REVIEW: Of All The Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara’s boyfriend has been with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn’t just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for three lifelong friends.

 Tara’s training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment from her father.

Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave her looking for her own value in the wrong places.


And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mama she’s never stopped missing.


Then the new girl arrives in school and Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt for before for a girl. Can the girls’ friendship survive when all the rules have changed? YA Fiction

REVIEW:
I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book a few months ago during Jeri Smith-Ready's Blogtoberfest.

The book is told from the alternating points of view of three best friends.

It started strong from Tara's POV. I was drawn into her relationship with Brent and with her friends Whitney Blaire and Pinkie. So I found it a little jarring that just when Tara's world is coming down around her we shifted to Whitney Blaire's POV, then Pinkie's.

Having said that ...once I got used to the three girls' very different personalities I enjoyed going back and forth between them. At one point in the book an event occurs and is told from Tara and then Whitney Blair's POV. It was interesting that they could see the same event so differently.

Although Tara's is the main story, Whitney Blaire and Pinkie each have story lines that help explain their actions and reactions to Tara's growing relationship with Riley, the new girl at school.

The girls personalities and experiences are different enough that I think that everyone will be able to have someone to relate to.

There are sexual situations in the book but they are not exploitive and are handled honestly.

Loved: Tara's inner strength and ability to accept herself and her choices even if it meant losing her friends. All three girls had well developed story lines that intersected nicely at the end.
The Cover is beautiful!

Nitpick: It takes a little while to get used to the very different personalties of the 3 girls. I wanted to know more about David (a friend of the girls and potential love interest for Whitney Blaire) and even Brent. I can't blame Alexandra Diaz for that one though - I don't think there would be room for anymore perspectives!

I give it a rating of 3.5 out 4. Definitely read it!

Alexandra Diaz is Part of the Class of 2K10. A group of debut authors of Middle Grade and YA fiction. Check out the rest of the group and release dates here: http://www.classof2k10.com/

Alexandra's website: http://www.alexandra-diaz.com/
Buy the book: Of All the Stupid Things