ARC Review- The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Details: Hardcover, 288 pgs (I read the ARC)
Published: Sept 7, 2010 (but it was stocked at my local Borders already) by Little Brown, Poppy

isbn: 0316084239 (ISBN13: 9780316084239)

Reading Level: YA (15 and older)

Acquired from: A friend sent me the ARC

 

Details: 

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

My Thoughts:

This was probably the most romantic book I've read all year.  It was real and that's what made the romance so much better.  I could see it, I knew it, I related to it.  And I loved the romance in this book to the point I wouldn't have changed anything.  It wasn't the typical romance, I think those who aren't big fans of romance would still enjoy this book.  


I loved Bianca.  Her personality was so strong.  I really felt like I really knew her.  She was bold and outspoken and said it how it was.  Yet she kept her problems bottled up inside and she had difficulty finding a way to get them out.  So she kept them inside and sought distraction instead.  


This book is full of sex.  Not detailed, we knew it happened and the author gave us enough details to know what sort of emotions were going on, but not details of the act itself.  Although I'm not a huge fan of sex in YA in this book it was necessary and it was real.  And we were shown the repercussions of those actions, which I felt was vital to the story.  I think any teenage girl can relate.  


Because of the sex and the cursing I think the recommended age is 15, but with what girls see on TV and in real life then some girls are probably already prepared to read something of this subject at a younger age.  


This book was wrote amazingly well.  It was easy to read and not once did I get bored with the story.  The side characters all had interesting personalities and kept things entertaining.  But Bianca was certainly the one with the spotlight on her.  And Wesley, well he seems like a few boys I knew back in the day and I really did understand him.  


I loved this book!  I give it 5/5 moons!

You can find Kody on her blog | website  | twitter