The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

The Lipstick Laws by Amy Holder

Graphia, April 4, 2011

Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge and A-Z Reading Challenge

Summary from Goodreads:

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?

You guys, I won an ARC of this book (and tons of awesome swag for my teens) in an auction Reggie over at The Undercover Book Lover held way back in October. And I held myself back from reading it until just recently, because I wanted to use it for my 2011 Debut Author Challenge. And also because I knew that I would love the book. If I know I'm going to love a book, I often put it to the side, kind of like a reward after reading books that I may or may not love. So I'm a freak, OK?  Let's just get that out of the way now.

So, on to the review. Amy Holder has a great thing going here. First of all, the cover is incredible. It really screams at you and just makes you want to find out more.

The characters were drawn out very well, too. Poor Alice is so lonely, just your typical girl whose best friend moved away. She's left with no one, and desperately wants to fit in. Although, she stuffs her bra with Kleenex. (Seriously, do girls still do that? Why can't she just buy a Miracle Bra or WonderBra or something?) But still, this flaw of hers just makes her all the more real to us. We were all insecure about something in high school, weren't we? And her once-friend and future-nemesis, Britney, is your typical spoiled rich kid, the exact likes of which I spent four years attempting to avoid in high school. Ugh. But Britney's got some problems of her own, believe-you-me (and I hope think that might be true for those beasts girls I went to high school with, too!).

Then there's the story itself. Lipstick Laws? As if hanging with the popular kids isn't reward enough, you can also sign (sealed with a kiss, of course) a contract that essentially means that you can never, ever be as cool as Britney. Ever. Like, if she says your dress is hideous, and that you're bringing down the group as a whole, then guess what? You're changing. And forget about gaining a couple pounds of water weight right before your period. And heaven help you if you should develop a crush on someone Britney thinks is undeserving of your attention--no way will that relationship stand a chance.

I think Amy Holder did a great job of capturing the hell reality that is high school, and while older teens might find the story a little on the young side (the main characters are sophomores), I think that younger teen girls will delight in this story of good versus evil.

Won an ARC in an auction, and also received an eGalley from NetGalley.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi