Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Val

Everyone knows there are two categories& good girls and bad girls. The good girls are of course the ones who refrain from any sort of intimacy and have the smart yet reserved stereotype down. Bad girls on the other hand are the girls we all talk about, you know the ones who do things we like to label on nice terms as promiscuous or risqué. So if being a good girl or being a bad girl is so black and white and there are no shades of gray where would the main character of Good Girls by: Laura Ruby fit in? Audrey Porter is the epitome of a good girl. She is extremely well mannered and works very hard in school; in fact shes ranked number three. Now, your probably asking yourself then why would an author write a story about a good girl where the plot, the scandal and intrigue. Well, dont fret it all comes and unravels on about the third page where the reader finds out that even a good girl can be a little promiscuous.

Audrey Porter has been hooking up with the most popular guy in school, Luke DeSalvio. He is good looking with blonde hair and blue eyes and he knows it. As Audrey narrates the novel she makes it clear that her so called relationship with Luke has to end because it has no future. Through a series of flashback chapters she shows the reader how much she gave up to Luke and how she wants to leave him with something hell never forget. Her unforgettable moment happens at a friends Halloween party and unfortunately gets photographed (hence the picture on the cover). Its pretty obvious what happens after that. Her parents are texted the picture and everyone now labels Audrey as a bad girl her reputation is tarnished.

When she confront hers friend Ash and tells her that she did it with Luke Ash gets upset at her for not telling her right away. She finds solace in the company of the labeled sluts of the school. But as Audrey gets to know them she realizes they arent bad girls they just do what everyone else does and everyone knows. The night of the prom they decide to dress up in wedding gowns to celebrate their born again virginity and Audrey discovers the person who took the picture. She is upset at first but recovers and comes to realize that people shouldnt be labeled good or bad because there is always a little bad and good in everyone. This doesnt just apply to girls either when Luke speaks to her and lets her know that his personality isnt as flirtatious as she assumed it was and how he did and does care for her.

This novel has heart and is real. It doesnt try to preach like a lot of young adult novels do but the message still comes out strong and clear. It doesnt even try to influence the reader by saying be good or be bad it just shows readers that there are and can be instances where people are part of that shade of gray. There are times where you get the impression that the author is trying a bit too hard to get in touch with the hip language but other than that its a relatable book. It also helps that the cover doesnt have some half-naked person on it misinforming the person about the novels contents, which is what a lot of young adult books tend to have.