Review: The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris

So how do you steal someone's boyfriend?

It sounds pretty easy, but it's not, even to someone as smart as Avery James.

Title: The Boyfriend Thief by Shana Norris
Pages: ? (Kindle Edition)
Release Date: June 29th 2011
Published by: Shana Norris
Source: Bought
Buy: Amazon

Summary (from Goodreads):

Avery James has her life planned out: this summer she'll work with a humanitarian program in Costa Rica, next year she'll graduate at the top of her class, and after that, college and medical school. Perfect, planned, total order.

The only problem: getting the rest of the money she needs for the trip before the deadline. Hannah Cohen, her biggest competition for the valedictorian title, makes an unexpected offer: If Avery can win over Zac Greeley and make him break up with Hannah before the end of the school year, a check for five hundred dollars is all hers. Faced with the prospect of spending yet another summer working as a giant hot dog, it's an offer Avery can't refuse.

Zac is nothing like Avery expected. Within his chaotic world of midnight slushie runs and spontaneous dance parties, her total order is quickly falling apart while Hannah seems poised to get everything she wants. But just how much is Avery willing to give up for the perfect, planned life?

I've read Shana Norris' other book, Troy High a couple of months ago and I loved it, so when I stumbled upon this book, I know I'm going to read it.

Avery James is smart. Very smart. But even with her superb knowledge, it didn't make her life the least bit easy. Her mother deserted her family, she's going head to head against a girl who was once her best friend, and she's saving up every penny she can get for a trip to Costa Rica. It wasn't easy, and they weren't rich, so Avery had to find ways to get more money. Then her ex-bestfriend, Hannah, comes into the picture, hiring Avery to steal her boyfriend away. But can Avery swallow her pride and do it to fulfill her dream?

This book is filled with a ton of drama. A lot of conflict seemed to be ongoing most of the time, it's easy to get lost in the story. It takes a while to like Avery, because for all her intelligence, she had made a pretty big mess out of her life. Turning a best friend to an arch enemy with a single mistake, losing the other one in the process and blaming herself for her mom leaving her family. I sympathized with her at the start, but Avery came off as a very selfish girl, stubborn, quick to judge and see the worst of people. She's also cynical of relationships and dismisses the idea of love pretty quickly. On the other hand, her struggles in life and her perseverance to overcome them, along with her moments of weakness makes her very real and gradually I liked her.

Zac is probably one of the most flawed male leads I have ever read of. Childish to the point that it's annoying, and at first glance, he's probably the first person you'll think of failing in life. He wasn't smart, and he likes to do a lot of crazy things that drives his girlfriend crazy. From the start, you'll wonder how he ended up with a fiercely competitive, straight laced girl like Hannah. But as I read more about Zac, I realized that beneath all the imperfections, there's a genuine guy with problems and dreams and reasons why he is what he is. To be honest, I liked his character more than Avery. I pitied him because Hannah couldn't see him as someone more than just a bother, and Avery did, which is admirable if you ask me.

Avery and Zac couldn't be more different than each other. It's ironic how they ended up pairing for a matchmaking project when they have entirely different opinions about love. No matter how shallow Zac appears, he's pretty sensitive and smart when it comes to relationships and people. He's the one person who can see through Avery. I love how they always seem to quarrel but they have great chemistry when they allow themselves to loosen up!

This is another one of those stories where people should never be quick to judge. Give people a chance, take the time to know them before you form opinions and judgments. Avery thought of the worst in Elliott because he was her ex-bestfriend, and she had her prejudice against Zac too, all of which were cleared up when she spent time with both guys. Elliott isn't a bad person too, and if only Avery gave him another chance, she wouldn't have lost a best friend, wouldn't have to hide a secret that will ruin her newly formed friendship with Molly.

The Boyfriend Thief tells us a story about trust and friendships, family, and most of all, giving others second chances. Avery's relationship with her family seemed strained, at times a struggle, but she loved her father and brother so much. It's a story about accepting your mistakes and learning from them, like what happened to her and Elliott, and sometimes, accepting that things can never go back to the way it was before, like what happened to her with Hannah, and ultimately, to not deny yourself happiness, just because you think you don't deserve it, like what happened to her and Zac.

Overall, The Boyfriend Thief is a wonderful novel. It's worth the while to read it. Typical, with characters you'll hate, but eventually love, with a story that will make you appreciate family and friends, and with romance that will make you laugh and giggle at the end. It's sweet and entertaining!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Okay: Liked, but The Goddess demands more!

Book Cover:

Very cute cover. Love the chucks!