ARC Reviews: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel!
Synopsis for The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad (from Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old Sadie is tired of being a good girl.Her Career Aptitude Test results say she’s ideally suited for a career in the clergy (aka a nun), and on top of that, she receives yet another rejection. An aspiring dancer/choreographer, Sadie dreams of being featured on Dancer’s Edge—but they say she’s too sweet, needs more life experience. Her BFF, Kyle, and her oldest friend, 79-year-old Betty, agree: Sadie is in desperate need of a life makeover.
But she’ll need a coach.
Sadie doesn’t lie, cheat or steal–heck she doesn’t even curse (part of the reason she hasn’t checked off anything on her “Carpe Diem List”). Sadie doesn’t know the first thing about being bad. But Kyle’s twin brother, Colton, does. And he’s willing to teach Sadie on one condition: she has to do everything he says for the next month.
A dazzling first kiss, two smokin’ hot brothers and a bet that changes everything. In this enemies-to-more YA romance, Sadie learns:
Breaking the rules can be fun—especially when it leads to happily-ever-after.
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Author: Cookie O’Gorman
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Romance
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: April 25, 2019
Source & Format: Author–eARC | Thank you Cookie O’Gorman!
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
I’m a huge Cookie O’Gorman fan — which says a lot because YA contemporaries are usually not my thing. But she has a great talent for writing charming, genuine characters and some pretty swoon-worthy romances that I often devour her novels in a few sittings.
The Concept:
I just want to mention how much I love that title — and how it perfectly fits this book! Sadie’s problem isn’t that she is a good girl necessarily; she just needs a little push to challenge herself and try things outside her norm. And her partnership with Colton helps her do that.
The Plot:
This was a slower start for me; it took me a few chapters to get into it. It’s the scenes Colton and Sadie share that are the highlights of this novel for me and those don’t happen right away. Instead, the exposition really focuses on why Sadie needs to complete her list and it’s a little lengthy truthfully, even if it does a good job of establishing her character.
The Characters:
I think girls everywhere will find a little of themselves in Sadie. She’s very endearing as a character and it was great to watch her come out of her shell as she completed the list. It’s simply a great coming of age story and Colton and Kyle are the perfect partners in crime for Sadie.
The Romance:
The romance is great as well! I’ll admit, I was a little worried about the “two brothers” aspect but I found it to be refreshing instead of annoying. It does a good job of highlighting Sadie’s struggles in the romance department. There’s lots of great tension throughout, though I perhaps wanted a little more just to give me all those great butterflies I usually get with Cookie’s work (but it was swoon-worthy without a doubt).
My Rating: 4/5
This read is PERFECT for anyone who likes a charming YA coming of age story that focuses on the lighter side of things. You will be thoroughly entertained by this one!
Read if You Like: YA contemporary, coming of age, lighter reads
Avoid if You: want a darker read, dislike coming of age
- Adorkable by Cookie O’Gorman
- He Belongs to Me by Sarah Darlington
- Addicted to You by Renita Pizzitola (Port Lucia Series #1)
Cookie O’Gorman
Cookie O’Gorman writes stories filled with humor and heart for the nerd in all of us. Fiery first kisses, snappy dialogue, smart girls, swoonworthy boys, and unbreakable friendships are featured in each of her books.
Cookie is a hopeless romantic, a Harry Potter aficionado, and a supporter of all things dork. Chocolate, Chinese food, and Asian dramas are her kryptonite. Above all, she believes that real life has enough sorrow and despair—which is why she always tries to give her characters a happy ending. She is the author of Adorkable, Ninja Girl, The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder and The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad.
Author Links:
[…] “I think girls everywhere will find a little of themselves in Sadie.”- Lauren at SERIESous Book Reviews “It’s a sweet, angsty romance with seriously one of the all-time hottest kisses in the […]