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jenryland

jenryland

Not Exactly a Love Story - Audrey Couloumbis Sometimes, there's nothing like old-school YA, sans vampires, swoony insta-love, and dystopian doom and gloom. Not Exactly a Love Story was a refreshing change of pace. Sometimes I enjoy reading about a breathtakingly gorgeous kickbutt heroine with two hot guys drooling over her, but after that I'm SO ready for some realistic teen characters, complete with acne and insecurities and real-life problems.Vinnie's mom has decided that she wants to reinvent herself, which involves ditching Vinnie's father and then falling in love with her son's gym teacher. As a result, Vinnie has to move from Queens to suburban Long Island and start at a new school. His new stepfather keeps trying to make him into a jock. He falls in love with his new neighbor, Patsy, and knows that a beautiful, popular girl like her will never go for a guy like him. And he has no superpowers. So he calls her ... anonymously. Yes, this is possible in the 1970s!Vinnie and Patsy begin to talk regularly. The form a bond. They share confidences. Patsy begins a game of trying to guess her mystery caller's name and ... of course, she wants to meet up.I thought the story started to drag a little in the middle, but then a sudden plot development re-energized things and I was dying to find out how this tale of unrequited love and courtship by proxy would resolve. Not Exactly a Love Story is a funny, touching look at a regular guy's quest for the girl next door.Read my full review and discuss and win great YA books on my blog!