(ARC Review) THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger

THE DUFF
Author: Kody Keplinger
Source: Around the World Tours

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Poppy (September 7, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316084239
• ISBN-13: 978-0316084239

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 “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:

Yes, I was The Duff, or as the cover states, “Designated Ugly Fat Friend”.  Now, I wasn’t really this in school, but more around the family members that are my age.  I was the chunkier, average girl while my 2 younger cousins were the pretty, skinny model types. When we went to clubs, I was on the sidelines while they were getting the attention. It wasn’t fun and I instantly related to the character of Bianca in this book.

Bianca has two friends that are hotter than she is.  She sits at the club on the sidelines while her two best friends get the attention.  Now, her best friends aren’t mean to her and don’t see Bianca as The Duff.  In fact, they have insecurities of their own, but Bianca doesn’t see it that way. Especially when Wesley–the school womanizer–comes up to her in the club and nicknames her The Duff.  He admits to talking to her just because the hot friends will notice him more if he is seen talking with the outsider of the group.  I wanted to jump into the book and slap the crap out of this boy!

Bianca has also had a crush on another boy for three years named Toby. When Toby breaks up with his girlfriend and finally notices Bianca, she gets confused because she thinks he is too perfect for her.  Wesley and Bianca have been hanging around a lot–doing term papers and basically having romps in bed–and she is now confused. I felt the confusion she went through.  I really started to enjoy Wesley in the book once we started to see what was really going on in his life.  I loved the smart mouth dialogue between everyone in the book.  Best of all, this could be about anyone really.  We all have our insecurities and feel like The Duff at one point in our life.

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.  I was disappointed when the story ended.  I wanted more! I wanted to reread the book as soon as I finished.  A great read that every teen should read to let them know that no one is perfect.  Everyone has flaws, but this book was a perfect read!

MY RATING:

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS