Customer Reviews

Gorgeous (Avery Sisters Trilogy)

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

 

 

I ordered this book as soon as I saw it was available because I loved Lucky so much. I couldn't wait to read about the family from another sister's point of view. I finished Gorgeous this weekend an it is even better because some of the things it talks about are important in my own life. I am growing up in a house with a Mom who considers herself some sort of feminist so we don't have conversations about who is pretty. She thinks that is silly. But it isn't silly because everyone my age notices which girls are attractive and maybe that is not a good thing but that's the way it is. When I started reading Gorgeous I really related to Allison because I think I would be tempted to make the same deal, just to be the pretty one and know that I am. Now that I am finished I realize that being gorgeous isn't that great either. I liked the way this worked out for Allison. I almost feel as if this book was written about me and I learned a lot about myself. I am looking forward to Rachel Vail's next book.

As the middle sister, Allison feels neglected.

She's not beautiful or lucky like her other sisters; she's merely interesting. With all the family drama - something's up with her mom and her job - Allison feels left out.

Allison's best friend is also getting on her nerves. When she hangs out with Roxie Green one day; she just might discover that fun is missing from her life.

She also might have made a bargain with the devil in exchange for people thinking she's gorgeous.

When Allison and Roxie skip school to get a modeling gig, things start to change. All of a sudden Allison has a new best friend and the interest of her crush. Could all this really be happening to her?

GORGEOUS is the simultaneous sequel to LUCKY, the story from Phoebe's perspective - the youngest sister. This is another fun, exciting read from Rachel Vail.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

GORGEOUS
RACHEL VAIL
Contemporary YA
HarperTeen

Rating: 4 Enchantments

Allison Avery has always felt invisible. The middle child sandwiched between older, smart, talented, and accomplished Quinn and younger, pretty, and popular Phoebe, Allison thinks herself the epitome of mediocrity. It doesn't help that she feels like an ugly duckling in public. And with not-quite-supportive friends, distracted sisters, and parents with their own financial problems, no one has really told her different.

But that all changes the first time Allison hands out with Roxie, a used-to-be big city girl also rumored to be a model. Suddenly Allison realizes she's tired of being the girl in the shadows. So, she makes a deal with the devil. In exchange for gorgeousness, all Allison has to do is let the devil possess her cell phone. Sounds like a great deal, right? Not. Allison's looks may have earned her more popularity, but do her new friends like her for her--or her face? And is her semi-finalist spot in a competition to find America's next teen model all what it's cracked up to be? And now that the devil's control of her phone is wreaking havoc with her personal and social life, Allison has to ask herself--is beauty really worth this?

GOEGEOUS is a witty, unusual, and ultimately charming tale of a girl trying to figure out who she is. Allison is a very likable character every teen girl will be able to relate to in some way; she's very unsure of herself, both in intelligence and looks, she feels dwarfed by the accomplishments of those around her, and she doesn't know who she can completely trust. That's why she gives so little thought to the devil's deal when she's offered beauty. She's just floundering for some confidence, something she can be proud of. This novel is very successful in conveying the importance of learning to love yourself. Despite that people should care about personality rather than image, beauty can be vital to that process of finding confidence, more for the reward of feeling beautiful than just being so. Vail, I felt, was also very effective in this message. For me, that's what set GORGEOUS apart from other novels about body image and beauty even if it all comes down to inner beauty. It also helps that Allison's business with the devil was continually mysterious. In all, GORGEOUS is a sweet story that will be enjoyed by women of all ages.

A resident of New York City, Rachel Vail has written many novels for young adults. GORGEOUS is the second installment in the Avery sisters trilogy; the first book, LUCKY, follows Phoebe's story. Rachel can be visited online at her website: www.rachelvail.com

Rachael Stein
Enchanting Reviews
August 2009

This was the first Rachel Vail book I've read, but certainly not the last. Yes, I read these books out of order, but it turns out I doesn't matter. Allison Avery feels like she's a loser compared to her sisters, and when new girl Roxie Green offers her the chance to hang out, she feels like she can start over. By selling her cell phone to the devil (who's pretty hot in this novel) and changing her name to Alison, she becomes model material. But it's not so simple.

Allison isn't just another shallow girl wanting to be popular and beautiful. She's trying to figure out what friendship means, along the way discarding some of her old friends in favor of new ones. Meanwhile, her home life is rocked when her mom loses her job. She had once thought teen magazines were trashy, but now, she's not so sure. Allison has to figure out just how far she'll go to live up to the titular gorgeous, and pushes her parents', sisters' and friends' buttons to prove that she's worthy.

What truly impressed me about Vail is that while there's definitely a lesson here, it's not just "beauty is only skin deep" or some other cliché. The devil isn't just evil, but smart in his way, alluring, and Allison has a tough choice to make. Roxie quotes Golda Meir to her ("Don't be humble; you're not that great.") in a line that many adults could also take to heart. I've since gone on and read Lucky, but Gorgeous I think is the stronger of the two. Highly recommended. Vail makes Allison relatable and realistic, especially in her feeling like her parents aren't impressed with her and won't be until she reaches a certain level of achievement.

You don't have to have read the first book in this Avery sister trilogy to follow along with Gorgeous. Each book can be read alone, as each tells one of the sisters' stories.
This one follows Allison who feels like the ugly unlucky one in her family. Things start to change for her when she trades her cell phone to the devil in exchange for being gorgeous. Suddenly, old friends are jealous and boys start to notice her. However, things get out of hand when devil starts taking over her phone and she pays the price for being gorgeous.

Summary: The second book in a trilogy dealing with the Avery sisters, whose mother, the breadwinner, has just lost her job affecting them in a variety of ways. This book is about the middle daughter Allison who has always felt herself to be the least pretty and least valued of the family. She ends up selling her cell to the devil for a chance at gorgeousness.

I know that I read Lucky, the first book, but I didn't really remember it. That is okay; these books can be read in any order as they cover the same events from the different perspectives [It looks like the third book will be called Brilliant and is due out in May.] I have to say that I love all three covers for this trilogy-they're...gorgeous!

I mostly liked Allison (especially her obsession with the slightly obscure historical figure Gouverneur Morris) and I really liked her new best friend Roxie Green. But the obsession with being gorgeous annoyed me. I know that it's the plot of the book and obviously she will talk about it a lot but it annoyed me especially because it was totally obvious to me that she really was pretty but just couldn't see it. The story itself is pretty predictable but the writing style is very engaging. I've enjoyed the series and am eager for the third.

Overall: 4 out of 5 for cute story although slightly annoying narrator.

Allison Avery often feels overlooked. She's the middle child, lost in the attention paid to her lucky little sister Phoebe and her brilliant older sister Quinn. Allison is neither beautiful nor brilliant --- she gets good grades, but she has to work at them, and she's more likely to be described as "interesting looking" than as pretty or lovely.

As the end of ninth grade nears, Allison also feels trapped in the middle between two sets of friends: her long-time best friend Jade (who has always been so supportive of her but can also be pretty judgmental) and new girl Roxie Green, the pretty bad girl who shows her the riskier side of life. Jade and Roxie can't get along. Can Allison find a way to figure out where she belongs, and also determine which friend truly has her best interests at heart?

With all her crises at school and at home (where her mom is struggling with financial pressures after losing her high-powered finance job), it's not surprising that Allison should have nightmares. But when, during one particularly vivid dream (or was it real?), the devil visits Allison, she offers to trade her cell phone for the opportunity to be truly gorgeous --- at least in the eyes of seven beholders (one of whom will hopefully be her crush, Tyler).

Pretty soon, Tyler is noticing Allison, much to her surprise. An impromptu trip to New York City with Roxie also leads to Allison being discovered in a modeling contest (even though Roxie is the aspiring model). Maybe this bargain with the devil was a good thing after all! But this newfound gorgeousness and popularity might come with a hidden cost. Is Allison prepared to damage her family to help keep herself in the spotlight?

In addition to being an entertaining, fanciful coming-of-age story, GORGEOUS tackles some pretty tough ethical questions in an entertaining way. Should Allison remain faithful to her long-time best friend or to the attractive newcomer? Can loyalty blind people to their so-called friends' true colors? How can sisters support each other when they have their own crises to tackle? What happens when you get everything you ever wanted, only to find out that those desires aren't so fulfilling after all?

GORGEOUS is the second book in a projected trilogy (following LUCKY), each of which focuses on a different Avery sister as she copes with changing circumstances at home and school. Although GORGEOUS does not maintain the kind of thematic consistency of LUCKY, readers who liked the first novel will enjoy viewing the same events through Allison's eyes. Oldest sister Quinn still remains mostly a mystery, but fans will look forward to reading her side of the story in the series' final installment, BRILLIANT.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Alison Avery is the "interesting looking" girl of the Avery sisters. While her sisters, Phoebe and Quinn are gorgeous. She is sick of her bossy "best friend" Jade, having an impossible crush on Tyler Moss, and her mom's job is on the line. Alison wants change in her life. So, she starts by becoming friends with Roxie, the eccentric new girl. Alison decides to take some risk for changes in her life.
I found Lucky to be Brilliant and Gorgeous was a great sequel. Where as Lucky was focused on money. Gorgeous was centered on beauty and self esteem. Alison was easy to relate to since most girls have had those problems before. It had a great plot and lots of humor. It was an original book and lovely. Vail is great writer. I recommend the Avery Trilogy.

I loved Rachel Vail's book Lucky so much that I ordered Gorgeous as soon as it came out. It is even better. Every girl I know wants to be at least cute and being gorgeous seems like it would be a dream come true. Who wouldn't give up a cell phone to be gorgeous? Hello! Everyone I know. But after you read this book, you have to think twice. There's a price to pay. I think of Allison very every time I look in the mirror and wish I was better looking. Is the wish worth it? Read the book and see for yourself. AH