Thursday, February 9, 2012

Review: New Girl by Paige Harbison

Title: New Girl
Author: Paige Harbison
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: January 31, 2012



BUY NEW GIRL


They call me 'New Girl'...
Ever since I arrived at exclusive, prestigious Manderly Academy, that’s who I am. New girl. Unknown. But not unnoticed—because of her.
Becca Normandy—that’s the name on everyone’s lips. The girl whose picture I see everywhere. The girl I can’t compare to. I mean, her going missing is the only reason a spot opened up for me at the academy. And everyone stares at me like it’s my fault.
Except for Max Holloway—the boy whose name shouldn’t be spoken. At least, not by me. Everyone thinks of him as Becca’s boyfriend but she’s gone, and here I am, replacing her. I wish it were that easy. Sometimes, when I think of Max, I can imagine how Becca’s life was so much better than mine could ever be.
And maybe she’s still out there, waiting to take it back.(Copied From Goodreads)
My Review
No one likes to be the “New Girl” but it is even worse when you have to compete with a girl who disappeared the previous year. New Girl by Paige Harbison is a retelling of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier for a young adult audience. I have never read Rebecca, so I am not able to do a comparison. The story starts with the main character, who gets into the prestigious boarding school, Manderly. ¬¬She is not too sure she wants to go, and when she shows up, she realizes that the only reason she got in is because Becca Normandy disappeared at the end of last year.

Everything the “New Girl” does is compared to Becca, and not in a good way. Becca is always better, and it does not help things that Becca’s boyfriend, Max, has taken a notice to the “New Girl.” The question on everyone’s mind, is Becca Normandy alive or dead? Becca’s former roommate, and the New Girl’s new roommate, Dana is convinced that Becca is out there just waiting to come back, and make an entrance, and she makes sure that the new girl knows it every day. To survive at Manderly, the New Girl is going to have to grow a tough skin.

This story is switches points of views between the “New Girl” in present time, and Becca’s from the previous year. I like the way it switches, because that way you can get to know both the “New Girl” and Becca. I loved the “New Girl” and I hated how she felt less than, because she was always compared to Becca, and Becca is always better. It is worse, because compared to Becca, “New Girl” is a better person. Becca lies, cheats, and steals to get things the way she wants them, and she does not care who gets hurt in the process.

I have to say that Max is a bit questionable, because he likes the “New Girl “ but seems to keep his distance, because of the way people talk. In other words, for parts of the book, Max is a jerk. I would have to say, that having a character with no name did not affect the story at all for me. I connected with the character, which I think helps because it is told from a first person point of view. I do not think it would have been possible in third person. I really loved the story in New Girl, and I would recommend it to any fan of young adult. I just wish I had read the original story, so I could compare the two versions.

**Unabridged Bookshelf received this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

3 comments:

Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer said...

Great review..i am looking forward to reading this one

Unknown said...

I've heard very negative things about this book, but I think it sounds great. I am a HUGE fan of Tge book and movie "Rebecca". One of my all-time favorites. I don't think I could help but love this. I so glad you liked it.
Great review!

Jenny said...

I've read Rebecca so I'm really excited to read this one to compare.

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