1. For one, boys in middle, and hell even now, make me a hot mess. I’ve had a weird time in middle school with, and even now it hasn’t gotten much better. And I guess for Massie, and even her friends, it was probably VERY confusing having to deal with those newfound emotions. Even for the boys too, I can see for hem how it was also very confusing.
2. It’s the control. She has control over her new friend and she was probably getting tired of being pushed around. Olivia gave her that chance to be the “Alpha” in their friendship. Their experience with boys I still believe is as low as all the other girls.
3. It’s the confidence. And maybe Claire has had a crush before she moved to New York. She can have normal conversations with guys and get along better. Her and Cam are the beacon for “middle school sweethearts”. Since she’s been around before though, she better able to handle herself. (🩷Claire and Cam forever!🩷)
1. I think Massie is insecure because she's very used to being the one everyone turns to. Massie's the one who sets most of the style trends at OCD, and I think her friends turn to her a lot. As a result of being the alpha, I think people automatically assume that Massie has experience with boys, and she doesn't want anyone to think otherwise.
2. When I re-read this, I was shocked that Alicia ditched TPC so suddenly. But, I think that Alicia definitely feels worshipped by Olivia. I think in TPC, Massie gets credit for everything, and she gets a lot of attention.
3. I think Claire's confidence comes from her "experience" with boys in Florida. She realizes in this book that she has more experiencing interacting with boys than most girls at OCD. I still find it really interesting that Cam starts liking Claire after their first conversation, despite her own worry that guys wouldn't find her attractive in her costume. I think Cam likes that Claire is herself, and she's someone he can laugh with.
Reading these books as a 30 year old paints things in such a different light! Massie has so many insecurities, particularly around the Briarwood Boys, because boys are something that she has very little experience in and doesn’t want the rest of TPC to find out. It would hit Massie where it hurts the most to know that Claire (and even Layne!!) have more boy experience than she does.
And Duh-Livia Ryan being a “post glow up hottie” lol feeds into Massie’s insecurities because SHE wants to be the only hottie. Olivia is coming into the party after a mysterious absence and this results in intrigue surrounding her. Massie doesn’t want the boys paying attention to her and also wants Alicia to consider Massie to be her best friend, not Duh-Livia.
1) Massie has confidence over things (and people) she thinks she can control. She knows she controls the social scene at OCD, so she has plenty of confidence in that arena. Boys, on the other hand, are something new that she can't quite figure out at first. She's used to getting what she wants in one way or another, but not winning over Cam (and to lose him to Claire, of all people) is a punch to her gut that throws her off balance.
2) Alicia sees her opportunity to be the Alpha when Olivia enters her life. Also, Olivia easily attracts all the guys, which is the new shiny thing the PC is chasing, so it's a double win! The PC being mad at Leesh reminds me of some similar dynamics I navigated in middle and high school - having a main group of friends but then making good friends with people outside the group sometimes made your main group feel like you were ditching them (which is so ah-nnoying, why can't we all be friends!?)
3) I think because Claire and Cam have as natural of a connection as you can have in middle school, Claire just feels safe and like she can be herself around Cam. Confidence that you can be yourself and loved is everything!
Massie is upset because it's her first crush and she's used to people always turning to her due to who she is. Claire has had crushes before so this is easy for her. In this situation Claire is sure of what do and Cam probably picked up on that.
Alicia simply sick of just being Massie's second hand and getting no real "shine" socially with Oliva Ryan she gets a social spotlight.
1. For one, boys in middle, and hell even now, make me a hot mess. I’ve had a weird time in middle school with, and even now it hasn’t gotten much better. And I guess for Massie, and even her friends, it was probably VERY confusing having to deal with those newfound emotions. Even for the boys too, I can see for hem how it was also very confusing.
2. It’s the control. She has control over her new friend and she was probably getting tired of being pushed around. Olivia gave her that chance to be the “Alpha” in their friendship. Their experience with boys I still believe is as low as all the other girls.
3. It’s the confidence. And maybe Claire has had a crush before she moved to New York. She can have normal conversations with guys and get along better. Her and Cam are the beacon for “middle school sweethearts”. Since she’s been around before though, she better able to handle herself. (🩷Claire and Cam forever!🩷)
1. I think Massie is insecure because she's very used to being the one everyone turns to. Massie's the one who sets most of the style trends at OCD, and I think her friends turn to her a lot. As a result of being the alpha, I think people automatically assume that Massie has experience with boys, and she doesn't want anyone to think otherwise.
2. When I re-read this, I was shocked that Alicia ditched TPC so suddenly. But, I think that Alicia definitely feels worshipped by Olivia. I think in TPC, Massie gets credit for everything, and she gets a lot of attention.
3. I think Claire's confidence comes from her "experience" with boys in Florida. She realizes in this book that she has more experiencing interacting with boys than most girls at OCD. I still find it really interesting that Cam starts liking Claire after their first conversation, despite her own worry that guys wouldn't find her attractive in her costume. I think Cam likes that Claire is herself, and she's someone he can laugh with.
Reading these books as a 30 year old paints things in such a different light! Massie has so many insecurities, particularly around the Briarwood Boys, because boys are something that she has very little experience in and doesn’t want the rest of TPC to find out. It would hit Massie where it hurts the most to know that Claire (and even Layne!!) have more boy experience than she does.
And Duh-Livia Ryan being a “post glow up hottie” lol feeds into Massie’s insecurities because SHE wants to be the only hottie. Olivia is coming into the party after a mysterious absence and this results in intrigue surrounding her. Massie doesn’t want the boys paying attention to her and also wants Alicia to consider Massie to be her best friend, not Duh-Livia.
1) Massie has confidence over things (and people) she thinks she can control. She knows she controls the social scene at OCD, so she has plenty of confidence in that arena. Boys, on the other hand, are something new that she can't quite figure out at first. She's used to getting what she wants in one way or another, but not winning over Cam (and to lose him to Claire, of all people) is a punch to her gut that throws her off balance.
2) Alicia sees her opportunity to be the Alpha when Olivia enters her life. Also, Olivia easily attracts all the guys, which is the new shiny thing the PC is chasing, so it's a double win! The PC being mad at Leesh reminds me of some similar dynamics I navigated in middle and high school - having a main group of friends but then making good friends with people outside the group sometimes made your main group feel like you were ditching them (which is so ah-nnoying, why can't we all be friends!?)
3) I think because Claire and Cam have as natural of a connection as you can have in middle school, Claire just feels safe and like she can be herself around Cam. Confidence that you can be yourself and loved is everything!
Massie is upset because it's her first crush and she's used to people always turning to her due to who she is. Claire has had crushes before so this is easy for her. In this situation Claire is sure of what do and Cam probably picked up on that.
Alicia simply sick of just being Massie's second hand and getting no real "shine" socially with Oliva Ryan she gets a social spotlight.