Review: The Fill-in Boyfriend by Kasie West

Title: The Fill-in Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 5, 2015 -- TODAY!!!
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Going into The Fill-in Boyfriend, I fully expected it to be my new favorite of all of Kasie West's contemporary novels. (I don't think anything could top my love for her Pivot Point series.) The fake boyfriend plot is a favorite of mine, and the complications that arise from such a plan are usually pretty humorous.

That's definitely true in Gina and Fill-in Bradley's case. The antics involved in their faking a relationship were cringe-inducing at times but bordered on swoon-worthy at others. But sadly, they usually served to make me like Hayden more and Gina less. I could understand why Hayden would want to show up with a date, after the way things ended with his ex, but in Gina's case, I think honesty would have been the best policy. That whole stand-off with Jules just never sat right with me, Bradley's existence notwithstanding.

However, one of my favorite aspects of Kasie's books is that her characters realize things about themselves and ultimately change for the better as the story progresses. With The Distance Between Us, one of the lessons learned was that appearances can be deceiving, i.e. don't just a book by its cover. In her last novel, the main character discovered that she could be feminine and have girlfriends without sacrificing what she loved. In The Fill-in Boyfriend, I think there were plenty of lessons to be gleaned: lying isn't the answer, being different should be embraced, popularity isn't the key to happiness, friendships shift and change, and sometimes you'll find new friends in the unlikeliest of people. I love that this author includes well-meaning messages like this to her readers but that it never feels preachy or misguided.

The potential romance between Gia and her fill-in boyfriend was obviously a big draw for me, and it didn't disappoint. It was apparent that when the book opened, Gia was not mature enough for a relationship with the real Bradley, but I was glad that when she finally was, she had found her happiness with someone more suited to her. Hayden is a little nerdy -- my favorite kind of love interest, besides the dashing rogue -- and I loved how he always told Gia what she needed to hear. I appreciated that his sister was much the same, if maybe a little harsher in the way she went about it, and that she ended up being a really great friend to Gia when she needed it most.

So....not my favorite of Kasie West's novels but still very much what I've come to expect from this author: cute, funny, and smile-inducing. I do wish there'd been a little bit more to the ending, a little more resolution where Gia's friends were concerned. (Honestly, I thought the ARC I was reading was missing pages because of how abruptly it ended for me.) Still, I will read anything this woman writes and enjoy the heck out of it. For a fluffy good time, you should definitely check out Kasie's novels.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels, published through Harper Teen are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, and THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Find Kasie:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, harper-collins, kasie west, reviews, the fill-in boyfriend

Waiting on Wednesday: The Fill-In Boyfriend & The Sin Eater's Daughter

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: The Fill-In Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 5th, 2015

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

I know Jen featured this one back in November sometime, but it's Kasie West! And I kind of adore her writing. WOW is hard for me, because Jen is on it.. and she grabs up those titles way before I even see the covers. lol. I figure no one cares if we both want the same books right? It get's double the sharing.

Everything about this one screams I will love it. I can't wait! :)





's Pick:



Title: The Sin Eater's Daughter
Author: Melinda Salisbury
Series: The Sin Eater's Daughter, book #1
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: February 24, 2015

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

Oh my gawd! Is that cover not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen? And the book itself sounds just as amazing. I mean, the girl has the power to kill with her touch! Also, I love stories where the girl falls for the guard. I really shouldn't start any new series until I finish some others, but I can't help myself where this novel is concerned. =)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, fantasy, harper-collins, kasie west, melinda salisbury, scholastic, the fill-in boyfriend, the sin eater's daughter, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Waiting on Wednesday: Twisted Fate & The Fill-in Boyfriend

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:




Title: Twisted Fate
Author: Norah Olson
Series: n/a
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Publication Date: January 20th, 2015

When Alyson meets Graham Copeland, the new boy next door, she instantly feels like he’s a kindred spirit—shy and awkward like her, someone who has trouble making friends. It’s impossible to resist having a crush on him.

As usual, her sister, Sydney, sees things differently. In Sydney's mind, Graham's odd personality and secretive past scream psychopath, not sweetheart. Her gut is telling her to stay away from him, and to protect a love-struck Alyson from her own naïveté. But despite her instincts, Sydney is surprised to realize that a part of her is drawn to Graham, too.

And the more Sydney gets to know him, the more she realizes just how right—and wrong—she is about everything.

Perfect for fans of Michelle Hodkin, and E. Lockhart’s We Were Liars, Twisted Fate is an unputdownable novel, teeming with suspense.

These kind of books are seriously growing on me and this cover is so eye catching. I cannot wait to start this one!





's Pick:



Title: The Fill-in Boyfriend
Author: Kasie West
Series: n/a
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 5, 2015

When Gia Montgomery's boyfriend, Bradley, dumps her in the parking lot of her high school prom, she has to think fast. After all, she'd been telling her friends about him for months now. This was supposed to be the night she proved he existed. So when she sees a cute guy waiting to pick up his sister, she enlists his help. The task is simple: be her fill-in boyfriend— two hours, zero commitment, a few white lies. After that, she can win back the real Bradley.

The problem is that days after prom, it's not the real Bradley she's thinking about, but the stand-in. The one whose name she doesn't even know. But tracking him down doesn't mean they're done faking a relationship. Gia owes him a favor and his sister intends to see that he collects: his ex-girlfriend's graduation party — three hours, zero commitment, a few white lies.

Just when Gia begins to wonder if she could turn her fake boyfriend into a real one, Bradley comes waltzing back into her life, exposing her lie, and threatening to destroy her friendships and her new-found relationship.

Kasie West is on my author auto-buy list and with good reason. Her books tend to feature an adorable romance and have the cutest covers. And I think this book is going to be beyond cute....I'm hoping for some serious hijinks to ensue with a plot like that! :)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: beautiful covers, contemporary, funfunfun, harper-collins, kasie west, norah olson, psychological thriller, suspense, the fill-in boyfriend, twisted fate, waiting on wednesday (wow)