Review: Winter White by Jen Calonita

Title: Winter White

Author: Jen Calonita

Publisher:  Poppy

Publication Date: 10.9.2012

Pages: 368

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Yes (Belles #2)

Source: Finished copy from publisher

Rating: B+

Summary (from Goodreads):

Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are still reeling from the revelation that they share more than just the roof over their heads. The media has pounced on their story and the girls are caught up in a flurry of talk-show appearances and newspaper interviews. They've put on a happy public face, but someone is leaking their true feelings to the press, and while it seems like the world is watching their every move, at least they have each other. 

But with cotillion season right around the corner, Izzie and Mira have barely had time to process their newfound sisterhood. Mira has dreamed of making her debut in a gorgeous white gown forever-now, if only she could find an escort. Izzie, meanwhile, is still struggling to find her place in Emerald Cove and it's seeming ever more impossible with EC mean-girls, young and old, doing their best to keep her down. As cotillion preparations heat up, though, there are dance steps to learn, manners to perfect... and secret initiations to complete? As if sophomore year wasn't hard enough! 

It's time for the gowns to go on and the gloves to come off.

Review:

I truly enjoyed Belles by Jen Calonita (the first book in this series). The events of Winter White pick up where Belles left off as Mira and Izzie try to piece things back together in the wake of their father’s big revelation. The fallout that comes from that is the source of a lot of emotional turmoil throughout this novel.

I’ve always been more partial to Izzie. I just got her in the first novel, and that continues here. Mira, however, surprised me. She managed to work her way into my heart, which I didn’t think Calonita could pull off. After the events in Belles (the ending notwithstanding), I was pretty irritated with how petty and snobby Mira was, but Winter White is her time to shine. Of the two, I felt like Mira had more to deal with this time around, and that really opened her up to me as a reader.

Another big plus was I felt like Izzie and Mira were becoming more like friends (sisters) than mortal enemies. I got annoyed at how frequently they fought in Belles, so it was a nice change to see these two trying to work it out.

This series is light and fun and airy. It doesn’t strive to be literary genius, and that’s part of its charm. It’s sweet; something to curl up with and indulge in. I won’t lie and say there weren’t parts that made me want to slap both girls (but hey, they are teenage girls), but overall this is a series I truly enjoy reading and you will, too.

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