Review Friday
Scarlett Fever

Summary

Scarlett Martin's indentured servitude (albiet well-paid) to the eccentric Mrs. Amberson has only just begun. Despite moving out of Scarlett's family hotel, Mrs. Amberson's new Acting Agency is easily a full-time job. Add that to school and boy problems and Scarlett has a rocky road ahead of her.

Overview (No Spoilers)

I want more Scarlett! And her family. While the first book was enjoyable, I really fell in love with the entire Martin family in this second book, and now I'm dying to read a third. I hope there's a third. There'd better be a third. Maureen Johnson, are you listening to me? No, probably not.

Anyway, There was actually less craziness and more business savvy from Mrs. Amberson, which I liked. But the highlight of this book was the family drama. I'll confess this is still a teen girl sort of book, highlighted by Scarlett's obsession with her ex-almost-boyfriend Eric. Book for most girls, this is a sadly relateable obsession.

Book Club (Spoilers)

I particularly want to know what happens to Spencer after the events of this book. Does he ever get another acting job? What about Scarlett's unpleasant sister, Marlene? Does being PowerKid of the Year make her better or worse? I want to know how Lola handles her marriage to Chip. It's foreshadowed that Lola agreeing to sign the postnuptial agreement forced on her by Chip's parents will not go over well later, but you never see the fall out of that in the book. I suppose I'm also kinda curious what happens with Scarlett and Max. I definitely like Max better than Eric. But I just want to know how it all turns out for the entire Martin family. And it better turn out well!

Got that, Johnson?!

No, of course not.

Review Friday
Suite Scarlett

Summary

A rich and eccentric visitor comes to stay in Scarlett's family hotel for the summer, and it quickly becomes the strangest summer any of them have ever experienced. Both for the worst and the better.

Overview

Teen chick lit isn't normally the type of book that I read, but since Maureen Johnson is a friend of John Green's, and I have found her YouTube videos on writing both amusing and insightful, I thought I'd give it a try. It's still not my favorite genre, but I liked it enough to get through the whole thing and get the sequel. However, that is probably because I'm a bit of a voyeur when it comes to functional but quirky families, which is something portrayed in this book. I liked the interactions that Scarlett had with her siblings and like, just as in many families, the siblings had their favorites, those they couldn't stand, and those they just didn't understand. It wasn't a profound book, but I got the feeling it was never meant to be, and that's fine. If you're looking for light read with humor and family drama, I'd recommend this.

Book Club (Spoilers)

I kept thinking that it was going to be revealed at the end that Mrs. Amberson was actually just some crazy mental patient escaped from the institution and that she'd somehow stolen all the money she was giving Scarlett. I was a little disappointed with the actual truth.

I laughed out loud a few times while listening to this book, but one of my favorite lines was the description of Lola's "creepy underwear sandwich."