Our characters, Danielle, Abby, Candace, Lauren, Sarah, Bridget, Jennifer, and Margo each have their own set of problems from eating disorders to tarnished relationships, and their strong characterization brings them to life in this story. Beauty standards in society and one’s struggle with loving themselves is the main theme in this book, and while that can be incredibly overdone with cliches, Vivian focuses more the characters and their frustration more than the concept itself. While The List seems to be regarded as a regular chick-lit novel, it’s actually more than that.

The writing is light and chilling simultaneously, there’s a good balance and blending of lighthearted and harsh/truthful moments. The basic premise Vivian has chosen for this book is seemingly difficult to understand and to keep up with at points, but she actually pulls it off well throughout. This is an alleged tradition, and nobody every knows who wrote it. Throughout the hallways, in the classrooms, in the bathrooms, a list lays out the “prettiest” and “ugliest” girls from freshman to seniors. But, this book had so much more depth than I thought, and that particular factor lead me to this 4-star rating.Įvery year, about a week before the Homecoming Game/Dance, A list is posted. The List has been on my to-read for what feels like a century, and I’ve surprisingly never planned on taking it seriously, even when I was in the beginning stages of the book. It feels like I’ve been looking for too much brain candy lately, because I don’t want to focus on the substance but I’ll get to it! I’m thinking of checking out The Young Elites later, so that’ll be coming soon.

I’ve been extremely busy (school, yikes) so it’s been hard to update and even read. I’m sorry for not posting lately, whoever is reading this. This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, “pretty” and “ugly.” And it’s also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two. The damage is done the minute it goes up. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. An intense look at the rules of high school attraction – and the price that’s paid for them.

The list siobhan vivian book review