Customer Reviews

Lucky (It Girl, Book 5)

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

 

 

It has been six long weeks since Sophomore Jenny Humphrey waved goodbye to Constance Billard and the concrete jungle of Manhattan, New York to brave the wilds of Upstate New York, and the new life that awaited her at the posh Waverly Academy. During those six weeks, however, things have not exactly been a big ball of fun. Quite the opposite, in fact. Jenny has experienced enough drama in those six weeks than most people experience in a lifetime. She instantly made the wrong impression on It Girl Tinsley Carmichael. Promptly found herself in a relationship with the sweet Kentucky-bred Easy Walsh, and then had her heart broken by the same guy in question. Has found herself in a flip-flop friendship with her roommate, Callie Vernon. Managed to form a true bond with the flame-haired Brett Messerschmidt. And now, has claimed the heart of Waverly's most eligible freshman, Julian McCafferty. But nothing could have prepared her for what's to come.

Since the party at Miller farm, which ended up burning down a barn, Dean Marymount refuses to believe that the fire was an accident and is out for blood. The Waverly Campus is full of speculations of who could be the pyro-maniac, and Jenny, unfortunately, seems to be the name on everyone's lips. Sure, she saw Callie and Easy in a compromising position in the barn right before the place went up in flames, but she certainly wouldn't do something as dangerous as burning the place down. But that's what Tinsley would like you to believe. Ever since Jenny managed to steal Julian away from her - unknowingly, of course - Tinsley is determined to get the chesty tenth-grader off-campus, and Callie is more than willing to assist in executing their little plan. That is, if she can remove herself from Easy's side for more than five seconds at a time. Jenny knows that she has to defend herself to the best of her ability, and believes that you have to fight fire with fire. But she's too sweet to point the finger at anyone, no matter how much she'd like to. She simply wants to clear her name and move on. But Tinsley's not having it. And when you're playing with fire...someone is bound to get burned.

Since I turned the last page of UNFORGETTABLE, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Cecily von Ziegesar's LUCKY; and, I must say, I am pleasantly surprised. LUCKY far exceeded my expectations, and has only made me more eager to read the next release. While the previous IT GIRL books seemed to revolve mainly around one character, LUCKY was slightly different in that it gave each potential It Girl - Tinsley, Jenny, Callie, and Brett - an equal bit of spotlight. No one character dominates LUCKY; and, instead, each female protagonist works with one another to build up a remarkable storyline. The conflicting feelings both Brett Messerschmidt and Kara Whalen are experiencing regarding their newfound "relationship," bring a slight bit of vulnerability and confusion in each character that makes them seem more human; while Callie's new outlook on life since getting back together with Easy makes her appear more healthier, if not a bit nastier. The developing romance between Jenny and Julian is a welcome storyline to the tale. The two are such sweet characters, whose cute - yet quirky - interactions with one another make the reader truly welcome young love. But the most intriguing introduction to the series would have to be the prospect of fresh meat - in the form of incoming students - to the cast list. Fresh meat that is bound to bring about quite a few new...cat fights. You'll find it impossible to put this book down until the last page is turned!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I picked up this book at the library while waiting for a computer and decided to finish it because it was a quick read. There were never more than two consecutive paragraphs without the mention of some brand name-mostly higher end names that middle class people would still know. This did not add to the story in any way, a low cut green Chanel dress does nothing for a description besides letting me know the person wearing it can afford Chanel-and we already know the kids at Waverly are well off. Often times this blatant product placement took me away from the story and images of Nascar flashed through my head (Nascar is known for being very good at gaining corporate sponsorships).

A who-done-it mystery about a fire has been over-done and over used in teen books and tv shows throughout the years. If it truly was an arson-why were the police not handling the investigation? It was not on school property, it was on private property-so why the Dean has the ability to decide who the suspects were and punish the culprit with expulsion and not prosecution did not add up. Not one of the privileged pupils at Waverly called their parents to step in with the family attorney (as students of status often have) as soon as they were named as a suspect. The ending a la Big Brother was predictable, and again, with a crime as serious as arson-why were the proper authorities not involved and why was such a silly tactic used to attempt to finger the suspect?

I suppose the "big twist" is at the end and will continue in the next book. While I enjoy the exotic (but slightly tacky) fantasy world that Gossip Girl transports you to- this novel did nothing for me.

This book is the 5th in the series. Starts out slow and in the middle gets boring and towards the end barely picks up. Very disappointing read for a relatively good series. Probably will not buy the next book after this.

I didn't know why I thought this was the first It Girl novel in Cecily von Ziegesar's second YA series centered on rich boarding school kids and their backstabbing ways. Maybe it was because it was on the bookshelves alone with the Gossip Girl books. There was a "Buy 4, Get 5th Free" special on YA books at Borders, and I grabbed Lucky because I had no idea what else to get. By the time I reached the fifth chapter, I realized this was the continuation of a series. Now I know it is book five in the It Girl series. Shoot. Too late to go back now. Anyway, there had seemed to be an accidental fire at a barn where the kids at the Waverly boarding school like to hang out and make out. The thing is, in a jealous rage, somehow had caused it, no matter how accidental. Who could have done it? Well, Tinsley, the most popular girl in school, not to mention the Queen B at Waverly, had set the fire when she saw busty and pretty Jenny making out with Julian, the gorgeous freshman. She wants Jenny out of Waverly at all cost. Callie has her reasons for wanting Jenny out of the picture too. So, with the help of a prospective student dying to fit in, they set a plan into motion. There is also plenty of teen melodrama from various characters, including a girl who's sexually confused.

I have to get this out of my chest. This is how the It Girl series reads: "Jenny slumped onto a chair and reached into her Fendi tote bag when she heard her BlackBerry Pearl ring. She answered the phone, playing with a button on her J. Crew sweater and clacking her Prada shoes against the marble floor." This is not an actual quote from the book. I'm just pointing out the constant name-dropping of designer brands and products. There is not one single chapter that doesn't mention a fashion designer or some expensive store brand. I was a teenager once, and I know how obsessed teens are with that sort of thing, but come on! Do we have to know that Brandon's laundry basket is from Pottery Barn? Do we have to know which brand of deodorant he uses? Is Ms. Ziegesar getting paid to mention particular products in her novels? There is such a thing as too much description, and the product placements were very distracting. This book reminded of American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis and how his character gave a blow-by-blow of everything the characters wore. I wonder if Ziegesar is doing something similar here. Maybe it's supposed to be satirical and tongue-in-cheek? I have no idea, but somehow I don't think so. Anyway, Lucky is your typical teen melodrama full of gossip, backstabbing and revolving-door romances. It's great fun and I'm sure the series is very popular. However, I don't think I'll be going back to the previous offerings and won't be reading the series further. Still, it kept me entertained and riveted for a day -- excessive product name-dropping notwithstanding.

After the fire at the barn, the school is in an uproar trying to figure out the culprits of who started it.

As readers of this addicting series already know, ever since Tinsley Carmichael came back to school she has had it in for Jenny. Jenny wasn't the one who started the fire, but that doesn't mean anything as far as Tinsley is concerned.

Bret and Kara have rumors flying about them! What will they do to stop them?

The boys are getting into the usual amount of trouble. Will they help stop the rumors of who started the fire? Or fuel them?

This weekend the prospective students are in town, meaning those already attending the school have to be on good behavior. But do they really know what that is? And does one of the new students have a dirty little secret?

LUCKY is the fifth book in the IT GIRL series, and should be read in order. I wouldn't want to let you ruin such an addictive series by reading them out of order!

Reviewed by: Taylor Rector

Ordered this book for my granddaugher, shipped very quickly, definitely will purchase more from this seller

I purchased this item for my niece for Christmas. She was very happy with it. I was pleased with the condition and expedience of its arrival. I will purchase from this seller again.

A well written fast read, like all the previous "It Girl" books. They are not just for teens. I am over 50 and all my friends who read these books love them. They are just plain fun and take us back to the difficulties we faced in our high school days.

When we last left off, the most popular Owls had just finished a party that got out of hand - as in, a barn burned down, out of hand. Tinsley Carmichael and Callie Vernon pledge to pin it on Jenny, both afraid for their own reasons that if Jenny doesn't take the rap, one of them will.

So when we return to Waverly, Dean Marymount is beginning an investigation as to who was guilty - and he eventually comes up with a hit list of students.

During all this stress, there are prospective students shadowing them and being charming and annoying in equal measures. Heath has a mini-me following him around - which is just what Waverly needs, right? The girls are passing around their own prospective from person to person as they try and each get some time alone with their favorite male Owl.

When Marymount releases his short list of suspects, Heath decides to throw a party for the Usual Suspects - isn't that the best response to possible expulsion? Somebody has to take the rap for this. Will it be Jenny? Everyone is plotting to see her go. Callie, who was smoking with Easy in the barn? Julian, whose lighter was found on the scene? Tinsley, the actual guilty party? Or one of the other names on the list?

The series seems to be really picking up. I didn't care for the first few very much, but they are addictive enough I keep reading. The fourth and now this one seem to be taking off, and the characters are developing nicely.

Lucky, the 5th installment in the [fabulously addictive] It Girl series, certainly keeps the suspense going. Yet the introduction of useless characters like Chloe and others seems thrown in and lacking spice. I was disappointed, because compared to the first three, it sucked. And the ending was just... random.
However, all It Girl fans will have to buy this book - just because we want to be ready for the 6th book.
Also... I don't like the cover. But now I'm just being picky.