Review: PRETTY AMY by Lisa Burstein

This is the 29th book I've read this year.

“A coming-of-age story without the comfort of padding…a relatable and compelling character [with] a lot of wonderful snark.” —New York Journal of Books
Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.


Christian beliefs: Amy goes to a prayer circle at a Christian church.


Other belief systems: Amy is Jewish, Amy mentions Atheist once.


Language: the F word, the A word the H word. But only when Amy was around Cassie did you hear them over and over. lol


Romance: Amy kisses two people in this book. One of them makes her take off her bra and he's touching her. Which I just found awkward....But...the other kissing is sweet, and I totally expected it. :)


Violence: Amy hurts herself by falling, nothing else really, I don't want to spoil the the book for you guys though.


Any other bad things: Amy is charged with selling drugs, and the book is about her not really getting the point about jail. So I guess she hurts herself, her parents, her friends. So she keeps not getting it, so she hurts herself quite a lot.


Comments:


Good points:


Such a great story! If you just keep pulling through to the end, it's all worth it at the end. :) 
I don't read much of those kind of books, but this one I enjoyed. I know some teens out there cope with what Amy was going through. I totally understood the whole friend thing she was dealing with. I have a lot of friend drama, so I understood that.
I understood Amy's relationship with Joe from the start. (hehe;)) He cared about her, she did too, she just didn't admit it. So it was cool to see her get through that, me knowing the truth. Does anyone else like knowing something the MC doesn't?? Or is it just me? (I think it's just me.)

The writing was super easy, not a lot of description, which I like, I like to use my brain to think of what the place looks like. It was a quick read.

I hated Amy's mom. Well...not hated, I really didn't like her. I thought she was being mean to Amy, but I knew Amy just wasn't getting it, but it was no reason to be so mean to her also. I always cry and clam up when someone is mean to me, so if I was Amy, I probably would never have talked to my mom again. O.o.

I liked her dad though, he seemed to get it, he wasn't like those clueless dads you watch on TV, he seemed to get it, unlike Amy's mom who just yelled and cried all the time...

I liked Lila and Cassie too, well...Cassie the most I think. She's someone I would want to be like, stand up for myself. (minus the cussing etc...) But I will probably never be like her though, I'm a nice person, I would probably say anything mean like that, or beat someone up like her. XD.

All the other adults drove me nuts, they just didn't get what it was like to be a teen, some adults just don't. Some adults think teens don't know how to do anything, and we aren't 'mature' enough until we turn 18 and we're magically an mature. (how does that make any sense??) 

But in the end, they got to her, and Amy got a little more mature, and she got it. And I was very proud of her at the end. :)

Negative points:

I think what really bothered me was how the Christian church was described...I mean, my church isn't like that. So it was a bit insulting. But I'm sure some churches out there are like that, just not mine. (hehe)

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

Can't wait for Dear Cassie!

-Maddi