Book review: Being Nikki

May 19, 11:23 AMSeattle Books ExaminerDanielle Dreger-Babbitt

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Meg Cabot has been called the "reigning grand dame of teenage chick-lit" by The New York Times Book Review .  She's written over 25 books for teens (five of which were #1 NYT best-sellers), including the Princess Diaries series, Jinx, and most recentlyBeing Nikki:  An Airhead Novel.  In addition to her teen books, Cabot has written numerous adult chick-lit best-sellers like the Queen of Babble and Heather Wells mysteries.  She has perfected the literary romantic comedy, so well that one can't help but wonder why all her books aren't made into movies.

With Being Nikki, Cabot has broadened her craft to include romantic suspense with a touch of science fiction.  Being Nikki picks up where Airhead left off.  Straight-A student and gaming geek Emerson Watts has had her brain transplanted into the body of teenage supermodel Nikki Howard.  At the start of the sequel Nikki is hanging off of a cliff filming a commercial for Stark brand deodorant.  She figures her life can't get much worse since her crush, Christopher, doesn't know she's alive (literally).  She's supposed to keep limited contact with her biological family. Her grades are slipping because she's constantly missing school for fashion shows.  

But she's wrong.  Her life does get worse.  Em soon discovers that Nikki has a brother no one knew existed and that their mom has been missing since Em's/ Nikki's accident.  To top it off, Em discovers she has to parade around in a televised lingerie fashion show wearing nothing but a diamond bra and panty set and that her crush is intent on destroying the Stark company to avenge Em's death.  Add to that mix boys coming out of woodwork trying to woo her (including the son of the head of Stark and a hunky Brazilian singer) and cohosting the holiday party of the century with her socialite roommate Lulu and you realize that being Nikki isn't very easy.

I will be honest and say the book starts off a little slow (despite Em falling off a cliff and into an ocean full of sharks).  The first few chapters serve mostly as back story to the saga of Em and Nikki.  It's great for new readers, but for those who have read Airhead might find it a little redundant.  The reader is constantly reminded of how much Em hates being Nikki and how she longs for her old life of playing Journeyquest and and hanging out with Christopher.  Fortunately, the story picks up the minute Nikki's brother walks in and doesn't slow down until the final page.  For the most part it wasn't as predictable as I imagined it would be.  As it turns out Nikki's friends are smarter than anyone gives them credit for.  I will say the end had me screaming What? and wishing there was a preview of the next Nikki Howard story.  I hope Cabot can whip out a new story soon because I can't wait to find out what happens next.  Will Christopher take down Stark?  Will Em and Christopher ever get together?  Will Nikki have to wear a diamond bra on national television?

It's a good book for tweens, teens, and anyone who loves a romantic science fiction story filled with suspense and couture.  It's a safe read for tweens (no sex, no drugs, just a warning to why one should not cut school during finals or partake in underage drinking).  It's also a perfect beach read for Memorial Day weekend.  Just make sure to pick up the first Airhead novel too (now out in paperback).