A review by transparent_tea
The Last Boyfriends Rules for Revenge by Matthew Hubbard

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

3.75

The best revenge is believing in yourself.

I picked this book up because of the cover, and it turned out to be a cute story, despite the beginning taking a little too long to set up the story. Ezra Hayes thought he found the love of his life by hooking up with a football player, only to figure out that he was just a toy. His best friends (Lucas and Finley) were also going through some stuff with their boyfriends. After walking First Wives, they came up with an idea to get revenge on all of their exes (hence the title of the book). What was once a revenge plot became something bigger, trying to overturn "Watch What You Say" school policy.

Taking something current and hits home for the students that are part of this "warfare" helps bring to light how much has shifted since I was a teenager. Even though the story is a work of fiction, it does provide a perspective of what a troubled teenager goes through during these times of distress and shows them that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The story itself seems to be more focused on Ezra than his best friends (and I have to admit, I kept getting Lucas and Finley confused, as well as their ex-s because they played such minor roles). Ezra does go through some other "factors" that cause him to question himself (body image, anxiety), but they aren't as heavily talked about as the rebellion.