Book: The Duff
Author: Kody Keplinger
Pages: 341
Publisher: Hodder Childrens Books - Imprint (Books With a Bite)
Bought Paperback
Rating: ✪✪✪ .5
Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is smart, cynical, loyal - and well aware that she's not the hot one in her group of friends.
But when high-school jock and all round moron Wesley Rush tells her she's a DUFF - a Designated, Ugly Fat Friend - Bianca does not the see funny side. She may not be a beauty but she'd never stoop so low as to go anywhere near the likes of Wesley ... Or would she?
With a wry and tell-it-like-it-is voice, THE DUFF is a witty and poignant story of a teenager struggling with the rules of high school attraction, along with the breaking down of her relationships with family and friends.
Review
This is my first Kody Keplinger book and its one I have been wanting to read for a couple of years. Now first off I bought the movie cover tie in book and I wish I hadn't as I didn't picture the characters as the actors/actresses which annoyed the hell out of me.
This book is definitely mature YA and I didn't realise going into it that it was and I really liked that as I have been reading a lot more mature YA and new adult books lately.
The whole concept of the DUFF ( designated ugly fat friend) was interesting. It had Bianca questioning who she was and the whole social status of high school. Now Bianca I liked but she did slightly annoy me. I have heard a lot of people have issue with Wesley saying how he was horrible to her and he's disgusting but to be honest even though he shouldn't have called her a DUFF she used him as much as he used her and didn't think of his feelings which I found a little selfish. She could see maybe he wasn't all Mr Cocky (though he was most of the time) with her and still protected herself emotionally from hurt which I can totally understand but she just annoyed me a little.
The book did deal with real life issues, the High school cliches, self esteem, sex, divorce, alcoholism all of which I appreciated in a YA Book when done well, like it was in The Duff.
Overall I really did enjoy this book. It was a slow starter for me but gained momentum toward the middle. The Story was intriguing and interesting. The romance was slow burn and the ending wasn't as satisfying for me as I like but I would still recommend this book to anyone who likes books with real issues, a slow burn romance (it's not slow its just doesn't really get to the point I needed it to be) and a story with a message, a lesson, to be who you are and that everyone has insecurities.
Have you read The Duff? What did you think of it?
I just saw a commercial for this, and like that this is mature YA, as I struggle relating. I am glad it touched on some serious issues and was well done.
ReplyDeleteYay I liked that it was mature YA wasn't What I was expecting. I liked that it touched on serious issues too I hope more YA continue with this theme.
DeleteI know a lot of mixed reviews of this book have been popping up, and I really want to read this one for myself so I can make up my own mind. Seeing as I am a teenager myself I think I am going to be able to relate to this one quite a bit!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely will relate. It does touch on subjects like sex, abuse, alcoholism, divorce so if you not comfortable with these topics, be aware :)
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