Customer Reviews

So Not Happening (The Charmed Life)

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm actually 59. I did recently retire from teaching high school, so the beginning drew me in with the typical high school drama. But this book soon became so much more than just high school drama. I laughed, I cried, I sat on the edge of my chair. I didn't put it down until it was finished. I was surprised at the amount of intrigue in this book, especially since the author is described as a writer of Christian Fiction. The Christian part was present, but you weren't overwhelmed by it. A few personal prayers to help Bella get through some sticky spots, but it wasn't the main focus. I would recommend this to any female regardless of age or religion. It wasn't the bubblegum sweet I thought it might have been. I'm So Sure, the next book by Jenny B. Jones,is supposed to be out November 2009. I look forward to reading about Bella once again.

Edit: I just heard from a 14 year old who read the book. I sent her a copy. She LOVED it and is mad at me because the next book about Bella is 5 months away. My solution was to send her another set of 3 books by Jenny B. Jones.

What do you get when you take Paris Hilton, marry her mom to a small town Oklahoma farmer with a secret regarding spandex, one step brother that is a brilliant, 6 year old, wannabe super hero and another step brother who drives a hearse to school. Mix in some mysterious deaths, some friend issues and the downside of blogging and what do you have? You have Bella Kirkwood, Jenny B. Jones' newest heroine and you have a hit!

I loved this book! I ate it up and can not wait until the next book comes out. This is listed as a YA book and is wonderful for that, but lest you think it is not for adults, let me settle that issue right now - if you love a little humor mixed in with your mystery, drama and comedy then you will love this book.

So Not Happening is about a girl who faces culture shock when she goes from living as a pampered New York princess to living in a small town in Oklahoma.

Bella is a sweet girl and suffers through the big changes she has to face in a typical teen way. She learns from her actions and faces a mystery in her challenge to fit in.

This is a Christian novel but the Christianity isn't rubbed in your face or a large part of the plot, she prays a bit and goes to a FCA meeting but nothing that would put off a Non-Christian reader. There is no drinking by the main characters (and the characters do a good job of just saying no when they're at parties where alcohol is involved) and no sex at all in the book (just a little bit of kissing).

This book reads like a book that's geared towards older teens but would be appropriate for anyone who is interested.

I don't read many teen books, but this one was a lot of fun.

Bella Kirkwood is a mini little New York socialite. Daddy is a rich, famous plastic surgeon and Bella is spoiled beyond belief. When her father has a mid-life crisis and decides to trade her mother in for new and different models, Bella has her own crisis. To make matters worse, her mother meets a man on theInternet and travels to Oklahoma to marry him. Bella not only gains a stepfather who works in a feminine products factory and lives on a farm, but his two bratty sons, and a down-home country lifestyle with no credit cards and no more Marc Jacobs purses.

Her first attempts at making new friends backfire, but she soon finds her place and a job with the school newspaper. She learns to trust a little more in God and along the way has some very funny adventures.

Jenny B. Jones has crafted a really delightful story. While the characters are a bit stereotyped, they are certainly likeable. The issues of divorce and remarriage and how they affect children are real and believable. Bella is fun, and parts of the story were laugh out loud funny.

An easy, light read, easily recommended for teenage girls. I look forward to the sequel.

This book is cited as Young Adult and is written for teens, with dating, boys, clothes - all the obsessions of a teen aged girl. It probably will not appeal to the older teen though, only the 12 and 13 year old girls who are dreaming of being older.

The main character is a young girl from New York, used to a wealthy lifestyle, and the story revolves about her moving to a new rural life with her new stepfather. This is not exactly an original theme but the writing is mostly good and the story gets involved with a mystery and good teens/bad teens so it can hold their interest.

The new school is strikingly lacking in cultural diversity; all are white Christians. The story could have been improved if it had been a bit more diversified with a few more characters explored. Basically the story revolves around one good girl, one bad girl, one good guy, and one bad guy with a few other characters passing by from time to time. Names are not mentioned to avoid any spoilers.

I'm a huge Jenny B. Jones fan but when I first picked up this book, I thought "Oh no...another character in a YA book named Bella????" Luckily this Bella has nothing to do with that another character that shares her name and there are no sparkly vampires in this book. Instead this Bella has to deal with going from being Gossip Girl royalty to living with Old MacDonald.

While I felt bad for her because of how things happened so quickly, I thought it was quite fun to read about Bella's transformation from city chick to country gal. I think though what made it a little harder is that Bella seems very nice. She's not stuck up, a bit spoiled maybe, but not like a whiny socialite. So when her new school suddenly turns on her, I just felt so sympathetic for her. Although, if she had said something mean about me I probably would not be feeling that way. It's interesting how it's the ENTIRE school that gets angry. I swear kids who go to schools in the Midwest tend to be extremely close to each other.

This treatment would lead to her trying to get into good graces with the newspaper editor. I understand why Luke was hard on Bella and all the tasks he made her do ended up being good for her. Still, he annoyed me and I'm not ashamed to say that I was so glad when she stood up to him and was able to prove him wrong several times. What's great about the book is that it's not just about Bella but also the story of peer pressure and the dangers behind it. It's extremely relevant with what is going on in high schools today and I feel that teens who read it will be able to relate to what's going on. The plot is not light and happy then, it's quite serious.

This was a really fun read all around. At over 300 pages, it's longer and a bit more heavier in material than most general market YA chick lit. It's considered Christian fiction, but honestly I don't think people who don't like God and other preachy stuff hidden in stories will get offended. The story is more about Bella learning to grow up and become more mature. There's a lot of laughs in this book (I nearly died when Bella finds out her stepdad's secret) and it's a feel good read. If you're a fan of Jenny's books, you're going to love this one as well. If you've never read her, this is a great place to start and I bet you will think she fits right up there with the general market YA authors. This is one of those reads where I'm pretty much guaranteeing that you will love it. HIGHLY recommended.

This book (So Not Happening) kept our daughter occupied on a rather long weekend. She really read it, and commented later, "This book is ok." (Her highest praise.) More for girls, rather than boys, the story revolves around a teen girl that is forced to deal with drastic change in her own life, and in doing so, finds an adventure she could never have imagined. Fun read - even Mom enjoyed it!

I am thrilled to review SO NOT HAPPENING by Jenny B. Jones.

Having a gaggle of nieces, I ABSOLUTELY loved SO NOT HAPPENING. It was witty and warm and at times had me on the edge of my seat. My emotions ran the gamut of this book. Jenny's writing is lively and true-to-teens. And the scenario in this book alone is hilarious. I laughed out loud many places and mopped tears in others. Fiendishly funny, deeply moving...the kind of book that can change a life. I'm so not kidding. I won a 250 dollar gift certificate to an online bookstore and I am spending every bit of it on Jenny B Jones books for the teen and preteen girls in my life. That is how much I believed in this book.

After reading this, Jenny is on my auto-buy list. I now know what all of the teen girls in my life will be getting for birthdays and Christmas.

I have confidence that this fiction book will not only entertain the young adults in your life it will IMPACT, majorly impact them.

If you want a wholesome and hilariously funny but deeply touching (to the point of life-changing) book...DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!!

I'm serious. I have thanked God over and over and over that Jenny has devoted her funny self to writing wholesome and hilarious and meaningful stories with depth I don't see in most YA fiction. My girls will benefit from it as will my nieces and the teens we come in contact with for ministry.

SO NOT HAPPENING is a story about a New York socialite who has to move to Oklahoma. How many kids can relate to the thought of leaving the lives they know for something different? Though Jenny isn't a teen, she works with them as a High School teacher and she has a very strong pulse on the teens of today. I am so serious when I tell you this...if you have a tween, teen or young adult daughter or niece or if you are a youth worker in a church...get this book.

This book is part of Jenny's Charmed Life series. Don't miss it. I can't reiterate it enough.

Cheryl Wyatt

I love Jenny Jones style of writing. I was excited to find "So Not Happening" on the Vine list because I'd read Jenny Jones' Katie Parker series. Jones' style is so humorous; you can tell it comes very fluently - it's just fun to read. At times I found myself laughing out loud, and at other times I was cringing and felt sorry for Bella - even though she's gotten herself into whatever problem she's having - like blogging about how awful her life in Truman is.
I just loved the characters in the book, and didn't want to stop reading - which became a problem when our 16 year old daughter decided to read the book at the same time! (shouldn't they be back in school yet? LOL) I kept trying to get her to read the Katie Parker series, but she judged the books by the covers and told me they looked lame, but when I was done I noticed they were gone, and a week later she came bursting into my room, flopped down on the bed with the books, and said, "MOM! These were the BEST books!" I agreed and we both agreed we had to look for more!

I chose this book for my teen daughter and I am glad I did. She read it in one siting and was very happy with the content. It's an inspiring story about truth, love & acceptance. I truly enjoyed it myself. Although the humorous thoughts/prayer towards God is a bit unnerving at times because of it's repetition.