Customer Reviews

Girl in Development

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Roter hits it home with heartwarming characters who reveal the dirty little secrets of Hollywood hot-heads. The characters reflect hilarious moments of friendship and hardships that will leave you wanting more! A must read!

GIRL IN DEVELOPMENT is one of those books that brings you back and reminds you of what it feels like to be 18 and to have finally found a sense of self and then have it tested all over again, reminding you that you still have some growing pains to endure. This honest portrayal of one girl's journey is delivered with wit, empathy and insight into the human spirit. I highly recommend this book to anyone who knows what it feels like to fall in love, feel betrayed and find friendship in the unlikeliest of places.

Girl in Development is a fish out of water story -- with the fish dressed in vintage designer dresses and swimming carefully in the murky waters of L.A.

When Samantha's uncle gets her an internship at a film development company, she appreciates the gesture, but it's not her dream job. She would rather curl up with a good book than hobnob with film stars. Not wanting to seem ungrateful, she accepts the job and flies across the country to spend the summer with an uncle and cousin she barely knows.

The book explores the relationships that develop that summer between Sam and those around her: Kate, her sophisticated and seemingly self-assured cousin; Kate's two best friends, Tatiana the television actress and Dylan the hypochondriac; and two boys at Sam's workplace, Matt Sullivan, who is slightly older and possibly interested in her, and Ross, who is slightly nerdy and hilariously blunt.

Roter has created characters that are realistic and relatable, rather than snotty and stereotypical. The main character is a sweet girl who has good intentions. Readers can sympathize with her sense of bewilderment when faced with a new job and new surroundings.

Though she is wealthy, Kate is not a material girl. The sassy older cousin has layers which are peeled and revealed as the story goes on. Though Kate is more world-weary and mature than Cher from Clueless, the two would definitely be friends.

Thankfully, Roter eschewed the obvious (and overdone) Pygmalion path. Kate never attempts to change Sam; rather, it is the unexpected friendship between the cousins that spurs changes in each of them -- changes for the better. Her leading ladies grow to accept one another.

Unlike some other books shelved in young adult fiction, the romance in this book is clean enough to appease parents and teachers. No eyebrows will be raised by this book. It will inspire gentle, knowing laughter instead.

In her debut novel, Jordan Roter has created a story that is, like her main characters, is fun and cute, sweet yet sophisticated. A 30-year-old reader will enjoy this book just as much as a 16-year-old will, and mothers and daughters can share this story. In other words, fans of Gilmore Girls need to pick up this book.

Girl in Development is not only likable, it is enjoyable. It is even more refreshing than the complicated coffee drinks Sam and Kate order, and just as sweet.

So my mother decided to buy me books for my birthday this year. I'm 20, so she's buying me a book a week for 20 weeks, and since we're entering the summer and I plan on doing a lot of sitting on the beach, it sounded good to me.

Girl in Development was the fifth book she bought me, but I wish it had been the first. I won't go into the other ones, but thank God she finally found something I could have fun with. Maybe it's because the characters are my age or in a similar situation to me, living with their parents over summer in California, or maybe just because the book is DAMN FUNNY, I really sparked to it.

The only thing is I would have liked to see what happened to Sam at the end of the summer, but maybe, I hope, there's a sequel. I should tell my mom to look out for it for my 21st birthday.

And if you really want to know what I thought of some of the other books on my mom's list, see my other reviews. Blech.

Although I was not impressed that Jordan Roter had appeared to follow the current prototype in the YA section (rich girls dealing with being poor, poor girls dealing with being rich, famous girls dealing with being normal, normal girls dealing with being famous), she wrote Girl in Development in a way that broke through the mold. Although parts were stereotypical (pop culture references, snobby Kate and down to earth Sam dealing with one another, the Hollywood film industry) this book managed to have a little more depth than your average Gossip Girl (or Gossip Girl knockoff). Kate was emotionally complex, which was refreshing for the usual rich-girl-who-shops-alot character. Sam was the typical smart-girl-who-doesn't-care-about-being-trendy, but in this book, it was nice to actually see her being that smart girl when she wrote a script. I hope this book has a sequel, and I'm excited to see work of Jordan Roter's in the future.

"Girl in Development" is TB (THE BEST!). Hillarious accounts of life in Hollywood. Rich, lively characters. A great story with so many fun LA details (some of which-if you have never been to Los Angeles-you wouldn't realize were absolutely true!) This is a really heart-warming, funny, insightful book! A definite MUST READ!!!

I borrowed my friend's copy to read and I didn't know what to expect ......but I simply loved the book. Sam is a great character and I couldn't wait to follow her on all of her adventures in Los Angeles. I hope there's a sequel!

You can always tell when an author writes about a subject they know inside and out. Jordan Roter has managed to bring her experiences in the world of film development and production to life inside the pages of GIRL IN DEVELOPMENT, and I bet if we asked her, she'd agree that parts of her main character, eighteen-year-old Samantha Rose, are comparable to real life, as well.

Sam is the type of girl who likes simple things--reading a good book, spending time with family and friends, being embarrassed by her parents in public. Okay, she doesn't really like that last one, but she's used to it. But when her Uncle Norman gets Sam an internship at Authentic Pictures as a birthday present (and all because her father had happened to mention that she liked movies), Sam's not quite sure what to do. Sure, going to L.A. for eight weeks, working for a movie company, hanging out with her sometimes snobby and always spoiled cousin Kate--that could be fun. Part of her, though, wishes she could just stay home in Northampton and go about her life as usual.

Hollywood, of course, is nothing, and yet everything, like what she expected. She's both appalled and amazed at the goings-on behind the scenes at Authentic Pictures. She's both flattered and nearly repulsed by the male attention she seems to be attracting like flies to honey. And she's definitely not sure if L.A. holds the type of lifestyle she really wants for herself.

Ms. Roter has managed to write a fun, breezy novel that contains true-to-life characters. Sure, I don't actually know anyone who has ever gotten to go work for a film company in Los Angeles, but reading about it sure was fun! The characters in GIRL IN DEVELOPMENT are all three-dimensional, unlike a lot of other teen chick-lit stories that are out there. And, fortunately for the reader, each and every character in the story is allowed to grow throughout the book, so that by the end you'll be rooting for (almost!) all of them. This is an entertaining read that's sure to please, regardless of age.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

I'm no longer a young reader, but I still LOVED this smart, entertaining book about the film industry. Samantha Rose's adventures in the screen trade are hilarious, at times poignant, and always deeply engaging. This is frothy summer reading at its best.

Roll out the red carpet -- 'Girl in Development' is super entertaining!! The tale of east coast transplant Samantha Rose is fresh, captivating, and witty. There are endless laughs to be had in this story of true friendship and Hollywood hazing. I highly recommend you buy this book!