impybelle's review against another edition
3.0
Fake Boyfriend is probably just as good as you suspect it'll be, but not as good as you secretly hope it will be. Vivi and Lane are the only characters to truly approach three dimensional status and even that's a little iffy. Which is fine, actually, because Isabelle needs to be perfect, Shawn needs to be a jerk, and since the story is told through Vivi and Lane, you're not going to really get to know Marshall [he's Vivi's brother:] and Jonathon is eye candy with a brain.
Had the book been longer, it would have helped. The whole thing feels rushed, and I hope it's supposed to feel that way given the time frame Vivi and Lane are working on, but still, you want there to be more.
And frankly, I probably could have done with a little less Vivi and a little more Lane.
Had the book been longer, it would have helped. The whole thing feels rushed, and I hope it's supposed to feel that way given the time frame Vivi and Lane are working on, but still, you want there to be more.
And frankly, I probably could have done with a little less Vivi and a little more Lane.
allymuddyorbs's review against another edition
4.0
The twist somewhere around the end was really unexpected since Vivi never thought that Izzy could fool her. But apparently she could.
I got really annoyed with how Izzy would keep going back to Sluttig even though she knows that he's no good for her. She believes that there's good in all people and you can't blame her for that, but what you CAN blame her for is constantly giving Shawn an infinite number of chances. You would think that for someone who was as smart as was depicted in the book, she'd have little more backbone and actually kick him to the curb, but instead she cradles and cuddles him like he's some little child that needs to be saved.
Honestly, who would go back to their cheating boyfriend when they've already caught the guy in the act?
The relationship of Lane and Curtis was fun to read. It was easy to relate to that certain element in the story because it was something that happened to nearly all of us. I nearly jumped up in happiness when I read that Curtis felt the same for Lane and that he was waiting to ask her to prom.
Vivi and Jonathan are hilarious to read about because you don't expect a pushy girl like Vivi to get into a relationship with someone as clean cut as Jonathan. She even said herself at first that he wasn't her type because he was too "goody-goody".
The ending was something to be expected. Everyone ended up with who they like and they all live happily ever after. It's definitely a story you want to read when you're "comfort reading" because it's a book that really makes you feel good once you've finished it.
I got really annoyed with how Izzy would keep going back to Sluttig even though she knows that he's no good for her. She believes that there's good in all people and you can't blame her for that, but what you CAN blame her for is constantly giving Shawn an infinite number of chances. You would think that for someone who was as smart as was depicted in the book, she'd have little more backbone and actually kick him to the curb, but instead she cradles and cuddles him like he's some little child that needs to be saved.
Honestly, who would go back to their cheating boyfriend when they've already caught the guy in the act?
The relationship of Lane and Curtis was fun to read. It was easy to relate to that certain element in the story because it was something that happened to nearly all of us. I nearly jumped up in happiness when I read that Curtis felt the same for Lane and that he was waiting to ask her to prom.
Vivi and Jonathan are hilarious to read about because you don't expect a pushy girl like Vivi to get into a relationship with someone as clean cut as Jonathan. She even said herself at first that he wasn't her type because he was too "goody-goody".
The ending was something to be expected. Everyone ended up with who they like and they all live happily ever after. It's definitely a story you want to read when you're "comfort reading" because it's a book that really makes you feel good once you've finished it.
notawhitegirl's review against another edition
3.0
The book was really good! the ending was something you wouldn't expect.
nataliesboooks's review against another edition
4.0
Cheesy and a little dated (omg remember MySpace???) but still cute. I always enjoy Kate Brian’s characters, plots, and New Jersey references (this one even referenced the Newark Airport!) and I liked this one a lot. The perfect cute, light, and slightly implausible read to get me out of a reading slump.
maidmarianlib's review
2.0
Pure fluff. Some fun characters and the twist at the end is nice but the overall ending leaves a lot to be desired.
nofy's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
nofy's review against another edition
3.0
2,5
Read this when I was like 12, hahaha. I loved it back then, it was my first romance book. It's really cute but upon re-reading it, i didn't like it that much anymore. I'm still all about Curtis and Lane tho
Read this when I was like 12, hahaha. I loved it back then, it was my first romance book. It's really cute but upon re-reading it, i didn't like it that much anymore. I'm still all about Curtis and Lane tho
brookey8888's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a reread for me, but I read it when I was in like grade school. Reading it now it’s not amazing but it was entertaining and a cute read, but nothing life changing. This has a nice group of supportive friends. Which I appreciate because it’s always good to see that.
If I didn’t read this when I was younger I probably wouldn’t have liked it as much. I just think it’s a fun and cute read. I do really like one of the relationships that happens. I did find vivi really annoying during this reread though.
If I didn’t read this when I was younger I probably wouldn’t have liked it as much. I just think it’s a fun and cute read. I do really like one of the relationships that happens. I did find vivi really annoying during this reread though.
theresidentbookworm's review
3.0
Okay, so I like Kate Brian (and I loved the Private series until it started getting weird), but something about the premise of Fake Boyfriend rubs me the wrong way. I understand being the friend of a person whose boyfriend is a total a-hole and that friend being unable to see it. My friend Caroline's last boyfriend (who will now be referred to as He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named) was such an asshat of the highest nature that sometimes I just wanted to hit him over the head with a shovel. Still, I'm not sure I would create a fake guy online for her to fall for to get over the ex and then hire a guy to be her prom date. It's just way too sitcom for me. Also, who would go to prom with a guy they met on the Internet? That's very creepy, and Caroline would never go for it. She'd be afraid he's a serial killer. So, Kate Brian, I like you, I really do. Fake Boyfriend, however, could have been better. Friends don't lie to friends to get them away from bad boyfriends. We just wait until the relationship fails (because bad boyfriends make mistakes), and then we comfort them with ice cream and bad movies and mental I told you so's.