Preview as Listed on the Back Cover
{Mix six teenage girls and one '60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add boys and dating, a little high-school angst, and throw in a Kate Spade bag or two...and you've got the Carter House Girls, Melody Carlson's new chick lit series for young adults!}
When her mom died, DJ had to move in with her grandmother, internationally famous '60s fashion model Katherine Carter. Now Mrs. Carter's opened a boarding home for young ladies, and DJ -who would rather wear her basketball team uniform than haute couture- is just sure they'll all be unbearable fashion snobs.
One by one, the girls arrive and begin to figure out how to fit into this new family, getting to know each other and forming friendships. There's a few aspiring divas and even a closet Christian. Before long, the Carter House girls are dating, fighting, laughing, shopping, sharing clothes, purses, shoes...and their deepest secrets. DJ may not turn into the perfect little lady her grandmother has in mind, but one thing's for certain - with all these new "sisters", her life will never be the same!
Alright, a friend of mine recommended the series to me and I've read the first one as of, like, two weeks ago. So let's see how well my memory performs. For the record, Melody Carlson is a Christian author, and I've been pining after her TrueColors Series for some time now. So far though this is the closest I've gotten to reading her books. I often go into a Christian series with some wariness as I feel sometimes authors can get high and mighty and start preaching through their characters. But not this series (so far; remember I've only read the first, thus that's the only one I'm reviewing).
As mentioned in the preview, Mrs. Carter is a former supermodel and the epitome of etiquette and grace. She's been trying to pass this onto her granddaughter DJ, but DJ just doesn't care for the "perfect young lady" bit. Then Mrs. Carter opens up her home as a boarding home where six young girls will be trained in proper etiquette, fashions, attitudes, etc. in a classic show of "first impressions mean everything". The girls are required to attend a local high school and must constantly demonstrate good and proper etiquette, whether in the house or in public.
Let's introduce our characters before I recount the story and give my impression.
Characters:
DJ (her real name is Desiree, which she despises but her grandmother insists on calling her by it)is the main character. As noted, she's a tomboy and has no clue about anything fashionable or girly despite her grandmother's attempts at "making her beautiful". She is a great swimmer and does well in most of the sports she plays. She's not really a jock, so she's not all that popular at school, but she's not at the bottom of the social ladder either.
Taylor is the first girl DJ meets as part of the Carter House boarding house program. She's a diva, very fashionable and very snobby. She seems to dislike being enrolled in the program. She smokes, drinks, parties, and generally disregards all of Mrs. Carter's rules, but because of her rich parents' friendship with Mrs. Carter, Mrs. Carter generally favors her and overlooks these things (however, she also ignorant to Taylor's smoking and drinking). Taylor is notable as a man-stealer. She is also jealous of DJ, though it's a bit vague as to why.
Eliza is the next girl to move into the Carter House. Eliza is from the Southern Bible Belt, so she's a "Christian by birth" (i.e. not a Christian at all). While not as snobbish as Taylor, she is still fashionable and considers herself above people like DJ. Eliza is often appalled by DJ's lack of fashion or knowledge of the fashion world (i.e. label brands). She is a bit of a hidden wild child as shown by her drinking, partying, and sex life.
Kriti is an Indian Hindu who has very protective parents. Her father is a quality knock-off purse maker, but that does not diminish her knowledge of the fashion world. Like the other two girls, she is just as fashion conscious, but she is less of a party girl. She does not drink, nor does she party or look down on DJ (at least not as much as the other two). In fact, the two become friends quickly. She is not as vocal as the other girls, but she is not shy either. She and Eliza are rooming together.
Rhiannon used to work for Mrs. Carter to support her mother who had been battling drug addiction. She moved away a few years ago but returned upon Mrs. Carter's request. Because of the work she had done and her potential as a proper, young lady, Mrs. Carter significantly reduced Rhiannon's boarding fee, though they are trying to keep Rhiannon poor, working class life a secret. Rhiannon is a passionate Christian. She claims that before she knew God, she was just like Taylor. She says that her rooming situation with Taylor is perfect just for that reason. Rhiannon is not fashion conscious, but instead she makes her own retro styled clothes. While she is kind and big-hearted, her style does not include her with the fashion diva clique.
Lastly we have Casey. Casey and DJ used to be best friends until Casey moved away a few years back. Now Casey has returned quite different. Classified as punk rock or grunge, Casey now sports piercings in her ears and eyebrows and a black mohawk. She dresses in ripped and torn clothing which obviously singles her out from not only the fashion clique but everyone in the house. She used to be a Christian (i.e. because her parents took her to church) but she was beat up for being one and decided to 180 her life. Outspoken and outraged at the entire plan behind the Carter House program, Casey is stubborn to break rules and stay the way she is. She is rude and callous towards her roommate DJ and everyone else in her path.
The Story (Spoilers Abound):
All six of these girls move in and have a few days to get to know each other before school starts up. Obviously there's already a fashion clique between Taylor, Eliza, and Kriti and the not-so-fashionable clique of DJ, Rhiannon, and Casey. DJ as our main character undergoes a bit of a transformation when Taylor shows interest in DJ's maybe-more-than-a-friend Connor. This inspires DJ to enlist help from Eliza to update her tomboy look with something fashionable that Connor would like. After dying and trimming her hair and Eliza buying her an entire new wardrobe (thanks to Mrs. Carter's credit card), the girls head to the beach with Connor and his friend Harry.
Harry and Taylor bought wine coolers on the way to the beach, which enrages Kriti and she storms away from them, I guess in an attempt to disassociate herself. There's this whole thing where Taylor "accidentally" roots through DJ's new Hermes bag (which actually belongs to Eliza), thinking it was hers, when she pulls out condoms and teases DJ for thinking of using them on Connor. Embarrassed, DJ storms off and meets up with Kriti. Eventually the two head back to the group and DJ decides to go for a swim after telling Taylor off. Connor swims after her and confesses that he likes her as more than a friend. The two kiss and are now boyfriend and girlfriend. Or dating. Or something. I don't remember.
A couple nights later, Connor and DJ and Eliza and Harry go on a double date to the movies, where Connor is being awkward, which makes DJ uncomfortable, and the reader senses that Connor doesn't dig the new "improved" DJ. Later, the group takes a drive and Eliza and Harry leave Connor and DJ alone in the car. After a session of making out, Connor is still bizarrely disinterested in even looking at DJ. The girls return home as Eliza makes a comment about never having sex on the first date. Taylor overhears and reports that DJ and Connor had sex to Mrs. Carter. Mrs. Carter discusses that she doesn't care if DJ does have sex as long as it is done without embarrassing her name.
The girls go to a last day of summer party at Harry's beach house where alcohol and dancing is abundant. DJ spots Connor and Taylor dancing together and tries to confront him, but only ends up being awkwardly passive aggressive before retreating outside to cry in frustration and confusion. Rhiannon meets up with her and explains the void DJ has in her heart is because Jesus isn't there to fill it. By relating their experiences, DJ accepts Rhiannon's offer to accept Jesus into her heart. However, book one ends when DJ meets with Connor again just outside the house. DJ, now having hope through her new found faith, is crushed when Connor tells her "she's changed" and disappears back into the party after a last kiss and a "Bye, DJ".
Personal Reflections and Opinions:
DJ's journey from tomboy to glamorous can be viewed in two lights- she's getting herself together and figuring out who she is and that she is beautiful; or she's changing who she is to impress other people. I find both to be true. As Casey often points out, DJ is "becoming one of them". However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. There's nothing wrong with dressing up and exploring your style as long as you don't change who you are because your changing your style.
There are so many stereotypes that go along with fashions. People like Eliza and Taylor are often considered "looking down their nose" or "having their nose in the air" - i.e. arrogant. But Kriti isn't. She's sweet and kind; she just knows a lot about fashion and cares a great deal for it. While her mindset isn't quite right, she doesn't completely meet the stereotype either.
Casey, despite her talk of being non-conformist, is a conformist. She changed her attitude and so changed the way she looked. While she's not conforming the way DJ is to the fashion clique, she did conform under pressure because she wasn't accepted for who she was.
Rhiannon is hands-down my favorite character. Although there was one incident that I rolled my eyes at (When she meets Casey for the first time, Casey had inked a dragon tattoo on her arm; Rhiannon reacted by telling her the symbolism behind the dragon in Revelation and how is was an evil symbol, etc. I feel that while the dragon may symbolize that, it doesn't have to; anything can be redeemed.), I like the way Melody Carson presented her without making her into a crazy Christian that gives the rest of Christians a bad name.
After the whole scenario with the condemns, I felt DJ overreacted and I stopped reading after that point, thinking that I was going to be stuck reading another over-dramatic character's thoughts. But then I realized that I might have reacted the same way. If I was blindsided like that, I'd be just as flustered. So I guess I was projecting my annoyance with myself onto DJ. Still, I'd like to think I could roll with the punches. "Yep, those are so mine. Yep, you're right I was so going to use them on Connor. So what's for lunch again?"
Mrs. Carter's ideals behind sex are whacked. "You can do it, just don't embarrass me." Ouch. Some grandma. Nothing about protection or STD's (though I think she briefly mentions that), no "Oh snap, we need to have a meeting with everyone. Right now." Nothing. If knowledge is power, you'd think that'd be the best bet to cover your butt in an "embarrassing" situation. And what, if your granddaughter gets pregnant, are you just going to abandon her? Ugh.
The last page of the book flipped me out. When Connor said, "You've changed," DJ thought he meant how she changed from just accepting Christ and she marvelled at how quickly that change showed. But then he sort of dumped her and I thought, "Oh no, now she's going to get bitter with God and not bother staying a Christian." But she didn't. She had the Holy Spirit's peace at that point and she left the situation in God's hands. Which was cool, if a bit unrealistic. I can't imagine not panicking about my boyfriend dumping me if I have no knowledge that the Lord will handle it.
All in all, good book, an easy read, though I fear for Casey and Rhiannon in the next one. The first chapter was included in the back of book one, and it mentioned that Casey had been beat up for her fashion style. Deja vu much, and I'm worried about her now because she must be ridiculously confused. She already changed once; is she thinking she is never good enough? Oh, Casey!
And the second book is called Stealing Bradford. Who is Rhiannon's boyfriend...Fantastic. Why are my favorites being picked on?! Ugh.
Anyways, here's to hoping I'll see you for the next review.
God Bless,
EPD
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