Being Nikki by Meg Cabot

Emerson Watts, regular teenager, has waited a long time for her best friend Christopher to notice that she's actually a girl. Unfortunately, that day had to come after she was declared legally dead. As Nikki Howard, teenager supermodel, however, she's got more male attention than she needs: from an ex who won't leave her alone, to a British supermodel whose song about her is racing up the charts, to a long lost sibling who is demanding answers about their mother's disappearance, to a boss whose company just might be evil incarnate. Add in school, finals, runway shows, modeling gigs, and more than a few mysteries surrounding her *ahem* operation and Emerson is finding out just how hard it is being Nikki.

Meg Cabot books are like the ultimate comfort food. Every new book possesses the uncanny ability to transport me back to the first time I read one. Her latest, Being Nikki, the sequel to Airhead, is not only no exception.

Part mystery, part sci-fi, with lots of comedy and teenage angst and worrying, Being Nikki has more than transcended the dreaded "second book slump" that so many other series fall into. If Meg had a quarter every time someone said this she'd have more money than God, but I simply couldn't put it down. There are so many twists and turns that it's hard to keep up with who knows what -and believe me, lots of characters find out lots of things, some you might have predicted and many you probably haven't. I've read some criticisms of Meg's work that say her books are too predictable and formulaic, but unless you're Nostradamus you're going to be in for a major ride with this book!

My one major criticism is the forced use of brand name dropping. I've seen it worse in other books, but it bothers me that Em's boots can't just be boots, that they're Marc Jacobs boots. And a Miu Miu bag. And on and on. I think it's unnecessary and makes it harder to find Emerson believable, that such a self professed geek would suddenly find it necessary to comment on the designer of every article of clothing she wears or gives away. It's more believable on a character like Lulu, who is the ultimate comic relief and breath of fresh air. It would be so easy to hate a character like her, a celebutante who's never had to work a day in her life, but she's just so sweet, with the least self aware approach to life, that it's impossible not to find her totally lovable.

I hate having to be so vague, but since Being Nikki is to be released tomorrow I don't want to give anything away or spoil it for anyone. Suffice it to say that longterm Meg fans, sometimes Meg fans, and new Meg fans will all love it, get a kick out of some great returning characters, and be on the edge of their seats waiting for part three!

http://thechickmanifesto.blogspot.com/2009/05/being-nikki-by-meg-cabot.html