review; the duff
The DUFF
by Kody Keplinger
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.
Review:
You know the love stories where the main character is insistent that she is so unlike “other girls” and the author goes out of her way to try and prove it? Yeah, thankfully, this is not one of those stories. I mean, yes, from the beginning Bianca is caustic and sarcastic and pretty much a bitch to everyone in her own thoughts. But there is so much more under the surface.
I admit that I picked this book up because I had seen the trailer for the movie (Robbie Amell, let me love you forever, I cannot stop picturing him as Wesley now) but the novel is NOTHING like what the trailer has shown. There is so much depth to this seemingly fluffy and frothy coming-of-age story – struggles with self-esteem and addiction, and friendships, broken families and the realisation that everybody has problems, and we should stop judging people so harshly without knowing their lives.
Yes, it is a little idealistic at times. Yes, some of the writing can get a little simple – but over all? I loved each page of the novel. Bianca is a self-proclaimed bitch, and she chooses what is right for her – to be with someone she doesn’t have to change for, who likes her for her flaws – rather than compromise who she is. She learns to stop running, and start facing life – and grows up on the way, making a few new friends and opening up to new people. Wesley, god, he is an asshole, but I admit I adored him. Cocky but still sweet, I just adored him. “Wesley Rush doesn’t chase girls, but I am chasing you.” Erm, Bianca, how could you resist?
Even Casey and Jess and Toby, who were not fully developed characters, had their flaws and their strengths, and I liked the added dimensions they brought to the story. I would have adored learning a little more about Amy, but the story was ultimately Bianca’s, and Wesley’s, and it was ended perfectly.
I will definitely be reading more of the author’s works. And I am definitely still going for the movie, I’m just going to have to remind myself that it is a very loose adaptation of the novel.
Ara
I’m Ara, a Southeast Asian writer who someday hopes to have published a novel, and who is currently losing herself in the worlds created by others. I love books and food and television and blogging and I get distracted and sidetracked easily.