For today’s review, I am going to do a two-fer. I am a HUGE fan of Simone Elkeles and own (and read multiple times) every book she has written.
I actually studied Rules of Attraction this summer, breaking it down to teach myself more about the actual writing process. Perfect Chemistry was one of the first YA books I read this summer, and was the first non-paranormal, that actually then inspired me to start reading and writing contemporary. Leaving Paradise and Return to Paradise both made me swoon and cry, and Maggie is definitely one of my favorite female characters of all time.
BUT
Nothing compares to her How to Ruin . . . series. It simply ROCKS! There are three books in this series, How to Ruin a Summer Vacation, How to Ruin Your Teenage Life, and How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation. I love Amy and Avi and while I enjoyed all of them, the first and last in this series are my favorites, and I will review both here today. 🙂
How to Ruin a Summer Vacation– This is the book that starts the How to Ruin series, which quickly became my favorite series of all time. Simone Elkeles is quite talented, as her recent RITA award and Bestseller status can attest to, but this gem of a series tends to be overshadowed by her other works. I am SO glad I found it and highly recommend it.
This is a definite Romantic Comedy, and it is big on both aspects. The romance is wonderful — Avi is an amazing leading man — and the comedy is laugh out loud, pee in your pants funny at times. Amy is an awesome Main Character whose feisty personality is only overshadowed by her heart. There are many different themes and subplots within the story and all of the characters are well developed. I really really really hope that once Ms. Elkeles finishes the long awaited final Fuentes brother book (perfect chemistry) and now that she’s finished the wonderful Leaving Paradise series, she considers coming back to Amy and Avi’s story.
How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation — Again, I love all of Simone Elkeles’ books, and I love this series in particular, but after a summer spent reading about 5-6 books a week, I would say that this book is probably my favorite of all of them!
I can’t tell you how often I pick this book up and flip through to find my favorite parts to read again and again.
If I am bored–pick it up.
If I am sad, depressed, just in a blah mood–pick it up.
If I am really happy and feel like laughing and smiling more–pick it up.
See a trend here?
Amy is a wonderful Main Character. She is snarky and spunky, but also sensitive and a loyal friend.
While it pulls on your heart strings in several places, and makes you swoon in others, my favorite thing about this book is the fact that I start smiling at page one and don’t stop until the end – well, with the exception of when I spit coke all over the place from laughing out loud!
I really hope Simone decides to continue Amy and Avi’s story one day. As much as I love all her others, THIS is her true masterpiece I think.
Have you read these books? What is your favorite Simone Elkeles book?
