This is a compelling and beautifully written novel about first love, first sex, and everything in between. Maddy Fisher has decided to fall in love. And not just any sort of love: can't-eat can't-sleep crazy in love. Rich Ross is after the same thing. He's set his sights high, and he's going to make it happen. The problem is, in life's messy whirlwind of friends and lies and sex and porn, the real thing can be hard to fine. But there's always a first time for everything...
Rich and Mad
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Gr 10 Up–This novel, narrated with limited omniscience from the points of view of 16-year-old Maddie and her classmate Rich, describes both characters' growing interest in romance and intimacy. When Maddie develops a crush on Joe, a popular guy who has been dating another girl for years, he seems to signal his interest by communicating with her through email, sending Maddie bons mots while encouraging her to keep their electronic relationship a secret. Meanwhile, Rich nurses a crush on Grace, Maddie's distant, icy, and beautiful friend. As the lovelorn Rich and Maddie pine for the objects of their desire, Maddie, in a plot twist reminiscent of Jaclyn Moriarty's The Year of Secret Assignments (Scholastic 2005), discovers that she has been used as a pawn by a friend involved in a dangerous romance, a finding that draws her closer to Rich. Although drawn as distinct individuals, the protagonists are hard to know; their thoughts and actions are told more than they are shown. When Rich and Maddie's relationship grows intimate, Nicholson's prose is distinctly romantic, though intellectualized, somewhat impersonal, and even mechanical. “She wants to please me. She gives me her body to please me,” thinks Rich, after a particularly steamy encounter. Nicholson does not shy away from sexual explication, a characteristic that distinguishes the novel. Just as Judy Blume's Forever (Bradbury, 1975) has been lauded for its frankness but criticized for its clinical language, Rich and Mad might be similarly but guardedly praised.–Amy S. Pattee, Simmons College, Boston. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
From Booklist
Rich and Mad (not adjectives but proper nouns for a boy and girl, respectively) are in search of love—or at least a first sexual experience. The teens’ parallel, virginal lives each feature a fantasy partner, but, predictably, as they confide their woes, they gradually realize their true attraction is to each other. Screenwriter Nicholson’s YA fiction debut covers lots of hot topics: young love, first sex, sexual abuse, homosexual teachers, marital infidelity, old age, multigenerational family relationships, the economy, and death. Nicholson captures today’s teenage reality through authentic dialogue, likable characters, and a familiar yet intriguing story line. Rich and Mad are both determined to move beyond their virgin states, yet they hope that their first encounter will be more than just the sex act itself. And it is. Although the teens’ sexual exploration is explicit, it is gentle and well planned, and it is a welcome contrast to the implied sexual abuse experienced by both Mad’s sister and a friend. Nicholson’s novel depicts the first sex that all couples deserve and subtly offers teens far more than just a sweet love story. Grades 8-12. --Frances Bradburn
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Rich and Mad,
This review is from: Rich and Mad (Hardcover)
I have had this book on my radar for a while now even though many readers have found this book less than great. Maybe the cover kept appealing to me, maybe the summary had me hooked, but I just knew I wanted to read this book.
First of all, let me say that a lot of people have had a hard time reading this book due to certain sexual scenes that can come across offensive. That is fine and I agree that some of it didn't really need to be in the book to make the point. What I will add to that though is I am well past my teen years, but I have children who are just entering this stage. I don't censor their reading at all because that is my parenting style. I would have no problem with my daughter reading this book even with the talk of porn, sex, virginity, physical abuse and sexual orientation. I feel what is the book going to hurt when they hear about this stuff from friends anyway. Besides, I have been that age and I remember that books were not the source of info on this stuff--my friends were. Not trying to sound preachy here in my review, but if you don't feel the same way, be cautious of your teen reading it. With all of that being said, the book was still just an okay book for me. I loved the character of Rich, even though at times his though process made no sense. Who thinks writing a letter from the pope is going to help get a girl to like them? I found that funny and less than attractive. Rich just didn't think that one through. Maddy was a great character that you would like for a friend. She is naive in many things, but she still gives a person the benefit of the doubt. These two were so naive in ways of thinking love should be. Some of the side characters were great. I loved Cathy and Max. They were funny and what you would expect in normal teenagers for friends. Grace was a piece of work who needed serious help, but I can also understand part of the problem she has. Without going into spoilers, I hope teenagers have learned that this way of thinking by Grace is not love. Joe was up and down for me. At first he was sweet, then I despised him, and then the author does a complete turn around that redeemed him and made him the good guy again or all along. I loved parts of the books, but there were little things that added up to negatives for the book as well. While I enjoyed it, I didn't fall in love with it like I thought I would. I love the cover the most! It seems romantic and gives you hint at the tenderness that can be found with certain characters of the book.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Are you looking for that special person to love too?,
This review is from: Rich and Mad (Hardcover)
This novel had me varying between wanting to put my hands over my eyes or cover my ears even though I wasn't hearing anything but it certainly felt like I was. I didn't realise when I picked up this novel so much content would be packed into its pages and I suppose maybe if I had connected with the characters more I would want to splash cold water on my face to distract me from what it shoved in my face. What I was expecting to read was a cutesy light hearted novel about two teens finding their way together and creating a love that had bells ringing in an `awe and ahh' because I don't know about you but with my lack of love life it is nice to read about some loved up couples and dream about the possibilities of the ups and downs of a relationship. However what I was served up was not the dinner I had ordered, no it came with a serving of Brussels, (if you love this particular vegetable, please imagine something that makes you screw your nose up in an eek expression).
The characters in this novel just didn't grab my attention; they left me feeling quite bland which in reality meant they were just bland characters themselves. Nothing particularly grabbed me enough to make me really care about them or become attached. Maddy and Rich were cute enough; I thought it was lovely how they explored each other in loving way and it wasn't written in a way that would make you feel like you should put the book down, walk out of the room to give them some privacy, it was sweet, tender and innocent because it was exploring the unknown of each other's bodies. It was commendable of the author to give them time to really get to know each other before either knew they would end up together. The led up to their relationship while didn't leave me with a simmering `come' on get together already' but a slow boat ride that made me skip to the end. I suppose what I have come to the conclusion of is that this book didn't have a passion or at least I couldn't feel the underlining passion outwardly, it merely was there, just waiting to happen. And after waiting for them to get together I didn't have the moment of `finally' as I sigh, nope, I merely thought `well it is about time I guess,' I just wasn't invested in their relationship at all. All in all; I don't know whether I would recommend this book, if you're comfortable walking smack bang into uncomfortable subjects then this will probably float your boat but if you don't have a strong stomach for this subject matter, then steer clear. SHE KNOWN AS JESS
4.0 out of 5 stars
Rich & Mad,
By Mundie Moms/Mundie Kids "Katieb" (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Rich and Mad (Hardcover)
Reviewed for Mundie Moms by Cynthia
I was inexplicably sucked into this book from the first few chapters, I really don't know why, the plot wasn't unique I've read about first love, first everything, many times before but this one had a little something. I think it had to do with the writing, for me it flowed easily and even though it had an immense amount of dialogue through most of the book I found myself really liking the story and the main characters. We get to see the story unfold from the point of view of Rich and Maddy, they are both "in love" with the wrong person, and I used quotation marks because to me it seemed like infatuation instead of love. I did find that I could relate to them because I remember feeling that way in high school, thinking I was in love with someone that I never even spoken to just because they were really hot or had certain qualities, of course I know NOW that it wasn't love but I found myself relating to both of these characters. I really loved Rich, more than any of the others, he was sweet and vulnerable, I just felt like giving him a big hug through most of the book. Maddy seemed very naïve at the beginning which was a little frustrating and I felt like slapping her sometimes, but I loved that she toughen up a little after she gets "heartbroken" and starts looking at love and guys in a whole different way. Now I want to warn you that this book will not be for everyone, yeah it's one of those that you'll either hate or love. It has a lot of language and very "detailed" sex scenes in it that might make you cringe or look behind you to make sure nobody is reading over your shoulder. It's definitely not for younger teens, I wouldn't even let my 30something year old sister borrow it because she's not used to these type of books. I was able to overlook all of that because I enjoyed the story and the characters, I liked that we get to see them unexpectedly grow closer to each other and fall in love. There's also a lot more to the story than just the sex and unrequited love, there's lots of deceit and lies and unpredictable twists to the plot that when you think everything has already been resolved the author throws one more surprise at you and I personally didn't see it coming. Rich and Mad wasn't perfect, it wasn't filled with romance, it's not really something I would call a love story. It was a more realistic and definitely not sugarcoated version of teenagers and the many mistakes they make, the eye openers about life that they go through, the wanting to be madly in love, that I myself remember feeling when I was in high school. It won't be right for everyone but I ended up liking it a whole lot.
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