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Pace Academy #1
Fabulous
There's no such thing as being too rich, too popular or too fabulous…
Pace Academy is an exclusive private school catering to the rich, pampered and beautiful. And Starr, Dionne and Marisol are its ruling elite, with an endless supply of designer clothes, platinum credit cards—and drama….
Starr is planning a spectacular Sweet Fifteen party…but it may be unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Dionne stepped out of the hood and into Pace's inner circle, even though her parents are struggling to pay for their lavish new lifestyle.
Marisol is the daughter of a baseball star whose wealth and fame might just tear her family apart.
Now all three girls are about to learn that the price of being fabulous can sometimes be too high, even for the Pace-setters….
Pace Academy is an exclusive private school catering to the rich, pampered and beautiful. And Starr, Dionne and Marisol are its ruling elite, with an endless supply of designer clothes, platinum credit cards—and drama….
Starr is planning a spectacular Sweet Fifteen party…but it may be unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
Dionne stepped out of the hood and into Pace's inner circle, even though her parents are struggling to pay for their lavish new lifestyle.
Marisol is the daughter of a baseball star whose wealth and fame might just tear her family apart.
Now all three girls are about to learn that the price of being fabulous can sometimes be too high, even for the Pace-setters….
247 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
8 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Simone Bryant
9 books4 followersSimone Bryant is the teen fiction psuedonym for bestselling author Niobia Bryant.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 31, 2010
How can you be the most fab of all the fab when you're in the 9th grade? The premise that these 14 year old girls ran the prestigious Pace Academy was hard to swallow. If this school caters to the elite, then these girls aren't the only ones flashing Louis Vuitton hand bags and designer clohtes. So what makes these three so special? I was not able to figure that out while reading the book. The head chica in charge, Starr, has no redeeming qualities. It's her world and everyone else is just living in it. Her best friend, Marisol, is going through a family crisis and all Starr is concerned about is how Marisol is now longer wearing makeup and fabulous outfits. And gasp! She's wearing her hair in a ponytail. For shame! If Starr is supposedly a friend, I wouldn't want to be her enemy. This is the first book in a 7 book series.
I know that I'm not the target audience so take my review with a grain of salt. I'm a 30-something mom reading a book aimed at the tween population. While reading it, I was hoping these girls would have some redeeming qualities. I liked Dionne, who's new to having money and still has her feet on the ground. The book is about over-indulged kids who's parents are too busy with their own lives to pay any attention to them. Not too much of a feel good story.
I know that I'm not the target audience so take my review with a grain of salt. I'm a 30-something mom reading a book aimed at the tween population. While reading it, I was hoping these girls would have some redeeming qualities. I liked Dionne, who's new to having money and still has her feet on the ground. The book is about over-indulged kids who's parents are too busy with their own lives to pay any attention to them. Not too much of a feel good story.
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April 4, 2022Fabulous
Life is good for Star Lester! Her birthday is a little over a month away. Plus, she’s the daughter of Cole Lester RNB singer turned owner of TopStarr Records. This comes complete with all kinds of crazy perks such as a chauffeur-driven Bentley, unlimited access to her Dad’s American Express Card, and a spacious circular bedroom complete with a Jacuzzi tub, a screening room, and a custom walk-in closet that resembles a small boutique. Yet when Starr is called down to dinner and it’s just her the staff and her two twin brother’s we can clearly see what’s missing (her parent's presence).
Starr’s BFF Dionne is the daughter of famous rapper “Lahron the Don”. She stays with her father part-time (holidays and weekends) but wants it to be full-time. The other part of the time she lives with her mother Risha in the Bricks. Dionne is so caught up in living the life of red carpet events and being in magazines that she’s over her old friends, Hassan (her old boyfriend) and Joshia and Kim, who only either want to sweat her father or hate on her new life. Risha warns her “easy come easy go” (particularly with the way her father blows money) and this kind of gets Dionne to pause and think about the seriousness of what if her father really went broke.
Marisol is Starr’s other BFF and member of the Pacesetters. She’s the daughter of popular baseball player Alex Rivera. The only person he’s not so popular with is his wife Yasmine who hates his lifestyle. Marisol eavesdrops on a fight between them that ends with her mother saying she’s tired and him walking out to go to opening of a sports bar.
On the first day of school, the Pacesetters are reunited after summer vacation. Starr’s potential bae (Jordan) shows her some love, but she’s turned off by the same love he shows Heather (a video vixen wannabe). But just as quick she’s over it when he says he’ll holla layta, especially to her. Pace Academy we learn also has a “Gossip Girl” who calls herself the Diva of Dish (who we never find out in the series who it is). Dionne worries about the secret she’s keeping from her girls. They don’t know about her other life. While Starr announces she’s going to have a Super Sweet Sixteen party (even though she’s 15) and plans to have it on MTV. At lunch, the Pacesetters discuss the new blogger’s blog. At home, Marisol is practically knocked off her feet (literally and physically) by a hot stranger (Corey) and a camera crew (there to film a documentary on Alex).
Star fantasizes about kissing Jordan the night of her party after he and his Dad show up at her house. But her Dad quickly ruins her fantasy by dropping the bomb that MTV isn’t able to throw the party. He promises they’ll do it big next year. Dionne is called to the office and finds out that her father didn’t pay her tuition and has a week to pay it. She thinks about her mother’s warning and worries that this might be the end of her semi-fabulous life.
Starr kicks off her party invites at a school assembly with star-shaped gift bags full of swag, and a concert by one of TopStarr’s highest-selling artist. Dionne’s situation is solved pretty quickly with a call from Risha. The Diva of Dish up until now has been amusing to Star, that is until she finds herself being clowned on her blog for having her MTV taping canceled. Starr’s already salty with her parents for the party being canceled. She and her mom have a heart-to-heart talk and her mom gives her some good advice “Haters throw shade because they don’t want to see you shine.” In other words, ignore em.
On the last day of filming for her Dad’s documentary, Marisol and Corey exchange information and almost share a kiss. Corey is called away and her mother appears. She gives Marisol some cryptic advice “Protect your heart and your innocence.” Moments later she catches Corey on the phone with some other girl, checks him, and then tells him to delete her information. After spending a weekend with her father, Dionne returns home and sees Hassan (whose calls she’s been ignoring). Joshia makes a bold move on him and Dione and Joshia get in each other’s faces. Hassan tells Dionne that he’s not calling her again and if she takes too long to call him he’s not getting back.
The next day at school the Diva of Dish strikes again and writes a blog about the 10 reasons you should hate the Pacesetters. Starr flips out and thinks it’s someone she didn’t invite to her party. Jordan sends a text to meet up with him to ask her something, but when she gets there he hesitates and just asks if she’s ok. Dionne discovers her dad has a bunch of unpaid bills, but he protests that he’s not broke. If he was broke then why did he offer to buy her mom a new house? This is enough to get Dionne’s mind off it for the moment. Now she just needs to get her mom to accept his offer. Marisol and her family have a screening for her father’s documentary, but her mother sees something that makes her drop her drink and leave the room. After hearing them argue (and Yasmine slap Alex), Marisol sees the reason for her mother’s anger another woman is in the documentary.
Star worries that her mother (a former singer) might start up her career again when she (and her Dad) miss a school meeting for a session with Mary J Blige. Meanwhile, Dionne starts helping out by braiding hair as a side hustle, and Marisol’s appearance takes a hit for the worse. Starr tries to get to the bottom of what’s going on with her friends (after her number 1 priority -the party-) but they aren’t saying anything. Marisol even says sometimes she wishes they were poor-money causes nothing but problems- (to which Dionne quickly replies NEGATIVE). A cute guy named Reggie wants to get Dionne’s digits but she plays hard to get. Marisol and Starr fall out because Starr lets it be known that she’s only friends with Marisol because of how she dresses. Marisol then calls off plans to hang and Starr’s party invite. Reggie does push up on Dionne but she pushes him away. He’s not Hassan. Back at home, Hassan tries to make plans with her but she puts his plans off for Starr’s party. He seems like he’s annoyed but then ends up kissing (her first kiss). It’s not long before the Diva makes Marisol her next victim. Starr and Marisol make up but Marisol just tells Starr she’s having family drama.
Starr finally confesses her feelings to her friends about her wanting to invite Jordan to her party when she sees a blog that he and Heather hooked up and after he tries to explain at school but she goes off on him. Since Marisol can’t unload on her father, she unloads on Corey who she sees at the mall with his girlfriend. This gets her applause from the onlookers. Her mom picks out a charm bracelet for Starr’s present. Dionne lets her Dad know on a trip to Miami that it’s not about what he spends on her it’s just that he spends *time* wither. This surprises him as people always want something from him. As her parent's fights get worse, Marisol finally confesses to her friends that she thinks her parents are getting a divorce. Star’s party events are a sleepover (complete with spa stations), a fashion show, and a concert with some of the TopStarr artists. Joran is the final one and he sings Happy Birthday to her. Starr does an Ashley Banks and passes out on stage. Dionne checks Reggie and tells him to lay off the horny vibe and just be real with her, but she wishes it was Hassan there with her. Star’s final gift is a brand new car. Starr’s mom is able to convince Marisol that her parent's problems shouldn’t have anything to do with pretending to be who she isn’t and to stop letting their problems weigh so heavy on her.
It ends with Dionne seeing Hassan with another girl, and on the way home, she gets robbed. Her mother accepts her father’s offer to get Dionne a house. Risha says it has to be a small one and she insists on paying rent. Marisol’s mother and father attempt to work it out but things are still tense, A Hot Boy (athlete) approaches Marisol but it’s a little too close to home (he’s an athlete-a potential athlete) so she turns him down. Starr sees Heather and Jordan arguing then she throws up. Starr’s not concerned (well acts like she isn’t) she’s just glad that the Pacesetters are back on top and stuck out the last six months.
My Thoughts: I think what made this fun to read were the details of the Pacesetter’s world. It’s the gift boxes with the netbooks preloaded with video documentaries of the entire weekend exclusive to the partygoers. It was Starr’s jazzy curls and strapless ballerina dress, the white tent with its dozens of round tables towering centerpieces, glittering candles, and buffet tables of eggs. Sausage. Bacon, fruits, pastries, pancakes, and quiches. It was the Range Rover HSE in light sand with the 22-inch rims, and the sand interior with the hot pink trim, and little star symbols in the headdress (even though if she gets a car on her 15th birthday what are they gonna give her on her 16th? A limousine? A private yatz that seats 100? Or how bout the cake in the shape of designer handbags and shoes, the star-shaped gift bags with the customized Ipods with Star’s favorite playlists, and Yaseveral unreleased tracks, the hundred dollar gift cards to her five favorite designers, the newest makeup for the girls and designer shades for the boys (and this is for her WHOLE CLASS). The fabulousness goes ON and ON and ON! The screening room with the concession stand filled with hotdogs, gourmet popcorn, frozen ice cream bars and bonbons, and the fruit drink dispenser. I LOVED READING ABOUT IT ALL! That’s why Starr’s petty, non-existent, issues made me roll my eyes like CHILD PLEASE!
It definitely wasn’t the characters! They were NOT fabulous. I think the only character that was (was) Marisol for 1 having the balls to walk up to Corey in the mall and “read him” in front of his “girlfriend” and 2 because she was the only one that saw for a hot minute that money isn’t everything. I read a review that said they were reminded of “The Clique”. I could stomach the Pacesetters *slightly* better. But yes they were just as horrible. They also reminded me of the Cheetah Girls. Starr reminded me of Galleria because she was bossy and she dissed Marisol’s appearance just like Galleria dissed Dorinda’s. Plus like Galleria Star is also quick with the come-back snaps. Dionna reminded me of Dorinda because they both were trying to hide parts of their lives to fit in. Marisol reminded me of Channel because she didn’t mind getting in your face (even though Chanel was hesitant in the beginning later she did tell Galleria she wasn’t for her BS. The guys were horrible. Alex was horrible because I don’t doubt he cheated. Cole was horrible because all he seems to do is throw money at his daughter and think this makes up for neglecting her and being in the studio all the time. Dionne’s dad is ok he’s less horrible than the others, but he’s something of a hypocrite because he doesn’t mind being around scantily clad women (and probably having sex with MANY of em) but he throws a fir when Dionne wears a bikini INSIDE THE HOTEL. Corey was horrible (but he got called out twice so he got his). Now Jordan.. I don’t know if I wanna forgive Jordan (if he looks anything like Jordan Calloway then wellll).. But I honestly don’t think he slept with Heather. I think Heather “might” be the Diva of Dish but I’m not for sure and I think she lied to get under Starr’s skin and that’s why they argued. Or maybe they *did* hook up and she told him she was pregnant. But I don’t think the baby is his. Maybe she wanted to tell everyone it *was* his but he wasn’t feeling that. Reggie was just .. he reminds me of this guy that I won’t say I don’t still communicate with but ill just say it’s a WHOLE LOT LESS. Hassan I’ll give a pass to because Dionne played over him which made HER horrible not so much him.
I had some questions after it ended. Who is the Diva of Dish? What was Jordan’s present? Does Starr really not open it and just leave it in the closet? Donate all the presents to charity? Isn’t that kind of .. It’s nice but won’t it look ungrateful. Is Heather pregnant? Is it Jordan’s? Did Alex really cheat (it was implied he did but it only said there was a woman in the documentary that was familiar to Yasmine) He DID act guilty. Why give someone a car who doesn’t even have a LICENSE? How are the Pacesetters JUST coming in to their FRESHMAN year and already the Queen B’s of the school? Wouldn’t this happen in maybe their JUNIOR year?
Rating 10: I liked this so much that I tried to write my own version using my own characters in a RPG I used to play with two friends of mine.
Life is good for Star Lester! Her birthday is a little over a month away. Plus, she’s the daughter of Cole Lester RNB singer turned owner of TopStarr Records. This comes complete with all kinds of crazy perks such as a chauffeur-driven Bentley, unlimited access to her Dad’s American Express Card, and a spacious circular bedroom complete with a Jacuzzi tub, a screening room, and a custom walk-in closet that resembles a small boutique. Yet when Starr is called down to dinner and it’s just her the staff and her two twin brother’s we can clearly see what’s missing (her parent's presence).
Starr’s BFF Dionne is the daughter of famous rapper “Lahron the Don”. She stays with her father part-time (holidays and weekends) but wants it to be full-time. The other part of the time she lives with her mother Risha in the Bricks. Dionne is so caught up in living the life of red carpet events and being in magazines that she’s over her old friends, Hassan (her old boyfriend) and Joshia and Kim, who only either want to sweat her father or hate on her new life. Risha warns her “easy come easy go” (particularly with the way her father blows money) and this kind of gets Dionne to pause and think about the seriousness of what if her father really went broke.
Marisol is Starr’s other BFF and member of the Pacesetters. She’s the daughter of popular baseball player Alex Rivera. The only person he’s not so popular with is his wife Yasmine who hates his lifestyle. Marisol eavesdrops on a fight between them that ends with her mother saying she’s tired and him walking out to go to opening of a sports bar.
On the first day of school, the Pacesetters are reunited after summer vacation. Starr’s potential bae (Jordan) shows her some love, but she’s turned off by the same love he shows Heather (a video vixen wannabe). But just as quick she’s over it when he says he’ll holla layta, especially to her. Pace Academy we learn also has a “Gossip Girl” who calls herself the Diva of Dish (who we never find out in the series who it is). Dionne worries about the secret she’s keeping from her girls. They don’t know about her other life. While Starr announces she’s going to have a Super Sweet Sixteen party (even though she’s 15) and plans to have it on MTV. At lunch, the Pacesetters discuss the new blogger’s blog. At home, Marisol is practically knocked off her feet (literally and physically) by a hot stranger (Corey) and a camera crew (there to film a documentary on Alex).
Star fantasizes about kissing Jordan the night of her party after he and his Dad show up at her house. But her Dad quickly ruins her fantasy by dropping the bomb that MTV isn’t able to throw the party. He promises they’ll do it big next year. Dionne is called to the office and finds out that her father didn’t pay her tuition and has a week to pay it. She thinks about her mother’s warning and worries that this might be the end of her semi-fabulous life.
Starr kicks off her party invites at a school assembly with star-shaped gift bags full of swag, and a concert by one of TopStarr’s highest-selling artist. Dionne’s situation is solved pretty quickly with a call from Risha. The Diva of Dish up until now has been amusing to Star, that is until she finds herself being clowned on her blog for having her MTV taping canceled. Starr’s already salty with her parents for the party being canceled. She and her mom have a heart-to-heart talk and her mom gives her some good advice “Haters throw shade because they don’t want to see you shine.” In other words, ignore em.
On the last day of filming for her Dad’s documentary, Marisol and Corey exchange information and almost share a kiss. Corey is called away and her mother appears. She gives Marisol some cryptic advice “Protect your heart and your innocence.” Moments later she catches Corey on the phone with some other girl, checks him, and then tells him to delete her information. After spending a weekend with her father, Dionne returns home and sees Hassan (whose calls she’s been ignoring). Joshia makes a bold move on him and Dione and Joshia get in each other’s faces. Hassan tells Dionne that he’s not calling her again and if she takes too long to call him he’s not getting back.
The next day at school the Diva of Dish strikes again and writes a blog about the 10 reasons you should hate the Pacesetters. Starr flips out and thinks it’s someone she didn’t invite to her party. Jordan sends a text to meet up with him to ask her something, but when she gets there he hesitates and just asks if she’s ok. Dionne discovers her dad has a bunch of unpaid bills, but he protests that he’s not broke. If he was broke then why did he offer to buy her mom a new house? This is enough to get Dionne’s mind off it for the moment. Now she just needs to get her mom to accept his offer. Marisol and her family have a screening for her father’s documentary, but her mother sees something that makes her drop her drink and leave the room. After hearing them argue (and Yasmine slap Alex), Marisol sees the reason for her mother’s anger another woman is in the documentary.
Star worries that her mother (a former singer) might start up her career again when she (and her Dad) miss a school meeting for a session with Mary J Blige. Meanwhile, Dionne starts helping out by braiding hair as a side hustle, and Marisol’s appearance takes a hit for the worse. Starr tries to get to the bottom of what’s going on with her friends (after her number 1 priority -the party-) but they aren’t saying anything. Marisol even says sometimes she wishes they were poor-money causes nothing but problems- (to which Dionne quickly replies NEGATIVE). A cute guy named Reggie wants to get Dionne’s digits but she plays hard to get. Marisol and Starr fall out because Starr lets it be known that she’s only friends with Marisol because of how she dresses. Marisol then calls off plans to hang and Starr’s party invite. Reggie does push up on Dionne but she pushes him away. He’s not Hassan. Back at home, Hassan tries to make plans with her but she puts his plans off for Starr’s party. He seems like he’s annoyed but then ends up kissing (her first kiss). It’s not long before the Diva makes Marisol her next victim. Starr and Marisol make up but Marisol just tells Starr she’s having family drama.
Starr finally confesses her feelings to her friends about her wanting to invite Jordan to her party when she sees a blog that he and Heather hooked up and after he tries to explain at school but she goes off on him. Since Marisol can’t unload on her father, she unloads on Corey who she sees at the mall with his girlfriend. This gets her applause from the onlookers. Her mom picks out a charm bracelet for Starr’s present. Dionne lets her Dad know on a trip to Miami that it’s not about what he spends on her it’s just that he spends *time* wither. This surprises him as people always want something from him. As her parent's fights get worse, Marisol finally confesses to her friends that she thinks her parents are getting a divorce. Star’s party events are a sleepover (complete with spa stations), a fashion show, and a concert with some of the TopStarr artists. Joran is the final one and he sings Happy Birthday to her. Starr does an Ashley Banks and passes out on stage. Dionne checks Reggie and tells him to lay off the horny vibe and just be real with her, but she wishes it was Hassan there with her. Star’s final gift is a brand new car. Starr’s mom is able to convince Marisol that her parent's problems shouldn’t have anything to do with pretending to be who she isn’t and to stop letting their problems weigh so heavy on her.
It ends with Dionne seeing Hassan with another girl, and on the way home, she gets robbed. Her mother accepts her father’s offer to get Dionne a house. Risha says it has to be a small one and she insists on paying rent. Marisol’s mother and father attempt to work it out but things are still tense, A Hot Boy (athlete) approaches Marisol but it’s a little too close to home (he’s an athlete-a potential athlete) so she turns him down. Starr sees Heather and Jordan arguing then she throws up. Starr’s not concerned (well acts like she isn’t) she’s just glad that the Pacesetters are back on top and stuck out the last six months.
My Thoughts: I think what made this fun to read were the details of the Pacesetter’s world. It’s the gift boxes with the netbooks preloaded with video documentaries of the entire weekend exclusive to the partygoers. It was Starr’s jazzy curls and strapless ballerina dress, the white tent with its dozens of round tables towering centerpieces, glittering candles, and buffet tables of eggs. Sausage. Bacon, fruits, pastries, pancakes, and quiches. It was the Range Rover HSE in light sand with the 22-inch rims, and the sand interior with the hot pink trim, and little star symbols in the headdress (even though if she gets a car on her 15th birthday what are they gonna give her on her 16th? A limousine? A private yatz that seats 100? Or how bout the cake in the shape of designer handbags and shoes, the star-shaped gift bags with the customized Ipods with Star’s favorite playlists, and Yaseveral unreleased tracks, the hundred dollar gift cards to her five favorite designers, the newest makeup for the girls and designer shades for the boys (and this is for her WHOLE CLASS). The fabulousness goes ON and ON and ON! The screening room with the concession stand filled with hotdogs, gourmet popcorn, frozen ice cream bars and bonbons, and the fruit drink dispenser. I LOVED READING ABOUT IT ALL! That’s why Starr’s petty, non-existent, issues made me roll my eyes like CHILD PLEASE!
It definitely wasn’t the characters! They were NOT fabulous. I think the only character that was (was) Marisol for 1 having the balls to walk up to Corey in the mall and “read him” in front of his “girlfriend” and 2 because she was the only one that saw for a hot minute that money isn’t everything. I read a review that said they were reminded of “The Clique”. I could stomach the Pacesetters *slightly* better. But yes they were just as horrible. They also reminded me of the Cheetah Girls. Starr reminded me of Galleria because she was bossy and she dissed Marisol’s appearance just like Galleria dissed Dorinda’s. Plus like Galleria Star is also quick with the come-back snaps. Dionna reminded me of Dorinda because they both were trying to hide parts of their lives to fit in. Marisol reminded me of Channel because she didn’t mind getting in your face (even though Chanel was hesitant in the beginning later she did tell Galleria she wasn’t for her BS. The guys were horrible. Alex was horrible because I don’t doubt he cheated. Cole was horrible because all he seems to do is throw money at his daughter and think this makes up for neglecting her and being in the studio all the time. Dionne’s dad is ok he’s less horrible than the others, but he’s something of a hypocrite because he doesn’t mind being around scantily clad women (and probably having sex with MANY of em) but he throws a fir when Dionne wears a bikini INSIDE THE HOTEL. Corey was horrible (but he got called out twice so he got his). Now Jordan.. I don’t know if I wanna forgive Jordan (if he looks anything like Jordan Calloway then wellll).. But I honestly don’t think he slept with Heather. I think Heather “might” be the Diva of Dish but I’m not for sure and I think she lied to get under Starr’s skin and that’s why they argued. Or maybe they *did* hook up and she told him she was pregnant. But I don’t think the baby is his. Maybe she wanted to tell everyone it *was* his but he wasn’t feeling that. Reggie was just .. he reminds me of this guy that I won’t say I don’t still communicate with but ill just say it’s a WHOLE LOT LESS. Hassan I’ll give a pass to because Dionne played over him which made HER horrible not so much him.
I had some questions after it ended. Who is the Diva of Dish? What was Jordan’s present? Does Starr really not open it and just leave it in the closet? Donate all the presents to charity? Isn’t that kind of .. It’s nice but won’t it look ungrateful. Is Heather pregnant? Is it Jordan’s? Did Alex really cheat (it was implied he did but it only said there was a woman in the documentary that was familiar to Yasmine) He DID act guilty. Why give someone a car who doesn’t even have a LICENSE? How are the Pacesetters JUST coming in to their FRESHMAN year and already the Queen B’s of the school? Wouldn’t this happen in maybe their JUNIOR year?
Rating 10: I liked this so much that I tried to write my own version using my own characters in a RPG I used to play with two friends of mine.
August 19, 2018
This is basically a multicultural version of the clique with more fleshed out characters. It was okay for what it was but so much could be better. The talking Style is outdated and hilarious to read now
“What the hello and goodbye” and “Puh-leeze” are just hilariously overexaggerated and it just reminded me more of The Clique which is cringy but good.
Characters
Marisol
The daughter of a basketball star whose fame and wealth is threatning to tear the family apart. Due to the lifestyle, they lead he has to work and do events no matter how much his wife disapproves of him being gone all the time. However, she doesn’t complain when she’s spending it much like Marisol. Things come to a head at the screening of Alex’s (her father) documentary where the mom sees a blonde woman getting into his car just barely off screen leading to a fight that Mari ease drops on. She admits to her friends that money is nothing but trouble shocking them both. Later at school, she tells Dionne that a bigger house isn’t the dream she thinks it is and Starr makes it clear that fashionability is key to their friendship. She skips on ice cream and the party. She asks her dad why boys lie and cheat and he says sometimes boys make mistakes they regret. He tries to offer her money but she denies. Later her mom takes her to the mall to get Starr’s gift and she doesn’t want to be there she runs into Cory and tells him off. She admits to Starr that her parents are getting a divorce. After a talk with Starr’s mom, she stops the strike. Her mom informs her that they aren't getting divorced and will work things out.
Dionne
While she wasn’t born into money her dad’s rap career affords her lifestyle but her mom is adamant about not letting the money and glam blind her to where she comes from. The money troubles start with her tuition not being paid and her dad still carrying wads of cash around despite a pile of bills yet to be paid. When confronted he tells her that it’s all good and mentions offering to buy a house for her and her mom but the mom refused. This sends her off happy with the mission to get her mom to say yes as it would let her stop lying about who she is t Starr and Marisol. The switch between her being worried about bills and being excited about what she can continue buying is odd and seems like a trick the dad is using to distract her while he smokes his money away and parties with groupies. Having realized how expensive she was she starts stepping up having saved $500 dollars by braiding hair. When pressed about hosting the next sleepover she lies saying her dad’s buying them a bigger house and mom is house hunting. She rejects two invitations to hang out with Hassan the following weekend as she has to attend Starr’s event, He kisses her. Her dad admits that it’s hard in the business everyone wants something from you. After a shopping trip to Kmart, her mom shows her how to mix n match labels to convince her to wear the less expensive clothes. After she gets robbed her mom agrees to let the dad buy a small house for her that she can buy so the deed has to go into a trust fund for her later.
Starr
Having been born into money she’s just annoying as you’d think and spoiled. Her dad’s rarely home due to working to afford her lifestyle which saddens her but she’s yet to give up her high-level style in replacement for family time. Her twin brothers are there as more of a reminder that she gets stuck with them when her parents are out but don’t really add anything to the story. Her parents skip school events for celebrity parties making her feel less important. She pleads this to them as they miss the conference for a recording session where her mom might start up her music career. Starr makes it clear that fashion is important in their friendship and thinks Marisol’s still coming to her party solidifying how up her own but she is. She refuses to open Jordan’s gift when it first comes. At her party, she passes out and her dad's pr team spins a story that she has some illness which keeps people from posting pics.
Natalie
A side character who’s described by Starr as looking paler then a Utah native with a husky and throaty voice that sounds black. She goes to Knightsbridge Day School which is more prestigious than Pace Academy, has a bigger suite with a room size walk-in closet, spa bath and screening room. This plus her style makes Starr jealous hoping she never comes to her school. Her thin, pretty, Stylish and self-assured demeanor intimidates Starr and presents clear competition for queen of Pace Academy (which Starr doesn’t want).
Diva of dish
An annonomys person who gossips about the people at school. When they start with Starr party, particularity how she didn’t have MTV cameras at the school when announcing the invites though she said she would. Next she questions how long it will be until Mari is booted out for her strike. Still unrevealed but ultimately amounted to a random interference every once in a while.
“What the hello and goodbye” and “Puh-leeze” are just hilariously overexaggerated and it just reminded me more of The Clique which is cringy but good.
Characters
Marisol
The daughter of a basketball star whose fame and wealth is threatning to tear the family apart. Due to the lifestyle, they lead he has to work and do events no matter how much his wife disapproves of him being gone all the time. However, she doesn’t complain when she’s spending it much like Marisol. Things come to a head at the screening of Alex’s (her father) documentary where the mom sees a blonde woman getting into his car just barely off screen leading to a fight that Mari ease drops on. She admits to her friends that money is nothing but trouble shocking them both. Later at school, she tells Dionne that a bigger house isn’t the dream she thinks it is and Starr makes it clear that fashionability is key to their friendship. She skips on ice cream and the party. She asks her dad why boys lie and cheat and he says sometimes boys make mistakes they regret. He tries to offer her money but she denies. Later her mom takes her to the mall to get Starr’s gift and she doesn’t want to be there she runs into Cory and tells him off. She admits to Starr that her parents are getting a divorce. After a talk with Starr’s mom, she stops the strike. Her mom informs her that they aren't getting divorced and will work things out.
Dionne
While she wasn’t born into money her dad’s rap career affords her lifestyle but her mom is adamant about not letting the money and glam blind her to where she comes from. The money troubles start with her tuition not being paid and her dad still carrying wads of cash around despite a pile of bills yet to be paid. When confronted he tells her that it’s all good and mentions offering to buy a house for her and her mom but the mom refused. This sends her off happy with the mission to get her mom to say yes as it would let her stop lying about who she is t Starr and Marisol. The switch between her being worried about bills and being excited about what she can continue buying is odd and seems like a trick the dad is using to distract her while he smokes his money away and parties with groupies. Having realized how expensive she was she starts stepping up having saved $500 dollars by braiding hair. When pressed about hosting the next sleepover she lies saying her dad’s buying them a bigger house and mom is house hunting. She rejects two invitations to hang out with Hassan the following weekend as she has to attend Starr’s event, He kisses her. Her dad admits that it’s hard in the business everyone wants something from you. After a shopping trip to Kmart, her mom shows her how to mix n match labels to convince her to wear the less expensive clothes. After she gets robbed her mom agrees to let the dad buy a small house for her that she can buy so the deed has to go into a trust fund for her later.
Starr
Having been born into money she’s just annoying as you’d think and spoiled. Her dad’s rarely home due to working to afford her lifestyle which saddens her but she’s yet to give up her high-level style in replacement for family time. Her twin brothers are there as more of a reminder that she gets stuck with them when her parents are out but don’t really add anything to the story. Her parents skip school events for celebrity parties making her feel less important. She pleads this to them as they miss the conference for a recording session where her mom might start up her music career. Starr makes it clear that fashion is important in their friendship and thinks Marisol’s still coming to her party solidifying how up her own but she is. She refuses to open Jordan’s gift when it first comes. At her party, she passes out and her dad's pr team spins a story that she has some illness which keeps people from posting pics.
Natalie
A side character who’s described by Starr as looking paler then a Utah native with a husky and throaty voice that sounds black. She goes to Knightsbridge Day School which is more prestigious than Pace Academy, has a bigger suite with a room size walk-in closet, spa bath and screening room. This plus her style makes Starr jealous hoping she never comes to her school. Her thin, pretty, Stylish and self-assured demeanor intimidates Starr and presents clear competition for queen of Pace Academy (which Starr doesn’t want).
Diva of dish
An annonomys person who gossips about the people at school. When they start with Starr party, particularity how she didn’t have MTV cameras at the school when announcing the invites though she said she would. Next she questions how long it will be until Mari is booted out for her strike. Still unrevealed but ultimately amounted to a random interference every once in a while.
October 2, 2017
I think the book 'fabulous' deserves 4-5 stars. Don't get me wrong, I loved the book but I didn't love how the author made the girls seem as though they're the biggest people on earth; they're just famous stars daughters. I loved Marisol's character because at one point she found out that fame wasn't always everything-that was until she got back to her old ways and being the 'fab' person that she is. Starr character was just to much in my opinion, most off the book her and Dionne acted like their amount of money couldn't have been taken away from them in just one snap. On the rule pace academy part, I didn't like how they called themselves being the rulers. Although, it was nice reading a book where the characters didn't care about all the other people's views. I also liked how Marisol put her fame aside because she thought that her family was not working. overall I LOVED IT.
April 9, 2014
Excerpt from Fabulous:
"Me see no MTV!
Posted in uncategorized on September 14 @ 6:00 a.m by thedivaofdish
Just got word that Starr Lester's hopes of being on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 were horribly dashed with yesterday's trash. Speculations ran wild after her splashy invite party Thursday was lacking any camera crews and bright lights. The party is still on... but wasn't it completely more exciting when we thought it was going to be on MTV? How embarrassing!
In other news, lets play guess who, shall we? Word on the street is the father of one of our student's latest album is a major flop. Forget platinum, this doozy didn't even hit nickel status. I definitely have my eye out for a repo alert. LOL. So... guess who.
Smooches,
Pace Academy's Diva of Dish"
In Pace Academy, the school of the most richest children, someone is writing things on blog that is true about the kids that go there. However, no one actually knows who is writing the blog and its upsetting those that the blog is talking about. Starr, one of the main characters, is having her 15th birthday party and she wanted it to be on MTV. Somehow someone found out that this was not going to happen and wrote it on the blog. This angered Starr but she decided to leave it alone and brush it off because she thought that it would not matter because no one else knew who the person behind those blogs were.
"Me see no MTV!
Posted in uncategorized on September 14 @ 6:00 a.m by thedivaofdish
Just got word that Starr Lester's hopes of being on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 were horribly dashed with yesterday's trash. Speculations ran wild after her splashy invite party Thursday was lacking any camera crews and bright lights. The party is still on... but wasn't it completely more exciting when we thought it was going to be on MTV? How embarrassing!
In other news, lets play guess who, shall we? Word on the street is the father of one of our student's latest album is a major flop. Forget platinum, this doozy didn't even hit nickel status. I definitely have my eye out for a repo alert. LOL. So... guess who.
Smooches,
Pace Academy's Diva of Dish"
In Pace Academy, the school of the most richest children, someone is writing things on blog that is true about the kids that go there. However, no one actually knows who is writing the blog and its upsetting those that the blog is talking about. Starr, one of the main characters, is having her 15th birthday party and she wanted it to be on MTV. Somehow someone found out that this was not going to happen and wrote it on the blog. This angered Starr but she decided to leave it alone and brush it off because she thought that it would not matter because no one else knew who the person behind those blogs were.
November 5, 2012
I the book “Fabulous” I think that the theme of this book will be to “Only believe in yourself, and trust in it and it will get you far in life.” I chose this theme because in the book there was always on girls that will rule the other two and the ring leader will try and put them down. So I think that if they didn't listen to Starr and be themselves that they well do so much better in life.
September 14, 2010
♥ Started Good ! ♥ Then It Got Boring ! ♥
Currently reading
August 22, 2011AWESOME BOOK!!! I"M JELOUS :)
May 31, 2012
This is a great it showes how young people or people in general can have to much self esteem and it can affect the people we love and care about.
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