Reviews of Don’t You Wish and The Best Night of Your Pathetic Life
I’m reading like crazy here on vacation, so I’m pairing up two books for review. In the summer, I love to read fun, page-turning books. Here are two fun summer reads with hidden depths.
Don’t You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair
Published by Delacorte Books For Young Readers
On July 10, 2012
Source: Source: e-ARC from NetGalley.
Review of Don’t You Wish by Roxanne St. Clair
Annie Nutter knows she’s a complete loser at school. So when Annie’s mom reveals that she almost married a fabulously successful and wealthy guy instead of Annie’s mad-scientist dad, Annie can’t help but wonder what her other life might have been like. Then one of Annie’s dad’s crazy inventions sends her to the life of glamour and popularity that she almost had, and Annie will have to decide which reality she prefers.
My take: I am obsessed with Freaky Friday. As a kid, I read the book many times. I’ve seen the old Jodie Foster version of the movie and the newer Lindsay Lohan one. It’s a great story! At their best, these sorts of life-swapping stories are both funny and insightful, making you appreciate what you have. Don’t You Wish takes an unpopular girl and shows her what life is like on the inside of the in-crowd. But unlike Freaky Friday, Don’t You Wish actually uses quantum physics, the theory of alternate realities, and a very cute physics geek to explain how the whole switching lives thing might actually work.
The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando
Published by Dutton
On July 5, 2012
Source: ARC traded with another blogger
It’s senior year, and Mary and a group of high school friends are about to start the much-anticipated, completely forbidden Oyster Point High Senior Scavenger Hunt. Mary and her team, a group of smart kids not exactly in the in-crowd, are determined to win. Mary’s just determined to beat Jake Barbone, who got the spot in the Georgetown freshman class that Mary thought should have been hers.
Review of The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life by Tara Altebrando
I am also obsessed with scavenger hunts. I’ve seen every episode of the Amazing Race, and have been designing treasure hunts since I was a kid. Plus, this book is one of those Happened In One Night stories that’s just breakneck, crazy, middle of the night fun. (If you want to read my post about other books that take place in one night, just click here.)
The scavenger hunt plot of this book is great, but the author adds tension and depth by having the hunt take place at the end of senior year, when the characters are both itching to move on and nostalgic about doing so. The plot also weaves in all kinds of things that distract the teams from the hunt: Mary’s friend Patrick has a huge crush on her, Mary has her eye on Carson, who’s dating Jill, and so on. Mary will have to decide how far she’s willing to go to win, including risking friendships and a valuable family heirloom.
If you’re looking for enjoyable summer reads, I recommend these two!
Neither of these books was on my radar but I really like the sound of both now. Cute physics geek is a good reason to read the first and I love stories that take place over one night as well, which gets me interested in the second book.
The cute physics guy is by far the best part of the book! Give it a try and let me know what you thought!
Great books! I definitely want to read The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life … I love the idea of scavenger hunts!
I was wondering how the scavenger hunt would translate to the printed page — but it works really well. This was such a fun book!
Great reviews Jen! Computer broke so I didn't blog back till our trivia! It's painstakingly annoying! Lol! 🙂 And I love Scavenger hunts! Don't you wish has been on my wish list for days!
That's terrible — glad you have your computer up and running again!
Great reviews!! I want to read The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life. It sounds great. I liked Don't You Wish, it just took quite a while to get into it for me.
BNoYPL will be up for grabs on Freebie Friday!
The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life sounds double awesome. Not only is there a crazy scavenger hunt going on, but then you add in all the drama happening with everyone. I like how it takes place in the night which might not seem like a lot of time but I'm sure this book packs a punch. I read One Night That Changes Everything by Lauren Barnholdt, which is a similar story, and totally loved all the craziness so I know I will love this one too.
I really enjoyed it — stop by Freebie Friday — I'm giving away my ARC!
You always make everything sound so good. I looooove the remake of Freaky Friday. It's so funny and I think Don't You Wish Sounds Fabulous. If you're into scavenger hunts, you should check out The Great Urban Race. It's a sort of city-wide scavenger hunt that is a ton of fun!
Oh, I will — would love to be on the Amazing Race except that I don't want to be on TV!
I've already got DON'T YOU WISH on my list, but I had not heard of "The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life" before. I love the idea of a scavenger hunt.
I love the concept of Don't You Wish. I love all the lifetime movies where it shows buisness men and women seeing the other side and what would have happened if they got married and had kids or what would have happened if they ended up with the rich man instead. A great lesson on appreciating what you have and also realizing the grass isn't always greener on the other side. I've also wished my mom had married someone rich and I could live like Paris Hilton lol
Best Night of Your Pathetic Life has been on my radar for a long time. I love books that take place during one night and I also love books that take place at graduation. Can't wait to read them.
Both of these sound fantastic and I love the covers, too! Thanks for the reminder 😉
Both sounds great! 🙂 Maybe I'll read Best Night of Your Pathetic Life, sounds more interesting! 🙂
I am sooo excited for The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life. It's just begging to be read. I will confess that I've never seen either of the Freaky Friday movies nor read the book. I will have to remedy that situation I think. 🙂
I desperately need to read my copy of Don't You Wish. I think this is the final push I needed. It sounds liek a book I'm gonna LOVE!!!
These both sound fun. Don't You Wish sounds really interesting too. Freaky Friday is totally fun! My tbr list just keeps growing and growing…
Both of these sound like really fun reads! I think I'm going to have to read them for sure. Especially Best Night of Your Pathetic Life!! It sounds great!
I've only just recently heard about both of these books! and they both sound like great ones to jump into! Quantum physics? You had me at Freaky Friday, lol! Scavenger Hunt? I'm there!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts 🙂
Ahhh I really want to read The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life it sounds soo good! Oh and I also love Freaky Friday! A movie that was similar to that with Lohan in it was Just My Luck… It was a really cute movie:)
-JennyC
Freaky Friday!!! Scavenger Hunts!!! YES, PLEASE!!! I want to read both of these so much! And WHY did I not realize that The Amazing Race is a huge scavenger hunt???? *Off to find out if it's on Netflix**
BTW, the hubs and I are now ADDICTED to The Amazing Race. I got season 1 on Netflix, and the other seasons aren't on Netflix, so we've been finding them on YouTube. We're about to finish season 5. ADDICTED, I tell you! 😉
Awesome review there! Here's mine if you don't mind: http://lorxiebookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-best-night-of-your-pathetic-life-by.html
Thanks and have a nice day!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! =D