Whitley Johnson's dream summer of shopping, partying and tanning on the beach has just turned into a nightmare. Because Dad didn't tell her he doesn't live by the beach anymore, or that he's no longer a bachelor. He's picked up and moved to a tiny, lame town called Hamilton and gotten himself a fiance. A fiance whose son just happens to be what's-his-name from last week's drunken graduation party one night stand. Just freakin' great.
As if the summer couldn't get worse, Dad seems to forget Whitley's even there. She doesn't fit in with his perfect new country club family, and Whitley does what any kid lucky enough to go all summer unsupervised does: she parties. Hard.
So hard that she doesn't even notice the good things right under her nose: a younger future step-sister who is just about the only person she's ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn't 'do friends') and a smoking hot, sweet guy who isn't her step brother (yet) and who actually seems to care for her. It will take all three of them to convince her that they're not phoneys, and to get Whitley to get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.
My thoughts
I loved the DUFF by Kody Keplinger so was so excited to get this for review earlier this week. I am pleased to say I loved it.
For me Kody Keplinger is one of those authors who I love. Her characters are realistic and therefore I always find the voice is spot on. This book was no exception. The main character Whitley is written superbly stating as this messed up unlikable screw up at the start of the book. Once the story gets going and you start to get under her skin you actually start to see more of why she has become the person she has and you start to warm to her.
I also love how the author writes teen sex without being judgmental and presenting it as a normal part of teenage life not just for boys but also girls. Another example of how YA can be used to do that well and proves you don't need NA titles for sexy times.
I defy anyone to read this book and not fall instantly in love with both male teen characters. I adored Nathan and Harrison entirely and I loved the scenes they were in. Also I found seeing Whitley through their eyes made me like her more too which was good.
Also any book that has a cameo from characters from the author's previous works just slipped in is always a thumbs up from me. I love those entirely in a really geeky way.
All in all a book I really loved. I cannot wait to get my hands on more from the author
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