Review: The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Title: The Lipstick Laws

Author: Amy Holder

Series: Stand Alone

Pages: 240

Published: Available now from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN: 9780547363066

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: At Penford High School, Britney Taylor is the queen bee. She dates whomever she likes, rules over her inner circle of friends like Genghis Khan, and can ruin anyone's life with a snap of perfectly manicured fingers. Just ask the unfortunate few who have crossed her.   For April Bowers, Britney is also the answer to her prayers. April is so unpopular, kids don't even know she exists. But one lunch spent at Britney's table, and April is basking in the glow of popularity.   But Britney's friendship comes with a high price tag. How much is April willing to pay?

I Give This ...

 

This book was a huge reminder as to why you couldn't pay me to repeat high school.  There are so many things about it that can be hard for a teenager.

April is struggling to find out who she really is.  Her best friend (and only) friend has moved.  So she's basically back to feeling like the new kid.  She wants to be popular, but how can she when no one knows she exists.  I liked her, although I think she tries way to hard.  I think if she would have waited patiently, she wouldn't have had to put up with the clique.  But, at the same time the clique is what lead her to her true friends.

The actual "lipstick laws" were a hilarious set of rules that the group must follow.  As we learn more about Britney, the rules she has set up begin to make a lot of sense (not in their use but in why she did it).   How Britney became the "it" girl is beyond me.  It seems like there were a lot more people who disliked her than actually thought she the queen bee.  Maybe the popularity was really all in her head.  

I was happy to see April stand up to the group.  She didn't loose herself completely in the rules and her desire to be popular.  Although, I wonder how long she would have put up with them if the events at the party hadn't occurred. I was a little disappointed in the need for revenge.  While some of them were fun and games, a few were also something Britney would do.  And April had a habit of treating others just like she was treated by Britney.  But, in the end she learns her lesson.

Overall, a quick story that I think is suited towards younger teens.