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How to Be Popular
Do you want to be popular? Everyone wants to be popular or at least, Stephanie Landry does. Steph's been the least popular girl in her class since a certain cherry Super Big Gulp catastrophe five years earlier. Does being popular matter? It matters very much to Steph. That's why this year, she has a plan to get in with the It Crowd in no time flat. She's got a secret weapon: an old book called what else? How to Be Popular. What does it take to be popular? All Steph has to do is follow the instructions in The Book, and soon she'll be partying with the It Crowd (including school quarterback Mark Finley) instead of sitting on The Hill Saturday nights, stargazing with her nerdy best pal Becca, and even nerdier Jason (now kind of hot, but still), whose passion for astronomy Steph once shared. Who needs red dwarves when you're invited to the hottest parties in town? But don't forget the most important thing about popularity! It's easy to become popular. What isn't so easy? Staying that way.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 2006
200 people are currently reading
6334 people want to read
About the author
Meg Cabot
267 books35.3k followersLibrarian note: AKA Jenny Carroll (1-800-Where-R-You series), AKA Patricia Cabot (historical romance novels).
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
Meg Cabot was born on February 1, 1967, during the Chinese astrological year of the Fire Horse, a notoriously unlucky sign. Fortunately she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, where few people were aware of the stigma of being a fire horse -- at least until Meg became a teenager, when she flunked freshman Algebra twice, then decided to cut her own bangs. After six years as an undergrad at Indiana University, Meg moved to New York City (in the middle of a sanitation worker strike) to pursue a career as an illustrator, at which she failed miserably, forcing her to turn to her favorite hobby--writing novels--for emotional succor. She worked various jobs to pay the rent, including a decade-long stint as the assistant manager of a 700 bed freshmen dormitory at NYU, a position she still occasionally misses.
She is now the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney. In addition, Meg wrote the Mediator and 1-800-Where-R-You? series (on which the television series, Missing, was based), two All-American Girl books, Teen Idol, Avalon High, How to Be Popular, Pants on Fire, Jinx, a series of novels written entirely in email format (Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One), a mystery series (Size 12 Is Not Fat/ Size 14 Is Not Fat Either/Big Boned), and a chick-lit series called Queen of Babble.
Meg is now writing a new children's series called Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls. Her new paranormal series, Abandon, debuts in Summer of 2011.
Meg currently divides her time between Key West, Indiana, and New York City with a primary cat (one-eyed Henrietta), various back-up cats, and her husband, who doesn't know he married a fire horse. Please don't tell him.
Series:
* Airhead
* The Princess Diaries
* Mediator
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August 29, 2022
Read more bookish goodness on my book blog: Cal's YA Reads
5/5 freaking dang stars.
I'm not going to write a full-blown review for this.
Here's the run down:
- I read this when I was 11/12.
- I got it for my birthday and my friend who gave it to me said "my mum thought of you and thought it would be good for you" you GUYZZZZ I didn't EVER want to touch this book.
This impacted me greatly during the incoming high school years-- I feel like I was more level headed about the fascination of popularity.
Why you should read this book:
- need chick lit but for a younger audience than most chick lit books
- need a bit of sarcasm and quirkiness
- need a bit of awkwardness like Bridget Jones who had a bit of pervy habits
- needed a cliche, happy ending (which is still the bomb)
This book is my fave and I hold it dearly to my heart. I kind of hoped for this experience in high school but lol nope I'm now in uni and realise I completely didn't meet my 12 year old expectations…
IM A SLUT FOR MEG CABOT'S BOOKS AND I CAN SEE THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE, NO MATTER WHAT DECADE IT IS.
5/5 freaking dang stars.
I'm not going to write a full-blown review for this.
Here's the run down:
- I read this when I was 11/12.
- I got it for my birthday and my friend who gave it to me said "my mum thought of you and thought it would be good for you" you GUYZZZZ I didn't EVER want to touch this book.
This impacted me greatly during the incoming high school years-- I feel like I was more level headed about the fascination of popularity.
Why you should read this book:
- need chick lit but for a younger audience than most chick lit books
- need a bit of sarcasm and quirkiness
- need a bit of awkwardness like Bridget Jones who had a bit of pervy habits
- needed a cliche, happy ending (which is still the bomb)
This book is my fave and I hold it dearly to my heart. I kind of hoped for this experience in high school but lol nope I'm now in uni and realise I completely didn't meet my 12 year old expectations…
IM A SLUT FOR MEG CABOT'S BOOKS AND I CAN SEE THAT WILL NEVER CHANGE, NO MATTER WHAT DECADE IT IS.
November 6, 2012
Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com
If you've ever heard the phrase "Way to pull a Steph Landry!," you wouldn't be alone. Pretty much everyone who attends Bloomville High in the heart of Greene County, Indiana, knows who Steph Landry is. Or, they at least know better than to ever, ever, ever do something that would have someone uttering the aforementioned phrase. Even kids under the age of five know what it means to "pull a Steph Landry." In that they know it means instant social doom.
So what did this girl do, you ask? Shoot someone? Rob a store? Dump the Homecoming Queen into a lake, lock the quarterback in a dungeon, lob a hand grenade into the general store? No, what Steph Landy did was much, much worse. She accidentally spilled a Big Red Super Big Gulp on Lauren Moffat's white D&G skirt. And even though they had been kind of friends up until that incident in sixth grade, and even though her father tried to remove the stain from Lauren's skirt, and even though her mother ended up buying her a new one, and even though Steph herself apologized for the incident like ten zillion times, Lauren Moffat has been making Steph pay for her mistake ever since.
They're all juniors in high school now--Steph and her best friends Jason and Becca, Lauren and her posse of popular girls and guys, most noticeably her football quarterback boyfriend, Mark Finley. Nearly five years after that accidental dousing in the middle school cafeteria, and Steph is still living down the horror of being a social outcast.
That's all about to change, though. At least if she has anything to say about it. Now that Jason's grandmother is marrying her own widowed grandfather, they've been spending a lot of time at Jason's house. It's during one of those times that Steph finds the book; the one that will shoot her to the top of the popularity totem pole, the one that will exile the social pariah Steph once and for all, and turn her into mega-popular, wonderful, everyone loves her Steph.
Kind of. Maybe. If she plays her cards right. Or she just might end up getting what she wants (popularity), and losing everything she's ever held dear (most noticeably, Jason).
With HOW TO BE POPULAR, Meg Cabot has taken the typical high school teen angst and mixed it up with an all-too-believable situation to create a wonderful, fast-paced read. I'd recommend this book to all fans of Ms. Cabot, all fans of contemporary stories, all fans of young adult literature, period. This is another winner from the queen of teen fiction. Trust me. Pick up a copy of HOW TO BE POPULAR, and you won't be disappointed.
If you've ever heard the phrase "Way to pull a Steph Landry!," you wouldn't be alone. Pretty much everyone who attends Bloomville High in the heart of Greene County, Indiana, knows who Steph Landry is. Or, they at least know better than to ever, ever, ever do something that would have someone uttering the aforementioned phrase. Even kids under the age of five know what it means to "pull a Steph Landry." In that they know it means instant social doom.
So what did this girl do, you ask? Shoot someone? Rob a store? Dump the Homecoming Queen into a lake, lock the quarterback in a dungeon, lob a hand grenade into the general store? No, what Steph Landy did was much, much worse. She accidentally spilled a Big Red Super Big Gulp on Lauren Moffat's white D&G skirt. And even though they had been kind of friends up until that incident in sixth grade, and even though her father tried to remove the stain from Lauren's skirt, and even though her mother ended up buying her a new one, and even though Steph herself apologized for the incident like ten zillion times, Lauren Moffat has been making Steph pay for her mistake ever since.
They're all juniors in high school now--Steph and her best friends Jason and Becca, Lauren and her posse of popular girls and guys, most noticeably her football quarterback boyfriend, Mark Finley. Nearly five years after that accidental dousing in the middle school cafeteria, and Steph is still living down the horror of being a social outcast.
That's all about to change, though. At least if she has anything to say about it. Now that Jason's grandmother is marrying her own widowed grandfather, they've been spending a lot of time at Jason's house. It's during one of those times that Steph finds the book; the one that will shoot her to the top of the popularity totem pole, the one that will exile the social pariah Steph once and for all, and turn her into mega-popular, wonderful, everyone loves her Steph.
Kind of. Maybe. If she plays her cards right. Or she just might end up getting what she wants (popularity), and losing everything she's ever held dear (most noticeably, Jason).
With HOW TO BE POPULAR, Meg Cabot has taken the typical high school teen angst and mixed it up with an all-too-believable situation to create a wonderful, fast-paced read. I'd recommend this book to all fans of Ms. Cabot, all fans of contemporary stories, all fans of young adult literature, period. This is another winner from the queen of teen fiction. Trust me. Pick up a copy of HOW TO BE POPULAR, and you won't be disappointed.
April 26, 2016
I swear I'll only give 3-star ratings (or lower) if I keep reading contemporary novels... WHY AM I DOING THIS TO MYSELF?
May 15, 2011
OMG!!!! I just really have to say that this book is completely amazing. Meg Cabot sums up every girl's (or maybe...um, boys?) dreams of being popular-and the real reality. It is pretty hard to make normal school life sound interesting unless you're writing something paranormal, like angels, vampires or the like (trust me, I've seen almost all of the variations you can possibly get.).
"Crazytop" (courtesy of Jason, here) aka Steph Landry is known for the saying, "way to pull a Steph Landry,". That's Lauren's way of payback-by the way, she's the most popular girl in school. Steph spilled Super Big RedGulp (it stains-and when I say stains, I mean really stains!) all over her five years from the present, and to that day, Lauren still holds a grudge. Just to make it more complicated, Steph is almost obsessed with Mark Finley, Lauren's somewhat phony and clueless but nice boyfriend.
Meg Cabot has really outdone herself this time. I think that this was even better than the Princess Diaries-wait, I know so. And I think the rest of the nation agrees with me- the Princess Diaries is a New York Times bestseller, but this book is National. Steph, that's really a way to pull a Steph Landry! :)
"Crazytop" (courtesy of Jason, here) aka Steph Landry is known for the saying, "way to pull a Steph Landry,". That's Lauren's way of payback-by the way, she's the most popular girl in school. Steph spilled Super Big RedGulp (it stains-and when I say stains, I mean really stains!) all over her five years from the present, and to that day, Lauren still holds a grudge. Just to make it more complicated, Steph is almost obsessed with Mark Finley, Lauren's somewhat phony and clueless but nice boyfriend.
Meg Cabot has really outdone herself this time. I think that this was even better than the Princess Diaries-wait, I know so. And I think the rest of the nation agrees with me- the Princess Diaries is a New York Times bestseller, but this book is National. Steph, that's really a way to pull a Steph Landry! :)
August 25, 2014
To see full review click here.
Meg Cabot was like one of my role models growing up. Which is a pretty difficult tasks to do considering the other woman on that list (note to self: one day publish said list on my blog). However, as extraordinary as some of her books are, there are some that aren’t so good.
And now that I’m older and more cynical (thanks to reading five thousand YA books-well, probably less than that but it feels like that much) and the market has grown,well, this book really sucks.
I hate to say it, but it does.
Have I really changed that much as a reader?
Probably yes and no. My thoughts of the book originally were meh. I wasn’t that impressed, but upon reread I was just shocked at how bland and insipid it was. And that this book came from the Meg Cabot.
The story itself is simple but decent. Simplicity can be a good thing though, some of my favorite contemporary romances are simple. But at times, How to be Popular felt too cookie cutter. Every single aspect of the plot was predictable and the Cabot tropes were all there.
Nothing out there at all. And I could’ve totally gotten that if the characters felt a little bit more realistic.
Realistic and likable.
Because it took me more than a little time to warm up to Steph.
Dare I say, I don’t like her.
Yes, I’m going to say it. I do not like Steph Landry and I totally understand why people were making fun of her for all those years-stupid Big Gulp aside.
Do you really you think it’s perfectly okay to play peeping Tom on your best friend and then crush on another guy while constantly slut slamming anyone who might look a little bit better than you?
Really?
Throughout reading this my head I kept thinking, is this really from the same woman who created Michael Moscovitz, Mia Thermopolis, Suze Simon, and Jesse de Silva.
Well, the book cover says it is.
But the book felt so phoned in, guys. Steph and Jason there were some cute moments…but as far as the panty melting scenes that you see in other Meg books.
Not there.
I almost felt like Jason was some prize given to Steph at the end for making good life choices.
Dumb.
Meg Cabot was like one of my role models growing up. Which is a pretty difficult tasks to do considering the other woman on that list (note to self: one day publish said list on my blog). However, as extraordinary as some of her books are, there are some that aren’t so good.
And now that I’m older and more cynical (thanks to reading five thousand YA books-well, probably less than that but it feels like that much) and the market has grown,well, this book really sucks.
I hate to say it, but it does.
Have I really changed that much as a reader?
Probably yes and no. My thoughts of the book originally were meh. I wasn’t that impressed, but upon reread I was just shocked at how bland and insipid it was. And that this book came from the Meg Cabot.
The story itself is simple but decent. Simplicity can be a good thing though, some of my favorite contemporary romances are simple. But at times, How to be Popular felt too cookie cutter. Every single aspect of the plot was predictable and the Cabot tropes were all there.
Nothing out there at all. And I could’ve totally gotten that if the characters felt a little bit more realistic.
Realistic and likable.
Because it took me more than a little time to warm up to Steph.
Dare I say, I don’t like her.
Yes, I’m going to say it. I do not like Steph Landry and I totally understand why people were making fun of her for all those years-stupid Big Gulp aside.
Do you really you think it’s perfectly okay to play peeping Tom on your best friend and then crush on another guy while constantly slut slamming anyone who might look a little bit better than you?
Really?
Throughout reading this my head I kept thinking, is this really from the same woman who created Michael Moscovitz, Mia Thermopolis, Suze Simon, and Jesse de Silva.
Well, the book cover says it is.
But the book felt so phoned in, guys. Steph and Jason there were some cute moments…but as far as the panty melting scenes that you see in other Meg books.
Not there.
I almost felt like Jason was some prize given to Steph at the end for making good life choices.
Dumb.
October 15, 2007
Main character Steph has to live down her social suicide of 5 years before- when she spilled red soda all over the most popular girl in school. Finding a book about popularity from the 1950s (it seems) she decides to follow the advice so she won't be such a "Steph" anymore.
Filled with bitchy popular girls and their cliques, the hot quarterback and the rest of the usual cast of high school, How to be Popular is a cute teen lit book. We can see the ending coming in the first chapter, but the story was fun along the way.
Filled with bitchy popular girls and their cliques, the hot quarterback and the rest of the usual cast of high school, How to be Popular is a cute teen lit book. We can see the ending coming in the first chapter, but the story was fun along the way.
June 12, 2020
This book is not a clean romance, it is more of a sweet romance. My mom just recently bought this one as an "Advance Reader Copy" So I personally can't complain about mistakes in this one although there were a lot. I think this story touches on how most girls in Middle and High School feel at least once if not more in their lives: the want to be popular. But on top of that Steph is the joke of the town for spilling a "Cherry Super Big Gulp" on her childhood best friend, the most popular girl in school -Lauren- and the name stuck, in a bad way such as "Don't pull a Steph Landry". But this year is 11th grade and she is tired of the 5 years that Lauren has held the grudge. And this year she has an advantage, a book on how to be popular. A book about unknown love and unexpected experiences, Meg Cabot does it again! Good for 13 and up for some parts where it mentions things, and other words that are not bad but can be taken in a bad way, and language.
May 2, 2013
I think this is a great book for every person to read, no matter what your age. The story is focused on Stephanie Landry wanting to be part of the popular crowd mainly because she’s in love with quarterback Mark Finley, the most popular student at Steph’s school. It doesn’t take long for Steph, an ordinary girl, to take matters into her hands and with the help of a book on how to be popular which she got in a box of old books from her best friend Jason’s grandmother, and some money she borrowed from her grandfather, to gain enough self-confidence to take on the popular crowd at school and become one of them.
Although the story centers on how to become a popular person, the message isn’t exactly that. In Steph’s quest to win Mark’s attention and fit into his crowd, although she’s hated by his girlfriend, Lauren, Steph learns a few valuable lessons. Following the advice from The Book she learns that being popular is all about having self-confidence, making people around you feel like they’re the most important person to you, the value of a genuine smile, and the importance of true friends. All the lessons she learns from The Book are ones we can apply in our daily lives, whether we want to be popular or not. Actually, it has nothing to do with popularity, but simply being the best person you can be, for yourself and to others. The most important lesson Stephanie learns at the end of the story is one The Book didn’t teach her but which experience did - that being popular isn’t all it’s cut out to be.
I enjoyed the characters and their background stories, and I liked that each of them came from such interesting, somewhat dysfunctional families. Mean girl, Lauren, is rather stereotypical of mean girls portrayed in other YA books and movies, but the rest of the characters were all authentic with quirky, endearing traits. There’s really nothing new to this story than what I’ve read before, but still I enjoyed it for the positive message it sends to young girls without being too in your face about it. Lots of laughs throughout the book and an ending that leaves you smiling gets this book an easy five stars.
Although the story centers on how to become a popular person, the message isn’t exactly that. In Steph’s quest to win Mark’s attention and fit into his crowd, although she’s hated by his girlfriend, Lauren, Steph learns a few valuable lessons. Following the advice from The Book she learns that being popular is all about having self-confidence, making people around you feel like they’re the most important person to you, the value of a genuine smile, and the importance of true friends. All the lessons she learns from The Book are ones we can apply in our daily lives, whether we want to be popular or not. Actually, it has nothing to do with popularity, but simply being the best person you can be, for yourself and to others. The most important lesson Stephanie learns at the end of the story is one The Book didn’t teach her but which experience did - that being popular isn’t all it’s cut out to be.
I enjoyed the characters and their background stories, and I liked that each of them came from such interesting, somewhat dysfunctional families. Mean girl, Lauren, is rather stereotypical of mean girls portrayed in other YA books and movies, but the rest of the characters were all authentic with quirky, endearing traits. There’s really nothing new to this story than what I’ve read before, but still I enjoyed it for the positive message it sends to young girls without being too in your face about it. Lots of laughs throughout the book and an ending that leaves you smiling gets this book an easy five stars.
August 1, 2024
2024
2021
2020
Steph is a really good main character; mostly because she makes me think of myself from high school. I was super far removed from the popular crowd, and even though I could tell they were a bunch of jerks and bitches, there was nothing I wanted more than to be accepted into their group. Steph makes the same mistake in wanting to be popular, but she takes it a step further than I did. She found herself a "get popular" book and started following it step by step. And, to be fair, it worked out pretty well for her, in the end.
I love her friendship with Becca and Jason, too, because it's such a great, pure friend group. Of course, she has to deal with the drama of Becca liking Jason. And Jason not liking Becca back (you know, in that way). But she does her best to navigate the complexities of friendship and relationships while juggling her way through her attempts to become popular.
2019
Steph is our leading lady in this book. She's had a previous run-in in the last with a popular girl, Lauren. And Lauren has never let anyone forget about it, which is what inspires Steph to try and become a more popular girl at school. Now, this I totally get. Everyone (basically) has something in the past that they not only want to forget but also maybe want to improve how their life is. Steph is a truly likable character because she's down to earth, funny, and normal. She acts just like a normal high school girl. And she's a little bit clueless, but sweet.
Jason is the adorable boy next door (literally) who is Steph's best friend and basically the only person who calls her on her BS when she goes a little overboard on the trying to get popular train.
Lauren is the popular girl we all love to hate. She has the hottest boyfriend in school. She's only friends with the other popular girls in school. And she loves to pick on the kids that aren't in great social standing. And, luckily for her, Steph is a much nicer person than I am.
Honestly a super cute story.
2019
2021
2020
Steph is a really good main character; mostly because she makes me think of myself from high school. I was super far removed from the popular crowd, and even though I could tell they were a bunch of jerks and bitches, there was nothing I wanted more than to be accepted into their group. Steph makes the same mistake in wanting to be popular, but she takes it a step further than I did. She found herself a "get popular" book and started following it step by step. And, to be fair, it worked out pretty well for her, in the end.
I love her friendship with Becca and Jason, too, because it's such a great, pure friend group. Of course, she has to deal with the drama of Becca liking Jason. And Jason not liking Becca back (you know, in that way). But she does her best to navigate the complexities of friendship and relationships while juggling her way through her attempts to become popular.
2019
Steph is our leading lady in this book. She's had a previous run-in in the last with a popular girl, Lauren. And Lauren has never let anyone forget about it, which is what inspires Steph to try and become a more popular girl at school. Now, this I totally get. Everyone (basically) has something in the past that they not only want to forget but also maybe want to improve how their life is. Steph is a truly likable character because she's down to earth, funny, and normal. She acts just like a normal high school girl. And she's a little bit clueless, but sweet.
Jason is the adorable boy next door (literally) who is Steph's best friend and basically the only person who calls her on her BS when she goes a little overboard on the trying to get popular train.
Lauren is the popular girl we all love to hate. She has the hottest boyfriend in school. She's only friends with the other popular girls in school. And she loves to pick on the kids that aren't in great social standing. And, luckily for her, Steph is a much nicer person than I am.
Honestly a super cute story.
2019
June 10, 2017
2.5 stars, but rounding up since I really liked Jason & becca. & fond childhood memories. My preteen self really enjoyed this book way back when, so I'm sure other Tweens would probably enjoy it.
Plus, the whole thing reminds me of "mean girls" one of the few comedy movies I actually like.
There is one major flaw with the book though. & that is... Stephanie Landry, our protagonist. She is a judgmental bitch. Maybe not quite as bad as Zoey Redbirds, but still plenty enough of an ass to drag my rating down.
"Popular girls never tease or mock other girls" according to The Book that Steph read to help her become popular.
Good advice.
-_-
except for the fact that her entire inner monologue is nothing BUT her mocking other girls. She's a jerk. Plain and simple. A nasty, judging, slut-shamming, whining, spying, i-am-better-than-everyone jerk who doesn't see good things or people even when they're standing in front of her.
BUT! Aside from how much I HATED Steph, I did enjoy the book. The writing was decent & I did like Jason. A few parts were pretty funny. It was a fun, easy read. It'd be a good pick if you like Chick lit & fluffy teen romance type books. It feels like a definite happy sunny day at the beach type read. Not challenging or mind blowing, but fun.
I'll have to look for more of Meg cabot's books. :D
Plus, the whole thing reminds me of "mean girls" one of the few comedy movies I actually like.
There is one major flaw with the book though. & that is... Stephanie Landry, our protagonist. She is a judgmental bitch. Maybe not quite as bad as Zoey Redbirds, but still plenty enough of an ass to drag my rating down.
"Popular girls never tease or mock other girls" according to The Book that Steph read to help her become popular.
Good advice.
-_-
except for the fact that her entire inner monologue is nothing BUT her mocking other girls. She's a jerk. Plain and simple. A nasty, judging, slut-shamming, whining, spying, i-am-better-than-everyone jerk who doesn't see good things or people even when they're standing in front of her.
BUT! Aside from how much I HATED Steph, I did enjoy the book. The writing was decent & I did like Jason. A few parts were pretty funny. It was a fun, easy read. It'd be a good pick if you like Chick lit & fluffy teen romance type books. It feels like a definite happy sunny day at the beach type read. Not challenging or mind blowing, but fun.
I'll have to look for more of Meg cabot's books. :D
April 20, 2017
Liked this book. Didn't love it, but did like it. It's a cute young adult book about popularity and how to reach it. The advice is actually pretty good, and the paths the heroine takes are entertaining.
May 19, 2015
I still liked it. Maybe even more than I first read it.
May 27, 2012
This is how I felt during the majority of the book. It was just so bland and monotone that I did not laugh a single time during the whole time I read the book.
Not a single time.
This is important mainly because being a huge fan of Meg Cabot, I expected way more from her. But I honestly think this is one of her weaker books (but not as weak as Abandon, that was just horrid).
I really hated that main character, Steph. She was annoying and whiny and overall, a real self-centered brat. For whatever reason, she wanted to be popular and "suddenly" she finds this book which is, wait for it, a guide on How to Be Popular.
She decides to follow the book and in the process, loses her friends and yet she still wants to be popular. The antagonist in the novel, Miss Queen Bee of the school, still embarrasses Steph about an incident that happened back in junior high. Seriously?
I'm sorry but with the ways these girls acted, they might as well go back to elementary school. I go to high school, it is nothing like how Meg Cabot portayed it.
Meg Cabot used the typical stereotypes of high school (popularity conquers) and rather than being more original, decides to write a book about a girl learning about popularity.
The only character I found myself liking was Jason. He had that typical male lead charisma that I always find myself being drawn to. He was sweet and well, Steph doesn't deserve a guy like that.
The message in this book was loud and clear: Popularity isn't worth it. I'll admit, this is a pretty important message so you know what? So long as this message is influencing young girls, I have some appreciation for this book. If it makes even just one girl more confident about herself, despite her place on the social hierarchy, then Meg Cabot did well.
But for me, it was boring. I find it easier to enjoy the moral of the story if the story is, well, enjoyable. And it wasn't.
I would have rated the book higher if not for the ending. Where of course, spoiler alert, everything goes Steph's way. It all works out. Happily ever after. Blahblahblah ... no. That's not how life is, it's not how life will ever be. Life doesn't give you the perfect sugar-coated happy endings that Meg Cabot gave me. Her ending was so sugary sweet it probably had 5000 calories in it alone. Gross.
It was a quick and simple read. I don't think it should be classified as a young adult novel. Reads more like a pre-adolecent book, for girls entering high school. Boring for me.
Just go read the Princess Diaries series. Much better than this.
Overall: 1 star for sharing a good message to impressionable young girls. 1 star for Jason, the only character I liked.
March 28, 2014
Meg Cabot’s How To Be Popular was a butt kicking great. She gives a theme to every book she writes. This is why I love Cabot’s writing style. I can also relate to the characters in the story somewhat. Thats why this book was great
This book has shown me a great theme. Popularity is a piece of crap. Well, really popularity is the easiest thing to gain but hardest to hold. What they saying is that popularity has it”s snares and no benefit for them. So this book showed me that people will accept you the way you are.
I love Cabot’s style of writing. She makes all her books girly and fun. Meg Cabot books usually teaches us a lesson about how to get through in life. Cabot writing usually makes it understandable to “young teens and uses the grammar we may use. So her books makes good way to understand.
The characters in the book was fun to read about. The main character, Steph Landry, got on my nerves because she wanted to be popular and started changing her look and hung out with the populars. My least favorite character was Lauren because she’s mean and started the “Don’t pull a Steph Landry’ phrase after an incident around 6th grade. Cabot makes me believe in them as people because the book is realistic fiction so this could happen in real life. That’s why I love Cabot’s characters.
This is why I love this book. It tells us a great theme about popularity. I like Meg Cabot’s style of writing and the characters. I would love for people to read this book so much. So, yeah read this book.
This book has shown me a great theme. Popularity is a piece of crap. Well, really popularity is the easiest thing to gain but hardest to hold. What they saying is that popularity has it”s snares and no benefit for them. So this book showed me that people will accept you the way you are.
I love Cabot’s style of writing. She makes all her books girly and fun. Meg Cabot books usually teaches us a lesson about how to get through in life. Cabot writing usually makes it understandable to “young teens and uses the grammar we may use. So her books makes good way to understand.
The characters in the book was fun to read about. The main character, Steph Landry, got on my nerves because she wanted to be popular and started changing her look and hung out with the populars. My least favorite character was Lauren because she’s mean and started the “Don’t pull a Steph Landry’ phrase after an incident around 6th grade. Cabot makes me believe in them as people because the book is realistic fiction so this could happen in real life. That’s why I love Cabot’s characters.
This is why I love this book. It tells us a great theme about popularity. I like Meg Cabot’s style of writing and the characters. I would love for people to read this book so much. So, yeah read this book.
July 28, 2009
I actually read this a few months ago and promptly forgot everything about it. How To Be Popular is a standard, disposable piece of YA fluff. It’s simple, it’s quick, and overall, it’s enjoyable if you have no expectations of reading something fantastic (or even memorable, in this case).
How To Be Popular is about Steph Landry, an average, yet lovable highschooler in a small town. Although she is far from friendless, she is not at all popular, mostly due to an embarrassing junior high school incident that the queen bee of the school will never let Steph live down. Basically, the story revolves around Steph, who finds a self help book about how to be popular, trying to change her status while facing a few other friend and family situations.
There’s nothing special abotu How To Be Popular, yet it is exactly what it should be–fun, light-hearted, and sugary. The characters in this book are nice teenagers with nice, easy to solve problems, which is why I think it would be a good tween book (as opposed to full on teens, who would probably snicker at poor little Steph and her popularity problems). Readers looking for substance should go elsewhere, but for readers seeking tween fluff, How To Be Popular will fit the bill.
How To Be Popular is about Steph Landry, an average, yet lovable highschooler in a small town. Although she is far from friendless, she is not at all popular, mostly due to an embarrassing junior high school incident that the queen bee of the school will never let Steph live down. Basically, the story revolves around Steph, who finds a self help book about how to be popular, trying to change her status while facing a few other friend and family situations.
There’s nothing special abotu How To Be Popular, yet it is exactly what it should be–fun, light-hearted, and sugary. The characters in this book are nice teenagers with nice, easy to solve problems, which is why I think it would be a good tween book (as opposed to full on teens, who would probably snicker at poor little Steph and her popularity problems). Readers looking for substance should go elsewhere, but for readers seeking tween fluff, How To Be Popular will fit the bill.
January 30, 2016
Steph Landry wants to be like:
I was fairly annoyed at times when it Steph was like "OMG gotta be popular!"
Gah shut UP! It means nothing! Thank goodness she got over it and realized what was reallyimportant was staring her in the face almost literally her entire life...Jason!
I don't have much to say about this. It was really short and there was definitely something missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just that unsatisfied feeling you get when you finish a book but you don't really know where it's coming from.
Lot's of stereotypes. Lead popular girl is a cheerleader who is dating the star quarterback. Yeah, haven't seen that one before :P
I'm over it.
I was fairly annoyed at times when it Steph was like "OMG gotta be popular!"
Gah shut UP! It means nothing! Thank goodness she got over it and realized what was reallyimportant was staring her in the face almost literally her entire life...Jason!
I don't have much to say about this. It was really short and there was definitely something missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just that unsatisfied feeling you get when you finish a book but you don't really know where it's coming from.
Lot's of stereotypes. Lead popular girl is a cheerleader who is dating the star quarterback. Yeah, haven't seen that one before :P
I'm over it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2017
Unterhaltsamer Teenie-ChickLit. Vom ersten Kapitel an ist offensichtlich, wie die Geschichte endet, aber der Weg ist unterhaltend allemal. Und die Popularity Seiteneinschübe sind cool gemacht.
October 10, 2015
completamente hollywoodiano, tipo filme americano sobre adolescente que faz makeover, mas fofinho assim mesmo.
August 14, 2020
‘Way to pull a Steph Landry’
…and that cruel taunt has been burning Steph Landry’s ears since the time that she was a clumsy twelve-year old who accidentally upended a Red Super Big-Gulp on Lauren Moffat’s white denim D & G skirt. And although Steph bought Lauren a brand new skirt…prima-donna hag-extraordinaire Lauren has never let Steph or the rest of Bloomville High School ever let the unfortunate memory fade. Ergo, whenever anyone commits a faux-pas or does something remotely dorky, it’s ‘Don’t pull a Steph’ or ‘That’s so Steph’ or ‘Don’t be such a Steph’ or the ever popular ‘Way to pull a Steph Landry’ .
But now, after five years of fading into the background and being content with mocking the in-crowd from afar with fellow rejects Jason and Becca…Steph is ready for a change. She has laid her hands on a book titled ‘How-To-Be-Popular’ and is ready to implement all the guidelines that the author has cheerfully spelt out. So, it’s a new hairstyle, a spanking new (yet, tastefully put together) wardrobe and a sociable personality. She’s ready to grab the eyeballs of the popular kids with her new assertiveness. No more wallflower-impersonation. Steph Landry is ready to shine and dazzle and poke-one-in-the-eye of uber-witch - Lauren Moffat and attract the attention of handsome quarterback - Mike Finley.
But in the quest for fitting-in, she’s in danger of alienating her best friends; Jason (who interestingly enough has gotten taller and noticeably hotter) and Becca (who has never really left behind her scared-witless, farmgirl-in-a-new-setting persona). Does getting a shoe-in into the elite pack mean compromising on things that Steph strongly believes in? Does it mean hurting the people who have always stood by her through the rough patches?
Meg Cabot is the literary equivalent of comfort-food. Her books are frothy, funny and wholly enjoyable. Her heroines are gutsy teenagers. While they are generally practical individuals, all of them have occasional spasms of self-doubt and flashes of insecurity to keep them real. Cabot also manages to deal with teen-issues with her usual brand of sparky dialogue and a down-to-earth approach.
How To Be Popular is a fun read. It has a likeable, non-whiney heroine in Steph and a cast of oddball characters who while they might be a tad predictable are still engaging. Don’t let the title put you off. It’s not…I repeat…NOT….a self-help book. What it is, is another of Cabot’s sassy yet serious takes on the quintessential teen girl.
…and that cruel taunt has been burning Steph Landry’s ears since the time that she was a clumsy twelve-year old who accidentally upended a Red Super Big-Gulp on Lauren Moffat’s white denim D & G skirt. And although Steph bought Lauren a brand new skirt…prima-donna hag-extraordinaire Lauren has never let Steph or the rest of Bloomville High School ever let the unfortunate memory fade. Ergo, whenever anyone commits a faux-pas or does something remotely dorky, it’s ‘Don’t pull a Steph’ or ‘That’s so Steph’ or ‘Don’t be such a Steph’ or the ever popular ‘Way to pull a Steph Landry’ .
But now, after five years of fading into the background and being content with mocking the in-crowd from afar with fellow rejects Jason and Becca…Steph is ready for a change. She has laid her hands on a book titled ‘How-To-Be-Popular’ and is ready to implement all the guidelines that the author has cheerfully spelt out. So, it’s a new hairstyle, a spanking new (yet, tastefully put together) wardrobe and a sociable personality. She’s ready to grab the eyeballs of the popular kids with her new assertiveness. No more wallflower-impersonation. Steph Landry is ready to shine and dazzle and poke-one-in-the-eye of uber-witch - Lauren Moffat and attract the attention of handsome quarterback - Mike Finley.
But in the quest for fitting-in, she’s in danger of alienating her best friends; Jason (who interestingly enough has gotten taller and noticeably hotter) and Becca (who has never really left behind her scared-witless, farmgirl-in-a-new-setting persona). Does getting a shoe-in into the elite pack mean compromising on things that Steph strongly believes in? Does it mean hurting the people who have always stood by her through the rough patches?
Meg Cabot is the literary equivalent of comfort-food. Her books are frothy, funny and wholly enjoyable. Her heroines are gutsy teenagers. While they are generally practical individuals, all of them have occasional spasms of self-doubt and flashes of insecurity to keep them real. Cabot also manages to deal with teen-issues with her usual brand of sparky dialogue and a down-to-earth approach.
How To Be Popular is a fun read. It has a likeable, non-whiney heroine in Steph and a cast of oddball characters who while they might be a tad predictable are still engaging. Don’t let the title put you off. It’s not…I repeat…NOT….a self-help book. What it is, is another of Cabot’s sassy yet serious takes on the quintessential teen girl.
February 20, 2015
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3.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). How to Be Popular was the first book by Meg Cabot that I ever read. I thought it was very cute and fast paced. The characters!; Oh how I loved them! Meg Cabot adds such quirky and lovable traits to all of her characters (Steph, Jason, and the Grandpa especially), and I definitely became emotionally attached to a majority of them. I also really liked Steph's character development. Being able to experience her journey so vividly made me like the book even more! Overall, I definitely recommend you pick this up if you are in the mood for reading an adorable and quick contemporary!
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
3.5 of 5 stars (Please read my rating system further below). How to Be Popular was the first book by Meg Cabot that I ever read. I thought it was very cute and fast paced. The characters!; Oh how I loved them! Meg Cabot adds such quirky and lovable traits to all of her characters (Steph, Jason, and the Grandpa especially), and I definitely became emotionally attached to a majority of them. I also really liked Steph's character development. Being able to experience her journey so vividly made me like the book even more! Overall, I definitely recommend you pick this up if you are in the mood for reading an adorable and quick contemporary!
My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....
July 23, 2010
Well it would be one less star if it wasn't for Jason. A guy like him deserves 1 whole star.
How To be Popular is about a girl named Steph. She's a social reject. She has been since she spilt red Super Big Gulp over Lauren whose the MOST popular girl in school. And Lauren has never forgotten about that incident EVER! But this year Steph is making sure she joins the A-Crowd. She has a plan and her secret weapon is a book called How TO be Popular. She uses this book is help her become popular (I have to admit some of the things the book say is WELL helpful). But becoming popular comes at a cost meaning she'll lose her best friend Jason at the process. Jason and her have been friends since kindergarten and their tight as a button, they even live close to each other. And how do I know this well Steph spies on Jason when he's changing, she says that the sight of him changing is meditation for her (What a PERVERT!). And the ending now that cracked me up, what an awesome ending to a lovely book!
How To be Popular is about a girl named Steph. She's a social reject. She has been since she spilt red Super Big Gulp over Lauren whose the MOST popular girl in school. And Lauren has never forgotten about that incident EVER! But this year Steph is making sure she joins the A-Crowd. She has a plan and her secret weapon is a book called How TO be Popular. She uses this book is help her become popular (I have to admit some of the things the book say is WELL helpful). But becoming popular comes at a cost meaning she'll lose her best friend Jason at the process. Jason and her have been friends since kindergarten and their tight as a button, they even live close to each other. And how do I know this well Steph spies on Jason when he's changing, she says that the sight of him changing is meditation for her (What a PERVERT!). And the ending now that cracked me up, what an awesome ending to a lovely book!
September 29, 2020
"How to be Popular" is a childhood favorite of mine. It's sweet. It's funny. Has some fun leads. It has a decent message for tweens/teenagers, and it has a super cheesy, teen-movie type ending that I adore.
Seriously, I do think this would make a really fun movie. Like maybe something for Netflix or Disney+?
I really like it. It's a comfort book for me. You know the sort, I mean. One of those books you can read over and over again and still love it? The sort of book you read when you're feeling down or in a reading slump, and it perks you up. For me, its "How to be Popular" or "The Books of Elsewhere" series by Jacquline West.
Highly recommended for fans of young adult contemporary books. :D
My only complaint is how downplayed the main character's spying is. She REALLY shouldn't be doing that, and its really annoying how it's used as something funny. Double Standards right there.
Seriously, I do think this would make a really fun movie. Like maybe something for Netflix or Disney+?
I really like it. It's a comfort book for me. You know the sort, I mean. One of those books you can read over and over again and still love it? The sort of book you read when you're feeling down or in a reading slump, and it perks you up. For me, its "How to be Popular" or "The Books of Elsewhere" series by Jacquline West.
Highly recommended for fans of young adult contemporary books. :D
My only complaint is how downplayed the main character's spying is. She REALLY shouldn't be doing that, and its really annoying how it's used as something funny. Double Standards right there.
November 24, 2017
This was so much fun!! Steph was hilarious and I couldn't stop laughing. She was so much fun. Jason was adorable and funny and cute and protective and clearly jealous and just the best friend you could ask for! Lauren was a royal jerk and awesome. Becca was sweet and misunderstood. Mark was interesting. I don't know about him. Darlene and Alyssa were developing characters and fun. Definitely loved this book!
February 23, 2019
Liked it back when it came out, but this does not stand the test of time. :(
Read
January 3, 2024this book is the reason I always put moisturizer on my elbows
June 19, 2024
Not the best Meg Cabot book and not one I would reread. Just okay.
October 1, 2024
Technically a reread
This was a cute story, though some parts did not age well.
This was a cute story, though some parts did not age well.
May 8, 2017
No hay mucho que decir del libro, la historia es súper predecible y los personajes no podrían ser mas planos. La actitud de los protagonistas a veces me resultó incluso más estúpida de lo que podría uno dejar pasar justificando la adolescencia y las hormonas (aunque de por sí me parece una mala excusa siempre).
Pero, PEEERO, era justo lo que tenía ganas de leer, una historia divertida, con personajes en general agradables y sin NADA de drama en ninguna parte. La verdad es un libro entretenido para pasar el rato aunque probablemente para mañana ya me haya olvidado de la mitad de la historia puesto que dudo que a alguien pueda marcarlo de alguna manera o hacerle una gran revelación. Fue casi como leer cualquier libro infantil, de esos que no tienen más de 20 paginas y en dónde todos terminan felices pero como ya dije, era justo lo que estaba buscando en este momento por lo que está bien.
Resumiendo: es un libro plano y predecible desde algo así como la primera página, no hay sorpresa de nada pero no deja de ser entretenido y capaz de sacar una que otra sonrisa así que para mí son 3 ESTRELLAS puesto que pase un bun rato leyéndolo pese a que lo tenía en pdf y la traducción era malísima (o sea ¿Quién tradujo eso? ¿YO?). Por cierto mi personaje favorito fue Darlene (personaje secundario que apenas aparece pero fue irónicamente el personaje menos estúpido de todos).
Fin.
Pero, PEEERO, era justo lo que tenía ganas de leer, una historia divertida, con personajes en general agradables y sin NADA de drama en ninguna parte. La verdad es un libro entretenido para pasar el rato aunque probablemente para mañana ya me haya olvidado de la mitad de la historia puesto que dudo que a alguien pueda marcarlo de alguna manera o hacerle una gran revelación. Fue casi como leer cualquier libro infantil, de esos que no tienen más de 20 paginas y en dónde todos terminan felices pero como ya dije, era justo lo que estaba buscando en este momento por lo que está bien.
Resumiendo: es un libro plano y predecible desde algo así como la primera página, no hay sorpresa de nada pero no deja de ser entretenido y capaz de sacar una que otra sonrisa así que para mí son 3 ESTRELLAS puesto que pase un bun rato leyéndolo pese a que lo tenía en pdf y la traducción era malísima (o sea ¿Quién tradujo eso? ¿YO?). Por cierto mi personaje favorito fue Darlene (personaje secundario que apenas aparece pero fue irónicamente el personaje menos estúpido de todos).
Fin.
May 14, 2009
All Steph wants is to be popular. Ever since 6th grade when she accidentally spilled a giant red gulp on her super popular friend Lauren, life has been miserable. Lauren even coined the term “don’t pull a Steph” to make sure that no one ever forgot. Steph reads a book that tells her how to be popular. She buys new clothes, spends lots of time doing her hair and voices her opinion to get the A-list kids to notice her. And they do. Steph wants to make the head-hancho popular guy, Mark, fall in love with her, but realizes in the end that she’s been in love with her best friend the whole time and that Mark isn’t as great as she had previously thought.
Despite my reservations about this book (it just seemed so awfully predictable) as I was reading the ending I couldn’t help but smile. Oh, who am I kidding? I was grinning like a crazy fool. It was just so cute! Cabot has an amiable and light hearted voice that will entertain the reader throughout the novel.
Despite my reservations about this book (it just seemed so awfully predictable) as I was reading the ending I couldn’t help but smile. Oh, who am I kidding? I was grinning like a crazy fool. It was just so cute! Cabot has an amiable and light hearted voice that will entertain the reader throughout the novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
I read this book a number of times as a pre-teen. Meg Cabot was my go-to author. It was super fun and I don't have much to say other than that. It is about an unpopular high schooler named Steph, who finds a book titled How To Be Popular, and uses it to try to climb her schools social ladder and become one of the popular people. But obviously, shenanigans ensue, and she realizes popularity isn't all it's made out to be. I've always wanted more from this book. Steph and Jason are some of my favourite Meg characters, second only to Suze and Jesse from the Mediator series. I would definitely read another book of these characters if one were ever written. It's fun, it's light, it's a quick read and I ate these sort of books up as a young 11-13 year old, so the nostalgia is huge for me. Even as a soon to be 22 year old now, I still loved it.
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