Good Girls

This is basically a good girl- good grades, good friends, good family- gone bad.
Everybody knows her because of her hair and when found in a compromising position she can't say that she isn't the one in the picture, she becomes a disgrace to her family and even her teachers are disappointed in her. Who took the picture and why? no one knows. What about the guy she was with, is he getting a hard time as she is too?
When the truth finally comes out, will it ruin a new found friendship.
I recommend it to older readers though.

Reader reviewed by c-alexis

I know the little description on the back of the book doesn't describe much. So this is my own little attempt for a summary. Basically.. it's about a girl, Audrey, who's been hooking up with a boy. Unfortunately, one night, she was caught in a compromising position which is captured by someone's camera phone. Pretty soon everyone received this photo, in her school and even reaching her own parents. There. I didn't give away much. This story was a lot better than I expected it to be. It's about peer pressure. It's about misunderstandings. It's about loyalty with friends. It's about prejudging people. All the things in high school that make it that much worse. Although I doubt that most girls would actually get caught doing that.. this book connects with girls on some level. Definitely recommend to all girls -- good and bad -- out there.

Reprinted here with author's permission.

Reader reviewed by treblu93

Audrey is an honor student, better yet, as Mr. Zwieback puts it, a model student. She makes the grades, is in the top5 rank at her school and is college bound. Everyone knows Audrey as the genius, the good girl. But all that changes after the picture. At a Halloween party, a picture of Audrey, in an uncomfortable position, is taken without her notice. By the next day, everyone at school has seen, taken note of, and passed it on, its like a snowball effect. That is, everyone but Audrey. Why is she getting so much attention from everyone? Who would do that to her? Why? A lot of questions go unanswered when Audrey sees herself captured in film. Could that really be her? Unfortunately it is, and it gets worst, her dad is given a copy of the picture. Could a picture really change someones life that much, it did Aubreys.

Her grades get better. Since shes spending less time at the parties, shes studying more that ever. She even becomes valedictorian and gives an awesome speech at graduation. But none of this comes easy. Audrey is shunned at school and keeps to herself. Shes embarrassed and ashamed. The teachers are disappointed in her. Even her best friend, Ashley, thinks shes a slut. With that she stomps off. If she is a slut, why shouldnt she sit with the sluts, Pam Markovitz and Cindy Terlizzi. When she first sits with them, she does it out of anger and is ready to sit with her real friends again the next day but Ashley still gives her the cold shoulder. Soon enough, Ashley comes around, now its a group, Pam, Ashley, Cindy, Joelle and Audrey. A sporadic friendship is fashioned.

But what about Luke? Why is Audrey the only one getting called names? Why does he get to walk away without so much as a scratch? He was just as much in the picture as Audrey was. Since he didnt take the picture, who did? When the truth comes out, will it ruin a friendship?
This was a pretty okay book about friendship, misunderstandings, and rumors. It was what I expected it to be; judging from the title, good girl gone bad. But it also wasnt because she didnt exactly go buck wild and the changes werent exactly her choice. I would recommend this book to the older readers because of how detailed/graphic it gets and also to fans of Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky, it sort of runs on the same scale.

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.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

GOOD GIRLS is a gem of a good read. Super-smart Audrey does something completely out of character for her before school starts: she hooks up with Luke, the well-liked, athletic playboy. Party after party, they hook up, yet hardly ever speak in school. Audrey feels more for Luke than shes felt for any other boy, but as she watches Luke talk to other girls, she cant help but draw back from a possible romance between the two of them.

Then someone takes a picture of Audrey doing something sexual with Luke, and the picture is passed around to everyone. Even Audreys teachers and parents see it. Audrey goes from having a fairly decent reputation to being labeled as a slut. The consequences of the photo are far-reaching: Luke isnt talking to her and her parents dont know how to act around her.

However, some of what happens in the pictures aftermath surprises Audrey. She befriends several girls she had always considered as slutty before, and she learns that she does have the ability to be strong while people snicker behind her back.

GOOD GIRLS is snidely hilarious and a surprisingly feel-good read. Its raw and explicit; I wouldnt recommend it to anyone not in high school yet. However, Audrey is a great, strong protagonist with a wonderful voice. Not everyone has been in Audreys particular situation, but Im sure that everyone knows how it feels to be hurt, and then to rise above it.

Reader reviewed by lucky

this book was very interesting. it was one of those book where you have to keep reading each page until it is done. because its basically a good girl gonw bad. becuz she fell in luv with this hot guy. and her dum boyfriend is so dumb. and her friend sort of betrays her. so go get this book!!!!!!!!!!
:)

Reader reviewed by Ria

Audrey is the perfect girl, smart, has friends, and is in a friends-with-benefits relationship with one of the hottest guys in school. But just as she breaks the relationship off, she is caught in a compromising situation. When a picture is spread around the school, and even sent to her parents, Audrey's life changes. She starts to lose friends, her parents can't talk to her, her teachers are disappointed in her. But as time goes on, Audrey learns about true friendship and see how things can become just right in the end.

From the minute I read the description of the book, I wanted to read it. I can relate to Audrey very much, and she was a good character to read about. The story just got better and better as I read along. The ending was such a pleasant surprise and I was very happy with how it ended. I'm looking forward to reading more by Laura Ruby.