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Bass Ackwards and Belly Up #1
Comme des soeurs
4 filles, 4 rêves, 4 amies...
¤ Harper veut écrire le prochain grand roman du siècle.
¤ Sophie veut devenir actrice à Los Angeles.
¤ Kate veut partir seule en Europe et se trouver, enfin.
¤ Becca veut être championne de ski.
Mais, entre les filles et leurs rêves, il y a la réalité: les crises d'angoisse, les fous rires, les lettres échangées, les coups de téléphone et les coups de foudre aussi...
« Drôle, sincère et hilarant! Un livre que toute adolescente se doit absolument de lire. »
Melissa de la Cruz
Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
24 people are currently reading
3489 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Craft
18 books130 followersElizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain wrote their first piece together when they were fifteen - a feature on Kansas City delis for their high school newspaper.
They now live in Los Angeles, where Sarah and Liz are currently Writer-Producers on the Emmy-award winning show "The Shield" and James Patterson's upcoming "Women's Murder Detective Club" TV series debuting this fall on ABC.
They now live in Los Angeles, where Sarah and Liz are currently Writer-Producers on the Emmy-award winning show "The Shield" and James Patterson's upcoming "Women's Murder Detective Club" TV series debuting this fall on ABC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
November 8, 2012
Reviewed by Emylee for TeensReadToo.com
Harper Waddle, Sophie Bush, Kate Foster, and Becca Winsberg, four best friends who bonded in middle school during a fateful trip to the bathroom, have reached a pivotal moment in their lives. The summer after their high school graduation leaves them ready to pursue their much anticipated futures; Becca, a spot on the coveted Middlebury College ski team; Harper, an acceptance into her dream school, NYU; Kate, a future at Harvard with her beloved boyfriend; and poor Sophie, stuck at home attending community college. Unfortunately, none of their plans really coincide with each other.
Harper, however, is living with a big secret. One so big that it causes her to ditch her college plans in pursuit of her "dream." This act of liberation starts a whirlwind of commotion during the last few days of the girls' summer, and by the start of the new school year, only Becca has stayed true to her original plans. Fueled with ambition, daring Sophie leaves their small town of Boulder in hope of hitting it big in Los Angeles, impeccable Kate forsakes Harvard for Europe, and Harper is determined to write the next "Great American Novel."
Now separated by state lines and oceans, and linked only by letters, lists, and the occasional telephone call, Harper, Sophie, Kate, and Becca are left to discover what growing up is all about, reminiscent of THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS trilogy.
BASS ACKWARDS AND BELLY UP is a humorous tale about the path to maturity, narrated from each girl's own particular journey, and illustrates the sometimes haphazard route one follows in pursuit of a dream.
Harper Waddle, Sophie Bush, Kate Foster, and Becca Winsberg, four best friends who bonded in middle school during a fateful trip to the bathroom, have reached a pivotal moment in their lives. The summer after their high school graduation leaves them ready to pursue their much anticipated futures; Becca, a spot on the coveted Middlebury College ski team; Harper, an acceptance into her dream school, NYU; Kate, a future at Harvard with her beloved boyfriend; and poor Sophie, stuck at home attending community college. Unfortunately, none of their plans really coincide with each other.
Harper, however, is living with a big secret. One so big that it causes her to ditch her college plans in pursuit of her "dream." This act of liberation starts a whirlwind of commotion during the last few days of the girls' summer, and by the start of the new school year, only Becca has stayed true to her original plans. Fueled with ambition, daring Sophie leaves their small town of Boulder in hope of hitting it big in Los Angeles, impeccable Kate forsakes Harvard for Europe, and Harper is determined to write the next "Great American Novel."
Now separated by state lines and oceans, and linked only by letters, lists, and the occasional telephone call, Harper, Sophie, Kate, and Becca are left to discover what growing up is all about, reminiscent of THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS trilogy.
BASS ACKWARDS AND BELLY UP is a humorous tale about the path to maturity, narrated from each girl's own particular journey, and illustrates the sometimes haphazard route one follows in pursuit of a dream.
July 19, 2014
"Since when do you need a guy to make you feel like that?"
This quotation is said towards the end of the book, and it was at a point that I finally saw some truth in this novel. While this novel is about four girls who want to be independent, it sure seems as if they cannot do anything without the help of a guy.
This book is about romance, and I understand that. But there were many times in the novel that I was waiting for that exact quotation to be said. Sophie doesn't need to hang around a famous guy in order to get her "big break". She can achieve that on her own. Harper is too lazy to write her book until she gives herself the reward of kissing a guy once she finishes 50 pages of her book.
To be honest, I don't think the author gives enough credit to teenagers. I like the fact that all of them have dreams, but I believe that they would have some sort of plan. Kate simply goes to Paris only to realize that she doesn't have money, a place to stay, and she doesn't speak the language. Many times there are kisses in the book that happen completely by accident, as if the girl tripped and her lips met his. Teenagers have more self control and common sense than these authors make it seem.
As far as the characterization goes, I wish that in the almost 400 pages we would be able to see a unique difference between the girls. Often times throughout, there were times that the girls would say, "that's such a Sophie thing to do!" I always questioned it though. I felt as if all the characters were the same and that they didn't have the unique differences that they could have had. I also didn't understand some of the other characters that appeared throughout the story. There was not enough background for me to understand them (ex: Judd, Chantal).
I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but I do not believe this series has the same potential. I did enjoy reading it at some points but it simply lacked depth. It was tough to get through the 400 pages without the depth to the characters or a unique plot.
This quotation is said towards the end of the book, and it was at a point that I finally saw some truth in this novel. While this novel is about four girls who want to be independent, it sure seems as if they cannot do anything without the help of a guy.
This book is about romance, and I understand that. But there were many times in the novel that I was waiting for that exact quotation to be said. Sophie doesn't need to hang around a famous guy in order to get her "big break". She can achieve that on her own. Harper is too lazy to write her book until she gives herself the reward of kissing a guy once she finishes 50 pages of her book.
To be honest, I don't think the author gives enough credit to teenagers. I like the fact that all of them have dreams, but I believe that they would have some sort of plan. Kate simply goes to Paris only to realize that she doesn't have money, a place to stay, and she doesn't speak the language. Many times there are kisses in the book that happen completely by accident, as if the girl tripped and her lips met his. Teenagers have more self control and common sense than these authors make it seem.
As far as the characterization goes, I wish that in the almost 400 pages we would be able to see a unique difference between the girls. Often times throughout, there were times that the girls would say, "that's such a Sophie thing to do!" I always questioned it though. I felt as if all the characters were the same and that they didn't have the unique differences that they could have had. I also didn't understand some of the other characters that appeared throughout the story. There was not enough background for me to understand them (ex: Judd, Chantal).
I loved the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, but I do not believe this series has the same potential. I did enjoy reading it at some points but it simply lacked depth. It was tough to get through the 400 pages without the depth to the characters or a unique plot.
July 15, 2010
This book follows four best friends after they graduate high school. Initially, these girls all planned on going to college, but this changed when one of the girls, Harper, gets rejected from NYU. Instead of admitting to her friends that she got rejected from the only school she applied to, she tells them she is purposefully taking the year off to pursue her dream of writing the next great American novel. This sparks a revolution among her friends, and soon Kate and Sophie don't want to go to college either. Kate, the perfectionist, doesn't have a dream yet, but she plans on finding it as she spendss the year backpacking around Europe. Sophie, ever the dramatic one, goes off to LA to pursue her dreams of being a famous actress. Becca, the only one still going to college, is given a dream of her own to accomplish: she must fall in love. So what if they turn their lives completely upside down? They always have each others backs.
I've heard that people say this is the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" for older readers, and I agree with that statement to a certain extent. The premise is certainly similar, but this book seemed to lack the spark that made the "Sisterhood" books so wildly popular.
I enjoyed this book. It was a good way to spend time. But I still never felt anything for the characters. They were nicely developed, with faults and strengths, but I lacked an emotional connection.
I would have to say this book is forgettable. While reading it, you don't notice anything lacking, but when you finish and reflect, you realize it wasn't that great. It probably deserves less than 4 stars in retrospect. I might read the sequel though, if I'd happen to come across it.
I've heard that people say this is the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" for older readers, and I agree with that statement to a certain extent. The premise is certainly similar, but this book seemed to lack the spark that made the "Sisterhood" books so wildly popular.
I enjoyed this book. It was a good way to spend time. But I still never felt anything for the characters. They were nicely developed, with faults and strengths, but I lacked an emotional connection.
I would have to say this book is forgettable. While reading it, you don't notice anything lacking, but when you finish and reflect, you realize it wasn't that great. It probably deserves less than 4 stars in retrospect. I might read the sequel though, if I'd happen to come across it.
October 28, 2008
bass ackwards and belly up is a funny yet truthfull and clever way of showing you how not everyone (even if they are your best friends) arent made to do the same things.
i really like this book because it just showed how you should never give up on something that you really really want to achieve and if you really set your mind to it you can accomplish it .wheather you are eighteen or forty. i also really like that it showed you different aspects of life after highschool. like the girl that chose college or the friend thats wants to stay at home , or the one who wants to be a superstar i just really like that it didnt say what almost every adult tells you you should do after highschool which is go to college.
but one of the quotes i really like from this book was from my favorite character in the book "and just like she hadnt dropped her life to be a tourist, she hadnt dropped her whole life just to come to paris and fall in love."
i really like that quote because it doesnt make teenage girls sound like most adults think we act like love struck kids who drop everything in there life for a boy.
the other quote from this book that i like is "your carpe diem speech was right on..even if you didnt know it." the reason i really like this one is because it kinda shows how even when you dont even intend to you can always inspire someone to do something great.
so i really suggest that everygirl who is a senior in high school and really isnt sure what she wants to do afer high school yet should read bass akwards and belly up!
i really like this book because it just showed how you should never give up on something that you really really want to achieve and if you really set your mind to it you can accomplish it .wheather you are eighteen or forty. i also really like that it showed you different aspects of life after highschool. like the girl that chose college or the friend thats wants to stay at home , or the one who wants to be a superstar i just really like that it didnt say what almost every adult tells you you should do after highschool which is go to college.
but one of the quotes i really like from this book was from my favorite character in the book "and just like she hadnt dropped her life to be a tourist, she hadnt dropped her whole life just to come to paris and fall in love."
i really like that quote because it doesnt make teenage girls sound like most adults think we act like love struck kids who drop everything in there life for a boy.
the other quote from this book that i like is "your carpe diem speech was right on..even if you didnt know it." the reason i really like this one is because it kinda shows how even when you dont even intend to you can always inspire someone to do something great.
so i really suggest that everygirl who is a senior in high school and really isnt sure what she wants to do afer high school yet should read bass akwards and belly up!
December 11, 2012
I just started this book and I can't help but think how grateful I am that all my friends are smart and focused and not making irrational decisions.
But I see how if most of your friends are making snap decisions, then you are likely to make one as well. It's great to have a dream and everything but you should also be practical. Which neither Sophie nor Harper was. Sophie more so than Harper. Really, you're just going off to Los Angeles with no plan? That's great. Cause you know, everyone who goes to LA to become an actress achieves their dream.
I sympathize with Sophie's thoughts at the beginning though. It sucks to feel like your best friends are doing something great and meaningful and have their lives planned out while your plans seem unimportant.
But I see how if most of your friends are making snap decisions, then you are likely to make one as well. It's great to have a dream and everything but you should also be practical. Which neither Sophie nor Harper was. Sophie more so than Harper. Really, you're just going off to Los Angeles with no plan? That's great. Cause you know, everyone who goes to LA to become an actress achieves their dream.
I sympathize with Sophie's thoughts at the beginning though. It sucks to feel like your best friends are doing something great and meaningful and have their lives planned out while your plans seem unimportant.
July 17, 2009
I tried to like this book, but I have up somewhere around 200 pages. This is a typical teen book and will be great for teenage girls. The story lines (and there are at least four) follow the four girls as they continue their lives after high school. But the book reads like teenage girls talk. To me, that makes it difficult to read.
December 8, 2020
I randomly grabbed this book in a little free library and it sat on my shelf for months, and one day I saw the "Craft/Fain" on the spine and went ".... the people whose podcast I've been listening to?!" The coincidence amused me and so I picked up the book. It was a fun read - extremely similar to the Traveling Pants, but still good on its own.
August 13, 2017
funny book that also contains a meaningful message for everyone who reads it, especially to people going into college like me haha
June 11, 2012
I had such a fantastic time reading this book! I could not set it down (I have the bags under my eyes to prove it). More on the whitewashed paperback covers for this book and the sequel later via the blog
A unique aspect of this novel is that the girls aren't in constant contact with each other. I thought that made the story more interesting. Let's be honest if one friend is in college, another one still lives in their hometown, one is traveling throughout Europe and the other is in L.A. you aren't going to talk everyday. It's just not possible. I am slightly biased in that, like Harper, I didn't get into NYU and I didn't tell my friends. But unlike Harper I did apply to other schools but as someone who is not as excited about college as I would have been if I was attending a certain other school, I was positively green with envy at the courage Harper, Kate, Sophie (who is biracial) and even Becca exhibited in going for their dreams. Sometimes I imagine 'what if' I worked for a political camapign during the fall instead of going to college right away....and then reapplying to my dream schools. But I digress. I was really glad the authors kept Becca's story interesting, I was worried she would fall by the wayside since she was going to Middlebury but they kept the storyline fresh. I only wish they had gone into more detail about her college experiences (ski training, other extraccuriculars, mention of her classes, other dating experiences). I was also quite pleased that Kate didn't drop everything when she met a hot Swiss guy, her storyline was very impressive because it was atypical of many YA books out there set in foreign countries. And BIG UPs to the author for making Sophie a well-rounded character and not some Black character from a 'problem household'. She was funny, conceited and knowledgable about her heritage but not overly so (as in she didn't think about it every waking minute, solidly middle class), in other words she was a breath of fresh air.
I think it should have been made more clear that there was going to be a sequel. I already knew there would be but if I read this book in 2006 and had to wait till 2008 for the sequel I would have been furious! There are so many loose ends. Other than that nothing I disliked about this book, it's perfect in terms of being a read for recently-graduated-high-school-students.
Favorite Quotes: "Harper had started as the engine of the Dream Train, but now she was officially the caboose." (pg. 225).
"She had taken success for granted so many times in her life, that she'd never stopped to consider the circumstances under which she could fail, and whether she would have the ability to get back on her feet again." Late, pg. 262
PS I'm reading the sequel now and aside from my irritation at the whitewashed cover I must admit I don't like it as much so far.
A unique aspect of this novel is that the girls aren't in constant contact with each other. I thought that made the story more interesting. Let's be honest if one friend is in college, another one still lives in their hometown, one is traveling throughout Europe and the other is in L.A. you aren't going to talk everyday. It's just not possible. I am slightly biased in that, like Harper, I didn't get into NYU and I didn't tell my friends. But unlike Harper I did apply to other schools but as someone who is not as excited about college as I would have been if I was attending a certain other school, I was positively green with envy at the courage Harper, Kate, Sophie (who is biracial) and even Becca exhibited in going for their dreams. Sometimes I imagine 'what if' I worked for a political camapign during the fall instead of going to college right away....and then reapplying to my dream schools. But I digress. I was really glad the authors kept Becca's story interesting, I was worried she would fall by the wayside since she was going to Middlebury but they kept the storyline fresh. I only wish they had gone into more detail about her college experiences (ski training, other extraccuriculars, mention of her classes, other dating experiences). I was also quite pleased that Kate didn't drop everything when she met a hot Swiss guy, her storyline was very impressive because it was atypical of many YA books out there set in foreign countries. And BIG UPs to the author for making Sophie a well-rounded character and not some Black character from a 'problem household'. She was funny, conceited and knowledgable about her heritage but not overly so (as in she didn't think about it every waking minute, solidly middle class), in other words she was a breath of fresh air.
I think it should have been made more clear that there was going to be a sequel. I already knew there would be but if I read this book in 2006 and had to wait till 2008 for the sequel I would have been furious! There are so many loose ends. Other than that nothing I disliked about this book, it's perfect in terms of being a read for recently-graduated-high-school-students.
Favorite Quotes: "Harper had started as the engine of the Dream Train, but now she was officially the caboose." (pg. 225).
"She had taken success for granted so many times in her life, that she'd never stopped to consider the circumstances under which she could fail, and whether she would have the ability to get back on her feet again." Late, pg. 262
PS I'm reading the sequel now and aside from my irritation at the whitewashed cover I must admit I don't like it as much so far.
June 1, 2016
I had a huge hole in my heart (and my library) after I read the fourth (and at the time final) book of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I really loved the Sisterhood. Okay, I still love the Sisterhood. Still, I needed something else to comfort me, and so I picked up Bass Ackwards and Belly Up mostly because I heard it described as a grown-up Sisterhood.
Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is a lot like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on the surface: four longtime best friends (which means four points of view), coming of age plotline, great friendships, etc. What sets Bass Ackwards apart, however, is its realism. The Sisterhood always felt to me like the idealized level of friendship, the ones I wished I had, the kind we always see in movies and books. Most friends don't have magic jeans or a trip to Greece to bond after we go to college. Real friendship doesn't really look like the Sisterhood. It looks more like Bass Ackwards and Belly Up. Harper, Sophie, Kate, and Becca are best friends, but they have their differences. Sometimes they're closer to certain people in the group than others. Sometimes they don't tell each other the stuff they should. Sometimes they surprise each other. Bass Ackwards depicts longterm friendships as they actually are: wonderful and complicated and funny and supportive. You have to work to maintain them in college, and you figure out which ones are important. I've had the same three best friends (aka the fam) for years, and so Bass Ackwards always feel authentic to me.
Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is a great book about friendship, but it is a fantastic book about college and becoming an adult. I identify so much with Bass Ackwards now in ways that I couldn't at sixteen. Harper Waddle and I especially have a scary amount in common. I've experienced a lot of the same things, and I understand why she did what she did. It was dumb and a little selfish, but I understand why she was embarrassed and afraid. There's this awful stigma around people who don't get into the right college or don't go or drop out, and it's utter crap. Bass Ackwards shows all the difficulties of "adulting" as I like to call it. I kind of feel like I'm playing at it most of the time, and Bass Ackwards perfectly captures the feeling.
I love Bass Ackwards and Belly Up almost as much as I love the Sisterhood. That's epic love right there. Recommended!
Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is a lot like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants on the surface: four longtime best friends (which means four points of view), coming of age plotline, great friendships, etc. What sets Bass Ackwards apart, however, is its realism. The Sisterhood always felt to me like the idealized level of friendship, the ones I wished I had, the kind we always see in movies and books. Most friends don't have magic jeans or a trip to Greece to bond after we go to college. Real friendship doesn't really look like the Sisterhood. It looks more like Bass Ackwards and Belly Up. Harper, Sophie, Kate, and Becca are best friends, but they have their differences. Sometimes they're closer to certain people in the group than others. Sometimes they don't tell each other the stuff they should. Sometimes they surprise each other. Bass Ackwards depicts longterm friendships as they actually are: wonderful and complicated and funny and supportive. You have to work to maintain them in college, and you figure out which ones are important. I've had the same three best friends (aka the fam) for years, and so Bass Ackwards always feel authentic to me.
Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is a great book about friendship, but it is a fantastic book about college and becoming an adult. I identify so much with Bass Ackwards now in ways that I couldn't at sixteen. Harper Waddle and I especially have a scary amount in common. I've experienced a lot of the same things, and I understand why she did what she did. It was dumb and a little selfish, but I understand why she was embarrassed and afraid. There's this awful stigma around people who don't get into the right college or don't go or drop out, and it's utter crap. Bass Ackwards shows all the difficulties of "adulting" as I like to call it. I kind of feel like I'm playing at it most of the time, and Bass Ackwards perfectly captures the feeling.
I love Bass Ackwards and Belly Up almost as much as I love the Sisterhood. That's epic love right there. Recommended!
July 31, 2011
It all started with Harper's Big Lie to her best friends. Instead of telling them that she didn't get accepted at NYU, or any other school because she failed to apply anywhere else, she tells them she's decided to follow her dream and write a novel. At home in Boulder, Colorado, in her parents' basement. She doesn't mean to imply that they should all reassess their lives and goals, too, but that's what happens. Actress wannabe Sophie moves to LA to pursue film stardom, and perfect, Harvard-bound Kate heads to Europe instead of Cambridge. Becca decides to stay the course and head to college since getting far away from her dysfunctional family and skiing for the awesome coach at Middlebury College in Vermont IS her dream. Following dreams, though, sounds great in theory, but in practice is fraught with something akin to terror--and hilarity.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. Initially, I had concerns that it would be difficult to follow the four narratives of the four different characters, but their lives intersect via e-mail and phone calls, and they really are quite different. It helps that they're in completely different locations, too, which adds a lot of interest to the story. Yes, some of the trauma is typical YA fodder, yet it's all authentic and related with great understanding and good humor. Notice the publication date: 2006. I found this one by doing a readalike search for Sarah Dessen on NoveList (available through my local library's research tools). While I see the similarities to Dessen, this novel doesn't delve quite as deeply into the underlying issues of each of the characters and is really more about entertainment, which is fine! There's a sequel, too, entitled Footfree and Fancyloose (2008), which I also recommend. Once you start reading about these girls, you will want to see how the full Year of the Dream resolves. Recommended for teens ages 14 & up. Sexual situations, alcohol.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. Initially, I had concerns that it would be difficult to follow the four narratives of the four different characters, but their lives intersect via e-mail and phone calls, and they really are quite different. It helps that they're in completely different locations, too, which adds a lot of interest to the story. Yes, some of the trauma is typical YA fodder, yet it's all authentic and related with great understanding and good humor. Notice the publication date: 2006. I found this one by doing a readalike search for Sarah Dessen on NoveList (available through my local library's research tools). While I see the similarities to Dessen, this novel doesn't delve quite as deeply into the underlying issues of each of the characters and is really more about entertainment, which is fine! There's a sequel, too, entitled Footfree and Fancyloose (2008), which I also recommend. Once you start reading about these girls, you will want to see how the full Year of the Dream resolves. Recommended for teens ages 14 & up. Sexual situations, alcohol.
April 21, 2009
Often described as Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants for older readers, Bass Ackwards and Belly Up is a sweet debut novel that tracks an unexpected season in four friends' lives. Sophie, Kate, Becca, and Harper are all supposed to go to college... but at the last minute Harper tells them that she's staying home to go for her dream: writing the next Great American Novel. In actuality she's been rejected from the only school she applied to, but she conveniently doesn't tell her friends that. Harper's announcement starts a rebellion shocking in the girls' comfortable suburban neighborhood: Kate and Sophie decide to not go to college either. Sophie's going to LA to pursue her dream of being an actor, and Kate's decided to travel around Europe in search of something she's passionate about, something different from her life of plans. Becca's the only one of the four still going to college in Middlebury, so her friends give her an assignment in addition to being a skiing star: she has to fall in love.
In LA, Sophie has an up-and-down something going on with Sam, pool boy of the family she's staying with. She also gets together with a famous actor. Kate travels around Europe trying to accomplish the list of 100 things her friends have given her to do. Harper procrastinates on writing her novel and feels an attraction between her and Mr. Finelli, her hot and young former AP English teacher. And Becca deals with an unfair Middlebury coach and her disgust for football star Stuart Pendergrass... who happens to like her. A lot.
How will their romantic relationships turn out? Will their dreams come true? Bass Ackwards and Belly Up starts out slow, but it's well worth the first 50 pages of non-action. A sequel is in the process of publication.
In LA, Sophie has an up-and-down something going on with Sam, pool boy of the family she's staying with. She also gets together with a famous actor. Kate travels around Europe trying to accomplish the list of 100 things her friends have given her to do. Harper procrastinates on writing her novel and feels an attraction between her and Mr. Finelli, her hot and young former AP English teacher. And Becca deals with an unfair Middlebury coach and her disgust for football star Stuart Pendergrass... who happens to like her. A lot.
How will their romantic relationships turn out? Will their dreams come true? Bass Ackwards and Belly Up starts out slow, but it's well worth the first 50 pages of non-action. A sequel is in the process of publication.
June 7, 2009
I really liked this book, which tells the story of four best friends and their rocky transition out of high school. The night before Becca is bound for college, the other three decide on a whim to buck middle-class expectation and "follow their dreams" instead of going the traditional academic route. While this premise is a little unrealistic (um, one of them turns down--okay, defers--HARVARD), it was something that I could relate to at the moment, since I've just graduated from college with no plan for what to do next. Admittedly, this factor may have blinded me to some of this book's faults--it's hard to fault iffy prose when you fell like a book's really speaking to you, you know? Putting aside how much Bass Ackwards may or may not have comforted me about my own lack of life plan, this book was a really absorbing and addictive read, perfect for the beach, which is where I read it!
August 1, 2011
1st Reaction: Huh, this sounds like a good book. Living the girl power going on here. Yeah, I definitely want to read this bad boy.
Writing Style: Prose; easy to follow, descriptive, entertaining, realistic.
My brother got me this book for my 16th birthday I believe. Of course, I had to spell out which book I wanted and then had to wait another month after my birthday passed to actually get Bass Ackwards and Belly Up. Although it seemed like forever before I actually got my hands on this book, I could not wait to start reading it. Craft and Fain are the perfect duo to create such an amazing novel. The characters these women created are humorous, realistic, inspiring, and, most important of all, perfect examples of growing friendships. I can not get enough of Harper, Kate, Sophie and Becca. These girls become a part of my life each and every time I pick it up.
With one lie to her best friends, all of their lives forever change. Harper decides to tell her friends that she will forgo college in hopes of writing the next Great American Novel. In reality she didn't get accepted into the only college she applied for. This decision kick-starts the Dream Train and before you know it, there are two more passengers. Kate defers going to HARVARD and decides she wants to see if she can fend for herself in PARIS! Talk about a lucky girl. Sophie, being the drama queen that she is, decides to move out to L.A. to start her acting career. Becca's dream was always to go to Middlebury and ski for a coach she has always idolized. However, Becca's friends are giving her a mission to complete at school: Fall in Love. As the Dream Train departs from the station, the reader is able to see the trails and tribulations each character goes through while submerged into a new lifestyle.
The story is amazing for several reasons: each chapter is broken up so that you can see how each of the girls are handling a new life, allowing you to fully understand the situation; the dialogue between characters is relatable and believable; and the dividers between chapters highlight the communication between characters as well.
There are some spoilers and quotes from the book down below. Just getting that SPOILER ALERT out there now. If you don't want to know the particulars of what happens, trust me. You will NOT regret buying/borrowing this book. It is endearing, entertaining, and exception in every possible way. I would highly recommend it to any person I like.
Harper, my favorite character, must figure out how she will juggle writing the next Great American Novel and working as a barista to pay rent to live in her parent's BASEMENT. Harper also battles with her conscience about lying to her friends while she discovers what may be her father having an affair. On top of all that, Harper's crush on her high school teacher may actually develop into become something more real than the fantasy she's been dreaming up for over a year. Her sassy attitude, humorous demeanor, and quirky personality leave the reader wanting nothing more than to be Harper's friend in real life.
Harper's high school friend Judd also works at the coffee shop. Here is a little exchange at Harper's house from when she invited Judd over to ask for some help. I think it describes her perfectly.
Favorite Harper Quote:
" 'Are you going to be nice?' Judd asked warily, staying as far away from the butcher knife as possible in the Waddle's nice-but-none-too-large kitchen.
'I can't promise anything... but I'll try.' It was the best she could do under present circumstances. Harper set down the butcher knife and stuffed her hands in the pockets of her gray hoodie to show she was sincere" (189).
While Kate is in Paris, she tries to follow a list that her friends and adopted sister sent her in the mail. It's basically a guide/ list of goals that they think Kate should accomplish. While attempting to fulfill one of the 100 items on the list, Kate is attacked.
Favorite Quote Involving Kate:
"As she started to shift her pack, Kate sensed rather than saw a presence behind her. Suddenly, he head jerked back. Someone was holding her ponytail. She tried to twist around, but she couldn't move, and now there were more of them. The three teenage guys she'd seen before. Only now they were doing more than staring. They were dragging her off the street into an alley" (180).
Sophie is living the good life in L.A. but she is still struggling to start her acting career. Thankfully, her parents have an old friend who lives there and is allowing Sophie to stay in their guest house. The pool boy, Sam, is also not such a bad companion when Sophie starts feeling sorry for her lonely self. When on set though, as an extra, she meets Trey Benson, Hollywood It Boy. Trey seems to take an interest in Sophie and here is a little dialogue between them over the phone.
" 'I had fun hanging out on the set the other day.'
'Me, too.' Sophie hoped that if she fainted, Sam would make sure she didn't hit her head on anything sharp. 'And, I'm not that busy.'
'I haven't been to Zuma in ages,' Trey continued. 'The snack bar there has the best corn dogs on the West Coast.'
'I like corn dogs.'
Oh God, she sounded like a complete fucking moron. Where was the Sophie Bushell she knew and loved? The one who always knew just what to say?" (193).
Becca, who has so much family drama, she can't see straight, decides to let loose one night after a disastrous family dinner. She and her roommate, Isabelle, make the choice to consume some alcohol at a giant party. Here is a little piece of how Becca was feeling after the worst meal of her life.
"She was just going to dance. When had she become such a great dancer? Damn, she was on fi-ya! Let is go, baby!
Becca closed her eyes and moved her hips to the music. She let her arms rise over her head. She imagined that she looked like Sophie, all confidence and sexy moves. Nothing else mattered but the music and her body--
Until her body slammed into another body. A big body. She opened her eyes.
Some guy named... something... whom she vaguely knew from somewhere -- she briefly tried to figure out where, but it was far too much effort -- was leering down at her, his hand on her arm" (144).
Final Thoughts: Get this book ASAP! You will not regret it! You will laugh at Sophie's situations, shake your head in disbelief at Kate, cheer Becca's love life on, and hope Harper makes the right decisions.
Writing Style: Prose; easy to follow, descriptive, entertaining, realistic.
My brother got me this book for my 16th birthday I believe. Of course, I had to spell out which book I wanted and then had to wait another month after my birthday passed to actually get Bass Ackwards and Belly Up. Although it seemed like forever before I actually got my hands on this book, I could not wait to start reading it. Craft and Fain are the perfect duo to create such an amazing novel. The characters these women created are humorous, realistic, inspiring, and, most important of all, perfect examples of growing friendships. I can not get enough of Harper, Kate, Sophie and Becca. These girls become a part of my life each and every time I pick it up.
With one lie to her best friends, all of their lives forever change. Harper decides to tell her friends that she will forgo college in hopes of writing the next Great American Novel. In reality she didn't get accepted into the only college she applied for. This decision kick-starts the Dream Train and before you know it, there are two more passengers. Kate defers going to HARVARD and decides she wants to see if she can fend for herself in PARIS! Talk about a lucky girl. Sophie, being the drama queen that she is, decides to move out to L.A. to start her acting career. Becca's dream was always to go to Middlebury and ski for a coach she has always idolized. However, Becca's friends are giving her a mission to complete at school: Fall in Love. As the Dream Train departs from the station, the reader is able to see the trails and tribulations each character goes through while submerged into a new lifestyle.
The story is amazing for several reasons: each chapter is broken up so that you can see how each of the girls are handling a new life, allowing you to fully understand the situation; the dialogue between characters is relatable and believable; and the dividers between chapters highlight the communication between characters as well.
There are some spoilers and quotes from the book down below. Just getting that SPOILER ALERT out there now. If you don't want to know the particulars of what happens, trust me. You will NOT regret buying/borrowing this book. It is endearing, entertaining, and exception in every possible way. I would highly recommend it to any person I like.
Harper, my favorite character, must figure out how she will juggle writing the next Great American Novel and working as a barista to pay rent to live in her parent's BASEMENT. Harper also battles with her conscience about lying to her friends while she discovers what may be her father having an affair. On top of all that, Harper's crush on her high school teacher may actually develop into become something more real than the fantasy she's been dreaming up for over a year. Her sassy attitude, humorous demeanor, and quirky personality leave the reader wanting nothing more than to be Harper's friend in real life.
Harper's high school friend Judd also works at the coffee shop. Here is a little exchange at Harper's house from when she invited Judd over to ask for some help. I think it describes her perfectly.
Favorite Harper Quote:
" 'Are you going to be nice?' Judd asked warily, staying as far away from the butcher knife as possible in the Waddle's nice-but-none-too-large kitchen.
'I can't promise anything... but I'll try.' It was the best she could do under present circumstances. Harper set down the butcher knife and stuffed her hands in the pockets of her gray hoodie to show she was sincere" (189).
While Kate is in Paris, she tries to follow a list that her friends and adopted sister sent her in the mail. It's basically a guide/ list of goals that they think Kate should accomplish. While attempting to fulfill one of the 100 items on the list, Kate is attacked.
Favorite Quote Involving Kate:
"As she started to shift her pack, Kate sensed rather than saw a presence behind her. Suddenly, he head jerked back. Someone was holding her ponytail. She tried to twist around, but she couldn't move, and now there were more of them. The three teenage guys she'd seen before. Only now they were doing more than staring. They were dragging her off the street into an alley" (180).
Sophie is living the good life in L.A. but she is still struggling to start her acting career. Thankfully, her parents have an old friend who lives there and is allowing Sophie to stay in their guest house. The pool boy, Sam, is also not such a bad companion when Sophie starts feeling sorry for her lonely self. When on set though, as an extra, she meets Trey Benson, Hollywood It Boy. Trey seems to take an interest in Sophie and here is a little dialogue between them over the phone.
" 'I had fun hanging out on the set the other day.'
'Me, too.' Sophie hoped that if she fainted, Sam would make sure she didn't hit her head on anything sharp. 'And, I'm not that busy.'
'I haven't been to Zuma in ages,' Trey continued. 'The snack bar there has the best corn dogs on the West Coast.'
'I like corn dogs.'
Oh God, she sounded like a complete fucking moron. Where was the Sophie Bushell she knew and loved? The one who always knew just what to say?" (193).
Becca, who has so much family drama, she can't see straight, decides to let loose one night after a disastrous family dinner. She and her roommate, Isabelle, make the choice to consume some alcohol at a giant party. Here is a little piece of how Becca was feeling after the worst meal of her life.
"She was just going to dance. When had she become such a great dancer? Damn, she was on fi-ya! Let is go, baby!
Becca closed her eyes and moved her hips to the music. She let her arms rise over her head. She imagined that she looked like Sophie, all confidence and sexy moves. Nothing else mattered but the music and her body--
Until her body slammed into another body. A big body. She opened her eyes.
Some guy named... something... whom she vaguely knew from somewhere -- she briefly tried to figure out where, but it was far too much effort -- was leering down at her, his hand on her arm" (144).
Final Thoughts: Get this book ASAP! You will not regret it! You will laugh at Sophie's situations, shake your head in disbelief at Kate, cheer Becca's love life on, and hope Harper makes the right decisions.
October 14, 2017
Het was een heel leuk boek om te lezen vond ik. Geen literair hoogstandje, maar om zo weg te lezen heerlijk! De meiden hebben herkenbare dingen waar ze tegenaan lopen, maar hebben ook elkaar. Ik heb het boek in twee dagen uitgelezen, omdat ik elke keer wilde weten hoe het verder ging! Voor mij dus een super boek.
January 16, 2019
The beginning of this book was so slow and it didn't capture my attention. I actually stopped and read another book before coming back and finishing the second half.
I was so glad that I came back to it though. The author brought the story all back together really well and it turned out to be a really lovely book.
I was so glad that I came back to it though. The author brought the story all back together really well and it turned out to be a really lovely book.
June 7, 2017
a bit predictable but cute engaging and hard to put down. I already bought the second book in the series. Luckily there are only two books. Looking forward to the next one. A great book about female friendships or friendship in general and how we learn and grow as people.
July 31, 2023
Really nice story about 4 girlfriends who need to figure out who they really are and what they really want to do post high school. I didn’t believe the self reflection at the age they were, but I suspended that idea and enjoyed the rest of the story. Sweet.
June 23, 2025
I picked this book up because the title caught my attention. It’s definitely YA. I enjoyed it but it didn’t have a lot of depth. The characters did have a heartwarming friendship. Otherwise I consider this book very average.
February 20, 2020
Leest lekker en makkelijk weg
February 26, 2020
Amazing!
January 6, 2022
Your typical girl posse novel. Nothing to write home about. Plot is as predictable as they come, and after reading the first chapter you already know how it will end.
December 11, 2022
Je ne l'ai pas terminé. Je ne suis pas entrée dans l'histoire (/les histoires) qui m'a semblé très "cliché". Je ne me suis pas attachée non plus aux personnages.
July 28, 2023
Leuke nostalgie
May 12, 2024
J'ai adoré!
November 23, 2019
This was easily my favorite book when I was in high school. I will find and buy a copy to reread very soon. I wanted to be Harper so bad! I fell in love with all of the characters and their stories and longed for their kind of friendship in my own life. The relationships they had, the journeys they experienced and the paths they took were so inspirational to me. This book was actually picked off of the shelf at Barns and Nobles from my stepdad for a Christmas gift our first year together and I finished it in a week and asked for the second one. The writing-amazing, the plot-amazing...Absolutely loved, can't wait to own and will read again.
November 18, 2014
I despise that there are two random stupid hookups in this book, but at the same time, I love absolutely everything else about it. Four perfect main characters, amazing adventures, as many different varieties of post-graduation paths as possible; the sort of story that from page 1, you are breathless and excited to savor.
Our story begins as they are all planning to head off to college, like most high school seniors, but in the last few days of summer only Becca follows through, heading out East. Through her, we get a few slices of stereotypical college life (oh look, the inevitable drunken party shenanigans!), but also get to meet a cool roommate and take a peek at college athletics and classes.
Harper, having been rejected from the only place she applied, is too afraid to tell anyone what happened so she stays at home under the guise of deciding to write a novel, though most of what she does is work in a coffee shop to pay her parents rent, bond with Kate's little sister, and enter into an awesome dance-around flirtation with her young former English teacher. It's really nice to see the small and sweet hometown stories in the midst of all the Big Adventures happening elsewhere.
Since Harper dubs the novel-writing "Her Dream," straight-laced perfectionist Kate is subsequently inspired to ditch Harvard's acceptance and tour through Europe on her own. It's as frightening as it is exciting, but as a reader it was a great way to live vicariously from the comfort of home.
And finally, Sophie - who had initially been the only one of the four planning to attend a local college - also takes up The Dream and decides to move to L.A. and stay with a wealthy friend of her mother's in hopes of making it big, starting with commercial auditions by day and hostessing at night (or whenever they need her). With her we get to play surprisingly often in the glamorous side of Hollywood life...when she's not accidentally annoying the pool boy, who uses any excuse to assume she looks down on him like everyone else.
All four voices are equally strong, and even though they're so far apart, you never get the sense that their friendships with each other are fraying or straying. The stories are very much individual journeys, but they do have contact points at semi-regular intervals keeping them involved in each other's lives. It's all very uplifting, as you can tell from my gushing. I am so excited there's a Part II, because while it does come to a strong concluding point at Christmas, it also feels like exactly half of one exceptionally long, exceptionally great novel.
Oh, and on top of everything else that makes it great - between chapters, the text is broken up with "bonus" pages featuring letters, images of scrapbook-like mementos, and other highlights that add interest to the story.
Our story begins as they are all planning to head off to college, like most high school seniors, but in the last few days of summer only Becca follows through, heading out East. Through her, we get a few slices of stereotypical college life (oh look, the inevitable drunken party shenanigans!), but also get to meet a cool roommate and take a peek at college athletics and classes.
Harper, having been rejected from the only place she applied, is too afraid to tell anyone what happened so she stays at home under the guise of deciding to write a novel, though most of what she does is work in a coffee shop to pay her parents rent, bond with Kate's little sister, and enter into an awesome dance-around flirtation with her young former English teacher. It's really nice to see the small and sweet hometown stories in the midst of all the Big Adventures happening elsewhere.
Since Harper dubs the novel-writing "Her Dream," straight-laced perfectionist Kate is subsequently inspired to ditch Harvard's acceptance and tour through Europe on her own. It's as frightening as it is exciting, but as a reader it was a great way to live vicariously from the comfort of home.
And finally, Sophie - who had initially been the only one of the four planning to attend a local college - also takes up The Dream and decides to move to L.A. and stay with a wealthy friend of her mother's in hopes of making it big, starting with commercial auditions by day and hostessing at night (or whenever they need her). With her we get to play surprisingly often in the glamorous side of Hollywood life...when she's not accidentally annoying the pool boy, who uses any excuse to assume she looks down on him like everyone else.
All four voices are equally strong, and even though they're so far apart, you never get the sense that their friendships with each other are fraying or straying. The stories are very much individual journeys, but they do have contact points at semi-regular intervals keeping them involved in each other's lives. It's all very uplifting, as you can tell from my gushing. I am so excited there's a Part II, because while it does come to a strong concluding point at Christmas, it also feels like exactly half of one exceptionally long, exceptionally great novel.
Oh, and on top of everything else that makes it great - between chapters, the text is broken up with "bonus" pages featuring letters, images of scrapbook-like mementos, and other highlights that add interest to the story.
April 4, 2014
Bass Ackwards and Belly Up – Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain
I have wanted to read this book since I saw it recommended to me in the back of a Sarah Dessen novel years and years ago. I knew nothing about it other than that I liked the silly title and it was a genre that was right up my alley. That’s it. Now, years later, I finally got around to reading it, and the wait was worth it.
I desperately need to learn how to say “this book is absolutely beautiful” in more than one way. Had I read this book when I was 18 and heading off to college, it could have changed my life. But even reading it now, it still has a major impact. It is still relevant. Ten years from now, it will still be meaningful. Because the ultimate message that Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain are teaching the reader is that life is too short to be afraid. We should always take action, follow our dreams, and do what makes us happy. There’s no better lesson than that, really.
“She wasn’t sure, yet, exactly what was at the other end of the fear. But she was finally starting to believe that whatever it was would be worth it.”
But better yet, there was nothing ‘Disney’ about this book. Don’t get me wrong, I love perfect endings and light-hearted tales more than anyone, but this book was the perfect balance of happy and realistic. It left the reader with such a strong feeling of hope and inspiration, but not in a way that felt false or contrived. Even after pursuing their dreams, the characters in this book encountered numerous set-backs, obstacles, even devastating realities. For example, Sophie didn’t move to LA, instantly get a lead acting role, and become famous like she may have in a perfect world. Because the world isn’t perfect. And neither is Sophie. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a balance. Take action, stand tall even when you fall, and go for the gold. Live and learn; but more importantly, LEARN to LIVE.
Whether you are 16, 26, or 56, this book will speak to you. It will remind you that although life isn’t perfect, it is still what we make it. And as long as we stay true to ourselves, we can get through anything. Follow your dreams and stay golden. Life will work out.
“In one way or another, it looks like all of our dreams have started to come true.”
I have wanted to read this book since I saw it recommended to me in the back of a Sarah Dessen novel years and years ago. I knew nothing about it other than that I liked the silly title and it was a genre that was right up my alley. That’s it. Now, years later, I finally got around to reading it, and the wait was worth it.
I desperately need to learn how to say “this book is absolutely beautiful” in more than one way. Had I read this book when I was 18 and heading off to college, it could have changed my life. But even reading it now, it still has a major impact. It is still relevant. Ten years from now, it will still be meaningful. Because the ultimate message that Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain are teaching the reader is that life is too short to be afraid. We should always take action, follow our dreams, and do what makes us happy. There’s no better lesson than that, really.
“She wasn’t sure, yet, exactly what was at the other end of the fear. But she was finally starting to believe that whatever it was would be worth it.”
But better yet, there was nothing ‘Disney’ about this book. Don’t get me wrong, I love perfect endings and light-hearted tales more than anyone, but this book was the perfect balance of happy and realistic. It left the reader with such a strong feeling of hope and inspiration, but not in a way that felt false or contrived. Even after pursuing their dreams, the characters in this book encountered numerous set-backs, obstacles, even devastating realities. For example, Sophie didn’t move to LA, instantly get a lead acting role, and become famous like she may have in a perfect world. Because the world isn’t perfect. And neither is Sophie. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a balance. Take action, stand tall even when you fall, and go for the gold. Live and learn; but more importantly, LEARN to LIVE.
Whether you are 16, 26, or 56, this book will speak to you. It will remind you that although life isn’t perfect, it is still what we make it. And as long as we stay true to ourselves, we can get through anything. Follow your dreams and stay golden. Life will work out.
“In one way or another, it looks like all of our dreams have started to come true.”
May 8, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me of Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants which was a book that my friends and I loved throughout high school.
It's about four best friends who have just graduated from high school and have their futures planned out. Except Harper didn't get accepted into NYU and that was the only school she applied to. After dealing with the initial shock and self-pity, she decides she is going to move into her parents' basement and start writing the next Great American Novel. And decides to tell her best friends and family a little white lie- that it is part of her Dream, and not the truth about NYU. To her dismay, two of her best friends Sophie and Kate decide to skip the college path and figure out their Dreams as well. Sophie moves to Los Angeles to become an actress and Kate goes off to backpack throughout Europe to discover just what her Dream is. That leaves Becca to follow her Dreams of skiing with her university team and falling in love.
Each girls' story is entertaining and fun to read which is rare for me because I usually can't stand at least one or two characters in books with multiple points of view. Each girl had their own issues and were trying to discover themselves. They had to adjust to major and minor changes and from being away from the people who were always there for them.
Everyone can relate to growing up and that transitional period where you aren't sure what you want to do or be or what to expect from your future. It's a bittersweet and scary feeling and Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain do a great job capturing those moments and how the girls all deal with the changes in their lives.
There is romance and travel and tough life decisions. I can't wait to read the sequel, Footfree and Fancyloose.
It's about four best friends who have just graduated from high school and have their futures planned out. Except Harper didn't get accepted into NYU and that was the only school she applied to. After dealing with the initial shock and self-pity, she decides she is going to move into her parents' basement and start writing the next Great American Novel. And decides to tell her best friends and family a little white lie- that it is part of her Dream, and not the truth about NYU. To her dismay, two of her best friends Sophie and Kate decide to skip the college path and figure out their Dreams as well. Sophie moves to Los Angeles to become an actress and Kate goes off to backpack throughout Europe to discover just what her Dream is. That leaves Becca to follow her Dreams of skiing with her university team and falling in love.
Each girls' story is entertaining and fun to read which is rare for me because I usually can't stand at least one or two characters in books with multiple points of view. Each girl had their own issues and were trying to discover themselves. They had to adjust to major and minor changes and from being away from the people who were always there for them.
Everyone can relate to growing up and that transitional period where you aren't sure what you want to do or be or what to expect from your future. It's a bittersweet and scary feeling and Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain do a great job capturing those moments and how the girls all deal with the changes in their lives.
There is romance and travel and tough life decisions. I can't wait to read the sequel, Footfree and Fancyloose.
December 11, 2009
Bass Ackwards and Belly Up seemed like a rip-off of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. As glad as I was to read another book featuring characters in their older teens, it wasn't as great as I had hoped. It dives right into the middle of a hugely dramatic time in these four teens' lives, and while a bit confusing, eventually everything makes sense. The storylines are interesting enough, but they were pretty simple and very predictable stories for the most part. The characters were made lovable through the writing early on, but since they were all separated, the story wasn't as interesting as it could have been if they were together, much like Sisterhood again. At least with the Sisterhood series, when the girls were apart, they were in regular correspondence and we as readers were witness to that, but here, they were all on their separate adventures, and it was harder to imagine how crazyawesome the story would have been with them all together. Midway, the stories just lose all their push. Something happens, and it all becomes dull. The girls' characterization seems to fall by the wayside, and while they had their moments, the second half of the book was not nearly as enjoyable a read as the first. The one pairing I was interested in had no resolution, and I was very disappointed about that. Many of the stories are left ambiguous, which makes some of them seem utterly pointless and a waste of time to have read. I would just stick with reading the Sisterhood series instead of picking this one up.
Rating: 3/5
Rating: 3/5
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