Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

+1/2

Goodreads

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Synopsis 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 “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out 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.

My Non-Spoiler thoughts

I give this book 3.5 stars, not that I didn’t like it, just that I don’t think it was that good.

After Wesley nicknames Bianca the “DUFF” things start to change for her. Things for her begin to spiral down for her after that, beginning with her father’s drinking habits returning. She finds a way to avoid her family problems, but it begins to cause more problems in her life. As she struggles to cope with the world, she learns what it is to be the DUFF.

What I Liked

I enjoyed the topics discussed in this story. Mainly how we all feel the least attractive out of our friends, it is true and it really needs to be brought to awareness. If girls knew other girls, mainly the ones they look up to, thought they weren’t as attractive as them would really solve some insecurities and also solve some jealousy issues. I’m interested how this will play out in the movie, hopefully it will be girl powering.

What I Didn’t Like

I didn’t like many of things. Firstly, her parents. I just didn’t find their relationship to make sense and I found the ending with Bianca’s mom to be a little incomplete. I also didn’t think the way Bianca and her ex’s situtation was solved. It could have been a little more complete as well. Lastly, the relationship between her and her friends seemed odd at times and some things didn’t seem to fit. Overall, I felt unsatisfied at the end, like there were many plot holes that still needed to be solved.

Overall, the book was enjoyable to read, but I was left feeling incomplete. I would still recommend it as a very important topic is discussed in this story.