A Little Friendly Advice - Siobhan Vivian
Book Synopsis: A wonderful debut for any teen with friendship issues (i.e. all of them)
Ruby's turning sixteen . . . but the day doesn't turn out to be as sweet as it's supposed to be. Her long lost father shows up, and Ruby doesn't want to have anything to do with him. Instead, she wants to hang out with her friends - loyal Beth, dangerous Katherine, and gossipy Maria. They have plenty of advice for her - about boys, about her dad, about how she should look and what she should be feeling. But really, Ruby doesn't know what to think or feel. Especially when a new boy comes into the picture . . . and Ruby discovers some of her friends aren't as truthful as they say.
I hated it. Ruby's friends are the worst, but what's even more unlikable is Ruby herself. Just in case you couldn't figure out who the girls were on the cover, starting from top left going clockwise: Ruby, Beth, Katherine, and Maria.
Beth was controlling. Katherine was whiny. Maria was boy-crazy.
As for Ruby? Well. I'll let you be the judge of that.
For the life of me, I couldn't understand why Ruby didn't just find new friends. I felt bad for Ruby, her mother is a workaholic, her dad left her family, and her friends are so annoying. But all feelings of sympathy towards Ruby melted away because she was spineless and played the victim.
Some books are a hit or miss, and this one is definitely a miss.
Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆