This book is one of those teenage dramas, but it is written very well and is about this new girl who is deaf and she meets these girls who use her to find out gossip but reading people's list. They make her do ridiculous tasks and she eventually comes to her senses. ( )

Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com

For Serena Nelson, fitting in has never been easy, but it was possible.

A punk skater at heart, she had her own niche of like-minded friends who didn't mind that she was deaf. Serena's talents for lip reading are excellent, and allow her to live a pretty normal life.

When she moves to a small town, the preps in her new school see her talent as something to profit off of, and use Serena to get the juiciest gossip, enticing her with a membership into a secret sorority and the promise of fitting in.

But will her so-called friends go too far?

READ MY LIPS is an attention-grabbing page-turner. Serena is a smart and edgy narrator, who is quite normal despite her condition, and doesn't seek attention because of it. Her desire to fit in is something that we can all empathize with, and the lengths that she goes to do so are relatable. But it's how she fights back and overcomes those that belittle her that makes READ MY LIPS such a compelling and quick read.

The story is a delightful mix of complex characters, biting wit, and the angst that comes with making new friends. ( )

Unfortunately, I didn’t like this book at all. I had to push myself to finish it, just so I could write a proper review. Teri Brown is a really great writer- don’t get me wrong- but the story wasn’t there. It was too fast, too jumpy and too cheesy- all of my least favorite things in a novel.

Serena was an annoying character. The eye-rolling comments were enough to overlook, but I couldn’t get past the sheer conformity. In the beginning, she’s written with at least a shred of confidence and personality, but as the story unfolds, she just moves back and fourth to please other characters. Maybe that was the intention, but I didn’t like how incredibly fast everything was.

A few other things that bugged me- the labels and stereotypes. I felt like the entire story was focused on those. It might just be my own personal annoyance, but all the use of “prep, preppies”, and “punk skater chick”, it just got to be a bit much. Then there was also the throwing around of the L word. (Love- just in case you’re thinking of something nasty) After only a short, short time of knowing and spending time with each other, Serena and Miller, the love interest of the story, were reciting it with ease. This could be another thing that only bothers me, but I think the word love should only apply to characters who have a long, established and meaningful relationship- something Serena and Miller do not.

I would’ve given it three stars, maybe, if the story ended with a conclusion, but it didn’t. Not really. In the end, Serena still basically ended up conforming, she didn’t make up for the things she did to people, and she still got her perfect fairy-tale ending with Miller. I think maybe this book should be directed towards twelve & thirteen year olds- which there is nothing wrong with- but for a nineteen year old who normally reads really mature literature? Not a good recommendation. ( )

Um, teen angst anyone? Serena made some very bad decisions. On the other hand the author made it believable why she would. The author covers issues that all teens face (sense of self, and wanting to fit in, ect.) Serena reminded me of a deaf teen that I once knew, and I couldn’t help feeling how much they had in common, and how much I think they would have gotten along. It was a buyable story, and I liked the style it was written in. Would defiantly liked this one as a teen, and it was ok as an adult, if you can get past the angst. =D ( )

A very cute book! I enjoyed thoroughly enjoyed the main character (Serena) and the delicious budding romance between her and the lone rebel Miller. Teri did an excellent job with character development, especially given that Serena was a deaf girl who read lips. And I was surprised at how classy the "it" girls were at the end. ( )