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ohnopatrick's review against another edition
3.0
The book was entertaining and a quick read. Sometimes it was hard to read because the protagonist, Denis Cooverman, was pretty much crapped on until the last 40 or 50 pages. There were embarrassing situations galore and a fairly accurate portrayal of high school...although it was a little like high school in Technicolor. Meaning it was overdone. Too much like high school. High School stereotypes blown up to near mythic proportions.
Anyway, the book doesn't really resolve, or begin to resolve, anything until the last 40 pages or so and even then the ending is so quick as to be almost completely unsatisfying.
It was a fun read and one I'd recommend. Just don't pass up something like [book:The Time Travler's Wife] for it.
Anyway, the book doesn't really resolve, or begin to resolve, anything until the last 40 pages or so and even then the ending is so quick as to be almost completely unsatisfying.
It was a fun read and one I'd recommend. Just don't pass up something like [book:The Time Travler's Wife] for it.
mkaybaker07's review against another edition
3.0
I'm giving this a lower rating because the guy who narrated it had the most obnoxious, nasally voice known to man. I get that they were trying to go for the freshly graduated high school senior guy, but this was just too much. I generally enjoyed the story, it was pretty simplistic, definitely a good summer/end of summer read.
lconrad15's review against another edition
4.0
I found this one a pretty entertaining summer read. Definitely reminiscent of all those late 90s, early 2000s coming of age movies, but I'm not hating that seen as how that's when I came of age.
fiestada's review against another edition
5.0
I was never a teenage boy, but I imagine this is a pretty accurate representation. Really really funny.
mikelchartier's review against another edition
3.0
What's unfortunate about this book is that the author (verbose in a good way, cliche in a very, very bad way) didn't distinguish himself or this story in any memorable way. I'm pretty sure I've actually seen this movie, even though at the time of this writing it's still in production (under the direction of Chris Columbus....yawn). I think it starred Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Otherwise, it's another fun book to turn your brain off and wonder at how this kid survived the many beatings he did in one night.
I did, however, genuinely enjoy that the stereotype best friend didn't have the really lame and highly anticipated coming-out sub-plot in the end. He comes out, but subsequently doesn't like that either and leaves himself in a search for other alternatives.
It'senjoyable tolerable in the end, some laugh out loud funny moments, but nothing I'm jumping to recommend to anyone any time soon.
Otherwise, it's another fun book to turn your brain off and wonder at how this kid survived the many beatings he did in one night.
I did, however, genuinely enjoy that the stereotype best friend didn't have the really lame and highly anticipated coming-out sub-plot in the end. He comes out, but subsequently doesn't like that either and leaves himself in a search for other alternatives.
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mbrandmaier's review against another edition
5.0
Oh that poor bastard Denis! Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
nationofkim's review against another edition
4.0
hilarious. sort of a can't hardly wait/pretty in pink/breakfast club kind of book...
heykaren23's review against another edition
5.0
What a joyous romp for a debut novel! I'm not the person who keeps many books -I generally swap 'em out or take 'em to the library. But, after I finished this book in one day, I kept it. I knew I would read it a few more times. I actually gave it to a friend to read and I never do that but I think anyone who is a fan of funny writing should read this book. At times, sweet, funny and vicious - it IS the perfect read for summer.
banrions's review against another edition
3.0
I came across this book by accident, and I am very glad that I did. I was aware that this was a movie, I saw some of it, then found the book. This author is hilarious, there is no question about it. He takes a complete nerd, Denis, and makes him declare his love for the head cheerleader, Beth Cooper, during his valedictorian speech. This might have been endearing if Beth Cooper had known who Denis was, thus, the evening unfolds. Beth, and her two sidekicks, Cammy and Treece, decide to join Denis and his best friend Rich (who may or not be gay) for a bit of a laugh. Beth's boyfriend, Kevin, a rather large member of the U.S. Army who does coke for fun and likes to beat up people for entertainment, doesn't quite find Denis' declaration of love very funny or sweet. Horrible driving, cow-tipping, party crashing, breaking and entering, consummation of alcohol, various beat downs, lose of clothing, many one liners from every movie possible, kissing, possible sex, hopes for the future, and something like friendship ensues.
The characters may start as stereotypes but they are quickly (and realistically) brought to fully fleshed out characters that you root for. The entire novel is just hilarious and worth it for a laugh, but the author is smart, and you will enjoy the ride.
The characters may start as stereotypes but they are quickly (and realistically) brought to fully fleshed out characters that you root for. The entire novel is just hilarious and worth it for a laugh, but the author is smart, and you will enjoy the ride.
joelkarpowitz's review against another edition
3.0
Doyle, who used to write for "The Simpsons" has a pretty good take on high school life today. The set-up is great, and while the book sometimes drops into crassness and raunchy behavior, so does a lot of high school life. Still, Denis Cooverman, the protagonist, is likeable and funny, if a little unbelievable (no high schooler knows THAT much about medicine, the law, AND quantum theory, even if he is valedictorian and captain of the debate team), and the fact that Beth Cooper turns out to be not limited to Cooverman's idealized angel but actually a complex character only adds some nice layers to the book.
Really, this is your traditional high school comedy film in book form--it could sit between The Breakfast Club and Superbad if it were a movie. Overall, it's an entertaining and quick read, though not for those who still think high school students are innocent angels.
Really, this is your traditional high school comedy film in book form--it could sit between The Breakfast Club and Superbad if it were a movie. Overall, it's an entertaining and quick read, though not for those who still think high school students are innocent angels.