The Fill-In Boyfriend
By Kate Pavao,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Romantic beach read with kooky premise and solid messages.
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What's the Story?
In THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, pretty, popular -- and self-absorbed -- Gia is student body president, about to graduate and head to UCLA, where her new boyfriend is already a student. But when he breaks up with her in the parking lot before prom, she must quickly find a "fill-in" to save face with her clique, including scheming frenemy Jules. Enter handsome Hayden, an arty boy who just so happens to need a fill-in girlfriend to help him through a sticky situation of his own. But it's not long before all their scheming backfires.
Is It Any Good?
Teens will find Kasie West's romance fun and a pretty quick read, making it a perfect book for the beach. It is rather formulaic: Readers will know from the beginning whom Gia will end up with and that her little lie will probably be exposed. But she learns some thoughtful lessons along the way, such as not ot put too much stake in collecting social media "likes" and how alienating it can be when you express your true feelings.
This isn't the most original or well-constructed YA novel, but The Fill-In Boyfriend is a sweet story with smart messages that make it just a bit more satisfying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about emotional honesty. Is it worth being authentic if you lose popularity and strain friendships and family relationships? Or is it better to hide your feelings?
Gia admits to deleting photos and tweets that don't get enough "likes" on social media. Why does she do that?
Do you agree with her brother's conclusion that social media is creating a new -- and unhealthy -- way for us to measure our value? How do you measure your self-worth?
Book Details
- Author: Kasie West
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , High School
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
- Publication date: May 5, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 18
- Number of pages: 352
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 23, 2020
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