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A review by finesilkflower
Stacey and the Boyfriend Trap by Ann M. Martin
3.0
Stacey's final book is essentially "Stacey McGill, This Is Your (Romantic) Life" as several of her love interests converge. While she plans a goodbye party for her math teacher, Mr. Zizmore, Stacey has no fewer than seven (7) boys swarming around her:
* Her current boyfriend, Jeremy, the nothing boy she stole from Claudia in [b:Claudia and the Friendship Feud|275455|Claudia and the Friendship Feud (Baby-Sitters Club Friends Forever, #4)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388807778l/275455._SX50_.jpg|632627];
* Her most recent ex, Ethan, the cool New York City-based art student whom she met while in the midst of breaking up with Robert in [b:Stacey's Broken Heart|176729|Stacey's Broken Heart (The Baby-Sitters Club, #99)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387742413l/176729._SX50_.jpg|170751], with whom she is actively trying to maintain a friendship;
* Her ex before that, Robert, whom she convinced to quit the basketball team in [b:Stacey and the Cheerleaders|107932|Stacey and the Cheerleaders (The Baby-Sitters Club, #70)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1171577639l/107932._SX50_.jpg|2322551] and who suffered from depression in [b:Stacey's Ex-Boyfriend|49073572|Stacey's Ex-Boyfriend|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576225808l/49073572._SY75_.jpg|74503139], who has decided to Make and Effort and is helping with the party;
* Pete Black, a perennial background player whom she used to take to dances in the early books, who is always involved in school events and the party is no exception;
* Sam Thomas, Kristy's older brother, whom she dated on and off mid-series, who apparently had Mr. Zizmore as a teacher and is helping rally the ex-student contingent;
* Wes Ellenburg, the student teacher Stacey crushed on in [b:Stacey's Big Crush|363364|Stacey's Big Crush (The Baby-Sitters Club, #65)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1174110001l/363364._SX50_.jpg|2181756], who is back at the school angling for Mr. Zizmore's job;
* and last but not least, Toby, Stacey's first kiss from [b:Boy-Crazy Stacey|137947|Boy-Crazy Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club, #8)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390945749l/137947._SX50_.jpg|3057022], who drops in out of the blue for a visit.
Despite all the potential for drama, this book is curiously anodyne. Stacey doesn't seem to have particularly strong feelings for any of the boys, including her current boyfriend. There are no fistfights, just some light scowling. Mr. Ellenburg thankfully ignores her. Pete, Robert, and Sam hint lightly while mostly just being helpful with the party. Toby is annoying, and Stacey finds entertaining him to mostly be an awkward chore. Jeremy does literally nothing, and Stacey doesn't much seem to care about spending time with him, and then he breaks up with her out of the blue and she is like "Okay." The only one she seems to like is Ethan, and though it feels more chummy than romantic or sparky, the book ends with her 'choosing' him. Allrightsir.
Lingering Questions: What's the trap?
* Her current boyfriend, Jeremy, the nothing boy she stole from Claudia in [b:Claudia and the Friendship Feud|275455|Claudia and the Friendship Feud (Baby-Sitters Club Friends Forever, #4)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388807778l/275455._SX50_.jpg|632627];
* Her most recent ex, Ethan, the cool New York City-based art student whom she met while in the midst of breaking up with Robert in [b:Stacey's Broken Heart|176729|Stacey's Broken Heart (The Baby-Sitters Club, #99)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387742413l/176729._SX50_.jpg|170751], with whom she is actively trying to maintain a friendship;
* Her ex before that, Robert, whom she convinced to quit the basketball team in [b:Stacey and the Cheerleaders|107932|Stacey and the Cheerleaders (The Baby-Sitters Club, #70)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1171577639l/107932._SX50_.jpg|2322551] and who suffered from depression in [b:Stacey's Ex-Boyfriend|49073572|Stacey's Ex-Boyfriend|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1576225808l/49073572._SY75_.jpg|74503139], who has decided to Make and Effort and is helping with the party;
* Pete Black, a perennial background player whom she used to take to dances in the early books, who is always involved in school events and the party is no exception;
* Sam Thomas, Kristy's older brother, whom she dated on and off mid-series, who apparently had Mr. Zizmore as a teacher and is helping rally the ex-student contingent;
* Wes Ellenburg, the student teacher Stacey crushed on in [b:Stacey's Big Crush|363364|Stacey's Big Crush (The Baby-Sitters Club, #65)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1174110001l/363364._SX50_.jpg|2181756], who is back at the school angling for Mr. Zizmore's job;
* and last but not least, Toby, Stacey's first kiss from [b:Boy-Crazy Stacey|137947|Boy-Crazy Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club, #8)|Ann M. Martin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1390945749l/137947._SX50_.jpg|3057022], who drops in out of the blue for a visit.
Despite all the potential for drama, this book is curiously anodyne. Stacey doesn't seem to have particularly strong feelings for any of the boys, including her current boyfriend. There are no fistfights, just some light scowling. Mr. Ellenburg thankfully ignores her. Pete, Robert, and Sam hint lightly while mostly just being helpful with the party. Toby is annoying, and Stacey finds entertaining him to mostly be an awkward chore. Jeremy does literally nothing, and Stacey doesn't much seem to care about spending time with him, and then he breaks up with her out of the blue and she is like "Okay." The only one she seems to like is Ethan, and though it feels more chummy than romantic or sparky, the book ends with her 'choosing' him. Allrightsir.
Lingering Questions: What's the trap?