The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend by Kody Keplinger

Summary: Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn’t think she’s the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She’s also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her “the Duff,” she throws her Coke in his face. 

But things aren’t so great at home right now, and Bianca is desperate for a distraction. She ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn’t such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she’s falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. (Via Goodreads.com)

Pages:277 

Release Date: January 1st, 2010

Rating: 4/5 stars

Review:
     I had no expectations going into The Duff. I did not know anyone who read it and I did not look into any reviews on the book. I read the book because the movie is expected to be released on February 20th, 2015. I had watched the trailer and the movie looked really good. 
     After only seeing a few movie trailers I can say without a doubt, the movie is so much different from the book. The movie features characters that did not exist in the book and the two plots are not the same in any way, shape, or form. However, during a Twitter chat the other day, when the author, Kody Keplinger, was asked how she felt about the movie being so different the book, she replied, "It's a good movie and the message is still there. That's what matters to me." I really liked that she responded in that manner because reviewers normally pick apart book-to-movie adaptations for their lack of faith to the book. When I review book-to-movie adaptations, I try to keep an open mind about the movie because it is based on the book, it is not the book.  
     I really like what Bianca's mom said on page 125, "No matter where you go or what you do to distract yourself, reality catches up with you eventually." 
     Bianca was such a relatable character. She had the same attitude towards love that I have. I constantly see my friends or mutual friends telling their boyfriend/girlfriend that they love each other after dating for about week. I don't believe in love at first sight. No one truly 
knows another person after dating or meeting each other after such a short period of time. You need to get to know each other before you start confessing your love for someone
that you have only seen or talked to for a few days or weeks. Bianca really understood that.
     I have only ever encountered one other book that features my name. As much as I love that a little girl named Casey appears in Marcus Zusak's I Am the Messenger for one line, it was nice that a character with my name was one of the main characters. Casey was a really great character and she reminded me of myself. Both Casey and I give our friends advice and are really good listeners. We both love to support and be there for the people we care about, I could not have been happier to share a name with another character.     
     I never expected pulling such a fantastic message from the book. On page 257, "I was the Duff. And that was a good thing. Because anyone who didn't feel like the Duff must not have friends. Every girl feels unattractive sometimes." As much as I would love to deny that quote, I know it is true. But, I know I am not the only one that feels that way. Even guys could relate to that because no matter how high you hold yourself or how much swagger you have, you always have doubts about yourself and The Duff really captures that.
     The Duff grabbed my attention from the first page and it would not let me go. The novel features a phenomenal message that everyone should learn and it was an extremely relatable book.