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He's So/She's So #1
She's So Dead to Us
Ally Ryan would rather be in Maryland. She would rather be anywhere, in fact, than Orchard Hill, site of her downfall. Well, not hers exactly—but when your father’s hedge fund goes south and all your friends lose their trust funds, things don’t look so sunny for you. Her mother moved her to Maryland to flee the shame, but now they’re moving back. Back to the country-club, new-car-every-year, my-family-came-over-on-the-Mayflower lifestyle that Ally has outgrown. One bright spot, however, is gorgeous, intense Jake Graydon. But it won’t be easy for the two of them to be together—not if his friends (her former friends) have anything to say about it. Is Ally ready to get thrown back into the drama of the life she left behind?
278 pages, Hardcover
First published May 25, 2010
About the author
Kieran Scott
56 books1,596 followersKieran Scott is the author of domestic suspense and mystery novels including WISH YOU WERE GONE, REGRETS ONLY and PEOPLE WILL TALK. She has also written several young adult novels, both under her own name and for Alloy Entertainment under the pseudonym Kate Brian. These include the New York Times best-selling PRIVATE and PRIVILEGE series, as well as MEGAN MEADE'S GUIDE TO THE MCGOWAN BOYS and many others. She grew up in Bergen County, New Jersey, attended Rutgers University, and now lives in New Jersey with her husband, two sons and one goofy dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 656 reviews
June 21, 2010
Okay, let me start off by saying how misleading the cover and title are. I was expecting some light, two-star read. Boy, I was wrong.
It's been two years since Ally Ryan's father swindled millions from the wealthiest families of Orchard Hill, and she and her family were forced to leave town in shame. But now she is back, even though not all of her old friends are happy to see her. When Ally goes to visit her old mansion, she finds someone else living there. The smokin' Jake Graydon who has taken her place among her former Crestie friends. The two feel the sparks, but it ain't so easy because it isn't just them in the equation.
I really like this book. It was one of those that take you completely by surprise. I was sucked in immediately, and I had a really hard time putting it down. The writing was easily consumable, and the characters were a blast. The plot had some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and it refrained from being gimmicky for the most part.
There were two narrators to this story; Jake and Ally. They provided a nice balance for each other. And surprisingly, I liked both of them. Ally was a great female character. She was athletic and confident, while still having vulnerability. I liked how she wasn't all about "getting her man" and then whining about it. She stood up to the people who tormented her and was always in the game. Jake was swoonworthy and a pretty believable guy. He was arrogant, but had a conscience. I liked the romance between them. It wasn't all about the lust, but had some heat.
The teens acted like teens. Some of the girls were bitches. Some of the guys were dorks. They cussed and partied without being of Gossip Girl proportions. Trevor and Todd reminded me a lot of the Weasley twins. Annie was fun. I really liked the whole cast. Maybe the whole Crestie/norms thing was a little unrealistic, but then again, I don't have any mansions around where I live.
This book is really one of the best of its kind. Entertaining without frilliness. But the one thing I did not like at all was the ending. For all of you that are going to read it, know right now that it is not a stand alone, and that it is the first of a planned trilogy. I was not aware of this going into it, and was very put off by the cliffhanger ending. My rebellious side was like "Nuh-uh, hell no. We ain't gonna get sucked in by this ploy." If the book was of a lesser quality, then I definitely wouldn't read the sequels. It is just because it is so good that I am going to be first in line for the second book.
This is off-topic, but one thing I don't understand is why Kieran Scott uses her pen name for some works, but her real name for her others. What is the point of a pen name at all if everyone knows it's a pen name?
It's been two years since Ally Ryan's father swindled millions from the wealthiest families of Orchard Hill, and she and her family were forced to leave town in shame. But now she is back, even though not all of her old friends are happy to see her. When Ally goes to visit her old mansion, she finds someone else living there. The smokin' Jake Graydon who has taken her place among her former Crestie friends. The two feel the sparks, but it ain't so easy because it isn't just them in the equation.
I really like this book. It was one of those that take you completely by surprise. I was sucked in immediately, and I had a really hard time putting it down. The writing was easily consumable, and the characters were a blast. The plot had some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and it refrained from being gimmicky for the most part.
There were two narrators to this story; Jake and Ally. They provided a nice balance for each other. And surprisingly, I liked both of them. Ally was a great female character. She was athletic and confident, while still having vulnerability. I liked how she wasn't all about "getting her man" and then whining about it. She stood up to the people who tormented her and was always in the game. Jake was swoonworthy and a pretty believable guy. He was arrogant, but had a conscience. I liked the romance between them. It wasn't all about the lust, but had some heat.
The teens acted like teens. Some of the girls were bitches. Some of the guys were dorks. They cussed and partied without being of Gossip Girl proportions. Trevor and Todd reminded me a lot of the Weasley twins. Annie was fun. I really liked the whole cast. Maybe the whole Crestie/norms thing was a little unrealistic, but then again, I don't have any mansions around where I live.
This book is really one of the best of its kind. Entertaining without frilliness. But the one thing I did not like at all was the ending. For all of you that are going to read it, know right now that it is not a stand alone, and that it is the first of a planned trilogy. I was not aware of this going into it, and was very put off by the cliffhanger ending. My rebellious side was like "Nuh-uh, hell no. We ain't gonna get sucked in by this ploy." If the book was of a lesser quality, then I definitely wouldn't read the sequels. It is just because it is so good that I am going to be first in line for the second book.
This is off-topic, but one thing I don't understand is why Kieran Scott uses her pen name for some works, but her real name for her others. What is the point of a pen name at all if everyone knows it's a pen name?
December 13, 2014
Usually, wanting to punch all the characters in a book it is not a really good sign.. and I won't say that this is not the case because in fact it really is.
I hate horrible friends (all Ally's supposed ex best friends), and rich kids with nothing else to do but to bully someone for their own entertainment (same as before), and rich people telling me what a difficult time they are having because their parents can't effort a palace AND a beach house (same as before), and rich stupid kids with rich stupid parents that do the same as their kids to the parents of the bullied not-so-rich-anymore kids (oh, did I lose you? hope not)... and people with good looks but no personality (the love interest - whom I can easily include in almost all the statements from above).
Also I've counted the words friend/friends and they appear more than 150 times (at some point I lost track of the exact number) but I couldn't see one damn real friend in the whole book!!!!!!!
Now that I got this out of my chest, I will tell you that I kind of liked Ally. She wasn't the silly girl, running and crying in the corner because her ex-best-friends are being so mean to her (yes she gets emotional from time to time but also she gets over it pretty quickly). She makes her moves, she says what she thinks, she keeps her head up and even though she wishes so badly to have back her old life she is not letting anyone walk all over her. GOOO Ally!
BUT, because there is always a but, how could she be so smart in some ways and so silly otherwise? How could she fell in love with a jerk that hides their love story because his friends (those stupid brats that were her friends before) doesn't like her (anymore - and without a good reason - and without giving her an opportunity to explain herself)? Why in the world would you need a guy like that? Tell me because I can't seem to find one reason for that.
And it is not like his side of the story is giving him more credit (because in case you didn't know this is an 'alternative-pov' type of book, not so well done, but it is).
So back to what-s-his-name.. he is not smart, he is also boring, he thinks like a 12 years old boy, and God I didn't want to be in his head... he was so damn whiny for a boy. And what I hate the most is the fact that even though he doesn't like what his friends do (regarding Ally and her family) he never, EVER does a thing against them. He never says a word to them, he even take part to the "revenges" they are planning. And at the end he only proves what a jerk he is (about the prom, about hiding important things, and lying , etc.).
Still, I have the feeling that at some point in the story I did like him (and the moments with them together), but damn it, I can't remember why :| The girl in me is so furious right now remembering the bad things.
Well I confess that I feel the need to continue this series because of that damn ending, and I have a secret wish that Ally is going to punch this guy, the interest love (God I forgot his name, as memorable as he was into the story) in the face at some point, or at least punch one of her ex-friends. Oh, I will sleep so well dreaming about this :)
Oh.. one more thing...
I've got it.. scratch the above about no friends and all.. Ally had a friend, and I liked her a lot, the problem is, was Ally a good friend to her?
Damn, it's so complicated to be a bratty rich teen these days *sigh*
PS: I am not so sure anymore about the 3 stars :-?
2.5 maybe
Review originally posted at ReadingAfterMidnight
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September 6, 2012
OH. MY. GOD. THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! I MEAN IT'S PERFECT!
I'M TOTALLY PSYCHED!!!
Okay so, where do I start, where do I start?
Okay I'll start from the beginning.
First thoughts on She's So Dead To Us:
What a weird cover. Seriously? Couldn't you pick a nicer one, Kieran Scott? Whatever, I'll give you a chance anyway.
Weird title, too. Usually books with lame titles like that end up being lame and pretty awful themselves.
Synopsis? So done and re-done. Are you even going to try?
All right then. Let's start.
Thoughts while reading She's So Dead To Us, , beginning:
You started off good. I'm actually impressed. I like your writing style. It's cool and it's simple and it just rolls off you like nothing. You lose yourself in the pages and that's positive.
I'm cheering for this book.
Thoughts around half of the book.
No words needed.
Near the end of the book:
OMG!!!!!! You're pefect!!! You just have to resist the last few pages. If you have a solid and good ending.. jeez. Just keep reading, Elena.
ENDING.
OH SWEET JESUS HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD.
I'm in love.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To start off (REALLY start off), I'm going to praise our main character, Ally Ryan.
I love her name. I've always loved the name Allyson. (all right, not true. I've loved it ever since I saw The Notebook, but that's SO not the point)
She seriously rocks. She does!
Usually the male character is portraited as some perfect hero, while the female character gets all the annoying traits. Well not here. Here Ally's actually the cool one, and I love it.
Not once does she let her old "friends" put their feet on her. She's proud. She's strong. She won't let them humiliate her and I fell in love with her character right there and then when at the beginning of the book she stopped her bike and promised herself she would start a new life.
She'd be a Norm, and she'd have new friends, and she'd rise from her ashes.
Also, it wasn't like she depended on Jake and she faced him and told him no when it was needed. She really had an attitude I liked.
The only thing that irked me a little about her were the neverending chances she was giving her friends to apologize. (and they never actually did)
I mean I wouldn't have done that. But I can see her points. First of all, I guess she just wanted her "family" back. And second of all, I can't help it if she's more of a good person than I am. D:
I'd be bitchslapping everybody there right now if I was Ally.
Jake Graydon.
I really can't stand you, Jake, you know? I mean, the drawback of having a kickass main character is that you notice twice as easily if the counterpart is up to the job. Or not.
Or not.
Whereas Ally had a really nice attitude I appreciated, and she always tended to do the "right" thing, I sadly can't say the same about Jake.
You know when you're watching a quiz show on tv, and when the contestant gives the wrong answer you hear that annoying BEEEEEPP! signaling the answer was indeed incorrect?
I felt like that with Jake all the time. I mean he was constantly confronted with two different choices to make, and he ALWAYS. MADE. THE WRONG. ONE. And I heard BEEEP, BEEEEEEEP, BEEEEEEP! and it was exhausting.
He's part of why I liked this book so much, though. Well, part of that part.
One part is because, as I've said, at least he wasn't the perfect hero authors always try to shove down our throats. He was a teenager and I felt that.
And the rest of the part is more about Ally. (*sppppppppoooooooooiler!!*) I'm glad she just was done with him in the end. I mean I KNOW it's not really over (I think?), because there's other books after this one, but I mean I really didn't want a happy ending right now. Too much had happened. Ally needs time. Jake is in a bad position right now.
So yeah, what made this book so perfect was that the ending was not the cheesy thing I usually get, but something serious, something real.
I spent the whole book hating on Ally's pseudofriends.
How could people behave like that? It seems impossible to me that they would be so obtuse as to keep blaming Ally for something her freaking father did. What the hell?
I wanted to punch them all in the guts. Including Jake, who fucking did NOTHING to stop it.
Freaking pussy.
I know this kind of story has been done a lot of time, but I seriously couldn't tear my eyes off this book. The writing was clear and good, the characters were just relatable and you were thrown into this spiral of emotions you couldn't get away from.
And I wasn't disappointed in the least. Every single scene fit perfectly, and I was BEAMING while reading She's So Dead To Us.
I actually read it in one afternoon. It was that good.
The fact with this book is not that it's innovative. I mean, how many times have you heard this plot? Tons of times, I'll tell you. But what really surprised me about it is that it was really well done. The characters all have some kind of depth and personality, and they were not just there to cause trouble to our heroine. The writing wasn't excellent, but it was clear.
There's a difference between easy writing and bad writing, and this author didn't cross that line. She's So Dead To Us is meant to entertain, not to become some amazing-prose award.
And last but not least, I'll say it for the billionth time, it's written WELL. It's not rushed. Believe me, I've read tons of attempts to write a story like this, and they all failed miserably. This character didn't make sense, that other one fell in love too quickly, the story was plain obvious.. well. If you're saying the ending of this book was predictable, too, tell me this:
(*spoiler*) Did you expect Ally to break up with Jake in the end, instead of having a happy ending?
Don't tell me you did. I was already braced for the worst, thinking: now let's see how the hell Kieran Scot gets them back together, what crappy ending she throws herself on.
But she didn't.
YAY!
That's how I liked the book. It wasn't meant to please, it actually MADE SENSE.
I usually don't give five stars to chick-lit because.. well, because. I just don't.
I didn't even give five stars to Anna and the French Kiss, which is now one of my favorite books. But I'm giving it to this one. THIS ONE is not going to become one of my favorites, but I'm giving it five stars.
Weird, aren't I? Well, I'll live with that.
Have a nice day and read SHE'S SO DEAD TO US! IT'S WORTH ITTT :))
(even epic Barney agrees. What more could you wish for?)
I'M TOTALLY PSYCHED!!!
Okay so, where do I start, where do I start?
Okay I'll start from the beginning.
First thoughts on She's So Dead To Us:
What a weird cover. Seriously? Couldn't you pick a nicer one, Kieran Scott? Whatever, I'll give you a chance anyway.
Weird title, too. Usually books with lame titles like that end up being lame and pretty awful themselves.
Synopsis? So done and re-done. Are you even going to try?
All right then. Let's start.
Thoughts while reading She's So Dead To Us, , beginning:
You started off good. I'm actually impressed. I like your writing style. It's cool and it's simple and it just rolls off you like nothing. You lose yourself in the pages and that's positive.
I'm cheering for this book.
Thoughts around half of the book.
No words needed.
Near the end of the book:
OMG!!!!!! You're pefect!!! You just have to resist the last few pages. If you have a solid and good ending.. jeez. Just keep reading, Elena.
ENDING.
OH SWEET JESUS HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD.
I'm in love.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To start off (REALLY start off), I'm going to praise our main character, Ally Ryan.
I love her name. I've always loved the name Allyson. (all right, not true. I've loved it ever since I saw The Notebook, but that's SO not the point)
She seriously rocks. She does!
Usually the male character is portraited as some perfect hero, while the female character gets all the annoying traits. Well not here. Here Ally's actually the cool one, and I love it.
Not once does she let her old "friends" put their feet on her. She's proud. She's strong. She won't let them humiliate her and I fell in love with her character right there and then when at the beginning of the book she stopped her bike and promised herself she would start a new life.
She'd be a Norm, and she'd have new friends, and she'd rise from her ashes.
Also, it wasn't like she depended on Jake and she faced him and told him no when it was needed. She really had an attitude I liked.
The only thing that irked me a little about her were the neverending chances she was giving her friends to apologize. (and they never actually did)
I mean I wouldn't have done that. But I can see her points. First of all, I guess she just wanted her "family" back. And second of all, I can't help it if she's more of a good person than I am. D:
I'd be bitchslapping everybody there right now if I was Ally.
Jake Graydon.
I really can't stand you, Jake, you know? I mean, the drawback of having a kickass main character is that you notice twice as easily if the counterpart is up to the job. Or not.
Or not.
Whereas Ally had a really nice attitude I appreciated, and she always tended to do the "right" thing, I sadly can't say the same about Jake.
You know when you're watching a quiz show on tv, and when the contestant gives the wrong answer you hear that annoying BEEEEEPP! signaling the answer was indeed incorrect?
I felt like that with Jake all the time. I mean he was constantly confronted with two different choices to make, and he ALWAYS. MADE. THE WRONG. ONE. And I heard BEEEP, BEEEEEEEP, BEEEEEEP! and it was exhausting.
He's part of why I liked this book so much, though. Well, part of that part.
One part is because, as I've said, at least he wasn't the perfect hero authors always try to shove down our throats. He was a teenager and I felt that.
And the rest of the part is more about Ally. (*sppppppppoooooooooiler!!*) I'm glad she just was done with him in the end. I mean I KNOW it's not really over (I think?), because there's other books after this one, but I mean I really didn't want a happy ending right now. Too much had happened. Ally needs time. Jake is in a bad position right now.
So yeah, what made this book so perfect was that the ending was not the cheesy thing I usually get, but something serious, something real.
I spent the whole book hating on Ally's pseudofriends.
How could people behave like that? It seems impossible to me that they would be so obtuse as to keep blaming Ally for something her freaking father did. What the hell?
I wanted to punch them all in the guts. Including Jake, who fucking did NOTHING to stop it.
Freaking pussy.
I know this kind of story has been done a lot of time, but I seriously couldn't tear my eyes off this book. The writing was clear and good, the characters were just relatable and you were thrown into this spiral of emotions you couldn't get away from.
And I wasn't disappointed in the least. Every single scene fit perfectly, and I was BEAMING while reading She's So Dead To Us.
I actually read it in one afternoon. It was that good.
The fact with this book is not that it's innovative. I mean, how many times have you heard this plot? Tons of times, I'll tell you. But what really surprised me about it is that it was really well done. The characters all have some kind of depth and personality, and they were not just there to cause trouble to our heroine. The writing wasn't excellent, but it was clear.
There's a difference between easy writing and bad writing, and this author didn't cross that line. She's So Dead To Us is meant to entertain, not to become some amazing-prose award.
And last but not least, I'll say it for the billionth time, it's written WELL. It's not rushed. Believe me, I've read tons of attempts to write a story like this, and they all failed miserably. This character didn't make sense, that other one fell in love too quickly, the story was plain obvious.. well. If you're saying the ending of this book was predictable, too, tell me this:
(*spoiler*) Did you expect Ally to break up with Jake in the end, instead of having a happy ending?
Don't tell me you did. I was already braced for the worst, thinking: now let's see how the hell Kieran Scot gets them back together, what crappy ending she throws herself on.
But she didn't.
YAY!
That's how I liked the book. It wasn't meant to please, it actually MADE SENSE.
I usually don't give five stars to chick-lit because.. well, because. I just don't.
I didn't even give five stars to Anna and the French Kiss, which is now one of my favorite books. But I'm giving it to this one. THIS ONE is not going to become one of my favorites, but I'm giving it five stars.
Weird, aren't I? Well, I'll live with that.
Have a nice day and read SHE'S SO DEAD TO US! IT'S WORTH ITTT :))
(even epic Barney agrees. What more could you wish for?)
June 26, 2014
DNF at 50%
Why does this book have such a high rating?? I seriously don't see it! Anywhere. The heroine is annoying, the hero is the gratest asshole in history and the cresties are the worst friends to ever grace the pages of a book.
Ally
I was so annoyed with this girl. Her dad screwed up, lost a lot of money(theirs and their friends'), and then left them. I get the rage directed at him, I get it. What I don't get are her self-righteous "my dad destroyed my perfect little life" comments. She is the one who left and never called her friends. Yes, they are snobbish idiots but she didn't try to keep them, she didn't give them the chance to keep being her friends. Now she comes back 2 years later and expects them to be thrilled to see her? WTH, I wouldn't want her back and I don't have their money or anything.
Don't get me started on what she did to her "BFF" and she still hasn't has the guts to tell her and apologize. She lets her so called "friend" date a douche just so she won't have to admit that they are right about her (that she can't be trusted and she deserves every bad thing that's happened to her).
And David, sweet, funny, David who deserves so much better than a girl who kisses him one moment and then ogles another guy while she still hugs him...
And Jake
There is nothing "hero-ish" about Jake. He is a jerk. A huge ass. What Ally sees in him is beyond me. He is a shallow, whorish, snobbish, cowardish, egotistic douche. He is the "Jock", the bad guy in every story, the one who sleeps with the girl and then pretends he doesn't know her. In YA books he is usually the guy that the heroine gets over when she meets the hero. He has no saving grace whatsoever. But he's hot, so let's forget everything else...
And the friends in this book...Don't get me started. The only characters I liked were David and Annie and Ally did not deserve them. Even her mom, who is supposed to be "kind and nice" is just a gold digger. She doesn't go after the money, she goes after the status which is one and the same in my book.
I was hoping for an improvement so I went ahead and read some reviews on the next books and I just learned that this shit gets worse. I'm not reading this... Not happening!
Why does this book have such a high rating?? I seriously don't see it! Anywhere. The heroine is annoying, the hero is the gratest asshole in history and the cresties are the worst friends to ever grace the pages of a book.
Ally
I was so annoyed with this girl. Her dad screwed up, lost a lot of money(theirs and their friends'), and then left them. I get the rage directed at him, I get it. What I don't get are her self-righteous "my dad destroyed my perfect little life" comments. She is the one who left and never called her friends. Yes, they are snobbish idiots but she didn't try to keep them, she didn't give them the chance to keep being her friends. Now she comes back 2 years later and expects them to be thrilled to see her? WTH, I wouldn't want her back and I don't have their money or anything.
Don't get me started on what she did to her "BFF" and she still hasn't has the guts to tell her and apologize. She lets her so called "friend" date a douche just so she won't have to admit that they are right about her (that she can't be trusted and she deserves every bad thing that's happened to her).
And David, sweet, funny, David who deserves so much better than a girl who kisses him one moment and then ogles another guy while she still hugs him...
And Jake
There is nothing "hero-ish" about Jake. He is a jerk. A huge ass. What Ally sees in him is beyond me. He is a shallow, whorish, snobbish, cowardish, egotistic douche. He is the "Jock", the bad guy in every story, the one who sleeps with the girl and then pretends he doesn't know her. In YA books he is usually the guy that the heroine gets over when she meets the hero. He has no saving grace whatsoever. But he's hot, so let's forget everything else...
And the friends in this book...Don't get me started. The only characters I liked were David and Annie and Ally did not deserve them. Even her mom, who is supposed to be "kind and nice" is just a gold digger. She doesn't go after the money, she goes after the status which is one and the same in my book.
I was hoping for an improvement so I went ahead and read some reviews on the next books and I just learned that this shit gets worse. I'm not reading this... Not happening!
May 27, 2011
SO! This book was lots of fun, in that I-wanted-to-reach-into-the-book-and-punch-these-characters-upside-the-head!
She's So Dead to Us, starts off with Ally and her mom back in town, after having to escape in absolute shame since Ally's dad lost a lot of money in a bad investment, leaving them broke as well as most of their friends.
Only when Ally tries to make nice with her old circle, she's outcast and dubbed as a just a 'Norm'.
Jake Graydon the oh-so-gorgeous guy who now lives in Ally's old mansion, can't help be attracted to the girl who all his friends hate, but can he follow his heart or does he keep following the in-crowd?
Truth me told, I'm amazed I even finished this book. This, is not a Tina book. This book, these characters, represent everything I hate about popular social cliques. It felt like I was reading 275 pages of 'Lets shit on Ally' since her FATHER made a mistake. Not Ally, but her father. I spend half the night thinking about how a lot of the conversations should have went, since some of these characters were so gutless to say it.
I wanted to hate all these characters, but really there was only two I hated the most. Faith and Shannen. Actually Shannen is the biggest.bitch I've ever met and wanted to punch her most of all. She's controlling and manipulative and malicious and immature. I don't care what her reason are, she's pure evil in my freaken book. Hammond, Chloe and especially Jake, just didn't have the freaken balls to stand-up to their friends. Can't look uncool now, that would be bad. Pfft. But I think the worse one out of all this was Jake. Seriously, the guy had his moments, sure, and I actually did like him, but I couldn't believe what a spineless ass he was being, not to mention the fact that he's a male-slut and so dame arrogant. Yes, okay, he had defended Ally...but what's the point when it was done behind her back?
Jake and Ally do have some really great chemistry and when it's just the two of them it feels like they're in there own little bubble. I couldn't help but hope for them throughout the story, even though a part of me thinks that Ally deserves and could do better.
So why did I give this four stars when obviously me and this book had issues?
All of the above.
Kieran Scott is a fantastic, fantastic writer! Never did read anything from her before, but she's made an instant fan out of me. My all time favorite thing about reading is when a writer can invoke such powerful emotions from me. Whether it be rage, hope, lust or laughter. And dame! Did I have some emotions for this book. I don't think I've ever read a book this fast, and I'm a pretty fast reader. I was so completely consummed by this that I had to ignore the twist in my stomach from being so utterly frustrated, annoyed and quite frankly, pissed off from hell.
So, Kudos to Scott! She knows how to make a reader feel and that my friends is what reading is all about.
In a nut shell, I loved this book, I hated this book and that goes for these characters as well. This book is filled with the utmost drama, angst and pure teenage-immaturity but it's also has some sweet warm moments that makes the reader really hope for the best and crave that happily ever after.
The last thing I want to mention is that I'm SO glad I don't have to wait till the next book, cause that ending was seriously harsh.
She's So Dead to Us, starts off with Ally and her mom back in town, after having to escape in absolute shame since Ally's dad lost a lot of money in a bad investment, leaving them broke as well as most of their friends.
Only when Ally tries to make nice with her old circle, she's outcast and dubbed as a just a 'Norm'.
Jake Graydon the oh-so-gorgeous guy who now lives in Ally's old mansion, can't help be attracted to the girl who all his friends hate, but can he follow his heart or does he keep following the in-crowd?
Truth me told, I'm amazed I even finished this book. This, is not a Tina book. This book, these characters, represent everything I hate about popular social cliques. It felt like I was reading 275 pages of 'Lets shit on Ally' since her FATHER made a mistake. Not Ally, but her father. I spend half the night thinking about how a lot of the conversations should have went, since some of these characters were so gutless to say it.
I wanted to hate all these characters, but really there was only two I hated the most. Faith and Shannen. Actually Shannen is the biggest.bitch I've ever met and wanted to punch her most of all. She's controlling and manipulative and malicious and immature. I don't care what her reason are, she's pure evil in my freaken book. Hammond, Chloe and especially Jake, just didn't have the freaken balls to stand-up to their friends. Can't look uncool now, that would be bad. Pfft. But I think the worse one out of all this was Jake. Seriously, the guy had his moments, sure, and I actually did like him, but I couldn't believe what a spineless ass he was being, not to mention the fact that he's a male-slut and so dame arrogant. Yes, okay, he had defended Ally...but what's the point when it was done behind her back?
Jake and Ally do have some really great chemistry and when it's just the two of them it feels like they're in there own little bubble. I couldn't help but hope for them throughout the story, even though a part of me thinks that Ally deserves and could do better.
So why did I give this four stars when obviously me and this book had issues?
All of the above.
Kieran Scott is a fantastic, fantastic writer! Never did read anything from her before, but she's made an instant fan out of me. My all time favorite thing about reading is when a writer can invoke such powerful emotions from me. Whether it be rage, hope, lust or laughter. And dame! Did I have some emotions for this book. I don't think I've ever read a book this fast, and I'm a pretty fast reader. I was so completely consummed by this that I had to ignore the twist in my stomach from being so utterly frustrated, annoyed and quite frankly, pissed off from hell.
So, Kudos to Scott! She knows how to make a reader feel and that my friends is what reading is all about.
In a nut shell, I loved this book, I hated this book and that goes for these characters as well. This book is filled with the utmost drama, angst and pure teenage-immaturity but it's also has some sweet warm moments that makes the reader really hope for the best and crave that happily ever after.
The last thing I want to mention is that I'm SO glad I don't have to wait till the next book, cause that ending was seriously harsh.
February 8, 2017
“No use dwelling on the past. What you do tomorrow and the next day and the day after that is what matters.”
Overall Thoughts
-Until Next Time,
Emerald BookWorm
Overall Thoughts
This book is an easy read, yes. But it did have more of a backstory than I was expecting it to. There is a lot of adult elements weaved into this book / story. It reminded me a lot of Gossip Girl . Which who doesn't love that show? I really enjoyed the backstory of the characters, the characters themselves, the humor and the overall easy to read drama that this book had. Looking forward to the next book
-Until Next Time,
Emerald BookWorm
January 19, 2018
I have no idea how long I've wanted to read this book but it felt longer than forever.
One of the reason's I wanted to read this book was because of the cover and another reason was because of the title. Both things automatically drew me in. HOWEVER, it's what was inside of this beautiful and amazing book that made me devour it.
She's So Dead to Us will definitely throw you for a loop. It was so freaking good! I didn't want to put it down! The characters were awesome. You definitely end up rooting for Jake and Ally the ENTIRE TIME. But of course things are always going to push the two people you ship the most away. ALL THE TIME.
Anyways, this book is from two pov's: Ally and Jake. They were both really good MC's. Ally was independent, likable, and didn't whine all the time like most MC's do. Then there's Jake who was arrogant but damn did he make your heart swoon. I mean Ally's heart. Seriously, I loved the romance between them!
Besides the two main characters, the supporting characters were good too! It's hard to pick a favorite but some of them reminded me of other characters from different books or even people I know in real life. I don't really have anything to complain about this book. I really need the second book though.
One of the reason's I wanted to read this book was because of the cover and another reason was because of the title. Both things automatically drew me in. HOWEVER, it's what was inside of this beautiful and amazing book that made me devour it.
She's So Dead to Us will definitely throw you for a loop. It was so freaking good! I didn't want to put it down! The characters were awesome. You definitely end up rooting for Jake and Ally the ENTIRE TIME. But of course things are always going to push the two people you ship the most away. ALL THE TIME.
Anyways, this book is from two pov's: Ally and Jake. They were both really good MC's. Ally was independent, likable, and didn't whine all the time like most MC's do. Then there's Jake who was arrogant but damn did he make your heart swoon. I mean Ally's heart. Seriously, I loved the romance between them!
Besides the two main characters, the supporting characters were good too! It's hard to pick a favorite but some of them reminded me of other characters from different books or even people I know in real life. I don't really have anything to complain about this book. I really need the second book though.
July 18, 2016
Holy Potatoes! I wasn't expecting this drama-infused book full of secrets, surprises and back-stabbing. Even our main character isn't the perfect little angel because she messes up a lot. All these characters do, even the so-called perfect boy. You're not going to like any of the characters at all, but I couldn't help but enjoy it. Everything blew up in their faces with their stupid decision-making, but hey at least they know they did wrong now.
If you're looking to be entertained, read this book because I flew through this in about a day and now I'm onto the next one.
If you're looking to be entertained, read this book because I flew through this in about a day and now I'm onto the next one.
August 9, 2011
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. At first I thought it was going to be just another silly shallow novel, and in a way it was, but it was also really good. A few of the characters had a surprising depth to them and were really well thought out. I really liked the main character, Ally. She was so strong facing her old friends after her father ruined them financially. She even protected her mother as best she could from the heart ache she knew would occur if her mom found out what had been happening. Jake, who was Ally's love interest, was an interesting character. He was so dependent upon what his friends thought that he hid his relationship with Ally, because she was a "norm" (poor) and he was a "crestie" (rich), and almost ruined it until he got approval from one of the people in his group. If I was Ally I so would not have taken him back! (Oh who am I kidding, he was hot! I totally would!) Also, the teens actually seemed realistic, they drank and cursed and had parties and had a dorky little band play in someone's basement. It was realistic and I could actually see this happening somewhere.
I loved the plot too! There were so many shocking little twists and turns and secrets floating around you never really knew what was going to happen next. There were a lot of things that surprised me (like the end, I didn't realize that this was the first in a series! *jumps for joy*) There was also a little instant messaging thing they did after every chapter and I know a lot of people hated it but I enjoyed it because you didn't know who was saying these things so it gave you some more insight about how people felt about the main characters. The ending was SUCH a cliffhanger I seriously cannot wait for the next book to come out! I know this one just came out but I need the second one like now!
This book really surprised me, I started reading it thinking it was just going to be so-so, but it really wowed me and left me wanting more! This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while.
I loved the plot too! There were so many shocking little twists and turns and secrets floating around you never really knew what was going to happen next. There were a lot of things that surprised me (like the end, I didn't realize that this was the first in a series! *jumps for joy*) There was also a little instant messaging thing they did after every chapter and I know a lot of people hated it but I enjoyed it because you didn't know who was saying these things so it gave you some more insight about how people felt about the main characters. The ending was SUCH a cliffhanger I seriously cannot wait for the next book to come out! I know this one just came out but I need the second one like now!
This book really surprised me, I started reading it thinking it was just going to be so-so, but it really wowed me and left me wanting more! This is definitely one of the best books I've read in a while.
January 15, 2015
4.5/5
un libro que hace tiempo estoy para leerlo, pero nunca me animaba.
Me entretuvo mucho. Al principio ame la historia pero poco a poco me empezó solo a gustar (principalmente la manera abrupta que termina).
Me gusto por momentos Jake pero no me llego a enamorar. Abby es una idola pero lo mismo, por momentos queria pegarle.
un libro que hace tiempo estoy para leerlo, pero nunca me animaba.
Me entretuvo mucho. Al principio ame la historia pero poco a poco me empezó solo a gustar (principalmente la manera abrupta que termina).
Me gusto por momentos Jake pero no me llego a enamorar. Abby es una idola pero lo mismo, por momentos queria pegarle.
August 8, 2015
Seriously, save youself the time and skip this.
Just to warn everyone up front with info I didn't have - clearly this is going to be some sort of series. It's not a stand-alone and there's absolutely no sense of conclusion or closure to this first volume. At the end, I just wanted to throw the book across the room.
Perhaps it's my fault for not "doing my research" and knowing this is a first volume in a series, but there is nothing anywhere on the book that indicates this.
Plus, I was so sick of Jake by the end, I wanted to punch him. He's a jerk. He thinks he's not - but he's a coward and a jerk. He can't do anything without approval from his friends. Even his big turn-around is pushed by a friend. He can't even do that on his own.
Ally is a good character, but because she likes Jake, I started to like her less and less.
Needless to say, I won't bother with the further series.
The writing isn't bad, but the story feels pointless. It's just not any fun - especially when you get absolutely no ending of any kind. The author didn't need to wrap all the loose ends - but some would be helpful.
Waste of my time.
Just to warn everyone up front with info I didn't have - clearly this is going to be some sort of series. It's not a stand-alone and there's absolutely no sense of conclusion or closure to this first volume. At the end, I just wanted to throw the book across the room.
Perhaps it's my fault for not "doing my research" and knowing this is a first volume in a series, but there is nothing anywhere on the book that indicates this.
Plus, I was so sick of Jake by the end, I wanted to punch him. He's a jerk. He thinks he's not - but he's a coward and a jerk. He can't do anything without approval from his friends. Even his big turn-around is pushed by a friend. He can't even do that on his own.
Ally is a good character, but because she likes Jake, I started to like her less and less.
Needless to say, I won't bother with the further series.
The writing isn't bad, but the story feels pointless. It's just not any fun - especially when you get absolutely no ending of any kind. The author didn't need to wrap all the loose ends - but some would be helpful.
Waste of my time.
June 14, 2012
3.5 stars Totally shallow and full of stupid decisions, but pretty entertaining all the same. Annoying cliffhanger, though.
April 27, 2018
Yet another excellent ya contemporary from Kieran Scott. I really like her books. She’s also from New Jersey, so gotta love that too!
Anyway, the book itself was enjoyable. It reminded me a little of Pretty Little Liars or Mean Girls. There are a lot of secrets/backstabbing/drama/whatever. This book managed to ramp up the drama without being ridiculous, and I actually enjoyed seeing everything come together.
I really felt for Ally, and I liked how strong she was. Even though lots of bad stuff happened to her, she was always there with a witty comeback. I liked Jake as well, and I was rooting for the two of them.
I’m excited to read the next one, which I’ve heard has more drama than this one. I’m definitely interested to see where this series will go from here.
Anyway, the book itself was enjoyable. It reminded me a little of Pretty Little Liars or Mean Girls. There are a lot of secrets/backstabbing/drama/whatever. This book managed to ramp up the drama without being ridiculous, and I actually enjoyed seeing everything come together.
I really felt for Ally, and I liked how strong she was. Even though lots of bad stuff happened to her, she was always there with a witty comeback. I liked Jake as well, and I was rooting for the two of them.
I’m excited to read the next one, which I’ve heard has more drama than this one. I’m definitely interested to see where this series will go from here.
July 21, 2011
One thing you may not know me about me is that I ALWAYS catch on to popular stuff really late. I read Harry Potter after all the seven books had been released long since. I read Twilight when the first movie had been released for six months. But the reason I’m dishing out this info is because I caught on really late to Gossip Girl as well—the T.V. show, I mean, not the books. I’ve only seen, like, six episodes of the first season, but I can safely say that I am HOOKED. I always thought that seeing these stereotypical rich kids act like the arrogant dimwits they are would be VERY annoying and boring and infuriating. Well, actually, it turned out to be pretty fantastic and very guilty-pleasure-y, too.
The storyline of the book revolves around Ally Ryan, who’s just come back to Orchard View after one a half year, when she left because one of her father’s schemes had tanked and left her friends’ families—AKA Cresties, which is what the people from the rich side of town are called—stripped of loads of money. Now she’s back, and it turns out they still harbor their resentment, which makes it pretty hard for Ally to adjust back into her hometown like the good old days. Enter Jake Graydon, a super-duper hot guy who’d moved into Ally’s house while she was away, who’s attracted to her, and who Ally is attracted to as well, and you have the perfect guilty-pleasure-y sounding read.
Except that it’s not actually that guilty-pleasure-y. While the book was LOADS of fun, it wasn’t the kind of books that I feel guilty for taking pleasure from (okay, that didn't come out right...). It’s actually witty, fun read with well-rounded characters with legit drama. So the cover and the title—they’re actually sort of misleading.
That being said, dude, Kieran Scott can SO spin together a fantastic plot. Seriously. The way the events unfold, the tension grows, the realistic interactions between the characters—I couldn’t stop reading! Add that to the fact that the voices in the book are totally kick-butt and addicting—it’s told from both Ally’s and Jake’s perspectives, which was awesome, since getting to know both sides of the stories was actually pretty important.
I did, however, have issues with how gullible Ally could be at times—I mean, after being given the cold shoulder by the Crestires and tricked by them over and over again, you’d expect she’d tell ‘em to screw off. I know she wants her old life back and all, but I wish she’d realized sooner that the Cresties were no good. There were some characters that, in my opinion, should’ve been given more screen—page?—time, but since this is a series, I was willing to overlook that.
All in all, a fun, relaxing read that definitely had me wanting more. Oh, did I mention the cliffhanger at the end? At times like these I’m SO glad I have the ARC of the sequel, because waiting for it would’ve been total torture.
The storyline of the book revolves around Ally Ryan, who’s just come back to Orchard View after one a half year, when she left because one of her father’s schemes had tanked and left her friends’ families—AKA Cresties, which is what the people from the rich side of town are called—stripped of loads of money. Now she’s back, and it turns out they still harbor their resentment, which makes it pretty hard for Ally to adjust back into her hometown like the good old days. Enter Jake Graydon, a super-duper hot guy who’d moved into Ally’s house while she was away, who’s attracted to her, and who Ally is attracted to as well, and you have the perfect guilty-pleasure-y sounding read.
Except that it’s not actually that guilty-pleasure-y. While the book was LOADS of fun, it wasn’t the kind of books that I feel guilty for taking pleasure from (okay, that didn't come out right...). It’s actually witty, fun read with well-rounded characters with legit drama. So the cover and the title—they’re actually sort of misleading.
That being said, dude, Kieran Scott can SO spin together a fantastic plot. Seriously. The way the events unfold, the tension grows, the realistic interactions between the characters—I couldn’t stop reading! Add that to the fact that the voices in the book are totally kick-butt and addicting—it’s told from both Ally’s and Jake’s perspectives, which was awesome, since getting to know both sides of the stories was actually pretty important.
I did, however, have issues with how gullible Ally could be at times—I mean, after being given the cold shoulder by the Crestires and tricked by them over and over again, you’d expect she’d tell ‘em to screw off. I know she wants her old life back and all, but I wish she’d realized sooner that the Cresties were no good. There were some characters that, in my opinion, should’ve been given more screen—page?—time, but since this is a series, I was willing to overlook that.
All in all, a fun, relaxing read that definitely had me wanting more. Oh, did I mention the cliffhanger at the end? At times like these I’m SO glad I have the ARC of the sequel, because waiting for it would’ve been total torture.
September 3, 2012
"Suddenly my palms were sweating under my gloves. I slid my hand away and we got back to work, but I felt as if my whole body was on high alert. There was no getting around it anymore. I was falling for this girl. Big-time.” - Jake
Before I start this review, I have a tiny confession to make.....so, I'd never heard of this series before I received book three This is So Not Happening for review. Shock horror, I should be hanging my head in shame! I can't believe I'd never heard of it before and there was me thinking I was pretty up to date with the YA contemporary romance series and really, I wasn't.
She's So Dead to Us is book one in the She's So/He's So series by author Kieran Scott and if you haven't read this book, then go read it now. Kieran Scott delivers an awesome story that is full of teenage drama and angst that really everyone should read. If that's not convinced you to read it, how about me saying....this story is told from alternative point's of view? Woohoo! You know I love that and yes, it goes from Ally to Jake who are both the main characters and it's amazing.
Ally: I really liked her. Even though she's had something happen that has effected her life that she wasn't in control of, she tries to remain upbeat and happy. She doesn't hold grudges and when her friends treat her like rubbish, she tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sure I could do that because she does go through the ringer in this book. I loved how she stood up them but what I enjoyed about her so much was, how she was around Jake. It was clear she was attracted to him and it was nice to see their relationship play out.
Jake: Awww I loved him and then I hated him and then I loved him again. He's funny, cute and sexy but he is a lad's lad. He sleeps around, he drinks and acts stupid with his friends. I did have mixed feelings with him just because I wish he's stand up his friends who were Ally's ex-friends. They made her life hell and sometimes he'd go with it, even though he was clearly attracted to her. I wish he'd just get some balls and tell them what's what, so I liked it when he finally took charge.
The story itself is one hell of a ride. I managed to feel every emotion possible from sadness to joy to love to hate, it's really emotional and at times I felt like throwing it at the wall with frustration but I kept on reading and it really is a good read. And the cliff-hanger at the end....what a killer. I'm so glad I have book two, He's So Not Worth It ready and waiting for me.
Before I start this review, I have a tiny confession to make.....so, I'd never heard of this series before I received book three This is So Not Happening for review. Shock horror, I should be hanging my head in shame! I can't believe I'd never heard of it before and there was me thinking I was pretty up to date with the YA contemporary romance series and really, I wasn't.
She's So Dead to Us is book one in the She's So/He's So series by author Kieran Scott and if you haven't read this book, then go read it now. Kieran Scott delivers an awesome story that is full of teenage drama and angst that really everyone should read. If that's not convinced you to read it, how about me saying....this story is told from alternative point's of view? Woohoo! You know I love that and yes, it goes from Ally to Jake who are both the main characters and it's amazing.
Ally: I really liked her. Even though she's had something happen that has effected her life that she wasn't in control of, she tries to remain upbeat and happy. She doesn't hold grudges and when her friends treat her like rubbish, she tries to give them the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sure I could do that because she does go through the ringer in this book. I loved how she stood up them but what I enjoyed about her so much was, how she was around Jake. It was clear she was attracted to him and it was nice to see their relationship play out.
Jake: Awww I loved him and then I hated him and then I loved him again. He's funny, cute and sexy but he is a lad's lad. He sleeps around, he drinks and acts stupid with his friends. I did have mixed feelings with him just because I wish he's stand up his friends who were Ally's ex-friends. They made her life hell and sometimes he'd go with it, even though he was clearly attracted to her. I wish he'd just get some balls and tell them what's what, so I liked it when he finally took charge.
The story itself is one hell of a ride. I managed to feel every emotion possible from sadness to joy to love to hate, it's really emotional and at times I felt like throwing it at the wall with frustration but I kept on reading and it really is a good read. And the cliff-hanger at the end....what a killer. I'm so glad I have book two, He's So Not Worth It ready and waiting for me.
August 12, 2012
Kind of like Gossip Girl in the 'burbs, but less trashy and fun. Horrible rich kids being horrible to the world's most indecisive heroine (She [rightfully] hates them! Then she wants to be friends with them! Then they do something awful and she hates them again! Then she still wants to be friends! Lather, rinse, repeat: over, and over, and over, and over, and over...) Ally's a spineless idiot, basically. A fun, entertaining idiot, to be sure, with moments of clarity and strength, but an idiot nonetheless. Her relationship with everyone in the book is frustratingly reminiscent of an abused spouse running back for more. Jake is also a wonderful human being, continuing to consider himself BFFs with a group of proto-sociopaths while they endeavor to ruin his crush's life.
One of my big annoyances: the author can't seem to decide exactly how rich these asshats actually ARE. Half the time they feel Gossip Girl-esque, with giant, alcohol-fueled parties in the city. Other times, they just feel rather suburban upper middle class: SUV on the kid's 16th, granite counter tops, a media room. And why are all these fabulously wealthy kids going to school with all the lower class people in town (even before the story starts)? Shouldn't they be at some exclusive private academy? Or, are they? It never really felt like they were.
This is not to say I won't continue to read this nonsense. This is a fantastically trashy quick read, even if my eyes did threaten to roll permanently back into my head from time to time.
One of my big annoyances: the author can't seem to decide exactly how rich these asshats actually ARE. Half the time they feel Gossip Girl-esque, with giant, alcohol-fueled parties in the city. Other times, they just feel rather suburban upper middle class: SUV on the kid's 16th, granite counter tops, a media room. And why are all these fabulously wealthy kids going to school with all the lower class people in town (even before the story starts)? Shouldn't they be at some exclusive private academy? Or, are they? It never really felt like they were.
This is not to say I won't continue to read this nonsense. This is a fantastically trashy quick read, even if my eyes did threaten to roll permanently back into my head from time to time.
September 28, 2020
"So? What do you think?"
Ally Ryan's family moved from Orchard Hill, New Jersey to Maryland after her dad made some very bad investments and lost money for now only their family but most of her friends' families as well. She and her mom return after her dad walks out on them.
There were times that I struggled with reading this because Ally's former friends were absolutely horrible. I had to keep telling myself that they were teenagers and this is how they act.
I did enjoy the difference in point of view from Ally to Jake. I certainly liked Ally much better.
There is so much teen angst going on that I thought about putting it down and reading something else. The "mean girls" were certainly well written. I wanted to smack them all.
I felt that Jake could have been a stronger character and stood up for Ally more than he did.
On the plus side, this was a a quick read. It just seemed a bit predictable and formulaic.
Ally Ryan's family moved from Orchard Hill, New Jersey to Maryland after her dad made some very bad investments and lost money for now only their family but most of her friends' families as well. She and her mom return after her dad walks out on them.
There were times that I struggled with reading this because Ally's former friends were absolutely horrible. I had to keep telling myself that they were teenagers and this is how they act.
I did enjoy the difference in point of view from Ally to Jake. I certainly liked Ally much better.
There is so much teen angst going on that I thought about putting it down and reading something else. The "mean girls" were certainly well written. I wanted to smack them all.
I felt that Jake could have been a stronger character and stood up for Ally more than he did.
On the plus side, this was a a quick read. It just seemed a bit predictable and formulaic.
January 4, 2018
This book sort of reminded me of Mean Girls, only instead of being homeschooled, the girl being picked on used to be popular. Through very little fault of her own, all her friends are now ostracizing her and pulling mean pranks.
Girls, and people in general in High School (and even more so in Jr. High) can be very cruel, and it doesn't take much to end up on the "crap list" so to speak. Ally has to deal with suddenly being very unliked, in addition to having all sorts of familial stuff going on. The people she used to be able to count on when things were bad, are the very people adding to the negativity in her life and that's not an easy thing to come to terms with.
I like the friends she makes on the "norm" side of things and I only feel bad about the relationship started and ended badly when she was trying to remake herself. I hope that person can forgive her. I also do like Jake. I know he's got his problems, but who among us isn't flawed? I'd like to see him grow as a person and I'd like to see him stand up to his so-called friends.
I'm looking forward to reading the next two books and more by this author.
Girls, and people in general in High School (and even more so in Jr. High) can be very cruel, and it doesn't take much to end up on the "crap list" so to speak. Ally has to deal with suddenly being very unliked, in addition to having all sorts of familial stuff going on. The people she used to be able to count on when things were bad, are the very people adding to the negativity in her life and that's not an easy thing to come to terms with.
I like the friends she makes on the "norm" side of things and I only feel bad about the relationship started and ended badly when she was trying to remake herself. I hope that person can forgive her. I also do like Jake. I know he's got his problems, but who among us isn't flawed? I'd like to see him grow as a person and I'd like to see him stand up to his so-called friends.
I'm looking forward to reading the next two books and more by this author.
May 1, 2022
I’m rating this on scale for what it is— a Gossip Girl-esque book that could be pure fun for the right audience (8th graders most likely).
I’m reading this because it is one of the first books I put on my to-read list when I joined Goodreads over a decade ago. So, I can successfully cross that one off, and even though I love Kate Brian/Kieran Scott books, I now realize I wasn’t missing out all these years by not picking this up. She has obviously grown as a writer since this because it was not her best.
I’m reading this because it is one of the first books I put on my to-read list when I joined Goodreads over a decade ago. So, I can successfully cross that one off, and even though I love Kate Brian/Kieran Scott books, I now realize I wasn’t missing out all these years by not picking this up. She has obviously grown as a writer since this because it was not her best.
June 14, 2010
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
Ally Ryan can't believe she's back in Orchard Hill. Over a year ago, her family slipped out at night without telling anyone goodbye. Ally's father made a bad investment, and many of the Ryan's' close friends lost money. The Ryans lost everything. Now that Ally and her mom have moved back to Orchard Hill sans her father, Ally innocently assumes her "Crestie" friends will welcome her back with open arms. After all, it was her father that lost their money, not her.
Her first night back, she takes her bike and rides by her old house. She and her mom are now living in a depressing condo on the "Norm" side of town. When she sees her house, a cute boy calls out to her from her old bedroom window. Who is this boy? She doesn't get his name, but he tells her there's a party at Connor Shale's house the night before school. Just like old times. She talks herself into going, and there she's confronted with her past.
Her old friends no longer want anything to do with her. They are determined to make her remember that she's no longer a "Crestie" but a "Norm."
Ally finds out the mysterious boy is Jake Graydon. He's taken her place in her circle of friends. Jake is attracted to Ally but can't admit it to his friends because they've sworn against Ally and all things Ryan. Ally is attracted to Jake. She gets mixed signals from him and can never determine if he likes her or is just being friendly.
Told in the alternating voices of Ally and Jake, SHE'S SO DEAD TO US draws you in from the early moments when Jake and Ally first meet. Jake is a typical boy, and though you may want to hate him for how he sometimes treats Ally, his reactions to peer pressure are typical and expected. He tries to do what is right but is squeezed by both parents and friends. Ally, on the other hand, is almost too naïve in her expectations of her old friends. From the beginning, you just know that they are going to be a spoiled nasty bunch, but Ally doesn't realize this until after a few harsh encounters.
There are a lot of twists and turns in SHE'S SO DEAD TO US, and, of course, a cliff hanger of an ending. There are a lot of unresolved issues when you reach the final page - there has to be a sequel! For fans of series' like IT GIRL, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, and PRIVATE, this is another one (I hope) that will draw you in and make you want more.
Ally Ryan can't believe she's back in Orchard Hill. Over a year ago, her family slipped out at night without telling anyone goodbye. Ally's father made a bad investment, and many of the Ryan's' close friends lost money. The Ryans lost everything. Now that Ally and her mom have moved back to Orchard Hill sans her father, Ally innocently assumes her "Crestie" friends will welcome her back with open arms. After all, it was her father that lost their money, not her.
Her first night back, she takes her bike and rides by her old house. She and her mom are now living in a depressing condo on the "Norm" side of town. When she sees her house, a cute boy calls out to her from her old bedroom window. Who is this boy? She doesn't get his name, but he tells her there's a party at Connor Shale's house the night before school. Just like old times. She talks herself into going, and there she's confronted with her past.
Her old friends no longer want anything to do with her. They are determined to make her remember that she's no longer a "Crestie" but a "Norm."
Ally finds out the mysterious boy is Jake Graydon. He's taken her place in her circle of friends. Jake is attracted to Ally but can't admit it to his friends because they've sworn against Ally and all things Ryan. Ally is attracted to Jake. She gets mixed signals from him and can never determine if he likes her or is just being friendly.
Told in the alternating voices of Ally and Jake, SHE'S SO DEAD TO US draws you in from the early moments when Jake and Ally first meet. Jake is a typical boy, and though you may want to hate him for how he sometimes treats Ally, his reactions to peer pressure are typical and expected. He tries to do what is right but is squeezed by both parents and friends. Ally, on the other hand, is almost too naïve in her expectations of her old friends. From the beginning, you just know that they are going to be a spoiled nasty bunch, but Ally doesn't realize this until after a few harsh encounters.
There are a lot of twists and turns in SHE'S SO DEAD TO US, and, of course, a cliff hanger of an ending. There are a lot of unresolved issues when you reach the final page - there has to be a sequel! For fans of series' like IT GIRL, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, and PRIVATE, this is another one (I hope) that will draw you in and make you want more.
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January 26, 2014I was initially pulled in to this book because of the cover - for some reason I like the destroyed pearl necklace. The plot also seemed entertaining - a rich girl whose family loses their money, moves out of town, and moves back over a year later hoping to still have her old friends.
The beginning of the book was hard for me to get into because it was heavy on internal dialogue from Ally, our main character. Once I started to figure out the plot and keep the characters straight (with the help of Jake, another chapter narrator), I got interested in the story.
Unfortunately, a few things fell flat with me. The first thing that I noticed that threw me off was how many times one of 'the guys' would reach over and hit another guy in the chest with the back of his hand. Weird for me to notice? Perhaps. I still got a little irritated that it was happening so much that I noticed.
I also did not really feel that connected with the story. Yes, I had some EXTREME emotions while reading this book - I often was filled with rage at how the 'rich group' ('Cresties') treated Ally and the other 'Norms.' But nothing really changed throughout the book - they were constantly being rude, playing pranks, and acting, quite frankly, like bitches. I had to remind myself that social transformations do not happen instantly in a high school setting, but when I'm reading a book I prefer the plot is based on something or other happening.
Speaking of social transformations, Jake, who is supposed to be the boy we swoon over, was a jerk one too many times for me. Refusing to take Ally anywhere in public where the Cresties could see them, using her for a make out session. I definitely did not fall for the Jake-Ally romance like I was supposed to.
To top it all off, the book ends in a cliffhanger. I felt like someone had ripped the last few chapters of the book out. I'm guessing a sequel is in the works - and I am also guessing that I am going to enjoy the sequel twice as much as this installment because it will have some sort of growth and resolution.
The bad things aside, I still read the whole book - I am not opposed to not finishing a book if I don't like it. I was expected more than I got in the end, but I don't feel like all hope is lost for the sequel.
The beginning of the book was hard for me to get into because it was heavy on internal dialogue from Ally, our main character. Once I started to figure out the plot and keep the characters straight (with the help of Jake, another chapter narrator), I got interested in the story.
Unfortunately, a few things fell flat with me. The first thing that I noticed that threw me off was how many times one of 'the guys' would reach over and hit another guy in the chest with the back of his hand. Weird for me to notice? Perhaps. I still got a little irritated that it was happening so much that I noticed.
I also did not really feel that connected with the story. Yes, I had some EXTREME emotions while reading this book - I often was filled with rage at how the 'rich group' ('Cresties') treated Ally and the other 'Norms.' But nothing really changed throughout the book - they were constantly being rude, playing pranks, and acting, quite frankly, like bitches. I had to remind myself that social transformations do not happen instantly in a high school setting, but when I'm reading a book I prefer the plot is based on something or other happening.
Speaking of social transformations, Jake, who is supposed to be the boy we swoon over, was a jerk one too many times for me. Refusing to take Ally anywhere in public where the Cresties could see them, using her for a make out session. I definitely did not fall for the Jake-Ally romance like I was supposed to.
To top it all off, the book ends in a cliffhanger. I felt like someone had ripped the last few chapters of the book out. I'm guessing a sequel is in the works - and I am also guessing that I am going to enjoy the sequel twice as much as this installment because it will have some sort of growth and resolution.
The bad things aside, I still read the whole book - I am not opposed to not finishing a book if I don't like it. I was expected more than I got in the end, but I don't feel like all hope is lost for the sequel.
August 11, 2012
I found out about this series when I saw the 3rd book advertised thinking it was a standalone. When I found out it was a series I had to get the first one.
I absolutely loved this book. It was like a movie playing out in my head all the way through. Ally Ryan is an excellent protagonist, she's just returned home to the 'Crestie' side of town. She's an outcast now after her father lost millions of dollars of her friends money. He friends no longer want to speak to her or have anything to do with her. Ally is very strong, she goes through a lot of issues and she handles it very well.
There's so much emotion, it's such a rollercoaster ride and when Ally is going through all her trouble you really feel for her. You feel immediately connected with her.
The book is told through alternative points of view between Ally and Jake. Jake is now living in Ally's old house and has her old room. They both connect with each other through a love of basketball and a week long detention together. Jake is extremely swoonworthy, however his friends are Ally's old friends so Jake is sometimes torn between standing up for what is right with Ally and staying on the side of his friends. I did like Jake, but there were times I felt he should have had his priorities straight to begin with. But as the book went on you grow to enjoy their relationship and root for things to go well. But naturally, like in an episode of Gossip Girl (I've never seen it I'm just going on word of mouth) it doesn't pan out. Which brings me to the HUGE cliffhanger at the end of this book, which unless you already have book 2 will leave you reeling! It's lucky I have book 2 because the cliffhanger was intense.
This is the first book that I'd read by Kieran Scott and I intend to read more. She's a brilliant story teller and has a knack for clearly writing a book that runs like a movie in your head.
so if you haven't already read this book, then you should really pick it up. And enjoy :)
I absolutely loved this book. It was like a movie playing out in my head all the way through. Ally Ryan is an excellent protagonist, she's just returned home to the 'Crestie' side of town. She's an outcast now after her father lost millions of dollars of her friends money. He friends no longer want to speak to her or have anything to do with her. Ally is very strong, she goes through a lot of issues and she handles it very well.
There's so much emotion, it's such a rollercoaster ride and when Ally is going through all her trouble you really feel for her. You feel immediately connected with her.
The book is told through alternative points of view between Ally and Jake. Jake is now living in Ally's old house and has her old room. They both connect with each other through a love of basketball and a week long detention together. Jake is extremely swoonworthy, however his friends are Ally's old friends so Jake is sometimes torn between standing up for what is right with Ally and staying on the side of his friends. I did like Jake, but there were times I felt he should have had his priorities straight to begin with. But as the book went on you grow to enjoy their relationship and root for things to go well. But naturally, like in an episode of Gossip Girl (I've never seen it I'm just going on word of mouth) it doesn't pan out. Which brings me to the HUGE cliffhanger at the end of this book, which unless you already have book 2 will leave you reeling! It's lucky I have book 2 because the cliffhanger was intense.
This is the first book that I'd read by Kieran Scott and I intend to read more. She's a brilliant story teller and has a knack for clearly writing a book that runs like a movie in your head.
so if you haven't already read this book, then you should really pick it up. And enjoy :)
May 19, 2010
This book, even with its familiar plot, was completely addicting. When I started it, I only planned on reading a couple chapters, but I just couldn't set it aside.
From the start, the reader knows what's going to happen, but the characters are so engaging that it doesn't seem to matter. The novel is told in alternating chapters by Ally and Jake. I liked Ally right from the start; the reader can see that she's a good person, regardless of her questionable past. Jake, on the other hand, did not immediately gain my favor. Ally might worry about the opinions of her abandoned friends, but Jake is completely ruled by them. He has absolutely no desire to go against the grain, which is monumentally frustrating throughout most of the novel. Despite this horrible trait, Jake managed to win me over. I can only attribute this to the realism of his character; many teenage boys would rather follow mutely than rock the boat and, in the end, Jake does do the right thing. He is by no means perfect, but he has grown, which I can appreciate.
My favorite aspect of the novel was Ally and Jake's relationship. The emotions and little details of their romance were vibrantly written. Kieran Scott perfectly captured the emotions of an all-consuming crush; the kind of crush that leaves you incessantly daydreaming, prone to love struck gazing, and completely frustrated. The fact that their relationship is taboo added to the intensity.
She's So Dead to Us isn't deep and it doesn't impart any great wisdom to the reader, but it is fun and gave me that fluttery feeling that's only caused when two characters have undeniable chemistry.
From the start, the reader knows what's going to happen, but the characters are so engaging that it doesn't seem to matter. The novel is told in alternating chapters by Ally and Jake. I liked Ally right from the start; the reader can see that she's a good person, regardless of her questionable past. Jake, on the other hand, did not immediately gain my favor. Ally might worry about the opinions of her abandoned friends, but Jake is completely ruled by them. He has absolutely no desire to go against the grain, which is monumentally frustrating throughout most of the novel. Despite this horrible trait, Jake managed to win me over. I can only attribute this to the realism of his character; many teenage boys would rather follow mutely than rock the boat and, in the end, Jake does do the right thing. He is by no means perfect, but he has grown, which I can appreciate.
My favorite aspect of the novel was Ally and Jake's relationship. The emotions and little details of their romance were vibrantly written. Kieran Scott perfectly captured the emotions of an all-consuming crush; the kind of crush that leaves you incessantly daydreaming, prone to love struck gazing, and completely frustrated. The fact that their relationship is taboo added to the intensity.
She's So Dead to Us isn't deep and it doesn't impart any great wisdom to the reader, but it is fun and gave me that fluttery feeling that's only caused when two characters have undeniable chemistry.
December 6, 2011
When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all?
Ally Ryan used to be rich, at least up till her father made a mistake that almost bankrupted her family as well as her friends'. Unable to face her friends or live the same way again,her family moves out of Orchard Hill (The Beverly Hills of New Jersey)without even a goodbye only to move back again two years later because her mother got a job at her old high school. Now Ally's forced to deal with the ramifications of her father's screwup and face the people who were once her 'friends'. Only, nothing's the same.
I really enjoyed She's So Dead To Us. It's a mix of 90210,Gossip Girl and Jersey Shore (though I've never seen the show, I've heard what it's like). There's parties, alcohol, cliques and extremely good looking teenagers.
Oh. And there's a hell lot of drama. So if you're a fan of any of these shows, you're gonna like this one. Ally Ryan is like Serena Van Der Woodson, but a poor (literally) one.
Ally Ryan used to be rich, at least up till her father made a mistake that almost bankrupted her family as well as her friends'. Unable to face her friends or live the same way again,her family moves out of Orchard Hill (The Beverly Hills of New Jersey)without even a goodbye only to move back again two years later because her mother got a job at her old high school. Now Ally's forced to deal with the ramifications of her father's screwup and face the people who were once her 'friends'. Only, nothing's the same.
I really enjoyed She's So Dead To Us. It's a mix of 90210,Gossip Girl and Jersey Shore (though I've never seen the show, I've heard what it's like). There's parties, alcohol, cliques and extremely good looking teenagers.
Oh. And there's a hell lot of drama. So if you're a fan of any of these shows, you're gonna like this one. Ally Ryan is like Serena Van Der Woodson, but a poor (literally) one.
June 1, 2010
OMG. I love Kieran/Kate Brian for her private series and a few others but this book was just everything i look for in a book. it was sarcastic and witty and had just enough romance. i also loved how even though she knew things were different she still missed her old friends. that longing was written really well. i loved the cliff hanger. i loved all the characters so much and because of my history with kierans other work i kinda of know how she writes so i can see some future plot lines. but then again she always shocks me(i.e. taking away billing =() just an excellent book for anyone who like good YA books. and check out the private series if you havent. i love chloe and i know her and ally will get past this and i know chloe and hammond will break up. and i know shannen will get over this nonsense hatred of ally and her crush on jake, so her and ally will def be friends but i think faith is so mean because she is afraid of being dropped by the girls so i think that she will be dropped after doing something terrible. cant wait.
May 6, 2013
cute, sassy and snarky, Aly is just trying to come back to her old town and be with her friends again. But the last time she was here, she was rich, her mom and dad were still together and she was in the 'popular' crowd. And the last time she saw her friends, she was leaving town after a faulty investment had her dad losing all of his and all the other families' money.
Needless to say, Aly is not received back well.
but the new boy, Jake, can't keep his eyes off of her.
Except Jake...kind of sucked. He needs to suck it up and make a choice. Either Aly is worth it or she's not. Stop playing this tug of war game.
And Shannen. How can ANYONE be friends with her?!?! Ugh. Even Faith sucked. I was surprised Aly had EVER been friends with these people.
And their parents were even worse
All in all, a highly entertaining book that kept me turning the pages and reading along. I did enjoy it! Nice and light and fluffy!
Needless to say, Aly is not received back well.
but the new boy, Jake, can't keep his eyes off of her.
Except Jake...kind of sucked. He needs to suck it up and make a choice. Either Aly is worth it or she's not. Stop playing this tug of war game.
And Shannen. How can ANYONE be friends with her?!?! Ugh. Even Faith sucked. I was surprised Aly had EVER been friends with these people.
And their parents were even worse
All in all, a highly entertaining book that kept me turning the pages and reading along. I did enjoy it! Nice and light and fluffy!
May 21, 2012
so far, i'm thinking the writing is possibly worst than 50 shades...if it doesn't get better soon I may stab myself in the eye. i didn't think it was possible to use 'butthole hideous' in a sentence 3 times...
July 22, 2019
It wasn't Ally Ryan's fault her father lost all her friends college trust funds in a risky investment. It wasn't Ally's fault her parents moved her out of Orchard Hill to Baltimore. But now Ally and her mother are back after her mother found a job at Orchard Hill High. And her friends are not happy about it except for the new boy, Jake Graydon. He doesn't know what her father did, and he can't help but be drawn to her, against his friends better judgment. Told in alternating POV between Ally and Jake, follow the school year and find out what happens to Ally Ryan.
I loved this book. I think it was because it was mostly like gossip, and gossip, no matter how bad it is, is interesting. What I thought was interesting was how similar this book and the movie Mean Girls were. First off, the Cresties were like the Plastics: rich, popular, and mean. Ally was sort-of like the main girl in MG, Cady, except Ally was once friends with the Cresties, and Cady becomes "friends" with the Plastics. Both of them become friends with two social "outcasts" at their school. Only difference: Ally dates her male friend, and Cady's male friend is "too gay to function". Ally and Cady both do get the desired guy, at some point during their story. The biggest major difference between the two stories: Ally was a Crestie turned Norm, so all the pranks were on her. Cady became a Plastic but did the pranks on Regina. While reading, I instantly saw the similarities especially since I had watched Mean Girls a few days before starting this book.
I definitely recommend this novel. I think it would be a good read for upper middle or lower high school. Like ages 13-16, maybe? If you liked The Clique by Lisi Harrison, Rolls Royce by Margaret Stohl, or the movie Mean Girls , you will definitely enjoy She's So Dead to Us .
I loved this book. I think it was because it was mostly like gossip, and gossip, no matter how bad it is, is interesting. What I thought was interesting was how similar this book and the movie Mean Girls were. First off, the Cresties were like the Plastics: rich, popular, and mean. Ally was sort-of like the main girl in MG, Cady, except Ally was once friends with the Cresties, and Cady becomes "friends" with the Plastics. Both of them become friends with two social "outcasts" at their school. Only difference: Ally dates her male friend, and Cady's male friend is "too gay to function". Ally and Cady both do get the desired guy, at some point during their story. The biggest major difference between the two stories: Ally was a Crestie turned Norm, so all the pranks were on her. Cady became a Plastic but did the pranks on Regina. While reading, I instantly saw the similarities especially since I had watched Mean Girls a few days before starting this book.
I definitely recommend this novel. I think it would be a good read for upper middle or lower high school. Like ages 13-16, maybe? If you liked The Clique by Lisi Harrison, Rolls Royce by Margaret Stohl, or the movie Mean Girls , you will definitely enjoy She's So Dead to Us .
November 29, 2017
If you’re interested in high school drama, then She’s So Dead To Us is a book you definitely want to read. It’s about a 17-year-old girl, Ally Ryan, who returns to her hometown, Orchard Hill, where not everyone is thrilled to see her because of her dad’s business trades. Throughout the book, you get to see her slowly regain all of her friendships that she previously had. She even found a love interest named Jake Gordon who is into all the same things she’s into.
I think that many people currently in high school can relate to this book because it shows how friendships are lost, and how boys can be a pain. I think the author did a really good job with portraying everyone’s feelings because she kept on switching the point of view from Ally to Jake. She’s So Dead To Us is also the first book in the trilogy of He’s So She’s So, and the author got me intrigued and wanting to read the next book. Overall, this book was super exciting to read because it had so many ups and downs, and I’m looking forward to keep on reading the rest of the series.
I think that many people currently in high school can relate to this book because it shows how friendships are lost, and how boys can be a pain. I think the author did a really good job with portraying everyone’s feelings because she kept on switching the point of view from Ally to Jake. She’s So Dead To Us is also the first book in the trilogy of He’s So She’s So, and the author got me intrigued and wanting to read the next book. Overall, this book was super exciting to read because it had so many ups and downs, and I’m looking forward to keep on reading the rest of the series.
December 1, 2018
3.5 stars
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