Customer Reviews

Airhead #3: Runaway

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Em Watts is still stuck being Nikki Howard, but she is getting closer to discovering the reason why her brain was transplanted into Nikki's body...because the real Nikki is alive, and she knows everything. The only problem is, she's quite unwilling to talk unless she gets what she wants--her own body back. Em needs Christopher's help if they are going to discover the reason behind Stark's secret themselves, but unfortunately Christopher isn't exactly happy with Em right now. With everyone wanting so much from her and her sort of boyfriend hating her, is it really any wonder that Em feels like running away?

Runaway, the conclusion to the Airhead trilogy, is a snappy and smart read that goes by far too quickly! The novel picks up only days after the tension-filled conclusion of Being Nikki, and dives into the action right away, with all of the drama surrounding Brandon Stark's attempt at whisking Em and the Howards away to his summer home. They are quickly rescued, but when they return to New York, it is evident that they aren't any safer there. Lulu and Gabriel Luna quickly join the group as Em and Christopher attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery through a series of fast paced action scenes, complete with plenty of quick thinking, computer hacking, and romantic tension.

Meanwhile, plenty is happening with the large cast of supporting characters--people a hooking up, breaking up, and making up. Nikki, who comes off as horribly vain and shallow throughout most of the series, gets a makeover and a drive for revenge, making her more likable and more ruthless. Em is dealing with her own issues concerning her mother and how she taught Em and her sister to perceive beauty, which adds a bit more depth to the plot.

Cabot gives readers hints at Stark's insidious plan throughout the book, which may be predictable to some readers, but not any less surprising or suspenseful once all is revealed--including the true reason behind Em's brain transplant. But even after the big reveal, Em must work fast to outsmart Stark and see that justice is served. Finally, the book culminates in a highly satisfying confrontation readers have been looking forward to since Airhead. In her trademark style, Cabot proves once again that being smart and being fashionable don't have to be mutually exclusive and that by being yourself, no matter how hard it may be, you will always come out on top.

Cover Comment: I think the model's position looks a little awkward, but I really like that she is in the act of running away. I've always found the design of the Airhead covers pretty neat, and I just love how the same model has been used for all three books. Very neat cover!

The premise is good, but Cabot has Em getting so caught up in self-dialogue and restating the same thing over and over I found myself thinking, get on with the story already and skipping sections. The internal thoughts take up about 50% of the book, which equals sloppy writing. There were many moments similar to this: Then I realized the thing in his hand was a gun. He had a gun! He ACTUALLlY was going to shoot us. I couldn't believe it. Here I was, thinking we were going to get away and [character] pulled out a gun. What could we do? If we ran, he would shoot us. But what choice did we have? I blinked. Was this really happening? It seemed so strange that just yesterday I was at a shoot on the beach and now I was looking at the barrel of a gun... And it goes on and on like that for paragraphs and sometimes pages. Too much telling and not enough showing.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. Although Airhead (the first book in the series) and I got off to a rough start, I found the 2nd book engaging and funny. What's more - it left readers with a major cliffhanger that kept them guessing. Although Cabot does a good job of writing an adventure story with little bits of humor, the last book in the Airhead series did not impress me. The conclusion leaves much to be said about women's body image -- a major theme of the book, but only artificially it seems.

Like the title of the book that started it all implies, the Airhead series is filled with fluff and superficiality - don't read it if you're looking for any heartfelt moments (Cabot manages to awkwardly insert one such a scene between Em and her mother). It's subpar chick-lit.

As Meg Cabot's newest release "Runaway," opens, we see that Em Watts is hiding, from the paparazzi, from her family, from her friends, and even from her own life. Forced into an unhappy partnership with her non-boyfriend (who just happens to be the power hungry son of her evil employer), Em is at her breaking point. Now she's just waiting her time out, but the waiting is taking to look. She is, in fact, waiting for the live Stark Angel fashion show and for the real Nikki to stand up and reveal what she found out about Stark Enterprises, as well as what led to this whole predicament. Her dilemma is that she is stuck between the desire to protect those she cares about and the determination to expose Stark's wrongdoings. Em will have to decide if she can take a stand, or if she's better off running away from it all.

"Runaway," third in the Airhead series, was preceded by "Airhead" and "Being Nikki" and closes this trilogy off nicely. The storyline was fascinating and Cabot still managed to surprise her readers with tidbits. I don't like to reveal anything substantial about the book, its progression, or its ending, but this one does end happily ever after. Em's character goes through quite a bit and with this last book of the trilogy, readers will applaud her ability to hang in there. Also, a big driver of this book was the background discussion about business ethics, identity theft, and even reclaiming a new identity. It's the gift that Christopher gives to Em at the end that is so thoughtful and touching, and it reminds readers that we are who we are, not matter what crosses our path in life.

***Spoilers for books 1 and 2***

Just when things had started looking up for Em Watts (Christopher knows she's Em not Nikki! Christopher loves her!), they took a turn for the unexpected at the end of Being Nikki, the second book in this trilogy. Nikki Howard, it turned out, was not really dead. She also wanted her body back. In an attempt to save Christopher and her family, Em agreed to break things off with Christopher and pretend to be in love with Brandon Stark. That's the situation that we find her in at the start of Runaway.

Everything that was great about the first two books in this series continues to be fun here. Em tries to do the right thing while protecting her family, only this doesn't go over so well with Christopher when he tries to rescue her. Her parents are also having a hard time dealing with the tabloid reports of Em's antics, and Nikki (the real one) is driving everyone crazy with her complaints about her new, less attractive body. Can Em save the Howard family and herself? Can Christopher handle it if she does?

I love Meg Cabot's books, and Runaway doesn't disappoint. Sure, the premise only gets more ridiculous as the book goes on, but she sells it. Meanwhile, her characters are always funny and likable, and she writes heroines that are to be admired. Em might have to walk the runway in bra and panties, but she's nobody's victim, and she saves herself more that once.

This is a very satisfying conclusion to a very fun trilogy. I can't wait to see what Meg Cabot comes up with next.

Runaway was just as fun a read as the previous two novels in the series. Once again I was drawn in to Em's story and Runaway reminded me again why I love Meg Cabot and the Airhead series.

I read the first two novels in the series, Airhead and Being Nikki, both over a year ago, so was worried about forgetting key info. Luckily, as I was reading Runaway it all came flooding back.

To begin with, my favorite characters from the previous novels all returned with a bang in Runaway. Lulu, Frida, Felix, Christopher, Steven, Gabriel.. Meg Cabot created an excellent cast of characters I am sad to say good bye to. I liked the role Christopher had in this novel although he did annoy me at times. In the end though, he was the sweet Christopher I remembered. I really enjoyed all the new relationships that formed in Runaway. I don't want to spoil anything- but some of the characters I listed above may get together :)

Em learned a lot about herself and being Nikki, and she's definitely one of my favorite Meg Cabot heroines. She really knows how to take care of herself and stand up for what she believes in. The mystery involving Stark added a lot to the novel and the plot had a lot of interesting twists and turns, and when what was really going on was finally revealed, I was definitely surprised!

If you've read the first two books in this series, definitely pick up a copy of Runaway soon- it was witty, exciting, fun, original, and overall an enjoyable read. A great ending to the trilogy, I'm definitely going to miss Em!

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

I have now the opportunity to read all three of these books in this series, Runaway being the most recent book, with it being released April 20th, 2010 is what Amazon says. I will leave quick preorder at the end of this post for you.

So Nikki/Em actually starts of this book as a damsel in distress, with some very confused and mixed feelings regarding, herself, the real Nikki, and a big ole mess with Brandon and Christopher. But who needs a prince charming anyway, right? So she thinks, with various rescue missions on her behalf to help, she becomes a stubborn idiot. Excuse the negative comment. Its true, she spends most of this book complaining about not needing anyone to save her and that shes a strong independent woman that doesn't need anyone's help. lol Until she realized she needs help, and from the person she least wants to call... Christopher! She has to get over her pride and do it, as Lulu pretty much commands her, which she does and things wrap up nicely in this story.

This book, actually goes and closes up all the relathionships, including Brandon, Rebecca (her agent), The body hosting Nikki's brain, Lulu, Stephen(her brother) and even Nikki/Em's Lil sister but i wont say with, allow some shock for yourself.. was definately a great ending in this book. I would certainly recommend getting yourself a copy. Heck, the whole series if you haven't had the chance to read them.

( I was sent this book free of charge, in exchange for my honest review, there was no monetary exchange for the above review.)

If you can not wait to get your hands on this book be sure to preorder it, along with Meg's other books in the series, and her upcoming release of Insatiable, which is said to be a modern "dracula"

Em Watts thought that things were finally taking a turn for the better when she learned that Christopher (her best-friend-slash-crush-slash-boy-she-wants-to-marry-and-spend-the-rest-of-her-life-with) was in love with her - not the girl whose body her brain is currently lodged within...stunning supermodel Nikki Howard. She should have known better. Em has never been on the receiving end of a happy ending; and her current predicament is indicative of that. Nikki Howard? The beauty whose body Em currently inhabits? Yeah...she's alive, and she wants her body back...now! Em would love to do nothing more than to runaway and forget everyone and everything from her past, but, as tempting as it sounds, it's downright impossible; for while Nikki knows all of Stark's secrets, Em is completely in the dark.

During the time Em has been leading Nikki's life, Nikki has been hiding out, uncovering everything shady about Stark Enterprises. Now that she has the information she needs to expose them for what they've done to her, she is ready to make her grand entrance and reveal it to the world; Em just knows that the day in question will be the Stark Angel event - a live fashion show that will take place on New Year's Eve - but there's nothing she can do to stop it...except lie in wait until the day of reckoning arrives. Patience, however, has never been one of Em's strong points. Action is more her style.

With the help of Christopher, Lulu, and Gabriel Luna, Em is determined to get to the bottom of the science fiction fairytale that has become her life; but on top of the adventures in computer hacking, and a series of unbelievable events that require some serious quick thinking, Em will have to face the facts regarding her mother's take on beauty head on to give her the courage to return to her normal life and continue on as the nerdy girl she has always been.

I can honestly say that the thing I loathe most about Meg Cabot's book series' is that they must always come to an end which can be devastating to diehard readers; however, when they are as fast-paced, action-packed, and full of answers as Runaway (Airhead) is, you can't help but to welcome the conclusion with open arms.

As per usual, Cabot's trademark self-deprecating humor, and penchant for the unexpected and fantastical is found in large quantities within the pages of Runaway (Airhead); yet so is a lot of heart. After three books, you can't help but to find yourself attached to these characters, and cheering them on as you devour each paragraph.

Em has grown up right before our eyes, transforming from nerdy girl to a confident individual with the ability to stand up for herself, speak her mind, and steal the spotlight - whether in Nikki Howard's body or her very own. Whereas Nikki, who has forever been viewed as vain, vapid, shallow, and unintelligent is portrayed in a cunning, conniving new way which adds more depth to her personality; making her more relatable to readers. A thrilling conclusion which proves that Cabot can commandeer any genre she sets her mind to!

Erika Sorocco
Café Fashionista

Emerson Watts is on the run.

Everyone she loves is mad at her because of something she can't explain, and doesn't totally understand herself. All she has to look forward to is the Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve.

Christopher has discovered something bad. Project Phoenix. And even though he isn't positive on what it is about, he has a feeling it has everything to do with Em.

I have enjoyed the AIRHEAD series so very much. I'm sad to see it come to an end, but this ending was great. This book was the kind that you hate to put down because you want so badly to know what is going to happen. The chemistry between Em and Christopher is fabulous. All of the characters have been interesting in their own special way, and you can see the changes in Em and especially the changes in Nikki.

The only problem I had with the book is the ending. It all happened so fast; almost too fast! But, overall, RUNAWAY was a wonderful ending to the AIRHEAD series, and if you haven't read both AIRHEAD and BEING NIKKI, you definitely should check them out!

Reviewed by: Ashley B

GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I love Meg Cabot. I think she excels in any genre she writes, she always has a mix humor and a pop culture which I love, and she writes great romances with crush-worthy characters. When I first heard the premise for the Airhead books, I wasn't sure how it was going to work, but if anyone can add a dash of science fiction to chick lit and make it work, it's Meg Cabot! Where Airhead is more about Em adjusting to her new life and body, Being Nikki and Runaway have more mystery to them-first with Nikki's missing mom and then with the secret about Stark and his project.

I thought the series got stronger as it went on. Em was a character I could cheer for from the beginning-she's a science fiction fan and gamer-I love "nerdy girl" main characters. And I really felt she grew in each book. As she adjusted to her new life, she became stronger. I don't think Em in book one has the guts she has in books three. My favorite character is still Lulu. I don't know what it is about her, but she's so sweet and funny and lovable-the opposite of the stereotypical rich girl. I want Lulu as my best friend-she's one of those characters I would love to hang out with.

Of course it wouldn't be a good chick-lit without romance, and the romance in Runaway is Meg Cabot perfection-fun, frothy with some swoon worthy moments and great kissing. If you're looking for a fun chick-lit series with a twist, I would give the Airhead series a try. It's a short series, which is always a good thing in this age of sequels and never-ending series, and it's a fun escape. Take this along as a summer beach read.