Well this story is all about the Gallagher Girls – who on the face of it look like a bunch of girls attending a private school for over priviledged young women.  The Gallagher Academy is actually a school for amazing young women – with extraordinary ability and IQs, an ivy covered prep school – for future spies!  The story revolves around Cammie and her two BFF, Liz and Bex.

Cammie’s mother is the Headmistress of the school and a former Gallagher girl – her father is dead (or is he missing?) – we have yet to hear the story.  Basically Cammie has a lot to live up to following in her parents’ footsteps.  She excels at her studies and has a reputation and nickname as a ‘chameleon’ – she enjoys her ‘invisibility’, that is until a young man notices her when she is out in the local town and a romance begins to develop.

I actually really liked this book.  It’s just a really good fun read and a bit tongue in cheek.  The Gallagher Academy is a bit like a Hogwarts for espionage instead of magic.  The whole thing reminds me of a cross between Charlies Angels and Mission Impossible – but for teenage girls and I just found it a very light hearted and enjoyable read with lots of fun and a cute romance once Josh arrives on the scene. (Plus it has the line “Who buys plain vanilla ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s, anyway? Is there a greater waste?” and you have to ask yourself  ‘is there’??)

The story escalates as Cammie tries to balance her new found desire to appear normal for Josh with her friends and life at the Academy.  She starts by keeping secrets to developing a different persona to sneaking around and telling fibs.  But, you have to forgive her really – she’s just trying to have a little snippet of ‘normality’ – or more to the point a boyfriend!

What I also like about this is the idea that you will watch Cammie grow up and presumably make mistakes and learn from them as she matures on her path to becoming a spy.  The scene is now set and presumably future series will eventually develop more intriguing plots.

Criticisms – well, I probably didn’t need the constant reminders of how brilliant the girls and the school are – but that’s only a very minor point (and maybe I’m just envious that they’re so smart!!)

I would definitely recommend this if you want a good fun read with giggles, a great school, gadgets, girls with character and a gentle romance.

Rating A

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You (Gallagher Girls)