Okay, you have to read this one. If you read one contemporary this year, let it be this. You will laugh your a** of at the antics and outrageous things that happen. In this novel, you don't ever want to say, "It can't get any worse," because somehow it can. Of course, being teenagers, they take it a lot better than I would, but this is a great novel, especially at this time of the year.
I think the strengths of this novel were the characters. They were well written and stayed true to their characters but they grew. By far, the most uptight and in need of change was Kylie. Kylie was class valedictorian, care giver to her brother with Asperger's Syndrome, cook, chore person and anything else that needed doing while her mom worked full time evenings and her dad was a traveling salesman. She had never had a date and her one friend was Will Bixby a cross dressing gay guy who became friends with her when she could quote a line from a movie that he quoted to her in seventh grade. BFF's ever since. He has made it his mission to get her out of her jeans and t-shirt, buying her stylish clothes and always trying to get her to have a life. So when she accidentally gets trapped in Mexico with Max Langston, he thinks it's the best thing that's happened to her.
Max Langston lives for peace. He doesn't talk about feelings or anything that will get anyone upset. He will give in to Lily, his girlfriend, just to keep the peace. He never has really examined anything too closely. He keeps his world small because the less junk he knows about the less he has to deal with. His dad has cancer and is dying, only no one, not even his mother will admit that he's dying. He doesn't even really knows how he feels about Lily but he doesn't want to upset anyone, so he doesn't do anything about it.
Will Bixby is gay. That's fine, he's comfortable with that. But he wasn't cool with his parents sending him to a shrink to talk him out of it. So to throw his gayness in everyone's face, he wears dresses, girls clothing, always mixing something masculine in with it, but he does it to make a point. No, he really doesn't like girl's clothes. But he's making a statement to his parents to his school. His parents eventually came around, but no one, other than Kylie has ever come around at school. Will is by far, the funniest. Some of my favorite quotes from him:
"They've finally stopped badgering me about my clothes, but do they really need their son
wearing a black spandex mini to his high school graduation? Seems like cruel and unusual
punishment." (p.105) Talking about his parents.
"...Dad surprised me. He's a little bit to the right of Attila the Hun. ....a Republican to
the core. I think he came out of the womb in khakis and a blue blazer. His great- great
great-grandparents came over on the Mayflower. He was in an eating club at Princeton He is
so white, they've named a shade of Benjamin Moore paint after him (Bright,Uptight White #7)."
(p.107)
Lily Wentworth is blond, thin, beautiful and smart. She's rich and she and Max have been together for an entire year. But she's also a bit shallow and looks out for herself more than anyone else. She doesn't play a huge part in the book, but her scenes are pivotal, as she's Max's girlfriend. She also knows how to play Max like a fiddle. She knows just how to get what she wants actually from pretty much any guy, for that matter.
So, how did they get into Mexico? It started with an English assignment given on the day before the last day of school. Everyone else blows it off, but Kylie ever conscious of her status of valedictorian doesn't want to lose it so when she gets paired with Max she insists they do the assignment. She even promises to write his paper, too. When they are talking about the assignment her backpack with her computer gets stolen and the chase begins. She goes on foot. Max meets her with his car, they switch up when her stuff is transferred to a U-Haul with some big scary tattooed dudes. One things leads to another and they are in the back of the U-Haul without the guys knowing. That's not the funny part. That comes later. But it's a little funny. C'mon.
The funny part is that Kylie finally decide to cut loose in Ensenada, Mexico. So much goes on in one day it feels more like a week, but it's one awesome day and night! And when she decides to cut loose, she does it all the way!
Here is another favorite line but it's a spoiler if I tell you who says it:
"Please, do tell me more about the multiple girlfriends. That is so sexy." (p 280)
Now, I started this review saying the characters were the book's strengths. But, I don't think this book really has any weaknesses. It just has such great characters that they really, really shine. You have to read this book! It's got to be one of the funniest I've read ever! It's a series of mistakes that leads to a series of coincidences and it makes you think about where you are and how you got there. Was it chance, accident or design? But it's all funny and happy with some over the top characters and great friendships. I will definitely be putting this one on the keeper shelf. I already want to read it again!
Recommended for lovers of light, funny YA contemporary. Strong language, drinking, sex. Use you best judgement as to whether you're mature enough to read it.
Heather
