While there’s definitely YA out there that has strong appeal across age lines, this is definitely one that will likely appeal most to actual teenagers. It’s evident from the beginning where things will end up, and the drama feels silly in a way that’s dumb even for high school. ( )

{My Thoughts} – I found this book to be extremely easy to relate to. I am almost certain that my High School self would have been able to relate even more, given what my High School experience had been like when I had attended. I can understand how this book has become so incredibly popular.

Bianca is your typical not real liked girl when it comes to the popular peers in school. She has two best friends that she believes are both much more sexy and attractive then she herself is. She has a snappy, snarky attitude that makes you fall in love with her instantly. She also is an extremely loyal individual to her family and her friends. She doesn’t believe in telling gossip on anyone nor does she believe in running after guys and falling in love.

Wesley is the popular man-whore in the school. He doesn’t chase girls, they chase him. When he so avidly points out that Bianca is the Duff in her group of friends, he changes they way she sees things. It is apparent that he hadn’t really meant to hurt her by using that word, but it did hurt her a lot and it takes a lot for him to come back from it after it’s been said and done so many times. He seems to think that everyone wants him, which is true to an extent, but he has so many hidden secrets that it’s hard to tell who he really is on the inside because he like Bianca hides behind a mask.

Wesley and Bianca come off as complete opposites. However, throughout the book they seem to find common ground and a common balance. One day they are paired up for a school assignment and everything changes for the two of them. Is it for the better or for the worse? ( )

I have some mixed feelings about this book. I really enjoyed the first part of the book, I thought I'd give it five stars - but I quite hated the second part. I didn't like almost any of the characters. Finally I decided to give this book four stars, because I think that generally it was a fun read, but I'm not sure if I'll try reading any other book by this author in the future.

It's a story of a 17-year-old Bianca, who has some serious issues - her parents are getting divorced, her father has a drinking problem and her friends are much prettier and more popular that she is. She feels the ugly duckling of the group and being called the DUFF - the designated ugly fat friend - by the most popular boy at school doesn't help. To stop thinking about all of this Bianca gets into a strictly sexual relationship with Wesley and, obviously, fells in love with him.

Bianca's parents are horrible. Her mother is a joke - always absent, she just sends her husband divorce papers one day. She never calls to Bianca, not once through the entire book. Her father is either boring when sober or a raging monster when drunk.

Bianca is also a terrible person, to tell you the truth. She breaks up with her friends, doesn't want to spend time with them, doesn't talk to them - and then she's surprised, because they feel hurt. She escapes from Wesley and ignores him, though it's obvious he wants to talk to her and he didn't do anything wrong. She keeps calling him a pig and a womaniser, but it's her who jumps from one person's bed to the other's, not him. Bianca is horrible.

I quite liked Wesley, but I had a feeling that we don't know him too well. I think Jessica was cute and I really liked her. "Perfect" Toby was so boring and lacking in passion, that I wanted to roll my eyes.

Aa I said, I'm not going to read this book in the future ever again and I doubt I'll try any other book by this author, but it was an interesting book and I'm glad I read it.

From my blog: https://dominikasreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-duff-by-kody-keplinge... ( )

I’ve been listening to a lot of Taylor swift so I wanted a teenage romance novel. I saw this at the library and since I’d seen the movie of this book I figured it would be a good fit.

The book is, as my two star rating says, Just OK. I didn’t hate it, I didn’t love it. I’m guessing there are better things out there if I had looked a little harder. ( )

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Initially, I picked it up because I love reading books that are turned into movie adaptations. After reading it, I’m not sure if I’ll watch the movie. With the way the few clips I’ve seen show, it’s not much like the book at all. And some of the things I really loved about the book seem to be missing from the film… but back to the book! The Duff is a laugh out loud, sweet, sexy, and at times serious read. It’s a book about friendship, loyalty, and even love.

Bianca is the type of heroine I love reading about. The kind that's snarky, outspoken, is who she is and doesn’t change for anyone. She is also relatable. She’s a good friend and a good daughter. And she is the ‘Duff’ of her group, according to Wesley Rush. Wesley is one of the best looking guys at school. A duff isn’t someone who is fat or ugly necessarily, all it means is that out of your group of friends, you may be the least attractive, etc. It’s not a term of endearment, even though Wesley makes it seem that way.

So this Wesley guy… he seems like a total tool, right? Rich, popular, thinks he’s the all that. Well, there is more to Wesley than meets the eye. Wesley’s life isn’t as perfect as it seems. And really, by the end of the book, I completely loved him. Wesley and Bianca’s not so much friends with benefit’s relationship was something that developed over time. At first, it was just physical. A way to escape what they were both going through, but with time, feelings developed. Both characters realized they cared and Bianca realizes that she’s doing the unthinkable. She is falling for Wesley Rush.

If you’re looking for a good enemies-to-lovers story, a story about friendships, finding yourself and coping with the hard stuff in life, this would be a great pick. I loved both of the main characters, and Bianca’s friends were great too! It’s one of the better YA books I’ve read lately, and honestly, for YA it was a little on the steamy side, which is just another plus. I listened to the audio version of this book and I loved the narrator. I thought she captured Bianca perfectly. ( )