Post by oldmeanie on Oct 7, 2023 12:27:53 GMT -5
Idk, I'm hooked even though they're getting worse XD.
I think I like this one a little more than Mary Anne and the Big Breakup. I don't have an issue with the plot at all (well, I guess there isn't much of one, but I don't mind it), I just feel like the writing in this one is... off? I don't want to sound mean, but the writing just feels lower quality than the others. Hard to explain, since many of the books do this, but I guess there's a lot of telling, not showing.
Stacey straight up feels like a villain in this book. She's really, really possessive of Jeremy. She tells Claudia to steer clear of him (although she also doesn't mind that they're friends. Right. Make it make sense, Stacey. Also, it really felt like Jeremy was initiating the interactions), then tries to make up with Claud. They almost make up, but Stacey says she still needs to stay away from Jeremy. The weird thing is, Stacey didn't actually apologize for the things she said. The whole conversation where they almost made up feels off, as if Stacey clearly feels that she's superior. It's weird and off-putting, to say the least.
Speaking of weird and off-putting... Jeremy. It really does feel like he's flirting with Claudia. He knows the situation and is still acting like this... ugh, I really don't know what they see in him. He doesn't even remember that Claudia is into art! What the hell?!
I like Erica and think, in this book at least, she's a better friend to Claud than Stacey is. I feel bad for her when Claud tries to make her over, though. It is cool that Erica is her "creative friend" and I can see their friendship being deeper than Stacey and Claud. It is sort of odd, though. Claudia always emphasizes how comfortable she feels around Erica, and at one point it's like... I get it lol. I think their personalities match pretty well. Erica is a lot sillier than Stacey and it feels like Claudia can be herself a little more.
Speaking of Erica, she takes on BSC jobs in this. This 100% wouldn't happen in the main series. It's so weird. Also, I feel that Claudia and Stacey would have sucked it up and gone on that sitting job with the Pikes in the main series even with the fight. Come to think of it, the Pikes have witnessed another Claudia feud before anyway (with Mary Anne). They must think she's so disagreeable lol (she really isn't! I think she's more easygoing than most other BSC members. Mal is probably the most).
BSC meetings aren't really fun to read about when half the club is mad at each other. Why is this series called Friends Forever again? XD
It was nice to see Peaches again. I think she's written alright here. Molly is a pretty cool character. I like how their friendship is written: long-distance, both with busy lives so they don't have time to stay in touch often, but when they get together, it's like nothing changed.
Janine feels off to me, more like a typical teenager. I noticed that this is the ghostie's (Laura Dower) only book, so maybe that's why it feels strange to me.
God. Logan sucks. This quote irked me so much. When Claudia and Erica visit Rosebud, Claud sees Logan and asks what's up. He's all, "'Well, Mary Anne and I broke up, remember?' He grabbed the bus tray and backed away. 'Happy Thanksgiving — a day late. See you around.'" Wow. I guess perhaps he and Claudia didn't interact much, and at least he's being honest, but it just feels rude.
Yeah... the writing is just too off for me. Maybe the others will be better. It gets a 5. It gets a little more points for exploring different friendships.
I think I like this one a little more than Mary Anne and the Big Breakup. I don't have an issue with the plot at all (well, I guess there isn't much of one, but I don't mind it), I just feel like the writing in this one is... off? I don't want to sound mean, but the writing just feels lower quality than the others. Hard to explain, since many of the books do this, but I guess there's a lot of telling, not showing.
Stacey straight up feels like a villain in this book. She's really, really possessive of Jeremy. She tells Claudia to steer clear of him (although she also doesn't mind that they're friends. Right. Make it make sense, Stacey. Also, it really felt like Jeremy was initiating the interactions), then tries to make up with Claud. They almost make up, but Stacey says she still needs to stay away from Jeremy. The weird thing is, Stacey didn't actually apologize for the things she said. The whole conversation where they almost made up feels off, as if Stacey clearly feels that she's superior. It's weird and off-putting, to say the least.
Speaking of weird and off-putting... Jeremy. It really does feel like he's flirting with Claudia. He knows the situation and is still acting like this... ugh, I really don't know what they see in him. He doesn't even remember that Claudia is into art! What the hell?!
I like Erica and think, in this book at least, she's a better friend to Claud than Stacey is. I feel bad for her when Claud tries to make her over, though. It is cool that Erica is her "creative friend" and I can see their friendship being deeper than Stacey and Claud. It is sort of odd, though. Claudia always emphasizes how comfortable she feels around Erica, and at one point it's like... I get it lol. I think their personalities match pretty well. Erica is a lot sillier than Stacey and it feels like Claudia can be herself a little more.
Speaking of Erica, she takes on BSC jobs in this. This 100% wouldn't happen in the main series. It's so weird. Also, I feel that Claudia and Stacey would have sucked it up and gone on that sitting job with the Pikes in the main series even with the fight. Come to think of it, the Pikes have witnessed another Claudia feud before anyway (with Mary Anne). They must think she's so disagreeable lol (she really isn't! I think she's more easygoing than most other BSC members. Mal is probably the most).
BSC meetings aren't really fun to read about when half the club is mad at each other. Why is this series called Friends Forever again? XD
It was nice to see Peaches again. I think she's written alright here. Molly is a pretty cool character. I like how their friendship is written: long-distance, both with busy lives so they don't have time to stay in touch often, but when they get together, it's like nothing changed.
Janine feels off to me, more like a typical teenager. I noticed that this is the ghostie's (Laura Dower) only book, so maybe that's why it feels strange to me.
God. Logan sucks. This quote irked me so much. When Claudia and Erica visit Rosebud, Claud sees Logan and asks what's up. He's all, "'Well, Mary Anne and I broke up, remember?' He grabbed the bus tray and backed away. 'Happy Thanksgiving — a day late. See you around.'" Wow. I guess perhaps he and Claudia didn't interact much, and at least he's being honest, but it just feels rude.
Yeah... the writing is just too off for me. Maybe the others will be better. It gets a 5. It gets a little more points for exploring different friendships.