The writing isn't great, but the characters and their struggles to cope with life at uni are very real. Some parts nearly had me in tears, and at one point I felt too sick to continue reading Jude's section (I had to put the book down and come back to it later). Evoking such strong emotions is, for me, a sign of good storytelling, so even though the narrative and dialogue felt clunky, this book gets four stars.

aside from the sweeping generalisations of the 90s and YA fiction, this novel captures the experience of being 18, from the country and in your first year of uni so well. it is so good, still

I first read this when I was 14 or 15. I loved it then, but I feel like I love it even more now - now I can connect with the characters, because I've been there. I remember the anxiety of growing up and starting the next stage of life. It was weird, brilliant, stressful, fun... so many contradictions.McCarthy is a great writer, and she knows what appeals to younger readers without descending into cliches and overly familiar characters that you feel like you've seen before. Even the classic perfe...

This was a fun Australian story of three 18 year olds finding their way after moving from the country to the city to start university. Although it wasn't the best writing and at times I got confused who was narrating, I listened to the second part via audiobook yesterday and think that it made for a good audiobook. Now that I am finished I want to watch the tv series but I cannot find it anywhere.

Loved it - very relatable as set in Melbourne.

It isn't perfectly written, but the enchantment and allure about these three girls and their story has you overlooking that completely. Any good Australian YA novel seems to have this kind of magnetism to it that you can't get from anything else. This book is right up there with the likes of Looking for Alibrandi. I was only 9 when the mini-series aired on TV, so I sought out a DVD on Fishpond for - wait for it - $8! It is currently on the way to me now and I can't wait to watch it because I'm s...

My biggest issue with this book was that it was incredibly boring in some parts, especially Jude's POV, and I found myself skimming majority of that section. Carmel and Kat's POV's were great to read from, however, and the ending was quite a beautiful one.

Definitely the classic Melbourne YA novel of my generation. Can't believe it took me so long to read it. Enjoyable, if not mind blowing. Big issue with the excusing/acceptance of rape; I hate that in YA fiction (and in real life).

This book is one of a type I'd like to read more of, set in the first year of university, where people make bad choices and good ones and learn about themselves. (Unrelated fact: My first year of university is about to start). It does the typical thing where the three heroines are 'from different worlds' and have a lot of bad and sad things happen to them (or actively cause them) but make friends through the process. So, fun. I did find this more gritty than I was expecting. (view spoiler)[The w...

FIRST IMPRESSION:A story which would focus on three characters in particular.WRITING STYLE:There was never a dull moment with the writing style. It never failed to keep me interested. This was the book which got me into reading again, after a long break.PLOT:Pulled off better than I expected. Three girls, one dorm. All with different personalities.CHARACTERS:All the characters were amazing. I love their insights. It was characterisation at its best, and it was told in three points of views.OVERA...

It had been years since I last read this book, and when I ran out of library books the other day, I figured it was about time I revisited something I loved to death as a teenager. It's a familiar story to anyone who's moved away from home to university and has had to deal with living with a bunch of strangers. But at the same time, it's the story of how people aren't who you think they are, how friendships can grow in the most unlikely of places, and how the choices you make can impact your enti...

I first read this when I was 14 or 15. I loved it then, and I loved it again when I re-read it 10+ years later. It's an extremely well-told tale of three very different girls who move in and out of each other's lives in complex ways, all the while living in the same house. Each character has her flaws and her virtues, and McCarthy describes these young women so well you never feel quite right condemning them for their faults or shortcomings. It's not that you totally adore them, but they're hone...

Did not finish. I really didn't enjoy this book at all. I only read about 100 pages and I that's my limit if I'm not enjoying it. I didn't think the writing was particularly good (I have read and enjoyed The Convent by Maureen McCarthy, so it's not necessarily her writing in general). I found the book itself really boring to read and I had to force myself to keep going, in the hopes that it would get better. The characters all annoyed me as well, and even though I could relate to Carmel the most...

At times this story can be a bit clunky but its charm overrides all its faults. I love reading this book whenever I miss Melbourne - the characters go to cafes I went to, they sit in the rotunda in the Edinburgh gardens late at night just like I used to, and the streets they walk are all familiar and tinged with the same love I felt. Maybe that's why it works for me - it makes my own memories fresh again.

I didn't like this book as well as the other Maureen McCarthy I've read but it was a solid OK! I did listen to it and the reader is Australian which made it very enjoyable. This book just felt a little more superficial than the other one. I couldn't quite love all three of the main characters, but again a solid 3 stars.

Great book. Read it in secondary school and I plan to read it again some time. The characters are solid and I still remember scenes from this book. Whenever I eat hot salty fish from the fish and chip shop I think of this book.

I adored this book. It was such a good read. A story about three university students, stepping out into the real love, their lives enriched by love, betrayal and family secrets. Though the ending was sad, I enjoyed this book to no end. The characters are so real, alive and passionate.

Going through Aussie books and coming across so many novels I read back in school that had such an impact on me but I managed to forget about. This one in particular was a bit rough around the edges but the story flowed and the characters were oh so real.

One of those great "coming of age" stories, I probably should have read when I was 20. Still good to see the character development and the "twist" that three apparently different girls actually had so much in common.

It's been a while since I read this and I was probably a bit young at the time, but I remember I enjoyed it.

my favorite 'coming of age' book i read in high school, cant find it in UK so have requested younger sister seek it out and send to me becasue i want to read it again!

3 girls going through the tough transition from high school to college. another great aussie read

I honestly couldn't get into it. I'd heard so many good things, but in the end I just didn't like any of the characters enough to care to read about them.

Fantastic. Three very real characters each with unique voices. Was a big literary influence on my novel The Big Smoke.

This book wasn't as good as McCarthy's others but overall was relatively enjoyable. The characters did irritate me a lot though & I found them to be a bit unrealistic but all in all a good YA book!

It could have been "Queen Kat, Carmel, St Jude and Anemone get a life" because I felt like being in part of their lives!

There's a copy of this book at the Simmons College Library - must investigate at some point.

A beautiful book, about the journey of three peoples lives into their futures, as they battle it out together and learn more about the wide world and themselves.

Amazing! Beautiful! Loved this! Omigod! So good! Sad! Shocking! Amazing! Funny! Great! Wonderful! TOO MANY ADJECTIVES! READ THIS!

Read this book in high school which is now over 10years ago & I still simply adore it. Brilliant read