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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
I actually loved this book, and I highly recommend it. My reasons being that it gives a fairly well rounded view of realistic teenage life and feelings. Our protagonist isn’t some otherworldly beauty, bemoaning the terrible fate of being born beautiful, or whose deepest problems are feeling constrained by loving parents, or annoyed by younger siblings and such. Bianca Piper is an average teenage girl, with real insecurities and problems. She has to deal with her parents divorcing, her father falling off the wagon and drinking, becoming a much different person towards his daughter, and has to deal with how she feels about being classed as “The D.U.F.F”, and the implications behind how that makes her feel about the way she looks and presents herself.
She also has to deal with her past and present colliding, when she’s forced to confront the fact that her friend’s older brother, someone she was used by sexually, will be around, when her friend had no idea the two were ever connected. This causes her to have a realistic reaction. Most protagonists would have an uplifting talk with their friends, would explain everything to them with the perfect words (that of course she narrates as not being perfect to try and pretend this is a normal teenager), and everything would turn out fine. Bianca chooses instead, like a lot of teenagers, to ignore and avoid her problems. She avoids her friends because SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THEM, and she’s scared that, because they know her so well, they’ll immediately know something is wrong, and she simply can’t figure out how to cope with her friends knowing how wrong things are in her life at that point.
This is such a normal, but essentially brilliant, teenage reaction. We don’t have all the right answers. Even adults don’t have all the right answers. In fact most of us don’t even have all the right questions. There are always going to be times when we run around like headless chickens, simply trying to figure out what the hell we’re doing, and how to deal with things. Bianca doesn’t want her friends to know what’s going on, because she thinks it’ll be fixed, that she can TRY to fix what’s going on with her parents, that she can hide her Dad’s drinking, because she doesn’t want people to judge him. She thinks if she can just avoid her friends until Jessica’s brother leaves, that she won’t have to reveal the humiliating secret that she was used and tossed away, making her even more insecure about herself. Bianca feels like her life is falling apart, but she doesn’t have the answers. She also makes bad decisions on how to deal with her problems. Like avoiding her friends, and sleeping with Wesley as a distraction tactic. But that’s just so normal and realistic. It really is. Because we all do stupid shit when our lives are falling apart, when things go wrong, we panic and do stupid things.
But it’s not just Bianca who makes dumb decisions. Wesley does it too. He calls Bianca a “D.U.F.F.” which causes her huge insecurity about the way she looks, and adds to the insecurities she already has. He also sleeps with girls, as a distraction to his own family problems. Bianca and Wesley find out much more about each other, but it’s played out realistically. Like they’re not the perfect couple. They start a casual relationship because they need distraction from their problems. They go from enemies, to casual lovers, to being friends with benefits. But where Wesley starts realising that he actually has REAL feelings for Bianca, it’s almost refreshing to see that Bianca doesn’t just fall into his arms, which is what would usually happen in this sort of story. Boy falls in love with girl, and girl falls in love with boy, ‘and they all live happily after... The end” which would’ve been terribly cliché. My opinion about this is based on the fact that, while Wesley is all in, realising feelings for Bianca. He started out by calling her the D.U.F.F. and he starts out as a known womaniser. So while they clearly end up becoming friends with benefits, it would be stupid of Bianca to have just jumped into his arms straight off. She doesn’t completely trust him. Which feels right to me. There’s also the guy that that Bianca has a crush on, Toby, who starts paying attention to Bianca. This makes her feel good about herself. Any teenage girl would be looking at that when her life is falling apart and she feels insecure. Wesley didn’t start off being nice, he started off as an asshole. So when he starts trying to woo her, as it were, she’s reluctant to believe him. Where as Toby starts off being nice. So even though Bianca clearly feels something for Wesley (though she doesn’t seem to know what she wants, and doesn’t voice her feelings for Wesley in so many words), she knows that Toby is the SAFE choice. So she tries with him. Even though she knows there’s no spark there. Which is something that even some grown women do. Trying to pick the safe option, even if it’s not the option that they feel any spark for.
But in the end, Bianca starts learning to deal with her problems, starts learning to trust in, and talk to, the people around her. She starts figuring out what she wants, and what makes this ending worth the time, is that even though we (by “we” I mean me) are rooting for Wesley and Bianca to end up together, and they DO, it’s not given to us as a saccharine, happily ever after, tied up in a neat little bow. We’re given a realistic ending, where Wesley and Bianca are going to try a relationship, and see how it goes, and Bianca is going to work on her own issues. They’re going to see where it goes. It’s slightly messy and not picture perfect, and it’s fabulous for exactly those reasons.
To be fair, I could go on all day about this book. It’s cemented itself fairly firmly as a favourite for me. I love how all the characters are HUMAN. They have their own problems , they fuck up, they admit their faults. Bianca’s mother admits she should’ve been there more for her daughter (and if being a self help guru, who can’t deal with their own problems, isn’t the perfect example of a back seat driver, I don’t know what is). Bianca’s Dad apologises for his behaviour and starts going back to AA meetings. Wesley, has made a commitment to Bianca, and admits he has to change things in his family life, and that he’s going to make changes. Toby admits that while he likes Bianca, in a friends way, he’s missing his ex girlfriend, and Bianca tells him to resolve the issue, and he leaves to do that. Even Jessica’s brother Jake, who we never directly see, admits to his sister that he did something wrong, by treating Bianca the way he did, and that he actually feels terrible about it, even more so, as Bianca brought Jessica into her friend circle, and didn’t discriminate based on what Jake did to her. So Bianca isn’t forced to resolve that issue with her friend. But all these things are basically left open ended. Do we know if Bianca’s parents will keep their words and try to do better? Do we know if Bianca and Wesley are going to work out in the long run? Do we know if Toby sorts it all out with his ex? We don’t. But that’s life. It doesn’t end until it ENDS and that’s what makes the ending to this book perfect.
She also has to deal with her past and present colliding, when she’s forced to confront the fact that her friend’s older brother, someone she was used by sexually, will be around, when her friend had no idea the two were ever connected. This causes her to have a realistic reaction. Most protagonists would have an uplifting talk with their friends, would explain everything to them with the perfect words (that of course she narrates as not being perfect to try and pretend this is a normal teenager), and everything would turn out fine. Bianca chooses instead, like a lot of teenagers, to ignore and avoid her problems. She avoids her friends because SHE DOESN’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY TO THEM, and she’s scared that, because they know her so well, they’ll immediately know something is wrong, and she simply can’t figure out how to cope with her friends knowing how wrong things are in her life at that point.
This is such a normal, but essentially brilliant, teenage reaction. We don’t have all the right answers. Even adults don’t have all the right answers. In fact most of us don’t even have all the right questions. There are always going to be times when we run around like headless chickens, simply trying to figure out what the hell we’re doing, and how to deal with things. Bianca doesn’t want her friends to know what’s going on, because she thinks it’ll be fixed, that she can TRY to fix what’s going on with her parents, that she can hide her Dad’s drinking, because she doesn’t want people to judge him. She thinks if she can just avoid her friends until Jessica’s brother leaves, that she won’t have to reveal the humiliating secret that she was used and tossed away, making her even more insecure about herself. Bianca feels like her life is falling apart, but she doesn’t have the answers. She also makes bad decisions on how to deal with her problems. Like avoiding her friends, and sleeping with Wesley as a distraction tactic. But that’s just so normal and realistic. It really is. Because we all do stupid shit when our lives are falling apart, when things go wrong, we panic and do stupid things.
But it’s not just Bianca who makes dumb decisions. Wesley does it too. He calls Bianca a “D.U.F.F.” which causes her huge insecurity about the way she looks, and adds to the insecurities she already has. He also sleeps with girls, as a distraction to his own family problems. Bianca and Wesley find out much more about each other, but it’s played out realistically. Like they’re not the perfect couple. They start a casual relationship because they need distraction from their problems. They go from enemies, to casual lovers, to being friends with benefits. But where Wesley starts realising that he actually has REAL feelings for Bianca, it’s almost refreshing to see that Bianca doesn’t just fall into his arms, which is what would usually happen in this sort of story. Boy falls in love with girl, and girl falls in love with boy, ‘and they all live happily after... The end” which would’ve been terribly cliché. My opinion about this is based on the fact that, while Wesley is all in, realising feelings for Bianca. He started out by calling her the D.U.F.F. and he starts out as a known womaniser. So while they clearly end up becoming friends with benefits, it would be stupid of Bianca to have just jumped into his arms straight off. She doesn’t completely trust him. Which feels right to me. There’s also the guy that that Bianca has a crush on, Toby, who starts paying attention to Bianca. This makes her feel good about herself. Any teenage girl would be looking at that when her life is falling apart and she feels insecure. Wesley didn’t start off being nice, he started off as an asshole. So when he starts trying to woo her, as it were, she’s reluctant to believe him. Where as Toby starts off being nice. So even though Bianca clearly feels something for Wesley (though she doesn’t seem to know what she wants, and doesn’t voice her feelings for Wesley in so many words), she knows that Toby is the SAFE choice. So she tries with him. Even though she knows there’s no spark there. Which is something that even some grown women do. Trying to pick the safe option, even if it’s not the option that they feel any spark for.
But in the end, Bianca starts learning to deal with her problems, starts learning to trust in, and talk to, the people around her. She starts figuring out what she wants, and what makes this ending worth the time, is that even though we (by “we” I mean me) are rooting for Wesley and Bianca to end up together, and they DO, it’s not given to us as a saccharine, happily ever after, tied up in a neat little bow. We’re given a realistic ending, where Wesley and Bianca are going to try a relationship, and see how it goes, and Bianca is going to work on her own issues. They’re going to see where it goes. It’s slightly messy and not picture perfect, and it’s fabulous for exactly those reasons.
To be fair, I could go on all day about this book. It’s cemented itself fairly firmly as a favourite for me. I love how all the characters are HUMAN. They have their own problems , they fuck up, they admit their faults. Bianca’s mother admits she should’ve been there more for her daughter (and if being a self help guru, who can’t deal with their own problems, isn’t the perfect example of a back seat driver, I don’t know what is). Bianca’s Dad apologises for his behaviour and starts going back to AA meetings. Wesley, has made a commitment to Bianca, and admits he has to change things in his family life, and that he’s going to make changes. Toby admits that while he likes Bianca, in a friends way, he’s missing his ex girlfriend, and Bianca tells him to resolve the issue, and he leaves to do that. Even Jessica’s brother Jake, who we never directly see, admits to his sister that he did something wrong, by treating Bianca the way he did, and that he actually feels terrible about it, even more so, as Bianca brought Jessica into her friend circle, and didn’t discriminate based on what Jake did to her. So Bianca isn’t forced to resolve that issue with her friend. But all these things are basically left open ended. Do we know if Bianca’s parents will keep their words and try to do better? Do we know if Bianca and Wesley are going to work out in the long run? Do we know if Toby sorts it all out with his ex? We don’t. But that’s life. It doesn’t end until it ENDS and that’s what makes the ending to this book perfect.
I absolutely loved this book. I would've finished it in one sitting... if I had started it earlier than midnight. I ended up reading the first half until about 4 am and finishing the last half whenever I found the time to read today. There were absolutely no boring parts in this book, it was just... amazing!
I loved the characters, especially how they all kind of had a stereotype associated with them: DUFF, manwhore, cheerleader, slut, etc. but they were all more than just that stereotype, and they proved those stereotypes to be wrong, and that they were real people with real feelings, which I really liked.
This book does have a lot of sex in it, and I think it was handled very well, it wasn't graphic or gratuitous at all.
I think everyone (over 14...?) should read this book :)
I loved the characters, especially how they all kind of had a stereotype associated with them: DUFF, manwhore, cheerleader, slut, etc. but they were all more than just that stereotype, and they proved those stereotypes to be wrong, and that they were real people with real feelings, which I really liked.
This book does have a lot of sex in it, and I think it was handled very well, it wasn't graphic or gratuitous at all.
I think everyone (over 14...?) should read this book :)
Hodně předvídatelný příběh. Ze začátku se mi vztah mezi Biancou a Wesleym moc nelíbil, ale když se mezi nimi začnou vyvíjet nějaké city, začíná to být opravdu skvělé. Kniha je hodně jiná než film a obojí je skvělé. Prostě oddechová, feel good kniha.
3.5
hmmm.....its a great book to read after having post-tfios depression.
hmmm.....its a great book to read after having post-tfios depression.
Buen libro para pasar el tiempo. Algunos hechos que suceden son raros, es decir, te quedas como ¿what?, pero bueno. Aunque es corto, concreto, no te aburrís en ningún momento.
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This books was a very quick and easy read, I could have probably finished it in one sitting. It's reasonably entertaining, and if it existed back when I was in my mid/late teens I probably would have really liked it. I picked it up because the movie is about to come out, and naturally I want to compare the two. The book actually approaches some important topics, and the overall message is great. All that being said, it is obviously a book written by a teenager, and for teenagers. Now, that doesn't mean it's badly written—I wish I could have written something like this when I was a senior in high school—all I'm saying is that it has a specific audience, and I don't think it translates well for anyone outside of it.
First of all, the positives. The book is told from the perspective of Bianca—a sassy and sarcastic high school student, who has a "no bullshit" type of attitude. She can come off a bit rough, but generally she is a very relatable character. More importantly, she is a teenager who actually sounds like a teenager, because there is nothing more frustrating than reading a book with a teen protagonist who sounds more mature than most 30-year-olds I know. Bianca's voice, as well as her thought process, is very believable. She is also quite funny. On the other hand, she is not immune to typical teen problems such as self esteem issues, trying to run away from problems, and making impulsive choices. This also means that just like any other teenager she can be terribly frustrating.
The overall message of the book has to do with labeling and judging people based on very limited information, which is an important topic. The DUFF also deals with issues such as domestic abuse, divorce, and slut shaming. However, at the same time it almost encourages stereotyping, which is odd. Here's an example: the book makes is seem like Bianca is the only girl in school who isn't characterized by revealing outfits and being boy-crazy. Even her two best friends seem shallow and one-sided. What's up with that?
I also thought the plot was ridiculously predictable. I mean, come on! I knew exactly where this was going on page 4. PAGE FOUR! Here are some "YA novel" things you will find here:
1. A love triangle
2. The "BAD" boy and the "RIGHT" boy
3. Main protagonist in denial about her own feelings
4. References to classic romance books. Yep, more than one. In case you haven't read Wuthering Heights, beware that this book will spoil the hell out of that novel for you. Also, minor The Scarlett Letter spoilers.
5. Friendship drama that stems from a romantic relationship
6. Alcohol is BAD
My point here is that The DUFF is not a story you haven't heard before. It's not a bad book, but despite all the good things, it's not terribly groundbreaking in terms of plot or themes. Did I feel "too old" to read this book? Did it feel "too simple" in language and content? Absolutely.
First of all, the positives. The book is told from the perspective of Bianca—a sassy and sarcastic high school student, who has a "no bullshit" type of attitude. She can come off a bit rough, but generally she is a very relatable character. More importantly, she is a teenager who actually sounds like a teenager, because there is nothing more frustrating than reading a book with a teen protagonist who sounds more mature than most 30-year-olds I know. Bianca's voice, as well as her thought process, is very believable. She is also quite funny. On the other hand, she is not immune to typical teen problems such as self esteem issues, trying to run away from problems, and making impulsive choices. This also means that just like any other teenager she can be terribly frustrating.
The overall message of the book has to do with labeling and judging people based on very limited information, which is an important topic. The DUFF also deals with issues such as domestic abuse, divorce, and slut shaming. However, at the same time it almost encourages stereotyping, which is odd. Here's an example: the book makes is seem like Bianca is the only girl in school who isn't characterized by revealing outfits and being boy-crazy. Even her two best friends seem shallow and one-sided. What's up with that?
I also thought the plot was ridiculously predictable. I mean, come on! I knew exactly where this was going on page 4. PAGE FOUR! Here are some "YA novel" things you will find here:
1. A love triangle
2. The "BAD" boy and the "RIGHT" boy
3. Main protagonist in denial about her own feelings
4. References to classic romance books. Yep, more than one. In case you haven't read Wuthering Heights, beware that this book will spoil the hell out of that novel for you. Also, minor The Scarlett Letter spoilers.
5. Friendship drama that stems from a romantic relationship
6. Alcohol is BAD
My point here is that The DUFF is not a story you haven't heard before. It's not a bad book, but despite all the good things, it's not terribly groundbreaking in terms of plot or themes. Did I feel "too old" to read this book? Did it feel "too simple" in language and content? Absolutely.
Original Review at: www.awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com
I started reading this book all because of the trailer for the movie, it seemed cute and I wanted to read the story. I read it in one sitting, it's a quick read.
So I borrowed the book and read it! Needless to say it's probably going to be nothing like the book but more like the 90's movie She's All That because this book, was although cute, NOT something I would recommend to young adults.
The main character Bianca was, insecure, self absorbed, hypocritical, judgmental, and a bit bitter. Granted I would be upset if I found out I was the DUFF in my group of girlfriends but to do what she did? really?
The book is LOADED with sex because Bianca's way of shutting out the world, truth, and her troubles is to have sex with a HOT guy, who has issues of his own, that she absolutely hates because he is everything she hates in a guy and guess what? maybe she didn't realize it but she was just as bad but he was a little less hypocritical about it. GAH! Now, granted everybody has insecurities and I don't mind that but it's hard to read it in a character and what she does with it!
How does she even have friends? Am I being a little too hard on her? especially since she is just a fictional character? I think not, especially when it comes to the fact that she finds solace in sex. What is that tell young people? Just have sex when you're upset with the hottest guy who'll have you and maybe it will work out?
Well hate to spoil it for you but that is what this book is basically all about. Two people who don't like each other have sex ALL the time and eventually fall for each other. really? dumb...
Maybe I didn't understand what the author was saying? because, really, I think I did. Even though the whole thing is about loving yourself and accepting you for who you are, that doesn't justify the content and how the author chose to take this. A bit disappointed here....
Overall it could've been super cute and sweet, instead it's not worth your time to read. However I still want to see the movie!
Sexual Content: heavy (LOTS of sex-not too graphic and talk of sex)
Language: heavy (plenty of all around curse words)
Violence: mild (someone getting slapped)
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (underage drinking
I started reading this book all because of the trailer for the movie, it seemed cute and I wanted to read the story. I read it in one sitting, it's a quick read.
So I borrowed the book and read it! Needless to say it's probably going to be nothing like the book but more like the 90's movie She's All That because this book, was although cute, NOT something I would recommend to young adults.
The main character Bianca was, insecure, self absorbed, hypocritical, judgmental, and a bit bitter. Granted I would be upset if I found out I was the DUFF in my group of girlfriends but to do what she did? really?
The book is LOADED with sex because Bianca's way of shutting out the world, truth, and her troubles is to have sex with a HOT guy, who has issues of his own, that she absolutely hates because he is everything she hates in a guy and guess what? maybe she didn't realize it but she was just as bad but he was a little less hypocritical about it. GAH! Now, granted everybody has insecurities and I don't mind that but it's hard to read it in a character and what she does with it!
How does she even have friends? Am I being a little too hard on her? especially since she is just a fictional character? I think not, especially when it comes to the fact that she finds solace in sex. What is that tell young people? Just have sex when you're upset with the hottest guy who'll have you and maybe it will work out?
Well hate to spoil it for you but that is what this book is basically all about. Two people who don't like each other have sex ALL the time and eventually fall for each other. really? dumb...
Maybe I didn't understand what the author was saying? because, really, I think I did. Even though the whole thing is about loving yourself and accepting you for who you are, that doesn't justify the content and how the author chose to take this. A bit disappointed here....
Overall it could've been super cute and sweet, instead it's not worth your time to read. However I still want to see the movie!
Sexual Content: heavy (LOTS of sex-not too graphic and talk of sex)
Language: heavy (plenty of all around curse words)
Violence: mild (someone getting slapped)
Drugs/Alcohol: moderate (underage drinking
Wow. That was.. Incredible! I can't believe I was afraid that this book is something stupid and average. Ugh! I was sooo wrong and I'm happy I finally read it. Because I loved it. I loved it and I'm pretty sure, it's not the last time I read it.
You should read it!
You should read it!
Review as posted on Hey Teen Books Hey:
The protagonist must slay their own dragon.
I have spent an hour trying to figure out where I learned this. If it was one of my Norton books, a writing class or a conversation with Kimberly. Wherever I did hear it, it stuck with me. The idea that a character has to face their conflict. No other character or element can do it for them. Well, they can but it’s not nearly as interesting.
And that’s the problem I had with Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend. The world bent around Bianca’s conflicts. She’d angst and grumble, but every conflict she had was eventually solved by someone else if she just waited long enough. And I got really sick of waiting.
For the least spoilery example: one of Bianca’s friends was pissed that Bianca had been ditching her for a guy. Three chapters of build up pissed. But the moment Bianca needs help, all is forgiven in less than two pages. Which isn’t nearly as bad as the world bending that was done by the end, so Bianca was free of any non-self-inflicted angst.
Of course, all good stories have two levels of conflict: External and internal. And I think Keplinger did a good job of handling Bianca’s internal conflict of feeling ugly compared to her friends. But those damn external conflicts were just poorly handled.
The protagonist must slay their own dragon.
I have spent an hour trying to figure out where I learned this. If it was one of my Norton books, a writing class or a conversation with Kimberly. Wherever I did hear it, it stuck with me. The idea that a character has to face their conflict. No other character or element can do it for them. Well, they can but it’s not nearly as interesting.
And that’s the problem I had with Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend. The world bent around Bianca’s conflicts. She’d angst and grumble, but every conflict she had was eventually solved by someone else if she just waited long enough. And I got really sick of waiting.
For the least spoilery example: one of Bianca’s friends was pissed that Bianca had been ditching her for a guy. Three chapters of build up pissed. But the moment Bianca needs help, all is forgiven in less than two pages. Which isn’t nearly as bad as the world bending that was done by the end, so Bianca was free of any non-self-inflicted angst.
Of course, all good stories have two levels of conflict: External and internal. And I think Keplinger did a good job of handling Bianca’s internal conflict of feeling ugly compared to her friends. But those damn external conflicts were just poorly handled.