Jenna Guillaume

2.5 Stars rounded up to 3

Well I ended up enjoying this body positive YA novel about friendships, first love and being happy with who you are.

I am glad I persevered as it was touch and go in the first few chapters as I didn't think I was going to like the main character. However, as I got to know her and could relate to all her insecurities and poor self image I warmed to her. There's probably a bit too much teen drama and it's quite predictable so go in with the right expectations.

… (mere)

Let's face it...although most media sources would have you believe that everyone is or needs to be a size 5...most aren't. You know what though? That's okay. We're all meant to be different, and the fact that she's a size 4 and that person over there is a size 18 and you hiding in the shadows is a 26...all of that is just numbers. The beauty of YOU is in not simply your exterior, but your thoughts, actions, and confidence. Your real beauty may not be measured by conventional standards, but those that choose to measure it and find it not lacking in the least are the ones worth knowing, the ones worth keeping, the ones we call home.

That's the power of this book. Sure, it's Contemporary YA Lit, but it's got a wider net appeal than simply that audience. Who couldn't use a reminder that they ARE all that, plus or minus the bag of chips? I mean, Maisie Martin is definitely the girl to know, as are her new friends (Leila and the crew...so cool!), old annoyances (Beamer...*snicker*), and unexpectedly, her family (yeah, SO didn't think I'd say that especially with the mother and sister issues, but sometimes things aren't what they seem!). I laughed when she was trying to ward off Beamer's less than subtle advances (well, less than subtle to readers, not so much the heart stricken Maise). I cringed when I saw exactly what was coming with the ill-fated carnival visit. I was prepared to do battle when her crush was being such an a**hat, and her mother kept running her down! Seriously, two words for you....SUPPORT SYSTEM!

In the end, I was so glad to be along for the ride, crazy as it was at times, and ecstatic to see Maisie get what was really coming to her. It dealt with issues that today's teens (and adults!) deal with all the time, but in a real manner. It didn't gloss over the tough parts, or let things slide on a technicality either. It held everyone accountable and put their feet to the fire...even the somewhat favored big sister, before and after the big reveal! It's not a perfect story, but it's perfectly suited to spread the word that you, yourself are perfect just the way you are.


**copy received for review; opinions are my own… (mere)

"You Were Made For Me was a cute read with little substance, although I did find myself chuckling in parts. While I liked the idea of Libby and Katie creating the perfect guy, I wasn't a fan of the writing style. Katie is recording the events with Libby, her best friend and co-creator, who is looking over her shoulder interrupting and making comments as the story advances. Also, Katie made a lot of poor choices which annoyed me and the ending was predictable, almost from the first page. So, while I quite enjoyed "You Were Made For Me" I didn't love it.… (mere)

Katie is 16 years old and never been kissed, so she and her friend do what any two girls in that circumstance will do - they created a boy! And not just any boy, but the perfect boy for Katie, literally. And Guy is the sweetest, sexiest, cutest boy around. But as we all know, things rarely turn out perfect.

I loved the feminist take on Weird Science. Katie and Libby are best friends who actually act like best friends, including calling each other out when one or the other is making a mistake. I also liked the other kids who hung out with them. I had a problem with the amount of bullying that happened at school, though, which not a single teacher seemed to see, even though it was happening pretty much right out in the open. That was a bit of a sticking point for me, but that's probably the mama bear in me coming out. I was pleasantly surprised by how sweet and emotional the story was otherwise. This was a very quick read for me because it was well written and the pace moved along at a nice pace.

In summary, I really liked this book and highly recommend it. I'm giving it 4/5 stars.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley free of charge in exchange for my honest review.… (mere)