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Making Out #23
Lara Gets Lucky
Zoey doesn't realize that her boyfriend, Lucas, is acting strangely because he is attracted to her best friend, Nina.
169 pages, Paperback
First published September 19, 1997
About the author
Katherine Applegate
277 books6,391 followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Katherine Applegate has written many books for young readers, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
Katherine’s picture books include THE BUFFALO STORM, illustrated by Jan Ormerod (Clarion Books); THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF IVAN, THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA, illustrated by G. Brian Karas (Clarion Books); SOMETIMES YOU FLY, illustrated by Jennifer Black Reinhardt (Clarion Books); and ODDER: AN OTTER’S STORY, illustrated by Charles Santoso (Feiwel & Friends).
She’s written or co-written three early chapter series for young readers: ROSCOE RILEY RULES, a seven-book series illustrated by Brian Biggs (HarperCollins); DOGGO AND PUPPER, a three-book series illustrated by Charlie Alder (Feiwel & Friends). With Gennifer Choldenko, she co-authored DOGTOWN and MOUSE AND HIS DOG, illustrated by Wallace West (Feiwel & Friends).
Books for middle-grade readers include HOME OF THE BRAVE (Feiwel & Friends); THE ONE AND ONLY series, illustrated by Patricia Castelao, including THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN, THE ONE AND ONLY BOB, THE ONE AND ONLY RUBY, and THE ONE AND ONLY FAMILY (HarperCollins); the ENDLING trilogy (HarperCollins); CRENSHAW (Feiwel & Friends); WISHTREE (Feiwel & Friends); WILLODEEN (Feiwel & Friends); ODDER (Feiwel & Friends); and the forthcoming POCKET BEAR (Feiwel & Friends).
With her husband, Michael Grant, Katherine co-wrote ANIMORPHS, a long-running series that has sold over 35 million books worldwide. They also wrote two other series, REMNANTS and EVERWORLD, and a young adult novel, EVE AND ADAM (Feiwel & Friends.)
Katherine’s work has been translated into dozens of languages, and her books have won accolades including the Christopher Medal, the Golden Kite Award, the Bank Street Josette Frank Award, the California Book Award Gold Medal, the Crystal Kite Award, the Green Earth Book Honor Award, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor Award, and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award. Many of her works have appeared on state master lists, Best of the Year lists, and Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and New York Times bestseller lists.
Katherine lives in Nevada with her husband and assorted pets. She is represented by Elena Giovinazzo at Heirloom Literary and Mary Pender at WME.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 27, 2015
Filler book. Not much to say about it really. I enjoyed it enough. Overall this was the kind of instalment that really highlights the decline in the quality as the series goes on. I ain't too mad at it though. The increase in outlandish drama makes up for the lack of character depth, and as a long-time Sweet Valley fan, the sub-par writing is something I can live with. The dialogue isn't as cute and zippy and anecdotey as it's been in the last few books so I guess they either switched ghost writers to someone with no sense of humour or it's the same writer and she ran out of stories.
My favourite bits are Claire's bits because we discover Claire's is being harassed by her internet boyfriend Flyer who's lost weight to become a protein-hound, no-face stalker. Claire still doesn't know who's stalking her though and turns to Benjamin for help so they spend much of the book sleuthing and intriguing.
I also liked Nina's bits because she is having my dream teen summer, eating crap and watching TV all day in her bedroom. Zoey is less than a character at this point so boo to her. Aisha goes to Boston to meet Christopher's former wife Carina, the Heroin addict. Aisha is so concerned about the Christopher situation she doesn't notice that her brother Kalif, 14 years old at the beginning of the series is now 11 years old. Poor little mite.
Lara finds out about Nina and Lucas's occasional liplocks and is chomping at the bit to tell Zoey. She holds off for now though. I guess she wants to do it in the most devastating way possible so Zoey can totally overreact. That's something to look forward to in the next instalment, Now Zoey's Alone!
My favourite bits are Claire's bits because we discover Claire's is being harassed by her internet boyfriend Flyer who's lost weight to become a protein-hound, no-face stalker. Claire still doesn't know who's stalking her though and turns to Benjamin for help so they spend much of the book sleuthing and intriguing.
I also liked Nina's bits because she is having my dream teen summer, eating crap and watching TV all day in her bedroom. Zoey is less than a character at this point so boo to her. Aisha goes to Boston to meet Christopher's former wife Carina, the Heroin addict. Aisha is so concerned about the Christopher situation she doesn't notice that her brother Kalif, 14 years old at the beginning of the series is now 11 years old. Poor little mite.
Lara finds out about Nina and Lucas's occasional liplocks and is chomping at the bit to tell Zoey. She holds off for now though. I guess she wants to do it in the most devastating way possible so Zoey can totally overreact. That's something to look forward to in the next instalment, Now Zoey's Alone!
May 11, 2023
* Zoey comes back from Washington on the train which takes hours. She thinks Lucas is acting strangely, and puts Nina's odd behaviour down to the fact that she's split up with Benjamin.
* Nina can't stop thinking about Lucas, she's forgotten Benjamin.
* Benjamin does think about Nina occasionally, but he certainly doesn't want to get back together with her. His vision is not good, and he nearly kills himself whilst out surfing 🤦 He goes to see the doctor, and the doctor says there's a long road ahead of him.
* Lucas feels weird after kissing Nina. He loves Zoey and doesn't want to lose her, but he's also attracted to Nina. He's also worried about what will happen when Zoey goes to college and Nina and himself are left on the island together.
* Claire's stalker gets more aggressive, he gets into her room and shreds all her clothes, and leave a dead mouse in a box for her on the porch. We do learn who the stalker is though - it's Sean who Claire met online but wouldn't go out with because he was too fat 🤦 Claire enlists Ben to help her catch her stalker, but Ben misses him because he can't see properly.
* Aisha gives Christopher the opportunity to tell her what happened with Carina and he refuses so she goes to Boston to ask Carina. Carina is very thin, seems to have a drug problem, and also has a 2-year-old daughter who Aisha wonders might be Christopher's.
* Jake still loves Kate, but he's finding it hard to support her through her changing moods.
* Kate is pleased that she's cut ties with her mother.
* Zara is being generally annoying as usual and is intent on finding out something that will split up Zoey and Lucas. Unfortunately at the end of the book she sees Lucas and Nina kissing 🤦
* Nina can't stop thinking about Lucas, she's forgotten Benjamin.
* Benjamin does think about Nina occasionally, but he certainly doesn't want to get back together with her. His vision is not good, and he nearly kills himself whilst out surfing 🤦 He goes to see the doctor, and the doctor says there's a long road ahead of him.
* Lucas feels weird after kissing Nina. He loves Zoey and doesn't want to lose her, but he's also attracted to Nina. He's also worried about what will happen when Zoey goes to college and Nina and himself are left on the island together.
* Claire's stalker gets more aggressive, he gets into her room and shreds all her clothes, and leave a dead mouse in a box for her on the porch. We do learn who the stalker is though - it's Sean who Claire met online but wouldn't go out with because he was too fat 🤦 Claire enlists Ben to help her catch her stalker, but Ben misses him because he can't see properly.
* Aisha gives Christopher the opportunity to tell her what happened with Carina and he refuses so she goes to Boston to ask Carina. Carina is very thin, seems to have a drug problem, and also has a 2-year-old daughter who Aisha wonders might be Christopher's.
* Jake still loves Kate, but he's finding it hard to support her through her changing moods.
* Kate is pleased that she's cut ties with her mother.
* Zara is being generally annoying as usual and is intent on finding out something that will split up Zoey and Lucas. Unfortunately at the end of the book she sees Lucas and Nina kissing 🤦
October 11, 2018
Third book I skim read in a row. I never thought Nina would be the Geiger sister I loathed and Claire the one I rooted for! I'm so disappointed! Not only has she betrayed her best friend but she continues to do so and then feels anger and jealousy towards her 😐 I also notice she uses vulnerability to lure Lucas in because apparently the only way Lucas know how to comfort someone is to kiss them (this one was down to Nina though) 😷 well one thing the Geiger sisters have in common... Zoey's boyfriends 😩 I'm rooting for Zoey to kick trash-hole Lucas to the curb.
P.s I think Aisha is jumping to conclusions. That guy at the door at the end is probably the child's father. In fact, Christopher probably left Carina because of it.
P.s I think Aisha is jumping to conclusions. That guy at the door at the end is probably the child's father. In fact, Christopher probably left Carina because of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 12, 2018
Did not like it because it features way too much Zoey.
However the new plotlines are starting to grow stronger and I really liked it (even the one with Aisha though I really can't stand her)
However the new plotlines are starting to grow stronger and I really liked it (even the one with Aisha though I really can't stand her)
February 28, 2017
Feeling nostalgic for the books of my youth, I revisited Katherine Applegate and her Islanders omnibus editions (first released as the Making Out series way back in 1993. Yes, I am that old...).
While I found them to be overly-dramatic and a little bit cheesy on second reading, I think they would be loved by teenagers today. YA has taken a much-welcome step in the sphere of fantasy, science fiction and Dystopia, largely, in recent years so for teenagers looking for the traditional romance novels filled with teen-angst and buried secrets, these are a good series to turn to. A little bit Dawson's Creek in it's setting and it's drama, The Islanders is the perfect teen soap opera.
While I found them to be overly-dramatic and a little bit cheesy on second reading, I think they would be loved by teenagers today. YA has taken a much-welcome step in the sphere of fantasy, science fiction and Dystopia, largely, in recent years so for teenagers looking for the traditional romance novels filled with teen-angst and buried secrets, these are a good series to turn to. A little bit Dawson's Creek in it's setting and it's drama, The Islanders is the perfect teen soap opera.
May 17, 2020
Aisha searches for the truth about Christopher's past.
Nina and Lucas deal/not deal with their feelings for each other and their guilt towards Zoey.
Zoey just wants to spend time with Lucas but every time they are together something she says ends out coming out wrong.
Claire decides to take action against her stalker.
Lara finds out a secret that could help her with her plan to destroy Zoey.
Nina and Lucas deal/not deal with their feelings for each other and their guilt towards Zoey.
Zoey just wants to spend time with Lucas but every time they are together something she says ends out coming out wrong.
Claire decides to take action against her stalker.
Lara finds out a secret that could help her with her plan to destroy Zoey.
November 1, 2023
Das Buch war schon sehr viel Drama und so viel unnötiges dabei. Benjamins Entwicklung gefällt mir auch überhaupt nicht. Lara geht mir meistens nur auf die Nerven. Aisha und Christopher benahmen sich beide ziemlich kindisch und Zoey ist mir oft zu unsensibel. Nina und Lucas mag ich am liebsten, aber schade, dass Lucas so an Zoey festhält. Claire tut mir leid wegen dem Stalker.
March 23, 2019
Only 5 more to go.
December 6, 2023
I remember being obsessed with this series when I was 14! I made my mom buy me all 29 books (in Germany a 29th book was published, there is no English translation) after borrowing the first one from my then-best friend.
Looking back, the plots got wilder and wilder with time: A lost half-sister, Claire's stalker, Ben miraculously being able to see again etc. I don't think I would enjoy it as much now as I did ten years ago, but it will only have a special place in my heart.
Looking back, the plots got wilder and wilder with time: A lost half-sister, Claire's stalker, Ben miraculously being able to see again etc. I don't think I would enjoy it as much now as I did ten years ago, but it will only have a special place in my heart.
January 9, 2017
diese Buchreihe hat mich während meiner Teeniezeit begleitet. ich habe sie so geliebt...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews