Customer Reviews

Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm a huge fan of Cathy Hopkins, and I love her Mates, Dates, and...series. Unfortunately, as I started reading MATES, DATES, AND SEQUIN SMILES, I relized that the books are getting a bit old.

MATES, DATES, AND SEQUIN SMILES is another story that revolves around Nesta - the vain, somewhat self-absorbed girl out of the four friends. But when she finds out that she needs to get braces, she's mortified - what guy is ever going to fall for a girl with braces?! Nesta makes a big deal out of getting braces, and decides that nobody can see her until she gets them off. To fill her spare time, she decides to take an acting class that's going to be held at a local school. Nesta figures that there will only be adults taking the class, so she's safe going in public with her braces. Until she meets Luke...

MATES, DATES, AND SEQUIN SMILES was cute, but I really feel like the series is getting a bit old. It's good summer reading, but I'd recommend getting it from the library instead of buying it.

This is the 7th Mates, Dates book and it is in Nesta's perspective. Nesta is kind of obsessed with her looks and she is known as one of the prettiest girls in her school and is very popular with the boys and stuff. Her friends mention that she is a bit shallow though because of it and because her last boyfriend was rich. She is determined to prove that she isnt shallow. Then she finds out she has to get braces and hides in her room and wont come out. Her friends comfort her that it isnt the end of the world and she is still pretty and she decides she will go out in public again, but keeps her hand over her mouth to hide her teeth. Then she meets Luke and he doesnt care that she has braces. But when her dad meets him, he has a grudge against him just from finding out what his last name is. Nesta and Luke try to find out what might have happened in the past between their families. Read the book to see what happens!!

Mates Dates, and Sequin Smiles

By Cathy Hopkins

This is the sixth book in the Mates, Dates sequel. I would not recommend reading this book unless you have read the first five. If you haven't read the first five, you will be very confused.

In this book, Nesta is the narrator. She is used to being the prettiest girl in school. She could deal with all the boys liking her and all the girls hating her, expect her three best friends, Lucy, T.J , and Izzie. The one thing she couldn't deal with... was braces.

When she found out she was having braces, she made a plan not to talk for a year. If you have read the first books, you will know that this will not work. So, she decided to take an acting class with Iizze that all old people go to, or so she thought. One day at acting class, Nesta met Luke. She liked him from the first time she saw him

This is a really good book; it makes you want to read more. Most girls will like these books, because it is about a group of four best friends. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in this series of books, or if you start the series you should definitely continue onto the sixth book.

The book looked almost new and was delivered earlier than expected! My daughter was very happy.

A lot happens in this book but I wished there was more about Nesta's braces. She's 15 and gets braces and doesn't want anyone to see but then she finds the guy of her dreams Luke and he becomes her boyfriend. There are complications but not really because of her braces. I don't think in real life she would not mention them so much. It's frustrating because so few girls in books have braces and I hoped there would be more about having them here. Otherwise it's fun because a lot of what happens to Nesta is funny, but it gets serious too when Nesta's father doesn't want her to see Luke anymore and won't tell her why. I like the tips and stuff at the end of the chapters too.

This is definatly the best mates, dates book to date.... The story is told from Nesta's point of view! She is soooo funny. In the book she mets a boy named Luke. Due to things that have happend between their fathers in the past nesta is not allowed to see Luke anymore.....It was definatly I good book that I couldn't put down!

The Mates, Dates series about four British friends rotates again to feature Nesta. Unfortunately, her friends seem to think she's all about makeup, clothes and boys. To top it off, she now has to wear braces! What's the good of worrying about image when it's ruined by metal tracks in her mouth anyway?

Nesta soon realizes that she's wrong about the limitations of braces. A new acting class that she and Izzie sign up for brings her into contact with Luke, and future meetings with him cause a hot connection to form. He doesn't care about her braces, and he's passionate about acting and film, making him a great match for her. A few catastrophic and humorous attempts to impress him with cooking and knowledge of films make her realize that Luke is interested in her for herself.

However, problems crop up when Nesta's formerly cool father forbids her to see Luke or anyone in his family again. She defies this and discovers that Luke's dad has a history with her own father --- a long and sad history. Nesta realizes that this is more important than anything that's going on in her own life, and she tries to help repair a wide breach between the two childhood friends.

Cathy Hopkins encourages readers to look for the value behind seemingly shallow people, or possibly books! The Mates, Dates series is good fun, and this installment is sure to be a hit with fans.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

While talking with her friends, Nesta begins to worry that she might be shallow and superficial. All of her friends' efforts to cheer her up backfire. But Nesta does take some advice and join an acting class. There she meets a fab boy.

But disaster quickly strikes as Nesta finds out she needs braces. They are immediately installed and Nesta becomes afraid to open her mouth. Then there seems to be something wrong with her dad. He hates her new boyfriend but will not say why.

Boy trouble, dad trouble, and self-esteem issues all need to be dealt with before the end of the book.

This one seems a little lighter than the rest of the series with the troubles being more superficial. Also, the author seems to be a little unclear on braces other than how they look. The title actually only makes sense in the final chapter when Nesta gets it all together. Still, it was a fun read and actually had me laughing out loud (a first with this series).

I love this book! Out of the whole Mates, Dates Series, Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles is by far the greatest. You're able to see a whole new side of Nesta and I thought that this story was a lot deeper than any of the others. Nesta no longer seems shallow anymore and she finds out some heartbreaking things about her family's past. If you're out and you see this book, I highly recommend buying it! Applause for Cathy Hopkins!