***Review*** The Duff by Kody Keplinger

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Released: April 5th 2012
Publisher: Hodder Children's Books
Series: No
Format: Paperback
Source: ARC review copy
Find At: Goodreads | Amazon UK | The Book Depository
Author Website: Kody Keplinger

Goodreads Synopsis:

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 “Duffy,” she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren’t so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that 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.

My Review:

Quote: “Yeah, it was sick and twisted, but
that’s reality, right? Escape is impossible, so why not
embrace it?”
― Kody Keplinger, The Duff

I’ve never heard of the term Duff before, didn’t know it stood for Designated Ugly Fat Friend, which is pretty harsh in my opinion. So imaging being called a Duff by a boy and then getting it on with him........ mmmmmm... wouldn’t happen in my case that’s for sure. Well it’s what happens to Bianca the main protagonist in the book, she is called a Duff by the school male lothario. When Bianca’s life crumbles around her she uses the lothario to her own benefit, but things turn out differently than what she expected.

 I have to say when I read a book I really like to connect to the main character, this did not happen in this book. Bianca made me cringe in so many ways. I mean what self respecting girl, no matter how much turmoil her life is in, would turn to the boy that insulted her and basically said that her friends all use her as she is the ugly one in the group. Hormone overdrive or what! I wanted to throw the book across the room and shake the main character by the shoulders. Well so many things irked me about this book. I definitely think this is a marmite book – you’ll either love it or hate it. This book did leave a bad taste in my mouth and I was actually relieved to finish it. However I did finish it and it turned out to be an OK read. I can’t knock the writing style either, it flowed it was fluent and I thought the author managed to capture the whole atmosphere.

This book is geared towards older teens; I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone younger as it does have some mild sexual scenes.

My favourite character was Wesley Rush, the lothario. He seemed a well rounded character and I could see character development throughout the book.

 I would read another book by this author, but, I don’t think I would read another book in this series if it ever came out. Just not for me.

Story 3/5 – I liked the writing style just not the story 

Cover: 3/5 – Not one that catches my eye. I wouldn’t normally go for this type of cover.

Many thanks to Hodder Children's Books for the review copy of  The Duff.