3 - Princesa de Portobello - Amigas y Amores

Mates, Dates #3

by Cathy Hopkins

"Trust me to go and fall for someone who lives on the other side of the planet."

Nesta has met the perfect boy: good-looking, fun, sweet. But there are problems, too. Simon's from a rich, upper-class background -- with a lifestyle to match -- and it's difficult for Nesta to keep up. And then there's Simon's friend Cressida. What can Nesta do to compete with the ultimate Designer Diva?

Genres: Young Adult, Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Childrens, Teen

Paperback

First published September 27, 2001

Reviews

[Mel Steadman Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to reread, and I flew through it in only an hour or two. Nesta is such a funny character, and the friendship between the girls is what makes this series so great. When I was about about 13, this was my favourite ever book series. Now, 7 years on, i still enjoy it. It's just a great story for girls of all ages.

[Chloé · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than the last one in the series so I give it 2.5/5 stars. I thought the plot was okay but I felt that Nesta was whiny and I didn't really like her. I appreciated that Nesta's struggles with racism were brought up and addressed in this book as I feel it's a very important topic. However, I wished that they had spoken about it more instead of briefly mentioning it as a problem she'd faced and then never talked about again.

[Allison Faught · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s nice to be able to read a short, easy-going book after being in such a groove of reading horrors and thrillers. I haven’t read this book since middle school and I forgot how much I loved the series. The message the book sends is cute and I can’t wait to see if my library has more from the series.

[Tracy Smyth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh teenage girls. Sometimes you just need a light book - nothing to serious unless you are a teenage girl- then everything is serious

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was definitely my favourite so far. I loved the different themes explored in this book, and how Nesta grew as character. I will definitely read this one again. I can't wait to continue with the series.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas is Nesta's book. She falls in deep smit with Simon, who is definetely upper crust. Nesta's used to being the "rich" one amongst her set, but Simon's world is one of riding and designer duds. Mainly, his sister's friend is a straight up racist bee-otch and Nesta's having a major crisis of self-esteem. And Izzie's singing with Ben's band, which is pretty neat-o. Nesta also gets wasted, which is funny. But this is where the first "translation" issues really become apparent. As you are probably aware, in England, a public school is what Americans would refer to as a private school. In dealing with Richie Rich and his gang, Nesta says she also goes to a public school because, as she later tells the girls, the public is allowed at their school. HA HA HA HA. At least, I think that's what she said, because they translated the public school to a private school to make sense to American audiences, making the next few lines of the book make absolutely NO sense.

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collective Review

I first read a couple of these books in 2006. I had a long bus trip and grabbed a couple of the series from a local bookstore. I had no idea they were part of a huge series. Over the years I had forgotten the names of the books but every now and then would try to find them. I finally found them this year from a Goodreads list. Yay!

I really enjoyed this series. I think the main reason is because the books were released in 2001 and the girls are 14. I was 13 in 2001 so can connect with a lot of the pop culture aspects mentioned throughout the series. Even though the series is based in England I still feel a sense of nostalgia while reading it.

I really love the girls and their friendship. I never had a close knit group of friends like this when I was younger so I liked reading about it. They are a bit too boy crazy for my liking but I really did love this series.

[Irene Liang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main character of this book is Nesta, different from Mates, Dates,#2. She falls in love with a good-looking boy Simon who is rich and the background is better that Nesta's. His friend Cressida doesn't like Nesta and alway say something bad to her. At the end they break up and Cressida isn't Simon's friend anymore.
The book is interesting and I enjoy reading it.

[Katie and Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good book for girls ages 11-16. If you like girl drama/gossip you will love this book.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little better I liked that it was from Nesta's point of view.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This might appeal to teenage girls, but it did nothing for me. I found Nesta absolutely annoying.

[Emma Thingsted · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought Nests was the sh@t when I was a kid. Now I can see that she was a terrible person 😂

[Verónica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buenos días!
¿Cómo están? Yo estoy muy feliz porque pude terminar un libro después de muchísimo tiempo. Si bien es un libro cortito, se siente como un logro muy grande.

Este libro llegó a mis manos en mi cumpleaños cuando unas amigas, a quienes quiero un montón, me lo regalaron.
Nunca había leído nada de Cathy Hopkins, y me pareció una lectura muy ligera e, incluso, inocente. La historia se centra en Nesta, una adolescente que está transitando esta etapa como puede, y que a veces se deja llevar por querer más.

La historia es entretenida. Si bien habían partes en las cuales yo pensaba "no puede ser que esté leyendo esto", ya que habían partes que yo consideraba inapropiadas. El libro salió en 2009 y al saber esto, pude entender mejor algunos aspectos de la historia.

La historia deja un mensaje hermoso de apreciar lo que tenemos; y que la gente que en verdad nos quiere, nos quiere por quienes somos, y no por lo que podemos dar.

Siento que es un buen libro para introducir a niños de 12 en adelante, a la lectura. Claro, siempre y cuando se tengan en cuenta los aspectos con los cuales no estamos de acuerdo y abordemos eso de manera correcta (como los comentarios sobre los cuerpos ajenos que aparecen a lo largo de las páginas).

Disfruté mucho de la lectura de este libro, y me hizo bien para desconectarme y viajar, mentalmente a Londres, y presenciar lo que le sucedía a la protagonista.

[Minh Trang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anh vẫn muốn được gặp lại em dù em có kinh khủng, cộc cằn và đại ngang bướng. Anh cũng có những ngày cảm thấy như vậy mà. Anh đồng ý chân thật là tất cả trong một mối quan hệ. Chấp nhận nhau không chỉ là những mặt tốt.

Có lẽ do mình đã ở quá xa cái tuổi mộng mơ ngây thơ này rồi nên đọc cuốn này có hơi lâu chút :D

Hóa ra "những nàng công chúa Portobello" không phải là để ám chỉ bộ ba Nesta, Lucy và Izzie. Nhưng các cô gái nhỏ ấy, dù gì cũng đã sống kiêu hãnh không khác chi những nàng công chúa cao quý, đem đến những tình cảm tốt đẹp cho mọi người xung quanh.

Những cô bé tuổi teen đọc bộ sách này sẽ nhận ra mình trong từng nhân vật, từng câu chuyện thú vị mà bộ ba cùng nhau trải qua, hẳn sẽ đạt được sự thấu cảm nhiều hơn mình :')
-----
Btw, bạn nào muốn mua sách đẹp với giá hợp lí thì ghé page mình xem nha :") https://www.facebook.com/hieusachcuaG... <3

[kory.]

#1 mates, dates, and inflatable bras unrated
#2 mates, dates, and cosmic kisses unrated
#3 mates, dates, and designer divas unrated
#4 mates, dates, and sleepover secrets unrated
#5 mates, dates, and sole survivors unrated
#6 mates, dates, and mad mistakes unrated

[Lauren Zell-Huxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these books when I was younger. I’ve definitely matured, and not sure I’d enjoy them too much now. But great for younger readers, say about 11-14? Silly and fun but you get to love the main characters

[Jelena Antic · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prevazila ovakve knjige, ali morala sam da procitam nastavak. Simpa je bas. Opis gde Nesta ulazi u sobu svojih drugarica na kolenima i prica da nije vredna klanjajuci se, urnebesna.

[Kate Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book. Nesta is such an interesting character to hear her side is refreshing

[Briar's Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick Review:

Utterly adorable YA teen romance from the early 2000s.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

So so quick & easy to read!

In this book we join Nesta on her journey of being broke, finding love, making time for her long standing friends & dealing with racism.

[Laribooklover_]

No me gustó mucho . El hecho de que ella saliera con un mayor es como mmmm.

[Sarah]

Same 2011 cache of books.

[Camu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mi fav de la colección 💝 cutie

[Marie-José · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read!

[meilany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one also pmo!!!!!

[Chelsea C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas"you Know what I really admire about you? Your amazing attitude. You Don't let anything faze you. It;s the kind of attitude we're always being encouraged to have at School. You're one of life's winners. other people give up before they've even begun but not you. you go for it."

Another Mates and Dates book, this time we got to learn more about the Fashionasta of the Group Nesta. Nesta is experiencing some "In-built Free-floating Depression" as she likes to call it as she learns the fine fashion of balancing the art of being broke, dating boys, dealing with emotions and trying to maintain relationships with her mates Izzie and Lucy.

Nesta also has to deal with Racism but I like how the Mates Dates took the approach. It's very subtle in the way that the plot addressess it however it's probably quite outdated in terms of plot approach when you take into account the Youth of today and how topics like Race is currently being addressed in today's Young Adult fiction.

Again I quite like the mates and dates series by Cathy HopkinsCathy Hopkins. They are quick reads with each novel focusing on some really good insight into the struggles of being a teen. If you really think about what you are reading the books can help you figure out who you are too. However they keep it light and keep it fun and if you can get past the British Slang which may even be outdated in regards to the British Youth of today, they really are a fab read.

Merged review:

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/14178618

[Amanda Yeargin]

I read Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas as an IR book. This was about how Nesta was trying to keep up with a boy who she liked but couldn't keep up with his life. She met him on the train when it was jammed.packed and wound up falling on his lap. Basically he was rich to her. At the same time she kept getting bullied by Cressida. That fact is can Nesta catch up with him.
One connection i have is an text-to-movie. Once i saw in a movie that Mary in Another Cinderella Story said she was falling for a guy who she wasnt meant for sort of like Nesta. She didnt seem she thought she was right for him niether Mary. So they connect.
I rate this book *****stars. I rated it 5 stars because the moments where Cressida said stuff the plot escalated to something even more interesting. Like when she said things like simon just wanted to show her off things got interesting. I coulsnt put the book down. So as always i recommmend this book to someone who likes this series.

[Anjola Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. This is by far one of my most favorite book series i started to read. One message of the book that stuck out to me, is when one of the main characters named Nesta decided to act like she was rich or had "style" to impress her soon to be boyfriend.He then found out and told her he liked her the way she was, rich or comfortable. The characters are around my age and they live in North London. I like how the book takes place in North London because sometimes you can imagine yourself reading the words with a British accent. i mistakenly read this book out of order of the series but i took my time to understand it and this book is great. I would definitely recommend this book to teenage girls out there because the way the author uses the drama of everyday in the teen life, Hopkins still makes the book fun and that is why i loved reading Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nesta meets a boy named Simon. He is from a completely different world. Simon comes from a rich family. He has an easy life, he could spend money whenever he wants and doesn't have to worry about it. Nesta is the total opposite. So she does whatever she can to keep up with him. There was an external conflict between Lucy and Izzie with Nesta. The main characters are Nesta, Lucy, and Izzie. The setting is in London.
Text to Self. In this book Nesta changed herself to impress the guy she really liked. She did almost anything to "fit in" with him and his friends. I could connect to this because I changed just so I could keep a guy I really liked interested in me.
I gave this book 4 stars because this book is a resonable fairy tale ending type of book. It isn't incredibly fairy tale, but it ends happy in a different, more real-world type of way.

[Amanda Yeargin]

I read this book as an IR book. This book was another sequel to Mates Dates series. Again its about their life style and how they make it through living like princesses. Not really princesses but acting like one. They go through the book dealing with boys, their friendship and of course living like a princess.
I can relate to this book by a text-to-self connection. I can connect this to myself because when i was little i wanted to be a princess. I loved all the Disney characters and pretended to act like one sometimes. But they were older and it wasnt exactly like princesses.
I gave this book *****stars. I give this book 5 stars because i like this series. I love how it relates to real life. And how it relates to a real teenagers life. How it goes through boys, friendship etc. I recommend this book to someone who likes this series and real life.