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The Ashleys #1
The Ashleys
The Ashleys rule Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for Girls. They are gorgeous, rich, impeccably fashion forward, and, yes, all named Ashley. Lauren Page has gone to the same school with them her whole life, and the Ashleys, if forced to remember, might recall only a faint memory of shoving mud in the poor girl's mouth in kindergarten.
But Lauren Page is no longer the mud-eating loser she once was. And though she has completely changed her exterior from bargain-basement cast-offs to off-the-runway couture (props, of course, to her new personal shopper) she is still the same person on the inside. And that person has had enough of the current regime.
Look out, Ashleys. There's a new name in school.
246 pages, Paperback
First published January 8, 2007
47 people are currently reading
2631 people want to read
About the author
Melissa de la Cruz
187 books15.8k followersMelissa de la Cruz is the New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of many critically acclaimed and award-winning novels for teens including The Au Pairs series, the Blue Bloods series, the Ashleys series, the Angels on Sunset Boulevard series and the semi-autobiographical novel Fresh off the Boat.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
Her books for adults include the novel Cat’s Meow, the anthology Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys and the tongue-in-chic handbooks How to Become Famous in Two Weeks or Less and The Fashionista Files: Adventures in Four-inch heels and Faux-Pas.
She has worked as a fashion and beauty editor and has written for many publications including The New York Times, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Allure, The San Francisco Chronicle, McSweeney’s, Teen Vogue, CosmoGirl! and Seventeen. She has also appeared as an expert on fashion, trends and fame for CNN, E! and FoxNews.
Melissa grew up in Manila and moved to San Francisco with her family, where she graduated high school salutatorian from The Convent of the Sacred Heart. She majored in art history and English at Columbia University (and minored in nightclubs and shopping!).
She now divides her time between New York and Los Angeles, where she lives in the Hollywood Hills with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
August 12, 2020
oh to be an obscenely wealthy middle schooler wreaking havoc in the bay area
November 3, 2022
trashy books from the early 2000s never fail to entertain me
September 23, 2023
2 stele primește cartea asta, față de 3 stele oferite prima data când am citit aceasta carticica.
Este superficiala, dar amuzanta. Imi place cum autoarea le-a oferit personalități atât de distincte celor trei Ashleys. Clar nu ai cum să le încurci.
Îmi place ca au adăugat detaliul asta despre mama lui Lauren care adora extravaganta si căreia ii plăceau hainele stridente. Pentru ca asa se întâmplă cu oamneii care se îmbogățesc peste noapte, nu au mereu cele mai sofisticate gusturi.
Preferatele mele sunt Lauren și A.A. (Ashley Aliotto). Cumva au fost cele mai simpatice si cele mai apropiate de personalitatea mea.
Citind cartea asta, am fost teleportata in lumea anilor 2000: toate brandurile de atunci de care acum nimănui nu ii pasa (gen Jimmy Cho), muzica de atunci, starurile de atunci si mentalitatea aia dubioasa (gen adoratia ideii de a avea genunchii de mărimea coatelor). Totuși au cum sa fie fetele de 12 ani atât de rele? Si mie imi făceau unele fete rele zile fripte in generala, dar Ashley Spencer recunosc ca e malefica.
Oriucm, continui cu următorul volum toată aceasta dramoleta cu preadolescente.
Este superficiala, dar amuzanta. Imi place cum autoarea le-a oferit personalități atât de distincte celor trei Ashleys. Clar nu ai cum să le încurci.
Îmi place ca au adăugat detaliul asta despre mama lui Lauren care adora extravaganta si căreia ii plăceau hainele stridente. Pentru ca asa se întâmplă cu oamneii care se îmbogățesc peste noapte, nu au mereu cele mai sofisticate gusturi.
Preferatele mele sunt Lauren și A.A. (Ashley Aliotto). Cumva au fost cele mai simpatice si cele mai apropiate de personalitatea mea.
Citind cartea asta, am fost teleportata in lumea anilor 2000: toate brandurile de atunci de care acum nimănui nu ii pasa (gen Jimmy Cho), muzica de atunci, starurile de atunci si mentalitatea aia dubioasa (gen adoratia ideii de a avea genunchii de mărimea coatelor). Totuși au cum sa fie fetele de 12 ani atât de rele? Si mie imi făceau unele fete rele zile fripte in generala, dar Ashley Spencer recunosc ca e malefica.
Oriucm, continui cu următorul volum toată aceasta dramoleta cu preadolescente.
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Jennifer Rummel for TeensReadToo.com
Meet the Ashleys, who rule the school and make life miserable for non-SOA (Seal Of Approval) girls. The three of them are gorgeous, wealthy, and have all the best clothing.
This year, the three Ashleys watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star. Lauren has arrived at a new plateau, or so she hopes. Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashleys and then destroy them. With her father's newfound wealth, she's gone from bargain shopper to having a personal shopper. Can her new wealth help her gain access to the school's most exclusive club?
Melissa de la Cruz creates a brand new series that delves into the cliques of junior high and into a world where money is no object. If you've enjoyed the CLIQUE series, you MUST read this book as well.
Meet the Ashleys, who rule the school and make life miserable for non-SOA (Seal Of Approval) girls. The three of them are gorgeous, wealthy, and have all the best clothing.
This year, the three Ashleys watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star. Lauren has arrived at a new plateau, or so she hopes. Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashleys and then destroy them. With her father's newfound wealth, she's gone from bargain shopper to having a personal shopper. Can her new wealth help her gain access to the school's most exclusive club?
Melissa de la Cruz creates a brand new series that delves into the cliques of junior high and into a world where money is no object. If you've enjoyed the CLIQUE series, you MUST read this book as well.
January 31, 2008
Far fetched and over the top? Absolutey. But it is a fun fluff read for older elementary and middle school girls not quite read for Gossip Girl or It Girl series (read: no sex or drugs).
November 13, 2008
A Clique knockoff that actually might just be better then it. It follows the story of The Ashleys, the ruling clique at school, and Lauren Page, who seeks to infiltrate the group.
December 4, 2022
melissa de la cruz Have you ever talked to a teenager in Real Life be honest
August 20, 2012
În "O nouă senzaţie în şcoală", avem de-a face cu o clasică "trupă" de fete de bani gata, care se cred mai grozave decât oricine, şi care încă de la grădiniţă, o tachinează cu orice ocazie pe veşnica tocilară, victimă sigură. Cele trei fetiţe răsfăţate de 12 ani poartă fiecare numele "Ashley" şi ele stabilesc noile trenduri în şcoală şi îşi etichetează colegele cu a căror ţinute şi atitudine sunt de acord cu SdA (Ştampila de Aprobare) şi nu se sfiesc să batjocorească pe oricine au ele chef.
Dar anul acesta, Lauren s-a schimbat. Tată ei a dat lovitura în afaceri, iar ea e acum mai bogată chiar decât Ashley Spencer - lidera celor trei răutăcioase. Lauren e hotărâtă să intre în grupul lor şi să le dezbine odată pentru totdeauna. Dar ceva se schimbă, şi, dintr-o dată, Lauren îşi doreşte doar să fie acceptată.
Cartea mi-a se aseamănă foarte mult cu stilul cărţilor "Micuţele mincinoase" şi filmelor de genul "Mean Girls". Aceeaşi reţetă e folosită cu succes în cazul acestora. Se adaugă un grup de fete bogate şi răsfăţate, care nu ştiu ce înseamnă "nu" şi cărora le pasă doar de propria persoană. E neapărat obligatoriu ca acestea să fie liderele unei şcoli şi ca între ele să existe o prietenie oarecum falsă: una din ele le conduce şi le dictează tot ce să facă, iar celelalte, fie să o urmeze orbeşte, fie să o invidieze şi să vrea să îi ia locul. Apoi există două posibilităţi. Ori introducem o tocilară victimă, care să le detroneze în final, ori o altă răzgâiată care să le rivalizeze.
Ai zice că reţeta se învecheşte la un moment dat, şi că te saturi să citeşti cărţi cu aceeaşi intrigă, reluată la nesfârşit, dar cu personaje mai mult sau mai puţin diferite şi cu probleme în plus sau în minus.
Şi totuşi, nu m-am plictisit nici măcar o clipă când am citit această carte. Lauren încă se acomodează la noua ei viaţă, făcând ocazionalele gafe şi dorindu-şi ca, măcar odată, să poată fi acceptată de cei din jurul ei. Ashley Li e aşa-zisa "verigă slabă" a grupului şi îşi doreşte să nu fie nevoită să se poarte răutăcios fără niciun motiv. Ashley Alioto încearcă să găsească o fărâmă de curaj pentru a se întâlni cu iubitul ei virtual, a cărui identitate nu poate decât să o bănuiască. Şi, în final, Ashley Spencer, lidera, nu are o viaţă atât de perfectă cum lasă impresia şi, să spunem doar că una dintre problemele cu care se confruntă e alergia la alune.
"O nouă senzaţie în şcoală" e o lectură uşoară, perfectă pentru o zi de plajă, şi aruncă puţină lumină asupra stilului de viaţă al copiilor vedetelor, care risipesc cu uşurinţă pe un tricou cât am da noi pe un aparat de fotografiat performant.
Dar anul acesta, Lauren s-a schimbat. Tată ei a dat lovitura în afaceri, iar ea e acum mai bogată chiar decât Ashley Spencer - lidera celor trei răutăcioase. Lauren e hotărâtă să intre în grupul lor şi să le dezbine odată pentru totdeauna. Dar ceva se schimbă, şi, dintr-o dată, Lauren îşi doreşte doar să fie acceptată.
Cartea mi-a se aseamănă foarte mult cu stilul cărţilor "Micuţele mincinoase" şi filmelor de genul "Mean Girls". Aceeaşi reţetă e folosită cu succes în cazul acestora. Se adaugă un grup de fete bogate şi răsfăţate, care nu ştiu ce înseamnă "nu" şi cărora le pasă doar de propria persoană. E neapărat obligatoriu ca acestea să fie liderele unei şcoli şi ca între ele să existe o prietenie oarecum falsă: una din ele le conduce şi le dictează tot ce să facă, iar celelalte, fie să o urmeze orbeşte, fie să o invidieze şi să vrea să îi ia locul. Apoi există două posibilităţi. Ori introducem o tocilară victimă, care să le detroneze în final, ori o altă răzgâiată care să le rivalizeze.
Ai zice că reţeta se învecheşte la un moment dat, şi că te saturi să citeşti cărţi cu aceeaşi intrigă, reluată la nesfârşit, dar cu personaje mai mult sau mai puţin diferite şi cu probleme în plus sau în minus.
Şi totuşi, nu m-am plictisit nici măcar o clipă când am citit această carte. Lauren încă se acomodează la noua ei viaţă, făcând ocazionalele gafe şi dorindu-şi ca, măcar odată, să poată fi acceptată de cei din jurul ei. Ashley Li e aşa-zisa "verigă slabă" a grupului şi îşi doreşte să nu fie nevoită să se poarte răutăcios fără niciun motiv. Ashley Alioto încearcă să găsească o fărâmă de curaj pentru a se întâlni cu iubitul ei virtual, a cărui identitate nu poate decât să o bănuiască. Şi, în final, Ashley Spencer, lidera, nu are o viaţă atât de perfectă cum lasă impresia şi, să spunem doar că una dintre problemele cu care se confruntă e alergia la alune.
"O nouă senzaţie în şcoală" e o lectură uşoară, perfectă pentru o zi de plajă, şi aruncă puţină lumină asupra stilului de viaţă al copiilor vedetelor, care risipesc cu uşurinţă pe un tricou cât am da noi pe un aparat de fotografiat performant.
March 26, 2018
Don't bother buying it, only read it if it's at the library or something.
When I was like 12, 13 maybe, I was really into these clique-esque tween novels. I'd been dying to read this series, but I could never find them. And then, years later, I saw them at Barnes & Noble. I couldn't resist. Maybe if I had read these when I'd first wanted to, this would've been a 4 or 5 star rating. Maybe it's just because my taste has matured. But I kinda doubt it.
I mean it was interesting and entertaining and drama filled, and I didn't put the book down once the whole time I was reading it. But it was also immature and didn't give a good message. The characters were terrible role models, and it infuriated me to read about some of the things they did and said. But I guess that was also the point? I mean, it is one of those air-head chick-lit clique type novels. I guess it served its purpose...
When I was like 12, 13 maybe, I was really into these clique-esque tween novels. I'd been dying to read this series, but I could never find them. And then, years later, I saw them at Barnes & Noble. I couldn't resist. Maybe if I had read these when I'd first wanted to, this would've been a 4 or 5 star rating. Maybe it's just because my taste has matured. But I kinda doubt it.
I mean it was interesting and entertaining and drama filled, and I didn't put the book down once the whole time I was reading it. But it was also immature and didn't give a good message. The characters were terrible role models, and it infuriated me to read about some of the things they did and said. But I guess that was also the point? I mean, it is one of those air-head chick-lit clique type novels. I guess it served its purpose...
July 14, 2020
Meh. I liked it but it wasn't my favorite book I have ever read. It is also quite sad how all the things that happen to Lauren happen. But it was good in a sence and I could understand how this one could easily someone's favorite book.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 13 and up.
PARENT NOTE: It does talk about a girl having her period in one spot, and has a few spots that can be considered iffy to younger children.
LANGUAGE: A few bad words, not bad ones, and are very far apart.
AGE RECOMMENDATION: 13 and up.
PARENT NOTE: It does talk about a girl having her period in one spot, and has a few spots that can be considered iffy to younger children.
LANGUAGE: A few bad words, not bad ones, and are very far apart.
Want to read
October 16, 2008Haven't read it. But here is the paragraph on the back of the book, so you can get a feel for what i am about to read:
The Ashleys rule Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for girls. They are gorgeous, rich, impeccably fashion forward, and yes, all named Ashley. Lauren Page has gone to the same school with them her whole life, and the Ashleys, if forced to remember, might recall only faint memory of shoving mud in the poor girl's mouth in kindergarten. But Lauren Page is no longer the mud- eating loser she once was. And though she has completely changed her exterior from bargain-basement cast- offs to- the- runway couture ( props, of course, to her new personal shopper) she is still the same person on the inside. And that person has had enough of the current regime. Look out, Ashleys. There's a new name in school..
The Ashleys rule Miss Gamble's Preparatory School for girls. They are gorgeous, rich, impeccably fashion forward, and yes, all named Ashley. Lauren Page has gone to the same school with them her whole life, and the Ashleys, if forced to remember, might recall only faint memory of shoving mud in the poor girl's mouth in kindergarten. But Lauren Page is no longer the mud- eating loser she once was. And though she has completely changed her exterior from bargain-basement cast- offs to- the- runway couture ( props, of course, to her new personal shopper) she is still the same person on the inside. And that person has had enough of the current regime. Look out, Ashleys. There's a new name in school..
August 6, 2021
This was my favourite book in like 2016 I'm so sad I got rid of it :( I genuinely might buy it again
Re read: this book is crap but I love it lmao. I will die on the hill that this book is the ultimate comfort read.
Re read: this book is crap but I love it lmao. I will die on the hill that this book is the ultimate comfort read.
Read
February 22, 2016This was my absolute favourite book series for a while as a child (other than Harry Potter)
December 30, 2018
No one is perfect. You might think someone is “perfect” but I can assure you, that’s not the case. Main character, Lauren thinks that the Ashleys’ queen bee, Ashley Spencer is bold, daring, and won’t fret even in the toughest hours, but when Lauren catches Ashley in one of life’s unavoidable events, Ashley doesn’t seem to have life as figured out as Lauren thinks does...
December 2, 2023
Gossip girl middle school edition.
Want to read
August 22, 2024Huh. Two girls in my class are reading this author so ofc I had to add them to my tbr
February 15, 2013
The Ashleys is a page-turner, also a funny, easy ride to enjoy; and more importantly, it's not annoying like some other highschool dramas. Like Blue Bloods, The Ashleys set its background on the social scene of high-end society. But instead of the New York setting in Blue Bloods, The Ashleys took place in San Fransisco and the characters were narrowed down to a group of pre-teens within an all-girl school.
As in other de la Cruz's YA novels, the author made sure that you know what the main characters were wearing and what brands those pretty outfits came from for most of the scenes; not to mention, teenager fashion magazines like CosmoGirl, etc and other teen's pop culture reference are no stranger to the main characters. Plus there're many detail of how the riches and the super-riches lived their lives. All these detail came along with the bitchy, highly competitive school girls' drama between the Ashleys and Lauren. Still the story comes to me as a bit of a culture shock when I found out the main characters were 12 years old seventh-graders. What? 12 years old little girls? I though they were teenagers in their 14 to 16 years at the very beginning of the story! Since when did 12 years old allow to shop on their own, buying Gucci and Chanel like it's nothing with credit cards issued by their parents? Maybe these practices are common in American upper society but to me, that kind of things are pretty much unheard of.
The war between the Ashleys trio and Lauren, as funny as it can get sometime, is still in fact pretty vain and small-minded no matter how you look at it. Take the main character Lauren for example, she is interesting enough, but she is not a character we can easily sympathize with. When reading the book, I want to slap her "Foolish girl! You're a rich girl now and can take whatever life has to offer, so why bothers plotting to join those silly spoiled-bitch bullies!? For the love of goodness, have some respect for yourself damnit!" For many times when I was leading toward sympathy, Lauren would become an Ashleys-wannabe that made me feel quite frustrated. Ah, I so hope the girl would grow a backbone, become more mature and care less about what other people think in the latter books of the series.
It's not an exaggeration to call the Ashleys trio 'spoiled-bitch bullies', the cruel tricks they had played upon Lauren and their better-than-you attitude toward less popular students made them very well fitted for the title. However, Miss de la Cruz managed to describe the complicated love-hate relationship among girls well, and let the difference among the three Ashleys show as the story develops, instead of simply painted them as the irredeemable bitches who bullied the all-innocent heroine like some wicked stepsisters in fairy-tales.
A. A was the kindest soul in the group but she wasn't above letting Ashley do what she see fit. Caught between loyalty to her best friend and jealousy, Lili struggled to come out of Ashley's shadow and failed many times. Ashley Spencer, the leader of the trio was probably the most unlikable yet vivid character in the book. She very much reminds me of Mimi Force from Blue Bloods, both are the Queen Bee type but even Mimi's meanness paled in front of Ashley's bitchiness.
The ending is an welcomed surprise, and the author are clever enough not to offer us any good-triumphs-over-evil type of traditional ending. A few of the things are left to the sequel. Will Lauren succeed in overturning the Ashleys, or will she outgrow her jealousy and find a different way to make people like her? I hope to find out more in the sequel: Jealous?
Suggestion: it's a fun read, try it out if you like school girl's drama which manages to keep itself from being stupid, annoying and one dimensional.
As in other de la Cruz's YA novels, the author made sure that you know what the main characters were wearing and what brands those pretty outfits came from for most of the scenes; not to mention, teenager fashion magazines like CosmoGirl, etc and other teen's pop culture reference are no stranger to the main characters. Plus there're many detail of how the riches and the super-riches lived their lives. All these detail came along with the bitchy, highly competitive school girls' drama between the Ashleys and Lauren. Still the story comes to me as a bit of a culture shock when I found out the main characters were 12 years old seventh-graders. What? 12 years old little girls? I though they were teenagers in their 14 to 16 years at the very beginning of the story! Since when did 12 years old allow to shop on their own, buying Gucci and Chanel like it's nothing with credit cards issued by their parents? Maybe these practices are common in American upper society but to me, that kind of things are pretty much unheard of.
The war between the Ashleys trio and Lauren, as funny as it can get sometime, is still in fact pretty vain and small-minded no matter how you look at it. Take the main character Lauren for example, she is interesting enough, but she is not a character we can easily sympathize with. When reading the book, I want to slap her "Foolish girl! You're a rich girl now and can take whatever life has to offer, so why bothers plotting to join those silly spoiled-bitch bullies!? For the love of goodness, have some respect for yourself damnit!" For many times when I was leading toward sympathy, Lauren would become an Ashleys-wannabe that made me feel quite frustrated. Ah, I so hope the girl would grow a backbone, become more mature and care less about what other people think in the latter books of the series.
It's not an exaggeration to call the Ashleys trio 'spoiled-bitch bullies', the cruel tricks they had played upon Lauren and their better-than-you attitude toward less popular students made them very well fitted for the title. However, Miss de la Cruz managed to describe the complicated love-hate relationship among girls well, and let the difference among the three Ashleys show as the story develops, instead of simply painted them as the irredeemable bitches who bullied the all-innocent heroine like some wicked stepsisters in fairy-tales.
A. A was the kindest soul in the group but she wasn't above letting Ashley do what she see fit. Caught between loyalty to her best friend and jealousy, Lili struggled to come out of Ashley's shadow and failed many times. Ashley Spencer, the leader of the trio was probably the most unlikable yet vivid character in the book. She very much reminds me of Mimi Force from Blue Bloods, both are the Queen Bee type but even Mimi's meanness paled in front of Ashley's bitchiness.
The ending is an welcomed surprise, and the author are clever enough not to offer us any good-triumphs-over-evil type of traditional ending. A few of the things are left to the sequel. Will Lauren succeed in overturning the Ashleys, or will she outgrow her jealousy and find a different way to make people like her? I hope to find out more in the sequel: Jealous?
Suggestion: it's a fun read, try it out if you like school girl's drama which manages to keep itself from being stupid, annoying and one dimensional.
October 9, 2009
Set in posh San Francisco, California the Ashley Trio dominate Miss Gambles Preparatory Academy fore Girls. The three girls Ashley Li (Lilli), Ashley Alioto (A.A.) and Ashley are all rich, fashion forward, rich and the envy of the rest of the girls at the academy. Ashley Li (Lilli) seems to be gifted at whatever she attempts. In the book, she refers to herself as "only daughter," but later in the book we learn that she has 3-year-old twin sisters and two older sisters. Impolite and egotistical, she guards her place in the clique. Ashley Alioto (A.A.) is called as to distinguish her from the other Ashley’s. A.A. is tall, appearing much older than her 12 year old friends. Less spoiled and stuck-up as the other Ashley’s, A.A. has a good friend and a stepbrother who help keep her priorities straight. Ashley - the only Ashley called Ashley as she views herself as the number one. Rude, spoiled this girl will stop at nothing to secure her spot at the top of the social tier. She also has a peanut allergy, the one thing that spoils her perfect frontage to her peers.
Lauren-A rags-to-riches girl whose father hit it big in the TV industry, she lives large and enjoys wealth. Her goal is to take down the Ashley’s and penetrate their clique. After all, they have been treating her like badly since kindergarten, so her turn at bat is due. But this year, the three Ashley’s watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star. Lauren has arrived at a new plateau, or so she hopes. Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashley’s and then destroy them.
I first saw this book through my schools book fair, I thought it would be geared towards girls in their younger teens that enjoy reading “teen dramas.” The author’s style of reading fit very close to the vernacular of the young teen. I would compare and recommend this to people who enjoy reading The Clique, The A-List or Gossip Girl.From reading this book I drawed the conclusion that wealthly people have an equal amount of stigmas compared to middle-class citizens.
Lauren-A rags-to-riches girl whose father hit it big in the TV industry, she lives large and enjoys wealth. Her goal is to take down the Ashley’s and penetrate their clique. After all, they have been treating her like badly since kindergarten, so her turn at bat is due. But this year, the three Ashley’s watch one girl step out of her limo looking like a movie star. Lauren has arrived at a new plateau, or so she hopes. Her plan is to infiltrate the Ashley’s and then destroy them.
I first saw this book through my schools book fair, I thought it would be geared towards girls in their younger teens that enjoy reading “teen dramas.” The author’s style of reading fit very close to the vernacular of the young teen. I would compare and recommend this to people who enjoy reading The Clique, The A-List or Gossip Girl.From reading this book I drawed the conclusion that wealthly people have an equal amount of stigmas compared to middle-class citizens.
September 12, 2012
This was really lame.
I expected something like Mean Girls or at least a smart, likable heroine. But this book and Lauren were nothing like that. At all. I mean seriously? She was STUPID. If you're going to try to bring popular people down by trying to be popular yourself and breaking them up, you need to have a clear plan. You need to be strong. You need to have researched and practiced how to be cool. But Lauren did NONE of those things. How can she be so THICK? Simply changing your looks isn't going to make you popular or make people change their opinion about you cool-wise! If it was that easy, then no one would be popular because everyone would be popular! D-uh! Almost everyone knows that! Almost everyone except for Lauren apparently!
The Ashleys were the only reason I continued reading. I actually liked all three although the head Ashley was obviously the one I liked the least. But they were good. They were believable and okay. I can see why they were popular. What I didn't like was how they weren't more vicious to Lauren. They were kind of tame compared to other popular people teaching others a lesson I read and watched in TV. Then there was the part where they let Lauren in their circle simply because she saved the head Ashley even though it was her fault in the first place. Wow. *shakes my head*
I expected something like Mean Girls or at least a smart, likable heroine. But this book and Lauren were nothing like that. At all. I mean seriously? She was STUPID. If you're going to try to bring popular people down by trying to be popular yourself and breaking them up, you need to have a clear plan. You need to be strong. You need to have researched and practiced how to be cool. But Lauren did NONE of those things. How can she be so THICK? Simply changing your looks isn't going to make you popular or make people change their opinion about you cool-wise! If it was that easy, then no one would be popular because everyone would be popular! D-uh! Almost everyone knows that! Almost everyone except for Lauren apparently!
The Ashleys were the only reason I continued reading. I actually liked all three although the head Ashley was obviously the one I liked the least. But they were good. They were believable and okay. I can see why they were popular. What I didn't like was how they weren't more vicious to Lauren. They were kind of tame compared to other popular people teaching others a lesson I read and watched in TV. Then there was the part where they let Lauren in their circle simply because she saved the head Ashley even though it was her fault in the first place. Wow. *shakes my head*
December 12, 2008
The Ashleys is about four girls three who are in a clique called the Ashleys. All of their names are Ashley except for Lauren. Lauren has changed a lot since her father became rich. She tries to get into the clique to destroy them and change the 7th grade.
A text-to-self connection is that I'm like Lauren who doesn't like mean people who spread rumors. Also I don't like bullying or cliques who are mean to people who are not their friend. I think it is really stupid like her.
I rate this book a 5 because it was suspenseful and really entertaining. I never wanted to put the book down. It was just such a good book. I recommend this book to people who likes stories about cliques or mean girl sort of stories.
A text-to-self connection is that I'm like Lauren who doesn't like mean people who spread rumors. Also I don't like bullying or cliques who are mean to people who are not their friend. I think it is really stupid like her.
I rate this book a 5 because it was suspenseful and really entertaining. I never wanted to put the book down. It was just such a good book. I recommend this book to people who likes stories about cliques or mean girl sort of stories.
November 22, 2008
This book is about a girl named Lauren, who's father became rich by creating a popular website called 'myTV' (or something like that) and when she goes back to school she tries so hard to join the Ashley group but to me that is kind of lame because if they want to keep calling themselves the Ashley's, then another Ashley should join. If you have read this book, there is a 2nd one called "The Ashley's, Jealous?'"
November 29, 2015
I will not lie, this was actually a fun book to read. Sure, there's not a lot of deep meaning to books about middle schoolers wearing Prada and Gucci but it was amusing and entertaining at the same time :) It was pretty stupid but I liked it a lot.
August 18, 2010
This book was very very strange. It was about seventh graders/twelve year olds which I was NOT expecting and thought it was a little young for me. But it was amusing to read anyway.
March 16, 2016
This is the middle school version of Mean Girls. It was so immature.
September 25, 2022
The Ashley’s
It’s a new year at Mrs. Gamble’s Prep School. While some things are different, some never change. Typical fictional story (cause when does this really happen to the average person). Shy, nerdy, awkward girl that gets constantly picked on, father overnight develops a platform called YOUTV (in a play off YouTube) and turns into a billionaire. So, she gets a makeover: new hair, new clothes, new gadgets. And now she wants to fit in with the popular clique that doesn’t like her. Only in a twist, she wants to get close to them so she can cut them down. Hmm! I like where this is going.
The clique is pretty typical. There are three of them. All named Ashley. The lead Ashley won’t let the other girls be called Ashley so she gives them nick-names Li Li and AA.
We get some things to individualize them. Main Ashley has a nut allergy (Seriously that’s all I can think of after reading this book that makes her stand out).
AA has fallen in love with a boy on social media, and they’ve talked off and on, but she hasn’t seen his picture. She’s starting to worry that he’ll be some fat, lazy, slob (or worse he’ll be a grown, ass, man on social media that’s lying about his age). Keep in mind he doesn’t have a picture on his page. Which is a red flag. AA has a best friend named Tripp that she doesn’t seem to realize has feelings for her. Even though he rates her all 10s on a “rank call”. AA is the “nice one” in the clique. Or the “ditzy one”.
Lili is “sneaky one” that’s not loyal. She doesn’t really like Ashley. So much to the point that at the end of the book she’s RELIEVED when she thinks Ashley’s dead. She’s the one that’s really calling the shots, but Ashley gets all the credit.
Lauren’s first attempts to get close to the Ashley’s fail. They trip her on the first day of school, make her do a harmful prank at a back-to-school party, and spread rumors that she got a nose job that consists of pig’s skin. Then she finds out that all the Ashley’s like the same boy. (They actually stalk this boy every day after school and they aren’t that stealth with it either).
Lili tells Lauren that if she wants to get in good with Ashley, she has to give her something she wants. At first, she tries to make Ashley jealous, because she finds out that her driver (Dex) is close to the guy. Because of this, he invites her to his lacrosse game (You know I never heard of lacrosse until Pretty Little Liars, now it’s in all these young teen books). So she uses this to get in with Ashley. It works! Lauren invites them all to go on a trip to LA on her private plane, and a sleepover later.
During the shopping trip to LA, she still feels like an outsider They even get matching shoes and don’t bother to get her a pair. The hint is obvious. YOU ARE NOT ONE OF US!
At the party they try to embarrass her by making her call Dex and rate her. But he gives her a decent rating. In the morning, she wakes up to find her bed wet. This is the last straw. Lauren GOES OFF. The Ashley’s “act” like this is just an initiation. And they all do it to each other. Lauren tries to apologize thinking she really made new friends (rolling eyes). But it’s too late. The Queen Biotch tells her SHES DONE!
Lauren isn’t at school for a few days (her family got an invite to visit the White House). But she comes back in time for a dance the Ashley’s are throwing that they’ve invited boys too.
AA sneaks out to go meet her new guy, but he stands her up. She realizes it’s not Dex (whose crushing on a kindergarten teacher that’s twenty-three). (He’s seventeen). It’s Tripp. But because she told him she thought it was Dex, he’s now at the party with Ashley, and just that quick he’s in love with her.
Lauren walks in with Brett Reedy (the one all the Ashley’s like) as her date. Just in time to see Ashley passed out on the floor. She had an allergic reaction to some nuts that were in the vanilla cupcakes.
Lilli feels guilty because she told her to give the one that made the cupcakes a special recipe but Lili just thought she was being bossy again and ignored her.
Lauren realizes she probably has the pen on her. She pulls up her dress and it’s on a garter on her leg. She gives her the shot and she comes too.
My Thoughts: (Sighing) Why am I so attracted to books like this? I struggled through the Clique and FINALLY finished it. Now here’s another one. But to my innocence, I didn’t read the cover. It was probably a recommended book by Good Reads that I just looked for from that. Because I’m an individual and I tend not to care so much what people think of me, I just don’t get why girls like Lauren (and Claire) who there’s probably NOTHING wrong with actually want *anything* to do with these snobs. Usually there’s not even real friendship in the clique itself. Lili actually wants Ashley DEAD. When she’s out she’s thinking “Good she’s dead. Now I can take her spot.” Would you REALLY want to be friends with a girl that pranked you and made you eat dirt? Another girl that you see is a backstabber? What do you think she’d do to you if she got in with you and *you* were suddenly the leader of the clique if she’s showing you she has no loyalty to her OWN FRIEND!? Why the hell do you need approval from girls like this? I did kind of like in the beginning that her motivation was NOT to be in with them but to take them down. But then she losses sight of the whole mission on the plane ride to LA. And actually, starts thinking they’ll be friends (smacks forehead). As if the shoe clue wasn't enough. They’re SHALLOW! Real friends don’t become your friends when your OFFERING THEM SOMETHING! Lauren BE SMARTER THAN THAT! Keep your mind on taking all of them down. Which would make for the better book. This is a plot I *haven’t* heard before. Well not from the start of the book. I didn’t even buy that after the trip where it’s HER trip and they hang with her but don’t really make her feel like she’s in the group, the next morning all of a sudden, they’ve had a change of heart and wanted to include her. Why? Because she gave Ashley a pad? And I SERIOUSLY doubt that it’ll be different the next book, just because she saved Ashley’s life. I could tell you what I thought of these characters but they’re all cookie cutter. The only one that impressed me any was initially Lauren, and Lili (that also wants to take Lauren down). And then the guys (Brett, Dex, and Trip). Brett was just page candy (no substance), Tripp (I didn’t like because who switches up that fast for one. Then another he wasn’t even man enough to show up), and Sexy Dexy (I really didn’t have any comments on, other than thinking of that High Five song “Just Can’t Handle it” “I was only 16 and she was 25”. Why would a 23-year-old date a 17-year-old?
Rating: 5 I’ve read this story before even opening the book I was groaning. I thought it be different.. I T WASN’T
It’s a new year at Mrs. Gamble’s Prep School. While some things are different, some never change. Typical fictional story (cause when does this really happen to the average person). Shy, nerdy, awkward girl that gets constantly picked on, father overnight develops a platform called YOUTV (in a play off YouTube) and turns into a billionaire. So, she gets a makeover: new hair, new clothes, new gadgets. And now she wants to fit in with the popular clique that doesn’t like her. Only in a twist, she wants to get close to them so she can cut them down. Hmm! I like where this is going.
The clique is pretty typical. There are three of them. All named Ashley. The lead Ashley won’t let the other girls be called Ashley so she gives them nick-names Li Li and AA.
We get some things to individualize them. Main Ashley has a nut allergy (Seriously that’s all I can think of after reading this book that makes her stand out).
AA has fallen in love with a boy on social media, and they’ve talked off and on, but she hasn’t seen his picture. She’s starting to worry that he’ll be some fat, lazy, slob (or worse he’ll be a grown, ass, man on social media that’s lying about his age). Keep in mind he doesn’t have a picture on his page. Which is a red flag. AA has a best friend named Tripp that she doesn’t seem to realize has feelings for her. Even though he rates her all 10s on a “rank call”. AA is the “nice one” in the clique. Or the “ditzy one”.
Lili is “sneaky one” that’s not loyal. She doesn’t really like Ashley. So much to the point that at the end of the book she’s RELIEVED when she thinks Ashley’s dead. She’s the one that’s really calling the shots, but Ashley gets all the credit.
Lauren’s first attempts to get close to the Ashley’s fail. They trip her on the first day of school, make her do a harmful prank at a back-to-school party, and spread rumors that she got a nose job that consists of pig’s skin. Then she finds out that all the Ashley’s like the same boy. (They actually stalk this boy every day after school and they aren’t that stealth with it either).
Lili tells Lauren that if she wants to get in good with Ashley, she has to give her something she wants. At first, she tries to make Ashley jealous, because she finds out that her driver (Dex) is close to the guy. Because of this, he invites her to his lacrosse game (You know I never heard of lacrosse until Pretty Little Liars, now it’s in all these young teen books). So she uses this to get in with Ashley. It works! Lauren invites them all to go on a trip to LA on her private plane, and a sleepover later.
During the shopping trip to LA, she still feels like an outsider They even get matching shoes and don’t bother to get her a pair. The hint is obvious. YOU ARE NOT ONE OF US!
At the party they try to embarrass her by making her call Dex and rate her. But he gives her a decent rating. In the morning, she wakes up to find her bed wet. This is the last straw. Lauren GOES OFF. The Ashley’s “act” like this is just an initiation. And they all do it to each other. Lauren tries to apologize thinking she really made new friends (rolling eyes). But it’s too late. The Queen Biotch tells her SHES DONE!
Lauren isn’t at school for a few days (her family got an invite to visit the White House). But she comes back in time for a dance the Ashley’s are throwing that they’ve invited boys too.
AA sneaks out to go meet her new guy, but he stands her up. She realizes it’s not Dex (whose crushing on a kindergarten teacher that’s twenty-three). (He’s seventeen). It’s Tripp. But because she told him she thought it was Dex, he’s now at the party with Ashley, and just that quick he’s in love with her.
Lauren walks in with Brett Reedy (the one all the Ashley’s like) as her date. Just in time to see Ashley passed out on the floor. She had an allergic reaction to some nuts that were in the vanilla cupcakes.
Lilli feels guilty because she told her to give the one that made the cupcakes a special recipe but Lili just thought she was being bossy again and ignored her.
Lauren realizes she probably has the pen on her. She pulls up her dress and it’s on a garter on her leg. She gives her the shot and she comes too.
My Thoughts: (Sighing) Why am I so attracted to books like this? I struggled through the Clique and FINALLY finished it. Now here’s another one. But to my innocence, I didn’t read the cover. It was probably a recommended book by Good Reads that I just looked for from that. Because I’m an individual and I tend not to care so much what people think of me, I just don’t get why girls like Lauren (and Claire) who there’s probably NOTHING wrong with actually want *anything* to do with these snobs. Usually there’s not even real friendship in the clique itself. Lili actually wants Ashley DEAD. When she’s out she’s thinking “Good she’s dead. Now I can take her spot.” Would you REALLY want to be friends with a girl that pranked you and made you eat dirt? Another girl that you see is a backstabber? What do you think she’d do to you if she got in with you and *you* were suddenly the leader of the clique if she’s showing you she has no loyalty to her OWN FRIEND!? Why the hell do you need approval from girls like this? I did kind of like in the beginning that her motivation was NOT to be in with them but to take them down. But then she losses sight of the whole mission on the plane ride to LA. And actually, starts thinking they’ll be friends (smacks forehead). As if the shoe clue wasn't enough. They’re SHALLOW! Real friends don’t become your friends when your OFFERING THEM SOMETHING! Lauren BE SMARTER THAN THAT! Keep your mind on taking all of them down. Which would make for the better book. This is a plot I *haven’t* heard before. Well not from the start of the book. I didn’t even buy that after the trip where it’s HER trip and they hang with her but don’t really make her feel like she’s in the group, the next morning all of a sudden, they’ve had a change of heart and wanted to include her. Why? Because she gave Ashley a pad? And I SERIOUSLY doubt that it’ll be different the next book, just because she saved Ashley’s life. I could tell you what I thought of these characters but they’re all cookie cutter. The only one that impressed me any was initially Lauren, and Lili (that also wants to take Lauren down). And then the guys (Brett, Dex, and Trip). Brett was just page candy (no substance), Tripp (I didn’t like because who switches up that fast for one. Then another he wasn’t even man enough to show up), and Sexy Dexy (I really didn’t have any comments on, other than thinking of that High Five song “Just Can’t Handle it” “I was only 16 and she was 25”. Why would a 23-year-old date a 17-year-old?
Rating: 5 I’ve read this story before even opening the book I was groaning. I thought it be different.. I T WASN’T
November 28, 2021
I give this book 3/5 only because I hoped for a different ending. The Ashleys is about middle school girls who attend an exclusive private school in San Francisco, CA. The Ashleys is the name of the group of girls who are in a clique who all have the first name Ashley, but two of them go by another name such as Lili (her middle name) and A.A. (her initials) They rule this school for years based off their parents wealth and everything they have to show off until one day they have competition. Lauren Page grew up being bullied by this group of girls at this school for years until one day her father became rich and she had a complete make over. The girls were then awful to each other until Lauren ends up saving one of their lives at a school dance. My future students could read this for personal reading, and we could go over it as a class to cover bullying, and the importance of friendship. It does not matter how much money you have but how you treat people, and some day you may need help from the least person you'd expect!
August 23, 2017
I found that this book would have been a lot better if the characters had been in high school. As soon as it became obvious that they were in the 7TH GRADE, the book became less interesting and more unbelievable. The plot line involving A.A. and laxjock was definitely meant to be cute, but because of the ages of the characters it came off as disturbing. Perhaps if I had read this book when I was 12, I would have liked it more.
February 23, 2020
I read this book when I was a preteen and frankly it’s very superficial and the characters don’t have strong internal goals. They’re rich and they act like how one expects rich girls to act. Also these girls are written like they’re teenagers when they are only 12. Definitely don’t recommend.
May 15, 2017
it was OK but could be better.
June 12, 2017
It reminded me a lot of a mix between mean girls and gossip girl. It was a easy read
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