Friday, February 03, 2012

REVIEW: Kiss Date Love Hate by Luisa Plaja

I am very excited about Kiss Date Love Hate by Luisa Plaja! And I loved every minute I spent with this book and had a huge grin on my face throughout. It's very funny and fun and sweet and while at it's heart, the book is a love story, it's also about being OK with who you are.

I love how throughout the book Lex and her friends really discover more about themselves and also about their friends and exes and teachers and parents - we're all more complicated and holding onto painful or hidden or just bigger issues than we let on to other people. It is so easy to make assumptions about other people and what they're lives or loves will be like, but it's way more satisfying to actually find out.

Lex Murphy, our main character, is a teenage girl who has some issues. She has a bit of an attitude and is constantly being sent to the principal to be disciplined. It's all right though, because she often runs into (obviously hot) bad boy, Drew there. Lex harbours a crush on Drew, but is still quite hung up on her ex-boyfriend who happens to be currently dating her now ex-best friend.

When Lex and Drew are both required to attend a film-making course during the half-term holidays, the friendships and love lives of Lex and her friends are all put to the test. And all because of this (awesome) game discovered by Lex's best guy friend, George. In this SIMs-like video game, the appearance, mood and love settings of the players involved can be altered to best suit Lex (and George!). But will Lex continue to fight to get her ex back? Or come to acknowledge her growing feelings for Drew? I had so much fun finding out.

There are some truly wonderful things about Kiss Date Love Hate. I loved the nerdiness involved from the video game setting to George's seemingly endless references to Lord of the Rings. I loved the humour involved but also how it touches on some things are a bit more serious and that I don't often come across in YA fiction, which made me think. But it's the relationships that I loved the most, especially Lex's friendship with George.

But I loved witnessing these first baby steps towards a romantic relationship for Lex. I thought she was a great character. Plenty of annoying habits and she's obviously very flawed, but in an endearing way. From the very first page I really wanted her to figure things out and her journey throughout this book was a surprising one for me!

Only love for Kiss Date Love Hate for me! Highly recommended.



Don't go anywhere! Later on today, I shall be posting an interview with Luisa Plaja about all things nerdy/romantic within Kiss Date Love Hate and there will be a chance for YOU to win your own copy of KDLH! Stay tuned.

17 comments:

  1. Brilliant review! I totally agree with you - I am reading this right now and loving it :D

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  2. Great review, I loved this so much.

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  3. I am reading this now, its brilliant! Its hilarious and the characters are fantastic! I think they're the two best things about this book! The humour and characters!

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    1. Oh for sure :) The characters are fantastic. I still think George is my favourite character!

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  4. This review was brilliant, I can't wait to read it- especially since you gave such a great insight into the book! Thanks (:

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    1. Oh you're very welcome, I hope when you read the book you love it as much as I did :)

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  5. Great review, Clover! I am so looking forward to reading this! I didn't know about the geek factor, but it makes me even more excited to read it! And I just love Luisa's novels! Very excited!

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    1. There's definite reason to be excited to read this book! It is lovely.

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  6. Fantastic review - I loved it too, it made me very guilty that I haven't yet read Luisa's earlier books, something to be corrected very soon! :D

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    1. Oh definitely Jesse! You should totally pick up Luisa's other books. They are all awesome!

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  7. I'm really looking forward to reading this, especially as I love nerdiness!

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  8. Brilliant review! I loved this and all the geekiest in it too, geeks a awesome! :D

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  9. Thanks for the comment W-o-W :) And good luck with the BBC!

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