Title: United We Spy (Gallagher Girls #6)
Author: Ally Carter
Publication date: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Technically me since I pre-ordered it, but Disney-Hyperion was SO nice and sent me hardcover.
Warning: This is the end of a series so there MAY be spoilers for the previous books.
Source: Technically me since I pre-ordered it, but Disney-Hyperion was SO nice and sent me hardcover.
Warning: This is the end of a series so there MAY be spoilers for the previous books.
Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever.
Review:
First line: The water was still as we walked beside it.
How are you supposed to review a book that you anxiously awaited for because it is the conclusion of your all-time favorite series and your feelings were overwhelmingly mixed at the end? Can someone tell me? I wasn't even going to attempt this since I did a fangirling post about the series right before United We Spy came out. Then the publisher was their usual nice self and sent me a hardcover so I felt like I had to convey my emotions somehow. The gifs at the bottom of the review summed them up nicely, actually.
There were revelations and twists throughout, of course. Some didn't even make me blink while others made me pause for a moment. To no one's surprise, Carter wrote this final installment nearly perfectly. Also to no one's surprise, I read it in one night and once I finished past midnight, I stayed up for another houror so rehashing all the events and possibly crying over the end of the series while nostalgia choked me.
The girls—Cammie, Bex, Liz, and Macey—yet again had me wishing that I was a part of their group. There was romance sprinkled throughout between Cammie and Zach (we'll get there) and Macey finally came to terms with her feelings for Preston, but I think the best aspect of this series is the friendship. We clearly saw in the first book that boys may come and go. We witnessed how family is important, but sometimes you need a best friend and that you make your own family. So, yes, once again, the Gallagher girls get an adventure together. Ally Carter knows how to write a touching friendship.
There is romance.
I felt pretty satisfied with all the Zach and Zach/Cammie moments. Let's be honest though, no matter how much we get, there can always be more Zach/Cammie moments. Thank you, Zach, for being amazing. We do not get to see Josh, the love interest in the very first book, anymore, unfortunately. I actually would have liked to have seen him and possibly DeeDee one last time. I say Carter does a spin-off or novella with one or both of them. Even though Josh was not the right pick for Cammie, he was still sweet.
The only true negative that pops up in my mind involves a spoiler. SPOILER Townsend is Zach's father, but then it doesn't get really mentioned again and I wanted father/son moments! Emotion, tension, conversation...something. SPOILER DONE. However, even that negative couldn't take away my love for this sixth book.
What else is there to say? There's mystery, answers, adventure, tears, FEELS, friendship, and happy endings. I know there are questionable conclusions to series in the YA world recently, but Carter successfully ended this beloved series in the best way.
Now, when can I get a copy of her next series Embassy Row?
Verdict: EXCELLENT, the end.
What series do you have nostalgia over or go completely fangirl about? Have you read The Gallagher Girls?
There were revelations and twists throughout, of course. Some didn't even make me blink while others made me pause for a moment. To no one's surprise, Carter wrote this final installment nearly perfectly. Also to no one's surprise, I read it in one night and once I finished past midnight, I stayed up for another hour
The girls—Cammie, Bex, Liz, and Macey—yet again had me wishing that I was a part of their group. There was romance sprinkled throughout between Cammie and Zach (we'll get there) and Macey finally came to terms with her feelings for Preston, but I think the best aspect of this series is the friendship. We clearly saw in the first book that boys may come and go. We witnessed how family is important, but sometimes you need a best friend and that you make your own family. So, yes, once again, the Gallagher girls get an adventure together. Ally Carter knows how to write a touching friendship.
There is romance.
 |
| Romance = more feels |
The only true negative that pops up in my mind involves a spoiler. SPOILER Townsend is Zach's father, but then it doesn't get really mentioned again and I wanted father/son moments! Emotion, tension, conversation...something. SPOILER DONE. However, even that negative couldn't take away my love for this sixth book.
Now, when can I get a copy of her next series Embassy Row?
Verdict: EXCELLENT, the end.
 |
| No one was fooled. |
I absolutely love your adoration for this series, Sunny! But I must confess, I still haven't picked up a single book from this author, despite hearing nothing but good things. :( I'm glad the ending to this series was satisfying for you! That's the best! :) And now I have to go check out this new series you speak of so that maybe I can get on the Ally Carter bandwagon with you. :D
ReplyDeleteJoin the bandwagon, joooooin! There's BOYS aboard!
DeleteI'm so nervous to read the final book! I loved the first five (one of my favorite series ever), but I just don't want it to end. I'm glad there's lots of Zach/Cammie moments, too. I'm planning to definitely read United We Spy at some point this year. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI know, I was too! But she ends it perfectly, or nearly at least. I think you'll be satisfied :)
DeleteJust going to skim this super-fast since I have not read this series. But I LOVE the Heist Society books so I know I need to try them!
ReplyDeleteJen @ YA Romantics
YES. I love both series, but I loved the Gallagher Girls way more!
DeleteHmm. I have this one too, but I'm not sure that... I'm not sure if I could handle it, LOL. I'm glad that you liked Cammie and Zach's relationship, and that you loved the ending. :) Awesome review, Sunny! I hope that you get that Embassy Row. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Megan. Oh, I think I'd die and go to heaven if I got an ARC of that.
DeleteThose gifs at the bottom are a perfect reaction to my feelings on the series ending. It is almost impossible (at least for me) to write a review for this book. You did a great job writing yours! And I agree with you about the friendship in these books, that is one of my favorite things about this series.
ReplyDeleteAbout the spoiler: Without saying anything that would ruin it for other people in the comments, that was something that I did not see coming at all. And I agree with you about wanting to see more of it, but I was happy overall with how it was handled. :)
Two more things I want to say, one, I want Embassy Row right now too! It sounds amazing! Two, after reading this review you have opened up all the emotions that I had closed up about this book. Thank you for that. *goes to hold her copy and cry*
But seriously, you wrote a great review, Sunny! :)
*blushes* Thanks, Jessica! I didn't either. My brother's fiance was borrowing my books and she sent me a picture of the page with a "OMG NO WAY" and I couldn't stop cackling. And you're welcome ;) Swarrrrmm in the emotions.
DeleteOkay, I skimmed your review, but just from that I figured out that I better read this series. I'm starting to really like waiting to start a series/trilogy when it is either finished or almost finished. Then I can plow through them at my own pace. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely a good idea. I hate waiting and it's great to start Rae Carson's series and have all the books at my fingertips!
DeleteI wish I was part of the girl's group too, and I also loved the Cammie and Zach scenes. :) But I was really disappointed that Josh didn't make a small appearance or anything, considering he played such a huge role in the first book and even appeared in the next two. I understand that Cammie has moved on (and I wouldn't have it any other way), but I think I wanted to see Josh one last time for closure.
ReplyDeleteGreat review! :)
Alice @ Alice in Readerland
He appeared in the next two? I remember the 2nd book, he appeared in that one, but I didn't think he did for the 3rd. What part? But I absolutely agree, I wish I could have had some better closure with him.
DeleteI'm feeling all the nostalgia right now. :'( But as you know, I loved this book too. For me, the best thing about Zach/Cammie scenes was pointing out all the things Ally had tweeted about including. Shirtless Zach making bacon? I knew that was coming thanks to the wonderful social networking site. :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the friendship aspect, you summed it up perfectly. A person is lucky to find even one friend like the girls in Cammie's circle, so having a whole group of them is a dream come true. I'm not jealous of all the pressure and danger in the lives of this series's characters, but I definitely envy their friendship.
Finishing this series felt like the end of an era, but we have a new one - Embassy Row! - to look forward to. I cannot wait to count down the days until that book's release together.
YES. Ah, I forgot about that, but now that you mention it, I love that she did that as well. Very true. I wish I could take bits and pieces :)
DeleteOhh this sounds like fun..I liked also known as so I think I might like this series as well!
ReplyDeleteOh, you will! I actually didn't like AKA as much because it didn't include as much spying.
DeleteSo glad to hear she ended it right!! I'm kind of having a mental block of starting this book since I'm bad at dealing with endings, but I need to get over it and get in the library line!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I read it all in one night when I first got it, like ripping off a bandaid!
DeleteI agree that it would have been good to see Josh. It's a little weird how he was such a central conflict in the first book and then became so utterly irrelevant. And that last big event really punched me in the heart. OW. But I agree that she did a good job and I'm glad I pushed through my ending aversion to finally finish it!
ReplyDelete