My Perfect Life

Rating:
Summary: Not A Perfect Book
Review:
Welcome back the gang from Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen! They are back with some more exciting adventures on teenage life. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen was a terrific book. The plot right from the start and the detail of Dyan Sheldon's writing was great. Everybody who read the first book was dying for a sequel and wanted to find out what would happen next to the characters. The sequel, My Perfect Life, is quite good but not as exceptional as the original book. There was far more dialogue than actual DRAMA!

My Perfect Life is told from Ella's point of view, not Lola's. Ella is the narrator and central character of this story. Since Ella is not a drama queen like Lola in the original book, and since Ella is much more laid back than Lola, it made this story much more boring and had no quick hits. Ella just seems a bit dull after reading about Lola, who was so vivid and vibrant. The change in voice shows Sheldon's writing talent; Ella and Lola are two friends who are extremely different. Ella lacks the energetic drama of Lola, but makes up for it with wittiness and slight sarcasm, even though Ella experiences a lot of drama in her real life - having a father who is never around and a mother who drinks too much, she is not as outgoing like Lola. She does not express herself as dramatically as Lola does in the first story. Luckily, the story still holds itself strong by touching on topics such as alcoholism, school politics, slander, etc. The wild Lola Cep is still competing with the class alpha female Carla Santini. When Carla decides to run for school president, Lola immediately becomes interested in politics, but instead of nominating herself, shoves her quiet pal Ella into the spotlight. The act for a school government, complete with debates, is more plot device than reality.

In this sequel to Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Sheldon skillfully mixes in details from the first book to make this a stand-alone title without boring returning fans while refreshing their memories of the first story in the beginning. The language is squeaky clean and the characters are not very difficult to remember, also with a very predictable ending. Sheldon did a wonderful job in creating this novel about Ella and should write a sequel from Sam's point of view as he is a mesmerizing character within the books. Fans of the first book will want more Lola stories; this book may satisfy less demanding readers. My Perfect Life is a comedy, with an unexpected twist for its ending. The only complaint with the book comes from the first couple of chapters, which are flawed for having a slow, dull start. But In the long run, My Perfect Life is recommended for anyone looking for some funny, easy and light reading.



Rating:
Summary: good
Review: Don't cha hate it when people never give anything a chance? the book was good overall. I suggest read the book Confession of a teenage drama queen than seeing the movie. u get a better perspective

Rating:
Summary: Fun Sequel to 'Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen'
Review: Ella Gerard has always believed that she has the perfect life. Perfect grades, perfect poise, perfect house, perfect parents, perfect friends, whatever she has, it's perfect. That is, until Lola Cep (resident drama queen) moves to boring Dellwood, New Jersey, and shows her that her life seems perfect, but actually really isn't once you look through the "perfect" exterior. But when Lola nominates Ella for school president, pitting her up against the vicious and popular Carla Santini, all bets are off, and many of Ella's family secrets surface, showing just how un-perfect her and her family really are.

While I was reading CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, I was dying to read a book from Ella's point of view, since Lola seemed a bit dramatic for my taste, but Ella seemed more grounded. I feel that I was a bit wrong. First of all, MY PERFECT LIFE features Lola so much that you would think that it's about her. Second, when Lola isn't taking over the story with her dramatic acts, Ella does nothing but talk about Lola. Third, Ella just seems a bit dull and boring after reading about Lola, who was so vivid and vibrant. But, the story still holds itself strong by touching on topics such as: alcoholism, school politics, slander, etc. I feel that Dyan Sheldon did a wonderful job in creating this novel about Ella, I just hope that she writes a sequel to this from Sam's point of view, as I find that he is a fascinating character, and I would love to get the chance to read more about him.

Erika Sorocco

Rating:
Summary: more fun from the drama queens
Review: Ella Gerard stars in this sequel to CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN. Lola is not eligible to run for student body president against Carla Santini, so she volunteers Ella and their friend Sam as a slate, with herself as campaign manager.

Carla stops at nothing in her quest, from an expensive rally with Ella's mom as caterer to a mud-slinging campaign. Lola is more than ready to match wits with Carla, though, and Ella reluctantly comes along for the adventure. Lola's posters with pictures of Carla shopping and talking on her cell phone are funny, and soon students are taking a serious interest in the campaign. Ella finds that the more Carla tries to outdo them, the more Ella wants to win.

The campaign is not the only thing worrying Ella, though. Her mother is getting drunk fairly often, and her father is rarely at home. Everything comes to a head right before voting. Can she hold it together even through a terrifying debate in front of the entire school?

Though more serious in tone than CONFESSIONS OF A TEENAGE DRAMA QUEEN, MY PERFECT LIFE still maintains some humor and the same great characters, and readers will hope that Dyan Sheldon will return again to Dellwood High.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

Rating:
Summary: boring to the breaking point
Review: I enjoyed this book, however, it wasn't anywhere near being as good as the first. It wasn't as funny as Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, but there were still some pretty funny parts in it. I thought she did an OK job mixing serious stuff with funny stuff, and even though I liked how it was written from Ella's point of view instead of Lola's, it did make things a little less interesting. Overall I thought it was good, though.

Rating:
Summary: Very Impressive, as Sequels Go...
Review: I loved Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, and was at the bookstore the other day when I saw that there was a sequel. It's very good, almost better than the original.

MY PERFECT LIFE is told from Ella's viewpoint, not Lola's. It's really funny and all, but because Ella is not a drama queen and she's much more laid back than Lola. The book starts off with Lola announcing that she wants to run for student body president, and when Ella tells her that she can't run because she has only been at the high school for a year, Lola decides to nominate Ella instead. Sam Creek, the school's token bad boy/rebel, is running with Ella for vice president. Neither of them want to, but Lola nominated them and if they back out now they'll never live it down. Carla Santini is also running for president...and sure she'll win. Carla is Lola's arch nemisis - Lola will do anything to keep her from winning.

This book is really funny, with an unexpected twist of an ending. My only complaint with the book is: the first 20 or so pages are a little slow. In the long run, I highly recommend MY PERFECT LIFE for anyone looking for some funny, easy reading. (If you want to read this book, but haven't read Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, that's okay. It isn't really necessary. They make a few references to the book but you won't be lost without knowing what they're saying.)

Overall grade - B+

Rating:
Summary: Ella and Lola Strike Again!
Review: i read ctdq in like, 2 days and was dying to get the sequel. i even sprang for hardcover! ella is extremely reluctant about having anything to do with student government. she expects lola will run no matter what, considering her love for spotlight and attention. little does ella know that she is so wrong and lola is planning for ella and sam to run for president and vice president behind their backs! will sam and ella run? and if they do, will they win over the formidable, evil carla santini? what about their nearly forgotten opponent - morty? read this sequel for more laughs and refreshing wit. bye and thanx for reading!
p.s. if you haven't read 'confessions of a teenage drama queen' i highly reccomend reading it. it is just as hilarious if not more than 'my perfect life'. oh yeah, the author writes this one from the point of view of ELLA, NOT lola.

Rating:
Summary: Ella and Lola Strike Again!
Review: i read ctdq in like, 2 days and was dying to get the sequel. i even sprang for hardcover! ella is extremely reluctant about having anything to do with student government. she expects lola will run no matter what, considering her love for spotlight and attention. little does ella know that she is so wrong and lola is planning for ella and sam to run for president and vice president behind their backs! will sam and ella run? and if they do, will they win over the formidable, evil carla santini? what about their nearly forgotten opponent - morty? read this sequel for more laughs and refreshing wit. bye and thanx for reading!
p.s. if you haven't read 'confessions of a teenage drama queen' i highly reccomend reading it. it is just as hilarious if not more than 'my perfect life'. oh yeah, the author writes this one from the point of view of ELLA, NOT lola.

Rating:
Summary: Predictable
Review: In this sequel to Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (Candlewick 1999), Sheldon skillfully weaves in details from the first book to make this a stand-alone title without boring returning fans while refreshing their memories. The irrepressible Lola Cep is still competing with the class alpha female Carla Santini. When Carla decides to run for school president, Lola immediately becomes interested in politics, but instead of nominating herself, shoves her quiet pal Ella into the spotlight.

Ella is the narrator and protagonist of this story. The shift in voice shows Sheldon's writing talent; the two friends are very different. Ella lacks the vivacious drama of Lola, but makes up for it with wit and slight sarcasm. Her voice is subdued in spite of the drama of her real life - a father who is never around, and a mother who drinks too much. When the buildup of issues couples with the stress of running for office, the shrinking violet predictably yet satisfyingly blossoms and faces her family issues as well as her own social issues.
The major flaw of the novel is that the characters and plot read more like middle school than high school; the race for a school presidency, complete with debates, is more plot device than reality. The language is squeakily clean and the characters are not terribly complex, and the outcome is predictable.
Fans of the first book will want more Lola stories, this may satisfy less demanding readers.

Rating:
Summary: :-(
Review: My Perfect Life-- a sequel to Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. Why did I even bother reading this book? It was just a waste of time. I'll tell you why I read it.. I saw the movie "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen", and was curious to know what happened next. Now, the movie was also a waste of time and money. The only thing good about it was the fact that Lindsay Lohan played in it, but that's besides the point. My Perfect Life has barely any plot and so un-realistic. Basicly the whole plot is Ella is nominated against her will by Lola (her best friend) to run for school presidency against the popular Carla.

The person I hated the most in this book, and who cause the book to be so bad was Carla. Carla's character is completely fake. No one, and I repeat, no one, is ever that mean and selfish. She is totally immune to anyone's feelings and just does what she wants and what's good for her. She even goes far enough to get Ella's mother to cater her rally.

Lola is out of the ordinary. She dresses like she's from a religious group in Aisa and acts like a, well, drama queen. Lola was the one who got Ella nominated to run for the presidency and she was also the one who organized the whole campain.

Even thought the book was written in first person with Ella as the narrator, she was barely in the book. Only in the end, but I'm not going to reveal what happens, :). Ella had a perfect life, with a perfect mother, father and house. But things happen and the story doesn't stay so true to the title.

This book is for tweens and even younger kids who enjoy reading about school and people like Carla. Don't bother giving this book as a gift because the thank you note won't be really be meant as a thank you.