Title: Lipstick Apology
Author: Jennifer Jabaley
Pages: 286
Published: Razorbill, August 8 2009
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Recommended/Not Recommended
Cover: B
Overall Grade: A
When sixteen-year-old Emily Carson's parents die in a plane crash, her world comes crashing down around her. Left only with a mystery behind her mother's last message, Emily Please Forgive Me, scrawled on a tray table before the plane went down, and questions, Emily's uprooted from her quiet suburban Pennsylvania life and is plunged into Manhattan, where she's to live with her makeup-mogul aunt. At her new school, Emily finds new friends--and meets boys. There's Owen, the amazing, gorgeous, popular one who makes Emily feel like a princess. And then there's Anthony, Emily's chemistry lab partner/baker/"brother" who helps Emily heal...
My thoughts: Wow. What a phenomenal read! Once I hit the middle, I literally could not stop reading. This debut novel was like a contagious disease--I was sucked into Emily's world. I could picture all of the people and places and actions described. I was hooked. The vortex-like plot was addicting, beautifully written, and realistic, and I really like how Ms. Jabaley added a mystery subplot to it (Emily finding out why her mom was sorry) without being cheesy and false.
Ms. Jabaley did a terrific job writing a story with enough twists and turns so that it was entertaining and compelling but not obnoxiously long and confusing, and making the novel equally serious/heartbreaking and funny/sweet/light!
My one big problem was all the errors in the ARC that I read. There was everything from punctuation and capitalization issues to misspelled words and funky indents. It got really distracting after awhile, so hopefully they'll fix that before the final printing--yikes!
And oh my goodness, the ending was so perfectly cliché and corny that I felt a bit nauseous, but happy all the same because I'm a sucker for happy endings! (:
Although the plot was very predictable, I still found myself love, love loving Lipstick Apology just because it was so unique and fun to read. I know that when it comes out in August, I'm definitely buying a copy to reread over and over again! Overall, a very beautiful debut. You'll definitely want to watch this author.
* Karin Perry, my ARC is coming your way!
Um, you won Peace, Love and Baby ducks on my blog. I need your home addy or do I already have it?
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like an OK book based on the description, but your review really makes it sound like something more special than that. I always enjoy a well written book. :)
ReplyDeleteI want to read this one. I'm a sucker for happy endings too:) I'm glad you liked it, that means I'll probably end up loving it too!
ReplyDeleteI have been wanting to read this book foreverrrr - I can't believe I still have to wait three months!!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for this, and your review has made me want it even more!
ReplyDeletethank you so much for your lovely review! You've made my day!
ReplyDeleteI see that you do author interviews, I would love to participate if you are interested.
thank you again!
Jennifer Jabaley
LIPSTICK APOLOGY
Razorbill, 2009
wwww.jenniferjabaley.com