Faking Sweet

by J.C. Burke

A novel about best friends, betrayal, and drama

Holly might be new, but she already knows who to watch out for: Jess Flynn, the most popular girl in the freshman class. Holly's best friend back in Melbourne, Calypso, says Jess is a liar, a shoplifter, and a boyfriend–stealer. Calypso wants revenge for her ex–friend's betrayal, and Holly's only too happy to oblige. But it's not proving easy to follow Calypso's plan and catch Jess red–handed. And as Holly gets to know her, Jess isn't fitting the terrible picture Calypso painted.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

http:/www.facebook.com/pages/JC-Burke/20821...
.J.C Burke was born in Sydney in 1965, the fourth of five sisters. With writers for parents, she grew up in a world of noise, drama and books, but she decided to become a nurse after her mother lost a long battle with cancer. Since Burke started writing in 1999, she has published a number of acclaimed books for teenagers and young adults, including Children's Book Council Notable Books WHITE LIES and THE RED CARDIGAN, Aurealis Awards finalist NINE LETTERS LONG, THE STORY OF TOM BRENNAN, FAKING SWEET, STARFISH SISTERS and OCEAN PEARL. THE STORY OF TOM BRENNAN won the 2006 CBC Book of the Year - Older Readers and the 2006 Australian Family Therapists Award for Children's Literature. It is currently on the NSW HSC syllabus list.PIG BOY is Jane's newest title and was released in May 2011.
Jane lives on Sydney.

http:/www.facebook.com/pages/JC-Burke/20821...

Reviews

[Watermelon Daisy · Rating 2 out of 5]

FIRST IMPRESSION:
Probably something really girly and cheesy. I was recommended this by one of my friends, so, ugh. I had to read it, seeing as it was general fiction. The cover was okay.

WRITING STYLE:
It was simplistic. I remember that. It was quite insightful into Holly's life. I liked the quote added to the story which made it more "deep" than what I first thought.

PLOT:
My biggest problem was the plot. And the characters. But with the plot, I don't know why the person (the "betrayer") had a reason to lie in first place. It's completely unrealistic. You'll have to read it to see what I'm talking about. But it strikes me as unlikely how Holly just so happened to move to this school after her previous one.

CHARACTERS:
I hated the characters. I was planning on giving this story three stars, but then the ending ruined it for me. Why add romance? This book was perfectly okay without it. And also, I hated how terrible Calyspo was made out to be. I never truly got to know her. Also, Holly was a whiny cow. Hated her. My favourite character was the girl who broke her arms on that ledge, and she wasn't even in the story! I know. The character's are terrible.

OVERALL:
I wouldn't recommend it to anybody over eleven years old. But as an eight-year-old, I can see myself liking this book. This is a book which has its charms and bad-sides, but unfortunately, the bad overbalances the good.

AMOUNT OF STARS:
2

[Elisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I loved this book when I was younger

[Venus Hou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are you looking for a girl drama occurring at school? A book containing friendship, backstabbing, lies, and romance? If that’s so this is definitely the book you’re looking for.

Holly was on her way to her sixteenth school, St Clementine, excited yet terrified. However, she thought to herself that she finally had a reason to be here, a mission. A mission assigned by her best friend back in Melbourne, Calypso. Which was to bring down Jess Flynn the most popular girl in Year 9. It wasn’t easy for Holly to follow Calypso’s plan and catch Jess on her act. But as Holly got to know Jess better, she didn’t seem as terrible as how Calypso has evoked.

What I liked about this book is how girls can relate to this story in their personal lives. We’ve all had crushes on the same boy before. Or talked behind their backs. Or get butterflies in our stomach when the boy we like does says sweet.

For example, during the process of their revenge on Calypso, the boy who Calypso was crazy about (Scott) was being really sweet to Holly. Jess, Scott and Holly were looking for quotes that match Calypso for being a liar. Jess read one to Holly, and she said she liked it, Jess then said Scott thought she would. This is one of those things that girls hear and get butterflies in their stomach.

I recommend this book to teenage girls because they could easily relate themselves or boys who would like to understand girls better.

[Lore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. One of the few books out there I just can't put down. It's about a girl called holl who afetr moving to sydney is carrign out a revenge plan on behalf of her friend back in melbourne, calypso, who wants jessica flynn, the most popular girl in year nine, to be braugt down. Calypso claims she's a shoplifting, lying, boyfriend stealer. but jessica isn't actually matchign up to the picture calypso painbted of her....

[JusMe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable book, with a wonderful believable storyline. With a lesson for each of us whether young or old, you can't always believe what you are told.

"Learn from yesterday. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow."

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time."

"A bad word whispered will echo a hundred miles."

"It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver."

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faking Sweet is one of the first proper fiction books I ever read. I remember being captivated by its story of the lengths people will go to to get revenge and wondering if all teenage girls were that jaded and cruel. I particularly liked the use of text messages in the text - that was very innovative and exciting when I was a kid. All in all, a really enjoyable read for a kid or teenager, with a plot that might entertain older readers, as well.

[Grace🌻🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first J.C. Burke book i read and it was the first of many! i read this book when i was in high school and I really enjoyed it. Its a quick and easy read and will have young girls struggling to put it down!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

For teenage girls, this was a very simple, if not predictable novel, but overall enjoyable.

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book because it was a good book and i realised you should never belive what people tell you but instead discover it for yourself. I loved the book and recemend it to teens.

[Hannah-Georgia Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT WAS GREAT!

[Vivi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting more from this book. However in general the book was a breeze.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read but it wont make it on my top 50 favourite books list.

[Piper · Rating 4 out of 5]

liked this book would read it agian

[Emily Le · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly is just so naive. I can actually guess the ending. But it was a fun and light book to read. Perfect for a lazy weekend :)

[hollyybel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, since my name is Holly and I just met this writer today, I'm gonna go ahead and say that this book is great.

It was lovely to meet you, J.C.

I learnt some great stuff from you.

X

[Prajna]

Interesting. Has a really good twist in it.

[Lonleypurplecat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Really good and interesting read.