The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

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Publication date: April 29th, 2014

My rating: 2.5 stars

Book summary:

" Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy."

       I totally blame Zemira for this one. Some of you may know her, but for those who don't - Zemira is Tanja's and my "soul mate" and BFF (you can find her - and her review - on YA Fanatic) and we automatically buy all books she tells us to read. But with The Break-Up Artist something went wrong. She loved it, I didn't.

Why I didn't enjoy The Break-Up Artist?

• Boyfriend drama. Basically, every single female character thinks that their measure of success in life is having a boyfriend. Or a husband. Or boyfriend who will become your husband. Every single thing in their lives is determined with relationship status. Whole plot is about having or not having a boyfriend. Boyfriend, boyfriend, boyfriend... Did I managed to annoy you already with how may times I repeated word boyfriend? Well, now you know how I felt while I had been reading this.
• Becca Williamson. The main character. At first I though this will be one of those rare girls in literature who are not all "fragile flowers" and goodie two shoes. Anti-heroine. Nope. Everything about her is an act. The very thing she fights against is something she wants the most and as soon as one dreamy boy shows interest and start to heavily throw pick up lines - she shows her real face. Petty and superficial girl. 
• Did I catch a train back to nineteenth century? Few things I read made me want to bang my head against the desk or throw Kindle trough the window.
• Snooze. It was boring at some parts and I wanted to just get over with it.

Redeeming point?

• Ending. Friendship wins. Girl starts to think for a change and I liked couple of messages. 
• Got me thinking... Is this the way men or boys really see teenage girls and women in general?  I have few things to add to my lesson plans - special assignments for male students. 

Should you read it? Please, read Zemira's review and at least one other positive review before you make up your mind. I didn't like it, but maybe you will.

Happy reading,

***Copy of this book was provided by publisher, Harlequin Teen, via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***