The Way to Game the Walk of Shame by Jenn P. Nguyen -- Starting June 19th 2016

[T.J.]

Taylor Simmons is screwed.

Things were hard enough when her single-minded dedication to her studies earned her the reputation of being an Ice Queen, but after getting drunk at a party and waking up next to bad boy surfer Evan McKinley, the entire school seems intent on tearing Taylor down with mockery and gossip.

Desperate to salvage her reputation, Taylor persuades Evan to pretend they’re in a serious romantic relationship. After all, it’s better to be the girl who tames the wild surfer than just another notch on his surfboard.

[T.J.]

Chapters 1-2 (9%)
Nice start! It pulled me right in!
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Ha! I soooo feel for Taylor. I could identify with her personality immediately. I loved the bantering between Ethan and Taylor that first morning. Ethan didn’t get Taylor’s “perky” joke – too funny!

Getting Wait-Listed at Columbia. And then forgetting her report (that she finished early!) And losing the respect of the teacher who could get her in – just by forgetting to pack her report. And then, and then, and then… losing the respect of the whole school. Ouch! I really could feel for her.

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[T.J.]

Chapter 7 (30%)
Too funny!
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It really seems like Evan is much more into this boyfriend/girlfriend thing than Taylor is. Too cute.

And I love that Evan wants to be a marine biologist. It seems that they both do have something to bring to this relationship.

I'm more worried that Evan will get hurt than Taylor. Taylor's too preoccupied with her future career to get caught up in romance. But I suspect her future plans may also change as a result of this "relationship."

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[Angie Elle]

I hope you don't mind if I jump in . I read this book a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. It was such a fun, low-angsty read. Just what I needed at that time.

(view spoiler)[I thought the opening scene was funny. Taylor trying to walk away all calm and collected. It backfired a bit on her.

I loved how Evan was so attentive for a 'fake' boyfriend and thought of the little things Taylor overlooked. (hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Angie Elle wrote: "I hope you don't mind if I jump in . I read this book a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. It was such a fun, low-angsty read. Just what I needed at that time."

Welcome, Angie Elle!

How far do I have to have read to read your spoiler in Message 4?

[T.J.]

Chapter 10 (40%)
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Evan and Taylor are too cute! I can see what each sees in the other. Taylor is not Evan's typical conquest, but I think that is her allure. She's smart, she's funny, she's goal-oriented, she's driven, but she's insecure and vulnerable when it comes to affairs of the heart. Evan is attractive, hot, funny, and a renowned playboy, but he's smart, protective, and -- I think -- not used to falling for the girls he gets involved with. This seems to be new territory for him as well...

Just for the record, I like both Taylor and Evan, and I like their budding friendship/relationship.

I think one reason I like their relationship so much is that they are (as much as they have figured out their feelings for themselves) both being completely honest with each other. Neither is playing the other, but the two together are playing the rest of the school.
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[Angie Elle]

TJ wrote: "Angie Elle wrote: "I hope you don't mind if I jump in . I read this book a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. It was such a fun, low-angsty read. Just what I needed at that time."

Welcome, An..."

You can read it now. It's a general spoiler for the story. I probably didn't even need to mark it, but I hate to ruin it for anyone. :)

[Angie Elle]

TJ wrote: "Chapter 10 (40%)

Evan and Taylor are too cute! I can see what each sees in the other. Taylor is not Evan's typical conquest, but I think that is her allure. She's smart, she's funny, she's goal-or..."

(view spoiler)[Yes! I love that they are playing everyone but each other. At times, it even feels like they might be playing themselves. I love the lack of angst in this story - it's so fun and flirty. (hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

Chapter 14 (57%)
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Now we've got a love triangle...

So, let me get this straight. Taylor has two guys interested in her. One saves her life swimming. Then, before even meeting her officially, he notices from afar that she likes extra mushrooms on her pizza and gives her his, without her asking. And the other offers to blow his grades purposely so that Taylor can become valedictorian, and notices what kind of gum she likes and has some on stash in his car... Are these guys for real? Where were these guys when I was in high school? A bit much, you might ask? Just a tad.
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[Angie Elle]

Ha ha. Yes, I can see that. But I'm not going to lie - the teeny bopper in me adored it.

[T.J.]

Angie Elle wrote: "Ha ha. Yes, I can see that. But I'm not going to lie - the teeny bopper in me adored it."

Hahahaha! Yes! That is definitely how it should be! If wishing it made it so... (or rather if writing it made it so...). :D

(view spoiler)[
I forgot to add that one of the guys vying for Taylor's attention is valedictorian -- absolutely the smartest guy in the school. And he's cute too! And the other guy is absolutely the hottest guy in the school. He's the most charming, best-looking... and he's athletic, he's a surfer-dude! Oh, and, by the way, turns out he's smart too. Could turn out to be a marine biologist... They are both considerate, and sensitive to Taylor's needs.

Now I have to ask you again: Where were these guys when I was in high school? And why weren't they going after me?

Okay, okay, okay -- as far as young adult, fantasy/dream-world/cinderella stories are concerned, this is pretty cool. Taylor has never had a boyfriend before. No one has ever even shown interest. She's been too focused on her studies/future/career to even stop and smell the roses... so okay. I'll give her that. But couldn't the boys be less perfect/confident/good-looking? Now too much, just a tad? ;)

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[T.J.]

Chapter 20 (71%)
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I was just starting to like Evan and Taylor's relationship. They have a nice dynamic and they certainly broaden each others' horizons. I hope that they don't mess it up now.
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[T.J.]

Angie Elle wrote: "I hope you don't mind if I jump in. I read this book a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. It was such a fun, low-angsty read. Just what I needed at that time."

It really was a fun read!

(view spoiler)[
Angie Elle wrote: "I thought the opening scene was funny. Taylor trying to walk away all calm and collected. It backfired a bit on her.

I loved how Evan was so attentive for a 'fake' boyfriend and thought of the little things Taylor overlooked."

Ha ha! I loved the opening scene! I actually loved the first half more than the second. I think it started off extremely original, but then turned a bit cliche towards the end.

Evan was too good to be true, which is one of the problems I had with the way the book developed.
(hide spoiler)]

[T.J.]

I still need to write a review for this one, so I thought I would jot down my thoughts here to get started.

I thought the premise was extremely original. Overachieving "ice-queen," who is too ambitious and driven to worry about high school politics or romance, finds herself in a potentially reputation-killing situation and uses her smarts to turn the events to her advantage.

(view spoiler)[
The story started out so originally and the relationship between Taylor and Evan developed in a way that was entertaining to read.

Then came the love triangle: The love-triangle between the hottest guy (who is also smart) and the smartest guy (who is also cute) in school was too much.

I wished for a little more depth of character. Evan was just too perfect, and he didn't have the kind of depth that would have made him believable. Brian was also too good to be true.

Taylor was more interesting/charming/snarky in the way Evan described her in his thoughts than she actually was in her words and actions. She had some depth, but I would have liked so much more.

The end then turned out to be cliche. Too bad. The misunderstandings, the miscommunications, the breaking up with the partner so as not to hurt his future, the grand gesture at the end and the hollywood happy ending...

Such an original, clever beginning deserves an original, clever ending, which this story unfortunately did not get.

But it was definitely and entertaining and fun read. 3.5 stars.
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