The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West

Author: Kasie West
Published: May 5th 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genres/age group: Contemporary, romance, young adult
External links: Goodreads • Amazon

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.

Kasie West never lets me down! I've enjoyed every Kasie West book that I've read (this including The Distance Between Us and On the Fence) and was sooo excited for The Fill-In Boyfriend. I don't know what it is about Kasie’s books, but they just hook me in. I ended up staying up until 3am reading this book, which never happens to me anymore. I just couldn't put this down and I didn't want to. Sleep be damned!

Without a doubt, the protagonist of The Fill-In Boyfriend, Gia Montgomery, has a pretty complicated life and is anything but smooth sailing. From the very first chapter, the tension and arising conflict between Gia and her so called "friends" is evident. Gia Montgomery, seventeen, a senior and the president of the student council, has been dumped by her older-by-four-years college boyfriend Bradley in the parking lot of her school at prom night. After two months of dating, he unceremoniously dumps her. But this can't happen! Jules, one of Gia's friends, has been undermining her relationship with Bradley. She doesn't believe that Bradley is actually real, rather a figure of Gia's imagination, and Gia can't go stag for prom as her friends might truly believe that she made him up. Desperate and partly going insane, Gia asks the only guy in the parking lot, who's waiting for prom to end to pick up his sister, to be her fill-in boyfriend (or FIB) for the night.

In all honesty, the start of this book wasn't particularly enjoyable for me. I was irritated by Gia as a character; she was dramatic, self-centered and way too confident for my liking. Plus, the situation she was in seemed so immature and unrealistic. How Gia didn't realise her friends weren't good friends was beyond me, and if I was in her situation I honestly wouldn't have put up with the amount of bitchiness these girls gave off. However, I was still intrigued as to where Gia ends up, and after reading the book I've realised that the first scenes are highly significant to the overall plot as it is here where everything really starts to change.

The aftermath of prom was interesting and also kind of bizarre. Gia still doesn't know fill-in Bradley's (FIB) name and he's all she thinks about. She thinks that she just needs to know why he actually agreed to act as her boyfriend and then she'll be able to move on, and get over the real Bradley (if there's one thing this book has taught me, it's that strangers can be pretty damn generous). I can't tell you FIB's name because it's so much fun to go into this blind (aka not even knowing his real name, what his story is, what actually happens, etc). But I can tell you that I really fell in love with FIB. He was SO nice and caring, and completely opposite to the real Bradley who was, of course, a complete douchebag.

Gia's brother and her "friends", like the real Bradley, also annoyed me. Gia's brother was far too self-centered and, although he was a couple of years older than Gia, he seemed very immature and he never thought about the consequences of his actions. My heart ached for Gia in some scenes and in others, Gia's brother really aggravated me. I was glad he wasn't a huge part of this book. As for her friends, they were pretty central to the overall plot. However, as the book progressed, the girls became more tolerable because of certain other characters... but for this review to remain spolier-free that's all I'm saying.

As a character, Gia has multiple concerns and fears about herself and the future. Many of which were universal and pretty relatable. Even though she's popular, she still feels lonely. She feels as though her friends - Jules in particular - are out to target her. Then, Kasie West also inserts a social commentary as Gia is obsessed with social media and the validation of strangers. In this day and age when everyone wants to be heard, I loved how Kasie provided this social commentary because it added so much depth to the novel.

Aside from the social commentary aspect, which wasn't preachy and was seamlessly incorporated in the plot, I love the family and friends conflict in The Fill-In Boyfriend. Gia's family keeps everything inside. They aren't very close. While my family isn't completely like Gia's and isn't as worse as them, I also find it hard to open up to my parents. I only recently learned not to bottle up my emotions. And recently, I've been shedding off some of my friends (or outgrowing them or whatever) and just keeping those who I truly cherish. These events are also concurrent in Gia's story and it just resonated with me so much.

The Fill-In Boyfriend takes a tried-and-tested trope, that of a fake relationship, and delivers all the goods and more. Not only do we get all the swoon and the butterflies-in-a-blender-in-my-stomach feelings, we are also served depth, which puts this novel out of the fluff category. Populated by characters you'll love and root for, you just can't help but be invested in Gia's quest to get to know fill-in Bradley and for her imminent growth as well. The Fill-In Boyfriend is another addition to Kasie's consistently strong and great line-up of novels. I thoroughly enjoyed this book - particularly the ending - and I can't wait to read more from Kasie West.

My rating: ★★★★

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Author: Kasie West
Published: July 2nd 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genres/age group: Contemporary, romance, young adult
External links: Goodreads • Amazon

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about. 

After reading and loving Over The Fence, I had high expectations for The Distance Between Us.

As the title foreshadows, The Distance Between Us is a novel exploring class differences, prejudice and secrets. Set in a small town by the West Coast, inhabited by people of status, protagonist Caymen finds herself on the lower, less fortunate side of the scale. Caymen’s story begins when one of the wealthier occupants of the town, Xander Spence -the heir to an hotel empire, walks into her family’s doll shop, ‘Dolls and More’. Undoubtedly, a shop filled with porcelain dolls is an unusual and bizarre setting for a romance to form, however, Kasie West spins the typical love story on it’s head.

The novel is from Caymen’s point of view and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her story. Brought up by her single mother, living in an apartment above her doll shop, she is truly a hilarious character, full of wit and sarcasm, and I could relate to her blunt sense of humour. She makes light of difficult situations – like her family’s struggle to keep a roof over their heads – which is why I really liked her as a character, she still has her humour even when she has not much else.

Xander, on the other hand, has never been exposed to such a lifestyle. An heir to a hotel empire, he has lived a carefree life in luxury – something Caymen certainly envies. Xander’s wealth is evident from when we first meet him, as Caymen herself points out, his single outfit would cost more than her entire wardrobe. Nevertheless, Xander was a very down-to-Earth, humble guy. As a character, I really warmed to him.

The other characters of the novel, such as Caymen’s best friend Skye, Skye’s boyfriend and Mason were okay, nothing special. I honestly thought of them as temporary, “fill in” characters for when Caymen had no one else she would run back to them. I did, however, feel that Skye and Caymen’s friendship was always a facade because Skye was always with her boyfriend and never showed Caymen much attention until the end of the novel.

The ending was perhaps the thing that ruined this book for me. There was unnecessary drama between Caymen and her mum, and then Caymen and Xander (which could have been avoided, just saying). The plot started going off the rails towards the end and without going into it too much, I just felt it was far too rushed to cover everything that had been unveiled in the last fifty pages. I was disappointed by the ending, as the beginning had been a great and solid start for a light, summery and contemporary read. For that reason, The Distance Between Us only gets 4 stars.

My rating: ★★★★

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

My edition: eBook

First published: 2012

Pages: 358

Source: Own copy

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...THEY GET EVEN Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes -- and three girls secretly plotting revenge. KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend. LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it. MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him. None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible. With an unlikely alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

Thoughts: Lillia, Kat and Mary. Three extremely different girls, three different backgrounds, three different motivations. All united by an unlikely bond; bittersweet revenge.

After devouring To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, I needed another Jenny Han fix. With many of Han's novels, you can predict what you're going to get: cute, heart-warming romances and a humble family life to match. Therefore I was expecting a familiar theme with Burn for Burn, but it couldn't be more different. In exchange for her cute romances, Han - in effortless collaboration with Siobhan Vivian, whose work I haven't yet read - focuses on a storyline of revenge, hatred and dark history's with a hint of the supernatural. While I equally enjoyed all three protagonists, Lillia’s character stood out to me the most, perhaps this was because she was the ‘popular’ girl or because she was protective of her younger sister, but I really enjoyed her story. Han's characters are always diverse, but that strength is effectively highlighted in Burn for Burn. 

Burn for Burn was an engaging, rebellious novel with themes similar to those found in Pretty Little Liars and John Tucker Must Die. The characters lives intertwined effortlessly, the plot had me hooked and I can't wait to see how the girls develop in the sequel, Fire with Fire.

My rating: ★★★★½

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

My edition: 2004 Vintage Paperback

First published: 2003

Pages: 519

Source: Own copy

Audrey Niffenegger's dazzling debut is the story of Clare, a beautiful, strong-minded art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry is one of the first people diagnosed with Chrono-Displacement Disorder: his genetic clock randomly resets and he finds himself misplaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous and unpredictable, and lend a spectacular urgency to Clare and Henry's unconventional love story. That their attempt to live normal lives together is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control makes their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

Thoughts: Enchanting and captivating, The Time Traveler's Wife pursues the unique romance of ordinary artist Clare and her extraordinary, time-traveling husband Henry. Born with a genetic disease, Henry's talent of time travelling helps introduce him to the love of his life - who is only six years old when she first meets Henry in the meadow by her house. Fast forward to the modern day, Henry is twenty-eight and working in the library, when he first meets 'astoundingly beautiful amber-haired' Clare who convinces himself to believe that 'at some point in time we have a really amazing thing together'.

With high expectations after watching the movie adaptation of The Time Traveler’s Wife, I expected the book to be fantastic, fresh and original. The book didn't disappoint. It's complex format, shifting from one time frame to another, kept me hooked and deeply engaged with Clare and Henry's lives. I loved their passion. I loved their confusion. And I completely loved this novel. 

Niffenegger's best selling novel is both beautiful and tragic, classic yet modern. An absolute must read for fans of romantic love stories with a science-fiction kick.

My rating: ★★★★

Free to Fall by Lauren Miller

My edition: eBook

First published: 2014

Pages: 469

Source: Own copy

Fast-forward to a time when Apple and Google have been replaced by Gnosis, a monolith corporation that has developed the most life-changing technology to ever hit the market: Lux, an app that flawlessly optimizes decision making for the best personal results.
Just like everyone else, sixteen-year-old Rory Vaughn knows the key to a happy, healthy life is following what Lux recommends. When she’s accepted to the elite boarding school Theden Academy, her future happiness seems all the more assured. But once on campus, something feels wrong beneath the polished surface of her prestigious dream school.
Then she meets North, a handsome townie who doesn’t use Lux, and begins to fall for him and his outsider way of life. Soon, Rory is going against Lux’s recommendations, listening instead to the inner voice that everyone has been taught to ignore — a choice that leads her to uncover a truth neither she nor the world ever saw coming.

Thoughts: Thrilling, unique and ultimately frightening, Free to Fall follows the aptly named Aurora or ‘Rory’, a teenage heroine living a somewhat ‘normal’ life in a futuristic and tech obsessed society. Within this dystopian world, technology’s role in society is superior to humans themselves. Lux, the app which has taken over our modern day Apple and Google, mimics the conscience of humans, telling us what we desire, fear, love and hate. From coffee preferences to which topic you should study in class, Lux’s power over society is huge and ultimately threatening to 'update' the human race as we know it.

Character development is an important component within Free to Fall's storyline. With an introduction to Rory, our teenage narrator, is clear that she is alike the rest of this dystopian society; reliable on Lux, it’s ease of decision making, and the power of technology as a whole. This factor of the novel sparked my curiosity leading me to become captivated with Rory’s story. Initially, Rory is alike many in this dystopian society, whereby she openly allows Lux to act as her conscious. However, due to her decision to move schools and engaging herself in new social cliques, Rory decides that she doesn’t necessarily agree with Lux’s choices and therefore, she becomes accustomed to living without Lux's guidance. Rory's new negative perception on technology guides her to vision the society for what it really is; false. Rory witnesses humans who mimic robots and those who are glued to their handhelds, and I think most of us can agree that - although it is not as extreme - this scenario is just as common in our present day.

While it is the main foundation for its plot, technology wasn't the sole theme of Free to Fall.  Family, discovering who you really are, new experiences, friendship and first loves are all equally presented throughout this novel which I also really enjoyed.  I especially loved the romance between Rory and North. He was there in her time of need, and he (unlike many others) didn't believe in allowing technology to act as your own brain. He was a rebel, which usually I find aggravating as a character’s trait but in this circumstance it worked. Nonetheless, Rory was definitely my favourite character in this novel. Her background story was familiar (she was moving to a new school, Theden, also notoriously known for being 'the posh school') and I could relate to her feelings of being left out or feeling different, a loner in a flock of sheep. However, as the novel progresses, Rory’s story becomes more complicated and tangled, many different events take place at once which are all interlinked within one another. Due to this factor, I found my interest in this novel start to shift. 

Because this novel is set in the future, it’s evident that the technology will have also been updated - however, I found that when the characters discussed the new technology the range of vocabulary used was dramatically different and subjective. In some cases, the updated versions of our everyday technology possessed extremely corny names. One prime example is the rename of WiFi to 'Lifi', which I couldn't help but cringe at. In other similar situations, the vocabulary used to describe this technology - especially from North, the techno whiz - was too complicated and therefore, I had a hard time understanding it. The main flaw in this novel though was the ending. The beginning of this novel showed promise but half way through, twists and turns started to appear on every page, so much so, that I felt Rory’s true character was replaced by a new one. Nothing was real anymore and nor was it a surprise. 

Regardless of it’s slightly disappointing ending, I still thoroughly enjoyed reading Free to Fall. I was hooked to it’s futuristic storyline and I absolutely adored the beginning of the novel. I have my reservations, but there is no doubt that Free to Fall and it's underlying message, is a real eye opener.  

My rating: ★★★★

Virgin by Radhika Sanghani

My edition: eBook

First published: 2014

Pages: 304

Source: Harlequin UK via Netgalley, thank you!

Okay, I admit it…I didn’t do it. Yet. This is normal, right? I mean, just because everyone I know has talked like they’ve already done it doesn’t mean that they’re telling the truth…right? It’s not like I’m asking for that much. I don’t need the perfect guy. I don’t need candlelight or roses. Honestly, I don’t even need a real bed. The guys I know complain that girls are always looking for Mr. Right—do I have to wear a sign that says I’m only looking for Mr. Right Now? Sooooo…anyone out there want sex? Anyone? Hello? Just for fun? I am not going to die a virgin. One way or another I am going to make this happen. Hey, what have I got to lose? Besides the obvious.

Thoughts:  Raw, honest and hilariously funny, Virgin, the first novel by women's writer Radhika Sanghani, addresses the concealed body issues and queries of all adolescent girls. Starting on the very first page, we meet Ellie who is diffident over her lack of sexual activity. Labeled a binge-drinking virgin by her doctor, Ellie decides that enough is enough: she is finally going to lose her virginity.

As an avid party girl and final year university student, Ellie not only feels the pressure of being a virgin from her doctor but also from her peers:

“It feels like ever since we hit sixteen… that everyone started this whole thing about losing their virginity. It was like… a competition. Then all the conversations were about sex, and I couldn’t join in. It’s lonely… and honesty? I want to fit in."

While her supportive and more experienced friends, Emma and Lara, admire that she is willing to wait for a man, Ellie can’t help feeling that she’s missing out - especially when playing drunk games like Never Have I Ever result in her lying about receiving anal sex. And truthfully, Ellie doesn’t know why she’s still a virgin; she’s not waiting for the right man, she’s not religious and she’s not exactly prude…

But Ellie hasn’t exactly had the best sexual experiences either. Flashback to her first encounter at seventeen years old where she was laughed at for her untamed ‘nether regions’ and gave the infamous and dreaded first ‘bite job’ (ouch). Scarred mentally with her first and awkward sexual experiences, Ellie is determined to show the next guy that she can perform like a porn star. 

While covering sex (masturbation, genitalia, looks and body hair included) is the main priority of this novel, themes like forming new friendships, family, and finding yourself are not neglected. Ellie is a English literature student (which we also have in common) and even though she’s reaching the end of her era as a student, Ellie is still unsure which career path she wants to pursue but she does know that she wants to share her voice and what better topic to cover than her virginity and all things intimate?

I immensely enjoyed this novel; Ellie is a hilarious character full of raw curiosity, quirks and imperfections. As a late bloomer myself, I felt myself relating to what Ellie had to say on multiple occasions, many times I physically laughed at loud while reading this book. Similarly, growing up, I loved the Georgia Nicholson series by Louise Rennison but have recently found I’ve outgrown them; Virgin in this case is the perfect substitute for an older audience. Sanghani clearly is the honest voice of this generation and I very much look forward to any of her future projects. 

My rating: ★★★★

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

My edition: eBook

Pages: 240

First published: 2014

Source: Own book

A beautiful and distinguished family. A private island. A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy. A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive. A revolution. An accident. A secret. Lies upon lies. True love. The truth. We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. Read it. And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Thoughts:  Meet the Sinclair family: beautiful, wealthy and haunted. Their shiny golden locks, wide bright smiles and perfectly kept appearances are only a facade for the Sinclair's, who - we quickly learn - have demons under lock and key. In the Sinclair family, 'athletic, tall and handsome’ appearances, alongside personal wealth, are the family's main priorities however Cadence Sinclair Eastman possesses other ideals. Cadence, the blunt teenage narrator of We Were Liars introduces the readers to the superficial lives of the Sinclair's, of which Cadence rebellious transformation is evident; 'I used to be blonde, but now my hair is black. I used to be strong, but now I am weak. I used to be pretty, but now I look sick.' 

On beginning We Were Liars, readers are asked to keep a promise; 'if anyone asks how it ends, just LIE'. Intriguing as this commitment is, it also acts as a precaution as we prepare ourselves for something bad to happen. Unsurprisingly, after Cadence introduces her wealth-driven family, we are informed that Cadence suffers from migraines ever since the infamous 'accident' which took place during one of the summers the Sinclair's spend on the island - which is privately owned by Cady's Granddad, Harris Sinclair. 

Perhaps as a consequence to the accident itself, we quickly learn that Cadence is an unreliable narrator. The first example of this is present when Cadence tells us about her Dad leaving: 

"My father put a last suitcase into the backseat of the Mercedes (he was leaving Mummy with only the Saab), and started the engine. Then he pulled out a handgun and shot me in the chest... The bullet hole opened wide and my heart rolled out of my rib cage and down into the flower bed." 

As symbolic evidence of the mental, emotional and physical scarring she is encountering, Cady develops a fondness of expressing herself with extreme metaphors. Ironically, Cady's exaggerated emotions contrasts the lack of by the rest of the Sinclair's. We are told by Cadence that although her dad is no longer with her mother, the family refuses to acknowledge the divorce, and the multiple others too. The family's robot similarities is clearly fuelled by their priority of obtaining more money rather than the general well-being of the family, which is quickly brought to the liar's attention by Gat, a friend of Cadence cousin's Johnny and Mirren. The young teens openly welcome Gat to their exclusive group and shortly name themselves; 'The Liars'. For impressionable Cady and political Gat, their shared interest for the less fortunate unites them and their friendship shortly blossoms into a romance. With Gat's political perseverance and underlying guilt, Cadence starts to question her own family's intentions also. Gat often questions Cady and The Liars motivation, and at one point asks if she knows the names of those who work for her Granddad on the island, to which Gat responds: 

 "Not everyone has private islands. Some people work on them. Some work in factories. Some don't have work. Some don't have food." 

Gat's raw yet honest attitude is eventually admired by The Liars, especially Cady who definitely takes it as a wake-up call. The Sinclair’s welcome Gat back to spend multiple summers on their island but Cadence's Granddad doesn't share the same warm and friendly approach. Gat is not white nor is he worthy of the 'Sinclair' label. Due to Gat's outspoken political thoughts, Cady's Granddad often expresses his dislike of Gat verbally, which could also be masking his true racist attitude. The tension between the two (Gat and Cady's Granddad) is presented multiple times, making for awkward situations especially for Cady who feels that she has to sneak around with Gat behind the adult's backs. It’s evident that the only people who have fun during their time on the island is Cady and The Liars. It may be noted that there are other children on the island, the younger cousins, who remain with their mothers while they bicker and bitch over their superficial problems such as money, family heirlooms and the size of their summer homes. 

As the plot unwinds, Cady's narration becomes as scattered as her thoughts. Along with the reader, Cadence searches and questions The Liar's outlandish attitudes on returning to the island summer seventeen. It is evident that the mood has shifted on the island, and with Cady's use of extreme metaphors, story-telling and amnesia we, as readers, adjust to her exaggerated narration and sympathize since she is in a lot of physical and mental pain after the 'accident'. Because of the Sinclair's nature to portray a perfect image, no one speaks of Cady's illness leading her to estimate what happened: 

"I suppose that I was raped or attacked or some godforsaken something. That's the kind of thing that makes people have amnesia, isn't it?" 

I won’t reveal the ending but the reason behind her amnesia is due to a traumatic event that finally unites all of the Sinclair family. We Were Liar's is a sharp, quick and beautifully haunting novel loaded with an engaging mystery case. The older character's, although arrogant and old-fashioned, perfectly contrast the voices of the younger generation. I adored this book and I would recommend it to anyone. 

My rating: ★★★★½