A review by destdest
The New Girl by Cassandra Calin

lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

INFINITELY CUTE! Also, there's a French glossary at the end of the book. I'll continue screaming this. Publishers, please let readers know this in the book front credits.

I loved the representation of how intense and debilitating period cramps can be here (spoiler:
. My first thought was she might have a fibroids problem. Cramps always suck but sometimes it’s a medical issue too.
. Yes, sometimes, you do want to curl up into the fetal position.

Lia faces major cultural shock here leaving Romania and being thrust into Canada (Montreal). There’s a balance of wanting to hold tight to what you’re comfortable with and exploring the new that is relatable for any age and anybody. 

The French language here is untranslated, which throws the reader into the same learning curve/unknown as Lia, but it's easy to figure out. I know only a little French from being a beginner in Spanish, but it adds to the personality of the story 100-fold.

The art style is so adorable – the best mixture of European cartoons and an animesque flair. I absolutely love it.

There’s either a throwaway line or a future plot point with one of Lia’s friends (*insert iPhone eyes emoji here*). If this book is a series, I can see it being developed further. 

Overall, I enjoyed this so much! I would read book 2 or another book from Calin.