"Liz Maccie's debut novel is as tough, optimistic, and beautiful as her heroine, Roberta Romano. Roberta's voice is heartfelt and funny. Her story is exceptionally moving and honest. I love this book and the hope it has for young women everywhere." —Stephen Chbosky, New York Times bestselling author of The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The most important lessons aren't learned in the classroom.
It's the first day of sophomore year for Roberta Romano, but instead of the comfort of her local high school, she's been thrust into the elitist embrace of the affluent Meadowbrook Academy.
Surrounded by wealth, Roberta battles her own insecurities to prove her worth and maybe land the boy of her dreams. With the help of two unlikely allies—and an inflatable toy raft—Roberta embarks upon a journey of dark secrets and self-discovery to learn the true meaning of friendship and acceptance.
"Roberta will charm and delight you with a voice that's candid, hilarious, and hopeful, as she narrates her first day at a new high school, reminding us of the epic nature of each hour in our adolescent lives. Lessons I Never Learned at Meadowbrook Academy will make you laugh, cringe, cry, and cheer for the power of friendships that can change us in a single day." —Ava Dellaira, author of Love Letters to the Dead
"You wish your first day of prep school was this epic! Every single page of Lessons I Never Learned sparkles with heart and humor. Like a teenage Bridget Jones, Roberta Romano will make you laugh, cry, and cringe as she tries to navigate her first day at Meadowbrook Academy. She finds friends and enemies, earns detentions and serious respect, and makes memories that will last her a lifetime." —Siobhan Vivian, author of The List
When I got an email from Diversion Books/Netgalley inviting me to read & review Lessons I Never Learned At Meadowbrook Academy, I thought it sounded super interesting and on reading the first few pages, that initial though held through, but come the end of the novel, I was left with questions. I didn't understand why the novel only took place over the course of one day - it seemed way more drawn out than that, and it could have done with being set over a term or a semester, whatever, rather than a day.
I wanted to like Roberta so much - I liked her spunk initially, but it soon wore off, when she was telling little while lies here, there and everywhere. If you get your period and miss the start of class, just tell your teacher you got your period. There was no need for the big fat lie. It was childish.
I like Roberta's friends Annie and Mervin, Mervin in particular was sweet. Annie was a bit weird. The novel went some place with her, leaving us hanging come the end of the novel. I was just left with so many questions - why did Thaddeus spent a free period with Roberta & then flip a switch and go all cray-cray? What happened to Annie? What happened the next day, never mind anything else? It just wasn't my kind of read, there are better novels set at posh schools than this one.
