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A review by jenpaul13
The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich
4.0
Teenage romantic relationships can be difficult. Even platonic friendships can be a struggle in high school. In Cale Dietrich's The Love Interest the stakes are even higher for securing the affections of one girl for two boys.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Caden and Dyl have been training and cultivating their persona and skills for most of their lives to win the affection of the important girl they're assigned to. The consequences for the one of them that loses are literally deadly. Caden is in the Nice category, making him a caring, boy-next-door type and Dyl is in the Bad category, making him the brooding, dangerous one, although both of them are handsome and nearly physically perfect. While competing for the scientifically genius Juliet's attention, Caden and Dyl spend some time together to be able to talk about the situation with the only people who would understand. Through this time together, feelings develop that could undermine their survival.
The writing is filled with witty remarks and the cultural references it makes are both timely and classic, making it relevant to both younger and older audiences. I am always wary of the whole love triangle aspect, but in subverting the traditional model found in most novels, this version was enjoyable to read (as was a lot of the other ways this narrative embraced other YA tropes so it could poke fun at them). While I appreciate having just Caden's perspective providing insight into this version of the world, it would have been interesting to get Dyl's perspective of the situation and a direct line to his feelings throughout the story.
To read this, and other book reviews, visit my website: http://makinggoodstories.wordpress.com/.
Caden and Dyl have been training and cultivating their persona and skills for most of their lives to win the affection of the important girl they're assigned to. The consequences for the one of them that loses are literally deadly. Caden is in the Nice category, making him a caring, boy-next-door type and Dyl is in the Bad category, making him the brooding, dangerous one, although both of them are handsome and nearly physically perfect. While competing for the scientifically genius Juliet's attention, Caden and Dyl spend some time together to be able to talk about the situation with the only people who would understand. Through this time together, feelings develop that could undermine their survival.
The writing is filled with witty remarks and the cultural references it makes are both timely and classic, making it relevant to both younger and older audiences. I am always wary of the whole love triangle aspect, but in subverting the traditional model found in most novels, this version was enjoyable to read (as was a lot of the other ways this narrative embraced other YA tropes so it could poke fun at them). While I appreciate having just Caden's perspective providing insight into this version of the world, it would have been interesting to get Dyl's perspective of the situation and a direct line to his feelings throughout the story.