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Babe in Boyland

by Jody Gehrman (Goodreads Author)

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 · rating details · 4,129 ratings · 622 reviews

When high school junior Natalie-or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper-is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising her...more

Hardcover, 292 pages

Published February 17th 2011 by Dial

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Dec 27, 2011 Catie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Catie by: Wendy Darling

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya, fluffy-books

For those of you who read my reviews, this one might feel like a bit of déjà vu.

Which is exactly how this book feels to me. Granted, sometimes this premise is done well. But mostly, it’s not.

I actually think that this theme could use a reboot, especially in this day and age, with gender roles becoming more and more fluid and undefined. I would love to see one of these characters discover that the old, “Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus” paradigm is a load of crap and that we’re all actuall...more

28 likes · like · see review

Jun 23, 2011 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, read-2011, realistic-fiction, hilarious, brain-candy, ebook-egalley, 2011-favorites, 2011-publication

3.5 stars It's pretty much impossible to read this book and not smile throughout most of it. Impossible, I say! I've never read this author before, but the quirky cover appealed to my sense of humor and the premise reminded me a of A Different Twist, one of those Scholastic paperbacks I really liked in grade school.

Have you ever wondered why guys don't call back when they say they will? Natalie has, so she decides to go undercover at a boys' prep school for some inside info for her newspaper sto...more

50 likes · like · see review

Feb 26, 2012 oliviasbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult-fiction, ya-contemporary, boarding-school-plot, chick-lit, laugh-a-little, read-2012, swapped-or-given-away, she-is-a-he-or-he-is-a-she, love-story-romance

3.5 stars. I do not really know exactly why I enjoy stories that picture girls masquerading as men so much – I do not mean stories that focus on girls feeling wrong in their own female skins, but plots that show girls cross-dressing because their gender would be an unacceptable obstactle to doing what they want or what they have to do (like spy work, having a career or evading a certain unwelcome fate). For instance, I loved Alle halten mich für einen Jungen, in which 12-years-old Simone just do...more 3.5 stars. I do not really know exactly why I enjoy stories that picture girls masquerading as men so much – I do not mean stories that focus on girls feeling wrong in their own female skins, but plots that show girls cross-dressing because their gender would be an unacceptable obstactle to doing what they want or what they have to do (like spy work, having a career or evading a certain unwelcome fate). For instance, I loved Alle halten mich für einen Jungen, in which 12-years-old Simone just doesn’t dare to contradict the teacher introcuding her to her new classmates, Star-Crossed, in which the heroine applies for a job as a ship’s surgeon after her master dies and leaves her jobless, Freedom Beyond the Sea, which shows a jewish girl fleeing the Spanish Inquisition as a hand on Christopher Columbus’ ship, the historical romance The Spy and the manga series W Juliet, Volume 1... plus I have to admit I almost became addicted to the Korean drama The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince when I watched it two years ago: I felt compelled to watch episode after episode although night had already set in and I had plans for the day after.

In Babe in Boyland a lot of the possible, awkward situations that might occur when a girl pretends to be a boy in an boys-only-boarding-school were covered and I liked the conveyed message that we all have different sides to us that we broadcast in the company of different people and that the conviction of really knowing someone is mostly founded by what our own interaction with the person in question triggers. Plus, The heroine and her two best friends were rather cute and the love interest was hot and nice.

Still, Babe in Boyland was not perfect as a girl-in-boys’-clothes-book. It reminded me a lot of the Japanese drama version of the popular manga series Hana-Kimi, Volume 1, which I enjoyed considerably more inspite of all the unnecessary twists and turns and silly side-plots a manga-based TV-series is inherently prone to. In both stories the supposed new boy falls for her roommate. And in both plots this leads to interesting dilemmas. But the scenes in the drama were more vivid, more romantic, more awkward. They pushed the dangerous whoa-she-almost-blew-the-cover angst at me with a firmer shove and made me wonder if the „real“ boy, who tended to react grumpy or moody, but sometimes a little tender, was having difficulties at keeping himself from being attracted to someone he thought to be a guy.

But a non-perfect book is by no means a book that is not good or not recommendable. So if you like light and short chicklitty romances that involve a little cross-dressing, cute boys, friendship, Shakespearean drama and a teenaged heroine, who shows some character development, I show you you both my thumbs turned upwards. Babe in Boyland provided my with some much-needed fun hours and a wonderful respite from wading through an endless historical fantasy that entirely revolves around sex and dark obsessions.
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Feb 17, 2011 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: teens, 2011-tbr-pile, arc, books-i-own, favorites

Full review posted at Amaterasu Reads

From the summary, you'd probably think of Amanda Bynes' movie She's The Man. A girl who disguises herself as a boy and went to an all boys school? Ring a bell? Or if you're familiar with Hisaya Nakajo's Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, which is also about a girl who went to an all boys school. Or if you want to look even further, I would say this also reminds me a bit of Drew Barrymore's Never Been Kissed. You're probably right in that part of the story, but I thi...more Full review posted at Amaterasu Reads

From the summary, you'd probably think of Amanda Bynes' movie She's The Man. A girl who disguises herself as a boy and went to an all boys school? Ring a bell? Or if you're familiar with Hisaya Nakajo's Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, which is also about a girl who went to an all boys school. Or if you want to look even further, I would say this also reminds me a bit of Drew Barrymore's Never Been Kissed. You're probably right in that part of the story, but I think that's where the similarity ends.

I have to give Jody Gehrman credit because as much as this book sounds familiar, she was able to make the story her own. Putting in her own spin using cliche elements from books we've read and movies we've seen, and injecting a healthy dose of hilariousness that will surely tickle one's funny bones, along with a dash of wit and comedy that will make you forget it was similar to another story, Babe in Boyland is an insightful yet very entertaining sneak peek in what happens when girls try to understand what really can't be understood. Boys.

I was already laughing my socks off after the first eight pages. Natalie's voice is distinct and very funny, even comical. Her editors from hell who insults her on a daily basis mocks her further when her advice column bombs and virtually all the males in school hates her because apparently she doesn't know a thing about relationships and boys. She's a failed love goddess and a journalistic joke, to quote her own words. So Natalie attempted to write her own expose, and maybe win the Story of the Year award while she's at it.

I can come up with a few adjectives to describe Natalie, a.k.a. Dr. Aphrodite. She's reckless, she's sassy, she's witty, she's awkward, and basically, she's just a girl trying to learn how it is that boys "operate". I love how Natalie puts in the effort to understand guys more, even though she's crazy as a nut for infiltrating an all boys school. She was trying to be more "dedicated" and more honest in her craft, which was mainly her driving force to do such a drastic action. And for her sanity as a girl, she had to find out once and for all how to give right advices to those writing to her, and not just what they want to hear.

Emilio somewhat reminds me a bit of Alex of the Perfect Chemistry, though somewhat tamer, more mysterious, and more laid back. He's the kind of guy you would love to just hang out with. Not really part of the popular cliques, but he gets along with everyone. I love how simple his character is, but easily lovable.

It's amazing how much I appreciated being a girl after reading about being a boy from another girl's point of view. Aside from the obvious luxuries we have that boys don't, what she had to sacrifice, Natalie had to pretend to be someone she's not, and along the road she had experienced all kinds of failures. I found myself rooting for both Natalie and Nat, and finding delight when they overcome situations (which otherwise embarrasses the world out of everyone in a normal setting) and basically existing in a world far different from her own, the world of boys.

The author's experience in theater is put into good use in this novel. Natalie's character, aside from being a writer, is also an actress, and Jody was able to give an authentic feel on how it feels like to be a high school actress, or just being a part of a drama club.

But what I really loved about this book, was the lessons and realizations that Natalie has picked up along the way. Sometimes its not about trying to decode or understand what "boys" want to say or do. It's about us appreciating what we are and what we have. Its true that Natalie had learned a few hard truths about relationships and boys, but what probably is the greatest lesson this book gives is what she discovered about herself. But seriously, reading Natalie's piece about boys towards the end of the book. It wouldn't hurt to think about what was written about the ever elusive, ever complicated... boys, and why they behave like they do.(less)

18 likes · like · see review

Jul 29, 2011 Brooke rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own-a-copy, swoon-worthy-males, fun-fun-fun, nerd-alert, lovey-mushy-stuff, realistic-fiction, cover-love

I loved this book. I want to snuggle up and cuddle it and marvel in its sweetness. It was fun, clever, made me laugh (a lot) and HELLOOOO EMILIO! That boy made me swoon.

The characters in this book were so easy to love. Natalie (AKA Nat) felt so real, she's the type of girl who'd be great to have as a friend. Chloe and Darcy were awesome, best friends so different but when matched with Nat, the perfect balance. Tyler was a cutie, I have a thing for nerdy-but-shy-and-cute guys (or POKSI as Natali...more

20 likes · like · see review

Mar 22, 2011 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was HILARIOUS! So many laugh-out-loud moments..... and such a feel good novel. I could read it again right now! Despite being a novel full of humor and witty one liners there is also an important underlying message, that not only teens but all readers can appreciate.

If you haven't read Jody's Triple Shot Bettys books I'd recommend you pick those up as well. I love Jody's characters and her depictions of friendship. That's something that I can always expect when picking up her novels......more

5 likes · like · see review

Jun 16, 2011 Nafiza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

First, let’s discuss the cover. The girl has huuuuge eyes (I suspect photoshop) and the reason I mention it is because the huge eyes is common in shoujo (girl’s) manga. So, the huge eyes automatically led me to expect something a bit wacky because well, suspension of belief is quite necessary to read some manga -_- (the shoujo ones anyway) and the mustache makeup is kinda genius. You have to admit that. It elicited a chuckle out of me anyway.

First, let me just say that I love gender benders. I l...more First, let’s discuss the cover. The girl has huuuuge eyes (I suspect photoshop) and the reason I mention it is because the huge eyes is common in shoujo (girl’s) manga. So, the huge eyes automatically led me to expect something a bit wacky because well, suspension of belief is quite necessary to read some manga -_- (the shoujo ones anyway) and the mustache makeup is kinda genius. You have to admit that. It elicited a chuckle out of me anyway.

First, let me just say that I love gender benders. I love the improbability of it and how it can create some pretty interesting situations. I have read a lot of gender benders, seen many dramas about them (they are a common trope in Asian pop lit) and so I have come to expect certain situations that seem to go hand in hand with gender benders. One of those situations is that the girl (if she’s in a boarding school, which she almost always is) has a room mate and the roommate is the boy she is majorly crushing on. This occurs in: The Education of Bet by Lauren Baratz, Hana Kimi by Nakajo Hisaya, She’s the Man movie and now Babe in Boyland.

It might be a cliche, it might be expected but I actually like it. I like that the boy roommate is the love interest because come on now, how else is a girl in a boy’s boarding school supposed to get all mushy and romantic with any boy other than one who is asleep at the time she is being mushy and romantic? Well. That sounds wrong. But you get my point.

Anyway, let’s talk about Babe in Boyland. While Ms. Gehrman does her best to plausibly set up circumstances that make Natalie’s undercover week at a boy’s boarding school seem realistic and possible, at a certain point, you just have to accept that this is a book and things are possible in it that will not be possible in real life. Suspension of belief is very necessary. Once you do suspend your expectations of reality, you are free to enjoy the book for what it is. I certainly did.

The strengths in the book lie in the narrator. Natalie is a very likeable person. She is flawed to be sure but she contains a certain vulnerability to her, an honesty in her observations that you can’t help but empathize with. The friendship between girls is also refreshing as both the best friends are not just a means to an end – you know, the accessory friend, the one who is chubby, or stupid, the one who serves to make the heroine look better? Yeah, none of that in this book. I like how all the side characters are solidly developed and feel like real people instead of caricatures of them. The writing is flawless and the dialogues witty. The pacing is perfect and the relationships compelling.

I liked how this book delves into the differences between the genders and instead of looking at it from just the perspective of the female. I think, too often, we forget to give boys the same respect that women demand. I know that most of the times they do not deserve it but I think that as we women fight not to be stereotyped and categorized, we should give the same consideration to the other gender. What does it mean to be an adolescent guy? I’m not sure I want to know. (Haha.) But I think that Ms. Gehrman correctly portrays that boys are just people. Yes, shocking, I know. The book takes a look at social status and divisions in high school and how a girl who starts out trying to understand boys ends up understanding herself and her gender.

Oh and the love interest in this book? Smoking hot. I was in love with him at first description. I’m sort of shallow like that. Haha. Anyway, final verdict? I enjoyed the book. A lot. I think it is entertaining and has a bit of substance that saves it from being entirely fluff. So I think you should check it out.(less)

6 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2011 Princess Bookie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2010

My Thoughts: We are introduced to Natalie who loves the drama club and loves her role on the school newspaper. She gives advice about guys and love. She's never really had a boyfriend or been in love and so she starts to feel fake. Along with her two best friends she decides she will enroll in the all boys school and get to know how boys really think. She than starts to have feelings for her roommate. Yes, this book is very much like She's The Man (the movie). I'm sure I'm not the first person t...more

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Mar 20, 2011 Aik Chien 인첸 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Having not read any of Jody Gehrman’s other books, I opened Babe in Boyland, not knowing what to expect. The synopsis reminds me of Amanda Bynes' movie - She's The Man, K-Drama He's Beautiful and Taiwanese drama, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, in which the heroines go cross-dressing as a guy in a foreign place, but with different motives. I was a little worried that Babe in Boyland will fall into the same mold as the movies/dramas, but turns out, it doesn’t fall back on tired stereotypes. The cross-...more Having not read any of Jody Gehrman’s other books, I opened Babe in Boyland, not knowing what to expect. The synopsis reminds me of Amanda Bynes' movie - She's The Man, K-Drama He's Beautiful and Taiwanese drama, Hanazakari no Kimitachi e, in which the heroines go cross-dressing as a guy in a foreign place, but with different motives. I was a little worried that Babe in Boyland will fall into the same mold as the movies/dramas, but turns out, it doesn’t fall back on tired stereotypes. The cross-dressing is just a factor in the story that enables our gutsy heroine to find out the Top 7 Secrets about Guys.

In fact, Jody Gehrman does a great job in explaining how Natalie goes undercover as a new (male) student - Nat Rodgers - in Underwood High. The details on how she does certain things are brilliantly explained, like how she mimicks a guy's strut, how she practices to keep her voice low and manly, and ultimately: how she keeps her identity a secret to the guys at Underwood. She uses Natalie's character to give readers an insight on how people act around different surroundings, which is quite true considering how multifaceted us humans are.

This story is told from Natalie's (a.k.a. Nat Rodgers) perspective, which is a good choice since we get to see things through her eyes. What makes this book so entertaining is that the author has a wry sense of humour which never fail to make me chortle like a maniac. Really, it is hilarious! There was one particular scene where I laughed until my tears start rolling down, and my distracted little brother peeled himself away from his computer game to ask me what's wrong. LOL.

Although Babe in Boyland seems to be funny and cheery, it has a real depth within. The story itself actually offers truths about real friendship and why love relationships get strained or broken. Tolerance and acceptance is indispensable to maintain a loving relationship between a couple. With witty dialogues and realistic scenes, this book is bound to capture your heart.

Overall, Babe in Boyland is a refreshing, light and quick read. Jody Gehrman definitely deserves a bunch of compliments for creating such a highly lovable and enjoyable story. Well done, Jody!(less)

14 likes · like · see review

Feb 22, 2012 Ann Banda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Como disfrute al leer este libro!

Natalie es la tipica niña fresilla; cinica pero buena oyente!
Al ser Nat no cambio; bueno solo fisicamente pero nos mostro un lado de los niños que suponiamos pero no tan divertido como es!
La escena de Max usando la toalla como si fuera hilo dental JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA la ame! :)
Tyler aw el chavito al cual solo prestamos atencion para ser un amigo pero es tan lindo para la chica indicada :3
Summer cara de zorra la deteste :k
Chloe & Darcy; muy buenas amigas aunqe Ch...more

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Aug 17, 2011 Amparo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ingenioso e irónico. Me gusta como retrata a los chicos, realmente creíble. O al menos desde el punto de vista de una chica. XD

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Mar 26, 2013 Inge *Studying for Exams* rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cool-cover-bro, chicklit, friendship-never-eeeends, go-insta-love-yourself, high-school, main-character-is-a-dumb-cow, love-interest-is-awesome, meh, realistic-fiction, young-adult

Natalie Rowan wants to be taken seriously as a writer. She has an idea for the perfect story: seven well-kept guy secrets. Everything you've ever wanted to know about guys, finally revealed! So she gets a make-over, changes her name to Nat Rodgers for a week and enrolls in an all-boys school. But Nat Rodgers is a bit of a loser, and none of the guys want to talk about what it means when you tell a girl you'll call them, then don't. Things get even more complicated when Natalie starts falling for...more

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Apr 22, 2012 Kayleigh rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Teens who like a laugh

This like all my other reviews will be rated and reviewed based not just on the enjoyable factor but also the originality and the author's writing and planning on the book.

It seemed like a nice, fun and humorous book,not to long and well the perfect quick read.... this was true, yet throughout the whole book there was something about it which seemed so familiar.
Then I remembered the storyline is basically one which appears in the film 'She's the Man'. I'm not one for complaining about the book b...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 07, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, gooey-boys, characters-i-love, awesome-heroines, hysterical-characters

Oh my gosh, what a joy this was to read! Jody Gehrman is now on my "Authors to Watch" list and as soon as I'm done typing, I'm going to cyber stalk her to see what she's writing next! Okay, maybe "Stalking" is a little strong, but you get my point.

So the premise noted for the book does a pretty good job of summing up the plot. Actually, when I popped open the book I was half expecting to read something similar to that cheesy 80's flick Just One of The Guys (for those of you who haven't seen it,...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Shawn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: excited-to-read, love-the-cover, own, love-the-title, my-favorites, 2011-reads

Natalie writes an advice column about relationships but quickly learns that she’s missing one key ingredient in giving accurate advice to girl like her who just want to know why guys act the way they do. A guy’s insight. So in order to uncover the truth, Natalie transforms herself into Nat and spends a week at an all boys school. But when she falls for her roommate, a complicated situation is made even more complicated, and Natalie has to finish her investigation without being discovered while u...more Natalie writes an advice column about relationships but quickly learns that she’s missing one key ingredient in giving accurate advice to girl like her who just want to know why guys act the way they do. A guy’s insight. So in order to uncover the truth, Natalie transforms herself into Nat and spends a week at an all boys school. But when she falls for her roommate, a complicated situation is made even more complicated, and Natalie has to finish her investigation without being discovered while untangling a slew of emotionally tangled webs.

I really liked this book. It reminded me a lot of the movie She’s The Man. The reasoning was different for the undercover work and the points were all hit a bit differently but the basics were the same. Go undercover as a guy. Fall for the hot roommate. Meet the hot roommate as the real you (girl). And other details I don’t want to give away. However, for a book with this theme, the similarities are hard to avoid, so I’m not comparing the book and the movie to suggest flaws in anyway, just obvious similarities that readers might notice had they seen the movie.

So what did I think? It was fun, a fast read, and actually really enlightening! I’ve been with my husband for seven years, at this point I know most of the inner details. Overtime, guys open up for one reason or another and kind of let you into their head a bit. But this book would have been ideal right around the time that I met him. I’m pretty much the same person around everyone. I’ve never been good at hiding aspects of myself depending on who I was around. I think it’s genetic. Sure, I never acted like a weird, fake, overly enthusiastic girl simply for the purpose of trying to impress anyone. But don’t let that fool you. I was far from a pro at getting guys. Kind of socially dim in that field actually. Sure they want you to be real. But there is so much to it than that. You’d understand this ramble a bit more after reading the book so I won’t get into any further detail.

This book was a mix of getting to know the inner working of “guyness” and even a nice piece of insight into how we as women work. A book I can see guys and girls both enjoying in fact, even getting something useful from. A few good life lessons on the opposite sex wrapped up in one fun and humorous package. I was laughing out loud the whole way through and I never felt like it dragged or was rushed. I can honestly say that I have no complaints about this book, earning it a shining five stars from me!(less)

1 like · like · see review

Apr 13, 2011 Gale rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is one of the most overused storyline in the history of romance. Huh. A girl in a boys' school? I've come across this too many times. However, Natalie aka Dr. Aphrodite enters the realm of testosterone in order to find out more information about the opposite sex. She did this for the betterment of her writing and investigative skills - which she majorly lacks. What annoyed me was, she plans on submitting a paper about the "secrets of the male specimen - what makes them act the way they do?"...more

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Feb 14, 2012 Kathrin Stacked'n'Painted rated it 5 of 5 stars

In my opinion, the best books are those you can't possibly put down, the books that keep you awake far too long at night and that end far too soon, no matter how many pages they have. Babe in Boyland is definitely one of those books. I read it over the course of approximately two busy days and lost quite a few hours of sleep - and it was all worth it!

The basic premise of this book already exists in quite a few forms - the most popular written version is probably Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (if y...more In my opinion, the best books are those you can't possibly put down, the books that keep you awake far too long at night and that end far too soon, no matter how many pages they have. Babe in Boyland is definitely one of those books. I read it over the course of approximately two busy days and lost quite a few hours of sleep - and it was all worth it!

The basic premise of this book already exists in quite a few forms - the most popular written version is probably Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (if you haven't read it yet, do so, it's great!) and a fun movie version is She's The Man with Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum (yup, I admit I love that movie!). Despite those well-known takes, Jody Gehrman took the "girl dresses up as a boy, meets a boy and falls for him" story line and made it into an amazing book to read!

Besides the plot that kept me going and never bored me in the least, and Jody Gehrman's wonderful writing, I especially loved the way Natalie's character developed. There was a very distinct difference in the Natalie before and in the early stages of her "undercover project" as Nat and her actions towards the end. I really love those developments when they're not all out impossible, awkward and hard to believe. And in this case, I think it is even eye-opening to a certain degree. Cause really, girls and guys still have problems communicating (umm, yeah, I'm like a prime example *blush*).

Natalie's friends are also wonderful characters with dimension. There are Natalie's friends Chloe and Darcy, who help her throughout the whole process, transforming her into Nat and back, they cover for her while she stays at Underwood Academy. These girls have known each other for years. They're very close and always stick up for each other, even if they argue every now and then. One scene in which the girls' close connection is shown in a way I absolutely loved was the Halloween party when they talk about their costumes. The three girls have always dressed up as a threesome, be it Charlie's Angels, the three Stooges or three characters from The Wizard of Oz!

Then there are the slightly crazy geeks Max, Tyler and Earl, and Nat's roommate Emilio at Underwood Academy. May, Tyler and Earl are well aware of the fact that they're far from the most popular guys at Underwood, but they also know that their friendship is a good thing and don't mind their they are probably the nicest guys ever. In a good way! And Emilio is not necessarily a social outcast, but he is the first to admit that he doesn't have any really close friends at school. He had good friends at home, but at Underwood there's no one he can really relate to and so he tends to be quieter and more reclusive in a way. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 21, 2012 Misty rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cover-appeal, contemporary, humor, recommended, juvenile-ya, own, signed, read-in-2012, gender-bender, review-copy-accepted

I know I say this every time I review a contemporary novel, but I rarely actively want to read contemporary. I just can't get over this roadblock in my head that says contemporary is either Gossip Girl fluff or slit-your-wrists depressing. This, despite all of the incrediblecontemporary I've read. Whatever, welcome to my brain. The point is, I rarely wishlist contemporary books, but Babe in Boyland, for whatever reason*, was one I wishlisted. So when Jody emailed me, asking if I'd like to review...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Annie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful read! Laugh out loud funny, witty, observant. I found it very hard to put down.

Jody Gehrman has created an instantly relatable character in Natalie and her two best friends - Chloe and Darcy - and yet each person is different. That's one of the strengths of this book, great characterisation. You really got to know everyone in this novel. What can I say about Darcy's roommate Emilio? Dreamy, original, deep. :) I would have loved to know more about him! Maybe seen a few chapter...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 24, 2011 Myranda added it

Shelves: arc, books-for-review, on-my-bookshelf, signed

Hilarious! I could not put this down! Every page I turned I was laughing out loud! On top of the comedy their was a great message about being yourself!

This is the first book that I have read by Jody German. It will certainly not be the last. She has a talent for creating great characters, and a funny, but interesting plot. I will most likely be picking up one of her books to read.

I love the cover of this book! The mustache is hilarious! The models eyes are gorgeous. I love the Theater type font...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 31, 2011 Kaisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: must-read-naow

I did enjoy this book.
....
Yeah, I guess that's how I'm gonna start this review.

Listen, if you've seen "Just one of the guys" or "She's the man", you know this story by heart. And I mean that. 95% of EVERYTHING in this book is taken directly from those two movies. I started wondering if this book was the basis for "She's the man". But... that's impossible.
So! This book gets a big fat 0 for originality.
Just imagine someone getting their Twilight fanfiction published. That would be weird. And dumb....more

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Mar 17, 2011 Isamlq rated it 2 of 5 stars

Natalie Rowan wants to know a couple of things:

1. When you say you’re going to call and you don’t, what happened?
2. What are you do different when your friends are around? Which one is the real you?
3. What do you really look for in a girl?
4. Is it true that guys think about sex every eight seconds, or is it just a myth?
5. What’s the surest way to tell the difference between a guy who’s being sincere and one who’s just looking to score?
6. What can make you lose interest in a girl overnight?
7. I...more

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Apr 10, 2011 Ash rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm currently in the process of avoiding studying for a test so naturally I decide to read. I read this because I was in the mood for something funny and optimistic. It was hilarious and embarrassing, but as you've probably guessed, a predictable fluffy book.

Quick Overview: Natalie, aka Dr. Aphrodite, knows nothing about how boys really think even though she writes a column for her school paper dishing relationship advice. After reading some harsh words from guys about her horrible advice and t...more I'm currently in the process of avoiding studying for a test so naturally I decide to read. I read this because I was in the mood for something funny and optimistic. It was hilarious and embarrassing, but as you've probably guessed, a predictable fluffy book.

Quick Overview: Natalie, aka Dr. Aphrodite, knows nothing about how boys really think even though she writes a column for her school paper dishing relationship advice. After reading some harsh words from guys about her horrible advice and total lack of knowledge in all things boy, Natalie decides to go on a quest to find what boys really want and why they don't call you when they say they will. After some truly useless "interviews" Natalie sees that she'll never get real answers as a girl and so decides to go undercover to an all-boys boarding school, and so Nat is born. Between trying to find a subtle way of working in questions like why guys don't talk about their feeling and trying (unsuccessfully) not to crush on her roommate, Natalie is having a hard time trying not to act like a total girl. Will she ever get any answers?

I'm always up for a fish-out-of-water type story. They always make for the funniest scenes. Natalie is beyond bad at acting like a guy. It's just too hilarious seeing her have no idea that she's doing something wrong until it's too late. As a girl Natalie is usually popular, but as Nat she's bit of a social leper and it was good to see her realize that she was a bit shallow. Emilio is of course the totally-hot-but-not-popular-and-completely-sweet type. In other words, an extinct species. No, I'm just kidding! Maybe.

The beginning went a bit fast and too easy. I like that we didn't waste 100 pages trying to get to the actual story, but I think if it wasn't so conveniently easy it would've flowed better. Some of the characters were flat-ish. Something that really just didn't fit though was the friendships she develops. I can understand her friendship with the other social outcasts, but it just seemed out of the blue with Emilio. One minute he looks at Nat like a weirdo and then he suddenly just decides Nat is his BFF after knowing him for what? three days? Maybe it's me but I don't tell people my secrets after three days. Guess I'm just anti-social like that. Just something else I have to add. Although it made for some truly hilarious moments I think acting like a guy would be a bit easier than she let on. I think general giggling and screaming are obvious no-no's.

So to wrap this up and get on with the horrible reality of studying for my test (shudder)a 3.5 because I thought this was really entertaining and funny, but lacking in certain areas. Stepping back and imagining how girls look from a guys perspective was (although maybe not totally accurate) eye opening. The take home message was that girls shouldn't try to be someone they aren't for guys to like them. It keeps us from showing some the best things about us. I liked seeing Natalie learn more about herself and come to appreciate the freedom of being a girl. This is just what I was looking for. It might not be a literary masterpiece, but I think we all need some un-nutritional fluff in our lives from time to time. (less)

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Oct 19, 2010 Brittany rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, wishlist, favorites, humorous, boarding-schools

Natalie is a romance advice columnist, Dr. Aphrodite, for her school paper. When some harsh comments crop up on her latest online help column, she realizes that maybe she isn't the best person to be dispensing advice about relationships, especially since she hasn't had a boyfriend since...forever. She decides to ask the boys at her school some questions that girls really want to know the answers to. They all clam up though and give her nothing. Natalie isn't sure what to do. Then she has a plan,...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Lily rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-fav-list

OMG. LOL. This book is monkey-funky hilarious!!!
Imagine trying to be a boy in a boy-school! You'd need the whole packageXDXD
- the balls.
- the attitude
- the appearance
LOL. I laughed so I got stomach cramps,and cried.

Poor poor Natalie. Having to be like a guy= no giggling, no OMG, no swaying hips, no talking feelings, no screaming...etc

In this book you get to see how boys are in front of girls, and how they are in front of... well, girls dressed as boys.
And you get answers to a lot of important...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Alexa rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's fascinating to me reading the reviews, as you can tell what generation/age the reviewers are, based on what movie they reference Babe In Boyland as being a rip-off of. It's either She's the Man or Just One of the Guys. I love She's the Man, but Babe in Boyland is so clearly a rip off of Just One of the Guys -- it pretty much shares the entire premise and every plot point. The only thing it's missing is the big prom scene and the MC ripping off her shirt and showing her t*ts to prove she's f...more It's fascinating to me reading the reviews, as you can tell what generation/age the reviewers are, based on what movie they reference Babe In Boyland as being a rip-off of. It's either She's the Man or Just One of the Guys. I love She's the Man, but Babe in Boyland is so clearly a rip off of Just One of the Guys -- it pretty much shares the entire premise and every plot point. The only thing it's missing is the big prom scene and the MC ripping off her shirt and showing her t*ts to prove she's female.

ANYWAY. I had a lot of problems with this book. I really wanted to like it--I'm a fan of cheesy "going undercover as a boy and then fall in love with a boy" stories, but Babe In Boyland suffered from under-development, stupid heroine (in order to facilitate ridiculous plot) syndrome, as well as one language quirk that made me want to throw my Kindle at a wall (more on that later). I also found its conclusions reinforced gender norms/gender essentialism, much to my frustration.

Usually fast pacing is a good thing, but in this case, I felt it was at the expense of character and story development. Natalie as a heroine is hard to relate to. We don't get a lot of development on her up front, or what we do get is nebulous. Ok, so she has some apparently annoying rivals at school in the drama & journalism department -- this is not enough to get me to root for your girl. She's pretty and popular... I'm gonna need more than that. And then Nat dives into her "undercover assignment" and the plot charges ahead at full speed, dropping in relevant plot details--like that this is set in San Francisco and our heroine is 5 foot 11-- halfway through the novel (too late). The biggest problem is that Nat is only at the boys school for FIVE DAYS. And most of those days are glossed over. You only really get day one, the morning of day two and day five (play premiere). And within 24 hours she's "in love" with her male roommate. NO. DOES NOT COMPUTE.

I didn't understand how she could be in love with Emilio, because there was no time to get to know Emilio. What the author called Emilio "opening up" and "being honest" I read as just one or two inorganic conversational scenes. Seriously -- Nat and Emilio did not talk like two actual human beings getting to know each other as roommates, let alone as a boy talking to what he thinks is a boy but is really a girl in disguise. Other than "OMG he's so fine!" we have no reason to believe the romance, or root for it.

And generally, Nat(alie) makes stupid decisions/does stupid things in the name of introducing slapstick moments and furthering the plot. She screams like a girl when someone startles her (really? She can't just curse, like a normal person?), squeals and sighs and does all sorts of stupid things that are apparently "what girls do." She has NO GAME PLAN whatsoever for surviving a boy's school, other than wearing two sports bras and stuffing a sock down her pants. So she's a hot mess in the bathroom, gym class, in her dorm room. Natalie comes across as stupid and short-sighted.

Now, I speak German, and I went through a "scheisse" phase myself -- but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SERIOUSLY SHE NEEDS TO STOP SAYING SCHEISSE. Natalie does it constantly! She uses it practically as punctuation! Over and over. She calls it her signature curse, but we never get any explanation for why. I can't tell whether the author was simply afraid to have her heroine curse for reals, or thought it was cute to have her do it in German. I am a person who has DONE THIS and even I hated it.

The actual writing itself isn't bad--the teen tone was quirky and fun, and many of the sentences elegant and engaging. But there just wasn't ENOUGH development/plot, and without well-rounded characters you actually want to cheer for, for me it fell flat. And then you get to the big conclusion, and the article Natalie writes about what she has "learned," and it's just the same bullshit as always: girls are like this and boys are like this and LOL we are different! This book reinforces a lot of gender bullshit, and I imagine if you tried to do a trans/queer reading of it, ones head might explode.
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Oct 25, 2012 Tiffany Person rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Babe in Boyland is written by Jody Gehrman. I don't exactly know the purpose of her writing this book, but I know that it was a wonderful read. It reminded me of the movie "She's the Man" which i loved. I always like reading or watching shows that have a girl in a boys environment because I personally am always in one and it shows me another perspective on how people view that. This book actually did an okay job about the male personality. Cause from my experience on the football team someone ca...more Babe in Boyland is written by Jody Gehrman. I don't exactly know the purpose of her writing this book, but I know that it was a wonderful read. It reminded me of the movie "She's the Man" which i loved. I always like reading or watching shows that have a girl in a boys environment because I personally am always in one and it shows me another perspective on how people view that. This book actually did an okay job about the male personality. Cause from my experience on the football team someone can say something that most girls would question them constantly about and guys don't bring it up at all.

This book has a good impact on just about everyone. It shows a girl who doesn't know much about anything. She is tired of receiving bad reviews on her blog, which people used to rave about. She wants to prove a point that she can be a journalist. So she has to find out how the other side thinks. She goes into uncharted territory..... A BOYS PRIVATE SCHOOL!! This is big for her and everyone around because the public school she goes to is always being ragged on and only 3 girls get to be there for a big play that they are having. Luckily her best girlfriends are staring in the play.

This book is more about a coming of age Story about a girl in High School trying to do the impossible. While trying to prove her point she makes lasting friendship with some unlikely people, also finds someone who likes her just for her, and her bond with her friends becomes stronger than it has every been. Through all the ups and downs she finds out who she really is. I think this book is so relate-able, because it shows how for high school your trying to fit in but also stand out in your own way. In High School its all about making a name for yourself and in this book she definitely makes a name for herself.

I would recommend this to any one boy or girl in high school. It will captivate the audience, because when i read it i couldn't put it down til i was finished. This book was an easy read because it got you involved in the story. Whenever the main character felt something so did you! You just wanted the best for her in journey. All you could do was keep reading because i was not able to put it down once i started. This has been one of the best books because it was still easy to follow even with all the twist and turns.

I have honestly never read a book where i have related to it so much. I understood exactly how she felt when she was trying to tone down her extremely girly behaviors. Everyday at practice i tone mine down because I play football, and it was nice in a way to see that i wasn't the only one who realized how difficult it could be. Whenever i go out i love wearing skirts because i hate feeling mannish everyday for practice and having to wear clothing that makes me look like i don't have any body. I also related to this in other ways about my friends when i would try to tell them how they were perceived by the boys they would be extremely mad at me. I can see why because no one wants to hear that about a boy they like very much.

This has been one of the best book i have ever read, and trust me i have read a lot of book! So please read! You won't regret it!!!!(less)

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Oct 03, 2012 Aleeshas2 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: cute, drama, fun-enjoyable-read, favorites

Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman tells the story of a girl who decides to dress up as a guy to get the inside scoop on what goes on in the life and mind of the opposite gender.
For some reason I never tire of books with similiar plots to this one and can't help but easily put them on my favourites shelf (Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora pierce and The Academy by Emmaline Andrews are just a few of these)
Babe in Boyland was a fun and entertaining read that couldn't help but make me smile when...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Lea Tan rated it 3 of 5 stars

This, on the whole, was a cute, quirky read, but the main flaw was a blatant lack of originality! There is an obvious, unmistakable parallel to She's The Man in the characters, plotlines, everything. Only the premise was different, and not too strong a premise at that. babe in Boyland is, basically, a total carbon-copy of She's The Man.

First, the dress-up-as-a-boy-for-a-comedy part. Then, the shoe part. Then, the another-girl-falling-for-the-boy-who-is-not-a-boy-and-feeling-betrayed-after part....more

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Aug 13, 2012 Kelsey rated it 3 of 5 stars

was sent this book from the author herself Jody, thank you! And immediately loved the cover. It was so beautiful. With the way she has the mistash on her finger, it represents the book well. The story is about a girl named Natalie who has her own relationship column which seems to be going down hill when everyone starts criticising her work for they think she writes what they want to hear. So to get back in the good books of her school fans and to win the newspaper article competition she decid...more was sent this book from the author herself Jody, thank you! And immediately loved the cover. It was so beautiful. With the way she has the mistash on her finger, it represents the book well. The story is about a girl named Natalie who has her own relationship column which seems to be going down hill when everyone starts criticising her work for they think she writes what they want to hear. So to get back in the good books of her school fans and to win the newspaper article competition she decides to go under cover to a guys private school, as 'Nat' a boy, and get answers from the boys at Underwood Academy about what boys really want. But along the way she meets new friends and a boy that she actually finds herself falling for.

First impressions was the film Shes the man. And when reading this book I had that vibe to it aswell. I think I would of enjoyed this book allot more if I had never watched that film. But saying that Shes the man is one of my favourite all time films. It just annoyed me in parts because some of the scenes going on were actually like the film and even some of the comments they made were the same. It annoyed me a little because I found myself thinking has this story been written from certain parts of the film.

I did enjoy the whole idea of her going undercover though. I really liked how her friends helped her get in and how hard it was to be a completely different agenda. This book was very funny and I did laugh in certain places. I like how we got to see how boys act totally different to relationships and situations to girls and how sometimes girls are way to paranoid over things and should take a step back and think first.

The relationship between Natalie and Emilio was cute yet strange all at the same time. I felt myself enjoying it and not liking it all together. It was cute but then I kept thinking Emilio's connecting with someone he thinks is a boy.. so it was just hard to place and love at certain times. I also wanted more background on him. I felt we didn't know him as well as we could have done, just that he wasnt orignally from America but from Mexico and maybe that's where their relationship would of connected more.

I did love the ending though. I felt it ended really sweet and the way it would in a movie. If you are looking for a light summer read then I definitely recommend this book.
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About Jody Gehrman

Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland won the International Reading Association Teen Choice Award and has recently been optioned by the Disney Cha...more

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Books by Jody Gehrman

Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty (Triple Shot Bettys, #1)

Triple Shot Bettys in Love (Triple Shot Bettys, #2)

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft (Audrey's Guides, #1)

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Quotes from Babe in Boyland

“I despise the rituals of fake friendship. I wish we could just claw each other's eyes out and call it a day; instead we put on huge radiant smiles and spout compliments until our teeth hurt from the saccharine sweetness of it all.” — 123 people liked it

“Are you mad?" I ask.
"I was." He glances at the ceiling then back at me. "Or confused, anyway. The whole thing threw me through for a loop. I thought I'd finally met a guy at Underwood I could relate to, and it turns out he wasn't a guy at all."
I swallow. "I can see how that would be weird."
"In a way though, I was relieved."
"Relieved?" I echo. "Why?"
He looks around embarrased. "Let's just say you had me questioning my sexual orientation.” — 66 people liked it

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