What do you think?
Rate this book
The Darlings Are Forever #1
The Darlings Are Forever
Jane, Victoria, and Natalya. Together, they are the Darlings. Best friends forever. They have matching necklaces, their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, and even a shared May you always do what you’re afraid of doing.
When the friends begin freshman year at three different high schools in distant corners of New York City, they promise to live by their motto and stay as close as ever. The Darlings know they can get through anything as long as they have each other. But doing scary new things is a lot easier with your friends beside you. And now that the girls aren’t spending all their time together, everything they took for granted about their friendship starts to feel less certain. They can’t help but wonder, will they really be the Darlings forever?
The first book in an exciting new series by bestselling author Melissa Kantor, The Darlings Are Forever will speak to any girl who has ever had a best friend.
When the friends begin freshman year at three different high schools in distant corners of New York City, they promise to live by their motto and stay as close as ever. The Darlings know they can get through anything as long as they have each other. But doing scary new things is a lot easier with your friends beside you. And now that the girls aren’t spending all their time together, everything they took for granted about their friendship starts to feel less certain. They can’t help but wonder, will they really be the Darlings forever?
The first book in an exciting new series by bestselling author Melissa Kantor, The Darlings Are Forever will speak to any girl who has ever had a best friend.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2011
24 people are currently reading
1390 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
September 26, 2021
3.5ish, but overall it kept me reading. Definitely cringe worthy at times, in the way that they're 14 years old and make stupid, 14-year old decisions. But I liked the story of each of them starting their own high school journeys and finding their ways.
Content warnings: Gender binary nonsense. Jane has a crush on her teacher. Purely one sided, but still uncomfortable reading in 2021. (The book was published in 2011.)
Owned physical book 2/2 for the month
Overall owned book 4/5 for the month
Content warnings: Gender binary nonsense. Jane has a crush on her teacher. Purely one sided, but still uncomfortable reading in 2021. (The book was published in 2011.)
Owned physical book 2/2 for the month
Overall owned book 4/5 for the month
August 14, 2016
Three best friends, Jane, Victoria, and Natalya, all are starting high school, but will be attending three different schools in New York City. Jane is attending a school to pursue acting, Victoria is attending a private school, but feels like she can never live up to her sister's greatness, and finally, Natalya is attending a prestigious school, but it's filled with wealthy girls and Natalya definitely isn't wealthy as she is there on scholarship. All three girls are nervous to branch out and start new chapters in their lives, but they know that they have each other; after all, they are the Darlings. Melissa Kantor's The Darlings Are Forever is a start to a new contemporary series that promises a lot of fun for three best friends in New York City.
I think most teenage girls can find a little bit of themselves in at least one of these characters. It was interesting to follow each girl and although they encounter many different problems that inevitably occur in high school, it was nice to see such strong friendships through it all. I probably haven't encountered this since reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, which I adored. Jane is truly a drama queen and is gutsy, which I liked. Victoria comes from an ambitious family; her father is in politics, her mother is successful and her sister attends Princeton. Victoria often feels "not as important" in her family as she would rather bake something than watch CNN and discuss politics. Natalya is a sweet girl that is trying to adjust to attending school with a bunch of rich "mean" girls. She is super-smart and has a love connection with a "nerd," who was such a cutie and I was a big fan of him! All three girls are very different, but Kantor does a great job of making them relatable.
I like the message for girls in this book. The main theme of the novel and the motto the girls refer to is "may you always do what you are afraid of doing." I think this is a good message for girls at the middle school and high school level. Oftentimes fear holds many girls back, but all three girls really branched out and grew. They supported each other and didn't hold each other back, like many friends at this age do; in fact, they challenged each other to "go for it" and I thought it was powerful.
I will definitely be putting this one in my classroom library and I haven't been able to say that lately. I think my middle school girls will really enjoy this book and will be able to relate quite easily to all three characters. Granted some parts of this story were slow and predictable, but overall, it was an entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what else Kantor has up her sleeve for these three lovely young ladies in the sequel, The Darlings in Love.
I think most teenage girls can find a little bit of themselves in at least one of these characters. It was interesting to follow each girl and although they encounter many different problems that inevitably occur in high school, it was nice to see such strong friendships through it all. I probably haven't encountered this since reading The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, which I adored. Jane is truly a drama queen and is gutsy, which I liked. Victoria comes from an ambitious family; her father is in politics, her mother is successful and her sister attends Princeton. Victoria often feels "not as important" in her family as she would rather bake something than watch CNN and discuss politics. Natalya is a sweet girl that is trying to adjust to attending school with a bunch of rich "mean" girls. She is super-smart and has a love connection with a "nerd," who was such a cutie and I was a big fan of him! All three girls are very different, but Kantor does a great job of making them relatable.
I like the message for girls in this book. The main theme of the novel and the motto the girls refer to is "may you always do what you are afraid of doing." I think this is a good message for girls at the middle school and high school level. Oftentimes fear holds many girls back, but all three girls really branched out and grew. They supported each other and didn't hold each other back, like many friends at this age do; in fact, they challenged each other to "go for it" and I thought it was powerful.
I will definitely be putting this one in my classroom library and I haven't been able to say that lately. I think my middle school girls will really enjoy this book and will be able to relate quite easily to all three characters. Granted some parts of this story were slow and predictable, but overall, it was an entertaining read. I look forward to seeing what else Kantor has up her sleeve for these three lovely young ladies in the sequel, The Darlings in Love.
April 11, 2018
It took me 2-3 weeks to finish which is rare because normally it only takes me a week to finish a book.
My thoughts? I Felt like at some points It was little boring, got distracted and didn't feel like reading. but I Loved it at most points, I Give a 3 star, it wasn't that bad but I Just didn't feel interested with most of it, but some of it I Really did enjoy, And I Still wanted to finish it.
My thoughts? I Felt like at some points It was little boring, got distracted and didn't feel like reading. but I Loved it at most points, I Give a 3 star, it wasn't that bad but I Just didn't feel interested with most of it, but some of it I Really did enjoy, And I Still wanted to finish it.
January 31, 2011
Jane, Victoria and Natalya are best friends – always have been, always will be. They’ve been inseparable since kindergarten, but the time has finally come for the three girls to separate when they entered high school. One is in school for performing arts, one is desperate to stay under the radar while her father runs for Senate, and the third is attending a prestigious private school on scholarship. Three best friends now have three separate paths and must find the time to remain the best of friends or go their separate ways and grow apart.
When I received this book for review, it was described as a cross between The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Sex & the City for the younger lot. First of all, let me say how much I loathe people saying this book is the “next something,” or “this book for the younger lot.” It implies too much, and it takes something away from the originality of the story for me, making it feel a bit lackluster and unappealing. I tend to look for things that break the mold. All that aside though, The Darlings are Forever is a sweet and sassy tale of three friends growing up and learning to stay the best of friends through both thick and thin. Melissa Kantor has a definitive writing voice that’s simple but accessible, and masters multiple points of view with ease.
The Darlings of Forever is, perhaps, not the most original story, but it’s definitely well-written and appealing despite not necessarily thinking outside of the contemporary fiction box. The three girls, Jane, Victoria and Natalya were each well-rounded and individual, they had their own voices and story lines, and the plot delicately wove these three stories into a single, sweeping arc about growing up and the value of friendship overpowering differences. The Darlings are Forever manages to balance three separate viewpoints and still hold individual voices for each, which is tricky, so I definitely appreciated that. I also thought the individual love interests were sweet and simple – not overdone or cliché – just nice and sweet, going with the theme of the book.
We all know I’m not the biggest fan of contemps, so when a book defies the odds and exceeds my expectations, you better believe I’m going to sing its praises. The Darlings are Forever is sweet and refreshing, and perhaps the most realistic portrayal of young girls growing up and being friends because, hey, not all teens are into drugs/sex/partying. I give it a very strong 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend this to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy a good chick-lit and contemporary fiction.
When I received this book for review, it was described as a cross between The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Sex & the City for the younger lot. First of all, let me say how much I loathe people saying this book is the “next something,” or “this book for the younger lot.” It implies too much, and it takes something away from the originality of the story for me, making it feel a bit lackluster and unappealing. I tend to look for things that break the mold. All that aside though, The Darlings are Forever is a sweet and sassy tale of three friends growing up and learning to stay the best of friends through both thick and thin. Melissa Kantor has a definitive writing voice that’s simple but accessible, and masters multiple points of view with ease.
The Darlings of Forever is, perhaps, not the most original story, but it’s definitely well-written and appealing despite not necessarily thinking outside of the contemporary fiction box. The three girls, Jane, Victoria and Natalya were each well-rounded and individual, they had their own voices and story lines, and the plot delicately wove these three stories into a single, sweeping arc about growing up and the value of friendship overpowering differences. The Darlings are Forever manages to balance three separate viewpoints and still hold individual voices for each, which is tricky, so I definitely appreciated that. I also thought the individual love interests were sweet and simple – not overdone or cliché – just nice and sweet, going with the theme of the book.
We all know I’m not the biggest fan of contemps, so when a book defies the odds and exceeds my expectations, you better believe I’m going to sing its praises. The Darlings are Forever is sweet and refreshing, and perhaps the most realistic portrayal of young girls growing up and being friends because, hey, not all teens are into drugs/sex/partying. I give it a very strong 4.5 out of 5, and I’d recommend this to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy a good chick-lit and contemporary fiction.
January 27, 2011
This book uses what I call "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" format, where the story alternates chapters told from different girls' points of view. This format is a win for me nearly every time and "The Darlings" is no exception. The author succeeds in writing three very different, very likable girls and their adventures on their own and together.
The book has a great message- "always do what you're afraid of doing." Of course, the girls discover there's a limit, and sometimes you're scared for a valid reason, but it's a fun learning journey. I like that the main characters aren't into drinking, etc., but they are definitely aware of it going on around them.
I think my favorite part of the book was Victoria's romance with Jack. They were so cute together, and their relationship was very age appropriate for high school freshman.
The format makes the book move really quickly because you jump between characters and story lines before anything could ever get boring.
Overall, this is a quick, fun read with a great message about friends and finding yourself.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
The book has a great message- "always do what you're afraid of doing." Of course, the girls discover there's a limit, and sometimes you're scared for a valid reason, but it's a fun learning journey. I like that the main characters aren't into drinking, etc., but they are definitely aware of it going on around them.
I think my favorite part of the book was Victoria's romance with Jack. They were so cute together, and their relationship was very age appropriate for high school freshman.
The format makes the book move really quickly because you jump between characters and story lines before anything could ever get boring.
Overall, this is a quick, fun read with a great message about friends and finding yourself.
book sent by publisher in exchange for honest review
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
February 2, 2011
May you always do what you are afraid of doing!
This is the motto of three girls together from grade school and now off to separate high schools. This trio now has to face life without the support of each other on a daily basis. They each go their own way and have to make choices about how they want their lives to go now.
Jane, who wants to be an actress ends up at the High School for the Performing Arts. She gets a part in a main stage play, which is rare for a freshman. She ends up a little bit over her head and imagines her director has feelings for her which in reality are just his way of supporting her in a difficult part.
Natalya, probably my favorite, ends up a scholarship student at a fancy private high school where she tries hard to fit in with the in crowd. These new friends end up using her and causing problems for Victoria. Natalya tries so hard to be everything to everyone and when she finally finds herself noticed (for all the wrong reasons), she has a true learning experience.
Victoria, the perfect one, well, not in her eyes, but that is how she is viewed by her family. She normally keeps to herself and her long trusted friends, but when thrust into public high school by herself, she loses her identity. Victoria's father is running for Senate, so everything she does is now front page news. Innocent, normal teenage issues cause her untold grief.
The story unites the friends through all of these issues and strengthens the bond between them at the end. The Darlings, as they have named themselves, all have major learning lessons in the story. I read this one straight through and if you are looking for a book to give a young teen, this should be your pick. This is one of the few books that don't have a lot of romance, but show what really happens to 14 year old girls when they face the world on their own. It is just so positive how Kantor has the girls work through their issues and remain friends. I cheered for them throughout the book.
This one is probably safe for those over 12. There is one instance of drinking at a party, yet the girls left as soon as they realized it. Not much romance and just once instance of a school girl crush on a teacher that the teacher handled perfectly. Of course, there is a safe sex lesson in here with one scene about how to use a condom with a banana. I really recommend this one to everyone!
I received this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This is the motto of three girls together from grade school and now off to separate high schools. This trio now has to face life without the support of each other on a daily basis. They each go their own way and have to make choices about how they want their lives to go now.
Jane, who wants to be an actress ends up at the High School for the Performing Arts. She gets a part in a main stage play, which is rare for a freshman. She ends up a little bit over her head and imagines her director has feelings for her which in reality are just his way of supporting her in a difficult part.
Natalya, probably my favorite, ends up a scholarship student at a fancy private high school where she tries hard to fit in with the in crowd. These new friends end up using her and causing problems for Victoria. Natalya tries so hard to be everything to everyone and when she finally finds herself noticed (for all the wrong reasons), she has a true learning experience.
Victoria, the perfect one, well, not in her eyes, but that is how she is viewed by her family. She normally keeps to herself and her long trusted friends, but when thrust into public high school by herself, she loses her identity. Victoria's father is running for Senate, so everything she does is now front page news. Innocent, normal teenage issues cause her untold grief.
The story unites the friends through all of these issues and strengthens the bond between them at the end. The Darlings, as they have named themselves, all have major learning lessons in the story. I read this one straight through and if you are looking for a book to give a young teen, this should be your pick. This is one of the few books that don't have a lot of romance, but show what really happens to 14 year old girls when they face the world on their own. It is just so positive how Kantor has the girls work through their issues and remain friends. I cheered for them throughout the book.
This one is probably safe for those over 12. There is one instance of drinking at a party, yet the girls left as soon as they realized it. Not much romance and just once instance of a school girl crush on a teacher that the teacher handled perfectly. Of course, there is a safe sex lesson in here with one scene about how to use a condom with a banana. I really recommend this one to everyone!
I received this book at no cost from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
February 1, 2012
Jane, Victoria and Natalya are best friends living in New York City. They were all very fond of Jane’s sophisticated grandmother Nana who recently passed away. Nana always referred to each girl as “darling”. She encouraged them to be daring and do nontraditional things like ordering virgin pina coladas instead of Shirley Temples. In Nana’s memory, and because nobody else would be calling them darling any longer, the girls decided to name themselves “The Darlings.” The story begins as the girls are about to go off to different high schools spread across Manhattan. Even though they are afraid that things will change, they vow not to let new developments shake their bond. At the same time, they also vow to honor Nana by “doing all sorts of things we’re afraid to do.”
The story follows the Jane, Victoria and Natalya in alternating chapters as they begin their new schools. Each possesses a different dominating trait which helped determine at which high school they would attend -- Natalya is the brain, Victoria is the good girl whose father is running for office, and Jane is the glamorous aspiring actress. The author relies too much on these shallow archetypes for the reader to really care too much about The Darlings, or the main premise of the plot; their strained relationship as they learn to navigate the old with the new. It’s light and very predictable, although for those seeking a beach read it should do the trick. The sequel, The Darlings in Love comes out Fall, 2012.
The story follows the Jane, Victoria and Natalya in alternating chapters as they begin their new schools. Each possesses a different dominating trait which helped determine at which high school they would attend -- Natalya is the brain, Victoria is the good girl whose father is running for office, and Jane is the glamorous aspiring actress. The author relies too much on these shallow archetypes for the reader to really care too much about The Darlings, or the main premise of the plot; their strained relationship as they learn to navigate the old with the new. It’s light and very predictable, although for those seeking a beach read it should do the trick. The sequel, The Darlings in Love comes out Fall, 2012.
January 29, 2011
This book is not something I would normally read because of its girly-ness, but the girly-ness is exactly what I ended up liking about it. In the tradition of all tales that explore girl friendships and the ties that bind them, The Darlings Are Forever follows three friends as they attempt to stay friends when entering three different high schools. At the beginning of the book, they vow to try to do things they are afraid to do in memory of Jane's beloved Nana, who has recently passed away. The idea of being courageous infuses the book, making it a bit more than just a teeny-bopper book about girls.
At first the rapid switching of perspectives was a little bit hard to follow because I didn't yet "know" each of the girls, but as the story progressed and each girl's voice came alive, it was easy to tell who was who as well as exciting to find out what was going to happen in that girl's world. Each girl has a specific lesson that she learns the hard way, and for a while the friendship between the girls is not a safe haven as it always had been. I like that each girl has to learn her lesson on her own because the truth is that, while friendship is a great support, each individual does have her own issues to deal with.
This is a fun, light book. For some reason, I saw this as a movie as I read it. It's fluffy, but it also has some substance to make it a worthwhile, quick read.
At first the rapid switching of perspectives was a little bit hard to follow because I didn't yet "know" each of the girls, but as the story progressed and each girl's voice came alive, it was easy to tell who was who as well as exciting to find out what was going to happen in that girl's world. Each girl has a specific lesson that she learns the hard way, and for a while the friendship between the girls is not a safe haven as it always had been. I like that each girl has to learn her lesson on her own because the truth is that, while friendship is a great support, each individual does have her own issues to deal with.
This is a fun, light book. For some reason, I saw this as a movie as I read it. It's fluffy, but it also has some substance to make it a worthwhile, quick read.
Read
January 3, 2011I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of “The Darlings Are Forever” (thank you, Stephanie!) and when I, in turn, lent it to another awesome TBF planning committee member, I described it to her as “reminiscent of ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.’” There are no traveling pants. In fact, there are no traveling items of any sort, but that idea of growing up, and more importantly, growing up with great friends, is omnipresent in “Darlings.”
Jane, Victoria, and Natalya have been friends for years. As the novel opens, the girls are optimistic about their upcoming freshmen year – even though they’ll be at different schools for the first time. The year, though, is not without its challenges. Jane is crushing on her (much) older drama director. Victoria is struggling with life in the public eye as her father’s political campaign takes off. Natalya is making friends with the coolest girls at her new school – but unsure of whether it’s really her that they like.
“The Darlings Are Forever” is an all-around great book. It’s about growing up, and change, and first relationships, but most importantly, it’s about friends. Put “The Darlings Are Forever” at the top of your To Read list – you won’t regret it!
Review from www.carlyreads.blogspot.com.
Jane, Victoria, and Natalya have been friends for years. As the novel opens, the girls are optimistic about their upcoming freshmen year – even though they’ll be at different schools for the first time. The year, though, is not without its challenges. Jane is crushing on her (much) older drama director. Victoria is struggling with life in the public eye as her father’s political campaign takes off. Natalya is making friends with the coolest girls at her new school – but unsure of whether it’s really her that they like.
“The Darlings Are Forever” is an all-around great book. It’s about growing up, and change, and first relationships, but most importantly, it’s about friends. Put “The Darlings Are Forever” at the top of your To Read list – you won’t regret it!
Review from www.carlyreads.blogspot.com.
December 18, 2014
The book The Darlings are Forever is about 3 girls who are best friends, who live in different parts of New York. They all go by there motto;" May you always do what you're afraid of doing." Even though they go to different High schools ,they try to see each other all the time as possible. They try to let no one get between them. I would recommend this for teenage girls reading these kinds of books . They all start meeting new people at there new High schools. Then they start separating from each other. Will they ever be the the forever, we all wonder if they ever do what there afraid of doing or always live by there motto.
January 30, 2011
This book is a tale of 3 best friends learning how to live apart for the first time as the enter a new phase of their lives: high school. As they find new struggles they wonder: will the Darlings truly be forever?
Read
October 30, 2010Always refreshing to find a book about teen girls' friendship that doesn't still put BOYS at the forefront.
Read
January 25, 2011I absolutely loved it! I can't wait for the next book to come out. I would definitely put this on my to read list and look for it on your next trip to the bookstore!(:
September 15, 2018
I originally picked up this book because it reminded me of something I would have read in middle school, and enjoyed. Now, I don't know if it's the books fault, or just that I've grown up- but I didn't enjoy this book at all. It was super disappointing. It was really boring, and just did not grasp my attention at all. I constantly wanted to put it down or stop reading it. I pushed through for the sake of the challenge. The storyline was messy, there was no twists, it was super predictable. There wasn't much character development, and the book felt super one-dimensional. A lot of the characters annoyed me. Also, it's hard to remember the different characters because the author doesn't do a good job of making them distinct in your minds through the first few chapters. It's really old-school and childish and not my cup of tea. 4 best friends, they all go to different high schools, and suddenly they aren't that close anymore because they make new friends, join different clubs, and their lives go in different directions. When one of them has an emergency, all the besties are not able to respond. They can't even hang out because they are so far away from each other. This causes tears, and drama, and fighting, and yelling. There's apologizing, renewal of best friend vows (to always remain best friends and be there for each other). It was super unrealistic. It seemed like a forced relationship, like a lot of friends drift apart, it's not that big of a deal.
September 9, 2020
This book shows what happens to close friends going separate ways for the first time. The Darlings are navigating different high schools and growing into their own people. How they cope with life from parties to loves and loss is the central focus of this story. The girls are developed into their own personalities and grow well in each situation. They are likable and their relationships drive the novel to its ending. It's an enjoyable little book.
April 22, 2019
This book was really good as it was about three girls who are best friend and are about to be seperated as they're all going to different high school, they try to keep in contact as they have drama and problems going on in their school and in their lives. It has thrill, drama, romance, and friendship. Amazing book and I recommend to read :)
June 18, 2024
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I really liked the friendship dynamic between the three main characters and I like that we got to see them not only together but living their separate lives. If you like books like The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, this will definitely be for you.
October 12, 2017
a very enjoyable fun read.
November 2, 2018
Cute, easy read
Read
April 29, 2020Meh
October 22, 2023
4.5/5 stars due to a strong personal trigger.
May 18, 2020
I loved this. I loved that it takes place in Manhattan. I read this in high school and I really liked it
October 7, 2016
So I’ve enjoyed Melissa’s books back in the day and I believe I had listed this series as a TBR because I liked her books. However, in a way, I think I have outgrown her writing now that I am in my mid-20s. I can’t believe I’m already this old…
Anyways, while I still found her writing style to be engaging and entertaining, I found the content of her books to be on the childish side. I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I would have liked and I found a lot of the arguments and problems to be a bit juvenile.
The three girls: Victoria, Jane and Natalya are all incredibly different and they’ve been friends forever but now they are starting high school at different places and they’re trying to overcome new friends and new places while maintaining their best friend status. Let’s just say that I found all of them to be tedious. For example, I did not like Victoria at all. I found her too timid for my liking and I thought she would have matured by the end of the second book but that wasn’t the case. She was so shy even with her friends and she let her friends take the fall when her parents found out about a certain incidence and then blamed her friends for her own mistake all because she couldn’t speak for herself. And the same thing happened with her boyfriend in the second book where her fear of speaking up caused a huge rift and she was all depressed for literally zero reason. I mean, I’m glad things worked out at the end but there was all this tension and drama nonsense.
As for the other girls, I found both Jane and Natalya to be incredibly slow but at least Natalya grew up at the end of the series. The whole thing with Jane was just crazy. She was stupid in the first book and then just even more stupid in the second book. She tried to come off as this smart girl and boy smart but in reality, she was probably the dumbest. I can’t believe the person she fell for in the first book – she was reading all these nonexistent signs and when her friend told her it probably wasn’t smart for her to like that person, she got all crazy and defensive. And then in the second book, the guy literally told her what was going on and she absolutely refused to hear it. The people around her even hinted that maybe he was right and yet again she refused to hear it. I was literally mind-boggled by it.
For Natalya, I found her annoying in the first book but at least I found her the most relatable out of the three. She was starting a new school and just wanted to have friends and she got sucked in with the popular girls by association with a certain politician’s daughter. However, she figured out at the end of the first book who exactly was more important and what kind of friends she wanted to have around her. And in the second book, with that boy drama, she made the right choice as well because she valued friendship over a boy. So, I guess, even though I didn’t particularly liked any of the three girls, I did find Natalya’s ending to be the most rewarding.
The ending was also a little disappointing – I was hoping that all of them would have a happy ending but only Victoria did. Granted, I approved Natalyas’ decision but still. And for Jane, well, in a way she got what she deserved but I think it would have been nice if she ended up with the guy I was rooting for. I felt that there was something between the two but I guess not.
Overall, this series was just okay – it was a fun summer read though.
Click here to view entire review: http://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/20...
Anyways, while I still found her writing style to be engaging and entertaining, I found the content of her books to be on the childish side. I didn’t connect with the characters as much as I would have liked and I found a lot of the arguments and problems to be a bit juvenile.
The three girls: Victoria, Jane and Natalya are all incredibly different and they’ve been friends forever but now they are starting high school at different places and they’re trying to overcome new friends and new places while maintaining their best friend status. Let’s just say that I found all of them to be tedious. For example, I did not like Victoria at all. I found her too timid for my liking and I thought she would have matured by the end of the second book but that wasn’t the case. She was so shy even with her friends and she let her friends take the fall when her parents found out about a certain incidence and then blamed her friends for her own mistake all because she couldn’t speak for herself. And the same thing happened with her boyfriend in the second book where her fear of speaking up caused a huge rift and she was all depressed for literally zero reason. I mean, I’m glad things worked out at the end but there was all this tension and drama nonsense.
As for the other girls, I found both Jane and Natalya to be incredibly slow but at least Natalya grew up at the end of the series. The whole thing with Jane was just crazy. She was stupid in the first book and then just even more stupid in the second book. She tried to come off as this smart girl and boy smart but in reality, she was probably the dumbest. I can’t believe the person she fell for in the first book – she was reading all these nonexistent signs and when her friend told her it probably wasn’t smart for her to like that person, she got all crazy and defensive. And then in the second book, the guy literally told her what was going on and she absolutely refused to hear it. The people around her even hinted that maybe he was right and yet again she refused to hear it. I was literally mind-boggled by it.
For Natalya, I found her annoying in the first book but at least I found her the most relatable out of the three. She was starting a new school and just wanted to have friends and she got sucked in with the popular girls by association with a certain politician’s daughter. However, she figured out at the end of the first book who exactly was more important and what kind of friends she wanted to have around her. And in the second book, with that boy drama, she made the right choice as well because she valued friendship over a boy. So, I guess, even though I didn’t particularly liked any of the three girls, I did find Natalya’s ending to be the most rewarding.
The ending was also a little disappointing – I was hoping that all of them would have a happy ending but only Victoria did. Granted, I approved Natalyas’ decision but still. And for Jane, well, in a way she got what she deserved but I think it would have been nice if she ended up with the guy I was rooting for. I felt that there was something between the two but I guess not.
Overall, this series was just okay – it was a fun summer read though.
Click here to view entire review: http://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/20...
February 7, 2011
With a market crowded with dark paranormal romances, a lot of the younger teenage audience is forgotten. This is absolutely a novel for them.The Darling Are Forever follows three girls as they go their seperate ways for their first year in high school. Filled with a girl for every teen, a bunch of real life situations, and the power of real friendship, I defy any reader not to be charmed up until the last word.
Victoria is the plain jane type of girl. She doesn't think there is anything special about herself but she's wrong. Victoria was the even center, the one that held the other two girls together, and she was my favorite. I felt like she was the most grounded of the three and I related to her problems the most. She was a bit of a baby but I could understand why she acted the way she did and it seemed the most plausible to me. Plus, I fell in love with Jack right along with her.
I liked Natalya because she was intelligent but she also bothered me because of that same fact. I felt like Natalya was too smart to end up in the situation that she did. She had found some good friends that were nice to her so I don't see why she decided to dump everyone else because the popular girls decided to talk to her. It would have been one thing if she didn't figure out why they liked her but she knew that it was because of Victoria. I guess if I'd had a bit more of an inkling that she was unhappy with who she was or what she came from in the beginning of the novel, it would have made more since for her to head down this path.
I think we were supposed to be mad at Jane while reading the chapters that followed Natalya but I couldn't be because I really thought Jane was right. Jane doesn't really have a sensor and she felt like something was off with Natalya so she told her. Good for Jane. Though Jane's big mouth and reckless abandon did get her in trouble, her character added the spice to the novel that it would have otherwise been lacking. I really enjoyed being in the theater with her and found myself most engaged in those chapters.
The plot was predictable but it was okay. I was expecting these girls to end up spreading apart from each other only to be pushed back together when they realized this. Even the way they did it was predictable. But the writing was charming and so were the characters so it didn't bother me. I do feel like this one is definitely for younger audiences and at times I felt The Darlings boarded dangerously close to being a bit preachy. The "moral of the story" wasn't covered up too much. But again, for younger audiences, this isn't a bad thing. Plus it was written well and the pages were easy to turn so it will definitely keep interest.
I gave this one a 3.5 because while it was a great contemp, it was a bit young for my taste. I should say that this in no way means that it wasn't well written or adorable. It was absolutely both. It just wasn't my cup of tea but I'm absolutely happy to have read it. With a great cast of girls that any teen can relate to, a well written plot with something to say and a whole lot of fun, The Darlings Are Forever is a charmer.
Victoria is the plain jane type of girl. She doesn't think there is anything special about herself but she's wrong. Victoria was the even center, the one that held the other two girls together, and she was my favorite. I felt like she was the most grounded of the three and I related to her problems the most. She was a bit of a baby but I could understand why she acted the way she did and it seemed the most plausible to me. Plus, I fell in love with Jack right along with her.
I liked Natalya because she was intelligent but she also bothered me because of that same fact. I felt like Natalya was too smart to end up in the situation that she did. She had found some good friends that were nice to her so I don't see why she decided to dump everyone else because the popular girls decided to talk to her. It would have been one thing if she didn't figure out why they liked her but she knew that it was because of Victoria. I guess if I'd had a bit more of an inkling that she was unhappy with who she was or what she came from in the beginning of the novel, it would have made more since for her to head down this path.
I think we were supposed to be mad at Jane while reading the chapters that followed Natalya but I couldn't be because I really thought Jane was right. Jane doesn't really have a sensor and she felt like something was off with Natalya so she told her. Good for Jane. Though Jane's big mouth and reckless abandon did get her in trouble, her character added the spice to the novel that it would have otherwise been lacking. I really enjoyed being in the theater with her and found myself most engaged in those chapters.
The plot was predictable but it was okay. I was expecting these girls to end up spreading apart from each other only to be pushed back together when they realized this. Even the way they did it was predictable. But the writing was charming and so were the characters so it didn't bother me. I do feel like this one is definitely for younger audiences and at times I felt The Darlings boarded dangerously close to being a bit preachy. The "moral of the story" wasn't covered up too much. But again, for younger audiences, this isn't a bad thing. Plus it was written well and the pages were easy to turn so it will definitely keep interest.
I gave this one a 3.5 because while it was a great contemp, it was a bit young for my taste. I should say that this in no way means that it wasn't well written or adorable. It was absolutely both. It just wasn't my cup of tea but I'm absolutely happy to have read it. With a great cast of girls that any teen can relate to, a well written plot with something to say and a whole lot of fun, The Darlings Are Forever is a charmer.
June 15, 2011
Jane, the actress, has just started school at The Academy of the Performing Arts. She’s a small fish swimming in a sea of talent. But when she’s the only freshman to land a role in the spring musical, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, she finds herself more than just head over heels for her new school, she also finds herself head over heals for her Director, Mr. Robbins.Kantor has spun a true piece of realistic fiction with well-rounded and well realized characters. Readers will easily identify and relate to Jane, Victoria, and Natalya on some level. What is really great about Kantor’s characters is that they aren’t scandalous, they’re simple, everyday girls who encounter everyday problems with school, with boys, and even with budding and changing friendships.The Darlings Are Forever is just that - darling!
* I (obviously) really, really liked this book, but there was one very minor thing that bothered me: it's written in third person. Persoanlly, I prefer reading books in the first person mostly because I find there to be some disconnect with the characters and the plot when it's written from a third person perspective. In all honesty - this didn't hinder the book at all, but it made it a big harder for me to get through (it took me over a week and a half to read it).
Victoria, the romantic of the trio, is more than that. She’s a Darling, she’s a baker, but she’s also the sweet, innocent daughter of soon to be elected Andrew Harrison. All she can hope for is that no one at Morningside realizes who her father is, but when she sneaks out to go to a fancy party where there’s booze and boys, will her parents find out? Will it be the end of her social life, or worse, will it be the end of her father’s political campaign?
And then there’s Natalya, the closet genius who’s struggling two very different, opposing worlds: her normal world full of good friends, lots of laughs, and chess no matter how uncool it is or a world of money, privilege, and the hottest parties. Will Natalya trade in her smarts and her fellow Darlings for a spot in the in-crowd, or will she be the same chess loving girl she has always been?
The Darlings, who’ve been lifelong buddies since grade school suddenly find themselves being pulled in three opposing directions. Are they strong enough to withstand the pain and anguish high school brings? Is their friendship strong enough to withhold the demanding changes and pressures their new lives have created?
The Darlings Are Forever* written by Melissa Kantor is an incredibly sweet and fun book to read. Examining the lives and the honest emotions of three high school freshman, older readers will find themselves reminiscing about their own experiences, while younger readers will be fantasizing about the glamor and pitfalls high school will offer them.
* I (obviously) really, really liked this book, but there was one very minor thing that bothered me: it's written in third person. Persoanlly, I prefer reading books in the first person mostly because I find there to be some disconnect with the characters and the plot when it's written from a third person perspective. In all honesty - this didn't hinder the book at all, but it made it a big harder for me to get through (it took me over a week and a half to read it).
Victoria, the romantic of the trio, is more than that. She’s a Darling, she’s a baker, but she’s also the sweet, innocent daughter of soon to be elected Andrew Harrison. All she can hope for is that no one at Morningside realizes who her father is, but when she sneaks out to go to a fancy party where there’s booze and boys, will her parents find out? Will it be the end of her social life, or worse, will it be the end of her father’s political campaign?
And then there’s Natalya, the closet genius who’s struggling two very different, opposing worlds: her normal world full of good friends, lots of laughs, and chess no matter how uncool it is or a world of money, privilege, and the hottest parties. Will Natalya trade in her smarts and her fellow Darlings for a spot in the in-crowd, or will she be the same chess loving girl she has always been?
The Darlings, who’ve been lifelong buddies since grade school suddenly find themselves being pulled in three opposing directions. Are they strong enough to withstand the pain and anguish high school brings? Is their friendship strong enough to withhold the demanding changes and pressures their new lives have created?
The Darlings Are Forever* written by Melissa Kantor is an incredibly sweet and fun book to read. Examining the lives and the honest emotions of three high school freshman, older readers will find themselves reminiscing about their own experiences, while younger readers will be fantasizing about the glamor and pitfalls high school will offer them.
October 3, 2011
Well, after a lengthy hiatus, I am back! Did you miss me?
The last 2 books I read, were period pieces. So this time I decided I'd like to bring things into the modern ages. Introduce, the Darlings!
Now don't get me wrong, the last 2 books were both phenominal. But I did want to break things up a little. Needless to say when your on a good streak, it has to end at some point. And for me it ended with this book.
Now I have to say, my opinion of this book may be a little influenced. While I was reading this book I was experiencing a week long migraine that had me in tears, and major dizzyness. That being said, it was pretty hard to conentrate on reading, or anything else for that matter. Being that I was in extreme pain I feel like my review, or opinions, of this book my be influenced by that. So this is one book you may want to read and decide for yourself!
This book is about 3 best friends Natalya, Victoria and Jane, the "Darlings" as Nana called them. This book follows the story of these 3 girls, or Darlings, through their first year of highschool. The Darlings have always done everything together, so this year will be a true test to their friendship as they embark on their lives at 3 seperate schools! This is the story of fear, loss, highschool freshman, and friendship!
I do have to say, I was not at all in love with this book. It could have been the horrible migraine, but I found the story very hard to keep up with. The story is told from the viewpoint of all 3 girls, and goes back and forth in the story telling. I found it very hard to keep straight, again this could be the migraine. 3 diffrent girls, going to 3 diffrent schools, with 3 diffrent sets of families, 3 diffrent love intrests ( each girl had her own, some more than one, oh my! ) 3 diffrent sets of famillies, 3 diffrent sets of school friends, you get the idea! Needless to say, I was a good half to 3 qaurters of the way through with this book before I finally got the girls and their lives straight!
I found the storyline to be very predictable, and not very intresting. Definately not a book I recommend, but again you will probably want to read this one for yourself! My massive migraine I am sure would have kept any book, regardless of what it was, from being enjoyable!
The one aspect of the book that I did enjoy, was the author's honesty of childhood friends growing up. When you hit that critical age, are you going to stay friends forever? or will you grow apart and go your own ways?
There is a sequel, "The Darlings in Love" ( is that any suprise with so many love intrests???) that will be out in January 2012. *sigh* I will probably read that one too, grudgingly, mainly because the book cover is cute, and also because I want to see if I will enjoy the Darlings more minus the headache.
This is one book I am glad I checked out from my local library!
The last 2 books I read, were period pieces. So this time I decided I'd like to bring things into the modern ages. Introduce, the Darlings!
Now don't get me wrong, the last 2 books were both phenominal. But I did want to break things up a little. Needless to say when your on a good streak, it has to end at some point. And for me it ended with this book.
Now I have to say, my opinion of this book may be a little influenced. While I was reading this book I was experiencing a week long migraine that had me in tears, and major dizzyness. That being said, it was pretty hard to conentrate on reading, or anything else for that matter. Being that I was in extreme pain I feel like my review, or opinions, of this book my be influenced by that. So this is one book you may want to read and decide for yourself!
This book is about 3 best friends Natalya, Victoria and Jane, the "Darlings" as Nana called them. This book follows the story of these 3 girls, or Darlings, through their first year of highschool. The Darlings have always done everything together, so this year will be a true test to their friendship as they embark on their lives at 3 seperate schools! This is the story of fear, loss, highschool freshman, and friendship!
I do have to say, I was not at all in love with this book. It could have been the horrible migraine, but I found the story very hard to keep up with. The story is told from the viewpoint of all 3 girls, and goes back and forth in the story telling. I found it very hard to keep straight, again this could be the migraine. 3 diffrent girls, going to 3 diffrent schools, with 3 diffrent sets of families, 3 diffrent love intrests ( each girl had her own, some more than one, oh my! ) 3 diffrent sets of famillies, 3 diffrent sets of school friends, you get the idea! Needless to say, I was a good half to 3 qaurters of the way through with this book before I finally got the girls and their lives straight!
I found the storyline to be very predictable, and not very intresting. Definately not a book I recommend, but again you will probably want to read this one for yourself! My massive migraine I am sure would have kept any book, regardless of what it was, from being enjoyable!
The one aspect of the book that I did enjoy, was the author's honesty of childhood friends growing up. When you hit that critical age, are you going to stay friends forever? or will you grow apart and go your own ways?
There is a sequel, "The Darlings in Love" ( is that any suprise with so many love intrests???) that will be out in January 2012. *sigh* I will probably read that one too, grudgingly, mainly because the book cover is cute, and also because I want to see if I will enjoy the Darlings more minus the headache.
This is one book I am glad I checked out from my local library!
September 6, 2016
The Darlings Are Forever is a young adult novel about early teen friendship. Three New York City teens - Jane, the actress, Natalya, the straight-A student, and Victoria, the impeccably behaved daughter of a Senate candidate - have grown up together at One Room, the school they attended through eighth grade. Under the loving guidance of Jane's grandmother, Nana, who called them her darlings, they have formed a strong bond and pledged to always do whatever scares them. Now, though, Nana has passed away, and the girls are starting ninth grade at different schools in different parts of the city. They've promised one another that things won't change, but keeping that promise proves difficult - even impossible - as the school year gets underway.
What I liked most about this book was the way it treated the girls' friendship as the main character of the story. While we got to know each girl individually, and spent equal time in each one's point of view, those segments are only important when we view them as pieces of a larger whole. I genuinely liked each character - for her positive qualities, as well as her flaws - but what I liked even more was the exploration of a friendship as it underwent the strains, stresses, and changes that happen to everyone at the start of high school.
Melissa Kantor painted a very clear picture of each of the girls' schools, and the friends and teachers they met there, as well as the family lives, siblings relationships and personalities of each girl. There are a lot of people in this book, but somehow, Kantor gave me enough cues to keep them all perfectly sorted out in my head. I felt like I was a part of the Darlings' world, and I liked seeing that world expand to include new experiences, but also shrinking back down to include just the comfort of three best friends who've known each other forever.
This is the first book in a series, so there are a handful of dangling threads leftover at the end, to be picked up in the second book, The Darlings In Love. Based on the boys the girls have already met in this book - photographer Jack, and chess player Colin - I can't wait to see what lies in store for them in the next book! This is a great contemporary YA novel, which brought to mind other trios of friends - namely Alice, Elizabeth, and Pamela from Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice books (possibly because they don't all attend the same school) and Cammie, Bex, and Liz from the Gallagher Girls books (mostly because one of them has a father in Congress, too.) I'd recommend it especially to middle school girls who are anxious about what high school will bring. It would also be a really cute mother-daughter book discussion for that age.
What I liked most about this book was the way it treated the girls' friendship as the main character of the story. While we got to know each girl individually, and spent equal time in each one's point of view, those segments are only important when we view them as pieces of a larger whole. I genuinely liked each character - for her positive qualities, as well as her flaws - but what I liked even more was the exploration of a friendship as it underwent the strains, stresses, and changes that happen to everyone at the start of high school.
Melissa Kantor painted a very clear picture of each of the girls' schools, and the friends and teachers they met there, as well as the family lives, siblings relationships and personalities of each girl. There are a lot of people in this book, but somehow, Kantor gave me enough cues to keep them all perfectly sorted out in my head. I felt like I was a part of the Darlings' world, and I liked seeing that world expand to include new experiences, but also shrinking back down to include just the comfort of three best friends who've known each other forever.
This is the first book in a series, so there are a handful of dangling threads leftover at the end, to be picked up in the second book, The Darlings In Love. Based on the boys the girls have already met in this book - photographer Jack, and chess player Colin - I can't wait to see what lies in store for them in the next book! This is a great contemporary YA novel, which brought to mind other trios of friends - namely Alice, Elizabeth, and Pamela from Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's Alice books (possibly because they don't all attend the same school) and Cammie, Bex, and Liz from the Gallagher Girls books (mostly because one of them has a father in Congress, too.) I'd recommend it especially to middle school girls who are anxious about what high school will bring. It would also be a really cute mother-daughter book discussion for that age.
February 12, 2011
This was such a cute and fun book! I love contemporary fiction, but it seems like there's a battle between the gritty emotional contemporary and the light and fun contemporary. While I'm a fan of both it's nice to sit back and relax with a fun books every now and again.
Going into The Darlings Are Forever I was worried for two reasons. (1) There were three main characters and the chapters switched off on who it was about. (2) It was in third person.
Now I don't have a problem with third person narration per se, but I usually have a harder time connecting with characters in a third person narrated novel. That was not the case here. I found each of the girls voice and personality completely separate and distinct so I had no trouble at all keeping the characters straight.
I love the plot of this book. It's always scary going somewhere new, and being separated from your best friends only makes it worse. I think Melissa did a wonderful job capturing the friendship between these three girls and made it very realistic and believable.
Now let's talk about each character, shall we?
Jane: I could tell that she was the confident one who wasn't afraid of speaking her mind and going for what she wanted. She was a fun character to read because she always had big dreams and wasn't afraid to do what needed to be done to get them. I found the whole thing with Mr. Robbins kind of weird, but I was happy that she finally came to her senses.
Victoria: She was definitely the nice girl who wasn't accustomed to a lot of attention (as noted by her reactions to the media). Something about her made her my favorite to read about. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn't very confident yet she still did the things that scared her and learned to deal with hard situations.
Natalya: Natalya was possibly my least favorite character. She irked me throughout the whole novel. Now don't get me wrong, she was a great friend. I understand why she wanted to fit in with Morgan and her clique, but what annoyed me was that she knew they just wanted to be her friend to get close to Victoria yet she did nothing to stop them. If anything she tried harder to please them. Thankfully (like Jane) she came to her senses.
Overall this was a very fun book. It had good believable characters who make mistakes just like everyone. I think it will be easy for a lot of girls to relate to the Darlings. The plot was great and well paced, and I was quite pleased to see there's a sequel, The Darlings In Love.
Going into The Darlings Are Forever I was worried for two reasons. (1) There were three main characters and the chapters switched off on who it was about. (2) It was in third person.
Now I don't have a problem with third person narration per se, but I usually have a harder time connecting with characters in a third person narrated novel. That was not the case here. I found each of the girls voice and personality completely separate and distinct so I had no trouble at all keeping the characters straight.
I love the plot of this book. It's always scary going somewhere new, and being separated from your best friends only makes it worse. I think Melissa did a wonderful job capturing the friendship between these three girls and made it very realistic and believable.
Now let's talk about each character, shall we?
Jane: I could tell that she was the confident one who wasn't afraid of speaking her mind and going for what she wanted. She was a fun character to read because she always had big dreams and wasn't afraid to do what needed to be done to get them. I found the whole thing with Mr. Robbins kind of weird, but I was happy that she finally came to her senses.
Victoria: She was definitely the nice girl who wasn't accustomed to a lot of attention (as noted by her reactions to the media). Something about her made her my favorite to read about. Maybe it was the fact that she wasn't very confident yet she still did the things that scared her and learned to deal with hard situations.
Natalya: Natalya was possibly my least favorite character. She irked me throughout the whole novel. Now don't get me wrong, she was a great friend. I understand why she wanted to fit in with Morgan and her clique, but what annoyed me was that she knew they just wanted to be her friend to get close to Victoria yet she did nothing to stop them. If anything she tried harder to please them. Thankfully (like Jane) she came to her senses.
Overall this was a very fun book. It had good believable characters who make mistakes just like everyone. I think it will be easy for a lot of girls to relate to the Darlings. The plot was great and well paced, and I was quite pleased to see there's a sequel, The Darlings In Love.
April 20, 2011
Jane, Victoria and Natalya have been friends since they were 5 and began attending school together in NYC. Now they are about to begin their freshman year at 3 separate high schools. Jane is thrilled to be attending the Academy of Performing Arts. Natalya was honored to be accepted at the prestigious Gainsford Academy. And, Victoria is enrolled at Morningside Magnet High School. While each of the girls are excited about their new schools, they are also concerned about what it will mean to their friendship. How will they find time to go to school, do homework, be involved in extracurricular activities and still find time to spend together? Jane has her eyes set on being in the cast of the main stage production even though only one freshman has ever been chosen. And it didn't hurt that Mr. Robbins, the director, was so young and good-looking. Victoria is dealing with being in the spotlight since her father is running for the U.S. Senate and also trying to step out of her older sister's shadow and find her own place. Jack, the cute photographer from the school newspaper, might be just the person she needs to help her. Natalya is wondering how a girl from a working class family will fit in with the kids from some of the wealthiest and most well-known families in the city. Will they like her for who she is or because she is friends wit a future Senator's daughter? Each of the girls will face unforeseen challenges and decisions that will test not only their friendship but also their own core values.
My Thoughts:
I liked these girls. Each one was an individual and was a nice girl trying to do the best she could be. I also liked the challenges that each girl faced in the story. They seemed to be real problems that high school girls would face. The situations weren't huge, overly dramatic issues like sex, drugs, illegal activity, etc, but things like fitting in, making friends, loyalty, trustworthiness and so on. I found myself wondering if these were the thoughts and activities of young 14 year olds or if they would have been more consistent with girls a couple of years older. The difference may be that I was raised and raised my children in small-town Midwest whereas these girls live in NYC and have freedoms that seem unrealistic to me.
I would recommend this book to younger teens.
Janeth (Andye's mom)
http://ReadingTeen.net/
My Thoughts:
I liked these girls. Each one was an individual and was a nice girl trying to do the best she could be. I also liked the challenges that each girl faced in the story. They seemed to be real problems that high school girls would face. The situations weren't huge, overly dramatic issues like sex, drugs, illegal activity, etc, but things like fitting in, making friends, loyalty, trustworthiness and so on. I found myself wondering if these were the thoughts and activities of young 14 year olds or if they would have been more consistent with girls a couple of years older. The difference may be that I was raised and raised my children in small-town Midwest whereas these girls live in NYC and have freedoms that seem unrealistic to me.
I would recommend this book to younger teens.
Janeth (Andye's mom)
http://ReadingTeen.net/
March 23, 2011
Jane, Victoria, and Natalya have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They have their own table at Ga Ga Noodle, matching necklaces, and even a motto: may you always do what you’re afraid of doing. But when the girls start their freshman year at three different high schools around New York City, facing their fears may not be as easy now that each is on her own. The Darlings are finding it hard enough to find the time to get together amidst all of Natalya’s homework, Victoria’s father’s political campaign, and Jane’s drama rehearsals. With so much time apart and feeling alone in scary new settings, the wonderful friendship these girls share starts to fray at the seams. Can Jane, Victoria, and Natalya find out what being a Darling really means and come together again before it’s too late?
The Darlings Are Forever is a heartwarming and innocent look at friendship in a tumultuous time in life. What I loved most about this novel was most definitely the characters. Every girl who can recall the scary transition between middle and high school, high school and college, or transferring to a new school will be able to relate to Jane’s, Victoria’s, and Natalya’s struggles and insecurities as they begin high school without their support group of friends. I really like that this story was so clean; Kantor is free to really delve into each Darling’s personal issues without the distractions of alcohol, drugs, shoplifting, or the like. I feel that the innocence of the story makes it stronger because it makes it all the more accessible for teen girls whose primary concerns include boys, friends, and being accepted. The whole story is enjoyable to read, as it entertains readers with a wonderful mix of New York City glitz and the lighter side of high school drama. I was quite won over by The Darlings Are Forever and its sweet portrayal of high school life and friendship, and I can’t wait to see more of the Darlings in The Darlings in Love.
This novel is sure to be enjoyed by fans of The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer, Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci, and Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
The Darlings Are Forever is a heartwarming and innocent look at friendship in a tumultuous time in life. What I loved most about this novel was most definitely the characters. Every girl who can recall the scary transition between middle and high school, high school and college, or transferring to a new school will be able to relate to Jane’s, Victoria’s, and Natalya’s struggles and insecurities as they begin high school without their support group of friends. I really like that this story was so clean; Kantor is free to really delve into each Darling’s personal issues without the distractions of alcohol, drugs, shoplifting, or the like. I feel that the innocence of the story makes it stronger because it makes it all the more accessible for teen girls whose primary concerns include boys, friends, and being accepted. The whole story is enjoyable to read, as it entertains readers with a wonderful mix of New York City glitz and the lighter side of high school drama. I was quite won over by The Darlings Are Forever and its sweet portrayal of high school life and friendship, and I can’t wait to see more of the Darlings in The Darlings in Love.
This novel is sure to be enjoyed by fans of The Teashop Girls by Laura Schaefer, Rose Sees Red by Cecil Castellucci, and Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews