I'd promised to hold off on reading this for one of my meh-reading days, but I just couldn't help myself and picked it up and... ... I loved it... I'm done pretending to possess any self-control whatsoever when it comes to this series because I am most definitely starting the third one now. Why, you ask? Ruby Oliver is a little more aware of goings on in Tate. She's a little tougher, not so naive but still funny as heck. I think the first one was sufficient on it's own, but if this sequel proves anything, it's that one can never have too much of a good thing. Because a good thing, is what this is. Only sometimes I really wanted to shake her. Mostly, though, I was laughing alongside her. Here's what I'm thinking right now:a. I should probably get some sleep except... these characters are still running around in my head. Some, I want to hug (Noel,) while others (Kim, Jackson, Nora, Cricket, heck, even Ruby sometimes,) I want to clunk on the head with a very, very thick book.b. And... Noel, aaawh. (But if I've gotten anything from Ruby, Dr. Z, it's not supposed to about the boy, but about knowing what you want and figuring out how to get it.)c. I do wish she'd heed Meghan's advice about keeping her nose out of things (things involving Kim and Jackson, and even things to do with Nora.) Said feeling coming from a purely spiteful "they deserve whatever was coming their way" stance. Except Ruby, after months of therapy, time with newfound friends, and even time with her parents, had turned into more evolved type of girl and thus grown up.The best thing about this is how real she comes across: defintely insecure and slightly neurotic. Fortunately, like I said, there are new friends, a therapist, and unconventional parents who helped along the way.:)
