1.I love the ending of the first book, specifically Claire comparing the moment they get up from hiding to the awkward “is he going to kiss me goodnight” at the end of a date. It was the beginning of a sisterhood! I think Claire should let her guard down, I know Massie did make her feel “rock bottom”, but everyone has their poor moments they regret in middle school, including Claire!
2.Massie is a tough shell to crack, and her happiness relies on the approval and worship of her friends. Claire was the girl to get her friends hate her, she’s not fashionable or wealthy, and deep down Massie knows that Claire is a threat. Massie has quite big emotions so I think when Claire tugged at her heartstrings that night and they formed a genuine connection it confused Massie not only because of the reasons above, but because she probably had never felt so herself. Massie guard was never fully down with her other friends because she was always trying to impress them.
3.Yes! Massie needs a girl like Claire who is down to earth and sweet, and Claire needs a girl like Massie who inspires her to shine!
1. Ugh I think Claire secretly knows better but if she’s anything like me then she’s also a hopeful friend, even to a fault. If Claire wants to be friends with Massie then she needs to get comfortable with the fact that she will still be walked all over as the newest PC member. I wish that Claire didn’t care so much about being Massie’s BFF and cherish her authentic friendship with Layne. 👯♀️
2. Ah-bviously Massie is still super hesitant to admit she likes Claire. I mean, Claire goes against everything she values when it comes to luxury but not loyalty so I can see why Massie has Claire on both lists. Also, if Massie admits that she likes Claire then that might make all of the other GLU-wannabes think that they can be part of the PC. She thinks she needs to maintain the aesthetic and narrow entrance rate of the PC to keep her as Queen B. 👑🐝
3. Claire thinks it’s worth building a friendship with Massie and Massie is craving the authentic friendship and unconditional love that Claire can give her but it doesn’t mean I think they should try to be friends. It’s such a sticky place to be in with a lot of potential for disappointment! 😅
Massie is just starting to reckon with the fact that two major things that she values are at odds with each other (in her perception). What does Massie value? Above all she values her status as Alpha and popularity. And what does it take to stay Alpha? The most desired fashion, boys to like her, girls to want to be her, and above all to make it seem effortless. Another thing she is craving is authentic friendship. The amount of effort that it takes for her to maintain her Alpha status is at odds with authenticity itself. The PC are undoubtedly important to her, and I believe that she does love them, but she still chooses to hurt the girls- whether that be with the intention to make them enviable to others, or because they pissed her off. She weighs her popularity greater than being a stellar friend. She would rather appear as a great friend than actually be one sometimes. I think her putting Claire on both the "in" and "out" list is a powerful way to show case that. She hasn't been able to have a night like that where she just has fun for funs sake, isn't afraid of looking human, and can unabashedly like what she likes. That is worth an "in." Massie is so far deep in her Alpha hole that I understand how one fun night isn't going to reprogram the way she is, but it's a sliver of what life could be.
Now for Claire, I want so badly for her to value herself over this group that is so awful to her. I definitely understand why this is a morsel of hope for her that she can have all she has wanted since moving to Westchester, but I wish she understood that she deserves better. I wish that Claire understood that 6 months ago she never wanted any of these things and that life was great. From an outside perspective (and over a decade of maturing since I originally read this series) Massie has so much more to gain than Claire from this friendship and that Layne probably can offer Claire more from an actually friendly perspective. While the friendship gives way to a lot of growth for Massie, I do feel for Claire.
I feel like at the end of the book, Claire chose to be hopeful of a lasting friendship with Massie but was still cautious because she knew what Massie was capable of - she would not hesitate to throw her under the bus at any point! This is evident throughout the rest of the books, where Claire is always internally questioning if a choice she makes will result in Massie dumping her ah-gain. At the same time, Claire just can't stay away. The highs are greater than the lows, I guess?
With Massie, no one is ever permanently in. Putting Claire on both lists showed that she still had conflicting feelings on Claire's place in her life. At the end of the day, there is always this pull between the two and they have some of the most fun and authentic moments in the series. I agree with Carmen's comparison about them being like sisters; I feel like this was super prevalent in Invasion of the Boy Snatchers when Claire literally moved in!
1.I love the ending of the first book, specifically Claire comparing the moment they get up from hiding to the awkward “is he going to kiss me goodnight” at the end of a date. It was the beginning of a sisterhood! I think Claire should let her guard down, I know Massie did make her feel “rock bottom”, but everyone has their poor moments they regret in middle school, including Claire!
2.Massie is a tough shell to crack, and her happiness relies on the approval and worship of her friends. Claire was the girl to get her friends hate her, she’s not fashionable or wealthy, and deep down Massie knows that Claire is a threat. Massie has quite big emotions so I think when Claire tugged at her heartstrings that night and they formed a genuine connection it confused Massie not only because of the reasons above, but because she probably had never felt so herself. Massie guard was never fully down with her other friends because she was always trying to impress them.
3.Yes! Massie needs a girl like Claire who is down to earth and sweet, and Claire needs a girl like Massie who inspires her to shine!
1. Ugh I think Claire secretly knows better but if she’s anything like me then she’s also a hopeful friend, even to a fault. If Claire wants to be friends with Massie then she needs to get comfortable with the fact that she will still be walked all over as the newest PC member. I wish that Claire didn’t care so much about being Massie’s BFF and cherish her authentic friendship with Layne. 👯♀️
2. Ah-bviously Massie is still super hesitant to admit she likes Claire. I mean, Claire goes against everything she values when it comes to luxury but not loyalty so I can see why Massie has Claire on both lists. Also, if Massie admits that she likes Claire then that might make all of the other GLU-wannabes think that they can be part of the PC. She thinks she needs to maintain the aesthetic and narrow entrance rate of the PC to keep her as Queen B. 👑🐝
3. Claire thinks it’s worth building a friendship with Massie and Massie is craving the authentic friendship and unconditional love that Claire can give her but it doesn’t mean I think they should try to be friends. It’s such a sticky place to be in with a lot of potential for disappointment! 😅
I have an extra copy of Best Friends for Never if anyone wants it shipped to
them!
Massie is just starting to reckon with the fact that two major things that she values are at odds with each other (in her perception). What does Massie value? Above all she values her status as Alpha and popularity. And what does it take to stay Alpha? The most desired fashion, boys to like her, girls to want to be her, and above all to make it seem effortless. Another thing she is craving is authentic friendship. The amount of effort that it takes for her to maintain her Alpha status is at odds with authenticity itself. The PC are undoubtedly important to her, and I believe that she does love them, but she still chooses to hurt the girls- whether that be with the intention to make them enviable to others, or because they pissed her off. She weighs her popularity greater than being a stellar friend. She would rather appear as a great friend than actually be one sometimes. I think her putting Claire on both the "in" and "out" list is a powerful way to show case that. She hasn't been able to have a night like that where she just has fun for funs sake, isn't afraid of looking human, and can unabashedly like what she likes. That is worth an "in." Massie is so far deep in her Alpha hole that I understand how one fun night isn't going to reprogram the way she is, but it's a sliver of what life could be.
Now for Claire, I want so badly for her to value herself over this group that is so awful to her. I definitely understand why this is a morsel of hope for her that she can have all she has wanted since moving to Westchester, but I wish she understood that she deserves better. I wish that Claire understood that 6 months ago she never wanted any of these things and that life was great. From an outside perspective (and over a decade of maturing since I originally read this series) Massie has so much more to gain than Claire from this friendship and that Layne probably can offer Claire more from an actually friendly perspective. While the friendship gives way to a lot of growth for Massie, I do feel for Claire.
I feel like at the end of the book, Claire chose to be hopeful of a lasting friendship with Massie but was still cautious because she knew what Massie was capable of - she would not hesitate to throw her under the bus at any point! This is evident throughout the rest of the books, where Claire is always internally questioning if a choice she makes will result in Massie dumping her ah-gain. At the same time, Claire just can't stay away. The highs are greater than the lows, I guess?
With Massie, no one is ever permanently in. Putting Claire on both lists showed that she still had conflicting feelings on Claire's place in her life. At the end of the day, there is always this pull between the two and they have some of the most fun and authentic moments in the series. I agree with Carmen's comparison about them being like sisters; I feel like this was super prevalent in Invasion of the Boy Snatchers when Claire literally moved in!