Beauty Queens

"If you think "you misunderestimated me" is peak comedy you will love this book, as the author makes that reference something like six times."

"This book was hilarious. I never would have considered reading this if not for a convincing recommendation, but I am so glad I did!<br/><br/>Total satire, poignant, and absolutely absurdly silly.<br/><br/>Beauty queens on their way to compete in the Miss Teen Dream pageant crash land on a desert island and have to learn to survive. They turn out to be totally capable and we learn about all of the different characters through the main storyline of them on this island, but also through prerecorded pageant “fun facts” snippets.<br/><br/>The way this book was written as much as the content makes it a fun, hilarious, and poignant read. There are regular commercial breaks from “The Corporation” for all manner of absurd beauty products and stupidly funny tv shows like a reality show where Amish girls bunk with strippers lol.<br/><br/>There’s exploration of sexuality and consent and race and consumerist culture and, most especially, gender roles and expectations. Here’s a quote from the book that I felt really encapsulated the premise and feel of the book:<br/><br/>“‘Maybe girls need an island to find themselves. Maybe they need a place where no one’s watching them so they can be who they really are...’<br/><br/>There was something about the island that made them forget who they had been—all those rules and shalt nots. They were no longer waiting for some arbitrary grade. They were no longer performing, waiting, hoping. They were becoming. They were.<br/><br/>A word from your sponsor: The corporation would like to apologize for the preceding pages. Of course it’s not alright for girls to be AE this way. Sexuality is not meant to be this way; a honest consensual expression in which a girl might take an active role when she feels good and ready and not one minute before—no. Sexual desire is meant to sell soap and cars and beer and religion.<br/><br/>The corporation would like you to know that they are deeply regretful of this tawdry display. So often these books for our young people do not enforce a moral. The corporation would like to take the time now to present this moral in the following montage:<br/><br/>Alternate scenes: #1 The beauty queen made the first move and kissed the prince. “You know what I really like?” she whispered into his ear. Seconds later he was sliding his mouth down the curve of her stomach. As he did, she looked up and saw the boulder teetering on the edge of the cliff above them. “Oh my god! Look out for that boulder!” “What boul—“ the rock fell off and killed her dead. The prince was blinded in the accident, but was later healed by the love of a goodly virginal maiden who suffered a lot first. The end.”<br/><br/>Plus the representation in this book is awesome. There’s a lesbian character from Flint Michigan who loves comic books, a pansexual/bisexual deaf girl, a trans girl who finds love and acceptance, a black girl who faces the pressure of being the perfect “not like other black girls” girl in a white supremacist world, an Indian American girl who struggles the ‘ideal immigrant’ who only shows gratitude for the opportunity to live in the US, a survivalist Texan girl who kicks ass, and more. All of the characters were done really well and the author at the end of the book gives her acknowledgment of the people who helped her bring all these characters to life in an informed and accurate way.<br/><br/>I highly recommend this book, especially on audio. The author Libba Bray reads the book herself and there are tons of little sounds and music bits added in that really add to the story."

"I wouldn't say this book has any main character necessarily, but there is a significant character who is deaf"

"This is a dark comedy about a group of teen pageant contestants stranded on an island after a plane crash. Unfortunately, it's just not very funny. The author loves driving already weak jokes into the ground (the trust fund guy with The Corporation says "you misunderestimated me" five or six times, the Borat style jokes with the dictator character go on way too long, the tray in that one girl’s forehead comes up again and again) and the girl power stuff comes off preachy and heavy-handed. Every girl is an embarrassing stereotype and the way the mistreatment of the trans character is brushed off really rubbed me the wrong way."

"On point satire am with the strength of female power. Great read. "

"Beauty Queens was laugh out loud funny, action packed and full of sparkle! A spin on "Lord of the Flies" that will feel familiar at points but totally different many other ways. This is a glimpse into the lives of girls that take part in pageants and how they might deal in a crisis. All of the characters were unique individuals that many of us may know someone with these very same qualities. The girls are relatable and all come from very different backgrounds founding the stories believability factor. Highly recommend listening to the audiobook which is narrated by the author. The sound effects, commercial breaks, beauty contestants facts sheets and the voices for the different characters were splendidly well done. Ages 16+ for slightly mature language and sexually implicit scenes."

"If the concept of Lord of the Flies sounded interesting to you. But you couldn't buy into it being an accurate assessment of humanity this book is probably more your speed. "

"Loved this book! I don’t think I’ve even full on laughed so much at a book"

"I absolutely loved this fun, satirical romp! The audio version was FANTASTIC (read by the author herself with multiple voices/accents, etc). I love where the author went with this book, making it a social commentary on gender. Really a lot of fun! :)"