Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

HOW TO BE BAD is the perfect book for a girl-bonding summer road trip adventure!

Three girls, each with their own internal struggles, head out on a weekend road trip to Miami to visit the one girl's boyfriend. Vicks and Jesse are best friends. Mel is the newcomer but envies the friendship Vicks and Jesse share and invites herself along for the trip, offering to pay for lodging, snacks, and fuel.

Jesse is dealing with her mother's recent cancer diagnosis. She wants more than anything to tell Vicks, for they share everything, but hasn't been able to bring herself to do it.

Vicks is trying to not be a needy girlfriend. Her boyfriend has left for freshman year of university and has barely contacted her in the two weeks he's been gone. She misses him terribly and is convinced he's fooling around with a hot college girl.

Mel's family has just moved to Florida from Montreal, Canada. Florida is an entirely different world to her. She is reserved and lives in the shadow of her popular older sister. She desperately wants to break out of her shell, but doesn't know how. She hopes some of Vicks' outgoing personality will rub off on her.

They begin their trip Friday once Vicks gets off work. Jesse takes her mom's car without proper permission, and the three are off. Their adventures bring them to a giant preserved alligator, a cute hitchhiker, a house party with too much alcohol, Disney World, and a few other places along the way.

As will happen when confined with each other for far too long in a way too hot car, tempers flair, emotions erupt, and friendships are solidified.

HOW TO BE BAD is creatively written in alternating chapters by three popular authors. The story flows seamlessly between each chapter, making the reader curious as to which character belongs to which author. The story is emotional, triumphant, and you come away feeling like you've just received a great big hug. Each author is amazing on her own merits, but as a team, they've taken it up a notch and have written a fantastic book. One that every girl and her best friends will come to love. ( )

A cute book from three popular authors. The classic road trip as a metaphor for self discovery, but with some fun little twists. ( )

I needed a fluffy chick lit book and this one provided an easy break from adult novels for me. Vicks, Mel and Jesse are three breakfast joint employees who road trip to Miami. Jesse is running from her wet-T-shirt contest mom who was just diagnosed with cancer. Vicks is pining for her U of Miami football-playing boyfriend who isn't returning her texts or calls. Mel is the new rich girl who just wants to fit in and find some friends and someone to love. This definately isn't a great book, but it was a quick and easy vacation read. ( )

Lockhart, Mlynowski and Myracle’s collaboration reaches an all time sensational reading high! I’ve read two out of the three authors’ works, so I wasn’t surprised of my fondness. The three voices gave an interesting perspective as a reader. Their problems are realistic and valid problems that teens face. Witty dialogue and a fast moving engrossing plot only add the overall premise of the book! I found it almost impossible to put this book down, once I started reading it! So be prepared! ( )

Full review at http://yannabe.com/2009/06/08/review-...

Summary: Jesse’s mom has cancer. Vicks’s boyfriend went to college and hasn’t called. Mel is desperate for friends. So they all pile into the car for a road trip.

Review: First, a disclaimer. I haven’t had great luck with books that have alternating points of view. With that said:

* The Bad—The narration in this book alternated between the three girls, and I didn’t ever truly connect with any of them.
* The Good—I enjoyed the writing, and the plot kept me reading.

But without a connection to the main characters, plot and good writing weren’t enough for me.

Here’s a snippet of Vicks and her older brother Penn talking on the phone while he’s a the grocery store:

“I’m in the detergent aisle right now, looking for a box of—oh, there it is. You think Tide is better, or All?” [Penn says.]

“Which has a prettier box?” I ask.

“I don’t want a pretty box. I want a dude box.”

“Uh-huh,” I deadpan. “You want a dude box of laundry detergent.” ( )