The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

Book Summery (Via 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.

Book Review:
I seriously did not think I would enjoyed this book as much as I did. I found myself relating to Bianca on several levels. I did not enjoy high school. Not even a little. I was bored and annoyed by my classmates. There were a handful of kids in my graduating year that I considered friends. I even dual enrolled and started college early, in attempt to stimulate my brain and regain my focus. Needless to say, I loved Bianca. I enjoyed her relationship with Wesley, messed up as it was. There have been some negative comments scrutinizing Bianca's behavior in regards to her father's drinking. In my opinion, she is young, new to the situation, and did what she thought was best. How many of us acted perfectly to adverse situations in our teens? You learn as you go along in life. I was a bit disappointed my her mother's lack of support. Obviously, she knew this might happen, but left Bianca to fend for herself. Boo. I did enjoy Bianca's friendships. At first, it seems as if she does not have much in common with her friends, but as the story develops, the friendships are enhanced. Ultimately, Bianca and her friends have a strong relationship despite their differences. I thought this was a mature and refreshing approach. Ultimately, this was a fast, engaging read. I will definitely be picking up more of Keplinger's books in the future!

Favorite Quote:
“You can lie to yourself if you want, but reality is going to catch up with you. I’ll be waiting when it does… whether you like it or not.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
Ugh. Not my favorite. I'm not a fan of yellow and the combo of the yellow and teal just seems odd. 

Rating: