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Gracie Dart #2
To Be Perfectly Honest
The second book in a brilliantly funny YA series featuring the trials and embarrassing tribulations of teenager Gracie Dart.
Uncovering a family secret, Gracie decides she's had enough of lies and pledges to be completely honest to everybody she meets.
For fifty days, nothing but 100% brutal honesty at all times. But total honesty doesn't always go down well when you've got a family dinner to go to, a job interview to get through and a new girlfriend to impress.
And when Gracie finally goes too far, she realises she's going to have to think creatively if she's going to put things right.
'Gracie Dart is the screamingly funny YA heroine I've been waiting for' - Harriet Reuter Hapgood
Uncovering a family secret, Gracie decides she's had enough of lies and pledges to be completely honest to everybody she meets.
For fifty days, nothing but 100% brutal honesty at all times. But total honesty doesn't always go down well when you've got a family dinner to go to, a job interview to get through and a new girlfriend to impress.
And when Gracie finally goes too far, she realises she's going to have to think creatively if she's going to put things right.
'Gracie Dart is the screamingly funny YA heroine I've been waiting for' - Harriet Reuter Hapgood
- GenresYoung Adult
304 pages, Paperback
Published February 7, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 11, 2019
To be perfectly honest I had to laugh at the scenes Gracie and her two friends had been invited to a party, but what made me laugh they had in fact turned up at the wrong place for the party, where they found themselves dancing to what? Oh I wouldn't want to spoil it for you so I won't say a word about the strange location. Will they find their way to correct place where the party actually happens to be? I wanted to read To Be Perfectly Honest by my favourite author Jess Vallance as I always enjoy reading about Gracie Dart's life, to me she is such an interesting character who is always up to something. I have read & reviewed with enjoyment both of Jess Vallance other books You Only Live Once, featuring Gracie Dart and The Yellow Room Birdy. I simply can't wait for the next instalment. If you liked reading Geek Girl then you will enjoy reading about Gracie Dart.
May 26, 2020
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
I've recently been on a bit of a NetGalley drive, and am trying to get my ratio up, so when I noticed that I had this book on my list, and had already read book 1, I decided to start with To Be Perfectly Honest. Now, we see Gracie as she is getting used to college, but when it's revealed her dad lost his job, and had been keeping it a secret from her, she decides to be perfectly honest to everyone, for the next fifty days. Now, this isn't always going to work out well, and it's inevitable that she ruffles a few feathers along the way. Will Gracie see that honesty is the best policy, or is it sometimes okay to have a few white lies here and there.
Now, like I said, I read this to clear some of my NG shelf, and if it wasn't for that reason, I would've DNFed. I wasn't overly keen on book 1, but this one was utterly ridiculous. Gracie is not a good character, she's vain, selfish, and completely childish, and I can't stand her. When she decides to be honest to everyone, she is, and it's just evil at times. There's a difference with being honest, and being rude, and she crosses that line often. I mean, sometimes she just talks for the sake of it, and it would've been so much easier, and not even lying, to just shut her trap, and not say anything. About 70% through, it picked up a little, when she realised what a cow she had been, especially to Shannon, but I can't in good conscious give this book anything more than a 2 star review. And, I won't be reading book 3 either.
I've recently been on a bit of a NetGalley drive, and am trying to get my ratio up, so when I noticed that I had this book on my list, and had already read book 1, I decided to start with To Be Perfectly Honest. Now, we see Gracie as she is getting used to college, but when it's revealed her dad lost his job, and had been keeping it a secret from her, she decides to be perfectly honest to everyone, for the next fifty days. Now, this isn't always going to work out well, and it's inevitable that she ruffles a few feathers along the way. Will Gracie see that honesty is the best policy, or is it sometimes okay to have a few white lies here and there.
Now, like I said, I read this to clear some of my NG shelf, and if it wasn't for that reason, I would've DNFed. I wasn't overly keen on book 1, but this one was utterly ridiculous. Gracie is not a good character, she's vain, selfish, and completely childish, and I can't stand her. When she decides to be honest to everyone, she is, and it's just evil at times. There's a difference with being honest, and being rude, and she crosses that line often. I mean, sometimes she just talks for the sake of it, and it would've been so much easier, and not even lying, to just shut her trap, and not say anything. About 70% through, it picked up a little, when she realised what a cow she had been, especially to Shannon, but I can't in good conscious give this book anything more than a 2 star review. And, I won't be reading book 3 either.
May 29, 2019
As we catch up with Grace now she's in college, we see how she's made a new friend in Reeta, try to go to cool teen parties and run for student council and help organise a fun school dance.
Only with her dad out of work, she gets a job in a restaurant, her love life with Sarah is on the rocks and acquaintance Shannon from the student council and her tall tales she tells and then going missing, a lot happens all seeming to stem from Grace holding a tell the truth only pact.
It was a good idea and played out with some funny times but a lot of bad times too as it shows how Grace is a happy go lucky girl trying to do good and her hearts in the right place however it definitely wasn't as good as the first book and I didn't care for the student council plot as I feel that's overdone already in YA fiction. Hopefully the third book will be back to the more witty Grace we met in book one.
Only with her dad out of work, she gets a job in a restaurant, her love life with Sarah is on the rocks and acquaintance Shannon from the student council and her tall tales she tells and then going missing, a lot happens all seeming to stem from Grace holding a tell the truth only pact.
It was a good idea and played out with some funny times but a lot of bad times too as it shows how Grace is a happy go lucky girl trying to do good and her hearts in the right place however it definitely wasn't as good as the first book and I didn't care for the student council plot as I feel that's overdone already in YA fiction. Hopefully the third book will be back to the more witty Grace we met in book one.
February 24, 2020
I went into To Be Perfectly honest looking for a light, fun YA contemporary read and that is exactly what I got. I should start with a disclaimer that I have not read the first book and through a lack of any forethought didn’t even check. However, the story is not adversely affected by this at all and you can enjoy the novel whether you’ve read the first one or not.
The story follows Gracie, who is in sixth form college and after discovering her family has been lying to her decides to not lie at all for 50 days. Her definition of honesty is questionable, as in she blurts out everything she thinks, but I didn’t find this cringy, only quite funny and exasperating at times. Gracie has a girlfriend, and I loved the fact it was treated like any other teenage relationship rather than some mysterious gay relationship which weirdly goes perfectly. There were no moments that were so unrealistic I couldn’t see a teenager doing which I was thankful for. Yes, some of it was unlikely but then again I randomly buy tickets for talks in London and I have friends who have done all sorts of wild stuff so teenagers can be unlikely sometimes.
This book is very funny and relatable, although sometimes Gracie came off a bit childish especially when she was just rude in the name of honesty. It made me want to try this project but do it properly and tell the truth without needlessly hurting other people. Then again, when I have to explain that I don’t want to go out because I want to read instead it might not go down so well!
The story follows Gracie, who is in sixth form college and after discovering her family has been lying to her decides to not lie at all for 50 days. Her definition of honesty is questionable, as in she blurts out everything she thinks, but I didn’t find this cringy, only quite funny and exasperating at times. Gracie has a girlfriend, and I loved the fact it was treated like any other teenage relationship rather than some mysterious gay relationship which weirdly goes perfectly. There were no moments that were so unrealistic I couldn’t see a teenager doing which I was thankful for. Yes, some of it was unlikely but then again I randomly buy tickets for talks in London and I have friends who have done all sorts of wild stuff so teenagers can be unlikely sometimes.
This book is very funny and relatable, although sometimes Gracie came off a bit childish especially when she was just rude in the name of honesty. It made me want to try this project but do it properly and tell the truth without needlessly hurting other people. Then again, when I have to explain that I don’t want to go out because I want to read instead it might not go down so well!
February 17, 2019
Review originally posted to www.rebeccasravereviews.wordpress.com
I received a copy of To Be Perfectly Honest from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can read my review of You Only Live Once (Gracie Dart #1) here, where I talk about how I really enjoyed the first in the series. The follow up, though? Not so much.
First of all, Gracie has lost her spark. I don't find her funny and witty anymore, and I can't pinpoint any moment in To Be Perfectly Honest that I would liken to having 'Georgia Nicholson vibes' as I said in my first review. I found her annoying and immature, and very naive, and the plot of this story didn't help. 'Oh no, lying is bad. Oh, let's never lie again. Oh, wait, no, sometimes lying is good.' And her whole attitude to her dad's job is very backwards, for someone of her age and intelligence, she just doesn't handle it well.
I don't really have a whole lot to say about any of the book, because to me it was mostly just 'meh.' The Shannon storyline was sad and heartwarming at times, but the whole going to Cornwall with the clayniacs just to find her was far-fetched and ridiculous. I also found it strange there was no mention of her parents permission for her to go to Cornwall on a limb, which would have cost money for the hostel and transport, and also how her mum was so quick to call out a handy man to fix the fence, when they're supposed to be so short of money?
I just didn't feel this book. I lost the magic of the friendship between Grace and Til, Sarah became an unnecessary character, as was Reeta at most parts, and I just didn't click with Grace at all.
Overall, quite disappointing, and I don't think I'll be reading any more in this series.
I received a copy of To Be Perfectly Honest from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can read my review of You Only Live Once (Gracie Dart #1) here, where I talk about how I really enjoyed the first in the series. The follow up, though? Not so much.
First of all, Gracie has lost her spark. I don't find her funny and witty anymore, and I can't pinpoint any moment in To Be Perfectly Honest that I would liken to having 'Georgia Nicholson vibes' as I said in my first review. I found her annoying and immature, and very naive, and the plot of this story didn't help. 'Oh no, lying is bad. Oh, let's never lie again. Oh, wait, no, sometimes lying is good.' And her whole attitude to her dad's job is very backwards, for someone of her age and intelligence, she just doesn't handle it well.
I don't really have a whole lot to say about any of the book, because to me it was mostly just 'meh.' The Shannon storyline was sad and heartwarming at times, but the whole going to Cornwall with the clayniacs just to find her was far-fetched and ridiculous. I also found it strange there was no mention of her parents permission for her to go to Cornwall on a limb, which would have cost money for the hostel and transport, and also how her mum was so quick to call out a handy man to fix the fence, when they're supposed to be so short of money?
I just didn't feel this book. I lost the magic of the friendship between Grace and Til, Sarah became an unnecessary character, as was Reeta at most parts, and I just didn't click with Grace at all.
Overall, quite disappointing, and I don't think I'll be reading any more in this series.
June 26, 2019
After uncovering a family secret, Grace Dart has had enough with lying and has dedicated the next fifty days of her college life to telling nothing but the truth, no matter how hard, or insulting, or at times, hilarious it might be.
I hadn't read the first in the series, but I didn't actually feel it impacted negatively on my reading experience, I didn't feel like I'd missed out on anything by not having done so. I did find it hard to like Grace at first, she was selfish, rude, self absorbed, and at times the things she said to people could have caused a lot of harm, and she seemed almost entirely oblivious to it for the first half of the book.
But as the story was told, we start to see Grace realising, if a little belatedly, the impact her 'truths' were having on the people around her, and seeing her trying to fix and make things right with the people she's hurt along the way was heart warming.
All and all, a fun and delightful read.
I hadn't read the first in the series, but I didn't actually feel it impacted negatively on my reading experience, I didn't feel like I'd missed out on anything by not having done so. I did find it hard to like Grace at first, she was selfish, rude, self absorbed, and at times the things she said to people could have caused a lot of harm, and she seemed almost entirely oblivious to it for the first half of the book.
But as the story was told, we start to see Grace realising, if a little belatedly, the impact her 'truths' were having on the people around her, and seeing her trying to fix and make things right with the people she's hurt along the way was heart warming.
All and all, a fun and delightful read.
March 30, 2019
To be perfectly honest, I wasn't impressed with this book. The first in the Grace Dart series showed a great deal of potential, and I had high hopes, but this continuation failed to deliver. Gracie was incredibly naive and super irritating- yes, she's sixteen, but she came across more like twelve! She's very selfish and self-absorbed, and honestly I'm amazed she has any friends at all! If I was Til I think I'd have run for the hills by now. The plot was cringey and unlifelike and altogether way too fantastical, especially the finding of Shannon. Also, Grace's attitude to Sarah was weird and the stuff she said was much harder to resolve than it ultimately was. This series has great promise, but this book just came across as cliche and tropey. That being said- I will definitely be reading the next installment, so as negative nancy as I'm being, there clearly is still some promise!
January 14, 2024
Funny light-hearted read that actually raises questions about honesty and what level of deceit is required for us to function as a social species.
I picked it up by chance in the library, not realising it is the second in a series, but it was fine as a standalone and I'll look out for more adventures of Gracie Dart.
I picked it up by chance in the library, not realising it is the second in a series, but it was fine as a standalone and I'll look out for more adventures of Gracie Dart.
January 3, 2025
This would have been so my shit if it had felt more YA rather than middle grade, totally get that that is not what the author was going for but would have preferred some proper angst to balance out the story even so.
May 24, 2019
It's pleasant to read an unpredictable book. It was a nice read but not much more than that.
Edit: I only now find out this is part 2 of a series. I liked it better if this were a stand-alone.
Edit: I only now find out this is part 2 of a series. I liked it better if this were a stand-alone.
July 20, 2019
This was actually an ok book! I think I prefer the first one over this one, but this still had a strong message.
December 31, 2020
Life lessons ...
January 5, 2023
Screamingly funny.
March 29, 2022
soo funny at first, the party scene got tears in my eyes, but as it went on although it was good and entertaining there wasn’t really much of a plot. still, a lighthearted, funny read that made me want to read
any 🏳️🌈⁉️: yes the main character but her relationship is a bit meh
any 🏳️🌈⁉️: yes the main character but her relationship is a bit meh
February 20, 2019
I was really upset to find that I didn't like this book. I loved the first so much, but I think with the concept of being honest, too many people got hurt in Gracie's misadventures for me to feel any sympathy with her.
In the first book I felt she was a little dumb and took things to extremes but in general she was sweet and easy to like. But with her decision to be honest and specifically to tell the whole truth it meant that she was just really harsh to everyone around her. Because quite often we hide things and don't tell the whole truth to people just to be kind to them. Because if everyone went around being so blunt about everything the whole world would be filled with arguments and hurt feelings. I really feel like Gracie should have come to this realisation earlier.
I really hope that the next book is better, because I like Gracie's way of seeing the world around her. I like how she viewed this whole honesty thing as a research project. I want to like her again.
But for this book, I just found that I couldn't.
In the first book I felt she was a little dumb and took things to extremes but in general she was sweet and easy to like. But with her decision to be honest and specifically to tell the whole truth it meant that she was just really harsh to everyone around her. Because quite often we hide things and don't tell the whole truth to people just to be kind to them. Because if everyone went around being so blunt about everything the whole world would be filled with arguments and hurt feelings. I really feel like Gracie should have come to this realisation earlier.
I really hope that the next book is better, because I like Gracie's way of seeing the world around her. I like how she viewed this whole honesty thing as a research project. I want to like her again.
But for this book, I just found that I couldn't.
July 6, 2020
I enjoyed it but I didn't love it and I didn't like the romance. I like the cover of the book and I think cover suit the book because and I think the characters need bit more developed and I would like more time with side characters.
January 18, 2019
'To Be Perfectly Honest' by Jess Vallance is a second book in the series about Grace who sticks to the promises she makes to herself. This time after discovering that her family was keeping a secret behind her back, Grace decides that honesty is the best policy and that's how her 50 day complete honesty period starts. But since Grace is second Georgia Nicholson or Harriet Manners not everything goes according to plan and it seems that honesty not always turns out to be the best way to handle things. Grace sticks to her promise for 5o days and causes a bit of a chavoc on the way. Will she be able to repair everything that complete honesty destroyed? It's for you to find out. Great read for fans of Louise Rennison and Holly Smale. I do recommend!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews