Ready Or Not by Meg Cabot

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books
Pub. Date: March 2008
Age Range: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Series: All-American Girl
Format: paperback
Source: purchased

Top ten things Samantha Madison isn't ready for:

10. Spending Thanksgiving at Camp David
9. With her boyfriend, the president's son
8. Who appears to want to take their relationship to the Next Level
7. Which Sam inadvertently and shockingly announces live on MTV
6. While appearing to support the president's dubious policies on families, morals, and yes, sex
5. Juggling her new after-school job at Potomac Video
4. Even though she already has a job as teen ambassador to the UN (that she doesn't get paid for)
3. Riding the Metro and getting accosted because she's "the redheaded girl who saved the president's life," in spite of her new, semipermanent Midnight Ebony tresses
2. Experiencing total role reversal with her popular sister Lucy, who for once can't get the guy she wants
and the number-one thing Sam isn't ready for?
1. Finding out the hard way that in art class, "life drawing" means "naked people."

Though this book didn't come up to my expectation, it was on the whole a nice read. Honest, humorous and well-paced, Ready Or Not was typically Meg.

I didn't have a chance to read All American Girl but fortunately the book itself doesn't relate much to its prequel so I could still give a complete review. The plot was original to me. I've yet to read anything with a teenage ambassador in it, at least not one who saved the president ad then later became his son's girlfriend.

Samantha's life was alluring to me because it both depicted a life of a normal girl and one of a young celebrity. Being famous wasn't cool as it might sound, in contrast, it brought Sam more troubles than ever. In addition to coping with common issues - going to a school she didn't like at all, having one best friend only, being semi-ignored by her parents and shadowed by the seemingly perfect sister - she also had to avoid public prying eyes into her relationship with David and the likes. I enjoyed reading those parts, which made me laugh yet feel bad for Sam at the same time.

Sex was also a subject dealt with in this story. It was bold and fun. However, it annoyed me Sam freaked out too much on being asked to "do it". What was also ironic was even though Sam misread David and all the time she was way too nervous, she was the one who later decided to take it to the next level.

Anyway, I do like a lot of things about this story: the cute moments of Sam and David, how Lucy cared and protected her little sister, and the funny life drawing lessons. Besides, the book could somehow help you with your SAT tests as Meg included lots of SAT words there.

I would not say this is my favorite book but if you're looking for an entertaining one, you may consider Ready Or Not.

Rating: 3/5