Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Review: The Fill-In Boyfriend

The Fill-In Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Published: May 5th, 2015
Paperback, 352 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

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's 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.

I was so excited the minute I picked this book up. Kasie West has not disappointed me and this book was no exception. She finds a way to devise a plot that's unique and fun  with tons of drama along the way. The Fill-In Boyfriend is the perfect contemporary book with just the fun plot I was looking for. Gia has been dying to prove to her friends that her boyfriend, Bradley, really exists, and prom night is the perfect time for it. But when he breaks up with her in the parking lot of the school, she doesn't know what to do. So she grabs the first guy she can find, a brother waiting for his sister, and convinces him to be her fill-in boyfriend for the evening. He reluctantly agrees and they have a great night together. And who wouldn't fall for the fill-in, a charming guy who follows along with the plan and woos her friends at the same time. Which is why, days later, Gia is still thinking about him instead of Bradley and badly wants to see him again.

This book is full of little white lies, trying to win back exes and moments where those lies mean nothing and the two people involved find truth in their schemes. The more time Gia and fill-in Bradley spend together, the more they realize they like each other. Exes get in the way, Gia's frienemy tries so hard to prove that she's lying, and Gia's afraid to fall after having her heart broken by Bradley. It was a quick read with lots of fun, swoon worthy moments and the kind of ending I'd expect from Kasie West. This was the perfect summer read, a book about the end of the school, the beginning of new things, and finding what you wanted when you least expected it. It's about jumping in and not looking back, falling in love and the problems that come with it. Gia and fill-in Bradley were so cute together. He was perfect for her even though it took awhile for them both to realize it. Gia makes some mistakes along the way and she risks friendships for them, but that's what life is all about, taking risks and dealing with the consequences later. One of my favourite parts was when fill-in Bradley revealed his name. The whole conversation was adorable and yes the anticipation killed me. I devour Kasie's books in one day and this one was just the kind of book to spend an afternoon reading. Seriously, so cute.

"You know what we've succeeded in doing with this game?"
"What's that?"
"Increasing the anticipation."
He laughed. "I know right? Can I just be fill-in Bradley forever?"

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