Faketastic (Frenemies)

Having very much enjoyed Frenemies, I was looking forward to reading the next installment in the series. Like its predecessor, Faketastic was a super light, amusing read. The best part about the book is that it's fun to read. Ms. Alexa has a way of making even the most ridiculous things (People wearing Team Avalon shirts, for example. And people yelling "Team Halley!" in the halls.) seem funny and almost normal. Well, almost normal considering the setting. The Style Snarks posts definitely added to the whole fun to read thing, since those posts were amusing to read. Actually, the comments were more amusing to read than the blog posts. I am a little concerned, however, that as soon as those blog posts were posted there were 10 comments within 10 minutes. Do the people just sit at their computers refreshing the page until a new post shows up? Let's hope not. I was hoping for some more background and development of Halley and Avalon's friendship, but because of all drama in the book I didn't get much of development. I feel like I still haven't been shown just how good of friends they are. I've been told, but not shown. Maybe some flashbacks or something would help? I don't know. And I really liked the ending. For a while it felt like all the drama was kind of leading nowhere, but the ending made it all the drama worth it.

As much as I enjoyed the witty writing and candor of Young's Frenemies, Faketastic is a significant improvement to the series. Avalon and Halley have shed some of their childish nature and have successfully tackled more than the latest fashion trend. Alexa perfectly plays the plot and leaves the readers anxious for more of this fantabulous duo! Short and sweet review, for a short and sweet book!

From www.mrsmagooreads.com Title: Faketastic Author: Alexa Young Grade: A- Ideal Audience: Girls, 10-16 Previous book in the series: Frenemies *Spoiler Warning* The following review contains spoilers for the previous book in the series Summary: Halley and Avalon are back together again (go Team Halvalon!), and rocking harder than ever. They've found a new place to host their snarky fashion column, Halley's crush, Wade, is showing interest in her, and Avalon's cheerleading team has teamed up with Halley's gymnastic team to work together in a cheerleading competition! However, there are a few roadblocks. Wade's ex, Sofee, is friends with Halley, and Halley knows Sofee will be furious if she gets together with Wade. Avalon desperately wants to be captain of her cheerleading team, but the current captain, Brianna, is already suspicious. Then comes the pair's brilliant plan. They'll pretend to get in a fight again (nobody will have anybody trouble believing that: Team Halley and Team Avalon shirts are still floating around), while actually supporting each other. Avalon will pretend to flirt with Wade in front of Sofee so that Sofee is mad at Avalon, and Halley is able to secretly see Wade. Halley will openly sabotage Brianna and then nominate Avalon for the new cheerleading captain (which will come as a total "surprise" to Avalon. But there is a lot of trickery involved in the plan. Will they be able to pull it off? My thoughts: I think the entire plot of the novel (the fake fight) is absolutely brilliant. Before reading Faketastic, I was afraid it would be a repeat of Frenemies: basically a fight between Halley and Avalon. I was impressed by the way Alexa Young put a spin to it. I absolutely can't wait for Glamnesia to find out what fun and fabulous things happen next!

When we left Halley and Avalon, they were back to being BFFs. Now that they are best friends again, Halley and Avalon are back to confiding in each other and making awesome plans. They have taken Style Snarks and created their own web page, now that they have been disqualified from the school's web contest. Soon, Avalon comes to Halley asking for help. The cheerleading squad wants to compete in a regional competition. The only problem is that they need twenty girls on the team - the squad currently only has ten girls. The solution is to convince the gymnastics team to merge with the cheerleaders. Avalon needs Halley to help convince the gymnasts to join the squad. Begrudgingly, Halley does, and the two groups become one. But Brianna, the captain of the squad, is floundering and unable to bring the two together. The two girls hatch a plot to get Avalon voted as the new captain. They will act like frenemies again, with Halley undermining everything that Brianna suggests. And then, when the time is right, Halley will nominate Avalon as the new captain. In return for Halley's help, Avalon will reroute Sofee's attention away from Wade so that Halley and Wade can get some alone time to ignite the sparks that have been flying between the two of them. The plan starts to go so well that soon Avalon and Halley can't tell what's real and what's pretend. It seems like the two are on a collision course to becoming frenemies again. FAKETASTIC was a much snarkier read than FRENEMIES. The two girls have such an evil friendship going, it's certainly true that you should keep your friends close, but your enemies even closer!! Ms. Young leaves the reader hanging and wanting more, waiting for the next installment, GLAMNESIA, coming in July 2009. Reviewed by: Jaglvr

On-and-off-again friends Halley Brandon and Avalon Greene are back together as Team Halvalon, despite previous setbacks. They're stronger and more devious than ever. So when Halley stresses over how her new bestie Sofee will react to Halley's tentative relationship with Sofee's ex, Wade, and Avalon starts to crave leadership in the new and improved cheer squad, these fashionistas put their heads together to craft a rather genius plan. But what happens when they plan goes wrong? Will these fashion forward friends have to break up again--for real? Amusingly immature yet surprisingly meaningful, Faketastic is an improvements over its prequel Frenemies. There still are the petty arguments and name dropping so frequent it becomes annoying, but even if the plot is a bit childish and silly, main characters Halley and Avalon are more mature than they were in this series' previous installment. They seem less shallow because they could overcome most of their fight in Frenemies and work together to help each other accomplish what each desired most, which thankfully wasn't limited to being most fashionable in school. This made their new fight seem more legitimate and made Avalon and Halley easier to relate to. Young even did a great job of reeling in the reader and making them want to know what happens after Faketastic ends. Exploring the bongs of friendship and the middle school social scene, Faketastic appeals to fans of Lucky by Rachel Vail, The Clique series by Lisi Harrison, and other fashion related novels. The Frenemies series will probably best enjoyed by middle grade readers, though those older may still like the Style Snarks. I look forward to the catching the continuation of this series in intriguingly named Glamnesia.