It was cute, I can read young adult books even though I'm in my 40s but this was maybe a little too young. But I think teens would like it. The characters were nice but maybe a little unforgettable..all in all not a great book but not horrible.

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back (extended version)

I loved the original version of this book. This new version includes a bonus, extended version which adds the point of view of the male character, Jake. Now, it’s even better. This is a clean romance suitable for all ages. It’s target audience is teens or young adults but I am neither of those and I loved the story. Highly recommended. Sariah Wilson spins another excellent tale.

If I'm not mistaken, this is a re-issue of a book that Sariah Wilson previously released in 2012. Maybe it's be edited or it has new parts; I'm not sure as I didn't read the 2012 release. In any case, this story was super cute. It's stereo-typical YA fluff with an adorably, not-so-typical heroine in Mattie. She's the main reason why I liked the story.

That being said, I would've rated this book higher if:
(1) it was a dual POV; and
(2) Jake was nicer/kinder/sweeter. TBH, he wasn't really likable as a hero. In fact, I'm not sure why he'd make a great boyfriend for Mattie.

Review :
This is the story of Matilda, Mattie or Tilly as loved ones call her. She is the ugly stepsister whereas Ella is beautiful one. Mattie is in love with Ella's boyfriend Jake. Mattie is tired of being invisible and decides to run for college president. Will Mattie win the election? Will Jake notice Mattie? Read to find out
A different Cinderella retelling. It was a sweet love story. Recommended for romance and chick lit readers

This book is amazing! I love The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back because it's funny and it has so much heart! I love the way Sariah Wilson turns the fairy tale on its head and made this story her own. We gain so much insight into Ella (why she loves to clean) and we even see her playing Fairy Godmother. Instead of the evil stepmother, we have an evil mother and a loving stepfather. But most of all, this is the story of the ugly stepsister, who's not really ugly (inside and out) and is maybe ugly only because she thought herself so.

I love Mattie's voice as the narrator; her personality really shines through. She's snarky but not too much, just enough to be witty and to win this reader's heart. I love how strong she is, how she held on to her integrity when asked to do something she knew to be wrong or against her principles. She had her moments of doubts, true, but in the end, she couldn't not be true to herself. Her insecurities stem from her mother's abandonment, and I love her growth throughout the story (Ella helped, of course), the realization that she shouldn't look at herself from other people's eyes, but through her own. There's romance, sure. After all, Jake Kingston was also the catalyst for Mattie running for senior class president and other changes, but in the end, this story is about Mattie's growth and her changing relationships with her mother, stepsister and Jake.

I absolutely love the bonus content, too, where we see several events from Jake's point of view! I love how this gave the story even more depth, but we don't need to read a scene-by-scene from Jake's POV, only the important parts, which is the best. And the first two lines? Huge squee!

This is by far the best fairy tale retelling I've ever read of Cinderella's story, and it's not even about Cinderella. And there's a sequel. I Can. Not. Wait. Bring it on!

The Ugly Stepsister strikes back a fairy tale of a five-star read by Sariah Wilson. This is my first read by this author and I can’t wait to devour some more, it was funny and poignant and so amazing. This isn’t your traditional fairy tale, its told from Mattie Lowe’s point of view and Mattie has always seen herself as the Ugly step sister to Ella, the beautiful sister who gets it all including the boy Mattie has wanted for years. When Mattie tells us her story she really sucks you into it and makes you a part of her world. There are so many twists in this story, it was great seeing how everyone started to see the truth and learn what is real and how it’s not what they may have been thinking all these years.
It’s a real pick me up read, and it was just what I needed today, thank you Sariah Wison for making my day better.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This was my first Sariah Wilson book and I loved it so much.
I loved Jake and Mattie's story and I also loved the chapters from Jake's pov.
It is very well written and I can't wait for the second book.

This is a fun take on the Cinderella fairy tale. Sariah Wilson's writing style is quirky and fun. And the characters are a treat.

Plus the new edition has some wonderful bonus content.

Highly recommended.

I feel like the blurb for this one doesn’t do it justice. Mattie has been in love with Jake since she was 9 and he knocked her off the swing with a rogue kickball to the face. She’s a zaftig gal with pink hair and a love for manga, John Hughes movies, and The Princess Bride. And, ok, I will admit that my love for this book mayyyybe has something to do with feeling a lot like Mattie for most of my life, right down to her fandoms and pink hair, haha. But I digress.

Mattie has some understanding hang-ups that create problems, and there are the obligatory misunderstandings to do timing and unfortunate circumstances. I really appreciated the inclusion of a bonus section at the end that gives the reader things from Jake’s point of view. I almost skipped this section but boy, am I sure glad I read it anyway!! I loved Jake’s take on Mattie, especially the reveal on when he fell for her.

Set in Mattie and Jake’s senior year of high school, this is YA/NA but written in a very relatable way that I thoroughly enjoyed at almost-32.

The ugly stepsister strikes back - Sariah Wilson

Ella is beautiful, smart, generous, and the most popular girl in school. Mattie is … not. Ella is dating Jake Kingston, the Mr. Gorgeous for whom Mattie has been nursing a giant crush since the age of 9. Just another reason to be resentful of her cheerful, happy, step-sister (“Oh to be blonde and beautiful and totally delusional” thinks Mattie when considering Ella).

Is Mattie really the ugly stepsister to Ella’s Cinderella or are they in a completely different fairy tale - perhaps one written by John Hughes, the 80s coming-of-age comedy-drama director of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club (important films to have seen for this plot!).

Funny, snarky, and utterly uplifting YA rom-com. Full of characters you will want to know, good messaging, and a joy to read.

I toyed with the 3.5 stars but I'm going with 4 stars just because of the John Hughes references.

Apparently I read this book back in September 2013, but I requested an ARC on NetGalley and reread it in November 2017 not realising until I came to write a review.

The blurb What happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Mattie is a tall, athletic-looking, one-quarter-Japanese girl. Her famous artist father has been married (and divorced) six times and she has one step-sister, the unbelievably perfect-in-every-way, Ella. Mattie rebels against her Japanese mother by rejecting her Asian heritage (she even eats sushi with a fork) although she secretly draws Manga.

NA/YA authors please take note this is how to do it well. With more than just intertextual references to John Hughes' body of work and The Princess Bride (inconceivable) this book had me from the word go. OK, the villain kids were a bit too evil to live but then sometimes kids are mean just because they can be!

I loved Mattie, and Ella, and their Dad, I even loved Mattie's evil Japanese mother.

Highly recommended.

Oh God, I really wanted to like this story, but I couldn't..I was actually painful to me trying to finish it..Maddie, needed a lot help..Sorry folks, I do not like giving bad reviews, but do not waste your time. I did it for you.

I received a free ebook copy of this tile from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. This is a cute romance story, loosely inspired by Cinderella, and reworked. The heroine of the story is Mattie, the 'ugly stepsister', who is in love with her stepsister Ella's boyfriend, Jake. Mattie is incredibly relatable- an awkward teen who compares herself negatively to others, especially her stepsister. I prepared myself for girl-hate, but Mattie's relationship with Ella was always supportive, and only grew throughout the book. The book was predictable, but enjoyable. There are a lot of references/plot points that deal with manga and 80s movies, so if that's your thing, you'll love this.

This novel felt like it was a mix of middle grade and YA, so I believe younger teens might like it more than older ones. The romance was tame, so it's safe for anyone who might be worried about whether or not it's appropriate.

Cute story, but a little too young for my taste. I like too YA for my taste.

I received a free ebook copy of this tile from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's a new edition of Wilson's 2012 novel. The plot: a romance in the senior year of high school. Mattie, a stepsister to unreally lovely Ella, has a hopeless crush on the stepsister's boyfriend, Jake. Fate throws them together in detention. Things escalate from there.

The novel is sort of wonderfully old-school in its plot progression - and well-aware of that. After all, the point isn't really "do they get together" but "how do they get together". And there is everything that a romantic comedy needs. Pining! Unexpected allies! Misunderstandings! Makeovers! So it's a lot of fun to read. Of course, if you start picking it apart, some elements of the story start falling apart at the seams (why does Ella live with Mattie and her father?...), but that's not really the point, is it.


I liked:
- that the conflict between Mattie and Ella was solved so quickly;
- that Ella was genuinely a nice person;
- the self-awareness behind the romantic tropes;
- that Mattie has actual hobbies and interests beside Jake;
- the humour;

I didn't like:
- unfortunately, Jake. He is an okay object of infatuation, but as a person... well, not that great. This edition contains a bonus of a few chapters from his perspective and <spoiler>he's actually kind of a tool.</spoiler>
- that Mattie's mother turns out to be such an unpleasant stereotype of bad motherhood;
- the straightness of it all. It's the straightest romance I've read in a while and I was legitimately surprised there was no queerness, not even in the background.

Still, it's a very solid book and a great breather from all the thrillers and non-fiction books I've been reading lately. I really enjoyed it.

Pretty cute YA novel. I really loved both Ella and Tilly. They both had a ton of goodness and their dad was beautifully imperfect.

I read a different edition of this book that is coming out in December with bonus material!

Mattie is a senior in high school who doesn't feel like she fits in, and resents her step sister Ella a little. Especially since Ella started dating Jake, Mattie's crush of many years.

This is a fun Cinderella retelling, but with quite a few twists to make it original. The author did a great job establishing Mattie as a strong protagonist, but still showing her insecurities and worries in a realistic way. Even though the story takes place over only a couple of weeks, you can see the growth Mattie makes as she comes into her own.

The only thing that I wished for was Jake's perspective, but found my wish was granted at the very end. The bonus material contained chapters from Jake covering various parts of the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has no sex (onscreen or otherwise) and no cursing. It is safe for teens of all ages.

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back is an adorable YA book that is kind of sort of based on the story of Cinderella but the princess in this one is the misfit step-sister. It is full of humor and high school angst. While Mattie was a bit of an obnoxiously stereotypical emo-kid hipster at times (the fake glasses, the John Hughes obsession, judging people just for being different than she is) I actually really liked her and I wanted her to not only win Jake over (even though at times I wasn't sure that he deserved her), but I wanted her to make friends with Ella and make up with her mom. Hey, two out of three ain't bad.

I also really enjoyed the bonus content that showed Jake's point of view, it made me understand the jerkish things that he did during the book a little more. I wish that the book had been told in alternating pov's because it would have made Jake more relatable during the book itself, but the bonus content changed my rating of the book from a 4 star to 5 stars.

I don't typically read YA books, but I am really glad that I took a chance on this one because it was very entertaining and a really fun spin on an old classic.

I requested and was very generously granted an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. I was under no obligation to write this review, I did so because the book was really great.

I read this book when it first came out years ago and loved it. I was excited to get some bonus content of the story being told from Jake's perspective and to read the first chapter of the next (and long awaited!) book in the series.