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Order # 081582
Name: Emily Matthias
Phone: Call me anytime!
Date: Id love one!
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Um, a billion? I need pictures of everyone and everything. Its the Outer Banks—everything is photogenic here. Especially Blake. And Spencer.
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Picture Perfect
Chapter One
"I can't wait to see all the guys."
You might have thought that was me talking, as I headed into the town of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, my destination for a two-week summer stay on the Outer Banks.
But no. It was my dad, of all people.
And it's not what you might be thinking now, either. He was talking about seeing his best friends from college.
We meet up every few years on a big reunion trip with "the guys," their wives, their kids, and other assorted members of their families-dogs, parents, random cousins, nannies, you name it. I think it's Dad's favorite vacation, because he and his buddies play golf, sit around reminiscing, and stay up late talking every night.
Even though that occasionally gets a little boring, I like going on these trips, because I've gotten to be friends with "the guys'" offspring, who have sprung off like me: Heather Olsen, Adam Thompson, and Spencer Flanagan. I couldn't wait to see all of them. It had been two years since the last vacation reunion for the four of us, which was almost, but not quite, long enough to make me forget what an idiot I'd made of myself the last time, when I was fifteen, Spencer was sixteen, and I'd told him that I thought he was really cool and that we really clicked and that I wished we lived closer because then we could . . . well, you get the gist. Embarrassing. With a capital E. Maybe three of them, in fact. Eeembarrassing. Like an extra-wide foot that I'd stuck in my mouth.
But enough about me and my slipup. I basically love these trips because we end up in cool locations like this,a place I'd never seen, or even gotten close to seeing, before now.
Living in the Midwest, we don't get to the coast much. And this was even beyond the coast-if that's possible-on a strip of land that was as far as you could get without becoming an island. Or maybe it was an island. What do I know? We live in "fly-over land." On the plus side, we don't have earthquakes, hurricanes, or tropical storms. On the minus side, we have the occasional nearby tornado and no ocean access.
"This is just beautiful," Mom said as we turned off the main four-lane road, and onto a smaller road with giant three- and four-story beach houses on each side of it. "Isn't it, Emily?"
"Those houses are gigantic. Is that where we're staying? In one of those?" I asked.
"Yup. Remember the pictures we checked out online?" Dad asked from the front seat of our rental car. We'd flown into Norfolk, Virginia, and driven south from there.
"Not really," I said. I hadn't paid all that much attention, to be honest. I was too busy finishing up my senior year, getting my college plans set, figuring out how to squeeze a two-week vacation into a summer in which I needed to make as much money as possible.
In July and August, I'd be back home working at Constant Camera full-time, saving money for textbooks and anything else I might need when I got to college. Fortunately, I'd received a few gifts for my graduation that would help out a lot-gift cards, as well as supplies for my hopefully budding career in photography. I planned to take lots of pictures while on this vacation, and turn them into something I could give everyone at the end of the two weeks-a calendar. I'd left my new Mac at home because of the hassle of traveling with it-Mom was afraid it would get I-Jacked-and I'd brought my inexpensive camera instead of my digital SLR, so I wasn't working with my usual stuff. But I was still confident I could get plenty of good pictures-after all, it's not necessarily always the equipment, it's whether you have an eye for it or not.
We were getting close to the house number we were looking for when Dad stopped the car as two college-age-looking guys stepped out to cross the street. They had beach towels slung around their necks and bare chests with nice abs, and wore low-riding surf shorts. One of them carried a Frisbee, while another had a volleyball tucked under his arm.
I sat up in the backseat, wondering if that was Adam and Spencer. But no, upon closer inspection, one of them had short, nearly platinum-blond hair, and the other's was brown, shoulder-length-not at all like Spencer and Adam.
Which wasn't a bad thing, because I was looking forward to seeing what guys might be around, too. And I didn't mean Dad's college buddies or their sons.
While we were stopped, the guy carrying the volleyball leaned down and peered into the car-I guess he'd caught me staring at him. He smiled at me, then waved with a casual salute.
I smiled and waved back to him. I wanted to take a lot of pictures, so why not start now? I buzzed the window down. "Hold on a second, okay?" I asked. I grabbed my slim, shiny green camera from my bag, and took some quick shots as they played along, grinning and flexing their muscles, showing off a couple of tattoos.
"Emily." My mother peered back at me over the front seat. "What are you doing?"
"Capturing the local flavor," I said as a car behind us honked its horn, and the guys hustled across the street so we could get moving again. "Just trying to blend in with that whole Southern hospitality thing."
"Hmph," my mother said, while my dad laughed.
I turned around and looked out the back window at the guys, wondering if we'd be staying anywhere close by, when Mom shrieked, "Look! There's the house!"
My dad slammed on the brakes, which screeched like the sound of a hundred wailing-and possibly ill-seals. Dad has this awful habit of calling Rent-a-Rustbucket in order to save money. Consequently, we end up driving broken-down automobiles whenever we go on vacation.
Picture Perfect. Copyright (c) by Catherine Clark . Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Available now wherever books are sold.Every couple of years, Emily's family goes on a reunion trip with her dad's college friends. It's been two years since she's seen her friends Heather, Adam, and Spencer. But it hasn't been long enough for Emily to forget her embarrassing declaration of her feelings to Spencer. She only hopes two years has been long enough for him to forget.
Heather suggests that she and Emily use this summer before they head off to college to find a summer fling. Emily agrees; she already has her eye on the boy next door, Blake! Too bad Spencer and Adam insist on following them everywhere, and Spencer always seems to show up at the worst times, like when Emily finally gets Blake alone!
This is my first time reading a book by Catherine Clark, and PICTURE PERFECT was the perfect fun summer read! It was light, entertaining, and very cute! I enjoyed all of the characters, especially Emily and Spencer! And the plot wasn't too serious, which makes it the perfect book for a lazy summer day!
I'm looking forward to reading more by Ms. Clark. I've heard great things about WISH YOU WERE HERE, and I also have a copy of BANANA SPLITSVILLE, so expect a review for that title soon!
11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.LoveStories1029
Posted July 7, 2009
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So i have always been a sarah dessen fan and ive read all the twilight books and when i first came upon catherine clark i was hesistant but was i wrong! ive read about all of her books and she is offically my favortie author. All her books have some sort of love story and thats why im madly in love with this author.
Alright so enough about the author and now about the book. I LOVED IT! it was such a good read i could NOT put the book down. emily and spencers relationship was so cute and the ending was incredible! this book is crazy good and i cant wait until clark comes out with a new book =D
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.avni
Posted March 2, 2009
I have to say that Catherine Clark did an amazing job writing this book! It was so adorable! I could not put it down. I loved how it was set in the Outer Banks, seen as I live near them and visit them often. I felt like I could really connect with the characters because I had seen the same things that they had.
Emily and Spencer are too cute for words! Their relationship is something that I want for myself and my boyfriend. They were amazing friends and then they just progressed into the next step for their relationship. It was perfect *sigh*.
All in all, this book is sooooo cute! You have to read it, and once you've read it once, you're going to want to read it over and over again and give it to all of your friends to read as well!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 3, 2011
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE ! ITS SOO GOOD !! I'VE READ THIS BOOK IN DAY !! THAT IS HOW GOOD IT IS !
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.5945293
Posted June 24, 2011
It has always been my dream to go to north carolina so i got a little bit excited when i found this. I absolutely loved this book, i could not stop smiling! The characters are very lovable and the plot is wonderful, something id definitely do before going to college. I cant wait to read it again, especially one part that i loved! All in all a wonderful summer read, i def. recommend it :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 23, 2011
Omg I love this book.If you are looking for a summer read i recommend this book!!!!!!!! :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.5530677
Posted May 9, 2011
This book will bring you in a adventure of travling, photos, and love thats why they call it picture perfect!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.5828059
Posted March 16, 2011
This was a really good Book. I was looking for a good summer read while off for spring break and this was one. Although it could be a little boring for me at points, It was still worth the money and time.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.5087745
Posted February 28, 2011
this book is one of the best books I've read from this author. It is a great story with plenty of romance.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.this book made me laugh out loud like 100 times. its really cute too! i could totally relate. it aas a vey cute and funny read. u should totally get this book! :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 5, 2010
This book was way better than I expected. I enjoyed all the teasing between Emily, Heather, Adam and Spencer and their parents as well. Catherine Clark does a great job at the unexpected. Unlike most summer romance books, you almost already know what is about the happen while you read but this book has several twists where you don't expect them. And it's such a cute story.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 1, 2010
This book was reallii good. I relate to it in soo many ways. It talked about how a girl was lookin for a summer fling but ended up falling into fake love with a guy but at the end relaized that the person who she realii loved was rite in front of her the whole time.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 25, 2009
This is a pretty interesting story. A girl who likes to take pictures. Throw together a family and friends reution on the beach plus a neighbor boy. A girl who realize that that you friend she has known for years is the boy that she has been looking for. This is a good book to have so that you can keeping reading it over and over.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Emily loves taking photos and she's all ready to spend her family vacation behind the camera. But her best friend decides that they should try for a summer fling this year. This doesn't go over too well with the other boys on the trip. Nevertheless, Emily tries. She's not great at talking with boys, but she hooks one. And the as she spends time with him, she can't help comparing him to Spencer. The last time she saw Spencer, she told him that she like him and he didn't respond. She thought she was over him...but is she really?
A fun flirty read! I love her books.
Anonymous
Posted July 28, 2009
I Also Recommend:
This book was definitley an amazing book... It took friends, parents, relationships, romance, and summer flings and threw it into one. In a way it was kind of predictable but I'm a hopeless romantic so happy endings are a must... Anyway this book can make you start thinking about your friends and their true feelings and even your own. So check this book and see if you like it!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The book is fun, exciting, and really romantic. The main character, Emily, is shy but also really friendly. Spencer seems like a jerk in the beginning but ends up being incredibly sweet. Heather and Adam are both really fun and cool! And Dean and Blake are complicated. The book is really good i give it 4 stars but i give just the ending 5 stars!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 20, 2009
it was such a great book! sometimes it was a little bit slow but if you really get into it then its a great read, its one of my favorite books that i've read. i was so hooked in i finished it in one day!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.nouvellelune
Posted June 10, 2009
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this is my first book by Catherine Clark. i loved it, it was adorable just the way how she liked Spencer and him not knowing how to show her he liked her too. i loved it when they were stuck on the little island... (dont want to spoil anything else) i have to say it was really good i couldnt stop reading it till i found out what was happening. *sigh* im looking forward to reading more or Catherine Clark's books
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 17, 2008
oh my gosh! i absolutely love this book! it kept me hanging, you will automatically love most of the characters. but one of the characters(not going name names...) i got so fed up with his attitude sometimes, but thats how many great details there are. i love it and recommend it to all!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted August 1, 2008
i realy loved this book i read it over and over agin i would rcommend it to anybody
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Overview
Order # 081582
Name: Emily Matthias
Phone: Call me anytime!
Date: Id love one!
Print Quantity:
Um, a billion? I need pictures of everyone and everything. Its the Outer Banks—everything is photogenic here. Especially Blake. And Spencer.
Size: