Mates, Dates and Pulling Power

Mates, Dates #7

by Cathy Hopkins

Nesta is devastated. She has to wear a brace. She thinks that no boy will ever look at her again without thinking of the killer shark in Jaws. There's only one option - to become a recluse.

Genres: Young Adult, Chick Lit, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Teen, Childrens

169 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2003

Reviews

[Cora Tea Party Princess · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 Words: family, friendship, face masks, fun.

I absolutely loved this series as a teen, I had every book.

But I never liked Nesta much. This book is probably the best illustration for why. She's just too always-has-to-be-right for me to get along with and I can't help but read her character in a snooty voice. Whoopsie.

This book is about friendship and why holding a grudge isn't good. It's also about how silly it is to be shallow.

[Mel Steadman Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favourite of the series but we do meet Luke in this book, who becomes an important character in the series, so it's good. Very entertaining.

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good book. I am never disappointed with the Mates, Dates Series! The main theme of this book was “that all you can be is true to yourself.”

It ends with a quote from Hamlet: “To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man.”

I am in love with these books and the characters in them. This book is so relatable as it begins with Nesta worrying that she is shallow and how appearances are so important to her. Her friends remind her that beauty is only skin deep.

When Nesta finds out she has to get braces for a year she feels like her life is over. She states “I shall never go out again. I shall do a Harry Potter and I don’t mean go to Hogwart’s and become a wizard. No, I shall voluntarily move into a cupboard under the stairs and not speak to anyone.”

The book follows how she overcomes her insecurities with getting braces and I think many young girls will relate to this. I know when I had braces it made me self conscious and it would have been nice to have known this book existed back then so I could read about someone going through the same thing as me but maybe a bit more dramatically as I never thought about pulling a Harry Potter.

This book also covers how you should cherish the people you have in your life. Life is short and you shouldn’t hold grudges.

The Mates Dates series is always packed full of life lessons and is guaranteed to be filled with lots of laughs.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favourite book so far in the series. I loved the message this book gave, on loving yourself. The friendship these girls have is amazing, they're always there for each other and they give really good advice.

These books are super short, and you can read them in one sitting. I am sad that i'm almost done this series, and I can't wait to reread them again one day. I also like how the books focus on different family issues as well.

In this book we read about Nesta, and why her dad doesn't want her brother Tony to start driving. We also learn that they are struggling with money. This book also talks about communication and how important that is in a family, and in friendship. Hiding things from his family only made Nesta question her dad more. If he had been truthful from the start perhaps some things could have been avoided. One of the main parts in the story is how Nesta reacts to getting braces. I found her so funny, she's definitely one of my favourite characters in this series.

I just love this series, and I can't wait to see what the next book will be about!

[annatheworstbanana · Rating 3 out of 5]

i’m in such a slump. read this when i was 10 and reading it again now was fun!

[The Half-blood Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nesta's confidence on her good looks takes a blow when she has to use braces for a year. Her friends tell her she still looks fabulous, to no avail. Nesta gives up auditioning for the school play, but she signs for acting classes mostly frequented by older people, where she won't be embarrassed about her braces.

Then she meets Luke, a cute boy with a dream to become an actor too, who is passionate about cinema. Nesta feels like she isn't as knowledgeable as him, and starts wondering if her friends were right about her being superficial.

Who do Izzie and Tj think they are to talk all high and mighty about superficiality? Let us all remember how both of them went for the unreliable handsome dirtbags first, how TJ’s weakness is for attractive guys, not interesting guys, and how Izzie just completely judged Ben negatively on an isolated occasion with no further information. She didn’t even deserve to date the guy as far as I’m concerned. I still remember her thinking he was going to embarrass himself at the gig, bore everybody and she didn’t want people to see she knew him.

At the same time, seriously, reading does not qualify one as a bookworm or a nerd. If it did, then I’d have some unflattering terms for Nesta who watches soaps. Previously, Nesta’s favourite band was Destiny’s Child. Now it’s Red Hot Chili Peppers. What a big change, did the author make a mistake?

I thought the whole Italian feud drama was so cliché. Her father behaved in an unreasonable, rude, childish manner too. He was expecting not be challenged and to obeyed without logic? The UK is still a free country! It felt completely unnecessary and stereotyped, especially when Nesta reaches the dubious conclusion Luke is her brother. Yet another cliché? Is this a soap?

So this book’s meant to say even beautiful people feel unattractive and insecure at some point. Even dazzling people aren’t perfect. And that it is okay to be who you are, just because you don't know much about certain subjects or prefer certain genres and dislike others, it doesn't mean you can't still be insightful.

It seems like these books tell you you don't need to improve yourself though, except for getting boys. I mean, if Nesta wants to work on the showbiz, it really is better if she studies more about that medium. It's good to be and accept who you are, sure. Nevertheless, keeping the brain active and search for continuous growth are important too.

[Amy]

This book is about how Nesta is getting her braces off. she is very happy about it because she is no longer having metal on her teeth. I like this book because its show me how this book can relate to my life. i want to know how is feel to get my braces off !

[Jessica]

I found an old "book diary" that I used to write in. "yes it was really good. it was like the best!!! read it <333" is apparently what my 12 year old self thought of this book. Uh yeah, pretty sure I'd dislike this now, but at least I had fun reading it back then.

[Lorie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I would like this book if I was a teen (though there is a lot of YA I love now).

[Ilaria ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I managed to wear braces confidently only by reading this book!
I've read it more and more times, and I still love it :D

[Sierra Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and witty series

[Lauren Zell-Huxley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these books when I was younger. I’ve definitely matured, and not sure I’d enjoy them too much now. But great for younger readers, say about 11-14? Silly and fun but you get to love the main characters

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book 📖

[tia :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will forever read this series over and over again because of home much I love the story lines and the characters

[arito · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved it

[Gabby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book inside and out it give the true reason to love your friends and family, to not care what you look like and go for things 100% recommended

[Alberte · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[Felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Collective Review

I first read a couple of these books in 2006. I had a long bus trip and grabbed a couple of the series from a local bookstore. I had no idea they were part of a huge series. Over the years I had forgotten the names of the books but every now and then would try to find them. I finally found them this year from a Goodreads list. Yay!

I really enjoyed this series. I think the main reason is because the books were released in 2001 and the girls are 14. I was 13 in 2001 so can connect with a lot of the pop culture aspects mentioned throughout the series. Even though the series is based in England I still feel a sense of nostalgia while reading it.

I really love the girls and their friendship. I never had a close knit group of friends like this when I was younger so I liked reading about it. They are a bit too boy crazy for my liking but I really did love this series.

[Lauren Michels · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the book Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles there is really no particular story that it is portraying, but it does portray friendship. In this book there are four girls, who are best friends, they go by the names of Izzie, T.J., Lucy, and Nesta. This book is part of a series and in each book a different girl is telling the story. In this book Nesta is the one telling the story. In this book Nesta meets a boy named Luke in an acting class that she and her friend Izzie are taking. When Nesta's dad meets Luke he asks her not to see him again, but Nesta doesn't like that very well. She continues to see him and later finds out that Luke's dad and her dad were best friends but something had happened to them. Nesta's dad's sister Nadia had been killed in an car accident and Luke's dad was with her and then he never spoke to Luke's dad again. Nesta is determined to reunite the two and they are reunited because Nesta went down to Luke's restaurant and was determined not to leave until her dad went and saw Luke's dad and it was lunchtime and her dad drove Nesta's mom to the restaurant. After the reunion Nesta, T.J., Izzie, and Lucy all made a pact to never let anything come between them. If you are reading this review I bet you are wondering; was the reunion between Nesta's and Luke's dads a success? Well you'll have to read the book to find out.

I enjoyed this book because it teaches a life lesson or gives you life lessons and some interesting quotes some of which are very popular. This author has about ten books in this series and each of the ones I have read have taught a life lesson.

One of the quotes from the book is; Life never closes a door, without opening another window.

[Saniya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lamely funny! LOL! xD

How I got this book:
I was going back to my class at school and suddenly my friend threw this book at me, telling me to keep this book for 1 week. I didn't get time to ask her why but I read it and I still have this book and god knows when she will take this book back!
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First of all, my friends (I seriously don't know why) loves Cathy Hopkins. I was like ok...lets give this book a try! and yay! this book was hell funny and Lame (In a good sort of way) and oh yeah...!I love the back cover of this book BTW! I really want that pink glittery toothpaste =P:D
The Characters were damn funny especially Nesta! Shes such a desperate girl! and that made me laugh alot. Gosh... I haven't read a teenage funny-girly book since ages. She was like "Yabadabadoo...!" and I was "Omg! xD lol!" and I loved it when she said, "Yeah. Yo! Shakespeare, My man!" *ok... I am still grinning* Now, over Nesta...She got braces and shes making a huge fuss about it. I got like two best friends and lots of close friends and I know that feeling that the author was trying to tell us. and Luke! I love him! but I don't like boys babbling about stuffs and stuffs and stuffs. Other characters were great too, and the suspense in the end was really good. The author explained it pretty well!

Overall, This book was a fun, light read. I loved this book and I am waiting for my friend to smack another book of Dates and Mates Series at me! xD I will give this book 4.25/5 stars! =D

[Amanda Yeargin]

I read Mates, Dates, and Sequin Smiles as an IR book. This book was about Nesta discovering herself more through a boy. Nesta finds out she has to get braces and she is devasated. She was also called shallow by her friends sort of. So when she goes to an acting class and sees this boy Luke she falls in love. They start hanging out and she wants to prove she isnt shallow. Also she is paranoid that he'll think she is an airhead. Can she prove herself and get her confidence back.
I have an text-to-world. At times i see some girls loose confidence over one thing. Like one girl on a tv show lost confidence ove her body image. In my book Nesta lost confidence because she has braces. In the book she is a total babe to boys and then shes down. But then she realizes braces are fine.
I give this book *****stars. I gave it 5 stars because it showed me that don't loose confidence in something that won't ruin your life. The details were really good too. I recommend this book to someone who likes the series

[Ethar · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good story that will drive you away from boredom , story told in a very perfect way, recommended for teens.

-Nesta, the most beautiful of all and easily the most attractive in her school starts to feel a bit reluctant and a bit down from her Mates. when they start to tell her that she's so shallow she lacks more and more confidence and acts like a 'drama queen' but she doesn't approve it. She starts doing everything to prove the opposite but a time comes when she can't help it anymore . and when she enters an acting class she feels relaxed at first , but then a boy comes around, and she with braces? not the best phase to flirt with such a boy.she's never been really the one who's trying to impress , what's the matter this time ? she tries everything to impress and keep him away from looking at braces , she's even tried shopping for a bra , she thought at least it will distract a little bit, but it didn't work neither wearing burkas . but then he reveals a new side of her and make her feel good again..

a very good book with an attractive story.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't like this one as much as I usually like the Mates, Dates about Nesta. I was excited because I had braces for five years and I knew all about the pain and suffering they cause (not just to your mouth but your self esteem). Unfortunately, the book was much less about braces and much more about Nesta meeting a new guy and reconciling her father's relationship with her new boyfriend's father. So on that, I sort of felt like the book was a mixed message and lost its point - is it about coming to terms with braces, or is it about helping people reconcile old grudges? Not sure.

But I did like that Nesta, the effortlessly gorgeous one, was the one who had to get braces. Because in real life, the pretty girls always have perfect teeth...

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

UN QUARTETTO FORMIDABILE

Nesta, Lucy, Izzie e TJ, ovvero le amiche che avrei sempre voluto avere.

In "Si può sorridere con un apriscatole in bocca?" Nesta mi ha permesso di immergermi, oltre che nei suoi problemi estetici e nell'atmosfera di un corso di teatro, in una rete di segreti di famiglia e rancori che impediscono il suo amore con il bellissimo Luke.

Con "Se in amore vince chi fugge...", invece, il quartetto ha portato anche me in gita a Firenze e Lucy, in particolare, mi ha intenerito con la sua titubanza e la sua ingenuità, nonché appassionato con un triangolo amoroso dall'esito ovvio, ma estremamente soddisfacente (viva Tony per l'eternità!).

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nesta has to get braces! I liked this one, because not only is Nesta all freaked out about her braces (which are A LOT less common in England than in the US) but she meets this hotttt guy in her acting class, Luke. As soon as her dad sees Luke though, he forbids Nesta to ever see him again, and won't give her a reason. The books not nearly as preachy as Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes and the plot was less predictable than usual, and a little more oddball.

[Suki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was also one of my favorite books because it is by Cathy Hopkins. THis book contains a special message to me that whoever you are, bee it and dont hide it because you will miss special opportunities. Nesta have to get braces and she hate it because she thinks that it affected her by no one will think she is gorgeous and cute boys wont flirt with her but she realizes that it doesnt matter. What attracts people is personality not how they look!

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is good if you like stories mixed with, like advice.
in a part of this book it tells you how to make face masks and 10 top tips about boys.
also in this book it tells you a basic story about what youy go through as teenagers...and if you dont...well i'd see a doctor!
JOKIES! no you will realy like this book... i will also reccomend mates, dates guide to life if you like pilling power.

toodles ;)

[Nur Izzati · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, I read the first book when I was 14. But I stopped, now I feel like continue reading it again cause I found the other books at a friend's house. Yes its more suitable for adolescents, but it can be fun for adults among the 20s too. The story is really light and simple, I finished it in a day. Its funny and has many small notes at the end of every chapter (facial mask ingredients, how to measure for a bra). Not boring at all.

[Veronica Widya · Rating 3 out of 5]

all thing inside nesta's head is funny.
and the story that she experienced with luke is funny either.
but u will never expected how luke really is in the other book.
he seems very nice in this book.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is okay to read.Its based on her loving to hang out with boys and her friends alot and she gets affected it about it because shes getting braces and she dont want no boys to make fun of her.But know that she has it she thinks that shes more attractive with them.