Rebel Belle by Hawkins Rachel (2015-03-03) Paperback

I thoroughly enjoyed Rebel Belle – it took me back to the days of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, however wasn't as punchy (pun intended). The subject matter is great, as is the mythology, but the characters felt a little underdeveloped and cheesy for me.

Harper as a bad-ass heroine, is at first, a great premise, being a superficial girly-girl. Her character goes through some development in this novel, but it did not ring true for me. There was something missing. It felt like the reader (and Harper) were being led through the story and didn't let her organically grow and choose her path through the plot. If you have read Anna Dressed on Blood by Kendare Blake, it is similar, but isn't executed in a better fashion.

There is some witty dialogue, but wasn't laugh-out-loud for me, but does keep your interest and drive the story forward. Much of this book is cliché, however it redeems itself on pure unadulterated entertainment. It’s fun, simple and tells an interesting story. The heroine is a little different to the plethora of normal-girl-turned-chosen-one. Harper is a mean girl who lucked into her predicament.

The love interest of David Stark - though annoying at times – he’s such a big nerd - and that worked for me. I lurve geeky, nerdy guys!

There is a great amount of predictability with Rebel Belle, it very much mirrors an after-school special. Thankfully the pace moves quickly and we don’t get bogged down with insignificant or long-winded narration. I will say the style felt a little abrupt and immature, and I would have liked to have seen some information left out for the reader to discover to create more interest.

I’d recommend Rebel Belle for a great, light quick read – perfect for a girls night in…

Clasp your pearls, slip into your debutante heels, pour yourself some sweet tea and get ready for one fun paranormal story. You guys know how much I love Rachel's stories, and I have to admit that I've been looking forward to this for what seems like years. After all, Rachel is writing about one of the things she knows best -- The South and all of those elaborate Southern traditions and not to mention, all those complex Southern character types. If you hear the sound of clapping, it's from me, and I'm clapping with giddiness at all the good in this story.

Rachel has a way of weaving in mythologies (in this case, the Paladin in Charlemagne's court) that makes me want to research the topic a little more. But don't worry, no research is needed because you will follow Harper's story and in it you will discover more about these guardians although these have a paranormal twist.

In Harper, Rachel gives a main character that you will relate to immediately. I loved Harper Price and her seemingly perfect life from the very first page. I loved her relationship with her nemesis, David Stark, the very boy she (in one heck of an accident) has to protect. And I loved the push-pull feeling of her relationship with her boyfriend as well as the natural tension with her rival, David.

It's no surprise that once again, I've fallen in love with another one of Rachel's series. As an over-achiever myself, I'm looking forward to seeing how Harper will balance out her new responsibilities with her old ones and how her relationship with the two boys will change. So when you're out thinking about which books to add to your summer vacation reading list (yes, I'm running with the assumption that every Mundie Moms has one), add Rebel Belle to it and move it up to the top. The well developed characters, the tense paranormal plot and the laughs you expect in a Rachel story are all there and they will not disappoint, not one little bit.
(reviewed on Mundie Moms by Sophie)

First in the Rebel Belle urban fantasy series for young adults and revolving around Harper Price in Pine Grove, Alabama.

My Take
She spent a thousand dollars on her Homecoming dress!?? And she's not even going to the dance until 30 minutes before the Homecoming queen is crowned? This girl needs to get her perspective adjusted; she's too calculating. And too obsessed about Cotillion. Jesus.

Hawkins did an okay job of teasing about what her sister did to make Harper so determined to be overly perfect. Too bad it all backfires on Harper. Nor can I imagine she's actually happy doing all this! Ryan certainly isn't thrilled about being at the bottom of her checklist. I'd never believe a high school boyfriend could be this mature or patient, and I can totally see his point: "Why do you have to be queen of everything. Why can't you just…chill?" He's also protective and gets angry with David. After all this, I can't really blame him for being attracted to Mary Beth. And that whole break-up scene? The timing? What was that about? It was irritating and lame.

Harper behaves like an old fart worried about what everyone will think of her, but she doesn't worry about the people who are supposed to mean something to her. And she's so immature about it. Partly, I think, because she's involved in so much that she hasn't time to think.

Nice job on the tension in that bathroom when Hall locked 'em both in!

It'll crack you up as Harper realizes how right Ryan is about how she constantly contradicts him. Makes me wonder if I did that when I was married…?

There are things I dislike about David as well. That article he ran about Harper? Mean, with no real reason for it. Then when she reacts to it and threatens to complain formally, he whines about it. What a dweeb.

It gets a little World of Warcraft with a high school Southern edge to it. It's high school angst coupled with newly acquired unexplained super powers, and a weird attraction to the boy she's hated all her life.

I love the twist Hawkins introduces with Harper's decision about being a Paladin. Too right. And her reasoning is good.

Which part of Blythe can poof out did these two miss?

There's rather a lot of silliness in here: Harper's "unnatural" attraction to David when she's dating the man of her dreams; all the sneaking around she's doing so no one knows about the time she has to spend with David and not let it get back to Ryan or Bee; the training she has to do with Saylor; her behavior on her date with Ryan…it feels as though it needs more work. It needs smoothing out and better tension.

That bit at the end? That it must always be three: an Oracle, a Paladin, and a Mage? Nice bit of tension to entice you into the next in the series, Miss Mayhem coming in 2015, if you're that bored.

The Story
It's all down to lip gloss. If Harper had remembered to put it on before leaving the house…she wouldn't have encountered that surprising janitor who is not fat, balding, or old.

It's just…there was something about that kiss…ugh, that kiss! From a fat, old janitor who's not!! And suddenly Harper knows tactics, battle moves, and how useful her Anatomy and Physiology class ended up being.

It's that scholarship offer that can't be right that forces David and Harper into a temporary alliance. And a damned good thing.

The Characters
Harper Jane Price is the overachieving student policing everyone's language and trying desperately to make up for her sister's mistake. She's the head cheerleader, the SGA president, she's in charge of Homecoming decorations, on the Committee of Academic Honesty, a Future Business Leaders of America, in Key Club, and the Annual Christmas bake sale chairperson. Ryan Bradshaw is her basketball-playing boyfriend. Luke is Ryan's older brother away at college. Leigh-Anne was the sister who screwed up. Hillary and Tom are her parents. The Aunts are Harper's great-aunts: Aunt Jewel who makes that hideous punch and the twins — Aunt May, and Aunt Martha — who play cards together every Friday afternoon.

Bee Franklin is her best friend; Brandon is her boyfriend.

David Stark is probably her greatest enemy. She's known him forever, and he's been harassing her just as long. He's also the nephew of Saylor Stark, president of the Pine Grove Junior League, head of the Pine Grove Betterment Society, chairwoman of the Grove Academy School Board, and the organizer of Pine Grove's annual cotillion. She's also a Mage. Christopher was the Paladin to Saylor's Mage.

Cathy Foster used to run the Cotillion until Saylor showed up. Suzanne Perry used to run the Pine Grove Betterment Society. Miss Annemarie's Tearoom is popular with the older crowd.

Fellow students at Grove Academy
Lucy McCarroll is the sophomore class president and Harper's protégé. Amanda and Abigail Foster are identical twins on the cheerleading squad with Harper and Bee. Mary Beth Riley who can't wear high heels without wobbling has a not-so-secret passion for Ryan. Liz Walker is one of the Jesus freaks. Matt Hampton was on the debate team and would have done what David wrote about. Matt Sheehan is a senior at the school. Lauren Roberts is in their math class.

Mrs Delacroix and Mr Schmidt are teachers. Mr Laurent is the newspaper advisor where David sneaks in nasty articles about Harper. Michael Goldberg and Chie Kurata are fellow newspaper staffers and students with David. Hall is one of the school janitors. Michael DuPont teaches world history — and wields a scimitar! Headmaster Dunn thinks Harper is doing too much. Mrs. Hillyard is a substitute teacher. Mrs. Ford.

Cotillion…
…takes place at Magnolia House and is in the control of Miss Stark who's got her own secrets. Elizabeth Adams, Mary Beth Riley, Amanda and Abigail, Bee, Harper, and Lindsay Harris are the girls taking part this year.

Dr. Greenbaum says Harper has an obsessive need to overachieve. Mrs. Green is the children's librarian. Mrs. Catesby was Harper's old Sunday school teacher.

Blythe is the Ephors' very loyal and very powerful Mage. To the point of madness, and she has her eye on David. But not why you think.

Paladins are warriors and protectors charged with safeguarding a specific person or place. They first came to be as an elite guard for Charlemagne. Mages were empowered to protect the Oracle. The Ephors are the men who took charge of the Oracle. They're quite traditional and insist on two Paladins and two Mages. An Oracle sees the future, male Oracles see it less clearly than females.

The Cover
The cover is all pretty and peachy with a feminine peach satin ribbon tied up in bows on the ends dangling a short strand of pearls while the more substantial bow in the middle marks the midpoint where it's suspended from a serious-looking dagger of silver and brass.

The title is about a very determined Southern belle who has tried so desperately to conform only to find she's a Rebel Belle.

“I know,” I told him. “It sounds insane. It is insane.”
His eyes fixed on mine. “You killed someone,” he said, his voice barely audible. “With a shoe.”
“He had a sword,” I fired back and then, to my shock, David burst out laughing.”

Guys, this book was so much fun!!! I’ve had my eye on it since I first saw that gorgeous cover. (Yes, we all know I’m totally obsessed with awesome book covers.) I do definitely choose books based on their covers sometimes, and this was one that I just HAD to read. I’m glad to see it didn’t disappoint, and instead totally surprised me! I loved it!

Harper Price is the epitome of a southern belle. Her face should show up in the dictionary under the term. The story begins with her stressing out over the fact that she didn’t have her lip gloss. Lip gloss! Yes, I knew right from then that I was going to like this adorable southern girl. But it gets better… a teacher ends up attacking her in the bathroom while she’s applying a lip gloss she borrowed from another girl (and stressing that the color wasn’t going to match her dress perfectly – so funny!) and what does she do, you ask? She kills him with her shoe. Haha! I can’t make this stuff up.

The story is basically told through Harper talking to us like we’re a group of friends. I loved this aspect of the story as it felt so personal, like I was right there with her as she replayed this insane story that had just happened to her. She’s refuses to swear and keeps her sentences southern. She says things such as:

“Okay, I should probably mention right here that Brandon used the real word, but this is my story, so I’m cleaning it up a little.”

I know her lack of swearing annoyed some people, but I thought it was genuine and sweet. I do prefer characters to say the actual swear rather than use silly phrases to replace them like “oh frack!” or “what the hickory pie”, etc. (Yes, I actually read that in a book once!) But in this case, the way the story was told through Harper’s voice, made it very sincere for me. I didn’t mind it at all. It was basically a character trait of hers, and I could totally appreciate that.

I loved the relationship between Harper and Daniel. The fact that Harper was given this special power and had to use it to save her archenemy made this story completely hilarious. She basically loathed him and couldn’t stand the look of his face. They had grown up together and never gotten along AT ALL.

“He and I had loathed each other since kindergarten. Heck, even before that. Mom says he’s the only baby I ever bit in daycare.”

Baahahaha!! This is a glimpse into the humor in this book. I laughed so hard I had tears running down my cheeks at parts. Rachel Hawkin’s ability to mix humor in with serious situations was remarkable. I loved it!

Overall, I thought this book was awesome. I’m so excited to read Miss Mayhem. The way Rebel Belle ends leaves us needing more. It’s a bit of a cliffhanger, but not at all a frustrating one. It sets the scene for book 2 perfectly. I just have to see what this group of friends will get themselves into next.

Audiobook Impressions:
Oh Amy, you completely stole my heart!!! I absolutely adored this narrator. She really brought this story to life for me. I usually dislike narrators with any sort of an accent. (I know, it’s really weird. What can I say?) But the way Amy portrayed Harper was perfect!! And she did a phenomenal job of setting each character apart with their voices and personalities. I just knew right from the first chapter that I would going to adore Amy, and I’m so happy they went with her for this book.

I absolutely loved this book! This book was fast-paced, full of drama, and had really genuine characters. I loved that this book reminded me so much of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but still had uniqueness. I have never read Rachel Hawkin’s other series, Hex Hall, but after finishing this book, I checked it out from my local library the next day. I thought that this book was super fun and a great, light-hearted read.

I loved the writing style of this book. It was full of sarcastic dialogue, witty humor, and was just overall adorable. I liked that the book was written in first person from Harper’s POV, which really made me have a good understanding of her character. I think that if this would have been written in second person, Harper may have come off as an annoying overachiever, but her inner dialogue really makes her relatable and likeable. I also really liked that the book is realistic in that in acknowledges that teens swear, but was able to portray it in a way that it would not be offensive to readers who do not like curse words in their books. I thought that pacing of this book was perfect and it never had a moment where it dragged. I absolutely loved the plot because it felt like a contemporary book, but had paranormal aspects mixed in perfectly. The Paladin aspect really made this book interesting and I really enjoyed learning more about how it played into the plot.

I really liked the characters in this book. I loved Harper and her witty inner dialogue. I also loved that Harper was a girly girl, with her lip gloss and poufy dresses, but was still able to kick-butt. I also really liked Bee as a character. My grandmother’s name is Bee and I have yet to see that name used in any Young Adult literature that I have read. I did like the relationship between Harper and Bee, but I do hope that it grows and becomes a little deeper in the upcoming books. I also really liked David, however, I felt the relationship between David and Harper was fairly predictable. I did still like their romance and was rooting for them the entire time. I also like that David dressed unique and whenever Harper would describe his attire, I always pictured Penn Badgley who played Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl.

The romance in this book was good and I really liked that it was gradual and did not happen immediately. I also liked that I felt torn between Harper’s two love interests. Both boys were very likable, which made it really hard for me to root for Harper to choose one over the other. However, I would not classify this as a love triangle because I think that it is pretty obvious to all readers who Harper will end up with.

I was a little disappointed that the “bad” characters that were after Harper and David were not expanded on as much as I would have liked. I thought the motivations at the end of the book were somewhat confusing and I did not feel the dread that was intended at the end of the book. However, I am sure that more details will be explored in the second book. I also was sure that what happened to Harper’s sister would somehow play into the paranormal plot, but perhaps it was just to add dimension to Harper’s and her mother’s characters.

I really liked the ending to this book because it was really fast-paced and there were some twists, however, they were somewhat predictable. I do like how it ended off, which was not a huge cliffhanger, but it was still a big event that will keep readers interested in knowing what will happen next.

Overall, I would recommend this book to readers, but it does appeal more to teen girls. With the cover being pink and the bows on the tops of all the chapter headers, it does make the book super cute and girly, but not exactly boy friendly. However, I do think that a boy could enjoy this book and wish that it was a little more gender neutral (even though I do really like how the book looks physically). I am most defiantly going to pick up the next books in this series because I am dying to know what happens next!

Southern Belle debutantes, an annoyingly cute school newspaper reporter, and a giant magical destiny surround Harper Price. Poised as her high school’s fearless leader/It Girl, she so did not sign up for inheriting magical powers and taking on a dangerous mission to protect a guy she doesn’t even like– one that has made her life miserable since they were little. But this is what fate has in store for her and Harper’s not one take things lying down. She sets about trying to understand her new powers and her role in this totally bizarre prophecy that could end up endangering the entire world.

I enjoyed this book. I didn’t love it, but I had fun reading it. Harper is a very cool, very determined main character and she has a plan for everything… almost. Desperately trying to make up for the events of the past, she forces herself to aim for perfection in all things, from school to her romantic life to Cotillion. I liked her drive and her genuine struggle with being everything to everyone and the need to be perfect. I understood her and commiserated with her as she tried to juggle everything life threw at her without missing a beat. Sometimes she can come across as a little judgmental and superficial, which made me dislike her at different points in the novel, but overall, I could tell she really meant well. I wish she had a more thoughtful view about the world and the people around her living in it as opposed to being centered on her corner, but she was funny and hard working and had a lot of great character quirks (her penchant for not cursing being one of them). I appreciated and adored David Stark and his bafflement over Harper. I really liked how he was willing to take her for who she was and how he always worked to help and challenge her throughout the story. He was definitely a great counter balance character and I ended up falling a little in love with him because of it.

The story was engaging, I was psyched that she became a PALADIN because HOW COOL IS THAT? I played a Paladin in World of Warcraft and I hardly ever seen books about them so it was a different take on the who magical superpowers aspect and I appreciated how unique it was. I also like how, for the most part, she just went with it. At times, it did seem a little too easy for her, though, and while I think it’s awesome that she embraced her destiny, I would have liked to see her struggle with the actual physical aspects of it just a little because no one is just born a badass. I do like how she considered her future before anyone else’s when it came down to what she was going to do with her destiny; that was refreshing. There were also some very cute parts that made me smile and it was an overall lighthearted atmosphere the entire read.

The writing was very simple and sometimes it worked for me and sometimes it didn’t. It was an easy and quick read and while overall I had a good time, I was a little bored in a few places. Not with the main storyline though, with the side plots and some of the character development. Hawkins targets a general young adult audience, and sometimes it feels a little lazy with regard to dialogue and sentence structure and I even got a bit of a preachy vibe here and there which bothered me. But this could be because I’m used to reading books where the main characters feel a lot older than they are and Harper definitely feels young to me and while she’s not frivolous by any means, she is a bit short sighted in my opinion. The only characters we really spend a lot of time with are Harper, David, and Harper’s best friend Bee (who I loved so much because she seemed to really care about Harper and have a good handle on who she is and what she needs) and out of those characters, Harper was my least favorite.

It could just be that this book wasn’t really my jam because most of the people I know that have read it, loved it. All in all, I think it was good. Not great, not okay, just good. It’s light and fun and while I didn’t really adore it, I think it’s enjoyable for the most part and plan to read the rest of the series.

For more YA reviews head to thegoldenmantle.wordpess.com

So, I've basically been dying to read this book since I saw it as a preview on the store a few months back--I mean look at the cover, who wouldn't want so read something so pink, beautiful, and knife like. Needless to say, I was really excited about the book.

Rebel Belle follows Alabama Belle, Harper Price as she finds herself wrapped up in an ancient battle and subsequently becomes responsible for protecting her arch-nemesis David Stark.

What I liked: The whole Southern aspect. Hawkins really creates a richness to the setting and even her characters personality by the way she plays up the Southerness of everything. I have a weird obsession with the South that has culminated in a love of sweet tea and Southern drawls. I also really liked the dynamic between Harper and David. They have a sweet innocence about them that was really endearing.

What I didn't like: Honesty, I found the plot a lil' on the confusing side. It's never really fully and truly explained why David is super important. I also kind of disliked the ending. The build-up was amazing, but the ending was slightly lack-luster.

Overall, I would recommend picking this up. It was a great read and really fun. I give it a 7/10

Originally posted to Nori's Closet [...]

I love Rachel Hawkins. Her other series had me laughing out loud and biting my nails in suspense. And when I first read the description of this new series, I immediately thought, “If there is a YA writer who could pull off a Buffy-type series, it would so be Rachel Hawkins.” While I read this one rather fast, it did not get close to fulfilling my Buffy expectations (though I love that there were a few Buffy references in here –can more books do this?). When the main character was searching for her Giles, I practically did a little happy dance.

I super shipped the romance (which I did in the other books by this author too). It was one of those long-building, hate turns to love kind of romances. Harper and David have been competitors and enemies in all things since kindergarten, and seeing them have to deal with each other and then learn to be friends, and then learn to possibly be more then friends was spot-on awesome. I love those kind of Elizabeth/Darcy romances. There is so much passion and tension.

I also loved the idea of paladins, oracles, and mages! I’ve never read any YA that dealt with this kind of mythology before. And I loved the idea of gender reversal. Normally it’s female oracles and male paladins, and the role reversal here definitely made for a more interesting plot. I’d much rather read about a teen Southern belle learning to kick butt, than a teen guy.

So, while this book really did seem to have a lot of things going for it, I never really felt like I was connecting with any of the characters. Even in the cheesiest moments of the cheesiest first season of Buffy, I loved all the characters.

Harper is another main character dealing with a death in her family. Her sister died in a drunk driving accident (where she was the drunk one). But besides Harper continually trying to be the best at everything to prove she’s not her drunk sister, I never really thought this was handled at all. Harper just didn’t seem affected enough for me. And I get that everyone handles death differently, but still. This felt more like an added side note that was added to the story later on, and less like an actual element to the book overall.

Harper was also not the typical main character I would flock to in any way. She was a belle, preparing for homecoming crown and cotillion. She was super popular and always surrounded by tons of people. She was also already dating someone when she started to fall for David. And I hate when girls fall in love with someone new, but keep pulling their current boyfriends along any way. But still, all these things are things I’d be willing to look past if I ever really connected to Harper more.

I also thought the pacing was a little slow. Serious paladin fighting and magic spells didn’t really happen until the end of the book. And I kept waiting for it to happen earlier. Too much of the book (before that epic ending) was focused on school dances and friendship falling-outs. I wanted a little more action spread throughout.

I read this super fast. I loved the snarky humor. I super loved the slow building romance. I thought the idea of paladins was interesting and unique. I do wish there was more action throughout the book, instead of just at the end. I also wish I connected more to Harper, and that her sister’s death added a little more depth to the story and character development. It really had an amazing ending. That ending plus the author’s easy going writing style will probably equate to me continuing with the series. I give it a 7/10.

FULL REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED ON WHAT A NERD GIRL SAYS:

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up this book except that I knew I really wanted to read it. Rachel Hawkins was both at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books and WonderCon and I kept spotting the cover, and people kept reading it, and I knew I had to get my hands on it. I bought it just a few days ago, and ripped through it. I am still not sure what I expected from this book but I it wasn’t what I was handed. What I was given from this book was much more and I absolutely loved it.

Harper Price seems like one of those characters that you’re not sure you’re going to love or you’re going to hate. When I first started reading the book, I felt myself rolling my eyes and I thought, this is not going to happen. But as soon as Harper gains her Paladin powers and shoves her heel the neck of an adversary, I knew that I wanted to be her best friend.

The thing that really gets me about this novel is that it brings together the theme of a contemporary novel mixed in with the fantasy elements. Its not too heavy on each side, and its a perfect balance. We have Harper trying to balance out her boyfriend, her friends, her social life and her new life as Paladin, protecting David. It makes for an amazing, compelling and absolutely addicting story.

And its so funny! That, I think, was my favorite part of the entire novel. I love the fantasy of it, and the mythology that you learn as Harper delves into this Paladin thing but I love that Rachel Hawkins keeps the realness of the book. Its fantasy, but its approachable fantasy. Its fantasy lite, for those who want to read fantasy but get overwhelmed by the world building and that sort of thing. Harper is kicking butt and dealing with Mages and Oracles and such things like that, but she is doing it while trying to keep her boyfriend and dropping for dresses for Cotillion. Its hilarious. Harper is absolutely hilarious and she has little quips that would just make me burst out laughing. I loved that while she would be beating someone up, she would also having you smiling and laughing. It makes for a really fun book.

Plus, in the end, I ended up with a new fictional crush in David…he strangely reminds me of my boyfriend and you can never go wrong with that.

This book is a DEFINITE must-read.

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins is a young adult supernatural novel which tells the story of Southern belle teen Harper Price who, being in the wrong place at the wrong time, finds herself with supernatural abilities and the awesome responsibility that comes along with them. While there was a lot I liked about the book, there was still a great deal I felt could have been handled better.

What I liked

The writing style. This is the first book by Hawkins that I have read and I did really enjoy her fresh, witty writing style. There was a lot of humour to be mined from the juxtaposition of Harper’s Southern belle character and her new kickass ninja powers and I enjoyed that very much. I also felt the pacing was kept brisk and the storyline moved along nicely.

The narration. I listened to Rebel Belle in audiobook format, which is narrated by Amy Rubinate. Now, I’d not been too fond of Rubinate’s narration of Kiera Cass’s The Selection series, but I did enjoy listening to her read Rebel Belle. Perhaps the smart, sassy heroine of this book is better suited to Rubinate’s narrative style.

The concept. The concept of oracles, paladins and mages was very interesting and i enjoyed reading about it. However, the execution wasn’t always logical and/or consistent.

What I didn’t like

Bland characters. Other than Harper, the other characters come across as very two dimensional. Ryan, Harper’s original love interest, is nice but there’s nothing to distinguish him from a million other teenage boys. The villain of the piece is also very underdeveloped. She is not present enough in the book to develop sufficient tension.

Harper’s “logic”. At times I became so frustrated with Harper’s way of thinking. So many times she seemed to find that two plus two equals five and at other times she seemed to willfully ignore what was right in front of her. While some of it I could put down to unreliable narrator, a lot of it did seem very convenient. At times I was uncertain if it was good characterisation that a lot of Harper’s motivations come from personal grief, or if the way the character was written was clumsy. The ending was also very contrived. The error she makes at the end just doesn’t make any sense.

I gave Rebel Belle three and a half stars out of five. I probably will check out the next book in the series. I hear Hawkins’ Hex Hall series is better so I will probably pick that up at some point.

Imagine that you’re about to be crowned Homecoming Queen, and as you do a few last-minutes preparations in the school restroom, the janitor bursts in. He’s mortally wounded, he makes some bizarre comments, and as he’s dying, he presses his mouth to yours, and a strange…energy fills your body. You now have superhuman strength and the ability to kick some major butt.

This is the awesome opening of Rebel Belle, the new series by Rachel Hawkins. I’ve only previously read her book, School Spirits. Rebel Belle has all of the humor and excitement that made that story so much fun. Harper Price makes for a very interesting protagonist. She’s the queen of her school, and she has her eyes firmly focused on her future. She studies hard, and she participates in every activity humanly possible in order to get herself into the college of her choice. Sharing that odd moment with the janitor was definitely not on Harper’s to do list, and her life is in turmoil when she discovers her new powers and the responsibilities that they entail. She’s a Paladin, tasked with protecting an Oracle, and if that has you scratching your head as much as I did mine, rest assured that Hawkins shares this mythology in a way that is interesting and does not feel like a Wikipedia entry.

Harper’s struggle to accept her new identity was the best aspect of the story. Sure, she’s thrilled by her new powers. But when she learns what she has to do with them, she rightfully asks, “Why me?” It would not have been realistic to expect Harper to immediately leap into action, because it would have been a major contradiction of her carefully constructed persona. She slowly comes to terms with what she must do, and we can sympathize with her and the fact that this will throw her off her path.

There’s a love triangle between Harper and two guys – her good-on-paper boyfriend and David, the quirky reporter for the school paper who loves to torment Harper. It plays out exactly as you would expect, but this is a case where the love triangle mostly works. I could believe that Harper would be conflicted by her feelings when having the perfect boyfriend is part of the image she constructed for herself. So when she starts to have feelings for David, it makes sense that she would struggle to accept them because he does not fit so easily into her Homecoming Queen image.

The ending is equal parts silly and raucous and potentially fatal to everyone involved. Harper Price, the perfect Southern belle, is a little less perfect by the end, but she becomes infinitely more interesting.

Popular queen bee Harper Price has worked hard to be Homecoming Queen and nothing is going to ruin her night... except, maybe, becoming a Paladin. When a freak encounter leaves Harper the unwilling inheritor of supernatural abilities and the responsibility of protecting an unknown individual, winning the crown is the least of her concerns. Of course, the guy she's bound to protect would be David Stark, quite possibly the most annoying person Harper has the displeasure of knowing. As Harper and David struggle to figure out what their new relationship entails, Harper must fight off evil forces that seek to take them out and the uncomfortable new feelings she seems to be developing towards David.

To offer some clarity regarding Paladins, these individuals were the foremost warriors of Charlemagne's court, sworn guardians with supernatural powers. Of course, Hawkins explores the mythology in REBEL BELLE, though I can't tell you how closely it follows (or doesn't follow) popular mythology surrounding Paladins.

I'm a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall books, so I knew REBEL BELLE would be a must-read. Can I first just mention how wonderfully awesome the cover of this novel is? It totally fits the premise and the main character, Harper, a southern belle with a dangerous edge.

What I loved most about Harper is the fact that, even before she inherits the role of Paladin, she's already ready to kick butt and take names. She might be sweet as pie on the outside, but she's got enough backbone and sass to put anyone in their place. While becoming a Paladin makes her life a lot more complicated, it also makes her a much more complex and, arguably, better person. I loved her character development.

The novel's description pretty clearly states that there's some romantic tension between Harper and her sworn charge, David. Despite the fact that I knew this romance was going to develop, I still loved the push and pull between the two characters. Their witty jabs and banter was entertaining and the development wasn't near as predictable as it could have been.

Overall, I really enjoyed this first installment to Hawkin's new trilogy. I can't wait to read more about Harper and David!

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins is my favorite novel to have a protagonist with superpowers in a long time. Let that sink in a little. Now, let me know you that lately all superhero/superpower novels have earned the glorious "DNF" badge from me, so much so that I was starting to believe that I did not like either of those as a plot device. Thankfully, Rebel Belle exists and showed me that superpowers books can be smart, sassy, and utterly entertaining.

I am so tired of having a heroine that has this mediocre life, meh self-esteem, and ends up being this dazzling diamond-in-the-rough. Harper Jane Price is just the opposite of that - she is a special snowflake, but only because she's worked her ass off for it her entire life. She's the Homecoming Queen-overachiever who heads various clubs and committees, is the president of SGA (student government association), and is in the running for valedictorian. Do I fault her for any of that? Nope, because we're shown her dedication to all of those thigns. I also like how she's rounded out into a realistic being by the depth added to her regarding her sister, Leigh-Anne (which thankfully was not overdone), and how she navigates her relationships with Ryan and Bee without revealing the truth behind her strange behavior. (Face it - if your best friend told YOU that s/he suddenly had superpowers and was a Paladin, you'd think they had boarded the crazy train.) Harper's response to her new powers is also hilarious.
First of all, I had gotten totally screwed on the "origin story" front. All superheroes have origin stories, like how Bruce Wayne's parents get killed and he goes to Tibet or whatever, and Superman is an alien, and Spiderman had that radioactive spider. Me? I kissed a janitor in the school bathroom. — p. 56, ARC

Also, how could I not like a character who says "no thank you" to a lifelong epic quest. Personally, I'd have just run when faced with the same.

The mythology/fantasy aspect of Rebel Belle was a refreshing change in a young adult novel. I haven't seen many (if any) mentions of Charlemange or Paladins - especially in an Alabama high school. I won't lie, if I had been told only "Paladin YA novel", the first thing on my mind would not have been a novel centered on a Cotillion-ready cheerleader. I know it's wrong to think it, but it's usually the boys who get to be the magical knight defenders. Want an even better gender twist? Too bad, read the book.

Rebel Belle was a fun book that colored outside the lines of YA. If you like your heroines level-headed and outside of the YA-heroine box, give Rebel Belle a try. You won't be disappointed.

To satisfy FTC guidelines, I am disclosing that I received an advance copy of the book briefly for reviewing purposes through Around the World ARC Tours in exchange for an honest review. The book was likely provided to the tour by the publisher or author, which has in no way affected the outcome of my review. All opinions expressed are rambling, honest, and completely my own.

I bought this book without every reading a blurb or anything. I really like the Hex Hall series from
Rachel Hawkins so it never crossed my mind to actually find out what this book was about. That being said, I thought it was contemporary. I was very surprised to learn it is not contemporary.

Rebel Belle started off very poorly. I disliked all the characters and while I've never seen Buffy, I knew this was copying a lot from the show.
But it did get better. A little.

I had to learn to deal with Harper but I never actually liked her. I did like how she just jumped on board with all the supernatural stuff and didn't whine and bitch about any of it. She was pretty cool about the whole thing.
I hated David so much. He was so mean. And I felt like as the book went on, Harper forgot how mean he actually was to her.

The pace of pretty nice though. I never bored and I read the whole book in like two sittings.

It was a little predictable. I was never really surprised by any of the "twists".

I seen a lot of reviews saying this was funny and full of humor. I personally didn't think there was anything funny. There wasn't anything that made me laugh and I think I only smiled once while reading the whole book. But maybe that's just me.

Overall, even though this isn't what I thought it would be, I didn't mind reading Rebel Belle.
Once I got used to the book and the characters and stopped questioning everything. I just had to roll with it and not think about everything I didn't like. Then it was actually pretty nice.
I'm sure I'll be reading book 2.

I remember seeing this book and thinking "Oh, this looks like a cute contemporary read!" then I found out it had a bunch of fantasy elements thrown in there. The deal was sealed.

Rebel Belle follows Harper Price, an over-achieving girly-girl, who's concern for the right shade of lip-gloss leads her to the most life-changing moment of her life. While in the bathroom fixing up her make-up, she runs in to the school janitor. That's when things start to get weird. He kisses her and before she knows it, she has some new crazy abilities. She learns that she is what is known as a paladin. She merely knows what that means, though.Throughout the story, Harper must figure out how to balance school, her love-life and protecting David Stark (whom she basically hates) with everything else in between.

This book is the ultimate mix of girly and bad-ass. It's characters are some of the best I have ever read about. With their sassiness, and hilarious attitudes they make for one of the most exciting and amazing stories you'll ever read. Not to mention the brilliant character development. Harper Price is without a doubt one of the most kick-butt female characters I have ever read about. I just loved her and her wit.

As for the action in this book, it was on point. Truly exhilarating from the beginning to very last page. Keeping you on the edge of your seat wanting to find out more. I merely can't get over how Rachel Hawkins was able to make the contemporary and fantasy elements work together. Plus, the writing is amazing! It's clear and easy to read without being mediocre. I also really enjoyed the set up for the story, since this is the first book in a series.

It was a real epic book and I'm so excited and eager for the next book to come out, it's not even funny.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves action filled books with a little bit of romance thrown in. Definitely a must-read.

I was immediately pulled in from the title of this book alone. As a gal who grew up in what I considered to be the south (okay, Virginia isn’t that much South, but it’s South!) I always loved the southern country culture but never really knew about cotillions until the television show Gilmore Girls. Since then I’ve been kind of enamored with the idea of these, so seeing a book with this definitely piqued my interest. The cover is cute too, a rather perfect shade of pink, a signature strand of pearls, and a knife! Rebel Belle has a cutesy balance between poise, pageantry and violence.

From the first chapter I really loved the narrating and writing style set in Rebel Belle. The words flow so well that I wound up reading it as if I was actually Harper Price. It’s been a while since a book allowed me to become so into it from the character’s voice and I loved it. Now, that doesn’t mean I didn’t notice the heavy amount of really cheeseball stuff going on here, because let’s be honest this book reads like a CW television show. This isn’t a bad thing, but I wish I was a little bit more prepared for this.

We’ve got an overachieving wonder girl determined to meet all her goals in life before she graduates High School who is suddenly thrust into this supernatural ass kicking universe where she’s forced to save her practical arch nemesis, David Stark’s, life. I haven’t seen more than a handful Buffy the Vampire Slayer television episodes but I can really see how people think Rebel Belle compares to it. I’m not usually a fan of supernatural books like this, but again it worked. Harper was an incredible character who seems so one sided and it was great to go on her journey in this book to see her change into a strong female role model.

I wasn’t really sold on the hipster school newspaper editor that is David Stark. I had a really hard time accepting their dynamics at first, but then of course fell into the trap of really liking their interactions and wanting more to happen between them. But I still couldn’t get past his dislike of Harper and her hatred of him to really get too deep into it.

The fight scenes were really intense and would play out really well in a TV or movie situation. I actually got way more into them than I thought I would and really became engrossed in some of the supernatural aspects. However, towards the end of the book I started to get a bit disengaged with everything. While I really enjoyed reading from Harper’s point of view, her voice got really irritating. I wouldn’t be able to stand someone like her in real life and that started to rub off on my reading experience. I can’t quite pinpoint where things started to go downhill for me. Overall it was a neat book, but I don’t see myself rushing the shelves when/if a sequel releases.

My Thoughts: I really loved Hawkins Hex Hall series so I was anxious to read this one!

And while I enjoyed it a lot, I still loved the Hex Hall series more.

We are introduced to Harper who is your average teenage girl but with a whip of a personality and who is a little education obsessed. She wants to get into a good college, make her parents happy, and on top of that she is involved in a lot of extracurricular activities. Her life is too busy and she has no time for anything new.

But when she runs into a janitor getting murdered and him transferring his responsibilities (ninja kicking butt powers) to her she is pretty much in trouble. He was a Paladin and his job was to protect a certain boy.

A certain boy named David who has been Harper’s nemesis since they were children! Could things get any worse for Harper? Now she has to protect him! What a load of crap. LOL.

David and Harper have spent their lives fighting with each other, but now they must fight together to survive.

I loved Harper’s personality. She was so spunky and always had something to say. David was a sweetheart. I could tell underneath his comebacks, he had true feelings for Harper. They had chemistry!

People are out to kill David and now its on Harper to fix it. She has so many obstacles that get in the way including her boyfriend and her best friend. Things are not easy hiding who she really is.

I really loved both characters and I loved everything that was going on in the background. They had other things they had to tend too as well. They each had a life to live. But all in all, Harper and David made a good team and I could just tell something needed to happen between them.

And of course, Rebel Belle leaves us with a cliffhanger and its a good one. Now, I need the next book!

Overall: I really enjoyed this one! I wanted to give it 5 cupcakes but there was a few pages where it got slow and I needed it to speed back up. I really liked the plot of this one, how things went down, and how Harper and David related to one another. I loved the character development. I would definitely recommend this one, especially if you liked the Hex Hall series!

Cover: Love it! I love the prettiness of it, and I love the color! Its a cute eye catching cover!!

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes
_________
Taken From Princess Bookie

Harper Price is an overachiever devoted to her school, Grove Academy, in Alabama. She seemingly has the life to die for—popular, homecoming queen, great boyfriend, etc. But all of that is turned upside down when she has a strange, monstrous encounter and discovers that she’s been granted strange super powers and forced into the role of a Paladin. As a Paladin, her job is to protect the one boy at school she detests the most: David Stark. Together, they try to figure out who is out to get David and form a plan for saving him, while Harper struggles against her growing feelings for him. When the final showdown with evil comes at the end, Harper and David must find a way to work with their friends to save the day.

This story is essentially Buffy the Vampire Slayer set in the Deep South. Harper even has fight training sessions after school with her mentor. Like Buffy scripts, the writing is witty and often funny, with snarky lines and biting retorts. Unlike Buffy, Harper is very angsty and more focused on her boy problems than fighting. The story itself involves oracles, good and bad mages, and Paladins. The center of the story is Harper and David, and their interaction is pretty well done. The overall story about bad mages out to get David was, IMO, a little thin and underdeveloped, and the showdown at the end was a tad silly in places. So, Rebel Belle is an interesting start to a new series, one with promise, but there’s a lot of room for improvement in the next book.

Book #72 Read in 2015
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

This book reminded me of the movie of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...but better. Harper is the popular girl in her high school class....valedictorian in the making, class President, going to make her debut soon. At a school dance, a janitor passes on his seemingly super powers to her. Harper has no idea what is going on and feels even more confused when her teacher tries to kill her and she ends up killing him with her high-heeled shoe. Eventually, Harper learns she has become a Paladin...a sort of super guard to an Oracle. Now she needs to figure out how to balance this superpowered guard job with homework, dates with her boyfriend and her curfew. This book is full of humor and action, along with some interesting supernatural/mythological items and some romance. I enjoyed it and think high school girls would love it. I have #2 in my TBR pile.

http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com

I've just finished reading possibly one of the best books I have ever read in all sixteen years of my life. And trust me, that's a lot of books.
Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins is complete and utter perfection. Everything about the book was amazing, I honestly can't think of anything I didn't like about it.

Let me first talk about the writing. It was written in first-person, as most YA novels are, but unlike a lot of them, I actually felt like the main character, Harper, was talking to me. Her narration was so real. The way she described things and her feelings, was the way an actual teenager would speak, which really gave the book depth. I also loved that even though Harper is this rich, popular, head-cheerleader, has-the-hot-jock-boyfriend type of girl, she wasn't the stereo-type of stuck up, superficial, and stupid. She was caring, and funny, smart and vulnerable. Her character was refreshing because she didn't feel the need to swear and be nasty, like a lot of teenagers in books. There are actually some funny scenes about her and how there's no need to swear for real.

I also loved the commentary between David Stark and Harper Price. They're basically mortal enemies, and then when they find out that they're connected to each other, and Harper has to protect him, you really get to see their growth together. Their constant insults and inability to get along, slowly turns into friendly bickering, and complicated romance. It's truly an amazing relation ship that unfolds.

Rebel Belle is a perfect mix of drama/romance, mystery & magic, and super awesome action scenes. I want give you a synopsis, because the back of the book or the store will do that, and I don't want to give too much away.

There was something CONSTANTLY happening, be it another discovery, a near death someone-is-trying-to-kill-me action scene, or something going on in Harper's personal life. It truly was a blast "watching" her deal with having super-ninja powers/ a Paladin. It pained me every time I had to put my book down, and gave me so much pleasure when I got a chance to read it more. I haven't been super excited every second I have a chance to read a little in a while, and this book certainly did it for me. And that ending. . . . . .

It's a MUST READ that truly doesn't get enough credit or hype. You never want to put down the book, it's that amazing. And the great thing about it is that adults can enjoy it too. Definitely mom-approved. And me-approved.
The moral of this post, go out and buy a copy of Rebel Belle because you're truly missing out if you don't. Oh, and when you finish it, don't worry because there's another book! Yay!

Actual Rating: 3.5 stars

This book was so cute, quirky, and entertaining. I first wanted to read Rebel Belle when I saw the cover reveal what seems like ages a go. I am so glad I finally got the book, because it didn't disappoint.

Harper is an intelligent over-achiever who accidentally gets sucks into a world of Paladins and oracles while trying to maintain her already overbooked "perfect" life. As she struggles with letting some things go in order to be the protector she is meant to be, she also must reconcile with her school "nemesis," David. Things are not always what they seem in her Southern town and I love being inside Harper's head as she navigates her way through these discoveries and the adjustments that come with her new duty.

See this mini review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!

I really enjoyed Rebel Belle! I actually read it all in one sitting as it is rather short, completely engrossing, and an easy read. Harper Price starts off as a character you love to hate, but you soon find out just how damaged she is and the pain she's hiding behind her perfect veneer. Neither of the guys hit it out of the ball park for me -- David turned me off a bit with his "be mean to Harper to hide you like her" act and Ryan was a little too "charmingly" clueless -- but, I am very interested to see how the three of them will work together in the next book. This book definitely felt like a setup for the series, but it was still very enjoyable. I do think the next volume will be better now that the mythology is established and we'll hopefully get more character development for the boys, the big bad, and the super secret council. Rebel Belle is like a cold glass of sweet tea on a hot day and I highly recommend it to those looking for a cute read.

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: This was a great read full of action, witty characters, and humor. I am a hug fan of Rachel Hawkins and this is another great book to add her wonderful collection of stories

Opening Sentence: Looking back, none of this would have happened if I’d brought lip gloss the night of the Homecoming Dance.

The Review:

Harper Price is the perfect picture of a southern belle. Born and raised in a small wealthy town in Georgia, Harper grew up with dreams of attending Cotillion and grow up to be a beautiful young women. But not all dreams are meant to come true. It is Harper’s senior year and she is getting ready to attend the homecoming dance with her dreamy boyfriend. It is pretty obvious that she is going to be homecoming queen, but right before the crowning she realized that she forgot to put on lip gloss. She runs to the bathroom to apply the much needed gloss to her nekkid lips and her life changes forever.

She leaves that bathroom as a Paladin; a person with superhuman powers that make her a lethal fighter and fierce guardian. She is charged with protecting a very important person that holds the fate of the world in the palm of his hands. Unfortunately, that person is the boy she has despised since they were in kindergarten; it is none other than David Stark. But the more Harper gets to know him the more she realizes how wrong she was about him all these years, and falling for him is starting to become inevitable.

Harper is such a funny and sweet girl with a great personality. She is polite in every way possible, but becoming a Paladin has really put a wrinkle in her perfect life. She wants everything to remain as normal as possible, but she soon realizes that is impossible. I found Harper to be really charming and honestly it was very entertaining being inside her head. Her life isn’t nearly as perfect as she paints it to be and I loved that she has some pretty big flaws, it made her easier to relate to.

David Stark is a total jerk most of the time, but there are moments when he can be such a sweet guy. He is very competitive and that is really the main reason he and Harper have had such a hard time throughout the years. They were always competing against each other and once they join up as a team they are quite a force to be reckoned with. They have undeniable chemistry and I am really interested to see how their relationship develops in the next book.

Rebel Belle is a wonderful story with action, humor, romance, and adventure. From the first chapter you are thrown into this suspenseful story that just keeps getting better the more you read. The characters are engaging and so easy to root for. The pacing was done perfectly and I never felt a drag in the story. I have been a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins ever since I read her Hex Hall series a few years ago and I think that this is a great addition to her fantastic collection of books. I am really looking forward to reading more in this series and I would highly recommend this to anyone that is looking for a great YA paranormal read.

Notable Scene:

I cleared me throat and picked up my book bag. As I turned to go, David called out, “Harper?”

“What?”

He took a minute, like he was trying to decide if he should say whatever it was he wanted to say. I wondered if he felt like I had, like he didn’t want to say something hateful, but I’d made him.

“You know, all the articles aside, I actually thought you were better than this,” he finally said. “Nice to know that you are just another high school bitch.”

Maybe it was that his words were so close to what Dr. DuPont had said right before he nearly murdered me. Maybe it was because a little part of me felt like David might be right. Or maybe it was because I just really didn’t like being called names. Whatever the reason, my right hand shot to slap David Stark across the face. I didn’t even consider my new superpowers, and if those new powers would mean David’s head would go flying off.

But it didn’t matter. Half an inch from David’s cheek, my hand stopped midair. And it wasn’t because I had some crisis of conscience, either. It was like my hand hit an invisible wall right by his head.

FTC Advisory: Putnam Juvenile/Penguin provided me with a copy of Rebel Belle. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

While stories set in high school are my favorite in the Supernatural YA genre, I am more of an fan of the underdog than the popular girl, and I don't care much for heroines obsessed with fashion. So I was not expecting much when I picked up Rebel Belle, especially with a Southern Belle as a lead character. I obviously forgot that Rachel Hawkins continually spins the best the best supernatural high school stories. Ever. Harper Price is a modern popular girl who is pragmatic and exceptionally goal oriented. When disaster strikes, and she is made into the next Paladin, she jumps into her new role with the gusto of an over-achiever, trying to figure out how her new supernatural skill set works, and how to best get the job done. That is what makes her so endearing and funny - she never breaks character. Even when her emotions are telling her a different ending to the fairy tale life she's envisioned, she relegates that voice to the back of her head, filing it away for later reference. Even funnier is that as a contemporary young woman, she is used to being the hero in her own life, which makes it even more interesting to see how the boys in her life try to fit in.

Harpers world gets turned upside down at prom, when she went to the bathroom to put on lip gloss, but instead was bombarded by the school janitor, on the verge of dying he blows his superpowers into her. Leaving her to be the protector of her arch rival in school, David Stark. Now she must juggle school, extracurricular activities, friends, and boyfriend while being a super hero...but is much harder than she imagined.

It has the same cutesy, funny vibe of all Rachel Hawkins young adult books. I enjoy Harpers point of view. This book kind of has the vibe of Beautiful Creatures because it is a bit supernatural with a southern vibe to it. Harper has crazy aunts just like Ethan does in Beautiful Creatures and there is much of the same Southern references. Also, this has a Percy Jackson vibe to it as well. So if you like those books you will like this as well.

This book ends with a twist and a cliff hanger, so it does leaving you wanting to read more. It is a fun, easy read. I doesn't get boring there is action, romance and a bit of an adventure.

Other low-star reviews have said what I would say, but I have one thing to add. There is a MAJOR plot flaw in this story from which it just could not recover. Spoilers: It is never explained why the oracle that the main character is supposed to be protecting with her life is so important. No "the world will end if he dies," no "it is an unending struggle between good and evil" or anything else like that. The explanation is only "he can tell the future, don't you think that's important?" No, not really (I mean, other than he is a human being, but then why is that life anymore important than another?). So at that point, it just becomes a really cheesy story with no clear justification, rather than something that one could really get into.

I love this book so much. Everything about it appealed to me from the sword wielding southern belle to the idea of the mysterious power of a Paladin. Rachel brought this book to life and I loved every minute of it. Harper seems perfect in the beginning but as the story progresses you begin to see that she has cracks, and that is what I love in a book. I love it when the main character has flaws even when they seem perfect because it makes the story even more real. Not only did the characters keep me entertained, but also the plot had me hungry for more. I would have read this book in one sitting if sleep had not gotten in the way. The plot has so many twists and turns that you are kept on your toes throughout the whole book. The action and adventure in the book also helps captivate your attention, and when you are done, you are left wanting more! I highly recommend this book to anyone because this is a book you NEED in your collection, trust me.

I really enjoyed Rachel Hawkins previous series, Hex Hall, so I was excited to read Rebel Belle. It was a fun story of, as the author puts it, “Legally Blonde meets The Terminator.” I loved the subtle Buffy the Vampire Slayer reference, and that Harper was allowed to enjoy both dressing up for school dances and an action movie other characters scorned for being “too guy-ish,” because those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. It was very Buffy-esque, but with fantasy and Mages instead of paranormal and vampires. One thing that bothered me was how adamant Harper was about not cursing. Swear or don’t swear, it’s her business, but there’s no need to make such a big deal out of it. Don’t be fooled by the beginning; there is action and it can get pretty bloody. (Harper starts off murdering a man with a stiletto heel in his throat!) I bet this book will turn just about everyone who reads it into a Rachel Hawkins fan.

(The quote is from the acknowledgments in an uncorrected reader’s copy, and may not be present in the final published copy)

more reviews at: adventureswithinthepages.tumblr.com

For only being a junior in high school, Harper Price seems to have it all. She's popular. She is the SGA president for her high school. She is a cheerleader. She is elected homecoming queen. And on top of all that, she is quite an intelligent young lady preparing for college. Beauty and brains? Why of course I'm going to read this one! Everything in her life... well mostly everything is perfect until the night of the homecoming dance when she finds herself in a weird situation that leaves her with superpowers. Her goal: To protect the kid in her school who she despises the most. She might even have to die for him one day.

When first reading the synopsis for this book, I thought that it would be an interesting book that I wouldn't want to put down. A debutant with bad ass superpowers? It seemed like a thrilling tale. Unfortunately, I couldn't have been more wrong. I found myself making excuses and doing other things just so I could get a break from reading this book. It's that bad.

I had a lot of questions while reading this book. If you haven't read it, look away from the next paragraph because there will be some spoilers. Sorry.

First of all, Harper finds herself trapped in the bathroom while a murder is going on. Seems legit. Then, she is forced to murder her teacher. Okay, so after Harper kills Dr. Dupont, it is mentioned that there is a substitute teacher once. Wouldn't you think the school would address the disappearance/murders of one of their teachers? That kind of bothered me. It is a hole in the plot that I think should have at least been mentioned again. Also, it is mentioned that Harper's sister was killed a lot, so I'm guessing that is supposed to be more important than lead on? I hope Hawkins addresses this in the next book because it is mentioned so many times with literally no answers! It's so aggravating.

Now for the characters of the book. Harper really, really annoyed me. I can't even begin to list the many things that bothered me about her. It would probably take all day, so let's just assume that I dislike pretty much everything about Harper Price after reading the book and getting to know her. Now for Harper's boyfriend, Ryan. He seems pretty cool. By the time I finished this book, I felt like I really didn't know anything about him. I guess we'll learn more about him in the next book. David is actually one of the only characters I liked in this book. There are so many levels to his character, and I'm sure he will be even more interesting in the next book. Harper's great aunts are pretty cool ladies. I enjoyed reading about them, and I think I would much rather have read an entire book about them, especially the twins.

WARNING: THERE IS A LOVE TRIANGLE. I know a lot of people refuse to read books with them, so I'm just putting it out there.

Honestly, I don't know if I want to continue with this series. I feel like I lost a lot of brain cells while reading this book. I really wish I could go back in time and left this book in the store.

After reading and enjoying the Rachel Hawkins' Hex Hall series, I had high expectations for Rebel Belle. I found it to be quite enjoyable. The paranormal/fantasy aspect was different than anything I have read before. Harper was a fun heroine. She wasn't perfect and had her moments, but I definitely found myself rooting for her. I loved her relationship with David and am looking forward to see that explored more. The direction the story took at the end was a nice touch. I am excited to continue with the series and see what happens next.

Wow! Just Wow!

Rachel Hawkins described this book as "legally blond meets the Terminator" and while I do not believe that to be 100% on the money, it is pretty damn close!

Girl hates boy. Boy hates Girl. A Crazy teacher and janitor crash into the girls bathroom at Homecoming. Girl gets superpowers. Girl is a southern belle.

I was seriously doubting this book in the first chapter. Harper was just too... girly... for my tastes. She learns to be a person and starts to deal with things happening in her life. Things she never would have seen coming in a million years. A few things where so obvious but there were some great twists in this story.

Definitely looking forward to the second book.

Absolutely love the southern charm & wit of Rebel Belle! I am currently reading bk2. Nothing like sweet tea, porch rockers & debutants adding in some visions, oracles, magic & out of control old ladies! Perfect!!!!

I preordered this weeks ago and completely devoured it last night & this morning. I love Rachel Hawkins' voice, love her writing and her sass. I've only ever visited the south on vacation, but love the way Hawkins writes about it, and weaves in her trademark humor and the paranormal elements we all know she researches so well. Stories that involve powers and fate are my favorite and for anyone wanting a fun YA, with sweet romance and laugh out loud writing should pick up everything Hawkins writes.

Very fun and quick read, I enjoyed the Southern town setting and characters. The action was decent, and the plotline of the Oracle-Paladin-Mage thing was intriguing, albeit could have been fleshed out a bit more. Gave it the 4th star due to the ending, which was the best part of the book and made me want to keep an eye out for the next one!

With the understanding that this book was meant to be light-hearted and for teenagers, I picked it up to give myself a break. The buildup to the climax as well as the ending were just kinda blase'. There was not a lot of depth or development which I should have expected.

After taking the GRE, I needed something quick and fun to read. This fit the bill perfectly. The writing was not the best but the plot was interesting. Also the protagonist was a total bada$$ who knew what she wanted, so I can def get behind that. I'll have to read the next one when I'm in a similar mood!

Another score by Rachel Hawkins!  I love this author's work!  A great, absolutely different, type of supernatural story!   Very fast paced, and a lot of fun!  I zipped through this very quickly.  I loved the plot, settings, and characters.  Great first book in a fun new series!  Can't wait for the next installment!

For whatever reason I came into this book thinking it was just a lighthearted contemporary read. Yeah, not quite. This book follows Harper, a southern belle through and through who eventually gains an ancient power in the oddest of ways. This book by far had the most intriguing tie-in of ancient Greek mythology that I have ever read. The characters were lovable, the dialogue was hilarious, and the blend of southern class and ninja-like butt kicking was impeccable. Also, it's not just a book for girls! I feel that if boys can handle just a few girly parts, that they will love reading this. I look forward to the rest of the series. 5 out of 5 starts for Miss Rachel Hawkins!

Holy bleep, this book was good! I had decent expectations for this book, but it just blew them out of the water! Rebel Belle was fun and flirty, with a nice dose of action and magic. The main character, while maybe not the most likable, becomes really kick-butt! I loved the book and can't wait for book two!

I seriously cannot express my love for this book. Between the hilarious narration and nerdy references, I couldn't get enough. Being from the South, I laughed out loud to the "Southern Belle" phrases and actions. Harper's character development was wonderful also. The romance is also very on point.

I loved the setting of this book, and really enjoyed all of the characters and their lives. YA fans make the perfect readers for this story. I did feel that the long build up lead to what should have been a grander final scene. Overall 4/5 stars; I am excited to read the next book.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed reading Rebel Belle. The characters were fun and witty, and the plot was well executed and unique. Debutantes fighting bad guys in ball gowns? Kind of awesome. I'm excited to see what's in store in the next book.

I thought that this book was excellent. It was fast paced, funny, and charming. The book is "Southern Belle" take on the paranormal genre. Very interesting and I can't wait to read the second book in the series.

After ready her, Hex hall series... I was excited for this one. It had great things, and things I could have done without... A bit slow to start, but it picks up and becomes very entertaining. Will def. Read the next one..

This book kept me sucked in the entire time! There was so much action and all of the characters were really well rounded. I really did not expect all of the fighting, but it pleasantly surprised me and made the book really fun. I loved how the main characters, Harper and David, we're so sarcastic and ALWAYS had something to say about the other. The humor between them really added an element to the novel that just kept me wanting more. Rachel Hawkins has really outdone herself with this epic thriller.

This book kept me wondering the whole time! I never knew what was going to happen next. The characters were funny in their own ways. One minute I'm laughing so hard, and the next I'm so scared for the characters. I can't wait to see where Hawkins takes this next! Highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a new favorite book!

The title of this book has pretty much nothing to do with the plot. Mostly, I was disappointed in this book because the Harper/David hate/love relationship had so much potential to be the greatest, cutest, and most hilarious, but it was lame.

This is a funny, action-packed book with a splash of elegance that I really enjoyed. The entire book kept my attention. The main character, Harper Price, shows a lot of character development throughout the story. I highly recommend Rebel Belle!

I really, truly enjoyed reading this book. It's lighthearted, fun, and it has just enough YA cheesiness to make me feel at home. And although the plotline is not exactly the most unique, there was one thing that stood out from me and made this book really catch my attention.

The girl has to protect the boy?????? Usually I don't get all hot and bothered by the fact that 98% of YA is a hot guy protecting the girl from danger (although, authors are starting to expand a little), but I just loved that it was switched around in this book. It took me completely by surprise that the boy stays back while the girl does all the badass fighting. Which, when you think about it, is kind of sad. I definitely want to see more books like this in the future.

Other than the awesome non-gender stereotyping, there were other things that made me enjoy this book. I love the fact that the characters are so realistic. Obviously, this book is fiction, but the characters react to the situations they are put in the way real people would react. When Harper finds out what is expected of her, she doesn't try to be the hero. She literally just says, ¨No.¨ I just remember reading that part and thinking, Finally. A girl who actually stands up for herself. And when s*** starts to go down, guess what? David, the love interest (or at least one of them) gets scared. *dramatic gasp* Wait, the guy shows emotions???? What????

Okay, I'll drop the sarcasm now. But seriously, why isn't every YA book like this? I only hope that other authors will follow Rachel Hawkins lead.

Overall, I love this book (and the cover... look at it. Its so pretty). I will definitely be recommending it to everyone in sight.

I like the lightheartedness but I didn't like the love triangle I like to Ryan I really wasn't all that into David I think I'm going to try that hex Hall novels although even though I didn't enjoy this one all that much