Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality

Well, who doesn't like a book about a dysfunctional family? If you like reading about other people's brand of crazy, Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is for you.



As I read this book, I kept thinking back to The Ugly Duckling. It may seem cliche, but that's exactly what's going on. Lexi is told she's ugly until she basically discovers wax and makeup. Then, BAM! Instant hottie.

Of course, there are other things going on at the same time to keep things interesting. Lexi discovers that, like herself, people aren't always what they seem-- and this has a wide range of complications for her.

I group Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality under "beach reads" because it's a perfect read for when you don't want to think too deeply. It's quick and light. The characters are pretty straight forward, and I wouldn't say they undergo any overly drastic changes or growth. The dialogue is believable, so you get a good dose of contemporary fiction here. Also, at times there are snippets of wit and humor that will make you smile and maybe laughed inwardly, but nothing that will make you throw sand at your bestie in the chair next to you so that you can share what's on the page.

Every time I pick up one of Elizabeth Eulberg's books I don't think it can be better than her last one. She continues to prove me wrong. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality blew me away.

I honestly don't even know where to start with this book. I finished this book a couple of weeks ago and I've struggled to write a review because I can't put it all into words. This is one of those books that I want to hug and not share with anyone unless they promise to love it but I also want to stand in the YA section and hand it to everyone that walks passed. In an attempt to not ramble/gush too much I'm just going to make a list of what I loved about this book.

~Lexi. I couldn't believe how much I connected with her. One of my favorite things about reading is finding characters like Lexi. It's a beautiful moment in a book when you meet a character and say "Oh, I know you."
~Lexi's friends (the real ones) made me smile and remind me of the wonderful people I have in my life as a support system.
~Elizabeth's ability to recreate that awkward high school experience amazes me. She does it time and time again in her books. The angst, the social pressure, the drama, the fun- it's all there in this book and it makes me very glad that I can relive those days from afar. (Those weren't my best years- awkward was an understatement for me.)
~This book deals with some really tough issues. Issues that made me cry. What I love about Elizabeth's writing is that she isn't afraid to tackle these issues and that she tackles them with humor. I think I love this because that's how I deal with most things in my life. To quote another writer I admire- “Make it dark, make it grim, make it tough, but then, for the love of God, tell a joke.” Joss Whedon. Elizabeth does this exact thing and it makes for brilliant story telling.
~The humor- I know I mentioned this in the last comment but aside from the humor in the serious situations there is a lot of funny that happens day to day. Any book that deals with child beauty pageants is bound to be humorous- RGGP does not disappoint in the laugh out loud moments.

Ok, I'm going to stop there because if I don't this review is going to be out of control. Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality is a book that I wish I had read in high school. The message in this book is one that every single person needs. The day that we realize that a great personality is the most important thing is the day we become free. The earlier in life we understand that concept the luckier we are. Go buy this book today!! You won't regret it!

Lexi is one of those girls that are funny and nice and has a great personality. ever been told that you have a "great personality"? you know when people are trying not to hurt your feelings and they say that but they can't say you're pretty. well Lexi has had so many of these "incidences" that shes fed up with it. it all starts with a bet to get her good friend to be a little more outgoing. she has to wear makeup and a dress to school and he has to talk to his crush. little does Lexi know that this is the start of something so new that all of a sudden guys will want to talk to her and the popular girls or Glamour Girls will notice her to. Will she get the guy of her dreams or not? read it and find out!

Why I Loved It: Oh the laughs I had reading this book. Lexi is part of a pageant family, which takes up a lot of time and lots and lots of money. On a dare, she goes from the girl with the great personality to the girl who looks good enough people don't look at the personality. But the ride? Oh it's tons of fun. The laughs I found in the book totally made my day. The voice was pretty high school-ish, so if that doesn't sounds appealing to you, you might want to stay away. For me, it was part of the charm of the book.

I am have never been part of pageants, and I avoid Toddlers in Tiaras like the flu. Honestly though, the book managed to capture the horrors and the quirks of pageants. She didn't dismiss them all together, just certain aspects. I can't even begin to imagine the research that was involved. Pairing the pageant with Lexi's search for what makes her happy was an awesome compare and contrast throughout the book. Lexi sees the world around her though the lens of being part of a pageant family.

There was so much to love about Lexi: her heart, her sense of humor, her work ethic, and her family devotion in the midst of chaos. Everything about Lexi was actually real. There was a love triangle in the book that didn't follow the normal trend. Lexi worked hard, and she had a mom that was crazy. Man there were moments that I hated what the mom stood for. And my gosh there were moments I needed to slap something.

Lexi's story is not all about a makeover or the girl who gets a makeover and then learns. Lexi's story is about family and being who you are because you want to. I know that the latter is pretty common, but it is presented in such a way that will make you laugh and scream and throw things and love what Lexi stands for. You will fall in love with her friends, and cheer on Lexi in her search. You will feel the joys and frustrations of being a teen in a very real way. The book is fabulous!

Who Should Read It: This is a great contemporary read. For those doing the contemporary challenge, ADD IT!!