Geek Girl

Jan 22, 2012 Sandy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sandy by: Erica (daydreamer)

Shelves: i-own, read-in-2011, fluff-i-love, chemistry-sigh, can-t-stop-thinking-about, made-me-cry

There four stars are all for the goofy smile I had on my face while I read this book. It's a light, quick read and not particularly original or ground breaking, but I'm ranking this based on my enjoyment as I read. I read it in one sitting and couldn't stop thinking about the chemistry between Jen and Trevor for the next two days.

I started reading the first 10 chapters for free on the author's website after reading Erica's review, and about 12 pages in, I knew I was going to need to find a copy....more There four stars are all for the goofy smile I had on my face while I read this book. It's a light, quick read and not particularly original or ground breaking, but I'm ranking this based on my enjoyment as I read. I read it in one sitting and couldn't stop thinking about the chemistry between Jen and Trevor for the next two days.

I started reading the first 10 chapters for free on the author's website after reading Erica's review, and about 12 pages in, I knew I was going to need to find a copy. This work was originally self-published. The author recently got a publishing deal for the book, making it difficult to find a copy of this since it's going to be republished. (Goodreads still offers it as an ebook, thankfully!)

Geek Girl does have some thoughtful messages, mostly a "discover who you are and then love yourself" and "don't be afraid to change, but change for yourself and not for someone else" message. As Jen tries to bring Trevor to the dark side, she begins to change, but she doesn't do it for him--she does it because she's discovering who she wants to be and that she's let the terrible circumstances of her life mold her too much. With the love and support of Trevor and her foster family, she becomes someone new. I loved seeing the transformation, even though it was painful and heart-wrenching at times.

Trevor's perfect for much of the book, but he does reveal his big flaw for the last fourth of the book--that boy can hold a grudge! I had to fight to keep liking his character for the last few chapters, but he did redeem himself at the end.

The author does a make-my-heart-flutter job of letting the love simmer and build, creating realistic timing for the attraction and chemistry between the two main characters. They actually spent time together and *gasp* had conversations before falling love. Bennett's pacing kept me coming back for more and more, until I was so captivated by this book that I couldn't put it down without knowing the conclusion.

Yes, Geek Girl's a little cliche and predictable, but if you're looking for a light, make-you-laugh-and-smile book, check out the first 10 chapters on the author's website and see if this book is for you.(less)

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Apr 22, 2011 Flannery rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Flannery by: Booker Book Club

Shelves: read-in-2011, young-adult-teen, reviewed-2011

You might have to go here if it is too small for you to read it.

While this book is a variation, it certainly follows Plot 4's basic structure. Jen is a foster child--she doesn't open up to people and puts up a barrier between herself and everyone else. She's been at her present school for about a year but only hangs out with a few people, all of whom could be/are considered goths or partiers. (partyers? both of these look incorrect) After a dare (saw that one coming, didn't cha?), Jen hits on "

...more

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Apr 18, 2011 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bookers-pick, young-adult, contemporary, e-book, read-2011

Just to get this part over with, I'm gonna mention what I didn't like;
While the writing has some great potential, the flow and pacing to this book is way off. It felt fast and rushy in some spots while not enough punch to others. There just wasn't enough room provided in between scene which made it harder to follow and it felt predictable and not very original....but! this book made me smile. A lot!

While the story has it's flaws, I still very much enjoyed reading Geek Girl.
It starts off with a...more Just to get this part over with, I'm gonna mention what I didn't like;
While the writing has some great potential, the flow and pacing to this book is way off. It felt fast and rushy in some spots while not enough punch to others. There just wasn't enough room provided in between scene which made it harder to follow and it felt predictable and not very original....but! this book made me smile. A lot!

While the story has it's flaws, I still very much enjoyed reading Geek Girl.
It starts off with a bet. Jen bets her friends that she can turn geek-boy, Trevor, into being bad by seducing him to the dark side.
Her reward; a lip ring that will hopefully be a token that will turn a disapproving eye from her foster parents and the awe and respect she gets from her friends when she wins, of course.
The only problem is, who would have thought that ever so polite-well mannered-do-gooder-geek-boy, Trevor could actually be capable of turning her world upside down and right side up!

Jen and Trevor's relationship totally owns this book right from the start. They have a very sweet natural chemistry that sparks with every moment there together and even still, when apart.
Jen has a very hard devastating past growing up. With out knowing how to belong to someone, anyone, let alone knows how to even belong to herself. Enter Trevor! Trevor is the kind of character that I couldn't help love. I'm not sure what the true definition of a geek is, but it's not Trevor. He's a totally sweetheart. Sweet but isn't a push over. He's the kind of guy that will sit there and listen and be there for you, but wont push you from your comfort zone and he has all these adorable qualities that makes him out to be such an irresistible character. You can actually see Jen's transformation as the story unfolds. Out with the tough freak girl and in with the one that actually believes she's worth it. I was slightly upset that Trevor didn't blow up in Jen's face when he found out what this was really about, but in true Trevor-fashion, didn't make a scene and left quietly. That actually made it much worse and I cringed right along with Jen. I seriously wanted her to beg for his forgiveness right there and then, after all, he's worth it too.
But I like the way it ended, it has a healthy amount of angst and anticipation, and reminds me of what it was like back in high school. The jealousy, the tension, the games and then the realization of what first love can actually feel like.

Overall, this book isn't perfect, but it's fast and light and fun and funny and plainly-sweetly entertaining and just makes me smile at the thought and ease of these two compelling characters.
Jen and Trevor's story, The Geek and The Freak, are definitely worth a read!(less)

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Apr 28, 2012 Michelle [Helen Geek] rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who likes happy endings!

Recommended to Michelle by: Loved Heart on a Chain, so no brainer -- duh!

Shelves: nook-tbr, ya, 5_star

5 Stars

I anxiously awaited this eBook after reading this authors "Heart on a Chain". This story was a bit of a slower grab for me, but once it did - WOW!

This is a heart-wrenching story about a foster child; Jen Jones. Jen [Jennifer] is a 17 year old girl who has been in the foster system for years. She has developed coping mechanisms for herself which are very narcissistic and self-destructive with a low self-esteem. She wants her upper lip re-pierced and makes a "bet" to get the money to have i...more 5 Stars

I anxiously awaited this eBook after reading this authors "Heart on a Chain". This story was a bit of a slower grab for me, but once it did - WOW!

This is a heart-wrenching story about a foster child; Jen Jones. Jen [Jennifer] is a 17 year old girl who has been in the foster system for years. She has developed coping mechanisms for herself which are very narcissistic and self-destructive with a low self-esteem. She wants her upper lip re-pierced and makes a "bet" to get the money to have it done. A gamble that changes her life. She tells her friends she can get the "geek" boy to be like her; dark with self-destructive tendencies. Bring a "good" boy over to the dark side; parties, skipping school, etc. What happens is the opposite. Trevor [Trev] is the geek. He is a "nice" boy. He has a loving family, a brother with Downs, he volunteers at a senior center, he plays piano and guitar, he is "perfect". Trevor touches something in Jen through his goodness and ready acceptance of her for all she is. He is able to reach down inside of her and show her just how beautiful she is, how worthy she is. She, in turn, wants to be this "better" person for him. All rolls along nicely, then he finds out about the bet and is terribly angry and hurt. Will they get to the other side of this event that brought them together .. together?

This story portrays the life of this girl as she finds herself and becomes part of a lasting family. She works hard to come to terms with her past -- learning to understand she was a victim, but this doesn't have to define who she will be forever. The adults take a positive caring role in this story and are integral to who this young lady becomes. They care for her and welcome her into their family with open arms.

This story touched something deep in me. I wanted the very best for Jen because she was working so hard for it and was so fragile. I wanted Trevor to come to terms with the hurt pride he had because of the bet. Without the bet, they would never have been together. A single moment in time, a single choice, impacted these two people and their families forever.

A really lovely story. In the end you wanted to just jump out of your seat and throw your arms in the air and yell "YES!!!".

Happy Reading!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
no nook 01/27/2012
Nook :: noticed on 04/26/2012 and only $5! Yeah ..!!
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(less)

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Apr 12, 2013 Cecile rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: idiotic-mc, worst-covers-ever, very-cute-relationship

If when you saw the blurb and started reading a few pages, you thought you knew exactly how this story was going to go, well…you were right. About 5 words in I was thinking “OK, I can easily predict where this is going to go. Jen is going to develop real feelings at one point or another, probably when she least expects it, and then Trevor is going to discover it was all a LIE. Methinks I’ve already read something similar. But whatevs (oh no she didn’t!), it’s still entertaining. Maybe I’ll be su...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Erica (daydreamer) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, 2011-reads, could-have-been-better, made-me-laugh, really-liked, release-in-2010, realistic-fiction, ya, cute-and-sweet

Okay, I’m giving this book four stars because it made me laugh…a lot. And smile. If it didn’t have those sweet, funny moments, it would be three stars for it’s unoriginality. Now I did like it. I liked the story and the characters, I enjoyed reading it. It’s just nothing praise worthy. It isn’t a brilliant, beautifully written, extremely well executed, thought provoking novel. Rather it’s a sweet, funny, ah, clichéd story.

Bad girl Jen, bets her friends that she could turn a geek bad. She sets he...more Okay, I’m giving this book four stars because it made me laugh…a lot. And smile. If it didn’t have those sweet, funny moments, it would be three stars for it’s unoriginality. Now I did like it. I liked the story and the characters, I enjoyed reading it. It’s just nothing praise worthy. It isn’t a brilliant, beautifully written, extremely well executed, thought provoking novel. Rather it’s a sweet, funny, ah, clichéd story.

Bad girl Jen, bets her friends that she could turn a geek bad. She sets her sights on Trevor, a nerdy, cute guy who is ever so polite, buttons his shirts to the top button, is extremely organized. Then she gets to know him. The incredibly nice, sweet, good boy he is. And she starts to like him. Instead of her turning him bad, he’s rubbing off on her. The star trek movies, trampoline jumping, bowling, ’geek’ stuff, starts to appeal to her. And then SHE starts to change. She tones down her Goth, dark appearance, doesn’t party. And they start to fall in love, awhh! After a time though, with this nagging guilt of lying to Trevor, he finds out about the bet, and he is beyond angry. He doesn’t want anything to do with her, and she’s crushed. Cue the zombie.

She feels that she won’t survive without him, she loses her appetite, becomes pale, depressed looking, and everyone knows and sees it. But she does survive! Yeah, there’s those kind of aggravating moments when she’s depressed, pinning, bemoaning her loss (nothing new there), but she pulls out of it. She realizes that she can survive without him and be happy, even if her heart will always have a crack there, that only he can mend. This hurt, angered stage lasts a while, with no reconciliation. I wish Trevor hadn’t held onto his anger for so long. Yeah, she did something hurtful, but that was when she was bad, he knew what she was like before, and he knew the person that she started to become after they started dating. He should have been able to look past that, and forgive her, because she was truly sorry, and honestly just because of his kind, polite character.

Jen’s transformation wasn’t drastic. As the reader, we don’t really see a great change, besides her looks changing from Goth to normal, and being told about her previous partying and bad actions. We never really got to see her ‘bad side’ before she started changing. She does start to look at life differently, and really does want to change, to become someone else, someone who deserves her foster family, who deserves Trevor. I liked seeing how her attitude on life changed, I guess I just wish that we could have seen some of her bad moments, like her at a party drunk or something before she decided to bet after Trevor. Then maybe the transformation would have been more meaningful.

Alright, nitpicky points aside, I really did enjoy this book. Nearly every page had me laughing out loud, or smiling. This book is really a just for fun novel with a sweet romance and a swoon worthy guy (up until he refuses to forgive or do anything with Jen that is, that kind of killed my crush for him there, even though I still liked him at the end). There are some messages in it that were done nice, but they’re not really deep. And I will say that the romance wasn't insta-love. It was brought on slowly, a very nice change from the immediate attraction/true love that happens in practically every young adult novel. If you read Geek Girl don’t expect something incredible, or an amazing story with superb characters. Expect a light, cute story, some cliché, some sappiness, and maybe some smiles and laughs if you’re like me. (less)

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Dec 13, 2012 ♥ Sarah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars, ya-na, fluffy

5 STARS!

I'm a hopeful romantic at heart, and a total sucker for YA romance. Enough said!

But I guess it doesn't hurt to elaborate...

So, the story starts off kind of cliche, girl plays the game but the game ends up playing her; basic, simple story line. Typical, but oh so delightfully fun.

At first, Jen is your stereotypical foster-girl, bad girl "freak" goth chick. She hangs with the "bad" kids, partying, dabbling with some minor drug usage, alcohol, oh you know - typical "goth" like behavior....more

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Mar 19, 2011 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: really-want-to-read

I haven't finished it so I can't rate it, but since I can't find the rest of the book (I've only read the first twelve chapters online), I'm just going to write a little preview review.

I really needed that. A simple, non-paranormal romance, with a sardonic female lead and a male lead to swoon over. And he's not actually the byronic hero type. A little quirky, sweet, geek--seriously where can I get one of those? The chemistry between Trevor and Jen is realistic. I loved there bond beyond there re...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Demonic Circus Princess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: beautiful-cover, best-male-character, chosen-by-my-amazing-intuition, cool-side-characters, depressing, fangirling, hilarious-as-hell, kick-ass-heroine, made-me-puke-rainbows-of-joy, makes-you-really-think, originality, so-insanely-in-love-with, sounds-like-me, touching, unique, warm-fuzzy-feelings

Review to come...

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Sep 14, 2011 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

3.5 stars. What a cute little gem this was. At first, I thought there wasn't going to be much more to the book than the summary - rebel girl takes a bet where she not only has to hook a geek guy, but also has to get him to "come to the dark side."

Before even reading the first page, my mind went to half a dozen movie plots. This story couldn't be hard to figure out, after all. I knew that the girl would fake liking the guy, until at some point, she saw what a great catch he really was. After all,...more 3.5 stars. What a cute little gem this was. At first, I thought there wasn't going to be much more to the book than the summary - rebel girl takes a bet where she not only has to hook a geek guy, but also has to get him to "come to the dark side."

Before even reading the first page, my mind went to half a dozen movie plots. This story couldn't be hard to figure out, after all. I knew that the girl would fake liking the guy, until at some point, she saw what a great catch he really was. After all, haven't we learned by now that all nerdy people are in fact hot underneath, and all you have to do is change their clothes to figure this out? At least, that's what the movies tell us.

I also had it figured out (no spoiler warnings necessary, as you will have figured this out as well before you even open the book) that the girl would, in fact, avoid telling the guy about the bet, and that he would find out through another party. Then after finding out, he would be upset and avoid the girl, of course.

About halfway into the book, all of my predictions had come true. I was also semi-amused that our anti-heroine did indeed have a troubled and sad past. Because of course, all kids who are "bad" must have a major and shocking reason for being the way they are (insert sarcasm here).

So, you ask, if the book was somewhat predictable, what kept me reading? Well, for starters, the author did have a unique voice. The book was an easy read and I became invested in the characters, which doesn't happen too often for me. I also appreciated that somewhere around midway into the book, things changed for the characters and we got to see what life was like after the revelation of the bet. I liked that some of Jen's major life changes started happening about halfway into the book and because of this, she had the strength and support to continue on, whether she got her true happy ending or not (I'm not telling!).

The first half was a pleasant enough read, but the second half of this book is where the author really hit her stride. I was pleased that the things came together in a few unexpected ways, and that there were still at least a few little tidbits left to surprise me when it was all said and done.

I'd be interested in checking out more books by this author after finding myself pleasantly surprised with Geek Girl.(less)

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Dec 14, 2012 Rebecca ♥ Ash, Jem, Warner ♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, romance, young-adult, ebook, favourites, memorable-men, reviewed, standalone

I am surprised how much I loved this. It is not my usual genre. I prefer PNR because they tend to be more intense. And this is everything I have come to expect from contemporary romance, sweet and slow and realistic, but in all the right ways.

The book wastes no time and jumps right into the bet. The first line of the book is, "Think I could turn that boy bad?" Jen then proceeds to flirt with Trevor shamelessly within the first chapter, and Trevor gets all flustered and adorable. The first few c...more I am surprised how much I loved this. It is not my usual genre. I prefer PNR because they tend to be more intense. And this is everything I have come to expect from contemporary romance, sweet and slow and realistic, but in all the right ways.

The book wastes no time and jumps right into the bet. The first line of the book is, "Think I could turn that boy bad?" Jen then proceeds to flirt with Trevor shamelessly within the first chapter, and Trevor gets all flustered and adorable. The first few chapters are cuteness overload! And she pretty much likes him from the beginning. She thinks he is a dork for inviting her to volunteer with him at the senior's center, or to go bowling with his family, but she cant deny that she actually enjoys the time she spends with him, and that he is cute and funny.

Jen and Trevor make an absolutely perfect couple, I just love them! And I have always loved geeks myself. I usually like my book boyfriends a little more intense, but in real life Trevor would have been exactly my kind of guy. And I loved the geek talk about all the sci-fi movies. I didnt get all the references, but most of them. I wish I had a guy to talk about sci-fi with.

Jen and Trevor kissed often, but it never got heavy. Thats not what this book is about at all. It was about being true to yourself and finding love with family, friends, and the boy of your dreams. It was full of sweetness, and there was one particular scene when Jen and Trevor both let it all out about their feelings and become very vulnerable to each other. It was a great scene. But I had hoped it would solidify them to each other. I didnt want to see any more bumps in their road after that. But I knew I would. There was still the bet looming over them, and in this type of story, it always comes back to bite them.

When Trevor finally found out, it was a bit painful for me to watch, but not as bad as I thought it would be. Although they were both upset they were still caring in a way, and it was sweet in an innocent sort of way, like it was in the beginning. But this time, no one was pretending. And it solidified them to each other even better than the vulnerable scene did. They made it through the fire and came out stronger, and made the ending all the more satisfying. I now feel like they are forever. The only thing I could possibly ask for to make this better would be a bit more description on the kisses ;) but that's just me. I wouldnt have wanted them get hot and heavy though. That would have been awkward to see from someone as sweet as Trev.(less)

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Jun 01, 2012 Magan (Rather Be Reading) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

What an under-appreciated book this is. By a show of hands (or comments), who has heard of this book? It doesn’t have half the attention it deserves on Goodreads and oh, does that make me even happier to share it with you guys.

Jen dresses to stand out in a crowd – tight, black clothing, ruby red lips lined with black lip liner, dark hair with red chunky streaks. She’s a girl who is not easy to overlook. Imagine Trevor’s shock when she sets her eyes on him and starts popping up everywhere he is....more What an under-appreciated book this is. By a show of hands (or comments), who has heard of this book? It doesn’t have half the attention it deserves on Goodreads and oh, does that make me even happier to share it with you guys.

Jen dresses to stand out in a crowd – tight, black clothing, ruby red lips lined with black lip liner, dark hair with red chunky streaks. She’s a girl who is not easy to overlook. Imagine Trevor’s shock when she sets her eyes on him and starts popping up everywhere he is. Little does he know that he’s a bet. If Jen can pull him over to the dark side, her friends will pay to have her lip re-pierced (her current foster family made her remove the last piercing). I wonder if Jen would have made the bet if she had known in her (fake) pursuit of Trevor, she would spend so much time skipping parties with her friends so she could watch sci-fi movies with his geeky crowd, or that they would be spending every third Saturday hanging with semi-senile old people in a nursing home.

Jen gets sucked up in Trevor’s world. I don’t know what girl could resist this boy. He’s kind and funny and so honorable. For a boy who wore button-up shirts buttoned all the way to his throat, he was always so kind and polite to Jen despite her in your-face-appearance. He looked past her exterior and saw that maybe that wasn’t all there was to her. Their love was a slow progression; Jen felt so conflicted – how could she fall in love with a boy that she’d be leaving when she went to the next foster home? What would her friends say about her failing so miserably at the bet – wasn’t he supposed to be the one turning bad… not the other way around?

Most importantly, what happens when this good boy finds out why they started hanging out in the first place?

Trevor and Jen’s story is one about falling in love, making it through hard times, deception, and ignoring the haters who don’t believe in you. It’s about a couple, who by appearances, should not be together. Jen’s background is gritty and disappointing; there’s a lot about her past that has caused her to be standoffish and distanced. She has never allowed herself to fall in love before and has a hard time believing someone would actually want her. (I loved her background and life story just as much as her relationship with Trevor. The foster care aspect, what happened with her biological parents, and the current status of her life in the Grant’s home was incredibly thorough and gripping.) Forgiveness is a huge, huge theme throughout this book. I could continue listing so many highlights and strengths of Geek Girl, but I need to allow you to experience this on your own.

I suppose I’ll leave you with this. Sometimes I feel like I’m reading through a 318-page book and it’s gone too fast or details of the story were lacking. I completely, wholeheartedly feel like I know everything there was to know about Trevor and Jen. I loved falling in love with them and hoping against hope that their relationship would make it. I’m so, so glad I took the time to read Bennett’s Geek Girl because I don’t think I could have possibly enjoyed it more than I did.

Now, let’s start a trend on Goodreads and give Geek Girl the love it deserves. Read it, will ya?(less)

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Feb 12, 2012 ✿ℎazℯℓ✿ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-ya-contemporary-ro-adv

If i can live a fictional life, i would like to be Jen.

First off... i'm a big, larger-than-life HUGE like really friggin huge fan of Heart on a Chain so reading another work of Ms. Bennett has been one of my missions ever since. Geek Girl did not fail me. I was so afraid that it won't live up to my expectations after HOAC, but wow.. it blew me away. I actually love it!

The story isn't just bad girl meets geek guy. It was about how a girl found her self by trying to be as bad as she can be. Hmm....more If i can live a fictional life, i would like to be Jen.

First off... i'm a big, larger-than-life HUGE like really friggin huge fan of Heart on a Chain so reading another work of Ms. Bennett has been one of my missions ever since. Geek Girl did not fail me. I was so afraid that it won't live up to my expectations after HOAC, but wow.. it blew me away. I actually love it!

The story isn't just bad girl meets geek guy. It was about how a girl found her self by trying to be as bad as she can be. Hmm.. was that confusing? well.. Jen was kind of.. a badass. She did what she want and went by her own rules. When she tried to reform Trev-or and make him go to the dark side (haha star wars geek here), she was the one who was reeled in by the force instead. That made this story totally cute. Of course things isn't all just warm fuzzies. When things got rough, she already had a support center and that's what i'm happy about. This girl who tried her best to look bad at first gained friends and a whole family. I like it. If Jen was a real person, i'll definitely congratulate her for her luck in life. This is also the reason why i want to be her in a fictional life.haha!

I love how Trevor's character came to be. He is most definitely a geek and yet, he's somehow cool and based on the book. . .has really nice dimples. So i guess he's cute right? I love it that he is soooo nice, respectful and really paid attention to Jen. I also like it that he didn't make it easy for Jen when things blew up. I like it that he gave Jen the anger she deserved and she in turn learned a lot from it. Not to be mean of course, but you know.. we learn to value things when we lose it..and that's usually when we realize stuffs. The whole getting back together was soooo good.. it made me really squeal/laugh/jump up and down.

Anyway...

This story tells us that no matter how bad the world was to us, there's always hope. It's one thing that we can never lose especially if we still wake up each morning. Anyway... my feelings after this novel? *happy sigh* i think i can sleep now and dream of hearts and flowers.

PERFECT!!! ^_^

P.S.: You ever imagine Jen 10 years after? i think she will be such a cool mom, being part geek and part reformed party girl..added to the fact that she cooks.. That would be a riot! =)(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Maria by: Cary

Shelves: contemporary, netgalley, ya, cedar-fort, 2012-favorites

I highly recommend Geek Girl.

*****

Well, this was unexpected, me super liking Geek Girl. I didn't care if it was predictable. All that mattered to me was that i'm two chapters in, and i am swooning with delight over Jen and Trevor! All throughout the book, i was smiling and gushing. *happy sigh* Kinda nice to read a book with little sexual innuendos and more gush factor, yes? I'm swept away. :)

The bet was no more than something to past the time for Jen before she busts her way out (again) from he...more

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Sep 25, 2011 Kerri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favourite-books

How refreshing - a stand alone book that has no vampires, werewolves or sequels! I enjoyed Cindy Bennett's no-frills writing style. Her quirky yet believable main characters engage the reader and keep you turning the pages. Jen is a street-smart goth girl who makes a bet with her friends. "Think I can turn that boy bad?" Those simple words start Jen on a life changing journey. Her goal is to try to change geeky guy Trevor into a bad boy. At first I was hesitant to read this book because I though...more

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Mar 06, 2013 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I first heard about Geek Girl quite awhile ago. It sounded like a fun story, but my library didn't carry it and I hesitate to buy books before I've read them. I was part of the recent blog tour for Cindy C. Bennett's new book, Rapunzel Untangled, and as luck would have it, I was able to get a review eCopy of Geek Girl from the author.

I liked Jen, the main character, quite a bit. I don't really gravitate toward people who throw off a "stay away from me" vibe, but one of the great things about Gee...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Kenzie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ok, I actually would rate this a 4.5, but I like it enough to round it up to 5 ^_^

How I Acquired This Book: I was looking around for a light-hearted romantic comedy. Geek Girl is and isn't that. I'll admit, the idea of trying to change a geek into a bad boy also interested me, because come on, that would be HILARIOUS. So, I grabbed it off the nearest shelf and read it. The closest thing I can compare this book to would have to be the movie, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, with the addition of an a...more Ok, I actually would rate this a 4.5, but I like it enough to round it up to 5 ^_^

How I Acquired This Book: I was looking around for a light-hearted romantic comedy. Geek Girl is and isn't that. I'll admit, the idea of trying to change a geek into a bad boy also interested me, because come on, that would be HILARIOUS. So, I grabbed it off the nearest shelf and read it. The closest thing I can compare this book to would have to be the movie, How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, with the addition of an amazingly sad back story and tons of laughs.

The Awesomesauce Charries: This is probably really sad but one thing I love for some twisted reason is internal battles. I can't help it. Whenever Gollum goes talking to himself like that I giggle like a fangirl who's just been introduced to her idol. It just cracks me up. So watching goth girl Jen trying not to fall in love with geeky Trevor and berating herself for ending up enjoying all the sci-fi movies cracked me up. I also love the character transformation that takes place with her. She was a wonderful main character and was extremely believable and easy to relate to. So.... on to our other main character..... *grins* Trevor was hilarious! You don't usually see it often happen in books where the love interest gets all flustered around the main character, so that kind of cracked me up. I liked him a lot up till we got to the description of him. Then, I was in love. Any one who has read through some of my other reviews have had to find out I have quite a weird quality that makes me love the main guys. Their eyes. It's so weird, but I've always loved green eyes, so when that was mentioned in the book, I was a gone ^_^ After he got used to Jen, he was sweet and funny and slightly protective, which cracked me up all the more :) The two of them together were hilarious, especially when Jen first went to Trevor's house XD I also loved Jane ;) Looks can be deceiving. She looked and acted like an angel, but was a lot more devious then almost anyone in the book XD Her and Brian cracked me up as well :)

The Plot: Like I said earlier, I came looking for a romantic comedy. This was.... extraordinary. I remember being about 50 pages into the book and thinking about how much I loved it and wishing it would be longer than 250+ pages. I say this because now I know it is the perfect size for this story. The story is so dramatic at parts it feels longer than it actually is. Kind of like when you read a 400 page book and it feels shorter because the story just flies by. Not with this one. This book may be smaller than what I usually read, but the plot line was much better than others that I have read that are twice as long. I want to tell you guys what was so dramatic in it that causes me to say that but it would spoil a lot. So I must keep my mouth shut *sighs* One thing I didn't really like about the story was that when Jen started to realize she was really starting to like Trevor, she also caught on to how weird a couple they made, and since she didn't feel like she could ever reach his 'standards' so she felt she had to bring him down to hers. That seemed extremely sad. But other than that, I loved this book ^_^

The End: So, you guys can tell I loved this book and definitely want you guys to read it. Also, there is a strong possibility you will be seeing more book reviews for books by this author, since I absolutely loved this book ;) But read this book. I urge you strongly to! IT IS AMAZING!!!! lol :) but I'm not kidding, read it.

Come check out more reviews and random book related stuff here: http://theread-a-holic.blogspot.com/(less)

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Nov 11, 2012 Zoe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, ya, squeaky-clean

Jen’s a girl on a mission. Her twin friends are willing to pay for her lip piercing if she manages to make a geek at school become “non-geekish”. Her approach is very strategic. Jen’s forward and has a lot of attitude as she invades the geek world. She takes pleasure in freaking out these mild, studious, people. I liked Jen because she was an unusual heroine. While she generally has a negative outlook on the world, she’s confident in her looks and appeal but is insecure in her intrinsic value. S...more

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May 02, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, 2012, humor

UPDATE (added review 2:33 PM):

This is the first book of Cindy C. Bennett that I’d read, and I was definitely living in a cave before this. Within the first few pages of Geek Girl, she introduced the readers to Jen and set us up for an intriguing read. Although the story was somehow slow paced and I kind of guess what will happen next and so on, it was worth reading. I just couldn’t stop scrolling down (And yes! I read it on my phone) because od the sweet and witty scenes.

The story revolves aroun...more

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Apr 16, 2012 Ivonne Guevara rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

aaaaaawwwwww ame este libro!!
Jen es una chica con muchos problemas ya que acarrea desde su infancia con ellos, no fue muy facil siendo su padre como era y al final lo que paso con su madre pero hay veces que esto hace a la persona mas fuerte y otras veces que se cierren a lo que puede pasar en su vida mas adelante, que piensen que no merecen ser feliz ni ser queridas.
Ella es la tipica adolescente que esconde sus sentimientos y emociones para que no la lastimen, una chica gotica que no le importa...more aaaaaawwwwww ame este libro!!
Jen es una chica con muchos problemas ya que acarrea desde su infancia con ellos, no fue muy facil siendo su padre como era y al final lo que paso con su madre pero hay veces que esto hace a la persona mas fuerte y otras veces que se cierren a lo que puede pasar en su vida mas adelante, que piensen que no merecen ser feliz ni ser queridas.
Ella es la tipica adolescente que esconde sus sentimientos y emociones para que no la lastimen, una chica gotica que no le importa nada y para divertirse que mejor que hacer una apuesta con sus "amigas" pero estas apuestas siempre se vuelven contra uno.
Trevor es el tipico chico inteligente, amable, con modales que tus padres aceptarian sin chistar pero por eso es que Jen lo ve como un desafio ese chico tan bueno necesita relajarse y pasarse al lado "malo". Al principio Jen sabe jugar muy bien sus cartas pero ella no contaba con la personalidad de Trevor, que todo lo bueno, divertido y amable podia volverse contra ella. La relacion empieza un poco timida de parte de Trevor (y como no si de repente una chica empieza a coquetear contigo, te empieza a ver sin ninguna razon, algo debe haber pasado, pero eso no es importante despues que empiezan a sentir cosas) pero poco a poco va cambiando, van pasando tiempo juntos, haciendo cosas que Trevor hacia cada dia (aunque esto creo que fue un poco egoista, ya que ella iba a todos los lugares que el queria, pasaba tiempo con sus amigos, con su familia pero él no hacia lo mismo) aunque bueno su diferencias eran enormes pero llegaron a complementarse tanto que era hermoso imaginarlos juntos, tener esos sentimientos por alguien, ir recuperando tu confianza en la falicidad, en la vida y en la esperanza que todo puede ser mejor, que todo siempre no es tan malo pero claro no todo puede ser color de rosa y tarde o temprano se saben las cosas y bueno las "amigas" egoistas no podian ver (ni querian hacerlo) sobre lo verdaderamente importante y mas lo que ella queria y la hacia feliz y derrumbaron todo, a partir de ahi las cosas no fueron muy faciles y debo decir que tambien me rompio el corazon verla sufrir pero como dicen al final del tunel siempre hay una luz y esa fue la llegada de Jane que la saco a flote con el apoyo de ella volvio a ser la misma de antes (aunque diferente), la relacion de sus padres, de su hermano de todos sus verdaderos amigos fue que la ayudo a ver la vida de otra manera hasta que claro vino el perdon y la reconciliacion que debo decir fue hermosa, ellos me hicieron sentir todas esas emociones, disfrutar de su relacion, de su amor, de esa conexion que hacia que saltaran chispas.
Un libro hermoso, entretenido, lleno de emociones desde la primera pagina y que una y otra vez te sacaba lagrimas por la situaciones que contaba y que habia vivido pero sobre todo te llevaba en una nube para ver el desarrollo de esa relacion y de lo que puede hacer el amor.(less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Wisteriouswoman rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is a perfect romance for the Christian teen girl--lots of kissing, jealousy, redemption, breaking up and getting back together. If you want a well written book look somewhere else.

I thought it had a good premise and I read more than half of it. There is a lot an author can do with a story about a kid that is in the foster care system. She hints about things that happened in the past but never goes into too much detail. We never know how Jen manages to get herself thrown out of one foster c...more This is a perfect romance for the Christian teen girl--lots of kissing, jealousy, redemption, breaking up and getting back together. If you want a well written book look somewhere else.

I thought it had a good premise and I read more than half of it. There is a lot an author can do with a story about a kid that is in the foster care system. She hints about things that happened in the past but never goes into too much detail. We never know how Jen manages to get herself thrown out of one foster care home after another. We don't really get to know the birth mother or the foster parents very well. It would have been much more interesting if the supporting characters were more than just props. The most enchanting character is Trevor's brother who has downs syndrome. People are labeled as one type of person or another and lack dimension.

Trevor seemed like the perfect boyfriend—most girls would love him. He is just the kind of boyfriend I always wanted in high school. It was unbelievable that a teen age boy would be so cool, gentlemanly and mature---I would have imagined him to be at least 25. I got tired of the label 'geek'. He didn't seem that geeky to me especially when he is voted Student Body President.

I grew to dislike Jen more and more. I couldn't see why Trevor was so smitten by her. The book got sappier as the story went along. If you like shallow romance novels but don't want to read about sex than this might be perfect for you. Besides being a love story there just isn't that much going on—you know the guy will get the girl in the end. It was a book I could put down...and never pick up again. I like the kind of book where the girl loses a leg in a car accident or has an abortion, or has to deal with a parent dying so that the reader sees protagonist overcoming adversity and growing as a person. Jen comes from a difficult background but changes from bad girl to good girl because an angel comes into her life in the shape of a perfect boyfriend, not because of her own struggle with her personal devils and coming to grips with a challenging past.
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Jan 16, 2012 Yazleen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this book was very sweet. Trevor is the ultimate boyfriend and I really enjoyed to see Jen's transformation. I have to admit though, I expected her to be a bit more rebellious and mean, considering how she dressed. But instead, she was shockingly nice. It was heartbreaking when she told Mrs. Green how her childhood was; how her father tried to kill her, how her mother killed her stepfather in order to protect her and because of that, she was sentenced to prison. It's also heartbreaking...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Sandy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chemistry-sigh, can-t-stop-thinking-about, endings-i-love, favorite-character, fluff-i-love, i-own, made-me-cry, premise-i-love, read-in-2011

Cedar Fort acquired a real indie gem with Geek Girl. I first read Geek Girl back in March when it was self-published, and I burned through it in a matter of hours. Talk about flow...Cindy C. Bennett's writing is addictive and all-consuming and emotionally gripping. And she ALWAYS makes me cry.

I initially gave Geek Girl four stars, but as I re-read it now that it's been published, I'm upping it to five. Out of everything I've read this year, this is one of those stories that has just stayed with...more

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Dec 11, 2011 Caitlin Audet rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow!!! I can't even begin to say how much I loved reading the book. The writing, the story, the characters, all amazing. Geek Girl starts right off with Jen, the main character, making a bet with her friends Beth and Ella to turn "the geek" Trevor into a bad boy. She starts out right away by going to a school dance and getting his attention. This definitely confuses Trevor, or Trev as Jen calls him. She pretty much stalks him during school, making her presence known. Soon these two come to be se...more

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Dec 08, 2011 YA Reads Book Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kiona

There aren’t many “first love” stories that I think are spot-on, but Geek Girl truly captures the rollercoaster of emotions that not only constitute first love, but also first heartbreak. It’s also utterly un-put-downable. It’s impossible not to immerse yourself in Jen’s life, to feel every emotion right along with her. This book will make you laugh out loud, give you butterflies, bring you to the verge of tears, and quite possibly curl your toes as often as Jen does.

But I’m getting ahead of mys...more There aren’t many “first love” stories that I think are spot-on, but Geek Girl truly captures the rollercoaster of emotions that not only constitute first love, but also first heartbreak. It’s also utterly un-put-downable. It’s impossible not to immerse yourself in Jen’s life, to feel every emotion right along with her. This book will make you laugh out loud, give you butterflies, bring you to the verge of tears, and quite possibly curl your toes as often as Jen does.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Jen is what you might call a “bad girl.” She’s been bounced around from who knows how many foster homes and she’s developed a pretty tough exterior. On a whim, she decides she needs a project and that project becomes turning Trevor, King of the Geeks, into a “bad boy.” But Trevor’s not as malleable as Jen first assumed and, after awhile, she realizes she doesn’t even want to change him. Instead, she might just want to change for him.

So begins the whirlwind romance of Jen and Trevor. Oddly enough, I found Jen to be one of the most relatable and likable characters I’ve ever read about. She’s charming, endearing, and ridiculously witty, though she’d probably only take the latter as a compliment. She also knows how to get exactly what she wants from guys – at least, when they’re playing by her rules. But Trevor’s different. He’s polite to a fault, honest, and genuinely good. He’s intrigued by Jen, but not intimidated. In essence, they’re perfect for each other.

Cindy Bennett is clearly a master at character development. Every time Jen and Trevor are together I feel as if I’m there with them. In fact, I feel as if I’m one of Trevor’s lame friends, joining the game for a sci-fi movie marathon. Bennett perfectly and accurately captures the high school experience, including the awkwardness that comes along with befriending those outside your “clique” and dealing with the backlash of the typical teenage drama. Bennett forges relationships with realistic, snappy dialogue and common interests (something many authors forget is one of the most important aspects of any relationship). Each secondary character is sufficiently explored, creating an entirely three-dimensional world.

In addition, Jen embarks on a rigorous journey of self-discovery that leaves the reader fascinated, empathetic, and rooting for her the entire way; I can’t imagine anyone failing to fall in love with her. Or Trevor, for that matter. This book is not for the faint of heart. It is filled with powerful emotions, both good and bad. And yes, it appeals to the geek in all of us, whether that part of you is big or small. I’ll admit I was more than a little proud of myself for recognizing almost all of the sci-fi references. Star Trek humor, anyone?(less)

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Nov 30, 2011 Jade Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Stop smiling Jade. Stop smiling! This book was cheesy and corny and predictable so how dare you enjoy it so much! Stop enjoying this book!"

That was my thought process for the first half of this book because it was so predictable and the first half lacked depth, I kept telling myself off for enjoying it because it lacked in originality, but for me, this didn't matter because it was funny and cute and so well written.

The start was a bit hard to get into, we get Jen, this goth-ish character who i...more

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Nov 14, 2011 L_manning rated it 5 of 5 stars

Jen has had a rough life. Now in foster care, she's learned that she can't trust anyone. She has a new foster family, but she knows it won't last long. Jen bets her friends that she can turn a good-boy bad. Picking the geek Trevor, Jen makes her moves and everything is going according to plan. Well, almost. Jen discovers that hanging out with Trevor can actually be fun. More than that, she's learning that there really are some good people in this world. Jen's perspective on life is changing, but...more Jen has had a rough life. Now in foster care, she's learned that she can't trust anyone. She has a new foster family, but she knows it won't last long. Jen bets her friends that she can turn a good-boy bad. Picking the geek Trevor, Jen makes her moves and everything is going according to plan. Well, almost. Jen discovers that hanging out with Trevor can actually be fun. More than that, she's learning that there really are some good people in this world. Jen's perspective on life is changing, but is that changing who she really is? Jen must discover what she wants out of life and decide if that life is a little more geek than she thought it would be.

This book immediately jumps into the story and draws you in. I think the author showed particular skill with the character of Jen. Jen could have easily seemed either sad and whiny or just like a try-hard rebel, both of which would have made her seem fairly unsympathetic. Instead, she was very easy to like. While she had self-doubt, she never wallowed in it. Now, maybe I'm a little biased because I married my own geek, but Trevor was definitely a dreamboat. He was smart and super sweet, but he also avoided being too much of a pushover. He was just confident in who he was.

This book was adorable, but it also conveyed some great messages. I loved that Jen was able to discover who she truly was and get a sense of what she wanted from life separate from her boy issues. Even though I longed for a happy ending, I knew that Jen would be okay regardless. She was able to build a support system and gain those feeling of love and family that she had been lacking. She also was able to have that sense of hope; that no matter how hard her life had been up to that point, she could overcome and make a good life for herself. She even learned to dream a bit.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a very fast and fun read. I didn't want to put it down. It's smart, witty, charming, and very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book. If you are looking for a sweet romance that fills you with joy, this is definitely the book for you.

Book provided for review.(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 Nakesha Brown rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! As you can read from the synopsis this book starts off with a bet. You basically know where it is going to go with the typical beginning bet then a realization followed with the blow up ending. However, this book is a different journey. You know where it begins, but the heart of this book takes you into the Jen's past with her parents and "the Fosters", a childhood of abuse and tragedy. We go into her psyche and see just how she has chosen to deal with all that she has had to...more I loved this book! As you can read from the synopsis this book starts off with a bet. You basically know where it is going to go with the typical beginning bet then a realization followed with the blow up ending. However, this book is a different journey. You know where it begins, but the heart of this book takes you into the Jen's past with her parents and "the Fosters", a childhood of abuse and tragedy. We go into her psyche and see just how she has chosen to deal with all that she has had to endure. It gives such a good explanation for why she is the way she is, tough, hard to reach and difficult at times. Throughout this journey you meet Trevor and you see his interaction with Jen and it is, ah, great. Cindy has a way of writing in some great guy lead character, I tell you (see Henry in Heart on a Chain). Halfway through, honestly, I almost forgot about the bet. The story grows so much bigger than turning geeky Trevor into a bad boy. You can see the shell on Jen breaking away slowly and her growing as a person. Trevor has a transformation as well but not like you would think. You no longer see Geek Boy and Rebel Girl, they become like Romeo and Juliet or something. One thing I liked about Trevor was that he stuck to his guns, he knew who he was and how he was raised. He was so self-confident not the "typical geek." Every once in a while, though, I would cringe while reading because I knew he would have to find out about the bet and I was dreading it. I loved the relationship that developed between the two and I didn't want anything to mess it up. Although Trevor is Mr. Manners, you just know when he finds out its not going to be good. I won't go any further into what happens because you should read the book!

Cindy is a great writer. The story just flows, her writing isn't complicated. Reading this book was enjoyable and although it had it moments of sadness, you appreciate the characters more by the way they deal with the struggles in this book. Conclusion, this is a great, enjoyable read. The characters are great, the writing style is great, the book is great. Go read it! (less)

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Oct 29, 2011 Jenna Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: romantic souls!

Shelves: arc-to-review, blog-tour

(I just want to say that it’s been so long since I haven’t slept in the wee hours of the morning just so I can finish a book. :))

It was romantic and sappy, sweet & funny, and fast-paced & clichéd but I still loved it. The main plot wasn’t totally uncommon, but there’s something unique and deep with the story that I couldn’t really put my finger on. The story started of with Jen, a Goth, out of the boringness of her daily activities dared her friends that she can turn one Geek guy, who’s...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Bad girl Jen's got a bet going. Not only does she have get geek-boy Trevor to like her, she's also got to turn him to the darkside. Jen's reputation is riding on this, as well as a lip-ring/chance to alienate yet another set of foster parents. But getting Trevor means venturing into his world, and the scary thing is, Jen likes it there.

This is a wonderful book. Yes, the plot's trite, we've all been there before and know where it's going, but that doesn't matter. The characters draw you in, the...more

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