Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Release: February 15th, 2011

Pages: 336

Publisher: HarperTeen

Source: Publisher

Summary:

Brooke: I don't like Kathryn Pease. I could pretend everything's fine between us. I could be nice to her face, then trash her behind her back. But I think it's better to be honest. I don't like Kathryn, and I'm not afraid to admit it. 

Kathryn: I saw a commercial where singers used their voices to shatter glass, but the whole thing is pretty much a myth. The human voice isn't that strong.

Human hatred is. Anybody who doubts that should feel the hate waves coming off of Brooke Dempsey. But I don't shatter; I'm not made of glass. Anyway, the parts that break aren't on the outside.

Brooke and Kathryn used to be best friends . . . until the night when Brooke ruthlessly turned on Kathryn in front of everyone. Suddenly Kathryn was an outcast and Brooke was Queen B. Now, as they prepare to face off one last time, each girl must come to terms with the fact that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had.   

Review: Oh, how I love a good bitter rivalry - and Wealer serves one up with all the right elements. 

Narrated in alternating chapters by shy, quiet Kathryn and Queen B Brooke, the story works its way through senior year along with junior year flashbacks. The transition between past and present worked wonderfully and flawlessly, and gave both girls more depth. They're both gearing up for a big musical competition, and they know it's going to come down to the two of them. The real reason for the rivalry between them is slowly revealed, and while it may have been blown out of proportion, it does have a bit of substance behind it. 

The musical aspect was one of my favorite parts even though I know nothing about the type of music they listen to. But somehow, it was easy to still enjoy that part of Brooke and Kathryn. The fact that these two girls had a hobby they loved so much made them all the more real, because let's face it, we all have one thing we're obsessed with  (hello, my book obsession).

Even through the pranks and mean-girl antics, Rival is strangely heartwarming to read and an easy novel to simply love and enjoy. This novel is truly written perfectly to convey two unique girls and the things that keep them battling against each other. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a great contemporary story, especially one revolving around friendship. 

Highlights: Wealer skillfully manages to make both characters easy to like, and manages to stay true to what it's like to be in high school and how complex relationships/friendships can be at that age. I found myself enjoying Brooke's character more than Kathryn's, despite some of the cruel things Brooke has done to her. All of the characters have layers to their personalities, and none of them are perfect. Rival's narrator's both have done and continue do things that aren't right, but that's what makes them human. Even the dialog is wonderfully spot-on. 

Lowlights: I disliked some choices the characters made, but those bad choices made them more complex and real, so I can't really call that a "lowlight". 

Rating: