The DUFF - Kody Keplinger
Synopsis: 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 "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out 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. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.
This book has been on my radar for such a long time, but I always kept passing it by for other books. I'd read nothing but wonderful things about it, and Kody Keplinger herself, but it still kept getting pushed back. Then I went on a contemporary kick and finally picked it up. And I fell in love in every way possible with this book and these characters. Minus the whole Wesley situation, I was Bianca in high school - I think most girls would feel like they were Bianca. While I'm pretty sure I was actually the DUFF (you should see my friends back then...and now...I hang out with the prettiest people, not even kidding) most girls might associate with the girl who feels like she's always the sidekick. I always felt like I was both the sidekick AND that the whole world should revolve around me - which, I think, is the friction that produces Bianca's cynicism.
There's a lot to say for different ways to make yourself feel better, and Bianca's covers a couple different ways - from casual hate sex (yes, beware, if it's not your thing, this book is very open about sex), to massive slumber parties with best friends. Mostly, I just loved watching Bianca fall for Wesley despite all her efforts not to. While the only part about this book that I didn't really care for was Bianca and Wesley's screwy family home lives (they felt slightly forced), they did provide the whole aspect of finding a safe spot to land, and the value of the person who just lets you be away from it.
And even more than the whole falling for the wrong person and learning to love the skin you're in, this book is about friendship. Sometimes I think YA loses sight of the importance of friends over boys. This book doesn't. It places high importance on what it is to be a good friend - who you are with your friends, who you are with out them. I know my friends are some of the most important people in my life and especially when you view yourself as the DUFF - your friends are the most valuable asset you have.
This book accomplishes so many things, wrapped up in an energetic, sardonic package. I'm now an avid fan of Kody Keplinger. Her second book, Shut Out, came out this fall and she has her third book, A Midsummer's Nightmare, due for release this coming June. Kody is so young (19, I believe - (I feel so unaccomplished!)) and she's already such a wonderful writer. I can't wait to see the great future she has in front of her.
The DUFF - Kody Keplinger
Synopsis: 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 "the Duff," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out 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. And eventually, through this realization, Bianca begins to see how harmful her unhealthy way of dealing with her problems has been, and finds a way to confront them head on.
This book has been on my radar for such a long time, but I always kept passing it by for other books. I'd read nothing but wonderful things about it, and Kody Keplinger herself, but it still kept getting pushed back. Then I went on a contemporary kick and finally picked it up. And I fell in love in every way possible with this book and these characters. Minus the whole Wesley situation, I was Bianca in high school - I think most girls would feel like they were Bianca. While I'm pretty sure I was actually the DUFF (you should see my friends back then...and now...I hang out with the prettiest people, not even kidding) most girls might associate with the girl who feels like she's always the sidekick. I always felt like I was both the sidekick AND that the whole world should revolve around me - which, I think, is the friction that produces Bianca's cynicism.
There's a lot to say for different ways to make yourself feel better, and Bianca's covers a couple different ways - from casual hate sex (yes, beware, if it's not your thing, this book is very open about sex), to massive slumber parties with best friends. Mostly, I just loved watching Bianca fall for Wesley despite all her efforts not to. While the only part about this book that I didn't really care for was Bianca and Wesley's screwy family home lives (they felt slightly forced), they did provide the whole aspect of finding a safe spot to land, and the value of the person who just lets you be away from it.
And even more than the whole falling for the wrong person and learning to love the skin you're in, this book is about friendship. Sometimes I think YA loses sight of the importance of friends over boys. This book doesn't. It places high importance on what it is to be a good friend - who you are with your friends, who you are with out them. I know my friends are some of the most important people in my life and especially when you view yourself as the DUFF - your friends are the most valuable asset you have.
This book accomplishes so many things, wrapped up in an energetic, sardonic package. I'm now an avid fan of Kody Keplinger. Her second book, Shut Out, came out this fall and she has her third book, A Midsummer's Nightmare, due for release this coming June. Kody is so young (19, I believe - (I feel so unaccomplished!)) and she's already such a wonderful writer. I can't wait to see the great future she has in front of her.
