a lady" -- I like much more the idea that Amelia is going off to perfect a skill, as is the case in Alterations. Amelia already has a knack for sewing and fashion design when the story begins. She also has some self-confidence about this skill, enough to jump in and save the day for the prom-goers.
I also like that the two boys in this story are closer to her own age than in the original, and they are both rather likable, in their own ways. Ethan is charming, and friendly. I can see how Amelia would be charmed... but they are not friends and Amelia doesn't really know him. She doesn't know Liam either. Liam is the computer geek, lacking social skills, but has the honesty to say what he thinks (even if he can't yet quite communicate it effectively).
Amelia's collaboration with Amy and Jimmy when she gets to design school proves to be instrumental toward her recognizing her own skills. It's great that Amelia is forced into a leadership position by default. It could easily have been otherwise. She could have been in a group with two self-confident, worldly, experienced designers, in which case she would have certainly clammed up and floated into the background. Clearly Amelia has something to offer the group, and it is so cool that the other two members recognize this.
I loved the way Amelia grows, recognizes that she has some definite talents. Des's coaching definitely helps, though we discover Des has some issues to be overcome as well. Tess and Avery's praise of Amelia's sowing skills and their admission that they lack theses skills gives Amelia a chance to teach them -- and helps Amelia to realize that she actually has something to contribute. It soon becomes clear that even the seemingly self-confident participants in design school all feel a bit insecure, and most seem to be considered a bit strange or eccentric back in their own environments.
At the end,
The writing is very good. The story flows nicely. The dialogue (except during the last 10%) is fun, clever, and at times refreshingly original. The characters are likable, although I only felt depth with Liam and Amelia. I would have liked more depth with Ethan, Haylo, Amelia's mom, and Maya, for example. Des and Amy
Alterations is an entertaining and fun read! I liked watching Amelia grow, discover her own talents, develop some self-confidence, and figure out what it is that she really wants, both in matters of career and matters of the heart.
3.5.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
BUDDY READ: Contemporary/Romance > Alterations by Stephanie Scott -- Starting December 4th, 2016
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
I also like that the two boys in this story are closer to her own age than in the original, and they are both rather likable, in their own ways. Ethan is charming, and friendly. I can see how Amelia would be charmed... but they are not friends and Amelia doesn't really know him. She doesn't know Liam either. Liam is the computer geek, lacking social skills, but has the honesty to say what he thinks (even if he can't yet quite communicate it effectively).
Amelia's collaboration with Amy and Jimmy when she gets to design school proves to be instrumental toward her recognizing her own skills. It's great that Amelia is forced into a leadership position by default. It could easily have been otherwise. She could have been in a group with two self-confident, worldly, experienced designers, in which case she would have certainly clammed up and floated into the background. Clearly Amelia has something to offer the group, and it is so cool that the other two members recognize this.
I loved the way Amelia grows, recognizes that she has some definite talents. Des's coaching definitely helps, though we discover Des has some issues to be overcome as well. Tess and Avery's praise of Amelia's sowing skills and their admission that they lack theses skills gives Amelia a chance to teach them -- and helps Amelia to realize that she actually has something to contribute. It soon becomes clear that even the seemingly self-confident participants in design school all feel a bit insecure, and most seem to be considered a bit strange or eccentric back in their own environments.
At the end,
The writing is very good. The story flows nicely. The dialogue (except during the last 10%) is fun, clever, and at times refreshingly original. The characters are likable, although I only felt depth with Liam and Amelia. I would have liked more depth with Ethan, Haylo, Amelia's mom, and Maya, for example. Des and Amy
Alterations is an entertaining and fun read! I liked watching Amelia grow, discover her own talents, develop some self-confidence, and figure out what it is that she really wants, both in matters of career and matters of the heart.
3.5.
I received a copy of this book from Bloomsbury USA Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
BUDDY READ: Contemporary/Romance > Alterations by Stephanie Scott -- Starting December 4th, 2016
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
October 29, 2016
Loved this story! Totally got the Sabrina comparison too! Great representation of empowerment and owning your own style. Amelia is likable and I enjoyed following her through her adventures. I really liked the incorporation of social media and technology too. Such a fun read!! I'm a fan! Add this one to your TBR
December 5, 2016
3.5 “SABRINA meets PROJECT RUNWAY” Stars
ARC via NetGalley.
Thank you, Bloomsbury Spark!!
When I read somewhere this book was supposed to be a mix of Sabrina (the movie) and Project Runway, I knew I had to have it. I absolutely adore the movie (I’ve watched the 1995 version a hundred times) and the fashion reality TV show is one of my favorites (it only loses to ANTM and its many versions worldwide). Plus, who doesn’t like Tim Gunn? It’s impossible not to love the “Make it Work” fashion expert.
So I’m only happy to say that Alterations delivers on what it promises.
The first part of the book is a heavily inspired on Project Runway. With Amelia (yay for Latina MC!!!) going to NYC to take part on a fashion summer program, we get to see her go to Mood, design her own clothes, meet fashion-lovers and even make a gown that is presented on the runway! I kept having flashbacks to all my favorite episodes of the show.
(I love Elena & Dmitry and the baby challenge episode was one of my favorites EVER)…
Anyway… going back to this review.
Amelia’s time in NYC allows her to take a good look at herself and her life choices. Girlfriend had an unhealthy obsession with Ethan Laurenti, a boy who wouldn’t even know she existed if her family didn’t work for his. With distance comes perspective, and with good new friends comes her decision to focus more on her and less on her long-time crush.
This almost felt like two books into one, because that first part I just mentioned had its own conflict and resolution: Amelia going to NYC, learning more about herself and her passion, creating trouble because of lies and making the decision to get over Ethan.
While I did enjoy the Project Runway part of the story, I had a few problems with Amelia’s choices when she was in NYC, especially the ones involving her new friends and her lies. They felt unnecessary, and I couldn’t really understand her motivation. But, like I said, Amelia had an arc and she showed growth, maybe not as much as I would’ve liked, but it was still progress.
Then the second book within the book comes when Amelia returns home and needs to face Ethan, and his brother Liam. That’s when the romance aspect of the story kicks in. In my opinion, it takes too long to get here, and if it had not been for the whole Project Runway similarity, I would’ve have waited as patiently for this moment. In fact, the book has a lot less romance than I thought it would.
This is also when we get the Sabrina feels!
Amelia likes Ethan, who didn’t pay attention to her until she returned. Ethan’s brother, Liam, liked Amelia since… ever (which is pretty clear from the start, but Amelia somehow doesn’t see). Amelia starts to hang out with Liam while she helps him develop a fashion app (I totally need it, BTW) and learns that Liam might be a lot more interesting than his brother.
While I did enjoy seeing Liam and Amelia together, I wasn’t a big fan of how long it took Amelia to develop feelings for Liam. We were 80% in and Amelia was still struggling to let go of her crush on Ethan and see Liam as the true love interest. I felt robbed of truly experiencing the chemistry between Liam and Amelia, because she was still comparing him to his brother the whole time. I needed her realization to come a little earlier. I’d even take hints that she was interested in him at some point before the 90% mark.
I also wasn’t a fan of how Amelia often referred to Liam’s lack of fashion sense. Sure, we got that he doesn’t know how to dress to impress, but she didn’t need to keep pointing that out every few pages. Every time she did, she grew a little more unlikable to me. And Amelia has all the traits to make her extremely likable in my book. She’s hard-working, creative, funny, loves her family…She didn’t need the lies from the first part or the way she talked about Liam’s clothes in the second.
The ending followed the Sabrina theme, which I super approve, because there was no way I’d be happy with a different outcome. Yay for picking the right guy, Amelia, and making money on an app I need ASAP!
Overall, this book had a really interesting concept and made good use of the comparative titles, which is always a plus. There were a few things I wish had been handled differently, but this was a fun and fast read, and fans of Project Runway and Sabrina will probably really enjoy it.
OMG GUESS WHO HAS AN ARC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SABRINA <3 <3 <3
December 11, 2016
To see full review click here.
I was really excited for Alterations mainly because it was pitched as a Sabrina retelling. Which is one of my favorite movie(s). I like the old one for Audrey Hepburn, though I can’t stand Bogey and I like the new one for Harrison Ford. The point is, it’s a movie I’m always watching when I have a bad day and I was excited to see how a YA adaption would be.
This one…calling it a Sabrina retelling was a stretch. Some people will like it better than me, but I really didn’t care for this one for multiple reasons.
The first and main one dealt with the lead, Amelia.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.
While Sabrina-the character-was annoying in the beginning of the movie, she quickly finds her own footing. Yet, Amelia flounders for a good chunk of the book AND even though she grows up at the end it’s more of a half hearted attempt at growing up than it should’ve been.
True, we’re dealing with a YA protagonist but still this girl…
She does so many bone headed moves, that I just want to slap her. So many freaking times.
Like the whole thing at the fashion camp. The lies, I just–I just couldn’t. It was like watching a bad ABC sitcom in the 90’s. You know the ones with the lessons of the week whose stars careers ended up into doing just Hallmark movie.
And for that matter, way too much time was spent on the fashion camp stuff if this was supposed to be a Sabrina retelling. Most of the movie(s) explored the relationship between Sabrina and Linus-or here Amelia and Liam. Yeah, we got that a little bit but the whole set up and wooing surrounding it was completely changed.
Yes, that’s going to happen with with retelling. Plot elements are going to be change and such, but this was one of those cases where really the only resemblance I saw to Sabrina was that there was a working class girl who fell in love with her parents’ employer’s two sons. It really didn’t do it for me.
The crux of Sabrina the whole David (or in this instance Ethan) notices Sabrina (Amelia) was completely missing. The whole Linus has to seduce Sabrina but finds himself falling in love with her was missing. Again, I was like WTF why are we even calling this a Sabrina retelling. Anyway, besides the very disappointing blurb comparison-seriously, I feel like there needs to be some sort of DTPA-Deceptive Trade Practices Act-for false blurbs and the annoying YA protagonist who falls for the wrong person, this one is okay.
Yeah, there are some things that really bother me besides the two major cruxes that I pointed out. Like, the fact that the book seemed to try to make itself sound “hip” Writing that sounds so weird because it’s trying to ID with it’s intended audience not realizing that hey younger people aren’t so different than older people. FYI, it’s probably not the smartest thing to have fifty some odd references to Project Runway and Tim Gunn. Just saying.
So, Alterations, do I recommend it…not really. It has more than it’s fair share of issues. But I could see people liking this one and that’s totally okay. It just has a heinous blurb comparison.
I was really excited for Alterations mainly because it was pitched as a Sabrina retelling. Which is one of my favorite movie(s). I like the old one for Audrey Hepburn, though I can’t stand Bogey and I like the new one for Harrison Ford. The point is, it’s a movie I’m always watching when I have a bad day and I was excited to see how a YA adaption would be.
This one…calling it a Sabrina retelling was a stretch. Some people will like it better than me, but I really didn’t care for this one for multiple reasons.
The first and main one dealt with the lead, Amelia.
Ugh.
Ugh.
Ugh.
While Sabrina-the character-was annoying in the beginning of the movie, she quickly finds her own footing. Yet, Amelia flounders for a good chunk of the book AND even though she grows up at the end it’s more of a half hearted attempt at growing up than it should’ve been.
True, we’re dealing with a YA protagonist but still this girl…
She does so many bone headed moves, that I just want to slap her. So many freaking times.
Like the whole thing at the fashion camp. The lies, I just–I just couldn’t. It was like watching a bad ABC sitcom in the 90’s. You know the ones with the lessons of the week whose stars careers ended up into doing just Hallmark movie.
And for that matter, way too much time was spent on the fashion camp stuff if this was supposed to be a Sabrina retelling. Most of the movie(s) explored the relationship between Sabrina and Linus-or here Amelia and Liam. Yeah, we got that a little bit but the whole set up and wooing surrounding it was completely changed.
Yes, that’s going to happen with with retelling. Plot elements are going to be change and such, but this was one of those cases where really the only resemblance I saw to Sabrina was that there was a working class girl who fell in love with her parents’ employer’s two sons. It really didn’t do it for me.
The crux of Sabrina the whole David (or in this instance Ethan) notices Sabrina (Amelia) was completely missing. The whole Linus has to seduce Sabrina but finds himself falling in love with her was missing. Again, I was like WTF why are we even calling this a Sabrina retelling. Anyway, besides the very disappointing blurb comparison-seriously, I feel like there needs to be some sort of DTPA-Deceptive Trade Practices Act-for false blurbs and the annoying YA protagonist who falls for the wrong person, this one is okay.
Yeah, there are some things that really bother me besides the two major cruxes that I pointed out. Like, the fact that the book seemed to try to make itself sound “hip” Writing that sounds so weird because it’s trying to ID with it’s intended audience not realizing that hey younger people aren’t so different than older people. FYI, it’s probably not the smartest thing to have fifty some odd references to Project Runway and Tim Gunn. Just saying.
So, Alterations, do I recommend it…not really. It has more than it’s fair share of issues. But I could see people liking this one and that’s totally okay. It just has a heinous blurb comparison.
March 14, 2017
*This is a first pages review for North of Normal Book Reviews *
Amelia has spent her 16th birthday in bed with the flu, staring at a slice of cake she can't really eat, but her day seems on the cusp of a a turn-around.
Amelia is a character I'm not sure I like yet, but she's enough of an entertaining teenage basket-case that I want to find out. She's either delirious with fever and teen-drama-brain with short bursts of humor poking through, or she's simply a vain and overly dramatic crybaby ("even in sickness, I accessorize"). I suspect the former, I suspect I'll like her, and that suspicion is the element in this first page that makes me want to read on.
This first page does a lot:
Readership: YA. This girl just fever-snotted through her 16th birthday.
Genre: It's not so clear in the first page. And honestly, I didn't notice the heart on the cover until just now. (I know, I'm blind.) With the angst of a 16-year-old girl, the mere fact that she's thinking about a boy doesn't scream romance--they ALL think of boys, even the thriller girls. But now that I "see" the heart on the cover, it's clearly romance.
Mood and voice: Here's where this first page excels. Nothing is over done, and the angsty woe-is-me teen drama mixed with subtle humor rings true to me. This made me laugh:
“You’re the loser!” I shot back.
I buried my face in the pillow—I just yelled at cake.
Setting: Not as clear. It threw me off that she calls her gramma abuelita, and I don't know if she lives with her gran or if maybe gran is just visiting. "Prom" says USA, but I've no idea where in the US this is set--city or farm, east or west.
“Tell me more” factor: I'm turning the page at this point, but not from suspense. The mood is decidedly disappointed and full of mucus. It's the voice that's hooked me--that fun sort of wonder, which plants a seed of curiosity in my head that whispers, "what will come out of this girl's brain next." Getting a chuckle out of a first page is magic. I love this opening!
This first page earns 4 North of Normal stars!
5 Stars on Amazon / Goodreads
Amelia has spent her 16th birthday in bed with the flu, staring at a slice of cake she can't really eat, but her day seems on the cusp of a a turn-around.
Amelia is a character I'm not sure I like yet, but she's enough of an entertaining teenage basket-case that I want to find out. She's either delirious with fever and teen-drama-brain with short bursts of humor poking through, or she's simply a vain and overly dramatic crybaby ("even in sickness, I accessorize"). I suspect the former, I suspect I'll like her, and that suspicion is the element in this first page that makes me want to read on.
This first page does a lot:
Readership: YA. This girl just fever-snotted through her 16th birthday.
Genre: It's not so clear in the first page. And honestly, I didn't notice the heart on the cover until just now. (I know, I'm blind.) With the angst of a 16-year-old girl, the mere fact that she's thinking about a boy doesn't scream romance--they ALL think of boys, even the thriller girls. But now that I "see" the heart on the cover, it's clearly romance.
Mood and voice: Here's where this first page excels. Nothing is over done, and the angsty woe-is-me teen drama mixed with subtle humor rings true to me. This made me laugh:
“You’re the loser!” I shot back.
I buried my face in the pillow—I just yelled at cake.
Setting: Not as clear. It threw me off that she calls her gramma abuelita, and I don't know if she lives with her gran or if maybe gran is just visiting. "Prom" says USA, but I've no idea where in the US this is set--city or farm, east or west.
“Tell me more” factor: I'm turning the page at this point, but not from suspense. The mood is decidedly disappointed and full of mucus. It's the voice that's hooked me--that fun sort of wonder, which plants a seed of curiosity in my head that whispers, "what will come out of this girl's brain next." Getting a chuckle out of a first page is magic. I love this opening!
This first page earns 4 North of Normal stars!
5 Stars on Amazon / Goodreads
January 10, 2017
I adored this book! This Sabrina retelling was spot on! This book was so delightful from start to finish! If you enjoy the story of Sabrina at all, pick this book up right away!
July 31, 2017
A sweet and adorable YA that I adored from beginning to end. Can't wait for more from this author!
December 3, 2016
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
3.5*
There are a few things you need to know before we start. First, I almost didn't finish this, and I am super glad that I ended up giving it a chance, because it is quite adorable and exactly what I needed in my life at the time. Second, the problems I had with it are 100% Shannon problems, and probably won't be problems for people who are not me. I can admit when I am the problem. Usually. ;)
So anyway. What did I like about this book that made me super glad I read it? Let's discuss!
First off, I loved that Amelia is close to her Abuelita. I really love grandparents in books. Can we have more of this? Great. She is also close to her mom, but they have some strain in their relationship. This feels pretty natural though, as the mother-daughter dynamics shift through the teen years. So I liked that it was realistic, but still, Amelia and Abuelita made me smile so much.
I loved Amelia's drive and hard work ethic. It is super refreshing to see a young woman who has goals and like, really works for what she wants. Amelia didn't have it all figured out, of course, she is still a teen after all, but she was exploring, and reaching outside her comfort zone (even if Abuelita did give her a little push). I think it sends a great message.
Females helping and bringing up other females was such a win. Not to say there were never hard feelings or altercations, or even a few nastier characters, but these girls had each other's backs for the most part. They looked out for each other, and I thought that was fabulous. Again, another great message for young women to be hearing.
I really enjoyed the romantic aspect. I mean, who among us hasn't pined away for someone for whom we weren't even a blip on their radar? Yeah. I think we can all relate to Amelia's struggles. Not that we'd all be making Pinterest boards, but still. And her coming to the realization that maybe she was romanticizing him, and finding out who he is beyond her daydreams is so important. And then throw Liam into the mix and... well, it's just cute and I liked it.
So, what were my Shannon-centered problems, you ask? Okay, here we go:
I realized that fashion bores me. Like, I did not care at all. I was happy she had goals, and was doing awesome, but I did skim a bit through some of the fashion-heavy portions. This is something I should note for the future, hmm?
It reads a little bit on the younger side. Which is fine, again, this is absolutely a me problem and not a book problem. But worth knowing, I think, hence its spot in my review.
And then just some things that maybe are not just Shannon problems:
It did start off slow. Hence the whole "I almost didn't finish this" thing. I wasn't getting a good feel on Amelia at the start, and I couldn't really connect to her. But like I said, it really did pick up, especially after about 30-40%, and I was really into it. Still, something to be aware of.
Bottom Line: It is absolutely a cute, feel-good contemporary book. Perfect if you need a pick-me-up, Amelia is a likeable character that you want to root for. The slow start gets made up for by a strong second half and a satisfying conclusion.
*Copy provided by publisher for review
3.5*
There are a few things you need to know before we start. First, I almost didn't finish this, and I am super glad that I ended up giving it a chance, because it is quite adorable and exactly what I needed in my life at the time. Second, the problems I had with it are 100% Shannon problems, and probably won't be problems for people who are not me. I can admit when I am the problem. Usually. ;)
So anyway. What did I like about this book that made me super glad I read it? Let's discuss!
First off, I loved that Amelia is close to her Abuelita. I really love grandparents in books. Can we have more of this? Great. She is also close to her mom, but they have some strain in their relationship. This feels pretty natural though, as the mother-daughter dynamics shift through the teen years. So I liked that it was realistic, but still, Amelia and Abuelita made me smile so much.
I loved Amelia's drive and hard work ethic. It is super refreshing to see a young woman who has goals and like, really works for what she wants. Amelia didn't have it all figured out, of course, she is still a teen after all, but she was exploring, and reaching outside her comfort zone (even if Abuelita did give her a little push). I think it sends a great message.
Females helping and bringing up other females was such a win. Not to say there were never hard feelings or altercations, or even a few nastier characters, but these girls had each other's backs for the most part. They looked out for each other, and I thought that was fabulous. Again, another great message for young women to be hearing.
I really enjoyed the romantic aspect. I mean, who among us hasn't pined away for someone for whom we weren't even a blip on their radar? Yeah. I think we can all relate to Amelia's struggles. Not that we'd all be making Pinterest boards, but still. And her coming to the realization that maybe she was romanticizing him, and finding out who he is beyond her daydreams is so important. And then throw Liam into the mix and... well, it's just cute and I liked it.
So, what were my Shannon-centered problems, you ask? Okay, here we go:
I realized that fashion bores me. Like, I did not care at all. I was happy she had goals, and was doing awesome, but I did skim a bit through some of the fashion-heavy portions. This is something I should note for the future, hmm?
It reads a little bit on the younger side. Which is fine, again, this is absolutely a me problem and not a book problem. But worth knowing, I think, hence its spot in my review.
And then just some things that maybe are not just Shannon problems:
It did start off slow. Hence the whole "I almost didn't finish this" thing. I wasn't getting a good feel on Amelia at the start, and I couldn't really connect to her. But like I said, it really did pick up, especially after about 30-40%, and I was really into it. Still, something to be aware of.
Bottom Line: It is absolutely a cute, feel-good contemporary book. Perfect if you need a pick-me-up, Amelia is a likeable character that you want to root for. The slow start gets made up for by a strong second half and a satisfying conclusion.
*Copy provided by publisher for review
December 12, 2016
*This review can also be found on YA Books Central. Huge thanks to the publisher for the review copy in exchange of my honest opinion.*
3.7 stars! (YABC rating)
I cannot stand the cuteness! Alterations by Stephanie Scott is the YA contemporary read that everyone needs in their life. It's a quick, feel-good read about a girl who loves fashion, Pinterest, and is crushing hard for one of the boys next door.
What I Liked:
First of all, I loved how the main character is Latina. It felt nice to be able to relate to her since I am also Hispanic and her life was one I could understand to a certain level of familiarity. The terms of endearment, love for soap operas or telenovelas, and the close-knit relationship between the main character and her grandmother made me smile throughout the novel. It's been a long time since I read a book without the general and cliché representation we always get in literature, so it was comforting to read a book where it was handled well.
Besides the Latina main character, I also found Alterations to be extremely relatable since Amelia has a passion for Pinterest and Instagram, something that any book lover will definitely see themselves in if they use these social media platforms. A year ago I might have not understood the call of Instagram and interacting with your followers, but now I do and I enjoyed the references in this book.
It wasn't until after I finished Alterations that I learned that this book is a retelling of Audrey Hepburn's movie Sabrina, so curious to learn more about the inspiration behind this book, I immediately went to see it and ended up finding a new classic to love! What's more, I found myself loving the characters from Alterations even more since I couldn't help myself from imagining them when I watched the movie. This truly made my reading experience even better and would recommend anyone to do this too when they read Alterations!
And I cannot not mention the cute romance in this book. Amelia is torn between two dashing Laurenti boys who couldn't be more opposites from each other. Ethan is the striking popular guy who Amelia has had a crush for ages, and then there's Liam, the nerdy cute guy who loves tech. I always knew who I was vying for from the start, but I still enjoyed reading about this sweet love triangle.
What Didn't Do It For Me:
While Amelia and her Abuelita have a great relationship, I was a bit let down with the relationship she has with her mother (and her mother's personality). Amelia loves her mother and respects her, but I don't think her mother deserves a daughter like Amelia. She's supposed to be a good role model for Amelia, but she lies about a few things that didn't sit well with me. She also has some feeble excuses for not pursuing her dreams and it's a bit hard to believe that Amelia's Abuelita would have let her get sidetracked for that long. It kind of goes against their values, and to be honest, I wanted a good mother for the main character for once. It's starting to be something unheard of in YA literature.
I was also expecting more from the first half of the story, when Amelia goes to her internship to New York. She spends her time working hard with her project (which I admired!) but not much happens besides her spinning an impressive web of lies. This is where I wanted to feel the beginning of many butterflies in my stomach, but I didn't until much later.
Final Verdict:
Alterations is a great contemporary read where you will not only get a hard-driven Latina main character with a love for fashion, but also a great spin to Audrey Hepburn's movie, Sabrina. Definitely recommend!
3.7 stars! (YABC rating)
I cannot stand the cuteness! Alterations by Stephanie Scott is the YA contemporary read that everyone needs in their life. It's a quick, feel-good read about a girl who loves fashion, Pinterest, and is crushing hard for one of the boys next door.
What I Liked:
First of all, I loved how the main character is Latina. It felt nice to be able to relate to her since I am also Hispanic and her life was one I could understand to a certain level of familiarity. The terms of endearment, love for soap operas or telenovelas, and the close-knit relationship between the main character and her grandmother made me smile throughout the novel. It's been a long time since I read a book without the general and cliché representation we always get in literature, so it was comforting to read a book where it was handled well.
Besides the Latina main character, I also found Alterations to be extremely relatable since Amelia has a passion for Pinterest and Instagram, something that any book lover will definitely see themselves in if they use these social media platforms. A year ago I might have not understood the call of Instagram and interacting with your followers, but now I do and I enjoyed the references in this book.
It wasn't until after I finished Alterations that I learned that this book is a retelling of Audrey Hepburn's movie Sabrina, so curious to learn more about the inspiration behind this book, I immediately went to see it and ended up finding a new classic to love! What's more, I found myself loving the characters from Alterations even more since I couldn't help myself from imagining them when I watched the movie. This truly made my reading experience even better and would recommend anyone to do this too when they read Alterations!
And I cannot not mention the cute romance in this book. Amelia is torn between two dashing Laurenti boys who couldn't be more opposites from each other. Ethan is the striking popular guy who Amelia has had a crush for ages, and then there's Liam, the nerdy cute guy who loves tech. I always knew who I was vying for from the start, but I still enjoyed reading about this sweet love triangle.
What Didn't Do It For Me:
While Amelia and her Abuelita have a great relationship, I was a bit let down with the relationship she has with her mother (and her mother's personality). Amelia loves her mother and respects her, but I don't think her mother deserves a daughter like Amelia. She's supposed to be a good role model for Amelia, but she lies about a few things that didn't sit well with me. She also has some feeble excuses for not pursuing her dreams and it's a bit hard to believe that Amelia's Abuelita would have let her get sidetracked for that long. It kind of goes against their values, and to be honest, I wanted a good mother for the main character for once. It's starting to be something unheard of in YA literature.
I was also expecting more from the first half of the story, when Amelia goes to her internship to New York. She spends her time working hard with her project (which I admired!) but not much happens besides her spinning an impressive web of lies. This is where I wanted to feel the beginning of many butterflies in my stomach, but I didn't until much later.
Final Verdict:
Alterations is a great contemporary read where you will not only get a hard-driven Latina main character with a love for fashion, but also a great spin to Audrey Hepburn's movie, Sabrina. Definitely recommend!
December 10, 2016
*I received a copy of this novel through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
There were parts of this I really liked, but there was a bit of a disconnect between the first quarter or so and the rest of tge novel.
Amelia was difficult for me to connect with at first because of the lying and obessession over Ethan. I did enjoy thw fashion side of things though. And she progressed nicely later on.
Liam was a cute and likable character, but I was somewhat disappointed by how insecure he was. I got why he was that way, it just would have been nice if he had been somewhat more confident.
The ending, while cute, was very rushed to me. Too much was crammed into the final two or three chapters.
Full review will be up on my blog soon.
There were parts of this I really liked, but there was a bit of a disconnect between the first quarter or so and the rest of tge novel.
Amelia was difficult for me to connect with at first because of the lying and obessession over Ethan. I did enjoy thw fashion side of things though. And she progressed nicely later on.
Liam was a cute and likable character, but I was somewhat disappointed by how insecure he was. I got why he was that way, it just would have been nice if he had been somewhat more confident.
The ending, while cute, was very rushed to me. Too much was crammed into the final two or three chapters.
Full review will be up on my blog soon.
December 19, 2016
this book was EXACTLY what I've been needing. Fun and unique, and a beautifully woven story.
Amelia's a strong, relatable main character. I was laughing out loud at her inner monologue. I loved her time in NY and how the friends she made there and the tension she built carried through the rest of the story. Liam was a new fav book boyfriend (THANK YOU FOR A BOY WHO BUILDS APPS!! Techies rock so this was such a refreshing change from the usual book boyfriend). Amelia's relationship with her mom and grandma was excellent as well. I was extremely happy with how their storyline wrapped.
This earned a re-read for me.
And I can't wait for more from Stephanie Scott.
Amelia's a strong, relatable main character. I was laughing out loud at her inner monologue. I loved her time in NY and how the friends she made there and the tension she built carried through the rest of the story. Liam was a new fav book boyfriend (THANK YOU FOR A BOY WHO BUILDS APPS!! Techies rock so this was such a refreshing change from the usual book boyfriend). Amelia's relationship with her mom and grandma was excellent as well. I was extremely happy with how their storyline wrapped.
This earned a re-read for me.
And I can't wait for more from Stephanie Scott.
October 30, 2016
Sad to say this wasn't for me. I found the sheer volume of Amelia's lies for the first half of the book annoying and stressful, and I didn't feel like I got to truly know any of the secondary characters. It all fell flat for me. That being said, it's a great adaptation of Sabrina and I liked that Amelia's family was Latina and that she truly had goals of her own. It's worth giving a shot if you enjoy contemporary; maybe it will work better for someone else.
January 9, 2017
Sweet, breezy and adorable in all ways. I loved the Sabrina undertones!
July 30, 2017
This book was adorable. Amelia found herself in the pages of this sweet, light summer romance that kept me flipping pages to find out more. When her grandmother applied for her to get into a selective fashion camp at the New York Fashion Institute - and she got in - her plans for the summer drastically changed. No longer would she have the time to stalk Ethan Laurenti all summer and convince him to fall in love with her; instead, she would enter the new and exciting world of fashion design.
Let's start out with the things that I liked about this book:
1. Amelia: she was sweet and innocent, and I liked how she had to find herself in the pages of this book. Her hopeless and unrequited (for the moment) crush on Ethan was darling in the way that I'm sure every girl understands the hopeless crush on a guy that acts like he's interested enough so you can't convince yourself to let go just yet. As the synopsis reads, however, Amelia changes at fashion camp and has to come to terms with what her obsession with Ethan has done to her, how it shaped her into the person she became. It's a story of self-discovery and dream fulfillment, as well as the understanding that maybe the guy we think is right could be all wrong.
2. Liam: oh, how much I adored the other Laurenti brother. Liam was tech savvy and driven to succeed in what he loved doing best: computer programming and coding. It showed that he had something for Amelia from the start, and it took quite a while for Amelia to catch on to the casual hand touches and longing gazes that he sent her way. I would have loved to smack some sense into her and yell, "Kiss him already!" a few times. Nevertheless, I had an obvious favorite as far as this love triangle goes.
3. The friendship: Amelia's best friend at home didn't have a loud presence, but her new friend from fashion camp, Desiree, was well written into the pages of this story. Even though she and Amelia had their ups and downs, they were there for each other through it all. You know that person that you click with instantly and become life-long friends? This was Desiree and Amelia. I wish there were more scenes with the two of them, because they were a dynamic duo and a force to be reckoned with. Also, Amelia made friends with Haylo kept me entertained. I liked how, even though both girls (technically) liked the same guy, they didn't let it get in the way of them becoming friends. Haylo, while she came off as the stereotypical popular girl, didn't have it all together like her family wanted everyone to believe. She and Amelia complimented each other, and all the female friendships in this book were healthy and thriving.
What I didn't like about it:
1. I'm a fan of love triangles. I adore them, actually. This one was a little too weak for my taste. I had an obvious favorite from the start, even before he was introduced as an option. Ethan's character appeared more as an idea than physical entity in the book, and I would have liked more development for his character.
2. Stephanie has a wonderful, carefree writing style. The words flowed effortlessly from page to page, and the story was cohesive and entertaining. However, what I didn't like was that I felt like it could have been more than one book. Amelia's entire time at NYFI could have been a book on it's own, and I think it would have made me more invested in the story. Considering the Laurenti brothers do make an appearance while Amelia is in New York, the story could have stretched on from there instead of falling flat for a few pages. Also, the storyline involving Liam making the app could have been taken off. Amelia and Liam had chemistry, even if she didn't recognize it for what it was, from the start, and their love story could have thrived in a whole other book. I loved the tech and app creation, especially how Amelia and Liam intertwined their passions and cared enough to learn about each other. They were too adorable, which was why I had a favorite from the start.
Overall, this book was pretty freaking cute. I read the entire thing on my phone and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick escape with a relatable main character and a penchant for love triangles.
Let's start out with the things that I liked about this book:
1. Amelia: she was sweet and innocent, and I liked how she had to find herself in the pages of this book. Her hopeless and unrequited (for the moment) crush on Ethan was darling in the way that I'm sure every girl understands the hopeless crush on a guy that acts like he's interested enough so you can't convince yourself to let go just yet. As the synopsis reads, however, Amelia changes at fashion camp and has to come to terms with what her obsession with Ethan has done to her, how it shaped her into the person she became. It's a story of self-discovery and dream fulfillment, as well as the understanding that maybe the guy we think is right could be all wrong.
2. Liam: oh, how much I adored the other Laurenti brother. Liam was tech savvy and driven to succeed in what he loved doing best: computer programming and coding. It showed that he had something for Amelia from the start, and it took quite a while for Amelia to catch on to the casual hand touches and longing gazes that he sent her way. I would have loved to smack some sense into her and yell, "Kiss him already!" a few times. Nevertheless, I had an obvious favorite as far as this love triangle goes.
3. The friendship: Amelia's best friend at home didn't have a loud presence, but her new friend from fashion camp, Desiree, was well written into the pages of this story. Even though she and Amelia had their ups and downs, they were there for each other through it all. You know that person that you click with instantly and become life-long friends? This was Desiree and Amelia. I wish there were more scenes with the two of them, because they were a dynamic duo and a force to be reckoned with. Also, Amelia made friends with Haylo kept me entertained. I liked how, even though both girls (technically) liked the same guy, they didn't let it get in the way of them becoming friends. Haylo, while she came off as the stereotypical popular girl, didn't have it all together like her family wanted everyone to believe. She and Amelia complimented each other, and all the female friendships in this book were healthy and thriving.
What I didn't like about it:
1. I'm a fan of love triangles. I adore them, actually. This one was a little too weak for my taste. I had an obvious favorite from the start, even before he was introduced as an option. Ethan's character appeared more as an idea than physical entity in the book, and I would have liked more development for his character.
2. Stephanie has a wonderful, carefree writing style. The words flowed effortlessly from page to page, and the story was cohesive and entertaining. However, what I didn't like was that I felt like it could have been more than one book. Amelia's entire time at NYFI could have been a book on it's own, and I think it would have made me more invested in the story. Considering the Laurenti brothers do make an appearance while Amelia is in New York, the story could have stretched on from there instead of falling flat for a few pages. Also, the storyline involving Liam making the app could have been taken off. Amelia and Liam had chemistry, even if she didn't recognize it for what it was, from the start, and their love story could have thrived in a whole other book. I loved the tech and app creation, especially how Amelia and Liam intertwined their passions and cared enough to learn about each other. They were too adorable, which was why I had a favorite from the start.
Overall, this book was pretty freaking cute. I read the entire thing on my phone and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quick escape with a relatable main character and a penchant for love triangles.
July 31, 2017
When you say "book retelling of Sabrina", my expectations go way up high. Like I've mentioned several times before, the 1954 version of Sabrina is one of my favorite movies—of all time. The movie is sold by the chemistry between Audrey Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. Hepburn knew how to sell the ingenue/hopeless romantic trope. However, this book ended up being flat and kinda weird.
Let me start by saying that I am tired of the "Latina = maid" trope. Yes, Sabrina Fairchild is the daughter of the chauffeur in the original movie, but some things do not translate well to modern times. Adding to that, Amelia's grandmother is a caricature of the ~wise old woman that looks up to the family that employs her and spends the rest of her time watching telenovelas and/or cleaning the house. Girl, I almost had whiplash when Scott used Spanish in the book and it was "Pobrecito, mi Amelia. Diversity is important, but there's a thin line between being respectful about other people's cultures and appropriation.
I lost count, but it was RIDICULOUS how many times Amelia (the main character) kept mentioning "pinboards", "Pinterest", "Project Runway", and even "Tim Gunn". When I was around that age, I was a pretentious lil' prick who loved fashion and thought Alexander McQueen was a god, but Amelia's concept of fashion is limited to one or two high fashion mentions (I can recall Chloe) and the rest is just... fast fashion. What even? She mentioned Jessica Simpson's shoe line as if that were something to look forward to, lol.
The romance was underdeveloped. This book isn't lengthy, so I figured it would spend a couple of chapters in her internship (the same way Sabrina goes to culinary school) and when she came back she'd be a designer confident in herself as she got close toLinus Liam. But nah, the book takes a ~twist~ by . Then why did she need to go to NYFI?
I was looking forward to this book but I ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would. Perhaps it would've been a wiser idea not to mention the Sabrina retelling aspect of it, because even the 1995 remake did a better job at it.
Let me start by saying that I am tired of the "Latina = maid" trope. Yes, Sabrina Fairchild is the daughter of the chauffeur in the original movie, but some things do not translate well to modern times. Adding to that, Amelia's grandmother is a caricature of the ~wise old woman that looks up to the family that employs her and spends the rest of her time watching telenovelas and/or cleaning the house. Girl, I almost had whiplash when Scott used Spanish in the book and it was "Pobrecito, mi Amelia. Diversity is important, but there's a thin line between being respectful about other people's cultures and appropriation.
I lost count, but it was RIDICULOUS how many times Amelia (the main character) kept mentioning "pinboards", "Pinterest", "Project Runway", and even "Tim Gunn". When I was around that age, I was a pretentious lil' prick who loved fashion and thought Alexander McQueen was a god, but Amelia's concept of fashion is limited to one or two high fashion mentions (I can recall Chloe) and the rest is just... fast fashion. What even? She mentioned Jessica Simpson's shoe line as if that were something to look forward to, lol.
The romance was underdeveloped. This book isn't lengthy, so I figured it would spend a couple of chapters in her internship (the same way Sabrina goes to culinary school) and when she came back she'd be a designer confident in herself as she got close to
I was looking forward to this book but I ended up not liking it as much as I thought I would. Perhaps it would've been a wiser idea not to mention the Sabrina retelling aspect of it, because even the 1995 remake did a better job at it.
March 12, 2017
This book is as sweet as its cover ❤
February 28, 2018
The bar is so low that the main character realising her unrequited love was actually lust and obsession early in the novel is astounding to me.
December 24, 2016
My Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up to four for Goodreads' rating system)
What Drew Me To This Book: Granted, I've never seen either version of the movie or the play that inspired it, but I was sold on the premise alone. What's not to like about a New York fashion internship and a love triangle between two very different brothers? It's exactly the kind of fluffy, romantic read I was looking for to read around the holidays when everything is hectic and crazy.
What Works: Amelia is a really likable and well-rounded character for the most part with interests and friends outside or fashion and her obsession with the Laurenti family that the novel focuses on, and she stays consistent throughout the novel. I really found myself rooting for her as I was reading and wanting everything to work out for her in the web of lies she weaved for herself.
I also really loved her family. Her mother and grandmother seemed liked such realistic characters to me, and I loved their family dynamic. Without giving away any spoilers, I do think that her mom's big revelation and decision at the end seemed a little forced and out of nowhere with how she'd been acting shortly before that, but I didn't really mind that since it was the right decision for her to make.
And What Didn't: First off, the internship in New York seemed like it was going to take up a lot more time than it actually did. My interest in that internship and what was happening there was what drew me to request the novel in the first place. And while we did meet some interesting characters there in the form of Amelia's friends at the internship, it didn't feel very important in the grand scheme of things. I don't believe this was the intention, but it read like something that just needed to be rushed over to get to the part where the brothers are fighting over her. I found myself wanting more of her New York experience because it was over too soon.
As someone who really loves a love triangle, this one didn't seem to work for me, and that falls entirely on the shoulders of Ethan Laurenti. In a love triangle, all three people need to be likable for it to work, and Ethan just wasn't. So, while Amelia was in awe that both brothers were interested in her, I was internally screaming about how the obvious choice was Liam. Which leads us to . . .
The Swoon Factor: Can I just gush about Liam Laurenti for a little bit here? Right from the beginning, I knew he was the better brother, and I was rooting for him from the second that the love triangle started. Maybe it's because I found him so much more appealing than Ethan right from the start, but he was the only brother who saw Amelia for who she was prior to the New York trip. Ethan never really noticed her, but Liam got her a birthday card and seemed interested in her and what made her special before she ever went to New York. If I had to choose a bookish boyfriend from this story, that role definitely goes to Liam.
Would I Recommend It, and To Whom?: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in reading fiction involving fashion since pretty much every aspect of Amelia's life and all of the projects that she ends up working on involve fashion in some way. I'd also recommend it to anyone who likes a nice, light teen romance featuring a love triangle. Just because I didn't really like Ethan doesn't mean other readers will feel the same way, so the love triangle might not affect others the same way it affected me.
Final Thoughts: While some elements of the story didn't really work for me, it was still an extremely entertaining read. Stephanie Scott created some really likable characters (and some that weren't), and I would definitely consider reading another novel by her in the future.
What Drew Me To This Book: Granted, I've never seen either version of the movie or the play that inspired it, but I was sold on the premise alone. What's not to like about a New York fashion internship and a love triangle between two very different brothers? It's exactly the kind of fluffy, romantic read I was looking for to read around the holidays when everything is hectic and crazy.
What Works: Amelia is a really likable and well-rounded character for the most part with interests and friends outside or fashion and her obsession with the Laurenti family that the novel focuses on, and she stays consistent throughout the novel. I really found myself rooting for her as I was reading and wanting everything to work out for her in the web of lies she weaved for herself.
I also really loved her family. Her mother and grandmother seemed liked such realistic characters to me, and I loved their family dynamic. Without giving away any spoilers, I do think that her mom's big revelation and decision at the end seemed a little forced and out of nowhere with how she'd been acting shortly before that, but I didn't really mind that since it was the right decision for her to make.
And What Didn't: First off, the internship in New York seemed like it was going to take up a lot more time than it actually did. My interest in that internship and what was happening there was what drew me to request the novel in the first place. And while we did meet some interesting characters there in the form of Amelia's friends at the internship, it didn't feel very important in the grand scheme of things. I don't believe this was the intention, but it read like something that just needed to be rushed over to get to the part where the brothers are fighting over her. I found myself wanting more of her New York experience because it was over too soon.
As someone who really loves a love triangle, this one didn't seem to work for me, and that falls entirely on the shoulders of Ethan Laurenti. In a love triangle, all three people need to be likable for it to work, and Ethan just wasn't. So, while Amelia was in awe that both brothers were interested in her, I was internally screaming about how the obvious choice was Liam. Which leads us to . . .
The Swoon Factor: Can I just gush about Liam Laurenti for a little bit here? Right from the beginning, I knew he was the better brother, and I was rooting for him from the second that the love triangle started. Maybe it's because I found him so much more appealing than Ethan right from the start, but he was the only brother who saw Amelia for who she was prior to the New York trip. Ethan never really noticed her, but Liam got her a birthday card and seemed interested in her and what made her special before she ever went to New York. If I had to choose a bookish boyfriend from this story, that role definitely goes to Liam.
Would I Recommend It, and To Whom?: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who's interested in reading fiction involving fashion since pretty much every aspect of Amelia's life and all of the projects that she ends up working on involve fashion in some way. I'd also recommend it to anyone who likes a nice, light teen romance featuring a love triangle. Just because I didn't really like Ethan doesn't mean other readers will feel the same way, so the love triangle might not affect others the same way it affected me.
Final Thoughts: While some elements of the story didn't really work for me, it was still an extremely entertaining read. Stephanie Scott created some really likable characters (and some that weren't), and I would definitely consider reading another novel by her in the future.
July 31, 2017
My official remarks: “Stephanie Scott’s Alterations is an unputdownable blend of fashion, friendship, and fun, with a romance like the perfect accessory —unexpected and sparkling!” My unofficial comments: This Sabrina-inspired novel is all sorts of cute, but there’s a weightiness to it, too, one I really appreciate. The first half takes place in NYC, while protagonist Amelia takes part in a fashion internship, learning tons about the industry and making new friends. Over the course of the internship, she tells a whopper of a lie (about her upbringing and Ethan, her longtime crush) that snowballs, forcing Amelia to come to terms with her flaws and her reality, and setting up the second part of the story, which was my favorite. It’s during this time that Amelia really comes into her own as far as her talent for fashion and style, and starts to realize that maybe Ethan’s not the right boy for her after all. Alterations is a perfect summer read for fans of contemporary YA.
December 13, 2016
The general plot focuses on Amelia, a sixteen year old Hispanic girl whose mother and grandmother work for the very rich Laurenti family. Amelia has two passions: sewing (which serves as a wonderful fashion theme) and one of the Laurenti boys (who is the object of her daily spying). A couple of lines from the book stood out as themes that worked throughout. Here they are: “… make sure you have some focus on the present. You don’t want to miss what’s right in front of you.” And “…how is lying innocent or guilty? Isn’t lying by default guilty?” These encapsulate two major obstacles for Amelia. She is so focused on the cool brother that she misses the slightly nerdy brother’s devotion to her. And second, she lies to her friends and creates more trouble than she can handle.
When I read the blurb for Alterations I thought the story sounded like a comfortable Hallmark movie for teens. I started reading and found the main character’s voice so well-crafted that I was drawn into the plot which featured several other well-defined characters. I was very impressed with Ms. Scott’s ability to present so many characters in a way that was neither confusing nor overwhelming. The setting was vivid as well and the interaction between teens rang true.
Very often authors hint at the ending in the first couple of pages and this was true for Alterations. I knew which brother I wanted Amelia to end up with and as the story unfolded Ms. Scott kept me wondering if my prediction would or would not come true. That is exactly how I like a love story to keep me interested.
My only negative comments have to do with the editing and the cover, things that Ms. Scott probably didn’t have complete control over. At first and second glance I didn’t care for the cover and its colors. The cover presents the skyline of New York with sewing needles which is actually pretty clever, but I didn’t “get it” until after I read the novel. About the editing: the teacher in me has an ever present mental red pen for both English and Spanish grammar. Sorry. I found almost two dozen errors (three in Spanish, and hey, why was the main character Amelia (Germanic spelling) and not Emilia (Spanish spelling)? But honestly, most of these things would never be noticed by most readers so no deductions.
Last word: Wonderful debut novel. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to Stephanie Scott’s next novel.
When I read the blurb for Alterations I thought the story sounded like a comfortable Hallmark movie for teens. I started reading and found the main character’s voice so well-crafted that I was drawn into the plot which featured several other well-defined characters. I was very impressed with Ms. Scott’s ability to present so many characters in a way that was neither confusing nor overwhelming. The setting was vivid as well and the interaction between teens rang true.
Very often authors hint at the ending in the first couple of pages and this was true for Alterations. I knew which brother I wanted Amelia to end up with and as the story unfolded Ms. Scott kept me wondering if my prediction would or would not come true. That is exactly how I like a love story to keep me interested.
My only negative comments have to do with the editing and the cover, things that Ms. Scott probably didn’t have complete control over. At first and second glance I didn’t care for the cover and its colors. The cover presents the skyline of New York with sewing needles which is actually pretty clever, but I didn’t “get it” until after I read the novel. About the editing: the teacher in me has an ever present mental red pen for both English and Spanish grammar. Sorry. I found almost two dozen errors (three in Spanish, and hey, why was the main character Amelia (Germanic spelling) and not Emilia (Spanish spelling)? But honestly, most of these things would never be noticed by most readers so no deductions.
Last word: Wonderful debut novel. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to Stephanie Scott’s next novel.
November 19, 2021
A very cute but uneven young adult retelling of the film Sabrina (or films, if you prefer...I'm actually totally fine with the remake, too). This time around, our Sabrina is Amelia, a 16 year-old who is only SLIGHTLY obsessed with the boy next door. Her mother and grandmother convince her to go to New York City for fashion camp, which is where she develops some maturity and self respect but also makes a lot of mistakes.
Amelia is obsessed with "Project Runway," but I kept thinking of a different reality show while I was reading, especially towards the beginning. Specifically:
Seriously.
The cringe was serious in this book. The reality show plot point was a reasonable stand-in for "the important business deal that has to be sealed with a marriage" in the original, but it was also deeply irritating. Sure, it poked fun at the Kardashian/Real Housewife-type reality show, but not in a way that was especially original or funny. All the kids in this family have a "y" shoehorned into their name somewhere! LOL ROTFL. Some of the supporting characters were sketchily developed, mostly the adults.
This, for example, was running through my head during the scene between Liam and his father. Guess which one is dear old dad?
I frequently wanted to smack some sense into Amelia, especially towards the beginning (the lying! The obsessing! The pinterest boards!). At the same time, this was also the strength of the book. More than either film, this book focused on the heroine and her growth as a person. Amelia undergoes a real transformation over the course of the book, and it's less about learning how to dress fashionably and a lot more about her growing up. Equal time is spent on the development of her platonic friendships as on her romantic relationship. Which brother she ends up with is more about her developing values and sense of herself and what she wants than anything else. This is Amelia's book, and if you can handle a lot of awkward teenage girl growing pains, you might enjoy it.
Amelia is obsessed with "Project Runway," but I kept thinking of a different reality show while I was reading, especially towards the beginning. Specifically:
Seriously.
The cringe was serious in this book. The reality show plot point was a reasonable stand-in for "the important business deal that has to be sealed with a marriage" in the original, but it was also deeply irritating. Sure, it poked fun at the Kardashian/Real Housewife-type reality show, but not in a way that was especially original or funny. All the kids in this family have a "y" shoehorned into their name somewhere! LOL ROTFL. Some of the supporting characters were sketchily developed, mostly the adults.
This, for example, was running through my head during the scene between Liam and his father. Guess which one is dear old dad?
I frequently wanted to smack some sense into Amelia, especially towards the beginning (the lying! The obsessing! The pinterest boards!). At the same time, this was also the strength of the book. More than either film, this book focused on the heroine and her growth as a person. Amelia undergoes a real transformation over the course of the book, and it's less about learning how to dress fashionably and a lot more about her growing up. Equal time is spent on the development of her platonic friendships as on her romantic relationship. Which brother she ends up with is more about her developing values and sense of herself and what she wants than anything else. This is Amelia's book, and if you can handle a lot of awkward teenage girl growing pains, you might enjoy it.
December 4, 2016
Grade: C
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: If you love cute, fluffy romances, Alterations is the book for you. Except...I tend to like those types of books, and Alterations was not a hit for me.
I think my biggest problems had to do with Ethan, the dialogue, and Amelia's fashion interests.
The plotline with Ethan felt unoriginal, and I was just ready for Amelia to warm up to Liam and really notice him and stop focusing on his obnoxious brother. He added so much unnecessary drama after the first half or so of the story. The dialogue felt very unrealistic at times. That's something I've been working on in my fiction writing class this fall, and so it's becoming glaringly apparent to me that, while some things might sound like a good thing to say, people wouldn't really say them (especially teenage boys). Amelia talked about fashion, and she seemed to back up her words with support of why she liked it, but I couldn't feel her passion. I didn't fully grasp why fashion was her "thing."
Other small notes: Haylo was a weird character for me; her personality didn't seem well-formed because it seemed to flip-flop at times. I did like how Amelia had to own up to the lies she told her New York friends. And I really liked Liam and Amelia together.
The Verdict: This one might be a miss honestly.
An e-galley was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: If you love cute, fluffy romances, Alterations is the book for you. Except...I tend to like those types of books, and Alterations was not a hit for me.
I think my biggest problems had to do with Ethan, the dialogue, and Amelia's fashion interests.
The plotline with Ethan felt unoriginal, and I was just ready for Amelia to warm up to Liam and really notice him and stop focusing on his obnoxious brother. He added so much unnecessary drama after the first half or so of the story. The dialogue felt very unrealistic at times. That's something I've been working on in my fiction writing class this fall, and so it's becoming glaringly apparent to me that, while some things might sound like a good thing to say, people wouldn't really say them (especially teenage boys). Amelia talked about fashion, and she seemed to back up her words with support of why she liked it, but I couldn't feel her passion. I didn't fully grasp why fashion was her "thing."
Other small notes: Haylo was a weird character for me; her personality didn't seem well-formed because it seemed to flip-flop at times. I did like how Amelia had to own up to the lies she told her New York friends. And I really liked Liam and Amelia together.
The Verdict: This one might be a miss honestly.
April 28, 2017
3.5 stars. This was a cute contemporary romance, with a diverse cast – it’s not made much of but I believe the main character is Latinx and many of the supporting characters are from diverse backgrounds, including one who (again not explicit) seems to suffer from some form of anxiety disorder.
I enjoyed the fact that the romance was not the sole focus of the book. Amelia’s journey of self-discovery, growing in confidence, making new friends and learning who and what she wants to be, was as important. I found her a very relatable protagonist. She made mistakes, small and large, she tried to learn from them and sometimes found it hard, she struggled to reconcile her own dreams – and figuring them out – with her desire to please the people around her and not let anyone down. The pacing was good and it was a quick read.
The romance was a bit of a love triangle, but it was done without being obnoxious, and linked very well to the other aspects of the plot. It was sweet and likeable, although maybe some of the drama felt a teeny bit contrived. And yes, I thought the right decision was made in the end!
I believe the story was either inspired by or a retelling of the film Sabrina, but as I haven’t seen that I can’t comment on whether it’s a faithful version or holds to the spirit of the original. As its own story, I enjoyed it as a light, refreshing read between my usual diet of heavy fantasy as sci-fi.
I enjoyed the fact that the romance was not the sole focus of the book. Amelia’s journey of self-discovery, growing in confidence, making new friends and learning who and what she wants to be, was as important. I found her a very relatable protagonist. She made mistakes, small and large, she tried to learn from them and sometimes found it hard, she struggled to reconcile her own dreams – and figuring them out – with her desire to please the people around her and not let anyone down. The pacing was good and it was a quick read.
The romance was a bit of a love triangle, but it was done without being obnoxious, and linked very well to the other aspects of the plot. It was sweet and likeable, although maybe some of the drama felt a teeny bit contrived. And yes, I thought the right decision was made in the end!
I believe the story was either inspired by or a retelling of the film Sabrina, but as I haven’t seen that I can’t comment on whether it’s a faithful version or holds to the spirit of the original. As its own story, I enjoyed it as a light, refreshing read between my usual diet of heavy fantasy as sci-fi.
June 16, 2018
Super cute romance, perfect for those who love fashion, Project Runway and reality television!
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