The Fill In Boyfriend ♥ by Kasie West Review

The Fill In Boyfriend
Kasie West

• Publisher: HarperTeen (May 5, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-13: 978-0062336385
• Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
• Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles
• Source: Personal Physical Purchase
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• Synopsis: When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she decides to do the unthinkable…convince the cute guy waiting to pick up his sister to pretend to be her boyfriend for the night. The task is simple: two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. The problem is that days after prom, she can't stop thinking about her fill-in boyfriend. 
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• But can Gia turn her fake boyfriend into a real one without exposing her lie and possibly destroying her friendships and her newfound relationship? Smartly observed and wonderfully romantic, Kasie West's talent shines in this tale of one girl's unexpected quest to find love…and possibly herself.

• Gia Montgomery's boyfriend Bradley breaks up with her in the parking lot of her high school prom. She is left stranded with no boyfriend and no ride home, so she asks a guy who is waiting to pick up his sister from the prom to be her fake boyfriend. Gia is afraid to destroy her friendship so she chooses to lie and saves her face. The thing is there is another new girl in Gia's circle, Jules. Jules despises Gia and claims she is lying about her boyfriend Bradley. She hates Gia because she is popular and the leader of the group, Jules wants that spot. Furthermore, Gia is insecure, she loves her friends but deep down she doesn't trust them enough or know that they will believe her. The mystery guy is to be her pretend boyfriend for two hours and break up with her so her friends don't see him ever again. So, what happens when Gia starts falling for the fake boyfriend? Will her friendships be destroyed with her lies?

• Previously, I had read Kasie West's On The Fence, and I DNF'ed it. I feel I might have judged the book too quickly because I really loved The Fill In Boyfriend. The Fill In Boyfriend sounded like a cliche novel when I picked it up. However, it's much more than a cute, fluffy romance novel for the summer. It is a slightly intense self-discovery novel with romance. It's also about drama, family, friendship, and conflict. I kind of got teary at two parts in the novel which just made me want to scream or go awe. This novel is not about popularity - it's about loneliness and insecurities. It's about having a "perfect life" but it doesn't seem perfect to you. It's a fantastic novel that one could read in just one setting, more novels like this please! I have a secret fascination with couples who pretend at first, but then they actually fall in love, it's too cute.

• Gia Montgomery is popular, and she's quite immature. She seems senseless, shallow, and conceited but then again she is just a teenager. She's like one of the Queen Bee's at school except she's more nicer. She doesn't criticize anyone, but neither does she defend people who are bullied. She would be a part of the bystander effect who laughs just to fit in. Her character is actually fantastic, I'm sure many readers would love a heroine who raises her voice, however, realistically, many people usually don't. The great thing is she does reach character growth eventually. I find reviews criticizing her immature mistakes a bit harsh because at one point everyone has made immature mistakes in their life, the point is to never do them again and learn from them. You have to screw up in order to grow up don't you? I can't think of a single person who's never made a immature mistake and has been wise since birth. 

• The Fill In Boyfriend's name is kept mystery until more than 30% into the novel. I actually loved the surprise and the name - it does spoil the mystery factor of his name if reviews mention it, even the premise doesn't mention it. I'm just glad I went blind into this novel. The romance is amazing though, I was rooting for both of these characters - I so ship their romance. The male lead is a bit dorky and awkward which is something unique, he is quite cute but he's not emphasized as drop dead gorgeous as most books do. It's realistic, and many people can relate to this novel.

• Overall, this novel did surprise me. It deserves all the hype it has received because ultimately it has a great message in the end. Being true to yourself. Kasie West does a wonderful job on exploring families and conflict in them. Gia might seem like she has the most perfect family, but they're flawed. It's a swoon worthy novel with several cutesy moments, I giggled and laughed at several parts. I also cried with the characters, and if a book can tear me up, then it's definitely meant to be. A flaw in the novel is when Gia actually slaps one of the male characters because she is insulted, I don't accept violence unless it's self defense or a duel. I do wish there was more insight into Jules story. We never actually get to know if karma hits her or not. It would be interesting to read her story in the future. Furthermore, it's not a perfect novel, however, The Fill In Boyfriend is one of the best young adult novels that I would really recommend. This is being added to my favorites, Kasie West has a new fan now.

Recommended for fans of The Truth about Forever, The Distance Between Us, and On The Fence.

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“Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” —Nora Ephron 

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