Review: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

The DUFF
By: Kody Keplinger
Publisher: Little Brown/Poppy
Published: Sept. 7, 2010
Genre: YA
Rating:

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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.

Finally a book that tells it like it is. This is a book written about teens by a teen. I cannot tell you how many times a middle aged author writes a book about teens and their view on what teens should be is the total opposite of what they actually are. I am sick of reading books that deal with teens that are 16-18 who don’t swear and “OMG, HE just kissed me, like on the cheek!” I applaud the rawness and reality that is the way some teens are now a days. They are not walking around with turtleneck sweaters on, carrying the Bible. They swear, they drink, they have sex and some even do drugs. *GASP* That is the way life is now a days. I am sick of reading books where the protagonist says “I called him a big jerk although I didn’t really use the word jerk but something worse.”… REALLY?!?

Now of course this book has it’s flaws. No book is ever 100% perfect but the awesomeness that this book is, outweighs the bad. I wished that her friends were a little bit more developed and involved and I wasn’t a big fan of Bianca having sex with Wesley and then feeling disgusted with herself and then having sex with him the next day. It would have been better if she at least maybe liked him a little to start with but then again their banter would not have been as funny.

The one thing that I absolutely LOVED was the dialogue. Bianca is an outspoken girl and she doesn’t take any crap. When you mix that with Wesley’s cockiness, you end up with some really funny dialogue. Like the first time after they have sex
B- “I definitely hate you. I was just using you. You use people all the time, so I’m sure you understand. This was fun but if you tell anyone, I swear I’ll castrate you. Clear?”
W- “Why? Your reputation could only improve if people found out you slept with me.”
B- “So are you going to keep your mouth shut or do I need to find a sharp object now?”
W- “A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”
B- “You’re not a gentleman. That’s why I’m worried.”

“I mean, there is a reason its initials are VD. I bet you more people contract syphilis on Valentine’s Day than on any other day of the year. What a cause for celebration.” – Bianca