⭐⭐
When Odette's mom married a billionaire, she and her twin
sister, Bella, moved to Lathonia, became heiresses, and subject of news
articles. Chubby, plain, saddled with braces, Odette is a stark counterpoint to
her twin's golden gorgeousness and is quickly dubbed 'ugly duckling' by the
media. A moniker that the mean girls of the super-exclusive school she attends
are quick to adopt to bully her.
Odette finds sanctuary in books and a secret crush on the
athletic Ashley, who is also the princess of the kingdom. One afternoon, a
stray kick of the football hits Odette in her face, and Ashley quickly comes to
her rescue carrying her to the infirmary and caring for her in multiple ways.
Surprisingly, it seems that Ashley has more than noticed Odette and a tentative
friendship stars between them with exchange of favourite books.
Things escalate and the two girls have one exquisite night
together after which Ashley pulls away.
Devastated, Odette goes ahead to transforms herself into a
shallow bitch. Five years later she is all gorgeousness, known as a
bed-and-leave-'em heartless bitch, closed off from her family.
But then, Ashley re-enters her life and the same teen cycles
seems to be repeating.
This is a completely superficial escapist book. Odette, the
narrator, is far from likeable even before her heart is broken. She is never
completely involved with her consistently supportive mother and sister, and
obviously disinterested in her three adorable step-sisters. She is so shallow
that her response to being dumped is to become 'beautiful'. And all she seems
to be really doing with her life five years later is being vain and being cold.
When the lead leaves you cold, the book cannot make much of an
impression.
Ashley is never fully sketched out, but from what little is
there, she is quite appealing. Though, strangely, for being a bona fide
princess, Ashley doesn't seem to have much clout in the school pecking
order.
The best part of the story was the exchange of books between
Odette and Ashley and the continual reference to said books all through.
This is a read-and-forget book that is in the strictly
okay-with-a-shrug category.
⭐⭐
