Author: Kody Keplinger 
Release Date: January 1st, 2010
Series: None
Genre:  Young Adult | Contemporary |  Chick Lit. | Fiction
Edition: Kindle
Pages: 370
Publisher: Machete Children's Books
Source: NetGalley

Blurb

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.

Rating

4half-stars

Review

Plot/Story:

I absolutely loved the plot of this book. It was simple, light and about the real shitty stuff a teenage girl faces in her life. I loved the flow of the story and the pace of the story was also perfect. There were no unnecessary twits, no uncalled-for-drama and no mean-girl-villain (as is the case with most of the YA chic-lit books.)

I totally loved the friendship and loyalty that Bianca and her friends have and love the fact that how pure their bond is. I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly and I’ll recommend it to everyone (even to guys.)

This is one book that has to be read simply because it’s too awesome to be missed… and wouldn’t it be uncool to miss such a talked-about book!?

Characters:

The characterisation is one of the strongest aspect of The DUFF. The lead character, Bianca Pipe, is so simple and sweet that I instantly wanted to be her BFF and get involved in her world. I love her (well, not in a weird way… but you get it right!) She is a regular no-so-slim and not-so-hot girl and she’s cool with it until one dreadful night when a guy from her class (whom Bianca calls a man-whore) tells her that she’s a DUFF. And here begins the journey of Bianca which completely turns her life from no-guy troubles to an almost-love-triangle.

Apart from Bianca I really, really liked her friends, Casey and Jessica and also (surprisingly) Wesley (the man-whore… lol!) They are so well-developed characters that you feel like you’ve known them forever.

Romance:

Bianca’s crush on a nerd in her class, Toby Tucker (love the name,) was really cute but kinda weird (as I really feel disgusting to imagine two nerds with lots of freckles kissing… eeeewww!!) Well, somehow it seemed cute for Bianca.

Her physical relationships with Wesley were really surprising and are actually the main theme of the book. Eventually their relationship starts to take a real meaning and that part was really sweet.

Writing:

The writing is absolutely awesome!!! It sucked me right into the from the very beginning and till the very last line. I love the way the author successfully pulls off such simple writing. I’d definitely be reading more books by her (and that too soon!)

Beginning:

The beginning was great and I was absorbed in the story as soon as I started reading it. I love the way Bianca is shown in the initial pages. Initially I was wondering that her friends might be the typical mean girls but as it turned out, they were exactly the opposite.They loved Bianca for who she was and that felt really good!

Ending:

I loved the way the book ended, it was the perfect way to say goodbye to such an awesome book!

Blurb:

The blurb is accurate and goes will with the book. It’s totally synced with the plot-line and will definitely make a reader pick up this book.

Though, the blurb I read at NetGalley is kinda weird. They’ve used bionics’ words “man-whore” in it which sounded appropriate and kind of cool in the book but in the blurb they sounded too weird.

Cover Art:

I LOVE this cover. Though I received it’s copy with another cover from NetGalley (which I hate), I’ve used this one as it’s just so cool! I love the light green color of the bubble-gum-ballon and her green eyeliner.

You can also read this review at Goodreads and Amazon.

Other Stuff

Opening Line: This was getting old.

Memorable Quote:

The people who call you names are just trying to make themselves feel better. They’ve fucked up before, too. You’re not the only one.

The world was ours now, and as long as we held on to it, we could control the hurt it inflicted.

Escape is impossible, so why not embrace it?

Memorable Paragraph:

Calling Vikki a slut or a whore was just like calling someone the DUFF. It was insulting and hurtful, and it was one of those titles that just fed off of an inner fear every girl must have from time to time. Slut, bitch, prude, tease, ditz. They were all the same. Every girl felt like one of these sexist labels described her at some point.

Highlights: Characterisation.

Lowlights: None.

Final Thoughts: A stupendous read.

Review by:

Heena Rathore P.

My name is Heena and I’m a freelance writer, blogger and a book-reviewer (and soon-to-be author.)
I’m an introvert, thinker, neat freak (cleanliness OCD), hardcore idealist, fitness junkie, music fanatic, compulsive reader, self-assertive, opinionated, dog lover and an atheist.

The Reading Bud is my brain-child and is a huge part of my life. I love reading and reviewing. What started as a hobby has become my passion.