Author: Katie Sise
Format Acquired: eARC
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Publishing House: Balzer & Bray
ISBN: 9780062195265
Source of Copy: Edelweiss
Summary:
In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can't wait to get out of high school. Her father's death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worst nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.
But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed by a high schooler - and the $200,000 that comes with it. She develops something she calls the Boyfriend App, and suddenly she's the talk of the school and getting kissed by the hottest boys around. But can the Boyfriend App bring Audrey true love?
Review:
I had my reservations about this one. Yes, it sounded cute. Yes, it had me curious, especially what with the popularity of apps - be they downright life-changing or weird. (And to be perfectly honest, if a real Boyfriend App ever appeared on iTunes, I would have probably downloaded it, just for laughs.) But more importantly, I am a sucker for cutesy contemporary reads, and I have been short-changed a LOT of times.
Well, The Boyfriend App is as cutesy as cutesy can get, but it also packed surprises that sent me re-reading some sentences and paragraphs just to see if I got it right.
When Audrey's father died in a "freak accident" in her then-best friend's dad's office, her normal life took a nose dive. Her ex-BFF, Blake Dawkins, hates her enough to taunt her in full view of the entire school, including her mother who works as the cafeteria supervisor, and the fact that she may not even attend college becomes a jarring reality. When Dawkins' company, Public, holds a nationwide contest for budding app developers to get a chance to win $200, 000, Audrey knows that she should take the chance, even if it means she has to come face-to-face with people who may or may not have something to do with her father's demise. And when Audrey comes up with the Boyfriend App, she discovers that there may be more to Public than meets the eye.
It was hard not to feel for Audrey. Her mom gets to see her humiliated during lunch on a frequent basis, and her ex-BFF is pretty much one of the witchiest witches I have ever read about, and her dad is publicly shamed as a loser who just wasn't careful enough not to die within company premises. On top of that, the guy she's crushing on treats her like a friend, and with the money problems her family faces, she may not even go to college. It seems that the only thing Audrey has going for her is her upbeat attitude, mad developing skills which she learned from her dad, her cool and fashion-savvy cousin Lindsay. If I were in Audrey's place, I would have personally taken myself on a bungee-jumping spree into the Bottomless Pit of Depression that even the frigging sun wouldn't be able to shed some light on me. Audrey was full of surprises, and I liked that about her. I couldn't say the same about the romantic interests, however. I got the impression that Aidan knew Audrey very well, but it doesn't really give me any other clues about his character. Xander was too mysterious for my liking and didn't really serve any actual purpose that would give credence to actively involve him in the storyline, but I have got to say that I did find myself quite intrigued by him, as odd as that sounds.
Plotwise, I thought it was pretty okay, though some things became a bit too contrived when it came to the last few chapters. Reading all about the frenzy the girls participated in warranted a chuckle from me as Audrey practically made all their wishes come true. However, the pacing threw me off a little, because Sise may have crammed more action than the book can actually handle. Tidbits about app developing were fun to read about though, as anything that spurs a flashing error message is well beyond me.
The Boyfriend App is a fun read that subtly asks us about the extent we're willing to go with technology. What with all the free rein it's getting, isn't it high time to consider that we, the masters, have become the slaves to our own creation too?
If you're hankering for a modern, cute contemporary read, The Boyfriend App might help cater to that craving. Fans of Meg Cabot's Airhead trilogy might want to check this one out as well.
Source of Copy: Edelweiss
Summary:
In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can't wait to get out of high school. Her father's death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worst nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.
But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed by a high schooler - and the $200,000 that comes with it. She develops something she calls the Boyfriend App, and suddenly she's the talk of the school and getting kissed by the hottest boys around. But can the Boyfriend App bring Audrey true love?
Review:
I had my reservations about this one. Yes, it sounded cute. Yes, it had me curious, especially what with the popularity of apps - be they downright life-changing or weird. (And to be perfectly honest, if a real Boyfriend App ever appeared on iTunes, I would have probably downloaded it, just for laughs.) But more importantly, I am a sucker for cutesy contemporary reads, and I have been short-changed a LOT of times.
Well, The Boyfriend App is as cutesy as cutesy can get, but it also packed surprises that sent me re-reading some sentences and paragraphs just to see if I got it right.
When Audrey's father died in a "freak accident" in her then-best friend's dad's office, her normal life took a nose dive. Her ex-BFF, Blake Dawkins, hates her enough to taunt her in full view of the entire school, including her mother who works as the cafeteria supervisor, and the fact that she may not even attend college becomes a jarring reality. When Dawkins' company, Public, holds a nationwide contest for budding app developers to get a chance to win $200, 000, Audrey knows that she should take the chance, even if it means she has to come face-to-face with people who may or may not have something to do with her father's demise. And when Audrey comes up with the Boyfriend App, she discovers that there may be more to Public than meets the eye.
It was hard not to feel for Audrey. Her mom gets to see her humiliated during lunch on a frequent basis, and her ex-BFF is pretty much one of the witchiest witches I have ever read about, and her dad is publicly shamed as a loser who just wasn't careful enough not to die within company premises. On top of that, the guy she's crushing on treats her like a friend, and with the money problems her family faces, she may not even go to college. It seems that the only thing Audrey has going for her is her upbeat attitude, mad developing skills which she learned from her dad, her cool and fashion-savvy cousin Lindsay. If I were in Audrey's place, I would have personally taken myself on a bungee-jumping spree into the Bottomless Pit of Depression that even the frigging sun wouldn't be able to shed some light on me. Audrey was full of surprises, and I liked that about her. I couldn't say the same about the romantic interests, however. I got the impression that Aidan knew Audrey very well, but it doesn't really give me any other clues about his character. Xander was too mysterious for my liking and didn't really serve any actual purpose that would give credence to actively involve him in the storyline, but I have got to say that I did find myself quite intrigued by him, as odd as that sounds.
Plotwise, I thought it was pretty okay, though some things became a bit too contrived when it came to the last few chapters. Reading all about the frenzy the girls participated in warranted a chuckle from me as Audrey practically made all their wishes come true. However, the pacing threw me off a little, because Sise may have crammed more action than the book can actually handle. Tidbits about app developing were fun to read about though, as anything that spurs a flashing error message is well beyond me.
The Boyfriend App is a fun read that subtly asks us about the extent we're willing to go with technology. What with all the free rein it's getting, isn't it high time to consider that we, the masters, have become the slaves to our own creation too?
If you're hankering for a modern, cute contemporary read, The Boyfriend App might help cater to that craving. Fans of Meg Cabot's Airhead trilogy might want to check this one out as well.
Rating:
P.S. Two copies are up for grabs, but it's open to people who have a Philippine address only.
P.P.S. Much thanks to Chyna over at Lite-Rate-Ture for letting me join the blog tour! :)
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