Book Review: Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Spoiled
Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (The Fug Girls!)
YA Contemporary
Published: 2011

Photo: Goodreads

Brick Berlin may be my favorite fictional big-time Hollywood character (joining the ranks of John Lodge Johnson of Douglas Coupland's Miss Wyoming). Brick's daughter Brooke discovers, after the tabloids, that she has a half-sister, Molly, whose mother just died back in Indiana. Molly's grandparents think it's a good time for her to finally meet her father, who happens to be one of the world's most famous action movie heroes. Molly trucks it from Indiana to Bel Aire, California to join the ranks of celebrity fashion mavens... and their designer clothes-addicted children.

What sets this apart from other Gossip Girl rich kids with rich problems novels is how totally self-aware it is; thank the writers, having a wealth of experience from their hilarious fashion commentary blog. The pop-culture references fly fast and furious, and the most enjoyable part is picking out which references are real and which are totally made up (considering the ridiculousness of reality TV and celebrity gossip magazines, it can be tough to tell). Beyond the spot-on reflection of obsessive designer culture, is a story about sisterhood, friendship, loyalty, and even grief.

Spoiled is a snappy read, laugh-out-loud funny at times, but it also has heart. I'm so glad this wasn't a let-down since I've been a fan of the fugly fashion blog for about five years (they're particularly entertaining around awards season and springtime with their own fashion tournament modeled after the Final Four brackets). The sequel, Messy is out now.