The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris

THE BLURB:
Avery James has her life planned out: this summer she'll work with a humanitarian program in Costa Rica, next year she'll graduate at the top of her class, and after that, college and medical school. Perfect, planned, total order.
The only problem: getting the rest of the money she needs for the trip before the deadline. Hannah Cohen, her biggest competition for the valedictorian title, makes an unexpected offer: If Avery can win over Zac Greeley and make him break up with Hannah before the end of the school year, a check for five hundred dollars is all hers. Faced with the prospect of spending yet another summer working as a giant hot dog, it's an offer Avery can't refuse.
Zac is nothing like Avery expected. Within his chaotic world of midnight slushie runs and spontaneous dance parties, her total order is quickly falling apart while Hannah seems poised to get everything she wants. But just how much is Avery willing to give up for the perfect, planned life?

The Review:

The Boyfriend Thief is one of those novels that you thought will just be a light, feel-good romance read but it's not. Well, not entirely. It has that feel-good romance alright, but it also has it's own depth. 

 The story is about Avery James, a girl who likes everything organized (to the point where I think that maybe she has OCD). She was offered by her biggest rival, Hannah, to steal her own boyfriend, Zac. Since she is short on money for that summer job in Costa Rica, she accepted her offer and went for him, only that, Zac was nothing she expected. The problem is, she's falling for the real Zac, the one who's crazy enough to invent slushie flavors and funny enough to go to a bar as a comedian every night. With her feelings toward him, she doesn't know which to choose: the summer job in Costa Rica or to leave the past behind and have Zac Greeley in her life? 

 This novel is somewhat engrossing that it had me giggling, tearing up, smiling like an idiot, and swooning over Zac the rest of the novel. Definitely worth-reading!

The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

THE BLURB:
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.

The Review:

The DUFF. This book is a wee bit similar with This Lullaby, which is one of my favorite realistic fictions. And that's saying something. 

 In this novel, we meet Bianca, a girl who thinks a man-slut like Wesley Rush doesn't deserve to be treated nicely. He's hot, yes, but he's also a colossal jerk. So when he started talking his charms with her bestfriends, Bianca did everything to make them repel him. She's not a fan of letting guys like Wesley get away with something, but because she thinks anything that has to do with him is such a waste of time, she did. That is, until he called her the DUFF. According to him, every group of pretty girls has a weak link, the not-so-pretty girl compared to her other friends. And that Designated, Ugly, Fat Friend is Bianca Piper---or at least that is only what Wesley thought of her at first. Despite herself, she ends up having an enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. And as frivolous as that sounded, she found herself falling for him when she found out that he's not as obnoxious as he may seem... ;) 

 The story was cute, amusing, and poignant at the same time. Bianca is every bit cynical regarding Wesley, and everything she does and says to fend him off is just hilarious. I enjoyed reading this book so much. Absolutely worth the read!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

THE BLURB:

For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous, the outfit - more sparkly, more fun, more wild - the better. But even though Lola's style is outrageous, she's a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket - a gifted inventor and engineer - steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

The Review:

After reading Anna and the French Kiss, I'd been itching to read Lola and the Boy Next Door. And now that I've finally read it, here's my thoughts. 

In this novel, we meet the MC, Lola Nolan, an artistic and creative girl who likes to wear themes as her trend. She wears different costumes everyday, and spends most of her time plotting her Marie Antoinette theme for the dance---that is, if she's not with her bestfriend Lindsey or with her rocker boyfriend, Max. Everything went well, until her childhood friends/enemy/first love---Cricket and Calliope---went back to the neighborhood. The twins returned with a changed Cricket, although he's still shy and awkward, he is ready to admit his feelings towards Lola. The problem is, Lola already has Max. She doesn't know which one she really love, and which one who truly loves her, until the day she found out the truth behind that which teared her friendship with the twins apart. 

Since LatBND is a companion for AatFK, is seems inevitable to compare the two. Some says AatFK is better, while others say otherwise. For me, both books are equally good, in a different way. AatFK is about a growing friendship getting fonder between the characters. LatBND, however, is more about the depth of First Love. The novel shows what truly first love is all about; that juvenile yet strong, awkward yet sweet, and first yet unforgettable feeling towards another person. 

Personally, I'm not really one who gets all mushy about cheesy bits such as 'bringing the moon and the stars to you', and the like. But with Lola and the Boy Next Door, I get all week-on-the-knees with it. It really has something that makes the reader feel touched and warm inside. This book makes me realize that the person who really loves you is the one who could reach deep inside of you, one who could see who you really are underneath, and the one who thinks you're perfect even in your worst day. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door is undeniably one of the sweetest stories about first love of today, perfect for those who believe in "First love never dies."

This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen

THE BLURB:

When it comes to relationships, Remy doesn't mess around. After all, she's learned all there is to know from her mother, who's currently working on husband number five. But there's something about Dexter that seems to defy all of Remy's rules. He certainly doesn't seem like Mr. Right. For some reason, however, Remy just can't seem to shake him. Could it be that Remy's starting to understand what those love songs are all about?

The Review:

This Lullaby is one of my all-time favorite contemporary novels of today. Up until now, whenever I recall this book's plot, I can't help but smile, feel giddy and wish that I'm Remy so I can have my own Dexter.

In this novel, we meet Remy Starr, an independent girl who doesn't believe in true love. For Remy, being in love is being impossible, it's like being brainwashed by a religious cult---her words, not mine. It's been her view point when it comes to love, of course, after her mom had a divorce with her fourth husband. Enter Dexter Jones, vocalist of a band, and an employee of her soon-to-be stepdad. His stubborn persistence is what made Remy unable to resist his charms. He is everything Remy dislikes in a guy, from being so cocky and sure of himself, to being awfully disorganized with everything. That is why she's surprised when despite all that, she felt something strong for him. It scared her at first because she's unfamiliar of it and thought that feeling that kind of emotion towards Dexter is way out of the line, thus leaving her questioning everything she's known from the start. What they feel for each other eventually changed her, and her view on Love. That once it's real, it's for life.

I loved everything in this book. From Remy and Dexter, to her friends---Jess, Chloe, and Lisa. The plot is affecting, sweet, tender, and funny at the same time. So I absolutely guarantee that This Lullaby will leave you guys touched, and smiling like an idiot for a while---just like I did. ;)