"Size 14 is Not Fat Either" by Meg Cabot

Former mall pop sensation turned residence hall director Heath Wells is back with yet another dorm murder on her hands.  Will she be able to solve the latest mystery of Death Dorm?

Summary:  Winter break has come to a close and the New York College freshmen and sophomores have returned to Fischer Hall to kick off a new semester.  Heather herself is ready to spring into action when a gruesome discovery in the cafeteria puts the dorm on high alert and Heather in the middle of yet another who-done-it.

What I Liked:  I feel like I repeat myself every time I review an installment of the Heather Wells series, but I'll say it again.  These books are funny, cute and definitely lighthearted.  They are easily read over a few afternoons, or ideally a day at the beach!

Another side benefit: the farther I get away from the college, the more hilarious college students seem.  This story in particular poked fun at Greek life and boy bands in a clever, if slightly insane way.

What Drove Me Nuts:  I had to put the book down twice because the main character is sometimes just TOO DITZY.  But I always get over it, pick it back up, and enjoy how her moments of total airheadedness turn out.

Rating:  Drop the kids off with grandma, pick up a cocktail and enjoy.

Reviewed by:  Tami

"Size 12 is Not Fat" by Meg Cabot

I read the latest installment in the Heather Wells series first.  I like it so much I had to go back to the beginning and see how it all started.

Image from Google

Summary:  Meet Heather Wells, former teen sensation turned assistant director of a residence hall.  Only three months on the job, Heather is faced with catastrophe when one of her freshman residents is found dead at the bottom of an elevator shaft.  The death is ruled as accidental due to elevator surfing but Heather thinks otherwise.  When a second freshman woman turns up dead, Heather knows she needs to find out what is really happening before a third resident dies on her watch.

What I Liked:  The dialog in this story is hilarious.  Meg Cabot has a flair for the ridiculous and she wields her skill in a glorious manner.  I literally laughed out loud while reading, which is both awesome (yeah, good dialog) and bad (nooo, don't laugh at a book weirdo.)

The characters are well developed, in that they are unique and different from other books I've read.  Cabot deals with former child stars in exactly the right way.  And Heather's landlord:  DREAMY.

I also appreciated some of the more random moments, such as the lip synch contest and any and all run ins with Heather's ex.

What Drove Me Nuts:  There weren't a lot of plot turns and the main character is really ditsy.  I occasionally found myself rolling my eyes (but then again, that might be the point and why the books are so fun to read.)

Rating:  This would be an excellent beach read (easy to pick up and put down, or to read while drinking a margarita).  Not too serious and just fun.

Also Read by This Author:  "The Bride Wore Size 12"

Reviewed By:  Tami

"The Bride Wore Size 12" by Meg Cabot

I added this book to my library reserve list when I was planning my wedding.  At the time I was dying to get my hands on a lighthearted wedding story I could read to get away from the stresses of seating charts and RSVPs.

Summary:  Former teen pop star and current assistant housing director Heather Wells is planning her upcoming wedding at New York's epic Plaza Hotel all while welcoming this year's batch of freshmen to New York College when everything falls apart.  A VIR and his bodyguards cause drama in the dorm, her money stealing mama makes a dramatic reappearance on her doorstep and the curse of Death Dorm strikes again.  Will Heather be able to solve this years mysterious death and still make it to the altar?

What I Liked:  While I love a good and gruesome murder mystery, I also enjoy the more lighthearted (am I really saying this) murder mysteries.  "The Bride Wore Size 12" didn't disappoint.  The plot was downright cute, the dialog was entertaining and the over-the-top characters toed the line at almost unbelievable...but in a way that was so charming it only added to the fun feeling of the book.

What Drove Me Nuts:  There were two things that drove me a little batty, but they were really minor:

1. The plot and characters really did toe the line between hilarious and completely unbelievable.
2. This was clearly a recent installment in a series.  And now I have to go back and read the rest!

Rating:  Go into this story with a light heart and you'll enjoy it!

Also Read by This Author:  Abandon, Underworld

Reviewed By:  Tami