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The Education of Hailey Kendrick
Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.
Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.
They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?
Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.
They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?
272 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2011
15 people are currently reading
2610 people want to read
About the author
Eileen Cook
40 books997 followersEileen Cook spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.
You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.
You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
December 13, 2014
"Tell me the truth. When you were a kid, did you always color inside the lines?”
"Coloring in the lines is the whole point. That’s why they have lines,” I said.
“That’s where you’re wrong. The lines are there just to hold you in. Like a prison. Think what you might have created if there hadn’t been any lines."
★★★★★ Funny, funny, funny, love it, love it, love it...
So, I must confess that the story itself is not memorable (
But...
If you ignore these 2 minor things you will find out that:
- the book is wonderfully written and
- there are tons of beautiful quotes I've marked on my book that now it looks like a rainbow,
..So instead of only 4 stars I give it 5.
And one more thing... I love Drew (yeah, present tense). And I loved the moments with Hailey and Drew, they were perfect for each other, and I can't put into words how funny these two were together - I just couldn't stop laughing.
I'll definitely read some more from this author :D
This review can be found at ReadingAfterMidnight.com
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February 17, 2011
Hailey Kendrick has a seemingly perfect life. She gets good grades, is Vice President of her class at a prestigious boarding school, and her boyfriend is one of the most popular guys at school. She is the type that always colors in between the lines. But after an argument with a father leaves her angry and upset, she commits a random act of vandalism with an unlikely conspirator. She is caught, but her co-conspirator is not, and she finds herself taking the fall. As a punishment, she is forced to do janitorial service with a snarky townie, and the whole entire school is put on probation. Hailey has no choice but to watch her life change, as her boyfriend and her grow farther apart, her friends ignore her, and she loses the trusts of her teachers. Hailey is forced to begin coloring outside the lines if she wants to stay true to who she is.
God help me, I really liked this book. I do not like books like these. I hate cutesy books with their morals and their predictability and their cheesiness. I should have hated this one too. But the thing is.....I didn't....Am I turning into a sap or what?!
I blame it on the novel's charm. Yes, it was predictable and slightly cheesy, but it kept my glued to the pages. Honestly, I don't what adhesive got me stuck there, but it sure did work. Hailey was likable and at times, quite hilarious. She was awkward in all the right ways. I actually cringed for her, like the time she fell down the stairs. That would sooo happen to me. Right when she was trying to make a silent exit too *shakes head in laughter* Hailey was a relatable character, I think I mean to say. Also, her relationship with Drew was so cute! But not cheek-pinching cute. *glares at Arlene*
At the end of the book, I was actually grinning. GRINNING. My God! The cuteness, the humor, the sweetness had me looking like the Cheshire Cat!
[image error]
I'm going soft! Quick, someone tell a dead baby joke!
Overall, I did like this book. Quite a bit, actually. I read one Cook previously (Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood), and I enjoyed as well, although not as much. In these two books, I can sense a formula. She takes a well known novel (In this case, The Scarlet Letter), gives it a modern day makeover, and infuses it with DIsney charm. And for some reason, it all works.
If anyone calls me soft after this, I shall stab them with a fork.
God help me, I really liked this book. I do not like books like these. I hate cutesy books with their morals and their predictability and their cheesiness. I should have hated this one too. But the thing is.....I didn't....Am I turning into a sap or what?!
I blame it on the novel's charm. Yes, it was predictable and slightly cheesy, but it kept my glued to the pages. Honestly, I don't what adhesive got me stuck there, but it sure did work. Hailey was likable and at times, quite hilarious. She was awkward in all the right ways. I actually cringed for her, like the time she fell down the stairs. That would sooo happen to me. Right when she was trying to make a silent exit too *shakes head in laughter* Hailey was a relatable character, I think I mean to say. Also, her relationship with Drew was so cute! But not cheek-pinching cute. *glares at Arlene*
At the end of the book, I was actually grinning. GRINNING. My God! The cuteness, the humor, the sweetness had me looking like the Cheshire Cat!
[image error]
I'm going soft! Quick, someone tell a dead baby joke!
Overall, I did like this book. Quite a bit, actually. I read one Cook previously (Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood), and I enjoyed as well, although not as much. In these two books, I can sense a formula. She takes a well known novel (In this case, The Scarlet Letter), gives it a modern day makeover, and infuses it with DIsney charm. And for some reason, it all works.
If anyone calls me soft after this, I shall stab them with a fork.
December 5, 2012
The Education of Hailey Kendrick :
Love love love. This is a fast read. I was absolutely in love with this book. Everything about it just pulls you in and is a real problem.
Hailey is tired of being perfect, she wants to shake things up. She does something one night out of anger and hurt and it turns everything she has known upside down. She damages school property and is found in a compromising position with someone other than her boyfriend. Hailey is now shunned, she has hurt the person she never wanted to hurt. She has messed up big, but then she wanted change. She starts to isolate herself more, and is startled to find out something HUGE that hurts.
Hailey is put on janitorial duty with Drew, which at first she doesn't like but there is more to Drew than meets the eye. Drew is smart, handsome,caring,and knows how to loosen up. He is showing Hailey things she has forgotten, like having fun and not caring what people think. People will talk either way, so why not have fun doing what you love.
When she starts to fall for Drew she starts to freak out, and starts to push him away.Then all things go down hill from there, things get a little crazy but a smile never leaves your place, all you think is really hasn't enough happened?!? In the end she finds out who her friends are and she is going to take what she wants after all.
February 10, 2011
While Hailey was likable enough, I had a hard time sympathizing with her. Almost all of her problems are either of her own making...or not that big of a deal. Everything starts spiraling out of control when her dad cancels their summer plans? Yes, that sucks, and is clearly a symptom of an underlying issue in their relationship, but Hailey keeps escalating the situation with her harebrained schemes that failed to make me feel much sympathy for this ultra-privileged girl.
Cook does do an excellent job of making Hailey sympathetic. Sometimes my gut reaction was to feel bad for her, but I'm not much of a fan of stories where everything could have been solved/avoided with one conversation early on in the story.
Cook does do an excellent job of making Hailey sympathetic. Sometimes my gut reaction was to feel bad for her, but I'm not much of a fan of stories where everything could have been solved/avoided with one conversation early on in the story.
April 25, 2011
This book was a bit of a surprise, to be honest. I really didn't expect it to turn out the way it did. The main character Hailey, had a lot of issues involving finding herself, and though she didn't really find herself at the end, she started to.
Any relationships she had changed for the better, and she evolved as a character from a somewhat depressing and almost whiny person to a more likeable person. One of the more interesting relationships was between her and her father, and the impact that her father's choices had on her. I think it was a really different approach to see how parents truly affect their children and have such a major influence on their decisions.
Hailey herself was kind of a boring person at the start, but as she made more and more 'bad' choices she got more likeable. Maybe it was just Drew's influence on her. His 'taking chances' approach to life was kind of refreshing. His description wasn't my favourite, but I'm just not into the whole surfer long hair in ponytail thing for guys. His personality was perfect though and totally fit with Hailey's good-girl image. Kelsie was a really odd match as Hailey's best friend, but they really balanced each other out. Tristan was my favourite character by far, even with his smaller role, because the depth in which he values trust really struck a chord with me.
Sure, there wasn't that much depth in some of the relationships like Tristan and Kelsie's, but the relationship that grew from Hailey and Drew's made up for it.
One of my favourite quotes would have to be from Drew's introduction:
“You must be Joel,” the guy said. He turned to
me with a half smile. “And you must be the guilty
party coming to scrub your soul and the toilets
clean.” (Cook, 2011)
It was the greatest introduction for this character and really gave a first impression of Drew that set the tone for the rest of novel.
Overall, I would give it a 3.8 out of 5.
Any relationships she had changed for the better, and she evolved as a character from a somewhat depressing and almost whiny person to a more likeable person. One of the more interesting relationships was between her and her father, and the impact that her father's choices had on her. I think it was a really different approach to see how parents truly affect their children and have such a major influence on their decisions.
Hailey herself was kind of a boring person at the start, but as she made more and more 'bad' choices she got more likeable. Maybe it was just Drew's influence on her. His 'taking chances' approach to life was kind of refreshing. His description wasn't my favourite, but I'm just not into the whole surfer long hair in ponytail thing for guys. His personality was perfect though and totally fit with Hailey's good-girl image. Kelsie was a really odd match as Hailey's best friend, but they really balanced each other out. Tristan was my favourite character by far, even with his smaller role, because the depth in which he values trust really struck a chord with me.
Sure, there wasn't that much depth in some of the relationships like Tristan and Kelsie's, but the relationship that grew from Hailey and Drew's made up for it.
One of my favourite quotes would have to be from Drew's introduction:
“You must be Joel,” the guy said. He turned to
me with a half smile. “And you must be the guilty
party coming to scrub your soul and the toilets
clean.” (Cook, 2011)
It was the greatest introduction for this character and really gave a first impression of Drew that set the tone for the rest of novel.
Overall, I would give it a 3.8 out of 5.
January 20, 2011
Engaging and fun, The Education of Hailey Kendrick is a cute deliver onto a girls’ life trying to be ‘right’ all the time, but being ‘right’ doesn’t mean it’ll make you ‘perfect’. There were many amusing and laugh-out-loud moments, making it a pleasing chick-lit novel.
Cook built the plot line as if it were a ladder – if you get up the top, you’re in most trouble. It was a whirlwind for Hailey… a lot of mischief happens to her. She cheats on her boyfriend, broke a school’s statue, and looses the trust of her best friend.
Hailey made me smile all the time… she was smart, a good girl trying to make her dad happy all the time. Cook made her very realistic and relatable and I was always cheering for her. I also felt like wanting to be her best friends at times. She followed her heart and was very loyal and brave… but not all the time when it came to making decisions and the right choices. Her flaws added into her own personality, making her learn from it and ending up to become a stronger person.
The Education of Hailey Kendrick is a windy and light-hearted take on discovering life, school, and reality in general with its consequences. Can’t wait to read more from Cook!
Cook built the plot line as if it were a ladder – if you get up the top, you’re in most trouble. It was a whirlwind for Hailey… a lot of mischief happens to her. She cheats on her boyfriend, broke a school’s statue, and looses the trust of her best friend.
Hailey made me smile all the time… she was smart, a good girl trying to make her dad happy all the time. Cook made her very realistic and relatable and I was always cheering for her. I also felt like wanting to be her best friends at times. She followed her heart and was very loyal and brave… but not all the time when it came to making decisions and the right choices. Her flaws added into her own personality, making her learn from it and ending up to become a stronger person.
The Education of Hailey Kendrick is a windy and light-hearted take on discovering life, school, and reality in general with its consequences. Can’t wait to read more from Cook!
January 7, 2011
I started this book as soon as I finished reading Prom and Prejudice and I had it done in about an hour, so there wasn't enough time to put it up as "Currently Reading". I really loved this book, despite its cringe-worthy moments. I love how Hailey finally stands up to her dad, and how her friends still stick up for her when it really matters. And Drew. How awesome is he? EXTREMELY awesome. :)
August 5, 2015
This book was really good. It wasn't quite what I expected but I kinda liked that. It was cute and quirky and you just fell in love with the characters. It wasn't the best book but it was nice to read a nice happy ending in a book that didn't make you cry. It kinda flip flopped around but I really like how even though Hailey seemed like a pompous character, she wasn't that bad. It was pretty good. Can't wait to read more of Eileen Cook!
July 2, 2015
Kickasstastic. Eileen is amazing. I have yet to read a book by her that I didn't love.
February 1, 2020
Finished this in a day! A nice, quick and cute read. Not Cook's best, but still enjoyable.
January 15, 2019
Personal Response:
I really liked this book because I felt like I related to the book better because the main character's name is the same as mine. I also liked how there was always something going on throughout the book.
Plot Summary:
Hailey Kendrick is a rich, smart, pretty, and popular teenage girl, apart from that fact that her mother was killed by a drunk driver in a car crash. Hailey Kendrick has a boyfriend who’s name is Tristan, he adores Hailey so much, but she feels a sudden urge to change everything up. Hailey Kendrick totally changes her personality and actions over the summer and decides to vandalize the statue of her school mascot, with another mystery guy, who she ends up kissing. Hailey ends up getting caught for the vandalization and has a serious punishment of all her classmates being punished for it and herself being punished. Her punishment was to help the janitor, Drew with cleaning the school. She ends up breaking it off with Tristan and hitting it off with Drew, even though she is very oblivious to taking a chance on life. Hailey ends up getting out of her punishment after a while and doesn’t exactly return to her old self, but close to it.
Characterization:
Hailey started out as a straight “A” student but quickly changed over the summer. She changed to a rebel student and likes to sneak around and break rules. Soon enough she realized what she was doing and that it was bad and turned herself around and changed back to how she used to be.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are easily related to and that like to see a change in the characters actions. I would also recommend this book to the age levels 13-18. This seems like a great age to me because these are the ages that most likely will relate to this book.
I really liked this book because I felt like I related to the book better because the main character's name is the same as mine. I also liked how there was always something going on throughout the book.
Plot Summary:
Hailey Kendrick is a rich, smart, pretty, and popular teenage girl, apart from that fact that her mother was killed by a drunk driver in a car crash. Hailey Kendrick has a boyfriend who’s name is Tristan, he adores Hailey so much, but she feels a sudden urge to change everything up. Hailey Kendrick totally changes her personality and actions over the summer and decides to vandalize the statue of her school mascot, with another mystery guy, who she ends up kissing. Hailey ends up getting caught for the vandalization and has a serious punishment of all her classmates being punished for it and herself being punished. Her punishment was to help the janitor, Drew with cleaning the school. She ends up breaking it off with Tristan and hitting it off with Drew, even though she is very oblivious to taking a chance on life. Hailey ends up getting out of her punishment after a while and doesn’t exactly return to her old self, but close to it.
Characterization:
Hailey started out as a straight “A” student but quickly changed over the summer. She changed to a rebel student and likes to sneak around and break rules. Soon enough she realized what she was doing and that it was bad and turned herself around and changed back to how she used to be.
Recommendations:
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books that are easily related to and that like to see a change in the characters actions. I would also recommend this book to the age levels 13-18. This seems like a great age to me because these are the ages that most likely will relate to this book.
July 13, 2011
Nuevamente, Eileen Cook no me decepcionó. Sus libros siempre son frescos, cómicos, con el romance exacto y juveniles.
Hailey Kendrick siempre hacia lo correcto, deseaba ser perfecta para su padre, con un dolor profundo desde que su madre murió en un accidente. Ella es popular, buena amiga, excelente novia. El verano antes de irse a la universidad lo ha esperado con ansias, pues se iría de vacaciones con su padre, pero cuando el cancela el viaje ella saca su lado "malo".
En un parpadeó ella le es infiel a su novio con su "cómplice", destroza una estatua de la escuela y pierde a su mejor amiga. Ella no revela el nombre de quien estuvó esa noche con ella, y guadar ese secreto fue de las cosas más interesantes del libro.
Las cosas no serán lo mismo para esta chica rica y privilegiada.
De castigo deberá estar con Drew, un chico humilde, ENCANTADOR, que le enseñara su mundo mientras todo lo que ella se había esforzado a lograr se les escapa de las manos. Los maestros desconfían de Hailey, su novio no le dirige la palabra, hablan de ella en susurros, le han perdido el respeto...
La protagonista se equivoca costantemente, mete la pata como cualquier adolescente, deseé estrangularla varias veces, mi mente le gritaba, "¿Cómo que no significo nada ese chico? ¿Cómo que ya olvideste ese beso? ¿Eh, él escucho?" Mis reacciones se subieron a una montaña rusa y no podía darles un descanso. Deseé hacerle daño por herir a Joel, no importaba que Tristan fuera su novio, y todo esol
Al final, las cosas pueden ser mejor de esa manera.
Hailey Kendrick siempre hacia lo correcto, deseaba ser perfecta para su padre, con un dolor profundo desde que su madre murió en un accidente. Ella es popular, buena amiga, excelente novia. El verano antes de irse a la universidad lo ha esperado con ansias, pues se iría de vacaciones con su padre, pero cuando el cancela el viaje ella saca su lado "malo".
En un parpadeó ella le es infiel a su novio con su "cómplice", destroza una estatua de la escuela y pierde a su mejor amiga. Ella no revela el nombre de quien estuvó esa noche con ella, y guadar ese secreto fue de las cosas más interesantes del libro.
Las cosas no serán lo mismo para esta chica rica y privilegiada.
De castigo deberá estar con Drew, un chico humilde, ENCANTADOR, que le enseñara su mundo mientras todo lo que ella se había esforzado a lograr se les escapa de las manos. Los maestros desconfían de Hailey, su novio no le dirige la palabra, hablan de ella en susurros, le han perdido el respeto...
La protagonista se equivoca costantemente, mete la pata como cualquier adolescente, deseé estrangularla varias veces, mi mente le gritaba, "¿Cómo que no significo nada ese chico? ¿Cómo que ya olvideste ese beso? ¿Eh, él escucho?" Mis reacciones se subieron a una montaña rusa y no podía darles un descanso. Deseé hacerle daño por herir a Joel, no importaba que Tristan fuera su novio, y todo esol
Al final, las cosas pueden ser mejor de esa manera.
March 14, 2024
The main character was easy to love
February 22, 2011
This book is amazing, not only does the main character becomes stronger in the end, all the problems that she had were resolved. This character Hailey Kendrick is a realistic character. Not like other books where the characters are in love and a dilemma happens and in the end it is resolved/ This is different.
In the beginning she is popular and smart because she dates the hottest and most popular guy in the school. Everyone loved her!
However, Hailey Kendrick is not the type of girl you think you know it all, she is just an average girl like the majority of us (girls) are. In addition, Hailey Kendrick goes to a rich boarding school where the school is her family place, where it is absolutely necessary to listen and follow the rules on campus. Because of a dilemma with her dad, Hailey Kendrick's life becomes upside down. Throughout the story, she becomes a decision-maker and chooses to break the rules to go wide with a guy named Drew. She not only solves the issue with her father in the end but also listens to her heart.... Of course, she is mad that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend. But it is a small issue of jealousy.
In the end, Hailey becomes popular for who she is! A CRAZY, WIDE girl! (the other students would mumble)
In the beginning she is popular and smart because she dates the hottest and most popular guy in the school. Everyone loved her!
However, Hailey Kendrick is not the type of girl you think you know it all, she is just an average girl like the majority of us (girls) are. In addition, Hailey Kendrick goes to a rich boarding school where the school is her family place, where it is absolutely necessary to listen and follow the rules on campus. Because of a dilemma with her dad, Hailey Kendrick's life becomes upside down. Throughout the story, she becomes a decision-maker and chooses to break the rules to go wide with a guy named Drew. She not only solves the issue with her father in the end but also listens to her heart.... Of course, she is mad that her best friend is dating her ex-boyfriend. But it is a small issue of jealousy.
In the end, Hailey becomes popular for who she is! A CRAZY, WIDE girl! (the other students would mumble)
May 7, 2012
Concept/Ideas: 3.5/5
First book by Eileen Cook. I'm impressed. I like that her books always have humour, and they are definitely light reads. I love the covers of all of her books! The idea for this book was intriguing, but nothing really new. Still, I enjoyed it.
Storyline/Plot: 3.5/5
Better in the first half then the second. It kind of dragged a bit in some parts, but overall a fast paced read.
Characters: 3.8/5
I really enjoyed the characters, and they were likable, especially Hailey. Despite the fact that they are all rich, wealthy kids, Eileen Cook is able to pull you in and feel for them. She doesnt make them out to be typical "snobs", like most authors will do when creating characters on the richer side (i.e: the clique, gossip girl, private,etc...)
Writing Style: 4/5
A witty way of writing, and I definitely enjoyed the book overall. I liked that the writing was easy, light on the eyes and brain, and overall fresh.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars
First book by Eileen Cook. I'm impressed. I like that her books always have humour, and they are definitely light reads. I love the covers of all of her books! The idea for this book was intriguing, but nothing really new. Still, I enjoyed it.
Storyline/Plot: 3.5/5
Better in the first half then the second. It kind of dragged a bit in some parts, but overall a fast paced read.
Characters: 3.8/5
I really enjoyed the characters, and they were likable, especially Hailey. Despite the fact that they are all rich, wealthy kids, Eileen Cook is able to pull you in and feel for them. She doesnt make them out to be typical "snobs", like most authors will do when creating characters on the richer side (i.e: the clique, gossip girl, private,etc...)
Writing Style: 4/5
A witty way of writing, and I definitely enjoyed the book overall. I liked that the writing was easy, light on the eyes and brain, and overall fresh.
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars
February 17, 2016
GRADE: B-
THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK is a charming, albeit predictable story of a seemingly perfect girl falling off her pedestal and into the arms of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, a janitor at her elite boarding school.
Being the perfect daughter, girlfriend and student just wasn't paying off for Hailey and after a few epically bad decisions, she hardly knows herself. Eileen Cook, a gifted writer gave Hailey an intelligent, sarcastic, witty voice. She was a multidimensional, likable, very imperfect character. Her voice and narration made this otherwise clichéd story a fun read.
THEMES: boarding school, friends, family, parents, light romance.
THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK is an enjoyable spin on the familiar rich girl/poor boy story and the poor little rich girl.
THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK is a charming, albeit predictable story of a seemingly perfect girl falling off her pedestal and into the arms of a guy from the wrong side of the tracks, a janitor at her elite boarding school.
Being the perfect daughter, girlfriend and student just wasn't paying off for Hailey and after a few epically bad decisions, she hardly knows herself. Eileen Cook, a gifted writer gave Hailey an intelligent, sarcastic, witty voice. She was a multidimensional, likable, very imperfect character. Her voice and narration made this otherwise clichéd story a fun read.
THEMES: boarding school, friends, family, parents, light romance.
THE EDUCATION OF HAILEY KENDRICK is an enjoyable spin on the familiar rich girl/poor boy story and the poor little rich girl.
October 12, 2012
4.8!!! I'm going to be honest and say I totally didn't expect this book to be as good as it was. If your reading this review, go get this book and read it. You will not be let down. Oh and also, I love Drew. And Joel. Not so much for Tristan. He's okay I guess.
October 7, 2012
4.5
I Really liked this book! It was interesting to read about the world of rich boarding schools but through the eyes of someone who wasn't famous or stuck up like some of the others at the school. I enjoyed watching her learn about life especially the through Drew and their shenanigans! lol
I Really liked this book! It was interesting to read about the world of rich boarding schools but through the eyes of someone who wasn't famous or stuck up like some of the others at the school. I enjoyed watching her learn about life especially the through Drew and their shenanigans! lol
December 13, 2015
I had major book cravings. ;-; I don't think I've gone this long without reading in like, forever. It's all Rusafa's fault. She tested my temptations. And I gave in...
This was a complete light read. It was nice. My mood has been up-scaled by miles.
This was a complete light read. It was nice. My mood has been up-scaled by miles.
February 16, 2011
My mom got this book for me because I'm sick. It was decent; I feel like the author is good but the plot was not.
July 21, 2011
Good, fairly clean, high-school girl drama at a New England boarding school for the kids of the rich and famous. A quick read for 7th grade and up.
May 17, 2019
I read “The Education of Hailey Kendrick” in one day. I did not want to put the book down. It took me a little bit to get into (only about the first twenty pages or so), but then I did not want to stop reading it. The characters each held their own and I was pulled into their individual narratives. The story had excellent pacing and never slowed down once the ball got rolling. I loved this read. “The Education of Hailey Kendrick” follows the story of a young soon-to-be-adult grasping to the thin line between childhood and adulthood as they plan for college. When some sad news is given to Hailey she enters a journey of discover to figure out what she really wants. It is a well written story and was the perfect piece of fluff reading that I needed in my life right now.
At first, I did not connect with Hailey. My only real critique of “The Education of Hailey Kendrick” is that it is set in a posh private boarding school and all the students are stupidly wealthy. This is something that I could not relate to. I slowly began to empathize with Hailey, but it was not until the incident with her father that I felt a sudden connection. My father has also had a moment where he hugely disappointed me and I wanted to break something. I did not. Instead I took the Austenian approach and wrote him a letter. He was very apologetic the next day and we have always gotten along well since. Hailey reaction was different in her situation, but the emotions were the same and it brought everything back to me. At times, that made it a more difficult read, emotionally, but it also made the story more powerful to me.
The other characters were also interesting, in their own way. I liked Kelsie’s display of friendship. Yes, it is not a solid friendship throughout the book, but it is realistic. The forgiveness Kelsie and Hailey show each other is much more realistic than throwing a tantrum and never speaking again. I appreciated that. I am not sure how I feel about Joel. I found that Joel was kind of a schmuck, but an honest guy. I sympathized with his situation and felt bad for the struggle he had to go through. Tristan is an interesting person. I liked how Cook balanced his fame and his personality. Tristan does not show his true self because of paparazzi issues, but has a strong emotional reaction to the incident with Hailey. It makes Tristan come off as an honest and down-to-earth person. I liked Tristan. Drew was someone I had to ponder over. I had to keep telling myself that he is only a year older than Hailey, so their friendship is not skeevy. It took me awhile to warm up to him. Overall, the friendships were realistic and meaningful.
“The Education of Hailey Kendrick” is a bildungsroman. I enjoyed the message of being yourself and not following all of the rules is okay, if you are doing it for the right reasons. I liked how simple the story was; nothing felt extreme. It felt like a real person, with real situations, that caused real actions, that resulted in real consequences. It didn’t feel fake. It is a cute young adult story perfect for high school readers.
The ending came and I didn’t want it to. This is one of the few stories that I wanted to go longer so that I could spend more times with the characters. When I finished I had that ‘what do I read next?’ feeling and all the books on my coffee table looked like they would not be as good as what I had just read. It was only last year that I went back to reading young adult fiction and I love it! I do not know what I stopped, but I am glad that I started again.
At first, I did not connect with Hailey. My only real critique of “The Education of Hailey Kendrick” is that it is set in a posh private boarding school and all the students are stupidly wealthy. This is something that I could not relate to. I slowly began to empathize with Hailey, but it was not until the incident with her father that I felt a sudden connection. My father has also had a moment where he hugely disappointed me and I wanted to break something. I did not. Instead I took the Austenian approach and wrote him a letter. He was very apologetic the next day and we have always gotten along well since. Hailey reaction was different in her situation, but the emotions were the same and it brought everything back to me. At times, that made it a more difficult read, emotionally, but it also made the story more powerful to me.
The other characters were also interesting, in their own way. I liked Kelsie’s display of friendship. Yes, it is not a solid friendship throughout the book, but it is realistic. The forgiveness Kelsie and Hailey show each other is much more realistic than throwing a tantrum and never speaking again. I appreciated that. I am not sure how I feel about Joel. I found that Joel was kind of a schmuck, but an honest guy. I sympathized with his situation and felt bad for the struggle he had to go through. Tristan is an interesting person. I liked how Cook balanced his fame and his personality. Tristan does not show his true self because of paparazzi issues, but has a strong emotional reaction to the incident with Hailey. It makes Tristan come off as an honest and down-to-earth person. I liked Tristan. Drew was someone I had to ponder over. I had to keep telling myself that he is only a year older than Hailey, so their friendship is not skeevy. It took me awhile to warm up to him. Overall, the friendships were realistic and meaningful.
“The Education of Hailey Kendrick” is a bildungsroman. I enjoyed the message of being yourself and not following all of the rules is okay, if you are doing it for the right reasons. I liked how simple the story was; nothing felt extreme. It felt like a real person, with real situations, that caused real actions, that resulted in real consequences. It didn’t feel fake. It is a cute young adult story perfect for high school readers.
The ending came and I didn’t want it to. This is one of the few stories that I wanted to go longer so that I could spend more times with the characters. When I finished I had that ‘what do I read next?’ feeling and all the books on my coffee table looked like they would not be as good as what I had just read. It was only last year that I went back to reading young adult fiction and I love it! I do not know what I stopped, but I am glad that I started again.
September 1, 2017
à vrai dire quand j'ai commencé à lire je me disais que c'est l'hitoire d'une favorisée qui à tt servi sur un plateau et que ça n'allait surement pas me plaire que ce n'était qu'un petit passe-temps ... comme d'hab j'avais tort. c'est une histoire fantastique !
j'ai adoré chaque moment, j'adore me sentir au coeur de l'histoire et ce livre me donnait l'impression de l'etre!
petit résumé: attention au spoil !!
hailey agée de 17 ans avait décidé d'etre la fille parfaite après la mort de sa mère, elle a intégré un pensionnat pour riche jute après de la tragédie ou elle a brillé par son talent, sa beauté' et sa gentillesse . un soir elle avait rat-le-bol de son père qui avait annuler leurs vacances ensembles apres une absence de 4 ans et que l'une des filles du pensionnat ait taché le chandail de sa mère, elle décide de sortir et s'acharne sur la statut de l'école, un ami à elle intervient mais pas dans le bon sens! ils se font rattrapé en flagrant délit entrain de s'embrassé sous la statut cassée! ils s’enfuirent mais le matin toute la vie de hailyey change, perd son petite amie, sa popularité et se retrouve à faire des travaux ménagères car elle avait choisi de prendre la responsabilité toute seule sinon son ami boursier aurait été renvoyé ... certains événements changent complètement notre vie
c'est sur mais il n'y a pas qu'un aspect négatif et souvent c'est nous qui créons les problèmes et les obstacles sans nous rendre compte, c'est ce quenou allons apprendre avec hailey.
suivre les aventures de haily était un plaisir! j'ai eu plein de sensations en parcourant les pages, j'ai adoré les personnages! hailey c'est un peu la fille qui suis trop les règles et à force est devenue coincée. kelsey sa meilleure amie qui prend tout à la légère. joé pésident des élèves et le meilleur ami de son copain tristant qui est secrètement amoureux d'elle, il est brillant mais trop prudent et ne prend pas de risque jamais meme en amour. Drew le concierge qui à notre grande surprise est admis à Yalle, un esprit libre qui aime la vie et aime vivre et préfère dompter la vie que de se laisser faire.
j'ai adoré chaque moment, j'adore me sentir au coeur de l'histoire et ce livre me donnait l'impression de l'etre!
petit résumé: attention au spoil !!
hailey agée de 17 ans avait décidé d'etre la fille parfaite après la mort de sa mère, elle a intégré un pensionnat pour riche jute après de la tragédie ou elle a brillé par son talent, sa beauté' et sa gentillesse . un soir elle avait rat-le-bol de son père qui avait annuler leurs vacances ensembles apres une absence de 4 ans et que l'une des filles du pensionnat ait taché le chandail de sa mère, elle décide de sortir et s'acharne sur la statut de l'école, un ami à elle intervient mais pas dans le bon sens! ils se font rattrapé en flagrant délit entrain de s'embrassé sous la statut cassée! ils s’enfuirent mais le matin toute la vie de hailyey change, perd son petite amie, sa popularité et se retrouve à faire des travaux ménagères car elle avait choisi de prendre la responsabilité toute seule sinon son ami boursier aurait été renvoyé ... certains événements changent complètement notre vie
c'est sur mais il n'y a pas qu'un aspect négatif et souvent c'est nous qui créons les problèmes et les obstacles sans nous rendre compte, c'est ce quenou allons apprendre avec hailey.
suivre les aventures de haily était un plaisir! j'ai eu plein de sensations en parcourant les pages, j'ai adoré les personnages! hailey c'est un peu la fille qui suis trop les règles et à force est devenue coincée. kelsey sa meilleure amie qui prend tout à la légère. joé pésident des élèves et le meilleur ami de son copain tristant qui est secrètement amoureux d'elle, il est brillant mais trop prudent et ne prend pas de risque jamais meme en amour. Drew le concierge qui à notre grande surprise est admis à Yalle, un esprit libre qui aime la vie et aime vivre et préfère dompter la vie que de se laisser faire.
March 21, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this young adult fiction novel, despite it tackling a sensitive topic like cheating. The author expertly handled the aftermath, making it satisfying to read.The principal's punishment for Haley was severe, and Drew's character stole the show – I'm a huge fan!This book was a fun, easy, and entertaining read, with a dash of humor. Although some plot twists were predictable, they didn't detract from my enjoyment. I appreciated how the characters resolved their issues and the overall message of the book.However, please note that this story contains a kiss between a 17- and 19-year-old, slightly fatphobic remarks, and outdated terms."
March 8, 2024
A senior girl, Hailey, has spent the last 4 years at a boarding school. She feels disconnected from her father and makes a bad choice after a phone fight. The bad choice leads to some punishment from school and some introspection into her life. It is a quick read. I super hated her dad. He was a big jerk most of the book. For teens who want a coming of age, romance-ish book, this fits the bill. A mild swear or two, some sexual comments and innuendos, a few kisses, and a bejeweled crotch. 8th grade and up.
April 19, 2020
What can I say? I'm a sucker for funny books with interesting heroines and good banters. This is one of those. It's a fast read, an interesting enough premise, and hilarious situations-- it almost reminds me of those romantic comedy teen movies but only this book focused more on self-realization, friendship, and family.
It's a light read perfect for idle times.
It's a light read perfect for idle times.
May 9, 2018
This was cute! There were a few off-color jokes and somewhat questionable references, it certainly wasn't deep by any means, and Hailey should've been 18, but it was definitely cute, and a very quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2023
this book is soooo fun! it’s like if someone mixed together leighton’s s1 plot (from tslocg) with characters and drama from the high school years of “the oc” and “one tree hill.” i’d definitely recommend this if you’re looking for a light-hearted ya drama read 😊
January 6, 2025
A really nice story.I loved how Hailey's character developed so much throughout the novel.She is such a loyal friend who is willing to take the fall for someone else.Drew was also such an awesome and funny character who helps Hailey see everything in a new light.
June 12, 2017
YA fun fluff with some YA substance. It had me smile and was a nice stress reliever.
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