GoldenGirl (Bradford Novels (Quality)) [Paperback]

Micol Ostow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2009 | Series: Bradford Novels (Quality)

Paige, Spencer, and Madison have it all: the looks, the connections, the money, the boys. As the daughters of three of the most prestigious families on Philadelphia's Main Line (read: old money, and lots of it) and the ruling juniors at Bradford Prep, nothing can stand in their way....except, perhaps, their own dark secrets. When an old frenemy from Paige's hidden past shows up at Bradford and plays nice--too nice--Paige is desperate to smother the threat. How far will she go to silence the truth?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Micol Ostow is half Puerto Rican, half Jewish, half student, half writer, half chocolate, half peanut butter. When she is under deadline, she is often half asleep. She believes that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts except in the case of Chubby Hubby ice cream. She lives in New York City where she reads, runs, and drinks way too much coffee. Learn more at www.micolostow.com.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

GoldenGirl: is totally feeling that first day back. In opposite world.

THE BRADFORD BLOG

9/2, 1:43 p.m., by Spencer Kelly

BACK TO COOL

Well. Welcome. And first things first:

Let me just say that anyone who's visited my Facebook page in the last twelve hours or so knows that I am so not the morning person. Neither am I big on all that momentous, welcome-y, let's all get to know each other in a learn-and-share-and-hug-and-grow sort of way garbage. We've got Ms. (not Miss, never, ever Miss) Malucci, guidance counselor to the celebutantes for that, anyway.

So yeah, first day, we're all here. Some more shiny-new and gleamy than others (I'm looking at you, Paige Andrews, flaunting a tan that makes Jennifer Aniston look pasty and peaked), but ready like the sponges that we are, to absorb. To learn. To soak it all in.

Ahh, who are we all kidding? The only thing the unfortunate B-listers want to know is how extremely extra fabulous the opening of Soirée, Miss Madison Takahashi's father's haute-spot for fashionable food, truly was.

(The A-listers already know. Lesson over; class dismissed.)

Trust me. You wish you'd been there. And not only because Mads was modeling one of her most recent original creations: hot pink satin shift, sleeveless, belted, bubble skirt. Louboutin snakeskin stilettos to match. Heaven, obvs.

Anyhoo, darlings: new year, new yous, new teachers, new classes, and, if we're lucky, a spankin' new Pinkberry machine in the caf.

But.

All firstliness aside: In the grand tradition of everything old being new again, I have to point out one image that I, for one, am curious to see:

Jeremy Brown, 2.0.

I guess the safari's out.

It's a good thing, too, 'cause class is most certainly in.

Bienvenue and besos...

xx,

SGK

1 RESPONSE TO "BACK TO COOL"

CatPower says: I saw Madison's dress, btw. Hot. Almost as hot as JB. Swoon.

Madison_Ave: is experiencing the after-effects of a night spent in four-inch heels. But it hurts so good.

Copyright © 2009 by FlirtyGirl Productions, LLC

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 14 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; Original edition (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416961186
• ISBN-13: 978-1416961185
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,366,013 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Micol Ostow is half Puerto Rican, half Jewish, half editor, half writer, half chocolate, half peanut butter. When she is under deadline, she is often half asleep. She believes that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts except in the case of Chubby Hubby ice cream. She lives in New York City, where she practices liberal consumption of coffee, cheese, and chocolate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gossip, Secrets, and Lies, January 24, 2009

By 

Little Willow (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GoldenGirl (Bradford Novels (Quality)) (Paperback)

In western Philadelphia, there's a wealthy area of suburbs called the Main Line in which the posh and the pretty play by day and party by night. Now, readers can journey there, thanks to The Bradford Novels by Micol Ostow. Set an a private school, these books are filled with blog entries brimming with gossip, secrets, and lies. Characters post entries in their private journals as well as their school blog.

The first book introduces readers to Spencer Kelly, aka GoldenGirl. Rich, respected, and athletic, Spencer is fierce and poised on the field and off. Her best friends are Paige Andrews (aka FrontPaige) and Madison Takahashi (Madison_Ave). Popular Paige is hiding something that happened to her the previous summer, while Madison is busy designing clothes and playing the violin. Then a new girl named Regan and Spencer's old boyfriend Jeremy enroll, and things get really messy. Spencer finds herself drawn to Jeremy and considers breaking up with her current boyfriend Tyler. Meanwhile, Spencer befriends Regan, even though the California girl's rehab rep precedes her.

When Spencer writes in her personal online blog, All That Glitters, she tells all - but not for all to see. Each chapter is an entry marked with a privacy setting, so you know if it's public (for anyone to read), restricted (only her BFFs have access to posts marked "VIPs" - and they leave plenty of comments!) or private (posts marked "the vault" are for Spencer's eyes only).

With all of the frienemies and romantic entanglements, this series will definitely appeal to fans of Gossip Girl. It will also attract those who read the Pretty Little Liars books by Sara Shepard, which also take place on Philadelphia's Main Line.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read!, September 10, 2010

By 

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: GoldenGirl (Bradford Novels (Quality)) (Paperback)

*3.5*

GoldenGirl was my first read my Micol Ostow and it definitely won't be my last, because not only is GoldenGirl fabulously fun read, it establishes a new series that will definitely be high on my TBR list in the months to come.

Golden Girl tells the tale of Bradford preps it-girls- Paige, Spencer, and Madison. Three girls that seem to have it all; the money, the beauty, the gold-ness, the popularity. Though, these three are also hiding quite a bit of info in their designer filled closets... secrets that might even kill their friendship for good if they come out, and with the arrival of a new girl from Paige's past, it seems like these secrets may be coming out sooner than later. So, what are three golden and perfect girls supposed to do when someone they hate comes out from the wood-work? Will they ruin her? Or will Paige's friends turn on her and love the new girl? Only time and more pages will tell in this quick read told in blog entries, e-mails, and IM conversations.

While I did enjoy reading about the characters and their scandalous' lives in this book, character development, as well as back story, lacked big time, which bothered me. Though, I have to say, it's easy to tell this isn't supposed to be the most richly formed book out there, and that's fine with me. Out of the three girls, I think I liked Spencer the best, because I felt she was the most real and vulnerable out of the bunch, making her one I rooted for throughout the whole book unlike some of the other characters.

The aspect I found most rewarding about this book was the way it was told, because it's not everyday you see a book told entirely in blog entries, IMs, and e-mails. I love this format for many reasons. One is the fact that it made GoldenGirl be an extremely fast-paced and addicting read, and a second being the fact that it showed you different sides to each character, letting everyone get a "word" in edge wise. Though, as with any novel that has this kind of format, there are downfalls such as lack of development, as motioned before.

The plot of this was just like the rest of the book- fun and scandalous, though lacking development. Micol's writing was also decent, though far from prefect.

In all, if you would like a Gossip Girl type read GoldenGirl is the read for you, because it's just as scandalous and fun as Gossip Girl, if not more.

Grade: C+

5.0 out of 5 stars Juicy, scandal-y, and fun!, September 12, 2009

By 

Drama Queen - See all my reviews

This review is from: GoldenGirl (Bradford Novels (Quality)) (Paperback)

Setting: high school

Secrets: always unsafe

Thoughts: innermost

Romance: lots

Verdict: guilty pleasure!

Everyone knows that high school secrets never stay secret for long! But that doesn't stop these popular prep-school girls from trying... This is a really fun book - I'm hooked and can't wait for the 2nd installment, Fashionista. These high-society characters come to life beautifully through a series of blog entries, texts, and online convos.Fashionista (Bradford Novel)