Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Farrar, Straus & Giroux
Source: Library
Summary
Being America’s favorite heiress is a dirty job, but someone’s gotta do it.
Lexington Larrabee has never to work a day in her life. After all, she’s the heiress to the multi-billion-dollar Larrabee Media empire. And heiresses are not supposed to work. But then again, they’re not supposed to crash brand new Mercedes convertibles into convenience stores on Sunset Blvd either.
Which is why, on Lexi’s eighteen birthday, her ever-absent, tycoon father decides to take a more proactive approach to her wayward life. Every week for the next year, she will have to take on a different low-wage job if she ever wants to receive her beloved trust fund. But if there’s anything worse than working as a maid, a dishwasher, and a fast-food restaurant employee, it’s dealing with Luke, the arrogant, albeit moderately attractive, college intern her father has assigned to keep tabs on her.
In a hilarious “comedy of heiress” about family, forgiveness, good intentions, and best of all, second chances, Lexi learns that love can be unconditional, money can be immaterial, and, regardless of age, everyone needs a little saving. And although she might have 52 reasons to hate her father, she only needs one reason to love him.(courtesy of Goodreads)
Review
There's only 1 reason to love 52 Reasons to Hate My Father: It's a lot of fun. If you're looking for a light contemporary novel, 52 Reasons fits the bill.
Lexi starts out the novel as a spoiled brat inside and out. No one has ever said no to her. She's so sheltered that people who lead a less privileged life are so foreign that they might as well be aliens. Her mother died when she was very young and she's nothing more than a fly on the wall to her busy, super-rich father. Without love coming from her family, Lexi relies on easy highs - alcohol and shopping. She is a decidedly unlikable character.
All this changes when her father forces her to do 52 weeks of minimum wage jobs. Not that it changes easily. I have to hand it to Lexi. She is stubborn, independent, and fast-thinking when it comes to getting her way. No one can make Lexi be less of a spoiled brat. It requires Lexi to get her head out of her *** and realize that there's more to life than getting drunk and partying. As she starts to evolve, we see more facets to her character. I love how Lexi remains a strong, dominant girl but becomes someone I actually wanted to root for.
Part of this book was a romance. Lexi inevitably falls for Luke, the intern her father assigns to chaperone her work project. It's a run-of-the-mill YA romance. She changes him for the better, he changes her for the better. Happy, sweet, awwww... The romance was not the high point of the book. There was nothing bad about it, but nothing memorable either. What makes this book stand out is Lexi's feisty personality, the fascinating variety of menial jobs, and her hilarious snarky comments.
52 Reasons is a quick, easy fun read. The plot develops in basically the exact way you'd expect it to, but I don't read these kind of books expecting originality. I just want to have a good time. And that's what I had.
An author always has a hard row to hoe when they start out with an unlikeable character but it sounds like Lexie pulled through, finally did get a clue and start to become a better person. Sounds cute!
ReplyDeleteEh, not sure if I want to read this. run of the mill stuff doesn't really catch my attention. Though, I may still like it. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMost of time I'm turned off right away with an unlikable character, but I'm glad to hear that she's changed for the better. Must be a real challenge to the author.
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like a really fun read, even if the setup of the romance isn't anything special or earth shattering. I want to read this for the menial jobs and snarky commentary alone:) Win!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I didn't think much of this book but people have been saying super positive things about it! I think I should check it out. It really does sound like a fun, easy read. :)
ReplyDeleteI go back and forth between whether or not I want to read 52 Reasons. I get such a kick out of the book trailer. However, like you said Lexi "is a decidedly unlikeable character" and I am not sure if I can get past that. I mean, I know she will grow and stuff. But I just am not sure if I will like the beginning.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, I just followed you (via email)! :)
ReplyDeleteAlice @ Alice in Readerland
Hhmm, can't decide if I'd like this series, brats don't appeal, but you say she changes and I like feisty personalities.
ReplyDeleteI just followed you via GFC :)
I've seen this book around a lot and have debated reading it, but, I'm curious, are the jobs she does realistic for a teenager, or are they outlandish?
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