You don't know me - Review

You don't know me by Sophia Bennett

Available now

www.doublecluck.co.uk 

What's it about?

Sasha, Jodie, Nell and Rose never expected to be famous. They didn’t want to be. In fact, they wanted to keep their band a secret because it’s what they do when they’re being stupid together – dressing up and singing cheesy songs.

But someone has stolen a video they made. It’s online, and it’s been entered into a talent competition. And what’s more … it’s got 24 votes. In only a few hours it’s got 24 votes.

The girls are about to be faced with a big decision that could make them seriously famous.

Just not necessarily the way they hoped …

My review

After reading, and really enjoying, Sophia Bennett's debut novel, The look, last year, I've been looking forward to picking something else up by her so I was super happy when I received a copy of her latest book, You don't know me. It's another great novel that I enjoyed a lot.
I really liked the whole basis of the story and the author did a great job of getting peoples emotions across, I connected well with Sasha and thought she was a lovely girl.
There's a great feeling of friendship throughout the book, even when the girls fall out, you can feel the bond and I think its a great message to young girls who might pick up the book, whether its intentional or not.
It did have its funny moments too, times that made me laugh or smile. And then there were other moments that really had me feeling for the girls, the hard time Sasha had to go through really made me feel for her and I was on her side throughout.
You don't know me was a wonderful book, it touches the surface of issues with the media and how it can manipulate how the public perceive a person, uses great characters, represents friendship and is beautifully written.

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UK vs THE WORLD (49)

UK vs. The world is a weekly meme I made up lol.

It's simlair to UK vs. US except the UK covers are battling it out with their foreign counterparts from all over the world, because who doesn't love judging books by their covers!

UK                        vs                      Indonesia

The look by Sophia Bennett

Mist: I really like the almost Sex and the city feel to the Indonesian cover but I love the UK cover! I love the pink and the piercing blue eye, it's definitely more eye catching in my opinion and the winner for me this week.

Ninfa: I've always loved the UK cover for The Look. Very modern, glamorous and girlie and intriguing with the very intense look on the girl's face. Really like it :)
I also like the bold colours of the Indonesian cover, but I'm not too keen on the actual image, so it's a UK win :)

Which do you prefer?

Set in the UK (4)

'Set in the UK' is a series of posts me and Donna, my UK appreciation month co-host over at Book passion for life, will be running throughout November to highlight books that are set in the UK for you to discover.

The look by Sophia Bennett

When Ted is spotted by a model agency, she can’t believe it. At the same time her gorgeous sister, Ava, is diagnosed with cancer. With her world turned upside down, Ted has a lot of growing up to do, some of it in five-inch platforms. Can she be a supermodel and a super sister? Or will she have to choose between fame and family?

The look is a really fun book set in London about a girl who is 'discovered' by a model agency. I enjoyed this book, though it has a sad tone, it also has its funny moments and emotional ones. You can check out my review here, if you want to find out more.

The look - Review

The look by Sophia Bennett
Available 1st March 2012
http://www.doublecluck.com/

What's it about?
Ted is fifteen, and...oh yes...tall. When she's spotted by a model agency, she can't believe it.
At the same time, Ted's fashionista sister, Ava, is diagnosed with cancer. With her world turned upside down, Ted has a lot of growing up to do, some of it in five-inch platforms. Should she be the model sister for Ava? Life in front of the camera is harder than it looks. And will they still be smiling when it’s over?

My review

As well as being a fun, witty book, The Look is thought provoking and even educational - er in a good way though!
Ted is a completely endearing character, I loved her young naivete about the world, especially about the modelling world lol And it was great to see her grow up, to learn not just about the world she's thrust into when she's 'spotted' but also about who she is. She actually felt like a little sister to me, I was terrified for her when I thought maybe it could all go wrong for her and I was so proud of her for her actions at the end and a particular salon scene in the middle of the book that almost had me in tears.
She handles her Sisters illness really well considering to start she knows nothing about Lymphoma, neither did I, but I know more after reading the book.
I also liked her Sister Ava who tries to stay upbeat during her illness although you can see she has her difficult moments when I just wanted to cry for her.
I was also glad to see the author had obviously done a lot of research in the modelling world, all I know is what I've seen on America's next top model lol and the book had a really great insight into at least one side of this fast paced world, and I could really imagine the photo shoots from the great descriptions.
I really enjoyed reading The Look and laughed out loud so many times at Ted's inner monologue as she strives to understand the things going on around her.

My thoughts on the cover
This is a great cover, it seems like it's plain, it's just a girls face. But I think it suits the book perfectly and I love the colour tones and the font for the book title, also the page edges are pink! So cool!

Favourite quotes

'They say they're 'legit', but they're talking about signing me up. Did they not notice my legs? Or the monobrow? Or the hair? Or the fact that I'm still at school? Or that I don't know who Mario Testino is? Or that I'm sitting next to a goddess and they haven't shown the slightest interest in her? These people clearly have NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE DOING.'

'He's leaning in towards me. He's looking at my lips. They've probably got hot chocolate foam on them or something, but I can't seem to move any of my muscles to wipe it off.'

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