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!}
The Carter House Girls are just getting to know one another when the subject of boys comes up. Rhiannon's dating Bradford, a fellow Christian and the most popular jock in school; Eliza's seeing Harry; and DJ was dating Conner, although now he acts as if he doesn't like her.
Boys aren't always easy to understand, but many girls in the house want a boyfriend - and will do just about anything to get one. So when Taylor decides to put the moves on Bradford, Rhiannon is shocked and hurt. Mistakes are made and feelings battered...there is forgiveness for some and bitterness for others...but at the end of the day, the girls learn a valuable lesson about what it means to be a family.
Ah, yes. So I've just finished the second book, Stealing Bradford, in the CHG Series. If you haven't read the first one, you'll just be confused. I also refer you to my previous review of book one. There's a list of characters there too, so I won't bother repeating that here.
Oh, and spoilers are everywhere! Even in that earlier blog.
The Story:
So the book starts with the girls going to their first day of school. Not much happens other than Taylor embarrassing DJ at lunch as she mentions that Connor is just not that into DJ anymore. Oh, and she does this as Connor and Harry approach the table. So DJ leaves the cafeteria and finds that Casey has backed herself into a corner where three bullies are about the beat her up. DJ saves the day by pretending to call the cops on her cell which scares them away.
DJ and Casey have a bit of a heartfelt talk about how they've both changed and DJ's ready to hear why Casey is so different when she's ready to talk. Before Casey leaves, DJ pulls her into a hug, only to be called a "lesbian dyke" by two popular, mean girls who were nearby.
Drama class, then P.E. where DJ is annoyed to find that Taylor is in her class. The two kind of talk it up, with Taylor trying to figure out why DJ doesn't like her. When DJ points out everything Taylor's done to her, Taylor acts innocent, saying that she was only busting her chops, so to speak. After more of Taylor being inexplicably nice, we skip to DJ at volleyball practice, then just after practice.
Connor flags DJ down to talk to her about everything. Connor is being a typical dumb, prideful guy who can't really admit that he's sorry about what happened between them; he sort of dances around the apology or says it kind of begrudgingly. At any rate, we find out what the heck the problem is between the two of them. Remember the vaguely intense, almost-sex make out scene in book one? Yeah, Connor says he never meant for things to get that crazy, and when DJ says the same, he's surprised; I guess he thought that whole event was mostly her pressuring him, which causing DJ to fly off the handle and ditch him.
Back home, Taylor invites DJ on a joyride on her new lime green Vesper. A cop pulls them over and tells DJ she has to walk home, but he lets them both off with a warning. Conner pulls up next to DJ as she's returning home and the two really get to talking. They patch things up and understand where they both went wrong, then have dinner together.
Upon arriving home, DJ and Mrs. Carter get to talking. Mrs. Carter is considering throwing Casey out of the program because obviously she doesn't want to be there and she doesn't fit in with her grunge punk rock style. Mrs. Carter then calls a group meeting where essentially she tells the girls that they are responsible for one another's attitudes and looks. She leaves, opening up a can of worms for the girls to intervene for Casey's sake. They get to talking and Taylor surprises everyone by mentioning that she understands why Casey is hiding behind the tough girl look - because she's been hurt. Even more surprising, Casey admits to that being true. Casey considers getting her act together, knowing that if she's thrown out of the boarding house, her parents will ship her off to boot camp.
DJ is happy to note the following morning that Casey has thrown out her black hair dye and cut off the blue mohawk and chucked the creepy eyebrow safety pin piercings. Rhiannon even helps Casey figure out her own style by lending her some clothing she's made and redesigned.
DJ invites Connor to the youth group that Rhiannon has invited her to that night. Before they leave, Rhiannon points out several religious books to DJ left in the room from earlier years. Among them are Bibles, one of which belongs to DJ's mother. Rhiannon also hesitantly mentions that Taylor will be joining them for youth that night as per Bradford's invitation.
After the youth service, Connor and DJ notice that Taylor and Bradford are getting along a little too well, and the next day proves true. Bradford has broken up with Rhiannon for Taylor. This enrages DJ, but Rhiannon puts on brave face, despite not wanting to hang anywhere near Taylor. Much to her chagrin, DJ switches rooms with her, leaving herself as an open target to Taylor her new roommate. Eventually, the other girls learn of the Bradford-Taylor news, and Eliza tries to get Bradford and Rhiannon back together.
Eliza's plan happens during First Friday, a monthly art walk that Bradford's mother participates in. Eliza pretties Rhiannon up and they search for Bradford. However, they find him and Taylor "doing it", thus completing crushing Rhiannon. This of course makes the Carter House Girls freeze Taylor out completely, sticking DJ with her just about all the time. But DJ learns quite a bit about Taylor's point of view and tries her best to like her, thanks to a verse she read about "loving your enemies". Taylor claims that the Bradford thing is just as much his fault as it could be hers, and no, they didn't have sex. Taylor's even more familiar with the Bible than DJ is, quoting several verses and showing DJ exactly where they are. As the two room together, Taylor reveals something I'd suspected since book one - her father abused her and her mother enabled him.
Then everything hits the fan. Apparently people at school have found a MySpace page of Taylor's. When DJ and Eliza log on, all of the pictures are smutty porn. Taylor sees this and, to everyone's shock, cries. They aren't her pictures, she says. Which must mean someone else photoshopped them. Talk about payback. Speaking of, several people assume it was Rhiannon, but anyone who knows Rhiannon defends her, saying she's the one who's trying to stop everyone from talking smack about Taylor.
No one's seen Taylor since the incident. The Carter House Girls return home for dinner, finding that Taylor's Vesper is gone too. DJ splits to look for her in town, but comes up with nothing. Finally she tells her grandmother the news, asking her to call Taylor's mother, thinking that Taylor may have been flown back home. But the news only reveals that Taylor's disappeared like this before and she's always come back. Despite many phone calls to Taylor's voicemail, DJ convinces her grandmother to call the police the next morning. The police question each of the Carter girls and mention that the malicious website has been torn down. Casey confesses to the officer that she was the one who created the site and she feels nothing but guilt because of what could have happened to Taylor, despite that the action may put her in juvie.
The girls all gather around at the end of the novel and pray for Taylor's safe return.
The epilogue provides a refreshing break from DJ's point of view into none other than Taylor's. She's shut herself up in a dirty motel room for a couple of days, trying to find the courage to end her life. But instead she remembers the words of her grandmother and prays, "Dear God, if you're there, if you still love me, I need some help. I really, really need some help."
Personal Reflections and Opinions:
Taylor confuses me immensely, though that's a good thing, since that's how the author wants you to feel about her. I knew she was abused because her story and personality just fit so well with that. Especially when she mentions to Casey, "she's been hurt". Prrrrrojectiiiiooooon. Anyways, like DJ, I'm starting to wonder if maybe Taylor is one of those abrasive personalities you just have to get used to. Like, she's really just busting your crops, or she's pushing you to see how strong you are. I think what bothered me the most is I had to be reminded that Bradford was just as much at fault as Taylor.
My reaction was the same as everyone else's, that Taylor stole him away. But really, how stupid is that? Obviously a relationship takes two, so obviously Bradford should have shouldered some blame. I lost sight of that until Taylor brought it up.
Another thing that bothered me was Bradford and Rhiannon are getting back together. What? Rhiannon, you're a good person; you try hard for Christ. But come on! Gentle as lambs, shrewd as vipers. I'm hoping Bradford just said that like it was a plan to put in motion, not like it had been done already.
Speaking of Rhiannon, fantastic character. Even if she is unrealistic, you need that character to reflect who you, the reader, are. I would've been like DJ- upset, distrusting, and bad-mouthing Taylor. Or even Casey, plotting something horrible to get back at her. But Rhiannon wanted all of that to stop; she wanted everyone to move on, and even if she couldn't trust Taylor, she wouldn't bad-mouth her. She even felt bad for saying something Taylor may have interrupted too harshly. However, she did cop out once. When DJ went looking for Taylor, Rhiannon didn't go, using the excuse, "I don't think she'd want me there if you found me." If I was Rhiannon, I would've gone. That would have been a good way to bury the hatchet or at least lay it all out there.
I'm glad DJ is coming to terms with herself. She's realizing who she is but she's finding style too. She even mentions that under the haircut and fancy clothes and makeup, she's the same DJ with the same insecurities and fears - a valid and powerful point. And I love the way DJ prays. She's very real with God and she prays throughout the day, just like I do.
Kriti is a Hindu (they haven't confirmed it, but it seems obvious) but she and Rhiannon are similar moral wise. Kriti didn't bad-mouth Taylor either and she didn't indulge in Taylor's pain through the website fiasco. I'm hoping to see more of her in the series. I'd like to hear more about her religion because if she did become a Christian, it's not like she'd have to change her entire lifestyle; just refocus it onto the Reason behind everything she does.
Will probably edit or revamp this post once the story settles in. I'm thinking the review will make more sense if I'm not writing about the book fresh after setting it down.
Much love and God Bless,
EPD
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