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Ordinary Girls: A Heartfelt and Humorous YA Novel of Two Opposite Sisters and Secrets
For two sisters as different as Plum and Ginny, getting on each other’s nerves is par for the course. But when the family’s finances hit a snag, sending chaos through the house the two drift apart like they never have before. Plum, a self-described social outcast, strikes up a secret friendship with the class jock, while Ginny’s usual high-strung nature escalates to pure hysterics.
Why does everything feel different this year? Maybe because Ginny is going to leave for college soon. Maybe because Plum finally has something that she doesn’t have to share with her self-involved older sister. Or maybe because the girls are forced to examine who they really are instead of who their late father said they were. And who each girl discovers—beneath the years of missing their dad—could either bring them closer together…or drive them further apart.
Why does everything feel different this year? Maybe because Ginny is going to leave for college soon. Maybe because Plum finally has something that she doesn’t have to share with her self-involved older sister. Or maybe because the girls are forced to examine who they really are instead of who their late father said they were. And who each girl discovers—beneath the years of missing their dad—could either bring them closer together…or drive them further apart.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 240 reviews
June 6, 2019
From the opening, where Plum lamented how she had never been good at beginnings, I found myself totally engrossed with her storytelling and this tale. There was something about Plum's voice, that made me want to get to know her better, and I could not the resist the charm and allure of her quirky world.
This was a tale of two sisters - one very dramatic, the other quite pragmatic. They had their ups and downs with each other, but their relationship was the heart and soul of the story for me.
I adore the exploration of the sibling bond, and this one was indeed, very special. Plum had always felt overshadowed by her sister. She thought Ginny was more attractive, popular, intelligent, and likable, and she was often tired of being compared to her sister. However, via flashbacks and tender and humorous interactions between the two in the present, I got to bask in the beauty of their sisterly love. I had so much fun at their movie nights, and greatly enjoyed their shared love of Romantic period literature. Yes, literary references abound in this novel, and they were so well placed, never failing to delight me.
During the time of this story, the family was under more stress than usual. The house was falling apart, cash flow was becoming an issue, and Ginny was often in a state of hysteria involving her college plans. Plum found an escape from the chaos via the oddest source - Tate Kurokawa, one of the "loud sophomore boys" she usually tried to avoid. Their odd friendship was one of the most precious parts of the book for me. I wore a stupid grin on my face almost every single time they shared the page, and could not get enough of their sweet and awkward encounters.
One of the biggest things plaguing this family was their grief. They had lost their father a decade ago, but still hadn't really come to terms with that loss. This pain of it ran deep and it festered within the family, finally coming to a fever pitch at one point during the book. It was quite a profound moment, and I found it very moving.
Ordinary Girls was a delightful tale filled with interesting family dynamics, sisterly affection, first love, and two young women finding their own sense of self. It was charming, witty, amusing, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and throughly entertaining.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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This was a tale of two sisters - one very dramatic, the other quite pragmatic. They had their ups and downs with each other, but their relationship was the heart and soul of the story for me.
I adore the exploration of the sibling bond, and this one was indeed, very special. Plum had always felt overshadowed by her sister. She thought Ginny was more attractive, popular, intelligent, and likable, and she was often tired of being compared to her sister. However, via flashbacks and tender and humorous interactions between the two in the present, I got to bask in the beauty of their sisterly love. I had so much fun at their movie nights, and greatly enjoyed their shared love of Romantic period literature. Yes, literary references abound in this novel, and they were so well placed, never failing to delight me.
During the time of this story, the family was under more stress than usual. The house was falling apart, cash flow was becoming an issue, and Ginny was often in a state of hysteria involving her college plans. Plum found an escape from the chaos via the oddest source - Tate Kurokawa, one of the "loud sophomore boys" she usually tried to avoid. Their odd friendship was one of the most precious parts of the book for me. I wore a stupid grin on my face almost every single time they shared the page, and could not get enough of their sweet and awkward encounters.
One of the biggest things plaguing this family was their grief. They had lost their father a decade ago, but still hadn't really come to terms with that loss. This pain of it ran deep and it festered within the family, finally coming to a fever pitch at one point during the book. It was quite a profound moment, and I found it very moving.
Ordinary Girls was a delightful tale filled with interesting family dynamics, sisterly affection, first love, and two young women finding their own sense of self. It was charming, witty, amusing, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and throughly entertaining.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
February 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this! Having never had a sister, it was fun reading about the ups and downs of their relationship. Plum is a girl after my own heart; she thinks in book quotes, and loves her two poodles!
Red Flags:
This is definitely a book for Y.A. readers and older. There is some vulgar language used, and there is a scene involving a possible suicide attempt.
Memorable Quotes:
“I can’t even watch those extreme plastic surgery shows where people lie on a table like sliced deli meat wrapped in blue tarp and come out with a springy set of new whatevers, because they are disgusting.”
“ Laura was always too nice to Mary, if you asked me. If Ginny went blind from fever, I’d let her figure out things on her own. Or I would describe them for her, maybe, but she would owe me.”
Red Flags:
This is definitely a book for Y.A. readers and older. There is some vulgar language used, and there is a scene involving a possible suicide attempt.
Memorable Quotes:
“I can’t even watch those extreme plastic surgery shows where people lie on a table like sliced deli meat wrapped in blue tarp and come out with a springy set of new whatevers, because they are disgusting.”
“ Laura was always too nice to Mary, if you asked me. If Ginny went blind from fever, I’d let her figure out things on her own. Or I would describe them for her, maybe, but she would owe me.”
June 4, 2019
ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS. It's amazing. And I could spout out a soliloquy about how wonderfully smart and fantastic and important it is, but you should just read it for yourself.
It's a quiet, warm, poignant story about the complex and emotional bond between sisters, with a hint of tragedy and romance. Upon finishing the story, expect to feel utterly content and complete.
It's a quiet, warm, poignant story about the complex and emotional bond between sisters, with a hint of tragedy and romance. Upon finishing the story, expect to feel utterly content and complete.
July 20, 2019
So nothing really happens, and a lot of fancy words are used, but, it was just so lovely to read a YA book where ok so there was some drama, but it was real drama. It was calm, and then a storm might come, but they weathered it.
Patience and Ginny lives with their mum in a crumbling house. Too big, too old, plumbing that goes out, not enough money to care for it.
Their mum only works part-time at the uni, her paintings does not sell. Money is a problem.
Ginny is a dramaqueen in the old sense, I mean 19th century way. All those Austen and Bronte heroes, or wait, Anne, yes totally Anne. Ginny is really smart, but worries constantly how to get into College, and then pay for it.
Patience is the calm, normal one, she is the narrator as she worries about their home, about her sister who is always in the spotlight, and then she gets a secret of her own. And I liked that, something just for her, all so very calm and by accident.
It is very sweet, upbeat, and even when they struggle they push forward, at least Patience does. I enjoyed it.
Narrator
Oh she nailed Ginny when she was despairing at the world at times, so drama. She gave Patience aka Plum a great voice too. I liked it and made the story flow.
Patience and Ginny lives with their mum in a crumbling house. Too big, too old, plumbing that goes out, not enough money to care for it.
Their mum only works part-time at the uni, her paintings does not sell. Money is a problem.
Ginny is a dramaqueen in the old sense, I mean 19th century way. All those Austen and Bronte heroes, or wait, Anne, yes totally Anne. Ginny is really smart, but worries constantly how to get into College, and then pay for it.
Patience is the calm, normal one, she is the narrator as she worries about their home, about her sister who is always in the spotlight, and then she gets a secret of her own. And I liked that, something just for her, all so very calm and by accident.
It is very sweet, upbeat, and even when they struggle they push forward, at least Patience does. I enjoyed it.
Narrator
Oh she nailed Ginny when she was despairing at the world at times, so drama. She gave Patience aka Plum a great voice too. I liked it and made the story flow.
September 14, 2020
“So I suppose I will start on that sunny Saturday in September when I first realized how acutely I wanted to murder my sister.”
Ordinary Girls is a story about sisterhood; the ups and downs, the fighting and the hugging, wanting your sister dead and then wishing she would never leave. That is ordinary Girls. It has a ton of super dramatic characters, which to me only made the story that much more enjoyable. It is silly, but chock full of heart.
The sisters themselves, Plum and Ginny, are as different as night and day.
“I shall die, Plummy. The stress is too much. Please put my body in a flower-wreathed barge and push me gently downstream, preferably in the direction of the University of Pennsylvania.”
Ginny is bigger than life. When she was a toddler her father wrote a piece on her. He called her a genius; and it stuck. Ginny is a straight A student, bound for greatness, and scared shitless about all the expectation everybody has on her plus those she puts on herself. She is, however, a great sister to Plum even when quite honestly Plum doesn’t deserve it. I would have LOVEd to read some chapters from Ginny's POV; I think it would have balanced the book out quite nicely and give us a window into Ginny's state of mind.
“I didn’t want her dead. But at that point, I would not have minded if she were simply gone. As cruel as it sounds, I knew my life would be infinitely easier and more pleasant when my life did not revolve around Ginny’s quotidian hissy fits”
Plum is dramatic as well, just more somber about it. She has always felt the shadow of Ginny’s greatness so strongly; she doesn’t think she can bloom with her sister around. I mean, pretty standard younger sibling with a chip on her shoulder. At times, it is quite honestly hard to like Plum. She can be cruel, insensitive, and just nasty towards everybody around her. I also felt like she would call her sister crazy but never ask what was at the root of her sister’s problem, like she just wanted her to stop being herself, and Ginny only gives info in a very dramatic fashion which makes it hard for anyone to take her seriously. So the eventual disconnect between the sisters is largely due to lack of communication. I did love when Plum came to Ginny's defense, that was my FAVORITE chapter in the entire book.
There is some romance between the pages, but it doesn’t take over the story. It is mainly composed of hormones to be honest; which makes sense since this is high school and Plum is but a sophomore. Nevertheless, the male character, Tate, is treated quite unfairly by Plum a lot of the time—like very harshly so. He is part of a group that made fun of Plum in the fourth grade, but I mean lots of kids are super mean in the fourth grade. People grow and evolve, and I just don’t think Plum was giving Tate a fair shot most of the time. Nobody does honestly; it made me want to get in the story, hug Tate, and keep him away from the rest of the meanies.
I might be getting old.
Overall I enjoyed the sister dynamics. Contemporary is not huge with me, but I think Ordinary Girls is still a solid read, if not a bit different (which is always good).
PS; I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to the publisher!
Ordinary Girls is a story about sisterhood; the ups and downs, the fighting and the hugging, wanting your sister dead and then wishing she would never leave. That is ordinary Girls. It has a ton of super dramatic characters, which to me only made the story that much more enjoyable. It is silly, but chock full of heart.
The sisters themselves, Plum and Ginny, are as different as night and day.
“I shall die, Plummy. The stress is too much. Please put my body in a flower-wreathed barge and push me gently downstream, preferably in the direction of the University of Pennsylvania.”
Ginny is bigger than life. When she was a toddler her father wrote a piece on her. He called her a genius; and it stuck. Ginny is a straight A student, bound for greatness, and scared shitless about all the expectation everybody has on her plus those she puts on herself. She is, however, a great sister to Plum even when quite honestly Plum doesn’t deserve it. I would have LOVEd to read some chapters from Ginny's POV; I think it would have balanced the book out quite nicely and give us a window into Ginny's state of mind.
“I didn’t want her dead. But at that point, I would not have minded if she were simply gone. As cruel as it sounds, I knew my life would be infinitely easier and more pleasant when my life did not revolve around Ginny’s quotidian hissy fits”
Plum is dramatic as well, just more somber about it. She has always felt the shadow of Ginny’s greatness so strongly; she doesn’t think she can bloom with her sister around. I mean, pretty standard younger sibling with a chip on her shoulder. At times, it is quite honestly hard to like Plum. She can be cruel, insensitive, and just nasty towards everybody around her. I also felt like she would call her sister crazy but never ask what was at the root of her sister’s problem, like she just wanted her to stop being herself, and Ginny only gives info in a very dramatic fashion which makes it hard for anyone to take her seriously. So the eventual disconnect between the sisters is largely due to lack of communication. I did love when Plum came to Ginny's defense, that was my FAVORITE chapter in the entire book.
There is some romance between the pages, but it doesn’t take over the story. It is mainly composed of hormones to be honest; which makes sense since this is high school and Plum is but a sophomore. Nevertheless, the male character, Tate, is treated quite unfairly by Plum a lot of the time—like very harshly so. He is part of a group that made fun of Plum in the fourth grade, but I mean lots of kids are super mean in the fourth grade. People grow and evolve, and I just don’t think Plum was giving Tate a fair shot most of the time. Nobody does honestly; it made me want to get in the story, hug Tate, and keep him away from the rest of the meanies.
I might be getting old.
Overall I enjoyed the sister dynamics. Contemporary is not huge with me, but I think Ordinary Girls is still a solid read, if not a bit different (which is always good).
PS; I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to the publisher!
September 28, 2019
This is a story of two sisters that could not be more different – 15 year old Plum is the sensible, logical, not-brilliant one and her older sister Ginny is the hyper-sensitive, melodramatic, smart one. This book was a nice surprise. I thoroughly enjoyed it and laughed aloud quite often. I loved the setting of an old house and all the small, quirky details of family life. The romance was surprisingly sweet and charming. The writing was a delightful mix of classic and modern with plenty of humour too. The story was wrapped up very nicely. It was one of those books that ends in a warm hug. All in all, an absolute delight of a book. Highly recommended to all fans of Austen and Bronte.
June 14, 2019
A funny, smartypants exterior conceals a loving and emotional center in this angst ridden tale of two sisters at the end of the school year, the brilliant eldest awaiting college entry news and the younger trying to find a way to let her own light shine. Loss, grief, jokes, literary allusion, mini lessons on writing and story, delicious kissing, and intermittent disaster speckle this wonderful novel by a talented YA author.
September 16, 2020
what is this book and WHY DID I LOVE IT?! Let's be real....I'm a sucker for books with sibling(more so sister) relationships. I knew I would love this book as soon as I read the synopsis. This novel is just so weird but somehow it works??!!
Also, the writing is very inconsistent, and it often felt like I was reading three different novels at once.
So be cautious before picking up this book, but the novel is overall a cute read.
Rating : 3.5 stars.
Also, the writing is very inconsistent, and it often felt like I was reading three different novels at once.
So be cautious before picking up this book, but the novel is overall a cute read.
Rating : 3.5 stars.
Read
December 10, 2019The Blatchley sisters' huge ramsackle house is strewn with pets, copies of Jane Eyre and Little Women, paintings by their mother, DVDs of Jeeves and Wooster/old classic movies/Jane Austen adaptations, and family inside jokes. It would definitely have appealed to teenage me, so I picked up this book despite my tendency to roll my eyes at Jane Austen adaptations.
Thornburgh doesn't try too hard at adapting every aspect of the Dashwood sisters' adventures the way fanfic authors so often do with P&P, but keeps the spirit of the thing. Ginny is the high strung, intelligent sister who is waxing dramatic at college admissions rather than romance, and Plum (Patience) is the practical, shy sister who always seems to get left with the dishes. Plum finds herself striking up an unlikely friendship with a Loud Sophomore Boy, and it makes sense that instead of a shy gentleman who can't seem to get his crap together, our heroine is spending time with a teenage boy who never seems to think things through and is keeping unfortunate company not with a gold digger, but with other teenage boys who sometimes are crude, sometimes are bullies, and often aren't the person he wants to be. Ginny has no official romance (an older man with an 18 year old...doesn't adapt well), and the part of the steady but lonely man who saves her life is played by family friend Almost-Doctor Andrews, an adjunct professor border who is part of the Blatchley clan and treated like family (he's ten years her senior, and after a dramatic event may start to think of her differently, but it's left open ended).
I liked that each sister develops an unexpected hobby that they got from their dad. He's a character in his own right, an absence in the house.
Many of the character-changing scenes, in which things might turn out all right if Ginny would mellow out and Plum would speak from the heart, are about their relationship as sisters rather than the men. I especially enjoyed the quote from Jane Austen about how her sister is surely the greatest writer of the age; these sisters are each sure that they can never measure up to each other. The author manages to tell a new story while retelling an old one, with subtlety in all the right places. Hi de hi de ho.
Thornburgh doesn't try too hard at adapting every aspect of the Dashwood sisters' adventures the way fanfic authors so often do with P&P, but keeps the spirit of the thing. Ginny is the high strung, intelligent sister who is waxing dramatic at college admissions rather than romance, and Plum (Patience) is the practical, shy sister who always seems to get left with the dishes. Plum finds herself striking up an unlikely friendship with a Loud Sophomore Boy, and it makes sense that instead of a shy gentleman who can't seem to get his crap together, our heroine is spending time with a teenage boy who never seems to think things through and is keeping unfortunate company not with a gold digger, but with other teenage boys who sometimes are crude, sometimes are bullies, and often aren't the person he wants to be. Ginny has no official romance (an older man with an 18 year old...doesn't adapt well), and the part of the steady but lonely man who saves her life is played by family friend Almost-Doctor Andrews, an adjunct professor border who is part of the Blatchley clan and treated like family (he's ten years her senior, and after a dramatic event may start to think of her differently, but it's left open ended).
I liked that each sister develops an unexpected hobby that they got from their dad. He's a character in his own right, an absence in the house.
Many of the character-changing scenes, in which things might turn out all right if Ginny would mellow out and Plum would speak from the heart, are about their relationship as sisters rather than the men. I especially enjoyed the quote from Jane Austen about how her sister is surely the greatest writer of the age; these sisters are each sure that they can never measure up to each other. The author manages to tell a new story while retelling an old one, with subtlety in all the right places. Hi de hi de ho.
dnf
February 12, 2019Thornburgh's writing just isn't for me, running heavily on quirk and very literary. I also wanted this to be a retelling, when it's more inspired by based on the opening. Also, another very personal pet peeve: the chapters are SO LONG.
Want to read
January 3, 2019saw the cover and I was like "is it gay? is it gAY?? IS IT GAY???"
...then I read the blurb
...then I read the blurb
September 11, 2019
I really enjoyed this book because it was about everyday life so I could relate to it. I found it funny and relatable however not much went on throughout it. There was a good ending because at the struggles the girls were going through were resolved. I would recommend it to girls.
November 11, 2018
The characters in a Blair Thornburgh novel feel as if they’ve escaped from an episode of Gilmore Girls and that should annoy me. It really should. However, as with her last book, WHO’S THAT GIRL, I found ORDINARY GIRLS inherently charming and brimming with so much heart that any initial annoyance I felt disappeared early on. It’s occasionally over-the-top and melodramatic as any loose retelling of an Austen classic can be, but it’s near impossible to not be immediately invested in the plights of Plum and Ginny. It’s a book that takes unabashed pleasure in its own love of literature. If you’re in the mood for a little hyperbole, literary references in abundance, and a sister dynamic that’s both loving and exasperating, then ORDINARY GIRLS ought to be on your list.
For me personally, I enjoyed her previous novel just a bit more (it was more inclusive and hit more of my sweet spots), but Thornburgh is fast becoming one of my favorite contemporary voices in YA who definitely deserves more notice.
For me personally, I enjoyed her previous novel just a bit more (it was more inclusive and hit more of my sweet spots), but Thornburgh is fast becoming one of my favorite contemporary voices in YA who definitely deserves more notice.
January 30, 2021
You know, for a 353 page book not a whole lot actually happened in Ordinary Girls by Blair Thornburgh. At first I appreciated the Jane Austen's style of Plum's voice, but honestly the longer it went on the more grating it became. Maybe I would have appreciated that more of I were actually in high school? I don't know, though, the whole talking about vaping with a Juul in Austen's style is where it really started to push me over the edge. Side note: this is the first piece of fiction I've read to feature vaping. Finally, Plum herself was fine, but her sister Ginny was a terrible piece of work.
June 11, 2019
This book is so "sisters" it had me calling mine to tell them how annoying/wonderful they are. It's hilarious and genuine, perfect for fans of old movies, weird families, and creaky beautiful houses. Go get it, you can thank me later.
June 15, 2025
Honestly, this was a much better book than I was expecting! The cover is misleading as it looks kind of like a lesbian book (to me), however, it was not, with only one mention of a character being gay at the start. This book honestly felt realistic, as we followed Plum and Ginny, who go through many struggles of their own.
RELATIONSHIPS
The banter between Plum and Ginny (especially at the start) was AMAZING. They fought exactly like two sisters, and it was very realistic.
The relationship between Tate and Plum was certainly fascinating, to say the least.
CHARACTERS
Some people may disagree with this, but I felt like the HOUSE was a character. I don't know, but it seemed like it was, and it had so many stories to tell.
Okay, so hope you guys enjoyed my review!
RELATIONSHIPS
The banter between Plum and Ginny (especially at the start) was AMAZING. They fought exactly like two sisters, and it was very realistic.
The relationship between Tate and Plum was certainly fascinating, to say the least.
CHARACTERS
Some people may disagree with this, but I felt like the HOUSE was a character. I don't know, but it seemed like it was, and it had so many stories to tell.
Okay, so hope you guys enjoyed my review!
April 5, 2021
A story of sisters living their best life. I loved the drama that came from every day events, the love of family and the budding romance that was hardly part of the story at all. I will be coming back to this book again!
July 19, 2019
This book was extremely underwhelming for me. I love Sense and Sensibility, so I was pretty excited to read a modern adaptation of it, since I think it's a bit of an underutilized story. But this book just didn't capture the original spirit for me, nor did it inspire in me any of the feelings that Jane Austen is always able to do. I thought the spins on the different hardships the sisters go through was a cool way to update things (college struggles, friendship issues, social anxiety, etc.), but I don't think they always translated perfectly in terms of the emotions inherent to the story. Sense and Sensibility is, in a lot of ways, tragic. But it's a quietly triumphant story too, and despite so many difficulties, the family of strong women is able to soldier on and find joy. I just never felt like this book quite landed. The tragedies were downplayed and felt low stakes, even when they were high stakes. There's a very intense situation that happens that I felt should have been given more attention, but felt like just another step in the story to me. I just kept waiting for things to take off, and they never did.
I did think the prose was nicely done, and I thought it was fun how formal the narrator was, despite it being a modern story. I also did, inevitably enjoy the story and find it fun and warm-hearted. There were several sweet, heart-warming and funny moments in the book. The relationships were realistic, and I thought the fact that those were downplayed in some ways was actually a really good thing. The character traits were understated and never soap opera-esque, which I appreciated.
I did think the prose was nicely done, and I thought it was fun how formal the narrator was, despite it being a modern story. I also did, inevitably enjoy the story and find it fun and warm-hearted. There were several sweet, heart-warming and funny moments in the book. The relationships were realistic, and I thought the fact that those were downplayed in some ways was actually a really good thing. The character traits were understated and never soap opera-esque, which I appreciated.
May 16, 2019
Review to come.
September 4, 2019
Holy cats, this book was fun! We've got a sister story, we've got a large, rambling, moldering house story, we've got a quirky family story, we've got an outsider story and we've got it all packaged together with sparkling writing, and astute observations.
If you're a Jane Austin fan this is a book for you.
Also, what a great cover!
If you're a Jane Austin fan this is a book for you.
Also, what a great cover!
June 29, 2019
Plum could not be more different than her excitable sister, Ginny. Ginny has a group of friends at their private school, while Plum doesn’t have any at all. She’d much prefer to do advance reading for her classes than engage with others her age. Ginny is about to graduate from high school and longs to get accepted into her university of choice, but it’s not that simple. First, she has to be accepted and then she needs enough financial aid to attend. While they may live in a large home, it’s filled with clutter and day-to-day life rather than being a show piece. Feeling more and more distant from her ever-more-agitated sister, Plum finds herself in a position to help, but only because of a secret romance. Now Plum has her own life, but it may take her away from her family right when they need her.
This is a contemporary tale with a classic heart. Riffing on Sense and Sensibility, this novel for teens takes one rather old-fashioned young lady and her sister who is her opposite and flings at them the trials of modern life. There are the costs of living when their mother loses her royalty payments, the grueling college application and financial aid process, bullying, and of course, kissing too. It’s a book that offers two great female characters. Plum is introverted, wildly funny and wise. Ginny is anxiety-ridden, loud, dramatic and loving. The two together make an ideal look at sisterhood.
Thornburgh writes with a specific style here. It even more tightly ties the story to classic literature and also reveals Plum’s thoughts and her own way of thinking. The story never drags, instead it is filled with drama and disasters large and small. The writing is a delightful mix of classic and modern with plenty of humor too.
A deep look at sisterhood that is funny and rich. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
This is a contemporary tale with a classic heart. Riffing on Sense and Sensibility, this novel for teens takes one rather old-fashioned young lady and her sister who is her opposite and flings at them the trials of modern life. There are the costs of living when their mother loses her royalty payments, the grueling college application and financial aid process, bullying, and of course, kissing too. It’s a book that offers two great female characters. Plum is introverted, wildly funny and wise. Ginny is anxiety-ridden, loud, dramatic and loving. The two together make an ideal look at sisterhood.
Thornburgh writes with a specific style here. It even more tightly ties the story to classic literature and also reveals Plum’s thoughts and her own way of thinking. The story never drags, instead it is filled with drama and disasters large and small. The writing is a delightful mix of classic and modern with plenty of humor too.
A deep look at sisterhood that is funny and rich. Appropriate for ages 12-15.
June 8, 2019
4.5 stars!!
January 16, 2019
With shades of Sense & Sensibility, Jane Eyre, and Little Women, this book feels just as familiar and friendly as falling into an old classic. Introverted Plum and dramatic Ginny hit all the strides of a stereotypical sister relationship, but Ordinary Girls follows it through and turns it into a discussion about mental health that I found totally necessary and refreshing.
July 1, 2020
I was taken in by Plum's voice and although I asked plenty of questions along the way, her family's story charmed and won me over.
August 13, 2019
In her family of three (her father died ten years ago), 15 year old Plum is the sensible, logical, not-brilliant one. Her older sister Ginny is the hyper-sensitive, melodramatic, brilliant one, whose moods rule their lives. Right now, Ginny is panicking about college (she's always panicking about something), and her desperate need to get into Penn and get financial aid and become the brilliant scientist their writer father predicted back in the day. Plum is more concerned with keeping their crumbling Victorian house in the face of her artistic mother's almost non-employment, and wishes there were some way she could become a Jane Eyre-type governess so she could earn some money. That chance pretty much falls in her lap, thanks to a plumbing disaster, a winter dog-walk, and one of the Loud Sophomore Boys who happens to live in her neighborhood. Plum always knew Tate was one of the sporty, loud, obnoxious, unfortunately attractive boys at her school, but she's surprised to find he's quite different when he's at home. As Ginny's histrionics ramp up and up and up and their financial situation becomes ever more precarious, Plum finds herself escaping to Tate's more and more often, and she tutors him in English and finds herself watching televised sports (WTH?) with him. So what will happen next?
I really enjoyed this one, particularly all the small, quirky details of intimate family life, like childhood names for rooms, small Christmas traditions, etc. The romance was surprisingly sweet and charming and not cloying at all, and I love that it happened without them hating each other first. True, Plum found him as part of the obnoxious group at first, but that was pretty much one scene and she didn't hold that against him later. He was a delightful mix of confident and stumbling; used to girls, but not to girls like Plum, who is wryly hilarious, logical, and "hard to talk to." The plotline with the sister was a bit unclear and could have used a bit of pruning (she's annoying to spend time with), but the author is clever in setting you up for something that almost happens that you should have expected but didn't, because Plum didn't.
One thing that I simultaneously enjoyed and rolled my eyes at was the girls' intimate knowledge of classic children's/YA books, like Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, etc. It was nice for me that I knew all of the books they referenced because they were books from my childhood as well, but it's a pet peeve of mine (as a school librarian) that authors rarely reference CURRENT children's/YA books, or books that would have been current when their characters were younger (ten years ago, not forty, fifty, or a hundred!). I know authors think that by using classic books they won't date their own books, but there are absolutely wonderful modern books that will and have stood the test of time and would make more sense for characters to have read. My soapbox rant!
I really enjoyed this one, particularly all the small, quirky details of intimate family life, like childhood names for rooms, small Christmas traditions, etc. The romance was surprisingly sweet and charming and not cloying at all, and I love that it happened without them hating each other first. True, Plum found him as part of the obnoxious group at first, but that was pretty much one scene and she didn't hold that against him later. He was a delightful mix of confident and stumbling; used to girls, but not to girls like Plum, who is wryly hilarious, logical, and "hard to talk to." The plotline with the sister was a bit unclear and could have used a bit of pruning (she's annoying to spend time with), but the author is clever in setting you up for something that almost happens that you should have expected but didn't, because Plum didn't.
One thing that I simultaneously enjoyed and rolled my eyes at was the girls' intimate knowledge of classic children's/YA books, like Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, etc. It was nice for me that I knew all of the books they referenced because they were books from my childhood as well, but it's a pet peeve of mine (as a school librarian) that authors rarely reference CURRENT children's/YA books, or books that would have been current when their characters were younger (ten years ago, not forty, fifty, or a hundred!). I know authors think that by using classic books they won't date their own books, but there are absolutely wonderful modern books that will and have stood the test of time and would make more sense for characters to have read. My soapbox rant!
October 8, 2023
I've just wasted several hours of my life on complete nonsense. This book has no plot, no likeable characters I could root for, no character development, no good writing, NOTHING. I don't understand how this book has such high ratings because I literally cannot tell you what this book is about or what the point of it is because it has no point and no story.
The writing is too weird. The MC thinks and talks like a character from a Jane Austen novel, but also like an average modern teen and it just doesn't mix well. It sounds awkward and ridiculous. I mean, they talk about college, boys, juuls and whatnot, but with the language of a governess from the 19th century.
Then there's the characters. I HATED Ginny. She was annoying, never did anything except whine, treated her sister and mother horribly and just had an irritating personality. She can literally be summed up in one sentence which is a quote directly from Plum:
"You don't do anything useful. Ever. All you do is lie around and cry like the crazy person you are."
I will admit that in the end, she realized she needed some professional help but it took too long to get there and I can't change my opinion about her just because of that one scene.
Plum on the other hand was simply average. At times a bit weird but not good weird. Mediocre weird. Does that even make sense? Basically, she didn't do anything remarkable, she just spent the entirety of the book tolerating her sister's hysterics, walking her dogs and having awkward conversations with Tate the Popular Guy Who's Actually Not A Douche™. That's the plot. No romantic tension, no life changing events...just Plum and her family having eccentric conversations about unimportant topics. And of course, quoting famous books. That's it.
March 10, 2019
Ordinary Girls is an original, heartfelt story about two sisters in high school. Their circumstances are relatable but the setting is fresh - they live in a crumbling house from the 1800's that is a character in itself. Plum and Ginny's financial troubles are a compelling force in the story, but the family drama also allows for satisfying character arcs.
While the blurb called this a "take on Sense and Sensibility," it's important to note that it's more inspired-by than a direct retelling. Also, the author has a very original voice which was almost aristocratic at times, so have your dictionary handy to get the most out of the book. There were a lot of references to classic literature, but the story itself and the setting were contemporary.
I really looked forward to parts with a certain boy who liked to wear sweatpants, as the dynamic between him and Plum was so fun. Like Jane Austen's work, this story did have elements of clashing social classes, which lent additional depth to the romance and other events in the story.
Also, the cover is just gorgeous, and it really drew me in.
Overall, I found Ordinary Girls to be an entertaining drama, and an original take a family drama between two smart, well-intentioned sisters.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
While the blurb called this a "take on Sense and Sensibility," it's important to note that it's more inspired-by than a direct retelling. Also, the author has a very original voice which was almost aristocratic at times, so have your dictionary handy to get the most out of the book. There were a lot of references to classic literature, but the story itself and the setting were contemporary.
I really looked forward to parts with a certain boy who liked to wear sweatpants, as the dynamic between him and Plum was so fun. Like Jane Austen's work, this story did have elements of clashing social classes, which lent additional depth to the romance and other events in the story.
Also, the cover is just gorgeous, and it really drew me in.
Overall, I found Ordinary Girls to be an entertaining drama, and an original take a family drama between two smart, well-intentioned sisters.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing a copy for review.
June 20, 2019
I expected a retelling of Sense and Sensibility and I was a little disappointed – the connection to Austen’s novel is very slim as there is too much that has been changed. Yes, the story describes the relationship between two sisters who are trying to find themselves in the world but that is about it.
The novel, however, does stand out in its own right. My favourite character was Plum. I enjoyed her snarkiness as well as her independence. She is a girl who realises what the problems are and seeks out to solve them – even though sometimes her attempts fail. She is definitely a girl after my own heart. Unlike her sister Ginny who can be annoying (which was, I am sure, the author’s intention).
There were moments in the novel that I could not help but smile – definitely enjoyable moments. Plum grows in inner strength – a facet which I always appreciate in young adult novels. Ordinary Girls is a book that will be enjoyed by young readers; it is a story that will show them that your own inner strength can help you get by. And that even though, at times, your sibling annoys you, you will do anything for them. This novel is an easy read that focuses on the relationships between siblings and how they support one another.
The novel, however, does stand out in its own right. My favourite character was Plum. I enjoyed her snarkiness as well as her independence. She is a girl who realises what the problems are and seeks out to solve them – even though sometimes her attempts fail. She is definitely a girl after my own heart. Unlike her sister Ginny who can be annoying (which was, I am sure, the author’s intention).
There were moments in the novel that I could not help but smile – definitely enjoyable moments. Plum grows in inner strength – a facet which I always appreciate in young adult novels. Ordinary Girls is a book that will be enjoyed by young readers; it is a story that will show them that your own inner strength can help you get by. And that even though, at times, your sibling annoys you, you will do anything for them. This novel is an easy read that focuses on the relationships between siblings and how they support one another.
November 9, 2019
Oh gosh that's fun. Inspired by Sense and Sensibility but not bound to it, Ordinary Girls turns things on upside-down. Here it's the younger sister, not the older, whose head is firmly on her shoulders; here the characters are not flung bodily from their home at the outset of the book; here there is romance, and unlikely romance at that, but it doesn't (glory hallelujah) overrun the book.
I've read enough retellings to know that I'm happiest with this sort of thing. 'Inspired by' leaves a lot more room for interpretation than 'retelling', and often the plot twists that make so much sense in an Austenian world no longer...fit...in a modern world. It's why I liked Boots and Backpacks, which deviated significantly from Pride and Prejudice, and it's why I was so lukewarm about Jane, which tried to shoehorn Jane Eyre into an era not suited to it.
But this was just fun. In turns playful and darkly serious, throwing a heap of quirkiness into the story without sending it off into Quirky Girl Who Is Quirky for the Sake of Quirkiness territory...yes please. Better, for all that there's a romance, the relationship that matters here is the one between the sisters, and there's far too little of that in contemporary YA.
I've read enough retellings to know that I'm happiest with this sort of thing. 'Inspired by' leaves a lot more room for interpretation than 'retelling', and often the plot twists that make so much sense in an Austenian world no longer...fit...in a modern world. It's why I liked Boots and Backpacks, which deviated significantly from Pride and Prejudice, and it's why I was so lukewarm about Jane, which tried to shoehorn Jane Eyre into an era not suited to it.
But this was just fun. In turns playful and darkly serious, throwing a heap of quirkiness into the story without sending it off into Quirky Girl Who Is Quirky for the Sake of Quirkiness territory...yes please. Better, for all that there's a romance, the relationship that matters here is the one between the sisters, and there's far too little of that in contemporary YA.
July 1, 2019
An adorable, quirky young adult book perfect for every angsty teen (or adult) that read Jane Austen, Little Women, and Jane Eyre on the reg. Two sisters could not be more different; Ginny, the older, smarter, more frazzled sister is forever getting on Patience's (aka Plum) nerves. Patience has forever lived in the shadow of her older sister's intelligence and there are times when she can't wait for her sister to go off to college in a year (if the family can afford it). They live in a gorgeous, old, crumbling down Victorian home, that Patience wishes she could never leave (stupid school). It's her, Ginny, her exuberant and artistic mother, a feisty cat, two rowdy dogs, and their "almost doctor of music" renter who lives above the carriage house. Little does Patience realize how much her fifteenth year is about to change; from boys, to finance woes, to English reading assignments; this will be a year that Plum will never forget. Funny and unusual in the most awesome of ways.
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