Monday, February 07, 2011

REVIEW: A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker


When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she marries her “husband”: jerky jock Todd, whose cheerleader girlfriend, Amanda, has had it in for Fiona since day one of second grade. Even worse? Amanda is paired with Fiona's long-term crush, Gabe. At least Fiona is doing better than her best friend, Marcie, who is paired up with the very quiet, very mysterious Johnny Mercer.

Pranks, fights, misunderstandings, and reconciliations ensue in an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors about mistaken first impressions, convoluted coupling, and hidden crushes.



It is been a long time since I've read a book as FUNNY as A Match Made In High School by Kristin Walker. Seriously. Just the first chapter had me laughing out loud at several points. I even tweeted how hilarious I thought it was that the main character compares her braid of hair to a 'fuzzy turd' - which in turn led to a twitter-conversation with someone who'd already read the book who assured me it's hilarious all the way through. I became even more excited to read it.

And the laughs just kept coming. When I first saw the product description of this book I really couldn't come to grips with the idea of marriage classes to high schoolers. It felt a little too ridiculous to me, which is why I'm glad that the parents of these students also found it a little ridiculous as well. With parents protesting, this senior class of high schoolers must pair up and complete a marriage module in order to graduate. Required to fill out budgets and make finance decisions as well as spending time together doing extra-curricular activities, there is a lot of room in this book for hilarity. And Kristin Walker found them all. I HOWLED with laughter all the way through this book.

When Fiona hears this weird marriage idea, she immediately gets her hopes up that she'll end up with her long-term crush, Gabe. But instead, she ends up with Todd, a popular jock who is very, very mean to her. What follows is this funny bunch of pranks as the two try to go out of their way in order to publicly humiliate the other. I was uncomfortable with it at first, but when the two started seeing the funny side to it, I came around to it. Todd and Fiona really have this great love-to-hate each other relationship. Meanwhile, Fiona's crush ends up with Todd's real-life girlfriend, Amanda. And Fiona's best friend Marcie, ends up with giant, music-loving Johnny Mercer. Will the pretend-marriages have any bearing on actual relationships?!

Hilarity ensues. Fiona and Todd's pranks start getting a little out of hand, and Marcie and Fiona start having this weird rift between them, which just leaves Fiona confused. I did really love how first impressions of people are usually wrong and each of these characters, from snooty Amanda and jerky-Todd to quiet-Johnny. Once Fiona is able to see beyond herself and her own agenda, she can start appreciating the people around her and how complicated and complex these people are. The relationship that Fiona finds in the end, is unbearably sweet and also very satisfying.

One of the funniest books I've read in a long time, you should definitely read it as I am recommending it!

10 comments:

  1. I love a good book that can make me laugh. Sounds like one for my list. Thanks for recommending it.

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  2. This is the type of YA I would like to write. I might have to see if the library has got this one, as it just appeals to my sense of humour.

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  3. TSB - You're welcome, I hope you find a copy and enjoy it as much as I did!

    Vivienne - Oh it's HILARIOUS, I hope you do find a copy! :) I'm NOT funny so I'm always hugely in AWE of those who are.

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  4. I've wanted to read this for ages, and after reading your wonderful review, I want to even more. It totally sounds like my kind of book! Thank you for this review! :)

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  5. Luisa - It's very funny and fun to read, I hope you love it like I did!

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  6. Wow, I was laughing just reading the description and it sounds like a hilarious read - I'm so adding this to my wish list right away, great review :D

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  7. Never heard of this book before, it sounds fantastic! I cannot wait read it...
    Great review :)

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  8. Jesse - Oh, DO! It really is FUNNY! I couldn't stop laughing.

    Zoe - I hadn't heard of it until recently either, but I'm so glad I did pick it up and read it :)

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  9. This one sounds like it's a lot of fun! ;)

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  10. Darren - OH it is :) Very funny and entertaining!

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