Book Nerds Across America: The Superlatives

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Book Review: Perfect Couple by Jennifer Echols

Jacque's Review:

Perfect Couple is the second book in the Superlatives series. In the first installment, Biggest Flirts, we were introduced to Tia and two of her best friends, Harper and Kaye. At the beginning of their senior year, the class voted and everyone was awarded a title...most athletic, most likely to succeed, etc. Harper and Brody were voted "Perfect Couple that Never Was."

Harper is the yearbook photographer and is a bit of a free spirit. She likes to dress in retro clothing and is very creative and artistic. Brody is the star quarterback. Why the senior class voted them the perfect couple is beyond them, but it peeks their curiosity and they start hanging out. They soon discover they have great chemistry and quite a bit in common. Perhaps their classmates were right after all and they really are the perfect couple! Of course, it isn't that easy. There are a number of situations they must work through if they are going to achieve their happily-ever-after.

This is another really cute story with all of the wonderful characters we were introduced to in Biggest Flirts. We get to see how Tia and Will are doing now that they are officially a couple. We also have a chance to learn more about many of the secondary characters such as Sawyer, Noah, Quinn, and Kaye. There is quite a bit of high school drama and the book brings up a number of topics that are relevant to teens today. With the constant peer pressure at school, it isn't always easy to be yourself. This book allows teens to explore and consider how they would act or react in various situations. Some characters handle situations appropriately while others do not.

This was a light, entertaining, and fast read. I can't wait to read the next installment, which appears to focus on Kaye and her superlative partner, who were voted Most Likely to Succeed. They have been a couple for the past few years, but don't really seem to gel in my opinion. I am really hoping she will see the light and start dating another character in the series.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Book Review: Biggest Flirts by Jennifer Echols

Jacque's Review:

I picked up a copy of this book at BEA 2014. Yes...that is correct - 2014. I thought it looked really cute and even added all of the companion novels to my TBR list as they were announced, but never got around to reading them. A few weeks ago I was looking for something light and fun to read at the pool and this finally jumped off the shelf at me.

Tia is getting ready to start her senior year of high school. She has a reputation for being a party girl, but she is also extremely smart and a talented drummer in the school's marching band. Her mother left years ago and she has watched her three older sisters make epic mistakes in the relationship department. As a result, she vowed to always keep it casual and to never have a boyfriend.

Will is the new kid at school. He recently moved from Minnesota to Florida and his entire world is turned upside down. At his old school he was the drum captain, student council president, and a star hockey player. Now that he has to start over, he is no longer the star of the show.

Tia and Will meet his first night in town and immediately hit it off. When Will wants to continue their relationship she shuts him down due to her no dating rule. As Tia gets to know him and sees everything they have in common, and the great chemistry and friendship they have developed, she begins to question why she is holding onto this rule. Then she becomes jealous when Will starts dating someone else and she knows she has to do something to get him back.

This series is based upon a school survey taken at the beginning of the year, which places all of the seniors into various categories for the yearbook. Most likely to succeed, perfect couple, biggest flirts, etc. After only a couple of weeks of band practice prior to the start of the school year, Will and Tia's actions led them to being voted biggest flirts. The pressure of the title put a strain on their easy going relationship and led to some entertaining drama. I loved both of their characters and everyone could see they were perfect together except Tia. I was happy to see her come around in the end and hope we will see more of them in the companion novels.

We were introduced to several of Tia's longtime friends throughout the book. I'm pretty sure the companion novels will focus on some of them, which will allow us to continue the series with the same basic group of characters.