{Blog Tour} The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller: Review + Giveaway

Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd
Author: Leah Rae Miller
Series: n/a
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 7, 2013
Source: eARC received from Rockstar Tours for blog tour
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

There is just so much to love about The Summer I Became a Nerd.  It's cute and funny and sweet, and well, just plain adorkable!  I, myself, am a huge nerd, though I think it's pretty obvious that I don't try to conceal that fact.

I envied Maddie, getting to LARP with the likes of Logan and Dan.  My only experience with LARPing is through Little Brother, another nerdy book that I enjoyed quite a bit.  And, honestly, now that I think about it, that was actually a big scavenger hunt and maybe there was no LARPing involved?  So, yeah, terribly jealous.  I'm not a gamer girl, but I think I'd be awesome at LARP.  Just sayin'.


So, yeah, I liked the LARP aspect.  I giggled at all of The Princess Bride references.  (It is my favorite movie ever.)  And I loved how much this book reminded me of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, complete with battle of the evil exes.  The only thing I didn't like was how Maddie continually denied her own happiness simply for the sake of keeping up appearances.  That is the main focus of the book, but I just found the justification for her actions, the underlying reason, to be without merit.  However, when it comes time to confront the truth and make amends, Maddie mans up and I can appreciate that.

I can also appreciate the cute nerdy boy she has a big ole crush on.  Logan actually reminded me of the guy I was hard-core crushing on in high school.  And just like Maddie, I thought his dorkiness made him that much cooler.  And much like Maddie, I was dating someone else when he finally announced his feelings for me.  It made for an awkward situation...in both cases.  But I loved seeing how it played out, even if Maddie didn't always do the honorable thing.  Does the nerd get the girl?  You shall have to read to find out.


If you are a nerd, have nerdish tendencies, are friends with a nerd, or are crushing on a nerd, I think you'll enjoy this fun and quirky book.  The Summer I Became a Nerd is the romance novel for those of us who'd rather find true love in a comic book store than at the lifeguard stand.  It's not your average summer beach read, but it's full of clever, nerdy banter and timeless sci-fi and comic book clichés that even your most closeted nerd can appreciate.

Rating:  

About the author:

Mother, wife, and YA author living on a windy hill in Natchitoches, Louisiana. I love fuzzy socks, comic books, cherry coke, and brand new office supplies. THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD coming Summer 2013 from Entangled Teen. Stay cool!

Find Leah Rae Miller:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

The awesome blog tour hosts have graciously provided 3 (three) ebook copies of The Summer I Became a Nerd for giveaway on the tour, and it's international!

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Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!