IT'S A MALL WORLD AFTER ALL, by Janette Rallison

 Goodreads Synopsis:

It's a Mall World After All

by Janette Rallison

It's too bad they don't give out diplomas for what you learn at the mall, because I could graduate with honors in that subject.  No really.  Since I've worked there, I've become an expert on all things shopping-related. For example, I can tell you right off who to distrust at the mall:
 
1) Skinny people who work at Cinnabon.  I mean, if they're not eating the stuff they sell, how good can it be?

2) The salesladies at department store makeup counters.  No matter what they tell you, buying all that lip gloss will not make you look like the pouty models in the store posters.

3) And most importantly--my best friend's boyfriend, Bryant, who showed up at the food court with a mysterious blonde draped on his arm.

Yeah, I saw it, and yeah, I told my best friend all about it.

You would think this would mean trouble for Bryant, but you would basically be wrong.  Somehow, the evil boyfriend turned everything around, and now I'm the one who has to prove myself!  But I will. Even if Bryant--and more importantly his best friend, Colton--keep trying to stop me.


I'll get to the review/recommendation in a second, but first I want to say how blessed I feel right now. For the past year or so money for my little family of five has been extremely tight. And, during some months, non-existent. So, for me to be able to have new books to read is a miracle. I firmly believe that you cannot become a great writer without reading a lot first, and without all the generous people on the web giving away free books, I wouldn't have much of an opportunity to do so. I know they do it for advertising purposes, so that people will spread the word, but how many times have I been able to get a book when it could have just as easily gone to someone else?


Anyway, I just feel great. If you haven't had a chance to win a contest, keep at it! Because it will pay off in the end. And to show how grateful I am, I will be having more contests coming up. I can't say just when yet, but I promise I will have at least one. And if you continue to send people my way, and if I get to 300 followers, I will have a contest where you can pick the prize! (Not that I need that many followers, but if I got there I feel like it would deserve some celebrating, don't you think?)


Okay, onto this amazing little book!


It's no secret, if you follow my blog, that I adore Janette Rallison's work. I have only read three of her books, but I look forward to reading more from her. And just a side note, she is starting a middle grade series called SLAYERS, under the pen name, C.J. Hill. The first book is on its way to me in the mail, so at some point I will be doing a review of that book as well.


For those of you who like a clean read, like me, you will love this book. Janette is a master of creating believable teen relationships. Her romances are built on perfect timing, showing an obvious matching of two individuals (the MC and her hunk), but then putting great tension-building stumbling blocks in their way. She hooks you with relatable teen emotions, mishaps of magnitude, and witticisms galore. I hate to use such a cliche phrase, but there is NEVER a dull moment, and I think each book Janette writes gets better and better. I love that her newer stories are including fantasy elements as well as modern day drama. I will always be a fan.

Now is that enough without giving away any of the plot? I don't normally go over plots, since what you need to know is already on the back flap, but I tell you what I love about the books I recommend. This book is basically about opposites attracting, and the silly situations the MC gets herself into as she tries to prove to her best friend that her boyfriend is cheating on her. The relationship between Charlotte and Colton actually reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my husband. As I read this book I could see our personalities and how we respond to one another, which until now, I didn't ever truly see in any other book. You know how you read a book and would love it if your relationship was like the one in the story? I'd always have to shake myself awake at the end and tell myself that the relationship in the story wasn't really like mine, even if it was awesome or believable. 


Tangent. Sorry. So, have any of you read this book? Are there any books like this one that you can recommend? Please let me know! And stay tuned!