Dear Loyal but Probably Minimal Blog-Readers,

I have returned! You can all recover from your drought of chick lit advice and drink from the pool of suggestions! (I. Love. Metaphors.)

“Shug” by Jenny Han

SUMMARY: Shug has gotten her first crush! On her been-neighbors-forever best friend, no less. As she tries to wade through her new awkward middle school feelings, she experiences what many of us remember from middle school: not fitting in, and BOYS! 

Another successful story by Jenny Han. When I checked out this book, I thought to myself, “Has my reading level really decreased so much to the point where I am reading 5 grade levels below where I should be?” But I am shameless. I read this book in one sitting. I laughed, I cried (not really… but I was sad).

Just as good writing transports us to another place, Jenny has put us back into our ill-fitting clothes and we go right back to middle school with Shug. I forgot what an emotional hell hole middle school could be.

This actually spurred a good conversation with my friend Kendall. We reminisced about how in middle school, everyone basically hated themselves and their clothes never quite fit right. Also, I would always have a heart attack whenever I even talked to a boy I liked. Good times, good times.

About the Author: This is Jenny’s first book. Han graduated from the same place as Sarah Dessen, University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina! Totally applying there. She’s also freakin’ hilarious. Read her blog here. Jenny’s next book will be coming out in Fall of 2012, about 3 girls and revenge. You can bet I’ll be on the waiting list for that one. 

“The Last Song” by Nicholas Sparks (yes, Miley Cyrus movie)

SUMMARY: Ronnie is an estranged teenager who comes down South to visit her dad who she hasn’t seen in 3 years. She’s all teen angsty and stuff. However, as she starts building her relationship with her dad, Ronnie also meets Will, who she takes a romantic interest in (didn’t see that one coming!) Believe me, you cannot read this book and NOT picture Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth. 

The first thing I thought when I finished this book? “Sparks is losing his touch, man.” He’s basically TELLING you that Ronnie will end up with Will in the end. If you are really surprised by the end of the book, you need to read more chick lit!

Most of the Sparks’ classics that I’ve read (the Notebook, A Walk to Remember) flowed very well and the storyline progressed naturally. However, “The Last Song” was written in a way that made me feel as though I was reading a teenage-novelist sell-out that is writing not out of his heart or his need to tell a story, BUT HIS WALLET. I’m talking to you, Sparks!!!

However, with the harshest criticisms aside, the read itself was fine, and sometimes even a real page-turner. Most of my friends who have read the book said they sobbed like babies, and I even teared up (the unemotional, stone-hearted reader that I am… I never cry during books). I have yet to see the movie. Here is an excellent review of the movie by Roger Ebert.

About the author: He’s a half-woman. Not really, but this is a very strong speculation. How can he write books with such emotional depth and NOT be a woman?

“Treasure Map of Boys” by E. Lockhart

This is part of a four-part book series (The Boyfriend List, The Boy Book, Treasure Map of Boys, Real Live Boyfriends)

SUMMARY: It’s all over the place. Ruby Oliver writes a list of all the boyfriends she has had since birth (“The Boyfriend List”) and it gets found by evil other-teenagers, and she gets labeled as a ho. Now when she does have boyfriends, she has to ask herself “What are they after? My mind? OR SOMETHING ELSE?” She also has to deal with girl drama on top of all of her guy drama. TEENANGSTTEENANGST. 

This series is not amazing, but it’s a chill enjoyable read if there’s nothing purely amazing in your grasp that’s waiting to be read. It’s pretty funny, and E. Lockhart manages to come up with an unlikely, dramatic, but purely entertaining plotline.

About the Author: Her first name is EMILY. It’s supposed to be a secret, but she accidentally revealed it in an email address and now the secret is out! Mu-ha-ha.