The Boyriend List by E. Lockhart - The Boyfriend List was a homework assignment for my mental health. Doctor Z, my shrink, told me to write down all the boyfriends, kind-of boyfriends, almost-boyfriends, rumoured boyfriends and wished-he-were boyfriends I've ever had. Plus, she recommended I take up knitting.
In the same ten days I: lost my boyfriend (boy #13); lost my best friend; lost all my other friends; learned gory details about my now-ex boyfriend's sexual adventures; did something shockingly advanced with boy #15; did something suspicious with boy #10; had an argument with boy #14; drank my first beer; got caught by my mom; lost a lacrosse game; failed a maths test; became a leper and became a famous slut. Enough to give anyone panic attacks, right? I was so overwhelmed by the horror of the whole debacle that I had to skip school for a day to read mystery novels, cry and eat spearmint jelly candies. From Amazon UK
I fancied a book full of humour, and so picked The Boyfriend List up thinking that it would be pretty funny. What surprised me is that not only was it hilariously funny, but it was also a fairly serious book too.
A series of events - which I'd like to say I believe are mostly not her fault - happen following Ruby's split with her boyfriend Jackson, which lead to Ruby going from being fairly popular to the bottom of the food chain with everyone laughing, whispering and being complete gits to her. Her whole world is turned upside down over a series of days, and she gets so stressed it leads to panic attacks - and lots of them. There were times when my heart just broke for her, because her friends were just being unjustifiably mean, and there were such levels of betrayal that just astounded me. No wonder she had panic attacks and needed therapy!
As all her problems seem to evolve around boys, her therapist gets her to write a list of all the boys there has been any kind of romantic - though I use that word a little loosely - and try to work out what her actual problems are, and so goes the story. As I said this book is also extremely funny, despite the fact that there is a lot of pain. Ruby's personaility just shines through the whole novel, and even the most awkward of situations are written with Ruby's humour shining through. A magazine described the book as "agonizingly funny", and that sums the book up perfectly.
I can't really say much more without spoiling the book, but it's just brilliant! I highly recommend you go out and buy this book! I absolutely loved it! Frotunately, I have the sequel, The Boy Book already, and I'm jumping right in. You should definitely buy TheBoyfriend List!
Published: 4th May 2006
Publisher: Corgi Children's Books
E. Lockhart's Website
The Boyfriend List Website
I read this quite some time ago and really enjoyed it, nice easy read with some substance. But I never knew there was a sequel. I am so on that.
ReplyDeleteThere are four books in this series! I only found out today! I am so looking forward to reading them all! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I really enjoyed this series. For the most part, the series just gets better and better. I hope you like the other three books, too!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book! So glad you liked it too. Thanks for a great review!
ReplyDeleteI read this one just the other week and totally agree, it is so amazing and I couldnt believe how awful her friends were being either... I mean I would NEVER do that to a friend! EVER! hmmph
ReplyDeleteanyway, glad you enjoyed it too! :D
Yay! You read it :) Great review.
ReplyDeleteKelly - Thank you! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
ReplyDeleteLuisa - Thank you! It was awesome!
Raimy - I know, it was just awful! Who does things like that, it's jut so wrong! But a great book :)
Julianne - Thank you :)