ARC Review: Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom

The course of true love never did run smooth, and it got as many bumps and was as difficult as it can get in Justina's case. This is a love story of twists and turns, bends and curves and one girl's dilemma. How do you know if it's the right time? If he really likes you? If he's more than a friend or just a friend? The question goes on and on.

Title: Ditched: A Love Story by Robim Mellom
Pages: 288
Release Date: January 10th 2012
Published by: Disney Hyperion
Source: Publisher
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary:

High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom. Designer dresses and strappy heels? Not her thing. So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then ditched her.

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together — stain by stain on her thrift-store dress — exactly how she ended up dateless. A three-legged Chihuahua was involved. Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac. And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor. Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag's moving car...

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her. And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

Filled with humor, charm, and romance, Ditched: A Love Story by debut novelist Robin Mellom will have readers dreaming of love on their own prom nights.

Assumptions. Assumptions. Assumptions. I think we girls are the queens and the masters of assuming anything and everything. We think we know it all by putting meanings on a guy's gestures or the way he speaks or what he says to us but sometimes things aren't as complicated as we thought. Justina and Ian have been friends since the day they bonded over a silver bat, and until today, they insist that they are just "friends". But Justina's ready to take that first step, to cross that dangerous line between friends and lovers. The only problem is? Does Ian feel the same way? Or is it just her?

Connecting with Justina was never a problem. She's you and me and every other girl who is going through the intricacies of love the first time around. It wasn't easy because the subject of her affection is her best friend, and we all know that once you become lovers, you can never go back to just being friends if it doesn't work out.She obsesses about every single thing there is to worry about and she's very concerned with keeping up with appearances. It doesn't help that she's a notorious serial kisser but like I said, some of us had a wild teenage life and Justina, in her quest for finding the one for her, might have made a not so pleasant reputation for herself.

Sometimes you find friends in the most unexpected of places and times. Justina had the advantage of having fresh eyes and ears when she was reliving the story of her very disastrous prom night while stranded in a 7-eleven with a stain filled dress, without money and a $350 debt. Donna and Gilda had experience and I love that no matter how jaded or skeptical they might be, they were there for Justina, and though their wisdom might not be the best, they helped Justina clear the haze of disappointment, confusion and outrageous behavior the night before gave her while sharing their experiences as well. Also, stoners Mike and Mike and their girlfriends (though I never approve of their behavior!) helped Justina in more ways than Hailey or even Ian could. They might be a bunch of kids who love getting high but no matter how appalling their behaviors were, Justina found friends in them. And they made Justina's night all the more interesting.

Ian might be a "professional boyfriend", but he's the kind of guy best friend you want to have, and the kind of guy who you want to fall in love as well. Who wouldn't want to have an extremely caring guy friend? The kind who worries about you and your needs, who is so kind sometimes it's not funny anymore.

Ditched is a cute, fluffy read that made me smile when I remember my own prom night. You feel the anxiety, the giddiness, the nervousness and all the feelings, whether they be good or bad, that comes along with Prom. Justina had the worse luck in the world but each and every stain, every bruise, every tattoo tells a story. A very confusing but nevertheless entertaining and sweet love story between her and Ian. Lesson learned: never assume. Sometimes the only way to move forward in whatever relationships we have, take it to the next level is to be vocal about it and tell the other person how we feel. It's nice to try figuring out things once in a while but most of the time, it's better to ask that person than to assume.Just because everyone thinks you will end up together doesn't mean it will happen. You need to make it happen.

It's a sweet, sweet novel from Robin Mellom! If you want a book that takes you back to those days of prom, of fun and of those complicated friendships and relationships, better grab a copy of Ditched!

My rating

Content (plot, story flow, character):

Fun, quick read!

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Very Justina!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.