Review: Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood by Eileen Cook

I recently read the YA novel, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, by Eileen Cook, through Around the World tours.

Summary: In eighth grade, Helen is betrayed and humiliated by her best friend, Lauren Wood, in front of the whole school, in order for Lauren to gain popularity. Helen is left lonely and hated, and is relieved when her parents announce that they will be moving that very summer. Four years later, right before senior year, Helen is forced to move back to her old town, which she is dreading, until she hatches a plan to formulate a new name, identity, and look in order to, of course, get revenge on Lauren Wood, for ruining her life all those years ago. Lauren is the most popular girl in school now, and Helen is adamant about taking her down, under the guise of the "new girl" Claire.

My Thoughts: I thought this was a fun, fast read, very reminiscent of the film, "Mean Girls." Very realistic in the sense of cattiness, cliques, backstabbing, etc. I felt like I was watching some of the girls from my high school days all over again. Oy - I am so glad to be done with that nonsense - but it's still fun to read it about it once in a while! Now, I've got to say, I really did not like Helen! I felt for her, I really did. It was not cool at all what Lauren did to her, but she took it too far and was way too obsessive and kind of whack! I didn't like Lauren either. Her two catty friends were the most tolerable between her and Helen. They also reminded me of the sidekicks in "Mean Girls." All in all, this was a fun read but without a whole lot of substance.

My Rating: 3.5/5