A Girl Called Malice by Aurelia B. Rowl

Facing the Music #2. Carina UK (Oct. 2014) NetGalley

It’s not easy being the Queen Bee. Alice Taylor should know. 
You know that girl. The one that the whole school’s social life seems to revolve around. Alice used to be that girl until she decided to quit sixth form college. Suddenly her ‘friends’ aren’t so interested in following her around and her attention-grabbing behaviour is about to get her kicked out of home. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, her world starts spiralling seriously out of control.

Only new friend Zac Newton seems to believe in her. Lifeguard and poolside hottie, Zac is quite literally her lifesaver. But then, he’s never met ‘Malice’, her mean-girl alter ego, and Alice wants to keep it that way. She knows this is her last chance for a fresh start until her sordid past catches up with her at the worst possible moment.

As everything Alice has worked towards comes crashing down around her, she realises that the hardest thing of all is being yourself…

                                           

Alice or Malice is quitting college and saving up to leave her dysfunctional home life once in for all. It's not like it really matters. Her mother expects the worst from her and her so called friends are overjoyed that they can take up the mantle of Queen Bee. But Alice wasn't really who she was at school - resident meal girl with bright blue eyes, makeup galore, and barely any clothes. Zac finds the real her stuck up a tree - a green-eyed beauty who although can be a caring older sister can still handle herself... most of the time. What will happen when Malice and her past comes up from the woodworks just when Alice's true self is starting to show her true colors? Will she sink back deep into Malice or will Alice's self-destruct button finally be thrown away?

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I had forgotten how overwhelming Rowl's books were. This felt like (pardon the cliche) a rollercoaster ride that I didn't want to get off. It felt like such a long read but in a good way. The author allowed the story and characters to grow with time. Although I don't remember the exact details of Popping the Cherry (I'm going to have to reread it now) you don't really need to in order to enjoy this story of a mean girl trying to shed her past. However, if you have read the previous book you'll get some nice surprises when old characters come into the mix.

It's always hard in real life to care or give the benefit of the doubt to the mean girl or guy who just can't help being who they are... It's kind of nice to read a story from the "villain's" point of view because you never know who has it worse than you. Now I wouldn't characterize Alice of having the worst background story but your mother making you pretend you're her sister for years as well as treating you like you are a mistake is pretty messed up. Like her mother is literally evil while Alice was just pretending.

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Alice and Zac are pretty amazing together. It was slow going which I appreciate. He sees her for who she really is which made me love him so easily. Of course like all the guys in this story he is handsome. He's also has a great banter with Alice and is protective of her too. He's a real gentleman and a great friend to have. I wish Alice wasn't so self-destructive. This is an NA book so things can get a little crazy... So if you aren't really into a lot of sexual things happening in your books I wouldn't pick this book up. But if you are cool with it I wouldn't count this book out. A Girl Called Malice has love, pain, struggle, friendship, and hope. It's a real rollercoaster ride, but it was such a worthwhile read.

Thanks to NetGalley, Carina UK, and the author for letting me read A Girl Called Malice in exchange for an honest review!

Have you read any mean girl gone good stories before?