The Duff (Hamilton High)

by Kody Keplinger

[Angie]

Bianca Piper is sarcastic, cynical, and has the mouth of a sailor! Seriously, if you're offended by strong language, especially in YA, then you probably don't want to read this one. But I definitely appreciated her honesty; she tells things how it is, and doesn't hold back. She has especially strong feelings toward Wesley Rush, the man-whore of the school. He really is arrogant and pompous, but at least he knows it. When Bianca hits a rough patch, she goes to the most unlikely source for comfort: Wesley. One week she's throwing a Coke in his face, and the next she's in his bed. But there's no insta-love here, it's not even insta-lust. It's something completely different, and even Bianca doesn't fully understand it. She just knows it helps distract her from reality.

Even though it's an usual situation, it still felt like a realistic portrayal of what could happen. The author tackled some important topics in an open and honest way. We get to see Bianca's ups and downs as she tries to deal with her family problems and as well the realization of her role as the DUFF. It was amazing to me how that one word affected Bianca's outlook and set her on this entirely new path.

I loved the relationship between Bianca and Wesley. It started out completely antagonistic, turned into something extremely sex, then into something more. I actually ended up feeling bad for Wesley at one point. He's not just that guy who sleeps with any girl who comes along. He's vulnerable, and sweet, and so much more. He's exactly what Bianca needs, even if she doesn't want to admit that to herself.

This is a fabulous YA contemporary, and I think the author did an amazing job of capturing the teen voice (probably because she was one!). The characters were all great and realistic, and I found myself invested in their lives, and wanting them to succeed. This is a definitely going on my favorites list.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.