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Done Dirt Cheap
Tourmaline Harris’s life hit pause at fifteen, when her mom went to prison because of Tourmaline’s unintentionally damning testimony. But at eighteen, her home life is stable, and she has a strong relationship with her father, the president of a local biker club known as the Wardens.
Virginia Campbell’s life hit fast-forward at fifteen, when her mom “sold” her into the services of a local lawyer: a man for whom the law is merely a suggestion. When Hazard sets his sights on dismantling the Wardens, he sends in Virginia, who has every intention of selling out the club—and Tourmaline. But the two girls are stronger than the circumstances that brought them together, and their resilience defines the friendship at the heart of this powerful debut novel.
Virginia Campbell’s life hit fast-forward at fifteen, when her mom “sold” her into the services of a local lawyer: a man for whom the law is merely a suggestion. When Hazard sets his sights on dismantling the Wardens, he sends in Virginia, who has every intention of selling out the club—and Tourmaline. But the two girls are stronger than the circumstances that brought them together, and their resilience defines the friendship at the heart of this powerful debut novel.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 7, 2017
33 people are currently reading
3752 people want to read
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did-not-finish
September 17, 2018DNF @ 40%. I tried so hard with this one, but it took me nearly a full week just to make it to the 40% mark. I'm SO not in the mood for it. I may try and pick it up again someday, but for now, I really need to accept that it is just not happening. Buh-bye.
November 28, 2016
"With DONE DIRT CHEAP, Sarah Nicole Lemon has brought together everything I love about the best of stories. The prose is lyrical, the atmosphere is windblown and sultry. And the boys? These are some of the most carefully wrought love interests I've read in a very long time. If you are haunted by the idea of a dark, modern fairy tale and knights in shining armor with Harleys for horses, this book is for you."
February 9, 2017
Updating this review because I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH I BLURBED IT.
A unique, wild, captivating, sexy ride! I could get lost inside this gritty, contemporary southern world Sarah Nicole Lemon has created again and again. DONE DIRT CHEAP revs its engine from the first scene and is full-throttle until the end.
Have you added it yet??? Please do so we can flail together on twitter! xoxo
A unique, wild, captivating, sexy ride! I could get lost inside this gritty, contemporary southern world Sarah Nicole Lemon has created again and again. DONE DIRT CHEAP revs its engine from the first scene and is full-throttle until the end.
Have you added it yet??? Please do so we can flail together on twitter! xoxo
February 9, 2017
UHM YES HI THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS THAT I HAVE READ ALL YEAR. I will be the first to admit that I did not expect a book about a motorcycle club to evoke much emotion from me, but that is EXACTLY what it did.
I started DONE DIRT CHEAP while on break at work and promptly regretted it because it was ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT. I seriously read maybe 20 pages on break and spent the entire rest of the day wishing I could just sneak into the bathroom to binge a few more pages. I am obsessed. I am so overwhelmed by the absolute perfection that is Done Dirt Cheap that I can barely sort out my jumbled up thoughts. This book is literally what dreams are made of.. I mean.. GIRL FRIENDSHIPS. UNPROBLEMATIC LOVE INTERESTS. GIRL BIKERS. GIRLS WITH GOALS. GIRLS TAKING DOWN SCUM BAGS. JUST.. GIRLS. Also - can we talk about that scene between Tourmaline and Cash in the garage??? I AM SWOONING.
I also love how high key feminist this book is and how it not only shows two powerful teenage girls taking down the worst type of men, but it also shows two teenage girls working past jealousy and mistrust to find a true friendship. I think its important, especially in YA, to show a friendship with girls that build each other up instead of tearing them down. “We’re friends because when girls – women – are alone in this world, they’re easier to pick off.” When I read this particular quote, it touched my soul. I cant tell you how many times I have been out with friends or at a concert and pretended to be friends with a girl just because she was alone and trying to avoid unwanted attention from men. Girls protecting other girls is a movement that I can get behind.
Basically, if you like high key feminist books with great story and POC love interests, this book is for you. Actually, even if that doesnt sound like your cup of tea - read this book. I think its something everyone should experience.
I started DONE DIRT CHEAP while on break at work and promptly regretted it because it was ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT. I seriously read maybe 20 pages on break and spent the entire rest of the day wishing I could just sneak into the bathroom to binge a few more pages. I am obsessed. I am so overwhelmed by the absolute perfection that is Done Dirt Cheap that I can barely sort out my jumbled up thoughts. This book is literally what dreams are made of.. I mean.. GIRL FRIENDSHIPS. UNPROBLEMATIC LOVE INTERESTS. GIRL BIKERS. GIRLS WITH GOALS. GIRLS TAKING DOWN SCUM BAGS. JUST.. GIRLS. Also - can we talk about that scene between Tourmaline and Cash in the garage??? I AM SWOONING.
I also love how high key feminist this book is and how it not only shows two powerful teenage girls taking down the worst type of men, but it also shows two teenage girls working past jealousy and mistrust to find a true friendship. I think its important, especially in YA, to show a friendship with girls that build each other up instead of tearing them down. “We’re friends because when girls – women – are alone in this world, they’re easier to pick off.” When I read this particular quote, it touched my soul. I cant tell you how many times I have been out with friends or at a concert and pretended to be friends with a girl just because she was alone and trying to avoid unwanted attention from men. Girls protecting other girls is a movement that I can get behind.
Basically, if you like high key feminist books with great story and POC love interests, this book is for you. Actually, even if that doesnt sound like your cup of tea - read this book. I think its something everyone should experience.
Read
February 28, 2017
An ARC of Done Dirt Cheap was provided to me through NetGalley via the publisher. This does not effect my review in any way.
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DNF: 45%
DNF @ 45%
Done Dirt Cheap seemed like something I would love. It was advertised as Sons of Anarchy meets Thelma and Louise which sounds like the perfect recipe for a great story. Unfortunately, I just really couldn’t get into this novel. It’s a shame because based on reviews I’ve seen, it seems as though readers really enjoyed it and I’m disappointed that I didn’t feel the same way.
I couldn’t connect with any of the characters and I spent a good chunk of the beginning of this novel just feeling confused about what I was reading. The story wasn’t going anywhere and I found myself starting to skim read which is never a good sign for me.
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me personally. Hopefully I can come back to it one day with a different mindset. Part of my New Years Resolutions for 2017 was to be able to accept the fact that DNFing books is okay. It’s better to just stop instead of force yourself to continue reading. It’s a shame, but I’m just going to have to DNF this one.
March 14, 2017
I received an e-ARC of this book from Abrams Kids and Amulet Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book doesn’t have a linear plot in my opinion, it’s much more character oriented. But there’s a lot of amazing themes expressed and developed in this story. It’s a coming of age and it talks about hope, ambition, trust, friendship, honesty, bravery and just general girl badassery. It took me awhile to get into it but it caught my attention after the first quarter.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
This author’s writing is one of my favorite things about this book. Contemporaries tend to have very simple and easy to read writing, and while this has that, it’s also really poetic and lyrical. There are some really beautiful lines in this book that paint a detailed picture with descriptions that are intense. This book has dual POVs since the two main characters narrate the story but the distinction is very subtle and I wish it could’ve been more obvious to have an easier time transitioning between narrators.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
This is the selling point of this book. Not only are there two amazing female protagonists but they build such an incredible friendship that is pretty much the most important part of the story. I am kind of obsessed with these girls and their bond to be honest. Tourmaline is kind of the more naive of the two. She’s been sheltered her entire life and has a certain perception of the world because of who her father is and what he does. She feels really guilty for what she did when she was younger. However, she’s learning a lot about what is really happening around her and she’s defiant and determined. I loved seeing her become more confident as the story progressed. Then we have Virginia (it got a bit confusing sometimes since the setting is also Virginia) and she’s kind of like rough and tough. She’s definitely been through hardship and her life isn’t really what she envisions for herself. She makes the most of what she has but slowly things start to unravel and she wants to look to escape. She’s very vulnerable and scared, she’s dealing with a lot of anxiety but she’s also learning to open up and depend on others. Again, the friendship between these two characters is absolutely incredible and the best part of this book. But there are also a lot of complex and interesting relationships and romances that I feel were very well developed but didn’t take away from the friendship being the focal point of the story.
Emotionally
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 3.5 out of 5 stars
This book doesn’t have a linear plot in my opinion, it’s much more character oriented. But there’s a lot of amazing themes expressed and developed in this story. It’s a coming of age and it talks about hope, ambition, trust, friendship, honesty, bravery and just general girl badassery. It took me awhile to get into it but it caught my attention after the first quarter.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
This author’s writing is one of my favorite things about this book. Contemporaries tend to have very simple and easy to read writing, and while this has that, it’s also really poetic and lyrical. There are some really beautiful lines in this book that paint a detailed picture with descriptions that are intense. This book has dual POVs since the two main characters narrate the story but the distinction is very subtle and I wish it could’ve been more obvious to have an easier time transitioning between narrators.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
This is the selling point of this book. Not only are there two amazing female protagonists but they build such an incredible friendship that is pretty much the most important part of the story. I am kind of obsessed with these girls and their bond to be honest. Tourmaline is kind of the more naive of the two. She’s been sheltered her entire life and has a certain perception of the world because of who her father is and what he does. She feels really guilty for what she did when she was younger. However, she’s learning a lot about what is really happening around her and she’s defiant and determined. I loved seeing her become more confident as the story progressed. Then we have Virginia (it got a bit confusing sometimes since the setting is also Virginia) and she’s kind of like rough and tough. She’s definitely been through hardship and her life isn’t really what she envisions for herself. She makes the most of what she has but slowly things start to unravel and she wants to look to escape. She’s very vulnerable and scared, she’s dealing with a lot of anxiety but she’s also learning to open up and depend on others. Again, the friendship between these two characters is absolutely incredible and the best part of this book. But there are also a lot of complex and interesting relationships and romances that I feel were very well developed but didn’t take away from the friendship being the focal point of the story.
Emotionally
February 9, 2021
Galley provided by publisher
Rerated 3.5 on 9/2/21
Original review:
Where do I start with this book? I genuinely have no words for how much I loved this book. It's only January, but I'm calling it now - this is possibly one of the best books I'm going to read this year.
The writing in this is just amazing. It's so so gorgeous and lyrical and it flows so well. There was never a point where I stopped and thought hold up, that sounds forced, because it never does sound that way. It all works so perfectly and I just have no words. It is so! good!!
What's also amazing is that the whole plot centres around a friendship between two girls. And it's such a beautiful friendship. The author does such a good job of writing its development and the growing trust between them. And they never tear each other down or try to (which, I know, is a low standard to hold books to, but I'm just so happy that never happens here), although there is annoyingly some slut-shaming going on with regard to another character. That aside, this is one of the best girl friendships I've ever read.
Then there were the scenes which had me close to tears, mostly involving Jason and Virginia, though Jason and Tourmaline also had a scene which wrecked me. I loved pretty much every single dynamic in this book (besides, obviously, the ones I wasn't intended to like). It's all just so amazing and I don't! have!! the!! words!!! I loved every aspect of this book and I already know it's going to have left me with the worst book hangover, and I can't even be pissed off at that.
Rerated 3.5 on 9/2/21
Original review:
Where do I start with this book? I genuinely have no words for how much I loved this book. It's only January, but I'm calling it now - this is possibly one of the best books I'm going to read this year.
The writing in this is just amazing. It's so so gorgeous and lyrical and it flows so well. There was never a point where I stopped and thought hold up, that sounds forced, because it never does sound that way. It all works so perfectly and I just have no words. It is so! good!!
What's also amazing is that the whole plot centres around a friendship between two girls. And it's such a beautiful friendship. The author does such a good job of writing its development and the growing trust between them. And they never tear each other down or try to (which, I know, is a low standard to hold books to, but I'm just so happy that never happens here), although there is annoyingly some slut-shaming going on with regard to another character. That aside, this is one of the best girl friendships I've ever read.
Then there were the scenes which had me close to tears, mostly involving Jason and Virginia, though Jason and Tourmaline also had a scene which wrecked me. I loved pretty much every single dynamic in this book (besides, obviously, the ones I wasn't intended to like). It's all just so amazing and I don't! have!! the!! words!!! I loved every aspect of this book and I already know it's going to have left me with the worst book hangover, and I can't even be pissed off at that.
April 21, 2017
DNFed 30% in. Review here: https://weezieswhimsicalwritings.word...
March 11, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Amulet/Abrams and Chronicle in exchange for an honest review.
Tourmaline Harris is the perfect princess of the Wardens - a motorcycle club where her dad is the president. But as Tourmaline struggles to deal with the guilt of her imprisoned mom, she begins to wonder how much she’s actually respected and what her father and his gang actually do. Tourmaline becomes friends with Virginia Campbell, a former pageant queen working for a crooked lawyer who wants her to spy on the Wardens.
I really enjoyed this book and all the characters involved. Both Tourmaline and Virginia were complex characters with deep feeling and emotions and secrets and how they connected was wonderful. I loved seeing how they stood up for each other and believed in each other, and were willing to fight for each other. They had different upbringings but underneath it all there was thread of similarity that bonded them together.
I loved the way the Wardens were so involved in the story and were a central point. I enjoyed Tourmaline exploring her role within the club and learning at what point she was the ‘princess’ and at what point she was a girl who was invisible. Her scattered emotions around the Wardens, her dad and what they really did and didn’t tell her was wonderful to watch.
The best thing about this book for me was the raw edge of attraction that blurred all the lines in the story for me. While both girls had their own missions, they both had a raw need to love and be loved and found it in Cash and Jason. I loved the description of their physical and emotional need from how Jason could flip strong, proud Virginia inside out to Tourmaline’s acceptance of Cash on the back of the bike and scooting closer to wrap her legs around him. There was so many great descriptions associated with these relationships and I loved, loved, loved them.
This book is gritty, edgy and full of feeling and emotion and not to mention great female friendship. 100% recommend.
Tourmaline Harris is the perfect princess of the Wardens - a motorcycle club where her dad is the president. But as Tourmaline struggles to deal with the guilt of her imprisoned mom, she begins to wonder how much she’s actually respected and what her father and his gang actually do. Tourmaline becomes friends with Virginia Campbell, a former pageant queen working for a crooked lawyer who wants her to spy on the Wardens.
I really enjoyed this book and all the characters involved. Both Tourmaline and Virginia were complex characters with deep feeling and emotions and secrets and how they connected was wonderful. I loved seeing how they stood up for each other and believed in each other, and were willing to fight for each other. They had different upbringings but underneath it all there was thread of similarity that bonded them together.
I loved the way the Wardens were so involved in the story and were a central point. I enjoyed Tourmaline exploring her role within the club and learning at what point she was the ‘princess’ and at what point she was a girl who was invisible. Her scattered emotions around the Wardens, her dad and what they really did and didn’t tell her was wonderful to watch.
The best thing about this book for me was the raw edge of attraction that blurred all the lines in the story for me. While both girls had their own missions, they both had a raw need to love and be loved and found it in Cash and Jason. I loved the description of their physical and emotional need from how Jason could flip strong, proud Virginia inside out to Tourmaline’s acceptance of Cash on the back of the bike and scooting closer to wrap her legs around him. There was so many great descriptions associated with these relationships and I loved, loved, loved them.
This book is gritty, edgy and full of feeling and emotion and not to mention great female friendship. 100% recommend.
March 7, 2017
Disclaimer: I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'm on the fence with this book. I LOVED the badass female characters and their friendship but there was just something about the writing style that put me off. I spent the first few chapters confused about what I was reading & unable to connect with the characters or understand the majority of their actions.
After I got into the story it was easier to picture the scenes and follow the plot. Near the end, the book began to get confusing again. The phrasing of the story kept making me feel like I was missing something. I ended up going back and re-reading multiple times to understand the complicated scenes/sentences. Also, I felt like there was no real climax, instead there was a bunch of unnecessarily complicated scenes that got me nowhere.
For me, the highlight of DONE DIRT CHEAP was Tourmaline and Virginia's friendship development. Overall, the novel wasn't my thing. If you like badass biker gangs then you should check this book out!
I'm on the fence with this book. I LOVED the badass female characters and their friendship but there was just something about the writing style that put me off. I spent the first few chapters confused about what I was reading & unable to connect with the characters or understand the majority of their actions.
After I got into the story it was easier to picture the scenes and follow the plot. Near the end, the book began to get confusing again. The phrasing of the story kept making me feel like I was missing something. I ended up going back and re-reading multiple times to understand the complicated scenes/sentences. Also, I felt like there was no real climax, instead there was a bunch of unnecessarily complicated scenes that got me nowhere.
For me, the highlight of DONE DIRT CHEAP was Tourmaline and Virginia's friendship development. Overall, the novel wasn't my thing. If you like badass biker gangs then you should check this book out!
April 26, 2017
Guys, I so wanted this to be We Dug Coal Together or rather We Overthrew the Shitty Hillbilly Patriarchy Together---but in the end was it and did they? I don't know!
Would I be satisfied with anything other than the girls moving the hell away from Appalachia and biker gangs and too-old-for-them (albeit interesting and swoony) love interests? Am I being unfairly harsh on a debut author tempting me with an Elmore Leonard-esque character roster and plot description and then not being...well, Elmore Leonard? Like that's easy? Am I judging it based on what I want it to be rather than what it is? Who knows.
What I do know is Done Dirt Cheap is complicated, messy, sometimes wonderful and sometimes downright squicky. Basically, my rating for it changed depending on the page. Bottom line: I loved the concept but struggled with the execution.
Would I be satisfied with anything other than the girls moving the hell away from Appalachia and biker gangs and too-old-for-them (albeit interesting and swoony) love interests? Am I being unfairly harsh on a debut author tempting me with an Elmore Leonard-esque character roster and plot description and then not being...well, Elmore Leonard? Like that's easy? Am I judging it based on what I want it to be rather than what it is? Who knows.
What I do know is Done Dirt Cheap is complicated, messy, sometimes wonderful and sometimes downright squicky. Basically, my rating for it changed depending on the page. Bottom line: I loved the concept but struggled with the execution.
Want to read
September 16, 2016New Swanky Seventeens book! Also the first book I've ever created/added on Goodreads. :D
Read
May 7, 20174/25/17:
Edited because of problematic content!
Racist stereotypes enforced in the interracial romance, as well as fetishization of human trafficking. Follow thread for information: https://twitter.com/WeeziesBooks/stat...
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2/28/17:
4.5 stars
Extremely fun, with strong female characters that you can't help but cheer for throughout it all.
Quick points:
- Kickass female friendship. Tourmaline and Virginia knew each other before the book started, but they have pretty much nothing in common. They certainly didn't like each other in the beginning of the book as well. But as each starts the understand the other, they may find some intersecting experiences and a budding female friendship that celebrates the strength and survival of both girls.
- I love how both girls are so unique to themselves. We see Tourmaline and Virginia on the cusp of grown girls to womanhood, as this book takes place in that precarious summer between high school graduation and life beyond it. They're vastly different, yet complement each other really well.
>Tourmaline grew up the sheltered daughter of the president of a motorcycle club with no perception of what's really going on around her, instead understanding her father's club through a superficial veil where only the good aspects seep through. However, she starts discovering that there are hidden secrets within the motorcycle club that is affecting her, and begins to find her own power and strengths to stand up with the rest of the brotherhood.
>Virginia on the other hand is tough and beautiful, but behind the surface she's also just a girl who is seeking a place to belong - a place with people to care for her. And she just may have found it with Tourmaline and the rest of the motorcycle club. But what will she have to do to be released from the clutches of the toxic man she works for?
- Oh my LIFE THE ROMANCES. We have two romances for each respective girl, which means twice the sensuality and twice the smoldering chemistry for each relationship. One is a forbidden-love due to the hierarchy of the motorcycle club, where Tourmaline finds herself falling for the compassionate new conscript who sees her for who she is, not a caricature of her church-going, blouse-wearing self. The other is more tumultuous, with an age gap (swoons) between Virginia and a retired veteran who sleeps around to make up for his vulnerable insides. One of the love interest is also a POC, and the author discusses the implications of being black in a southern state through the dialogue, ultimately giving more facets to the character but never making that the only defining part of him.
- THE WRITING THOUGH. In contemporaries, I'm usually looking forward to dialogue and action to carry out the story. But Lemon's story has that and more - luscious descriptions that take you directly to the rough-and-tumble vibes of the setting. I actually found myself rereading passages just to savor the words - something I hardly do with contemporary books just because I want to continue on with the stories. Gosh, I could praise the writing for days.
- Done Dirt Cheap may have the word cheap in the title, but it's a gem of a book. The feminist undertones are fully explored, celebrating the power of females through the different third person perspectives of two vastly different - yet interconnected - girls and their ultimate growth into womanhood. This reads a bit more mature, as there is a sex scene (great, positive scene with a focus on the female perspective) and there are scenes with more darker aspects of life, like the corrupt portions of society and drugs/alcoholism. And yet, the empowering message infused throughout the story in regards to strength and survival, love and courage, makes it one that readers should definitely pick up.
Edited because of problematic content!
Racist stereotypes enforced in the interracial romance, as well as fetishization of human trafficking. Follow thread for information: https://twitter.com/WeeziesBooks/stat...
------------------
2/28/17:
4.5 stars
Extremely fun, with strong female characters that you can't help but cheer for throughout it all.
Quick points:
- Kickass female friendship. Tourmaline and Virginia knew each other before the book started, but they have pretty much nothing in common. They certainly didn't like each other in the beginning of the book as well. But as each starts the understand the other, they may find some intersecting experiences and a budding female friendship that celebrates the strength and survival of both girls.
- I love how both girls are so unique to themselves. We see Tourmaline and Virginia on the cusp of grown girls to womanhood, as this book takes place in that precarious summer between high school graduation and life beyond it. They're vastly different, yet complement each other really well.
>Tourmaline grew up the sheltered daughter of the president of a motorcycle club with no perception of what's really going on around her, instead understanding her father's club through a superficial veil where only the good aspects seep through. However, she starts discovering that there are hidden secrets within the motorcycle club that is affecting her, and begins to find her own power and strengths to stand up with the rest of the brotherhood.
>Virginia on the other hand is tough and beautiful, but behind the surface she's also just a girl who is seeking a place to belong - a place with people to care for her. And she just may have found it with Tourmaline and the rest of the motorcycle club. But what will she have to do to be released from the clutches of the toxic man she works for?
- Oh my LIFE THE ROMANCES. We have two romances for each respective girl, which means twice the sensuality and twice the smoldering chemistry for each relationship. One is a forbidden-love due to the hierarchy of the motorcycle club, where Tourmaline finds herself falling for the compassionate new conscript who sees her for who she is, not a caricature of her church-going, blouse-wearing self. The other is more tumultuous, with an age gap (swoons) between Virginia and a retired veteran who sleeps around to make up for his vulnerable insides. One of the love interest is also a POC, and the author discusses the implications of being black in a southern state through the dialogue, ultimately giving more facets to the character but never making that the only defining part of him.
- THE WRITING THOUGH. In contemporaries, I'm usually looking forward to dialogue and action to carry out the story. But Lemon's story has that and more - luscious descriptions that take you directly to the rough-and-tumble vibes of the setting. I actually found myself rereading passages just to savor the words - something I hardly do with contemporary books just because I want to continue on with the stories. Gosh, I could praise the writing for days.
- Done Dirt Cheap may have the word cheap in the title, but it's a gem of a book. The feminist undertones are fully explored, celebrating the power of females through the different third person perspectives of two vastly different - yet interconnected - girls and their ultimate growth into womanhood. This reads a bit more mature, as there is a sex scene (great, positive scene with a focus on the female perspective) and there are scenes with more darker aspects of life, like the corrupt portions of society and drugs/alcoholism. And yet, the empowering message infused throughout the story in regards to strength and survival, love and courage, makes it one that readers should definitely pick up.
Read
December 30, 2017UPDATE: Fellow readers have talked about how the representation of the one black man in this book has really hurt them. I will admit I did not spot it earlier, but it is not my lane and therefore not my place to police their hurt. I have changed my rating because of this. This thread by a fellow blogger should clarify what specifically is wrong with the rep in the book: https://twitter.com/weeziesbooks/stat...
Apologies to anyone that went in to read the book based on my previous review only to be hurt by the rep. Working to be more mindful in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Ableist language, i.e. "crazy" used a couple of times and "fuckt**d" used once.
Apologies to anyone that went in to read the book based on my previous review only to be hurt by the rep. Working to be more mindful in the future.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: Ableist language, i.e. "crazy" used a couple of times and "fuckt**d" used once.
March 27, 2017
I received this free from the publishers via NetGalley
Tourmaline Harris is the daughter of the leader of the town’s infamous biker club known as the Wardens. She’s got a good home life, a good relationship with her father. But at 15 she unintentionally sent her mother to prison. Virginia Campbell was ‘sold’ into the service of Hazard – a sleazy but powerful (&criminal) attorney. Virginia is sent to infiltrate the Wardens under the orders of Hazard because he wants them gone. Virginia has every intention of going through with her orders, but after meeting Tourmaline, she starts to have second thoughts. The two girls friendship blossoms, each gaining strength and confidence from each other.
Done Dirt Cheap is a novel about friendship and the girl’s defying the expectations placed upon them. Done Dirt Cheap is a refreshing read in the sense that it offers something a lot of books don’t really offer – an authentic and complex female friendship. Both Tourmaline and Virginia are fully formed, messy, and contradictory female characters. They would seem like unlikely friends, complete polar opposites, but they make it work and while they don’t always get along, they know they need each other and they help each other navigate the complicated and dangerous landscape of their lives.
“We’re friends because when girls – women – are alone in this world, they’re easier to pick off.” …“When girls stick together in this world, they’re harder to pick off.”
One thing I loved about Tourmaline and Virginia is that they subverted the typical female character tropes that we often see in YA. The ‘good girl’ and the ‘bad girl’. Tourmaline has always tried to be likeable and good, but that isn’t who she really is. Tourmaline was placed into her dangerous drug dealing life, it wasn’t one she chose. But each girl wants something different, and they help each other to get it. So there was some really great character development.
I absolutely adored the romance. If you love age-gap romances I do highly recommend this. (Don’t worry, both Tourmaline and Virginia are 18). Tourmaline’s relationship with Cash was my favourite – it was a forbidden romance and fantastically written. Virginia’s relationship with Jason felt a little rushed and insta-lovey but I loved it nonetheless.
If you are looking for a feminist and female empowered book, with a complex and central female friendship where they always try to uplift each other and not tear each other down, then I do highly recommend Done Dirt Cheap.
Also, Biker Girls, need I say more?
Tourmaline Harris is the daughter of the leader of the town’s infamous biker club known as the Wardens. She’s got a good home life, a good relationship with her father. But at 15 she unintentionally sent her mother to prison. Virginia Campbell was ‘sold’ into the service of Hazard – a sleazy but powerful (&criminal) attorney. Virginia is sent to infiltrate the Wardens under the orders of Hazard because he wants them gone. Virginia has every intention of going through with her orders, but after meeting Tourmaline, she starts to have second thoughts. The two girls friendship blossoms, each gaining strength and confidence from each other.
Done Dirt Cheap is a novel about friendship and the girl’s defying the expectations placed upon them. Done Dirt Cheap is a refreshing read in the sense that it offers something a lot of books don’t really offer – an authentic and complex female friendship. Both Tourmaline and Virginia are fully formed, messy, and contradictory female characters. They would seem like unlikely friends, complete polar opposites, but they make it work and while they don’t always get along, they know they need each other and they help each other navigate the complicated and dangerous landscape of their lives.
“We’re friends because when girls – women – are alone in this world, they’re easier to pick off.” …“When girls stick together in this world, they’re harder to pick off.”
One thing I loved about Tourmaline and Virginia is that they subverted the typical female character tropes that we often see in YA. The ‘good girl’ and the ‘bad girl’. Tourmaline has always tried to be likeable and good, but that isn’t who she really is. Tourmaline was placed into her dangerous drug dealing life, it wasn’t one she chose. But each girl wants something different, and they help each other to get it. So there was some really great character development.
I absolutely adored the romance. If you love age-gap romances I do highly recommend this. (Don’t worry, both Tourmaline and Virginia are 18). Tourmaline’s relationship with Cash was my favourite – it was a forbidden romance and fantastically written. Virginia’s relationship with Jason felt a little rushed and insta-lovey but I loved it nonetheless.
If you are looking for a feminist and female empowered book, with a complex and central female friendship where they always try to uplift each other and not tear each other down, then I do highly recommend Done Dirt Cheap.
Also, Biker Girls, need I say more?
January 2, 2020
This is a book with potential. I could see what the author was shooting for but unfortunately it didn't make it there, at least not for me personally.
Tourmaline Harris has spent the past few years feeling guilty that her mom is behind bars because of her. Her mom's boyfriend Wayne, who was also involved in that case, has recently been released and he's determined to get revenge on Tourmaline. Lucky for Tourmaline, her father is the president of the local biker club called the Wardens. It's a strong brotherhood and they're going to protect their family by any means necessary.
Virginia Campbell's life hasn't been easy. Her dad was killed, her mom's an alcoholic, and she's been working for a lawyer who has some incredibly shady dealings. He sends Virginia to infiltrate the Wardens and get enough dirt to get rid of them and make room for his side business.
Tourmaline and Virginia strike up an unexpected friendship and find romance in the Wardens while figuring out how to get themselves out of trouble and overcome their pasts.
I did so much eye rolling.
The friendship between Tourmaline and Virginia did not feel authentic at all, only convenient for the plot.
Somehow Tourmaline has no idea what her dad's biker club has been doing for years? Is she just in denial?
What have they been doing, you ask? Well, they're church-going and charity-giving and strong protectors but they also do illegal and dangerous things---but they do it for the greater good. It felt ridiculous.
With all the vague sense of danger, there's not one but two steamy romances that occur between these barely legal babes and two Wardens. And those romances took over the main plot line.
What I loved: the atmosphere. The South is so richly described (although I could've done without the mention of the scent of honeysuckle literally every other page).
There was a bold outline here for a great story but it falls short.
We learn about this dangerous biker club and yet meet only three of its members and have zero connection with them except the vague sense of danger.
Tourmaline and Virginia both want to overcome their current situations but they can't stop themselves from getting more deeply involved in shady stuff and hanging around these biker boys with their own tough pasts.
It all just felt ridiculous to this admittedly jaded thirty-something.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Tourmaline Harris has spent the past few years feeling guilty that her mom is behind bars because of her. Her mom's boyfriend Wayne, who was also involved in that case, has recently been released and he's determined to get revenge on Tourmaline. Lucky for Tourmaline, her father is the president of the local biker club called the Wardens. It's a strong brotherhood and they're going to protect their family by any means necessary.
Virginia Campbell's life hasn't been easy. Her dad was killed, her mom's an alcoholic, and she's been working for a lawyer who has some incredibly shady dealings. He sends Virginia to infiltrate the Wardens and get enough dirt to get rid of them and make room for his side business.
Tourmaline and Virginia strike up an unexpected friendship and find romance in the Wardens while figuring out how to get themselves out of trouble and overcome their pasts.
I did so much eye rolling.
The friendship between Tourmaline and Virginia did not feel authentic at all, only convenient for the plot.
Somehow Tourmaline has no idea what her dad's biker club has been doing for years? Is she just in denial?
What have they been doing, you ask? Well, they're church-going and charity-giving and strong protectors but they also do illegal and dangerous things---but they do it for the greater good. It felt ridiculous.
With all the vague sense of danger, there's not one but two steamy romances that occur between these barely legal babes and two Wardens. And those romances took over the main plot line.
What I loved: the atmosphere. The South is so richly described (although I could've done without the mention of the scent of honeysuckle literally every other page).
There was a bold outline here for a great story but it falls short.
We learn about this dangerous biker club and yet meet only three of its members and have zero connection with them except the vague sense of danger.
Tourmaline and Virginia both want to overcome their current situations but they can't stop themselves from getting more deeply involved in shady stuff and hanging around these biker boys with their own tough pasts.
It all just felt ridiculous to this admittedly jaded thirty-something.
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
April 30, 2017
4.5
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Need to put my thoughts together on this but there's so much here to love. The central friendship between Tourmaline and Virginia takes the cake but all the relationships are so achy and ugh.
Longer RTC.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Need to put my thoughts together on this but there's so much here to love. The central friendship between Tourmaline and Virginia takes the cake but all the relationships are so achy and ugh.
Longer RTC.
March 12, 2017
This was more then I expected and completely reversed from what I thought would happen. Not only is the writing lyrical and beautiful but it propels the story in a real world setting that still makes it feel like fantasy. You see the reigning king, his fallen queen, the sheltered princess, her lady in waiting, and the knight ready to take her heart and buy it all, as everyone rides on the sexiest thing ever, a Harley. My only complaint was I wanted it to be longer. I want more brooding biker, I want more female friends being intense and ride or die for one another. I want more of this world and way way more story involving these characters. Where they wrapped things nicely I have so much angst for these people I just want to see so much more.
October 6, 2016
Well, I now want to buy a leather jacket and some motorcycle boots.
I've had a MAJOR crush on this book since I first heard the title and concept, and I'm very, very happy to report that Done Dirt Cheap lived up to my extremely high expectations. IT WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT!!!!
First, let's take a moment to swoon over this cover, because SWOON. It's perfect.
I haven't read anything quite like Done Dirt Cheap in YA, and that's extremely admirable. The novel hooks you from the moment Tourmaline walks into that prison (i.e., right away), and what follows is a unique, gritty adventure in a perfectly portrayed southern town; I was absolutely captivated. The main characters are sharp, skillfully drawn, and work so well as a duo. There's no doubt that Lemon is a ridiculously good writer.
Also, this book is sexy. Like, extremely sexy. *fans self*
Pardon the motorcycle pun, but Done Dirt Cheap really is a wild ride. I would highly recommend this for YA readers who are looking for a different type of adventure - one that involves kick-ass girls taking on the world. Definitely add this to your 2017 TBR pile.
I've had a MAJOR crush on this book since I first heard the title and concept, and I'm very, very happy to report that Done Dirt Cheap lived up to my extremely high expectations. IT WAS SO WORTH THE WAIT!!!!
First, let's take a moment to swoon over this cover, because SWOON. It's perfect.
I haven't read anything quite like Done Dirt Cheap in YA, and that's extremely admirable. The novel hooks you from the moment Tourmaline walks into that prison (i.e., right away), and what follows is a unique, gritty adventure in a perfectly portrayed southern town; I was absolutely captivated. The main characters are sharp, skillfully drawn, and work so well as a duo. There's no doubt that Lemon is a ridiculously good writer.
Also, this book is sexy. Like, extremely sexy. *fans self*
Pardon the motorcycle pun, but Done Dirt Cheap really is a wild ride. I would highly recommend this for YA readers who are looking for a different type of adventure - one that involves kick-ass girls taking on the world. Definitely add this to your 2017 TBR pile.
April 22, 2017
Edit: I know I previously stated that I was going to try to read this book again. Yesterday, I read this review (https://weezieswhimsicalwritings.word...) which made me aware of the fact that this book is trash, so I won't try to read it again. If you're thinking about picking this book up, please give that review a read.
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DNF for now.
I'm really disappointed that I didn't like this one, since a lot of reviewers seem to absolutely love it. There was just something about it that made me unable to get into it. I kept mixing up characters, forgetting the names of smaller characters, and just having no idea what was going on.
However, I am determined to fall in love with this book, so I'm going to try again. Start at the beginning. Someday.
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DNF for now.
I'm really disappointed that I didn't like this one, since a lot of reviewers seem to absolutely love it. There was just something about it that made me unable to get into it. I kept mixing up characters, forgetting the names of smaller characters, and just having no idea what was going on.
However, I am determined to fall in love with this book, so I'm going to try again. Start at the beginning. Someday.
Read
March 21, 2017DNF p142
The writing just was not working for me on this one. It's such a bummer too because I was really excited for it. I love MC stuff and I've heard SO many great things from friends, but I just could not handle the writing. The way the character perspectives were written felt SO off to me. I kept feeling like I missed something because things felt like they were jumping from here to there, which lead to me feeling confused or lost, and I just don't care for that.
The writing just was not working for me on this one. It's such a bummer too because I was really excited for it. I love MC stuff and I've heard SO many great things from friends, but I just could not handle the writing. The way the character perspectives were written felt SO off to me. I kept feeling like I missed something because things felt like they were jumping from here to there, which lead to me feeling confused or lost, and I just don't care for that.
July 27, 2017
Liked but couldn't love....
The first few chapters were certainly a confusing bit, nothing really seemed to connect, but as the story progressed I really started to like the novel. Though there were some relationships that I couldn't quite endorse....
The first few chapters were certainly a confusing bit, nothing really seemed to connect, but as the story progressed I really started to like the novel. Though there were some relationships that I couldn't quite endorse....
February 15, 2017
This is one of the best books I've read so far this year. So fresh and wonderful.
October 5, 2018
An off-beat empowering read
Let me just say this up front: I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book.
I found the first 25%...bewildering. Confusing. I couldn’t figure out who knew what and what they should and shouldn’t know - and it made everyone’s motives weird and baffling.
BUT!
Just hang in there. Keep going. Get past the armor of T & V and sink into their lives. It’s worth it. I finished this with full-body goosebumps.
Let me just say this up front: I wasn’t sure I was going to like this book.
I found the first 25%...bewildering. Confusing. I couldn’t figure out who knew what and what they should and shouldn’t know - and it made everyone’s motives weird and baffling.
BUT!
Just hang in there. Keep going. Get past the armor of T & V and sink into their lives. It’s worth it. I finished this with full-body goosebumps.
March 21, 2017
I had no idea what to expect from this going in but it totally blew me away. I loved the characters, the plot had me on the edge of my seat and I just need more from Sarah Nicole Lemon. Soon.
March 4, 2017
Review posted on ItsJaneLindsey.
Done Dirt Cheap is unlike anything on the young adult market right now. Billed as Sons of Anarchy meets Thelma and Louise, this tale about female friendship and biker gangs was completely unexpected.
What I loved about Done Dirt Cheap is that this book is fundamentally about the strength of female friendship. Tourmaline and Victoria have both received more than their fair share of hard knocks in life, and from the outset they’re just using each other to achieve their own ends. But watching the connection between them grow and be forged into something really powerful was probably my favorite part of the entire story.
Our two protagonists are superbly badass, and I loved reading about these two women who had no time for bullshit. Tourmaline is the Warden’s president’s daughter, and still harbors guilt over a mistake that sent her mother to prison. Victoria works as a dealer for a sketchy lawyer, and doesn’t see a path to freedom in her future. Both Tourmaline and Victoria felt so original and wonderful, and I appreciated how the author didn’t force them into instant best friends. Their relationship is fraught, and neither completely trusts each other, but by the end they become a truly fearsome duo.
Another major positive of Done Dirt Cheap is the way the biker club, the Wardens, is represented. While Tourmaline’s perception of her father’s club is challenged throughout the novel, Lemon does a good job of portraying them in a way that refutes some of the nastier stereotypes of bikers. As someone whose father rode motorcycles for my entire life, I really appreciated that. Done Dirt Cheap earns the Sons of Anarchy comparison because there is a biker club in the narrative, not because they sell drugs or steal firearms. (This is where I admit that I’ve never watched an episode of Sons of Anarchy, but I know that gang is much more violent and…illegal in its activities than the Wardens in Done Dirt Cheap.)
I did have some issues with this book, especially as it relates to one of the relationships that I found to be a bit too much for me. Tourmaline and Victoria are both eighteen, and form relationships with older men (one considerably older). One of the romances made me a bit uncomfortable, and I didn’t really love the whole idea that they /had/ to end up in relationships with men who “saved” them. Just not how I would have liked that to play out. In all honesty, going into this book I expected Tourmaline and Victoria to end up together. No such luck. While I liked that we get positive representation of an interracial romance, it must be said that this book has literally one person of color. That’s it. Obviously, I found this disappointing.
Done Dirt Cheap is a great example of upper-YA with characters who are of age, make adult choices, and have to deal with adult consequences. I do wish Tourmaline and Victoria would have been in college, maybe 20 or so, but that’s just my personal desire for more “age appropriate” character situations. I felt that eighteen was a little young for this novel, but all that being said, I did enjoy this. Done Dirt Cheap is an original, kickass tale about two fierce female protagonists.
Rating: 3.75 stars
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
Done Dirt Cheap is unlike anything on the young adult market right now. Billed as Sons of Anarchy meets Thelma and Louise, this tale about female friendship and biker gangs was completely unexpected.
What I loved about Done Dirt Cheap is that this book is fundamentally about the strength of female friendship. Tourmaline and Victoria have both received more than their fair share of hard knocks in life, and from the outset they’re just using each other to achieve their own ends. But watching the connection between them grow and be forged into something really powerful was probably my favorite part of the entire story.
Our two protagonists are superbly badass, and I loved reading about these two women who had no time for bullshit. Tourmaline is the Warden’s president’s daughter, and still harbors guilt over a mistake that sent her mother to prison. Victoria works as a dealer for a sketchy lawyer, and doesn’t see a path to freedom in her future. Both Tourmaline and Victoria felt so original and wonderful, and I appreciated how the author didn’t force them into instant best friends. Their relationship is fraught, and neither completely trusts each other, but by the end they become a truly fearsome duo.
Another major positive of Done Dirt Cheap is the way the biker club, the Wardens, is represented. While Tourmaline’s perception of her father’s club is challenged throughout the novel, Lemon does a good job of portraying them in a way that refutes some of the nastier stereotypes of bikers. As someone whose father rode motorcycles for my entire life, I really appreciated that. Done Dirt Cheap earns the Sons of Anarchy comparison because there is a biker club in the narrative, not because they sell drugs or steal firearms. (This is where I admit that I’ve never watched an episode of Sons of Anarchy, but I know that gang is much more violent and…illegal in its activities than the Wardens in Done Dirt Cheap.)
I did have some issues with this book, especially as it relates to one of the relationships that I found to be a bit too much for me. Tourmaline and Victoria are both eighteen, and form relationships with older men (one considerably older). One of the romances made me a bit uncomfortable, and I didn’t really love the whole idea that they /had/ to end up in relationships with men who “saved” them. Just not how I would have liked that to play out. In all honesty, going into this book I expected Tourmaline and Victoria to end up together. No such luck. While I liked that we get positive representation of an interracial romance, it must be said that this book has literally one person of color. That’s it. Obviously, I found this disappointing.
Done Dirt Cheap is a great example of upper-YA with characters who are of age, make adult choices, and have to deal with adult consequences. I do wish Tourmaline and Victoria would have been in college, maybe 20 or so, but that’s just my personal desire for more “age appropriate” character situations. I felt that eighteen was a little young for this novel, but all that being said, I did enjoy this. Done Dirt Cheap is an original, kickass tale about two fierce female protagonists.
Rating: 3.75 stars
*I received an eARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
March 14, 2017
I cannot coherently talk about how much I LOVE this book yet. The characters - especially Tourmaline and Virginia - are amazing and absolutely stole my heart. The writing is gorgeous and evocative and I felt like I was there with them. PLUS THOSE LOVE INTERESTS MY GOD THEY DO NOT GET ANY HOTTER THAN THAT OKAY.
This story is all about fierce young women taking ownership of themselves and the world around them and ugh my heart please pre-order this, you will not regret.
This story is all about fierce young women taking ownership of themselves and the world around them and ugh my heart please pre-order this, you will not regret.
October 21, 2016
Gritty, sexy, edgy, lyrical, absorbing - this book is a breath of fresh air and a great pick for anyone looking for complex girls and the relationships between them.
April 27, 2017
Right now, this book has a 3.94 rating on Goodreads, and I honestly don't understand why.
I wanted to like this book so bad! It was so hyped up, was credited as a modern day Thelma and Louise, and it looked like it was going to be focused on a badass mini girl gang. But it just didn't do it for me.
Done Dirt Cheap follows two teenagers, Tourmaline Harris and Virginia Campbell. When she was fifteen, Tourmaline accidentally caused her mother to prison. Three years later, she's reached a new kind of normal with her father, the president of the Warden's, a motorcycle gang. Virginia's lived quote the opposite life to Tourmaline, after being "sold" at fifteen to a corrupt lawyer named Hazard, and three years later is still under his "care." Hazard wants to dismantle the Wardens, and sends Virginia to do so. But as Virginia tries to do her job, an unlikely friendship between her and Tourmaline form. The two girls bond over their different yet similar past, and work together to fight all that stands in their way.
I just couldn't connect with any of the characters. Tourmaline and Virginia both had interesting backstories, but...their just seemed to be a distance between the characters on the page and the reader. Also, am I the only one who finds it weird that their's a character named Virginia who lives in Virginia?
The novel isn't poorly written, but like with the characters there is a certain gap between reader and story. I have no knowledge of motorcycle gangs so I couldn't relate to Virginia's story, since she never gave any background about the Wardens, not even to Virginia who also didn't know anything about motorcycle gangs! And Virginia's backstory was kept so secret, so many details were left out of focus until the end, it made it hard to relate to her.
Also, one pet peeve with characters. Cash, the conscript, is introduced pretty early on, but for a long time he's just called "the conscript." Then out of nowhere they start referring him by name as Cash, and all I could think was, "He has a name?!"
Many reviews cited the age difference between the characters who were romantically involved as one of the reasons against liking this book. The age difference between them are:
- Calvin and Margaret Harris (34 and 18/17, I think, had to return the book so I can't actually remember but this was the biggest age difference)
- Tourmaline and Cash (18 and 23, 5 years)
- Virginia and Jason (18 and 28, 10 years)
Now, it's really obvious that Lemon made the characters eighteen on purpose to avoid any illegal relationships between the characters, it was mentioned multiple times in the book that the characters are eighteen, that Tourmaline's mother was eighteen when she was in a relationship with her father (though possibly seventeen when they first met).
Now, it depends on whether or not you have issues with age differences in relationships. I personally had no trouble with Tourmaline and Cash's relationship because they're only six years apart, my parents were four years apart so I don't see an issue their. Virginia and Jason however are another story.
Again, I don't really have an issue with the ten year age gap, I have an issue with the fact that Virginia is eighteen. Yes, legally she is an adult, but that doesn't mean having a relationship with someone ten years older than her is a good idea. Especially when she was prepped and groomed by Hazard to be beautiful in beauty pageants. Jason also makes it clear multiple times that though attracted to Virginia, he isn't comfortable having a relationship with her. But Virginia keeps pushing him to have a relationship, and Tourmaline gives this stupid monologue at the end that Virginia's "eighteen isn't the same as her eighteen" because of the hard life she's lived and blah blah blah but you know what? IT DOESN'T MATTER! Jason is the older one and could have still walked away and refused to start a relationship with her, but SPOILER
Another thing a lot of reviewers had problems with was the predatory/rapish scene in Hazard's house. For context,
Context again:
The epilogue was also super confusing. It's maybe three or four pages, and it starts with It was just...weird.
I really wish Done Dirt Cheap was worth the hype. But it was so disappointing, and just couldn't hold my interest. If you have insider knowledge on motorcycle gangs you may enjoy this book. Otherwise, I would skip it.
July 31, 2017
This was such a cool book. Done Dirt Cheap is like nothing else I’ve read in YA; it’s an incredibly strong and searing debut. It’s the story of eighteen-year-olds Tourmaline and Virginia and their unlikely, complicated friendship, as well as the secrets they’re hiding and the enemies they’re trying to keep at bay. It’s a twisty tale featuring two girls who are down on their luck in some pretty extraordinary ways, but who refuse to buckle under adversity. I adored Tourmaline and Virginia, and I was captivated by their impossible choices and fierce loyalties and utter badassedness. Read: “We’re friends because when girls – women – are alone in this world, they’re easier to pick off.” Done Dirt Cheap also features bikes and winding rides, boys and sultry kisses, and a setting so atmospheric, I could smell the tarry asphalt and taste Cash’s delectably described cooking. If you like books about girls who make bad decisions for good reasons, girls with lives messy and dangerous, girls who go after what they want, be it a man or revenge or a degree, you’ll love Done Dirt Cheap.
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