Tommy Sullivan Is a Freak

Katie can't seem to stop lying -- not since that night four years earlier when "Tommy Sullivan is a freak" was spray painted on the side of the gym. That is until Tommy Sullivan moves back into town and everything starts unraveling. I really liked this book. No swearing or sex (surprisingly) and I

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really liked Katie, the protagonist.

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So, reader Krista Sutton does have teen girl speak down (as does Meg Cabot, who can write natural sounding dialogue). But this book is just so slight that devoting six hours to it can make one cranky. The dialogue-heavy plot doesn't make good audio because there's so much repetition, and the

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characters were such cariacatures that it was hard to get invested in the outcome -- which you knew already anyway.

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I listened to this, and I have to say, the narrator made me laugh! She got all the teen attitudes down perfectly and funnily. The pageant is a riot! Lying is a serious issue, but this book addressed it in a way that was fun, but also didn't avoid the consequences - mostly!

I listened to this book. I loved the audio book reader, but I couldn't actually totally imagine reading this book in print. The main character/narrator was so incredibly whiny and annoying. I wanted to like her. She claimed to a be liar, and she really was a liar in the sense that she couldn't even

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really honest with herself. I think teens should read this book, though. In many ways, it is well done. However, I just wanted to tell Katie to just be quiet, and cut the dramatics.

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Katie Ellison is an accomplished liar. She tells people she enjoys eating quahogs when she actually can’t stand them. She’s cheating on her boyfriend of four years, Quahog football player Seth, with Eric, the drama hottie. Katie is so used to telling lies to let people hear what she thinks they

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want to hear that it’s almost like she’s forgotten who she is.

Then a part of her unpleasant past reappears. Tommy Sullivan, once a skinny freak who was run out of town for doing something absolutely unforgivable by the townfolk, is back. Only this time, he’s 100% hot. And Katie has a bad addiction to kissing guys, even though she technically already has two boyfriends.

With Tommy, however, it feels like things are different. It’s the way they have conversations that make her think, unlike her conversations with Seth, which are mostly about food and football. It’s the way he remembers all the little quirks about her, back from in middle school when the two had been friends. And it’s also the way she can’t stop thinking about him.

But at the bottom line, it’s time for Katie to stop lying to herself. She has worked so hard to lie her way from social paraihdom to the girlfriend of the most well-liked guy in school and best friend to the most popular girl. Is she willing to give it all up now for the only guy who’s ever made her heart beat fast?

I didn’t enjoy this as much as Meg Cabot’s previous books. Nothing really happens, and the characters are flat. Katie is a typical Cabot protagonist who likes to get off topic and who fails to show any true conflict and resolution, while Tommy is a stereotypical “bad boy hottie” to the point where I want to gag. However, if you want a light read, then by all means, go ahead and read this one.

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Not the kind of book I'd usually read, but I'm convinced there are certain kinds of girls who would eat this up. Katie Ellison is the girlfriend of a football star on a team known as the Quahogs, which is a kind of mussel. The town LOVES their football team, but secretly, Katie isn't that enchanted

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by them. She is seeing another boy, Eric, behind Seth's back, but only because she finds Seth a bit boring. When Katie was in grade eight, her friend, Tommy Sullivan, overheard Seth's older brother braggin about cheating on his exam, and he blew the whistle on them. That year, the Quahogs had to forfeit the state championship. As a result everyone hates Tommy Sullivan and runs him out of town. He comes back, and Katie is immediately very attracted to him because now he is unbelievably gorgeous! He accuses her of not knowing herself, and of just doing things that make everyone else happy. Eventually she realizes he is right, and she confesses everything to the entire town on the stage at the Quahog Princess Pageant. Overall, a very silly chic lit book, but I think it will be very popular.

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Pretty typical Meg Cabot fare with Katie Ellison fitting in with the cool crowd by being as flexible as possible and what happens when Tommy Sullivan returns to the town he left years ago because of his exposure of cheating in the football squad.

Interesting, made the bus ride pass enjoyably.

While Tommy Sullivan is, and will continue to be, my favorite Cabot boy, this book is nowhere near one of my favorites. The first thing that I disliked about the book occured before I even opened it--the cover. I originally had to have it shipped over without the jacket, just so I could have the

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book in the house without my parents' objections. It's a disgusting cover, and one that I'm sure had to turn some readers away, right? The other thing is the title. While Pants on Fire does describe the character well, the original intended title, Tommy Sullivan is a Freak would have worked so much better and been entirely more catchy. Reading through the book, it is more evident than most Cabot books (although I'm realizing more and more that this is true for most all of them...) that the main character is a spoiled, snobby, popular kid. I used to find these books so identifyable, until very recently. Yeah, the characters have their issues, but at the root of things, they are all ridiculously popular, even Mia, the one who most would probably easily identify with (if you object to this statement, you clearly haven't read the last two PD books). Kind of makes it hard to sympathize with them... Tommy Sullivan is the only thing that breathes life into this otherwise dead book about a flirty, slutty, teen. I do agree with the more rebellious aspects of it. (For heaven's sakes, I live in a football town. No truer statement has been uttered than Katie's rant, "I hate the way we worship the Quahogs, and for what? They don't save lives. They don't teach us anything. They just chase after a stupid ball. And for that, we treat them like gods." EXACTLY what I've been saying for years.) This is just going to have to be another one of those "It had potential, but..." books.

Rating: 3/5

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I guess this is a good teen book. I listened to it on cd because I have a short attention span and teen books seem to be the only genre I can listen to. Still, I felt a bit dirty with all the boy-craziness in this book. Not really my cup of tea.

Funny, funny, funny. One of my favorites from Cabot.

it was so cool i would recamened this book to anyone

Katie Ellison is a big-time liar: she is running for the title of Quahog Princess, but she can't stand the clams her town is famous for, and she juggles two boyfriends. But the lie that weighs on her soul the most is the big secret that she is keeping about her former best friend, Tommy.

Okay, so this was one of the many books I read on my trip to Georgia, and along with How to Ruin Your Boyfriend's Reputation by Simone Elkeles, one of my favorites from the trip. I decided I should write this review first to kick off our Month of Romance. And my book didn't have a cover on it,

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because it was a hardcover without it's sleeve that I borrowed from one of the girls at book club, (Which just FYI, we are having another meeting soon after Fourth of July, so look for that post soon!) so I just saw the cover for the first time. Anyways, to the review!
When I read this book, I immediately fell in love with it. But of course, it would be amazing, since it's by Meg Cabot. First of all, though this isn't something I rate individually, I loved the setting. It was so cute how it was set in a small tourist town on the coast of Connecticut. (Woo! Go me for spelling Connecticut right the first try!) And I found it relatable, because I have a special place on Lake Superior I visit for most of the summer with my family. Anyways, in this little town, the quahogs are a big deal. Quahogs as in the clam... and Quahogs as in the town's star football team. And these Quahogs made for quite an interesting plot, since everyone either adored them, hated the adoration they got, or both. Cabot wrote SO well, that even I was getting pissed at the Quahogs' special treatment. And of course, I loved another element in the plot, a LOVE TRIANGLE. oooooooh. And the characters in this love triangle were amazing. First, the cute puppy dog boyfriend Seth. Then, there was Katie's other boyfriend Eric, who happens to be a self centered actor, but extremely hot. And then you throw in the old friend who came back in town and is now extremely hot, Tommy. Obviously, if I can describe the characters like this, you know Cabot wrote them pretty dang well. And because of this little love triangle and Katie's secret hate for the Quahogs (big small town no no), the plot was amazingly juicy. Overall, the plot, the characters, and the writing were extremely well done. Oh and the ending! Well, I won't give you a spoiler, but it was one of those endings that just makes you sigh with happiness. Yeah, it was that good. Go read it now!
Love always,
Amanda

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Katie Ellison lies . . . but not for bad reasons. Well, not really. She just doesn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And what's a boy-crazy girl to do, when both the star football player and the Drama Club leading man want to make out with her? Katie's situation is further complicated when Tommy

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Sullivan comes back to town. Katie knows the truth behind what happened four years ago, when Tommy left town in disgrace after the words "Tommy Sullivan is a freak" appeared on the wall of the middle school gymnasium in orange spraypaint -- and she's sure that Tommy is out for revenge. Why else would he come back? The problem is, he's also gotten really, really hot. . . .

I basically wanted to smack Katie upside the head for this entire book. The writing is up to Meg Cabot's usual standard, the plot has lots of the cringe-worthy scenarios that typify chick lit, and the male romantic lead is pretty close to masculine perfection (except for his execrable taste in women). But Katie got on my nerves so much that I couldn't enjoy the story.

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There’s really not much that I can say on this book. There are some books that work well when they’re character-driven, but a good plot also helps. The problem with this book is that not only is the plot kind of weak, but the characters really don’t drive the story much.

I do like Katie as a

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character; she’s flawed and acknowledges said flaws. She’s still a likeable and relatable character. I like the fact that she tries to right the wrongs she’s made over the years. However, since she is a Meg Cabot heroine, her tendency to exaggerate the situation tends to get a little old, particularly in this. The other problem I have with Katie is that she has characteristics—she’s a photographer! She has motion sickness! Etc, etc.—but they really don’t define Katie as a person. Her interests and quirks feel like they’re off a checklist instead of actually making her a character.

This is another book where the supporting cast is really weak. When the most entertaining person of a YA romantic comedy is the best friend, there’s something wrong. Tommy Sullivan is, again, every single Meg Cabot love interest that I’ve read and there’s really not much more to his whole backstory. However, I like that members of the It Crowd are Katie’s friends and even after the eventual reveal, they’re actual friends who will stick by her, no matter what. But when the best friend in a YA rom-com ends up being the most interesting character…yeah, there’s something wrong.

The biggest issue I have with the book overall is the plot. I can buy the high school kids not being happy that Tommy came back to town after exposing the local football team as being cheaters. But the adults getting on said hatred is a little too exaggerated. (I live in a football-obsessed town, but it’s a national team, so I’m not used to the massive high school football worship.) I can buy some parents not being happy with this, but for one town uniting against a kid is overkill.

Through my reread, this felt a lot like Queen of Babble—it’s good and enjoyable, but it’s bland and there’s nothing new that brings anything to the genre.

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Liar, liar.

Katie Ellison is not a liar.

It's just that telling the truth is so . . . tricky. She knows she shouldn't be making out with a drama club hottie behind her football- player boyfriend's back. She should probably admit that she can't stand eating quahogs (clams), especially since she's

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running for Quahog Princess in her hometown's annual Quahog Festival. And it would be a relief to finally tell someone what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the new wall outside the junior high school gymnasium-in neon orange, which still hasn't been sandblasted off. After all, everyone knows that's what drove Tommy out of town four years ago.

But now Tommy Sullivan has come back. Katie is sure he's out for revenge, and she'll do anything to hang on to her perfect (if slightly dishonest) existence. Even if it means telling more lies than ever. Even if, now that Tommy's around, she's actually-no lie- having the time of her life.

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Liar, liar.

Katie Ellison is not a liar.

It's just that telling the truth is so . . . tricky. She knows she shouldn't be making out with a drama club hottie behind her football- player boyfriend's back. She should probably admit that she can't stand eating quahogs (clams), especially since she's

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running for Quahog Princess in her hometown's annual Quahog Festival. And it would be a relief to finally tell someone what really happened the night Tommy Sullivan is a freak was spray-painted on the new wall outside the junior high school gymnasium-in neon orange, which still hasn't been sandblasted off. After all, everyone knows that's what drove Tommy out of town four years ago.

But now Tommy Sullivan has come back. Katie is sure he's out for revenge, and she'll do anything to hang on to her perfect (if slightly dishonest) existence. Even if it means telling more lies than ever. Even if, now that Tommy's around, she's actually-no lie- having the time of her life.

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A cute, quick read.

Funny book, Meg Cabot at her best

I laughed, I cried, and I just really LOVED this book! I listened to the audiobook while driving today, and did not want to even stop to get gas since it meant turning it off for a bit. There were so many great parts about this book, and even though I guessed some things ahead of time, there was so

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much that I for sure did not see coming! This is the kind of book I strive to write when I put my fingers to the keys or pen to the page, and hope one day to make something even half as entertaining as this book was for me today!

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