The Duff by Kodi Keplinger

Source: Purchased
Genre:  YA-Contemporary
Publisher:  Little Brown/Poppy
Date Published: September 7, 2010
Number of Pages:  280

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.

This book....oh gosh...this book!!!  I loved every minute of it.  I read it in 3 days.  The first day I only read a chapter (it was 10 at night, I have a baby and have to be up early, enough said!), and then the second night I read another 10 chapters, and on the third day I read the entire rest of the book!  I couldn't put it down!

The characters are so beautifully written that you can't help but feel and fall in love with all of them.  I honestly felt like I was Bianca towards the end, understanding what she's going through as she comes to the understanding that all girls feel like they are the Duff in their friendship circle.  My heart broke after every tragic thing happened, and I felt joy as she picked up the pieces and moved on.

5 Happy Clouds :)

Everyone should read this book!!!  It is a very quick read, and very well developed.  This book explained how high school seemed to me, though I didn't experience any of the things Bianca went through.  (Painfully shy.)