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Giving Up the V
Spencer “Responsible” Davis is nowhere ready to “give up the V,” as opposed to her hormonally crazed crew of friends, obsessed with the who-what-when-where-how of it all. “It” being . . . well, you get it. Even Spencer’s male friends, who claim to have expertise in the matter, offer their services to help relieve her of that pesky letter, much to her embarrassment.
But when new-kid Benjamin enters the picture, Spencer begins to rethink her “responsible” moniker, and for the first time she wonders if she’s found just the right guy worth trading in her V-card.
But when new-kid Benjamin enters the picture, Spencer begins to rethink her “responsible” moniker, and for the first time she wonders if she’s found just the right guy worth trading in her V-card.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2009
10 people are currently reading
1456 people want to read
About the author
Serena Robar
13 books120 followersMulti-published Young Adult author of both paranormal and contemporary fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 20, 2009
16-year-old Spencer is a virgin, and is happy to be. She is happy to wait until she’s with the right person to have sex, rather than get obsessed about it like all her friends in her crew. But then Benjamin Hopkins joins the school. Gorgeous, funny, athletic, Spencer can’t help but go weak at the knees when she’s around him, and Ben starts giving her the right kind of attention. How far will she go to get her guy?
I really like this book! It reads a lot like it could be part of an American TV teen programme; the teens were so lifelike and believable. I found myself literary crushing on pretty much all the guys in the book, even the guys who weren’t so great. Ryan, for example; he may use girls a lot, but he was hot and funny, so it was easy to see how he could get away with it.
I loved how Spencer wouldn’t give in to the jokey “peer pressure” from her friends over being a virgin, that she was determined to have sex when she wanted to , when things were right, and not when others felt she should – before Ben arrived. It kind of annoyed me she went a little crazy over him, as I was thinking “pull yourself together, he’s just a guy”, yet it was believable, we girls do get a little “oh my god!” when it comes to guys. I also admired how she was still able to pretty much be herself around him despite it all, it was cool. I identified with her a lot when she wasn’t sure what she should do when things started to happen between her and Ben; very true to life.
What was also interesting was the sub-plot in the story; Spencer’s best friend Alyssa was determined to lose her virginity, a one-night-stand so she could get it out of the way, and planned and organised for she was going to get it done. It was a little disturbing how tenacious she was, and how she made it seem like some school project, like no big deal, but something that had to be done – with no feelings. It was great to see these two different attitudes and stories running along each other.
There were no actual sex scenes in this book, but there were some almost-sex scenes that were really well written. It was a great depiction of how Spencer was feeling AND thinking towards what was happening, and keeping those two things clearly separate worked well.
This was an awesome book overall dealing with a sensitive subject with great characters and a lot of humour. I loved it!
I really like this book! It reads a lot like it could be part of an American TV teen programme; the teens were so lifelike and believable. I found myself literary crushing on pretty much all the guys in the book, even the guys who weren’t so great. Ryan, for example; he may use girls a lot, but he was hot and funny, so it was easy to see how he could get away with it.
I loved how Spencer wouldn’t give in to the jokey “peer pressure” from her friends over being a virgin, that she was determined to have sex when she wanted to , when things were right, and not when others felt she should – before Ben arrived. It kind of annoyed me she went a little crazy over him, as I was thinking “pull yourself together, he’s just a guy”, yet it was believable, we girls do get a little “oh my god!” when it comes to guys. I also admired how she was still able to pretty much be herself around him despite it all, it was cool. I identified with her a lot when she wasn’t sure what she should do when things started to happen between her and Ben; very true to life.
What was also interesting was the sub-plot in the story; Spencer’s best friend Alyssa was determined to lose her virginity, a one-night-stand so she could get it out of the way, and planned and organised for she was going to get it done. It was a little disturbing how tenacious she was, and how she made it seem like some school project, like no big deal, but something that had to be done – with no feelings. It was great to see these two different attitudes and stories running along each other.
There were no actual sex scenes in this book, but there were some almost-sex scenes that were really well written. It was a great depiction of how Spencer was feeling AND thinking towards what was happening, and keeping those two things clearly separate worked well.
This was an awesome book overall dealing with a sensitive subject with great characters and a lot of humour. I loved it!
June 18, 2009
Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com
How can you not like a story that starts off with the main character having to endure her first gynecological exam because she has a forward-thinking mother?
Spencer is the last girl that needs a prescription for the Pill. She has never had a serious crush on a boy in all of her sixteen years. But her mother wants Spencer to be prepared. She's not giving her carte blanche to be promiscuous, but she wants Spencer covered if hormones override common sense.
Spencer's medication is the talk of her group of friends, the Crew. The guys in the group all offer to be her first.
Spencer has always been the girl her friends confide in. Her tight group of friends include Ryan, the player; Morgan and Justin, the on-again/off-again/on-again rocking couple; her best friend, Alyssa, who is so petite she looks like she is only twelve; and good old Zach. It isn't until Spencer lays eyes on the new transfer student, Ben, that she even considers putting her pills to good use.
But problems ensue when Alyssa shares her list of possible boys to lose her virginity to with Spencer. Spencer hasn't told anyone about her crush on Ben (and she's getting the vibe that Ben is into her as well), and she's conflicted when she sees Ben has made it to #1 on Alyssa's list. She's torn between keeping her friend happy and following her own desires.
It doesn't help when her friend Zach starts keeping his distance from her. Though he assures her that everything is okay, Spencer isn't so sure. And she's also confused when she realizes that Zach has started to sport some well-defined muscles of his own.
I really enjoyed GIVING UP THE V from start to finish. Spencer could be any teenage girl struggling with the emotions of her first crush. She's flattered that she's captured his attention, but then uncomfortable with his fast moves. There's girl drama, romance, and amusing situations that the characters find themselves in. Some of the most entertaining parts are Justin's attempts to win Morgan back in their up and down romance.
The story doesn't promote sexual activity even though the title may suggest otherwise. It's a good look at the pros and cons of going all the way the first time.
How can you not like a story that starts off with the main character having to endure her first gynecological exam because she has a forward-thinking mother?
Spencer is the last girl that needs a prescription for the Pill. She has never had a serious crush on a boy in all of her sixteen years. But her mother wants Spencer to be prepared. She's not giving her carte blanche to be promiscuous, but she wants Spencer covered if hormones override common sense.
Spencer's medication is the talk of her group of friends, the Crew. The guys in the group all offer to be her first.
Spencer has always been the girl her friends confide in. Her tight group of friends include Ryan, the player; Morgan and Justin, the on-again/off-again/on-again rocking couple; her best friend, Alyssa, who is so petite she looks like she is only twelve; and good old Zach. It isn't until Spencer lays eyes on the new transfer student, Ben, that she even considers putting her pills to good use.
But problems ensue when Alyssa shares her list of possible boys to lose her virginity to with Spencer. Spencer hasn't told anyone about her crush on Ben (and she's getting the vibe that Ben is into her as well), and she's conflicted when she sees Ben has made it to #1 on Alyssa's list. She's torn between keeping her friend happy and following her own desires.
It doesn't help when her friend Zach starts keeping his distance from her. Though he assures her that everything is okay, Spencer isn't so sure. And she's also confused when she realizes that Zach has started to sport some well-defined muscles of his own.
I really enjoyed GIVING UP THE V from start to finish. Spencer could be any teenage girl struggling with the emotions of her first crush. She's flattered that she's captured his attention, but then uncomfortable with his fast moves. There's girl drama, romance, and amusing situations that the characters find themselves in. Some of the most entertaining parts are Justin's attempts to win Morgan back in their up and down romance.
The story doesn't promote sexual activity even though the title may suggest otherwise. It's a good look at the pros and cons of going all the way the first time.
September 16, 2011
So...
Yeah.
This book was NOT what I expected it to be.
From the description, I was truly expecting a humorous journey through the life of Spencer Davis, proud virgin. What I got was a journey through the life of Spencer Davis,...um, Just kinda waiting on someone to give it to.
I'm not a prude, and I'm not a stranger to books that cover the sexual ideas and philosophies of teenaagers, but this book left me unsatisfied.
Spencer Davis has just turned 16. And in her house that means her first trip to the gynecologist and a brand new shiny pack of birth control pills. The first date in the stirrups proves to be mortifying but not fatal and Spencer is less than enthused about receiving this rites of passage because she personally can't see herself needing the pills. She isn't very much like the other members of her "Crew", who are very much sexually active.
There's Morgan and Justin, the on-again/off-again couple, who are currently Off again now that Morgan has learned that Justin had sex with school H.B.I.C. Shelby. Then Ryan, the school clown who changes girls like underwear...and maybe more often, whose mom wants Spencer to be the one that grounds him. Zachary and Allysa(Soon-Yi) are the only other virgins in the Crew, but Zachary is tired of his gentleman reputation and Allysa wants to have a one-night stand so that she can just get the whole virginity thing "out of the way".
Spencer isn't interested in any flings or one-night-stands, though her mother assures her that it may happen so fast that she will be glad she was prepared. First of all, she's a size 13, and can't imagine finding a man who wants to see the body she normally hides underneath sweatshirts and baggy pants. She also believes sex should mean something and wants her first time to be with someone who makes her tingle all over her body, and not just in her nether regions.
Then suddenly, (and I mean like same week, suddenly), there appears in the school a new student. Benjamin Hopkins walks up and asks her for directions to the main office and Spencer is suddenly twitterpated. She can barely remember her name, and by the time she gets to Chemistry class and finds that Ben is her new lab partner, she can hardly even speak. Yet she somehow speaks well enough to agree to let Ben copy her notes.
And thus begins my loss of interest in Ms.Davis. I can totally understand the urgency and unexpected ways love or in this case "lust" can creep up on adults and teenagers alike, but for Spencer to go from "never have I ever" to "Bring it On", was unbelievable for me. The fact that she didn't really "know" Ben, I could get over, but the way she quickly fell into letting him copy her homework, slob her down and grope her up...confused me and made it seem as though her primary issue was more about her body image than her actual concern for her virginity. I also grew frustrated with how easily the reader could see where Spencer's true affections and issues laid, while she was clueless.
The real stories were with Spencer's friends...but even they became cliche after a short while unfortunately. This book closed sweetly enough, but without much to write home about. It could fit comfortably into any booklist that contains Forever by Judy Blume...which says something in and of itself.
Yeah.
This book was NOT what I expected it to be.
From the description, I was truly expecting a humorous journey through the life of Spencer Davis, proud virgin. What I got was a journey through the life of Spencer Davis,...um, Just kinda waiting on someone to give it to.
I'm not a prude, and I'm not a stranger to books that cover the sexual ideas and philosophies of teenaagers, but this book left me unsatisfied.
Spencer Davis has just turned 16. And in her house that means her first trip to the gynecologist and a brand new shiny pack of birth control pills. The first date in the stirrups proves to be mortifying but not fatal and Spencer is less than enthused about receiving this rites of passage because she personally can't see herself needing the pills. She isn't very much like the other members of her "Crew", who are very much sexually active.
There's Morgan and Justin, the on-again/off-again couple, who are currently Off again now that Morgan has learned that Justin had sex with school H.B.I.C. Shelby. Then Ryan, the school clown who changes girls like underwear...and maybe more often, whose mom wants Spencer to be the one that grounds him. Zachary and Allysa(Soon-Yi) are the only other virgins in the Crew, but Zachary is tired of his gentleman reputation and Allysa wants to have a one-night stand so that she can just get the whole virginity thing "out of the way".
Spencer isn't interested in any flings or one-night-stands, though her mother assures her that it may happen so fast that she will be glad she was prepared. First of all, she's a size 13, and can't imagine finding a man who wants to see the body she normally hides underneath sweatshirts and baggy pants. She also believes sex should mean something and wants her first time to be with someone who makes her tingle all over her body, and not just in her nether regions.
Then suddenly, (and I mean like same week, suddenly), there appears in the school a new student. Benjamin Hopkins walks up and asks her for directions to the main office and Spencer is suddenly twitterpated. She can barely remember her name, and by the time she gets to Chemistry class and finds that Ben is her new lab partner, she can hardly even speak. Yet she somehow speaks well enough to agree to let Ben copy her notes.
And thus begins my loss of interest in Ms.Davis. I can totally understand the urgency and unexpected ways love or in this case "lust" can creep up on adults and teenagers alike, but for Spencer to go from "never have I ever" to "Bring it On", was unbelievable for me. The fact that she didn't really "know" Ben, I could get over, but the way she quickly fell into letting him copy her homework, slob her down and grope her up...confused me and made it seem as though her primary issue was more about her body image than her actual concern for her virginity. I also grew frustrated with how easily the reader could see where Spencer's true affections and issues laid, while she was clueless.
The real stories were with Spencer's friends...but even they became cliche after a short while unfortunately. This book closed sweetly enough, but without much to write home about. It could fit comfortably into any booklist that contains Forever by Judy Blume...which says something in and of itself.
August 6, 2011
From the opening scene at her first gyno exam to the last scene playing guitar hero with her friends, this book was funny and cute. Not an original plot by any means but an enjoyable read nevertheless. Spencer and her gang of friends had me laughing at some of their hijinks and saying "Ahh" at some of the sweeter moments. Robar really touched on the importance of friendship and being true to yourself and your decisions. And what YA book wouldn't be complete without it's resident bad boy you love to hate?
October 6, 2010
Wow, I love, love, loved this book, and I love the author's use of voice. You can't beat a book that opens up with the MC, Spencer, experiencing her first gyno visit, lol.
What I loved about Spencer is that she didn't want to "do it" just b/c everyone else was or just b/c her mom was giving her the greenlight by putting her on birth control at 16. She wanted to be in love with the person. She's slightly horrified at how her bff Alyssa is on a mission to lose hers to anyone, anyhow simply to get it over with and potentially give herself a rep to date more guys. Well, Alyssa does give herself a goal of the Winter Formal.
The book has Spencer and her group of girl and guy friends. You have Morgan and Justin, the on and off again couple, Ryan the manwhore player, Zach the sweet, nice guy of the group, Alyssa, and Spencer.
Enter the new badboy hottie, Ben. He begins to hang out with their group, and both Alyssa and Spencer have the hots for him. But the moment he blew into the book, I didn't want to see either one end up with him. He impressed me as even more of a manwhore player, asshat, douchebag than the group's friend, Ryan. When it looks like Spencer wants to lose her virignity, Ryan is ready and willing to take her Vcard. Through convos with Ryan's mom, who wants Spencer to date Ryan to ground him a bit, as well as the way he acts around her, we see that Ryan is sort of a manwhore with a heart, and that he might potentially like Spencer. But it doesn't matter b/c he just makes her uncomfortable.
I adored the character of Zach--the friend but could be more. I thought Robar did an awesome job of capturing the way you can go from not being interested in your "brother like friend" to "whoa, hold on, who is this guy?" lol. Since they've been friends since childhood, it's hard for Spencer to see him any other way, but it's clear from the beginning of the book that Zach is potentially seeing her differently. And then as he gets tired of being the "nice guy" and starts to seek out chics, Spencer finds herself getting jealous. But she doesn't go into full out freak out mode until her friend, Alyssa, decides to ask him to prom. Spencer knows she's just wanting to sleep with someone, and she knows Zach deserves better than to lose his vcard to someone who just is using him.
What I loved was the Winter Formal scene. This is where Spencer is able to see the ick factor of Ben. First of all, he's a hornball who can barely look at her face--he has to stare at her chest. When they're on the dance floor, he's constnatly kissing and groping her. A trip to the bathroom lets Spencer overhear that he's been sleeping with another girl, Shelby. And of course, she's also drooling over Zach who looks handsome and who tells her how amazing she looks without staring at her chest. When she comes back from the bathroom, Zach punches Ben, and Ben punches him back. Spencer leaves with Zach. In the limo, she tells Zach how much she loves him and it's freakin' her out. Zach admit his feelings for her too, and their kiss is so AMAZING! It's love that also brings passion, and Spencer realizes what she has been missing.
The BIGGEST part I loved is how she and Zach decide not to sleep with each other right away. Instead, they want to work on their relationship and savor what they have.
AWESOME, AWESOME!!!
What I loved about Spencer is that she didn't want to "do it" just b/c everyone else was or just b/c her mom was giving her the greenlight by putting her on birth control at 16. She wanted to be in love with the person. She's slightly horrified at how her bff Alyssa is on a mission to lose hers to anyone, anyhow simply to get it over with and potentially give herself a rep to date more guys. Well, Alyssa does give herself a goal of the Winter Formal.
The book has Spencer and her group of girl and guy friends. You have Morgan and Justin, the on and off again couple, Ryan the manwhore player, Zach the sweet, nice guy of the group, Alyssa, and Spencer.
Enter the new badboy hottie, Ben. He begins to hang out with their group, and both Alyssa and Spencer have the hots for him. But the moment he blew into the book, I didn't want to see either one end up with him. He impressed me as even more of a manwhore player, asshat, douchebag than the group's friend, Ryan. When it looks like Spencer wants to lose her virignity, Ryan is ready and willing to take her Vcard. Through convos with Ryan's mom, who wants Spencer to date Ryan to ground him a bit, as well as the way he acts around her, we see that Ryan is sort of a manwhore with a heart, and that he might potentially like Spencer. But it doesn't matter b/c he just makes her uncomfortable.
I adored the character of Zach--the friend but could be more. I thought Robar did an awesome job of capturing the way you can go from not being interested in your "brother like friend" to "whoa, hold on, who is this guy?" lol. Since they've been friends since childhood, it's hard for Spencer to see him any other way, but it's clear from the beginning of the book that Zach is potentially seeing her differently. And then as he gets tired of being the "nice guy" and starts to seek out chics, Spencer finds herself getting jealous. But she doesn't go into full out freak out mode until her friend, Alyssa, decides to ask him to prom. Spencer knows she's just wanting to sleep with someone, and she knows Zach deserves better than to lose his vcard to someone who just is using him.
What I loved was the Winter Formal scene. This is where Spencer is able to see the ick factor of Ben. First of all, he's a hornball who can barely look at her face--he has to stare at her chest. When they're on the dance floor, he's constnatly kissing and groping her. A trip to the bathroom lets Spencer overhear that he's been sleeping with another girl, Shelby. And of course, she's also drooling over Zach who looks handsome and who tells her how amazing she looks without staring at her chest. When she comes back from the bathroom, Zach punches Ben, and Ben punches him back. Spencer leaves with Zach. In the limo, she tells Zach how much she loves him and it's freakin' her out. Zach admit his feelings for her too, and their kiss is so AMAZING! It's love that also brings passion, and Spencer realizes what she has been missing.
The BIGGEST part I loved is how she and Zach decide not to sleep with each other right away. Instead, they want to work on their relationship and savor what they have.
AWESOME, AWESOME!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2009
Kristy Mei December 14, 2009
9A- Writing Art
Ms. Moore
Are you ready for the big V question?
Sixteen years old Spencer Davis, a typical American, teenager just hit the time where sex has became a topic in her life. In Giving up the V, Serena Robar expresses one way to look at the issue, sex. The title may make you think of a lot of things that may relate back to sex with ‘v’ meaning virginity, but Robar also demonstrate a typical relationship between teenagers. Robar’s takes the role of Spencer and turns her into a classic teenager of the twenty first century with the attitude and lifestyle. Giving up the V is sumptuously written and has an amazing plot fulfilled with fascinating characters of all kinds bounded by the theme of sex and romance.
Spencer Davis is now sixteen; according to her attentive mother when a girl turns sixteen they should be on the ‘Pill,’ which takes Spencer to realize that she’s starting to see everything differently. Spencer never thought of wanting sex, her best friend, Alyssa on the other hand has set a goal for herself to get over her virginity. A hot new transfer, Benjamin Hopkins, who ever girl in Spencer’s school would kill for, including the most popular royal, Leah, even Spencer. Spencer is somehow very attracted to Benjamin. She thinks about what she wants to do, just give up her virginity to him, after all she’s only sixteen. As Spencer gets closer to Benjamin she feels Zach, her favorite guy friend distancing away from her. Is Spencer up for this? How many sixteen year olds are ready to deal with this?
Attitudinal, realistic, Robar models her characters, just in real life your friends may fall into different categories, but that’s what makes everyone special: we’re different. Robar writes with influences from her own experiences, some of her characters were based on actual people in her life. These characters all have the same genuine feelings for each other as teenagers of America. Because these characters are based on real people’s attitude, and lifestyle, you can relate to many of them.
Just like you, many teenagers in reality temptation can be a real headache. It can be hard to deal with, and along these hard decisions, there would be temptation, and of course, pressure! Just like in the novel, Benjamin was the temptation, Alyssa was sort of the pressure, and it was all up to Spencer to decide whether to give up her virginity or keep it. This novel displays that sex is something you should not rush at.
Robar has gone beyond the expectations and has brought to us this magnificent teenage novel about Spencer Davis, and small chunk of her life. Although we may never know what’s going to happen to Spencer after the novel ends, but it’s pretty predictable, but either way it will still have you wanting more! Sex is something that could wait on, so don’t rush teens there’s a lot more to life!
9A- Writing Art
Ms. Moore
Are you ready for the big V question?
Sixteen years old Spencer Davis, a typical American, teenager just hit the time where sex has became a topic in her life. In Giving up the V, Serena Robar expresses one way to look at the issue, sex. The title may make you think of a lot of things that may relate back to sex with ‘v’ meaning virginity, but Robar also demonstrate a typical relationship between teenagers. Robar’s takes the role of Spencer and turns her into a classic teenager of the twenty first century with the attitude and lifestyle. Giving up the V is sumptuously written and has an amazing plot fulfilled with fascinating characters of all kinds bounded by the theme of sex and romance.
Spencer Davis is now sixteen; according to her attentive mother when a girl turns sixteen they should be on the ‘Pill,’ which takes Spencer to realize that she’s starting to see everything differently. Spencer never thought of wanting sex, her best friend, Alyssa on the other hand has set a goal for herself to get over her virginity. A hot new transfer, Benjamin Hopkins, who ever girl in Spencer’s school would kill for, including the most popular royal, Leah, even Spencer. Spencer is somehow very attracted to Benjamin. She thinks about what she wants to do, just give up her virginity to him, after all she’s only sixteen. As Spencer gets closer to Benjamin she feels Zach, her favorite guy friend distancing away from her. Is Spencer up for this? How many sixteen year olds are ready to deal with this?
Attitudinal, realistic, Robar models her characters, just in real life your friends may fall into different categories, but that’s what makes everyone special: we’re different. Robar writes with influences from her own experiences, some of her characters were based on actual people in her life. These characters all have the same genuine feelings for each other as teenagers of America. Because these characters are based on real people’s attitude, and lifestyle, you can relate to many of them.
Just like you, many teenagers in reality temptation can be a real headache. It can be hard to deal with, and along these hard decisions, there would be temptation, and of course, pressure! Just like in the novel, Benjamin was the temptation, Alyssa was sort of the pressure, and it was all up to Spencer to decide whether to give up her virginity or keep it. This novel displays that sex is something you should not rush at.
Robar has gone beyond the expectations and has brought to us this magnificent teenage novel about Spencer Davis, and small chunk of her life. Although we may never know what’s going to happen to Spencer after the novel ends, but it’s pretty predictable, but either way it will still have you wanting more! Sex is something that could wait on, so don’t rush teens there’s a lot more to life!
January 22, 2011
2ND QUARTER
Siti H.M. Khairi
Giving up the V
by Serena Robar
242 pages
Simon & Schuster Publishing $8.99
isbn: 9781416975588
Meet our virgin heroine, Spencer Davis. She doesn't understand what the fuss is about...sex! She would rather wait for The One and do it when she's in love. If only her Crew would agree. Lately, her crew have been talking nonstop about it, especially about Spencer virgin status now that she is sixteen with the Pill.
It was tradition. Every female who turns sixteen in the Davis household would go to the gynecologist for her first check-up AND must start taking THE pill. You know, for birth control. Spencer still refuses tot ake the pill and wants to wait before the "deed" is done. Until now.
Meet Ben Hopkins, a new transfer student, who is hot. Very hot. The first time she laid eyes on this god, she knew. He was THE one. Now, Spencer starts taking the pill and considers being "devirginized". Her best friend, Alyssa, wants to have a one-night stand...with Ben! And
lately, her other best friend, Zach, always seems in a mood. What's a girl to do?
I would recommend this book to any girl. It is a serious topic and
I love how Robar addresses it and uses a humorously light tone. I'd bet a lot of girls, especially in high school, are going through the same stages that Spncer is going through. This is a funny book that lets you know what could happen, what shouldn't happen and makes you realize what's more important. Is there more to it than just "doing the deed"? Alyssa would say "Just do it" but Spencer would say "Wait". Whatever the decision, this books helps you think of all the scenarios so you could think before you act.
Siti H.M. Khairi
Giving up the V
by Serena Robar
242 pages
Simon & Schuster Publishing $8.99
isbn: 9781416975588
Meet our virgin heroine, Spencer Davis. She doesn't understand what the fuss is about...sex! She would rather wait for The One and do it when she's in love. If only her Crew would agree. Lately, her crew have been talking nonstop about it, especially about Spencer virgin status now that she is sixteen with the Pill.
It was tradition. Every female who turns sixteen in the Davis household would go to the gynecologist for her first check-up AND must start taking THE pill. You know, for birth control. Spencer still refuses tot ake the pill and wants to wait before the "deed" is done. Until now.
Meet Ben Hopkins, a new transfer student, who is hot. Very hot. The first time she laid eyes on this god, she knew. He was THE one. Now, Spencer starts taking the pill and considers being "devirginized". Her best friend, Alyssa, wants to have a one-night stand...with Ben! And
lately, her other best friend, Zach, always seems in a mood. What's a girl to do?
I would recommend this book to any girl. It is a serious topic and
I love how Robar addresses it and uses a humorously light tone. I'd bet a lot of girls, especially in high school, are going through the same stages that Spncer is going through. This is a funny book that lets you know what could happen, what shouldn't happen and makes you realize what's more important. Is there more to it than just "doing the deed"? Alyssa would say "Just do it" but Spencer would say "Wait". Whatever the decision, this books helps you think of all the scenarios so you could think before you act.
November 6, 2009
My Thoughts: What better way to start the book than with Spencer in the gynecologist's office. And he's even a man! How embarrassing! Spencer is turning 16, so her mother insists she be put on the pill even though she is not doing "anything." Spencer starts to feel like since she is on the pill, maybe losing her v-card won't be so bad. She than starts thinking about all her friends and of course a few of them step up to the plate and volunteer! Than moves in a new kid Ben from another school. Spencer really likes him, but so does her best friend! We get to know all of Spencer friends! They are all a close bunch! I really enjoyed this book a lot. I am happy to see where the all the characters went. I am happy on who she ends up with at the end. I wanted that from the beginning! Who will it be? Ben, the new guy? Ryan? Zach? Justin?
Overall: I've seen good and bad reviews on this one, but I actually really liked it. It had laugh out loud moments. I would haved to liked to get to know "mystery guy who she ends up with" more but it was just the right amount of romance and humor for me. I felt like I could connect with the characters, I really liked it.
Cover: I liked the cover but its a little misleading because the girl isn't real "out there" with her body and she probably would have a hoodie over that tank top. Other than that, its still a cute cover.
Overall: I've seen good and bad reviews on this one, but I actually really liked it. It had laugh out loud moments. I would haved to liked to get to know "mystery guy who she ends up with" more but it was just the right amount of romance and humor for me. I felt like I could connect with the characters, I really liked it.
Cover: I liked the cover but its a little misleading because the girl isn't real "out there" with her body and she probably would have a hoodie over that tank top. Other than that, its still a cute cover.
January 7, 2012
This was a really quick read for me. Reading YA fiction while my BF plays saints row 3, ah, we could be angsty teens again ourselves (in fact, if we run out of soap or some other stupid item, or he doesn't pick up the socks off the floor, we both show just how close we were to our teenage selves, even now)
I don't remember ever worrying about things as much as Spencer does in this book, but then, I don't think my high school was as rife with gossip or speculation, or maybe I just had no part in it. I did know that there were girls out there anxious about 'giving up their V card' but it was never a real worry for me. The only man I've ever been with is still with me seven years later, so the main stresses of this book were never mine to bear. But I think that's why I enjoyed it; seeing this from the other side of the fence. I was smart enough where Spencer was clueless, to realize my best male friend was also 'the one'.
The writing here is just enough. It's not flashy or over the top, and a couple of times she 'grabs' things, and I have a major issue with the word grab. (Do you really grab snacks? don't you you just take one from the shelf? Anything but that word....grab) I think it's an enjoyable, if not predictable, story for all ages teen and above. It's a simple, sweet love story. So read it already, what are you doing reading my review?
I don't remember ever worrying about things as much as Spencer does in this book, but then, I don't think my high school was as rife with gossip or speculation, or maybe I just had no part in it. I did know that there were girls out there anxious about 'giving up their V card' but it was never a real worry for me. The only man I've ever been with is still with me seven years later, so the main stresses of this book were never mine to bear. But I think that's why I enjoyed it; seeing this from the other side of the fence. I was smart enough where Spencer was clueless, to realize my best male friend was also 'the one'.
The writing here is just enough. It's not flashy or over the top, and a couple of times she 'grabs' things, and I have a major issue with the word grab. (Do you really grab snacks? don't you you just take one from the shelf? Anything but that word....grab) I think it's an enjoyable, if not predictable, story for all ages teen and above. It's a simple, sweet love story. So read it already, what are you doing reading my review?
June 15, 2009
So much fun! Spencer is a wonderful, layered character, and I just loved the dynamic between her and her guy friends-- Ryan, Ben, Zach... the way each relationship was different made the book really enjoyable.
I love the opening scene to this one-- I felt instantly bonded with Spencer and couldn't wait to follow her adventures!
I love the opening scene to this one-- I felt instantly bonded with Spencer and couldn't wait to follow her adventures!
March 22, 2012
Okay, so this book ended up being more like another chick lit book to me. Not really special or particularly good. I honestly thought it would be more educational when it came to the issue of sex. I thought, "Oh, maybe this will help girls who are going through these kinds of issues" but it did and it didn't. Not in the way I expected anyways.
This book is about a girl who is not interested in having sex at all, unlike many of her friends/peers who seem to be very open about their endeavors, especially her male friends. She is placed on the pill after turning 16, something her mom did to her sister as well, just in case, because her mother is very open about sex and all that stuff (the adults in this book all seem very cool about sex and relationships). Then, a new guy comes and she has second thoughts about what her not wanting to have sex. Of course he's totally hot, just like all her guy friends . Things go on from there. I don't need to explain it that much. I think you get it.
I thought it would be more informative, as in, they would talk more about the options but no... not really. She mainly just talked about birth control and how was it more reliable than condoms. But she didn't exactly tell us everything, about different things like the downsides of using birth control (like, you know, death because that is possible, a teacher of mine's niece died from taking it before her brand was pulled off the shelves) and perhaps the other options out there (because there are other contraceptives)? She didn't really touch on the subject of abstinence. And, oh, I don't know, STIs? And he hasn't mentioned that at all, and even though her guy friends are total players she makes sex sound pretty safe and normal(okay well there was one pregnancy, which I wouldn't call a spoiler since it's like in the first or second chapter and it's not really relevant to the plot). And it's not safe, I mean, not completely. I think there was like one or two lines about STIs in the whole book? STIs are so common... And come on... she didn't really talk about the risks either. This whole book was just about her thinking about having sex or not.
While I know this book is about sex, I thought it would have been a lot deeper than it actually was. Embrace the issue of the message society and our peers seem to be giving us versus our own beliefs about sex. The MC (okay, you can kind of tell I already forgot her name) was so intent on not having sex (grossed out by it, if I remember), and then suddenly she meets a guy and she wants to? I thought that was dumb. I think sex has a lot to do with the way you feel about yourself and how ready you are to share yourself with another person.
This is girl so intent on not having sex and she doesn't go through much of a change when she suddenly decides that she might, do you get what I mean? The transition from not being ready to thinking about it doesn't happen with "Oh I'm attracted to this guy! I like him a lot!" It's more personal than that, especially for girls, and because the MC thought this way I thought she would react differently. I think (in my opinion) most girls would take it seriously, which the MC did, but almost in the wrong way. She wasn't worried about the risks,she wasn't worried about the fact that having sex could have a toll on her emotionally, wasn't worried about him hurting her, wasn't worried about a lot of things. Her opinion of herself, how ready she is, how open she is, her insecurity didn't really go deeper than "I'm fat and average and why would a guy like me blah blah blah", they didn't go into the idea of having someone close to her, seeing her, being with her, you know? Those are the kinds of things that you worry about, you're self conscious about more than just your body, because making this choice (especially for the first time) means being closer to someone than ever before (I'm trying to step into the MC's shoes) and you're naked not just physically but you're opening yourself up emotionally to a lot of things as well. There are many, many, thoughts like this that you think about when you open yourself up to someone else, but everyone is different.
I don't know if I've made my point or not, but it just seemed like a jump. What I'm trying to say is, when making the choice to have sex (in my opinion anyways, if/when I have to make this decision ) you would have to go through a maturing process. And while the MC did mature during the course of the novel, especially noticeable at the end, it wasn't how I would have imagined it would have been. She pretty much stayed the same through the novel. I thought that this novel would go a lot more into the whole society's perception of what sex is because of her friends' easy going opinions about sex. I thought it would talk about her struggle to keep to her beliefs while society makes it seem to expect you to have sex. It didn't really. Not in the way that I thought it would. Her decision to have sex went with the fact she was attracted to Ben, and not really at all about the fact that her friends were kind of "pressuring her" to (which they weren't, but they were doing it and that's pressure in itself). I thought that this would be the issue that the author would be addressing in this novel, making the decision to have sex. It wasn't... Not really. She might have dipped her toe into it but she didn't.
Had her novel tipped that way a bit more I think that the readers would leave the book more influenced and understanding about the issue of sex. The book has both ideologies of sex: the "it's special" and hump 'n' dump. While I think that lots of girls do view sex as something sacred and special, the media and peers does set this standard that you should be doing it young and now. Which confuses you. Which didn't confuse the MC. I just thought the author should have focused on this issue more. She didn't even think much about that at all. I think a teenager would be heavily influenced by the idea of what her friends think and what is considered normal. But she wasn't. I'm going to say it because it's kind of late and I don't have any other words, she wasn't very deep.
(I know I'm very broad, I say not really but I don't explain how, because I don't know how to.)
If it were me, thinking about having sex, I would have a million things going through my mind. She didn't seem to think much deeper about the issue than necessary. Although, that could be just me. I'm not a prude, I don't think negatively about sex, but I think sex should not be an issue taken lightly, like so many teenagers take it today, I think that if you're going to do something be prepared for the possible consequences. Which is a personal opinion. I thought that the MC in this novel would, because she is described as a level headed person, think it through more. Think through what she was doing with her friends. Think through the idea of sex. Think through what she really felt for Ben. And while I know she's a teenager and teenagers make mistakes and don't think that far ahead blah blah blah and I know that it's easier said than done, blah blah blah, I honestly think if I were in her situation I would have done things very differently. I think I'm a far more level headed person than her, and while I understand the influence of "lust" and "love" especially at a time when your hormones are wild, I really wish the author added more personal thoughts to the character.
The author has a good voice, I could somewhat relate to the MC, but she didn't think much, in my opinion. Kind of blind. Which made me annoyed. I thought this would be a fun, informative book, but it wasn't, not really.
The characters were also kind of unrealistic to me. They were fun, don't get me wrong, but they didn't seem to have any other motivations other than to have sex. Which sounds stupid, since this is a book about sex (but there are no actual sex scenes) but teenagers have other problems. Her life was all about her feelings and her possible relationship[s] (okay this is a romance novel, I don't know why I'm complaining) but I felt like she needed to have I guess more depth to her character. What did she want asides from that? What did her friends want? How could I have connected more with the characters? They seemed all very 2D to me. The one person I wanted her to go into more detail with was her best friend, but the author didn't. Her best friend's opinion of sex, her ideology and her ways was much more interesting than the MC's. Her struggle would have been a more interesting read, in my opinion.
Also, as a teenager (I'm turning 16 this year, so the characters weren't that much older than me) I didn't feel like the characters felt very realistic. When it comes to things like relationships, yes my friends do talk about them but not so... openly. Especially about sex. It's not like it's taboo or anything, but I really don't think people at my school, or my age, have such easy, sexual encounters like they claim in this book. The characters seemed older. Many of the kids keep it quiet. The girls because they don't want to appear slutty, but guys keep it hush hush as well. They will tell people, don't get me wrong, but I think people take it more seriously that I know.
It seems kind of personal, and while the attitudes of the characters are different than people I know that have had sex, I don't think if anyone I know would have done some of the things that these kids have done. I think that 16 is so young, too young for some of these things that have happened, but maybe that's just me. Despite the MC's view on sex, that it should be shared with people who love each other, she seems to be okay with doing it with Ben, this total stranger she doesn't know and doesn't even know his sexual history (by that I mean chances of diseases) or what he wants (relationship wise and others). It just seemed, I don't know, naive? If there was a point to this book (which I hope there was) I would have assumed that it would have been to inform teens about sex in a way that wouldn't seem too over powering, like sex ed where they try to scare you out of sex, and to help you understand better the decision you're making.
It was an okay read. Kept me interested enough to finish (I was really hoping for a plot twist because it was sooo predictable) but it was still just okay. I guess I might be picky...
This book is about a girl who is not interested in having sex at all, unlike many of her friends/peers who seem to be very open about their endeavors, especially her male friends. She is placed on the pill after turning 16, something her mom did to her sister as well, just in case, because her mother is very open about sex and all that stuff (the adults in this book all seem very cool about sex and relationships). Then, a new guy comes and she has second thoughts about what her not wanting to have sex. Of course he's totally hot, just like all her guy friends . Things go on from there. I don't need to explain it that much. I think you get it.
I thought it would be more informative, as in, they would talk more about the options but no... not really. She mainly just talked about birth control and how was it more reliable than condoms. But she didn't exactly tell us everything, about different things like the downsides of using birth control (like, you know, death because that is possible, a teacher of mine's niece died from taking it before her brand was pulled off the shelves) and perhaps the other options out there (because there are other contraceptives)? She didn't really touch on the subject of abstinence. And, oh, I don't know, STIs? And he hasn't mentioned that at all, and even though her guy friends are total players she makes sex sound pretty safe and normal(okay well there was one pregnancy, which I wouldn't call a spoiler since it's like in the first or second chapter and it's not really relevant to the plot). And it's not safe, I mean, not completely. I think there was like one or two lines about STIs in the whole book? STIs are so common... And come on... she didn't really talk about the risks either. This whole book was just about her thinking about having sex or not.
While I know this book is about sex, I thought it would have been a lot deeper than it actually was. Embrace the issue of the message society and our peers seem to be giving us versus our own beliefs about sex. The MC (okay, you can kind of tell I already forgot her name) was so intent on not having sex (grossed out by it, if I remember), and then suddenly she meets a guy and she wants to? I thought that was dumb. I think sex has a lot to do with the way you feel about yourself and how ready you are to share yourself with another person.
This is girl so intent on not having sex and she doesn't go through much of a change when she suddenly decides that she might, do you get what I mean? The transition from not being ready to thinking about it doesn't happen with "Oh I'm attracted to this guy! I like him a lot!" It's more personal than that, especially for girls, and because the MC thought this way I thought she would react differently. I think (in my opinion) most girls would take it seriously, which the MC did, but almost in the wrong way. She wasn't worried about the risks,she wasn't worried about the fact that having sex could have a toll on her emotionally, wasn't worried about him hurting her, wasn't worried about a lot of things. Her opinion of herself, how ready she is, how open she is, her insecurity didn't really go deeper than "I'm fat and average and why would a guy like me blah blah blah", they didn't go into the idea of having someone close to her, seeing her, being with her, you know? Those are the kinds of things that you worry about, you're self conscious about more than just your body, because making this choice (especially for the first time) means being closer to someone than ever before (I'm trying to step into the MC's shoes) and you're naked not just physically but you're opening yourself up emotionally to a lot of things as well. There are many, many, thoughts like this that you think about when you open yourself up to someone else, but everyone is different.
I don't know if I've made my point or not, but it just seemed like a jump. What I'm trying to say is, when making the choice to have sex (in my opinion anyways, if/when I have to make this decision ) you would have to go through a maturing process. And while the MC did mature during the course of the novel, especially noticeable at the end, it wasn't how I would have imagined it would have been. She pretty much stayed the same through the novel. I thought that this novel would go a lot more into the whole society's perception of what sex is because of her friends' easy going opinions about sex. I thought it would talk about her struggle to keep to her beliefs while society makes it seem to expect you to have sex. It didn't really. Not in the way that I thought it would. Her decision to have sex went with the fact she was attracted to Ben, and not really at all about the fact that her friends were kind of "pressuring her" to (which they weren't, but they were doing it and that's pressure in itself). I thought that this would be the issue that the author would be addressing in this novel, making the decision to have sex. It wasn't... Not really. She might have dipped her toe into it but she didn't.
Had her novel tipped that way a bit more I think that the readers would leave the book more influenced and understanding about the issue of sex. The book has both ideologies of sex: the "it's special" and hump 'n' dump. While I think that lots of girls do view sex as something sacred and special, the media and peers does set this standard that you should be doing it young and now. Which confuses you. Which didn't confuse the MC. I just thought the author should have focused on this issue more. She didn't even think much about that at all. I think a teenager would be heavily influenced by the idea of what her friends think and what is considered normal. But she wasn't. I'm going to say it because it's kind of late and I don't have any other words, she wasn't very deep.
(I know I'm very broad, I say not really but I don't explain how, because I don't know how to.)
If it were me, thinking about having sex, I would have a million things going through my mind. She didn't seem to think much deeper about the issue than necessary. Although, that could be just me. I'm not a prude, I don't think negatively about sex, but I think sex should not be an issue taken lightly, like so many teenagers take it today, I think that if you're going to do something be prepared for the possible consequences. Which is a personal opinion. I thought that the MC in this novel would, because she is described as a level headed person, think it through more. Think through what she was doing with her friends. Think through the idea of sex. Think through what she really felt for Ben. And while I know she's a teenager and teenagers make mistakes and don't think that far ahead blah blah blah and I know that it's easier said than done, blah blah blah, I honestly think if I were in her situation I would have done things very differently. I think I'm a far more level headed person than her, and while I understand the influence of "lust" and "love" especially at a time when your hormones are wild, I really wish the author added more personal thoughts to the character.
The author has a good voice, I could somewhat relate to the MC, but she didn't think much, in my opinion. Kind of blind. Which made me annoyed. I thought this would be a fun, informative book, but it wasn't, not really.
The characters were also kind of unrealistic to me. They were fun, don't get me wrong, but they didn't seem to have any other motivations other than to have sex. Which sounds stupid, since this is a book about sex (but there are no actual sex scenes) but teenagers have other problems. Her life was all about her feelings and her possible relationship[s] (okay this is a romance novel, I don't know why I'm complaining) but I felt like she needed to have I guess more depth to her character. What did she want asides from that? What did her friends want? How could I have connected more with the characters? They seemed all very 2D to me. The one person I wanted her to go into more detail with was her best friend, but the author didn't. Her best friend's opinion of sex, her ideology and her ways was much more interesting than the MC's. Her struggle would have been a more interesting read, in my opinion.
Also, as a teenager (I'm turning 16 this year, so the characters weren't that much older than me) I didn't feel like the characters felt very realistic. When it comes to things like relationships, yes my friends do talk about them but not so... openly. Especially about sex. It's not like it's taboo or anything, but I really don't think people at my school, or my age, have such easy, sexual encounters like they claim in this book. The characters seemed older. Many of the kids keep it quiet. The girls because they don't want to appear slutty, but guys keep it hush hush as well. They will tell people, don't get me wrong, but I think people take it more seriously that I know.
It seems kind of personal, and while the attitudes of the characters are different than people I know that have had sex, I don't think if anyone I know would have done some of the things that these kids have done. I think that 16 is so young, too young for some of these things that have happened, but maybe that's just me. Despite the MC's view on sex, that it should be shared with people who love each other, she seems to be okay with doing it with Ben, this total stranger she doesn't know and doesn't even know his sexual history (by that I mean chances of diseases) or what he wants (relationship wise and others). It just seemed, I don't know, naive? If there was a point to this book (which I hope there was) I would have assumed that it would have been to inform teens about sex in a way that wouldn't seem too over powering, like sex ed where they try to scare you out of sex, and to help you understand better the decision you're making.
It was an okay read. Kept me interested enough to finish (I was really hoping for a plot twist because it was sooo predictable) but it was still just okay. I guess I might be picky...
May 22, 2017
Giving Up the V by Serena Robar is about a girl name Spencer. Spencer is a virgin and is getting to a point were being a virgin isn't cool. Spencer believes that she will always stay a virgin because she never understood why was sex such a big thing. She just wants to wait for the right guy. A new guy named Benjamin Hopkins came into school and she was in love. As they began to spark and connect Spencer thinks shes ready to lose her virginity to him. But as time moves on, she begin to realize that she doesnt want Benjamin.. she begins to develop feelings for her guy best friend Zach. This was a interesting book. This book has a lot of themes about sex and what you should really think about. It is okay to say no, and the author does a good way in creating character in different situations. I would recommend this book to anyone that is in need of guidance with boys.
October 21, 2021
This was another reread for me (trying to get back into reading). I remember buying this book when I was a young teenager and loving it so much back then, and still loving it now. It's a short, fun read and it discusses serious topics that really do affect teens but Serena Robar portrays it so well. Reading this as i'm in my mid 20's, I immediately saw the red flags of Benjamin and the scary obsessive behavior of the bff Alyssa. I still loved Zach and his sweet friendship and the "crew" seems fun and close. The only issue I have with the plot is how quickly Zach and Spencer got feelings for each other..literally happened out of the blue but their interaction was still sweet. I love the ending scene at prom and how Zach became the hero (giving me Neville vibes). This book is my tween classic and I still love it. I'll definitely reread again!!
August 11, 2018
I really wanted a nice, fun contemporary to read, so I ask my boyfriend to pick a book out for me out of a list I gave him and this was the one he had chosen.
I started reading this book around 11pm and it it now 1am. As you can tell, I throughly enjoyed this book. I was going to give this book a lower rating because of it being totally insta-lovey, but the insta-love made me feel all fuzzy inside, so I let it slide.
It was definitely a quick and fun read. I totally recommend this book.
I started reading this book around 11pm and it it now 1am. As you can tell, I throughly enjoyed this book. I was going to give this book a lower rating because of it being totally insta-lovey, but the insta-love made me feel all fuzzy inside, so I let it slide.
It was definitely a quick and fun read. I totally recommend this book.
January 19, 2020
A super cheesy book about blah high school drama, but it was a quick read and fit the bill for the side of a pool during a cruise.
March 20, 2021
3.5 stars
September 3, 2021
It's such a cute book - drama, friendships, love, and more. It is a nice book to forget about a long day and remember how dramatic and fun high school used to be.
February 26, 2012
Spencer is happy with the way things are going and sees no reason to change things. But her friends start talking more and more about doing the deed and on her 16th birthday, her progressive mom takes her to the doctor and gets Spencer her first prescription for birth control pills. The Pill makes her a kind of celebrity amongst her friends and they start wondering when she’ll finally do IT. Then Ben shows up at school and suddenly Spencer starts thinking now is a good time to lose her V-card.
This was a quick and easy (or down and dirty, as it were) read. The novel opens with poor Spencer in the stirrup chair for the first time and I found her sense of humor so funny. I literally laughed out loud several times in just the first few pages. If you can remember that very first visit to the gyno, you can relate to her embarassment. Especially given the fact that she doesn’t even want to be there, as she’s not planning on having sex for quite a while.
I enjoyed Spencer’s friends, they were a diverse group of people and they all had their quirks, good and bad qualities. There was the manwhore with a heart of gold; the goth chick with crazy clothes and hair who was sensible and yet couldn’t stay away from her on-again, off-again boyfriend; the funny smart guy who was always there for his friends… Though some characters could have been considered cliches, I never got the feeling that I’d seen them before, they felt fresh and new to me.
Sometimes I would find Spencer or one of her friends doing something that I thought was silly, then I would remind myself that they were just teenagers, with hormones a’plenty. Lord knows I’ve done some stupid things in the throes of a crush!
Besides the obvious ‘should she’ or ‘shouldn’t she’ plot line, there was a secondary one with Spencer’s friend Alyssa, a strong female character who decided to go ahead and have a one night stand just to lose her virginity and created a spreadsheet of possible candidates. One of the possible candidates was the one and only Ben, which left Spencer unsure of how to handle the situation. This additional plot line blended the 2 opposite viewpoints on sex well.
The dialogue was probably the best part of the book for me. The way Spencer and her friends talked was so snarky and witty, I loved it. The way her friend offered himself as sacrifice for her first sexual experience was sweet and ironic at the same time. There was no explicit sex, but it was talked about in great detail. There was a little romance, and it was both sweet and real.
As reviewed by TheBusyBibliophile.com.
This was a quick and easy (or down and dirty, as it were) read. The novel opens with poor Spencer in the stirrup chair for the first time and I found her sense of humor so funny. I literally laughed out loud several times in just the first few pages. If you can remember that very first visit to the gyno, you can relate to her embarassment. Especially given the fact that she doesn’t even want to be there, as she’s not planning on having sex for quite a while.
It’s not like I didn’t know my weight. I was reminded of it every time I stepped into my size thirteen jeans. But was it really necessary to share it with complete strangers? Especially skinny ones? I wasn’t sure which part bothered me more, revealing my weight or my vagina.
I enjoyed Spencer’s friends, they were a diverse group of people and they all had their quirks, good and bad qualities. There was the manwhore with a heart of gold; the goth chick with crazy clothes and hair who was sensible and yet couldn’t stay away from her on-again, off-again boyfriend; the funny smart guy who was always there for his friends… Though some characters could have been considered cliches, I never got the feeling that I’d seen them before, they felt fresh and new to me.
Sometimes I would find Spencer or one of her friends doing something that I thought was silly, then I would remind myself that they were just teenagers, with hormones a’plenty. Lord knows I’ve done some stupid things in the throes of a crush!
Besides the obvious ‘should she’ or ‘shouldn’t she’ plot line, there was a secondary one with Spencer’s friend Alyssa, a strong female character who decided to go ahead and have a one night stand just to lose her virginity and created a spreadsheet of possible candidates. One of the possible candidates was the one and only Ben, which left Spencer unsure of how to handle the situation. This additional plot line blended the 2 opposite viewpoints on sex well.
The dialogue was probably the best part of the book for me. The way Spencer and her friends talked was so snarky and witty, I loved it. The way her friend offered himself as sacrifice for her first sexual experience was sweet and ironic at the same time. There was no explicit sex, but it was talked about in great detail. There was a little romance, and it was both sweet and real.
As reviewed by TheBusyBibliophile.com.
March 23, 2011
This book was good. i liked some parts of it but other parts i just couldn't wait to get through. i think that spencer should really let go sometimes. i mean people that love her are around her all the time and she's to blind to see that, she goes for the ones that hurt her. i honestly though ben was trouble from the moment they mentioned his name. i mean the whole so sexy bad boy look gave pretty much ass his life away. i believe he only went for spencer because she was still a virgin and that would give him a higher "status" with his friends. i mean if he really was as hot as they said in the book, i didn't doubt why spencer wouldn't be on his knees for him.
i honestly didn't expect for spencer and Zach to end up together. i mean they seemed like completely different creatures, yet they were so alike. i mean they were both the type of friends that everyone looked for advice but never really looked at in any other way. Zach was like a math geek but from what i know he still is sexy. i thought it was adorable and extremely nice when he defended spencer in the dance. i mean ben was the typical guy that just played around with girls and threw them out afterwards. i didn't want to see spencer go through that even though she liked him. to ben it was just another girl he could cross out his list.
i was a little disappointed with the ending. i mean yes it was romantic and everything but it could've used a little more feeling from spencer, or hint on what her and Zach were gonna do next as a couple. this book doesn't have a trilogy or anything so i would've likes to know more about what was going to happen next. i hope that spencer finally learns to look for the real person that actually care about her and not only her body.
i honestly didn't expect for spencer and Zach to end up together. i mean they seemed like completely different creatures, yet they were so alike. i mean they were both the type of friends that everyone looked for advice but never really looked at in any other way. Zach was like a math geek but from what i know he still is sexy. i thought it was adorable and extremely nice when he defended spencer in the dance. i mean ben was the typical guy that just played around with girls and threw them out afterwards. i didn't want to see spencer go through that even though she liked him. to ben it was just another girl he could cross out his list.
i was a little disappointed with the ending. i mean yes it was romantic and everything but it could've used a little more feeling from spencer, or hint on what her and Zach were gonna do next as a couple. this book doesn't have a trilogy or anything so i would've likes to know more about what was going to happen next. i hope that spencer finally learns to look for the real person that actually care about her and not only her body.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2013
This was a great read!
The obgyn visit scene was so funny! I'd probably have felt the same way if my first obgyn visit was with a male doctor. The mere idea makes me shiver. I'm still embarrassed now, at almost 30, if I have to see a male doctor when mine (female) isn't available. Might be a doctor, but it's still a stranger man looking and prodding down there. Shiver again.
I liked Spencer a lot, although I didn't understand her crush on Ben. She was blind.
She didn't see he was a player, a pervert and was using her. And she didn't see that.... well, i can't tell you.
Strangely, I liked Ryan and Justin. They both cracked me up. Justin's offer to Spencer was shocking, to say the least. And even cute and funny in a f@cked p kind of way. Ryan was a bit of a mystery, and I'd have liked to know him better. And we never got to know if he really had feelings for Spencer.
I felt wird about Alyssa. I didn't like her much most of the time and didn't share her way of thinking about the V card. I'm more like Spencer.
I liked Morgan a lot instead. Although, her relationship with Justin was really weird and not really my kind of thing. But some people love each other in the weirdest ways.
Zach.... ah, Zach was so cute!!! And I loved his poems :D
I didn't like Ben from the start. I knew he was bad news.
What about Alyssa and Ben after Prom??? I'd have liked to know more! I'm left with this doubt: did they really do the deed? Did he really act the way Alyssa said? And was it really "no big deal" for her? What were her thoughts really? How did she feel after what happened?
So, beside some things missing and my curiousity being high and dry, I really liked this book and would recommend it.
The obgyn visit scene was so funny! I'd probably have felt the same way if my first obgyn visit was with a male doctor. The mere idea makes me shiver. I'm still embarrassed now, at almost 30, if I have to see a male doctor when mine (female) isn't available. Might be a doctor, but it's still a stranger man looking and prodding down there. Shiver again.
I liked Spencer a lot, although I didn't understand her crush on Ben. She was blind.
She didn't see he was a player, a pervert and was using her. And she didn't see that.... well, i can't tell you.
Strangely, I liked Ryan and Justin. They both cracked me up. Justin's offer to Spencer was shocking, to say the least. And even cute and funny in a f@cked p kind of way. Ryan was a bit of a mystery, and I'd have liked to know him better. And we never got to know if he really had feelings for Spencer.
I felt wird about Alyssa. I didn't like her much most of the time and didn't share her way of thinking about the V card. I'm more like Spencer.
I liked Morgan a lot instead. Although, her relationship with Justin was really weird and not really my kind of thing. But some people love each other in the weirdest ways.
Zach.... ah, Zach was so cute!!! And I loved his poems :D
I didn't like Ben from the start. I knew he was bad news.
What about Alyssa and Ben after Prom??? I'd have liked to know more! I'm left with this doubt: did they really do the deed? Did he really act the way Alyssa said? And was it really "no big deal" for her? What were her thoughts really? How did she feel after what happened?
So, beside some things missing and my curiousity being high and dry, I really liked this book and would recommend it.
July 22, 2009
You know this book is going to be interesting when the opening scene is a trip to the ob-gyn!
The Good: This is a hilarious book! It's not the small chuckle once in a while type, but rather the laugh out loud, leaves you grinning from ear to ear! Does that make sense?
Also, it's really relatable. Unlike some books that make you think, "Are you effing serious, there is no way in hell that can happen", Giving Up the V makes you go, "Wow, that totally happened in my school" or "I know someone exactly like that!" Spencer could be any one of us and she faces the same problems that we all face when we're in high school.
This book is mostly character driven, and luckily for us, the characters are awesome! Spencer's friends a.k.a The Crew are a delightful cast of characters that have a certain quality that make you actually care about them.
I think the one thing that really makes me like this book is the fact that Ms. Robar shows both the cons and the pros of losing your virginity. There are only a handful of books that show both sides and I'm very glad Giving Up the V is one of them!
The Bad: It's a little crude (duh). I'm sure the title is a dead give-away because the V sure as heck, does not stands for vegetables (Giving Up the Vegetables... *snort*). Even though I'm okay with some of the things that are said in this book, some people might not. So, I would not recommend it to everyone. Basically, it's a quick and nice book that you pick up when you have free time, but that's it.
Overall: Giving Up the V is a great book that shows both ends of the losing your virginity spectrum. It's entertaining, believable, and just fantastic!
Grade: B
The Good: This is a hilarious book! It's not the small chuckle once in a while type, but rather the laugh out loud, leaves you grinning from ear to ear! Does that make sense?
Also, it's really relatable. Unlike some books that make you think, "Are you effing serious, there is no way in hell that can happen", Giving Up the V makes you go, "Wow, that totally happened in my school" or "I know someone exactly like that!" Spencer could be any one of us and she faces the same problems that we all face when we're in high school.
This book is mostly character driven, and luckily for us, the characters are awesome! Spencer's friends a.k.a The Crew are a delightful cast of characters that have a certain quality that make you actually care about them.
I think the one thing that really makes me like this book is the fact that Ms. Robar shows both the cons and the pros of losing your virginity. There are only a handful of books that show both sides and I'm very glad Giving Up the V is one of them!
The Bad: It's a little crude (duh). I'm sure the title is a dead give-away because the V sure as heck, does not stands for vegetables (Giving Up the Vegetables... *snort*). Even though I'm okay with some of the things that are said in this book, some people might not. So, I would not recommend it to everyone. Basically, it's a quick and nice book that you pick up when you have free time, but that's it.
Overall: Giving Up the V is a great book that shows both ends of the losing your virginity spectrum. It's entertaining, believable, and just fantastic!
Grade: B
January 23, 2013
So when I read the lead in for this story, I expected it to be a bit more straight-in your face experience of Spencer and her friend Alyssa both thinking of giving up the V.
Suprisingly, no that was not how it went, which was pretty nice.
Spencer has a mom who thinks knowledge is power, and 'Forced' Spenncer to have an OB appt on her 16th birthday, so that, I think, Spencer would know about her body, and if she chose to start having sex, she would be a little better prepared for it.
Spencer seems like a pretty level headed girl, and not one of the girls who is 'Boy Crazy' like alot of the girls I went to school with. Her friends know how she spends her birthday, so it comes up in the begining, and the boys in her gang are, typically, a bit immature, but they all pretty much move on from it.
When she meets Ben, I was suprised that he was bing so nice to her, but as the story moved on it made more sense. I got a little impatient with Spencer's whole 'What does it mean' after a heavy make out session and as you can imagine, she was pretty turned on, and confused about how to act afterwards. At times like this, ya just want her to pull up her pants and ask what is the meaning of this?, because I expect that Ben knew she was not very experienced with guys, and he probibly even knew she had not had a boyfriend before either. And what harm would it have done to tell him that, if he didn't?
In the end, everything turned out good. Tho I thought it was too bad that they cut out of the dance early. I think it would have been much better if they had all stayed. And if Shelby got her due in the end.
Suprisingly, no that was not how it went, which was pretty nice.
Spencer has a mom who thinks knowledge is power, and 'Forced' Spenncer to have an OB appt on her 16th birthday, so that, I think, Spencer would know about her body, and if she chose to start having sex, she would be a little better prepared for it.
Spencer seems like a pretty level headed girl, and not one of the girls who is 'Boy Crazy' like alot of the girls I went to school with. Her friends know how she spends her birthday, so it comes up in the begining, and the boys in her gang are, typically, a bit immature, but they all pretty much move on from it.
When she meets Ben, I was suprised that he was bing so nice to her, but as the story moved on it made more sense. I got a little impatient with Spencer's whole 'What does it mean' after a heavy make out session and as you can imagine, she was pretty turned on, and confused about how to act afterwards. At times like this, ya just want her to pull up her pants and ask what is the meaning of this?, because I expect that Ben knew she was not very experienced with guys, and he probibly even knew she had not had a boyfriend before either. And what harm would it have done to tell him that, if he didn't?
In the end, everything turned out good. Tho I thought it was too bad that they cut out of the dance early. I think it would have been much better if they had all stayed. And if Shelby got her due in the end.
January 5, 2016
Where to begin with this book? The main girl in the book Spencer, wants to lose her virginity and she does not care who it happens with. This is a typical high school girl who wants to have sex with anyone. Her best friend also wants to lose her virginity and she has a list of guys who seem fit for her. They end up liking the same guy which breaks up their friendship for awhile. Turns out the guy is a big asshole and was sleeping with a popular girl the whole time. Ben the man whore basically used Spencer so she would give him the answers to his homework. I feel like he wanted to take her virginity and that was it. Ben is the type of guy who doesn't value relationships and sees girls as objects not as a person. I'm glad she found that out before she slept with him. Spencer ends up falling for her other best friend Zach. Everyone knew they would end up dating each other. Ben did take Spencer's friend Alyssa's virginity. Spencer did not lose her virginity because she wanted to take it slow. I'm happy she realized that sex is not everything and that should not be rushed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2011
This book started off good and then went to very, very bad. Of course it was easy figuring out who she would end up with. But the journey to get there? It Sucked.
At first everything seemed to make sense. Then all of a sudden, I'm like "What the f@*% are you talking about?"
It's like the author wrote this book on a deadline.
First off, the story is so underdeveloped, I immediately pinned this as some type of fanfiction. She just hops back and forth with these emotions she's having and nothing just ever makes sense. This story was rather unrealistic and just too short to give it any real props.
So I won't.
I hate to say this, and I thought I'd never really have to, but I really, really regretted buying this book.
Call me mean or whatever, but I was rather disappointed. Not at the sex or lack thereof, but just the way it was presented.
No, I will not be reading anything by this author again.
At first everything seemed to make sense. Then all of a sudden, I'm like "What the f@*% are you talking about?"
It's like the author wrote this book on a deadline.
First off, the story is so underdeveloped, I immediately pinned this as some type of fanfiction. She just hops back and forth with these emotions she's having and nothing just ever makes sense. This story was rather unrealistic and just too short to give it any real props.
So I won't.
I hate to say this, and I thought I'd never really have to, but I really, really regretted buying this book.
Call me mean or whatever, but I was rather disappointed. Not at the sex or lack thereof, but just the way it was presented.
No, I will not be reading anything by this author again.
December 3, 2018
Spencer is the last girl that needs a prescription for the Pill. Sixteen year old Spencer is a virgin and is happy to be. She is happy to wait until she’s with the right person to have sex, rather than get obsessed about it like all her friends in her crew.
Spencer has always been the girl her friends confide in. Her tight group of friends include Ryan, the player; Morgan and Justin, the on-again/off-again/on-again rocking couple; her best friend, Alyssa, who is so petite she looks like she is only twelve; and good old Zach. It isn't until Spencer lays eyes on the new transfer student, Ben, that she even considers putting her pills to good use.
It doesn't help when her friend Zach starts keeping his distance from her. Though he assures her that everything is okay, Spencer isn't so sure. And she's also confused when she realizes that Zach has started to sport some well-defined muscles of his own.
Spencer has always been the girl her friends confide in. Her tight group of friends include Ryan, the player; Morgan and Justin, the on-again/off-again/on-again rocking couple; her best friend, Alyssa, who is so petite she looks like she is only twelve; and good old Zach. It isn't until Spencer lays eyes on the new transfer student, Ben, that she even considers putting her pills to good use.
It doesn't help when her friend Zach starts keeping his distance from her. Though he assures her that everything is okay, Spencer isn't so sure. And she's also confused when she realizes that Zach has started to sport some well-defined muscles of his own.
May 21, 2014
Spencer Davis isn't near ready to trade in her V card, but that all changes when Ben Hopkins shows up. He's everything Spencer craves, and she immediately labels him "the one." But maybe this charmer isn't all what he's cracked up to be. And maybe, just maybe, what Spencer's looking for has been in front of her the entire time. Personally I hated Ben. I thought he was cocky, rude, and just plain annoying. And the way that Spencer just fell in love with him after not even knowing him kind of irked me. She let him copy her homework, and just use her basically. I rooted for Zach throughout the entire book, there's something very sweet about a guy getting as jealous as he did. Zach's poems wooed me as well :) so cute! I thought the ending was super sweet, predictable, but what I wanted :) I really enjoyed this sweet read about finding something above sex, love..
July 4, 2009
Spencer Davis has just turned 16 and has passed into the realm of womanhood. At least according to her mother who marched her into the OBGYN’s office for her first exam. Spencer left with The Pill and an odd feeling that this was not how her birthday was supposed to be. After all, she doesn’t feel that anyone in her school is even pill-worthy yet. But then the heavens part and she meets Benjamin Hopkins who just moved to May Valley High. Mr. Golden has all the potential of being “the one.” Is Ben pill worthy? What about her friendship with Alyssa who adores Ben?
Read how Spencer deals with her outward appearance, her loyalty to her friends, and how she deals with Ben. This is a page-turner full of pure high school drama!
Read how Spencer deals with her outward appearance, her loyalty to her friends, and how she deals with Ben. This is a page-turner full of pure high school drama!
October 25, 2009
There's so much I wanted to like about all the interpersonal relationships between the boys and girls (including romantic, platonic, and friendship stuff) but at the end of the day it fell short to me. Some of the talks people had, where they laid it all out (no pun intended), seemed so false to me. Sure, I had heart-to-hearts in high school, but these kids seemed waaaaay too eager to just lay it all out there (again, no pun intended). **SPOILER ALERT** Spencer and Zach's talk at the end was embarrassingly expositiony and unrealistic and just cringe-tastic. NO YOU'RE CUTER! (Disclaimer: this is not actual dialogue from the book.)
Points for letting our size thirteen heroine not lose weight but instead realize she looks fine.
(read: 115)
Points for letting our size thirteen heroine not lose weight but instead realize she looks fine.
(read: 115)
January 11, 2010
This is a young adult book about a girl whose mom takes her to the gynecologist for her 16th birthday. And that kind of sets off a lot of sex talk among her friends. I think all of that is handled very well. A lot of different views about sex are involved, but never in a preachy way.
However, the romance was just so predictable. And there's a level where romances should be predictable, but there were some others ways it could've gone that I think would've been more interesting.
Also, it was set in the Pacific Northwest (where I live), but, as far as I can tell, not in a specific city, so that was kind of disconcerting!
However, the romance was just so predictable. And there's a level where romances should be predictable, but there were some others ways it could've gone that I think would've been more interesting.
Also, it was set in the Pacific Northwest (where I live), but, as far as I can tell, not in a specific city, so that was kind of disconcerting!
April 19, 2011
I absolutely hate the book cover and title but I picked this up because I thought the subject matter about a girl contemplating "giving up" her virginity was provocative. And it is--it's just too bad the book didn't really do it any justice.
This is one of those examples of an author who relies on telling vs. showing. Much of the book feels hurried and the characters seem stock and generic. Worse, I had very little connection to the main character. Outside of her thoughts about losing her virginity, I had very little clue to who she was as a person--what did she like in school? What were her hobbies? It made it pretty difficult to care about her one way or another.
This is one of those examples of an author who relies on telling vs. showing. Much of the book feels hurried and the characters seem stock and generic. Worse, I had very little connection to the main character. Outside of her thoughts about losing her virginity, I had very little clue to who she was as a person--what did she like in school? What were her hobbies? It made it pretty difficult to care about her one way or another.
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