Review: Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

  Title: Size 12 and Ready to Rock
  Author: Meg Cabot
  Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
  Publication date: July 10th 2012
  My rating: 4.5 stars

 

Summer break . . . and the livin' ain't easy

Just because the students at New York College have flown the coop doesn't mean assistant residence hall director Heather Wells can relax. Fischer Hall is busier than ever, filled with squealing thirteen- and fourteen-year-old girls attending the first ever Tania Trace Teen Rock Camp, hosted by pop sensation Tania Trace herself--who just happens to be newly married to Heather's ex-boyfriend, heartthrob Jordan Cartwright. But the real headache begins when the producer of a reality TV show starring Tania winds up dead . . . and it's clear that the star was the intended victim.

Grant Cartwright, head of Cartwright Records, wants to keep his daughter-in-law (and his highest-earning performer) alive. So he hires his oldest son, black sheep of the family and private investigator Cooper Cartwright--who just happens to be Heather's "new" fiancé. Heather should leave the detecting to Cooper. But with a dorm full of hysterical mini-divas-in-training, she can't help but get involved. And after Tania shares a really shocking secret with her, "this" reality suddenly becomes more dangerously real than anyone ever anticipated. 

I hadn’t realised how much I missed Heather, Cooper and the rest of these insane characters, until I finally got to be with them again in Size 12 and Ready to Rock. I waited so long for the release of this book and I’m pleased to say that despite the long wait, it did not disappoint.

We’re thrown back into Heather’s chaotic life at the death dorm Fischer hall. Normally with students dying left, right and centre Heather is up to her neck with trying to find the killer and always trying to be a hero and save the day. But this time Heather’s stressed out at Fischer Hall for entirely different reasons, as the hall is closed for renovations over the summer, Tania Trace, big time pop star and Heather’s ex Jordan’s wife decides to run her rock camp at the hall. With Tania’s body guard being seriously injured in a random shooting, Tania’s a little freaked out, but with innocent people getting hurt too it’s easily noticeable that Tania is the target. However Tania doesn’t want to let all the little girls down for the camp and decides to battle on, by upping her security and hiring Cooper as her body guard. Heather feels this camp is really getting in the way, but with Fischer Halls record already tarnished, the reputation can’t get any more worse can it?

I had initially started off with Size 12 and Ready to Rock with the aim to read just a few chapters a day, but being back in Fischer Hall, with such a fantastic set of characters, I found myself unable to stop reading and before you know it I was already half way through the book.

I had forgotten so much about Heather and the other crazy characters as it had been a few years since the last instalment, but it was so much fun getting to know them again, they’re all such a quirky bunch from hilarious Gavin, clueless Jordan, hugely grating and egotistical Simon, unpredictable Sarah, Dr Jessop and the Allingtons with their zany ideas and changeable temperaments. But they’re a bunch a characters that easily bring a smile to my face and leave me with warm fuzzies, they’re definitely a bunch of characters I’d love to hang out with especially Cooper *sigh*

Cooper was amazing in this book, I love how with each book we get to know his character that little bit more, and each time I find myself falling or him all over again. I adore his snarky humour and how he would come back with the best responses ever, his several threatening references about his gun permit seriously sent chills through my body. But the best thing about him is he keeps Heather down to earth. They work so well for each other, he gets mad when she tries to underestimate herself, and he balances out her knee jerk and dramatic tendencies.

I’m not usually one to pick up mystery books, but Meg Cabot does an amazing job in mixing up the humour within the mystery. I was eager to find out who was behind the attacks but then the witty remarks and banter between characters had me doubling over with laughter, it did result in me receiving a few strange looks from my family, but I didn’t care as this book was absolutely hilarious!

The Heather Wells series has quickly become one of my favourite Meg Cabot series, yet, I cannot recommend this series enough with a fantastic bunch of characters that you will adore, random attacks happening all over the place, this series will keep you up in the wee hours of the morning with you wanting to know who is behind it all.

Overall Size 12 and Ready to Rock is the best in the series yet. I honestly can’t wait for the release of Size 12 is the New Black which is supposed to be the last in the series; however at the same time I don’t want it to come out yet as I don’t think I’m ready to say goodbye to these characters just yet.

Thank you to Edelweiss and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this book.

For those who still have to pick this book up in the series and have forgotten what happens in the other books, check this video out, it provides a nice refresher. Also I think it's absolutely hilarious!