Scary Beautiful Mass Market Paperback – January 1, 2006

What I really liked about this book was it turned the table on the "prettiest girl in school" stereotype. In a lot of books and most every teen movie, the prettiest girl in school is always the biggest witch who rules the school with the popular gang and always gets her way. However, Niki Burnham has twisted this by making the pretty girl, Chloe, a really interesting and complex character, very down-to-earth and self conscious of her looks and how they affect other peopl. Chloe's heart is broken when she's dumped by her long-time boyfriend, but she resolves to make the best out of the school. She's fiercely loyal to her friends, works hard at not being the star of the school gossip mill, and when a chance to better herself comes along, she joins the cross-country team and starts hanging out with a "geeky" boy, Billy. The relationship between Chloe and Billy is sweet and believable and their chemistry is great. Sure, a lot of silly teen angst things happen in Chloe's life, but through her honesty and perseverence, so comes out on top. Niki Burnham's dead-on writing of teens really won me over and I can't wait to read more of her books. Highly recommended.

I really like this book and wall other books by Nokia BurnhamI think this is one of Niki's best books

Chloe Rand seems to have the perfect life. She's about to start her junior year of high school, she has a great boyfriend and a close group of girlfriends, and she's incredibly gorgeous. But when her boyfriend moves across the country, dumping her at the airport right before he leaves, everything seems to fall apart.Now Chloe realizes that being a stunningly beautiful, suddenly single girl at high school isn't easy. Guys aren't sure how to treat her, girls don't trust her, and Chloe's junior year isn't going at all as planned.Chloe decides to take charge of her own life and get out of the bubble she's been living in, but when the first thing she does is fall for Billy, who is a complete geek and totally out of the range of the "old Chloe," will it make things easier, or harder?I've really enjoyed all of the Simon Romantic Comedies, particularly Niki Burnham's other contributions, and SCARY BEAUTIFUL is no exception. It's a great book that really challenges the "popular girl" stereotypes, and teens are sure to have fun reading it.Reviewed by: Andie Z.

I loved every word of this book! I could not put it down. I love the big message in the book about stereotyping. Def. an important message for everyone, especially in High School. And way its addressed in the book is great! Not so preachy but seen from another side.Summer is at an end and Chole's 2 year relationship with her boyfriend, Sean, comes to an end unexpectatly when Sean moves across the country. Now her no longer being part of a couple she starts seeing herself as a whole new person. Her friends on the other hand are pushing her to get back with her ex and try the long distance thing. But is her new found self better than she was just seen as Sean's girl friend? or does it have something to do with the mysterious guy from her fave pizza hangout?I completely enjoyed reading this book. The events and characters are very realistic. And I can not wait to read this one again!

This is a book I first read some years back. I remember that this book was incredibly high on my wishlist, I had stumbled upon at the used bookstore and I was really excited to read it. When I picked it up earlier this week, I forgot that I had been slightly disappointed by it the first time. Don't get me wrong, this book is incredibly cute, but it hadn't been what I had wanted back then.From the description you would think that this is going to be a cute little romance novel about Chloe and Billy, however, the "romance" actually takes a backseat to the drama that is Chloe, her friends, and kind of her ex (I say kind of because he's not really directly the problem here either). Which is where most of my disappointment comes from, I'm expecting this possible awkward romance between a somewhat popular girl trying to get over her ex and a geek. And, we get a girl getting over her ex dealing with her girlfriends who really only know how not to talk their problems out. Oh and then there's that guy... whose supposed to be important, but we only see him every so often.If I wasn't expecting a "romantic comedy" because it wasn't very romantic or funny, I would have probably been less disappointed. That is my word for this book "disappointed". Still it was cute, and you have to give Chloe her props for trying to find herself after her long-term boyfriend breaks up with her. This isn't even just a "high school girl" sort of problem. She handled this well I think, she didn't wallow in self-pity like some people/characters do after their significant others breakup with them. It was also a really quick read, I think I finished it in only a handful of hours.There is one more thing that bothered me. We are reminded every so often (more often than we see Billy), that Chloe is just so PRETTY. Now, I've actually always been confused by this whenever I come upon this in the media, why women are always portrayed this way? That we hate women who are prettier than us? I don't know if it's because I grew up with brothers. But I personally have always gotten along better with other women as opposed to be men, no matter how much prettier they are than me (than again appearance has never really mattered to me). So the fact that Chloe and her friends think that the other girls hate Chloe now because she's so PRETTY and SINGLE now, kind of baffled me.