Customer Reviews

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen (Aspen Brooks)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Debut author Stephanie Hale has written a fabulously quirky and fun tale of homecoming courts, devilish popularity plots, and down-and-out fun.

Meet Aspen Brooks. The girl you love to hate; or, possibly, might hate to love. She has it all - popular, hottie boyfriend, fashionable clothing, a car. (Note to readers: How can you not love/hate a beautiful teen girl with a car??)

Only there's one small, teeny-tiny problem. The Homecoming crown (fine, tiara, what's the difference?) is not sitting on her pretty blonde head. No, instead that glorious moment of uber-popularity went to Angel Ives. Angel. Ives. Obnoxious cheerleader, vengeful rival. And, oh horror of even greater horrors, the Homecoming King is none other than Rand Bachrach. Can anyone spell g-e-e-k?

Aspen is horrified, but she's also in shock. Really, how could she not be Homecoming Queen? This has only been her dream - her goal! - since she was in kindergarten! What kind of conspiracy is behind setting up a nasty girl like Angel with a dork like Rand as the rulers of the Homecoming court?

She's not sure, but she does know that something isn't right. First of all, a lot of really weird things are happening around school, and they don't all have something to do with the Homecoming debacle. And, wonder of wonders, Rand might not actually be the weirdo dweeb Aspen originally suspected. As Aspen puts on her Nancy Drew detective costume (which is so last year, by the way) and ropes Rand in as her assistant, the two are determined to find out just what exactly is behind all the nefarious goings-on at Comfort High.

Ms. Hale has penned a laugh-out-loud, catty winner with REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN. Part frou-frou couture mixed with amateur sleuthing, this book is one guilty pleasure that you won't mind indulging in.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen is the most fantabulously fun book.

Now, I myself have never been much into the whole "homecoming" thing. It was kind of a joke at my school (or at least with my circle of friends), but REVENGE lets you experience it vicariously--both the highs and the lows, of which there are many for the adorable heroine, Aspen Brooks. You will fall in love with this girl immediately. She is one fabulously catty biatch! There is a little bit of all of us in Aspen--and by "us" I mean fashionistas, because Aspen has enough style to feed a small army. She loves Dooney & Bourke almost as much as I love oxygen, and her fashion sense plays a key role in the book.

The dialogue is witty and entertaining. It was actually kind of embarrassing because I read the whole book on a plane and I was laughing so much that I actually got a "look" from the woman next to me. Ooops! Hale reels you in immediately with her dead-on portrayal of high school duh-rama. I craved the characters, and the obvious love story that I was just waiting to be unveiled. But then suddenly the plot twists, and it's actually a mystery---quel surprise! In addition to loving the characters (her boyfriend sounds like an effing FOX!), I was loving the plot. Whodunit? Well, you'll just have to read and find out.

This book is 'Murder, She Wrote' meets 'One Tree Hill' ...But in a good way.

The title Revenge of the Homecoming Queen might bring to mind a horror film or a murder mystery. The book's cover might make you think of a comedy or a high school dramedy. The story itself is a fun, fast-paced blend of all of these things, except for the horror film.

But when you're Aspen Brooks and you lose the title of Homecoming Queen to the school's brattiest girl, Angel Ives, that _is_ an absolute horror. Aspen is also shocked when the Homecoming King's crown is placed on the head of a geeky boy named Rand. Sooner than she can blink her pretty eyelashes, everything has changed. Aspen's boyfriend breaks up with her, Rand gets a makeover, and girls from her class start disappearing.

Homecoming candidate one moment, quasi-detective the next -- who died and made _her_ Nancy Drew? Determined to get to the bottom of things - and get that crown! - Aspen starts to investigate the recent disappearances with Rand's help. Will the missing girls be found? Will Rand continue to climb the social ladder? Will Aspen ever get crowned? You've got to read the book to find out!

Due to romantic content and language, this book is rated PG-13 and best for those in high school.

Revenge is sweet, but even sweeter is the fact that Aspen Brooks doesn't viciously seek revenge in this fun teen read! At first glance, you might think, "Oh no, this chick does soo not deserve to be queen." Aspen is a very cool girl, popular with everyone, and she knows it! So, a reader might think she's underserving. Not so! Yes, Aspen may be a little into herself but usually she's just using her charm for the good of others.

For anyone who's ever dreamed of being Homecoming Queen, (and sadly, I'm still dreaming at 38 years old!) this is a charming, fun book, with lots of twists and turns. You'll root for Aspen, you'll wonder who's doing all the nasty stuff, and you'll want to be 17 all over again, waiting for that magical first kiss from the boy who makes you tingle from head-to-pedicured-toe!

Stephanie Hale has crafted a great read, with lively characters. I love the fact that the ending of Revenge very clearly paves the way for an awesome sequel that's sure to commence freshman year of college!

Every high school has one. A girl you love to hate. A girl who has everything handed to her on a silver platter, complete with linen napkin and fresh ground pepper. She dates the most popular guy, wears the most fashionable clothes, and has no doubt where the homecoming queen tiara is going to land--on her head. Aspen Brooks is that girl.

Only, from the opening pages, her perfectly aligned life begins to go off track. The tiara goes to arch-rival cheerleader Angel Ives, the kingship goes to uber-geek Rand Bachrach, and she suspects her super-jock boyfriend is somehow behind the whole mess. Everything Aspen thought she knew is about to be tossed aside like last season's Dooney when she realizes that maybe--just maybe--there are some things that are more important that the right shoes, the right friends, and the right boyfriend. (But not the right bag--nothing is more important than toting the perfect purse.)

You might think you want to hate Aspen, but there is something naïve and honest about her that you can't help but love. She is everything you hope the popular girl is really like on the inside. You realize--right along with Aspen--that no one has a perfect life and there are always surprises that come out of nowhere to shake everything up.

Revenge of the Homecoming Queen by Stephanie Hale is delightfully clever, laugh-out-loud funny, and touching in ways you won't expect. In her debut novel, Hale manages to address everyday issues of teen life and major social problems with equally sensitivity, and with a wry, witty humor the constantly surprises. This one is going to be on many a keeper shelf, so get your copy today.

The world of Aspen Brooks wasn't an easy one to live in; she's a senior going for the homecoming queen. Aspen is a self centered on the A-list with her bf Lucas another A-list that's a weird one. Aspen was sent into shock when the homecoming tiara was given to Angel another A-list that's self centered. Angel is so very happy until it was announce that her prince would be Rand a total cutie on the D-list that qualifies him as a nerd. Finding out the bf Lucas had something to do with this puts Aspen on the Angel revenge list.

Angel finds herself doing things to Aspen that no one in their right mind would have done, with all the terrible things to hurt Aspen. After Aspen went to the principal to inform Ms. Hottie of the turn of events. Angel comes up missing at the bonfire after she was busted giving some enjoyment to bf Lucas. There's a kidnapper out there some where and now Aspen is having doubts about who's out there to get her because the terrible things are still happening although Angel is missing. Her ex bf Lucas is no help but she do know for a fact although he seen Angel last he's not the kidnapper.

The night of the bonfire Aspen has a near death experience of an asthma attack and Rand comes to her rescue. Now Rand is forever in her thoughts but still not good enough although his kiss gave her a warmness that she has never felt before. Aspen finds out Rand is so in love with her and knows things about her that sent her running the other way. With all that's going on with people still coming up missing and all Aspen knows that she could be next on the list, it's no time for romance.

REVENGE OF THE HOMECOMING QUEEN
STEPHANIE HALE

Rating: 4.5 enchantments

Aspen Brooks has spent her entire life waiting to be named Homecoming Queen. But when the envelope is ripped open in front of the entire school, it's not her name that's read. Instead, Comfort High's Homecoming Queen is Angel Ives, Aspen's sworn rival. And even weirder, the school geek Rand Bachrach is named Homecoming King, an announcement made possible by Aspen's 'supposed' boyfriend. What kind of boyfriend sabotages his chance at being Homecoming King?

That's only the start of the weirdness. Between the vicious lipstick messages about Aspen scrawled on the mirror in the girl's bathroom, her tires being slashed and then Angel mysteriously -- or as Aspen sees it, conveniently - disappearing, things are getting plain weird. Not to mention the fact Rand keeps coming to her rescue, and horror of horrors, he's not all that geeky. In fact, he's kinda cool. And he's making her feel things she never thought possible. When Aspen's mom suddenly goes missing and all signs are pointing that Aspen's next to disappear, she decides to turn detective and find out who's behind all the disappearances.

This was such a fun book to read, a great combination of humor, romance and mystery that wraps up with a surprising twist to the mystery that made it hard to put down. Debut author Stephanie Hale sets up her Aspen series in a winning way. Can't wait to read what happens to Aspen next.

Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews

Aspen Brooks has a perfect life and she knows it. Glamorous, smart, and popular, she knows that she has the Homecoming Queen tiara in the bag. But then nothing goes as planned. Uber-geek Rand Bachrach is voted king, instead of Aspen's hot boyfriend, and her arch nemesis Angel Ives is queen! And then Angel has the audacity to be furious with Aspen! She even goes as far as stealing, stuffing Aspen's locker with porn, and slashing her tires. Add to it Rand's pathetic attempts at winning Aspen over, and she is ready to kill. But things turn sinister quickly when Angel disappears, along with others, and Aspen takes it upon herself to get down to the bottom of things.


Revenge of the Homecoming Queen is unlike any teen lit novel out there today. Aspen is the character that average girls love to hate, but yet her frank voice and unflinching honesty make it impossible to do so. Hale's engaging and realistic writing will hook readers looking for a perfect guilty pleasure book and the need for a straightforward protagonist to tell them like it is. Revenge of the Homecoming Queen is ideal for those style loving older teens who want a little action and adventure in their beach read.

[...]

This book is a real page-turner for adults or teens! You will not want to put it down, whether you are a Dooney fan or not. Although it is definitely a mystery, it is not one that will keep you up at night or make you afraid to walk down the hall to the bathroom. The author's quirky sense of humor had me laughing out loud! I can't wait for the next Aspen book to come out!

You simply can't put this book down! I totally recommend for anyone wanting a fun, crazy, fast-paced read.