Deborah's Books: Review: Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Review: Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

From Goodreads: At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her. For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity. But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

**

I have heard this book be compared to the movie Mean Girls. Oh boy, is that a perfect description! April is shy and invisible. When her best, and only, friend moves away before their sophomore year, April is left wondering how her fate will land among the popularity gods. On the first day of school, she is partnered with Britney Taylor, one of the most popular girls in school, in gym class. April thinks the gods have smiled on her.

She soon realizes that to be “friends” with Britney means being socially dominated and frequently thrown into awkward situations. It’s made clear that April isn’t accepted as she is. She, apparently, needs a total personality and physical makeover.

But April continues her journey to be popular by sticking with Britney and her followers. She is constantly put-down and belittled. Why she sticks around, I can’t figure out. Being popular is apparently the only thing these girls think of.

When April falls out of Britney’s social graces, she’s got to figure out who she really is: the mean girl they created, or the gentle April buried deep inside.

The writing was good, the dialogue interesting. I was just so disappointed in April that her redemption came so late in the story. I was constantly frustrated with different characters and felt like I really couldn't relate to any of them. It was like I was stuck in the middle of a teenage cat fight for 240 pages.