The Boyfriend List (Ruby Oliver, #1)

by E. Lockhart

[Sam@WLABB]

This is my first, ever, audiobook. I thought the narrator did a great job capturing the emotion and I loved her "boy" and "dad" voices, they made me smile.

This story is told during Ruby's sophomore year of high school. We are right there with her, as she tries to understand and manage her relationships; those with boys, her friends, her peers, and her parents. During this time, Ruby begins to experience panic attacks, and starts seeing Dr. Z. Dr. Z gives her "homework", which prompts Ruby to create the Boyfriend List. Her current maladies are intertwined with her recollections of each "boyfriend" on the list.

I liked Ruby, a lot, and I hurt, when she hurt, and wanted only good things for her. By the end of the book, Ruby was not transformed. She did not do a full 180. However, she did grow and change, in the right direction. I was so proud of her for taking chances, and doing the soul searching that enabled her to make some changes. She also realized that she was not where she wanted to be, and that a really mature realization.

I look forward to Junior year with Ruby.