She's So Dead To Us

By Kieran Scott

When having money is all that matters, what happens when you lose it all

Perfect, picturesque Orchard Hill. It was the last thing Ally Ryan saw in the rear-view mirror as her mother drove them out of town and away from the shame of the scandal her father caused when his business deals left her family penniless and almost bankrupted all their friends - friends that liked having trust funds and new cars, and that didn't like constant reminders that they had been swindled. So it was adios,Orchard Hill. Thanks for nothing.

But now, two years later, just as Ally is starting to feel happy again, her mother has accepted a job back at the site of their downfall and that means that Ally is forced to face her old "friends" again. And as if dealing with past demons, and current grudges, wasn't enough things get even more confusing when Ally meets the handsome, wealthy and totally into her Jake Graydon, who just happens to live in Ally's old house and be part of the clique that she left behind… complicated much? Ally was hoping to have left all the drama in the past, but she's quickly discovering that some things just can't be forgotten.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Sep 2, 2010
• ISBN: 9780857070456

Kieran Scott

Kieran Scott has written more than fifty novels for children and teens, eight of which (under the pseudonym Kate Brian) have been New York Times bestsellers. She lives with her husband, two sons and one dog in New Jersey. She is also the author of Regrets Only and Wish You Were Gone. Follow her on Instagram @KieranScottAuthor.

Reviews for She's So Dead To Us

[chaoticbooklover · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've had this book and the other two in the series sitting on my shelves for a little while now. I wasn't sure if I wanted to jump into the drama of high school anytime soon, but I am kinda glad I did.

Ally Ryan is the black sheep of the Crestie's, her father lost a lot of people in their old hometown a lot of money and then he moved the family away after he lost everything they owned. After her father runs off Ally and her mother end up moving back to their hometown, but into a totally different part. Ally is no longer part of the "Crestie" group, she's now a "Norm" and all of her old friends are no longer speaking to her. Ally meets Jake, the newish kid living in her old house and is instantly attracted to him. The attraction is mutual but Jake is afraid of what all of his friends will think of him if he let's it be known that he has a thing for Ally.

The story switches back and forth between Ally's pov and Jake's pov, but it isn't as confusing as you would think. The story flows easily and you end up loving and hating Jake all at the same time. Ally's former friends Shannen,Faith,Chloe,Hammond and the Idiot Twins, are all involved in one way or another throughout the story; though you see more of Shannen and her pranks on Ally. This isn't typical high school drama, so if that isn't your thing you won't have to put up with it. The ending is surprising and dramatic, and i can't wait to grab book 2 off the shelf!

[rosetyper9 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Review in 5: Compelling, Dramatic, Addictive, Disappointing, and Definitely for Teenagers.

Review: I know my 'Review in 5' probably has you confused as heck. Let me explain in detail here, if you have the patience to keep reading. This book is definitely geared for a teenager. I don't think it is a YA book that transcends the age line to adults. I found the content addicting, yes, but also childish, whiny, and disappointing. I say these things as an adult though...as a teen I probably would have loved it and emailed the author for the date of the next release.

The book is like a Gossip Girl, all about where the parties are, who has money, and who people are hooking up with. I would have given it four stars had there been what I believe is a satisfying ending. I liked the book just fine until I got to the last page and found nothing more to read. The author writes very well, draws amazing pictures for the reader and does an excellent job at pinning down a teenager, as well as an excellent job of bringing out the teenage hormone, but I endured whining hormonal teens for an entire book and didn't even get a satisfying ending...what I want, I have no idea...but I just felt let down. The author is an excellent writer I just think this book was not for me specifically.

[bladechik99 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really did enjoy this. It was sort of like Pretty Little Liars, but with more likable people, and less death. I had no idea prior to reading this that it was going to have a sequel/series, so when I got to the end I was pretty upset until I looked it up online and found out there would be more! I am really excited for the sequel, though it doesn't come out until next year.

[erikawastaken · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I would have found this book a much more enjoyable read had she stayed in Ally's voice the entire time. The Jake chapters were jilting and took away from the story.

Also, I wish this would not have ended so abruptly! The first book in a series should be a stand alone novel whose characters are so interesting taut you wish there was a second book. This one just left you at the edge of a cliff.

[cammd-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What the heck Kieran Scott? THAT'S your ending? that is crap! maybe you forgot to finish the book, or the publisher forgot to send the last chapter to the printer but you have GOT to know that is no way to end the story.. For the record I read the book in one day, a few hours really.. and up to the last page I was digging it, but that end sucked...

[thehidingspot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book, even with its familiar plot, was completely addicting. When I started it, I only planned on reading a couple chapters, but I just couldn't set it aside.From the start, the reader knows what's going to happen, but the characters are so engaging that it doesn't seem to matter. The novel is told in alternating chapters by Ally and Jake. I liked Ally right from the start; the reader can see that she's a good person, regardless of her questionable past. Jake, on the other hand, did not immediately gain my favor. Ally might worry about the opinions of her abandoned friends, but Jake is completely ruled by them. He has absolutely no desire to go against the grain, which is monumentally frustrating throughout most of the novel. Despite this horrible trait, Jake managed to win me over. I can only attribute this to the realism of his character; many teenage boys would rather follow mutely than rock the boat and, in the end, Jake does do the right thing. He is by no means perfect, but he has grown, which I can appreciate.My favorite aspect of the novel was Ally and Jake's relationship. The emotions and little details of their romance were vibrantly written. Kieran Scott perfectly captured the emotions of an all-consuming crush; the kind of crush that leaves you incessantly daydreaming, prone to love struck gazing, and completely frustrated. The fact that their relationship is taboo added to the intensity.She's So Dead to Us isn't deep and it doesn't impart any great wisdom to the reader, but it is fun and gave me that fluttery feeling that's only caused when two characters have undeniable chemistry.

[lismb_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Not much depth. However, I do ponder on what happened after the last page. Would make a cute teen movie.

[trippingbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Super good! Can't wait to read the next one!

[sithereandread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

SHE'S SO DEAD TO US, by Kieran Scott, was a fabulous tale of riches to rags and the social suicide that transpires. The shame and devastation in the wake of a tragic mistake puts Ally in the war-path of the wealthy and powerful people of Orchard Hill, can she survive unscathed?This book was a typical rich versus poor high school story. But the difference is that our heroine has been on both sides of the fence, and after being out of the game for two years she discovers all the rules have changed. I typically dislike the high school brats versus the innocent but this book had a different flavor that I enjoyed. Ally Ryan used to be rich and popular so she was aware of the personalities of those who shunned her. These girls have since stepped up their game which left Ally trailing behind without a clue of what to expect next. Shannen, Faith, and Chloe were absolutely ruthless and brutal to those outside their clique. They held themselves so high above the rest (no thanks to their equally pretentious parents) but held more secrets and scandals then anyone. These girls stopped at nothing to get back at Ally for what her father did, which made them vicious opponents for an already broken girl.I have great admiration for Ally. Although she had to fight each day against the Cresties, she still tried to make her high school years somewhat bearable by participating in activities she truly loved. But her constant downfall was the determination to become what she used to be, even though it proved time and time again to be impossible. A certain phrase comes to mind in her situation, 'Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.'I had conflicting emotions for Jake Graydon throughout the book. Of course I fell for the typical popular hottie situation right off the bat, but there were times that his reputation got in the way of how he thought he should feel and I wanted to knock some sense into him! With the different POVs throughout the book we were able to take a deeper look into the mind of Jake as well as Ally. He was a man of two faces and I appreciated the different approach that Scott took to this character.The cover of this book was subtle and thoughtful. The pearl necklace intact represents higher society, but with it breaking apart shows the disconnect that Ally experiences in the return to her hometown.Overall, this story was engaging and fun! The only downfall is the massive cliffhanger which left me yearning for more, stay tuned for the sequel!

[mrsteemae · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It took me a little bit to get into this book. I kept waiting for some major action. I realized that this book was just different from what I've been reading. I actually enjoyed this book. It was a quick light read. Ally Ryan had to move away from her friends and posh life, only to return a year and a half later as an outcast. Her childhood friends no longer wanted anything to do with her. Ally wasn't one of the "In Girls" anymore. Just because she didn't have the money, the house, or the labeled material things. This book made me want to bitch slap a few of the characters. I was getting so upset. This kept me flipping the pages faster and faster to see how Ally would deal with it all. This book reminded me a lot of Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, and I LOVED that book. It also reminded me of the movie Mean Girls and The Fab Five. Like I said, I enjoyed the book, not so much the ending though, I wish there would have been a more satisfying ending to the story. I won't say what I wanted to happen, I don't want to ruin the story for you, but let's just say that I wish there would have been a huge fight, lol. BUT...I know the premise of the book is to not judge people by what they don't have, but just to be open and kind to everyone. Money isn't everything! So all in all, I liked it. For a fast light chick read, I say go pick it up.

[msjessicamae · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Okay, here is the thing about this book, it is a total teen drama. I know, I know, shocking right? The title pretty much says it all. So if you like books like that read it. If books like that annoy you...you may actually still want to read it...Ally is returning to the high school and all her ex-friends she left behind after her dad lost all his money as well as millions that belonged to Ally's friend's parents. As expected, her first day is not something she is looking forward to. This book is like Mean Girls (on a side note...if you haven't ever seen Mean Girls do yourself a favor and watch it, it is hilarious) except that Ally is going from popular to outcast instead of the reverse. Ally does everything she can to work her way back to the top after she finds herself at the bottom looking up...literally. The middle-class houses are actually at the base of the hill where all the rich families live.This book was a total guilty pleasure. I enjoyed it for the hilarious truth it brought to the situations...especially the side comments made by the students on the outside looking in (each month that passes begins with a page of random babbling gossip that had me cracking up). I was reading it thinking "I'm too old for this, too mature, right? But I...can't...stop...reading." It was too fun. I wanted to go back to that high school and slap a few of the people, laugh at a few more, and then join in with the rest...I'm so ashamed. It is enjoyable as a book that you don't take too seriously because it makes fun of all the right people (again I'm going to refer you to Mean Girls).My biggest issue with the book was the amount of swearing. It is listed as 12 & up and I know the majority of the audience is older (like me) and I know kids in high school swear but I felt the amount of it and the way it was dropped in was overkill. I have the mouth of a sailor (especially when I play Mario Kart...it's a good thing I don't have kids yet) but even I was taken aback. I would be cautious about who I would give/recommend this book to, or at least read it first and decide for yourself.

[booksandwine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ally Ryan used to lead a charmed life. She was popular, dated the cutest boys, and was super rich, living in the biggest mansion on the Crest, a ritzy neighborhood. Of course, the plot would be sort of boring if there wasn't some kind of big huge change. Well, friends, Ally's dad is no financial whiz, yet people think he is so they trust him with their money. HAH! Ya'll remember when economyFAIL? Well, everyone who invested with Ally's dad loses a lot of money. Ally and her family move away in shame, but then they come back. However, not to the crest, oh no no. They live, GASP, in the normal section of town. Of course, Ally's old house does not remain empty. That's right, a hot-blooded boy and his family move into her old dive.Readers, I am still on the fence about She's So Dead To Us. On the one hand, there is so much to like. And of course, you all know I have two hands, so something not so hot has to exist on the other hand. Let's start with what I enjoyed in relation to She's So Dead To Us. Ally has characteristics that I found myself relating to. She is headstrong. She does not back down to rude people. I love that she doesn't get steamrolled by the ritzy crowd. She sure as fire does not take shiz from anyone. I love love love that. Moar books please that say LADIES do not let anyone give you crap. You are better than that. I doodle hearts around that message.Then there is Jake, the love interest. I guess I am somewhat conflicted on his character. I actually liked that he was full of swears. What teen isn't a swearmonger? For serious? I think the f-word was my favorite word in high school, and through much of college. I did like how normal Jake was, his character rarely felt contrived to me. The parts that were narrated by Jake were actually quite funny and served to illustrate the difference in class dynamics It's nice when a young adult book addresses class dynamic head on. She's So Dead To Us clearly illustrates differences between the haves and the have-nots. I think if you are a teen and went to high school, you can so clearly relate to this. Let's face it, money matters. It buys you the right clothes, the right car, you need money to go out and do things. Of course, when Ally no longer has access to these things she gets kicked out of her circle of friends. I definitely felt this was such an honest and interesting social observation of the author. Of course, you all are still waiting on the other hand, what oh what did I not enjoy? Well, remember how I said I liked how normal Jake was? I kind of sort of didn't like Jake a whole lot. I felt his only redeemable quality was that he's 'hot'. Being a great physical speciman is nice and all, but I think there's more to a relationship than lust, and I just don't see Jake as bringing a whole lot to the table. I will admit, he had physical chemistry with Ally, but he was such a rude boy. I honestly don't think one or two nice acts can overshadow his mean boy tendencies. Also, along these same lines, I felt Ally was painted as a little too perfect. There's parts that are in an AIM or text conversation, and the people having the conversation are all 'but she's ALLY RYAN" implying there's nothing Ally can't do. I sort of snorted at these parts. For the most part, the characters fell a little flat for me. Yet, the plot never meandered. She's So Dead To Us is absolutely a page turner until the very end. Which by the way, is a cliffhanger. I would rant, but I think I have ranted enough. Again, there's a mixture of reviews out there to this book, so I do suggest you check it out and then let me know your thoughts.

[galleysmith · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Remember those bitchy girls in high school? You know, the one’s who make everyone’s life miserable just by being alive. Their beautiful, popular, and not short on horrible, bitter attitudes. Yup, this book is chock full of them. Mean girls to make other mean girls look, well, not so mean.But it works y’all.It works in a big way.Oh, and did I mention a sexy studly jock type boy that every girl in school wants to get her hands on? Yup, there’s that too. Plus a quirky goth-like potential BFF, an emo alterna-boy with a sweet natured desire for friendship and love, and any number of other kinda stereotypical high school inhabitants crossing Ally’s path. But you know what, those stereotypes fit here. Because even though we get some good focus on these peripheral characters the bulk of the story is about Ally.Who’s Ally, you ask? She’s the girl whose father lost all of her ritch-bitch former best friend’s money.Cue teenaged angst!Let me tell you….boy, oh boy, there is no shortage of teenaged angst here. Ally isn’t without her secrets, she has quite the cross to bare with her former friend Chloe. Jake, the boy she lusts after, has a doozy of his own too. Heck there are loads of secrets and all sorts of nefarious activities to be had in this novel.This is not a story where the reader doesn’t have a clue where certain paths are going. But, I’ll add, that aspect isn’t such a bad thing as the story is more about the journey of getting to these points than making them these grand sweeping unexpected moments. There was definitely no lessening of the impact when they occurred.I’ll also add that there was at least one surprise at the end that I didn’t really see coming and it was a doozy of a cliffhanger to leave me with. In fact, the ending was so abruptly cliffhangery that after the very last page and the very last line I thought for sure the ARC I was reading was missing pages. I was so convinced of this that I immediately went out and purchased the book (which I would have done anyway as I always do for books I review that I love) to be sure! Then when I realized the end was intended to be that way I started to madly look around online to see when the sequel is coming out.Dude, I’ve got a long wait!**pouts**But I will wait, with bated breath even, for the second in the series to land in about a year because this first is just that good. It’s a great piece of fun. It’s angsty, emotional and delicious fare that the chick-lit, romance, contemporary fiction reader will love.

[jbarry_81 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Teen chicklit at its best! She's so Dead to Us tells the story of Ally Ryan's return to face her old town and the friends who her father had practically bankrupted the year before, obviously not a welcoming crew. It is funny, witty and very current but still offers social commentary and ethical conflicts, all while quickly moving the story forward. Told in alternating voices of Ally and Jake, her upper crust love interest, this book packs in a lot of story and begs for a sequel. Note: Lots of swearing and references to drinking and sex, particularly when Jake is talking.

[nbmars · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Is YA chick lit called chicklet lit? Not sure… Anyway, that’s what this is, and I loved it (until the end that is – more of that later). It was great fun traipsing through The Inner Circles of Hell also known as High School Cliques. And the protagonist, Ally Ryan, is very appealing. She’s fun and feisty and has a genuineness that captivates both the fictional boys and the real-life readers at home.Ally has come back to Orchard Hill High after 18 months absence, during which time she lived with her grandmother. She and her parents moved because her father, a hedge fund manager, lost all their money as well as a good portion of everyone else’s in the tony neighborhood. Slinking away in shame, Dad took them to his mother's and then took off himself without a word to his wife or daughter. After a while, Ally’s mother longed to get back to the The Lush Life, so she moved herself and Ally back to Orchard Hill, even though they have to live in a cheap condo (gasp!), instead of atop a crest overlooking the city.Ally had grown up with the other “Cresties” – they had all been her best friends: Chloe, Shannen, Faith, Hammond, Trevor and Todd. Imagine her surprise to find they all reject her now! They feel their lives were ruined by her father’s actions, and take it out on Ally. Besides, she is now a “norm” (from the other “normal” side of town), not a Crestie, and therefore ipso facto socially inferior.Complicating matters is the new family living in Ally’s old home. Ally feels an instant attraction to Jake Graydon, the boy now sleeping in “her” bedroom. (Ally rides her bike up to the crest to look at the house and sees Jake looking out the bedroom window: “The first thing I thought was, That’s my room. The second? Who are you and why are you not on television?”) Jake is interested in Ally too – he really likes her lack of pretensions and obliviousness to “girly” preoccupations. But he is, after all, now a Crestie himself, and reluctant to cross this powerful in-crowd and jeopardize his status. Jake is even more clueless than Ally about her old friends. They’re so rich and pretty and influential, they must be worthwhile, right? (And all that money doesn’t hurt, either.)Ally faces similar conflicts. They all used to be her close friends. Now that she’s not one of them, she sees how shallow and mean and dishonest they can be. And yet, they have this allure …She tries to adjust to her life as a reject. She gets a “norm” friend, and even a "norm" boyfriend, David, who is cute and sweet and cares for her a lot. But the siren song of Jake – her “Jakesession” (for obsession) as she names it – keeps calling out to her.And what about her dad? Where the heck is he and why hasn’t he contacted them? Is he even alive? Her mom has a new “boyfriend” now – a widower from up on The Crest. Ally feels both hate and love for her dad, and while she likes her mom's new boyfriend, she hates that he’s there….The story is told in alternate points of view between Ally and Jake, so we get to see the same events from both sides. The chapters are short and witty and spritely, much moreso than say, Dante’s tour of the rings of Hell in The Divine Comedy.But I came to the end and … THERE WAS NO ENDING! It turns out to be Book 1 of a trilogy! GAAAAAH!!!!!!! This book doesn’t even pretend to be over! I had to check the binding to make sure another chapter didn’t fall out. GAAAAH! Unfair practice! Have a little faith, authors or marketers or whoever you are who makes these decisions. If I like the writing and the characters, I will come back and buy another book! You don’t need to resort to writing an installment instead of a book!Evaluation: Very fun light read, but with a message about social class (somewhat common for this genre, albeit of questionable efficacy). However, you might want to wait for the other parts of the trilogy to be published before you dive in and then get left hanging.

[awesomeness1_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Okay, let me start off by saying how misleading the cover and title are. I was expecting some light, two-star read. Boy, I was wrong. It's been two years since Ally Ryan's father swindled millions from the wealthiest families of Orchard Hill, and she and her family were forced to leave town in shame. But now she is back, even though not all of her old friends are happy to see her. When Ally goes to visit her old mansion, she finds someone else living there. The smokin' Jake Graydon who has taken her place among her former Crestie friends. The two feel the sparks, but it ain't so easy because it isn't just them in the equation. I really like this book. It was one of those that take you completely by surprise. I was sucked in immediately, and I had a really hard time putting it down. The writing was easily consumable, and the characters were a blast. The plot had some twists and turns I wasn't expecting, and it refrained from being gimmicky for the most part. There were two narrators to this story; Jake and Ally. They provided a nice balance for each other. And surpisingly, I liked both of them. Ally was a great female character. She was athletic and confident, while still having vulnerability. I liked how she wasn't all about "getting her man" and then whining about it. She stood up to the people who tormented her and was always in the game. Jake was swoonworthy and a pretty believable guy. He was arrogant, but had a conscience. I liked the romance between them. It wasn't all about the lust, but had some heat. The teens acted like teens. Some of the girls were bitches. Some of the guys were dorks. They cussed and partied without being of Gossip Girl proportions. Trevor and Todd reminded me a lot of the Weasley twins. Annie was fun. I really liked the whole cast. Maybe the whole Crestie/norms thing was a little unrealistic, but then again, I don't have any mansions around where I live. This book is really one of the best of its kind. Entertaining without frilliness. But the one thing I did not like at all was the ending. For all of you that are going to read it, know right now that it is not a stand alone, and that it is the first of a planned trilogy. I was not aware of this going into it, and was very put off by the cliffhanger ending. My rebellious side was like "Nuh-uh, hell no. We ain't gonna get sucked in by this ploy." If the book was of a lesser quality, then I defintely wouldn't read the sequels. It is just because it is so good that I am going to be first in line for the second book. This is off-topic, but one thing I don't understand is why Kieran Scott uses her pen name for some works, but her real name for her others. What is the point of a penname at all if everyone knows it's a penname?

[bookmagic_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nope, not a vampire or zombie book, but a new YA series or trilogy about high school. Ally Ryan and her family fled their suburban home in Orchard Hill two years previously after her father stole money from her friends' parents. Ally's father then left her and her mom and now the two of them are moving back to Orchard Hill. But not to the same section when they were "Cresties" but now they are "norms". Ally has not spoken to any of her old friends and when she sees him, they are not welcoming her back. Jake moved into Ally's old home and he really likes her. But enough to not cave to the peer pressure of his rich friends and ignore her?my review: I'm not really of fan of YA, though I do like some paranormal YA. I did like this though. I just had to remind myself what I was like when I was sixteen.The book is told from the perspective of both Ally and Jake and they are both pretty likable characters. Her ex-friends are quite snotty but I think pretty realistic. I liked her "normal" friends and was frustrated at times when Ally would hang out with the rich "cresties", but again I guess that was normal, too. I did not like that her mother was so clueless as to realize the pain for a high school girl to return to her hometown where she is not welcome. Do parents not realize how mean kids can be?All in all this was a pretty decent YA book that will appeal to fans of the genre.

[kaydence_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Product Details * Pub. Date: May 2010 * Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing * Format: Hardcover, 278pp * Sales Rank: 108,082 * Age Range: Young Adult * Lexile: 660L What’s This?// What’s This? * ISBN-13: 9781416999515 * ISBN: 1416999515Ally Ryan is moving back to the neighborhood of Orchid Hill where her family had run away from just two years before. Ally's father made a bad business deal that lost her family house and money, but it also lost a lot of her other friends family money. Then, her dad left her and her mom. Now, Ally is back to the scene of the crime living in a small condo with her mom and back to the school that she left because her mom got a job at that school. The bad part is, Ally's friends don't want her back. She tries to get back within their confidences and make them see that she did not deserve to pay for her father's bad choices, but she is frozen out of her clique. The only person that seems to be interested in her is Jake Graydon, the boy who is living in her old house (actually, her old room). Jake thinks Ally is interesting and quite attractive. He tries to learn about Ally from his friends, but they don't seem to want to share information. Slowly, he gathers information, but he still can't help but like her. Can the two of them get together even though one of them is rich and the other is poor? Is it possible to have a relationship with someone who is friends with the friends that don't want you anymore? How can the two of them ever be happy when everyone around them just wants them to be apart?It took me a long time to get into this novel. I have never read anything by Kieran Scott (or her alias), but a lot of my students have read the Private series. I had planned on reading it, but I don't think that I am as interested in the rich snobby culture that seem to be the main characters in the books. Even though Ally was supposed to be the most likable character in the novel, I didn't like her. I thought that she was mostly shallow and I never felt like she had intense emotions. I would have liked to have gone further in-depth to find out how she was coping through the disappearance of her dad, the freeze out by her friends, and what it was like to be back in general. The only thing that I really felt like I got a handle on was her obsession with Jake. Jake is also fairly one-dimensional. Honestly, the nice guy things that he does don't tell me anything about what he thinks or feels. Lastly, there is a conversation that goes on before each chapter and I would love to know who is having it. I thought that I had a pretty good idea, but then it changed and Scott never tells us who the two are. What is the point of that? The ending definitely leaves us open for a sequel, however it will be going at the bottom of my mile long TBR pile because I am not in a hurry to read it.2/5 stars

[grgenius_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG OMG OMG! Okay...I literally just finished reading my ARC copy of this book and simply couldn't wait to spread a little pre-pub love about it. It was GREAT! One of those non-paranormal YA finds that come along and beg to be read...in completion....in one sitting. Seriously, if you can set aside the time, do it. You won't want to put this one down. Should be hitting shelves 05/25/10...happy early book birthday to author Kieran Scott!Oh, and if the author happens to be reading this....any chance of getting a sequel pronto? Yeah, that would be FANTASTIC! ^_^

[stephxsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nearly two years ago, Ally Ryan’s family slinked out of town one night after her father lost lots of his and his friends’ money in a poor investment. Now, Ally is back in her old, moneyed town of Orchard Hill, but things are very different. Her father has disappeared, her old friends still hate her for what her father did, and she’s no longer accepted by the Cresties, the people who live in the rich part of town.Ally is determined not to let them walk all over her, however. She befriends a couple of nice “Norms”—unmoneyed kids at their school—but also continues to cross paths with the Cresties, including Jake, the hottie who lives in her old house and is friends with her old friends. As assumptions clash and attitudes fly between the two of them, can these friends, enemies, and lovers of Orchard Hill set aside their financial differences and get along? Or will drama and vengeance ultimately prevail?SHE’S SO DEAD TO US is a perfect addition to the YA subgenre that consists of friendship drama, red-hot romance, and money troubles. Kieran Scott (who writes the Private series under her pen name) has introduced to us a new set of characters whom you’ll want to know every sordid detail about.For a book in a genre with the potential for characters to fall unconvincingly flat and stereotypical, SHE’S SO DEAD TO US is, like Kieran’s other books, remarkable with its character development. Ally is rightfully the star of the show: she’s an appealing protagonist who refuses to let others walk over her. Whereas many MCs in other books like to brood endlessly about wrongs done to them, Ally will simply confront the person and let them know what she thinks. This kind of assertiveness is HOT, and it’s easy to see why the other characters either can’t help liking her or love to hate her.SHE’S SO DEAD TO US is presented in Ally and Jake’s alternating first-person POVs. Normally male POVs written by female authors leave me unconvinced, but I found myself actually very much liking Jake here. Yes, he can be an arrogant hottie, but as we follow him and see how he gets to know Ally, we perfectly comprehend his mindset.Plot-wise, the novel feels as though it’s been done before, but what makes this worth reading is how effortlessly we get sucked into these privileged suburban teens’ shenanigans. The book ends in such a way that I most definitely am going to pick up the next in the series. This is a must-read if you love these types of books, and for the rest of us, it’s also a easy and delicious read, perfect for those mindless days where we want to sink ourselves into other people’s petty problems.

[smileydq · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This novel may be geared at teenagers but I thoroughly enjoyed it too, and I'm quite a few years out of high school! Scott alternates narration from both Ally's and Jake's point of view, keeping the voices real, believable and very endearing. I could feel Ally's embarassment, and her anger, and just the unfairness of it all, as though it were happening to me. Jake's emotions were very real too - the pressure of following his friends' lead, the desire to be the cool kid but also nice at the same - his teenage-boy-angst was palpable, and cringe-worthy. Scott did an excellent job with characterization and dialogue, while keeping the story light and highly entertaining. I would absolutely recommend this book, 4 stars!

[tipsister · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

She's So Dead to Us, by Kieran Scott, is a well -written teen drama. There are mean girls, crushes, sports, pranks, and miscommunication. The book centers around Ally Ryan, a high school junior who moves back to her hometown after being away for a year and a half. When Ally left her town, she was one of the rich kids, a "Crestie" who lived in an exclusive area. Thanks to some financial mistakes made by her father, she returns to town with only her mom and lives in a condo in the Norm side of town. Going from Crestie to Norm is rough considering that her old friends are shunning her.Jake lives in Ally's old house. He is a Crestie who is immediately drawn to Ally. He fights a battle between going after the girl he's got a huge crush on and his friends who won't understand. While the mean-girl Cresties plan pranks to pull on Ally, he grows closer to her.The novel switched between Ally's point of view and Jake's. I enjoyed being able to get Jake's perspective on things as most of the young adult books that I read are told from a female view. The writing is sharp and the dialogue is all very natural. Both characters have issues to work out and neither are perfect. This is also a relief as I'm tired of perfect teen characters.The only problem that I had with this novel, and it's something that is really bothering me lately in Young Adult fiction, is that there wasn't a great ending. There was a conflict, drama, and then the novel was over. The resolution was missing. I'm guessing there is a planned sequel and that is why it was left the way it was. Maybe not, maybe the rest is up to our imagination. I'm just seeing a trend and it can be irritating to a person like me who likes happy ever afters and long, detailed epilogues!One other note. . . I am a child of the 80's and with main characters named Ally Ryan and Jake, you can bet my mind put those names together to be Jake Ryan. *sigh* The perfect teen movie hunk.