This Girl Isn't Shy, She's Spectacular

by Nina Beck

Samantha Owens is sick of being a good girl. So she's skipping out on her stuffy boarding school and finishing up her senior year in New York City. There, Sam reunites with her former fat-camp roomie, the irrepressible Riley Swain, and is drawn into Riley's high-glamour, high-fashion world of deluxe makeovers, dates with wealthy boys, and wild nights out. Then Sam meets D., the gorgeous, wicked boy who once broke Riley's heart. Sam is supposed to hate D., but she can't. And D. can't seem to stay away from Sam, who never wanted things to get this complicated. But no one said reinventing yourself, or falling in love, was ever supposed to be easy.

PRAISE FOR THIS BOOK ISN'T FAT, IT'S FABULOUS:

"Riley's narration is hilarious and fresh. ...this girl has flair. "

--KIRKUS REVIEWS

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Teen

224 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2009

About the author

NINA BECK likes peppermint tea, movies with lots of synchronized dance sequences, boys with curly hair, and living in Brooklyn, New York. She also likes writing characters that make her laugh and make other people ask, "Um. . . is this autobiographical?"

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Readers met Riley Swain, D, and Samantha Owens in THIS BOOK ISN'T FAT, IT'S FABULOUS. Whereas the first book was all about Riley, this novel focuses on Samantha and D.

Samantha has convinced her parents to let her finish her senior year of high school at home in New York City. She's spent the past few years at New Horizons boarding school. She met Riley there when Riley spent two weeks on break attending "fat camp." Samantha has always been the good girl and never any trouble. She's created a list of things that she's not done, and she needs Riley's help to accomplish the list.

On the other side of life, Michael D. Hammond III (aka D) has done TOO much and writes a list of things that have messed up his life. He wants to change his life and starts with the determination to get a good night's sleep before school the next day. He finds himself tossing in bed by 11pm and decides he needs to go for a walk.

When Samantha and D encounter each other the night before Samantha is to start school, they are both interested in the other, but Samantha leaves with only a phone number in her phone that she labels THE BOY. She refuses to give him her information.

Imagine the surprise they each show when they meet up at Starbucks before school because of a mutual friend...Riley. THE BOY is none other than the D that Sam heard all about while Riley was at New Horizons. And D knows that he can't screw around with Sam. Riley would kill him.

So the rest of the story proceeds, alternating between D and Sam's voices. Sam is trying to accomplish her list, but her thoughts keep going back to D. D can't stop thinking about Sam, but he does all he can to keep his heart safe.

THIS GIRL ISN'T SHY, SHE'S SPECTACULAR is a fast-paced read. Easily finished in one evening, the reader will come to admire Samantha's energy, Riley's passion for life, and even D's hesitancy. One doesn't have to have read the previous novel to enjoy the adventures that Riley drags Samantha through. I found that I enjoyed this novel even more than the first one and hope to see these three friends in future works by Ms. Beck.

[Fae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this book up from a discard cart in front of my favorite bookstore. A fun read that got me out of a slump but not my cup of tea! I can see the outline of this book being super promising but when brought into a larger scale being hard to flesh out. The male MC, “D,” is not vulnerable whatsoever and sabotages the main character “Sam” every time she tries to go on dates so she’ll give up on dating?… and the main character was a very hollow shell of a high school girl in the vein of men writing women without depth. her main desire was to get into a writing program, then spent a majority of the book going on shitty dates and doing things that didn’t make her happy, then got accepting into her writing program at the end. Rants aside, it was fine!

[First · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. Its about a girl who is different from others. Also, a boy who regret the things he did. The girl was applying for the UCLA writing programme. The boy likes to go to clubs and drink but he regretted that so he tried to change. The girl was called Samantha and the boy was called D. Samantha made a list of what she haven't done and wanted to and D made a list of what he did and he regrets it. Apparently, Samantha and D had the same best friend which was Riley, D and Samantha however didn't know each other. Riley tried to help them both with there list. One day riley told Samantha to snuck out of the house because that was something on her list. When Samantha and Riley arrived at the club a coincidence happened. After that Samantha moved school and so many guys had a crushed on her. School dance was coming soon so Riley and her little comittee tried to find her a date and someone wasnt really pleased....

[Mona · Rating 4 out of 5]

So ADORABLE! I couldn't help but feel giddy myself!

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the follow up to This Girl Isn't Fat She's Fabulous. It begins shortly after that book. This time the main character is not Riley Swain, but one of the girls she met at New Horizons, Samantha Owens. Samantha Owens has planned on going to UCLA in the Creative writing program; she has wanted to be a writer since she was 8. But her writing samples are too bland. Her academics are exceptional so she has been asked to reapply. On receiving this news she decides to return to New York City for her final term of high school.

Once back in New York she makes a list - a list of all the things she has never done and wants to do. And she teams up with Riley Swain to change her life. Her list includes:

1. Try to change
2. Stay out all night
3. Do something that is definitely a bad idea
4. Go with the flow
5. Make new friends
6. Go out on a date with someone uncontrollable
7. Learn how to deal with things in a more productive manner

To start with, Riley takes her to a salon for a makeover, and helps her revamp her style. Then they slip out and into a bar. There she meets a strange man with a British accent and she finds him incredibly beautiful. The next morning before school, she discovers that this strange man is Riley's best friend D - Michael D. Hammond III. There is a strange tension between them. But Riley starts a dating pool for Sam. A group of 4 will vote and decide, based on applications and first dates, who will take her to the spring formal.


The story is written in parallel chapters; both D and Sam are trying to change their lives. D is trying to clean up his image and his life and decide what he really wants to do. Sam is trying to sully her image and get more experience in life. Their goals are at odds and the tension between them escalates as Sam has more and more dates from the dating game.

This is an incredibly well written book. It has solid characters, great pace and the story woven through two different first-person accounts is well balanced and remains interesting. The book also has the power to stand on its own if you have not read the first one. It is some great fun light reading.

(First published in Imprint 2009-09-25.)

[Megan » Hello Book Bird! · Rating 3 out of 5]

The snarky-rich "It's Not Fat, It's Fabulous" left the bar a little too high for this sequel to reach.

Still, this book was sweet and endearing as it focuses more on Sam, Riley's less-snarky companion, on her road to finding out that she's spectacular just the way she is.

If what you're look for is something easy and fast to read, this will hit the mark!

[Ritika Ahuja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must have read this book back when I was 12 or 13 years old and didn't even know what the young adult genre was. It's a good read that I enjoyed when the market wasn't particularly saturated with books like these.

[ʀ ᴀ ᴄ ʜ ☽ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book when I was like 10 and I absolutely loved it lol. Decided to read it again and honestly, while its a pretty trashy basic book, I still love it.

[pran? · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found this book at my school library. I've read this COUNTLESS times since and this book NEVER bores me no matter how many times I read it-a must read for y'all!!!

[Querida · Rating 5 out of 5]

nina beck is one of the best authors ill give this a 5/5

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a young adult book. This book is about a girl named Samantha who is tired of her boring good-girl life. She decides to go to New York City and be with her friend Riley. She makes a check list of things she hasn't done and has Riley help her. The reason for this check list is Sam applies to a creative writing program for the University of California, Los Angeles and is denied a spot because the head of the program says there is a lack of energy, passion, and it was boring. He says she needs to have more excitement in her life and that’s the reason she goes to NYC. She winds up getting involved with D, the bad boy. He goes out to bars, hangs out with girls, basically he’s a player. D has everything you could ever want. A good life, an expensive apartment, but he still isn't happy. That’s when he meets Sam. D went out with Riley, so Sam’s not really supposed to like him since he broke Riley’s heart. But D can’t stay away from Sam and Sam doesn't really want him to. This is a main theme throughout the book.

I really enjoyed this story. I like the kind of books that have to do with relationships and gossip and all that kind of stuff. I would recommend it to teenage or young adult girls. I felt that this story was engaging. You just keep wanting to read so that you can find out what’s going to happen with Sam and D next! I think the author succeeded with building the relationship with D and Sam. You really feel like it’s one of those relationships that is unfolding as the book goes on. I wish there was maybe something more that happened with Riley, but over all I really enjoyed the story line and will probably look for other books written by this author.

[Anjali · Rating 4 out of 5]

In This Girl Isn't Shy, She's Spectacular by Nina Beck, Samantha Owens is a wannabe writer who applies for a program with her favorite author, but gets she rejected by him because she doesn't have passion (real-life experiences) in her writing. On the other side of the novel, there is D, he was a reckless kid who wanted to become more mature. The two main characters meet through a mutual close friend and end up falling for each other. That though, is not the main point of the story. The main plot is that the characters meet their goals and begin a path to happy life.

This book was amazing as it engaged the readers and left them anticipating what was to come. The book made me laugh at D's silly theories about Samantha and her dates. It also made me aww when there were any cutesy moments between Samantha and D. I applaud the author for involving scenarios and personalities the readers can relate to

I recommend this book for teens between the ages of 13 and 16 who want a fun, light read. Although the word choice wasn't difficult to comprehend, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone under the age of 13 because the concepts wouldn't be as relatable. I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone over the age of 16 because, it would be to easy and probably underrated for their level of comprehension.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the companion novel for This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous and this time it is focused on Rileys' friends Samantha and D. It is told in alternating points of view, so it was not to get some insight into people Riley spent most of the last book with. As we all know from the first book, Samantha is tired of being a "good girl". So she makes a list of things she needs to do to try and shake this image and get some life experience, but also to try and find some personal experience that she can draw on to help improve her writing. D has also made a list and he is trying to behave.... We all know what D is like.

I enjoyed this, possibly more than the first only because Riley is so full on and here she is much calmer and has less of a starring role. Samantha is a great character and I love that she is so comfortable in herself (aside from this small thing were she worries that she is too much of a good girl).

It is funny and endearing story and I am totally disappointed that Apples & Oranges by Pete Bryant is not a real book. I would love to read this book about an invisible girl who doesn't realise she is invisible.

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not as awesome as the first title, "This Book Isn't Fat, It's Fabulous".
This story follows Riley Swain's friends Samantha and D as they both try and reinvent themselves. He wants to become less of a party boy and she wants to become MORE of one. In an effort to help Sam out, Riley starts a dating club whose job it is to screen potential dates. D joins the group as well, hoping that if he sends Samantha on a few horrible dates, she'll be all to ready to fall into his arms.

There was pretty good subtle humor in this book, and it was overall a pretty sweet modern love story. I think that having read the prior book, which was written in first-person narrative through the boisterous Riley, made this one harder to get into. It is written in a juxtapose between D and Samantha chapters, with a third-person narrator who teeters on humor, but never really goes in for the full laugh.

This is a good beach towel read.

[Lea Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but I thought the plot of this book was a little too predictable. We know from the start that Samantha, the good girl trying to take a bite out of life, and "D", the bad boy looking to reform are going to find one another. This premise is as old as time itself. For me, the bright spot in this book was how Samantha surrenders her "dating" fate to her friends. I would have enjoyed reading about a couple more disastrous dates as they were quite humorous. Overall, I thought this was a cute book, but not exactly a page turner.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Desperate for something interesting and fun to write about in her college applications, Samantha is giving up being the perfect student. Calling in the help of old friend Riley, she heads back to New York to create a list of all the normal teenage things she’s never done. But giving up being perfect was never going to go smoothly. This is a fun read, great for teens. I read it in one sitting and absolutely loved it.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhh! I haven't finished a bk in 2 dayz in a looooooong time so it feels weird. Any1 evr get tht?
This bk was ok. Not the best I've read tho. K so the author has another bk called "this bk isn't fat, it's fabulous". Wats w the author and the isnts and it's?? Ran out of names, had 2 correct our brains about wat we think if the bkkkk?? Anyways. No w8 ther iznt anyways. I don't know how 2 end this review....(or like tht).....

[Mahima Khetarpal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay.
So this book is not that impressive like the first part.
Its is too clingy.
I dont hate this book but to start with it wasnt a book i would advise you to read.

Micheal reffered as D is fine character who is a player.
Wheras when he cross path with his best friend's friend he decides to use her too.
But starts liking her.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one but it was really predictable. I was disappointed because I really like her first book.

[Mehvash · Rating 4 out of 5]

D...

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in the series was definitely better.

[Angela9600 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked the main character of this one.

[Fadlhlin Sakina · Rating 5 out of 5]

♥

[Ainaa Akemi · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love reading high school story. simple and not to complicated

[Nafisa]

ok

[Gab R · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute feel-good read.

[Aishwarya · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very easy one!ira gifted me this book on my b'day.read it quite a few times.