But let's go some years ago. I always was this weird kid who gets straight -As and reads a lot, who never breaks the rules because never sees the point in it, whose success is expected , no matter what happens. Don't get fooled, I wasn't lonely, as I always could count on a solid group of friends, but I was super serious until senior year. My parents weren't really strict because 1 they trusted me and they were right to do so and 2 it was just not their way of raising us.
But on my senior year, I lost it. I started to ditch school so often that school rang my parents twice a week and I developed a hell lot of tips to sneak out school without being caught. Yet my rates didn't suffer too much, because I showed up for the tests and I spent my free time reading in France we can specialize in Junior and Senior years, and I was in Literature-Philosophy-Languages.
Why did I change all of a sudden? The only thing I can say it's that I didn't want to be me anymore. To be frank, I wasn't full of self-loathing at all, in fact I think it was quite the opposite. Or isn't it the same thing, after all? I don't know anymore. God, I was so conceited, as it seems that only teenagers can be - I thought I got it all, and I couldn't have been more wrong, but the expectations I felt on my shoulders were suddenly too hard to stand - I'm not saying I was right, that's only what it was.
Why am I telling you that? Because I think that's why I can relate to Parker - I can understand why she's acting out of character, or more accurately, out of what others assume to be her personality. Because sometimes, we need to destroy a part of ourselves to evolve, because the way we are seen is suffocating us. And yes, we are hurting people who love us when we are acting that way, because we disturb the way they see us and what's more unsettling than seeing our best friend, our girlfriend, our daughter suddenly changing?
Although I truly think that we mustn't lie to ourselves and never deny who we are, I can't deny that it's fucking difficult to deal with these changes when we are the people who are around. Anyway, it took me years to learn to be less perfectionist, in my studies, in my work, in my life I never was like Parker about my appearance, though. Because in the end, we realize that in addition to make our lives an hell, we make other lives an hell, and by others I mean people we care about.
Let me disagree : if I can relate on such a strong level, that's only because Courtney Summers 's characters are so fleshed-out I feel I can grab them and see a part of myself in them. Parker sure doesn't make it easy to love her, she is unapologetic, smart-ass, and straight-on bitchy at some point. They feel so real to me that I can't help. As usual, her writing is raw, beautiful and compelling , and I was hooked from the beginning.
Indeed her books are such page-turners that I always know that I'll end reading them in a sitting. Not to mention that we can't help but wait to know what happened to Parker to explain why she lost it.
Once again, you got me. View all 51 comments. You're not responsible for everything. You can't control the way things end up. The reason behind this bravado or is it just bravado? Well, read the book to find out.
For instance, the use of abrupt transitions made the story even more gripping and intense. The way she managed to pique my curiosity from beginning until the very last page is fascinating.
The tone is actually a perfect combination of humor and grimness contributing to the originality of the entire story. View all 49 comments. Cracked Up to Be was originally published in Early in , it was reissued with a beautiful new cover matching Sadie , a book I own and enjoyed.
I fell for it like a Publisher's Dream and immediately purchased it. This novel follows Parker Fadley, who was once the perfect it-girl at her local high school. She has recently taken a huge swan dive from grace. You can tell through Parker's musings that there was a triggering incident which caused her sudden personality and behavioral changes.
Once Cracked Up to Be was originally published in Once captain of the cheer squad, she now watches from the sidelines as her frenemy, Becky, takes the reins. Becky is also now dating Parker's ex-boyfriend, Chris, even though Parker insists he is still in love with her. When a new boy, Jake, becomes interested in Parker though, she doesn't understand why.
She's certainly not giving him heavy encouragement. Currently on academic probation, Parker is coasting by. She really wants to graduate and if she gets caught doing anything unseemly, she most likely won't. We follow Parker through her day-to-day, but also get flashbacks to the mysterious party that may have led to her downfall.
I have to say, I was intrigued by this. I really wanted to know what Parker's secret was. Once I found out though, I wish I hadn't. I don't think I have ever instantly detested a character more. There was also a whole plot line involving a view spoiler [dog that was completely unnecessary and ended up ruining this for me even more hide spoiler ].
After I was done, the more I sat with it and thought about it, the more I hated it. I ultimately decided on a 2. Moving on. View 2 comments. Shelves: ya , , Pretty much feel the same about this debut. Love the narrative voice - witty and sarcastic - and sharp dialog, which made this book virtually unputdownable, but the story itself needed some more depth and heft.
A respectable debut though. They write vastly different characters - Zarr's are more subdued, quiet; Summers' are often in-your-face obnoxious and loud. But what is similar about these two au Pretty much feel the same about this debut. But what is similar about these two authors is how well-realized their narrators' voices are.
Zarr's and Summers' characters are unique and real, often unlikable, but always unforgettable. The protagonist of Cracked Up to Be , Parker, is hard to like. She is brash and sarcastic, offends and lashes out at everyone who cares about her - parents, friends, teachers.
There is a reason behind her self-destructive, self-punishing and antagonistic behavior, and it's a big one. You won't like Parker even when you find out her secret, you might even hate her then. But, with all that, she is still a human being worthy of understanding and maybe empathy or, possibly, forgiveness. Cracked Up to Be is a strong debut. I don't think the climax of the story was constructed the best way it could have been. The last few chapters are a little messy.
But I do like how the novel ended. There are consequences to Parker's sins, but there is a hope for her break from the abyss of self-hate too. There are mistakes in our lives that we need to forgive ourselves for, just to survive. Even if they are as heavy as Parker's. View all 8 comments. Feb 07, Yashaswini Malik rated it it was amazing Shelves: favorites. Guess who spent her entire English class trying to write a review instead of a letter to the editor?
And after all that work decided that the stupid review didn't deserve the book it had been written for? In case you were wondering, that review now sits in a dustbin. So until I decide that something I write is worthy of this book I'll suffice by saying that Courtney Summers is a genius. Don't let the pretty cover misguide you, because there's nothing pretty and sweet about the book. It's gritty, it Guess who spent her entire English class trying to write a review instead of a letter to the editor?
It's gritty, it's real and it's one hell of an emotional ride. Go, read all of her books. Apr 09, BernLuvsBooks rated it really liked it Shelves: , ya-books. Parker Fadley is perfect. She has perfect grades, she's captain of the cheerleading squad, dating the most popular boy school and has a bright future ahead of her.
Until it all goes wrong and Parker finds herself starring in a new role - that of the perfect mess. I read this book in 1 sitting. It wasn't as compelling a read for me as Sadie but I was hooked and emotionally invested in finding out what had led to Parker's unraveling. I really enjoyed the way Courtney Summers wove in the back story Parker Fadley is perfect. I really enjoyed the way Courtney Summers wove in the back story, revealing a small bit at a time.
Many might find Parker unlikable but I saw a girl trying desperately to push others away in an attempt to deal with something that was obviously traumatic and overwhelming. I felt bad for her and loved how Jake saw through the armor and caught glimpses of the girl underneath it all.
This one has strong themes - suicide, rape, underage drinking, depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I thought it was emotional and dark but the ending left me filled with hope. This was a strong debut and I'm glad it was rereleased. Courtney Summers is a must read author! View all 5 comments. I did not expect for that to happen at the end. I'm just reading about Parker's everyday life and I'm kind of bored, ngl! I hope something interesting happens soon. This book was everything that I hoped it was going to be and then some.
And I wish that I was a good writer so that I could write a review worthy of this book. But if I must, I guess I will. The writing. One of my most favorite boo This book was everything that I hoped it was going to be and then some. I hope to be reading Summers in the future, she is an author to watch.
I will say this much, I thought I had it figured out and I was wrong wrong wrong, and that is usually not the case. This book does not have a sugary coating. Which only makes me like it even more.
Would I recommend it, absolutely. Have I already been recommending it, you better believe it. Who knew it was so hard to be perfect. View all 7 comments. So, I guess I just read these in opposite order…3…2…1. Parker and Regina may both sort into the mean girl category, but they are completely different, as are these two novels. I think that Some Girls Are is a book about moving forward and away, but t So, I guess I just read these in opposite order…3…2…1. Parker was popular, captain of the cheerleading squad, at the top of her class, and in a long term relationship with Chris, her male counterpart.
She may not even graduate. It all seems to relate back to a party last spring, but what really happened? I may not have loved every character in this book, but I felt like I knew them all.
I think that a large part of my teenage self was Parker Fadley. The supporting cast is also completely well-defined. There are two boys in the picture, but I would never call this a love triangle. Both characters have moments of mature sensitivity and kindness, but Courtney Summers never shies away from letting them be realistic teenage boys — sex-obsessed idiocy and all. The insecure and bitter rival Becky still managed to tug at my sympathy.
But I really should have known better. The ending is hopeful, but still stays true to reality. Parker brings me so uncomfortably close to my former self that I had to choose something that I listened to as a 16 year old probably while shut up in my room, hating myself and brooding. This song is a warning - get away from me before I screw you over. Also seen on The Readventurer.
View all 17 comments. Feb 08, Erin rated it really liked it Shelves: kindle , netgalley. A book that I had crowned my favorite read of ! Parker is a cheerleader that doesn't cheer so much anymore and in fact, speaks biting words to all around her. Her parents appear to tiptoe around her and there are many illusions made in the story that Parker's behavior is linked to her bes 3.
Her parents appear to tiptoe around her and there are many illusions made in the story that Parker's behavior is linked to her best friend's disappearance. To say that Parker is damaged, would be an understatement, as she has to report to mandatory meetings with a counselor, is failing school and often shows up at school drunk.
None of her former cheer mates or her ex-boyfriend seems to be able to get through to her, but new student Jake might finally be able to break Parker's steel fortress. The mysterious circumstances that lead to Parker's downfall and her crusty exterior kept me reading. Parker was a good girl gone bad and I just needed to get to the bottom of it. Of course, the ending is left to the reader's interpretation, but I closed my book hoping that for Parker, there is health and happiness at the end of the tunnel.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an egalley in exchange for an honest review. Seeing all these high ratings and that promising blurb, I was very excited for this. After my last YA read turned out to be a mediocre one, i had high hopes for this but sadly this too was just another story which I would forget about in few months.
I know there was something dark in the Parker's past which turned her life upside down. I gave Parker a lot of time to know her better, understand her but she just ruined it in the end. Instead she just isolates herself and tries to cut everyone from her. I tried my best to understand her behavior or what went through her mind, but I can't justify her actions..
This is one of those times when I seem to have read a completely different book from everyone else. It was uninteresting and pointless. It sure wasn't moving or emotional to me. I had the feeling that I was supposed to be sorry for her once we knew what her thoughts were, but that didn't happen for me. So what? It's not as if we don't know everyone has feelings no matter how good or bad they are. What she was thinking and feeling toward This is one of those times when I seem to have read a completely different book from everyone else.
What she was thinking and feeling towards herself was completely deserved, for the rest part she was a bit heartless. So I don't see the point in this book. Parker changes after some kind of trauma she experienced. Her family, friends and teachers are trying to cope with this change while being lenient with her and trying to help her over and over again.
I can't believe how all the people around her are such pushovers and masochistic. I don't understand where all their care is coming from. Parker is a bich, unbelievably selfish and a horrible person. I don't care that she has issues, everyone has them.
That doesn't explain or excuse anything about her. I might understand where she is coming from but that does not excuses or forgives her. Everything is on her and I can't pity her or sympathize with her seeing as she has so many people that care about her when she doesn't even deserve them. Her problems were caused by her own choices, and beside the fact of her felling rightly guilty about what she did, or better yet, about what she didn't do and should undoubtedly have done , I didn't see her trying to rectify anything.
I am confused as to what this book is trying to say, or if it is trying to say something at all, because I sure don't see it, it's completely pointless. However, it does make me mad to have wasted my time with this ugly story.
Which means I didn't really know how to explain why I liked or I didn't like a book, and my reviews where biased I'm glad to see I was still able to notice if a book was well written or not, though.
The book is enjoyable and very raw and gritty, typical Courtney Summers, and it stays with you for a while after you finish it, but at the same time it's forgettable, thing that comes from the plot having little to no structure. In comparison to this author's next books, this one goes out in circles and doesn't give the reader enough evidence to figure out the main character.
The actual reveal is twenty pages from the end and it's too late. What saves this book is the characters and mental illness representation. All characters are very well-rounded, their motivations stand out and make them feel real.
Each one of them has a part in the book, it's not just about Parker, so you unwillingly end up understanding each and everyone of them even Becky. I especially love how Chris and Jake were written, they don't fall into stereotypes and make a blend of very mature and immature decisions that I find super appropriate for their age. They are responsible guys and I wish I had the opportunity to have boy friends like them when I was Parker made me feel seen and represented, and I literally have no idea if this is a bad or good thing for me.
Nonetheless, this means the book has stellar representation for this kind of mental illness. It's good the book ends how it ends because it teaches that therapy is a friend, not an enemy. I'd love to see this book on a school reading list against the stigmatization of mental support. This book has aged well in the last ten years and I would still recommend it, but it needs to be said that the main character inappropriately makes use of the term "anorexic" to describe another character.
While this character has his own mental illness and eating disorder, I felt uncomfortable seeing that adjective used to refer to a very thin person as if it were interchangeable. I get caught up in outcomes. I convince myself they're truths. No one will notice how wrong you are if everything you do ends up right.
The rest becomes incidental. So incidental that, after a while, you forget. Maybe you are perfect. It must be true. Who can argue with results? You're not so wrong after all. So you buy into it and you go crazy maintaining it. Except it creeps up on you sometimes, that you're not right. The difference is minimal, though. Maybe I liked Eddie and Sloane a little more than Parker. Sometimes I wanted to shake Parker so hard, and then other times I was like "yeah, that's how my head works! Just like Parker.
I really loved both Chris and Jake. The author has talent in creating open endings that suit perfectly the entire narrative. View 1 comment. Parker Fadley used to be head cheerleader. She had perfect grades and a perfect boyfriend. What happened to cause her decline? When I was in high school, I had to wear a uniform. Since it was an all-girls Catholic school, my morning went something like this: —alarm goes off. Snooze —roll out of bed wearing t-shirt and boxers.
Put on socks. Pick up polo shirt, kilt, and clogs from floor. Brush teeth. Eat granola bar. In school parking lot, put polo and kilt on over pajamas. Proceed with day. I found this both intriguing and annoying; the latter because the night kept building up little by little but what we already knew was repeated.
Just frakking tell me already! She writes the horrifically mean girl like no one else. Anyway, Courtney Summers lovers will find the same old awesome in this one: gritty topic, beautiful writing, a bitchity main girl, and a lightning fast read. This was really good. Looking back at this debut so many years later, it's truly no wonder that Courtney Summers evolved into the incredible author that brought us one of my all-time favorites, Sadie.
ME TOO! High Points. I loved everything: the writing, the characters, the emotions, the subject. This book was so small it could get lost in my back teeth. That is the real question, I think. You know how I really l 4. You know how I really like my heroines to be decent human beings? Well, I really really like my heroines to be bitches. I mean, like, real bitches. Parker is no cookie cutter bitch. Love Interest s. Eh, who am I kidding?
Theme Tune. Surely the reader, if they really connected with a character, would want to see them battle fearlessly against what is plaguing them and destroying them from the inside? The subject matter of Cracked Up to Be secrets has been done before; but never quite like this. So, bravo Ms Summers.
Oh and also, it took me about three hours to read this book. Coincidentally that was half the amount of time it took me to get over one scene, towards the end.
Jeez louise. Was that necessary?! WAS IT?! Recommended For. People who like their heroines with a bit of spark…and sadistic, manipulative and incredibly clever. People who look for deeper-meanings in art projects. You can read this review and lots of other exciting things on my blog here. This could have been easily a 4 star read for me apart from the ending.
I did not know what to expect when I started with this, the cover makes it feel like a light YA read, the blurb makes it sound more serious. The sum it up, this is about Parker and the changes that have come in her life because of something that has happened to her This was the suspense bit, which is revealed at the end and did not somehow add up with the overall story for me.. Parker is beautiful, top of her class, goi This could have been easily a 4 star read for me apart from the ending.
Parker is beautiful, top of her class, going out with the most popular guy and at the top of the pecking order in her high school. I didn't want to be popular because it was easier; I wanted to be popular because in high school that's the best thing you can be: perfect. Everything else is shit. But something has gone wrong, she has broken up with her boyfriend, is drinking and no more interested in studies, it feels more like Parker is not interested in life anymore Somehow I expected Parker's ex-boyfriend to be a douche bag but he is actually really sweet.
Jake Gardner and Parker's relation is really interesting. The author has dived into the the typical high-school cliche and come-up with more vulnerable aspects of each and every typical high-school character. The story even though focused on a a destructive character still has humor and Parker even though depressed is very spunky.
The ending was a bit out of sync and a bit of a let down view spoiler [She gets drunk 1 night, sees her friend getting raped, does not do anything and the next morning also does not say anything. What the hell!! And this thought is destroying her. She loves her friend but just let's her friends disappearance go without taking any action. Throughout the story she is depressed and we know maybe she has done something wrong, but this just does not make sense Maybe it's about how she is not perfect anymore but it did not go down with me hide spoiler ] I felt the ending somehow could have been different and better This is a first read by this author for me and I really liked how the story flows.
I will definitely be checking out more books by her. Seemed like a book for me What I thought I had alot of feelings reading this book but mostly I was frustrated. Parker is such a bitch I just wanted to punch in her face! I get the self loathing but did she really need to treat Jake like that?
Speaking of Jake I absolutely loved him, I felt so sorry for him though. Even with my dislike of Parker I gotta say I enjoyed this book. The writing was superb and it had a great premise. The characters were also extremely well fleshed out and relatable. I'm definitely going to check out more from this author. I am so lost for words.
This book made me feel things I just can't even I liked it and I hated it. I loved it but wanted to punch it. I was obsessed with it and I wasn't obsessed with it. I couldn't put it down but when I did I felt a little bit lighter. I don't even know what to say, so how should I understand how to rate it? Jake should know-well, everyone should know-there's no such thing as a decent human being.
It's just an illusion. And when it's gone, it's really gone. I rate based on how I feel I felt them more intensely. And not necessarily in a good way.
One minute I was happy, the next I was sad and aching for more and I just wasn't able to put a pin on what exactly worked for me. And, in the end, I wanted more for this horribly fucked up character and I don't know I don't know I don't knooooow. I just still can't express how I feel.
So you snap your fingers and it goes away. Until something you can't ignore happens and you see it all over yourself. I felt like I was underneath a microscope. I felt as if my brain was pried open like a gaping wound for everyone to see, because I just couldn't put a mask on my displeasure or my happiness or my crying and it was like this raw, ripping open of my soul because poor Parker.
Poor, poor Parker. I couldn't stand how she treated Jake but I understood it. I hated when she pushed him away or made him think she felt less about him than she really did She wanted people to hate her, she wanted to fade into the background. Trivia The opening credits jokingly state that the picture's main title song is sung by Marcel Marceau.
Goofs The chair used in the opening hanging sequence disappears entirely and then suddenly reappears. Crazy credits The main title is immediately preceded by a credit "JerryWho Else?
User reviews 22 Review. Top review. Jerry's Masterpiece. The final Lewis directed opus is his finest. He has never been funnier or more inventive. In the opening sequence, Jerry gets every laugh possible with vinyl. Of course the sequence goes on much too long, but that is exactly what you expect from Jerry. The French costume sketch is very clever. The best gag sequence in the film concerns the waitress and her listing of salad dresssings.
I laugh every time I think of this sequence. Most people consider "The Nutty Professor" to be the best Lewis film, but this one is much more fun.
I also recommend the first Lewis directed film, "The Bellboy", where Lewis is out to prove that he is a worthy writer-director. Details Edit. Release date April 13, France. United States. Immer auf die Kleinen. Warner Bros. Technical specs Edit. Runtime 1 hour 29 minutes. Related news. Aug 21 HollywoodChicago. May 17 Rollingstone. Contribute to this page Suggest an edit or add missing content.
Top Gap. See more gaps Learn more about contributing. Edit page. See the full list. The Rise of Will Smith. Watch the video. Recently viewed Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
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