HOW ZOE MADE HER DREAMS (MOSTLY) COME TRUE
By: Sarah Strohmeyer
Review by: Kaede
Release Date: April 23rd, 2013
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Pages: 320
Format: e-ARC
Source: Edelweiss (Thank you, HarperCollins!)
Other Titles in the Series: N/A - Standalone
While I've never read Strohmeyer's Smart Girls Get What They Want, I have heard enough praise for it, and for Strohmeyer is general, that I was fairly confident going into How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True that it'd be a book I'd enjoy.
And enjoyed I did - and so much more.
When cousins Zoe and Jess are accepted as summer interns at a Fairyland themed park, they're both certain it's the chance they've been waiting for. Because not only does Fairyland offer a happily-ever-after for all their children guests, but twenty-five thousand dollars will go to two lucky interns who've displayed the most Wow! spirit at the end of the summer. Both Zoe and Jess need the money, but only one of them can win it. But will either one of them even come close the prize, much less last the summer, with so many traitors and betrayals lurking around every corner. It won't be long until they realize that in a place where dreams were made to come true, the only person you can trust is yourself.
I thought the author also did a really good job at capturing how low people are willing to stoop to get what they want. Some of the characters, and the way they treated Zoe, were just infuriatingand I wanted to stomp on them.
Zoe was a heroine to root for - kind, selfless, and smart. She was fully willing to put Jess first and help her win the Dream & Do grant, even though her late mother's medical bills were still lingering around with no way to pay them off. I liked that Zoe was perceptive and noticed traps that many young adult heroines would have walked right into and needed a hot guy to come around to save them afterward.
How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True has a lot going for it, and one of it's strongest points was it's romance. Delightfully sweet, Strohmeyer manages to avoid creating relationships that overtake the story, but still keep the a big important part. Ian was completely lovable, and had me right from the beginning with his talk of chickens being vegetables. I was also secretly hoping that R.J. and Jess would get together so I could have a mega squeal-fest. Tehehe.
Zoe made her mistakes along the way - like bringing a chocolate croissant to the Queen (who I really liked and found her ridiculous needs and demands excessively amusing to read about) that is packed with calories and would sent her into a diabetic shock that could quite possibly kill her - but she learned from them, and that's something notable I always look for in characters. There's no harm in making mistakes if you learn from them and try your hardest not to do it again. And, I mean, as my mother always says, "The best way to learn is by experience."
There were times where I was worried that Zoe and Jess would be changed by the competitive, all-or-nothing atmosphere they was in. The two girls were best friends, each with their own bright and good-hearted natures. That's why I was extremely relieved and happy when Zoe and Jess always stood by what they believed in.
How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True touches on a few darker subjects, but nothing too major. Overall, it was a hilarious, fun, contemporary read and exactly what I needed. I zoomed through the story, even staying up till a little past midnight to finish it. Zoe's narration was every bit as compelling as it was engaging, and certainly something worth recommending.
From Sarah Strohmeyer, author of Smart Girls Get What They Want, comes this romantic comedy about one girl's summer job from hell. Think The Devil Wears Prada set in Disney World.How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True came extremely surprising, introducing a cast of characters that I fell in love with.
When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?
Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.
Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?
While I've never read Strohmeyer's Smart Girls Get What They Want, I have heard enough praise for it, and for Strohmeyer is general, that I was fairly confident going into How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True that it'd be a book I'd enjoy.
And enjoyed I did - and so much more.
When cousins Zoe and Jess are accepted as summer interns at a Fairyland themed park, they're both certain it's the chance they've been waiting for. Because not only does Fairyland offer a happily-ever-after for all their children guests, but twenty-five thousand dollars will go to two lucky interns who've displayed the most Wow! spirit at the end of the summer. Both Zoe and Jess need the money, but only one of them can win it. But will either one of them even come close the prize, much less last the summer, with so many traitors and betrayals lurking around every corner. It won't be long until they realize that in a place where dreams were made to come true, the only person you can trust is yourself.
I thought the author also did a really good job at capturing how low people are willing to stoop to get what they want. Some of the characters, and the way they treated Zoe, were just infuriating
Zoe was a heroine to root for - kind, selfless, and smart. She was fully willing to put Jess first and help her win the Dream & Do grant, even though her late mother's medical bills were still lingering around with no way to pay them off. I liked that Zoe was perceptive and noticed traps that many young adult heroines would have walked right into and needed a hot guy to come around to save them afterward.
How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True has a lot going for it, and one of it's strongest points was it's romance. Delightfully sweet, Strohmeyer manages to avoid creating relationships that overtake the story, but still keep the a big important part. Ian was completely lovable, and had me right from the beginning with his talk of chickens being vegetables. I was also secretly hoping that R.J. and Jess would get together so I could have a mega squeal-fest. Tehehe.
Zoe made her mistakes along the way - like bringing a chocolate croissant to the Queen (who I really liked and found her ridiculous needs and demands excessively amusing to read about) that is packed with calories and would sent her into a diabetic shock that could quite possibly kill her - but she learned from them, and that's something notable I always look for in characters. There's no harm in making mistakes if you learn from them and try your hardest not to do it again. And, I mean, as my mother always says, "The best way to learn is by experience."
There were times where I was worried that Zoe and Jess would be changed by the competitive, all-or-nothing atmosphere they was in. The two girls were best friends, each with their own bright and good-hearted natures. That's why I was extremely relieved and happy when Zoe and Jess always stood by what they believed in.
How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True touches on a few darker subjects, but nothing too major. Overall, it was a hilarious, fun, contemporary read and exactly what I needed. I zoomed through the story, even staying up till a little past midnight to finish it. Zoe's narration was every bit as compelling as it was engaging, and certainly something worth recommending.
5 coffee cups!
**An advance copy of this book was provided for review. However, all opinions remain honest and my own.**
~♥~
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