Author: Kody Keplinger
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Summary from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.
But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.
Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.
Review
Hi there, black sheep here. I guess this is another episode of "It's not you, it's me". The Duff was just not my kind of book. So I am going to make this real quick. Like ripping off a band-aid to ease the pain. And then I'll go hide my black sheep-ness in the corner and we'll never speak of this again.
I think the main problem I had with The Duff was that I didn't like Bianca's constant negativity and condescending attitude about everything. She was Judge-y McJudgerson and although I know girls are like this, it wasn't something I found myself enjoying. I also didn't like all the slut-shaming and I am not usually one to jump all over this in books. I guess the fact that Bianca was being a huge hypocrite is why it bugged me. And I mean a HUGE hypocrite about EVERYTHING. She did call herself out on most of it, but still. Come on. And she was also the WORST friend ever, and then had the nerve to call her friend a bitch and a "preppy cheerleader snob" for caring. I think that was point of no return for me. I also usually get sensitive about books that kind of condone girls using sex as a distraction, as well as girls who give asshole boys the time of day, and this book has both. Actually, that is pretty much the plot of this book...
The end did sort of make everything all better, but at that point the damage was done. BUT I did REALLY like the message that The Duff sends in the end - that we are all Duffs, that we shouldn't judge others, that we should accept ourselves the way we are. I think Kody Kiplinger handled the bullying topic well in the end.
Despite how it might sound, I didn't detest this book. It just wasn't for me. But I know this book is a fan-favorite, so please don't hate me.
I think the main problem I had with The Duff was that I didn't like Bianca's constant negativity and condescending attitude about everything. She was Judge-y McJudgerson and although I know girls are like this, it wasn't something I found myself enjoying. I also didn't like all the slut-shaming and I am not usually one to jump all over this in books. I guess the fact that Bianca was being a huge hypocrite is why it bugged me. And I mean a HUGE hypocrite about EVERYTHING. She did call herself out on most of it, but still. Come on. And she was also the WORST friend ever, and then had the nerve to call her friend a bitch and a "preppy cheerleader snob" for caring. I think that was point of no return for me. I also usually get sensitive about books that kind of condone girls using sex as a distraction, as well as girls who give asshole boys the time of day, and this book has both. Actually, that is pretty much the plot of this book...
The end did sort of make everything all better, but at that point the damage was done. BUT I did REALLY like the message that The Duff sends in the end - that we are all Duffs, that we shouldn't judge others, that we should accept ourselves the way we are. I think Kody Kiplinger handled the bullying topic well in the end.
Despite how it might sound, I didn't detest this book. It just wasn't for me. But I know this book is a fan-favorite, so please don't hate me.
