Summer is the best
time of year to read a trashy novel. Whether you’re relaxing on the beach or
just lazing around on the couch, nothing beats the heat like a fun and frothy
novel. Thankfully, Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan understand that need for a
trashy read. Best known for writing the hilarious fashion and pop culture blog
Go Fug Yourself (www.gofugyourself.com), Cocks and Morgan are also the
authors of two young adult novels.
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Their first novel Spoiled was released under the Poppy imprint of
Little, Brown and Company in June of 2011. Two months before its release, I had
the pleasure of interviewing Cocks and Morgan for one of my classes. During the
interview, Morgan described Spoiled
as “Clueless plus Mean Girls
with a dash of The
Parent Trap.
Basically, it's the story of a girl who learns on her mother's deathbed that
her father is actually the most famous movie star in the world. She goes to
live with him and her half-sister—who is NOT happy about this development.
Shenanigans, of course, ensue.”
Sixteen-year-olds
Molly Dix and Brooke Berlin each narrate the story in alternating chapters.
Their dad, Brick Berlin, is an action hero (think Tom Cruise but taller) under
the impression that he is a philosopher. Since he believes “children, like
protein shakes, are God’s greatest presents,” Brick is eager to introduce his
new daughter to his fans. While Molly must come to terms with her new life in
Hollywood, Brooke is more concerned about sharing her father—and the
spotlight—with someone else. “It’s a classic outsider tale, so we get to poke
fun at this town from both an inside (Brooke) and an outside (Molly)
perspective. That way, you don’t have to live here to get it,” says Cocks.
Through new friends
and romances, school plays, Hollywood parties, and the scheming daughter of a
tabloid editor, Molly and Brooke have a lot to overcome as they try to form a
sisterly bond. There are a lot of elements in the novel that may seem trashy,
such as the Hollywood scene and the slew of pop culture references. The story
opens with two teenage girls going shopping, but the book is not nearly as
shallow as such a scene might imply. The plot strays from a typical
fish-out-of-water story into a smart, funny tale about friendships,
relationships, and family. As Cocks put it, “We wanted Hollywood parody, but it
needed a soul too.”
Spoiled is now available as an e-book or in paperback
for $8.99 wherever books are sold.
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And once you finish Spoiled, pick up its companion novel Messy, also by Cocks and Morgan and published
by the Poppy imprint. Released in June 2012, Messy
picks up not long after Spoiled left off, but things are pretty stable
for Molly and Brooke. Now the relationship that takes center stage is that of
Max (Molly’s best friend in Hollywood) and Brooke. When Brooke decides she
wants to be an actress, she realizes she needs to make a name for herself as
someone other than Brick Berlin’s legitimate daughter. So she starts a blog,
but she doesn’t have the time to write it herself. Just as Brooke is looking
for a “celebrity blogographer,” Max is looking for a job to help her pay to
attend a summer writing program at NYU. With her green hair and permanent
scowl, Max doesn’t seem like the ideal blogographer for Brooke. But Molly likes
Max, and Brooke is starting to trust her sister’s opinions. Thanks to Max’s
honest and witty entry about the escapades of a Miley Cyrus-esque starlet at
her birthday party, the blog takes off, and Brooke is on her way to the fame
she always dreamed about.
Messy is even more fun than Spoiled. It may be a bit trashier, but it is not
lacking in soul. Max and Brooke both deal with their insecurities. For Brooke,
it is a struggle to hear everyone—including her father—tell her how smart she
is on her blog when she knows that someone else deserves all the credit. And
Max must deal with a crush on Brooke’s costar when she thinks he only has eyes
for Brooke. Eventually, the secret of who really writes Brooke’s blog becomes a
burden for both girls, and things really get messy.
It’s a fast and
enjoyable read. While it’s not necessary to read Spoiled
before Messy, it will make some of the jokes funnier.
Messy is available in hardcover for $17.99
wherever books are sold and in e-book format for $9.99. And for more of Cocks
and Morgan, Go Fug Yourself is always available for free!
There is no word on
whether or not the Fug Girls will write a third book, but here’s hoping they
do. (And hopefully it will be told in the point of view of Brooke’s sidekick
Arugula and Molly as they fight for Teddy’s affection. If they don’t write that
book, I might have to start writing fan fiction.)
Both Spoiled and Messy are the perfect summer reads, and if you
have any interest in trashy books or the world of pop culture, you must read
these books.
Written by Chelsey Falco
Teri Terry
really brings the thrills in the start of this new series. In a futuristic
dystopian U.K, the government has a way of dealing with young criminals: giving
them a fresh start. In other words, they slate them. Kyla has recently been
slated, all memories of her past life—and past crimes—have been erased. After
an entirely new family adopts her, Kyla is faced with the challenge of
reintegrating into society, while Lorders (the new U.K. police), her new
family, and other government agents watch her closely for any signs of relapse.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Kyla is also forced to wear a Levo, a bracelet
connected to a chip in her brain that will stun or even kill her if her anger
or violence levels rise too high. However, Kyla is not like other slateds. She
has the capacity to dream; she’s simply unsure as to whether these are her real
memories or merely fantasy. She is forced to face loaded questions such as,
“Why are innocent people vanishing?” and, “Who are the AGT (anti-government
terrorists), exactly and what do they want?” With only she and her fellow
slated Ben to rely upon, Kyla begins to peel back layers upon layers of
mystery, endangering her own life, and the lives of those she has come to love.
