Review: Fall For Anything by Courtney Summers

Title: Fall for Anything
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

To say I was eagerly anticipating this book would be an understatement. I was practically salivating for it. I adored both Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are and I was expecting to love this one just as much. I'm sad to say that it fell a bit short. I just couldn't connect with Eddie. I didn't understand her motivations. I also got bored during a couple parts. The book was still superb, and I really, really liked it, I just didn't like it as much as I wanted to.

Characters: 9/10
Writing: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A

Review: Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

Title: Some Girls Are
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: January 2010
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
Climbing to the top of the social ladder is hard--falling from it is even harder.  Regina Afton used to be a member of the Fearsome Fivesome, an all-girl clique both feared and revered by the students at Hallowell High... until vicious rumors about her and her best friend's boyfriend start going around.  Now Regina's been "frozen out" and her ex-best friends are out for revenge.  If Regina was guilty, it would be one thing, but the rumors are far from the terrifying truth and the bullying is getting more intense by the day.  She takes solace in the company of Michael Hayden, a misfit with a tragic past who she herself used to bully.  Friendship doesn't come easily for these onetime enemies, and as Regina works hard to make amends for her past, she realizes Michael could be more than just a friend... if threats from the Fearsome Foursome don't break them both first.

Tensions grow and the abuse worsens as the final days of senior year march toward an explosive conclusion in this dark new tale from the author of Cracked Up To Be. 

Wow. That's my immediate reaction to this book. The writing is wow, the characters are wow, the horribly realistic things that girls do to each other in this book is wow. From page one I was sucked in and I had to finish it as fast as I could, had to know what happened next, had to know more of what Regina's life was like before. It was compulsive.

Regina Afton is a major bitch. She's not that girl, but her right hand, the one who would do anything for her. That makes her almost as bad. Until she isn't her right hand anymore. In fact, she's Public Enemy #1. Then she starts to feel remorse for the things that she's done to people. How twisted is that? She's basically saying: I did horrible things to you, but I'm not going to feel bad about it until I'm not at the top of the food chain anymore. And yet, the entire time I was on her side. Yeah, I knew that she'd done bad things, things that I definitely don't agree with, but for some reason I didn't care. I wanted things to go well for her. That is the genius of Courtney Summers.


Regina was wonderfully developed, as were all of the other characters. I really got a sense of their personalities, and how unique they were. I really, really hated Anna and Hana. And I really loved Michael. Honestly? That I remember their names without looking them up is a really good sign. It doesn't happen all that often.


I'm not really sure what to say about the plot, because this book is so character driven. The writing though, is superb. There were times when I wanted to put down the book because I just got this terrible feeling about what was happening to Regina even though it's just fiction. Some of it really got to me. 


Basically, I absolutely loved this book. If you are a fan of contemporary fiction, this is definitely one that you need to pick up. Excellent.


Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 9/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 48/50 A
Cover Comments: It's just kind of "eh" for me. I don't love it but I don't hate it.

Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers

Title: Cracked Up to Be
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 2008
Source: Bought
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?


Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.


Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.


Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

If I could describe this book in one word it would have to be strong. Strong characters, strong emotions, strong writing. This is one of those books that doesn't let you go, even if it's driving you crazy and you just want to put it down for a second. You can't. You have to keep going, to get one step closer to figuring out what happened to Parker that night a year ago.

Parker is one of the most unique characters I've ever come across. She's downright bitchy, not just in what she says to other people, but also in what she thinks about other people. This is not common. I loved it! Her snarky attitude was so much fun to read about, and I laughed at a lot of things she said/thought, even though it was mean. I did get annoyed with her sometimes, mostly for doing something self destructive, though she had her reasons.

My favorite part of the book was the relationship between Parker and Jake. Jake is just a nice guy, and Parker, well, is not so nice. Their interactions were always fun to read about, and the way their relationship developed was done really well. I loved the way that the night of the party was slowly revealed using flashbacks. I never got the whole story until the end, and it made want to keep reading. I guarantee it's not what you think.

I don't think that there's anything specific that I can say that I didn't like about this book. It was that good.

Characters: 10/10
Writing: 10/10
Originality: 10/10
Plot: 9/10
Ending: 10/10
Overall: 49/50 A+
Cover Comments: Pretty fitting, but not attention grabbing. I think it makes the book look too nice.