Copy provided by publisher through Edelweiss.
This book was written to be the next big series along side DIARY OF A WIMPY KID and BIG NATE, but it is really, really, not.
First, you can obviously tell this is an adult trying to write to what the kids like, but all of the references are for a much older crowd, not only in maturity level, but in current popularity. Big Bang Theory is not something many young boys want to watch, even the most nerdy ones. None of the kids I've talked to know who Edward Scissorhand is, let alone The Goonies, or Back to the Future. If the author has to spend pages explaining the references they are bad references.
Second, the font changes... WHY? All I can think is that there is a kid out there that's got dyslexia, or is a low level reader, and the constant font changes would just distract and discourage them from reading. Once in a while is fine, every other paragraph (or sentence) is not okay.
Third, the characters are 2D and for all the description given by Phil, I couldn't tell you who was who. I was also annoyed that supposedly his little sister is such a financial guru that she's creating crowdfunding campaigns and the parents aren't aware of anything going on because they're too busy making t-shirts and finding aliens.
Fourth, the plot is terrible. Phil likes being a nerd, but is in "love" with a popular girl, and decides to change everything about himself and create a new persona because only cool guys get the girl. (Except, in his favorite show, Big Bang Theory, I'm pretty sure 2 or 3 guys end up with girlfriends/wives). This is a terrible message, and even with the whole, MY LIES CAME TUMBLING DOWN, it doesn't negate the fact that everything still worked out for him in the end and he got an even cooler, prettier girl to like who's also a nerd!
Just not worth the time reading and not worth purchasing.