This is Me From Now On by Barbara Dee

Summary/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

Sometimes your life just needs a little jolt.

This is what Evie's new friend Francesca tells her, and soon enough, Evie's life has had something more like an earthquake.

Francesca thinks life is dull unless you go after everything you want and say everything on your mind all the time--and sometimes that includes giving other people a little behind the scenes help to give them what she thinks they want.

Evie can't always tell if she's horrified or fascinated by everything Francesca convinces her to do, but ultimately, she comes to see friendship--and life--in a whole new light.

Review:

When it comes to tween books and me it's usually a hit or a miss simply because I'm above the intended age for these reads. Thankfully, This is Me From Now On was one huge hit, in my opinion; a book that not only provided interesting, fully developed characters and funny moments but substance as well, one mix I can never never get enough of.

From the first page of This is Me From Now On the reader is thrown into the life of Evie a few days before her big start into the world of middle school. Evie is nervous enough about it as it is, but with the add of snippy little fights with her two best friends, something that's never occurred between them before, and the new unusual girl named Francesca who allows manages to embarrass Evie when she's around, she's even more so.

Evie is ultimately someone that I think everyone can see a bit of themselves in when they started seventh grade no matter how long ago, since she's nervous, having a difficult time with the harder curriculum, is beginning to see her friends aren't as nice as they appear, and peer pressure is as noticeable as ever in her life. In all, basically stuff that everyone deals with no matter what the age. I found Evie to be likable and someone I rooted for, even though she was a bit of a 'mean' girl to Francesca at times. Plus, I really enjoyed the way she grew to understand that you should never judge people before you know them thoroughly. And talking about Francesca, I ADORED that girl! She was hilarious, wise beyond her years, and just a good soul. Also, her schemes always managed to put a huge smile on my face because they were so out there yet believable and funny at the same time.
 
The plot of this was compellable, since Barbara always managed to put a new spin to different aspects, such as Evie and her crush's relationship to Francesca's crazy family life to the romance Francesca and Evie tried to create between two teachers, that made you curious to see what would occur next. Barbara's writing was also compellable, something that when mixed with the plot could easily be read in a couple hours. Also, I have to mention that I really liked the fact that she never dumbed down her use of words, even though her audience for this is on the young side.
 
In all, This is Me From Now On  is a book that I can't help but suggest you give a chance to, since it's just an all around fabulous novel; one that I'm sure you'll enjoy just as much as I did! And Barbara Dee? I can't wait to to read more by her, especially if she writes a book about Francesca.
 
Grade: A-
 
This is Me From Now On is now out!
 
Source: author. Thanks, Barbara!