Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.
I’m Sophie Price...And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world
vain
Adjective
1.Having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities, or worth.
2.Producing no result; useless
2.Producing no result; useless
Read the synopsis and fall in love. This book is true to it's word, this is not your typical romance read, no... it's so much more powerful than that. Vain will open your mind, open your heart and open your eyes. It is so real, raw and absolutely beautiful, it will take you on a journey of self discovery, ignorance and acceptance and it will undoubtedly show you the true beauty of love.
"My light gold eyes are the color of amber and are perfect. My lashes long. I am practically flawless.
And it pisses me royally when girls try to copy me.
God! Get a clue nimrods.You'll never look like me!"
Sophie Price has it all, the posh lavish lifestyle, the looks, friends and parties, anything she desires is at her fingertips or at least available at the swipe of her credit card. She is the girl every other girl loathes but wants to be, the one that holds all the power, she is the queen of her social circle and living a carefree life. But is Sophie truly happy and content with herself and life the way it is?
"My light gold eyes are the color of amber and are perfect. My lashes long. I am practically flawless.
And it pisses me royally when girls try to copy me.
God! Get a clue nimrods.You'll never look like me!"
Sophie Price has it all, the posh lavish lifestyle, the looks, friends and parties, anything she desires is at her fingertips or at least available at the swipe of her credit card. She is the girl every other girl loathes but wants to be, the one that holds all the power, she is the queen of her social circle and living a carefree life. But is Sophie truly happy and content with herself and life the way it is?
"I closed the glass door and decided it was safe. I let go of all the unhappiness that took unending residence in my heart and soul and stomach. I sobbed into my hands and let the water wash away the salt. My heart was in a perpetual state of sadness...I lived a fragile existence"
Sophie's carefree party days soon end when she is brought before a judge on her second drug offence, thinking that money can buy her out of anything she is shocked when she finds out that this time she is in for a real sentence....Six months in Uganda volunteering at an orphanage.
Truly scared maybe for the first time in her life she makes her trek across the world and into a reality that will change her life forever and show her the Sophie that she has been trying so desperately to find within herself.
Fisher Amelie does a marvelous job transporting you into Sophie world. Regardless of what you may think of Sophie in the beginning she is a wonderful Heroine. She is lost and living in a world completely alone, she may have everything on the outside but her heart and soul tell a different story. She may be spoiled and rich but Sophie Price is not stupid, she has made wrong decisions but in hindsight all her actions are cries for help to the family that has deserted her from the time she entered the world, and think of her more as a commodity when their guests need entertained. Once you get to know Sophie her vanity becomes sad rather than annoying, all she is looking for is love and acceptance and living the way she does she gets that from the "friends" she surrounds herself with. She knows it's merely a charade and none of them really care for each other they're all just following in their parents shoes with their fake social masks firmly in place.
"I stood in front of the mirror and took a good hard look. I was as bare as I could make myself, no makeup with wet, stringy hair. I hated to look at myself in this state. I didn't feel real. I felt too exposed and that made me exceedingly nervous, but I made myself look that morning. I memorized that girl. That girl was the real me. Frightened. Worthless. A terrible friend. Terrible daughter. Well educated but so limited in ideas worth having. Beautiful yet repulsive"
Now I am well aware of the problems in Africa but I was not aware that that is what this book focuses on and for me personally it made it that much better. When Sophie arrives in Uganda she is brought face to face with a world she could never imagine. Arriving at the orphanage and seeing first hand what these people and children go through daily just to survive was more than an eye opener for Sophie. I loved seeing her open up and come into herself, being someone that was never shown love in her life it was absolutely breathtaking watching her grow and learn the true meaning of love and happiness through the children in the orphanage that had nothing and lived in fear daily but found happiness in the simplicity of life.
"I'd come to Uganda to fulfill a mandatory sentence but was being fulfilled in a completely unexpected manner and happily, with my full consent. I'd come to help teach these children but instead they were teaching me"
There are so many amazing characters in this book that I couldn't possibly tell you about each and everyone or this review would go on even longer than it already is but I have to say that the character development in this book is beyond words. You will become attached to each character emotionally and possibly love some as much as the Hero and Heroine (I sure did) it is that well written.
And last but definitely not least Ian I cannot forget Ian or Dingane as he was known around the orphanage. Goodness, that is exactly what he was. Giving up his life and dedicating himself to the orphanage he was an incredible Hero. He was strong, hard working, caring, sincere, and gentle. He thought that he had Sophie pegged from the beginning but you can't judge a book by it's cover and he quickly realized that. He took his time in getting to know Sophie and showed her that her life path doesn't have to follow the one of her parents and peers back home. I love how Ian challenged Sophie to look outside of the box and showed her that the person that she is looking for is inside her, masked by fear and weakness but just needing a reason to break through.
"You want to stick with what's easy for you. You foresee the amount of work it would take to transform yourself and you're too frightened to embrace the challenge. Now, that, Sophie Price is real weakness"
Their relationship like everything else in the book again was beautiful. They took their time getting to know each other, nothing was rushed, and every interaction every emotion shared between them could be felt. They are the prefect pair in more ways than one and watching them fall in love with each other page by page sentence by sentence was sublime.
"The truth is I'm so deep in love with you, I can't see straight. the truth is, I've been afraid to admit it to myself, let alone you. the truth is I'm terrified...You have no idea what you do to me. I've felt things for you these past few months that don't seem healthy. I've wanted you so so desperately I'm afraid it may not be natural. You consume my thoughts Sophie...You've arrested my senses and I can't seem to get enough of you. that's what scares me. I'm so deep these's no getting out for me. you own me you know"
Also I feel like I should point out that this is a YA (Young Adult) book meaning that there is no sex and the main characters are 21 and under. And for all you grammar natzis, there were some typos nothing serious and most definitely not on every page but there were a few, so take that into consideration but don't let it affect your decision to read this book or you will be missing out on something wonderful.
Vain was something I was not expecting, it is heartbreaking, and real, it will make you laugh and cry, it is powerful, and moving. You will not have a point in this book where anything is dragged on and feels out of place. You will fall in love and also be made aware of the real dangers that people face and the devastation of the world around us, all told through one beautifully written story. Thank you Fisher Amelie for this amazing book and highlighting a real epidemic within fiction, it was brilliant.
