The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West → Start Date: May 23, 2015

[Clementine]

Chapter 8: (view spoiler)[ I really liked the beginning, but Gia's obsessing over fake Bradley didn't sit well with me. It screamed insta-love to me, but I thought: "hey, I can work with that". But then the stalking bit made me sooo uncomfortable. That's just a no-no for me. I really hope the book redeems itself in the next chapters. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

How do you like it so far?

[Clementine]

I like unlikeable characters and Gia is just that: unlikeable, popular and swallow but oh-so-snarky. Her POV is fun to read. SOOOO ADDICTIVE. But (because yes there's s but) chapter 8 made me slightly uncomfortable. O.o

[Vicki]

I will be starting this one today for sure. Can't wait!

[Clementine]

Chapter 27: (view spoiler)[ The Bec-Gia scenes are the best lol (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

10 chapters in. This has been a quick read so far and enjoyable.

Gia (view spoiler)[you can see how self-involved and shallow she has been in this school that she didn't even recognize fake Bradley's sister and they have a class together. I am hoping that she will change, which I am sure will happen. I question her group of friends too that she felt she can't be honest with them all because of Jules, who I am really disliking at the moment. I am curious what her situation is though and what problems that she is dealing with. I am curious how soon everything will be found out though, like will the real Bradley show up at her school or something? (hide spoiler)]

Fake Bradley (view spoiler)[I like him a lot already so sweet to help her out like that and I liked the bantering with Gia and how he helped put on a show for her friends. (hide spoiler)]

[Katie]

I'm 5 chapters in, and I'm really enjoying it so far.

Gia (view spoiler)[I think she is slightly shallow and unlikeable, but I still think that I like her anyway despite this. (hide spoiler)]

fill-in Bradley (view spoiler)[I like this boy, though I don't completely understand why he agreed to be the fake date. He seems sweet, though. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

20 chapters in.

Gia (view spoiler)[I liked that she helped out Hayden at his ex-girlfriends graduation party. You can see that she is falling for him. I liked that she stood up somewhat for Bec at the beach but she should have done more. I don't really care for her group of friends, and I don't trust Jules at all. She is one of those people that likes to be the center of attention and likes to cause trouble and sit back and watch the aftermath. Really Gia would be better off being friends with Bec, which I hope that they do become friends. Her current group are shallow and can be nasty too. (hide spoiler)]

Hayden (view spoiler)[I thought his reason for sitting in the parking lot was sweet. It was nice that he noticed the fight and was looking out for her. I still really like him. (hide spoiler)]

I am really liking this one. It's cute and a really quick read so far.

[Katie]

I've now read through chapter 10. I'm really enjoying this quick and light read.

Claire (view spoiler)[She seems like she's a good friend to Gia. (hide spoiler)]

Jules (view spoiler)[I don't really understand why she has such a problem with Gia. (hide spoiler)]

Bec (view spoiler)[She seems like she's nice enough so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

30 chapters in.

Gia (view spoiler)[I feel bad for how her brother portrayed her in his film and then not apologize for it. Bec and Hayden have been good friends to her. I like that she is stepping outside her group and realizing who she really is. (hide spoiler)]

Jules (view spoiler)[I really hate her. Just because you have a bad home situation does not give you the excuse to treat people like crap. (hide spoiler)]

Really liking this still. Will finish tomorrow.

[Vicki]

I'm glad everyone is liking it so far. I'll be done with The Selection soon and I'll start this before I go to bed.

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 5 and it's cute so far.

I agree that Gia is (view spoiler)[shallow, but I still like her. She wasn't all upset over not winning prom queen. I think part of the reason she is the way she is is because of Jules who is always creating problems and competitions. (hide spoiler)]

Fill-in-Bradley (view spoiler)[is very likable to me. I love how he gave Jules a taste of her own medicine and how quick he is with comebacks. Hopefully that isn't indicative of his ability to lie really well. I do like that he covered for Gia. But I think she should have just told everyone what happened, even though Jules would have had a field day with it. (hide spoiler)]

Fill-in's sister(view spoiler)[sure got huffy. I wonder if she really does know Gia or know something about her. I don't understand why she'd be that upset. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 10

I almost died laughing when Gia (view spoiler)[looked up to see fill-in Bradley's sister in her class. But I can say that happens all the time in my classes. Students are together an entire school year and don't know each other's names, or at least not everyone's. I don't see how that makes Gia bad. The laughing at the band was not good though. (hide spoiler)]

Jules (view spoiler)[is simply not nice. I can't stand her! (hide spoiler)]

I'm anxious to see what (view spoiler)[Gia will do at the party when she is fake Brad's new girlfriend. Will the deceit ever stop? (hide spoiler)]

I think Claire is (view spoiler)[a good friend to Gia. (hide spoiler)]

It's 2:36 AM so I'm off to bed. Will finish tomorrow.

[Katie]

I'm glad you're liking it so far, Vicki! I agree with basically all your spoilers that you posted. I'm going to hopefully finish this today.

[Clementine]

I finished it... I liked it but Jules and Drew drove me bunkers. >.<' I can't believe people like that actually exist. I would have liked to see (view spoiler)[ more of Gia's family dynamics and why they acted like that. For me, her telling her mom: "we need to talk more" is a step but it shouldn't have been treated like everything was fine now. (hide spoiler)] Also, I didn't understand (view spoiler)[ why everyone at school made such a big deal of Gia lying. Geesh, it was a fill-in boyfriend. She didn't make an atomic bomb or something. Drew's part in exposing her lies... Ugh. I didn't understand what Jules' motive was as a whole. She moved in and decided she wanted to ruin Gia's life? But whyyy? Bec and Hayden had stellar characterizations, too bad it didn't apply to Gia's friends. They were 'just' mean girls with no nuance. (hide spoiler)]

@ Amanda: About Jules: PREACH! lol
About Bec and Hayden: Bec and Gia's friendship was definitely the best portrayal of female friendship I have read in a long time. Their scenes were just so funny. :P

[Amanda]

Finished. I liked this, I thought it was cute.

Jules (view spoiler)[ugh I hated her. I also hate that Gias friends did not understand or refuse to see how Jules was treating Gia. She really is one of those people that likes to stir things up and then sit back and watch the aftermath. (hide spoiler)]

Gia (view spoiler)[I am glad that she started to realize that she is not like her friends and that when she acts more like herself she makes some new friends who are actually better for her. I loved the friendhsip between Gia and Bec, and that was definitely not someone her "friends" would have approved of. I don't get the whole snubbing her either after this came out. She did lie about Bradley, but I can understand why she did it though. The way Jules kept trying to expose her as a liar and the knowing looks that Jules kept giving her friends when Gia would talk about Bradley would give Gia a reason to think that her friends will side with Jules. Especially since Jules wanted nothing more than to kick Gia out of the group. Not saying she should have lied about it but I can understand it. (hide spoiler)]

Hayden (view spoiler)[I liked him and thought that he and Gia were cute together. I feel bad for him though in regards to how his friends had treated him. Both betrayed him in some way. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished Ch. 15

Hayden (view spoiler)[is a good name. LOL I think they are going to get caught in their lies soon. (hide spoiler)]

Spencer (view spoiler)[might remember Gia after awhile. But at least she went to the party using her real name. It's Hayden that will get caught as not being Bradley. (hide spoiler)]

Bradley (view spoiler)[seems to want to get back with Gia possibly. I'm really curious to see what happens when everyone finds out about Fill-in Bradley. (hide spoiler)]

Bec (view spoiler)[is turning out to be likable. I think she really has her brother's best interest at heart. She's cute. (hide spoiler)]

Eve (view spoiler)[seems bitchy. I don't care for her and I agree that Hayden needs to stay away and let her go her own way. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Slow going due to a headache (on my 3rd day now) but finished Ch. 20

Bec (view spoiler)[kind of makes me mad that she doesn't give Gia a real chance. (hide spoiler)]

I don't know what, but I think (view spoiler)[maybe something might happen at Drew's award ceremony. With Bec and Hayden both going, and with Jules on Gia's back I just have a funny feeling. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Sorry you are dealing with a headache. Those are not fun and can make it hard to read. I hope that you get rid of it soon, consecutive days of them are not fun :(

Bec (view spoiler)[I didn't like that she wouldn't give her a chance either, but at the same time I liked that she was so protective if her brother. (hide spoiler)]

Eve (view spoiler)[ugh, I didn't like her either. One of those girls that is like I don't want you, but you can't be with anyone else either and you need to pine over me. I really dislike girls like that. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Amanda wrote: "Sorry you are dealing with a headache. Those are not fun and can make it hard to read. I hope that you get rid of it soon, consecutive days of them are not fun :(

Thank you. It is better today but I got to talk to a doctor on the phone and she thinks it is my headache that is causing my blood pressure to go so high. She had me rest awhile and take it again and it was still too high so I had to take a med for it. Hoping it all settles down overnight or I'll continue to be stressed!

Bec [spoilers removed]

Eve [sp..."

LOL Exactly!

[Vicki]

Finished Ch 25

I knew that (view spoiler)[something bad was going to happen, but I hadn't thought of her brother's video being that. I feel bad for Gia; however, if that ends up making her a person with depth instead of being shallow, then I'd say it was worth it. (hide spoiler)]

It would appear that (view spoiler)[Hayden is definitely falling for Gia and probably forgetting about Eve altogether. I really like him. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Amanda, I agree with all your posts in message 60.

Finished Ch. 30

I think one of the ways that Gia is showing how she is (view spoiler)[growing into her own is giving Nate's band a chance to play at the prom. He seems to be pretty cool too. (hide spoiler)]

I just HATE that (view spoiler)[Jules is SO determined to find crap on Gia. I mean who does that?!! I do NOT like her at all! Gia needs to tell her adios! (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished and thought it was really cute.

We both know who I hated! LOL

[Amanda]

Yay, glad you liked it :)

I liked that Gia (view spoiler)[gave Nates band a chance too. She found out that she did like them instead of going with what her friends thought. (hide spoiler)]

Yes, we both hated the same one. LOL.

[Clementine]

Me three! Me three! LOL She's the sort of characters that you want to see pushed down the stairs lol

@Amanda: yes, I liked that too! :) And I liked (view spoiler)[ when Mark told Gia she outgrew her friends and not the other way around. I think she needed to hear that. (hide spoiler)]

[Amanda]

Clementine wrote: "Me three! Me three! LOL She's the sort of characters that you want to see pushed down the stairs lol

@Amanda: yes, I liked that too! :) And I liked [spoilers removed]"

I agree I also liked that scene.

[Vicki]

Clementine wrote: "Me three! Me three! LOL She's the sort of characters that you want to see pushed down the stairs lol

@Amanda: yes, I liked that too! :) And I liked [spoilers removed]"

Excellent point! I think this book has some really good lessons for teens.

[Katie]

I'm glad everybody has liked it so far. I'll be finishing it today.

[Vicki]

Happy reading, Katie!

[Katie]

I finished this and really enjoyed it and thought it was cute.

Gia (view spoiler)[I like how she really grew throughout the book and wasn't shallow at the end, and formed better friendship. And I was also happy that she gave Nate's band a chance to play. (hide spoiler)]

Hayden (view spoiler)[I'm glad he ended up with Gia because he is really cute and I like them together. (hide spoiler)]

Bec (view spoiler)[I really liked the Gia and Bec friendship, and how Gia really opened up to her more than with her other friend group. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I'm glad you loved it so much!

[[deleted user]]

I finally got the book in the mail, and will probably read it tomorrow.\today.

[Vicki]

YAY! I can't wait to see what you think.

[Ashwini]

was looking for a summer read! starting this right away :-)

[Vicki]

Ashwini, I hope you like it too. :)

[[deleted user]]

I just finished the book.(a few hours ago) I read it in one sitting.
I was a bit unsure because I have read some bad reviews of it,but personally I loved it.
Yes the protagonist is a bit shallow, but she isent directly mean. I love that all of kasie west contemporaries have slightly different protagonist, one is a tomb boy, one is a worker, and one is the popular girl. Yet all of her books puts a big smile on youre face. Great reads all of them, great for esacpeing and great for being entertained.

[Rachel]

This book is next on my to read list. Can't wait.

[Becca]

I read this book this month. I really enjoyed it, but I am a sucker for love stories