Manderley Prep: A BFF Novel (Paperback)

by Carol Culver (Author) "Last night Cindy dreamed she went to Manderley again..." (more)
Key Phrases: manderley prep, new headmaster, Hong Kong, Marie Antoinette, Cindy Ellis (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Welcome to Manderley Prep, the most exclusive school on the West Coast.

Every girl needs a BFF-more than one, if possible. But for scholarship girl Cindy Ellis, finding new BFFs isn't easy when she leaves shabby Castle High for Manderley Prep-where the rich and famous send their children to learn how to scratch and claw their way to the top.

Cindy's stepsisters, who also go to Manderley, are beautiful, blonde twins, and captains of the cheerleading squad. They're embarrassed to be seen with her and can't believe she's snagged the attention of the school's hot Italian transfer student, Marco. Now Cindy's not only trying to gather up a new gang of BFFs, but wondering if Marco could possibly be a potential BF.

About the Author
Carol Culver is from the Bay Area and is part of the Fog City Divas. She writes bestselling category romances under another name. This is her first Young Adult title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (December 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425217477
• ISBN-13: 978-0425217474
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,159,895 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Can't Recommend, April 8, 2008

By	Book Mama "Terri" (Alaska, USA) - See all my reviews

Manderley Prep School, where the students are as exclusive as the school itself, except perhaps, for Cindy Ellis. Leaving her old school and BFF's behind, Cindy has to find her way with the rich and elite.

Her twin step sisters, blond, beautiful, cheerleaders and legends in their own mind make Cindy's school experience far from easy. But, as determined as they are to snub her at every opportunity, they become even more invested when Italian transfer student, Marco shows interest in Cindy. Can Cindy discover what nasty trick the twins played on her before she loses Marco as a result?

Following the new trend in young adult fiction about the rich and beautiful, MANDERLEY PREP fits right in. While some might be entertained by the loosely translated Cinderella story, I found it rather shallow. But I did find a few redeeming qualities.

The Author attempts to illustrate scruples by showing the bad behavior displayed by some of the characters having negative ramifications for them. Unfortunately, some of the bad behavior was sex, smoking and dealing pot, and drinking to the point of excess and possible addiction. While these things do exist in real life for this age group, I don't think it's a matter of course that they be romanticized or elaborated. Even though consequences for these actions were usually shown, it didn't have time to really resonate.

Culver does a good job with the young adult voice, nailing dialog in a believable fashion in this first novel in the series.

But as a parent, MANDERLEY PREP is not a book I can recommend without reservation.

COURTESY OF CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

4.0 out of 5 stars The Compulsive Reader's Reviews, July 3, 2008

By	The Compulsive Reader (Big Rapids, MI, USA) - See all my reviews

Everyone at exclusive Manderley Prep has the right clothes, the right car, and the right friends, which makes Cindy Ellis stand out like a sore thumb. Attending Manderley on a scholarship is her ticket to a chance at an Ivy League school, where she can get as far away as she can from her demanding stepmother and two conniving stepsisters. She intends to stay focused on her studies. But when charming Italian exchange student Marco shows up, she just can't help but fall for him, despite her intentions. Is a fairy-tale ending in the works?


The first in the new BFF series, Manderley Prep is upbeat and engrossing. It gives the reader a taste of what a privileged life is like--good and bad--without appearing pretentious. Also a real breakaway from the tired modern day re-tellings of Cinderella, this story is subtle, and the fairy tale doesn't dominate the entire plot, which allows for more serious plot twists that make this story believable and easy to relate to. Readers will love Cindy, and be rooting for this modern princess with a punch every step of the way.

4.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Teens Read Too, February 12, 2008

By	TeensReadToo.com "Eat. Drink. Read. Be Merrier." (All Over the US & Canada) - See all my reviews

Everyone at exclusive Manderley Prep has the right clothes, the right car, and the right friends, which makes Cindy Ellis stand out like a sore thumb.

Attending Manderley on a scholarship is her ticket to a chance at an Ivy League school, where she can get as far away as she can from her demanding stepmother and two conniving stepsisters. She intends to stay focused on her studies. But when charming Italian exchange student Marco shows up, she just can't help but fall for him, despite her intentions.

Is a fairy-tale ending in the works?

The first in the new BFF series, MANDERLEY PREP is upbeat and engrossing. It gives the reader a taste of what a privileged life is like -- good and bad -- without appearing pretentious. Also a real breakaway from the tired modern day retellings of Cinderella, this story is subtle, and the fairy tale doesn't dominate the entire plot, which allows for more serious plot twists that make this story believable and easy to relate to.

Readers will love Cindy, and be rooting for this modern princess with a punch every step of the way.

Reviewed by: The Compulsive Reader