Review: Sass and Serendipity

Sass and Serendipity by Jennifer Ziegler
July 12, 2011 by  Delacorte Press
 Recieved through Banned Books Tours

Summary via Goodreads:

   For Daphne, the glass is always half full, a situation is better managed with a dab of lip gloss, and the boy of her dreams—the one she's read about in all of her novels—is waiting for her just around the corner. 

   For Gabby, nothing ever works out positively; wearing any form of makeup is a waste of study time, and boys will only leave you heartbroken. Her best friend, Mule, is the only one who has been there for her every step of the way.
    But when the richest boy in school befriends Gabby, and Daphne starts to hang out more and more with her best friend, Mule, Gabby is forced to confront the emotional barriers she has put up to stop the hurting. And for once, her sassiness may fall prey to her definition of stupidity.

My thoughts:

 Secret confession time: I really wished I had a sister. Sure, my brother is alright, and the fact that he is a chef almost makes up for all the times he tormented me when we were younger. Almost. But I'm wickedly jealous of all those people who can talk about how their sister is their best friend and the how awesome it was to grow up with them, yada, yada, yada. So naturally I adore any kind of book that divulges into the dynamics of the sister relationship. And Jennifer Ziegler's Sass and Serendipity didn't disappoint.

Based on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility (a book I haven't read), Sass and Serendipity retells the tale of two very different sisters. Gabby is a pessimist, convinced that life will absolutely fall apart if she allows anything or anyone to disrupt her goals. Daphne is the complete opposite--easily sidetracked and eager to fall in love. With such clashing personalities and still coping with their parents' divorce, the sisters find themselves at each others throats often. The tension between them fills the book and some compromise must be made if cohabitation is to be achieved. While reading this book I came to the realization that I am a Daphne. This was quite shocking for one who would have sworn up and down that I was a Gabby.

And of course there are boys. Mule, Gabby's confidante, Preston, the snobby rich kid whose connection to Gabby's past makes her uncomfortable. The new boy into town who catches Daphne's eye. And the boy who Gabby lost, but never really had. The love stories were sweet--you root for the good boys and roll your eyes at the attempts of the not-so-good ones.

Sass and Serendipity is sweet, contemporary novel about learning to deal with the family you're given and finding balance. An excellent summer read, the cover alone made me what to lay out on a blanket and enjoy the great outdoors will reading.

(Special thanks to Jen at I Read Banned Books for allowing to review Sass and Serendipity)