1st Read (2017): 4* —> 2nd Read (2023): 2*

I loved this book during the 1st read but then again I was young and missed out on a lot of details. Unfortunately, I can’t say I like it the same anymore after realizing certain things — especially Jane’s ethnocentric and closeminded character. After the Saudia Arabia excerpt in Chapter 10, I had to DNF.

I found Jane to be extremely ethnocentric; thinking in her own cultural lens with superiority. She was also very close minded and inconsiderate/ The way she commented about Italy and Saudia Arabia contained a lot of arrogant biases. An excerpt:

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“Of course a modelizer like him can’t be writing something cool like a spy thriller or dick lit, like Nick Hornsby or anything. Oh, no. HE has to have written a book about—get this—how Saudi Arabia’s oil fields are on the decline, and soon won’t be able to meet the world’s demands. This, of course, is going to crush Saudi Arabia’s economy, and have serious repercussions throughout the rest of the globe, as well.

Yeah. Who cares? Guess what, Cal? In Saudi Arabia, women aren’t allowed to vote or drive cars. Why should I care if that nation’s economy goes down the tubes? Maybe if they’d let women have some say in their country’s governance, they wouldn’t be in this sorry position in the first place. Sadly, he SAW me yawning. Cal, I mean.”
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I understand that Saudia Arabia has unique practices that are different from the West that may be hard to understand, but that doesn’t make an economy lack importance or worthiness to be “cared for.” It has made changes throughout the years in their own ways, they already had fully licensed female lawyers while this book was written and now women are able to drive. But even if they didn’t, I don’t think it’s fair to boil down someone’s ability to make ends meet and have food on the table to something that shouldn’t be cared for — due to difference in laws. I am all for feminism and letting women speak but I am not with close mindedness and putting everyone else in the trash if they don’t follow my values. That crosses the line.

She jumps to conclusions very quickly and and immediately villain-izes anyone who doesn’t see things her POV. Like okay, Cal doesn’t know anything about Wonder Cat or whatever, but why does she have to attach such superficial stereotypes about him and his character all the time? I kept trying to brush it off but she was just super childish and label-ly with everyone. I didn’t find it quirky or cute at all.

This was a very disappointing re-read, considering how much I enjoyed reading Meg Cabot in the past. Hopefully there is improvement on these matters in future books by her. I really hope so. Or else, I’m down a favorite author.

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3 Reviews