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Семь способов тебя завоевать
Блайт Маккена учится в престижной школе, мечтает стать одной из лучших студенток и поступить в литературный колледж.
Но ее планы меняются, когда она узнает, что отец получил должность директора в другой школе, а семья вынуждена переехать в соседний город.
В первый день в новой школе Блайт становится объектом насмешек. Все потому, что Люк, главный редактор школьной газеты, разместил фотографию Блайт, на которой она… ковыряет в носу. Чтобы ему отомстить, девушка просит директора закрыть газету. Теперь ее ненавидит вся школа.
Все усложняется и запутывается еще больше, когда Блайт без ума влюбляется в Люка, который ее терпеть не может. Ей предстоит непростая задача: завоевать не только сердце Люка, но и расположение всей школы.
Но ее планы меняются, когда она узнает, что отец получил должность директора в другой школе, а семья вынуждена переехать в соседний город.
В первый день в новой школе Блайт становится объектом насмешек. Все потому, что Люк, главный редактор школьной газеты, разместил фотографию Блайт, на которой она… ковыряет в носу. Чтобы ему отомстить, девушка просит директора закрыть газету. Теперь ее ненавидит вся школа.
Все усложняется и запутывается еще больше, когда Блайт без ума влюбляется в Люка, который ее терпеть не может. Ей предстоит непростая задача: завоевать не только сердце Люка, но и расположение всей школы.
290 pages, ebook
First published April 1, 2012
23 people are currently reading
4192 people want to read
About the author
Kristin Walker
11 books280 followersKristin Walker grew up in the Pennsylvania countryside, finally landing at Penn State where she earned a BA in Theatre Arts. In addition to being an actor, Kristin worked at many things on her way to becoming an author. She was a lifeguard, a nanny, a beginning ballroom dance instructor, a library circulation clerk, and very nearly a nurse. She's the author of the young adult novels, A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL and 7 CLUES TO WINNING YOU. She also has written a middle grade novel, THE FIRST DAY OF SEPTEMBER. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in LADYBUG, WEE ONES, and two CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL books. Kristin lives in a Philadelphia suburb with her husband and three sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
maybe
July 2, 2011This cover turns me off.
August 7, 2016
Very cute, very funny (at one point, I actually laughed out loud - no spoilers, but it was the part with the old ladies and the convenience store), and very sweet. Kristin Walker is great at writing the friendships that blossom between a boy and girl and then turn into something more. I found Blythe incredibly likeable, even though it was obvious from the beginning that she was a bit of a snob. It was great to see her grow, and really great to read about Luke. =p Aside from that, I think Walker is also an incredible writer of secondary characters - she gives them great personalities and a real part in the story. Cy and Jenna were awesome, and it was really interesting to read about Blythe's family.
SPOILERS HERE:
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Overall, I really enjoyed this - I just felt that it ended too soon! I wanted more about the rest of the clues, and more about what happened at the prom! Also, isn't Luke going to college? How would Blythe and Luke deal with the separation?
SPOILERS HERE:
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Overall, I really enjoyed this - I just felt that it ended too soon! I wanted more about the rest of the clues, and more about what happened at the prom! Also, isn't Luke going to college? How would Blythe and Luke deal with the separation?
October 15, 2012
Okay, confession time: I almost passed over reading this book because of the cover. That sounds horribly judgmental, I know! (You shouldn't judge books by their covers!!). Anyhow. For various reasons, the cover just didn't sit well with me, and I thought it might be too 'young'. However, I read and enjoyed Kristin Walker's debut novel A Match Made in High School, so I knew I was going to give it a go. And I am so happy I did! I do think that, unfortunately, this book's cover is misleading. The cover is advertising (at least in my mind), something all too cutesy or a very simple, predictable romance. But that is not the case!
I really adored Blythe, the novel's narrator. She's very smart, got a good head on her shoulders, focused on her studies, but is going through major upheaval. Her father, a soon-to-be school superintendent, has announced that post-spring break Blythe and her brother will be attending a new school. Blythe has lived her whole life in a more upper-crust part of town, attending well-to-do schools. Suddenly, she is unceremoniously shipped of to Ash Grove, where her designer duds- not to mention that grossly embarrassing viral picture that everyone has seen- make her stick out like a sore thumb. Then, when Blythe meets Luke Pavel- intelligent, competitive, slightly nerdy but oh-so-sweet- things start to go topsy-turvy. Blythe starts to discover that a lot of what she thought she knew about herself, her parent's relationship and her perfectly-planned future is changing big-time.
I thought this novel was just great. It's got a perfect blend of lovely and swoon-worthy romance, the two main characters are immensely likable; it's sophisticated, real and fun; the writing is terrific and sharp; and all of the story lines are well-developed. I don't think you can ask for much more from a YA contemporary novel! I would recommend this for fans of: Lauren Barnholdt, Marni Bates, Stephanie Perkins, Susane Colasanti, and Elizabeth Scott. Basically, if you enjoy reading awesome contemporary/romantic YA, this is for you!
August 17, 2012
Before I started reading 7 Clues to Winning You, I really wanted to pick up a cute contemporary and when I searched for many of the newly released YA contemporaries, this novel popped up from the whole bunch. I am glad to say that 7 Clues to Winning You filled up my craving. I totally adored this novel and I loved the plot, the writing, and the ending!
The story starts with Blythe's life turning upside down. Her dad, in hopes of getting a raise and the position of superintended, moves his family, including Blythe, to a different town and a new school. To the school he is the principal of. The school that took a photo of her picking her nose in her own house because the Senior Scramble required all juniors to take a photo of their principal in 'his natural habitat'. So imagine being labeled the booger girl and the moment you step in school, it is all everyone knows you as. Which is why Blythe succeeds in stopping this year's Senior Scramble and ends up getting hated on by everyone at school. Enter Luke, the guy who had an e-newspaper where Blythe's photo was published and he's a senior. When Blythe realizes the mistake she made by canceling the Senior Scramble she asks Luke to help her create an underground Senior Scramble. And here is when the fun starts!
I loved Blythe, while sometimes her logic escaped her, she was a pretty likable character! She wasn't a snob in terms of being on a 'different tax quota' from the students at Ash Groove (her new school). She never really flaunted her money even though we know she's loaded. As for Luke, he was a very crush worthy character! I totally understood what Blythe saw in him. A hot geek? who is immune to THAT? Plus their interactions were sweet and adorable. I enjoyed that both of them were in the top 2% of their school, did volunteer work, and were such goody two shoes, but when an act of rebellion presents itself, they are not afraid to take the risk and do it!
I also loved Kristin's writing. I really enjoyed the protagonist's voice and just the overall feel of the story. Nothing dragged too much, the secondary characters' (Cy and Jenna) conversations were such laugh out loud ones. Also, the nursing home Blythe volunteered in was also a window to more humor for the book, and the ending was pretty awesome! I really enjoyed 7 Clues to Winning You and would recommend it to all contemporary lovers or anyone in need of a cute story and a good laugh!
The story starts with Blythe's life turning upside down. Her dad, in hopes of getting a raise and the position of superintended, moves his family, including Blythe, to a different town and a new school. To the school he is the principal of. The school that took a photo of her picking her nose in her own house because the Senior Scramble required all juniors to take a photo of their principal in 'his natural habitat'. So imagine being labeled the booger girl and the moment you step in school, it is all everyone knows you as. Which is why Blythe succeeds in stopping this year's Senior Scramble and ends up getting hated on by everyone at school. Enter Luke, the guy who had an e-newspaper where Blythe's photo was published and he's a senior. When Blythe realizes the mistake she made by canceling the Senior Scramble she asks Luke to help her create an underground Senior Scramble. And here is when the fun starts!
I loved Blythe, while sometimes her logic escaped her, she was a pretty likable character! She wasn't a snob in terms of being on a 'different tax quota' from the students at Ash Groove (her new school). She never really flaunted her money even though we know she's loaded. As for Luke, he was a very crush worthy character! I totally understood what Blythe saw in him. A hot geek? who is immune to THAT? Plus their interactions were sweet and adorable. I enjoyed that both of them were in the top 2% of their school, did volunteer work, and were such goody two shoes, but when an act of rebellion presents itself, they are not afraid to take the risk and do it!
I also loved Kristin's writing. I really enjoyed the protagonist's voice and just the overall feel of the story. Nothing dragged too much, the secondary characters' (Cy and Jenna) conversations were such laugh out loud ones. Also, the nursing home Blythe volunteered in was also a window to more humor for the book, and the ending was pretty awesome! I really enjoyed 7 Clues to Winning You and would recommend it to all contemporary lovers or anyone in need of a cute story and a good laugh!
June 22, 2012
I'm going to be honest and say that this book has Anna and the French Kiss syndrome--an awful cover and an irrelevant/vague synopsis, but completely amazing content. I loved this book so much. I'm not sure if it's because I was in the perfect mood to read it (I was craving a light, cute romance so badly), or if the book itself is really that amazing, but either way, I loved it.
Blythe has a perfect life at her old school. She's popular, pretty, and has many friends. But then her dad suddenly wants to move the whole family to Ash Grove district, because of his job. And... let's just say, the students there are not welcoming of Blythe. Poor girl. I really connected with her character and enjoyed her narrative a lot.
The characters were all great and lovable. I loved Blythe, the main character. She was smart and funny, the kind of girl I'd be friends with. And I loved the way she spoke. She always sounded sophisticated and on point. I also totally fell for Luke Pavel, despite the bad first impression. He was adorably in his geeky way, and now, I want a Luke Pavel of my own, please! Cy and Jenna, Blythe's new (unexpected!) friends, were also fabulous. Hilarious and caring--just the way friends should be.
This book was just pure entertainment to me. I loved every single word, every single plot twist, every single character. I just loved this book so hard. It's more than just a cute high school story, though. There are deeper undertones, without overwhelming the reader, and still being able to be called light.
7 Clues to Winning You is a perfectly written romance that will bring a smile to readers' faces throughout every page.
5 keys, for sure!
Sophia
The Book Basement
Blythe has a perfect life at her old school. She's popular, pretty, and has many friends. But then her dad suddenly wants to move the whole family to Ash Grove district, because of his job. And... let's just say, the students there are not welcoming of Blythe. Poor girl. I really connected with her character and enjoyed her narrative a lot.
The characters were all great and lovable. I loved Blythe, the main character. She was smart and funny, the kind of girl I'd be friends with. And I loved the way she spoke. She always sounded sophisticated and on point. I also totally fell for Luke Pavel, despite the bad first impression. He was adorably in his geeky way, and now, I want a Luke Pavel of my own, please! Cy and Jenna, Blythe's new (unexpected!) friends, were also fabulous. Hilarious and caring--just the way friends should be.
This book was just pure entertainment to me. I loved every single word, every single plot twist, every single character. I just loved this book so hard. It's more than just a cute high school story, though. There are deeper undertones, without overwhelming the reader, and still being able to be called light.
7 Clues to Winning You is a perfectly written romance that will bring a smile to readers' faces throughout every page.
5 keys, for sure!
Sophia
The Book Basement
January 18, 2015
4.5 stars! Loved this book! It was really funny! Great YA story! Looking forward to reading more by this author.
July 24, 2012
Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog
Don’t you just love reading books that are so terribly cute that they make you melt into a puddle while reading? I know I do. Funny and totally adorable contemporaries with an interesting story-line can be very hard to find these days, since we tend to compare them to Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and The French Kiss. Well, I can openly say that 7 Clues To Winning You was as good as Anna!
As a result of Blythe’s father obtaining a promotion from Principal to Superintendent, Blythe and her brother have to not only move homes, but also switch to a different school, where their dad is the Principal. To make things even worse, a picture of Blythe in a humiliating pose goes viral at her new school. Now, the uber popular Blythe ends up being a social outcast at her new school. To regain her previous popularity, she participates to win the Senior Scramble Scavenger Hunt.
I absolutely loved Blythe’s character. She was a typical teenager who loved her clothes, her friends and would easily throw a fit at meaningless things. Yet, she really stood out with her witticism, snark and humor. Honestly, the things she did or said had me laughing my head off at times because she was that funny. You’ve got to love a character whose inner monologue can make you crack up! Plus, she wasn’t a clueless or silly character either. In fact, I thought she was a smart and independent girl. I really liked the fact that she was the sort of girl who knew when she was making a poor decision and didn’t try to justify her wrong move. Moreover, the girl actually made an effort to mend the damage she unknowingly made. I also adored that the author didn’t make her perfect. She had her flaws, but she was still very lovable. Her sweet nature usually bubbled to the surface when she was volunteering at a nursing home, taking care of two old women who constantly bickered, Ms. Franny and Ms. Eulalie. Truthfully, all the characters in 7 Clues To Winning you were delightful. Reading about them was a pleasant experience for me. Luke, Blythe’s love interest, was an adorable and geeky guy. Charm, confidence and wisecracks gushed out of this embraceable character. I loved the passion he had for his online paper. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he was a multi layered character, I do think he was well-fleshed out. He ,too, like Blythe, could be seriously fun with his comments and actions. However, my favorite characters have to be Ms Franny and Ms Eulalie. They were a joy to meet. Those two kept on squabbling like an old couple, making an already funny story even humorous!
7 Clues To Winning You was a story that radiated happiness. You can’t help but love it because of that. While the characters were definitely the focal point for me, the plot too was a fun ride. The book had a tinge of everything I love in contemporaries; friendship, family life and romance. Additionally, there was also a Scavenger Hunt, which made the book all the more exciting. The romance in the book was my favorite kind. There was nothing rushed about it. Instead, what I got was a budding friendship that eventually blossomed into a romantic relationship as the tension and chemistry between the characters kept surging as the book progressed. It’s the kind of love story that has you squealing in joy and your heart fluttering out of happiness. I was very glad to see that the author gave a lot of importance to the different relationships in the book. Many YA books these days tend to entirely dismiss family life, especially the most important people in a teenager’s life, parents. Blythe’s parents were prominent figures throughout the book and while they weren’t exactly focused on their daughter due to other problems at home, they were there whenever Blythe needed them.
7 Clues To Winning You was a book that glued a silly grin on my face the whole time I was reading. It had all the necessary ingredients to craft up a beautiful YA contemporary romance: appealing characters, an engaging story-line, a swoon-worthy romance and tons of fun moments! I would recommend the book to readers looking for a cute summer beach read. Fans of Anna and The French Kiss will relish this !
January 13, 2013
"Love goes by haps; Some Cupid kills with arrows, some with traps..."
-Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
This book is cute with a capital C! There were many times I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Light-hearted, funny, and sweet, 7 Clues is the relaxing vacation you need from a tedious week at work or school.
Serious books are great and all, but every now and then it's really nice to have a book chock full of humor, not to mention extremely lovable characters. And let me tell you, this book is ha-ha-hilarious! From the two arguing old ladies with crude senses of humor, to Cy and Jenna, the couple who make out excessively, 7 Clues's characters each had so much character, which is actually really rare.
Blythe was a super interesting, multi-dimensional protagonist. It was really fascinating (and giggle-worthy) to see her go from the prim, poised, kind of pretentious over-achiever she was, to the kind-hearted rebel she became at the end of the book. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the daughter of the principal, so I felt bad for Blythe right away. But a scandalous picture of the principal's daughter picking her nose, published in the school newspaper? That's a whole new level of embarrassment. Being a high-school student myself, I could understand and relate to most of what was going on with Blythe. A little factitious and idealized 7 Clues may be, but the themes were very much relative. The social hierarchy, the taunting, the tacky romance... it all rang true to my ears.
Speaking of the romance, Luke! Could there be a more perfect guy? He worked for the school newspaper, went through garbage cans for charity, and even quoted Shakespeare! He was perfectly drool-worthy! I completely understood why Blythe, normally so calm and collected, had her knickers in a twist over him. Now I'm off to check out A Match Made in High School, because, if it's anything like this, I'm bound to love it!
-Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing
This book is cute with a capital C! There were many times I couldn't help but laugh out loud. Light-hearted, funny, and sweet, 7 Clues is the relaxing vacation you need from a tedious week at work or school.
Serious books are great and all, but every now and then it's really nice to have a book chock full of humor, not to mention extremely lovable characters. And let me tell you, this book is ha-ha-hilarious! From the two arguing old ladies with crude senses of humor, to Cy and Jenna, the couple who make out excessively, 7 Clues's characters each had so much character, which is actually really rare.
Blythe was a super interesting, multi-dimensional protagonist. It was really fascinating (and giggle-worthy) to see her go from the prim, poised, kind of pretentious over-achiever she was, to the kind-hearted rebel she became at the end of the book. I can't imagine what it would be like to be the daughter of the principal, so I felt bad for Blythe right away. But a scandalous picture of the principal's daughter picking her nose, published in the school newspaper? That's a whole new level of embarrassment. Being a high-school student myself, I could understand and relate to most of what was going on with Blythe. A little factitious and idealized 7 Clues may be, but the themes were very much relative. The social hierarchy, the taunting, the tacky romance... it all rang true to my ears.
Speaking of the romance, Luke! Could there be a more perfect guy? He worked for the school newspaper, went through garbage cans for charity, and even quoted Shakespeare! He was perfectly drool-worthy! I completely understood why Blythe, normally so calm and collected, had her knickers in a twist over him. Now I'm off to check out A Match Made in High School, because, if it's anything like this, I'm bound to love it!
February 10, 2016
oh my god, that was super super super cute! y'all should read the ending, because i am SWOONED! i only have two words for you guys; LUKE. PAVEL. enough said.
the only thing that kinda bothers me is the drama!!! because there's just too much high school dramas. but nevertheless, the book made me laugh (quite a number too!) and i ALMOST cried, poor blythe but it's all good :~)
in the end, all i could say is that i definitely enjoyed it!
the only thing that kinda bothers me is the drama!!! because there's just too much high school dramas. but nevertheless, the book made me laugh (quite a number too!) and i ALMOST cried, poor blythe but it's all good :~)
in the end, all i could say is that i definitely enjoyed it!
November 25, 2016
Сначала мне очень не понравилась книга, но после середины я начала влюбляться в ее героев. Эмоции были: Ооооо, какие они все милые) Повеселили задания для игры и то, как Блит выкручивалась. Конечно, затронута и раскрыта тема любви, но остались непонятными отношения с лучшей подругой.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2025
This won’t win any prizes for memorable literature, but it was a cute read that started to explore some bigger ideas.
Our main character Blythe is something of a rich kid, good student and destined for good things. However, her life is upended when her father decides to apply for the Attendant’s position of his school board - meaning the family have to be based in the area so she needs to start a new school.
Familiar territory with the new kid facing school issues. Along the way she finds some new friends, a romance and learns a little about herself. The Scavenger Hunt side story allows for some entertaining moments, and of course everything works out nicely in the end.
Our main character Blythe is something of a rich kid, good student and destined for good things. However, her life is upended when her father decides to apply for the Attendant’s position of his school board - meaning the family have to be based in the area so she needs to start a new school.
Familiar territory with the new kid facing school issues. Along the way she finds some new friends, a romance and learns a little about herself. The Scavenger Hunt side story allows for some entertaining moments, and of course everything works out nicely in the end.
April 13, 2016
Posted at http://tenacityjustlisten.blogspot.com/
Kristin Walker has an incredible writing ability to develop such lovable characters. These characters have amazing personalities and attitudes. I absolutely loved Cy, Jenna, Ms. Franny, Ms. Eulalie, Blythe, and Luke.
The storyline with the Senior Scramble allowed the pace of the book to remain entertaining. It never felt dragging or boring. The pace was just right and I was pleased with every page of 7 Clues to Winning You.
In the beginning I thought Blythe was acting like a drama queen. It seemed as if she was just overreacting. When she was attending Meriton she gave off the atmosphere of being a snob. Then once Blythe started attending Ash Grove her attitude changed and she became a wonderful character. The best thing about Blythe was that she realized her old plans were boring and a bit unrealistic. Her old plans consisted in believing in her dream of happily ever after, but then she changed it to happy beginnings. The happy beginnings provides Blythe with a fresh start and actually sounds realistic.
I liked the entire idea revolving around the Senior Scramble. I wish my high school planned to do something like this. When ever Blythe would get a clue for the Senior Scramble I would get all excited, because I could easily visualize the scavenger hunt.
Cy and Jenna for being outsiders were an exceptional couple. Their loving relationship was genuine. I felt as if they were going to be high school sweethearts and eventually get married to one another.
Ms. Franny and Ms. Eulalie had me laughing out several. I started reading 7 Clues to Winning You at midnight and began laughing when ever they started bickering. My parents were probably wondering why I was cracking up at midnight. My all time crack down moment of laughter was when they helped Blythe buy a magazine at the store. I grew sad when Ms. Franny thought Ms. Eulalie died. I'm so glad Ms. Eulalie made it through and survived.
When Luke was introduced I was in for a surprise. I never thought I would find a geeky love interest swoon worthy. All his Shakespeare messages to Blythe won me over completely. Also, I loved reading Blythe and Luke's IM messaging to each other. Let's just say those messages had me smiling when I read them.
I highly recommend 7 Clues to Winning You to readers who want to read a cute story with an adventurous scavenger hunt included. The book will provide you with hilarious and realistic characters.
Kristin Walker has an incredible writing ability to develop such lovable characters. These characters have amazing personalities and attitudes. I absolutely loved Cy, Jenna, Ms. Franny, Ms. Eulalie, Blythe, and Luke.
The storyline with the Senior Scramble allowed the pace of the book to remain entertaining. It never felt dragging or boring. The pace was just right and I was pleased with every page of 7 Clues to Winning You.
In the beginning I thought Blythe was acting like a drama queen. It seemed as if she was just overreacting. When she was attending Meriton she gave off the atmosphere of being a snob. Then once Blythe started attending Ash Grove her attitude changed and she became a wonderful character. The best thing about Blythe was that she realized her old plans were boring and a bit unrealistic. Her old plans consisted in believing in her dream of happily ever after, but then she changed it to happy beginnings. The happy beginnings provides Blythe with a fresh start and actually sounds realistic.
I liked the entire idea revolving around the Senior Scramble. I wish my high school planned to do something like this. When ever Blythe would get a clue for the Senior Scramble I would get all excited, because I could easily visualize the scavenger hunt.
Cy and Jenna for being outsiders were an exceptional couple. Their loving relationship was genuine. I felt as if they were going to be high school sweethearts and eventually get married to one another.
Ms. Franny and Ms. Eulalie had me laughing out several. I started reading 7 Clues to Winning You at midnight and began laughing when ever they started bickering. My parents were probably wondering why I was cracking up at midnight. My all time crack down moment of laughter was when they helped Blythe buy a magazine at the store. I grew sad when Ms. Franny thought Ms. Eulalie died. I'm so glad Ms. Eulalie made it through and survived.
When Luke was introduced I was in for a surprise. I never thought I would find a geeky love interest swoon worthy. All his Shakespeare messages to Blythe won me over completely. Also, I loved reading Blythe and Luke's IM messaging to each other. Let's just say those messages had me smiling when I read them.
I highly recommend 7 Clues to Winning You to readers who want to read a cute story with an adventurous scavenger hunt included. The book will provide you with hilarious and realistic characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 2, 2012
when the book first started i wasnt sure if i will like blythe because she was making a huge deal about moving and accusing her father of being too ambitious and she seems like a trying hard to be perfect student. as the story progressed i felt bad for her and at the same time annoyed with her for making mistake after mistake. and yet i actually liked her enough to root for her. i wanted her to succeed - i guess thats how good the author was in creating a flawed but great character.
i didnt like the description of luke at first but i came to like him because he matches so well with blythe. i was disappointed with tara - despite how betrayed she felt with blythe using her, blythe never humiliated her like what tara did. even though blythe was also in the wrong she didnt deserve that humilation esp after tara knowing what she went through the past year. the ending didnt give a hint if tara eventually forgave blythe and if they became friends again.
i also liked cy and jenna i thought they were much more nicer friends than blythe's perfect meriton friends. i also like the piece about blythe's parents and the scene when dad and blythe finally had a serious conversation.
overall this was a great read though im only rating this 4 stars because the ending was a bit predictable and too dramatic to be realistic and the finale with luke was a bit cheesy.
i didnt like the description of luke at first but i came to like him because he matches so well with blythe. i was disappointed with tara - despite how betrayed she felt with blythe using her, blythe never humiliated her like what tara did. even though blythe was also in the wrong she didnt deserve that humilation esp after tara knowing what she went through the past year. the ending didnt give a hint if tara eventually forgave blythe and if they became friends again.
i also liked cy and jenna i thought they were much more nicer friends than blythe's perfect meriton friends. i also like the piece about blythe's parents and the scene when dad and blythe finally had a serious conversation.
overall this was a great read though im only rating this 4 stars because the ending was a bit predictable and too dramatic to be realistic and the finale with luke was a bit cheesy.
January 14, 2015
Wow! That was the cutest romance story I've read in a long, long time. *sigh* how I missed them..
I am so so so so happy to have stumbled upon this gem of a book. It was amazing from start to finish. The writing of Kristin Walker was endearing and captivating I couldn't put it down.
The writing made me connect to all characters and made me like them which is a very important thing for anyone. The main characters Luke and Blythe are wonderfully delightful people. I wish they were real, they'd be my real life OTP.
They are really made for each other from the first moment they'd met. They are both funny, smart and risk-takers, who wouldn't love that?
The growth of Blythe's character was awesome as well. I didn't see it at first and thought that she wasn't entirely bad before but by the end, I had come to admire the new Blythe. She didn't necessarily lose her true self but she became a better and more considerate person. And I am more than happy with how it ended.
I look forward to reading more of Kristin Walker's stories. She has amazing writing style.
"“Why had I ever cared about happy endings?
Happy beginnings were so much better.”
I am so so so so happy to have stumbled upon this gem of a book. It was amazing from start to finish. The writing of Kristin Walker was endearing and captivating I couldn't put it down.
The writing made me connect to all characters and made me like them which is a very important thing for anyone. The main characters Luke and Blythe are wonderfully delightful people. I wish they were real, they'd be my real life OTP.
They are really made for each other from the first moment they'd met. They are both funny, smart and risk-takers, who wouldn't love that?
The growth of Blythe's character was awesome as well. I didn't see it at first and thought that she wasn't entirely bad before but by the end, I had come to admire the new Blythe. She didn't necessarily lose her true self but she became a better and more considerate person. And I am more than happy with how it ended.
I look forward to reading more of Kristin Walker's stories. She has amazing writing style.
November 15, 2011
Blythe the main character was pretty and popular in her old school, but in her new school she is the principles daughter and a social outcast. This is because the worst, most embarrassing photo of Blythe is all over the internet ruining her social reputation forever. In order to change her social status, she has to go underground with the Senior Scramble scavenger hunt to win the hunt. If Blythe wins she has a chance to make amends with the whole school, but when she falls for Luke, she puts more than her name on the line. But it does not take long for Luke and the hunt to show Blythe the true meaning of love is a wonderful, terrible thing.
July 24, 2012
I love this book!!!
And i'm going to share a nightmare that i had about this book:
My last night's nightmare, actually. there was a sequel of 7 clues for winning. You ( that wasn't the part of the night mare) and in the acknowledge it said: thank you to the people how helped me to choose another date for Luke( that was the only part of the book that was written in spanish, it said something about rural...) . And i went like WHAAAT?! I read the finally over and over and Blythe was with another guy. And then i waked up an it was just and dream, what was a release because Luke & Blythe are the best couple ever!
May 3, 2016
A cute, fluffy, entertaining story ♥
Exactly what I need to refresh my mind after too much reading steamy romance. LOL
Exactly what I need to refresh my mind after too much reading steamy romance. LOL
March 4, 2016
“I just couldn’t help it. I’m a girl who likes happy endings.”
Actual rating: 4.25 stars
And a happy ending this book was! 7 Clues to Winning You was such a fun, entertaining and light read. After the tearjerker Things We Know by Heart that I read, this book was the perfect one to dive in with the perfect blend of humour, laughs, worry and sympathy towards the characters, anticipation, romance, family and friends. This is my first book of Kristin Walker's and I'm sure it won't be the last.
Moving to her rival school Ash Grove is mandatory to Blythe McKenna, because of her father being the principal. Not only was it a rival school of Meriton's, entering the halls will be difficult to bear because of an embarrassing and funny picture of her that went viral through the whole school. Luke Pavel, the mastermind of the widespread picture, only provoked Blythe to report to her father of this bullying and is determined to take down the Senior Scramble, an annual school tradition of scavenger hunt for juniors and seniors, and Luke's online newspaper. After her father approved her report, saying anyone actively and secretly participating in the Senior Scramble will be suspended, she didn't exactly earned her way as a new student. Instead, insults and mocking looks are thrown her way. In order to fix the mess she's made, she asks Luke to join her take the Senior Scramble underground and defy her principal dad.
Blythe is a flawed character and I like my characters that way. It takes a skilled author to write about a narration and personality that although flawed, is likable and will grow throughout the book. They won't stay that way and they have their own vulnerabilities. They can snob or bitch about, but they are convincing and easy to understand.
Blythe was that. She blames her dad for being so ambitious and focused on his job that his whole family have to sacrifice and move not only to a new neighborhood and home, but to a new school. She's ashamed and angry of the way the Ash Grove students treat her and she misses her old friends. She's jealous of her best friend Tara's growing friendship with their other friends without her around. BUT, she realized what it takes to understand the situation well enough to empathize others' feelings. She became sincere, honest and open to Luke so he could trust her. She knew that a well-planned dreams of her life wouldn't go anywhere after what she did, but she can always fix it. A character like that is hard not to love. And, she was really dorky which I'm fangirling about!
The characters are not immature for their age. Juniors and seniors take up the age group of the characters, but they didn't feel that way. In fact, they are like college people to me. They weren't whiny or childish and I think this is the one of the greatest strengths of this book!
The author used cliched plot elements in a non-cliched way. Yep, it's still possible these days! Goth students that weren't actually losers, popular senior guys that aren't actually jerks and in fact swoon-worthy, dorky and literature loving nerds (HI LUKE!), girl fights and no slut-shaming and cat-calling. Yes, thank you Kristin Walker, this is a relief!
Secondary characters that are actually important to the story. *Cue Cy and Jenna making out* But seriously, this couple are the only close to friendship that Blythe had made even during her disastrous reputation at Ash Grove, and they were actually given glimpses to their lives that they weren't just dull or a filler in the story. Wait 'til you see what Cy does at the end of the book!
Scavenger hunt clues that are fun to follow, and the rebelliousness of keeping it secret. Ha! I actually enjoyed defying the principal and her dad in keeping this whole thing secret. I liked the anticipation in students following the clues, who gets on the lead and in waiting for it to burst out in the open for the school officials to find out. The clues are fun to read about, they were well-thought of, very clever and purely entertaining! Buying a gay porn magazine? Huh, you'd think it'd be difficult but the participants will do anything to win!
Miss Eulalie and Miss Franny's bickering and funny dialogues. These two ladies who Blythe volunteers for at the Shady Acres retirement home gave ultimate flavor and had me cracking up to the story. I love listening to their conversations! And although they are frank and straightforward, they each have their own soft sides, which made me melt. Aww :"> They even helped Blythe in her hunt and you wouldn't want to miss a beat in following them to their adventures! They weren't written exaggeratedly.
A mother who actually wants her daughter to be open and honest. As much as Blythe can't stand her mother succumbing to her husband's decisions of moving, Ms. McKenna has an air of authority and at the same time, be a mom who wants her daughter to speak up when she has problems. It wasn't annoying, it was lovable. I also understood Principal/Dad Mac's ego, and watching his soft side, just a dad, not a principal, makes the family aspect of the story great to read about.
As much as I liked the ending to this, and I won't spoil it to any of you, , it is lacking for me. There were some subplots left out for imagination - but I think the story wasn't nicely wrapped up.
May 12, 2013
Two-second recap: Despite a somewhat young-looking cover, this is a rich, well-written book about what it is to find yourself in the jungle that is high school, despite pre-set expectations.
***
Full review :
I've been hearing about Kristin Walker's books for awhile now, but just hadn't gotten around to reading them.
However, thanks to a sale at my local indie recently, I purchased 7 Clues to Winning You, and devoured the book in one afternoon. This is the type of YA contemporary book that's rich, funny and really benefits the YA genre.
***
Plot overview :
Thanks to a decades-old tradition of a Senior Scramble between her school and the neighboring high school, Blythe had a humiliating picture of herself go viral last year.
This would be okay, if only her father hadn't decided to move the family to get a better job, getting Blythe transferred into that neighboring high school. Now, as she struggles to fit in by joining in with the Senior Scramble, she has to match wits with resident journalist and smart-aleck, Luke.
Now, as the clock ticks down for students to complete the Scramble, Blythe begins to learn more about herself than she ever thought imaginable.
***
Things that worked
* Characterization.
I *loved* Blythe. She's smart, feisty and mature beyond her years. (But not in an annoying, smug sort of way!) E.g. When she doesn't get along with her father, rather than throw a fit about it, she actually makes the effort to talk and share her feelings with him.
Blythe is smart in a way which I think that teenagers can really relate to, and even look up to as a role model.
* Writing
Walker just gets the teenage voice. She writes all of her characters in a way that are smart and believable, while also making sure that they don't sound too young or too old.
I also really loved her depiction of two warring ladies in a nursing home - their banter was absolutely hilarious, and very, very smart. I would love to live in a world populated by Walker's characters, because I think I'd never get bored.
* Plotting
The book moves along fairly quickly - we're introduced to Blythe's life at home; we learn about the move, and we're thrown into the Senior Scramble.
There are the occasional flashbacks to fill out some of Blythe's backstory re: the picture, and they're also done in a way where it's interesting and it doesn't seem like an unnecessary information dump.
* The active adult/parental presence
I loved the fact that there are a wide range of adults present throughout 7 Clues, from Blythe's family, to the adults that Blythe volunteers with. They are interested and engaged in her life in a way that felt realistic, but not too after-school special, either.
I think readers will be especially motivated and encouraged by the relationship that Blythe has with her parents - this is a model for them to appreciate and emulate.
* Realistic fights between teenage girls
This is kind of a random observation, but I'm often annoyed when teenager girls get into fights in YA books, and it turns into this huge dramatic situation. The fights aren't realistic, and are often boring to read.
Blythe gets into fights with her friends throughout the course of the book, and yes, they do some dramatic things, but the arguments and resolutions were both realistic. Going back to my theme of how teenagers can be inspired by this book - I think that teenage girls will see Blythe's resolution with her friend as a positive inspiration on how to resolve conflict, verses some of the fighting and hair pulling you might get else where.
*The romance
I've been overusing the word, but the romance between Blythe and Luke is very, very smart. They take the time to get to know each other - including a very memorable scene involving a dumpster - before deciding that hey, they like each other and want to be in a relationship with one another.
Even though there's a bit of a conflict between them before the end, it's also done in a smart, enjoyable manner.
***
Things that didn't work :
* The cover.
The colors are super cute, and reminded me of Catch Me If You Can. However, the pictures also made it very clear that this is a YA novel, which made it slightly more difficult to read this in public. Yes - I was embarrassed.
Ultimately, I think that given the depth of the content, a different cover would do a lot to attract more readers, especially older ones.
* The ending.
While I thought the ending was appropriately cinematic - think of the ending of Dead Poet's Society, with everyone standing up for everyone else - I also thought that things sort of tied together too neatly. There were a lot of things said and a lot of things done, and to have it all hand-waved away, definitely made the book feel like it was a younger audience.
I don't know - I loved the happy ending, but it just didn't feel realistic.
***
Final verdict:
Despite the somewhat young-looking cover, Kristin Walker's sophomore novel is well-written and richly detailed, analyzing just how someone can fit in within a place where they never expected to.
For parents looking for quality YA books there are some wonderful lessons in 7 Clues on friendship, stereotypes and finding (and accepting!) your niche as you search to find your place in life. There are also good lessons on parent-child relationships, and I think that parents who read this book will benefit, and likely better understand the difficulties that their kids face.
I especially recommend this book for fans of Sarah Dessen, Maureen Johnson and Katie Sise.
***
Full review :
I've been hearing about Kristin Walker's books for awhile now, but just hadn't gotten around to reading them.
However, thanks to a sale at my local indie recently, I purchased 7 Clues to Winning You, and devoured the book in one afternoon. This is the type of YA contemporary book that's rich, funny and really benefits the YA genre.
***
Plot overview :
Thanks to a decades-old tradition of a Senior Scramble between her school and the neighboring high school, Blythe had a humiliating picture of herself go viral last year.
This would be okay, if only her father hadn't decided to move the family to get a better job, getting Blythe transferred into that neighboring high school. Now, as she struggles to fit in by joining in with the Senior Scramble, she has to match wits with resident journalist and smart-aleck, Luke.
Now, as the clock ticks down for students to complete the Scramble, Blythe begins to learn more about herself than she ever thought imaginable.
***
Things that worked
* Characterization.
I *loved* Blythe. She's smart, feisty and mature beyond her years. (But not in an annoying, smug sort of way!) E.g. When she doesn't get along with her father, rather than throw a fit about it, she actually makes the effort to talk and share her feelings with him.
Blythe is smart in a way which I think that teenagers can really relate to, and even look up to as a role model.
* Writing
Walker just gets the teenage voice. She writes all of her characters in a way that are smart and believable, while also making sure that they don't sound too young or too old.
I also really loved her depiction of two warring ladies in a nursing home - their banter was absolutely hilarious, and very, very smart. I would love to live in a world populated by Walker's characters, because I think I'd never get bored.
* Plotting
The book moves along fairly quickly - we're introduced to Blythe's life at home; we learn about the move, and we're thrown into the Senior Scramble.
There are the occasional flashbacks to fill out some of Blythe's backstory re: the picture, and they're also done in a way where it's interesting and it doesn't seem like an unnecessary information dump.
* The active adult/parental presence
I loved the fact that there are a wide range of adults present throughout 7 Clues, from Blythe's family, to the adults that Blythe volunteers with. They are interested and engaged in her life in a way that felt realistic, but not too after-school special, either.
I think readers will be especially motivated and encouraged by the relationship that Blythe has with her parents - this is a model for them to appreciate and emulate.
* Realistic fights between teenage girls
This is kind of a random observation, but I'm often annoyed when teenager girls get into fights in YA books, and it turns into this huge dramatic situation. The fights aren't realistic, and are often boring to read.
Blythe gets into fights with her friends throughout the course of the book, and yes, they do some dramatic things, but the arguments and resolutions were both realistic. Going back to my theme of how teenagers can be inspired by this book - I think that teenage girls will see Blythe's resolution with her friend as a positive inspiration on how to resolve conflict, verses some of the fighting and hair pulling you might get else where.
*The romance
I've been overusing the word, but the romance between Blythe and Luke is very, very smart. They take the time to get to know each other - including a very memorable scene involving a dumpster - before deciding that hey, they like each other and want to be in a relationship with one another.
Even though there's a bit of a conflict between them before the end, it's also done in a smart, enjoyable manner.
***
Things that didn't work :
* The cover.
The colors are super cute, and reminded me of Catch Me If You Can. However, the pictures also made it very clear that this is a YA novel, which made it slightly more difficult to read this in public. Yes - I was embarrassed.
Ultimately, I think that given the depth of the content, a different cover would do a lot to attract more readers, especially older ones.
* The ending.
While I thought the ending was appropriately cinematic - think of the ending of Dead Poet's Society, with everyone standing up for everyone else - I also thought that things sort of tied together too neatly. There were a lot of things said and a lot of things done, and to have it all hand-waved away, definitely made the book feel like it was a younger audience.
I don't know - I loved the happy ending, but it just didn't feel realistic.
***
Final verdict:
Despite the somewhat young-looking cover, Kristin Walker's sophomore novel is well-written and richly detailed, analyzing just how someone can fit in within a place where they never expected to.
For parents looking for quality YA books there are some wonderful lessons in 7 Clues on friendship, stereotypes and finding (and accepting!) your niche as you search to find your place in life. There are also good lessons on parent-child relationships, and I think that parents who read this book will benefit, and likely better understand the difficulties that their kids face.
I especially recommend this book for fans of Sarah Dessen, Maureen Johnson and Katie Sise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2012
After loving A Match Made in High School, Walker's follow-up was highly anticipated. I remember loving her hilarious dialogue and especially some swoony romance. After glancing over my review just now, I discovered that I found some aspects of the book infuriating though and that is also the case here. I mean, some things were absolutely maddening to me.
But first, let's start with what worked for me. Main character Blythe (love that name; makes me think of the actress Blythe Danner) finds out that she has to change schools to finish out her junior year. I am immensely sympathetic to that because I had to move across country in the middle of tenth grade (in short: it sucked). Blythe is lucky that she is just moving a short distance away where she can still easily communicate with her old friends, providing they all make time for each other. But Blythe already has a reputation at that school. Her father is the principal (with superintendent ambitions which is why they're moving) and the previous year, someone had taken a picture that happened to catch her picking her nose, which was spread across the school and exposing her to much mockery.
In her first day at the school, Blythe is taunted and mocked, leading her to make a charge of bullying and getting the big scavenger hunt cancelled, earning even more invective from her peers. This section was a roller-coaster for me because of course I want to sympathize with the main character and we're inside her head so we see all of her rationale for her actions. But it also seems overwrought-she goes in to the school prepared to hate it and immediately jumps on anything that will make it hate her more.
Really Blythe exasperated me. I can see that she has a good heart and I admire her being put together and well-spoken. But so many times, I just wanted to shake her for being so bull-headed. Her family inspired similar reactions in me and her love interest didn't do much for me (I like that he's well-read (they flirt using Shakespeare after all) and he made me think of Scott from Meg Cabot's Teen Idol, which is my favorite Cabot contemp but I didn't love him).
However I loved, loved, loved the supporting characters. First there is Jenna and Cy, who seem like goth druggie bad kids but are actually super sweet and welcoming to Blythe. Then there is Ms. Eulalie and Ms. Franny who live in the retirement home where Blythe volunteers. They are ever-bickering but they love each other and provide important support and wisdom for Blythe in addition to being hilarious. These side characters were definitely my favorite parts and I can unreservedly express my love for them.
Overall: A whirlwind of emotions for me-this definitely hit some nerves and aggravated me but I couldn't bear to stop reading, needing to know how everything would be resolved.
Cover: I really hope that guy is not supposed to be Luke because the Luke of my imaginings is much hotter.
But first, let's start with what worked for me. Main character Blythe (love that name; makes me think of the actress Blythe Danner) finds out that she has to change schools to finish out her junior year. I am immensely sympathetic to that because I had to move across country in the middle of tenth grade (in short: it sucked). Blythe is lucky that she is just moving a short distance away where she can still easily communicate with her old friends, providing they all make time for each other. But Blythe already has a reputation at that school. Her father is the principal (with superintendent ambitions which is why they're moving) and the previous year, someone had taken a picture that happened to catch her picking her nose, which was spread across the school and exposing her to much mockery.
In her first day at the school, Blythe is taunted and mocked, leading her to make a charge of bullying and getting the big scavenger hunt cancelled, earning even more invective from her peers. This section was a roller-coaster for me because of course I want to sympathize with the main character and we're inside her head so we see all of her rationale for her actions. But it also seems overwrought-she goes in to the school prepared to hate it and immediately jumps on anything that will make it hate her more.
Really Blythe exasperated me. I can see that she has a good heart and I admire her being put together and well-spoken. But so many times, I just wanted to shake her for being so bull-headed. Her family inspired similar reactions in me and her love interest didn't do much for me (I like that he's well-read (they flirt using Shakespeare after all) and he made me think of Scott from Meg Cabot's Teen Idol, which is my favorite Cabot contemp but I didn't love him).
However I loved, loved, loved the supporting characters. First there is Jenna and Cy, who seem like goth druggie bad kids but are actually super sweet and welcoming to Blythe. Then there is Ms. Eulalie and Ms. Franny who live in the retirement home where Blythe volunteers. They are ever-bickering but they love each other and provide important support and wisdom for Blythe in addition to being hilarious. These side characters were definitely my favorite parts and I can unreservedly express my love for them.
Overall: A whirlwind of emotions for me-this definitely hit some nerves and aggravated me but I couldn't bear to stop reading, needing to know how everything would be resolved.
Cover: I really hope that guy is not supposed to be Luke because the Luke of my imaginings is much hotter.
June 25, 2018
OMG MY FIRST KRISTIN WALKER NOVEL AND I LOOOOOVE IT! ❤❤❤❤❤❤
The storyline is good. It is organized properly so, I can follow the story properly. I feel so relatable in this story like the moving scene. When Blythe was saying she would be missing a lot of things in her old room, I understood her feelings. I went through that too. I did precisely the same thing as her aha. Well, there are others few things more but, let's not focus on that.
The issues being highlighted in this story are also good. Especially about bully. When you post someone's picture with the intention to humiliate them, it is considered bully. The case happened to Blythe. However, she didn't realize it until her friend pointed it out. Actually, I didn't realize it at first too so, it's really nice of Kristin to highlight that.
Friendship that doesn't really work out when it was being thrown into new circumstances. Sometimes you feel like you have a very deep bond with your friend until something new comes up. You can only know the truest value of your bond with them after that. Being able to connect just like in the old times even when you are being separated miles away for some time show how deep your connections are with them. I learnt that pretty much from my life and this book taught us that too.
Besides that, I can see character developments in this book. It's not as shallow as the other books I read. The obvious development that can be seen is the main character, Blythe. I can pretty much understand how her mind worked because I'm pretty much relatable to her the most. She was going through a learning process when she changed into a new school. Well, its the stage where she was beginning to grow up after all. I love her development.
Luke was soooo cuteeeeee. One thing I noticed about this book is that it did not emphasized if he was a cute guy or a popular guy. Well, it's clear from the story that he was likeable with his friends. But Blythe kept on saying he was cute when he did something. She did not focus on the appearance of him but more to what he did.
It's a refreshing story because I don't think the story is cliche. It's cute but with great message in it. Well, probably I am a bit biased about the ratings because I can relate to Blythe in a lot of ways. However, if you are intrigued, feel free to read it!
The storyline is good. It is organized properly so, I can follow the story properly. I feel so relatable in this story like the moving scene. When Blythe was saying she would be missing a lot of things in her old room, I understood her feelings. I went through that too. I did precisely the same thing as her aha. Well, there are others few things more but, let's not focus on that.
The issues being highlighted in this story are also good. Especially about bully. When you post someone's picture with the intention to humiliate them, it is considered bully. The case happened to Blythe. However, she didn't realize it until her friend pointed it out. Actually, I didn't realize it at first too so, it's really nice of Kristin to highlight that.
Friendship that doesn't really work out when it was being thrown into new circumstances. Sometimes you feel like you have a very deep bond with your friend until something new comes up. You can only know the truest value of your bond with them after that. Being able to connect just like in the old times even when you are being separated miles away for some time show how deep your connections are with them. I learnt that pretty much from my life and this book taught us that too.
Besides that, I can see character developments in this book. It's not as shallow as the other books I read. The obvious development that can be seen is the main character, Blythe. I can pretty much understand how her mind worked because I'm pretty much relatable to her the most. She was going through a learning process when she changed into a new school. Well, its the stage where she was beginning to grow up after all. I love her development.
Luke was soooo cuteeeeee. One thing I noticed about this book is that it did not emphasized if he was a cute guy or a popular guy. Well, it's clear from the story that he was likeable with his friends. But Blythe kept on saying he was cute when he did something. She did not focus on the appearance of him but more to what he did.
It's a refreshing story because I don't think the story is cliche. It's cute but with great message in it. Well, probably I am a bit biased about the ratings because I can relate to Blythe in a lot of ways. However, if you are intrigued, feel free to read it!
May 10, 2012
7 Clues To Winning You Review >>
Just look at that lovely cover… If that isn’t a good enough reason to make you wanna read this book, I don’t know what is. Let me just say that 7 Clues to Winning You is now officially on my holy-mother-of-all-mothers-this-book-is-just-beautiful-there’s-no-other-way-to-put-it list.
Blythe McKenna is one freakishly organized, obsessively in-control, on top of her class girl. She has a clear vision of how she wants her future to turn out. She has everything planned – from her dream school to the very details of her wedding gown she’ll walk the aisle in. Not to mention, she has her wardrobe organized by color! (I mean, who does that?) But her life comes to a standstill when her father decided that they move. It wasn’t actually a moving-to-the-next-continent kind of thing (honestly, it was, like, just in the next town over or something) but nevertheless, this also means that Blythe will transfer schools. She’ll have to leave all her friends behind and be the “new girl” all over again. But the worst part? It was the very same school where an embarrassing picture of her went viral. And if that’s not enough, she’ll be known as the “principal’s kid” (that’s like, every teenage girl’s nightmare).
But what Blythe did not expect is how the whole thing will change her completely. She’ll begin to see things differently and come to realizations she wouldn’t have before. She’ll even find solace in two very unlikely allies and develop feelings with the one person who she most certainly disliked from the moment they met (one nerdy gorgeously hot guy). Luke Pavel *sigh* He’s pure awesomeness! He’s charming, sweet, a gentleman and a sucker for Shakespeare, what more could a girl ask for?
7 Clues to Winning You is a very entertaining book to read and I just can’t help but savor every inch of it. And the characters! Oh, the characters… you’ll just love ‘em! They are all equally awesome and fun and they make this book that much more remarkable. There is no doubt that this book is full of everything splendid – it has drama, excitement, romance and lots of humor in it. I surely recommend this book. You’ll undoubtedly la-la-la-loooove it!
My favorite lines –
The problem with some of the steamiest romances in Shakespeare is that everyone ends up dead. I never saw the point of going through all that anguish and passion and sneaking around just to end up with a pile of corpses.
“That’s how you know if a friend is the best kind. If time and miles get between you, yet when you come back together, it’s like you was never apart.”
Just look at that lovely cover… If that isn’t a good enough reason to make you wanna read this book, I don’t know what is. Let me just say that 7 Clues to Winning You is now officially on my holy-mother-of-all-mothers-this-book-is-just-beautiful-there’s-no-other-way-to-put-it list.
Blythe McKenna is one freakishly organized, obsessively in-control, on top of her class girl. She has a clear vision of how she wants her future to turn out. She has everything planned – from her dream school to the very details of her wedding gown she’ll walk the aisle in. Not to mention, she has her wardrobe organized by color! (I mean, who does that?) But her life comes to a standstill when her father decided that they move. It wasn’t actually a moving-to-the-next-continent kind of thing (honestly, it was, like, just in the next town over or something) but nevertheless, this also means that Blythe will transfer schools. She’ll have to leave all her friends behind and be the “new girl” all over again. But the worst part? It was the very same school where an embarrassing picture of her went viral. And if that’s not enough, she’ll be known as the “principal’s kid” (that’s like, every teenage girl’s nightmare).
But what Blythe did not expect is how the whole thing will change her completely. She’ll begin to see things differently and come to realizations she wouldn’t have before. She’ll even find solace in two very unlikely allies and develop feelings with the one person who she most certainly disliked from the moment they met (one nerdy gorgeously hot guy). Luke Pavel *sigh* He’s pure awesomeness! He’s charming, sweet, a gentleman and a sucker for Shakespeare, what more could a girl ask for?
7 Clues to Winning You is a very entertaining book to read and I just can’t help but savor every inch of it. And the characters! Oh, the characters… you’ll just love ‘em! They are all equally awesome and fun and they make this book that much more remarkable. There is no doubt that this book is full of everything splendid – it has drama, excitement, romance and lots of humor in it. I surely recommend this book. You’ll undoubtedly la-la-la-loooove it!
My favorite lines –
The problem with some of the steamiest romances in Shakespeare is that everyone ends up dead. I never saw the point of going through all that anguish and passion and sneaking around just to end up with a pile of corpses.
“That’s how you know if a friend is the best kind. If time and miles get between you, yet when you come back together, it’s like you was never apart.”
July 3, 2016
Originally posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
7 Clues to Winning You? Well, I was totally won over!
This novel has definitely been one of my favorite contemporaries that I've read so far this year. Some of the contemporaries which I've been reading this year have kind of been somewhat lacking in the humor department, and I really REALLY love books which can make me laugh non-stop. I mean, common, I'm a bit tired of more "serious" contemporaries, and need something to giggle over. This book– this incredible, hysterical book– is one which you should not hesitate to pick up.
Blythe is truly a character like none other. On one hand, she's that typical straight-A popular girl, who cares about poise and grace, and has high ambitions. On the other: she's downright hilarious. Put the two together and you have a very very interesting main character.
Here comes my favorite part of any review: the fangirling. Oh, Luke! Luke, Luke, wherefore art thou Luke? Trust me, I was pretty envious of Blythe– I LOVE LUKE! He's hilarious (like this whole novel), super sweet and GAH you gotta love him. You just have to!
Jenna and Cy are also an interesting pair. With their over-excessive making out, I could agree with Blythe, but they're also super sweet and stand up for her. Speaking of interesting pairs... Ms. Eulalie and Ms. Franny are the most HILARIOUS elderly people that I've read about. With their constant quibbling and nagging (and their love for Blythe), it's funny to see how they help her on the Scavenger Hunt!
The idea of the Senior Scramble Scavenger Hunt was definitely a new concept in YA contemporary, so I'm glad that other than being the typical teen rom-com, it's also got this original factor to it. Of course– with two older ladies constantly yelling and arguing over every little thing, how this novel be anything but unique?
Oh man, 7 Clues to Winning You was hilarious and fabulous! Kristin Walker truly knows how to write a novel which will make you laugh, make your heart pound, make make every girl green with envy. I really should check out A Match Made in High School, because if it's anything like this one, I'm bound to fall in love once more!
○ ○ ○ Thank you to Kristin Walker and Rebecca Kilman from Razorbill for sending me 7 Clues to Winning You for review! ○ ○ ○
7 Clues to Winning You? Well, I was totally won over!
This novel has definitely been one of my favorite contemporaries that I've read so far this year. Some of the contemporaries which I've been reading this year have kind of been somewhat lacking in the humor department, and I really REALLY love books which can make me laugh non-stop. I mean, common, I'm a bit tired of more "serious" contemporaries, and need something to giggle over. This book– this incredible, hysterical book– is one which you should not hesitate to pick up.
Blythe is truly a character like none other. On one hand, she's that typical straight-A popular girl, who cares about poise and grace, and has high ambitions. On the other: she's downright hilarious. Put the two together and you have a very very interesting main character.
Here comes my favorite part of any review: the fangirling. Oh, Luke! Luke, Luke, wherefore art thou Luke? Trust me, I was pretty envious of Blythe– I LOVE LUKE! He's hilarious (like this whole novel), super sweet and GAH you gotta love him. You just have to!
Jenna and Cy are also an interesting pair. With their over-excessive making out, I could agree with Blythe, but they're also super sweet and stand up for her. Speaking of interesting pairs... Ms. Eulalie and Ms. Franny are the most HILARIOUS elderly people that I've read about. With their constant quibbling and nagging (and their love for Blythe), it's funny to see how they help her on the Scavenger Hunt!
The idea of the Senior Scramble Scavenger Hunt was definitely a new concept in YA contemporary, so I'm glad that other than being the typical teen rom-com, it's also got this original factor to it. Of course– with two older ladies constantly yelling and arguing over every little thing, how this novel be anything but unique?
Oh man, 7 Clues to Winning You was hilarious and fabulous! Kristin Walker truly knows how to write a novel which will make you laugh, make your heart pound, make make every girl green with envy. I really should check out A Match Made in High School, because if it's anything like this one, I'm bound to fall in love once more!
○ ○ ○ Thank you to Kristin Walker and Rebecca Kilman from Razorbill for sending me 7 Clues to Winning You for review! ○ ○ ○
April 16, 2012
My Thoughts: These kinds of books are why I love contemporary YA books! Love love love them and 7 Clues To Winning You was no exception!
From page one, I was so excited to be thrust into Blythe's world and her ever changing life. Blythe has to move from a preppy school to a not so preppy school. She also goes from popular to the principles kid. And to get a new house? Yuck. And what's worst than that? Her picture got tossed around a lot last year. An embarrassing picture of her picking her nose.
Blythe starts at the new school with everyone making fun of her. But things soon get worse when she gets their yearly activity cancelled, and everyone really starts to hate her.
What does she do? She takes it underground and starts a new hunt. With fellow cute boy Luke, Blythe and Luke get the scavenger hunt going again!
And Blythe is determined to participate in it and win! We get to experience the clues with her, while she solves them. We also get to experience the nursing home she volunteers at, those 2 old ladies are a riot! Loved them! I also really liked her new friends Cy and Jenna! They were an awesome couple and a nice dynamic to the story.
And Blythe and Lucas' friendship is so cute! I adored it! He was such a cute funny adorable boy! As Blythe started to fall for him, so did I.
Blythe doesn't know how to go from the popular girl to just a plain girl, from name brand clothes to ordinary, from a somebody to a nobody.
Lucas and Blythe if I had to sum up in 2 words: freaking cute!
Overall: 7 Clues to Winning You is a definite winner for any contemporary fan! I loved it! This is exactly the kind of YA I need more of in my life. I want more of these kind of stories. Funny light yet deep and thought provoking. I hope you'll all give this book a try! I also loved A Match Made in High School, Walker’s debut! Go right out and buy each of them now!!!
Cover: Love it! It's so darn cute! Love the blue and purple colors!
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
____
Review Based On Softcover Edition
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
From page one, I was so excited to be thrust into Blythe's world and her ever changing life. Blythe has to move from a preppy school to a not so preppy school. She also goes from popular to the principles kid. And to get a new house? Yuck. And what's worst than that? Her picture got tossed around a lot last year. An embarrassing picture of her picking her nose.
Blythe starts at the new school with everyone making fun of her. But things soon get worse when she gets their yearly activity cancelled, and everyone really starts to hate her.
What does she do? She takes it underground and starts a new hunt. With fellow cute boy Luke, Blythe and Luke get the scavenger hunt going again!
And Blythe is determined to participate in it and win! We get to experience the clues with her, while she solves them. We also get to experience the nursing home she volunteers at, those 2 old ladies are a riot! Loved them! I also really liked her new friends Cy and Jenna! They were an awesome couple and a nice dynamic to the story.
And Blythe and Lucas' friendship is so cute! I adored it! He was such a cute funny adorable boy! As Blythe started to fall for him, so did I.
Blythe doesn't know how to go from the popular girl to just a plain girl, from name brand clothes to ordinary, from a somebody to a nobody.
Lucas and Blythe if I had to sum up in 2 words: freaking cute!
Overall: 7 Clues to Winning You is a definite winner for any contemporary fan! I loved it! This is exactly the kind of YA I need more of in my life. I want more of these kind of stories. Funny light yet deep and thought provoking. I hope you'll all give this book a try! I also loved A Match Made in High School, Walker’s debut! Go right out and buy each of them now!!!
Cover: Love it! It's so darn cute! Love the blue and purple colors!
What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes
____
Review Based On Softcover Edition
Taken From Princess Bookie
www.princessbookie.com
June 16, 2013
It took me a day and a half to finish reading this book because it’s a real page turner. Before I start my review, I just wanted to stop and say how much I loved ‘Cy’ and ‘Jenna’ Blythe’s “emo-punk” friends as she described them.
On to the review…
Blythe has always lived the life of perfection. She goes to a perfect school, lives in a perfect town and she has the perfect friends. She wants to go to college, get married and basically settle down. You could say everything was fine and dandy until her father decides he wants to be the superintendent of a school district he works for which means that Blythe must switch high schools. Instead of the perfect Meriton she must now attend Ash Grove High.
Her new life at Ash Grove starts off rocky, people remember her as ‘the booger girl’ because of a viral photo that went around of her picking her nose.
As the story progresses, Blythe makes friends with two ‘odd people’ (mentioned above) as she likes to call them.
Then she meets a guy named Luke Paval. In the beginning, the two were like cats and dogs, completely opposite and never on the same page. Eventually they both warm up to each other and begin dating at the end.
This story was fairly adorable. To be honest, I wasn’t going to read this at first because the cover looks like it should be a book for middle and elementary school kids (even though the story is set in high school) but I took the chance anyways and I was pleasantly surprised.
This story was hilarious, I laughed a lot while reading this.
On to the review…
Blythe has always lived the life of perfection. She goes to a perfect school, lives in a perfect town and she has the perfect friends. She wants to go to college, get married and basically settle down. You could say everything was fine and dandy until her father decides he wants to be the superintendent of a school district he works for which means that Blythe must switch high schools. Instead of the perfect Meriton she must now attend Ash Grove High.
Her new life at Ash Grove starts off rocky, people remember her as ‘the booger girl’ because of a viral photo that went around of her picking her nose.
As the story progresses, Blythe makes friends with two ‘odd people’ (mentioned above) as she likes to call them.
Then she meets a guy named Luke Paval. In the beginning, the two were like cats and dogs, completely opposite and never on the same page. Eventually they both warm up to each other and begin dating at the end.
This story was fairly adorable. To be honest, I wasn’t going to read this at first because the cover looks like it should be a book for middle and elementary school kids (even though the story is set in high school) but I took the chance anyways and I was pleasantly surprised.
This story was hilarious, I laughed a lot while reading this.
August 26, 2013
2 ½ stars. Foolish actions by a teenager cause problems for herself. It didn’t work for me.
I want unique watchable characters or I want unique watchable activities/actions. I did not get either of these. The main characters were good but ordinary and normal. Blythe, a high school junior, does impulsive foolish things which cause problems and she cries. An unlucky thing happens to her, she gets revenge, and that creates worse things for her. She does something bad to a friend who hurts back with something awful. These foolish actions and reactions were most of the plot. I was shaking my head each time. Another chunk of time is spent watching Blythe solve clues and find items in the scavenger hunt. That was more interesting.
The best parts of the book were the secondary characters. I loved reading about Cy and Jenna, goth-looking outsiders who befriended Blythe. And I loved the parts with Franny and Eulalie, ladies in a retirement home who helped Blythe with a couple items in the scavenger hunt.
I enjoyed this author’s previous book “A Match Made in High School.” That was 5 stars for me.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Blythe. Story length: 317 pages. Swearing language: moderate including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day Meriton and Ash Grove, PA. Copyright: 2012. Genre: young adult contemporary romance.
I want unique watchable characters or I want unique watchable activities/actions. I did not get either of these. The main characters were good but ordinary and normal. Blythe, a high school junior, does impulsive foolish things which cause problems and she cries. An unlucky thing happens to her, she gets revenge, and that creates worse things for her. She does something bad to a friend who hurts back with something awful. These foolish actions and reactions were most of the plot. I was shaking my head each time. Another chunk of time is spent watching Blythe solve clues and find items in the scavenger hunt. That was more interesting.
The best parts of the book were the secondary characters. I loved reading about Cy and Jenna, goth-looking outsiders who befriended Blythe. And I loved the parts with Franny and Eulalie, ladies in a retirement home who helped Blythe with a couple items in the scavenger hunt.
I enjoyed this author’s previous book “A Match Made in High School.” That was 5 stars for me.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 1st person Blythe. Story length: 317 pages. Swearing language: moderate including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual content: none. Setting: current day Meriton and Ash Grove, PA. Copyright: 2012. Genre: young adult contemporary romance.
June 11, 2012
Wow. I mean, just wow. This book totally turned me on.
Blythe had everything planned for her life: graduating as one of the top students in her class, getting Bryn Mawr, and marrying a Haverford husband. She always focused on happy endings. She loves Shakespeare and has this great sense of fashion. She had the coolest friends and the best high school in town.
Then suddenly, her plans seem to mess up when her father decided that they move to Ash Grove and she enroll to the high school there.
This was a totally awesome book. I love Blythe, because she was funny and smart and just your typical teenager. She knows how to accept her mistakes. Plus, she loves Shakespeare.
This book had totally awesome characters and a good plot. I like Luke Pavel a lot because he proved to be someone entirely different than what Blythe has thought of him. And, he's really cheesy with that move he pulled on Blythe by the end of the book (It was also the funniest part for me). This book has got a perfect title.
I would like to recommend this book to anybody, especially to teenagers out there. I'm not a big fan of ChickLit or Contemporary and I like paranormal better but this one was so good that I had to find another one from these genres. I hope you guys would like it because it totally rocked me.
Blythe had everything planned for her life: graduating as one of the top students in her class, getting Bryn Mawr, and marrying a Haverford husband. She always focused on happy endings. She loves Shakespeare and has this great sense of fashion. She had the coolest friends and the best high school in town.
Then suddenly, her plans seem to mess up when her father decided that they move to Ash Grove and she enroll to the high school there.
This was a totally awesome book. I love Blythe, because she was funny and smart and just your typical teenager. She knows how to accept her mistakes. Plus, she loves Shakespeare.
This book had totally awesome characters and a good plot. I like Luke Pavel a lot because he proved to be someone entirely different than what Blythe has thought of him. And, he's really cheesy with that move he pulled on Blythe by the end of the book (It was also the funniest part for me). This book has got a perfect title.
I would like to recommend this book to anybody, especially to teenagers out there. I'm not a big fan of ChickLit or Contemporary and I like paranormal better but this one was so good that I had to find another one from these genres. I hope you guys would like it because it totally rocked me.
May 25, 2016
This book was okay. But let me just say up front:
Has anyone noticed how these two books have the same cover? 7 Clues to Winning YouClick to Subscribe Just putting it out there...
Anyway, back to the review. I really only read this book and Click to Subscribe because they had the same cover, and I just wanted to see what the deal was with these books. Long story short, none of these books were very good.
The book had a big fixation on typical YA topics.
a.) Teenage rebellion that doesn't end too well
b.) The horrors of high school
However, this book just didn't seem to successfully execute these themes. It was a cute book, but just didn't really work. The book seemed to be working enough to keep me from tossing the book away.
I mean this in the nicest way possible: this book, and especially the cover seems like a second grader wrote it. This goes along with "Click to Subscribe" too, but this review isn't for that book. This book was frankly a let down. Happy Reading!
-Madelyn
Has anyone noticed how these two books have the same cover? 7 Clues to Winning YouClick to Subscribe Just putting it out there...
Anyway, back to the review. I really only read this book and Click to Subscribe because they had the same cover, and I just wanted to see what the deal was with these books. Long story short, none of these books were very good.
The book had a big fixation on typical YA topics.
a.) Teenage rebellion that doesn't end too well
b.) The horrors of high school
However, this book just didn't seem to successfully execute these themes. It was a cute book, but just didn't really work. The book seemed to be working enough to keep me from tossing the book away.
I mean this in the nicest way possible: this book, and especially the cover seems like a second grader wrote it. This goes along with "Click to Subscribe" too, but this review isn't for that book. This book was frankly a let down. Happy Reading!
-Madelyn
November 4, 2014
When I started reading this book, I was sure I would find the same old, used up storyline. But I should have known better than to expect anything ordinary from Miss Walker. The characters were all so likeable especially Blythe. I just adored her and of course empathised with her trouble of not being able to lie. Her rules of lying might come handy for me someday.
Blythe comes out as a really intelligent girl who has her life planned from long before, but her father’s decision to change her school turns all her plans topsy-turvy. As we see her come to terms with the cracks in her plans for a perfect life, trying hard to find her true-self , Blythe gets so much more from her life that it makes her perfectly-planned life look bland.
The story is very well-written with just the right amount of high school drama, funny conversations, awkward phases, laugh-out-loud moments and much more. A very sweet and adorkable book with a really congenial h/H.
Blythe comes out as a really intelligent girl who has her life planned from long before, but her father’s decision to change her school turns all her plans topsy-turvy. As we see her come to terms with the cracks in her plans for a perfect life, trying hard to find her true-self , Blythe gets so much more from her life that it makes her perfectly-planned life look bland.
The story is very well-written with just the right amount of high school drama, funny conversations, awkward phases, laugh-out-loud moments and much more. A very sweet and adorkable book with a really congenial h/H.
May 19, 2017
Сначала из-за аннотации не хотела читать, многое отталкивало. Но, решившись, не пожалела. Милая, немного странная, но все же милая книга. Мне, в своей время у Кристины и «Учебный роман» понравился (правда это было много лет назад), поэтому я все-таки рискнула прочитать этот роман.
Героиня довольно неплохая, забавная. Нестандартная «замухрышка», которую все травят, а очень даже модная и относительно уверенная в себе девушка.
Ее дружба о старушками из дома престарелых мне непонятна (наверное, автор сам никогда со старушками не общался или ему очень везло, для меня сейчас это актуально, и это крайне тяжело), но было забавно почитать. А уж романтика в мусорном баке никого не оставит равнодушным.
Смешно, забавно, мило. Попробуйте.
Героиня довольно неплохая, забавная. Нестандартная «замухрышка», которую все травят, а очень даже модная и относительно уверенная в себе девушка.
Ее дружба о старушками из дома престарелых мне непонятна (наверное, автор сам никогда со старушками не общался или ему очень везло, для меня сейчас это актуально, и это крайне тяжело), но было забавно почитать. А уж романтика в мусорном баке никого не оставит равнодушным.
Смешно, забавно, мило. Попробуйте.
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