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Lipstick Apology
Sometimes a good-bye is just the beginning.
When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: Emily, please forgive me.
Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City, where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.
Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.
When Emily Carson’s parents die in a plane crash, she’s left with nothing but her mother’s last words scrawled in lipstick on a tray table: Emily, please forgive me.
Now it’s fall and Emily moves to New York City, where she attracts the attention of two very different boys: the cute, popular Owen, and her quirky chemistry partner, Anthony. With the help of some surprising new friends, Emily must choose between the boy who helps her forget and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately heal.
Debut author Jennifer Jabaley has written a wonderful, feel-good romantic comedy with real emotional depth. Full of lovably wacky characters, Lipstick Apology is a heartwarming story about the true meaning of forgiveness.
321 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2009
44 people are currently reading
2053 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Jabaley
3 books161 followersJennifer Jabaley is the author of two Young Adult novels published with Razorbill/Penguin Young Readers. She is currently working on a Domestic Suspense novel.
When not writing, Jennifer practices optometry with her husband in the North Georgia mountains. She has two very active kids and two very spoiled dogs.
Jen is an avid reader, tennis player, and Pilates junkie. She loves coffee, a great sporting event, and spending time with her friends.
When not writing, Jennifer practices optometry with her husband in the North Georgia mountains. She has two very active kids and two very spoiled dogs.
Jen is an avid reader, tennis player, and Pilates junkie. She loves coffee, a great sporting event, and spending time with her friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
November 4, 2015
There's a lot of potential in this book. I was drawn in by the blurb, and by the mystery of what Emily's mother's dying words were about. And the time that was actually spend on that mystery were my favorite parts of the book. Unfortunately, very little time is actually spent on what I had thought was the main story. Instead, Emily spends the vast majority of the book obsessing over a boy who is so obviously bad news that it becomes pitiful that she refuses to see that. Like, he spikes her drink without telling her and she still doesn't get it. I was frustrated with her that I eventually started skipping every page that dealt with this jerk, which ended up being most of the second half of the book.
Which is a shame, because it's really good when it isn't dealing with the jerk. Emily has a well-meaning support system who is neither perfect nor entirely effective. Both her friend back home and her new friends at school are great characters, and Jabaley avoids both the "I have moved now I can't keep my best friend from back home" and "all the people at my new school are shallow rich bitches" tropes. There's more depth to the characters than that. And the other boy, the cute and smart boy who makes her laugh and treats her with respect? He's pretty great, too. Emily herself? Not so much. She seemed very immature to me, and she throws several literal tantrums when she gets angry. She breaks things, she even rips up a picture of her dead parents. She totally lost my sympathy with that one. I started out liking her fine, but by the end of the book I was happy to see the back of her.
Maybe it's because the story with the awful boy took up so much space in the book, but everything else ends abruptly. The other boy gets shorted on space, and so does Emily's mother's secret. After she spends comparatively little time even thinking about it, the answer just falls into her lap, and then she doesn't even really deal with it. I wish that Jabaley hadn't gotten sidetracked with the awful boy, because maybe something good could have come of this.
Which is a shame, because it's really good when it isn't dealing with the jerk. Emily has a well-meaning support system who is neither perfect nor entirely effective. Both her friend back home and her new friends at school are great characters, and Jabaley avoids both the "I have moved now I can't keep my best friend from back home" and "all the people at my new school are shallow rich bitches" tropes. There's more depth to the characters than that. And the other boy, the cute and smart boy who makes her laugh and treats her with respect? He's pretty great, too. Emily herself? Not so much. She seemed very immature to me, and she throws several literal tantrums when she gets angry. She breaks things, she even rips up a picture of her dead parents. She totally lost my sympathy with that one. I started out liking her fine, but by the end of the book I was happy to see the back of her.
Maybe it's because the story with the awful boy took up so much space in the book, but everything else ends abruptly. The other boy gets shorted on space, and so does Emily's mother's secret. After she spends comparatively little time even thinking about it, the answer just falls into her lap, and then she doesn't even really deal with it. I wish that Jabaley hadn't gotten sidetracked with the awful boy, because maybe something good could have come of this.
April 11, 2012
Emily Carson is a brat.
She is supposedly 16/17 years old but she acts like a spoiled 5 year old.
Constantly throwing temper tantrums and smashing other people's property
and then expects them to say sorry for it, not her.
How is this behaviour in any way mature?
I thought that the book would be about the apology Emily's mother wrote to her before the plane crashed. Instead the book was about Emily's need to be popular, make-up, hair, and her inability to choose between two boys.
Very little time is actually spent on the apology, or rather the reason for it.
When Emily eventually finds out what the apology is about and meets the person partially responsible for it, she simply screams two sentences at the person and runs away.
Not a satisfactory end at all.
She is supposedly 16/17 years old but she acts like a spoiled 5 year old.
Constantly throwing temper tantrums and smashing other people's property
and then expects them to say sorry for it, not her.
How is this behaviour in any way mature?
I thought that the book would be about the apology Emily's mother wrote to her before the plane crashed. Instead the book was about Emily's need to be popular, make-up, hair, and her inability to choose between two boys.
Very little time is actually spent on the apology, or rather the reason for it.
When Emily eventually finds out what the apology is about and meets the person partially responsible for it, she simply screams two sentences at the person and runs away.
Not a satisfactory end at all.
June 27, 2009
Lipstick Apology is a heart-wrenching story that gave me chills -- you know, the kind where you just want to hug the one you love before the lump in your throat gives way and the tears spill forth? -- from the moment I read the first chapter. Emily's journey takes us through the horrifying and endlessly-publicized deaths of her parents, her intense and inconsolable grief, a mysterious clue left by her mother in the final moments of her life, and the everyday struggles of a teen girl in a new city searching for love and acceptance. I found myself alternately cheering Emily on and scolding her, just wanting her to finally see the good things and people in her life and to ultimately be okay. Lipstick Aplogy's cast of characters is flawed and realistic and reminds us that when it comes to home and family, there's no such thing as typical.
December 16, 2011
I loved this book. It's intense, poignant, bittersweet, wise and funny. It's also beautifully and subtly crafted, with all the elements - story, characters, style - combining to create a richly rewarding reading and emotional experience.
MC Emily's life is catastrophically and irreparably torn apart when her vacationing parents' flight goes down with no survivors. The discovery in the crash debris of a mysterious message from her mother - "Emily, please forgive me," insures that she will suffer the intrusive attention of the tabloids, as well as her more private feelings of loss, pain, grief and bewilderment over the meaning of that haunting lipstick apology. And as if that weren't enough to be getting on with, she is wrenched from her leafy suburban home, school and friends to live with her mother's younger sister Jolie, a Manhattan-based upscale makeup maven who, despite her veneer of sophistication and style, can hardly cope herself with her sister's death, let alone live up to being the adult in Emily's life. Emily is torn between her desire to be the new, made-over, over it and moving on girl, fitting into her sophisticated new prep school, and the haunting reality of her overwhelming feelings of abandonment, guilt and loss. And above all, she continues to be tormented by the need to understand why her seemingly perfect mother would beg her for forgiveness with her very last words.
I loved the way Emily's struggles are echoed in so many elements of the story. The contrast between the placid, pastoral river that flowed past her childhood home and the turbulent urban Hudson overlooked by Jolie's sleek but somewhat sterile apartment. The whole makeup/makeover motif, starting with the apology itself being written in lipstick, then showing up again with Jolie's business and the multiple makeovers Jolie gives Emily and her new friends - echoes Emily's attempts to cover, conceal and carry on behind a facade of normalcy. Then there's the theme of homemade food and baked goods (Jolie's kitchen is just a "closet for take-out menu's," with only Emily's mom's old apron gracing it with any warmth) as being a way of expressing feelings and representing home, family and authenticity. Even the two boys in the story seem to represent these poles of Emily's conflicting desires to confront or conceal, to paper over or to archeologize her grief.
Before it's all over secrets and lies will show their awesome and awful power. Emily will be tested, cruelly, and for me at least, almost beyond endurance. Things will never, ever be the same. But as Emily comes to acknowledge, life "is about crawling out from under the wreckage and rebuilding after disaster - making new memories and new families with people who fill our voids and make us laugh." Interestingly ,the word "wreckage" appears in the book only twice - once when the message is found, and once here when Emily begins, not necessarily to heal, but to perceive that healing might someday be possible (gotta love that search feature on the Nook!).
Emily ... my heart went out to her so much. She is not a perfect, wise beyond her years paragon - she's a real girl, sometimes superficial, sometimes hurtful and selfish, but so, so vulnerable, fragile but possessed of an inner strength that makes her struggles all the more affecting. Jolie is an awesomely realized character too, and it's impossible not to empathize and agonize with her in the weird and unexpected role and dilemmas she finds herself thrust into. The boys didn't do that much for me, but maybe that's a guy thing. And of course, the powerful presence of Jill, Emily's mom, looms large over the story. Even though she's absent you get a feel for her hurt, her humanity and her deep love for her daughter and husband. The city of New York is a character here, too, and despite my general lack of love for it, I acknowledge that here it adds to Emily's journey and growth. The recurring motif of When Harry Met Sally is fun, and provides a counterpoint commentary to Emily's boy-related feelings.
This is such a richly humane story of flaws, forgiveness and finding a way forward - really, I'm still kind of torn up. It's pretty rare for me to stay up late reading, unable to stop, anymore. This is that kind of book, and it kept me up way, way past any semblance of a sensible bed time (on a work night, yet!). It might keep me up again tonight, just thinking about it. This has been kind of a long review, but trust me, there's still much more to experience and enjoy here. Don't miss it.
"Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind"
Wordsworth, Intimations of Immortality
MC Emily's life is catastrophically and irreparably torn apart when her vacationing parents' flight goes down with no survivors. The discovery in the crash debris of a mysterious message from her mother - "Emily, please forgive me," insures that she will suffer the intrusive attention of the tabloids, as well as her more private feelings of loss, pain, grief and bewilderment over the meaning of that haunting lipstick apology. And as if that weren't enough to be getting on with, she is wrenched from her leafy suburban home, school and friends to live with her mother's younger sister Jolie, a Manhattan-based upscale makeup maven who, despite her veneer of sophistication and style, can hardly cope herself with her sister's death, let alone live up to being the adult in Emily's life. Emily is torn between her desire to be the new, made-over, over it and moving on girl, fitting into her sophisticated new prep school, and the haunting reality of her overwhelming feelings of abandonment, guilt and loss. And above all, she continues to be tormented by the need to understand why her seemingly perfect mother would beg her for forgiveness with her very last words.
I loved the way Emily's struggles are echoed in so many elements of the story. The contrast between the placid, pastoral river that flowed past her childhood home and the turbulent urban Hudson overlooked by Jolie's sleek but somewhat sterile apartment. The whole makeup/makeover motif, starting with the apology itself being written in lipstick, then showing up again with Jolie's business and the multiple makeovers Jolie gives Emily and her new friends - echoes Emily's attempts to cover, conceal and carry on behind a facade of normalcy. Then there's the theme of homemade food and baked goods (Jolie's kitchen is just a "closet for take-out menu's," with only Emily's mom's old apron gracing it with any warmth) as being a way of expressing feelings and representing home, family and authenticity. Even the two boys in the story seem to represent these poles of Emily's conflicting desires to confront or conceal, to paper over or to archeologize her grief.
Before it's all over secrets and lies will show their awesome and awful power. Emily will be tested, cruelly, and for me at least, almost beyond endurance. Things will never, ever be the same. But as Emily comes to acknowledge, life "is about crawling out from under the wreckage and rebuilding after disaster - making new memories and new families with people who fill our voids and make us laugh." Interestingly ,the word "wreckage" appears in the book only twice - once when the message is found, and once here when Emily begins, not necessarily to heal, but to perceive that healing might someday be possible (gotta love that search feature on the Nook!).
Emily ... my heart went out to her so much. She is not a perfect, wise beyond her years paragon - she's a real girl, sometimes superficial, sometimes hurtful and selfish, but so, so vulnerable, fragile but possessed of an inner strength that makes her struggles all the more affecting. Jolie is an awesomely realized character too, and it's impossible not to empathize and agonize with her in the weird and unexpected role and dilemmas she finds herself thrust into. The boys didn't do that much for me, but maybe that's a guy thing. And of course, the powerful presence of Jill, Emily's mom, looms large over the story. Even though she's absent you get a feel for her hurt, her humanity and her deep love for her daughter and husband. The city of New York is a character here, too, and despite my general lack of love for it, I acknowledge that here it adds to Emily's journey and growth. The recurring motif of When Harry Met Sally is fun, and provides a counterpoint commentary to Emily's boy-related feelings.
This is such a richly humane story of flaws, forgiveness and finding a way forward - really, I'm still kind of torn up. It's pretty rare for me to stay up late reading, unable to stop, anymore. This is that kind of book, and it kept me up way, way past any semblance of a sensible bed time (on a work night, yet!). It might keep me up again tonight, just thinking about it. This has been kind of a long review, but trust me, there's still much more to experience and enjoy here. Don't miss it.
"Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind"
Wordsworth, Intimations of Immortality
October 5, 2009
This has almost nothing to do with the novel, but everytime I go to type or mention this book I think the title is 'Lipstick Apocalypse'. I'm not certain why (except that I'm insane), but there you go.
This is one of the few 'real life' teen books I have read recently and oddly enough its from another debut author. I pretty much gave up on real life teen books somewhere after my Lurleine McDaniel craze (only so much depressing reading a girl can stand) back when I was a teenager and stuck myself firmly with either books so old they can be considered 'historical value' (like the 'girl books' of the 50's/60's where the girl usually didn't have anything more difficult then learning to ride a bike or convincing her parents to let her stay out late to trouble her) because quite frankly--been there done that. If I'm going to read teen angst, I'll read teen angst with vampires, ghosts or werewolves. Makes it so much better.
Lipstick Apology though, I read the synopsis and found myself wholly intrigued by the mystery. Why DID Emily's mother leave such a bizarre note when the plane was going down? A hundred different reasons flew into my head, but as Emily described her mother I discounted most of them. Her mom sounds like a Suzy Home-maker sort. Self-sacrificing for the family, giving her all to living the American Home Mother Dream.
The truth is both shocking and disillusioning for the reader and Emily--her world already doing the merry-go-round, her entire lifestyle changing in the wake of the tragedy, the poor girl suffered enough. The real question is though, should how Emily feel about her mother change at all? Can she find it in herself to forgive her mother?
The new friends she makes at her school are a little bit flat--they are definitely not 'deep' characters for the most part. With the exception of Anthony, at first glance I didn't like ANY of them--but then that's high school right? First impressions are the key to anything and from an outsider's point of view (that is the reader), they were terribly shallow and trite. Lindsay did surprise me though, proving that first impressions aren't always lasting.
I'll say this much though, if you have an easy cry reflex keep a box of tissues handy, especially for the beginning third or so. And the last chapter or two. And some in the middle. Oh just keep a whole box by your side the entire time just in case.
This is one of the few 'real life' teen books I have read recently and oddly enough its from another debut author. I pretty much gave up on real life teen books somewhere after my Lurleine McDaniel craze (only so much depressing reading a girl can stand) back when I was a teenager and stuck myself firmly with either books so old they can be considered 'historical value' (like the 'girl books' of the 50's/60's where the girl usually didn't have anything more difficult then learning to ride a bike or convincing her parents to let her stay out late to trouble her) because quite frankly--been there done that. If I'm going to read teen angst, I'll read teen angst with vampires, ghosts or werewolves. Makes it so much better.
Lipstick Apology though, I read the synopsis and found myself wholly intrigued by the mystery. Why DID Emily's mother leave such a bizarre note when the plane was going down? A hundred different reasons flew into my head, but as Emily described her mother I discounted most of them. Her mom sounds like a Suzy Home-maker sort. Self-sacrificing for the family, giving her all to living the American Home Mother Dream.
The truth is both shocking and disillusioning for the reader and Emily--her world already doing the merry-go-round, her entire lifestyle changing in the wake of the tragedy, the poor girl suffered enough. The real question is though, should how Emily feel about her mother change at all? Can she find it in herself to forgive her mother?
The new friends she makes at her school are a little bit flat--they are definitely not 'deep' characters for the most part. With the exception of Anthony, at first glance I didn't like ANY of them--but then that's high school right? First impressions are the key to anything and from an outsider's point of view (that is the reader), they were terribly shallow and trite. Lindsay did surprise me though, proving that first impressions aren't always lasting.
I'll say this much though, if you have an easy cry reflex keep a box of tissues handy, especially for the beginning third or so. And the last chapter or two. And some in the middle. Oh just keep a whole box by your side the entire time just in case.
April 9, 2017
While I found this book semi-boring at times, there were plenty of deep moments and thought-provoking quotes that kept me around. I could relate to her on some levels, and I could understand where she was coming from. The plot was fairly interesting as well, and I thought her mother's apology and such was very original.
March 3, 2021
Quick, easy read, but didn’t really focus on her mom’s apology much
March 14, 2013
This book is an absolutely wonderful read. Out of all the YA novels I've read, this one really stands out. Why? Because Jennifer Jabaley doesn't try too hard, that's why. She automatically captures the feelings and thoughts of teenagers, and does it so perfectly too. While other novels seem to try and push to make teenage characters seem realistic, the characters of Lipstick Apology are very relatable and life-like to the point that it's amazing.
I have to say that when I first picked this book up a long time ago and put it on my bookshelf, what I was expecting was entirely different from what I got. The back of the book made me think there was going to be a large love triangle with the mystery of the mother's apology thrust in too, but that wasn't exactly the case.
The mother's apology, and a search for the answers to why she asked forgiveness, is there, but seems to be in the background for most of the novel. Emily, the main female, brings it up much, and ponders it, yet to me it didn't seem as important as the back of the book made me think it would be. There was a mystery, but not too much so that the reader was engrossed in figuring it out. Though it was executed wonderfully in how Emily goes about finding out these secrets her mother has kept, I felt the ending was thrust upon the reader too quickly. I felt Jabaley should have, at the end of the novel, built that up a bit more instead of it being right there. When Emily realizes who D is and meets him, I felt it moved too fast and D wasn't as realistic as all the other characters. Though he is only there for about a page in person, I felt how he reacted could have been written better.
Jabaley paints a wonderful picture of New York without over-using the typical New York snob/rich kid seen in most media today. Sometimes I felt Andi's character wasn't up to par with the rest, and seemed written with different personalities at time, but overall I did like her. Trent had to be my favorite, even if I didn't like him at first, though I wish Jabaley had gone more into his back story, seeing as his parents were brought up but he was never fully explained about how he came into Jolie's life and where his family is now.
I was a bit surprised with Carly and Ethan as well, though I'm glad how Carly's character turned out.
Another thing the back of the book makes it seem, as I've stated before, is that there is some big love triangle, when that doesn't really happen. Emily is with one boy for most of the novel, then the other. She doesn't even realize her feelings for the one until the book is almost over. The boys do not compete for her affection or anything else like a normal love triangle.
Though I felt a bit misled by what the back of the book/beginning told me, I am so happy with how this novel turned out. It's a great read, and I suggest it to any girl who likes YA high-school-based novels.
Just one more thing: Owen reminds me of a Bratz doll. No idea why.
I have to say that when I first picked this book up a long time ago and put it on my bookshelf, what I was expecting was entirely different from what I got. The back of the book made me think there was going to be a large love triangle with the mystery of the mother's apology thrust in too, but that wasn't exactly the case.
The mother's apology, and a search for the answers to why she asked forgiveness, is there, but seems to be in the background for most of the novel. Emily, the main female, brings it up much, and ponders it, yet to me it didn't seem as important as the back of the book made me think it would be. There was a mystery, but not too much so that the reader was engrossed in figuring it out. Though it was executed wonderfully in how Emily goes about finding out these secrets her mother has kept, I felt the ending was thrust upon the reader too quickly. I felt Jabaley should have, at the end of the novel, built that up a bit more instead of it being right there. When Emily realizes who D is and meets him, I felt it moved too fast and D wasn't as realistic as all the other characters. Though he is only there for about a page in person, I felt how he reacted could have been written better.
Jabaley paints a wonderful picture of New York without over-using the typical New York snob/rich kid seen in most media today. Sometimes I felt Andi's character wasn't up to par with the rest, and seemed written with different personalities at time, but overall I did like her. Trent had to be my favorite, even if I didn't like him at first, though I wish Jabaley had gone more into his back story, seeing as his parents were brought up but he was never fully explained about how he came into Jolie's life and where his family is now.
I was a bit surprised with Carly and Ethan as well, though I'm glad how Carly's character turned out.
Another thing the back of the book makes it seem, as I've stated before, is that there is some big love triangle, when that doesn't really happen. Emily is with one boy for most of the novel, then the other. She doesn't even realize her feelings for the one until the book is almost over. The boys do not compete for her affection or anything else like a normal love triangle.
Though I felt a bit misled by what the back of the book/beginning told me, I am so happy with how this novel turned out. It's a great read, and I suggest it to any girl who likes YA high-school-based novels.
Just one more thing: Owen reminds me of a Bratz doll. No idea why.
July 24, 2009
Emily wants to start the summer with a bang, so she throws a party the night her parents leave for vacation. The party is unceremoniously interrupted by bad news: the plane her parents were on has crashed, and there are no survivors. Now, all that’s left of them is a hastily scribbled message on a tray table from Emily’s mom reading “Emily please forgive me.” Struck with grief and baffled by her mother’s mysterious apology, Emily’s life is a huge mess, and when she moves in with her aunt who lives in New York City, Emily has an entire new world to adjust to. Emily tries her best to assimilate, forget, and move on. She’s accepted into the popular crowd and captures the interest of Owen, the hottest guy in school. But forgetting might not be the answer or even an option since reminders are everywhere. It’ll take Emily’s untraditional new family, a chemistry partner who’s more like Emily than she thinks, and a whole lot of courage for Emily to face the truth and ultimately heal.
Lipstick Apology is a pretty interesting and original story idea that expresses age-old concepts such as family and forgiveness in a fresh way. The death of Emily’s parents is what this novel centers on, but the story is less about grief and learning to let go than it is about forgiveness and healing. On one hand, I was seriously confused why Emily never seemed to mourn her dad and how her grieving was actually a rather minor part of the story; on the other, I don’t think I’ve read another book that promotes forgiveness so effectively. Jabaley has actually given me and entire new perspective on forgiving, which I appreciate. However sweet the story or message was, though, the mechanics of this novel could have been better. It seemed strange to me how Emily desired to be popular while she also wanted to be kind and generous; in fact, the whole popularity angle was really unnecessary and insignificant to the novel, and I don’t even know why it was included. Emily’s dealing with her parents’ deaths was also somewhat unusual. Sometimes, I didn’t even understand Emily’s character at all, but I’ll just chalk it up to adolescence (hers, not mine). Most of the other characters would have been improved as well, with the exception of Emily’s Aunt Jolie, who was well-written and realistic. Despite the mediocre characters and predictable plot, I genuinely enjoyed Lipstick Apology because its story and message is so sweet.
Lipstick Apology is not too bad for a debut, and I look forward to seeing what Jabaley has in store next. This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde, And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman , and One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Lipstick Apology is a pretty interesting and original story idea that expresses age-old concepts such as family and forgiveness in a fresh way. The death of Emily’s parents is what this novel centers on, but the story is less about grief and learning to let go than it is about forgiveness and healing. On one hand, I was seriously confused why Emily never seemed to mourn her dad and how her grieving was actually a rather minor part of the story; on the other, I don’t think I’ve read another book that promotes forgiveness so effectively. Jabaley has actually given me and entire new perspective on forgiving, which I appreciate. However sweet the story or message was, though, the mechanics of this novel could have been better. It seemed strange to me how Emily desired to be popular while she also wanted to be kind and generous; in fact, the whole popularity angle was really unnecessary and insignificant to the novel, and I don’t even know why it was included. Emily’s dealing with her parents’ deaths was also somewhat unusual. Sometimes, I didn’t even understand Emily’s character at all, but I’ll just chalk it up to adolescence (hers, not mine). Most of the other characters would have been improved as well, with the exception of Emily’s Aunt Jolie, who was well-written and realistic. Despite the mediocre characters and predictable plot, I genuinely enjoyed Lipstick Apology because its story and message is so sweet.
Lipstick Apology is not too bad for a debut, and I look forward to seeing what Jabaley has in store next. This novel will be enjoyed by fans of The Day I Killed James by Catherine Ryan Hyde, And Then Everything Unraveled by Jennifer Sturman , and One Lonely Degree by C.K. Kelly Martin.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
January 9, 2018
After finishing my last romance book and was on the hunt for a new one, I wanted something more interesting that still included love. While I was at the library looking around, the bright colors of this book's cover caught my eye and the summary on the back of the book intrigued me.
Emily Carson is in the midst of a party when she finds out her parents have died in a plane crash. She is further shocked when a seat-back tray is discovered with a message written in lipstick from her mom to her: Emily, please forgive me. Those four words keep Emily from grieving in peace, as the national media focus on her and the lipstick apology that she doesn’t know the meaning of. All summer she hides within herself and her childhood home before heading off to New York City to live with her glamorous aunt Jolie, a make-up artists famous for all the famous people she makes-up and for her skin care product line. Never married and childless, Jolie isn’t sure how to help her niece overcome her grief and settle into their new lives together. Emily is enrolled at a prestigious New York City school, and at first all she can see are the differences between the students there and her friends back home in Pennsylvania where she grew up. As she slowly adjusts to her new world, she must learn to distinguish true friendship based on the person within, not the looks outside. And she grapples with the meaning of her mother’s message.
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley starts off somewhat rocky, with characters that seem more like caricatures than real people. I loved all of the characters including a gay hairdresser, rich prep school girls, and self-centered high school jocks. In some ways, it reads like a made-for-TV movie, covering issues on the surface, but not very in-depth. However, as the book moves along, I got a closer look at Emily and her motivations, her insecurities and her quest. While I never felt as though I truly got into Emily’s brain and understood what she was going through, the author allowed me to be a part of the situations she went through because of the great description and detail that was embedded throughout the book.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy while reading the book was how she was stuck between two boys, Owen and Anthony. She already had so much going on with her parents deaths that I wish she had one constant boyfriend who could support her through her troubles and help her solve what the apology from her mother meant.
Emily Carson is in the midst of a party when she finds out her parents have died in a plane crash. She is further shocked when a seat-back tray is discovered with a message written in lipstick from her mom to her: Emily, please forgive me. Those four words keep Emily from grieving in peace, as the national media focus on her and the lipstick apology that she doesn’t know the meaning of. All summer she hides within herself and her childhood home before heading off to New York City to live with her glamorous aunt Jolie, a make-up artists famous for all the famous people she makes-up and for her skin care product line. Never married and childless, Jolie isn’t sure how to help her niece overcome her grief and settle into their new lives together. Emily is enrolled at a prestigious New York City school, and at first all she can see are the differences between the students there and her friends back home in Pennsylvania where she grew up. As she slowly adjusts to her new world, she must learn to distinguish true friendship based on the person within, not the looks outside. And she grapples with the meaning of her mother’s message.
Lipstick Apology by Jennifer Jabaley starts off somewhat rocky, with characters that seem more like caricatures than real people. I loved all of the characters including a gay hairdresser, rich prep school girls, and self-centered high school jocks. In some ways, it reads like a made-for-TV movie, covering issues on the surface, but not very in-depth. However, as the book moves along, I got a closer look at Emily and her motivations, her insecurities and her quest. While I never felt as though I truly got into Emily’s brain and understood what she was going through, the author allowed me to be a part of the situations she went through because of the great description and detail that was embedded throughout the book.
The only thing that I didn't enjoy while reading the book was how she was stuck between two boys, Owen and Anthony. She already had so much going on with her parents deaths that I wish she had one constant boyfriend who could support her through her troubles and help her solve what the apology from her mother meant.
October 9, 2009
First Impressions: Wow! Sounds so good. A mix of light high school drama/romance but also heavier with the death of her parents. Seems like a good combo to me!
And indeed, I found the lightness and heaviness to be equal and well balanced. There's the typical new girl at school, attracting the attention of the popular girls and that one popular golden boy (hellooo player). But there are also some meatier parts, dealing with some tougher subjects such as death and trying to live on.
But I actually really liked all the characters. As Lauren said, Emily doesn't change completely, she doesn't ditch her old friend back home. On the contrary, her old friend and new friend actually talk and become friends themselves. And the popular mean girls, aren't really that mean. One of them is actually quite sweet and enjoyable. Not only the teens, but the adults in the book are lovely too. Emily's aunt, who Emily goes to live with after her parents die, is a cosmetician for celebrities. She lives large and falls for the big end players, but she has a great heart. Also in the novel, Emily's aunt's best friend, a hairdresser who adds humor and liveliness to the story.
While the plot is pretty average and nothing really new, it's done well. Sure, it's predictable, from the boy Emily will end up with, to her mother's big secret. But there are many parts that are heartwarming and give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Although some of the scenes seemed a litte forced... no matter. I still really enjoyed reading those bits.
The writing is smooth. While not different or special enough to make it stand out, it makes the reading easy on the brain.
Final Impressions: I really don't have much to say. It won't drastically change your life, but it's certainly very great. With equal parts guilty pleasure drama/romance reading and deeper life tips and meaning, Lipstick Apology is enjoyable and a pleasure to read.
And indeed, I found the lightness and heaviness to be equal and well balanced. There's the typical new girl at school, attracting the attention of the popular girls and that one popular golden boy (hellooo player). But there are also some meatier parts, dealing with some tougher subjects such as death and trying to live on.
But I actually really liked all the characters. As Lauren said, Emily doesn't change completely, she doesn't ditch her old friend back home. On the contrary, her old friend and new friend actually talk and become friends themselves. And the popular mean girls, aren't really that mean. One of them is actually quite sweet and enjoyable. Not only the teens, but the adults in the book are lovely too. Emily's aunt, who Emily goes to live with after her parents die, is a cosmetician for celebrities. She lives large and falls for the big end players, but she has a great heart. Also in the novel, Emily's aunt's best friend, a hairdresser who adds humor and liveliness to the story.
While the plot is pretty average and nothing really new, it's done well. Sure, it's predictable, from the boy Emily will end up with, to her mother's big secret. But there are many parts that are heartwarming and give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Although some of the scenes seemed a litte forced... no matter. I still really enjoyed reading those bits.
The writing is smooth. While not different or special enough to make it stand out, it makes the reading easy on the brain.
Final Impressions: I really don't have much to say. It won't drastically change your life, but it's certainly very great. With equal parts guilty pleasure drama/romance reading and deeper life tips and meaning, Lipstick Apology is enjoyable and a pleasure to read.
March 24, 2011
I might have rated this higher had I not read the epilogue. I mean throwing all of her mothers journals into the river? It just made me cringe. She should have given them back to her aunt for safe keeping.
The story was interesting and a page turner, and then it just ended just how it started with unanswered questions. What about her new dad? Will she call him? Why the affair? What made her mom realize it was a huge mistake? What was her mother feeling? Anthony? They were just getting started and then the book ended.
I guess this book was essentially about a young teenager coping with her grief and learning to forgive. I do appreciate that we can't always understand why people do the things that they do. Sometimes we have to offer up bling forgiveness so that we can move on with our lives. Forgiving others truly helps to make us better people. Sometimes we will never understand why they hurt us.
I loved this quote on page 73
"It was a long time ago, " he said. "I was really young, but I remember how hard it was. How unexpected- our total lack preparation. Everything was so fresh, every detail available for scrutiny. You think it will be that way forever-but here's the thing-life just keeps going on. People are forgotten and details get fuzzy. You have to work really hard to both let go and hold on."
My favorite character in the book was her aunt Jolie. I have to admit I cried a few tears when she talked about not knowing what to do and wanting to call her sister. This book had some really tender moments.
My least favorite story line and character. Boy wonder the swimmer (of course). He was such a predictable creep from the first moment we were introduced to him. Although, this is so realistic, cause High School girls have totally cloudy judgement when it comes to popular, jock, hotties. This made me so glad that I didn't go to high school in New York.
The story was interesting and a page turner, and then it just ended just how it started with unanswered questions. What about her new dad? Will she call him? Why the affair? What made her mom realize it was a huge mistake? What was her mother feeling? Anthony? They were just getting started and then the book ended.
I guess this book was essentially about a young teenager coping with her grief and learning to forgive. I do appreciate that we can't always understand why people do the things that they do. Sometimes we have to offer up bling forgiveness so that we can move on with our lives. Forgiving others truly helps to make us better people. Sometimes we will never understand why they hurt us.
I loved this quote on page 73
"It was a long time ago, " he said. "I was really young, but I remember how hard it was. How unexpected- our total lack preparation. Everything was so fresh, every detail available for scrutiny. You think it will be that way forever-but here's the thing-life just keeps going on. People are forgotten and details get fuzzy. You have to work really hard to both let go and hold on."
My favorite character in the book was her aunt Jolie. I have to admit I cried a few tears when she talked about not knowing what to do and wanting to call her sister. This book had some really tender moments.
My least favorite story line and character. Boy wonder the swimmer (of course). He was such a predictable creep from the first moment we were introduced to him. Although, this is so realistic, cause High School girls have totally cloudy judgement when it comes to popular, jock, hotties. This made me so glad that I didn't go to high school in New York.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2009
I was so excited to get this book because I had seen it on a couple of blogger sites and when I read the description I thought it was going to be pretty good. This novel starts off with Emily’s party back in her hometown in Pennsylvania. Right in the middle of it her Aunt Jolie walks and tells her that her parent’s plane crashed. As they sat together in her bedroom watching the news, a report came on and they discovered a tray table with the words: Emily Please Forgive Me. Summer past very fast and suddenly it came Fall and she moved out to New York City with her Aunt. Now in a new High School she meets two boys, one that makes her forget about the mysterious message and the one who makes her remember.
Honestly I didn’t really enjoy this novel as much as I thought I was going to. Emily is so shallow and one-minded throughout the entire first part of the novel that it just annoyed me really bad but eventually it does get better. The language was very 21st century and I really liked that. There was romance, friendship and just the knowledge that you never truly know someone. We journey with Emily in her quest to find herself as well as discovering what the written apology meant. Her best friend Georgia is just like my best friend Christian, despite them living at a distance, they could call each other and depend on one another like true family. It does have some funny moments. Like I said before the only thing that annoyed me was that she was so shallow. She cared so much about Owens good looks and ranking in the school, rather than Anthony who was sweet and a good friend. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 paws.
Honestly I didn’t really enjoy this novel as much as I thought I was going to. Emily is so shallow and one-minded throughout the entire first part of the novel that it just annoyed me really bad but eventually it does get better. The language was very 21st century and I really liked that. There was romance, friendship and just the knowledge that you never truly know someone. We journey with Emily in her quest to find herself as well as discovering what the written apology meant. Her best friend Georgia is just like my best friend Christian, despite them living at a distance, they could call each other and depend on one another like true family. It does have some funny moments. Like I said before the only thing that annoyed me was that she was so shallow. She cared so much about Owens good looks and ranking in the school, rather than Anthony who was sweet and a good friend. I give this book 3.5 out of 5 paws.
July 13, 2009
Before even seeing the summary for this book, I just knew from the cover that I was going to be in for quite the amazing of rides.
Lipstick Apology ( Awesome title, right?) was heartbreaking while still being a heartwarming read. I just loved the story Jennifer created in this book. The plot contained a new and fresh idea. I seriously don't think I've ever see a book that dealt with a mysterious message left in lipstick, have you? Another rewarding quality of the story was that it was fast paced and filled with twists that you didn't see coming. Plus, most of the situations Emily, Trent, and Jolie got in brought out several LOL moments.
Emily was a fabulous main character, I thought. Yes, she did have her breakdowns and freakish moments, though what can you say when her parents just died. I loved how she was always looking out for the underdogs in her posh private school. Lastly, I really liked the two love interests Jennifer gave Emily. Owen was the typical spoiled but hot rich boy and Anthony was the sweet guy from Brooklyn with a heart of gold. I was always jumping from team Anthony to Owen to Anthony again. Though in the end, I loved Anthony the best because there was just something so sweet and innocent about him.
Overall, Lipstick Apology was a fantastic debut by Ms. Jabaley, I serioulsy can't wait to read more by her.
Grade: A+
Lipstick Apology ( Awesome title, right?) was heartbreaking while still being a heartwarming read. I just loved the story Jennifer created in this book. The plot contained a new and fresh idea. I seriously don't think I've ever see a book that dealt with a mysterious message left in lipstick, have you? Another rewarding quality of the story was that it was fast paced and filled with twists that you didn't see coming. Plus, most of the situations Emily, Trent, and Jolie got in brought out several LOL moments.
Emily was a fabulous main character, I thought. Yes, she did have her breakdowns and freakish moments, though what can you say when her parents just died. I loved how she was always looking out for the underdogs in her posh private school. Lastly, I really liked the two love interests Jennifer gave Emily. Owen was the typical spoiled but hot rich boy and Anthony was the sweet guy from Brooklyn with a heart of gold. I was always jumping from team Anthony to Owen to Anthony again. Though in the end, I loved Anthony the best because there was just something so sweet and innocent about him.
Overall, Lipstick Apology was a fantastic debut by Ms. Jabaley, I serioulsy can't wait to read more by her.
Grade: A+
March 10, 2010
Four Little Words Written in Lipstick was all it took for Emily’s life to fall apart. The one time Emily decides to throw a party when he parents go on vacation was all it took. Maybe if she just asked her parents to have a party or maybe if she didn’t have one at all, maybe just maybe she could of saved her parents life. No her parents will never return. Her life was peacefully, quiet, free from publicity and the bond between her and her parents were the way it was suppose to be, but when reporters discover the note in lipstick, “Emily, please forgive me”. Forgive you…for what? Months later Emily leaves behind her old life in Pennsylvania and starts a new one in New York City with her aunt the make-up queen. Now everyone knows about the plane crash and the note Emily’s mom left in the plane. Emily doesn’t know what’s in store for her in her new school, in her new streets, new city, new house, she doesn’t even know if she’s prepared. But that doesn’t matter until she meets two significant people who would chose the destiny of her future. Emily has to decide between forgetting it all or remembering it but healing. She has to discover the fact that “Sometimes goodbye is just the beginning”.
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Angela S. for TeensReadToo.com
LIPSTICK APOLOGY follows 16-year-old Emily, whose parents die in a plane crash on their way to California. In the rubble, rescuers find a tray table with the words " Emily, please forgive me" written in lipstick. Emily has no idea what her mother meant, and she goes into a depressed slump trying to figure it out.
Eventually, three months later, she moves to New York to live with her aunt, Jolie, a famous make-up artist. Despite having totally different lives, Jolie and Emily try to bond over take-out food and good movies.
In New York, Emily starts at a new school where she is befriended by two popular girls, Lindsey and Andi, and a not-so-popular guy named Anthony. She is also head-over-heels in lust for the most popular boy in school - Owen.
But is Owen all he's made out to be? Or is he just a great distraction from the real problems in Emily's life?
Deciphering her mother's message really takes a toll on Emily, but when she finally finds out what her mother meant, she'll have to ask herself, does she really want to know?
This is a great read, and you'll root for Emily the whole way through.
LIPSTICK APOLOGY follows 16-year-old Emily, whose parents die in a plane crash on their way to California. In the rubble, rescuers find a tray table with the words " Emily, please forgive me" written in lipstick. Emily has no idea what her mother meant, and she goes into a depressed slump trying to figure it out.
Eventually, three months later, she moves to New York to live with her aunt, Jolie, a famous make-up artist. Despite having totally different lives, Jolie and Emily try to bond over take-out food and good movies.
In New York, Emily starts at a new school where she is befriended by two popular girls, Lindsey and Andi, and a not-so-popular guy named Anthony. She is also head-over-heels in lust for the most popular boy in school - Owen.
But is Owen all he's made out to be? Or is he just a great distraction from the real problems in Emily's life?
Deciphering her mother's message really takes a toll on Emily, but when she finally finds out what her mother meant, she'll have to ask herself, does she really want to know?
This is a great read, and you'll root for Emily the whole way through.
August 16, 2009
Lipstick Apology was this mixture of breathtakingly touching moments and surprisingly hilarious ones. Losing your parents is something you never want anyone to experience, and Jabaley did a fantastic job depicting that with this novel.
Loved Trent, Jolie and Anthony. Emily was a little extreme for me at times, but she started to win me over at the end. There were certain aspects, like Emily's desire to be popular, that seemed uneven with the overall tone.
The romance was a little bit dry, and it was definitely predictable. Which honestly, wasn't a big deal to me, I appreciated the other elements in the novel enough to let the romance aspect slide. Overall, despite it's few shortcomings, I really enjoyed reading Lipstick Apology.
Loved Trent, Jolie and Anthony. Emily was a little extreme for me at times, but she started to win me over at the end. There were certain aspects, like Emily's desire to be popular, that seemed uneven with the overall tone.
The romance was a little bit dry, and it was definitely predictable. Which honestly, wasn't a big deal to me, I appreciated the other elements in the novel enough to let the romance aspect slide. Overall, despite it's few shortcomings, I really enjoyed reading Lipstick Apology.
March 7, 2022
Ughhh my heart. This was unexpectedly so great. I'm rounding up to 5 stars because of the freaking plot twist. Y'all, I was caught off guard and that just doesn't happen often. This was an easy read. It's really well written and the character development is spot on. The pacing of the timeline is believable and it gave me a chance to feel connected to these characters. I found myself rooting for them and that took me by surprise in the best way. Despite the intriguing blub, the genre is YA, so I went into this thinking I wouldn't enjoy it. But I was gripped right away. SO glad I took a chance with this one!
August 21, 2012
Certain elements of the way this book was written weren't really my cup of tea, but I still enjoyed the book nonetheless. The story turned out to be more heartwarming and adorable than I'd initially thought, and the characters were very easy to fall in love with. I could definitely see this being the plot of a teen movie in the near future.
January 7, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. it is one of my favourites. I liked how the author added in romance, angst, drama, and A lot of Secrets! it made the book really interesting and I enjoy reading it over and over.
May 14, 2009
This is my YA book which debuts in August 2009!!
July 27, 2020
This novel (if you can even call this random assembly of words writing) is the soul reason I made a goodreads account. While I was obsessed with this story in middle school, it's no wonder that my writing suffered. The story is made out to be some great romantic mystery, but in actuality is nothing but trope-ridden drivel. It is full of inaccuracies, casual sexual harrassment, the sexualization of literal children by adults, glorified abuse and manipulation, glorified eating disorder behavior, mental illness shown as "quirky" while making a mockery of therapy, not to mention the body shaming that occurs about every two pages. The characters themselves are hopeless tropes that are either fetishized or mocked (here's an idea- if you have to sexualize someone in order to respect them, you never had respect for them in the first place). The main character is a ridiculous renderance of a teenager, constantly obsessing over men in completely unrealistic scenarios- including thinking about kissing immediately after having her hair burned off- and the very few human moments she has are written so poorly I first assumed that the author was a 50 year old incel neckbeard. I was proven wrong, but that does not negate the fact that Jennifer's writing makes Twilight look like a goddamn literary masterpiece. And the cherry on top of this lovely little shit cake is that while summaries will tell you that this book is about Emily discovering her Mother's "mysterious apology written in lipstick"- which, by the way, would never have survived that plain crash- the plot is actually about Emily manipulating and outright abusing her friend, constantly seeking male attention to the point that she does not care about who she hurts, furthering the already ludicrous stereotypes surrounding teenagers and grief in general, and just overall making an ass of herself. Jennifer Jabaley's writing honestly reminds me of my own writing in early middle school- character's emotions go from 0-100 in the space of five seconds, the pacing makes no sense, the dialogue is tedious at best, and the plot is entirely composed of bullshit. I sincerely hope nobody wastes their time on Jennifer's books at all, as from what I can tell by Lipstick Apology, she neither remembers anything about being a teenager or human at all, nor does she have two brain cells to rub together.
November 19, 2024
One thing is for certain, I didn't expect this novel to be as funny as it is. While death, love, dishonesty, and loss are all major themes at play in Lipstick Apology, the I managed to laugh just as much as I cried while reading it. There's not much of a plot here - the story is more about how Emily deals and grows once her life has been turned upside down.
Emily is a typical teenager thrust into a tragic situation and all of her behaviors and actions are believable and fall well in-line with her circumstances. I especially enjoyed witnessing her relationship with her aunt Jolie grow during the course of the story. Sometimes her reactions and interactions with Jolie seemed a bit melodramatic, but it makes sense coming from a girl her age...
...Continue reading this review at The Eclectic Book Lover.
Emily is a typical teenager thrust into a tragic situation and all of her behaviors and actions are believable and fall well in-line with her circumstances. I especially enjoyed witnessing her relationship with her aunt Jolie grow during the course of the story. Sometimes her reactions and interactions with Jolie seemed a bit melodramatic, but it makes sense coming from a girl her age...
...Continue reading this review at The Eclectic Book Lover.
July 26, 2020
I’m pleasantly surprised by how well this book held up! It’s sweet and has great character development. I especially loved Anthony. He’s nice, smart, funny, supportive and always has baked goods! What else could you possibly want in a love interest? Our protagonist annoyed me a little at first, as she was rather shallow, but she had just been through a traumatic experience, so I gave her a pass. Also, that’s the beauty of character development! Emily realized that popular does not equal nice and let go of her shallow ways. I also liked the way this book discussed letting go. It’s not something that I have much experience in, but it seemed realistic. The other relationships were well developed too, especially with Jolie, Georgia, Lindsey, and Trent. All lovely, supportive people. This was a cute read! 4/5 July 26 2020
May 15, 2023
Lipstick Apology was intense, heart-wrenching, and bittersweet. It kept you in suspense from the very first chapter. I couldn't put the book down!
The main character is a 16-year-old girl named Emily Carson, who loses her parents in a fatal plane crash. Her mother's last words to her were, "Emily, please forgive me," which she wrote on a food tray in lipstick moments before the plane crashed. Emily spends only a tiny portion of the book searching for answers to her mother's apology. Still, I didn't mind that it wasn't as mysterious and suspenseful as the blurb suggested. The story was filled with teenage drama, falling in love, learning to forgive, and living with grief. It was all very realistic. I enjoyed it.
The main character is a 16-year-old girl named Emily Carson, who loses her parents in a fatal plane crash. Her mother's last words to her were, "Emily, please forgive me," which she wrote on a food tray in lipstick moments before the plane crashed. Emily spends only a tiny portion of the book searching for answers to her mother's apology. Still, I didn't mind that it wasn't as mysterious and suspenseful as the blurb suggested. The story was filled with teenage drama, falling in love, learning to forgive, and living with grief. It was all very realistic. I enjoyed it.
July 31, 2025
This was a good story about a teen who loses her parents in a plane crash and in turn loses everything in her own life. Forced to move to NYC with her aunt, she has to start over as “the girl whose parents died and whose mom had apologized with lipstick on a tray table”. Everyone wants to know what the apology was for, even our protagonist. So she looks for clues and finds them leading her to the most earth shattering truth about her mother.
It was a quick read because it kept my interest and didn’t have any drawn out side plots.
It was a quick read because it kept my interest and didn’t have any drawn out side plots.
December 3, 2019
So I didn't think this book was going to be that good. When I started reading it I couldn't put it down. The book is about a girl named Emily whose parents died in a plane crash and on one of the tables on the plane Emily's mom wrote please forgive me. So Emily moves in with her aunt and she trys to find out what the apology meant. The dad who she thought was her dad might not actually be her dad. The apology is that her mom might have cheated on her dad. This book is a really good book.
February 24, 2019
3.5 stars
I feel like they opened up so many stories in the first half that had holes. However, the last 50 pages made it all worth it!! It was crazy. It is a heart warming story of a girl who goes to live with her aunt in the city. The character development was good, I’m glad she stuck to who she really was instead of changing herself just to be popular. It’s a nice, quick read!
I feel like they opened up so many stories in the first half that had holes. However, the last 50 pages made it all worth it!! It was crazy. It is a heart warming story of a girl who goes to live with her aunt in the city. The character development was good, I’m glad she stuck to who she really was instead of changing herself just to be popular. It’s a nice, quick read!
June 14, 2021
Haven’t read it in a long time but this was the first romance novel I ever read. And I probably read it 8 or 9 times. Maybe more. My copy is so loved and is the reason I fell in love with romance novels. Good story. A little cheesy but different than a lot of the typical romance tropes you see now.
December 11, 2021
I didn't realize this was a teen read. Honestly, it was a good story and well written. The main character, Emily, has a normal life and then her parents die. Emily goes to live with her Aunt in NYC. She goes to a new school, has to make new friends, all while trying to grieve and understand an apology her Mom wrote in lipstick. I enjoyed it.
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