how we are doing backflips and flipflops each book is wild to me

Re-read.

Dial L for Loser 's ending left me wanting to read more. It was also a foreshadow on what this book is going to be about.

To start, this book starts off with the Pretty Committee being back in OCD, better than ever and ready to rock the halls once again. But maybe, just maybe not for long.

This book introduces eight grader Alpha, Skye Hamilton who sent off a scavenger hunt to the key which unlocks the ultimate paradise that the Pretty Committee must have to keep their popular status and rule eight grade.
I feel that this book is a badass one ever since Invasion of the Boy Snatchers . I just love when the Pretty Committee becomes this total badass popular girls who uses their brain, beauty and popularity to their advantages in putting the puzzle pieces together to solve the mystery.

As a total fan of this series, I understand and feel in my heart that the CLIQUE series is more than just them being this snobby, prep girls who cares more about their clothes, looks and popularity. They're seventh graders who goes to prep school, children of elites and rich people and lived in New York. They're like twelve, so they'll tend to be immature and childish. But judging from the first few books, the Pretty Committee and pretty much the whole characters are evolving and developing. They weren't one-dimensional.

The storyline was really great. The characters were definitely well-rounded and unique in their own ways. The pacing was just right. Like always, Lisi just made a great novel. It's the perfect combination of drama, secrecy, adventure and Totally Spies' mode.
I have to say that the book wasn't much focus on the characters' storyline. It was rather a sense of CSI in girl world. They had one goal. I have to say I'm really impressed. Every member of the PC was involved. No one was left out. There's even a room for Layne! The total LBR best friend of Claire.

This, by far the most focus on the story and not the characters yet.
Recommending this for sure! :)

The Pretty Committee is on the hunt for a fabled key to a hidden room, to be bestowed by the current alpha of their school, Skye Hamilton. Whose bed is it hiding under? Also, Claire has to decide if she’s going to make the leap to stardom and leave Westchester for the movies.

This novel is fairly well written, as usual focusing a lot on fashion and branding, which can kind of overwhelm the writing. It was a bit annoying how Alicia kept saying “Point”.

It's Not Easy Being Mean
This book was still great considering I love the series, but its just not the best I've read. It is about the girls looking for a key to a secret room in their school. Although that may seem exciting, it really doesn't make much sense. Most people would agree that there probably isn't a secret room at any school that is student accessible. Therefore the story lacks reality. The voice on the other hand is great. She really gives the characters specific details that really help you understand the characters feelings and that keeps you interested. I like all of the characters for different reasons and that is why I love these books. Other than just voice she relates to teens in a many ways. She knows how to use things in a middle school girl's life and put them into these books. Knowing that most girls who read these are in middle school or close to it, she really knows her audience. I really enjoy reading these books and they do not lose my interest. I am looking forward to finishing the series soon, and I hope there are more on the way.

It's Not Easy Being Mean is #7 of Lisi Harrison's The Clique, revolving around the "Pretty Committee," the most powerful and exclusive clique of the all-girls Octavian Country Day School of Westchester, NY. In this book, The Clique returns to form - which unfortunately means a return of the glorification of bratty behavior, bullying, tween sexualization and dry, flat narrative.

Plot: Claire Lyons returns from filming "Dial L for Loser" and contemplates leaving OCD behind entirely in favor of a promising movie career. Meanwhile, Skye Hamilton, the "Alpha" of the "DSL Daters" clique and Massie's eighth grade counterpart is holding a contest to find her successor as the school year closes - of which the prize is ultimately a secret room within the bowls of OCD itself.

The contest ends up being by far the most interesting portion of the narrative - other than that, everything that has dragged down The Clique is present in full force. Alicia engages in even more ridiculous and pathetic backstabbing behavior and Dylan actively seeks out physically self-destructive behavior to contend with her body image issues, all being implicitly condoned if not outright glamorized within narrative that will leave readers wondering why and how Claire actually made the choice she did.

Primarily for teen girls; male readers may be put off by the pacing and genre. Girls who love fashion will greatly enjoy the descriptions of clothing within this book. Older readers nostalgic for high school "slice-of-life" stories may also highly enjoy this. Many readers may be put off by potentially negative messages and other controversial or offensive content.

Positive:
- Skye's contest is at least well-written, entertaining and somewhat clever
- Readers might feel sympathy for Dylan as an accidental by-product of her self-destructive behavior.
- Reading level: Medium (a few hours)

Negative:
- Fans who are particularly fond of Claire may find her choice baffling (though understanding its necessity for the series)
- Dylan starts engaging in extremely self-destructive behavior with little comment or consequence from the narrative

Other similar works by the author:
- The Clique series, of which this is Book #7
- Alphas, a spin-off series revolving around Skye Hamilton who is introduced in It's Not Easy Being Mean

Similar works by other authors:
- The "Castle Heights" series (Cindy Ella, Geek Charming, Little Miss Red, Wicked Jealous) by Robin Palmer (superior writing and characterization, more positive messages)
- The "Yours Truly, Lucy B. Parker" series by Robin Palmer (superior writing and characterization, more positive messages)
- "The A-List" by Zoey Dean (flatter writing, even more negative messages and controversial content)
- "How My Personal, Private Journal Become a National Best-Seller" by Julia DeVillers (more positive messages)
- "Secrets of My Hollywood Life" by Jen Calonita (better narrative, more positive messages)

It was interesting and good

The Skye Hamilton scavenger hunt book— about as fun as going on a scavenger hunt can be. Okay.

This one isn’t my favorite. It isn’t awful but the plot js a little boring compared to the others and I’m over the “Claire is suddenly a great actor despite literally never acting before” thing.

It's Not Easy Being Mean was a pretty good book. I mostly enjoyed the book because I like Drama stories. This book was a pretty good book over all. Especially when I can relate to the stories.
In Lisi Harrison’s “It’s Not Easy Being Mean,” shows that there is a lot of drama that goes on between girls in High School. Most of the time in High School, girls are jealous of other girls because of what they have in life. There are four girls in this book that have totally different lives. Kristen Gregory was a girl who was very athletic. She was a star at soccer. Kristen was a type of girl who didn’t like it when her friends got in her way of her sports. She only enjoyed their company at school; so when she heard her friends were forced to join the team, she was very irritated.
Alicia Rivera was a very different girl. Alicia was the type of girl who was crazy for the boys. She was a gossip reporter for her school, so she had her eyes out watching at all times.
Dylan Marvil was a very depressing person at times. Dylan had many eating problems. She heard that being sad was a way for her to lose weight. In her case it never worked. She would eat many things that she shouldn’t of.
Lastly, was Claire Lyons. Claire Lyons was a very popular girl. Every girl wanted to be her. She was a famous person, who wanted to be normal. Claire had an agent who just wanted her to be high on the charts, so she made her do things she wasn’t very proud of to make her the next big thing. So over all, Claire was thinking to herself if being famous was all worth it. These girls went through a lot during high school.

The plots started getting silly (even for this series) at this point. The girls are back in school, Claire can't decide if she wants an acting career or friends (because how could she have both???), and a completely over the top scavenger hunt is going on.

further delve into my middle school self, truly every bit as horrifying as the first one. was simply too sick to read a real book but could not stare at a screen any longer.

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