Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.
But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?
Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.
Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.
Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.
And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.
Print Length: 194 pages
Publisher: Fire & Ice Books (August 15, 2012)
*Purchase*
My Review:
This book is hilarious. It is a contemporary teen romance told from the viewpoint of the "ugly" stepsister.
Mattie is your very not-so-typical teenage heroine. She wears heavy black eye makeup, has fuchsia hair, and likes to draw manga. She is surly, irritable, and has a long List of Grievances against her oh-so-perfect stepsister, Ella. Mattie's voice is very fun to read. She is full of wit and sarcasm that will make you laugh.
One of the things that I like the most about this book is that even though she has self esteem issues, Mattie won't allow Jake to use her. She refuses to lie for him, even though he makes her knees buckle. She doesn't let him get away with skipping out on detention or not doing their project, even when he flashes his dazzling smile at her. I love the way she sticks to her guns and does what she knows is right even if it means she loses her chance with the boy she adores.
I love the way her relationship with Ella evolves over the course of the story. She starts off being bitter and jealous of her perfect stepsister to being appreciative and understanding. The charactes are all well developed with strengths and weaknesses that make them believable and fun to read about.
Given the title, I had expected this to be a modern fairy tale, but there is no magic in this book (other than flying sparks and a few makeup brushes). It is an adorable and humorous story of two stepsisters trying to figure out their place in the world. And it is a love story. A very funny and sweet love story.
Tens List:
What are ten things your readers probably don't know about you?
10. That until recently I was really into World of Warcraft and was a raid tank.
9. I watch a lot of television. A Lot. My DVR is my friend.
8. My husband is the first guy I Seriously Kissed (which means not a spin-the-bottle type way). What? I was picky.
7. I used to write fanfic.
6. I skipped first grade, which meant I was always the youngest person in my class.
5. Until a couple of years ago, I had never gone out of the country.
4. I met Stephenie Meyer in person once and took a picture of her with my plastic frog, who was my blog mascot at the time.
3. I am deathly afraid of eels and crocodiles. They freak me the freak out.
2. That my favorite actor of all time once called me on the phone and we had an actual conversation until my husband picked up the extension and ruined the whole thing. I’m still a little bitter over that one.
1. That I am the most introverted introvert who ever introverted, but I love giving speeches and talks and teaching class. Yes, I am aware of how weird this is. Praise
“My top pick of 2012 YA… This book is just. plain. fun.”
~Jordan McCollum, author of Saints & Spies and I, Spy
“Sariah Wilson's new book, The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back, is hilarious…What follows is a story of fun and romance with some good non-preachy life lessons thrown in. The voice in the main character, Mattie, makes the whole thing. I thought it was definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone with teenagers or who just want to read a good teen romance.”
~Julie Coulter Bellon, author of All Fall Down and All’s Fair
“Sariah [Wilson] has written one of the funniest stories I've read in such a long, long time. I literally couldn't put it down. Yes, my poor Kindle's battery died and I was attached to a short power cord, contorted in a very uncomfortable position while I read to the end…. Sariah Wilson captured the back-biting, insecure, hormone-driven, clique-riddled high school atmosphere so perfectly you'd think she never grew up. I dare you not to laugh as you read this witty and oh, so, romantic story.”
~Debra Erfert of Windows into Writing
“Sariah Wilson writes like the best of/most popular YA teen fiction/teen romance authors - Sarah Dessen, Jennifer Echols, Susanne Collins, Cassandra Clare. She sucks you in and never lets you go. I finished the ~194 novel in one night because I just couldn't go to sleep without knowing the ending! I hope that Sariah comes out with more novels, I know I'll be re-reading this one all the time! She's extremely talented and needs to be talked about. I highly recommend The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back! to anyone (over the age of 12) who wants a YA novel that's a real modern-day fairy tale.”
~Hilary at Novel d’Tales
“This was such an entertaining story! I shouldn't have started reading it so late in the evening, because I didn't want to put it down to go to sleep…This is a book I can see myself reading several times. It's a fast, clean read with great characters, and I highly recommend it.”
~Andrea of Literary Time Out
The book is wonderful. It’s quirky and fun. The story makes you laugh and you fall in love with the characters right from the beginning…This is a well-written book. It is one that will make you smile and sigh as you remember your first love. And it has a moral…be yourself, believe in yourself and maybe, just maybe, your fairytale will come true. Pick up this book.”
~Ana of The Book Hookup
Author Sariah WilsonSariah Wilson has never jumped out of an airplane, never climbed Mt. Everest, and is not a former CIA operative. She has, however, been madly, passionately in love with her soulmate and is a fervent believer in happily ever afters—which is why she writes romance. The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is her fourth happily ever after novel. She grew up in southern California, graduated from Brigham Young University (go Cougars!) with a semi-useless degree in history, and is the oldest of nine (yes, nine) children. She currently lives with the aforementioned soulmate and their four children in Utah, along with three tiger barb fish, a cat named Tiger, and a recently departed hamster that is buried in the backyard (and has nothing at all to do with tigers).
Tour Giveaway
$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash
Ends 3/10/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Pin It
1 comment:
I read about this book on another blog yesterday. :) I found you on Book Blogs and I am now your newest follower! I hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday and that you'll stop by for a visit sometime when you get the chance. :)
Leigh Ann
MaMa's Book Corner
Post a Comment