Please enable JavaScript
All Books | Page 9 | LitPick Book Reviews
All Books
Recipe For Disaster
Maureen Fergus
Synopsis: Francie's life was almost perfect before the new girl showed up. She had her own business as a weekend baker whose scones almost caused stampedes, a best friend named Holly and a deeply fulfilling crush on Tate Jarvis. She dreamed about the day she'd be famous and have her own baking show. But the new girl at school, Darlene, thinks Francie's obsession with baking is weird, she acts like Holly is her best friend, and she's somehow managed to steal Tate's attention away. Suddenly, everything is unravelling. Unable to stay focused, Francie's pastry-filled dreams are starting to slide. Then Francie gets a chance to meet the sexy celebrity baker Lorenzo LaRue, whose toned pectorals inspire Francie as much as the baking tips she picks up from his TV show. Francie is sure that if Lorenzo could only see how passionate she is about baking, he would help launch her career, and possibly marry her when she reaches legal age. It won't be easy - but Francie is starting to understand that although trying won't guarantee success, quitting will guarantee failure. Young readers will gobble up this hilarious exploration of a girl's recipes for friendship, dating, fame and coconut-drop cookies.
Publication Date: 09/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
The Hollow
Jessica Verday
Synopsis: When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

“Spectacular! The Hollow keeps you reading from beginning to end without coming up for air.” --L.J. Smith, bestselling author of The Vampire Diaries and Night World
Publication Date: 09/01/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
My Self: A Guide To Me
Grace Norwich, Monika Roe, Anna Palma, Marlene Wallach
Synopsis: Being a girl today can make you feel wonderful, wacky, or like you want to crawl under a desk. Do you feel too tall? Too nice? Unable to say no and never having enough time to do what you really want to do? Wilhelmina Kids & Teens modeling agency president Marlene Wallach has tips for balancing your frantic schedule and getting your inner voice heard loud and clear. From the art of negotiating for what you want in the world to learning to love yourself, Marlene's advice helps you bring the special inner you into the world. Packed with fun quizzes, relaxation techniques, inner-beauty mantras, interviews with lifestyle insiders, and more, My Self will help you discover your unique inner being.
Publication Date: 08/25/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
The Sisters Club: Rule of Three
Synopsis: The play’s the thing when sibling rivalry takes center stage in a funny, spot-on, all-new Sisters Club story by the inimitable creator of Judy Moody. (Ages 8-11)

Alex has always been the Actor-with-a-capital-A in the Reel family, and middle-sister Stevie has always been content behind the scenes. But when the school play turns out to be a musical, Stevie (the natural-born singer of the family), decides that she may just be tired of being the Sensible One. Maybe, for once, she’d like to be the one in the spotlight! Alex isn’t so keen on vying for the same role as her younger sister, however, and soon the dueling divas — with little sister Joey egging them on — are engaged in a fierce competition to find out who’s got what it takes to play the Princess. Has Stevie broken the rules by going for what she wants — or will it be Alex who hands down the biggest betrayal of all?
Publication Date: 08/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
The Sweet Life of Stella Madison
Synopsis: A warmhearted, delectable novel about what it means to love and be loved.

When Stella Madison's food-loving parents help her land a summer job at the local newspaper, there’s only one catch: she’s expected to write about food. Luckily, Stella has Jeremy, the hot new intern at her mom’s restaurant, who’s more than happy to help. But where does that leave Stella’s boyfriend, Max, who recently dropped the L-word? And could her separated parents be cooking up romances of their own?

“Stella Madison’s summer of food and love is a great read full of broken hearts, broken promises, and broken eggs. A must for anyone who eats.”—E. Lockhart, author of The Boyfriend List

“This book’s got all the right ingredients: friends, family, boys, and food. The perfect summer read!”—Sarah Dessen, New York Times bestselling author of Lock and Key and Just Listen
Publication Date: 07/14/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
Second Skin
Jessica Wollman
Synopsis: Beauty is only skin deep. Popularity goes much deeper. . . .

Appearances can be deceiving. Sam Klein’s found that out firsthand. All she wanted was to be popular. But sometimes what we want is the absolute worst thing for us.

Sam discovers that Kylie, It-girl of Woodlawn High, owes her popular status not to her expensive clothes, highlighted hair, and spot on the cheerleading squad but to a magical second skin. Nobody can actually see it—but they can feel it. And if you’re wearing the skin, you feel incredible. Invincible. Popularity is yours.

So Sam stole the skin from Kylie. Now she’s the most popular girl at school, while Kylie’s social life takes a serious hit. Sam can barely recognize herself. Her old geek clique is history—but are her new friends really people she can count on? The skin is clinging tighter to her each day . . . can Sam get it off before it’s too late?
Publication Date: 07/14/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
Simply Irresistible
Jennifer Banash
Synopsis: Small-town girl turned Big Apple beauty, Casey McCloy is really beginning to enjoy the high life in her high-rise. She's climbing the social ladder, to the dismay of her neighbor and rival, Madison Macallister. And Casey could end up as popular as Madison now that the two are set to star in their own reality show, "De-Luxe." But reality TV can be so unreal…

Madison loves the attention, but having every bit of her life caught on tape is often less than glamorous. Yet fame comes at a price-and she's willing to pay. Meanwhile, now that Casey and her almost-boyfriend Drew Van Allen are currently more off than on, she's beginning to wonder if everything in her life is just an illusion-and how much longer the illusion can last.
Publication Date: 07/07/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
Along for the Ride
Sarah Dessen
Synopsis: A New York Times bestseller

Up all night.
 
Nights have always been Auden’s time, her chance to escape everything that’s going on around her.
 
Then she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac, and he becomes her nocturnal tour guide.
 
Now, with an endless supply of summer nights between them, almost anything can happen. . . .
 
“As with all Dessen’s books, [this] is a must-have” —VOYA, starred review
 
Also by Sarah Dessen:
Dreamland
Just Listen
Keeping the Moon
Lock and Key
The Moon and More
Someone Like You
That Summer
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
What Happened to Goodbye
Publication Date: 06/16/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies
Synopsis: When Maggie starts her senior year of high school at ritzy all-girls Berkley Prep, she hopes to make a few new friends and reinvent herself as a popular girl. Then she's tapped to become a member of the most powerful clique at Berkley, the Revelers. Sure, the Revelers know how to have a good time, but they're deadly serious when it comes to their social cause: collecting the secrets of today's teenagers. At first Maggie is seduced by her new friends' wealth and passion for truth. But when the Revelers start using what they know about others for their own benefit, she starts having second thoughts. Especially when Maggie herself is put at risk...
Publication Date: 06/11/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
The Debs: Love, Lies, and Texas Dips
Synopsis: The Debs are back!

Now that her dream of becoming a deb is finally coming true, Laura’s confidence is at an all-time high. But when she dares to mess with Jo Lynn’s football star boyfriend, Dillon, Laura finds herself at the center of some heinous gossip.

As predicted, becoming a deb is a shallow undertaking that Mac can barely muddle through. Still, things go from bad to worse when the new girl at school starts working her charms on Mac’s best friend, Alex. When Ginger’s grandmother asks her to sit for a formal portrait with the son of a local legend, she discovers that she already knows him—and what she knows isn’t good.

The stakes are raised for Jo Lynn when she finds Laura’s digits in Dillon’s cell phone. Is her boyfriend cheating on her with a debu-tank? She will soon find out.
Publication Date: 06/09/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
It's Not You, It's Me
Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
Synopsis: Funny and touching—this is a heartfelt breakup story.

Zoe loves Henry.

Henry dumps Zoe.

Zoe wants Henry back—at any cost.

Zoe’s two best friends come up with a plan to help Zoe get what she thinks she wants. The plan: make Henry jealous.

But the plan takes a surprising turn. . . .

Spanning thirty-one days in the cycle of a breakup, Kerry Cohen Hoffmann’s humorous and poignant novel depicts a girl whose single-minded focus on her ex-boyfriend has pulled her far from the person she most needs to win back—herself.
Publication Date: 06/09/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
Likely Story: Red Carpet Riot
Synopsis: It’s award night—will Mallory make it down the red carpet?

When we last left Mallory, her first show had just aired to rave ratings; her conniving mother was engaged to her dreaded producer boyfriend, Richard; she wasn’t sure if her boyfriend, Keith, would stick by her; and the school secretary had some unwelcome news about her student status. Now, just when her show gets a Daytime Emmy nomination, she’s got to fend off sneaky saboteurs, decide between Keith and Dallas, her show’s hunky star, break off her mother’s engagement, and pass gym class!

Hang on for a wild ride that takes us to the end of Mallory’s story, and maybe her rope, as the Emmy Awards inch closer and closer and she’s got to do-sido as fast as she can to keep up.
Publication Date: 06/09/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
20 Boy Summer
Sarah Ockler
Synopsis: "Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?"
"Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"

According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.

Publication Date: 06/01/09
Age Level: Mature Young Adult
Genre: Chick Lit
Girl Force
Nikki Goldstein
Synopsis:

Welcome to GirlForce, an exciting new lifestyle brand for tween and teen girls that is simply irresistible. At its core, Girl Force is based on an ancient science called Ayurveda that says our bodies are made of three elemental energies: Fire, Air, and Earth. And with just two quick quizzes about body and mind you can determine your Body Type. Air girls are outgoing and creative; Fire girls are born leaders and highly passionate; and Earth girls are easygoing and make loyal friends.

Guided by these principles, and using lush, high-end photography and gorgeously designed pages, GirlForce imparts the best food, exercise, makeup, yoga, stress relievers and more for your body type. But don't just read about your type...reading your friends' types can help you figure them out too!

Publication Date: 05/12/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
Lovestruck Summer
Melissa Walker
Synopsis:
Sunny days, late nights and a vacation full of possibilities... 

This is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship. She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name 'Party Penny.' Their personalities clash, big time. But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can't Quinn keep her mind off Penny's friend -- cute, All-American Russ with the Texas twang? One thing's certain: Quinn's in for a summer she'll never forget!
Publication Date: 05/05/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit
The Summer I Turned Pretty
Synopsis: Belly has an unforgettable summer in this stunning start to the Summer I Turned Pretty series from the New York Times bestselling author of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (soon to be a major motion picture!), Jenny Han.

Belly’s never been the kind of girl that things happen to. Year after year, she’s spent her summers at the beach house with Conrad and Jeremiah. The boys never noticed Belly noticing them. And every summer she hoped it would be different. This time, it was. But the summer Belly turned pretty was the summer that changed everything. For better, and for worse.
Publication Date: 05/05/09
Age Level: 12 and up
Genre: Chick Lit

Pages



RECENT BOOK REVIEWS