Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt and Other Things I Learned in Southern Belle Hell

Never Sit Down In A Hoopskirt And Other Things I Learned In Southern Belle Hell by Crickett Rumley
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304


Summary:When seventeen-year-old Jane gets kicked out of boarding school (again) and returns to her small town of Bienville, Alabama, she is certain of three things: Her grandmother will be happy to see her. She will be the subject of the town's gossip mill. And there are some people she will have to avoid. But she doesn't expect that those very things will land her smack in the middle of the Bienville's most illustrious event: the Magnolia Maid achievement pageant.


My Thoughts: We are introduced to Jane who comes back to town to live with her grandma. She used to live in town with her parents but her mom passed away and she's gotten kicked out of numerous boarding schools so she's back to live with her grandmother. Everyone in town is gossiping about her being back. She's even a little excited to see her childhood best friend, Luke. She decides to join the Magnolia Maids. Her mother was a part of it as a girl and Jane thinks she should do something her mother did. The catch, half the girls like her while the others don't. They think she isn't good enough to be a Magnolia Maid, and she hasn't lived there her whole life so why should she be able to be a part of it?


I'm not going to go on and on about this one. It was just okay in my opinion. I just wasn't fascinated with the storyline. Half the time, I didn't care what was happening and I wasn't overjoyed with all the fashion and southern tips. I didn't like that the ladylike traditions were expected of her. Like biting her tongue. Jane was an outspoken girl, I liked that about her. I liked that she would voice her opinion and stand up for herself. So, the fact that she has to keep her mouth shut most of the time bugged me.  I also didn't like how Luke was so full of himself, he wouldn't suck it up and just talk to Jane. Half the time I didn't know if he actually liked her or was into someone else. Yes, I'm happy with the ending, but Never Sit Down In A Hoopskirt didn't make my favorites of the year.


Overall: It was just okay. It was an okay debut but I had trouble getting into it. I know I'm not going to love every book I read, so I expect this sometimes. If you think it looks and sounds good, try it out anyways. Who knows, you may love it!


Cover: The cover is interesting. I like how her dress looks big and how its more of a cartoon cover.

What I'd Give It: