FINDING AUDREY READ-ALONG discussion

What do you think of the story so far? Who's your favorite character? Who would you go against in a duel?

I really like Hadley. She's such a strong character. And of course I love David. His smirks just. AGH

I wouldn't have picked up this book on my own, but I'm really enjoying it so far! I love David, oh my god. XD

I love the way it is written so far. I love the little comedic remarks Harper makes. My fave scene so far has to be the non-slapping one. :D She just couldn't slap David!

Yes, the humorous undertone is so appropriate somehow. I feel like it establishes Harper's voice very well, all the while staying true to her age and her slight ditziness. I also love that while Rachel Hawkins didn't shy away from the "queen bee, head cheerleader from an affluent home who loves Catillions and makeup" angle, she developed Harper's character in such a way that's relateable and genuine. She doesn't - as she says - use her popularity for evil. She genuinely cares about the school. She really does want for everyone to have as much fun at school as she is having. It's a nice subversion of that particular trope, and I like how the author tackled it with subtlety. I don't feel like I'm being beat over the head with how nice Harper is, but at the same time there's a lot of room to like her and to understand where she's coming from.

Very well put, Lexie! I agree.

R4Reader wrote: "I love the way it is written so far. I love the little comedic remarks Harper makes. My fave scene so far has to be the non-slapping one. :D She just couldn't slap David!"

YES! The humor is spot on. I've laughed several times already!

So far I'm LOVING every second of this book. I'll admit at first I was very hesitant, because of the cover. So far this book has proven to be EPIC. We have this crazy fight scene with her history teacher in the bathroom. I love that she took him out with her shoes. xD I feel like Harper didn't react much to everything that was happening during this scene. She didn't really react to the fact that the Janitor had just died and how he was wearing a disguise. I also LOVED the car chase scene. I think that's my favorite part in the book so far.

I think my favorite character at the moment is Harper. I love how snarky she is!

As for who I'd go up against in a duel? Probably David. Only because it ticks me off the way he treats Harper and because I feel like he's a bit of a weak character.

I'm interested to see where this book goes! I wan't to learn more about Harper's abilities and also figure out why all these things that are happening just seem to disappear.

Jesse wrote: "I'll admit at first I was very hesitant, because of the cover."

As was I. As Jeannette said, this is the sort of book I'd never have picked up on my own, had you guys not decided on it for the read-a-long, mainly because of the cover. And I, too, am pleasantly surprised by the content. I wish they'd redesign the cover now instead of three books later, "Across the Universe" style.

And I, too, am ticked off by David at this point. That post-Homecoming article he posted was a really douche move on his part. Firstly because he took advantage of a clearly very distressing situation. And secondly because that kind of story had no business headlining in a school paper, even a less-reputable one. It was a personal attack, it was gossipy and it cited no actual sources. I mean, I wasn't upset because of the journalistic credibility, not really. I was just upset that anyone would do that to someone in that situation. But I have a feeling David will improve. Character growth and all. So I'm hopeful.

Those were my thoughts exactly Lexi!!!

I love the whole Buffy vibe the book has with all of the sarcasm and little quips!! Harper is already one of my favorite characters!

Definitely!!! I agree with everything u guys said! I feel like David will go through major character development because he isn't so good right now and as for the car chase scene.. Just WOW !!! I love the way the author described it.. I was laughing plus intensely reading at the same time!! This book has perfect timing for everything and I don't want it to end!!! I am so glad it's only the first book of maybe a trilogy!!

I'm up to chapter 5 and I'm really liking it! Harper is funny and sarcastic! She kind of reminds me of a more teenage-ish, older, girl version of Percy Jackson. A lot of people could find her character annoying because she's such a typical teenage girl, but I think she's awesome XD

It's kind of funny. Especially when she says "Because I'm awesome" or her stereotypical ditzy self turns a shoe into a weapon and the way she acts towards boys. But its mostly funny in that sense that so much of whats going on is so incoherent. So much of her personality seems like a delusion and I'm pretty sure everyones going crazy with her which is less funny and more insane.

My favorite character right now is Harper. She's able to portray popular cheerleader without being mean to other people. She kinda reminds me of myself with how many clubs she's in and what not. I would probably go up against Bee in a duel because she's probably the weakest character physically, and I want to win.

Ryan's cute and all, but I have a feeling Harper and David will get together :o

Harper cracks me up. I love how she was looking for her Professor Giles X to jump out and explain everything to her.

During the first couple of pages I was a little skeptical but now I can't put the book down. I really love Harper because she is such a complex character. I loved how she mentions how she strives to be perfect but how her therapist treated it like a mental disorder. So interesting.

John wrote: "Harper cracks me up. I love how she was looking for her Professor Giles X to jump out and explain everything to her."

Me too. I thought that was so funny!

I LOVE THIS!! OMG OMG OMG OMG THIS IS AMAZING!!!


Harper: I freaking love her character. Harper is boss. Nuff said. I feel like her reactions fit her character perfectly and she continuously makes my laugh out loud. GAH! She's freaking awesome.

David: "sandy blonde hair" <--- THAT WAS THE LINE that brought my image of him all together. And yes I think he's cute... Like honestly everything he does is just so... Idk how to explain it but i defiantly ship him and Harper

I am now calling them "Harvid"!!!

My Gosh!! It's like Rachel took a nice Elodie and Dex ( haha! Sorry I just had to )and shoved them into this crazy situation!!!
Can I just say when David calls her Pri, I start giggling like a maniac.... Right!!??? Cause Mercer.... Cross.... Damn I am such a Fangirl

I really like Harper. She's different from every strong female characters and like a fresh briese.

I ship harvid to!

but i must say, David better have a good reason for treating Harper the way he does! I'd probably go up against Brandon he seams like the guy i would like to slap!

After reading everyone's comments, I feel kinda bad for liking David so easily, haha. But I usually have a soft spot for antagonistic characters, so maybe it's okay? :P

I can't stop reading this book!! And I'm glad to be sharing it with you all!

Love this book!!! Like Jesse said, I was hesitant to read it because the cover didn't intrigue me and I thought it was going to be a typical cliché girly book, kind of like a rip-off of Buffy but it is definitely not like that!!!! I love the dialogue and the characterizations and how this seems to take place in the South. The Southern twangs make me laugh. I love how Harper and her family/neighborhood might seem to be in the prestige and having brand-name everything, but yet when Harper gets her powers, she turns into a complete badass!! I think there's more to why David is so mean to Harper, so I won't completely dislike him for now. Can't wait to keep reading!!

I love how several of you are shipping harvid already. :P I have a feeling they'll end up together in the end. Anybody else feel that way too? xD

Yes .. Lol.. I didnt really ship Harvid but they have so much more in common than ryan and harper together.. So i am sure they will end up together.. Its kind of obvious :)

I think that Harper and David are supposed to end up together but right now I don't like David at all. Mainly because of the article-thing, that was too mean, and Harper did nothing to him!
I also have a feeling that he was being a jerk because a misunderstanding, like she did something that he took personal or something.
I SO hope they don't use the "he was being mean because he liked her" card.


Also, I think I missed a lot of references in the car chase scene.
Was it because I'm not American, or just lack of pop culture knowledge?

Let me start off by saying this isn't a type of book i would pick up had it been by anyone other than Rachel Hawkins. I loved the Hex Hall books so much. ANYWAY! I really love the pacing of the story so far. It's very fast pace and exciting (literally I haven't been able to put it down). As far as favorite character I'd have to say mine is actually Harper. I mean I loooove David but Harper is just...really snarky and she can handle herself. My favorite scene (so far) has got to be the whole bathroom fight...it was just so so fast paced and fantastic!

agh, at first… I'll be honest I couldn't get into it. not that it wasn't good or anything. I was just a little unsure. but after reading the first ten chapters in the matter of two hours (which is crazy for me considering I'm a slow reader) I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. Things are happening left and right and it just makes you want to keep reading! Like just the thought that David might know what is actually going on is pure excitement for me. I love that Harper seemed like a strong character before she got her "super powers" as she likes to call them, She just kept being herself. Although, it's a little weird to me how easily she is taking this whole change.
I see that some of you are shipping "harvid" I mean we all know it's going to happen… but for some reason id really like to see how it would work if her and Ryan stayed together. with just the few lines he has had so far I really like him. I mean not that David is bad or anything I just feel like Ryan fits harper more than David does.. if that makes any sense to anybody else haha.
So far I'm really enjoying this book and I can not wait to see what happens in the next couple of chapters! YAY, for picking another great book so far.

Lexie wrote: "Yes, the humorous undertone is so appropriate somehow. I feel like it establishes Harper's voice very well, all the while staying true to her age and her slight ditziness. I also love that while Ra..."

Completely agree with you, and I think that Harper and her personality was the best characteristic of this book. Hawkins didn't felt on the cliche and made the story stand out and have a differential between other books.

I'm enjoying this book, is so intense!! I love Harper and David, David is so mean but cute at the same time

I loved the start of this! We get introduced to Harper in such a contrasting way! First we see her as this bossy and prissy princess, but suddenly she becomes so badass!
And the contrast between David and Ryan! Oh man! The important thing is, they both seem like nice guys. But I think it's great that she's starting to realize that maybe it's time for her to move on from Ryan.

So far, I love this book! As for my favorite character, it's a tie between Harper and David.They both are hilarious in their own way, and Harper's just so badass!
I have to say, I highly enjoyed the whole finding-out-Harper-is-a-Paladin-thing. :)
I would definitely go to a duel against Ryan, he really irritates me! ;)

I am really enjoying this story so far! At first, I was really bothered with the abundance of grammatical errors, but after about 60 pages in, I was able to move on and concentrate on the actual plot. I love how Harper is speaking to us as readers as if she were telling the story over coffee. I can't wait to see how the relationship between Harper and David progresses!

I'm loving every minute of this book so far. I love all the funny comments and Harper is just a great character (plus we were both in Future Business Leaders of America in high school, so we've got that in common). Her new powers are supercool but I'm still very curious as to why people are after David. It kind of sucks that she has to protect him considering how much of a jerk he is to her. Though I have a feeling by the end of this book, David and Harper just might end up together. I also love all the action in this book. My fav scene is the fight with Dr. DuPont. It would be awesome if they made this book into a movie cause I would love to see that scene come alive on the screen. I also really want to know how everything is magically disappearing.

I love Harper, I think she is hilarious. I think my favorite part so far is when she flipped Ryan over her back...I could practically see Ryan and Davids shocked expressions.

I am loving Harper. So many young adult novels portray popular girls as bitches and sluts, and to be completely honest, I hate that. She is such a nice person! Her curiosity is so realistic, because if you killed your history teacher with freaky new powers, you would also google it and watch a bunch of super hero movies. Obviously.

This book is hilarious! I mean, just look at this quote:
"Scoot, scoot, SCOOT!” I yelled at David.
“I AM SCOOTING!” he shouted back.

Thank you for choosing this book!

If it wasn't for this book talk I don't think I would have given this book a chance. I read Hex Hall and it wasn't my favorite but wow is this book great so far. I love the southern belle vibe and I also really am enjoying the characters and the writing style. I can't put this book down.

I don't want to put this book down! But I have to, it's 1 am here and I really need to sleep. But I love Harper and David and I'm loving the whole theme of the book. It's this sweet girl who suddenly gets all bad ass, I love it! I probably wouldn't have picked this book up, but I'm so glad I did! Now I'm going to get some sleep so that I can continue to read tomorrow!

This really funny coincidence happened where I saw the play Aladdin the night before I started reading this so the whole time I was singing Arabian nights in my head

Harper is so much like me!!!! Creepy! I am a PERFECTIONIST!! He he he

Love Harper she is hilarious and totally reminds me of people i know!!! This book is so interesting so far and i can't wait to see what else happens!!! I'm on chapter 16 so far!

love this book so far! it kind of reminds me of mara dyer tho idk why

My fav character has to be David! I mean i think he's a really nice person but he's just kinda has a mean outer exterior so i'm interested to see what will happen next...

Ik its not fair bc ryan is a really sweet guy but i am all for david at this point! Shipping so hard already xD

I really loved the start of this book. We've got a really funny narrator and it's fast paced! I love the character interactions and dynamics.

Just started Rebel Belle today! I'm already on page 133! I just got sucked right into the book. I haven't wanted to put it down. I also really love that the book is set in Alabama (that's where I'm from). I like that it's fast paced and there is never a dull moment. And can I just say that Harper's powers are so super cool!!

I really like the book so far! I love Harper and David :)

Is it just me or would this book be a fantastic movie? It's so realistic, well not the Paladin part, but when she finds out about it she reacts exactly how I would! Google is the best!

Juliet wrote: "Is it just me or would this book be a fantastic movie? It's so realistic, well not the Paladin part, but when she finds out about it she reacts exactly how I would! Google is the best!"

I agree, this would make an awesome movie

does anyone else really like Ryan? I'm really scared that she's going to brake up because it says she starts falling for David :(

I love the fact that everyone is loving Harper, not just because I absolutely adore her too, but it does have to be said that goodreads is notorious for hating on female characters, especially ditzy and "slightly" superficial ones like Harper. But these are the things that make these characters relatable. And I just love her reactions to things. Like when she started crying in the bathroom after the fight when she had the Homecoming Crown put on her, because that's what someone would do after all that.
So yeah, in conclusion, Harper is absolutely killin' it so far.

I am in LOVE with this book! The comedy is just perfect, and maybe I'm the only one but I feel like I'm reading a contemporary but then I remember "kickass powers out of nowhere isn't a contemporary trait" I really like Harper, and the fact that she censors cursing is SO funny to me, even when she says them herself. And I like David's physical description, I feel he will have some maajor character development, he clearly knows what's going on.