What do you think?
Rate this book
A Girl Like That
What would you do if you were thirty-seven, good-looking, and single with no family ties and a bad girl rep that you can’t live down? That’s exactly the situation Elle McLarin finds herself in as Mary Flinn’s new novel, A Girl Like That opens. Mean girl Elle McLarin desperately needs to reinvent herself. Growing up with her grandparents in their small North Carolina mountain community after her teenage mother, who named her for a fashion magazine, ditched the idea of motherhood and disappeared, Elle found her upbringing to be tougher than most. Add to that a near-tragic mistake—drugging high school hunk Kyle Davis at a party, which landed her in prison for a year—and Elle has long since paid her debt to society. Nineteen years after being dubbed Badass Barbie in high school, and with her grandparents now passed away and her illegitimate son joining the Army, Elle is ready to pull up her bootstraps—and her roots—and go where no one will know her, or what she did.
Told in the first person, readers will get to hear Elle’s side of the story that began in the pages of Flinn’s first novel, The One. Elle makes cameo appearances in the next two books of the series, though A Girl Like That is a stand-alone novel. If you are meeting Elle for the first time, you may hate her initially, and possibly grow to love her, but it is quite likely that you will not forget her.
Told in the first person, readers will get to hear Elle’s side of the story that began in the pages of Flinn’s first novel, The One. Elle makes cameo appearances in the next two books of the series, though A Girl Like That is a stand-alone novel. If you are meeting Elle for the first time, you may hate her initially, and possibly grow to love her, but it is quite likely that you will not forget her.
366 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2015
9 people are currently reading
538 people want to read
About the author
Mary Flinn
14 books48 followersA native of North Carolina, award-winning author Mary Flinn long ago fell in love with her state’s mountains and its coast, creating the backdrops for her series of novels, The One, Second Time’s a Charm, Three Gifts, and A Forever Man. With degrees from both the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and East Carolina University, Flinn has retired from her first career as a speech pathologist in the NC public schools since 1981. Writing a novel had always been a dream for Flinn, who began crafting the pages of The One, when her younger daughter left for college at Appalachian State University in 2009. The characters in this book have continued to call to her, wanting more of their story told, which bred the next three books in the series.
Flinn has recently been the recipient of the Reviewers’ Choice First Place Award for Romance Novel in the Reader Views 2011 Literary Book Awards, as well as the Pacific Book Review Best Romance Novel of 2011 for Three Gifts. Second Time’s a Charm, also released in 2011, won an Honorable Mention in the Reader Views Reviewers’ Choice Awards. The Nest, a stand-alone from the Kyle and Chelsea series, won a B.R.A.G. Medallion book award in 2015. Breaking Out, Flinn's second stand-alone was published in 2014. A Girl Like That, released in 2015 is the winner of the Reader Views Literary Book Award, as well as the B.R.A.G. Medallion.
Mary Flinn lives with her husband in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she is at work on her next novel. They have two adult daughters.
Flinn has recently been the recipient of the Reviewers’ Choice First Place Award for Romance Novel in the Reader Views 2011 Literary Book Awards, as well as the Pacific Book Review Best Romance Novel of 2011 for Three Gifts. Second Time’s a Charm, also released in 2011, won an Honorable Mention in the Reader Views Reviewers’ Choice Awards. The Nest, a stand-alone from the Kyle and Chelsea series, won a B.R.A.G. Medallion book award in 2015. Breaking Out, Flinn's second stand-alone was published in 2014. A Girl Like That, released in 2015 is the winner of the Reader Views Literary Book Award, as well as the B.R.A.G. Medallion.
Mary Flinn lives with her husband in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she is at work on her next novel. They have two adult daughters.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 1, 2015
I have read all seven of Ms. Flinn's books and I think that this is her best product yet. I really enjoyed how she brought Elle's character to life by merging her stormy, bad ass past with her determination to change her image and her drive to mend relationships with those she had harmed, as well as her son. Although this book is based on a character from Ms. Flinn's first book The One, this is a stand alone novel. I have enjoyed all of Ms.. Flinn's novels because I am a transplant to North Carolina and have become somewhat familiar with the venues of Boone and Valle Crucis. Because of the venues of Wilmington and the Outer Banks, I look forward to visiting those areas.
July 27, 2015
I received this book as part of Good Reads First Reads
Elle is the main character in this book. She has a stormy and bad tempered past which has frequently gotten her into trouble.
But she is determined to change. She opens a bakery after she sells her grandmothers cabin after her death.
Elle is also determined to make amends with her son who has joined the army and to heal relationships with other people from her past.
From the onset of this book Elle becomes a very likeable character - in real life you would probably like her
Elle is the main character in this book. She has a stormy and bad tempered past which has frequently gotten her into trouble.
But she is determined to change. She opens a bakery after she sells her grandmothers cabin after her death.
Elle is also determined to make amends with her son who has joined the army and to heal relationships with other people from her past.
From the onset of this book Elle becomes a very likeable character - in real life you would probably like her
April 17, 2023
Great book!
November 9, 2023
I LOVED this book! I met the author, Mary, at the Wrightsville Beach Farmers Market. I bought three of her books and she suggested I start with this one. I love the main character, Elle, and her community of Wilmington! Such a fun read knowing the area. I even visited the road her house is on when I was in town. I can't wait to read Mary's next books! I definitely recommend you check out Mary's books, and also visit Wilmington & Wrightsville Beach, NC!
May 12, 2020
Great book! Completely realistic characters and thrilling storyline! I kept wanting to smack Elle, the narrator, upside the head haha. I was so interested to see who she would end up with and what would happen when her secret got out! And the big twist near the end was heart wrenching. I enjoyed reading this book while sitting on the beach and then had a hard time putting it down.
April 17, 2023
This felt like I was reading a very uninteresting diary. I have read plenty of modern-day books written in first person POV's so it's not like this wouldn't fall into a preferred genre for me, but this just bored me to tears. I got to almost 40% and decided there was no redeeming qualities in it to keep me reading it. It is the inaugural installment of my DNF shelf.
December 29, 2021
This was a great, fast read. I loved that it’s located in my beloved Wilmington NC. It reminded me that we can be our own bully. I feel like Elle is inside all of us at times. At least bit and pieces of her!
June 21, 2023
I enjoyed the mention of places familiar to me while she told her story. And while I appreciate a well described character, scene or memory at times I felt things were overly descriptive. I just didn’t feel a connection to this cone from behind, girl makes good story this time around.
January 10, 2016
A GIRL LIKE THAT
Mary Flinn
Mary Flinn (2015)
ISBN 9780990719779
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (01/16)
“A Girl Like That” by Mary Flinn is the story of Elle McLarin, a girl named after a fashion magazine by her teenage mother. Elle was brought up by her grandparents, after her mother decided to abandon the whole motherhood initiative and run away with her boyfriend. Grandma always said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that proved to be the case with Elle, as she continually struggled with her bad self. Her senior year in high school proved to be her undoing. After a potentially fatal incident in which she drugged the high school hunk, Kyle Davis, Elle served a one-year prison sentence. Nineteen years later, her debt to society has long since been paid, but the people in the small North Carolina mountain community of Valle Crucis aren’t ones to easily forgive and forget. With her grandparents now passed away, and her own son gone to serve in the Army, Elle is ready to leave Valle Crucis and start over, in a place where no one knows who she is or what she did.
My first thought after I finished reading “A Girl Like That” was, “How is this the first novel I’ve read from this author?” This is a strong stand-alone novel, but I’m certain fans of Flinn’s Kyle and Chelsea series will delight in getting to know a different side of Elle. As a new fan, I look forward to going back to the original series to learn more about each of the colorful characters. I saw hints of Elle’s bad girl side in “A Girl Like That” and was definitely intrigued. She must be a fantastic antagonist in the series.
I connected with Elle immediately. She is strong, but she doesn’t seem to realize her strength. She is a good mother, employer, friend, and lover, but her insecurities blind her from the assets of her character. Watching Elle grow and mature as she bravely moves to a new town to start her new business, and her new life, kept me glued to the book for hours.
Readers will enjoy the vibrant settings of the majestic mountains and sandy beaches in North Carolina. One gets the distinct feeling of being right there with the characters, whether it’s lying on the beach or sitting on the front porch of a mountainside cabin.
I highly recommend “A Girl Like That” by Mary Flinn. It is an enchanting story with a realistic plot and cast of characters that will keep readers intrigued to the very end, and left wanting more when they get there.
Mary Flinn
Mary Flinn (2015)
ISBN 9780990719779
Reviewed by Sheri Hoyte for Reader Views (01/16)
“A Girl Like That” by Mary Flinn is the story of Elle McLarin, a girl named after a fashion magazine by her teenage mother. Elle was brought up by her grandparents, after her mother decided to abandon the whole motherhood initiative and run away with her boyfriend. Grandma always said the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, and that proved to be the case with Elle, as she continually struggled with her bad self. Her senior year in high school proved to be her undoing. After a potentially fatal incident in which she drugged the high school hunk, Kyle Davis, Elle served a one-year prison sentence. Nineteen years later, her debt to society has long since been paid, but the people in the small North Carolina mountain community of Valle Crucis aren’t ones to easily forgive and forget. With her grandparents now passed away, and her own son gone to serve in the Army, Elle is ready to leave Valle Crucis and start over, in a place where no one knows who she is or what she did.
My first thought after I finished reading “A Girl Like That” was, “How is this the first novel I’ve read from this author?” This is a strong stand-alone novel, but I’m certain fans of Flinn’s Kyle and Chelsea series will delight in getting to know a different side of Elle. As a new fan, I look forward to going back to the original series to learn more about each of the colorful characters. I saw hints of Elle’s bad girl side in “A Girl Like That” and was definitely intrigued. She must be a fantastic antagonist in the series.
I connected with Elle immediately. She is strong, but she doesn’t seem to realize her strength. She is a good mother, employer, friend, and lover, but her insecurities blind her from the assets of her character. Watching Elle grow and mature as she bravely moves to a new town to start her new business, and her new life, kept me glued to the book for hours.
Readers will enjoy the vibrant settings of the majestic mountains and sandy beaches in North Carolina. One gets the distinct feeling of being right there with the characters, whether it’s lying on the beach or sitting on the front porch of a mountainside cabin.
I highly recommend “A Girl Like That” by Mary Flinn. It is an enchanting story with a realistic plot and cast of characters that will keep readers intrigued to the very end, and left wanting more when they get there.
September 16, 2015
-Elle McLarin...A Girl Like That
“We take our wine and wander out onto the front porch and watch the last of the sunset. Birds flutter toward dark trees, settling in to roost for the night as cicadas and crickets begin their evening serenade. My mountains are beginning to take their deep exhale.”
Author Mary Flinn, also exhaled deeply, and the resulting breath became the novel, A Girl Like That, which takes her craft to the next level. Like a well-savored summer vacation, the reader follows Elle on a journey from the mountains of Valle Crucis to the sea at Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, North Carolina. The reader will fall in love with the free-spirited Elle and root for her as she navigates her life-changing journey to find change, forgiveness, acceptance...and love.
Tim Swink, author
“We take our wine and wander out onto the front porch and watch the last of the sunset. Birds flutter toward dark trees, settling in to roost for the night as cicadas and crickets begin their evening serenade. My mountains are beginning to take their deep exhale.”
Author Mary Flinn, also exhaled deeply, and the resulting breath became the novel, A Girl Like That, which takes her craft to the next level. Like a well-savored summer vacation, the reader follows Elle on a journey from the mountains of Valle Crucis to the sea at Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington, North Carolina. The reader will fall in love with the free-spirited Elle and root for her as she navigates her life-changing journey to find change, forgiveness, acceptance...and love.
Tim Swink, author
May 16, 2016
We are proud to announce that A GIRL LIKE THAT by Mary Flinn is a B.R.A.G.Medallion Honoree. This tells a reader that this book is well worth their time and money!
October 21, 2023
Cheesy, “start your life over” book. Good chick flick read.
Read
May 30, 2019I enjoyed this book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews