Monday, June 14, 2010

Review: I'd Tell You I Love You...

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Age Group: Young Adult
Published: April 1st, 2007 by Hyperion
Format: Paperback, 284 pgs

Description:  

The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women is a fairly typical all-girls school, that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE, the latest in chemical warfare in science; and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes computer class. So in truth, Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses, but its really a school for spies. Cammie Morgan is a second generation Gallagher Girl, and by her sophomore year she's already fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways (three of which involve a piece of uncooked spaghetti.) But the one thing the Gallagher Academy hasn't prepared her for is what to do when she falls for an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, and track him through a mall without his ever being the wiser, but can she have a regular relationship with a regular boy who can never know the truth about her? Cammie may be an elite spy in training, but in her sophomore year, shes beginning her most dangerous mission; she's falling in love.  


My Thoughts:

The premise was interesting to me: a school that teaches girls how to do everything but how to interact with the locals, particularly boys. Not to mention the cover, which I like; it's cute and simple, and it's perfect for the book.

Cammie is spunky. I really connected with her personality and what she was going through, even though I'm not a spy-in-training in the slightest, which is what good writing is all about. When Cammie meets a cute boy from the nearest town she doesn't know what to think. No one has ever seen her when she doesn't want to be seen; she's the Chameleon, and he saw her when no one else did.

The thing I loved most wasn't all the awesome secret passages or the new girl who stirs things up, though they were definitely fun, but the fact that the relationship wasn't some weak girl falling for the typical strong boy. Cammie's the strong one in Carter's new series, and she falls for a boy who is nothing but ordinary, except for his great looks and charming personality.And Cammie doesn't like him in spite of that, she likes him because of it, because he makes her feel like a normal girl, not someone who frets over CoveOp pop-quizzes.

The first book of the Gallagher Girl series was a quick, fun read; however, it was easy for me to put down. It lacked that certain something, that made me want to read the entire the straight through. That being said, Carter has created a  group of realistic, funny, likable characters that I want to learn more about. You can bet I'll be picking up the rest of the series when I get a chance.

8 comments:

Natalie Whipple said...

Funny, I couldn't put this one down, even if the voice at times felt a touch overdone for my tastes.

But you know what? I loved the second one more. It's rare for a series to do that.

Jaimie said...

Wait, so you put it down, but you still like it? I can smell me some flattery a mile away. :P

Jaimie said...

But I DO know what you mean, having recently put down AMERICAN GODS despite sorta liking it.

It's a time-warrant thing. Does my enjoyment of this warrant spending 10+ hours on it. Do I only like 10% of it, ergo wasting 9+ hours.

Creepy Query Girl said...

Thanks for the honest review! It sounds like a good read:)

Tess said...

I had to pop over because I actually used that line in a job interview ("I'd tell you but then I'd have to kill you") and got the job! I was interviewing w/ a competing company and they asked about a certain sales practice and that was my answer. The HR person cracked up and hired me for my integrity (she said she liked that I didn't spill the beans on the other company).

That was years ago, but that line has always had special meaning for me. haha.. I'll have to pick this book up, thanks for sharing (and for listening to my rambling today).

Katrina L. Lantz said...

Loved this series! I read the first one all at once, but the second was actually a bit put-down-able, at least in the beginning. But I do enjoy the formulaic, yet twisty plots of Ally Carter. Plus, her voice rocks!

Connie Keller said...

So far I've enjoyed all the books in the series. But I have to say that I enjoyed the her new book Heist even more. She's definitely grown as a writer and it shows in the pacing, voice, etc. Read it!

Stina said...

I loved the first two, but haven't gotten around to reading the third one. Soon. :)

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