Parents' Guide to The Fill-In Boyfriend

Book Kasie West Romance 2015
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Common Sense Media Review

Kate Pavao By Kate Pavao , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 13+

Romantic beach read with kooky premise and solid messages.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 13+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 9+

Based on 1 parent review

 

 

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age 12+

Based on 12 kid reviews

Kids say the book is generally well-received for its relatable characters and sweet romance, making it a fun and appropriate read for teens with little sexual content and mild language. Many appreciate its positive messages about honesty and personal growth, with several readers noting that it fits well for younger audiences, particularly teenage girls.

  • fun romance
  • appropriate content
  • positive messages
  • relatable characters
  • engages young readers
Summarized with AI
 

 

See all 12 kid reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say ( 1 ):
Kids say ( 12 ):

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

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