In a society where women and girls are constantly pitted against each other — both in the real world and in countless forms of entertainment — Elizabeth Eulberg seeks to take down the girl fight, and remind us that “the other woman” is really Just Another Girl, her newest young adult book. And she does so with her typical heart, humor, and charm.
You resent her. You can’t stand her. You might even hate her.
But you don’t know her at all.
Hope knows there’s only one thing coming between her and her longtime crush: his girlfriend, Parker. She has to sit on the sidelines and watch as the perfect girl gets the perfect boy . . . because that’s how the universe works, even though it’s so completely wrong.
Parker doesn’t feel perfect. She knows if everyone knew the truth about her, they’d never be able to get past it. So she keeps quiet. She focuses on making it through the day with her secret safe . . . even as this becomes harder and harder to do. And Hope isn’t making it any easier. . . .
In Just Another Girl, Elizabeth Eulberg astutely and affectingly shows us how battle lines get drawn between girls — and how difficult it then becomes to see or understand the girl standing on the other side of the divide.
You think you have an enemy. But she’s just another girl.
Just Another Girl might be my favorite book of Elizabeth’s to date. Always a star at writing YA “rom-com,” here romance takes a back seat to the stories of two girls — each with their own wants, wishes, dreams, and challenges. And each with some pretty misguided ideas about what the other one is after. As the two start to learn more about each other, each learns to let go a little of their own preconceived notions and consider that things aren’t always what they appear.
I loved the way Eulberg used the dual narratives to show just exactly how we, as women, come to accept these assumptions we make about other ladies. How we feed into the societal expectation that women must compete against women: for men, for jobs, for recognition, for the right to take up space. Women still face extremely difficult hurdles in our world — and pitting women against each other is just another way male-dominated society keeps us down.
Instead, Eulberg shows how we can overcome this trend; listen to the other girl’s story. Be there for your fellow women. Leave the dudes out of it. That “enemy”? She’s Just Another Girl. With her own life, her own story, and her own hurdles to overcome. Don’t be another obstacle in another woman’s journey. Instead, lift each other up.
Because despite what society would have you believe? It’s not a competition.
Easily her most relevant story to date, Eulberg still writes with her signature charm and wit — making Just Another Girl a genuine, heartfelt story. Because despite its timely and relevant message? Just Another Girl is also just a really great book; fun, engaging, entertaining, and important all in one fabulous package.
I loved this story about ending the “girl fight.” Look for Just Another Girl in stores March 28th.
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