I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You
by Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls #1
Published on May 1st, 2006
by Disney Hyperion
Genres: Action & Adventure, Adolescence, Contemporary, Friendship, Romance, Young Adult
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Amazon | B&N | Goodreads
Also by this author: All Fall Down, The Gallagher Girls Series, Heist Society
Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.
(Technically 3.75/5 stars)
Talk about a throwback Thursday! The NTTBF (North Texas Teen Book Festival) announced their lineup a month ago and Ally Carter made the list! The very Ally Carter whose books I devoured in high school, I’m now getting to finally meet in March. As soon as I heard this, I decided I needed to do a reread since it’s been awhile. Great news: they’re still just as fun as they were.
First off, the world that Ally Carter has created is WONDERFUL! Gallagher Girls have stood the test of time and the things that are attributed to them are both hilarious and believable. I can picture the school, the teachers, and the fellow students which made this book so much fun. Cammie, our MC, is great about taking us on an in-depth tour of the school, with all of its secret passageways and hidden nooks, which helped the book come together. I was surprised that I actually found this book to be believable; I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a spy school posing as a snobby girl school near me because Ally wrote it so well that it was plausible. Basically, it’s just all sorts of fantastic.
Cammie is a spy prodigy with both her mother and father being known spies; her father died before our story begins and her mother has since taken over as the head of Gallagher Academy. It was (can’t find adequate word) interesting? to see Cammie deal with her father’s death and how it still affected her to present day; we also get a chance to see a bit of their background which helps to understand the character of Cammie more. She’s a really fun character, immature at times, but overall really enjoyable.
Speaking of characters, Cammie’s ragtag team of awesomeness was… awesome; first up is Bex, the insanely clever (and British) GG who gets what she wants through her confidence and dangerous ways, Liz, the resident brain of the group, and Macey, the new student who teaches the girls that there are a lot of things that they don’t know, like boys. The dynamics of this group was so much fun to read, they were a powerful team but they weren’t perfect, they still fought but at the end of the day, they were always there for one another.
Don’t read this book if you strictly want romance because it was… lacking. I actually found it to be annoying but I think I liked it in high school? Maybe. I actually forgot about this guy because there is another more memorable guy who I believe we meet in the next book.
I don’t think I ever appreciated how funny this book was! I laughed out loud so. many. times. It was fun because there were jokes weaved throughout it that younger people could enjoy and others that older people could enjoy.
Two words: female empowerment.
It is geared towards younger girls but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t wait to meet Ally in March!
About Ally Carter
Ally Carter is a writer living and working in the Midwest. She loved school so much she kept going…and going…and going…until finally she had to graduate. Now she has degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University and a house and a job and other very grown-up things.
Her life is either very ordinary or the best deep-cover legend ever. She’d tell you more, but…well…you know…
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I actually have not read this book yet! I have bought myself a copy over the Christmas holiday and have seen nothing but praise for the series, so I can’t wait to begin. I love a good spy story, and a spy school is promising. I am not here for the romance either, so the humor aspect sounds good!
Twitter: lattenightsbook
I love the Gallagher Girls series! I actually read the second book before the first one. My friend had to explain everything because I was a bit confused. I haven’t finished the series. I still need to read the last book. I really like them. The second book I love the most but it is mostly because of Zach 😀 And yes, this book lacked romance but the second book, when Zach is introduced, I just loved it.
I just read my first Ally Carter book, All Fall Down and thought it was a good one. I would like to try these someday 🙂
I know a lot of people love this series, but I tried book 1 and it just felt too young for me. I couldn’t connect. 🙁
But I am so glad you loved it!
Twitter: Liza
I’ve never read this series before, so I need to read at least one book by Carter! I take it the series is just as good, right?
The series is good! It gets better with each book and I’m excited to get to rereading the rest!
Twitter: Bieke Paesen
I am planning on reading this one. Some day.
Gotcha, I hope you like it when you read it!