I Love You, Stupid!

by Harry Mazer

It’s hard to be the world’s greatest lover when you think you’re the world’s only virgin. But that doesn’t stop the hero of our story. Just when Marcus is sure he’ll die a frustrated sex maniac, Wendy Barrett moves back into town. While combining their collection of experiences (none) and sharing their most recent disasters (many), Marcus and Wendy discover that if they weren’t such good friends they just might be falling in love.

Genres: Young Adult

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Harry Mazer is an American author of books for children and young adults, acclaimed for his 'realistic' novels. He has written twenty-two novels, including The Solid Gold Kid, The Island Keeper, Heroes Don't Run, and Snow Bound, which was adapted as an NBC After school special, as well as one work of poetry and a few short stories.

Reviews

[✨silver.✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me after coming across the word "phony": oh my, not Holden Caulfield 2.0... #facepalm
Me after the last page: I wish everybody stopped reading The Catcher in the Rye and read this instead.

Disclaimer: I am not saying that this book is a masterpiece in the coming of age genre. It's a slice of life about a sex-obsessed wannabe writer trying to find his path in life. Sometimes he's likeable, sometimes he's not.

[Susann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Couldn't resist this copy from a used bookstore in Windsor Terrace. It's a bit of Then Again, Maybe I Won't, fast-forwarded about four years. Marcus is desperate to lose his virginity, but he's also a multidimensional character trying to figure things out and be a good friend to Wendy.

Mazer has a nice touch with the typically early 1980s birth control discussion and shopping expedition, and the book really shines at showing how life only gets more complicated, once the virginity threshold is crossed.

[Wilma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a silly teenage story about two teens who have sex for the first time.

Okay for teenagers.

I needed a quick read that was not filled with death and destruction.

I wouldn't recommend this book except if you are a teen.

[Alex L · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale I read in High School that was quite relatable to me at the time, and something I would recommend. The story centers around relationships and two young people learning how it all works and what they want out of life and from each other.

[Shaneeza aziz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful and very real story about friendship, sex, and falling in love for the first time.

[Sue Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was good reading again
love it
an amazing story of first love

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that we read out loud at slumber parties when I was in junior high. A teenage boy and girl who have known each other since childhood decide to loose their virginity together but then realize things aren't that simple. I'm sure if I read it now I would think it was terrible, but at the time I loved it.

[Gerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novel very much because I felt a certain connect to Marcus. Something about him reminded me of myself. I like shows how Marcus aspires to be a writer of stories. His loss of virginity was one of my favorite parts because it wasn't exactly romantic in a conventional way. It's a funny, interesting, and quirky book.

[Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book sort of reminds me of a hybrid of Then again, maybe I won't by Judy Blume and Beginner's Love by Norma Klein. It's about a nerdy, yet adorable dude named Marcus who stumbles through his first love. He's a little full of himself, but it's cute.

[Angélique (Angel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. The characters(especially Marcus) were very interesting, and the overall story had me laughing through most of it. Near the end, it got more serious, but the underlying theme made that part enjoyable as well.

[HeavyReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure I owned this book. I don't remember much about it, but I am giving it one more star than I normally give to books I barely remember because the dude on the cover is so totally 80s and just my type.

[Ash V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, plus this is the first book I actually finished this year!!! This book made me thing about so things I will have to consider later on in my life (or maybe even now). Either way, this book was wonderfully written!!!!!

[Even Lin]

i like the title:)

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first romance teenage read. It was awesome to read from the teenage boy point of view.

[Edward Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's depressing to say that this was one of my favourite books when I was growing up. I wish I could find the edition I had, it isn't listed here.

[Razel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best part was when Marcus was writing a letter because of a broken-heart.

[Stephanie Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this back in high school. I really enjoyed it.