Girl in Development is a fun novel about Samantha Rose, a bookish brunette who gets sent to LA for an internship with the famous Authentic Pictures production company. Staying with her snobby, stylish cousin Kate doesn’t seem like a whole lot of fun for Sam, who would rather stay at home safely on the east coast, reading classic novels and waiting for her dream guy to stumble across her path. But things are done differently in sunny LA and she is soon thrown into a whirlwind of trying to please her new boss, decide which boys are lying and which are sincere, and match her old black vintage clothes with the hottest new looks borrowed from Kate’s closet. Even with her killer schedule, she still manages to have a social life, and at times even bumps into—or befriends—a celebrity or two. Along the way, her true character is tested and she discovers that sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone to realize who you really are.
Compared to other books of this genre I’ve read, this one was very good. I liked the main characters and the author was very knowledgeable. It seems like Jordan Roter has had a lot of experience in “the Industry” and it shows through her writing; she knows how companies like Authentic Pictures run and everything seems very believable, unlike some teen books. I really enjoyed reading about Sam’s experiences and the love story (stories!) were fun and never dull. I would recommend this book to girls 14-17 as an easy, amusing read. Put on your designer shades, relax, and read Girl in Development by Jordan Roter.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 8
Reviewer Age: 16
Reviewer City, State and Country: Edina, Minnesota USA
