About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

The Fruit of My Lipstick is the second in the All About Us series. Like All About Us, the book is a simple read. The struggle in this story centers around trust, self-esteem, and what constitutes abuse. While the character of Gillian gets somewhat old and annoying three-quarters of the way through the book, the end makes it worth the read. Shelley Adina gives girls a way to see that, even when you make a mistake, redemption is for the asking.



Pros

• Easy reading for Christian teen girls
• Continues the cool, hip style that is very conversational
• Very good development of friendships and influence on faith
• Great description of descent into abusive relationships and impact on teens

Cons

• Plot remains fairly predictable
• Numerous pop-culture references, so the book won't have a long shelf life
• The plot gets a little old three-quarters of the way through the book

Description

• Author: Shelley Adina
• Publisher: Faith Words
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 256

Guide Review - Christian Teens Book Review: Fruit of My Lipstick

While the first book of the series seemed a bit more fluffy, this one is not that much more serious. However, it does provide the reader with some great life lessons. Again, Adina balances what most Christian teen girls try to balance - real life with real faith. In this case, Gillian faces a boyfriend that seems too good to be true, and is. She also faces confrontations by friends, and resistance to what they have to say. Still, faith remains the constant threat that keeps the story grounded.

While the story is still fairly predictable, this easy read is worth it for the lessons learned in the end. Most girls will come away with a view into bad relationships so that they may avoid making the decisions Gillian made throughout the story.