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Meet the clique that rules Fidelity High: Olivia, Zelda, Nordica, and Shelly, each one handpicked by über-popular Hamilton Best. You know you're "in" when you make the guest list for one of Hamilton's parties. And in the thralls of senior year, everyone wants to get noticed by Hamilton.
But Hamilton's elite entourage is coming apart at the seams. Olivia fantasizes about finally having a boyfriend, Zelda dreams of ditching high school, Nordica wants to be alone with her photography, and Shelly's plotting to dethrone Hamilton. Lies and secrets are ripping away the careful ties that have kept them together for years. But Hamilton has the biggest secret of all, one that only her boyfriend Alex knows. If the truth got out, it would shock everyone and destroy Hamilton's fragile world—and she'll do anything to protect her secret and keep her clique together.
But Hamilton's elite entourage is coming apart at the seams. Olivia fantasizes about finally having a boyfriend, Zelda dreams of ditching high school, Nordica wants to be alone with her photography, and Shelly's plotting to dethrone Hamilton. Lies and secrets are ripping away the careful ties that have kept them together for years. But Hamilton has the biggest secret of all, one that only her boyfriend Alex knows. If the truth got out, it would shock everyone and destroy Hamilton's fragile world—and she'll do anything to protect her secret and keep her clique together.
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
14 people are currently reading
2,729 people want to read
About the author
Alissa Grosso
13books198followersAlissa Grosso is the author of several books for adults and teens. You can find out more about her and her books at AlissaGrosso.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
December 23, 2015
This review uses my "snapshot" format.
The subject: a one-of-a-kind high school clique...trust me, you've never seen one quite like this before.
Shutter speed: pretty snappy, as the social scene is ripe with drama � although it does become repetitive after a little while, as Part 1 is drawn out a bit more than I thought was really necessary.
What's in the background? Alex, the apparently perfect boyfriend...but he comes more into the foreground in Part 2, and we get to see what's really going through his mind. Getting Alex's perspective adds such a necessary layer to what's going on.
Zoom in on: Jasmine, or really any outsider to the clique. I'd like to see a little more of what everyone else thinks of Hamilton.
Anything out of focus? I had some trouble remembering which perspective I was reading, since Part 1 flips between five.
The mental health issue is fascinating, and the way the storyline is crafted around it is stupendous. I had a few niggling questions about the accuracy of how a certain disorder is portrayed, but overall it's handled well.
Ready? Say... "Secrets!"
Click! 4.5 shooting stars
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for review.
The subject: a one-of-a-kind high school clique...trust me, you've never seen one quite like this before.
Shutter speed: pretty snappy, as the social scene is ripe with drama � although it does become repetitive after a little while, as Part 1 is drawn out a bit more than I thought was really necessary.
What's in the background? Alex, the apparently perfect boyfriend...but he comes more into the foreground in Part 2, and we get to see what's really going through his mind. Getting Alex's perspective adds such a necessary layer to what's going on.
Zoom in on: Jasmine, or really any outsider to the clique. I'd like to see a little more of what everyone else thinks of Hamilton.
Anything out of focus? I had some trouble remembering which perspective I was reading, since Part 1 flips between five.
The mental health issue is fascinating, and the way the storyline is crafted around it is stupendous. I had a few niggling questions about the accuracy of how a certain disorder is portrayed, but overall it's handled well.
Ready? Say... "Secrets!"
Click! 4.5 shooting stars
Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher for review.
February 5, 2011
Holy crow, THE TWIST. I didn't expect the twist. I don't want to give anything away, so all I can say about it is GOSFQAETOGWREST???!?!!!!!!
July 14, 2011
Told from the five perspectives of five different girls, you would think that Popular was just another Mean Girls knock-off. But before you write it off-- there is something in this book that will completely throw you for a loop. I can't say much more without giving it away, but the Fidelity High Clique is not what it seems. While all the other girls just want to get away from Hamilton and be themselves, Hamilton is scared to death of the end of high school and what lies beyond. There is something very dark troubling Hamilton, and she will do whatever it takes to cling to the present, to feel safe, where her dreams can't be shattered.
My first impression of this book was, "here we go again, another cheesy high school drama." But then things started to get interesting, and then-- I'd say around page 215-- the book totally knocked me upside the head. I'm not going to give away the insane twist in this book, but let me just say that it was such a crazy spin that I physically reacted to it and actually said, "Ohhh myyy god what the...??" out loud! Yes, it was that good. If you can get through some of the more tedious and cheesy sections of Part 1, trust me when I say it is well worth the wait to find out how the entire thing goes down...
See the FULL review @
My first impression of this book was, "here we go again, another cheesy high school drama." But then things started to get interesting, and then-- I'd say around page 215-- the book totally knocked me upside the head. I'm not going to give away the insane twist in this book, but let me just say that it was such a crazy spin that I physically reacted to it and actually said, "Ohhh myyy god what the...??" out loud! Yes, it was that good. If you can get through some of the more tedious and cheesy sections of Part 1, trust me when I say it is well worth the wait to find out how the entire thing goes down...
See the FULL review @
May 9, 2011
If you look up the term "queen bee" in the dictionary, it's very likely that you'll find Hamilton Best's name. She's worked her way to the top of the social ladder, and she prides herself in the fact that's she's a part, if not what defines, elite at Fidelty High. But things are changing as Hamilton's "ladies in waiting" start developing desires beyond high school, itself. Hamilton hates the fact that her group is slipping, but she's finding her own secret makes it hard for her to hold onto her title, as well. Can she restore balance and order, stay on top of the social pyramid and survive the school year, or will she lose everything she's fought to create?
Popular sounded like a hit or miss book for me based on the premise because I'm not sold on that alone. Let's be honest - how many twists can an author put on the same idea? Popular girl, popular followers, deep, dark secret, yadda yadda...that's what I was thinking going into the book. Popular managed to shake things up though, and author, Alissa Grosso, pushed her book beyond the mere premise and add a layer of depth that shook the story, defined the characters and made it a poignant read. Balancing a tricky plotline, a full cast of characters and a powerful thematic undercurrent, Popular pleasantly surprised me.
Popular promised a twist with Hamilton's secret, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I was not expecting what happened, and it added an extra dimension to Hamilton's character because she seemed so shallow and surface-heavy. While the beginning started a bit cliche, Hamilton's secret and the strained relationship between the girls helped spiral Popular to the climax, which truly changed everything. All that aside though, I will admit that Popular took a few chapters to become acquainted with though, as four different points of view was tricky to maneuver. Once I became familiar with the various voices though, I managed to get into the story, which ultimately led to the twist in Popular that ended up truly redeeming the book for me.
All in all, Popular was a surprisingly good read. Contemporary fiction like this has to fight through the cliches to become something more, and Popular managed to switch things up with the hidden twist. I give it a very strong 3.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy YA, especially those who like contemporary fiction.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Popular sounded like a hit or miss book for me based on the premise because I'm not sold on that alone. Let's be honest - how many twists can an author put on the same idea? Popular girl, popular followers, deep, dark secret, yadda yadda...that's what I was thinking going into the book. Popular managed to shake things up though, and author, Alissa Grosso, pushed her book beyond the mere premise and add a layer of depth that shook the story, defined the characters and made it a poignant read. Balancing a tricky plotline, a full cast of characters and a powerful thematic undercurrent, Popular pleasantly surprised me.
Popular promised a twist with Hamilton's secret, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I was not expecting what happened, and it added an extra dimension to Hamilton's character because she seemed so shallow and surface-heavy. While the beginning started a bit cliche, Hamilton's secret and the strained relationship between the girls helped spiral Popular to the climax, which truly changed everything. All that aside though, I will admit that Popular took a few chapters to become acquainted with though, as four different points of view was tricky to maneuver. Once I became familiar with the various voices though, I managed to get into the story, which ultimately led to the twist in Popular that ended up truly redeeming the book for me.
All in all, Popular was a surprisingly good read. Contemporary fiction like this has to fight through the cliches to become something more, and Popular managed to switch things up with the hidden twist. I give it a very strong 3.5 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to those who enjoy YA, especially those who like contemporary fiction.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
January 28, 2015
A great majority of this book was a confusing mess, with tense changes, six different POVs to keep up with (I could say more about that, but I won't spoil you), and a very fast pace.
We really only get to know six characters very well, with the minors being . . . well, minor. The characters we did know, though, were � (how do you explain this without revealing the plot?) � unique and likable enough.
The writing wasn't half bad, but there was a lot of repetition which became annoying. So much could've been cut and so much could've been added to make it a much clearer story.
What really got this story up to four stars, though, was the incredible, mind blowing, ohmigoodnessareyouserious plot twist. I can honestly say that I have never read a book with such a twist. I just had to keep reading this book because I wanted to know how everything worked out � and the author did not disappoint. Seriously, it was a simply MINDBLOWING twist. I'm going to stay up all night thinking about its mindblowingness. . . .
We really only get to know six characters very well, with the minors being . . . well, minor. The characters we did know, though, were � (how do you explain this without revealing the plot?) � unique and likable enough.
The writing wasn't half bad, but there was a lot of repetition which became annoying. So much could've been cut and so much could've been added to make it a much clearer story.
What really got this story up to four stars, though, was the incredible, mind blowing, ohmigoodnessareyouserious plot twist. I can honestly say that I have never read a book with such a twist. I just had to keep reading this book because I wanted to know how everything worked out � and the author did not disappoint. Seriously, it was a simply MINDBLOWING twist. I'm going to stay up all night thinking about its mindblowingness. . . .
July 6, 2011
Popular was a book i never imagined it to be. Where do I start off? In the beginning I thought to myself, this must be just another one of those girly books, where a certain girl try to rise in popularity by betraying another friend. It certainly wasn't.
At first I thought to myself, where in the world is this plot heading to? Was there even a plot? Until this one event, and everything made sense and was put into place... The big twist at the end would make fish fly and frogs blue!
This is truly a magnificent book! I coudln't put it down, but then I kind of had to....for sleep :D
At first I thought to myself, where in the world is this plot heading to? Was there even a plot? Until this one event, and everything made sense and was put into place... The big twist at the end would make fish fly and frogs blue!
This is truly a magnificent book! I coudln't put it down, but then I kind of had to....for sleep :D
May 4, 2011
Popular is at its core a book about being popular, but that's not all. Since it is crucial that you read the book without knowing the twist at the end, I can't give anything away, so I will merely explain why I gave it only one star. The writing is not that great, in my opinion. Maybe it is because I read an advance copy, so if that is the case, then anyone that read the final version can rebuke my statement. I found grammatical errors left and right and what really killed it was the going back and forth between present and past tense within a single paragraph or thought. The language the teens use is also not believable or natural sounding. Also, there are chapters told from different character's perspectives and at first it was really confusing keeping each one straight. Furthermore not much happened in each chapter, other than reiterating that particular character's point of view (for example Olivia wanting a relationship with a boy named Chance and Shelly wanting to overthrow Hamilton as Queen of the clique). Besides these reiterations, all we get are a string of parties thrown by Hamilton and her boyfriend Alex showing up in each chapter. In the end you understand why some of these things are built that way in the first part of the book, but overall the effect is A.) Boredom and B.) Frustration (and not the good kind that makes me want to keep turning the pages). I love the premise of the book, but I think the execution could have been way better.
May 10, 2014
I would normally stay far away from books that sound like typical high school drama stories (they are often egregiously exaggerated and predictable), but the reviews for this book hinted at a shocking revelation that changes the complete course of the novel. How could I resist after seeing that?
I must admit that I skimmed through the first half of the book, carefully reading just the first five or so chapters before the four different POV's got on my nerves and I felt bored. Once I got to the twist, however, my interest was piqued. I appreciated how this book addressed an issue that is not normally found in fiction novels, and I'm surprised that Alissa Grosso managed to handle this subject so well. This twist added a great deal of depth to the story and transformed it from a Mean Girls special to a haunting, desperate, and hopeful tale about identity.
Readers interested in psychology would enjoy this book!
I must admit that I skimmed through the first half of the book, carefully reading just the first five or so chapters before the four different POV's got on my nerves and I felt bored. Once I got to the twist, however, my interest was piqued. I appreciated how this book addressed an issue that is not normally found in fiction novels, and I'm surprised that Alissa Grosso managed to handle this subject so well. This twist added a great deal of depth to the story and transformed it from a Mean Girls special to a haunting, desperate, and hopeful tale about identity.
Readers interested in psychology would enjoy this book!
May 23, 2011
Honestly, saw the twist coming from miles away. But I still liked this one, and I think it did it much better than a title published earlier this year that tackles something similar (name left out to avoid spoiling).
Full review here:
Full review here:
September 26, 2011
Oh my god.... I finished it this morning and had to reread parts immediately. I cannot wait for this week's book club meeting when we get to skype with the author!!
February 13, 2012
I reviewed Popular on my blog - . It's full of spoilers, so reader beware.
May 4, 2012
I was getting frustrated with these characters, but, then... oh, the TWIST!!!!! I can't wait to share this with our student book club!
January 25, 2023
Girl with multiple personalities somehow cleans up ragging teen parties all by herself in like a night. 🤷♂️🤷♀️�
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2011
Best twist I have read in awhile. I never would have predicted it.
May 2, 2018
� “i do have the inside advantage, and some empires are best toppled from the inside out.�
� “high school. popularity. those are the things that nightmares are made of.�
� “why don't you tell me why you're really here," i say.
"i'm in love with you."
"no. you just stopped being in love with hamilton.�
� “broken-hearted girls should not throw valentine's day parties.�
� “most guys are under the impression that they are way more desirable than they actually are, and chance avanale is one of those guys�
that were some of the parts i actually liked ^
the only reason i've giving this two stars is because the last part of the book was actually quite interesting. other than that, the book was pretty bland.
so as guessed, there were a lot of reasons i didn't like this book, not all problematic yet some of the aspects were quite a lot.
i've made a little list of some of the things (be aware of tw's):
- slut shaming
- fat shaming/body shaming
- cheating
- girl on girl hate
- superficial
- stealing other's partners
- spelling/grammar mistakes
- stereotypes
- unlikeable characters
- paints a harmful picture of mental illness (a mentally ill person is called freak, disturbed, mentally challenged girl, problems, scary, messed up, insane, crazy, etc.)
- "the mentally ill person needs to be protected"-trope
- child abuse
� “high school. popularity. those are the things that nightmares are made of.�
� “why don't you tell me why you're really here," i say.
"i'm in love with you."
"no. you just stopped being in love with hamilton.�
� “broken-hearted girls should not throw valentine's day parties.�
� “most guys are under the impression that they are way more desirable than they actually are, and chance avanale is one of those guys�
that were some of the parts i actually liked ^
the only reason i've giving this two stars is because the last part of the book was actually quite interesting. other than that, the book was pretty bland.
so as guessed, there were a lot of reasons i didn't like this book, not all problematic yet some of the aspects were quite a lot.
i've made a little list of some of the things (be aware of tw's):
- slut shaming
- fat shaming/body shaming
- cheating
- girl on girl hate
- superficial
- stealing other's partners
- spelling/grammar mistakes
- stereotypes
- unlikeable characters
- paints a harmful picture of mental illness (a mentally ill person is called freak, disturbed, mentally challenged girl, problems, scary, messed up, insane, crazy, etc.)
- "the mentally ill person needs to be protected"-trope
- child abuse
August 26, 2022
3.5 stars
This is a reread ... I think I first read this in 2017 but I reread it because one of the other books I read recently tried to pull the same twist.
Probably one of the better executions of the "main character has split personality" trope... the first 60% of the book feels very juvenile (like even for YA) and certain things feel off (like the characters are seniors in high school but none of them talk about going to college or anything else) but during part 2 it gets explained...
Part 2 could've been fleshed out a bit more, and I found it a bit unrealistic that Hamilton had multiple, drastically different personalities and no one except Alex picked up on it. Like okay her mom was busy working but no classmates, no teachers?
And all the enabling pissed me off, Alex gets a pass because he's only a kid but Hamilton's mom should've known better. Another interesting note is that this book was written in 2011. Even though that was 11 (!) years ago, the way the other characters talk about mental illness feels extremely dated, but it wasn't bad enough to take me out of the story.
This is a reread ... I think I first read this in 2017 but I reread it because one of the other books I read recently tried to pull the same twist.
Probably one of the better executions of the "main character has split personality" trope... the first 60% of the book feels very juvenile (like even for YA) and certain things feel off (like the characters are seniors in high school but none of them talk about going to college or anything else) but during part 2 it gets explained...
Part 2 could've been fleshed out a bit more, and I found it a bit unrealistic that Hamilton had multiple, drastically different personalities and no one except Alex picked up on it. Like okay her mom was busy working but no classmates, no teachers?
And all the enabling pissed me off, Alex gets a pass because he's only a kid but Hamilton's mom should've known better. Another interesting note is that this book was written in 2011. Even though that was 11 (!) years ago, the way the other characters talk about mental illness feels extremely dated, but it wasn't bad enough to take me out of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2019
This book isn't my usual fare, as it's mainly about teenage girls doing teenage girl things. Why would I want to read this? For the first half of the book, you may be asking yourself the same thing.
But still: read it.
Someone in one of my writing groups recommended it, I want to say... but this was half a decade after I left all my writing groups. So maybe it was someone else I know online.
At any rate, I went into this with little knowledge or expectations, thought I was reading one thing, and learned I was reading something entirely different. I've re-read it twice over the years, because it's fun to revisit and untangle things.
But still: read it.
Someone in one of my writing groups recommended it, I want to say... but this was half a decade after I left all my writing groups. So maybe it was someone else I know online.
At any rate, I went into this with little knowledge or expectations, thought I was reading one thing, and learned I was reading something entirely different. I've re-read it twice over the years, because it's fun to revisit and untangle things.
April 15, 2019
well, that was just insane???
did not expect anything at all...wow
legit couldn't put the book down at one point like i finished it in less than 12 hours minus bathroom breaks and while in the car
did not expect anything at all...wow
legit couldn't put the book down at one point like i finished it in less than 12 hours minus bathroom breaks and while in the car
May 19, 2017
BEST PLOT TWIST EVER. That's the only thing I'm going to say about this book.
June 30, 2017
definitely wasn't expecting that. 3.5 stars
June 29, 2019
I thought they stopped making books like this years ago. Talk about mental illness stigma and cliches I expect from something published in the 1980s.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2019
I don’t like reading but I literally got this app for this book and I never went passed more than 10 pages in a book .... I think I love love this book 🤔
February 7, 2021
"The advantage of maturing is that it makes us see the world in a whole new way."
December 17, 2022
3.5/5
I read this a few years ago. I was reading just to read until it reached the plot twist. Then, I was hooked. Everything made sense and I was shocked- one of the most unexpected plot twists I’ve ever read! It was a very interesting read for sure, but I personally don’t think everyone will like this. Alissa puts the focus on characters rather than plot, and not everyone enjoys that. Overall, it was entertaining!
I read this a few years ago. I was reading just to read until it reached the plot twist. Then, I was hooked. Everything made sense and I was shocked- one of the most unexpected plot twists I’ve ever read! It was a very interesting read for sure, but I personally don’t think everyone will like this. Alissa puts the focus on characters rather than plot, and not everyone enjoys that. Overall, it was entertaining!
June 20, 2014
I don't know what it is with me with lately because I've suddenly got a thing for psychological thrillers, ya know? Having recently read and completely loving it, I thought that Popular would be a complete palate cleanser. On the surface, it does seem like the case but actually the two books have more in common than one would think. I'm surprised by how few ratings this book has because it's honestly quite an amazing read!
Fidelity High is ruled by Hamilton Best, the most popular girl in the school. She's blonde, pretty and throws the best parties ever. The kind of parties that have a guest list and which the whole school talks about. Her clique consists of Oliva (her best friend since they were five years old), Zelda (the girl who's droll and seemingly above all the typical high school shenanigans), Nordica (who's a year younger than the rest of the clique and was adopted by Hamilton on her first day of school) and finally, Shelley (a girl who moved into their school midway through sophomore year and who's out to get Hamilton). Each of the girls have their own reasons for disliking Hamilton and their own reasons for wanting to take her down. But Hamilton's not in any position to fight off these challengers to her Queen Bee status. Something's desperately wrong with Hamilton and she's scared to move on from high school.
Only her boyfriend, Alex, is aware of the secret that Hamilton is hiding but he doesn't know what to do either. As the clique falls apart around Hamilton, Hamilton suffers a breakdown of her own as well.
On the surface, Popular seems like the perfect guilty pleasure. Popular girls at a high school fighting it out and holding nothing back? Seems like a great chick flick read for me. However, this book is more than that. Many of the reviews rave about a TWIST that they didn't see coming and which changed the entire perspective you read the book in. And yeah, I would admit that before the twist came along I was wondering why this book had such a high rating on ŷ. But honestly, the twist makes everything else that went before it worthwhile. It's something that makes a huge deal of sense but I didn't see it coming!
Popular is told in the perspective of all the girls. Their personalities are very distinct from each other and for a book that lets you spend so little time with each character, I found that each girl was a very well-thought out and developed character. Out of all the girls though, I think the flattest character is Hamilton Best. We get an understanding of each girl's motivations and what they consider to be the most important thing in their lives. But with Hamilton, there's very little revealed about her aside from the fact that she's popular, manipulative and that she's dating Alex.
Surprisingly (for a book that's supposed to be about girl drama), the most well fleshed out character is Alex, Hamilton's boyfriend. The second part of the book is told from Alex's perspective and we get an explanation of everything that had happened before from him. Alex is a very complicated character, a guy which I hated during the first part of the novel because he just seemed like such a huge player. But later on, I found him to be a very sweet and devoted guy who was just trying to do the best that he could under the circumstances. If you're confused about my change of heart, you're just going to have to read the book to find out why :)
Before the Big Reveal scene, I found the girls' incessant bitching about Hamilton to be pretty annoying. I mean, if you really don't like hanging out with the girl why do you do so? Why bother trying to take her down and waste all that energy? Surely you're better off doing a slow fade-away and stop hanging out with her instead?
If you're looking for a book that holds a Big Secret, has tons of high school drama and popularity contests as well as possibly the most perfect boyfriend that ever existed, Popular is definitely the book for you.
Fidelity High is ruled by Hamilton Best, the most popular girl in the school. She's blonde, pretty and throws the best parties ever. The kind of parties that have a guest list and which the whole school talks about. Her clique consists of Oliva (her best friend since they were five years old), Zelda (the girl who's droll and seemingly above all the typical high school shenanigans), Nordica (who's a year younger than the rest of the clique and was adopted by Hamilton on her first day of school) and finally, Shelley (a girl who moved into their school midway through sophomore year and who's out to get Hamilton). Each of the girls have their own reasons for disliking Hamilton and their own reasons for wanting to take her down. But Hamilton's not in any position to fight off these challengers to her Queen Bee status. Something's desperately wrong with Hamilton and she's scared to move on from high school.
Only her boyfriend, Alex, is aware of the secret that Hamilton is hiding but he doesn't know what to do either. As the clique falls apart around Hamilton, Hamilton suffers a breakdown of her own as well.
On the surface, Popular seems like the perfect guilty pleasure. Popular girls at a high school fighting it out and holding nothing back? Seems like a great chick flick read for me. However, this book is more than that. Many of the reviews rave about a TWIST that they didn't see coming and which changed the entire perspective you read the book in. And yeah, I would admit that before the twist came along I was wondering why this book had such a high rating on ŷ. But honestly, the twist makes everything else that went before it worthwhile. It's something that makes a huge deal of sense but I didn't see it coming!
Popular is told in the perspective of all the girls. Their personalities are very distinct from each other and for a book that lets you spend so little time with each character, I found that each girl was a very well-thought out and developed character. Out of all the girls though, I think the flattest character is Hamilton Best. We get an understanding of each girl's motivations and what they consider to be the most important thing in their lives. But with Hamilton, there's very little revealed about her aside from the fact that she's popular, manipulative and that she's dating Alex.
Surprisingly (for a book that's supposed to be about girl drama), the most well fleshed out character is Alex, Hamilton's boyfriend. The second part of the book is told from Alex's perspective and we get an explanation of everything that had happened before from him. Alex is a very complicated character, a guy which I hated during the first part of the novel because he just seemed like such a huge player. But later on, I found him to be a very sweet and devoted guy who was just trying to do the best that he could under the circumstances. If you're confused about my change of heart, you're just going to have to read the book to find out why :)
Before the Big Reveal scene, I found the girls' incessant bitching about Hamilton to be pretty annoying. I mean, if you really don't like hanging out with the girl why do you do so? Why bother trying to take her down and waste all that energy? Surely you're better off doing a slow fade-away and stop hanging out with her instead?
If you're looking for a book that holds a Big Secret, has tons of high school drama and popularity contests as well as possibly the most perfect boyfriend that ever existed, Popular is definitely the book for you.
June 9, 2011
Popular is told through multiple perspectives:
Hamilton - Queen Bee, most beautiful and popular girl in Fidelity High. She absolutely loves Alex, her boyfriend, who is kind of a loner and no one really gets how he ended up with a girl like Hamilton.
Olivia - sarcastic and witty, she's been friends with Hamilton the longest, is crushing on Chance, a soccer player at school
Nordica - shy and introvert, has a secret crush on Alex
Shelly - superficial and mean, wants to dethrone Hamilton and take her place.
They are "The Clique" .
What do they all have in common?They hate Hamilton! They all think she is a manipulative, shellfish bitch that won't hesitate to stab each and everyone one of them in the back given the opportunity. Now, I have read a lot of high-school-popularity-centered-books and the posse's jealousy of their leader is always a given. But in Popular things were a little bit more heated than I expected. There doesn't seem to be any reason why any of them should be friends, as they are completely different people. In fact the hatred isn't only targeted at Hamilton, but at times I think they kinda hate each other, too. Thing is, despite all the smack they talked about Hamilton, I never saw it. I never saw this mean and evil girl everyone made her out to be. All I saw was a sad and terribly confused young woman who tried every second to not completely lose it.And that was even before I found out about this HUGE(and I mean HUGE!)secret that she was carrying. Honestly, I didn't expect it. Well, I kinda suspected it 100 pages before the end, when Alex's POV started but it really doesn't make a difference because it's still a jaw-dropping twist. Which I unfortunately now have to name because I can't go any further without referring to it. Sorry!
Popular is a very different and interesting take on popularity-centered teen books. Alissa Grosso did a very good job on her debut novel and I will definitely keep an eye out for her future books.
Hamilton - Queen Bee, most beautiful and popular girl in Fidelity High. She absolutely loves Alex, her boyfriend, who is kind of a loner and no one really gets how he ended up with a girl like Hamilton.
Olivia - sarcastic and witty, she's been friends with Hamilton the longest, is crushing on Chance, a soccer player at school
Nordica - shy and introvert, has a secret crush on Alex
Shelly - superficial and mean, wants to dethrone Hamilton and take her place.
They are "The Clique" .
What do they all have in common?They hate Hamilton! They all think she is a manipulative, shellfish bitch that won't hesitate to stab each and everyone one of them in the back given the opportunity. Now, I have read a lot of high-school-popularity-centered-books and the posse's jealousy of their leader is always a given. But in Popular things were a little bit more heated than I expected. There doesn't seem to be any reason why any of them should be friends, as they are completely different people. In fact the hatred isn't only targeted at Hamilton, but at times I think they kinda hate each other, too. Thing is, despite all the smack they talked about Hamilton, I never saw it. I never saw this mean and evil girl everyone made her out to be. All I saw was a sad and terribly confused young woman who tried every second to not completely lose it.And that was even before I found out about this HUGE(and I mean HUGE!)secret that she was carrying. Honestly, I didn't expect it. Well, I kinda suspected it 100 pages before the end, when Alex's POV started but it really doesn't make a difference because it's still a jaw-dropping twist. Which I unfortunately now have to name because I can't go any further without referring to it. Sorry!
Popular is a very different and interesting take on popularity-centered teen books. Alissa Grosso did a very good job on her debut novel and I will definitely keep an eye out for her future books.
May 12, 2011
Fidelity High is ruled by Hamilton Best, the golden girl who sets her own rules. She throws the parties, she writes the guest lists, and she decides who gets to hang out with her. Her friends are part of a tightly-knit clique, each girl handpicked. Unlike the rest of the school, Olivia, Zelda, Shelly, and Nordica are always on the guest list for one of Hamilton's parties. However, as senior year begins, the strands holding the clique together begin to break. From social-climbing Shelly who has plans to dethrone Hamilton in spectacular fashion, to freaky Zelda who's decided that Hamilton's boyfriend Alex is her "destiny," to young, frizzy-haired Nordica who worries what will happen to her next year after Hamilton graduates while she still has a year left of high school.
This book is written from the POVs of each of the girls in the clique, showing the unravelling of senior year and Hamilton's reign through five sets of eyes. There's the sense throughout that something nasty is simmering just below the surface of Hamilton and the clique's perfect life. Things feel off and throughout much of the book it was difficult for me to put my finger on just what seemed off. The few things I did notice I originally planned to mention in my review, but because of the shocking plot of the book, it's best to go into the story wide-eyed and naive, with absolutely no possible spoilers.
While it takes a few chapters to get used to the various viewpoints used here, the short chapters and obviously-different characters really help. This is not a clique populated by strawberry-lipgloss-wearing, pom-pom-waving Barbie types. Instead, Hamilton and her friends are different, each of them seeming like they really should belong to a different high school group. Nordica and Zelda especially seem to skew the expectations of popularity, which is both perplexing and refreshing. As the school year wears on, the clique gets tired of Hamilton's rule, each for different reasons. And while I felt that there was a lot of telling here, descriptions of feelings and characters that seem unsubstantiated, this writing style ultimately ends up working to the book's advantage. Because as much as this is a book about popular girls, it's also a bit more, because Hamilton Best has a secret. It's a secret that threatens her popularity, a secret that only her enigma of a boyfriend Alex is aware of. And, trust me, it is a secret that will shock you.
This book was amazing. Despite that feeling of something being off, not quite right, it was impossible to put my finger on just what it was. (Although, trust me, I had my ideas about what might happen.) The set-up and follow-through of this story is absolutely brilliant and while the writing style and certain events can be annoying at times, the various elements ultimately come together to create a shocking and unforgettable book.
This book is written from the POVs of each of the girls in the clique, showing the unravelling of senior year and Hamilton's reign through five sets of eyes. There's the sense throughout that something nasty is simmering just below the surface of Hamilton and the clique's perfect life. Things feel off and throughout much of the book it was difficult for me to put my finger on just what seemed off. The few things I did notice I originally planned to mention in my review, but because of the shocking plot of the book, it's best to go into the story wide-eyed and naive, with absolutely no possible spoilers.
While it takes a few chapters to get used to the various viewpoints used here, the short chapters and obviously-different characters really help. This is not a clique populated by strawberry-lipgloss-wearing, pom-pom-waving Barbie types. Instead, Hamilton and her friends are different, each of them seeming like they really should belong to a different high school group. Nordica and Zelda especially seem to skew the expectations of popularity, which is both perplexing and refreshing. As the school year wears on, the clique gets tired of Hamilton's rule, each for different reasons. And while I felt that there was a lot of telling here, descriptions of feelings and characters that seem unsubstantiated, this writing style ultimately ends up working to the book's advantage. Because as much as this is a book about popular girls, it's also a bit more, because Hamilton Best has a secret. It's a secret that threatens her popularity, a secret that only her enigma of a boyfriend Alex is aware of. And, trust me, it is a secret that will shock you.
This book was amazing. Despite that feeling of something being off, not quite right, it was impossible to put my finger on just what it was. (Although, trust me, I had my ideas about what might happen.) The set-up and follow-through of this story is absolutely brilliant and while the writing style and certain events can be annoying at times, the various elements ultimately come together to create a shocking and unforgettable book.
Want to read
June 22, 2012(There are no spoilers in this review.)
To be honest, at first I was a bit reluctant to read Popular because it's a book about five high school girls all members of a popular and exclusive clique. I like reading about characters I can relate to and I was worried I wouldn't find that in this book. I'm also not a fan of books like the Gossip Girl or Clique series and I was afraid Popular was going to be like those books. Boy, was I wrong.
Popular is a debut novel by Alissa Grosso and now that I had finished the book, I think it was a pretty ambitious debut novel. There were six main characters and each chapter switches off between the girls in first person narration. You would think it would be confusing but it was not at all. I love it when a book is in first-person because I feel like I get to know the characters on a personal level. Admittedly, at first, the different narrations didn't sound like individual voices to me but as I continued to read, it got better and better until I found myself completely immersed in the thoughts and voices of the girls and Hamilton's boyfriend Alex. Sometimes after I had read, I would still think I'm at Fidelity High watching the most exclusive clique fall apart at the seams and myself admiring quiet and contemplative Alex from a distance. Ms. Grosso writes beautifully with great narrations from all the characters and the book had a great plot that sent me on a roller coaster ride of emotions and reactions.
As for the plot, I loved that Ms. Grosso added a most surprising and interesting aspect to it that I never had suspected to be in the book. The shocking part was something I never read before in other books, it was a bit unsettling yet interesting for me. I can't tell you what it is and why it happened though, it will spoil this amazing book but it seriously caught me off guard. Looking back now, I think I wouldn't have felt as shocked as I was if only I read more carefully because it was hinted a bit at one point.
Overall, this is an amazing debut novel that I recommend to everyone who loves secrets and surprises. It's not a Gossip Girl kind of novel--it's a deep and engrossing read that I'll hopefully be able to reread in the near future to revisit the girls and Alex. My reading experience with Popular was so fantastic that its words and characters still haunt me days after I finished reading it.
Reviewed by Leslie for
To be honest, at first I was a bit reluctant to read Popular because it's a book about five high school girls all members of a popular and exclusive clique. I like reading about characters I can relate to and I was worried I wouldn't find that in this book. I'm also not a fan of books like the Gossip Girl or Clique series and I was afraid Popular was going to be like those books. Boy, was I wrong.
Popular is a debut novel by Alissa Grosso and now that I had finished the book, I think it was a pretty ambitious debut novel. There were six main characters and each chapter switches off between the girls in first person narration. You would think it would be confusing but it was not at all. I love it when a book is in first-person because I feel like I get to know the characters on a personal level. Admittedly, at first, the different narrations didn't sound like individual voices to me but as I continued to read, it got better and better until I found myself completely immersed in the thoughts and voices of the girls and Hamilton's boyfriend Alex. Sometimes after I had read, I would still think I'm at Fidelity High watching the most exclusive clique fall apart at the seams and myself admiring quiet and contemplative Alex from a distance. Ms. Grosso writes beautifully with great narrations from all the characters and the book had a great plot that sent me on a roller coaster ride of emotions and reactions.
As for the plot, I loved that Ms. Grosso added a most surprising and interesting aspect to it that I never had suspected to be in the book. The shocking part was something I never read before in other books, it was a bit unsettling yet interesting for me. I can't tell you what it is and why it happened though, it will spoil this amazing book but it seriously caught me off guard. Looking back now, I think I wouldn't have felt as shocked as I was if only I read more carefully because it was hinted a bit at one point.
Overall, this is an amazing debut novel that I recommend to everyone who loves secrets and surprises. It's not a Gossip Girl kind of novel--it's a deep and engrossing read that I'll hopefully be able to reread in the near future to revisit the girls and Alex. My reading experience with Popular was so fantastic that its words and characters still haunt me days after I finished reading it.
Reviewed by Leslie for
February 17, 2017
At first glance and after reading the blurb, this book comes across as a typical high school drama � complete with Barbie girls, bitchy girls, drama and romance.
Hamilton Best is the Queen Bee of her school. She had personally picked each member of her clique. But with High school coming towards an end her clique seems to be falling apart. Olivia has a not so secret crush, Zelda is tired of school, Nordica is scared of being left alone when the other members of the clique graduates and is drawn to photography and Shelly is tired of being the second best. All the while Hamilton is scared of losing them all. Then there’s Alex, Hamilton’s boyfriend � a sweet, nerdy kind of guy who is helping Hamilton keep her biggest secret. With everyone wanting to have things their own way and secrets spilling out every moment, what is really going to happen?
The characters in this book are very distinctive. They are all so varied in their outlook, personality and choices that you wonder how these girls could ever be friends. Each girl’s POV is represented in separate chapters and though it may sound boring at first, these separate chapters actually give us a chance to take a glimpse into each mind as they react differently to each situation. At the same time I feel that Alex is low played in the beginning. With all the different POVs of the same situations and repetitive element of parties in the book give it a very slow start.
The author style of writing and narration is nothing extraordinary but it is rather easy to get lulled by it.
Then comes the twist at about two-third of the book and it is truly amazing. If you pay attention, you will be able to see it coming - you’ll read all the pointers, yet when the twist is revealed, you will be left awestruck. No longer just a typical high school drama, or a drag, the book will then keep you glued to its pages till you find out how it ends. But the key is to hold on to the book till then� which may seem like a difficult task, but trust me, the twist is totally worth it.
Overall, this book was totally worth my time and an entertainer even though I wished for a faster pace throughout.
Hamilton Best is the Queen Bee of her school. She had personally picked each member of her clique. But with High school coming towards an end her clique seems to be falling apart. Olivia has a not so secret crush, Zelda is tired of school, Nordica is scared of being left alone when the other members of the clique graduates and is drawn to photography and Shelly is tired of being the second best. All the while Hamilton is scared of losing them all. Then there’s Alex, Hamilton’s boyfriend � a sweet, nerdy kind of guy who is helping Hamilton keep her biggest secret. With everyone wanting to have things their own way and secrets spilling out every moment, what is really going to happen?
The characters in this book are very distinctive. They are all so varied in their outlook, personality and choices that you wonder how these girls could ever be friends. Each girl’s POV is represented in separate chapters and though it may sound boring at first, these separate chapters actually give us a chance to take a glimpse into each mind as they react differently to each situation. At the same time I feel that Alex is low played in the beginning. With all the different POVs of the same situations and repetitive element of parties in the book give it a very slow start.
The author style of writing and narration is nothing extraordinary but it is rather easy to get lulled by it.
Then comes the twist at about two-third of the book and it is truly amazing. If you pay attention, you will be able to see it coming - you’ll read all the pointers, yet when the twist is revealed, you will be left awestruck. No longer just a typical high school drama, or a drag, the book will then keep you glued to its pages till you find out how it ends. But the key is to hold on to the book till then� which may seem like a difficult task, but trust me, the twist is totally worth it.
Overall, this book was totally worth my time and an entertainer even though I wished for a faster pace throughout.
June 1, 2011
Terrific debut! Unique and fresh with a twist you won't see coming from a mile away!
Before you read any further, I assure you, there are NO spoilers. Be very careful when reading other reviews of this book, however. There is a big twist, you don't want it ruined for you...Ok, carry on.
When I first started reading about Hamilton and her clique of friends during their senior year of high school, I couldn't help but think back to great 80s movies like "Heathers" or "Pretty In Pink". The popular girls in school weren't always the most beautiful, the wealthiest or had the hottest boyfriends...but they all had a queen.
In POPULAR, the queen is Hamilton. She throws the best parties, to which a guest list is posted a few days before the party. To be on the guest list is a badge of honor, a symbol of popularity. Girlfriends will ditch their boyfriends to go to one of Hamilton's parties, best friends will lie to one another to go, because you can't turn down the opportunity to go to one of Hamilton's parties once you've been chosen.
Hamilton's parties begin to change, the guest lists are out of the ordinary. Is The Clique breaking down? Is The Clique starting to turn on its queen? Hamilton might not be as together as everything thinks.
Whatever you do, don't assume that this is some shallow book about popular girls. It's more than that. SO much more...
Alissa Grosso delivers one of the most complex cast of characters I have read in a YA book in a long time. She writes Popular from five different points of view, the voices of the five girls in The Clique. Each point of view delivers a unique voice, each one more interesting than the next.
I really don't want to give anything away, and I'm afraid I've already said too much. All I can tell you is that you don't want to miss Popular. It is unlike anything you will ever read this year.
Before you read any further, I assure you, there are NO spoilers. Be very careful when reading other reviews of this book, however. There is a big twist, you don't want it ruined for you...Ok, carry on.
When I first started reading about Hamilton and her clique of friends during their senior year of high school, I couldn't help but think back to great 80s movies like "Heathers" or "Pretty In Pink". The popular girls in school weren't always the most beautiful, the wealthiest or had the hottest boyfriends...but they all had a queen.
In POPULAR, the queen is Hamilton. She throws the best parties, to which a guest list is posted a few days before the party. To be on the guest list is a badge of honor, a symbol of popularity. Girlfriends will ditch their boyfriends to go to one of Hamilton's parties, best friends will lie to one another to go, because you can't turn down the opportunity to go to one of Hamilton's parties once you've been chosen.
Hamilton's parties begin to change, the guest lists are out of the ordinary. Is The Clique breaking down? Is The Clique starting to turn on its queen? Hamilton might not be as together as everything thinks.
Whatever you do, don't assume that this is some shallow book about popular girls. It's more than that. SO much more...
Alissa Grosso delivers one of the most complex cast of characters I have read in a YA book in a long time. She writes Popular from five different points of view, the voices of the five girls in The Clique. Each point of view delivers a unique voice, each one more interesting than the next.
I really don't want to give anything away, and I'm afraid I've already said too much. All I can tell you is that you don't want to miss Popular. It is unlike anything you will ever read this year.
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