The DUFF by 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 "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.
Review:

I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was when The DUFF arrived in the mail. I had heard so many great things about it, so my expectations were sky high. Of course we all know this could lead to a major disappointment- the chances were increasing that it wouldn't meet my high hopes. And it didn't.

It exceeded them.

I know there have been mixed reviews, so I'll say now that The DUFF may not be for everyone. But what book is? Books are essentially art, and we all know that not all art is for all people. That being said, I will say this book worked for me. Bianca is hilarious with a fantastic sarcasm. She made it really easy for me to get into the novel. I'll warn now that Bianca doesn't have the cleanest mount at times. However, I thought it added to her character. Bianca is full of angst, which she fully acknowledges (to a certain degree). Plus, Keplinger made her frustration understandable, which in turn (for me), made the cursing understandable- or at least not surprising. Cursing aside, Keplinger really made me feel like I knew Bianca. Even though I couldn't directly relate with everything, I could feel what she was going through. I connected. It's the best feeling- connecting with a character. It makes for great books.

Aside from Bianca, the storyline as a whole was fantastic. The synopsis honestly is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many twists and turns, the book as a whole was a wonderful roller-coaster. I cannot tell you the amount of times I was laughing during the novel, only to be in shock the next. Every character was developed well, and weaved in and out of the story at just the right moments. I don't think I could have asked for more from them.

All in all, I feel as though The Duff turned a new page for Young Adult books. Sure there are some classic YA moments and themes, but Keplinger has shined a new light. She delved deeper into the topics that are only lightly touched upon in other novels (read: casual sex, alcoholism, insecurities). I'd like to thinks this lends to her being a young adult herself, and, in no doubt, her great writing. I cannot wait to read more from her.

Ratings:

Plot: A

Definitely original and so easy to get into.

Characters: A

Relatable and understandble. And again with the character connection. Serious character connection

Cover: B

I catch the attitude from the model's face in connection with Bianca's attitude. I just wish there were more to it. I can't put my finger on what though.

Length: A

I wanted it to keep going. Not for sake of completion, but because I loved it so much! However the novel ended well- going past it could have resulted in overkill.

If you couldn't tell already, I fell in love with the DUFF. Risky and captivating, I give it:

Five Stars!
Catch The Duff when it hits stores September 7th!