How to Be Bad

A fantastic story for girls, I really loved how this story focused on the three characters over their romances.

I'm not sure how the authors divided the writing, but I really loved how each of the three girls had their own voice and felt authentic through the details they chose to include. I also loved that the timeline was continuous, and I didn't have to read each character's recap of an event.

The three girls were also different enough to be interesting. All three had their own secrets at some point that added to the tension and drama while keeping the plot moving. Jesse in particular intrigued me, being extremely Christian but also living in meagre conditions.

The road trip they embarked on was entirely quirky and entertaining, show more something that a lot of high schoolers dream of doing. They visited some rather interesting landmarks (world's smallest police station?) and almost died twice, but that just added to the fun of everything.

There were moments in this book where I literally laughed out loud, and moments where I felt squrimy and uncomfortable as they fought. This was a lovely way to spend an afternoon. show less

Best friends, Jess and Vicks, aren’t clicking like they use to, so Jess has a plan that will bring her and Vicks close again - a road trip to see Vicks’s boyfriend, Brady, who is at University. There’s only one issue, they don’t have enough money to fund the trip. Enter Mel, the new girl. Mel volunteers to help them fund the trip as long as they take her along with them, much to Jess’s dismay. What follows is a hilarious and endearing tale of friendship and love with a couple of crocodiles. Lauren Myracle writes as Jess, E. Lockhart as Vicks and Sarah Mlynowski as Mel.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. Jess, Vicks and Mel are all well fleshed out and relatable. Since each character is written by a different show more author, each voice is very distinct, yet, the story is cohesive. In the beginning, I was a little skeptical at how Mel would have fit in - what exactly was her story and why was she so keen on hanging with Jess and Vicks? How to be Bad explores these friendships, the road trip serving to bring out the good and the bad in each of them. For these girls, the trip is definitely about the journey, not just the destination.

While it’s light and fun, How to be Bad has a lot of depth to it, walking a balance between hilarious and serious. It’s a heartwarming story of the love of friends. I love the character growth, it made the book feel more like someone’s diary than the imaginations of three authors. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more from these ladies and hopefully their future work together. show less

Roadtrip book!! Jesse and her BFF Vicks haven't been clicking lately, so she decides to take her on a roadtrip to fix the distance. Only Jesse wasn't counting on Mel, the new girl, tagging along.
We have:
Jesse- super religious, very opinionated, lives in a trailer with her mom. She just found out her mother has breast cancer and doesn't want to deal with it.
Vicks- Wild-child only sister of 4 brothers. Missing her boyfriend who just started college at "The U" and wonders why he hasn't called or texted since he got there.
Mel- Shy, awkward, unsure of herself. Never had girlfriends she could trust, feels like an outsider.
These 3 who all work at The Waffle House in Niceville, Florida, embark on a roadtrip to Miami with stops to see funny show more landmarks, meet boys, go to parties, fight, and figure out friendship along the way.

I just want to say I love these 3 authors independently, so when I saw they wrote a book together I was excited! It didn't quite live up to the awesomeness that their other books are, but it was still enjoyable. I really hated Jesse through most of the book, but then again I am not religious and Jesse kind of embodies every reason that I don't like to be around religious people. Too judgemental!! But even though I didn't agree with the things she said and felt, I still found myself wanting her to mend things with Vicks.

Mel was almost too much of a sweetheart. How can someone who has everything be so oblivious to it? I really hated how Vicks and Jesse used her for her money for the first half of the book, but I think by the end the bond they formed with her overcame that stuff.

If you LOVE [b:The Boyfriend List: 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver|301022|The Boyfriend List 15 Guys, 11 Shrink Appointments, 4 Ceramic Frogs and Me, Ruby Oliver (Ruby Oliver, #1)|E. Lockhart|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342343845s/301022.jpg|292089] or [b:Ten Things We Did|9266810|Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have)|Sarah Mlynowski|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1293821561s/9266810.jpg|14147661], there is no guarantee that you will like this book. I couldn't figure out who wrote what chapters, and didn't really think any of the authors individual awesomeness showed through. It is a cute roadtrip book, but not the most memorable one.

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Jesse, Vicks, and Mel are all residents of not-so-appropriately-named Niceville, Florida. Jesse is fed up with her mother and just wants to get away. Vicks, the wild one, misses her boyfriend who left for college two weeks ago. Mel is the rich but sweet girl who just wants to make friends. Somehow these three coworkers end up on a weekend road trip. Jesse provides the car, Mel has the cash, and Vicks encourages the spontaneity and excitement. Though the destination is Miami, pit stops and detours will be made, leading them into disasters or unexpected solutions. This road trip will alter their friendships and even the way they view life.

Though I have previously read novels by only one-third of the fabulous authors who wrote How to Be show more Bad, I knew from the first moment I heard that E. Lockhart, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Myracle were writing a novel together that their book would be mandatory reading material for me. And I most definitely wasn’t disappointed. I loved how each chapter was told from one of the girl’s point-of-view (even though I did get confused a couple of times). Jesse, Vicks, and Mel were each wonderfully crafted and developed; I loved how they were so unique and complemented each other. The plot was a perfect mix of romance, friendship and personal issues, emotional realizations, and even physical danger. I really enjoyed the random details too, because it made the story all the more realistic. If I had one problem with How to Be Bad, it was that Jesse’s religious fervor didn’t always seem to fit with her character until the end of the story. However, this didn’t diminish the fact that How to Be Bad was simply a fantastic novel.

How to Be Bad has a little bit of something for everyone, and I most definitely recommend it. In fact, I enjoyed this book so much that I am motivated to read up on the two-thirds of this author team whose works I have not read yet (Sarah Mlynowski and Lauren Myracle, I confess). If you’ve ever enjoyed a novel by any one of these awesome authors or are up for a great read, then get How to Be Bad. I promise you won’t regret it!

reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com show less

Three girls, one car, and one amazing road trip. Vicks, Jesse, and Mel each have a different reason for wanting to "get the heck out of Dodge." Vick's boyfriend, a freshman away at college, hasn't returned any of her phone calls and she is sure he is being unfaithful, Jesse, Vick's best friend, has recently learned about a life-altering secret, and Mel, new to Florida, is desperate to make friends and offers to pay for lodging, food, and fuel. With a beat up copy of a fifteen-year-old travel guide called Fantastical Florida, a map, and Mel's mother's credit card the girls set out for Miami and come into contact with things such as, the world's smallest police station, an alligator or two, and super cute guy that could change the course show more of everything. Lockhart, Mylnowski, and Myracle do a superb job writing a novel from three points-of-view and producing a story that flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter. The problems the girls face are both realistic and genuine making this novel even better. Anyone who has ever had a best friend, a boyfriend, or been new in town will be able to relate to this witty and fast-moving story show less

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 show more 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. show less

Three girls take a road trip across Florida, friendships are made and renewed along the way. This is a light story, even with heavy topics (one girl's mother is diagnosed with cancer.) With each character written by a separate author, the voices of the three girls are very distinct. I didn't fall in love with any of the characters, and at times each one had annoying 'quirks' that broke my suspension of disbelief. But for fans of the authors, it is a light and fun read - a bromance for girls!
I'd pass this on to existing fans.