Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Received: Borrowed
Publication Date: May 5th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Point of View: 1st Person & Feminine
Recommended Age: 13+
Genres &  Themes: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, High School, Teen Drama, Media, Friendship, Humor

BLURB:

When Gia Montgomery’s boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she’d been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend—two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it’s not the real Bradley she’s thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn’t even know. But tracking him down doesn’t mean they’re done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend’s graduation party—three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

REVIEW:

Writing a negative review for this book would be so easy.

I have all of them cringe-worthy quotes prepared. I could share them with you, and you would be like, ‘‘What has the world come to?!’’

But the truth is I liked this book. Despite its many, many flaws, I found myself turning page after page without effort, my mind fully invested in the story.

Reading this book was like watching a retelling of Mean Girls, in which Gia is the lost-to-the-Plastics character played by Lindsay Lohan. She’s gorgeous. She has a Captain America-like boyfriend. All is well. It’s prom day, so what could possibly go wrong?

How about… her boyfriend breaks up with her in the parking lot. Like, five minutes before joining the fiesta. How lame is that? Gia is stressed the hell out of her mind, b/c it was primordial she proved to her friends she actually had a boyfriend.

Don’t read this book if you’re looking for a deep and teary-eye-worthy story. No. This is a rom-com book for your entertainment only. Don’t read this if you expect Gia to be super mature and illuminating. That’s like hoping the Bunny from The Bunny House stops wearing bikinis as everyday outfits. Bunny just can’t help it.

She may be self-centered, but she’s not heartless. She may be immature, but she’s not stupid. She’s like a comedian, saying things and doing stuff to amuse us readers and get a smile out of us.

I liked the humor. It’s definitely what did it for me. Gia and fill-in Bradley pretending to go out is hella diverting. I mean, we all know how things go with contemporary romance novels; it’s not like the ending will come as a surprise to any of you but, to use a cheesy line, it’s not the destination that counts but the journey. *inserts smirk*

”Is it a name that can also double as a word?”

”Explain.”

”You know, like Hunter or Forest or Stone—”

”Or Tree?”

”Ha-ha. No, I was going to say Grant. As in, grant me the patience to deal with this boy while I am trapped in a car with him.”

The drama is of the kindergarten level type: typical Queen Bee rivalry. For Jules, it’s all about being the leader and winning all of the imaginary votes from her friends. ‘‘Long live Jules!’’ Gia doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t even understand why Jules feels threatened by her. It’s not like she ever aspired to become an Alpha.

I didn’t mind all that. Sure, the drama could have been directed somewhere else but, like I said before, this is a rom-com type of book. The author knew we would compare Gia’s friends to insipid Barbie girls, so my guess is that she created those characters out of make up, chocolate and party hats to parody the life of self-centered teens.

I don’t mind some mindless contemporary readings from time to time. Sure, I crave knowledge and poignant themes, but humor is something as equally important to me. If you feel like having a good time, try The Fill-in Boyfriend!

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