Kiss & Blog
by Alison Noel
Published by St. Martin's Griffin
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Reviewed by Jill Stovall
Winter and Sloane are tired of being passed over and ignored like a bunch of faceless extras. All the while the A-list clique of girls at Ocean High get the choice roles of homecoming princess, cheerleader, and varsity jock bait for the affection of guys like Cash Davis–who would not even notice Winter and Sloane if he ran over one of them in his Hummer. So, these desperately determined freshman rejects form a pact to do whatever it takes to get noticed during their sophomore year at Ocean High in Laguna Beach.
All summer they watch endless makeover shows, practice sure-fire flirt techniques and plan outfits to thrill. The first day of school finds Winter hopeful and feeling as if she and Sloane will finally get it right. Girls like Jaci, Holly, and Claire will pull them close to whisper the cutting-edge gossip in the hallway. Winter and Sloane will hold court at the A-list table, be invited to “the” parties and shopping excursions, and most importantly charm the cutest boys at school.
Wrong. Sloane has been a dedicated friend–until the day that she finally gets included by the A-crowd, and then she promptly dumps her best friend Winter without a second thought. And Winter discovers that shopping is actually “shoplifting,” and charming means “going all the way.”
She resolves her anger by starting an anonymous blog and becomes “Eleanor Rigby” to the Internet world. If Sloane has dumped her so heartlessly, then Eleanor would have a few choice tidbits to expose about the new “Princess Pink” and her “Pastel Posse.” As her anger diminishes she ends up meeting some really cool people who are into music and are putting together a band. Somehow her world changes and she discovers that she really doesn’t want to be a Sloane clone anyway.
Ah, but what to do about the blog? The Gospel of Eleanor Rigby has become so popular that the kids at school are guessing and speculating on the mysterious “Eleanor Rigby” and the awful “Princess Pink.” Someone even offers her a book contract.
Heartless though Sloane has been, Winter discovers her true character when it really counts. More later…
Armchair Interviews says: Ah, the joys of high school!
Author’s Web site: http://www.AlysonNoel.com