Crash Test Love

by Ted Michael

The last thing Henry Arlington wants is a girlfriend. He's just very, very good with girls—reading their body language, knowing what they want to hear, and more getting them into the backseat of his car. But all that changes when he meets Garrett Lennox at one of the many Sweet Sixteen parties he crashes.
 
Garrett thinks she's done with guys. She was dumped by her ex when she moved from Chicago to Long Island, and now she realizes that she needs to find out who she is by herself, instead of with a boyfriend. What she really needs is some good friends.
 
Fortunately for Garrett, the J Squad—the "it" girls of East Shore High School—want her in their clique. All she has to do is pass one little get East Shore god Henry Arlington to take her to one of the biggest Sweet Sixteens of the year, then dump him in front of everyone.
 
Garrett has promised herself not to fall for another guy, so playing with Henry's heart shouldn't be hard. Right?
 
And Henry doesn't fall for girls, so when he and Garrett start to click, it doesn't matter. Does it?
As William Shakespeare once said, "Love is blind," or in this case, the lovers may be, as Henry and Garrett fall in love—and into the trap that awaits them. Because neither of them can even begin to see what the girls of Henry Arlington's past have in store.
 
This hilarious, sharp, and surprisingly thoughtful novel is the teen Wedding Crashers, filled with love, hope, laughs, and surprising insights about the terrifying process of falling in love.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction, High School, Young Adult Contemporary

335 pages, Paperback

First published June 8, 2010

About the author

Ted Michael was born in 1984 and grew up in Roslyn Heights, New York. He is a graduate of Columbia University and the Juilliard School and is a Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

Reviews

[Lena ♫ ♪]

This book reminds me of a high school version of "How To Lose A Guy
In Ten Days." It's a cute, short read, but I didn't love it the way I thought I would.

The book is told through alternating POVs. First, there's Henry. He's a player and a womanizer. His favorite past time involves crashing parties, pretending he's someone else and hooking up with random girls. Then he meets Garrett.

Garrett is new to Long Island. She first meets Henry at a party, but it turns out he goes to the same high school at her. Then the J-squad (the most popular girls in school) make a bet with Garrett. Henry has to learn a lesson for his womanizing ways. She must make Henry fall in love with her, then dump him at Destiny's MTV Sweet Sixteen bash.

As the two begin spending time together, they both begin to realize their feelings run further than just hooking up or a bet. Henry begins sharing his true self with Garrett and stories he hasn't shared with anyone, not even his best friends. And the more Garrett spends time with Henry, the more she doesn't want to go through with the bet. But just like "How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days," something's got to give.

I didn't like Henry at first. He seemed like a stereotypical, shallow high school boy with very little depth. The longer the story goes, the more he grew on me. There's a part in the story where Henry shares a story about his mother with Garrett, and I think that was a turning point for me, where I actually started falling for him.

And then there's Garrett. While I get she's stuck between a rock and a hard place, I just couldn't connect with her. Don't get me wrong, I felt bad for her, especially at the end of the book, but she brought a lot of it on herself. In the end, she was very "eh" to me.

The ending is very bittersweet. I don't know if I liked it or not. It's realistic, but still...off? I guess it seemed like a bit of a cop out. In my opinion, it ended rather abruptly. With the way the story unravels, I would have just liked to see more.

Overall, I liked Crash Test Love, but I didn't love it. It's not the best thing I've read, but not the worst. Average.

[Amy Jacobs]

I have seen this book from other reviewers and noticed it getting low ratings all the way up to high ratings. This caught my attention and the summary sounded great, so I thought I would give it a go as well. After reading Crash Test Love, I have found my rating to be in the middle.

I wasn't a big fan of Henry. He was the typical player of the school and frankly, they deserve to get taught a lesson. Not only did he think he could get any girl he wanted, he usually did just that. I will say that his fellow party crashers, Nigel and Duke, were hilarious and dumb as rocks at times. I found myself wanting to read their dialogue more than I wanted to hear from the main character of Henry.

Garrett was the new girl at school and was let into the J Squad on a probationary period. The J Squad was basically a bunch of popular, stuck up snobs who thought they were better than everyone else at school. To be a part of their group, you had to prove yourself. For Garrett to pass the test, she has to use Henry and leave him high and dry. I seriously was hoping Garrett would tell the J Squad off and find her own way of dealing with Henry.

Overall the book was okay, but not one I would read again. It is told from alternating point of views, and at times I wished it would just stick with one person. The characters didn't capture my interest as much as I was hoping either. To me the book was kind of bland, but still had some interesting points in the story.

[Ari]

I know the description wasn't so great, but i just wanted to read a sweet teen romance and I thought this was the one. Guess again..
After reading the excerpt I should have known what a silly book this was, but noooo, I had to give it a try :(

It was .. how should i say it in a nicely way?
Well, it was plain boring, the characters were more than stupid, the dialog between them more than horrible and unreal, and not interesting at all and I just lost my interest from the very beginning.

And I'm trying so had not to say anything about the dumb ending (!!!) because maybe there are people in this world that would like to read this book and I won't ruin it for them, it's just ruined by definition.. What a waste of my time! :(
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[Husnaa]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FREAKING KIDDING ME!!!

This book was epically awesome, the kinda young adult books I like EXPECT for the ending!! This whole book was so good and really funny too. I really liked Henry and his condos with his friends were hilar! I didn't really expect to like it so much but I knew I would get attached to Henry and would want nothing more than for him to be with Garrett. The J-Squad esp London I couldn't stand! Obviously. They're just like all the mean girls you get in movies and books. And the way Garrett just would do anything to be their friend really annoyed me! Her mom is right, she is a pushover! And if I found out my best friend started hooking up with my ex-boyfriend as soon as I left I would not have written her an email like what the hell?!!

And the ending! HOLY SHIT!! I can't stand Garrett after what she did!! She broke up with Henry and said that she just wants to be friends like what the hell??!! That was the last think I expected! And after she did, I kept hoping (as I was scrolling down) that it would be a happy ending after all and not leave me with an aching heart. *sigh*

My heart goes out to Henry 3

[Avon Bernabe]

I HAVE ONE THING TO HATE ABOUT THIS BOOK:

THE ENDING.

How can Ted do that to me? I was rooting for a happy one. I mean, they love each other, right? SO what is it? What is wrong with Garrett? I was really upset and I kept on wondering if I lost a few pages of the book because that can't be the ending. Sure, some things were settled but the only thing I want didn't happen. It's so frustrating.

The story, the writing style of the author was good though. It may not be too different but still, it presented some good points about love. How is it complicated, how you can't understand it, how it will hit you even though you don't want it to. That's why I gave it a four.

Crash Test Love is a complicated book for me. I liked it but I am definitely heartbroken by it. I just can't put myself to read it again. If only there's a different ending. This book just calls for a part two, because that can't just happen! I know that not everything will end the way we wanted it to be, and I loved how this book proved that true. But the feelings of the leads just say otherwise. The ending is devastating. 3

[Nicol]

I’ve read this book which really grabbed my attention and after the end, I felt like crying. Don't get me wrong, it was a really enjoyable book, but...

I’ve seen some of the reviews afterwards which said that they couldn’t connect with Garrett, who was one of the two main characters. I couldn’t, either. I think she was a stupid and annoying. (contains spoilers)

What’s the book about? Well, there’s Henry - man-slut, typical shallow high school guy who loves to crash Sweet Sixteen parties. He doesn’t like for emotions to go in way of his life, hooking up with random girls.

Then there’s Garrett - girl, who’s recently moved to Long Island from Chicago, where she left her best friend Amy and currently-ex-boyfriend Ben. Trying to fit in the place and find some friends, she meets up with J-squad, the pack of three most popular girls in school, who make a bet with her. She has to make Henry, who she accidentaly met on a party, fall in love with her and then dump him in front of everyone just to show him the heartbreak he made every girl go through.

And when Garrett agreed to do this, that’s when I stopped liking her. At first, that was in no way her business. I knew that there was this rumor going around school that she hung out with Henry on the said party, but she claimed herself that she didn’t know who started it, him or his friends and still she agreed. I am, in no way, supportive of playing with other people’s emotions, even if they deserve it or not. I don’t think that she should play the God, decide whether he should suffer or pay for whatever he did.

Well, Henry and Garrett then became friends and started to feel something more for each other. Henry was really such an ass at the beginning, but then you get to know him better and his backstory and what made him the guy he was and you learn that his emotional walls were built up by the departure of his mother, who left him and his dad suddenly to start a new life.

And then there was Garrett. By that time, she was really getting on my nerves. He sacrificed everything for her, he tore down his walls, he opened up to her and told her that everybody leaves him and that stupid girl was still stupid enough to go on pretending that everything’s fine. She wanted to fit in so much that she threw away her building REAL strong friendship with Henry just to be a part of three shallow, ignorant girls who made her PROVE she’s worthy of their friendship.

At the end, he found out she was using him to win a bet and she found out he made out drunk with one of the members of J-squad. But what she did was so much worse. She claimed she loved him, but that the thing she needs is to find herself and put herself above the needs of any other guy. And that was really a selfish thing to do. Henry was the one who helped her find herself, so for me, she just used him to be a fake friend of shallow girls, used him to feel better about herself and then dumped him, heartbroken.

I don’t think she loved him. Because in no universe would someone do that. If she knew he is completely different and she felt something she’s never felt before, she would want to work hard on this. She wouldn’t let it just slip away like that, she would fight for it. But I guess she was just a weak character.

I hated what she did to him, what the author made her did to him. Yes, he found himself, he stopped pushing everyone away and started to really feel, but I think Garrett broke him beyond repair. I think that they were meant to be, although she stated otherwise. She just didn’t want them to be more. And she hurt people in the process.

I really, really hated her guts. I think she didn’t grasp the fact that you have to fight for something in your life, you can’t just wait for things to fall in your lap and she didn’t fight. She was like “oh, okay, I hurt him, he doesn’t deserve me” and she let it go, because she was too weak to hold on to what’s important.

[Robyn]

Honestly, Garrett pissed me off, which ruined the novel. I HATE it when girls let "friends" shape who they are but the girl just blindly follows along, because it's all worth it to be cool, right? NOT. Garrett had potential to be a likable character at the veeeery end of the novel, like in the last chapter, but other than that I felt like she was a pathetic pushover who couldn't stand up for herself and say "no, I don't want to do this". She proved that by agreeing to date and dump Henry.

Henry I liked, surprisingly enough. I saw a lot of my qualities in him. I too am often in my own little world, and while I don't share his passion in movies, I have a similar passion for books. However, the similarities end there. I am NOT a male slut, like Henry is. (Excuse my language, but there's just no other word for it). Henry is charming and a player. He does not want a girlfriend, he wants a hookup. He will not take the chance of another girl walking out on him like his mom did. But his no girlfriend policy is about to change when Garrett walks into his life.

Soon the two go on a actual date - something Henry's never done with another girl before. He's also breaking the no girl twice rule, but who cares? He doesn't. Not anymore. Just as long as he can keep his friends from finding out...

Garrett is also happy with the progress she is making with Henry. In no time at all she'll be an official member of the clique she so badly wants to be a part of. Except she's falling for Henry...

Of course, the relationship eventually takes a turn for the worse, with the help of Garrett's "friends". (All of which I despise). The truth of Garrett's deception is found out, like I predicted from the start, and a blowout ensues, ending their relationship and breaking hearts. Can the two mend their relationship? Or is the question not can they, but do they want to?

I thought this book was entirely too predictable. Cheesy. With annoying characters. Think John Tucker Must Die combined with Mean Girls. Honestly, if it wasn't for Henry's alternating point of view I would have stopped reading. I really liked Henry (as I've said) but I also enjoyed reading about his two best friends. You never knew what they were going to say next! The only thing I liked about Crash Test Love other than Henry and friends was the ending, which I felt was believable, and redeemed the novel slightly.

[La Femme Readers]

Rating: 4.5

Crash Test Love was an amusing story about teens who deal with peer pressure and falling in love for the first time. Ted Michael's writing was fast-paced, entertaining and addictive. The story wasn't necessarily new but the author's interpretation was refreshing. Garrett, the female protagonist, was a gorgeous and intelligent teenager. She just moved to Long Island, New York from Chicago which labeled her the "new girl" at school. Coming into a new school with no friends was difficult and it got even harder once she started dealing with the J Squad. A group of popular girls who were manipulative, conceited and ignorant. I seriously did not like their attitudes and hoped Garrett wouldn't give into peer pressure.

Now, the main character Henry, was a good-looking heart breaker with a complex personality. At first he came off like a total jerk but, there was something that pulled me to him. I understood why all the girls gravitated to him, even though they knew he was bad news. He was known to crash Sweet Sixteen parties with his two best friends, Duke and Nigel. They were both hilarious and not the brightest colors in the crayon box. Their goofy personalities reminded me of Tweetle Dee and Tweedle Dum. All of them planned to pick up chicks and seal the deal. However, the only person who seemed to have luck was Henry. He never expected to ever fall for a girl until Garrett walked into his life.

Garrett initially liked him until the J Squad approached her to use Henry and to humiliate him at the Sweet Sixteen where MTV was going to be filming. She had major decisions to make and the struggle within herself was frustrating. Their relationship developed interestingly enough even with their hidden agendas. I thought they were simply adorable together. But, once there are secrets involved, it changes the course of things. I don't want to give too much away because the story has many aspects to it. Overall, the ending was bittersweet but well-balanced. Ted Michael's story-telling was amazingly written and I can't wait to read his future releases. Crash Test Love was a fun ride and I recommend it to those who are looking for a light and funny read.

[Jennifer Wardrip]

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Henry Arlington is a player. He and his best friends enjoy crashing Sweet Sixteen parties all around Long Island and picking up girls there. He never goes out with a girl again, once he dumps her. So he wasn't prepared for Garrett Lennox. Henry meets Garrett at one such party. She's so different from the other girls, and he breaks one of the rules he and his friends invented...he tells her his real name.

Imagine Henry's surprise when he returns to school only to find Garrett there. Garrett's family has moved from Chicago to New York. Garrett is noticed her first day by none other than the most popular girls at her new school. Garrett knows they are trouble, but she realizes they could make her school year much better. There's only one catch with these girls...for Garrett to be a full- fledged member of their group, she has to get Henry to take her to THE Sweet Sixteen party of the season - and then she has to dump him in front of everyone.

As you can imagine with that scenario, it doesn't go smoothly for either Henry or Garrett. Henry falls hard and fast for Garrett. And Garrett finds Henry endearing. She doesn't want to hurt him, but she needs good girl friends to make the year go well for her.

I enjoyed CRASH TEST LOVE far more than THE DIAMONDS, also by Mr. Michael. However, the two stories are quite different, so that could be the main reason I enjoyed it more. The differing points of view were perfect for the story. The author creates Henry in a way that you want to hate him for being such a player, but he gets under your skin and you really start hoping that everything ends well for both Henry and Garrett.

I took CRASH TEST LOVE to the beach, and it was a perfect distraction for me. It was an easy book to get lost in, and I didn't want it to end.

[Anni]

An einem Tag durchgelesen und ich liebe es!<3

[Amber ~ The Reading Addict]

I don't want to say that I hated this book. I really didn't. There were powerful messages about love and loss in Crash Test Love. Still, I can't say that I always liked the way the author conveyed them. When I finished the book, there was no sense of closure. It was one of those endings that leaves you thinking someone ripped the last few pages out of the book. It simply couldn't end like that.

The story is told through Garret and Henry's alternating points of view. While I didn't love either Garrett or Henry, I sided with Henry in most cases. Garrett was a little too independent and pig-headed for me. Henry, on the other hand, was relatable. At first he appears cocky and confident. By the end of story, Henry's insecurities and deepest feelings have been exposed to the reader. I felt for him and wished that he could have had a happier ending.

This book examines some of the tougher situations teens are faced with today. Peer pressure, family issues, the need to fit in. There was some cursing, and a few adult scenes, but nothing that most teens over fifteen haven't seen or heard of before. In some ways, this book is good for teens. It teaches teens to stand up for themselves and to not let others decide what they should do and who they should be. They can learn from the characters' mistakes.

My biggest problem with this book was the ending. It came so suddenly, and nothing was really wrapped up. I don't want to spoil anything, but if you like happily-ever-afters, then this isn't the book for you. Still, others may want to give it a shot. It's a fairly quick and entertaining read. Overall, I'd say maybe pick it up if you have the chance, but don't get your hopes up too high.

[Ines Diaz]

Crash Test Love was a very well explained story about teens who deal with love for the first time. Ted Michael's writing was fast-paced, entertained and addictive. The author's point of view was very refreshing.

Garrett was the new girl in town. She just moved to New York from Chicago which labeled her the "new girl" at school. With no friends at school it was difficult for her to felt into the new place. So she started hanging on with the J Squad (the popular girls from school who were also manipulative and ignorant). And this is one of the points of this story: is is worth the risk of being with this kind of girls just because you need to find some people to hang around.

On the other side there's Henry, the good-looking heart breaker kid with lots of layers to mold around. At first he was a jerk but, and he was known for crashing Sweet Sixteen parties with his two best friends all of them planning all the time on how to pick up girls. However, the only person who seemed to have luck with the girls was Henry.

Until Henry never expected to fall for a girl (Garrett). So this is how this story unfolds. One interesting thing and very well explained from the author's point of view is the parallels between Henry and Garrett's relationship with various movies and songs. I was very impressed with this author and even when it is a light story I loved the way the authors express it.

[Mango]

The connection between Garret and Henry is amazing and very well explained. I'm amazed that this book was written by a guy. This book was also really, very funny! The chats or events were hilarious! The J Squad is just really, annoying. I also find it funny how Nigel, Duke and Henry crash birthday parties. And I really hate Garrets boyfriend. How could he do that! And how could Amy(Garret's old best friend) do that! It totally caught me off gaurd. And I have to say the scene in Henry's bed was pretty funny. It was hilarious(his begging that is). I love how movies and songs were included in the book. YOu'll go, "Hey, I know that song." or, "I used to love that song!" or something. The ending made me want to cry! I wish it hadn't ended that way. Love is an emotional rollercoaster, but, I just can't help that what happened happened. This book was incredibly amazing, and I would recommend it to all my friends and people who aren' tmy friends.

[FreakChiq]

I’m kind of torn. One part of me is mad because I didn’t get what I was rooting for. Mad at the entertainment industry for their sneaky way of implanting in my head that happy endings = couples getting together and all the other happily ever after stuff. BUT the much bigger part of me is overwhelmingly pleased and delighted with how the author decided to end the story. Garret’s last words are so well-written. The mad part of me became really quiet because of them.

“Love is a test and a textbook; it is a map to undiscovered places and a lexicon of languages yet to be spoken.”

This is how life and love (most of the time) really work.
I’m glad I got the chance to read this book.

[Ellie]

2 stars.

*country music playing in the background*

This book was way, way, way
was way too predictable
the boy was annoying
the girl was another Bella Swan
but I had to do homework
I had to do crappy homework
and I read it anyway.

[image error]

[Emily]

Wedding Singers crossed with How to Lose a Guy in 10 days...fans of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist or E. Lockhart's books will enjoy

[Sarah (booksargram)]

I loved this book! I think I've actually fallen in love with Ted Michael a little bit because of this book! I think that this is one of the books I could end up reading more than once.

[Sreesha]

Liked the book, hate hate hated the ending!!!

[Marcia]

Der erste Satz
Ich bin kein Typ für eine Beziehung.

Meine Erwartungen
Ich habe von der Geschichte erwartet, dass sie eine kitschige und vielleicht sogar vorhersehbare Liebesgeschichte ist und, dass sie auf jeden Fall ein Happy End hat, denn der Klappentext hat darauf schließen lassen. Ich habe erwartet, dass die Geschichte locker, leicht und einfach nur schön ist und mich glücklich macht. Ich dachte, dass das eine kurzweilige Geschichte ist, die mich nur eine kurze Zeit in meinen Gedanken begleiten wird und die ich dann schnell wieder vergessen werde.

Meine Meinung
Das Buch hatte ich schon im Auge als ich mir die Vorschau vom cbt Verlag für den Sommer 2013 angeschaut habe, da ich mir gleich gedacht habe, dass das so ein romantisches Buch ist, das mir sehr gefallen wird und gut in mein Beuteschema passt. Deswegen ist es dann auch gleich auf meinen Wunschzettel gewandert. Allerdings habe ich den Erscheinungstermin mal wieder verpasst und deswegen habe ich es erst relativ spät bekommen. Netterweise hat es mir aber gleich der cbt Verlag zu Verfügung gestellt. Vielen Dank an dieser Stelle schon einmal :)

Die Geschichte
Wie man anhand meiner Erwartungen schon erkennen konnte, habe ich nicht unbedingt erwartet, dass dies eine Geschichte mit Tiefgang ist. Ich habe gedacht, dass dies eine locker leichte Geschichte ist, die mich von der ersten bis zur letzten Seite glücklich macht und das mich super unterhält, weil es super kitschig und romantisch ist. Aber genau das war es nicht unbedingt. Aber bevor ich jetzt dazu komme wie ich die Geschichte finde, würde ich euch wie immer gerne erst mal den Inhalt ein wenig genauer vorstellen. Die Geschichte dreht sich um die 16-jährige Garrett (übrigens ist Garrett für mich ein Jungenname). Sie zieht am Anfang der Geschichte mit ihrem Vater zusammen um, da ihr Vater in dem neuen Ort, dessen Name ich leider vergessen habe, einen besseren Job gefunden hat. Für sie ist alles total neu. Doch sie geht gleich am Anfang auf eine Party, da die Tochter von Freunden 16 Jahre alt wird. Dort lernt sie Henry kennen, den sie gleich sympathisch findet, der dann jedoch einfach abhaut. Auch Henry ist sofort von Garrett begeistert und das obwohl das gar nicht seine Art ist, denn Henry bekommt Mädchen lieber ins Bett als mit ihnen eine Beziehung einzugehen. Und doch findet er Garrett gleich vom ersten Moment total toll und möchte sie am liebsten sofort näher kennenlernen doch dann kommt etwas mit seinen beiden Kumpels dazwischen und er muss die Party überstürzt verlassen. Beide hoffen sich irgendwann mal wieder zu treffen, aber die Chance scheint klein. Doch an Garretts erstem Schultag an der neuen Highschool traut sie ihren Augen nicht, denn auf einmal steht Henry vor ihr und das wirft sie aus der Bahn, denn Garrett hat sich eigentlich geschworen sich nie wieder zu verlieben. Und dann lernt sie auch noch die It-Clique der Schule kennen. Garrett möchte unbedingt zu der Clique dazugehören, weil die total beliebt sind und weil sie vorher noch nie viele Freundinnen hatte. Doch die Clique schlägt ihr eine verhängsnisvolle Wette vor: Sie soll den Herzensbrecher Henry dazu bringen sich in sie zu verlieben und mit ihr eine Beziehung einzugehen, da dieser schon zu vielen das Herz gebrochen hat und es verdient hat, dass ihm auch einmal das Herz gebrochen wird. Garrett stimmt der Wette zu, doch umso mehr Zeit sie mit ihm verbringt, umso mehr spürt sie, dass sie Gefühle für ihn entwickelt und auch Henry, der früher Mädchen immer nur ins Bett bekommen hat, entwickelt Gefühle für Garrett die vollkommen neu und überwältigend für ihn ist. Doch eigentlich beruht doch alles nur auf einer Lüge ! Die Geschichte hat mir vom ersten Augenblick an sehr gut gefallen, weil sie eben nicht so locker und leicht ist wie ich gedacht habe, denn beide Charaktere führen kein einfaches Leben, was man erst nach und nach in der Geschichte erfährt und trotzdem hat mir die Geschichte ein paar glückliche Stunden beschwert. Und dennoch hat mich die Geschichte nachdenklich und fast schon melancholisch gestimmt. Ich habe schon lange keine Geschichte mehr gelesen, die mich so lange zum Nachdenken angeregt hat, denn die Nachricht, die diese Geschichte transportiert, lautet: Manchmal ist Liebe nicht genug. Für mich war die Geschichte einer der Besten, die ich je gelesen habe, aber viel mehr möchte ich auch gar nicht verraten. Ihr müsst die Geschichte lesen und dann wisst ihr, warum sie so etwas besonderes für mich ist.

Die Charaktere
Ich muss sagen, dass alle Charaktere sehr gut durchdacht sind. Trotzdem sind mir natürlich nicht alle Charaktere sympathisch. Es gibt sogar einige Charaktere, die mich total genervt haben und, die ich am liebsten aus dem Buch gestrichen hätte. Allerdings hätte die Geschichte ohne einige von diesen Charakteren überhaupt nicht funktioniert. Auf diese Charaktere möchte ich gar nicht so genau eingehen, aber ich kann euch ja kurz verraten wer mir sehr auf die Nerven gegangen ist. Die It-Clique an Garretts Schule ist mir vollkommen unsympathisch, weil ich der Meinung bin, dass sie nur auf ihren eigenen Vorteil aus sind und, dass sie arrogant und eingebildet sind. Außerdem sind mir die beiden Kumpels von Henry ziemlich unsympathisch, weil sie Henry nur richtig akzeptieren wenn er der Draufgänger ist und ein Mädchen nach dem Nächsten aufreißt. Aber mit den unsympathischen Charakteren möchte ich mich nicht mehr länger aufhalten. Garrett ist die Protagonistin der Geschichte. Sie ist 16 Jahre alt und ist gerade erst mit ihrem Vater umgezogen. Vorher hat sie in New York gewohnt, wo sie nur eine Freundin hatte, aber dafür ist Amy ihre beste Freundin. Das denkt sie zumindest. Sie hatte in New York auch einen Freund, aber der hat sich sofort von ihr getrennt als sie aus New York weggezogen ist. Das hat Amy das Herz gebrochen und sie hat sich fest vorgenommen sich nie wieder zu verlieben, weil alle Beziehungen von ihr den Bach runtergehen. Sie lebt mit ihrem Vater alleine, der sich nicht für ihr Leben zu interessieren, weil ihre Mutter gestorben ist. Das hat Garrett noch nicht ganz verdaut. Für sie ist es nicht einfach an eine neue Schule zu kommen, weil sie dort noch nicht mal eine Freundin hat und, weil es ihr eher schwer fällt Freundschaften zu knüpfen. Doch dann lernt sie Henry auf einer Party kennen und ist gleich begeistert von ihm. Und an ihrer Highschool lernt sie gleich die It-Clique, zu der sie so gerne dazu gehören würde. Doch dafür muss sie Henry dazu bringen sich in sie zu verlieben und ihm dann das Herz brechen. Garrett ist es so wichtig neue Freundinnen zu finden, dass sie die Wette eingeht. Doch dann entwickelt sie Gefühle für Henry und das verwirrt sie total. Ich mochte Garrett vom ersten Augenblick an, weil sie genauso eine große Liebe zur Musik hat wie ich. Das war mir natürlich sofort sympathisch. Und ich konnte mich sowieso sehr gut mit ihr identifizieren. Henry lebt mit seinem Vater zusammen, weil seine Mutter ihn verlassen hat als er sieben Jahre alt war. Seitdem ist er fast schon verstört, denn er hat immer Angst, dass jeder, der ihn liebt, ihn irgendwann verlässt. Deswegen geht Henry auch lieber mit Mädchen zwanglos ins Bett und gibt sich als ein anderer aus, als er ist. Er gibt sich immer als totaler Draufgänger aus, aber eigentlich ist er total sensibel und schaut am liebsten allein Filme. Als er Garrett kennenlernt, merkt er sofort, dass sie anders ist als alle anderen Mädchen und er entwickelt Gefühle für sie, die ihm vollkommen fremd sind und, die er nur haben wollte. Auch Henry mochte ich vom ersten Augenblick an, weil er eigentlich ganz anders ist als er sich gibt.

Der Schreibstil
Die Geschichte ist aus zwei Sichten geschrieben. Und zwar aus der Sicht von Garrett und von Henry. Ich mag es sehr gerne wenn Bücher aus verschiedenen Sichtweisen geschrieben werden. Besonders gefällt es mir wenn es sich bei den beiden Charakteren um Menschen handelt, bei denen man schon erahnen kann, dass sie sich verlieben werden, denn ich finde es total spannend bei beiden zu lesen wie sie den jeweils anderen finden und ob sie in ihn verliebt haben. Dabei bekommt der Leser die Gedanken und Gefühle anstatt nur von einem gleich von zwei Charakteren mit. Außerdem sind die Dialoge immer so in Chatform geschrieben. Aber das ist nur bei Henry der Fall. Dafür sind bei Garrett immer Songzitate abgedruckt, die ihr gerade zu einer bestimmten Situation einfallen. Das verdeutlicht ihre Liebe zur Musik. Der Schreibstil gefällt mir alles in einem richtig gut und ich kann mich überhaupt nicht beschweren.

Der Titel
Ich finde, dass man den Titel nicht besser hätte wählen können, weil Henry schon einigen Mädchen das Herz gebrochen hat, weil er nur mit ihnen ins Bett wollte und er sich sogar mit einem anderen Namen vorgestellt hat, damit sie ihn nie wiederfinden können. Doch dann geht Garrett die Wette ein Henry das Herz zu brechen und da sieht man auch wie sie Henry das Herz brechen kann. Das Buch zeigt halt "Wie man Herzen bricht".

Das Cover
Ich muss sagen, dass ich das Cover überhaupt nicht fassend finde. Ich meine es ist absolut nichtssagend. Der Frosch ist wahrscheinlich dafür da, dass man merkt, dass man manchmal erst einige Frösche küssen muss, um den Prinzen zu finden. Allerdings hat das überhaupt nichts mit der Geschichte zu tun. Versteht mich nicht falsch, ich finde das Cover echt süß, aber es passt halt überhaupt nicht zu der Geschichte. Da finde ich das Originalcover viel aussagekräftiger.

Mein Fazit
"Wie man Herzen bricht" von Ted Michael hat mir wirklich richtig gut gefallen. Die Geschichte ist ganz anders gewesen als ich gedacht habe, aber das auf positive Art und Weise. Denn die Geschichte ist sehr berührend und überhaupt nicht kitschig. Sie hat sehr viel Tiefgang und hat mich teilweise zu Tränen gerührt. Die Geschichte vermittelt die Message, dass manchmal Liebe einfach nicht genug ist. Ich bin immer noch so überwältigt und bin nach dem Ende immer noch nachdenklich gestimmt. Auch wenn mir nicht alle Charaktere so sympathisch waren, muss ich sagen, dass sie alle super durchdacht waren und besonders die beiden Protagonisten haben es mir angetan. Der Schreibstil ist etwas ganz besonderes, weil die Geschichte aus zwei verschiedenen Sichtweisen geschrieben wurde. Nämlich aus der Sicht der beiden Protagonisten. Außerdem sind die Dialoge bei Henry in Chatform geschrieben und bei Garrett sind Songzitate abgedruckt, die ihr gerade zu einer bestimmten Situation in den Sinn kommen. Der Titel passt sehr gut und ich finde auch, dass er neugierig auf die Geschichte macht. Das Einzige was mir gar nicht passt, ist das Cover, das nichtssagend ist und absolut nicht zu der Geschichte passt. Alles in einem ein wundervolles Buch, das ganz anders ist als man als Leser nach lesen des Klappentextes erwartet.

[Sierra &#x1f338;]

Warning, this review contains spoilers and swear words…lots of them. The reason for the swear words is because I just finished this book about thirty seconds ago and I'm really pissed about how it ended and instead of giving myself time to calm down and post a rational review, I'm just gonna do it now. First of all, what the fucking fuck? Seriously! This is the second book in a row that I've read that has the storyline where someone asks someone out on a dare, but then falls for them and then the person finds out it was a dare and leaves the original person and blah blah blah, been there done that, am I right? The thing is both the last book I read and this one try to put a spin on that completely unoriginal storyline. The last book did it right. This book did it so fucking wrong. I realize that I should have possibly seen this coming what with all of the classic romance movies where the main characters don't end up together, but that still doesn't make it fucking okay. I understand that sometimes love isn't enough and certain relationships aren't meant to be and blah blah blah, but seriously??? It's a book! They're already fucking meant to be because. they're. not. real! #disappointment! I just can't get over how disappointing the ending of this book was. There's so much other stuff that I want to talk about, but I'm so fucking mad about the ending, I'm not sure I can even calm down enough to talk about them. Okay, let's try. First of all, aside from the main storyline, this book is so fucking cliched it hurts. I mean, seriously. At the moment, I can't really think of any super specific examples, because I've still got my rage goggles on from the ending, but just trust me. Cliche after cliche after cliche. I mean it pretty much got to the point where not one single thing in this book was surprising at all. I mean…ya know…except for the fucking ending. Which as I said I also probably should have seen coming what with all the hints that were given, so yup, not one single surprising thing. Also…what even the fuck is up with Henry. I hate when authors are like oh yeah he's this womanizing badass bad boy, but you're gonna have to take my word for it, because there will not be one single piece of evidence to support that claim. Like if he's gonna be a bad boy, that needs to be present somewhere in the story, not just before the story starts. At least if you want it to be at all surprising that by the end of the book he is a reformed bad boy, which I mean, won't be surprising, but you can at least try. Henry meets Garrett at the very beginning of this book and feels an immediate attraction towards her which immediately causes him to change his behavior. He's not even a bad boy in the very first chapter, which is very disappointing. My favorite type of guys in books are the bad boys that go and get themselves all reformed, which is what Henry is trying to be, but he's kind of just a pansy-ass bitch. He's so sensitive and such a bleeding heart it was almost painful to read about and this is coming from the girl that wants nothing but romance in her books. Like seriously, I'd be perfectly content with no other storyline or no overarching meaning to the book. And I thought Henry was too into the relationship. That is a serious problem. So we have Henry, who is supposed to be a womanizing badass, but who is really just a whiny little bitch. And then we have Garrett. First of all, can we just talk about her name. I'm sorry, but there is no way you're convincing me that Garrett is a girl's name. Like seriously. It's not just one of those names that work for guys and girls like Taylor, Casey, Parker, Jordan or any other hermaphroditic shit like that. It is a straight up guy's name and it took me fucking forever to be able to picture a girl every time her name was said. Like Henry would be talking about Garrett's boobs and I'd just be like what the fuck? Secondly her character. So she's this bleeding heart type that gets overly attached to every guy she's ever been with and now you're telling me that she's just gonna walk away from this guy without a backwards glance or that she just wants to be friends with him? I don't think so. Like I know she wants to change and be more independent and shit, but that doesn't just happen. Especially when she fell for Henry against her will in the first place. Like that is fucking destiny according to every other book and movie ever. They don't end up together, because it just wasn't meant to be, but they both learned something from each other that was very important to their specific struggles in life. That is some real life shit right there that I ain't about that, but I'm supposed to believe that Garrett just magically changed into the person she wanted to be with the life she just magically wanted to have, i.e. best friends who are girls and no boyfriend? Yeah, I don't think so. Either we are in the realm of fiction where unbelievable things happen or we aren't. You can't just mix and match here, dude. I also just briefly want to mention Henry's best friends, because there is no evidence in this book of them actually being tight except for the author telling us they've been friends for like forever. But again, you can't just tell us shit and expect us to believe it with no evidence. Right at the beginning of the book, Henry's already pretty annoyed with them and he stays annoyed with them and then graduates to avoiding them throughout the entire book and they're kind of dicks to him about his feelings just when he's finally decided he's ready to have them. Those are Henry's friends just about as much as the J Squad are Garrett's friends. Which in this book, who knows, could mean they're besties for life and nothing ever comes between them again. Also, fucking London bitch. First of all, she totally fucked everything up. If it wasn't for her, everything would have worked out just fine and dandy. I mean Henry and Garrett still would have gotten together even without the bet, because they were drawn to each other when they first met which was before Garrett even knew who London was. And if there was no bet then Henry never would have been hurt by Garrett and if Garrett wasn't hiding the bet from Henry, she would have slept with him that night he wanted to and he wouldn't have hooked up with London, who showed up just in time to be a problem again. And Garrett never would've gotten hurt by Henry and they never would have broken up. And then they could have ended up together all happily ever after just like they were fucking supposed to. So basically my main point here is that London is a fucking bitch who fucking ruined fucking everything. So thanks a lot for that, you fucking bitch. I also thought there was way too much other drama going on in this book besides the romance, but I guess now I now why. This way they have shit to fall back on when they start out on their cold, lonely paths to dying alone. Okay I think that might have been all I wanted to say. I don't exactly feel better about the ending now, but at least I'm fairly satisfied with this review. So in conclusion, fuck this book and fuck Ted Michael. I own another book of his, but I don't think I'm going to read it if this is the kind of ending he's going to give me.

[m8]

The book starts with henry first, talking on how he is hooking up with someone just for the sake of it, and how he crashed in this party, with is friends along, just to get drunk and have fun (like they always, AND almost everyday they do). When he gets bored, turns to the party again and meets Garret, flawlessly, she catches his attention and doesn't give in easily like the rest of the girls. And instead of making her swoon of her feet, Henry find himself asking questions fast forward like a dork.
When he finds himself being inmersed and getting to know her better, suddenly, His friends appear and get him the notice they gotta go, he says goodbye to her abruptly, thinking he might never see her again... Wrong.

The next day Garret appears as the new girl who wants to fit in and nobody talks to, so instead, the J SQUAD (the most popular girls in school) talk to her and make a deal. Wich is to seduce and be Henry's girlfriend (the playboy of the school) and dump him infront of everybody in a certain public party everyone will attend!

If she does this there won't be any trouble as of being a loner anymore (At least until graduation). Garret is a girl who have had some bad relationships before, sworn off boys from her future, and feeling to prove herself as an independent woman of men, things: what's there to lose?

--------

OKAY NOW, im totally going to start with me complainning about how much i hated the end, and it reminded me kind of a CERTAIN movie but with a much less bitchy female lead and of course, the non existent player-goes-good thiny going on with lead actor on the movie. Nonetheless to say, i found some similarities in certain things, except the hate and.. okay it's nothing alike but. I mean.. i just okay, let me start first with the good things and the bad.

THE GOOD:
Garret was really nice, i mean, naive, non-whiny, unlike other typical lead girl characters, she was really easy-going and plain normal (a bit boring somehow). But one could easily relate to her (i couldn't cause i've never dated before, so for me it was all like... eye-opening. Though, i could feel myself as her, but since we have different lives and all, i guess that changes a lot in how I would act and how SHE acted in the book).

Henry, OH HOW MUCH I LIKED HENRY, but nothing less. At first he came as a jerk, kind of, but the more i readed about him, and his ways, and that cliché thing about his reason of being a player, and even after what happened later, i still liked him. Because he ended up being the most sincere, honest and full-hearted, male lead i've read. And that's what made him such an exquisite piece of cake. Easy, edible, nice and a little bit non solid... (lol what i mean is, he was kind of weak but okay)

Duke, nigel, NICE ASS FRIENDS. Funny, really relateable to real life guy friends, though there were some lines that just made me imagine them as females as well as certein lines henry said too.

Anyways...

The j squad. Cheerladers, high school leaders, i dunno, anyway you want to capture them they came as cliché as they got: dumb blondes and one brunnette, and ofcurse, all of them shallow and one of them smarter then what she seemed. But weak, again.

Parents: Okay. Almost never there but, they had their LOGICAL escenes and partings, mostly, appeared just were they needed to be.


NOW THE BAD: (WARNING THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS)

Okay... if it where me, in my situation, i who have my parents divorced and just a whoooole different story, would have gone back with henry just because of all the love he seemed to be in with the main lead.

Garret appeared to me as a boring character, truthfully. She didn't have almost a personality, i just couldn't picture myself falling for her if i were henry, i just didn't get it. I COULD picture myself falling for henry but at the same time.. not. Both characters seemed weak somehow, lacking of emotions or something in between im not so sure what was. When i came almost near the end of the story, where the whole complex thing starts to envolve itself, it's when i felt their personalities arise, and... nothing. Really i mean, i don't know... maybe it was because i couldn't relate to the lead at all, or... maybe garret's desicion was right at the end. I don't know... but this book certainly gave me what i expected somehow, but at the same time it didn't.

JUST AS 500 DAYS OF SUMMER, except that that movie.. when it ended, it left me fired up and happy somehow but mad at the female lead, but THIS? nope, no fireworks, just abiiit angry slight feeling because herny kind of grew on me (more like a i-pity-you-kind-of-like-you-friend than boyfriend), so didn't like reading his broken heart.

Either way... it was a good read, as long as you want something light.

[Anncleire]

Ho deciso di iniziare a svuotare la cartella dei libri scaricati e dopo averci ripensato più e più volte la scelta è caduta su “Crash test love”. Non ricordavo minimante la trama e le prime righe mi hanno subito intrigato.

Garrett Lennox si è appena trasferita a Long Island da Chicago con i genitori per il suo senior year. L’ultimo anno di high school, in un nuovo istituto non è facile da affrontare finché la J Squad, il trio delle ragazze più popolari, decide di prenderla sotto la sua ala protettrice affidandole un compito: deve far innamorare di sé Henry Arlington, lo smart ass della scuola, e mollarlo in diretta televisiva allo Sweet Sixteen di Destiny che sarà ripreso da MTV per ripagarlo del dolore inflitto a molte ragazze della città.
Ovvio che non tutto va secondo i piani.

Garrett è un personaggio che ho odiato, non per la scommessa in sé, ma perché è assolutamente incapace di prendere una decisione sensata. Per tutto lo svolgimento volevo entrare lì e schiaffeggiarla. Ok inizi l’ultimo anno in una nuova scuola dove non conosci nessuno e vuoi fare amicizia. Ok essere incoraggiata dalle più popolari della scuola può essere fantastico ma non puoi adagiarti ai loro comportamenti, smettere di pensare. Durante tutto il tempo trascorso con Henry, in effetti poco più di due mesi, dimostra solo superficialità e incostanza e ammirazione per un mondo falso, fatto di lustrini e la sua scelta finale, quando poteva aggiustare le cose me l’hanno fatta odiare ancora di più. È bella, intelligente, appassionata di musica finisce per perdersi in un bicchiere d’acqua.

Henry invece l’ho molto apprezzato, fa delle sciocchezze, commette degli errori ma cresce davvero. L’ultima cosa che vuole è avere una ragazza. All’inizio ci viene presentato come un sweet sixteen crasher: lui e i suoi amici Duke e Nigel si imbucano alle feste per rimorchiare e per organizzare scherzi stupidi inventandosi ogni volta un nome e un’identità differente e scappando da baristi intransigenti o security. Henry, al contrario degli altri, riesce sempre a portarsi una ragazza sui sedili posteriori della sua jeep, e non per pettinare le bambole. Il loro codice è mai andare due volte con la stessa ragazza e essere fedeli solo ai membri della squadra. Ma Garrett lo sconvolge, rivoluziona il suo mondo e gli mostra esattamente quello che significa amare e vivere una relazione. La vita è molto altro rispetto all’arido sesso. Scombussolato dalla partenza improvvisa e definitiva della madre che non vede da quando aveva dodici anni, messo da parte da un padre che non crede in nulla se non in se stesso e nel suo dolore, Henry si consola con i legami senza conseguenze di una botta e via, salvo poi ritrovarsi uno stuolo di ragazze avide di vendetta. Come London, il capo della J Squad. Appassionato di cinema, lavora in un piccolo cinema indipendente, osserva la vita come dietro una camera da presa, salvo poi scoprire che lui è l’attore protagonista.

Gli altri personaggi chiave sono la J Squad e i migliori amici di Henry.
La J Squad fissata con la moda, i party, crede di dover uscire con i ragazzi del college perché i loro coetanei sono solo dei ragazzini incapaci di vedere oltre il loro naso, e capaci solo di spezzare il loro cuore. Danno una chance a Garrett salvo poi mandarla a cagare una volta che il loro piano è semifallito, perché quello che voleva davvero London non era distruggere Henry.
Duke e Nigel sono le due spalle di Henry quelli che gli sostengono il gioco, lo seguono in tutte le sue avventure e gli sono davvero vicini. Due migliori amici nel senso più vero di questa parola di quelli che pensano alla tua felicità che se anche sbagli sono sempre lì per asciugare le tue lacrime e sostenerti e indefinitiva gli unici che vale la pena avere al fianco.

Una cosa molto utile per lo svolgimento e una scelta molto azzeccata è stata l’alternanza dei capitoli nei due punti di vista dei protagonisti Garrett e Henry per capirne i progressi, le emozioni e che ha reso seguire la storia molto più semplice.

Classico YA di cui non ho apprezzato la fine. Arrivata ad un certo punto mi sono solo chiesta “WTF?”. Alcuni spunti sono molto interessanti come la scelta di inserire le parole chiave nei capitoli di Garrett come titoli di canzoni (vista la sua passione) o i continui riferimenti a film, scene e registi in quelli di Henry ma davvero non sono riuscita a cogliere il perché di un tale finale.

[Anneblogt]

Inhalt:
Sowohl Henry als auch Garrett haben gute Gründe dafür, keine Beziehungen mehr einzugehen. Nachdem Henrys Mutter ihn und seinen Vater vor vielen Jahren verlassen hat, kriegt er Mädchen lieber ins Bett, als eine Beziehung mit ihnen einzugehen. Dabei wird er auch noch von seinen zwei besten Freunden unterstützt. Garrett hingegen will von Jungs am Liebsten gar nichts mehr hören, zu viele negativen Erfahrungen hat sie schon mit ihnen gesammelt. Als die It-Clique um London sie an der neuen Schule jedoch zu einer Wette auffordert, kann sie aber nicht ablehnen, zu gerne möchte sie einfach ein paar neue Freundinnen finden. Doch der Wetteinsatz ist hoch-Garrett soll den Herzensbrecher Henry verführen und anschließend auf einer Party öffentlich mit ihm Schluss machen, ansonsten macht das „J-Team“ ihr die Hölle heiß. Blöd nur, dass es zwischen ihr und Henry Funken sprüht und sie sich immer näher kommen. Und noch blöder, dass London noch eine Rechnung mit Henry offen hat…
Meine Meinung:
Die Idee zur Liebesgeschichte ist ja nicht wirklich neu, allerdings fand ich sie sehr schön umgesetzt. Unterhaltsame Dialoge, faszinierende Charaktere und ein gelungenes Einbeziehen von Filmen und Musik machen das Buch sehr interessant. Sowohl Henry als auch Garrett waren mir sehr sympathisch und der Perspektivenwechsel war super. So hat man über die Gefühle und Gedanken beider erfahren. Henry, der nach außen ziemlich hart und distanziert wirkt und der die Mädels nur in sein Bett kriegen will, hat auch eine sehr verletzliche Seite und die Einblicke in sein Leben haben mir sehr gut gefallen. Garrett hingegen scheint nach außen meist sehr selbstsicher, in Wirklichkeit ist sie das aber gar nicht. Ihre letzte Beziehung mit Ben, von der man noch etwas mitbekommt, hat sehr unschön geendet. Dass sie an der neuen Schule Freunde sucht, ist ja klar, und durch ein blödes und unwahres Gerücht wollte niemand wirklich etwas von ihr wissen. Da lässt sie sich mit dem „J-Team“ ein. Diese drei Mädels fand ich super beschrieben, man kann sie sich ebenfalls richtig gut vorstellen, besonders da sie teilweise ziemlich verrückt sind. London war mir aber auch etwas unheimlich. Die Wette, zu der sie Garrett auffordert, ist echt fies, und ich hatte beim Lesen die ganze Zeit kein gutes Gefühl dabei. Und wie es kommen muss, verliebt sich Garrett bei Kinobesuchen und Gesprächen mit Henry auch in ihn. Die gemeinsame Zeit der beiden fand ich sehr schön beschrieben, es ist eine richtig berührende Liebesgeschichte, die aber leider nicht sehr gut ausgeht. Das Ende war zwar ziemlich klar, dass die Wette auffliegt, aber ich hätte gedacht, dass Henry und Garrett dann irgendwie doch zusammenbleiben. So haben mich die letzten drei traurigen Kapitel fast zu Tränen gerührt, so sehr hätte ich mir ein Happy End gewünscht. Der Schreibstil ist sehr angenehm zu lesen und die Kapitel haben eine gute Länge. Bei dem Perspektivenwechsel habe ich mich erst gewundert, warum bei Henry die Dialoge so komisch dargestellt wurden, als ich aber erfahren habe, dass er später Drehbuchautor werden will, hat dies Sinn ergeben. Schön fand ich auch, dass wegen Garretts Leidenschaft zur Musik öfters Songtitel, Musiker oder Ausschnitte aus Songtexten genannt wurden. Das hat richtig gut gepasst, ebenso das Einbeziehen von Filmen in das Buch. Das Thema wurde hier richtig gut verwendet und ich habe auch einige interessante Dinge über manche Filmlegenden erfahren und habe nun auch noch ein paar Filme, die ich unbedingt mal schauen möchte. Weniger gut gefällt mir das Cover, es wirkt besonders durch das viele rosa sehr kitschig und ich kann auch keinen wirklichen Bezug zum Buch herstellen.
Fazit:
Eine berührende und gleichzeitig unterhaltsame Liebesgeschichte, die mir sehr gut gefallen hat und die ich nur empfehlen kann-5 von 5 Punkten.

[Yan]

I recall previously I had read Ted Michael’s debut novel “The Diamonds” and compared it to Mean Girls, the movie starring Lindsey Lohan. Now I’m going to compare his second novel to “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”.

Henry is considered a “player” but there’s more to that. His mother left him and his father years ago, just one is gone never to return. Ever since then Henry has this idea never to get too close to girls because they always leave. He and his best friends crash sweet sixteen parties and maybe hook up with a girl there—though Henry is only with enough of the charm to go through with that plan. He leaves the girls with false names to confirm that they will never meet again. That’s what he planned to do on this night. But he runs into Garrett who seems to captivate him for the very start and leaves her with his real name: a crash-code broken.

Garrett is new to Long Island having just moved. She’s very susceptible to the male gender and has her heart broken several times—because what’s love without the freefall. But she’s made a pact with herself: she will not date or fall in love until college. But she can’t get Henry out of her mind. You can imagine how surprised she is when she discovers him to be at her new high school and the reputation he has. Or even her own. Apparently there has been a rumor that Henry has already made his latest conquest with Garrett.

But the J squad a.k.a. the three most popular girls in school are going to help Garrett out and she’s elated because she hardly ever makes girl friends. They have a condition though: make Henry fall in love with you and dump him during Destiny’s sweet sixteen—the largest party ever—or else we’ll make your life miserable here. There’s just that one little problem you see. What happens if you fall in love with him as well?

The novel is separated into two point of views: Henry and Garrett that rotates. It gives a more in-depth impression that works well with the story. However there is an inconsistency with Henry’s point of view in regards to the dialogue. Typically it goes in this format:
Me
Person 1
But then there were at times normal dialogues with ‘he said, “…”’ that threw me off.

I love Henry’s friends. They are quirky, silly, off the top with the most lamest jokes ever, and they’re the kind of friends that will be there for you thick and thin. Some scenes make me go ‘awhhhh’, some scenes make me snort and laugh, but every scene portrays them as likeable fellows.

Henry is the middle man. I like him. I get confused by him. I find him dislikeable the way he uses girls. But he grows. After the conversation about his mother you find his personality understandable (just not likeable). As he falls in love with Garrett he’s freefalling. He’s multidimensional with more emotions than what meets the eye.

Garrett is the type of character that I dislike. She plays victim almost constantly that irks me. I had this very strong urge to skip her chapters.

Overall Crash Test Love could have been stronger. I felt like I enjoyed reading the secondary characters more than the main characters and the ending felt…odd. I guess odd is a poor substitute of how I really feel because the ending is different from the norm and I can’t figure out if it’s a cop-out or a brilliant move on Michael’s end.

[LeFaBook]

Inhalt:

Wer vor der Liebe wegrennt, bricht garantiert sein Herz

Beide haben gute Gründe: Henry dafür, dass er Mädchen lieber ins Bett kriegt, als sich zu verlieben. Und Garrett dafür, dass sie von Jungs am liebsten gar nichts mehr hören will. Als die it-Clique an der neuen Schule sie zu einer Wette herausfordert – sie soll Herzensbrecher-Henry eine Lektion erteilen –, willigt sie ein. Doch das, was zwischen ihnen an Funken sprüht, ist echt nicht mehr normal! Henry wehrt sich mit Händen und Füßen … immerhin hat er nicht nur sein überraschend sensibles Herz, sondern auch einen Ruf zu verlieren.


Aus dem Buch:

In Sachen Beziehung bin ich eine Art Phönix aus der Asche:

Ich falle, verbrenne und starte dann doch wieder einen neuen Höhenflug.


Meine Meinung:

Zurzeit bin ich im absoluten Liebesroman fieber und verschlinge ein Buch nach dem nächsten, dass neue Buch vom Autor Ted Michael passt kam also wie gerufen und ich war wirklich positiv überrascht...

Der Partycrasher Henry, hält nicht viel von Beziehungen.

Die 16.Jährige Garrett, ist gerade erst nach Long-Island gezogen und steckt im totalen Gefühlschaos,

immerhin hat ihr Freund Ben gerade Schlussgemacht, oder etwa nicht?

Auf einer sweet sixtenn Party kreuzen sich die Wege der beiden und hinterher teilen beide

eine gemeinsamkeit...sie können nur noch an diesen einen Augenblick denken!


Auf ihrer neuen Schule läuft es für Garrett alles andere als gut, anschluss finden ist leichter gesagt, als getan.

Ganz unverhofft erhält sie ein Angebot der It-Clique zusammen mit ihnen abhängen zu dürfen.

Doch bevor Garrett sich als würdig erweist und zum J-Team dazugehören darf muss sie eine Aufgabe erfüllen..und diese EINE Aufgabe hat es ganz schön in sich...

Garrett soll den Herzensbrecher Henry verführen und anschließend auf einer Party abservieren, ansonsten macht die It-Clique alias das „J-Team“ ihr die Hölle heiß. Blöd nur, dass es zwischen ihr und Henry, seit dieser EINEN Begegnung, seit diesem einem Augenblick, Funken sprühen und sie sich immer näher kommen. Und noch blöder, dass London anscheinend noch eine Rechnung mit Henry offen hat…


Das Buch konnte mich schon nach den ersten paar Seiten absolut überzeugen.

Man kam gut in die Geschichte rein und die abwechselnden Sichweisen, zwischen Garrett und

Henry, waren locker, leicht zu lesen.

Beide Hauptrotagonistin sind sehr symphatisch, zu anfang lernt man sie oberflächloch kennen und

je weiter die geschichte vorrnaschreitet, desto mehr erhascht man einen Einblick hinter die Fassade.

Die vielen unterhaltsamen Dialoge und das Einbeziehen von Filmen und Musik machen das Buch sehr interessant. An diesem Punk, muss ich einfach mal das Cover ansprechen.Durch das viele rosa ist es sehr kitschig undpasst meiner Meinung nach daher überhaupt nicht zur Geschichte.

In diesem Buch ist nämlich gar nichts kitschig. Die Autorin hat es geschafft, die Charaktere auf

eine feinfühlige Art und mit viel Humor, lebendig und reel wirken zu lassen.

Ich habe das Buch in einem "Wisch" durchgelesen und war teilweise sehr überrascht von den

Wendungen. Am Ende war ich wirklich sehr gerührt, weil es nicht das typische appy End gegeben hat und

es einfach so nach...DAS ist das Lesen "schreit".

Ein wirklich tolles Buch, mit wirklich tollen Charaktern und einer wirklich tollen Story!!!

[Kari]

From the premise alone, this book seems like it's lighthearted but Michaels does a fantastic job mixing in emotion and drama without taking away from the fun overall nature. The split narrative gives perfect insight to both Henry and Garrett and builds a connection to both for the reader. Also notable is the way the reader will side with and root for both characters even when they are on opposing sides because of the great voice Michaels gives them.

Henry comes off as a cocky jerk and a heartbreaker, only caring about sex and one night stands but it is clear even early on there is much more to this boy. From problems in his home life to simply how he's become, there are much deepeer lays to Henry that Michaels reveals steadily throughout. Henry uses very corny lines that are laughable but still effective but the drastic way he changes in the way he acts and feels after one meeting with Garrett is a strong driving point for this book. There is also a strong contrast between the way Henry acts around his two best friends- boys I couldn't help but think of Rosencrants and Guildenstern every time they sauntered onto the pages with their love of girls, stupid comments, and fantastic banter- and who he starts to be with Garrett.

Garrett shares a chemistry with Henry that is clear from the start and complicates the entire situation. Her motivations are clear cut and provided throughout but the volatile nature of relationships and emotions interfere with any initial intentions. Garrett is, at her core, a sweet, kind hearted person and this overdrives many others things she does. Though she could be considered a jerk for agreeing to set Henry up, Michaels pitches the scenario in a way to keep her sympathetic.

The plot plays out at a steady pace with a rubber band type motion that gives and takes between Henry and Garrett. Their quips and flirting are fantastic to read but more notable is the way they act when all pretenses are dropped and it is really just the two of them. The reader sees much more insight into both characters in these moments and feels the same despair as Garrett over what she ultimately intends to do to Henry.

As things progress, Michaels keeps the focus unbiased, giving equal time and spotlight to both characters. Even the final climax gives both perspectives as does the tapering off and fall out. The ending is hard to predict and absolutely memorable and fitting for the story. I completely applaud Michaels for the way he played everything out. Great characters with strong development, fantastic side characters that add plenty of amusement and driving points for the plot, and a great narrative and voice make Crash Test Love a cute but still thought provoking read.

[Carrie]

SO STUPID!!! its really deep and a great romance despite being written by a guy but the ENDING WAS TERRIBLE I MEAN REALLY!!! even though its entirely cheesy, she is supposed to tell him that she needs her independence but that she still wanted to go out and then he was supposed to say okay lemme think about it... then they get back together and AT LEAST stay together through the year!!! its tragic the way it ended. It went EXACTLY the way I predicted except for the nightmare of a conclusion. I have great levels of respect for the author because he is male and he wrote an almost perfect romance novel that was just interesting enough that I wasnt one hundred percent sure what was going to happen when I started it. At the same time I am disgusted and disappointed, but also mad at myself for expecting anything different, that he finished it like that I MEAN REALLY?!? they see each other, the mean girl gets revenge on BOTH of them before they have a chance to confess to each other, (EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE PLANNING TO!!!!) then they break up and HE rejects her because he feels utterly rejected, when she just needed a little bit of space! and then she becomes a social pirana but some real friends show up at the end and she slams on London (mean girl: not too unlike the plastics in the MOVIE mean girls... the scheme isnt even really that different... hmmm) without being actually cruel... then they see each other in the cafeteria and avoid each other like the other has the plague or something!!! HE EVEN USED THE WE COULD STILL BE FRIENDS LINE AND THE BEST FRIEND HOOKING UP WITH THE EX-BOYFRIEND SCHEME! AND THEN HE RUINED THE ENDING!!!
reading that again i realize that is very intense for a simple novel... now you understand why I tagged it as emotional... the thing is it really wasnt I just had a really intense reaction to it... it was very strange
I would also like to point out again that it was very deep and thoughtful so he gets major kudos for that one... AND it was a BRILLIANT romance if the ending was changed... and even without changing it the story was a FANTASTIC read... not many books get me this worked up... but the ending is also very significant Henry thinks at the end after them breaking up that every relationship besides the perfect love ends badly. This is kind of the theme throughout the entire thing. So even though it is not my IDEAL ending, it still fits the story perfectly. The fact that that is the case and I even still liked it says that Ted Michael is a great writer. He is one of two men who have written romances that I actually enjoyed. THat is saying something amazing about him.

[Erika]

“I have never really understood why people call it falling in love but now, tonight, I do. Because when I drop Garrett off and watch her wave goodbye, I feel like I am furiously out of control and falling fast. But also I feel like I’m flying, like there is wind and air beneath me. I don’t think you can fall and fly at the same time, though; I don’t understand how it would work. It seems that eventually one will win out over the other, and I’m pretty sure it’s much easier to crash than it is to soar.”

"Sometimes, the truth comes out in ways you wish it didn’t; all you can do is hope that someday you will be forgiven, that the blemish will be erased from the permanent record known as your soul."

“Why are the only happy endings the ones where the couples get together?” I ask. “Can’t they just be friends? Can’t that be a happy ending too?”

-----

One thing. As soon as I saw this in Powerbooks, I just knew I had to have it. And, GOD. Now, that I'm done with it, I finally completely understand why it gave me such feeling when I first saw it.

Crash Test Love, without a doubt, had become one of the very few books that really touched my heart. I don't know... The emotions in this book were just overflowing that, I can't help but applaud Ted Michael because, rarely, did authors made me feel this way.

The words he used were simple, yet he was able to bring out the emotions of the characters so well that I even found myself holding my breath a few times while reading this.

Garrett and Henry are two characters I completely fell in love with because they were just so real that, despite the fact that I know I'm reading fiction, I still felt like they truly existed. And that I am lucky enough to witness their story and learn from them.

Crash Test Love is a book that everyone should read because this speaks of love, not only in a romantic sense, but love for family and friends as well.

And as I end this 'review', I shall quote Garrett's realization in the last part of the book:
Because love, no matter how tragic, is not an ending. It is a test and a textbook; it is a map to undiscovered places and a lexicon of languages yet to be spoken.
Love.
Really, it is a beginning.

Yes, Garrett&Henry did not end up together. But, sometimes, the main characters don't really have to end up together for a story to be said a happy ending. Because, really, what can be happier than learning from past mistakes and growing up into becoming better invdividuals? :)

PS: I took a break from reading books, so I was out for a while. But allow me to let you, guys, know, that I am so back and I can't wait to read more books starting today! :)

[Michelle]

Crash Test Love is a great read filled with romance, character growth, and humor as well as many other elements that I love in storytelling. I was originally very drawn to the premise (I'm a sucker for contemporary YA romance novels as well as alternating points of view between the two main characters) which although not the most original, is still captivating and intriguing in its own right. I know I've mentioned this before in a past review or two (bare with me if you've read it before) but for me, I don't mind reading about a well known storyline that has been used multiple times before. It's all about how the author takes a familiar topic and makes it their own. I've read countless stories where the general plot is the same yet the end result is always different. Each author will most definitely bring something new and interesting to the table which I look forward to discovering.

As far as the plot goes, I feel as if it could have wavered into heavily cliched territory but for the most part it was realistic and not what you'd expect based off of past books or films that ring similar in theme to this novel. The ending was fantastic as well as the character growth that lead up to it. I wish I could post the last and final paragraph in this novel because I just loved how it was worded and how everything was brought to a close. Some books just have those hard hitting endings that wrap everything up wonderfully. I was right about a few things going into this one but as it progressed, I found myself being surprised quite a few times at where the author Ted Michael took things.

Character wise, I enjoyed Garrett and Henry a lot. I feel I was more drawn to Henry and I think it's because of his honesty. From the beginning he tells it like it is and although I didn't agree with him, I still sympathized with his situation and once the underlying reasons for his actions were revealed, I understood him a lot more. He also did the most growing which was nice to see. The alternating points of view really made this story that much better. Had it only been one sided, told in its entirety either by Garrett or Henry alone, it wouldn't have had the same impact. The supporting characters were fun as well. I'd say that my favourite would have to be the J Squad just because they have some great one liners that made me laugh a handful of times.

Overall: Crash Test Love is a fun book with a great message that will keep you very entertained.

[Nancy]

Henry is the stereotypical player who crashes Sweet Sixteens, puts on a false persona, and never hooks up with the same girl twice. Until he meets Garrett. Garrett is a girl who dives right into love and is hurt way too many times, so she doesn't want a relationship anymore. She wants friendship. So when the most popular clique in school wants to know if she'll be a part of their group, Garrett knows there's a price to pay. Her price is lies and betrayal as she tries to take down heartbreaker Henry, but finds herself falling for him instead. Told in alternating point of views, this is ultimately a love story that doesn't end happily ever after.

The ending was terribly abrupt and felt incomplete. I remember staring at the final words, aghast, and then sighing as I went to bed. I truly expected Henry and Garrett to end up together because they understood and related to each other. Garrett was an inconsistent character, and an annoying one at that. She claimed to want to "find" herself without a boy attached to her arms, and find friendship, but every minute of the book is her talking about this connection she feels with Henry and falling for him. Then, at the end of the book, she randomly wants to throw everything she had with Henry away for the individualism that I didn't know she was interested anymore in.

I found myself falling for Henry just as much as Garrett had. He was exactly the stereotypical player with the broken heart and dilapidated family issues, but he was also incredibly sweet and honest. I loved how Henry eventually stepped out of his comfort zones and the slow but gradual process in which he became mature. It was heartbreaking when he realized he couldn't be with Garrett, but still sweet when he realized all these things about love.

The focus of movies and music (more on the former) making such an impact on our protagonists was very refreshing. I'm not much of a movie fan from the 1900s, so it was interesting to see so many references to classic films, all broken down with summaries and well-fitting with the romantical aspect of this story. I just really enjoyed how interwoven the story was, and despite wanting an ending that would give the characters more closure, I was still surprised by the comedy and heart of this book.

(I won this ARC through RandomHouse.)