Sleeping with Beauty (Bantam Book) [Paperback]

This is the first book I read by this author.

I found it to be lagging a bit and hard to get into.

I found myself struggling and just wanted to jump to the end so I wouldn't have to read anymore.

Overall it was a cute book and a cute story line. With the 'fairytale' stuff I thought would make it even better, but instead it just frustrated me.

When we first meet our unlikely heroine, Lucy Harper, it is during her pre-teen years. She is trying to survive the daily tortures that consume the life of the not-so-popular crowd, and while facing them bravely, she doesn't always come out successful. Fortunately, her two best friends, Jana and Grady are there to lend moral support.

Shoot ahead to modern times, where Lucy is now facing a bit of a dilemma: her ten-year high school reunion. While a part of her wishes to just ignore it and not go - after all, she's happy with her life - there's that insistent little voice that tells she must, and that fact that her high school crush will be there doesn't hurt. Only this time she's determined to be the belle of the ball.

But there's a slight problem - Lucy is not the belle of anything. Geekhood has followed her into adulthood, and she doesn't know what to do about it, until she hears about a place of wonder called Glass Slipper where any wallflower can release her inner goddess. Against the better judgment of her best friends - both of whom no longer wallow in pariahville alongside her - Lucy makes a date with destiny and bravely faces the trials and tribulations of primping. The outcome is more than she expected, and she is overwhelmed by the enchantress she has turned into. She needs the support of her friends, only Jana has her own issues to deal with, and Grady doesn't seem to like her anymore. Bound and determined to shine, even if she has to do it alone, it's time to face the past and show her former classmates what they overlooked all those years ago.

Most of us can relate to the traumas of high school, and suffering through hopeless crushes on the cutest boy in school who never gave us a second glance. But not all of us were lucky to have a Grady, who loves Lucy no matter what and is sad to see his beloved geek turn into a swan. He is a true diamond in the rough, always there for her and Jana, and while we can understand Lucy's desire to prove something to those who snubbed her in high school, we can't help but wish she'd take her blinders off a lot quicker and see who's been by her side all along. But eventually she does, and what happens is the happy ending we've been holding our breath for - thank God! It is a sweet moment that is finally realized.

Lucy, Jana and Grady are the three geeks in high school who become friends because they don't fit it. Still friends after 10 yrs and time for their high school reunion. Lucy wants to see if now she can get the high school quarterbacks attention. In the end, she finds the attention of someone who's loved her from afar after all these years! Cute story. Great friendships.