It Started with a Dare

By Lindsay Faith Rech

Self-proclaimed nobody CG Silverman sees her move to an upscale new school as her chance to be somebody different. Her devil-may-care attitude attracts the in-clique, and before CG realizes it, a routine game of truth or dare launches her to iconic status.

While this rebel image helps secure CG’s newfound popularity, it also propels her through a maze of unprecedented chaos, with each new lie and every dare opening doors that, in most cases, were better off left shut.

CG is on a collision course with disaster. Will she be able to keep up the façade? Or will the whole world find out she’s a fraud?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9780547505084

Lindsay Faith Rech

Lindsay Faith Rech is the author of Losing It, Joyride, and It Started with a Dare. She lives in Holland, Pennsylvania.

Book preview

one

getting in

Every school has one. At my last school, it was Gina DiMarco, but she never cared much for me. Okay, fine, if you want to be a total stickler about it, she never even knew I existed. I guess it’s like that at most schools. The It girl only pays attention to the worthy ones, the inner circle, the worshipful flock who kneel at her feet, feeding off her every word like a pack of anorexic poodles. The rest of us are merely space fillers, extras in a tragically boring movie unimaginatively entitled High School. But if that’s true, then what, I ask you, is this latest queen bee—the Gina DiMarco of Beaubridge High—doing talking to an invisible nobody like me? And smack dab in the middle of the cafeteria no less? Everyone knows that what happens in the cafeteria never stays in the cafeteria. Is she looking to lose her tiara?

Hey, you’re new here, right? she asks. She, of course, being the reigning duchess of teen suburbia—the impossibly stunning Alona Spelton. It’s true I’ve barely been here five hours, but how long does it take to spot royalty? (Even if my radar were out of batteries, the mass of drooling subjects crumbling in her wake as she sashayed through the halls this morning was sort of a dead giveaway.) She slips into a seat at my otherwise empty table and smiles. I think you’re in my homeroom.

Let’s face it, the first day at a new school’s never exactly a raging orgasm. But try the first day at a new school in the middle of the year, when everyone’s just returned from winter break and not a single bloody soul wants to be there. Including the teachers. This little visit from the acceptance fairy has definitely perked things up a bit.

Yeah, I, um, just moved here from Philadelphia, I say, eyeing the white gold and diamond ice storm that surrounds her delicate wrist. Scratch that. This girl wouldn’t let anything but platinum touch her bare skin. Me, I’m still wearing the same beat-up, old woven fabric friendship bracelet my buddy Alex gave me when we graduated middle school. But that’s the difference between these kids and me. To them, being poor means only having one beach house.

Philadelphia? Alona asks, her vibrant blue eyes twinkling with amazement. Or maybe it’s disgust. You don’t smell like you’re from Philadelphia, I expect her to say. Instead, she smiles. "You know, that stunt you pulled with Ms. Luru this morning was waaay cool—cracking your gum in her face like that even after she started glaring at you to stop. I swear I thought she was going to have a conniption." Did I do that? Hell, who cares? If it gets me in with Alona Spelton, I’ll take credit for just about any bad behavior. Except maybe arson.

Well, it’s a free country, I say, trying to sound nonchalant. And last time I checked, cracking one’s gum in homeroom was still covered under our Constitution.

Alona laughs, tossing her wavy amber tresses so that they land like a perfectly cascading waterfall over her right shoulder. Uh, is it me or did I just stumble into an Herbal Essences commercial? Sammie! Grace! she yells, signaling to two girls who have just left the lunch line. Over here!

Wait, rewind just a second. Would any of you happen to know if today’s brown bag special was laced with a little something extra? Because if I’m not hallucinating, that means this totally tripped-out scenario is actually taking place! Can you stand it? My first day of school, and I’m already dining with the worthy ones? Just the inner circle and me? Uh . . . who else senses there’s something wrong with this picture?

So, what’s your name again? Alona asks as she opens her Styrofoam container of . . . Is that sushi?

Cynthia Gene, I say, biting into my soggy PB&J, but my friends just call me CG. Not that I have many friends. Or any. Well, except for Alex, who was always sort of more than a friend. And who was sort of more than pissed when I told him I wanted to be free to see other people after I moved. Not that Philadelphia’s that far away from Beaubridge. I could be on his doorstep in forty-five minutes if I wanted to. But I’m not sure I do. I’m not sure what I want anymore. Except to be different. To be popular. I’ve been waiting my whole life for that.

CG? Alona asks, shrieking a little—you know, in that Oh, that’s so adorable, I could just choke to death sort of way. "That is soooo cute! She turns to Sammie and Grace, who have just sat down on either side of her. How cute is that?"

"So cute," Sammie agrees. Sammie, which I later find out is short for Samara, is a husky-framed zombie who looks like she spends about four hours a day crisping away in a tanning bed. Her hair is a glossy (but obviously bottle-bought) jet black, and her bright red lipstick makes her look like a bleeding ox. Her brain? Seems to be dead as a doornail. Still, at least she’s being nice to me, even if it is only to please Alona. But why would someone like Alona Spelton want anything to do with a plain, grubby city tomboy type like me?

You know, I think our fathers work together, the Duchess says. Your last name’s Silverman, right?

I nod. So that’s why Miss Teenage America is being so lovey-dovey. Her father must’ve warned her. I watch plenty of movies—I know how these rich families operate. It’s all about pleasing Daddy.

Alona smiles. That’s so crazy. My dad is your dad’s boss. She turns to Sammie and Grace again. Isn’t that crazy? I mean, how crazy is that?

"So crazy, Sammie agrees. She shoots me a little smile. Like, what are the chances?"

Oh, wait a second, Grace says to Alona. Is this the one you were telling me about? The one whose family Klytech was going to set up in that little townhouse in the Heights? Her voice drops a notch or two when she mentions the name of my development, probably because the Heights is best known in this community for its affordable housing. In rich-people speak, I’m about one step away from the projects.

Grace! Alona shrieks. Although this time, it’s more of a Shut it before we all die of mortification shriek.

No, it’s cool, I say. It’s probably no secret from the way I’m dressed that my family doesn’t have a lot of dough. If Klytech hadn’t set us up in that ‘little townhouse,’ we’d all still be living on the streets of Filthadelphia.

Grace turns away from me, clearly embarrassed, but the awkward silence is cut short by another one of Her Highness’s signature shrieks. Actually, that one may have been just an outright pity gasp.

"Were you really living on the streets?" she asks, her sympathetic baby blues welling up at the sheer thought. I guess this would be a really inappropriate time to bust out laughing. Especially if I’m looking to make these girls my new best friends. But it’s too late—Grace has caught my eye, and I recognize something in her that seems to be lacking in my other two lunch mates. (Some might call it common sense.) It isn’t long before we’re both hysterical.

"What is with you two?" Alona asks, visibly perturbed, but like a perfectly trained debutante, she’s doing her best not to show it.

Grace throws her head back in a rush of giggles, her buoyant auburn curls bouncing like a bouquet of Slinkys around her graceful neck. Next to Alona and Grace, Sammie looks like their mentally retarded charity case friend for a day adoptee. God, I wonder what that makes me.

It’s nothing, Grace tells Alona, turning to her apologetically. It’s just that I knew CG was only kidding about being homeless, that’s all.

"Homelessness is a really serious problem, Alona says, assuming an insanely dramatic tone. I wrote a term paper on it last semester and got a B."

Well . . . good for you, I fumble, hoping I haven’t blown it. I wrote my last term paper on whales and—

Oh, geez, check out Glory Finklefuss’s latest crime of fashion, Grace groans, pointing to some gawky girl in the lunch line whose giant khaki overalls could easily double as a camping tent.

Well, I don’t think her parents have much money, Alona says. From what I heard, her whole family lives in some tiny two-bedroom shack in the Hei— She stops short and stares at me apologetically. Sorry.

Hey, don’t worry about it, I tell her. My parents said if things go well for my dad with this transfer, I won’t have to get that afterschool job selling crack to pay for my college tuition.

The whole table laughs, even brain-dead Sammie. And I suddenly feel . . . almost popular.

I guess we’ve just never had a friend like you before, Alona says. She turns to Sammie and Grace, and they both nod in agreement.

You mean a friend who didn’t own ten carat’s worth of diamonds by the time she turned fifteen?

"Oh, well, Alona’s sixteen, Grace says. And believe me, her pacifier was at least twenty carats. She turns to the Duchess, wincing playfully. Only kidding."

I got my driver’s license over winter break, Alona tells me proudly as she reaches out to smack Grace’s arm. We were planning to go for a ride after school. Are you in?

Oh my God, do you have any idea what this means? I’ve made it! One day at Rich Bitch High and I’m already receiving exclusive invites from the cream of the crop. Ladies and gentlefriends, Ms. Cynthia Gene Silverman has finally arrived.

Earth to CG, Grace says, waving her hand in front of my face. Alona asked if you were in.

Me? I smile so hard my face hurts. "I am so in."

two

staying in

They’ve always called themselves the Triple Threat. Only now that they’ve taken me under their wondrous wings, Alona, Sammie, and Grace have to come up with a new stage name.

Any ideas? Alona asks as she gazes at herself in Grace’s full-length cherry wood mirror. We’ve just been shopping. Or more precisely, they’ve just been shopping. Not that the distinction really matters. There has never been any love lost between me and the fashion industry. I couldn’t care less about the latest handbag trend or who wore what on the red carpet. As long as I’m comfortable—that’s what’s important. Which I guess is a good thing, since comfort is about all I can afford. Still, I don’t mind tagging along while my new friends flex their credit cards. Watching them is like being a fly on the wall in some mutant alien universe: I may not understand their bizarre spending rituals, but it’s still fun—and flattering—to be invited along for the ride. And the orange mocha Frappuccinos we get afterward. To be honest, I’m still getting used to the taste of those. I’d sooner just stop for a round of cherry Slurpees, but 7-Eleven is totally out of their retail orbit. And if I’ve learned one thing about Alona Spelton, it’s that she bends over backwards for nobody. Not even the newest member of her clique.

Hey, Lon, you look amazing in that, I say, eyeing her latest ensemble—a black stretch-denim micromini and Whoops is this see through? white blouse that warrants its own R rating. But then again, if you’ve got it, flaunt it, right? I wouldn’t know. I still haven’t gotten it.

Alona spins around, smiling graciously. Aw, thanks, Ceej. You don’t think it’s a little . . .

Transparent? Grace asks.

Well, of course it is, Alona says playfully. That’s why I bought it.

We all giggle, and suddenly there’s a knock at the door.

Come in, Grace calls.

Hi, girls, Grace’s mom says, entering the room. Unlike my own mother, whose middle-aged pouch and mom jeans continue to betray her frumpy homemaker status, this more sophisticated spitting image of Grace could easily pass for her older sister. CG! she gushes. It’s so good to see you again. She tells me this every time she sees me, which could only mean she’s as shocked as I am that the Triple Threat has actually kept me around this long (three whole weeks, to be exact).

Good to see you, too, Mrs. Checkov.

Oh, Alona, she says, I ran into your mother at the salon and she wants you to give her a buzz. She turns to leave the room. "By the way, if you’re going to wear a sheer blouse, you’ve gotta choose a nicer bra than that. Gracie and I just did a major spree at Victoria’s Secret, and she ended up with a couple of pieces she’s either going to have to stuff with water balloons or wait a few good years to grow into. And when I say ‘grow,’ don’t think I’ve ruled out giving Dr. 90210 a call! She pauses to laugh at her own joke. But these bras were just too cute to pass up. Why don’t you try one of them on?"

Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore.

Oblivious to the jagged death rays shooting out of her daughter’s eyes, Mrs. Checkov quietly exits the room while Alona reaches into her pink leather handbag to retrieve her cell. In addition to being the only kid at Beaubridge without a string of bling around my neck or wrist, I’m also the only one without a cell phone. Or an iPod. Or a laptop. Or a trust fund. Well, make that me and Glory Finklefuss, the girl my friends were dissing at lunch a few weeks ago for wearing oversized overalls. Glory actually lives four houses down from me in the Heights, but I generally pretend I don’t know her. I mean, one false move and I could be Glory Finklefuss. At my old school, I practically was.

Hey, I’ve got an idea for a name, I tell Sammie and Grace while Alona chats with her mother on the phone. What about the Fabulous Four?

"Booooring, Grace says, shaking her head. We need something edgier. Don’t we, Sammie?"

For sure, Sammie says, glancing in the mirror. She puts her hand on her stomach, sucking it in as far as it will go, then exhales deeply, deflating like a big rubber Whoopee Cushion.

Hey, that could be a name, Grace says. "Four Sure."

I smile teasingly. And you thought my suggestion needed work?

Uh-uh, Alona suddenly interjects, folding up her phone. I’ve got it. The Four Tops.

As in that crappy oldies band my parents like to dance to at weddings?

Oh my God, what an awesome idea! I rave. Hey, come on, I know how to brownnose with the best of ‘em. How’d you come up with that one?

Well . . . Alona says, plopping down onto Grace’s white satin comforter with an exaggerated air of intelligence. Let’s not kid ourselves. We all know we’re the top girls at Beaubridge High, right? The ones everyone wants to be. And now there’s four of us. She turns to me and beams. So why not just tell it like it is, loud and proud?

Holy Frappuccino, I am officially one of them! Me, with my freckled baby face, lifeless hair, and discount clothes. Of course, I’ll have to change. I mean, in order to stay in, I’ll have to start working overtime. Then again, nobody ever said life at the top was easy.

So, what did your mom want? Grace asks.

Oh. Alona rolls her eyes. Guess who’s coming home for a visit this weekend?

"Shut up!" Grace gushes as if what she really wants to say is If I stick a quarter up your butt, will you go on talking about this forever and ever? She turns to Sammie. Looks like we’re due for another sleepover at Alona’s house.

What? I ask. I don’t get it.

That’s because you’ve never met Jordan Spelton, Grace tells me. One look at him and you’ll know why none of us are interested in high school boys anymore.

Speak for yourself, Alona says. "You are talking about my brother, for heaven’s sake."

Oh, come on, you know you want him, Grace teases.

You’re psycho, Alona tells her. Then, she unbuttons her blouse, flinging it behind her onto Grace’s bed. Come on, lead me to your glorious bra collection. I turn away, faced with that age-old dilemma of where to look, which doesn’t seem to be a problem for Sammie. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her gawking at Alona’s naked torso.

Sammie, close your mouth! Grace commands as if the husky brunette is some kind of unruly German shepherd.

Sorry, it’s just that . . . How come mine don’t look like that?

Because Alona’s perfect, Grace tells her, and I wonder if I’m the only one who is able to detect the sarcasm in her voice. Isn’t that right, Lonnie?

Oh, don’t be crazy, Alona says modestly. You know I just had two cavities filled last week.

Whoa, where’s Dr. 90210 when you really need him?

And I’ll let you in on a secret, Sammie, Alona continues. When I was little, I was pigeon-toed. I had to wear corrective shoes for an entire year. I mean, you couldn’t tell or anything, but I knew. And that’s a really hard thing for a three-year-old to go through.

I’ll bet, Sammie commiserates.

So, CG, Alona says. What do you say? Are you in for a sleepover at my house this weekend?

I look up to see Her Majesty standing there in a black leather bustier that laces up the front. Grace’s mother actually bought her that thing? Let’s face it, if I’m gonna make it with these girls, I’m gonna have to start being as bold and outrageous as they are. And if money won’t allow me to dress the part, I’ll just have to come up with some other way to show them how wild I can be. Like, say, this weekend at the first official Four Tops sleepover.

Of course I’m in, I say. I’ll bring the party games.

Party games? Grace looks confused. We’re in tenth grade, not kindergarten. I think we’re a little bit past Pin the Tail on the Donkey.

Reviews for It Started with a Dare

[armchairauthor · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The cover looked fun, but the story was dumb.Tomboyish Cynthia Gene Silverman moves to a wealthy suburb, reinvents herself as CG, and find herself promptly absorbed into the ruling class of her new high school. Convinced that she has to stand out to fit in, CG constructs a tower of lies atop a foundation of poor decisions that will inevitably crush her. That’s pretty much it for plot.This book is not even worth the energy I have already spent reviewing it. It reads as though written by a high-schooler and falls dully short of the melange of Mean Girls and Pretty Little Liars it was aiming for. CG is somehow desperate for approval from her peers even as she feels superior to them. She claims to be a nice person who has changed a lot into the lying, scornful, manipulative hussy we see by mid-novel, but since we meet her as CG and not Cynthia Gene there is no evidence that she was ever a decent person other than her own word. The dialogue is flat, the attempts to build tension fall limp, and it all seems more than a little far fetched. If the author had gone in a campy direction it might have worked, but she plays it straight while incorporating ridiculous plot elements like a fifteen-year old (who by all accounts has yet to “blossom”) being mistaken for a woman in her mid-20s in both online conversation and after face time in lingerie and a masquerade mask with a teacher she sees on a daily basis.It is pure fantasy. The fantasy of a nigh-unlikable girl who sees the world as beneath her even as she would like to plunder its riches. Her friends range from shabbily veiled tropes to cartoon villainesses, and despite CG’s (universally acknowledged) average-to-plain looks and hideous personality she has her choice of every male character with a name in the book.

[bethanne79 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I feel like I've read this story a million times. Mean girls, Gossip Girl, or anything written about teen girls in high school. Granted this was original in some places but overall it was very predictable. I'm sure it will appeal to girls of a certain age. It's not a bad read just overdone. Great cover though.

[bookswithbite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Oh the joys of high school. Friends, homework, parties, and backstabbing fiends.CG, the new girl, make her way in to the in-crowd by lying. Yes, she lies. Alot. I can understand CG point of view. High school sucks. There are so much rules and social standards, its hard to stand out. But the things she did were just not right. I had a hard time reading this book. Not because it was not written well. Just that all the things were bad.CG, once in the in-crowd creates so many lies, that she doesn't even realize the truth anymore. And that is quite sad. She is so caught up with all the games that she is playing that she doesn even realize who she is really hurting...herself.I was a little appalled of how she got involved with her teacher. Granted he was unaware of the situation. (They met on the Internet) but what got me was even after she found out who he really was. She used him, asking for lesson plans, and whatnot. She flirted with him and just kept on using him. Poor guy had no idea what was going on.I would definitely not recommend this book to young reader. It has way to much sex, cursing, drinking, and just plain meanness. This book did remind of the movie Mean Girls and that high school was such a bad experience for me that I would never repeat the process ever again! At least in the end I was glad she saw the errors of her ways and was able to to be who she was meant to be. Herself.

[hrose2931 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Self-proclaimed nobody CG Silverman sees her move to an upscale new school as her chance to be somebody different. Her devil-may-care attitude attracts the in-clique, and before CG realizes it, a routine game of truth or dare launches her to iconic status. While this rebel image helps secure CG’s new found popularity, it also propels her through a maze of unprecedented chaos, with each new lie and every dare opening doors that, in most cases, were better off left shut. CG is on a collision course with disaster. Will she be able to keep up the façade? Or will the whole world find out she’s a fraud? (From Goodreads).This was an E-book ARC I got from Net-Galley. I am not being compensated in any way for my review. The release date for this book is September 13, 2010.This book is definitely not for a younger group. There is a lot of talk about sex and profanity in it and it addresses some issues that younger aged 12 and under might be better off waiting to read about until they are older.It's high school, the usual scene, the teen queen and her honey bees are around her. The story is told from CG's point of view. CG has just moved there and for some unknown reason, the Queen Bee has graced her with recognition. Her father is CG's father's boss. All of a sudden, CG decides to become this new person so she can stay with the honey bees that hover around the Queen Bee. She becomes this rebel that never turns down a dare, has done anything they've ever thought about, and doesn't think about anything, but staying in that group. She doesn't care what she has to do to stay there. She doesn't realize at the top that they aren't her friends, they're just the top. Then, she finally takes a look at them and realizes their lives for being so popular and moneyed aren't as perfect as she thought they were and the boy who looked so golden isn't at all. This is a typical high school wanna be popular book, but with a twist. CG doesn't have sex with the football team. She doesn't kiss ass to the cool crowd. She doesn't even ingratiate herself to the Queen bee. She builds herself up quickly as the bad girl, the rebel, the daredevil with the Queen Bee and her honey bees. I've never seen the rebel be the one that fit in with the Queen. Her clothes look like they come from secondhand stores, her shoes are Payless, and her back pack is from Good Will. But with each lie she tells she goes up a notch in the groups eyes until they rename themselves, The Four Tops. She shops with them in stores where they buy expensive clothes and she buys nothing, but it doesn't bother her in the least. They live in mansions, she lives in a townhouse that CG's father's company set them up in. She acts like none of it bothers her and it doesn't. She's not label conscious and doesn't care about money, but she does want to be popular.CG does some unthinkable things, as do her other "tops" and it's hard to imagine how she's going to make the mess she's made go away and keep her position in the Four Tops. Is it even possible? Does she even want it? She has to figure out who CG is before she can come clean. But will she?I have to leave it like that though since it's predictable, you probably know what happens. There are some good lessons to be learned from her story. Not all honey bees are happy there. Sometimes the nerds are happier than the queen bees. And being yourself today doesn't mean you have to be that same person tomorrow. You don't have to have everything figured out in high school. You shouldn't. You're ever evolving.I thought it was a good book. It was a quick easy read. Even at just 300 pages I read it in a few hours. The writing flows and the chapters don't break up the story. It touched on bulimia, slightly on alcoholism, teen sex, teacher/student relationships and as I said there was some profanity in it. It wasn't quite as light hearted as the cover makes it seem, but CG has her funny moments when she's talking in her head. I'd recommend this for 14 and up. I definitely think teen girls will identify with CG and see some part of themselves in her predicament.

[mesmericrevelation · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is hilarious! I haven't laughed this much while reading in a really long time. CG Silverman is a great character and the story is so real it just pulls you right in. It also has a great message. I think everyone, especially teenagers, need to read this one.

[roses7184_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Let me begin by saying that this book was so good that I felt the need to email Lindsay Faith Rech at 2 AM to let her know how much I loved her book. In retrospect, I regret that a bit. Since she hasn't written me back I can only assume that my mad, caffeine fueled fan letter scared her away. Lindsay, I'm sorry and I don't blame you. I think I would have scared myself. A word of advice my friends, no matter how much you love a book wait until you wake up and can write coherently before you choose to write a letter! That being said, there was so much to love about It Started with a Dare. Let's get started. First off, C.G. (Cynthia Gene) is truly a spunky female protagonist. Lindsay takes us deep into C.G.'s head, and the reader gets an opportunity to relive those confusing and popularity driven teenage years. C.G. is witty, she's bright, she pops off the page and will even make you laugh out loud at times! Yes my friends, this is not a book that you'll want to read in front of other people. That is unless they are okay with you breaking into fits of giggles periodically and having no way to explain what was so funny! Portions of this book will most definitely tickle your funny bone, so to speak. When C.G. decides to remake herself and suddenly becomes popular, the line between what is right and wrong starts to blur. Her apparent discomfort with this at first was endearing. Thank goodness she had a conscience! I also loved the the chemistry that was present between C.G. and the other girls in her group. Each of them were so different and yet fit together so perfectly. Characters like Alona come up in books quite often, the girl whose parents are too rich to care. However into the mix comes bitter, angst driven Grace and self conscious Sammie. Between the four main characters, any person who happens upon this book will find someone to connect with. It is these vivid characters that really drew me into the book and kept me involved well past my bedtime. The one thing that was difficult for me about this book was the ending. Without saying too much or spoiling things, I'll simply say that I wish C.G. would have learned more through everything that she went through. In the end it seemed a little too perfect how things worked out. Everything was tied up in a perfect little bow. I'm glad that this book addresses as many issues as it does (cyber-bullying included), however I would have liked to see just a little more remorse in C.G. as to the way things worked out. This is a personal thing I know, and it definitely didn't take away from how much I loved the book overall. Before I ramble on yet again, I'll end with the simple fact that this is a great book! Whether you fall into the same age category as C.G. and her popular counterparts, or happen to be an older reader like I am, it's certain that you will find something to enjoy in this book! I cannot wait to see what else Lindsay Faith Rech has in store for her readers!

[lost9in9stories · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It might be called it started with a dare but it actually all started when GC, who was new to the school, was approached by the schools ‘it’ girl Alona Spelton and her clique, Grace and Sammie, at school during lunch after Alona noticed CG popped gum in front of her teachers face because apparently popping gum near your teacher is very rebellious. CG couldn’t even remember doing it but she thought ‘why not say I did it on purpose if it can get me in with the popular girls’ and so begins CG’s downward spiral into a moral black whole and boy did she descend. CG is welcomed into the clique and soon is completely abandoning all her principals of right and wrong, lying to everyone (to be honest I don’t know how she could remember every lie she told there were that many) just so she would seem cool to Alona, Grace and Sammie. I didn’t connect with CG as a character at all, I felt nothing for her when she really hit rock bottom because it was her fault, she made the decisions no one forced her to she just wanted to be popular and boy did she make some crappy decisions. Hmmm where to start …. she lied to her ‘friends’ (I use that term lightly), she started an internet romance with her English teacher, she pretended she was an alcoholic, she started a secret relationship with her supposed friends college age brother and the list goes on. Whilst she may have constantly lied to Alona, Grance and Sammie I couldn’t feel sorry for them either because they were just as bad, boy these girls were terrible, I did not connect with any of them. I mean when one of the girls is sent away for a ‘medical condition’ the others act like it’s no big deal and don’t even care! I mean if my friend was sent away I’d want to know what’s wrong and if they are okay. I also thought it was a bit weird that basically the book revolved around CG, Alona, Grace and Sammie, there was no real interaction between these characters and anyone else. They failed to even interact with other students at the school (well except for one), you’d think because they were part of the popular group that there would be some interaction with others at the school be it annoying those they dislike or fawning over the popular guys, but no they didn’t. All throughout the book as CG’s lies became more and more ridiculous I was thinking oh boy this is going to blow up big time when it finally all comes out that CG was lying and it’s not going to be pretty, unfortunately it was a bit anticlimactic when GC’s deception was revealed, I thought (I guess was hoping) there would be more to it than what actually happened. I was also unconvinced of CG’s repentance, I got the feeling she wasn’t really that sorry for everything she did and she really wasn’t punished at all which was disappointing I wanted her punished big time, which probably shouldn’t be the case for the heroine of a novel. Whilst I didn’t really like CG as a character she had me in hysterics in some parts, I mean some of the things that came out of her mouth were so cheesy (I love the cheese factor). One particular gem I loved was “sounds cheesy as a 10 pound wheel of cheddar” *giggles*! She also used words such as nimrod, buffoon and sheezmesiter, love it! I generally don’t mind if there is some bad language in the books I read (if it fits) however I did notice that the language in parts of the book is quite crass and extreme. Overall I found this book a quick read with not much substance. *I received It Started with a Dare ARC ebook courtesy of netGalley and the publisher (thanks!)*

[jasmyn9 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

CG Silverman is starting a new school, in a new town, and hoping for a new life - a more popular life. When the small "in" group of girls takes notice of her on her first day, she can hardly believe it. Before she knows what's happening she's the rebel of the group - doing whatever she feels like and going where no one has dared (or really should dare) to go before. One small white lie spins into another and suddenly CG is living a life of lies and half truths, dragging her friends, teachers, and family in with her.I fell in love with CG from the get go. She was fun, outgoing, and truly a rebel in her own little way. When the white lies starting getting bigger and bigger (and even a bit ridiculous, but hey this is fiction), she finds herself living a double life. She strives for the approval of the popular group and once there she's scared to let go - so things just keep getting crazier.The popular group is so stereotypical that it's perfect. They are cruel to the world at large, but latch on to silly little charitable projects that are "cute" to do. As the story unfolds and CG becomes a full fledged member of the group we get to see their inner demons and more about what makes them tick. We see their insecurities, their family secrets, and their surprising love for each other.Somehow through this whole mess, CG ends up actually doing some good, and when everything falls apart around her (as we all knew it inevitably would), she finds out who her true friends are.A little over the top in some spots, but still a good read.3.5/5

[trishalynn0708 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was an all around great book. It had humor in it and I love books that can make me laugh and smile. The book is told through CG's point of view. The run down of the book is this, CG's dad ends up getting a job and they have to move. Where CG lived before she only had one friend, so she wanted to make sure that she was the popular one in her new school. So when she sees the 3 popular girls in school, what does she do to fit in? LIES! She lies about everything, her boyfriend(s), her name, having sex, being an alcoholic, you name it, CG lies about it, and all just to fit in. But as the book keeps going you see CG changing as her lies are unraveled and her friends are lost. But as the book goes on she learns a lot about herself and what lieing does to you and other people. This really was just an all around great YA book. It is one that I would read over again, and I am not one to re-read books!