3 Reviews : The Duff, Secret Society and A Match Made in High School

Posted by kay on February 28, 2011 2:22 am in 1.5 stars reads, 2.5 stars reads, 3 stars reads | 5 comments

I never feel like spending too much time on those books I didn’t really enjoy, so once again, it’s time for mini-reviews!

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The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Pages : 288
Genre : YA, Fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating :

What it’s about : When charming Wesley nicknames Bianca “The Duff” (Designated Ugly Fat Friend), she hates him as much as she ever did. Yet she ends up kissing him, and soon she finds herself in a friends-with-benefits relationship with him. All she wants is to keep things simple, physical, but the more she spends time with Wesley, the more she learns to like him.

My Thoughts : I had been looking forward to this one : written by a high-school girl about high-school girls and boys, I thought the novel would offer a really close insight into these characters’ life. Yet, this book didn’t work for me : instead, being so young, I felt the author lacked the distance necessary to think the story through clearly. Some events or actions happening in the book could have a major impact on the characters’ life on the long term, yet there’s very little thought given to this aspect. I’m thinking of an event in particular, involving Bianca’s father : in my opinion, it’s an important issue, but the author missed the mark there, writing it a bit lightly. There’s also not enough thought given to how self-destructive Bianca’s relationship with Wesley is.

Don’t Trust me! These readers liked it : Steph Su Reads, Debbie’s World of Books, Jessica Lawlor

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A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker
Pages : 277
Genre : YA, Fiction
Stand Alone
My Rating :

What it’s about : Fiona’s school has come up with a horrible plan for her senior year : students will be matched in pairs for a program in Marriage education, and there’s no way out. Fiona’s crush gets paired with Amanda, her nemesis, while she gets paired with Amada’s boyfriend Todd, who isn’t happier than she is with the result.

My Thoughts : The idea was certainly fun, the execution, a little less. The book was presented like a comedy, a little on the silly side but filled with misunderstandings and pranks; it had all that and more, with maybe just a tad too much silliness for me. It’s really just a matter of taste here, since I enjoyed Walker’s writing, just not the pranks and characters who felt a bit juvenile. I still would recommend it for something light and fun that can be read in an evening.

Don’t Trust me! These readers liked it : Write Meg, Fantastic Book Review, Chick Loves Lit

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Secret Society by Tom Dolby
Pages : 353
Genre : YA, Fiction
Series : Secret Society, Book 1
My Rating :

What it’s about : In New York City, three teens from a private school are chosen to be part of an exclusive Secret Society, but what was supposed to be a fun adventure might be hiding some unpleasant secrets.

My Thoughts : I’m struggling to find some positive about this book; the cover is pretty, I liked that there was some interest in art, I liked the setting, and that’s about it. The characters felt bland, flat as paper, and it was completely predictable. This wasn’t even balanced by interesting twists, humor, steamy romance or brilliant writing. I struggled to get through it, and I’ll admit that I skimmed a lot when I read it at night and I was tired; it just didn’t hold my interest. If you’re interested in reading a novel of secret societies, I highly recommend Secret Society Girl by Diana Peterfreund.

Don’t Trust me! These readers liked it : Bewitched Bookworms, My Reading Room, Wondrous Reads