Smart Girls Get What They Want

By Sarah Strohmeyer

Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren't the most popular girls in school, they aren't too worried. They know their real lives will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. There will be ivy, and there will be cute guys in the libraries (hopefully with English accents)! But when an unexpected event shows them they're missing out on the full high school experience, it's time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. They make a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge—and they will totally rock it.

Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she'll have to get over her fear of public speaking—and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed. It could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes—until now.

These friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want—but that could mean getting way more attention than they ever bargained for. . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 26, 2012
• ISBN: 9780062114495

Sarah Strohmeyer

Sarah Strohmeyer is a bestselling and award-winning novelist whose books include The Secrets of Lily Graves, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True, Smart Girls Get What They Want, The Cinderella Pact (which became the Lifetime Original Movie Lying to Be Perfect), The Sleeping Beauty Proposal, The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives, Sweet Love, and the Bubbles mystery series. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications, including the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Boston Globe. She lives with her family outside Montpelier, Vermont.

Reviews for Smart Girls Get What They Want

[dom76-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fast read. Funny

[a_reader_of_fictions · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review originally posted here.

What attracted me to Strohmeyer's first YA effort is obvious: the title. I want to live in this magical world where being smart will get me precisely what I desire. Of course, nothing's really that simple, and the girls spend a lot of time NOT getting what they want. SGGWTW (long-ass title even when abbreviated!) isn't so much about how being smart will open every door for you; it's about understand others and discovering yourself in the process.

The most powerful theme for me was this one of first impressions and their general inaccuracy. Throughout the book, Gigi learns things that surprise her about people she's known for years. For example, she is shocked to find out that one of the popular girls not in top level classes, who she thought only cared about boys and shopping, is obsessed with Anna Karenina. As time passes and she gives people a chance to be get to know her, she discovers hidden depths, forms new kinships with people she always stereotyped, and learns that people aren't necessarily what they appear to be. This realization helps her to overcome her own stereotype of being 'the smart girl,' freeing her to just be Gigi.

For roughly the first half of this book, I thought Strohmeyer had written hackneyed teen chick lit. In fact, it was reminding me a lot of Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink, with the supposedly smart girl obsessed with a hot, obviously douchey guy. I was not particularly into the book until about half way through when I realized that Strohmeyer was going to overthrow all of that. If you're frustrated in the beginning, do not give up, because, if you're like me, you will all of a sudden be SO INTO IT.

Strohmeyer ultimately does some things here that I really do not see in enough YA fiction. First and foremost, I was thrilled to see a real friendship. In a lot of YA, the friends serve only as a receptacle for the plaintive cries of the heroine about how X is so hot and she can't help wanting him despite the fact that he is an asshat. The heroine never thinks of her friend except when SHE needs something, and we never learn anything about the friend's life.

Bea, Neerja and Gigi are not like that at all. Throughout the novel, they are constantly watching out for one another, supporting one another, and hanging out. They clearly love one another so much, and are always ready to offer a comforting shoulder after a breakup. Gigi joins a sports team to support Bea (even though she's really not good at it) and tries out for a play to support Neerja (even though she's so afraid of public speaking she often throws up). They will do anything for one another, and no boy could ever stand in the way of that. They are straight up 'hos over bros,' which is so REFRESHING.

As I mentioned, Gigi does have a jerk that wants her or at least pretends to, and she wants him as well. However, what makes Gigi different is that, despite her hormones saying yes yes yes, she doesn't make any rash decisions. She questions his motivations and considers whether he would be a good idea. She moons over him a little, but she does so privately. You can't really help who you're attracted to so much, but you CAN help how you react to it, and I'm so glad to finally see a YA heroine who is not overwhelmed by her lust.

SGGWTW totally charmed me in the end, proving to be much deeper than I was anticipating. If you want to read some realistic fiction that's actually realistic (but still happy and romantic), this is a good one. This is a wonderful summer read, so grab a copy for your vacation! You will not regret it!

[angelalam-300700 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Just finished this fabulous young adult debut novel from the already widely published favorite chick lit and mystery writer, Sarah Strohmeyer. Strohmeyer's voice is pitch-perfect for the genre. Her ability to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of her audience always leaves me waiting for her next book, regardless of the genre.

In this book of smart teens, Gigi, Bea, and Neerja vow to be not only smart but memorable as high school students. They struggle to break the stereotype of the geeky, nerdy girl who does not fit in and become part of the larger world of high school. Their challenges are met with creativity and courage, and the obstacles are both internal and external.

With what my daughter calls "a sweet ending," Strohmeyer will have you rooting for smart girls everywhere. Highly recommended for both teens and adults.

[destinyr1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of the best book I ever read

[stormydawnc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I seriously LOVED this book. Gigi’s narrative is charming in a really smart and witty way, and I love her friendships. If you like books about friendships, or books about smart girls, THIS book is for you. The friendship between Gigi, Bea, and Neerja is awesome. It’s so rare to see a YA friendship that’s this refreshing. There’s a few disagreements between the three of them, but in general they’re supportive of each other and have each other’s back in a way that feels very real and inspiring without being sappy or sentimental. Gigi even takes up skiing just for Bea!

As a total overachiever and “smart” kid in high school, I totally get Gigi. One of the things that Gigi has to deal with throughout this book is that people think that she thinks she’s better than them, which is why she’s so quiet and studious around them. While Gigi does at times judges others too quickly only to learn the truth, I so identify with this! It was better in high school, but in Junior High I was quiet and always reading a book, and I was told people sometimes thought I was stuck-up. Never a fun fact to be confronted with!

Gigi and her friends really are as smart as the summary makes it sound, and I love that. All three of them are strong characters in their own right, and while Gigi is the main character, the other two’s story lines are just as engaging and interesting, especially since they intertwine often.

As you can probably tell from the summary, there’s some romance in this book, and I have to say I really like how it’s explored. Will, as well as Mike(the other love interest), are both such well-done, complex characters. Will is typically a “really good guy”, EXCEPT where it comes to relationships. And I can’t say anything without giving away some of the ending, but let me just say I love Gigi’s reaction to him in the end. Go Gigi! Mike is such a developed character, and as Gigi sees his development, so does the reader.

And perhaps that’s what makes this book so good: the development. The development of each of these characters is the strongest part of this book, which makes me love it even more, especially since I’m such a character-driven reader. There’s a lot of fun antics and a few serious moments in the book that definitely help this book along, but even without all that, this book would be worth it for the characters alone.

Final Impression: If you’re in the mood for a light, funny, but also smart read, Smart Girls Get What They Want is a perfect choice. I didn’t know what I was going into when I started, but I have to say I came out LOVING this book and wanting to be best friends with Gigi and HER friends. Their friendship was perfect and I loved it! 5/5 stars.

[mvthebookbabe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Due to copy and paste, formatting has been lost. *3.5 STARS*Smart Girls Get What They Want is a book I read purely because of the fluff factor-- I was wanting a book that was simple and sweet and took my mind off of everything going on in my life. And while this one definitely had that factor, it also had a hint of non-fluff. Or as I like to call it, hard-core trying to be your very best. I definitely felt like Gigi was trying her very best to be the best she could be, and I really admired that about her.Don't get me wrong, I am a tad upset that Gigi didn't have romance until the end, but I feel like the story itself was enough to keep me going in this case-- the romance was just a sub-plot instead of the full focus of the story. Which is fine... though I really wanted that romance to happen sooner-- I'm all for the waiting makes the heart fonder thing... but COME ON. I wanted to see the sweet little puppy love!But back to Gigi. I felt like Gigi was a really driven character-- and while she was driven to something kind of dumb (popularity), I totally respect her for trying. I loved that all of her feelings were so real-- I definitely think that we could be a lot alike. She seems to be really sweet, and I love love love her interactions with her friends; which brings me to the next point.I think that her friends (Neerja, Bea, etc.) could have been more developed. They were okay, but they could have been on the same level as Gigi. And they fell just a bit short of that, in my opinion. All in all, this was a pretty good read... I'll definitely be reading the author's next book. (:

[pahel-2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Smart Girls Get What They Want follows Gigi and her two best friends, Bea and Neerja, as they navigate the swift currents of high school. They have always had their eyes on the ultimate prize - an Ivy League acceptance - but as their sophomore year moves along each girl realizes that her goal may keep her from experiencing high school. The girls realize that they may just be invisible to the others at Denton High.

They finally realize that nobody outside of the honors classes knows they exist when a hot-o-meter listing every girl in school is found on the bathroom wall of the boy's locker room. Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are all absent from the list - not that they care about the opinions of a bunch of misogynistic boys - but it is a wake up call. The trio vows to make the most of their high school experience as each steps out of her comfort zone and leaves the homework on hold. Not that these girls decide that school doesn't matter. It's not that at all - they merely begin to learn a little balance.

This is a lesson I think adults and teens alike can benefit from; We often get so focused on things that we don't take time to slow down and have fun. Life is too short not to enjoy every moment possible.

And so in order to experience all of high school Gigi decides to run for student rep; Bea to join the skiing team and Neerja decides to try out for the school play!

Overall I'd say it was a very fun read and amazing how the three friends face their fears so that they can show everyone and themselves that smart girls can really get it all! =D

Dislikes :

1. The pace of the story was kind of slow in the middle.
2. Gigi despite having the brains gets easily fooled by Will's words.

Loved --> Mike! I mean who doesn't want a hot guy with brains? :P

Recommend it to anyone who wants a light, fun book!

[stephxsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked the premise: who wouldn’t? Especially when Gigi, Bea, Neerja and Sarah Strohmeyer can convince me that they truly are smart (young) women who also think about typical adolescent things.But then I started noticing the weaknesses. The exposition that takes up nearly a third of the book before any forward action seems to happen. The fact that I couldn’t distinguish between the three friends, despite the fact that the book is told from Gigi’s first-person point of view. Then the moment when I discover it’s inspired by Pride and Prejudice is usually a moment that feels me with giddiness, but in this case I couldn’t bring myself to care all that much. In the long run, SMART GIRLS GET WHAT THEY WANT didn’t add anything indispensible to the YA contemporary field, not when it seemed to have the potential to really be a 21st-century YA Jane Austen and not just an Austen wannabe. And that makes it hard for me to recommend this.

[eomalley_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sarah Strohmeyer’s 2012 young adult contemporary Smart Girls Get What They Want is one of those books I picked up due to raging curiosity. I had been checking out reviews for her newest effort, How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True, (what’s with the long titles?) and there were several reviewers who mentioned how that book wasn’t quite as strong as Smart Girls. With my interest piqued, I decided to give Smart Girls a try. I can’t say how it compares to Zoe and her dreams yet, but it definitely turned out to be a welcome addition to my library of light and bubbly reads.Kicking things off is a prologue that sets the stage nicely. Gigi, Neerja, and Bea – friends since kindergarten – have spent their school lives aiming for the heights of academic excellence, determined to get into Ivy League Colleges where their lives can really begin. Just before they start their high school sophomore year, however, an unexpected event shakes their confidence in their chosen path and they worry they may be missing too much along the way. What’s a smart girl to do? Come up with a kick-butt plan to become participants in their high school lives and not let the world pass them by!The story is told through the eyes of Gigi, a teen with an upbeat personality, a ton of confidence in her intelligence, but a bit lost when it comes to dealing with kids her own age. When her academic career is jeopardized by an accusation of cheating on an exam with popular jock Mike, Gigi ends up running for student representative to the school board – even though she is terrified of public speaking. As if that’s not enough, she is determined to support her best friends in their endeavors as well, trying out for the school play with Neerja and joining the ski team with Bea.I adored Gigi, and experiencing the story from her point of view was highly entertaining – especially her interactions with Mike and the way she happily threw herself into the breach in support of her friends. She had such a positive attitude, even when nerves tried to get the best of her, that I felt happy and relaxed while reading. Hands down, I think my favorite scenes had to be the ones that involved the ski team in some way, shape or form, because when you take a girl who is a complete beginner and throw her into the competitive skiing world, hijinks and laughter WILL ensue. Add in the incredulous reactions of everyone around her – including Mike – and it makes it even sweeter.While Bea and Neerja weren’t as developed as Gigi (this is strictly a one-girl narrative), it wasn’t necessary – they were fleshed out enough to give me a solid understanding of their characters so I was rooting for them to succeed. A sweet twist was watching Neerja get exactly what she wanted only to discover it wasn’t quite what she expected. Bea was probably the most confident of the three girls; raised as she was in a family of lawyers she was always up for a good debate and seemed to have the phrase “Never let them see you sweat” ingrained in her psyche. It was great to see the different ways the girls reacted to guys. Neerja was quietly pining for Justin, the gorgeous boy she’d had a crush on for years, Gigi was knocked off balance by the even better looking new kid in school, Will, while Bea didn’t have any boy in her sights until the very end – at which point she flat out announced her intentions to Gigi and had me convinced she would get exactly who she was aiming for.I wasn’t sure what to make of Mike at first. He seemed like the stereotypical jock who places school as his lowest priority when he was first introduced. As the story progressed, though, there were flashes of another side to him that intrigued me – and Gigi, as well. The chemistry between her and Mike seemed to grow naturally throughout the story, and it soon became obvious he had feelings for her. I do wish there had been a bit more of Mike threaded into the story, though, because I was really liking him by the end. Gigi’s attention was split, however, between him and Will – who also turned out to have chemistry with Gigi and some unexpected sides to his character. I loved the way author Sarah Strohmeyer developed the relationships between Gigi and both boys parallel to each other, and the way it wasn’t clear at first which one Gigi would choose. About halfway through, though, it was easy for me to see which direction the romance would go even if Gigi was still confused. While it wasn’t the most complex of love triangles, it was cute and all was right with the world by the end.Even though it is easy to see which guys should be with which girls, the romances aren’t the heart of this story – friendship is. These girls have had each other’s backs since kindergarten, and high school and boys won’t stop them now! It is so wonderful to see three intelligent girls supporting each other, working together to obtain their goals, and learning together that there is more to life than just getting a great education – there’s actually living it. Each girl had a moment to shine, and the other two were always there cheering them on. They never put each other down, and even though Gigi slipped once by putting a boy before her friends, she quickly realized her error and made amends.With its quick and sprightly pacing, sweet characters, and romances that don’t overwhelm the friendship between the three girls, Smart Girls Get What They Want is another of those easy-breezy reads that is perfect for times when you just want to read something light and fun. The only thing I wanted more of was Mike – not because of his romantic prospects with Gigi, but because I really liked his character and wanted to have him in more scenes. Overall, Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer is nachos entertainment (a bit more substance than popcorn) with a sunny attitude when you need it.

[abouttoread_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really loved reading Smart Girls Get What They Want. It was fun, original, and broke away from the tired high school cliches about the popular crowd. I adored the characters and liked the plot, even if it was a bit extreme (and therefore probably unrealistic). Gigi, the school’s smartest girl (who also happens to be pretty), is accused of cheating on a test and gets a 0, which pretty much ruins her chances of getting into an Ivy league. She is forced to work on a project with Mike, the cute jock she was accused of cheating with. While neither of them are thrilled with the additional work, they quickly discover they have a lot in common and form a friendship.I loved how Gigi decided she needed to be more social at school and focus on more than her grades. I also really liked that she started hanging out with the nice, popular kids. Too often the popular group is portrayed as unrealistically mean for no other reason than if you’re popular, you must suck. I’m just beyond tired of that cliche, so Strohmeyer’s portrayal was like a breath of fresh air.One of my favorite parts was the love story. While I wasn’t surprised by it, it was just so nice to see it develop. Gigi and her future boyfriend were so much fun to read about. Smart Girls Get What They Want had a great cast of supporting characters and they pretty much all had their own love stories. While I wasn’t crazy about Neerja’s romance at first, I was so pleased with it by the end! A touching story of love and friendship, Smart Girls Get What They Want will leave you wanting more. It is a light, quick read with a fantastic cast of characters and a solid plot. Gigi and her friends learn to live in the moment, make friends, and really expand their horizons. It is a much more realistic portrayal of high school than you typically find in young adult literature and I loved every minute of it.

[dauntless_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Easy, teen, contemporary story. I liked it better than I anticipated. Three friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want .

[amandacb_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Smart Girls Get What They Want is an extremely frothy teenage read that doesn't break any new ground, yet it is still an enjoyable "weekend" read. I do take issue with the main character's name being a laughable "Gigi," and I do take issue with the plotlines being insanely predictable, but overall, if you do not take this book seriously, it can have its fun moments.

[terriko_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gigi and her friends are the smart girls of their high school, but one day they realize they'd like to actually be remembered, not just smart. Who says you can't be both? Really fun!

[summerskris_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gigi and her friends are the hero(oine)s of smart girls! At last, there is a contemporary read where the smart girls take the spotlight. Not to say that there aren't other smart girls or girls who are smart in other ways. This is a book that focuses on the fact that the main characters are smart girls and how they go about finding popularity while maintaining their studies. Other unique features of the book: one of Gigi's friends (Neerja) is Indian (go ethnic diversity!) and Gigi's grandmother is French and uses French.I adore Gigi's character. She's an overachiever like Bea and Neerja, and she relates thermodynamics to the hair-styling process. She has a great sense of humor and good taste in books. A smart girl who also loves Anna and the French Kiss = win. One day, she wakes up and realizes that if she spend all of her time studying, she won't have a social life. I went through a similar stage--also in my sophomore year of high school, now that I think about it--so I can relate. It was the year that I began trying to talk to people more instead of studying all the time, and I picked up my first "fun reading book" in years. Gigi's progress takes time as well, though she manages to find herself by the end of the school year with the help of her best friends and a chemistry project she's forced into with a jock.Although Gigi didn't want to leave high school without any memories, it takes an almost suspension to set plans into motion. It also makes the principal aware that students didn't view themselves quite as equals, as Gigi looks down on jocks and the jocks think she's out of their league. There are also the students who don't get smart people at all. I love this angle to the story. It's very real and applicable to high school life today. I knew students who were better at sports than studies, but my high-school valedictorian was part of the band and was pretty into sports. A physics and computer science nerd at my school was on the football team. People shouldn't be labelled just by the groups they hang out with, and it's something that Gigi will learn when she realizes that she's been overlooking a hot sweetie with brains hiding under a a jock-ish exterior.Smart Girls Get What They Want plays on the social stereotypes that we see in too many schools today and shows how people aren't always what they seem to be on the surface. The story is light and filled with humor, as Gigi struggles to overcome her fear of public speaking and find her niche in the school where she'll be remembered, and her friends undergo similar experiences. The story is light, cute, and filled with humor. It is about friendship, branching out, and speaking up. There is romance, but it is secondary to the girls' plans to succeed in something other than their studies. I recommend this to those looking for a fun contemporary read with depth to it and a memorable cast of characters.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought this book is super cute and so fun to read! It amazed me with plot twist I did not see coming.What I adored about this book is the great plot. The reader meet Gigi, a very smart girl who thinks she knows everything, especially what type of guy a jock is. Gigi is taking by surprise when she is paired up with the jock in a misunderstanding. This part of the book I loved. Gigi doesn't think twice to assume that he will just make her do all the work and take credit for it. Even he surprised me with his excellent answers! Gigi learns so much that she didn't know, with her growth in the story, Gigi becomes someone totally different in the end.And the love interest. Well you can guess this one huh? It is and not what I expected. The love interest sort of plays out as a love triangle but nothing overwhelming and nothing really concrete. Pretty much, you know who she will end up with in the end. But, the process of Gigi finding the one for her is so cute! Gigi has some embarrassing moments, that only strengthen their love for each other. Overall this is a fantastic contemp. Thrilling and exciting all at the same time, I could not help but read it through one sitting. The ending is perfectly fashioned that I actually read the last page twice just to smile even wider than I had before.Smart Girls Get What They Want is all so true! Deliciously inventive, with much laughs in between, it's easy to fall in love. The plot is so impressive that at times, I too felt speechless. Smart Girls Get What They Want is an excellent example of the saying, "Good things come to those who wait."