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Babe in Boyland
When high school junior Natalie-or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper-is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected-especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?
292 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2011
79 people are currently reading
9355 people want to read
About the author
Jody Gehrman
15 books804 followersJody Gehrman is a native of Northern California, where she can be found writing, teaching, reading, or obsessing over her three cats most days. She is also the author of eleven novels and numerous award-winning plays. Her debut suspense novel, Watch Me, was published by St. Martin's Press. Her other adult novels are Bombshell, Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin. Her Young Adult novels include The Truth About Jack, Audrey's Guide to Black Magic, Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love. Babe in Boyland was optioned by the Disney Channel and won the International Reading Association's Teen Choice Award. Her plays have been produced or had readings in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of Communication at Mendocino College.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 972 reviews
June 23, 2011
3.5 stars It's pretty much impossible to read this book and not smile throughout most of it. Impossible, I say! I've never read this author before, but the quirky cover appealed to my sense of humor and the premise reminded me a of A Different Twist, one of those Scholastic paperbacks I really liked in grade school.
Have you ever wondered why guys don't call back when they say they will? Natalie has, so she decides to go undercover at a boys' prep school for some inside info for her newspaper story on how the other half thinks. She cuts her hair, puts on a school uniform, applies some fake stubble, and throws herself right into the project. How hard can it be to figure out what makes boys tick, right?
The set-up and many of the details are obviously far-fetched and silly (and have been used in many stories before this one), so you're going to have to just run with them if you're going to read this book. It's not hard to leave your analytical brain at the door, though, as I was hooked from the very beginning by the breezy tone and fast-moving plot. I loved Natalie's smart and funny voice as well as her sly observations about the world around her.
*************************************************************
I'm going to write a book someday called The Devil Wears His-and-Her Gap Cardigans.
Promnesia (when perfectly sane people forget about everything except spray tans, strapless dresses, and dyed-to-match pumps), Brazilaphobia (fear of overly zealous hair removal), etc.
*************************************************************
My personal favorite, however, is the brief and appropriate nod to My Fair Lady during the transformation scene with Nat's friends. "By George, I think you've got it." Love love love!
There are really great girl-girl friendships and cute boys, as well as some interesting revelations that come to Nat about friends (and trolls) hiding in unexpected places. I also liked the author's depiction of the natural exuberance in the way girls interact with each other, and the way Nat comes to appreciate both the opposite sex as well as her own pleasure in being a girl.
This is a super cute book that is a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it for the next time you want a fast and fluffy, uncomplicated but not shallow book. It's something we can all use from time to time.
This review also appears in The Midnight Garden.
Have you ever wondered why guys don't call back when they say they will? Natalie has, so she decides to go undercover at a boys' prep school for some inside info for her newspaper story on how the other half thinks. She cuts her hair, puts on a school uniform, applies some fake stubble, and throws herself right into the project. How hard can it be to figure out what makes boys tick, right?
The set-up and many of the details are obviously far-fetched and silly (and have been used in many stories before this one), so you're going to have to just run with them if you're going to read this book. It's not hard to leave your analytical brain at the door, though, as I was hooked from the very beginning by the breezy tone and fast-moving plot. I loved Natalie's smart and funny voice as well as her sly observations about the world around her.
*************************************************************
I'm going to write a book someday called The Devil Wears His-and-Her Gap Cardigans.
Promnesia (when perfectly sane people forget about everything except spray tans, strapless dresses, and dyed-to-match pumps), Brazilaphobia (fear of overly zealous hair removal), etc.
*************************************************************
My personal favorite, however, is the brief and appropriate nod to My Fair Lady during the transformation scene with Nat's friends. "By George, I think you've got it." Love love love!
There are really great girl-girl friendships and cute boys, as well as some interesting revelations that come to Nat about friends (and trolls) hiding in unexpected places. I also liked the author's depiction of the natural exuberance in the way girls interact with each other, and the way Nat comes to appreciate both the opposite sex as well as her own pleasure in being a girl.
This is a super cute book that is a lot of fun to read. I highly recommend it for the next time you want a fast and fluffy, uncomplicated but not shallow book. It's something we can all use from time to time.
This review also appears in The Midnight Garden.
February 17, 2011
Full review posted at
Amaterasu Reads
From the summary, you'd probably think of Amanda Bynes' movie She's The Man. A girl who disguises herself as a boy and went to an all boys school? Ring a bell? Or if you're familiar with Hisaya Nakajo's Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, which is also about a girl who went to an all boys school. Or if you want to look even further, I would say this also reminds me a bit of Drew Barrymore's Never Been Kissed. You're probably right in that part of the story, but I think that's where the similarity ends.
I have to give Jody Gehrman credit because as much as this book sounds familiar, she was able to make the story her own. Putting in her own spin using cliche elements from books we've read and movies we've seen, and injecting a healthy dose of hilariousness that will surely tickle one's funny bones, along with a dash of wit and comedy that will make you forget it was similar to another story, Babe in Boyland is an insightful yet very entertaining sneak peek in what happens when girls try to understand what really can't be understood. Boys.
I was already laughing my socks off after the first eight pages. Natalie's voice is distinct and very funny, even comical. Her editors from hell who insults her on a daily basis mocks her further when her advice column bombs and virtually all the males in school hates her because apparently she doesn't know a thing about relationships and boys. She's a failed love goddess and a journalistic joke, to quote her own words. So Natalie attempted to write her own expose, and maybe win the Story of the Year award while she's at it.
I can come up with a few adjectives to describe Natalie, a.k.a. Dr. Aphrodite. She's reckless, she's sassy, she's witty, she's awkward, and basically, she's just a girl trying to learn how it is that boys "operate". I love how Natalie puts in the effort to understand guys more, even though she's crazy as a nut for infiltrating an all boys school. She was trying to be more "dedicated" and more honest in her craft, which was mainly her driving force to do such a drastic action. And for her sanity as a girl, she had to find out once and for all how to give right advices to those writing to her, and not just what they want to hear.
Emilio somewhat reminds me a bit of Alex of the Perfect Chemistry, though somewhat tamer, more mysterious, and more laid back. He's the kind of guy you would love to just hang out with. Not really part of the popular cliques, but he gets along with everyone. I love how simple his character is, but easily lovable.
It's amazing how much I appreciated being a girl after reading about being a boy from another girl's point of view. Aside from the obvious luxuries we have that boys don't, what she had to sacrifice, Natalie had to pretend to be someone she's not, and along the road she had experienced all kinds of failures. I found myself rooting for both Natalie and Nat, and finding delight when they overcome situations (which otherwise embarrasses the world out of everyone in a normal setting) and basically existing in a world far different from her own, the world of boys.
The author's experience in theater is put into good use in this novel. Natalie's character, aside from being a writer, is also an actress, and Jody was able to give an authentic feel on how it feels like to be a high school actress, or just being a part of a drama club.
But what I really loved about this book, was the lessons and realizations that Natalie has picked up along the way. Sometimes its not about trying to decode or understand what "boys" want to say or do. It's about us appreciating what we are and what we have. Its true that Natalie had learned a few hard truths about relationships and boys, but what probably is the greatest lesson this book gives is what she discovered about herself. But seriously, reading Natalie's piece about boys towards the end of the book. It wouldn't hurt to think about what was written about the ever elusive, ever complicated... boys, and why they behave like they do.
From the summary, you'd probably think of Amanda Bynes' movie She's The Man. A girl who disguises herself as a boy and went to an all boys school? Ring a bell? Or if you're familiar with Hisaya Nakajo's Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, which is also about a girl who went to an all boys school. Or if you want to look even further, I would say this also reminds me a bit of Drew Barrymore's Never Been Kissed. You're probably right in that part of the story, but I think that's where the similarity ends.
I have to give Jody Gehrman credit because as much as this book sounds familiar, she was able to make the story her own. Putting in her own spin using cliche elements from books we've read and movies we've seen, and injecting a healthy dose of hilariousness that will surely tickle one's funny bones, along with a dash of wit and comedy that will make you forget it was similar to another story, Babe in Boyland is an insightful yet very entertaining sneak peek in what happens when girls try to understand what really can't be understood. Boys.
I was already laughing my socks off after the first eight pages. Natalie's voice is distinct and very funny, even comical. Her editors from hell who insults her on a daily basis mocks her further when her advice column bombs and virtually all the males in school hates her because apparently she doesn't know a thing about relationships and boys. She's a failed love goddess and a journalistic joke, to quote her own words. So Natalie attempted to write her own expose, and maybe win the Story of the Year award while she's at it.
I can come up with a few adjectives to describe Natalie, a.k.a. Dr. Aphrodite. She's reckless, she's sassy, she's witty, she's awkward, and basically, she's just a girl trying to learn how it is that boys "operate". I love how Natalie puts in the effort to understand guys more, even though she's crazy as a nut for infiltrating an all boys school. She was trying to be more "dedicated" and more honest in her craft, which was mainly her driving force to do such a drastic action. And for her sanity as a girl, she had to find out once and for all how to give right advices to those writing to her, and not just what they want to hear.
Emilio somewhat reminds me a bit of Alex of the Perfect Chemistry, though somewhat tamer, more mysterious, and more laid back. He's the kind of guy you would love to just hang out with. Not really part of the popular cliques, but he gets along with everyone. I love how simple his character is, but easily lovable.
It's amazing how much I appreciated being a girl after reading about being a boy from another girl's point of view. Aside from the obvious luxuries we have that boys don't, what she had to sacrifice, Natalie had to pretend to be someone she's not, and along the road she had experienced all kinds of failures. I found myself rooting for both Natalie and Nat, and finding delight when they overcome situations (which otherwise embarrasses the world out of everyone in a normal setting) and basically existing in a world far different from her own, the world of boys.
The author's experience in theater is put into good use in this novel. Natalie's character, aside from being a writer, is also an actress, and Jody was able to give an authentic feel on how it feels like to be a high school actress, or just being a part of a drama club.
But what I really loved about this book, was the lessons and realizations that Natalie has picked up along the way. Sometimes its not about trying to decode or understand what "boys" want to say or do. It's about us appreciating what we are and what we have. Its true that Natalie had learned a few hard truths about relationships and boys, but what probably is the greatest lesson this book gives is what she discovered about herself. But seriously, reading Natalie's piece about boys towards the end of the book. It wouldn't hurt to think about what was written about the ever elusive, ever complicated... boys, and why they behave like they do.
July 29, 2011
I loved this book. I want to snuggle up and cuddle it and marvel in its sweetness. It was fun, clever, made me laugh (a lot) and HELLOOOO EMILIO! That boy made me swoon.
The characters in this book were so easy to love. Natalie (AKA Nat) felt so real, she's the type of girl who'd be great to have as a friend. Chloe and Darcy were awesome, best friends so different but when matched with Nat, the perfect balance. Tyler was a cutie, I have a thing for nerdy-but-shy-and-cute guys (or POKSI as Natalie would say). And as I mentioned, Emilio was certainly easy on the eyes (or so I'd imagine). He's the kind of guy a girl would love to find.
This isn't a very good review - the best thing I could say would be to read it for yourself.Thinking about it, Babe in Boyland reminded me somewhat of the movie 'She's The Man'. It was just... fun! I know I've used that word a lot, but it's really the best way to describe the emotions I felt when I was reading it.
Another Author to add to my 'watch out for future works' list!
The characters in this book were so easy to love. Natalie (AKA Nat) felt so real, she's the type of girl who'd be great to have as a friend. Chloe and Darcy were awesome, best friends so different but when matched with Nat, the perfect balance. Tyler was a cutie, I have a thing for nerdy-but-shy-and-cute guys (or POKSI as Natalie would say). And as I mentioned, Emilio was certainly easy on the eyes (or so I'd imagine). He's the kind of guy a girl would love to find.
This isn't a very good review - the best thing I could say would be to read it for yourself.Thinking about it, Babe in Boyland reminded me somewhat of the movie 'She's The Man'. It was just... fun! I know I've used that word a lot, but it's really the best way to describe the emotions I felt when I was reading it.
Another Author to add to my 'watch out for future works' list!
March 20, 2011
Having not read any of Jody Gehrman’s other books, I opened Babe in Boyland, not knowing what to expect. The synopsis reminds me of Amanda Bynes' movie - She's The Man, K-Drama He's Beautiful and Taiwanese drama, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, in which the heroines go cross-dressing as a guy in a foreign place, but with different motives. I was a little worried that Babe in Boyland will fall into the same mold as the movies/dramas, but turns out, it doesn’t fall back on tired stereotypes. The cross-dressing is just a factor in the story that enables our gutsy heroine to find out the Top 7 Secrets about Guys.
In fact, Jody Gehrman does a great job in explaining how Natalie goes undercover as a new (male) student - Nat Rodgers - in Underwood High. The details on how she does certain things are brilliantly explained, like how she mimicks a guy's strut, how she practices to keep her voice low and manly, and ultimately: how she keeps her identity a secret to the guys at Underwood. She uses Natalie's character to give readers an insight on how people act around different surroundings, which is quite true considering how multifaceted us humans are.
This story is told from Natalie's (a.k.a. Nat Rodgers) perspective, which is a good choice since we get to see things through her eyes. What makes this book so entertaining is that the author has a wry sense of humour which never fail to make me chortle like a maniac. Really, it is hilarious! There was one particular scene where I laughed until my tears start rolling down, and my distracted little brother peeled himself away from his computer game to ask me what's wrong. LOL.
Although Babe in Boyland seems to be funny and cheery, it has a real depth within. The story itself actually offers truths about real friendship and why love relationships get strained or broken. Tolerance and acceptance is indispensable to maintain a loving relationship between a couple. With witty dialogues and realistic scenes, this book is bound to capture your heart.
Overall, Babe in Boyland is a refreshing, light and quick read. Jody Gehrman definitely deserves a bunch of compliments for creating such a highly lovable and enjoyable story. Well done, Jody!
In fact, Jody Gehrman does a great job in explaining how Natalie goes undercover as a new (male) student - Nat Rodgers - in Underwood High. The details on how she does certain things are brilliantly explained, like how she mimicks a guy's strut, how she practices to keep her voice low and manly, and ultimately: how she keeps her identity a secret to the guys at Underwood. She uses Natalie's character to give readers an insight on how people act around different surroundings, which is quite true considering how multifaceted us humans are.
This story is told from Natalie's (a.k.a. Nat Rodgers) perspective, which is a good choice since we get to see things through her eyes. What makes this book so entertaining is that the author has a wry sense of humour which never fail to make me chortle like a maniac. Really, it is hilarious! There was one particular scene where I laughed until my tears start rolling down, and my distracted little brother peeled himself away from his computer game to ask me what's wrong. LOL.
Although Babe in Boyland seems to be funny and cheery, it has a real depth within. The story itself actually offers truths about real friendship and why love relationships get strained or broken. Tolerance and acceptance is indispensable to maintain a loving relationship between a couple. With witty dialogues and realistic scenes, this book is bound to capture your heart.
Overall, Babe in Boyland is a refreshing, light and quick read. Jody Gehrman definitely deserves a bunch of compliments for creating such a highly lovable and enjoyable story. Well done, Jody!
October 25, 2015
First, let’s discuss the cover. The girl has huuuuge eyes (I suspect photoshop) and the reason I mention it is because the huge eyes is common in shoujo (girl’s) manga. So, the huge eyes automatically led me to expect something a bit wacky because well, suspension of belief is quite necessary to read some manga -_- (the shoujo ones anyway) and the mustache makeup is kinda genius. You have to admit that. It elicited a chuckle out of me anyway.
First, let me just say that I love gender benders. I love the improbability of it and how it can create some pretty interesting situations. I have read a lot of gender benders, seen many dramas about them (they are a common trope in Asian pop lit) and so I have come to expect certain situations that seem to go hand in hand with gender benders. One of those situations is that the girl (if she’s in a boarding school, which she almost always is) has a room mate and the roommate is the boy she is majorly crushing on. This occurs in: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz, Hana Kimi by Nakajo Hisaya, She’s the Man movie and now Babe in Boyland.
It might be a cliche, it might be expected but I actually like it. I like that the boy roommate is the love interest because come on now, how else is a girl in a boy’s boarding school supposed to get all mushy and romantic with any boy other than one who is asleep at the time she is being mushy and romantic? Well. That sounds wrong. But you get my point.
Anyway, let’s talk about Babe in Boyland. While Ms. Gehrman does her best to plausibly set up circumstances that make Natalie’s undercover week at a boy’s boarding school seem realistic and possible, at a certain point, you just have to accept that this is a book and things are possible in it that will not be possible in real life. Suspension of belief is very necessary. Once you do suspend your expectations of reality, you are free to enjoy the book for what it is. I certainly did.
The strengths in the book lie in the narrator. Natalie is a very likeable person. She is flawed to be sure but she contains a certain vulnerability to her, an honesty in her observations that you can’t help but empathize with. The friendship between girls is also refreshing as both the best friends are not just a means to an end – you know, the accessory friend, the one who is chubby, or stupid, the one who serves to make the heroine look better? Yeah, none of that in this book. I like how all the side characters are solidly developed and feel like real people instead of caricatures of them. The writing is flawless and the dialogues witty. The pacing is perfect and the relationships compelling.
I liked how this book delves into the differences between the genders and instead of looking at it from just the perspective of the female. I think, too often, we forget to give boys the same respect that women demand. I know that most of the times they do not deserve it but I think that as we women fight not to be stereotyped and categorized, we should give the same consideration to the other gender. What does it mean to be an adolescent guy? I’m not sure I want to know. (Haha.) But I think that Ms. Gehrman correctly portrays that boys are just people. Yes, shocking, I know. The book takes a look at social status and divisions in high school and how a girl who starts out trying to understand boys ends up understanding herself and her gender.
Oh and the love interest in this book? Smoking hot. I was in love with him at first description. I’m sort of shallow like that. Haha. Anyway, final verdict? I enjoyed the book. A lot. I think it is entertaining and has a bit of substance that saves it from being entirely fluff. So I think you should check it out.
First, let me just say that I love gender benders. I love the improbability of it and how it can create some pretty interesting situations. I have read a lot of gender benders, seen many dramas about them (they are a common trope in Asian pop lit) and so I have come to expect certain situations that seem to go hand in hand with gender benders. One of those situations is that the girl (if she’s in a boarding school, which she almost always is) has a room mate and the roommate is the boy she is majorly crushing on. This occurs in: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz, Hana Kimi by Nakajo Hisaya, She’s the Man movie and now Babe in Boyland.
It might be a cliche, it might be expected but I actually like it. I like that the boy roommate is the love interest because come on now, how else is a girl in a boy’s boarding school supposed to get all mushy and romantic with any boy other than one who is asleep at the time she is being mushy and romantic? Well. That sounds wrong. But you get my point.
Anyway, let’s talk about Babe in Boyland. While Ms. Gehrman does her best to plausibly set up circumstances that make Natalie’s undercover week at a boy’s boarding school seem realistic and possible, at a certain point, you just have to accept that this is a book and things are possible in it that will not be possible in real life. Suspension of belief is very necessary. Once you do suspend your expectations of reality, you are free to enjoy the book for what it is. I certainly did.
The strengths in the book lie in the narrator. Natalie is a very likeable person. She is flawed to be sure but she contains a certain vulnerability to her, an honesty in her observations that you can’t help but empathize with. The friendship between girls is also refreshing as both the best friends are not just a means to an end – you know, the accessory friend, the one who is chubby, or stupid, the one who serves to make the heroine look better? Yeah, none of that in this book. I like how all the side characters are solidly developed and feel like real people instead of caricatures of them. The writing is flawless and the dialogues witty. The pacing is perfect and the relationships compelling.
I liked how this book delves into the differences between the genders and instead of looking at it from just the perspective of the female. I think, too often, we forget to give boys the same respect that women demand. I know that most of the times they do not deserve it but I think that as we women fight not to be stereotyped and categorized, we should give the same consideration to the other gender. What does it mean to be an adolescent guy? I’m not sure I want to know. (Haha.) But I think that Ms. Gehrman correctly portrays that boys are just people. Yes, shocking, I know. The book takes a look at social status and divisions in high school and how a girl who starts out trying to understand boys ends up understanding herself and her gender.
Oh and the love interest in this book? Smoking hot. I was in love with him at first description. I’m sort of shallow like that. Haha. Anyway, final verdict? I enjoyed the book. A lot. I think it is entertaining and has a bit of substance that saves it from being entirely fluff. So I think you should check it out.
February 26, 2012
3.5 stars. I do not really know exactly why I enjoy stories that picture girls masquerading as men so much – I do not mean stories that focus on girls feeling wrong in their own female skins, but plots that show girls cross-dressing because their gender would be an unacceptable obstactle to doing what they want or what they have to do (like spy work, having a career or evading a certain unwelcome fate). For instance, I loved Alle halten mich für einen Jungen, in which 12-years-old Simone just doesn’t dare to contradict the teacher introcuding her to her new classmates, Star-Crossed, in which the heroine applies for a job as a ship’s surgeon after her master dies and leaves her jobless, Freedom Beyond the Sea, which shows a jewish girl fleeing the Spanish Inquisition as a hand on Christopher Columbus’ ship, the historical romance The Spy and the manga series W Juliet, Volume 1... plus I have to admit I almost became addicted to the Korean drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince when I watched it two years ago: I felt compelled to watch episode after episode although night had already set in and I had plans for the day after.
In Babe in Boyland a lot of the possible, awkward situations that might occur when a girl pretends to be a boy in an boys-only-boarding-school were covered and I liked the conveyed message that we all have different sides to us that we broadcast in the company of different people and that the conviction of really knowing someone is mostly founded by what our own interaction with the person in question triggers. Plus, The heroine and her two best friends were rather cute and the love interest was hot and nice.
Still, Babe in Boyland was not perfect as a girl-in-boys’-clothes-book. It reminded me a lot of the Japanese drama version of the popular manga series Hana-Kimi, Volume 1, which I enjoyed considerably more inspite of all the unnecessary twists and turns and silly side-plots a manga-based TV-series is inherently prone to. In both stories the supposed new boy falls for her roommate. And in both plots this leads to interesting dilemmas. But the scenes in the drama were more vivid, more romantic, more awkward. They pushed the dangerous whoa-she-almost-blew-the-cover angst at me with a firmer shove and made me wonder if the „real“ boy, who tended to react grumpy or moody, but sometimes a little tender, was having difficulties at keeping himself from being attracted to someone he thought to be a guy.
But a non-perfect book is by no means a book that is not good or not recommendable. So if you like light and short chicklitty romances that involve a little cross-dressing, cute boys, friendship, Shakespearean drama and a teenaged heroine, who shows some character development, I show you you both my thumbs turned upwards. Babe in Boyland provided my with some much-needed fun hours and a wonderful respite from wading through an endless historical fantasy that entirely revolves around sex and dark obsessions.
In Babe in Boyland a lot of the possible, awkward situations that might occur when a girl pretends to be a boy in an boys-only-boarding-school were covered and I liked the conveyed message that we all have different sides to us that we broadcast in the company of different people and that the conviction of really knowing someone is mostly founded by what our own interaction with the person in question triggers. Plus, The heroine and her two best friends were rather cute and the love interest was hot and nice.
Still, Babe in Boyland was not perfect as a girl-in-boys’-clothes-book. It reminded me a lot of the Japanese drama version of the popular manga series Hana-Kimi, Volume 1, which I enjoyed considerably more inspite of all the unnecessary twists and turns and silly side-plots a manga-based TV-series is inherently prone to. In both stories the supposed new boy falls for her roommate. And in both plots this leads to interesting dilemmas. But the scenes in the drama were more vivid, more romantic, more awkward. They pushed the dangerous whoa-she-almost-blew-the-cover angst at me with a firmer shove and made me wonder if the „real“ boy, who tended to react grumpy or moody, but sometimes a little tender, was having difficulties at keeping himself from being attracted to someone he thought to be a guy.
But a non-perfect book is by no means a book that is not good or not recommendable. So if you like light and short chicklitty romances that involve a little cross-dressing, cute boys, friendship, Shakespearean drama and a teenaged heroine, who shows some character development, I show you you both my thumbs turned upwards. Babe in Boyland provided my with some much-needed fun hours and a wonderful respite from wading through an endless historical fantasy that entirely revolves around sex and dark obsessions.
March 17, 2011
Natalie Rowan wants to know a couple of things:
1. When you say you’re going to call and you don’t, what happened?
2. What are you do different when your friends are around? Which one is the real you?
3. What do you really look for in a girl?
4. Is it true that guys think about sex every eight seconds, or is it just a myth?
5. What’s the surest way to tell the difference between a guy who’s being sincere and one who’s just looking to score?
6. What can make you lose interest in a girl overnight?
7. If you won’t talk about your feelings, how are we supposed to know what they are?
This was supposed to be funny. I chose this book to get a good laugh. Right now, I am laughing... at myself for even finishing it. This was like watching Amanda Bynes in her “gender-bending” (more like a cross dressing one) teen flick a couple of years back.
What do these two have in common? A teenage girl dresses up as a boy, lives with them, gets to know them and along the way makes friends then meets the guy of her dreams. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the tampon scene in the movie,
But this book doesn’t even have anything close to that!
Now, for a truly hilarious ride of the same type of story one would be better off watching the Japenese rom/com Hanazakari no Kimitachi e! Now, that was hi-larious:
Plus it has Ikuta Toma in it.
1. When you say you’re going to call and you don’t, what happened?
2. What are you do different when your friends are around? Which one is the real you?
3. What do you really look for in a girl?
4. Is it true that guys think about sex every eight seconds, or is it just a myth?
5. What’s the surest way to tell the difference between a guy who’s being sincere and one who’s just looking to score?
6. What can make you lose interest in a girl overnight?
7. If you won’t talk about your feelings, how are we supposed to know what they are?
This was supposed to be funny. I chose this book to get a good laugh. Right now, I am laughing... at myself for even finishing it. This was like watching Amanda Bynes in her “gender-bending” (more like a cross dressing one) teen flick a couple of years back.
What do these two have in common? A teenage girl dresses up as a boy, lives with them, gets to know them and along the way makes friends then meets the guy of her dreams. Don’t get me wrong. I loved the tampon scene in the movie,
But this book doesn’t even have anything close to that!
Now, for a truly hilarious ride of the same type of story one would be better off watching the Japenese rom/com Hanazakari no Kimitachi e! Now, that was hi-larious:
Plus it has Ikuta Toma in it.
March 23, 2011
This book was HILARIOUS! So many laugh-out-loud moments..... and such a feel good novel. I could read it again right now! Despite being a novel full of humor and witty one liners there is also an important underlying message, that not only teens but all readers can appreciate.
If you haven't read Jody's Triple Shot Bettys books I'd recommend you pick those up as well. I love Jody's characters and her depictions of friendship. That's something that I can always expect when picking up her novels.... and Babe in Boyland was no exception.
Natalie is a fantastic character and one that you can't help but relate to and admire. She's witty and sarcastic..... I loved her. And the dynamic between her and her two friends was refreshing! Her two best friends couldn't be more different, yet Jody seamed their friendship together perfectly and realistically.
The story was a little predictable.... I mean, you know with a crazy concoction like a girl posing as a guy isn't going to end as well as the MC is hoping..... and the love interest isn't too hard to guess, but I know you'll be rooting for Natalie and her boy, like I was!
The backdrop of the high school theater was another element of the story that rocked! I loved how the two worlds came together and how Natalie was able to do most of her observations there. (And how HILARIOUS was that closet scene.... so glad I was reading at home because I lost it!)
Babe in Boyland is a feel good, hilarious read with a great message. Just be yourself.
If you haven't read Jody's Triple Shot Bettys books I'd recommend you pick those up as well. I love Jody's characters and her depictions of friendship. That's something that I can always expect when picking up her novels.... and Babe in Boyland was no exception.
Natalie is a fantastic character and one that you can't help but relate to and admire. She's witty and sarcastic..... I loved her. And the dynamic between her and her two friends was refreshing! Her two best friends couldn't be more different, yet Jody seamed their friendship together perfectly and realistically.
The story was a little predictable.... I mean, you know with a crazy concoction like a girl posing as a guy isn't going to end as well as the MC is hoping..... and the love interest isn't too hard to guess, but I know you'll be rooting for Natalie and her boy, like I was!
The backdrop of the high school theater was another element of the story that rocked! I loved how the two worlds came together and how Natalie was able to do most of her observations there. (And how HILARIOUS was that closet scene.... so glad I was reading at home because I lost it!)
Babe in Boyland is a feel good, hilarious read with a great message. Just be yourself.
December 31, 2011
I did enjoy this book.
....
Yeah, I guess that's how I'm gonna start this review.
Listen, if you've seen "Just one of the guys" or "She's the man", you know this story by heart. And I mean that. 95% of EVERYTHING in this book is taken directly from those two movies. I started wondering if this book was the basis for "She's the man". But... that's impossible.
So! This book gets a big fat 0 for originality.
Just imagine someone getting their Twilight fanfiction published. That would be weird. And dumb.
But ok. Ignoring the fact that I've seen this exact story before, I did enjoy the read. Why? Cuz... I like those two movies. I like the idea of a girl going undercover as a guy and falling in love. (I also like the series HanaKimi)
It's impossible!! Sure. I mean, no girl as girly as the girls in these stories could EVER be believed to be a boy. But, it's kind of like the whole Superman thing. Yes, it's stupid that his glasses are his disguise, but if people weren't stupid enough to fall for it, there would be no story!! And that would be..... well, boring.
It was kinda funny. It was well written. It was an OK short read!
....
Yeah, I guess that's how I'm gonna start this review.
Listen, if you've seen "Just one of the guys" or "She's the man", you know this story by heart. And I mean that. 95% of EVERYTHING in this book is taken directly from those two movies. I started wondering if this book was the basis for "She's the man". But... that's impossible.
So! This book gets a big fat 0 for originality.
Just imagine someone getting their Twilight fanfiction published. That would be weird. And dumb.
But ok. Ignoring the fact that I've seen this exact story before, I did enjoy the read. Why? Cuz... I like those two movies. I like the idea of a girl going undercover as a guy and falling in love. (I also like the series HanaKimi)
It's impossible!! Sure. I mean, no girl as girly as the girls in these stories could EVER be believed to be a boy. But, it's kind of like the whole Superman thing. Yes, it's stupid that his glasses are his disguise, but if people weren't stupid enough to fall for it, there would be no story!! And that would be..... well, boring.
It was kinda funny. It was well written. It was an OK short read!
November 21, 2012
I know I say this every time I review a contemporary novel, but I rarely actively want to read contemporary. I just can't get over this roadblock in my head that says contemporary is either Gossip Girl fluff or slit-your-wrists depressing. This, despite all of the incredible contemporary I've read. Whatever, welcome to my brain. The point is, I rarely wishlist contemporary books, but Babe in Boyland, for whatever reason*, was one I wishlisted. So when Jody emailed me, asking if I'd like to review Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft, and also offered up Boyland, I jumped at it. And once again, I was reminded of why I need to take down that roadblock, brick by brick, because I'm missing out on really good contemporary books.
This was funny. Really funny. Like, laugh out loud, snorting and chortling and reading parts over again, funny. Natalie just sparkles on the page, she is so thoroughly likable and engaging. Most readers will be familiar with the story because, lets face it, we've seen it before. This is a pretty common trope, actually**. But there's a reason it cycles back periodically - there's something compelling in it, and something with built in shenanigans, which always makes for a good time - but I think Gehrman puts her own stamp on things quite nicely, and Natalie is so engaging that I don't think I would even care if it was an exact play-by-play of something else. Though the men at school may hate Natalie's alter-ego, Dr. Aphrodite, and may think Natalie is clueless, it's hard not to like Natalie herself as a narrator. She is clueless in the beginning, but adorably so, and she doesn't stay clueless for long.
The friendships are fantastic as well - the interactions and the confronting of stereotypes/cliques, etc., are nicely handled. It's sadly rare to see positive female friendships in books these days - they tend to go either Mean Girl or Cardboard; if they're not flat and boring and easily substituted, they're competitive, combative, snide, and fake. Less friends, more frenemies. It's sad because while, yes, occasionally one girl may have that relationship with another girl - who may or may not be her friend - that's not the standard. (Surprise! Girls can be friends! Anne and Diana aren't faking it!) Natalie has good, tried and true, close friends who she cares about and who care about her, and help her in her ever-increasing shenanigans. (This isn't to say they don't have their ups and downs, because that would also be cardboard; but they don't serve as a shallow plot device, and I appreciate that.) The boys in Boyland start out as stock characters and evolve from there, much as they should in this type of story - they are fleshed out as Natalie realizes how little she knows, and opens her mind to get to know them, allowing the reader to do the same. Basically, character dynamics were a win in Boyland.
And - that's it.
I don't really have negatives, honestly. Some will feel like it's been done, and it has, and if that bothers you as a reader, you should maybe skip this. But as they say, there's nothing new under the sun, and I think most people either won't have come across this trope often enough to be bothered by it, or will like it too much to care. It reads like it could easily be a movie (partly because its type has been, partly because Gehrman is also a playwright and she put those skills to work). Babe in Boyland is now another in a longer-by-the-minute list of contemporary books that have done their best to convince me to start reading more contemporary. This super quick read (I devoured it in one sitting) was engaging throughout, and despite any unoriginality in the plot, I don't have any reservations in recommending it.
Also: Emilio Cruz. Win.
*Gender-bending. Gender-bending was the reason. And the cover, because seriously? Gold star, I love it.
** In fact, one such similar work, the 80's movie Just One of the Guys , even centers around the main character doing her cross-dress thang in an effort to win a journalism contest. Which is Natalie's goal. So there's that...
This was funny. Really funny. Like, laugh out loud, snorting and chortling and reading parts over again, funny. Natalie just sparkles on the page, she is so thoroughly likable and engaging. Most readers will be familiar with the story because, lets face it, we've seen it before. This is a pretty common trope, actually**. But there's a reason it cycles back periodically - there's something compelling in it, and something with built in shenanigans, which always makes for a good time - but I think Gehrman puts her own stamp on things quite nicely, and Natalie is so engaging that I don't think I would even care if it was an exact play-by-play of something else. Though the men at school may hate Natalie's alter-ego, Dr. Aphrodite, and may think Natalie is clueless, it's hard not to like Natalie herself as a narrator. She is clueless in the beginning, but adorably so, and she doesn't stay clueless for long.
The friendships are fantastic as well - the interactions and the confronting of stereotypes/cliques, etc., are nicely handled. It's sadly rare to see positive female friendships in books these days - they tend to go either Mean Girl or Cardboard; if they're not flat and boring and easily substituted, they're competitive, combative, snide, and fake. Less friends, more frenemies. It's sad because while, yes, occasionally one girl may have that relationship with another girl - who may or may not be her friend - that's not the standard. (Surprise! Girls can be friends! Anne and Diana aren't faking it!) Natalie has good, tried and true, close friends who she cares about and who care about her, and help her in her ever-increasing shenanigans. (This isn't to say they don't have their ups and downs, because that would also be cardboard; but they don't serve as a shallow plot device, and I appreciate that.) The boys in Boyland start out as stock characters and evolve from there, much as they should in this type of story - they are fleshed out as Natalie realizes how little she knows, and opens her mind to get to know them, allowing the reader to do the same. Basically, character dynamics were a win in Boyland.
And - that's it.
I don't really have negatives, honestly. Some will feel like it's been done, and it has, and if that bothers you as a reader, you should maybe skip this. But as they say, there's nothing new under the sun, and I think most people either won't have come across this trope often enough to be bothered by it, or will like it too much to care. It reads like it could easily be a movie (partly because its type has been, partly because Gehrman is also a playwright and she put those skills to work). Babe in Boyland is now another in a longer-by-the-minute list of contemporary books that have done their best to convince me to start reading more contemporary. This super quick read (I devoured it in one sitting) was engaging throughout, and despite any unoriginality in the plot, I don't have any reservations in recommending it.
Also: Emilio Cruz. Win.
*Gender-bending. Gender-bending was the reason. And the cover, because seriously? Gold star, I love it.
** In fact, one such similar work, the 80's movie Just One of the Guys , even centers around the main character doing her cross-dress thang in an effort to win a journalism contest. Which is Natalie's goal. So there's that...
dnf
April 7, 2013Menudo espanto, ha sido llegar a la página 50 y dar saltos de alegría por poderlo abandonar de una vez. Creo que no había visto jamás más tópicos de adolescentes superficiales resumidos en tan pocas páginas.
Veamos....
Protagonista superficial y absurda - check
Trama totalmente absurda - check
Amigas totalmente absurdas - check
Narración excéntrica y absurda - check
Pues eso, maravilloso.
Veamos....
Protagonista superficial y absurda - check
Trama totalmente absurda - check
Amigas totalmente absurdas - check
Narración excéntrica y absurda - check
Pues eso, maravilloso.
August 28, 2016
a refreshing and funny book , and I liked the concept
August 30, 2016
I'm currently in the process of avoiding studying for a test so naturally I decide to read. I read this because I was in the mood for something funny and optimistic. It was hilarious and embarrassing, but as you've probably guessed, a predictable fluffy book.
Quick Overview: Natalie, aka Dr. Aphrodite, knows nothing about how boys really think even though she writes a column for her school paper dishing relationship advice. After reading some harsh words from guys about her horrible advice and total lack of knowledge in all things boy, Natalie decides to go on a quest to find what boys really want and why they don't call you when they say they will. After some truly useless "interviews" Natalie sees that she'll never get real answers as a girl and so decides to go undercover to an all-boys boarding school, and so Nat is born. Between trying to find a subtle way of working in questions like why guys don't talk about their feeling and trying (unsuccessfully) not to crush on her roommate, Natalie is having a hard time trying not to act like a total girl. Will she ever get any answers?
I'm always up for a fish-out-of-water type story. They always make for the funniest scenes. Natalie is beyond bad at acting like a guy. It's just too hilarious seeing her have no idea that she's doing something wrong until it's too late. As a girl Natalie is usually popular, but as Nat she's bit of a social leper and it was good to see her realize that she was a bit shallow. Emilio is of course the totally-hot-but-not-popular-and-completely-sweet type. In other words, an extinct species. No, I'm just kidding! Maybe.
The beginning went a bit fast and too easy. I like that we didn't waste 100 pages trying to get to the actual story, but I think if it wasn't so conveniently easy it would've flowed better. Some of the characters were flat-ish. Something that really just didn't fit though was the friendships she develops. I can understand her friendship with the other social outcasts, but it just seemed out of the blue with Emilio. One minute he looks at Nat like a weirdo and then he suddenly just decides Nat is his BFF after knowing him for what? three days? Maybe it's me but I don't tell people my secrets after three days. Guess I'm just anti-social like that. Just something else I have to add. Although it made for some truly hilarious moments I think acting like a guy would be a bit easier than she let on. I think general giggling and screaming are obvious no-no's.
So, to wrap this up and get on with the horrible reality of studying for my test (shudder)a 3.5 because I thought this was really entertaining and funny, but lacking in certain areas. Stepping back and imagining how girls look from a guys perspective was (although maybe not totally accurate) eye opening. The take home message was that girls shouldn't try to be someone they aren't for guys to like them. It keeps us from showing some the best things about us. I liked seeing Natalie learn more about herself and come to appreciate the freedom of being a girl. This is just what I was looking for. It might not be a literary masterpiece, but I think we all need some un-nutritional fluff in our lives from time to time.
Quick Overview: Natalie, aka Dr. Aphrodite, knows nothing about how boys really think even though she writes a column for her school paper dishing relationship advice. After reading some harsh words from guys about her horrible advice and total lack of knowledge in all things boy, Natalie decides to go on a quest to find what boys really want and why they don't call you when they say they will. After some truly useless "interviews" Natalie sees that she'll never get real answers as a girl and so decides to go undercover to an all-boys boarding school, and so Nat is born. Between trying to find a subtle way of working in questions like why guys don't talk about their feeling and trying (unsuccessfully) not to crush on her roommate, Natalie is having a hard time trying not to act like a total girl. Will she ever get any answers?
I'm always up for a fish-out-of-water type story. They always make for the funniest scenes. Natalie is beyond bad at acting like a guy. It's just too hilarious seeing her have no idea that she's doing something wrong until it's too late. As a girl Natalie is usually popular, but as Nat she's bit of a social leper and it was good to see her realize that she was a bit shallow. Emilio is of course the totally-hot-but-not-popular-and-completely-sweet type. In other words, an extinct species. No, I'm just kidding! Maybe.
The beginning went a bit fast and too easy. I like that we didn't waste 100 pages trying to get to the actual story, but I think if it wasn't so conveniently easy it would've flowed better. Some of the characters were flat-ish. Something that really just didn't fit though was the friendships she develops. I can understand her friendship with the other social outcasts, but it just seemed out of the blue with Emilio. One minute he looks at Nat like a weirdo and then he suddenly just decides Nat is his BFF after knowing him for what? three days? Maybe it's me but I don't tell people my secrets after three days. Guess I'm just anti-social like that. Just something else I have to add. Although it made for some truly hilarious moments I think acting like a guy would be a bit easier than she let on. I think general giggling and screaming are obvious no-no's.
So, to wrap this up and get on with the horrible reality of studying for my test (shudder)a 3.5 because I thought this was really entertaining and funny, but lacking in certain areas. Stepping back and imagining how girls look from a guys perspective was (although maybe not totally accurate) eye opening. The take home message was that girls shouldn't try to be someone they aren't for guys to like them. It keeps us from showing some the best things about us. I liked seeing Natalie learn more about herself and come to appreciate the freedom of being a girl. This is just what I was looking for. It might not be a literary masterpiece, but I think we all need some un-nutritional fluff in our lives from time to time.
May 2, 2011
My Thoughts: We are introduced to Natalie who loves the drama club and loves her role on the school newspaper. She gives advice about guys and love. She's never really had a boyfriend or been in love and so she starts to feel fake. Along with her two best friends she decides she will enroll in the all boys school and get to know how boys really think. She than starts to have feelings for her roommate. Yes, this book is very much like She's The Man (the movie). I'm sure I'm not the first person to say that and I won't be the last.
Babe In Boyland is a cute fun novel. There isn't a lot of depth or substance to it but I think that is the point. It's a feel good, guilty pleasure read. There are some laugh out moments and some true lessons in it if you look beyond the surface but its still a "fun" book to read.
I enjoyed all the characters throughout the book and I liked the way they all came together. Honestly, there isn't much more to say about this one. Its just a cutesy book and I loved it. It was somewhat predictable but I still couldn't stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen.
The only part of the book that bugged me a little was how Natalie put a sock down her pants. Why bother right? I could have done without that detail. HAHA!
Overall: I really loved it. But than again, I also loved the movie She's The Man. This is my idea of a fun night in, cuddling up with a good book to make you smile!
Cover: The cover is cute. Its kind of plain but still cute.
What I'd Give It:
5/5 Cupcakes
__________________________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition
Taken from Princess Bookie (blog)
www.princessbookie.com
Babe In Boyland is a cute fun novel. There isn't a lot of depth or substance to it but I think that is the point. It's a feel good, guilty pleasure read. There are some laugh out moments and some true lessons in it if you look beyond the surface but its still a "fun" book to read.
I enjoyed all the characters throughout the book and I liked the way they all came together. Honestly, there isn't much more to say about this one. Its just a cutesy book and I loved it. It was somewhat predictable but I still couldn't stop reading. I just had to know what was going to happen.
The only part of the book that bugged me a little was how Natalie put a sock down her pants. Why bother right? I could have done without that detail. HAHA!
Overall: I really loved it. But than again, I also loved the movie She's The Man. This is my idea of a fun night in, cuddling up with a good book to make you smile!
Cover: The cover is cute. Its kind of plain but still cute.
What I'd Give It:
5/5 Cupcakes
__________________________
Review Based On Hardcover Edition
Taken from Princess Bookie (blog)
www.princessbookie.com
March 14, 2011
This isn't going to win any awards for best writing or creativity, even, but it was a quick, clean, fun read.
Natalie Rowan writes a love advise column, generally tossing bad advise to her female followers. Basically, she has a tendency to tell them what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. Desperately wanting to prove herself knowledgeable and write a killer article on the male mind, she cross-dresses as Nat Rodgers and enrolls herself into a male only private school. You must suspend reality for all the technicalities required for the feat, but this is ya-fiction. Once inside, Nat slowly understands that guys don't have it as easy as girls think and learns a bit more about herself.
It reminded me a bit of She's the Man, Never Been Kissed, and a fanfic I read long ago (by YouAndMeBoth, for those who might know). The writing was uncomplicated, yet concisely descriptive. Unfortunately, the secondary characters were not entirely fleshed out, but I wasn't too surprised. Most YA neglects to do so.
Basically it is a really fluffy, casual, and sappy read, that manages to be entertaining. I did wonder what happened to Josh after Nat humiliates him near the middle. I wanted a little more details. This book might have been better if it was longer.
I was proud with the final lesson that the heroine learns during her week as a man. It is not feminist as some texts, and leaves a positive perspective on gender roles.
Warning: teenage drinking, references to sex (though nothing graphic), some nudity, a lots of female bitchiness (in all forms)
Natalie Rowan writes a love advise column, generally tossing bad advise to her female followers. Basically, she has a tendency to tell them what they want to hear, rather than what they need to hear. Desperately wanting to prove herself knowledgeable and write a killer article on the male mind, she cross-dresses as Nat Rodgers and enrolls herself into a male only private school. You must suspend reality for all the technicalities required for the feat, but this is ya-fiction. Once inside, Nat slowly understands that guys don't have it as easy as girls think and learns a bit more about herself.
It reminded me a bit of She's the Man, Never Been Kissed, and a fanfic I read long ago (by YouAndMeBoth, for those who might know). The writing was uncomplicated, yet concisely descriptive. Unfortunately, the secondary characters were not entirely fleshed out, but I wasn't too surprised. Most YA neglects to do so.
Basically it is a really fluffy, casual, and sappy read, that manages to be entertaining. I did wonder what happened to Josh after Nat humiliates him near the middle. I wanted a little more details. This book might have been better if it was longer.
I was proud with the final lesson that the heroine learns during her week as a man. It is not feminist as some texts, and leaves a positive perspective on gender roles.
Warning: teenage drinking, references to sex (though nothing graphic), some nudity, a lots of female bitchiness (in all forms)
April 12, 2016
Hilarious. I loved almost everything about this book, and it is up there with my my all-time favorites!
January 21, 2012
It was amazingly amazing!!!!! Definitely a must-read!
August 8, 2011
A fly on the wall—we always want to know what someone else is thinking or if what we see or feel is for real—“if only I was a fly on the wall”. How many times have you said that in one form or another when it comes to the opposite sex? Babe in Boyland takes that concept to a hilarious, madcap level!
Natalie is determined to find out how boys think, act, and especially why they do certain things that drive girls crazy! After a few painfully funny interviews, Natalie discovers the only way to uncover the truth is to become a boy. With a little help from her friends, Natalie infiltrates enemy lines and an all-boy school as Nat to find out the secrets of boyland!
Some of the adventures Nat finds herself in just made me laugh out loud! Giggles, smiles, and laughs build up as Nat experiences sharing a room with her crush, urinal etiquette, and the many uses of socks! Natalie may find out a secret or two about boys, but she might also reveal a secret or two about herself along the way.
This was a fast, fun read and exactly what I needed to make me smile!
Natalie is determined to find out how boys think, act, and especially why they do certain things that drive girls crazy! After a few painfully funny interviews, Natalie discovers the only way to uncover the truth is to become a boy. With a little help from her friends, Natalie infiltrates enemy lines and an all-boy school as Nat to find out the secrets of boyland!
Some of the adventures Nat finds herself in just made me laugh out loud! Giggles, smiles, and laughs build up as Nat experiences sharing a room with her crush, urinal etiquette, and the many uses of socks! Natalie may find out a secret or two about boys, but she might also reveal a secret or two about herself along the way.
This was a fast, fun read and exactly what I needed to make me smile!
May 7, 2012
Queue Aerosmith's Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
I laughed so hard while reading this; it was therapeutic -- lord knows I needed a good laugh. I will say that the story line is very similar to the movie
She's the Man starring Amanda Bynes but I had such a good time reading I didn't mind... much.
I laughed so hard while reading this; it was therapeutic -- lord knows I needed a good laugh. I will say that the story line is very similar to the movie
She's the Man starring Amanda Bynes but I had such a good time reading I didn't mind... much.
February 15, 2016
That was nice and funny!
June 17, 2018
3,7 no fue profundo pero si muy divertido y a veces eso es necesario.
July 27, 2015
I'd give this book 4.5 stars, but you know that's not how goodreads rolls. So I'm rounding up for sheer adorableness.
Even though I have hundreds of books on my shelves, I go to the library every week. And this book caught my eye when I walked by the "New Reads" shelf in the YA section. You know how your mom told you that can't judge a book by its cover?
She was wrong.
This book is utterly charming from the beginning to the end, and I really loved it. The cover is totally cute, and that's why I picked it up. While there were some serious issues, like dealing with self-esteem and finding yourself, it was utterly fluffy and so much fun!
Didn't you have a friend who just couldn't stay away from some boy who was all wrong for her? Have you ever questioned why some guy told you he would call but never did? Have you ever had a nemesis? Or ever wondered how Linux affected the game Blood Frontier? lol
When high-school junior Natalie's "professional" reputation as the school advice columnist is called into question, she decides to to find out what really makes guys tick. She has a list of questions and asks the boys that she knows. That doesn't go over too well.
She decides to head into the trenches, so to speak, and goes to an all-boys school for a week. Although her two best friends question her motives a little bit, they totally support her and lend their aid.
Along the way, you know what happens. She meets a boy at the school and falls madly in love with him. What will happen when he finds out she's a boy too?
You have to make some leaps, including the believability of Natalie even getting into the school in the first place and her ability hoodwink her mom into a plausible excuse for being gone. Other than that, this book was a fun read and felt incredibly authentic to me. I loved Natalie's character and the revelations that she came to about herself and her gender in general. I loved her friends, especially the new ones she made at school, and how real everyone's reactions were. I loved that Emilio had some swoonworthy moments. I even loved Summer. Well, I loved to hate her along with Natalie.
I've never read anything by Jody Gehrman before, but I will definitely be checking her out! If you need a little pick me up, this is the book for you.
Even though I have hundreds of books on my shelves, I go to the library every week. And this book caught my eye when I walked by the "New Reads" shelf in the YA section. You know how your mom told you that can't judge a book by its cover?
She was wrong.
This book is utterly charming from the beginning to the end, and I really loved it. The cover is totally cute, and that's why I picked it up. While there were some serious issues, like dealing with self-esteem and finding yourself, it was utterly fluffy and so much fun!
Didn't you have a friend who just couldn't stay away from some boy who was all wrong for her? Have you ever questioned why some guy told you he would call but never did? Have you ever had a nemesis? Or ever wondered how Linux affected the game Blood Frontier? lol
When high-school junior Natalie's "professional" reputation as the school advice columnist is called into question, she decides to to find out what really makes guys tick. She has a list of questions and asks the boys that she knows. That doesn't go over too well.
"Is it true that guys think about sex every eight seconds?"
He puts a hand on my knee. "Around you, more like every second."
"This isn't working," I say, pushing his hand off my leg.
"Natalie, you're cute. I like you. What more do we need? THis whole interview thing is just getting in the way. Why overthink it?"
She decides to head into the trenches, so to speak, and goes to an all-boys school for a week. Although her two best friends question her motives a little bit, they totally support her and lend their aid.
"Why are you doing it then?"...
"To create a deeper understanding between the sexes," I say. "To answer the questions girls have asked about guys since time began."
She twists around to look at me in the backseat. "Well, I'm a girl, and I have a question: does Josh like me?"
Along the way, you know what happens. She meets a boy at the school and falls madly in love with him. What will happen when he finds out she's a boy too?
You have to make some leaps, including the believability of Natalie even getting into the school in the first place and her ability hoodwink her mom into a plausible excuse for being gone. Other than that, this book was a fun read and felt incredibly authentic to me. I loved Natalie's character and the revelations that she came to about herself and her gender in general. I loved her friends, especially the new ones she made at school, and how real everyone's reactions were. I loved that Emilio had some swoonworthy moments. I even loved Summer. Well, I loved to hate her along with Natalie.
I've never read anything by Jody Gehrman before, but I will definitely be checking her out! If you need a little pick me up, this is the book for you.
October 19, 2010
Natalie is a romance advice columnist, Dr. Aphrodite, for her school paper. When some harsh comments crop up on her latest online help column, she realizes that maybe she isn't the best person to be dispensing advice about relationships, especially since she hasn't had a boyfriend since...forever. She decides to ask the boys at her school some questions that girls really want to know the answers to. They all clam up though and give her nothing. Natalie isn't sure what to do. Then she has a plan, born from her love of acting, she decides she will go undercover at the local all boys school Underwood Academy. Being a guy shouldn't be too hard right? Enter super dreamy roommate, Nat's new roommate and new crush. How can she keep her cover when all she wants is to flirt with this beautiful boy. Natalie finds out that there are lots more things about guys she didn't know about, than what she came here to find out.
Jody Gehrman has done it again I loved her quirky Triple Shot Betty books and I LOVE Natalie Rowan. This book was such a fun and interesting read. Not that I am a high school girl still trying to unravel the secrets of the male species, but this is a fantastic read regardless. High-jinks and mishaps are bound to happen when a girly-girl decides to try and be a guy. I kind of hope this is a series, if only to get to know Natalie and her friends better. This book was such a short look into the week of Natalie's life while she tried to discover who she really was and who guys were. This was just a really funny book and I dispatched this book in one light sitting. I just need to know how it ended, could Natalie really make it a whole week as a boy without any finding out??! Well, I know but you won't until you make sure and get your hands on this fantastic read.
First Line:
"My name is Natalie Rowan."
Favorite Line:
"It's like they don't have any witticisms of their own without ripping off some poor dead playwright."
Jody Gehrman has done it again I loved her quirky Triple Shot Betty books and I LOVE Natalie Rowan. This book was such a fun and interesting read. Not that I am a high school girl still trying to unravel the secrets of the male species, but this is a fantastic read regardless. High-jinks and mishaps are bound to happen when a girly-girl decides to try and be a guy. I kind of hope this is a series, if only to get to know Natalie and her friends better. This book was such a short look into the week of Natalie's life while she tried to discover who she really was and who guys were. This was just a really funny book and I dispatched this book in one light sitting. I just need to know how it ended, could Natalie really make it a whole week as a boy without any finding out??! Well, I know but you won't until you make sure and get your hands on this fantastic read.
First Line:
"My name is Natalie Rowan."
Favorite Line:
"It's like they don't have any witticisms of their own without ripping off some poor dead playwright."
November 29, 2015
Ich bin ein RIESIGER Fan von She's the Man. Ihr wisst schon, dieser Teenie Film mit Amanda Bynes, in dem sie sich als ihr Bruder ausgibt und sich ein Zimmer mit Channing Tatum teilt? Nun, Babe in Boyland war wie eine etwas abgeänderte Buchversion von diesem Film, was es mir irgendwie unmöglich machte, das Buch NICHT zu mögen.
Es geht hier um die junge Nat, die in ihrer Highschool die Ratgeberkomlumne schreibt und damit alle Mädchen begeistern kann. Als ihr ihre männlichen Fans aber sagen, dass sie keine Ahnung hat, was in ihren Köpfen so vorgeht, da beschließt Nat kurzerhand sich für eine Woche an einem Jungeninternat (mithilfe eines Computernerds) einzuschreiben und dort alles darüber herauszufinden was Jungs denn nun WIRKLICH denken.
Die Geschichte ist amüsant geschrieben, ich mochte die Charaktere sehr und alles war super =) Allerdings hat sie schon SEHR viele Parallelen zum Film xD Wie den heißen Zimmernachbarn Emilio. Nur dass es hier nicht um Fußball geht, aber dafür ist Nat leidenschaftliche Schauspielerin und das gibt am Ende dann dieses Hin und Her zwischen Natalie und ihrem männlichen Selbst. Mir hat besonders ihr Artikel unheimlich gut gefallen =) Also schöne Lektüre für Zwischendurch auch wenn es jetzt nicht gerade vor Originalität strotzt.
Es geht hier um die junge Nat, die in ihrer Highschool die Ratgeberkomlumne schreibt und damit alle Mädchen begeistern kann. Als ihr ihre männlichen Fans aber sagen, dass sie keine Ahnung hat, was in ihren Köpfen so vorgeht, da beschließt Nat kurzerhand sich für eine Woche an einem Jungeninternat (mithilfe eines Computernerds) einzuschreiben und dort alles darüber herauszufinden was Jungs denn nun WIRKLICH denken.
Die Geschichte ist amüsant geschrieben, ich mochte die Charaktere sehr und alles war super =) Allerdings hat sie schon SEHR viele Parallelen zum Film xD Wie den heißen Zimmernachbarn Emilio. Nur dass es hier nicht um Fußball geht, aber dafür ist Nat leidenschaftliche Schauspielerin und das gibt am Ende dann dieses Hin und Her zwischen Natalie und ihrem männlichen Selbst. Mir hat besonders ihr Artikel unheimlich gut gefallen =) Also schöne Lektüre für Zwischendurch auch wenn es jetzt nicht gerade vor Originalität strotzt.
April 13, 2011
This is one of the most overused storyline in the history of romance. Huh. A girl in a boys' school? I've come across this too many times. However, Natalie aka Dr. Aphrodite enters the realm of testosterone in order to find out more information about the opposite sex. She did this for the betterment of her writing and investigative skills - which she majorly lacks. What annoyed me was, she plans on submitting a paper about the "secrets of the male specimen - what makes them act the way they do?" I think it's a bit shallow compared to what the other competitors were writing about (eating disorders, drug abuse, etc.), isn't it? But, despite that, Natalie is really a talented actress. Another however, however, was the fact that she was willing to give up acting because of a girl named Summer. Natalie is weak. Ever since Summer moved into their school, she got all the lead roles wherein both she and Natalie are always auditioning for. Natalie eventually gave up. She let Summer walk all over her. In the end, though, because of Summer's own selfishness, Natalie proved herself to be a better actress than her. Natalie should have stuck to acting.
October 16, 2011
I didn't want to like this book because I thought it was going to be so cliche. But I found that I couldn't help but really like it. It was quite humorous.
When a friend first recommended this to me, I looked up the summary and thought: Oh no. Another book about getting into the minds of boys, and to top it all of, about a so-called journalist. I'm sorry, but for some reason authors think it's the thing to write about reporters and columnists, and they can't be more off about what it's like in the real world.
There were a few things in there that I found completely absurd. Like a guy sneaking another guy out in the middle of the night for a dip in the stream. Really? And even though Gerhman had a clever way of getting Nat into the private school system, I find it rather hard to believe that she can easily miss a week of school, somehow come up with excuses to avoid her parents and be enrolled just like that.
Having said that, I found that I had a silly grin on my face throughout most of the book and found myself laughing quite a bit. You just can't help but like it. This was such a delightful read, and I can honestly say I truly enjoyed it.
When a friend first recommended this to me, I looked up the summary and thought: Oh no. Another book about getting into the minds of boys, and to top it all of, about a so-called journalist. I'm sorry, but for some reason authors think it's the thing to write about reporters and columnists, and they can't be more off about what it's like in the real world.
There were a few things in there that I found completely absurd. Like a guy sneaking another guy out in the middle of the night for a dip in the stream. Really? And even though Gerhman had a clever way of getting Nat into the private school system, I find it rather hard to believe that she can easily miss a week of school, somehow come up with excuses to avoid her parents and be enrolled just like that.
Having said that, I found that I had a silly grin on my face throughout most of the book and found myself laughing quite a bit. You just can't help but like it. This was such a delightful read, and I can honestly say I truly enjoyed it.
September 8, 2011
Street Corner TBR Challenge
September pick #1 per Janina
The gist:
Natalie has decided to go under-cover as a boy... in an all boys' school. She wants to understand guys. She wants to write an awesome story for a competition. She wants to give girls all the answers into the male species' mind. Only, it's harder than she thought to be a boy. Especially when you have a hot roomate.
I like that it wasn't all picture perfect, like she had to witness guys changing clothes and peeing. It wasn't as easy for her to get out of changning her clothes. While reading this, I couldn't help but think of that cheesy movie with Amanda Bynes (I think that's her name), "She's the Man." It was one of those movies I wanted to not like, but found myself chuckling along with it, not loving it, but certainly not hating it as bad as I envisioned. It was that way with this book. I had an Uh-Oh moment, when I realized the plot, but after giving it a chance, I ended up really liking it.
Man, I feel like all I do is ramble lately.
3 stars.
September pick #1 per Janina
The gist:
Natalie has decided to go under-cover as a boy... in an all boys' school. She wants to understand guys. She wants to write an awesome story for a competition. She wants to give girls all the answers into the male species' mind. Only, it's harder than she thought to be a boy. Especially when you have a hot roomate.
I like that it wasn't all picture perfect, like she had to witness guys changing clothes and peeing. It wasn't as easy for her to get out of changning her clothes. While reading this, I couldn't help but think of that cheesy movie with Amanda Bynes (I think that's her name), "She's the Man." It was one of those movies I wanted to not like, but found myself chuckling along with it, not loving it, but certainly not hating it as bad as I envisioned. It was that way with this book. I had an Uh-Oh moment, when I realized the plot, but after giving it a chance, I ended up really liking it.
Man, I feel like all I do is ramble lately.
3 stars.
February 22, 2012
Como disfrute al leer este libro!
Natalie es la tipica niña fresilla; cinica pero buena oyente!
Al ser Nat no cambio; bueno solo fisicamente pero nos mostro un lado de los niños que suponiamos pero no tan divertido como es!
La escena de Max usando la toalla como si fuera hilo dental JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA la ame! :)
Tyler aw el chavito al cual solo prestamos atencion para ser un amigo pero es tan lindo para la chica indicada :3
Summer cara de zorra la deteste :k
Chloe & Darcy; muy buenas amigas aunqe Chloe me frustro -.-
& mi hermoso latino Emilio... que puede decir de el mas que elogios? esos ojos; ese cabello; ese cuerpazo & aw tan tiernito que es.. Es un mexicano en toda la extension de la palabra & amo que lo sea <3
Natalie es la tipica niña fresilla; cinica pero buena oyente!
Al ser Nat no cambio; bueno solo fisicamente pero nos mostro un lado de los niños que suponiamos pero no tan divertido como es!
La escena de Max usando la toalla como si fuera hilo dental JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA la ame! :)
Tyler aw el chavito al cual solo prestamos atencion para ser un amigo pero es tan lindo para la chica indicada :3
Summer cara de zorra la deteste :k
Chloe & Darcy; muy buenas amigas aunqe Chloe me frustro -.-
& mi hermoso latino Emilio... que puede decir de el mas que elogios? esos ojos; ese cabello; ese cuerpazo & aw tan tiernito que es.. Es un mexicano en toda la extension de la palabra & amo que lo sea <3
October 15, 2012
I give this book 5 stars because it was just too catching and awesome. But I have to warn you, this is no extraordinary story. You might have read similar ones.
This story is just so cute and amazing and funny. I couldn't put the book down and I do have a lot of work to do. It's just one of those books that make you smile and happy and girly and swoony. It's genuine, down to earth, completely crazy. I just fell in love with it and the characters are smart, kind and lovely.
I'll definitely be reading more of Jody Gehrman in the future :) Her first book, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty already caught my eyes!
This story is just so cute and amazing and funny. I couldn't put the book down and I do have a lot of work to do. It's just one of those books that make you smile and happy and girly and swoony. It's genuine, down to earth, completely crazy. I just fell in love with it and the characters are smart, kind and lovely.
I'll definitely be reading more of Jody Gehrman in the future :) Her first book, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty already caught my eyes!
May 20, 2013
Genre: YA chick lit
Read like a movie adaptation if the movie was a cocktail of CLUELESS, SHE'S THE MAN, and JUST ONE OF THE GUYS. Many a description of what everyone is wearing and what music is playing in the background. The soundtrack is important, right?
I found the 17 yr old first person narrator vacuous with little of the sweetness or perception that would make her more bearable to me. I admit that I don't usually read YA romances but do loves me some cross-dressing teen comedy. From that perspective, this was alright, I guess.
Read like a movie adaptation if the movie was a cocktail of CLUELESS, SHE'S THE MAN, and JUST ONE OF THE GUYS. Many a description of what everyone is wearing and what music is playing in the background. The soundtrack is important, right?
I found the 17 yr old first person narrator vacuous with little of the sweetness or perception that would make her more bearable to me. I admit that I don't usually read YA romances but do loves me some cross-dressing teen comedy. From that perspective, this was alright, I guess.
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