I think the sudden switch to skimpy is definitely a big Massie stunt to, yet again, get the attention off of Alicia ( who is developing sooner than Massie, and therefore “sexier” (I don’t make a habit of using that word to describe middle schoolers))
definitely setting the stage for Invasion of the Boy Snatchers- where Alicia getting more attention than Massie is a prevalent theme!! Plus it’s another dig at Claire, who, in Massie’s eyes is less mature. Always leads back to Massie’s deep insecurities!
Is question 2 about impressing people in general or specifically dressing up to impress people?
3. I think that Claire chose to perform the name trick, as opposed to just thinking about it, from a combination of increased confidence, lower overhead, and the acceptance of the inevitable Massie–Claire conflict. Even in the first book, she could be confident in uncharted territory as shown when she snuck into Massie's IMs. But the name trick seems bolder in that Claire directly contradicted one of Massie's demands ("Put Claire Lyons and your phone number where it says RSVP so the people you’re inviting know to call you and not me." — Massie) and it involves more people, so it's not a given that Claire would be confident enough to do it.
The IM prank was risky since Claire had to sneak into Massie's room every night and keep her ruse up indefinitely. In contrast, the name prank has a lower chance of being foiled while she is actively working on it, since it's a one-time deal and could be done in private. (Claire would get caught eventually, but IMO Massie finding out after the fact isn't the same as catching her in the act.)
I feel like the tipping point was when Claire realized that Massie didn't like her no matter what, so she might as well go down swinging.
Cracking up at the OCD randos going rabid! But it's true, in middle school I was trying to impress randos. I never felt like I had to impress my true friends, but more so wanted to impress people who barely even knew me. At the end of the day, I didn't even want to be friends with those people so I'm not sure why their opinion mattered so much! I do still feel that happening in adulthood, although I'm now self-aware and try to curb it when I feel myself getting anxious over those types of situations.
Claire is definitely starting to become more courageous in the second book (which I love), and leaning into her and Massie's sister/frenemy relationship of doing little things like switching the numbers on the invitations to annoy one another. She knows Massie is using her for the boy/girl party so she might as well get some more fun perks out of it. They're in it together, so Massie can't massively ice her out or their parents might notice. Point 1, Kuh-laire!
3. claire may let massie and the girls walk all over her on occasion, but i think she always picks and chooses her battles with tpc… especially massie. claire does have a backbone and is kind of similar to massie in certain ways that i never cared to admit when i was younger. and massie, i think, simultaneously pushes claire (in a toxic way) to stand up for herself but also shuts her down bc massie herself is simultaneously impressed by claire’s antics but also beyond pissed off about them. and i think somewhere in claire’s brain, she knows pulling stunts like this tends to builds massie’s respect for her (whether massie acknowledges that or not) bc claire actually challenges her when she does decide to fight back.
side note : i haven’t finished my coffee so hopefully my little ramble is coherent. i could talk about massie and claire’s relationship with one another all day… even if i do have trouble composing my thoughts lmao
1. It’s possible that, since the boys have entered the chat, Massie wanted to appeal to her crush-at-the-time Cam and she thought that being sexy (dressing for the male gaze?) would win him over (rather than dressing for the female gaze). At the end of the day, I think the OCD randos were trying to outcompete each other instead of winning the boys over. It’s still about who can win Massie’s approval. 👙
2. Such a good question! I think I dress for myself now, although I wouldn’t mind dressing for a new man in my life… 😉 And if I’m being honest, I hope my followers like my outfits too!
3. I always hoped to win over the boys in middle school and I thought I could catch their attention by dressing like all the other girls who were prettier, skinnier, and smarter. I craved the outfits I saw in Seventeen and Teen Vogue and wished I could look cute in the Aeropostale cami and v-neck combos. I was totally convinced that if I wore the right outfit or had my hair perfectly smooth, then my crush would finally talk to me - but not so! Spoiler alert: I am VERY glad the boys were not interested in me and I am so much more confident in myself now. 😌
4. Claire is DEFINITELY getting more courageous, maybe because she kinda got away with posing as Massie over IM in the first book?? 😈
I think the sudden switch to skimpy is definitely a big Massie stunt to, yet again, get the attention off of Alicia ( who is developing sooner than Massie, and therefore “sexier” (I don’t make a habit of using that word to describe middle schoolers))
definitely setting the stage for Invasion of the Boy Snatchers- where Alicia getting more attention than Massie is a prevalent theme!! Plus it’s another dig at Claire, who, in Massie’s eyes is less mature. Always leads back to Massie’s deep insecurities!
Ohh I didn't even think about that Massie was trying to compete with Alicia!
Is question 2 about impressing people in general or specifically dressing up to impress people?
3. I think that Claire chose to perform the name trick, as opposed to just thinking about it, from a combination of increased confidence, lower overhead, and the acceptance of the inevitable Massie–Claire conflict. Even in the first book, she could be confident in uncharted territory as shown when she snuck into Massie's IMs. But the name trick seems bolder in that Claire directly contradicted one of Massie's demands ("Put Claire Lyons and your phone number where it says RSVP so the people you’re inviting know to call you and not me." — Massie) and it involves more people, so it's not a given that Claire would be confident enough to do it.
The IM prank was risky since Claire had to sneak into Massie's room every night and keep her ruse up indefinitely. In contrast, the name prank has a lower chance of being foiled while she is actively working on it, since it's a one-time deal and could be done in private. (Claire would get caught eventually, but IMO Massie finding out after the fact isn't the same as catching her in the act.)
I feel like the tipping point was when Claire realized that Massie didn't like her no matter what, so she might as well go down swinging.
Such a good point. Maybe Claire wanted to stick up for herself since Massie was being so rude about the invites!
Cracking up at the OCD randos going rabid! But it's true, in middle school I was trying to impress randos. I never felt like I had to impress my true friends, but more so wanted to impress people who barely even knew me. At the end of the day, I didn't even want to be friends with those people so I'm not sure why their opinion mattered so much! I do still feel that happening in adulthood, although I'm now self-aware and try to curb it when I feel myself getting anxious over those types of situations.
Claire is definitely starting to become more courageous in the second book (which I love), and leaning into her and Massie's sister/frenemy relationship of doing little things like switching the numbers on the invitations to annoy one another. She knows Massie is using her for the boy/girl party so she might as well get some more fun perks out of it. They're in it together, so Massie can't massively ice her out or their parents might notice. Point 1, Kuh-laire!
3. claire may let massie and the girls walk all over her on occasion, but i think she always picks and chooses her battles with tpc… especially massie. claire does have a backbone and is kind of similar to massie in certain ways that i never cared to admit when i was younger. and massie, i think, simultaneously pushes claire (in a toxic way) to stand up for herself but also shuts her down bc massie herself is simultaneously impressed by claire’s antics but also beyond pissed off about them. and i think somewhere in claire’s brain, she knows pulling stunts like this tends to builds massie’s respect for her (whether massie acknowledges that or not) bc claire actually challenges her when she does decide to fight back.
side note : i haven’t finished my coffee so hopefully my little ramble is coherent. i could talk about massie and claire’s relationship with one another all day… even if i do have trouble composing my thoughts lmao
1. It’s possible that, since the boys have entered the chat, Massie wanted to appeal to her crush-at-the-time Cam and she thought that being sexy (dressing for the male gaze?) would win him over (rather than dressing for the female gaze). At the end of the day, I think the OCD randos were trying to outcompete each other instead of winning the boys over. It’s still about who can win Massie’s approval. 👙
2. Such a good question! I think I dress for myself now, although I wouldn’t mind dressing for a new man in my life… 😉 And if I’m being honest, I hope my followers like my outfits too!
3. I always hoped to win over the boys in middle school and I thought I could catch their attention by dressing like all the other girls who were prettier, skinnier, and smarter. I craved the outfits I saw in Seventeen and Teen Vogue and wished I could look cute in the Aeropostale cami and v-neck combos. I was totally convinced that if I wore the right outfit or had my hair perfectly smooth, then my crush would finally talk to me - but not so! Spoiler alert: I am VERY glad the boys were not interested in me and I am so much more confident in myself now. 😌
4. Claire is DEFINITELY getting more courageous, maybe because she kinda got away with posing as Massie over IM in the first book?? 😈