How to Be Bad

by Lauren Myracle, E. Lockhart, and Sarah Mlynowski

[Kelly]

3.5 stars.
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2015/06/how-to-be-bad-road-trip.html
I love adventure. Quirky road trips where not only discover themselves but that there is more to life beyond the trivial issues of being a teen. Jesse, Vicks and Mel are all unique characters in their own right. Jesse is religious and very judgmental, Vicks the party girl with the boyfriend and Mel is the wealthy quiet type who is just looking to make a friend. What sets out as a journey for Vicks to visit her boyfriend at collage, turns into an adventure of pirate themed hotels, the world's smallest police station and an urban legend in Old Joe. Each character is somewhat relatable, but Jesse tended to get on my nerves. She's painted as what could only be called trailer trash, but uses her beliefs to cast judgement upon others, especially Vicks and the two girls have drifted apart. She only agrees to allow Mel to tag along so she can pay for their fuel, food and accommodation, but loathes her for having wealth. She's a walking contradiction.

Vicks and Mel are more more engaging characters. I love Vicks and her brazen attitude. She's crass, but there is something incredibly genuine about her and she lured me into the storyline. But underneath the facade, she's terrified of reaching Miami and discovering Brady has met someone else. She jumps to conclusions but at that age, even the most confident teens still hold a certain level of self doubt. Unlike Jess, Vicks and Mel have a tentative bond between the two, leaving Jesse feeling hostile. But beyond the tension lies a fun and often flirtatious storyline of female bonding and an epic road trip of a life time.

Having loved We Were Liars and enjoyed The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, How to Be Bad was a well written and fun teen read. E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle and Sarah Mlynowski have crafted a seamless storyline from three different points of view that was not only engaging, but a great summer read. Really enjoyed it and excited to see what E. Lockhart is working on next.