Tag Archives: the duff
Lying Out Loud
Sonny
Scholastic Press
2015-04-28
304
Kody Keplinger returns to the world of The DUFF in this brand-new companion novel!
Sonny Ardmore is an excellent liar. She lies about her dad being in prison. She lies about her mom kicking her out. And she lies about sneaking into her best friend's house every night because she has nowhere else to go.
Amy Rush might be the only person Sonny shares everything with -- secrets, clothes, even a nemesis named Ryder Cross.
Ryder's the new kid at Hamilton High and everything Sonny and Amy can't stand -- a prep-school snob. But Ryder has a weakness: Amy. So when Ryder emails Amy asking her out, the friends see it as a prank opportunity not to be missed.
But without meaning to, Sonny ends up talking to Ryder all night online. And to her horror, she realizes that she might actually like him. Only there's one small catch: he thinks he's been talking to Amy. So Sonny comes up with an elaborate scheme to help Ryder realize that she's the girl he's really wanted all along. Can Sonny lie her way to the truth, or will all her lies end up costing her both Ryder and Amy?
Review:
A companion novel to “The Duff”, “Lying Out Loud” returns the Rush family through the eyes of Amy’s best friend, Sonny.
“Lying Out Loud” is strongly written and a wonderful blend of old and new characters, all developed in the wonderful way for which Kody Keplinger is known. The dialogue is snappy and hilarious, and most importantly, realistic. Everyone has a nice mix of flaws and strengths, with some more obvious than others. Fans of “The Duff” will be happy to know there is a healthy dose of the older Wesley and Bianca, and they are just as great as the first time around.
The plot revolves around Sonny and her ability to lie, not only to everyone else, but also to herself. She gets in way over her head and goes on a collision course with disaster. It is uncomfortable to read, but portrays a good message in the end. The only flaw I found is that Sonny almost went so far as to become irredeemable, even with her circumstances. In fact, she really did cross that line for me, but the story is still a good one. It would have been five stars were it not for that.
I recommend “Lying Out Loud” to fans of “The Duff” and any fan of young adult fiction. The content is much more mild than “The Duff”, making it suitable for upper middle-graders, as well.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Mild Sexual Situations, Language
The Duff
Juvenile Fiction
Poppy
2011-06-07
280
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper starts sleeping with Wesley Rush, a notorious womanizer who disgusts her, in order to distract her from her personal problems, and to her surprise, the two of them find they have a lot in common and are able to help each other find more productive ways to deal with their difficulties.
Review:
When I began reading “The Duff”, I thought I would find a somewhat typical teen romance. I was pleasantly surprised to find that was not the case at all.
Bianca and her two best friends are inseparable, and on one of their nights out Bianca is told by the school’s resident that she is “The Duff” of her group of friends. Duff means “Designated ugly fat friend”, and along with some other major issues occurring in her life, the term completely ruins her self-esteem. The internal feelings are something most of us can relate to, both male and female. Bianca’s internal dialogue is witty and self-deprecating, revealing to the reader the things she cannot see for herself.
What really hooked me is the ultimate conclusion to her cycle of self-hatred. While I cannot elaborate without spoiling the story, I can say that it is something that every single person needs to hear, young and old, male and female. The overall message is one of empowerment and awareness. I am not ashamed to admit that part of it made me cry from the memories of my own time in high school.
I wholeheartedly recommend “The Duff” to all older high school readers. While the message is good for everyone, the content is explicit (and very realistic), making it a book best saved for when middle readers get a little older.
This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warning:
Explicit Sexual Content, Language, Minor Violence, Alcohol Abuse
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