26. svi 2014.

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

Buy the book:
Author's:
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."

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17684323-the-break-up-artist

       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.***

Broj komentara: 17:

  1. Oh no! This sounded so cute and I love the cover, but your reaction to it makes me wary!

    http://thebookishmanicurist.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/the-strange-and-beautiful-sorrows-of.html

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  2. I almost requested this one and now I am sort of glad that I didn't. I am so sick of being disappointed lately with books that I think will be really good or cute and just aren't.

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  3. I'm sorry it wasn't for you, I heard great things about this one but I can understand your feeling. I don't really know...

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  4. This book sounded so great! I love the cover for this one so much. I'm sorry you didn't really enjoy it. I hope your next read is better though!

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  5. Great review! I'm totally up for female individualism but yes, it does seem like this centers on happiness around having a partner. I think I'll still read it though because it's on my shelf ;)

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  6. Ha -- I have reading friends like that. Mostly we agree, but once in a while, I'm thinking, "Huh? Did we read the same book?"
    I'm feeling way too old for books that are mainly about boyfriend drama, so I will probably skip this one. But maybe I'll read Zemira's review just to get her side of the story ;)
    Jen @ YA Romantics

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  7. I think I will pass on this one. Girls that measure their success by their significant others are not my kind of girls. Fake girls . . . even less so. Thanks for the heads-up, Glass!

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  8. You know what they say... every book has a reader. I'm sorry to hear that this one wasn't for you, but I always try to check-out both positive and negative reviews before adding a title to my wishlist, so I appreciate your honesty. I'm off to get the other side of the spectrum with Zemira's thoughts.

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  9. To be honest, I'm not so keen on a bunch of girls wallowing about their boyfriend issues ^^;; that is overly shallow for me, so I already know for certain I won't be enjoying this one (sadly!) I like that there's an emphasis on friendship though... that's always a plus. It doesn't always have to be romance!

    Faye at The Social Potato Reviews

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  10. I still can't work out if I like the sound of this book or not. The premise sounds cringe-worthy to me on some days, but completely fun and entertaining on others. I just don't know. :D It's a shame it didn't work for you, but at least Zemira liked it haha. I will have to check out her review!

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  11. Hi Tanja, you were completely right about John Reed (even if I was thinking about St John), so you win the 5€ Amazon card - or Paypal, your choice ! Contact me to let me know what you prefer : iza.bzh at outlook.fr
    Jane Eyre is my favorite book ever and I'm glad you won !

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  12. I did enjoy the friendship in this. Sorry it wasn't your fave.

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  13. This doesn't sound so great. The main character seems pretty frustrating, although at least there's some good messages in the ending. I'm still not sure if I'll read this one.

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  14. Yikes! I think I'm going to have the some of the same problems you did. I was hoping Becca would be a breath of fresh air in comparison to most YA protagonists because she was anti-love. The fact that's all an act and she's just as boy crazy as everyone else is really annoying.

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  15. Oh boy. The obsession with boyfriends would drive me insane. But I am glad the ending with the friendship was redeeming. Thanks hot time review!

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  16. I saw this at the bookstore and love the cover. I hate the obsession with boyfriends. I have friends who can't stand to be single and I don't get it. I don't see why they have to ALWAYS be with someone. Anyway, I love the cover but I'm unsure about the book. Thanks for your honesty!

    OdgovoriIzbriši
  17. Sorry this didn't work out for you, Glass. It doesn't sound very appealing to me either. Great honest review. :)

    OdgovoriIzbriši

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