I grew up with this book! Started when I was younger (like eleven years old)than Nikki and now I'm in my senior year of high school! It's already been that long?!
Anyway, at first I was thinking that maybe id outgrown it, because a lot of the drama in the first few pages could be solved through just communication. But then things got CRAZY and... Yeah there's a lot going on in this installment. All the things Mackenzie did to others just made me CRINGE. Like when Brandon was waiting for Nikki at the shop?EESSHH...
I was also worried Mackenzie wouldn't be a very well fleshed out character, that she'd be just that stereotypical diva and nothing else. Her character building was very subtle though, as you read about her extremely spoiled, yet still imperfect life. (Her little sister is a lot like Brianna.)
I think Mackenzie just finally moved because she finally figured out she could never win against Nikki, and she didn't want to graduate middle school having to face her obnoxious "humiliation" of having a "dork" stand her up from the very beginning of the series to(what I'm assuming) is the very near end of it.
As always, Russell's potent power with words and language was superb, and it made me laugh out loud, cringe, giggle, smile, and (this rarely happens to me with many books, especially with something not even meant for my age group) care for the characters. Heck, I ship BrandonXNikki. What is it, Bikki?:P I dunno, I'm bad at that sort of merging.
Props to the author for also reminding us that Brandon isn't just some nice guy, he has feelings who doesn't just let anything slide. When he said to Nikki" with friends like you who needs enemies?!" I was just like "ooohhhh, she better get some ice for that burn!"
Now for Chloe and Zoey.....:D