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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
I was skeptical when I began this book, because from the very start it is all too obvious that this book was written by a teenager. Every thought and emotion is spelled out and described, and we are certainly told more than we are shown about the supporting characters. (If a character is bubbly don't have the narrator tell me that she's bubbly, show me that she is, through her actions and words!) However, as the story progressed I became less concerned about the utterly teenage voice (and, after all, the narrator IS a teenager) as I found myself more and more wrapped up in the plot and in the main character's choices.
I love, love, LOVED that this book features a main character who feels that she is "the Duff" and, even more than that, I loved that although there's romance aplenty in this YA novel, this is not a makeover story. Bianca, our protagonist, does not slim her average-sized body down, change her unmanageable hair, or adopt a new style of dress - she remains true to herself, and I was so happy to see that. Although I'm sure many out there will disagree, I also loved this book's frank and honest attitudes toward sex and sexuality. I'd certainly recommend this book for older teens, but I was thrilled to see smart, responsible teenagers who still do the things teenagers do.
Did I find the way some characters personalities drastically altered to be unrealistic? Yes. Did I find the resolution of the novel sudden and rushed after so much longing and debating? Absolutely. But for those who are looking for a smart, strong, normal teenage narrator and a fun (and occasionally steamy) romance with some thoughtfulness on the side - you absolutely can't go wrong with "the DUFF".
I love, love, LOVED that this book features a main character who feels that she is "the Duff" and, even more than that, I loved that although there's romance aplenty in this YA novel, this is not a makeover story. Bianca, our protagonist, does not slim her average-sized body down, change her unmanageable hair, or adopt a new style of dress - she remains true to herself, and I was so happy to see that. Although I'm sure many out there will disagree, I also loved this book's frank and honest attitudes toward sex and sexuality. I'd certainly recommend this book for older teens, but I was thrilled to see smart, responsible teenagers who still do the things teenagers do.
Did I find the way some characters personalities drastically altered to be unrealistic? Yes. Did I find the resolution of the novel sudden and rushed after so much longing and debating? Absolutely. But for those who are looking for a smart, strong, normal teenage narrator and a fun (and occasionally steamy) romance with some thoughtfulness on the side - you absolutely can't go wrong with "the DUFF".
The Duff by Kody Keplinger
Poppy, 2010
277 pages
YA; Contemporary; Romance
4/5 stars
Source: Won
Summary: Although one of Bianca and Wesley's first interactions is him calling her "the Duff," she is soon kissing him and she can't seem to stop as her family life crumbles.
Thoughts: First, I think that I just wrote a spectacularly concise summary! Anyway, review!
I really liked Bianca; she is snarky and cynical and funny. Then her home life starts crumbling and she seeks solace in the arms of a really hot boy. Speaking of home, her parents could have had a bit more depth but I liked that they weren't completely sucky and that she cared about them. Her friends were also pretty good characters as they revealed more depth and renegotiated their friendship.
As to the boy: Wesley=hot. Their scenes together=hot. Wesley=opening up and sharing his feelings and listening to Bianca=hot. All good.
Now the ending did come together too fast, in like eight pages, but I didn't really mind.
Warning: Language and sexual situations that might make some readers uncomfortable.
Overall: Wonderful-excited to see what Keplinger comes up with next!
Cover: I don't know about the gum; I get that something else needed to be on the cover but I don't like it. It's not like Bianca had a gum-chewing habit.
Poppy, 2010
277 pages
YA; Contemporary; Romance
4/5 stars
Source: Won
Summary: Although one of Bianca and Wesley's first interactions is him calling her "the Duff," she is soon kissing him and she can't seem to stop as her family life crumbles.
Thoughts: First, I think that I just wrote a spectacularly concise summary! Anyway, review!
I really liked Bianca; she is snarky and cynical and funny. Then her home life starts crumbling and she seeks solace in the arms of a really hot boy. Speaking of home, her parents could have had a bit more depth but I liked that they weren't completely sucky and that she cared about them. Her friends were also pretty good characters as they revealed more depth and renegotiated their friendship.
As to the boy: Wesley=hot. Their scenes together=hot. Wesley=opening up and sharing his feelings and listening to Bianca=hot. All good.
Now the ending did come together too fast, in like eight pages, but I didn't really mind.
Warning: Language and sexual situations that might make some readers uncomfortable.
Overall: Wonderful-excited to see what Keplinger comes up with next!
Cover: I don't know about the gum; I get that something else needed to be on the cover but I don't like it. It's not like Bianca had a gum-chewing habit.
There are few books that I will pick up and won't put down until they are finished and The Duff was definitely one of them. It was swoon worthy and compelling and an overall great read. I've never connected to a character as much as I did Bianca. She was edgy and truthful and it made her seem so real which is hard to do. This novel was fantastic and so worthy of a 5 star rating.
I originally gave this 5 stars. A lot of shit changed. Full review to come.
As soon as I heard about The DUFF by Kody Keplinger and how DUFF stands for 'Designated Ugly Fat Friend' I knew that I would read this book. I was hoping to love it, and I kinda did. I like books that discuss insecurities with body-image. I think it's a topic that most of us can relate with. But I'm not sure this book will be for everyone. Bianca as a character is quite harsh. She's really cynical and snarky and it took me awhile to warm up to her. But to smooth out her harsh edges, we have a couple of great friends and the very HOT Wesley Rush. Mixed with lots of sex and some quite serious issues, The DUFF turned out to be incredibly addictive reading.
So, The DUFF starts out with Bianca and her two besties, Jess and Casey at an underage bar. While her two friends are off dancing, Bianca is sat at the bar passing judgement on those around her. Up strolls hottie Wesley Rush, who Bianca is both attracted to and loathes in equal measure. When Bianca rejects him, he calls her 'The DUFF' and it shatters Bianca. She's always sort of felt like the ugly fat friend next to Casey and Jess and this hurtful label sticks with her during the course of the novel, worming its way into's Bianca's negative inner-voice. When bad things start happening at home, Bianca really needs some way to escape and she ends up turning to Wesley. Despite Wesley calling her 'Duffy' and being a man-whore who Biance detests, Bianca and Wesley start a very intense sexual relationship incredibly quickly. But Bianca can't run from her problems forever and it turns out that Wesley isn't quite as horrible as she once thought.
What I loved most about The DUFF is this label. 'DUFF' is just another word used to tear girls down, like 'bitch' and 'slut' and 'whore.' It does a great job of crippling self-esteem and making girls like Bianca feel inferior and less. Bianca both accepts and hides behind this label, not sharing either her problems at home or her enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley with her friends. But Casey and Jess's reaction to the label 'DUFF' really made my heart happy. The feeling of inferiority is such a common bond amongst girls. I wish I had friendships like Bianca has, one of support and understanding.
The DUFF also really touches on some serious issues. There's a common theme amongst Bianca's family - that of escaping. Bianca escapes through sex with Wesley, her mother by leaving, her father through alcohol. There's no sugar-coating any of these topics. It's quite painful and difficult reading through some of the effects of a relapsed alcoholic, but at the same time there is also no shying away from the amount of sexy-times between Bianca and Wesley. I'd heard of complaints of this before I picked up this book, but for me, it felt like an important aspect of the novel.
Wesley and Bianca, I felt had great chemistry together. The verbal-sparring made me laugh and root for the pair of them. Not a conventional romance at all, especially with Bianca feeling incredibly dirty throughout most of the novel, but in the end turned out to be quite sweet.
So, The DUFF starts out with Bianca and her two besties, Jess and Casey at an underage bar. While her two friends are off dancing, Bianca is sat at the bar passing judgement on those around her. Up strolls hottie Wesley Rush, who Bianca is both attracted to and loathes in equal measure. When Bianca rejects him, he calls her 'The DUFF' and it shatters Bianca. She's always sort of felt like the ugly fat friend next to Casey and Jess and this hurtful label sticks with her during the course of the novel, worming its way into's Bianca's negative inner-voice. When bad things start happening at home, Bianca really needs some way to escape and she ends up turning to Wesley. Despite Wesley calling her 'Duffy' and being a man-whore who Biance detests, Bianca and Wesley start a very intense sexual relationship incredibly quickly. But Bianca can't run from her problems forever and it turns out that Wesley isn't quite as horrible as she once thought.
What I loved most about The DUFF is this label. 'DUFF' is just another word used to tear girls down, like 'bitch' and 'slut' and 'whore.' It does a great job of crippling self-esteem and making girls like Bianca feel inferior and less. Bianca both accepts and hides behind this label, not sharing either her problems at home or her enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley with her friends. But Casey and Jess's reaction to the label 'DUFF' really made my heart happy. The feeling of inferiority is such a common bond amongst girls. I wish I had friendships like Bianca has, one of support and understanding.
The DUFF also really touches on some serious issues. There's a common theme amongst Bianca's family - that of escaping. Bianca escapes through sex with Wesley, her mother by leaving, her father through alcohol. There's no sugar-coating any of these topics. It's quite painful and difficult reading through some of the effects of a relapsed alcoholic, but at the same time there is also no shying away from the amount of sexy-times between Bianca and Wesley. I'd heard of complaints of this before I picked up this book, but for me, it felt like an important aspect of the novel.
Wesley and Bianca, I felt had great chemistry together. The verbal-sparring made me laugh and root for the pair of them. Not a conventional romance at all, especially with Bianca feeling incredibly dirty throughout most of the novel, but in the end turned out to be quite sweet.
Witty and Hysterical
This is such a fun read! Bianca is funny, smart, and not afraid to be herself. Wesley is that confident, smooth talker you love to hate-but mostly just love. Their chemistry is electric and had me laughing out loud.
The best part is the writing. It's authentic and addictive and touches on a host of teen (and life) issues with honesty and tact.
This is such a fun read! Bianca is funny, smart, and not afraid to be herself. Wesley is that confident, smooth talker you love to hate-but mostly just love. Their chemistry is electric and had me laughing out loud.
The best part is the writing. It's authentic and addictive and touches on a host of teen (and life) issues with honesty and tact.
Meh. This was okay, enjoyable for the most of it. The main character Bianca was irritable at times for her continuous poor choices and I’m still not convinced about the main romance, however there were enough redeemable qualities that I would read more books by this author in future.
I bought this book on a whim. I had been searching for a bit of new reading material and stumbled upon this one. I'm insanely happy that I did.
THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger is a surprisingly realistic and relatable story.
The main plot centers around a couple of very key problems: A troubled home life, boys, and feeling as though you are the outcast. Every teenage girl has been confronted with one (or all) of these problems at sometime or another and I felt like this story did a phenomenal job at bringing these worries to light.
The story line in general was very well organized and kept me wanting more. It was paced well and kept me on my toes. And though some of the twists were predictable, others had me gaping at my nook. It was balanced well. I didn't know exactly what was to come but my head also wasn't spinning from a bunch of dramatic turns.
What really kept me thoroughly engaged, though, was the characters. They were likable, which is always a key factor in a good book for me. If I can't connect to the characters then I tend to just lose interest in the story all together. I was sympathetic to both Bianca and Wesley's situations. Even the more minor characters like Toby held my interest.
My only complaint was that it was a bit repetative. I felt that the same scene was played a few times but it was interesting so I didn't mind too much.
The ending was very satisfying and everything wrapped up quite nicely. I've already read Keplinger's other novel, SHUT OUT but I will eagerly anticipate what ever she might come out with next.
(To view this review and more like it, visit my blog: http://wonderlandsreader.blogspot.com/ )
THE DUFF by Kody Keplinger is a surprisingly realistic and relatable story.
The main plot centers around a couple of very key problems: A troubled home life, boys, and feeling as though you are the outcast. Every teenage girl has been confronted with one (or all) of these problems at sometime or another and I felt like this story did a phenomenal job at bringing these worries to light.
The story line in general was very well organized and kept me wanting more. It was paced well and kept me on my toes. And though some of the twists were predictable, others had me gaping at my nook. It was balanced well. I didn't know exactly what was to come but my head also wasn't spinning from a bunch of dramatic turns.
What really kept me thoroughly engaged, though, was the characters. They were likable, which is always a key factor in a good book for me. If I can't connect to the characters then I tend to just lose interest in the story all together. I was sympathetic to both Bianca and Wesley's situations. Even the more minor characters like Toby held my interest.
My only complaint was that it was a bit repetative. I felt that the same scene was played a few times but it was interesting so I didn't mind too much.
The ending was very satisfying and everything wrapped up quite nicely. I've already read Keplinger's other novel, SHUT OUT but I will eagerly anticipate what ever she might come out with next.
(To view this review and more like it, visit my blog: http://wonderlandsreader.blogspot.com/ )
2.5 I liked the overall message at the end of the book. It was really hard to read through the book to get there though.
I just want to say, first and foremost, that the movie does absolutely no justice to this book.
However, I am glad I saw the movie first because if I had read this book and then saw the movie, I would have felt infuriated and cheated. As it stands, I'm just disappointed. Disappointed that they took this clever, original, daring, and important book and reduced it to a few gags, cliches, and horrible high school stereotypes.
This book is one that I heartily recommend to anyone, whether you're in high school or haven't been in one for several years. Not only does it tackle the issues of slut-shaming, judging without knowing, family issues, and body image, it does so in a way that other women aren't put down, but understood and sympathized with. There really isn't a love triangle, just a young, confused girl who is caught between two guys who she has very different feelings towards. And unlike the movie, that isn't resolved because one of them is made to be a jerk by the plot, but is resolved because she, Bianca, makes a conscious decision to choose one over the other.
Speaking of the protag, Bianca Piper is fantastic. She comes off as an absolutely normal teenager, struggling with her place in life and is not solely concerned with her appearance but how her friends and peers perceive her, the issues brewing within her family that she struggles with alone (which I am so angry they completely ignored in the movie because her father's alcoholism was so integral to the story and cutting it out to be "family friendly" does the narrative, characters, and audience a huge disservice), and her personal problems confronting the people and issues in her life.
The fact that Bianca uses sex as a means of escape and avoidance is powerful, not only in its depiction but in how real it most likely is to countless girls out there. We have so many YA books that gloss over sex or ignore it completely, but this book tackles it in a way that comes off as honest and real. Thank god for this book because there needs to be more discussions on why teens want to have sex and not shame them for thinking/doing it.
Seriously, this needs to be the book that's on required reading in schools. I related to so much more of what was happening in this book than most teen-centered media (the movie included) and YA books combined. The story being told by the narrative and its characters is so powerful in a society where women are constantly degraded for their appearance, shamed for having sex, insulted through disgusting names, condemned for making their own decisions regardless of other (male) feelings, and undermined for expressing friendship and solidarity with other women. There needs to be more stories like this.
However, I am glad I saw the movie first because if I had read this book and then saw the movie, I would have felt infuriated and cheated. As it stands, I'm just disappointed. Disappointed that they took this clever, original, daring, and important book and reduced it to a few gags, cliches, and horrible high school stereotypes.
This book is one that I heartily recommend to anyone, whether you're in high school or haven't been in one for several years. Not only does it tackle the issues of slut-shaming, judging without knowing, family issues, and body image, it does so in a way that other women aren't put down, but understood and sympathized with. There really isn't a love triangle, just a young, confused girl who is caught between two guys who she has very different feelings towards. And unlike the movie, that isn't resolved because one of them is made to be a jerk by the plot, but is resolved because she, Bianca, makes a conscious decision to choose one over the other.
Speaking of the protag, Bianca Piper is fantastic. She comes off as an absolutely normal teenager, struggling with her place in life and is not solely concerned with her appearance but how her friends and peers perceive her, the issues brewing within her family that she struggles with alone (which I am so angry they completely ignored in the movie because her father's alcoholism was so integral to the story and cutting it out to be "family friendly" does the narrative, characters, and audience a huge disservice), and her personal problems confronting the people and issues in her life.
The fact that Bianca uses sex as a means of escape and avoidance is powerful, not only in its depiction but in how real it most likely is to countless girls out there. We have so many YA books that gloss over sex or ignore it completely, but this book tackles it in a way that comes off as honest and real. Thank god for this book because there needs to be more discussions on why teens want to have sex and not shame them for thinking/doing it.
Seriously, this needs to be the book that's on required reading in schools. I related to so much more of what was happening in this book than most teen-centered media (the movie included) and YA books combined. The story being told by the narrative and its characters is so powerful in a society where women are constantly degraded for their appearance, shamed for having sex, insulted through disgusting names, condemned for making their own decisions regardless of other (male) feelings, and undermined for expressing friendship and solidarity with other women. There needs to be more stories like this.