Dairy Queen (Dairy Queen Trilogy, #1)

by Professor Catherine Gilbert Murdock

[Angie]

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Dairy Queen. I had seen lots of good reviews for it, but it didn't really seem like my thing. I gave it a try anyway, hoping to be surprised, but I should have stuck with my gut. D.J. is working on her family's farm all summer, since her dad is in a walker, her mom is busy with her job, and her two older brothers are away. It's just D.J. and her brother Curtis, until Brian arrives. D.J. is not happy about their new helper, since he's a spoiled rich boy in her eyes and knows nothing of hard work. But soon, she's recruited to train him for the upcoming football season, since she helped with her brothers. Then she decides she wants to join the team, too.

I'll start with what I did like about Dairy Queen, which was the themes on communication. D.J.'s family never talks. Whenever they do, and there's a disagreement, someone just leaves angry. Curtis actually just doesn't talk at all. How is anyone suppose to know how you feel, or what's going on, if you don't tell them!? Communication is important, and that's something D.J. learns as she fumbles her friendship with Amber, and her possible budding romance with Brian. D.J. also spends a lot of time pondering how everyone just does what's expected of them, instead of doing what they really want to do. So even though I don't give one crap about football, I did enjoy watching D.J. go for it despite it not being what her dad wants her to do, or what society expects.

What I didn't like about Dairy Queen was this fight D.J. has with Amber. They're best friends, so this should have been a great plot point, but it just isn't. I didn't believe it for a second, because it made no sense. I appreciate the author covering this issue (I can't say what without spoiling this whole plot thread), but it could have been done in some more believable way. There was just no way I can believe Amber thinking what she did. It doesn't help that she doesn't even explain why she felt that way (see, lack of communication!). D.J. does have some inner monologue about "signs" she noticed, but even with those things, Amber's thinking was way too much of a leap.

Then there's D.J.'s weird obsession with Oprah Winfrey. Okay, so, I don't think she's actually obsessed with her, but Oprah is mentioned in pretty much every chapter. D.J. describes people as "Oprah-like" or "pulled an Oprah" or just referred to them as Oprah. It was so weird. The first time was enough. I'm sure it had to do with her uncanny ability to ask a simple question and get everyone to spill their life story, but it was a bit much. Not everyone who talks openly is Oprah-esque.

Dairy Queen wasn't really my thing at all, so I'm kind of bummed. I was hoping it would end up being a nice surprise, but I was mostly bored and annoyed. However, I loved the ending. That was a cute twist! I kept wondering who D.J. was addressing (it doesn't feel like she's talking to the reader), and I liked who it ended up being.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.