Tour stop - Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein Review + Q&A

Today I am a host for the Pretty Amy book tour. First of all, I have a review for you. Below that I have posted a Q&A. Enjoy!


title: Pretty Amy
written by: Lisa Burstein
genre: ya, contemporary
pages: 304
published by  Entangled Publishing
published may 8th, 2012

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.


Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

Burstein created a simple, unique and amazing book every teenager, expecially girls, will like. It has something for everyone, characters you can easily relate to, and lots of humor. And the cover is beautiful!

Most books about teenage girls and prom don't exite me at all. In fact, I hate them. But already after reading the blurb of Pretty Amy I knew this book wouldn't be like those books. Being arrested on prom night? Amazing plot! Prom really changed Amy's life, in many ways, but most of all, it has shown her what is really important in life. And that was one of my favorite things about this book, it was not just a story, but it was very well thought out!

"I used to be nice, but nice was boring. Nice hadn’t gotten me anywhere." This line really describes the way Amy, the main character, acts. The world didn't care enough about her, so now she pretends as if she doesnt care about anything. Amy was a very fun character. She had to overcome a lot, after being arrested on prom night. But she handled the situation perfectly, and came out great. Other important characters were her two completely different best friends; Lila, the barbie girl and Cassie, the rock chick everyone is scared of. I love it when the main characteris in a book differ a lot, but still live together in harmony.

You read this book from Amy's point of view, the first person. I always like to read from this perspective, because you get way more insight in the story and the life of the character this way.

I rate this book 3.5 stars - You should read it! 


the Interview


1. What inspired you to write Pretty Amy? 

I was arrested during my senior year of high school, not for the same reason Amy was, but that was where the kernel came from. I also knew I wanted to write a "shocking" book from a teenage girl's point of view. I feel like you can get away with your character being a murderer, or a jerk, or just a smart ass more easily if your book isn't contemporary and I wanted to try to break that mold with PRETTY AMY. I also wanted to write a contemporary YA book that was about what real teens go through. I feel like teenage girl's lives are complex and I hoped to show that in PRETTY AMY.


2. Do you have any strange writing habits? I  myself always need to have my favorite book lying next to me, as a stimulation. 

Yes, I write with my laptop on my lap. I cannot write at a desk.

3. Does music inspire you while writing, or do you prefer to write in silence? 

Write in silence. I am way to easily distracted :).


4. In the book, Amy gets in trouble because of the Prom. Was your prom a disaster, too? 

I never went to my senior prom. I think that was why I made it such a hard night for Amy.


5. What was for you the hardest part of Pretty Amy to write? 

It wasn't so much a scene, as the end of the book. Amy goes through a pretty significant emotional and psychological change throughout the novel and it was hard to get it just right. Hard to make it as authentic as she is in the earlier parts of the novel.

Have a great day!
xo Mar