Waiting On: Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg

Better off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg
To be published: February 25, 2014 by Point

For Macallan and Levi, it was friends at first sight. Everyone says guys and girls can’t be just friends, but these two are. They hang out after school, share tons of inside jokes, their families are super close, and Levi even starts dating one of Macallan’s friends. They are platonic and happy that way.

Eventually they realize they’re best friends — which wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t keep getting in each other’s way. Guys won’t ask Macallan out because they think she’s with Levi, and Levi spends too much time joking around with Macallan, and maybe not enough time with his date. They can’t help but wonder . . . are they more than friends or are they better off without making it even more complicated?

From romantic comedy superstar Elizabeth Eulberg comes a fresh, fun examination of a question for the ages: Can guys and girls ever really be just friends? Or are they always one fight away from not speaking again — and one kiss away from true love? [goodreads]

Can guys and girls be just friends?? I think this question is so interesting to investigate, and even more so in literature.  And who better to do so than Elizabeth Eulberg?  I loved The Lonely Hearts Club and enjoyed Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality, so you best believe this next novel by Eulberg went on my TBR list!

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg

Revenge of the Girl with the Great Personality by Elizabeth Eulberg
Published: March 1, 2013 by Point
Received: egalley for review from publisher

A hilarious new novel from Elizabeth Eulberg about taking the wall out of the wallflower so she can bloom.

Don't mess with a girl with a Great Personality.

Everybody loves Lexi. She's popular, smart, funny...but she's never been one of those girls, the pretty ones who get all the attention from guys. And on top of that, her seven-year-old sister, Mackenzie, is a terror in a tiara, and part of a pageant scene where she gets praised for her beauty (with the help of fake hair and tons of makeup).

Lexi's sick of it. She's sick of being the girl who hears about kisses instead of getting them. She's sick of being ignored by her longtime crush, Logan. She's sick of being taken for granted by her pageant-obsessed mom. And she's sick of having all her family's money wasted on a phony pursuit of perfection.

The time has come for Lexi to step out from the sidelines. Girls without great personalities aren't going to know what hit them. Because Lexi's going to play the beauty game - and she's in it to win it. [goodreads]

Oh wow. This book took me down memory lane -- to a time when social status was dependent on what you wore and who you talked to, followed up by the insecurities of never fitting in, or deciding if you even want to fit in.  High school can be such an ugly time (and no, I don't mean just the fashion).  It's meant to be about the years figuring out who you are and who you want to be, yet somehow the social hierarchy of the cafeteria lunch room has a way of filtering in your brain and confusing your thoughts.  Thankfully, I was a level-headed teen, who sure made a few mistakes (who didn't?), but overall came out the other side with only a few battle wounds.  In this particular story, I must admit, I was a bit concerned for some of these character.

Lexi has been described as The Girl With The Great Personality all her life.  Some of that has been inflicted on to her due to an emotional and unhealthy divorce between her parents that resulted in damage to her own self esteem.  It's a title she's been given by most of the boys in school; which ultimately means she's the girl they all talk to about the girl they really want to be dating.  Eulberg sets the foundation for who Lexi is quite well.  I had a clear picture of this girl right from the beginning.

Then there are the supporting characters who both pleased me and infuriated me.  Lexi has a great group of friends.  Both Benny and Cam supported her, regardless of her Great Personality.  They loved her for who she is, and during those critical teen years I think having friends such as them is essential to surviving.  Then there's Lexi's mother.  Oh man.  This woman made me so angry.  It's a true testament to Eulberg's writing when she creates characters that I literally want to hunt down and punch in the face because they've upset me that much.

Her mother's world revolves around Lexi's younger sister Mac and their beauty pageant shows.  She was every bit the stereotypical mom who breathes those pageants as if their lives depended on it.  And in this case, their lives almost do become dependent on it.  Lexi's mother wastes away all their extra money (and then some) on pageants that aren't producing anything -- surely not self esteem.  It was difficult to read at times, the moments when her mother clearly chooses Mac and the pageants over Lexi and her needs.  I was beyond worried for Lexi and what she'd grasp from this unhealthy situation.  But Eulberg created such a solid character from the beginning, that even through my worry, I still had hope she'd be ok.

The underlining message in this story got a bit blurry about mid way through.  The focus on Lexi and The Girl With The Great Personality became something of quite the opposite really.  Perhaps that was the intention of the story, to switch Lexi's world around and give her a glimpse of the Glamour Girls.  I was invested enough to continue on, but I still felt hesitations on how everything would eventually wrap up.  The ending felt a bit abrupt and left me with many questions.  I did not feel resolve between Lexi and some of the major characters.  However, I did walk away from this story knowing that she'd be ok.  That The Girl With The Great Personality would shine on.  The message I can pull away from this story is that true beauty comes from within.  Eulberg expresses it in a comical, yet realistic fashion, and for that it's a relateable book.

Prom & Prejudice: A trip down memory lane

In honor of Elizabeth Eulberg's new book release, Prom and Prejudice, I thought it would be fun to take a trip down memory lane!  Who remembers their fairy tale night of their Senior Prom?  Fancy dresses, flower corsages, limos, dinner dates, dancing, photo opts...  Please share your Prom stories here & post a picture on twitter from your Senior Prom!  Make sure you use the tag #PromAndPrejudice for a chance to win a signed copy from Elizabeth Eulberg & tag me (@GReadsBooks) so I can see it too!

Prom and Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg

January 1, 2011

After winter break, the girls at the very prestigious Longbourn Academy become obsessed with the prom. Lizzie Bennet, who attends Longbourn on a scholarship, isn’t interested in designer dresses and expensive shoes, but her best friend, Jane, might be — especially now that Charles Bingley is back from a semester in London.

Lizzie is happy about her friend’s burgeoning romance but less than impressed by Charles’s friend, Will Darcy, who’s snobby and pretentious. Darcy doesn’t seem to like Lizzie either, but she assumes it’s because her family doesn’t have money. Clearly, Will Darcy is a pompous jerk — so why does Lizzie find herself drawn to him anyway?

Will Lizzie’s pride and Will’s prejudice keep them apart? Or are they a prom couple in the making? Whatever the result, Elizabeth Eulberg, author of The Lonely Hearts Club, has concocted a very funny, completely stylish delight for any season — prom or otherwise.

Ginger's Memories about Prom...

My Senior Prom took place in May of 1999. Was it really almost 12 years ago?! Wow.  The boy I took as my date was a good friend of mine at the time.  He was a year younger than me, but we ran around with the same circle of people.  I remember trying on dress after dress & never being satisfied with anything I put on.  Then one day, while I was out shopping with my mom she picked up this long, elegant, deep purple dress from the rack.  It was something I would have never chosen, but she insisted I try it on.  As soon as I stepped out from the dressing room, her face lit up & she said, "that's the one!".

After I had my date & the dress, the rest seemed to fall in to place.  I had rented a limo with several different couples that took us to The Double Tree Hotel downtown, where our prom was being held.  I just remember dancing, a lot.  Not even sure if we took the official prom photo.  I'm sure we did, but I didn't purchase them.  After prom, our school hosted what's called "Project Prom".. it's an all-night event for the entire senior class to attend that's full of games & prizes.  In other words, it was a place for everyone to go rather than running the streets all night, or finding some other trouble to get in to.  There was bowling, skating, lazer tag, & even karaoke!  I may or may not have sang a Shania Twain song at 4am to the entire Senior class lol.

Over all my Senior prom was a lot of fun.  I'm definitely glad I have those memories to look back on.  It was my first taste of dressing up & feeling pretty for a night.

This was the only prom photo of me that I could find - well "prom-ish".  

These pics were taken for my Senior pictures & that was my prom dress.  

Too bad you can't see the whole thing - it really was beautiful!