Review: The Duff

The Duff by Kodi Keplinger

Publisher: Little Brown/Poppy
Publication Date: September 10th 2010
Pages: 280
Source: Won ARC at Library
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads

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.

One of the things I remember hearing about this book before I read it was that it was really funny. I was a bit disappointed by the end of the book after realizing that no- it wasn't very funny at all, but much more of an emotional roller-coaster that the main character, Bianca has to work though. I'm not sure where I heard that it was funny, though it was a very well written and beautifully put together story about a girl struggling to figure out how to handle all of the very difficult situations that are thrown at her in her very messed up life.

Bianca, the main character, has a very snarky, outright attitude and she isn't really afraid to show it. Bianca was a very unique character, though not a very desirable person to hang out with, she was very interesting to read about. Wesley Rush, Bianca's worst enemy was the best developed character in the book. In the beginning Bianca hates Wesley, but over time Bianca slowly begins to understand Wesley and everything that he is dealing with and they are both able to advise each other about how to deal with their family troubles. This is a much more grown up version of YA that I do not suggest for anyone who is not mature enough to handle a more grown up book- I suggest being at least high school aged.

The Duff is a more mature YA with some very well written characters and resolutions, a very interesting story!

Review: Sacrifice

Sacrifice by Malinda Metz & Laura Burns
Sequel to: Crave
Pages: 256
Type of Copy: Paperback ARC
Received by: Contest, Bibliopunkk
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: September 20th 2011
Review Written: 8/2/2011

Teaser from Goodreads

Gabriel and Shay are convinced that they can make their relationship work. Knowing that Shay is half-vampire, Gabriel thinks that his coven will embrace her as one of their own, but instead they view her as an abomination, a thing that doesn’t belong in either world. And they want her dead. Now Gabriel must make the ultimate decision - watch his love be killed by his coven or defy the people closest to him, the people he has spent centuries with to save her.

If you have not read Crave, be aware that there may be some minor spoilers in this review.
 
First Reaction:  
After reading the end of Crave, which had a cliff hanger at the end, I really had no choice but to read this one. Honestly I felt like after reading the both that since both books were relevantly short that they could have been made into one book with some minor tweaking. There wasn't really a need for them to be made into two books. Overall it was a very nice mini series. 

Character Summery:  

Shay: Shay is a half human- half vampire girl who has been sick her whole life because no one knew how to care for her kind of being. But after her step-father kidnaps a full vampire in attempt for a medical breakthrough she finds out what she really is though the vampire and eventually falls for him.

Gabriel: Gabriel is a vampire who was kidnapped for medic research then rescued by sick girl Shay whom he falls for and wants to bring to meet his family because she is half vampire, but her family do not agree with the half human being in there home and lock her up.  


Review
This book seemed to have many of the qualities of Twilight, so it wasn't the most original book I have read. I felt it was a very interesting read and had many ideas about Vampires I had not heard about before such as the way the create other Vampires. I would have much preferred (as a I mentioned in my first reaction reaction) that it was a stand alone book instead as twin books, but I feel that these books were excellent as a pair. I do suggest to anyone who is considering reading the Crave series that you read them together instead of spaced apart, because they seem to work better together.