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sam_hartwig's review against another edition
3.0
Bianca is a very unlikeable character, I didn't like her personality or her morals. I only read to the end of this book because I wanted to find out what happened between her & Wesley. I would've given it 2 stars but because I liked the happy ending I decided to give it 3 stars.
amandalyn's review against another edition
4.0
The DUFF was a very cute and quick read. Though I wouldn't call it a fluff book. It dealt with a few hard issues and did it beautifully. I don't want to say too much about it cause it's a big part of the story. Just don't pick it up if you're looking for a fluff piece.
The DUFF also had a lot of language and sex, which I loved! Sometimes I think too many young adult books shy away from those, like they doesn't happen every day in high school. Which they totally do.
I really loved Bianca. I can see how some people could have a hard time connecting with her but I just had so much in common with her so I had no problem falling in love with her story. I loved her snarky humor and pessimistic attitude.
The reason this story worked so well was Bianca's friends. The trio rounded each other out perfectly, which I think is the basis of all great friendships. Finding the qualities you lack in someone else.
And Wesley! He was such a lovable jerk. I could see exactly why Bianca chose him as her escape. By the end, I completely fell in love with him. Learning more about him and watching him grow was my favorite part of the story for sure. Plus... the dirty bits were hot!!
The only problem I had with this book was the ending. Things were a little too happily-ever-after for me. I thought a few things worked themselves out too easily. But it wasn't so bad that it ruined the book for me or anything like that.
I really enjoy Keplinger's debut. Can't wait to pick up Shut Out soon!
The DUFF also had a lot of language and sex, which I loved! Sometimes I think too many young adult books shy away from those, like they doesn't happen every day in high school. Which they totally do.
I really loved Bianca. I can see how some people could have a hard time connecting with her but I just had so much in common with her so I had no problem falling in love with her story. I loved her snarky humor and pessimistic attitude.
The reason this story worked so well was Bianca's friends. The trio rounded each other out perfectly, which I think is the basis of all great friendships. Finding the qualities you lack in someone else.
And Wesley! He was such a lovable jerk. I could see exactly why Bianca chose him as her escape. By the end, I completely fell in love with him. Learning more about him and watching him grow was my favorite part of the story for sure. Plus... the dirty bits were hot!!
The only problem I had with this book was the ending. Things were a little too happily-ever-after for me. I thought a few things worked themselves out too easily. But it wasn't so bad that it ruined the book for me or anything like that.
I really enjoy Keplinger's debut. Can't wait to pick up Shut Out soon!
graceannee's review against another edition
3.0
DNF
I had seen the movie and thought I might enjoy the book as much if not more. To preface this, I hate contemporary with a passion. However decided that since the movie wasn’t so much as a romance as a comedy that I might enjoy the book. That was not the case. I found B very mopey, understandably but as a teenage girl myself I have absolutely no interest in reading about someone else’s daily woes and sorrows. Books for me are a means of escape and the DUFF didn’t allow me to do that.
I had seen the movie and thought I might enjoy the book as much if not more. To preface this, I hate contemporary with a passion. However decided that since the movie wasn’t so much as a romance as a comedy that I might enjoy the book. That was not the case. I found B very mopey, understandably but as a teenage girl myself I have absolutely no interest in reading about someone else’s daily woes and sorrows. Books for me are a means of escape and the DUFF didn’t allow me to do that.
stuckinafictionaluniverse's review
4.0
I'll admit that I was ready to dismiss The DUFF as a shallow contemporary with spoiled American teenagers angsting all over the place. All of this, based on that cover. I’m happy to say that this is not the case; the book was much more than that.
I’m used to reading contemporaries that are either based on the heavy and emotional, or close to mindless with their fluff. Kody Keplinger’s debut falls somewhere in between those two, with a mix of serious issues tackled with great realism, and balanced out with humor, simple but impressive dialogue and a cute romance.
The main character's home life crashes down when her mother divorces her father and he resorts to drinking. He isn’t the only one in need of a distraction - Bianca wants to forget about her problems too, and enters an enemies-with-benefits relationship with the school’s infamous jerk and womanizer; Wesley Rush.
Bianca Piper is someone who you’ll either love or hate. Lucky for me, I loved her. She’s smart, cynic and sarcastic. Our MC makes many mistakes, pushes people away and is dumb at times.
Perhaps my favorite thing about her is the character development she goes through. She slut-shames, but then calls herself out on it. This is the first time this has happened in a book, and it made me so happy and proud of her. Everyone has judged people based on tiny details that may not even be true. We all do it, don’t we? No matter how much of a feminist you consider yourself to be. This is why Bianca's character development was excellent.
If I’d been judging her, thinking of her as a slut all this time when, in reality, we were living scarily similar lives. Calling VIkki a slut or a whore was just like calling someone 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. So, maybe, every girl felt like the Duff, too.
HELL YES. YOU GO, GIRL.
There’s lots of sex, and once again Keplinger handles it well by not providing too much detail to turn it into smut, yet talking very freely about it like teenagers do. I like this attitude, and we need more of it in YA contemporary. We have a great cast of secondary characters, ranging from Bianca’s parents and her lovable friends - who I'd be happy to have by my side in high school -, to Wesley who is more than what his asshole reputation suggests. The dialogue is just the way I like it; quick, clever, sarcastic and unapologetic.
There weren't many things I disliked, besides the ’’OMG’’s and ’’WTF’’s that interrupted the dialogue. Sure, people write these abbreviations, but who actually says it? It’s internet language, let’s keep it that way.
Final verdict:
So glad I read this book. A quick and funny read with a great message.
I’m used to reading contemporaries that are either based on the heavy and emotional, or close to mindless with their fluff. Kody Keplinger’s debut falls somewhere in between those two, with a mix of serious issues tackled with great realism, and balanced out with humor, simple but impressive dialogue and a cute romance.
The main character's home life crashes down when her mother divorces her father and he resorts to drinking. He isn’t the only one in need of a distraction - Bianca wants to forget about her problems too, and enters an enemies-with-benefits relationship with the school’s infamous jerk and womanizer; Wesley Rush.
Bianca Piper is someone who you’ll either love or hate. Lucky for me, I loved her. She’s smart, cynic and sarcastic. Our MC makes many mistakes, pushes people away and is dumb at times.
Perhaps my favorite thing about her is the character development she goes through. She slut-shames, but then calls herself out on it. This is the first time this has happened in a book, and it made me so happy and proud of her. Everyone has judged people based on tiny details that may not even be true. We all do it, don’t we? No matter how much of a feminist you consider yourself to be. This is why Bianca's character development was excellent.
Spoiler
In the end, B sympathizes with Vikki, whose pregnancy scare spread across the school like wildfire. B compares her situation with Wesley, and learns an important lesson.If I’d been judging her, thinking of her as a slut all this time when, in reality, we were living scarily similar lives. Calling VIkki a slut or a whore was just like calling someone 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. So, maybe, every girl felt like the Duff, too.
HELL YES. YOU GO, GIRL.
There’s lots of sex, and once again Keplinger handles it well by not providing too much detail to turn it into smut, yet talking very freely about it like teenagers do. I like this attitude, and we need more of it in YA contemporary. We have a great cast of secondary characters, ranging from Bianca’s parents and her lovable friends - who I'd be happy to have by my side in high school -, to Wesley who is more than what his asshole reputation suggests. The dialogue is just the way I like it; quick, clever, sarcastic and unapologetic.
There weren't many things I disliked, besides the ’’OMG’’s and ’’WTF’’s that interrupted the dialogue. Sure, people write these abbreviations, but who actually says it? It’s internet language, let’s keep it that way.
Final verdict:
So glad I read this book. A quick and funny read with a great message.
leighlitlibrary's review against another edition
3.0
I liked some things out of the book. Such as, try not to judge others, everyone has insecurities, you're not the only one to think you're a duff. The rest of the book I didn't really care for. I'm sure I would've loved this book during my high school years.
harleyrae's review against another edition
4.0
This book was interesting. It was a very faced paced and easy book to read. While I'm not at all a fan of the term duff this book was fun to read. I really enjoyed Wesley, especially after we got to know him better. I had issues with Bianca though, the biggest thing probably was how she decides to solve and or run from her issues, the way she has chosen was not the way to go.
All in all I enjoyed this book, and I'm happy I read it.
All in all I enjoyed this book, and I'm happy I read it.
iyaa's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
This book is sexyyy!
It's so open about different issues and well- sex, but in a more entertaining way. While I personally don't open myself to books like these that much, I have to admit that this was very entertaining and hilarious in many different ways.
The characters were not that much relatable, pertaining to the fact that I'm innocent and considered the sweet type, but I do like that the main character holds power in her own way.
This is fun, sexy, and open. I'm hoping to be able to read more of the author's works someday.
This book is sexyyy!
It's so open about different issues and well- sex, but in a more entertaining way. While I personally don't open myself to books like these that much, I have to admit that this was very entertaining and hilarious in many different ways.
The characters were not that much relatable, pertaining to the fact that I'm innocent and considered the sweet type, but I do like that the main character holds power in her own way.
This is fun, sexy, and open. I'm hoping to be able to read more of the author's works someday.
laurevannieuwenhove's review against another edition
5.0
This was one quick, fun read. I literally flew through the book! Bianca and wesley were great characters and sparks were flying! I loved it!