Sophie Reads YA: Jodie Andrefski

2019 Contemporary Romance Challenge

ARC Review: The Boyfriend Bid (The Girlfriend Request #2) by Jodie Andrefski

10:00

The Boyfriend Bid
Series: The Girlfriend Request #2
Author: Jodie Andrefski
Published April 8th 2019 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Crush)

Goodreads Synopsis
Sarah Campbell’s never bid in her high school's charity auction to win a date with one of the school's hottest guys. And she’s certainly not going to start now––when she’s still hurting over a bad breakup. The absolute last thing she’d ever do is bid on Mr. Ego himself, Chance DuPont.

Chance just wanted to help out a worthy cause, not get roped into not one but six dates with someone who seemingly can’t stand him. But when Sarah’s friends bid on him on her behalf, that’s exactly where he ends up. Now a local blog is covering the story by following them on all their dates, too?

Seems like everyone loves a good love story––except the two living it.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

In The Boyfriend Bid, Sarah has just gone through a bad breakup after discover her boyfriend had been cheating, and is dragged along to the school's charity auction with her best friends. She had no plans to bid on any of the soccer players, but after her friends place a bid on her behalf, and she won, she has to spend six dates with Chase - someone who she would never have wanted to be near. Chase, for his part, only agreed to take part because of his brother's current fight with Leukaemia, and would rather spend time with him. However, neither of them can get out of it, especially not when a local blogger, Erica, caught wind of it, and wanted to document the entire situation.

I enjoyed this book, and found both Sarah and Chase likeable characters. The situation with the forced dates and Erica's bloggers following them was a bit contrived, but you could see that when they were both really alone, they were falling for each other in a natural way. It was difficult for them to be themselves when they were mic-ed up, and had cameras following their every move, and for me to engage with the characters, but once you got passed this, it definitely improved the book. All in all, this was a fun and cute read.

Dates Read:
March 22-24, 2019

Rating
4 Stars

0 Stars

ARC Review: The Society by Jodie Andrefski

10:00

The Society
Series: None
Author: Jodie Andrefski
Published May 3rd 2016 by Entangled Teen

Goodreads Synopsis
Welcome to Trinity Academy’s best-kept secret.

The Society.

You’ve been handpicked by the elite of the elite to become a member. But first you’ll have to prove your worth by making it through Hell Week.

Do you have what it takes?

It’s time to find out.

Samantha Evans knows she’d never get an invite to rush the Society—not after her dad went to jail for insider trading. But after years of relentless bullying at the hands of the Society’s queen bee, Jessica, she’s ready to take down Jessica and the Society one peg at a time from the inside out.

All it’ll take is a bit of computer hacking, a few fake invitations, some eager rushees…and Sam will get her revenge.

Let the games begin.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

I previously read Andrefski's, The Girlfriend Request, and though I wasn't too keen on it, I felt like giving her another chance when I saw the synopsis of The Society. To me, it seemed similar to one of my favourite series, Night School by C.J. Daugherty, and I hoped I would find something to fill the gap that series has left behind. However, that so wasn't the case. I read about 50% of this book, and pretty much shook my head on every single page, and after nearly three weeks of getting no further, I decided to stop putting off the inevitable, and just DNfed the book.

The Society is a elite group in Trinity Academy, and only the best of the best are chosen to be invited. If you're lucky enough to last through Hell Week, you're set for life - the best picks of college, jobs, you name it; if you fail, you're basically ruined. Samantha has had a tough past year. After her father was arrested and jailed for insider trading, her whole life has changed. Her best friend, Jessica, was instrumental in her father's arrest, and treats Samantha like something she stepped in, so Sam decides to get payback. Jessica is in charge of picking the rushees, so Sam hacks her account and adds a few others, who deserve to be in The Society, but who aren't the 'creme de la creme' that are normally picked.

I enjoyed the whole bit about The Society, but it wasn't great, and was overshadowed by the awful romantic aspect. Sam's best friend, Jeremy, is in love with her, and seemed to be falling into the 'friend-zone' category, especially when the new, mysterious guy, with the cliche motorcycle, turns up one day, and seems to know a lot about Sam and wants to spend time with him. I mean, she's only spoken to him (Ransom) for fewer than a few minutes, and then decides to go to his house, all on her own. Yeah, that's how girls get killed. It was just completely unbelievable, and ridiculous to me, that I was turned off from any redeeming qualities the book may or may not have had, and just had to put it down.

After this being the second disappointing book of Andrefski's I've read, I don't think I'll read anything from her in the future. Definitely a no from me for The Society.

Dates Read:

April 23-May 9, 2016

Rating
0 Stars/ Did Not Finish

3 Stars

ARC Review: The Girlfriend Request (The Girlfriend Request #1) by Jodie Andrefski

10:00

The Girlfriend Request
Series: The Girlfriend Request #1
Author: Jodie Andrefski
Published January 11th 2016 by Entangled: Crush

Goodreads Synopsis
Updating best friend to girlfriend is more than a change of status…

Emma has been best friends with Eli since she moved to his neighborhood ten years ago. Tired of being cast in the role of the girl next door, Emma creates a fake Facebook profile in the hopes of starting an online friendship with Eli, which would hopefully lead to more. Like...way more. From friend request to In a Relationship--it all seemed so completely logical when she'd planned it.

Eli can't figure out what Emma is up to. He’s pretty sure she's the one behind the Facebook profile, but then again, why would she do something so drastic instead of just admitting she wants to be more than friends? And who the heck is this new guy he saw her with? Eli starts to think that just maybe...he missed his chance with the girl next door.

Two best friends, one outlandish ruse. Their status is about to become way more than It’s Complicated…

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains one fake Facebook profile, two best friends who secretly crave each other, and a dreaded sex talk with parents…boy crush in the room included. Pushing a relationship beyond the friend zone has never been so crazy…
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

The Girlfriend Request was the type of book you want when you don't really want to think too hard. It's the kind of contemporary fiction that is a bit predictable, but also enjoyable to read. In this book, the main character, Emma, decides to create a fake Facebook profile, in order to get her best friend, and neighbour, Eli, to realise he wants to be more than friends. When Eli starts talking to 'Kelli', and seems to really like her, Emma starts to realise just how crazy her whole scheme was, and how far in over her head she was. To top it all off, just as Eli is starting to show his feelings for her, she messes up, and tries to arrange a double date for him and 'Kelli', and her and her new fake boyfriend, Jake.

Confusing? Yeah, I know. I struggled with this book a bit. Everything just seemed a bit too fake. I honestly do not know what was going through Emma's head when she decided catfishing her best friend and crush was a good idea. How did she think it was all turn out in the end? Would Eli just greet her with open arms, and forgive her lying to him? Nah, I didn't think so. To make matters worse, there was a love triangle :/ I'm not one who is immediately turned off a book because of a love triangle, but this one nearly made me DNF, and I'd already had to push past that feeling a little earlier. The other guy, Jake, is a college friend of Emma's friend's brother, and he just appears out of nowhere. After the first 'fake' date, Emma is falling for him, and nearly forgetting all about Eli. Jake, who knew exactly what was happening, then turns jealous when Emma wants to spend time with Eli, and is acting a bit like a controlling boyfriend. I just didn't like him.

To be straight, I didn't really like any of the characters. They were all just a bit bland. The book read quite samey for a lot of other YA contemporaries out there, and never gripped me. Like I said, I nearly DNFed the book a few times, but I didn't want my first book of the year to be such a failure. I am glad I pushed through it, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to read it again.

One positive I can say, is that the book ended well. I find a lot of contemporaries just end, and you're left wanting more. With this, I didn't feel that. For me, it was just enough.

I don't know if I'd recommend this. It was enjoyable, at times, and I am glad I persevered, but other than that, I think there are other books out there that would be better. I wouldn't try and turn anyone away from it, though, it's up to you. But if you have a problem with flat characters, and an unnecessary love triangle, perhaps this isn't for you either.

Dates Read:
December 31 2015 - January 4 2016

Rating
2 Stars