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The Stand-In
The inspiration for the Netflix original film, The Perfect Date!
When Brooks volunteered to be a stand-in for Burdette's cousin who got stood up for Homecoming, it was with the noblest of intentions—helping a fellow human being, free of charge. But when he gets a tip of more than three hundred bucks, word spreads quickly and Brooks seizes the opportunity to offer his impeccable escort services to super-wealthy parents who want their daughters to experience those big social events of senior year.
Besides, Brooks could use the cash to hire a tutor to get admitted to Columbia University. So what if along the way he goes along with a few minor deceptions and cuts a few moral corners? What could be the harm?
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
71 people are currently reading
1454 people want to read
About the author
Steve Bloom
1 book10 followersSteve Bloom is a screenwriter whose credits include James and the Giant Peach and The Sure Thing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
July 7, 2019
Ok, two things before I begin this review: 1) it will contain spoilers (not that spoilers matter because you really should not read this book) 2) I read this book because of the Netflix movie
While at first, I thought this book had potential to be more meaningful than the movie, it quickly became apparent that this was not the case.
While I have issues with the ideas and themes this book propagates, I think it’s only fair to first talk about what this book was trying to do. This book felt like a bunch of stories all merged together:
So, while this book tried to do A LOT, it failed not just because it tried to do too many things, but also because it didn’t do any of them particularly well. All of these plots were mediocre and not very well connected or fleshed out. It felt like the book was jumping from plot point to plot point rather than creating a flowing story arc.
There was also little, if any, depth to the characters. While there was great potential to show character development for the main character (Brooks) we don’t see it. While there’s great potential to talk about wealth inequality and the struggles of poverty and the strain this put on the relationship between Brooks and his Dad, this potential is not realized.
I think what illustrates this lack of realistic growth best is the relationship between the dad (Charlie) and son (Brooks). Charlie is a single dad, who went to Harvard, wrote one best-selling book, and then became a mailman after his wife left him and the baby. Charlie is introduced to us as a pothead, mailman who doesn’t bother showing up on time to Brooks’ important parent teacher conference with his college advisor, nor does he go grocery shopping or show a vested interest in his child’s life. He doesn’t understand why Brooks wants to go to Columbia and doesn’t support him while he retakes his SATs. However, at the end of the book, Charlie finally learns that going to Columbia is really important to Brooks, which he supposedly realized because Brooks worked as a stand-in to make money for Columbia. Then surprisingly, Charlie pays the deposit, despite not having enough money for tuition, living costs, etc. as demonstrated earlier. And the kicker is, he paid it by selling his extensive comic book collection, which was really important to him. Then we get a touchy-feely scene where Brooks finally calls him “Dad” instead of “Charlie” for the first time in his life. This change is not realistic and doesn’t show any growth in the relationship, instead it’s a giant leap from point A (hating each other and having a dysfunctional relationship) to point B (loving/ supporting each other and having a functional relationship).
Another example of a poor relationship and lack of growth is between Brooks and his best friend (The Murf). At one point in the book, Brooks asks his friend to pretend to drown in the frozen lake so that Brooks can use his heroic action of saving him to make an appeal to Columbia so they would take him off the wait list. While The Murf, understandably, doesn’t want to put his life on the line by drowning in the freezing waters, Brooks pushes him in. Later, Brooks ditches The Murf at a club because he wants to hook up with Shelby. Even later, Brooks tells The Murf that he did this because he’s ashamed of his friendship and of being poor and from New Jersey. They have a whole fight about these things, and subsequently stop talking. Then at the end of the book, we are left to assume they made up because The Murf winks at Brooks because he’s at Prom with the, now sexy, Celia. That’s it. There’s no conclusion, nor any growth from Brooks who while acknowledges that he was wrong, does nothing to change or improve.
But what I think is an even greater problem than the poorly put together plot, or the weak and underdeveloped characters, is the treatment and representation of the genders, sexuality, and relationships as a whole.
This book is riddled with weird comments about women including stereotypes and weirdly horny, poor descriptions of women’s bodies. These include:
On top of these, there’s also the infamous make-over scene where Brooks gives Celia (the girl he ends up with at the end) a makeover so she can attract the boy she likes. So as always, he takes the nerdy, awkward girl and makes her hot….and then he wants to bone her. This, like every makeover scene, reinforces traditional gender makers and proves that there is a correct way to present as female, aka hot.
This book is riddled with stereotypes of women as being catty and dating douchebags and reinforces the antiquated view that women exist merely for a man’s pleasure. Now, I don’t want a book that only paints women in a positive light because people of all genders can be flawed. But when media portrays women only in ways that are aligned with stereotypes and in ways of conventional attraction, it reinforces that these things are ok and that there is a correct way to be a woman. Without positive representation of women, this is merely stereotyping and generalizing women, instead of making a point.
Not only does this stereotyping of male and female behavior reinforce negative stereotypes of women, it also reinforces the gender binary. On top of this, there’s some lovely homophobic comments in this book such as “A guy giving another guy flowers? Am I really that far gone?” which Brooks remarks when thinking about ways to make amends to his lifelong best friend.
Overall, I would not recommend this book to others. Instead watch the Netflix adaptation “The Perfect Date” (staring Noah Centineo from “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”) if you want a fluffy and predictable story that’s loosely based on this book.
This book is an easy read and aimed toward a younger audience (clearly not catering to a woman in her early twenties). But with this in mind, I wouldn’t recommend this book to a younger audience as it is rife with clichés and stereotypes of genders and relationships. Now, you might say “This is meant for the youth! You can’t expect it to be so complex!” To which I say, the youth need realistic representations of characters and having a book that propagates stereotypes merely normalizes this treatment of women and does harm to the younger generation.
I usually don’t rate books lower than a 3, which represents a book that was OK, but I would not read again. This book is a solid 2, probably not the worst thing ever written, but pretty damn bad. It reminded me why I don’t read books written by cisgender straight men, as a general rule.
While at first, I thought this book had potential to be more meaningful than the movie, it quickly became apparent that this was not the case.
While I have issues with the ideas and themes this book propagates, I think it’s only fair to first talk about what this book was trying to do. This book felt like a bunch of stories all merged together:
-the story of a kid trying to improve his SAT scores to get into the college of his dreams (Columbia)
-the story of poverty and the inaccessibility of higher education which led to the premise of the book: that the kid gets paid to be a stand-in as a date for girls during important events (prom, formals, home-coming, birthdays, etc.)
-the story about wealth inequality and about how the system of capitalism exists to keep the rich richer and the poor, poorer
-the story about coming of age, dating, and friendship struggles
So, while this book tried to do A LOT, it failed not just because it tried to do too many things, but also because it didn’t do any of them particularly well. All of these plots were mediocre and not very well connected or fleshed out. It felt like the book was jumping from plot point to plot point rather than creating a flowing story arc.
There was also little, if any, depth to the characters. While there was great potential to show character development for the main character (Brooks) we don’t see it. While there’s great potential to talk about wealth inequality and the struggles of poverty and the strain this put on the relationship between Brooks and his Dad, this potential is not realized.
I think what illustrates this lack of realistic growth best is the relationship between the dad (Charlie) and son (Brooks). Charlie is a single dad, who went to Harvard, wrote one best-selling book, and then became a mailman after his wife left him and the baby. Charlie is introduced to us as a pothead, mailman who doesn’t bother showing up on time to Brooks’ important parent teacher conference with his college advisor, nor does he go grocery shopping or show a vested interest in his child’s life. He doesn’t understand why Brooks wants to go to Columbia and doesn’t support him while he retakes his SATs. However, at the end of the book, Charlie finally learns that going to Columbia is really important to Brooks, which he supposedly realized because Brooks worked as a stand-in to make money for Columbia. Then surprisingly, Charlie pays the deposit, despite not having enough money for tuition, living costs, etc. as demonstrated earlier. And the kicker is, he paid it by selling his extensive comic book collection, which was really important to him. Then we get a touchy-feely scene where Brooks finally calls him “Dad” instead of “Charlie” for the first time in his life. This change is not realistic and doesn’t show any growth in the relationship, instead it’s a giant leap from point A (hating each other and having a dysfunctional relationship) to point B (loving/ supporting each other and having a functional relationship).
Another example of a poor relationship and lack of growth is between Brooks and his best friend (The Murf). At one point in the book, Brooks asks his friend to pretend to drown in the frozen lake so that Brooks can use his heroic action of saving him to make an appeal to Columbia so they would take him off the wait list. While The Murf, understandably, doesn’t want to put his life on the line by drowning in the freezing waters, Brooks pushes him in. Later, Brooks ditches The Murf at a club because he wants to hook up with Shelby. Even later, Brooks tells The Murf that he did this because he’s ashamed of his friendship and of being poor and from New Jersey. They have a whole fight about these things, and subsequently stop talking. Then at the end of the book, we are left to assume they made up because The Murf winks at Brooks because he’s at Prom with the, now sexy, Celia. That’s it. There’s no conclusion, nor any growth from Brooks who while acknowledges that he was wrong, does nothing to change or improve.
But what I think is an even greater problem than the poorly put together plot, or the weak and underdeveloped characters, is the treatment and representation of the genders, sexuality, and relationships as a whole.
This book is riddled with weird comments about women including stereotypes and weirdly horny, poor descriptions of women’s bodies. These include:
“Legs that start at the shoulders, with the subtle curves and polished bearing of a top model”
“Her makeup’s all runny, her hair’s gone frizzy. She’s crying. I want to like away the tears, drop by adorable drop”
“Shelby honks for me as I emerge into view. Illegally parked at the curb, behind the wheel of daddy’s cream-colored Bentley convertible with the top down. I don’t know which excites me more, here or the car—that’s how hot she’s looking. No joke”
“No biggie. Just if I don’t bone Shelby Pace soon, I’m going to spontaneously combust”
“She’s got everything in life worth having, but she’s still a chick. And chicks always go for the self-centered douche bags. I’ll never understand it”
On top of these, there’s also the infamous make-over scene where Brooks gives Celia (the girl he ends up with at the end) a makeover so she can attract the boy she likes. So as always, he takes the nerdy, awkward girl and makes her hot….and then he wants to bone her. This, like every makeover scene, reinforces traditional gender makers and proves that there is a correct way to present as female, aka hot.
This book is riddled with stereotypes of women as being catty and dating douchebags and reinforces the antiquated view that women exist merely for a man’s pleasure. Now, I don’t want a book that only paints women in a positive light because people of all genders can be flawed. But when media portrays women only in ways that are aligned with stereotypes and in ways of conventional attraction, it reinforces that these things are ok and that there is a correct way to be a woman. Without positive representation of women, this is merely stereotyping and generalizing women, instead of making a point.
Not only does this stereotyping of male and female behavior reinforce negative stereotypes of women, it also reinforces the gender binary. On top of this, there’s some lovely homophobic comments in this book such as “A guy giving another guy flowers? Am I really that far gone?” which Brooks remarks when thinking about ways to make amends to his lifelong best friend.
Overall, I would not recommend this book to others. Instead watch the Netflix adaptation “The Perfect Date” (staring Noah Centineo from “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before”) if you want a fluffy and predictable story that’s loosely based on this book.
This book is an easy read and aimed toward a younger audience (clearly not catering to a woman in her early twenties). But with this in mind, I wouldn’t recommend this book to a younger audience as it is rife with clichés and stereotypes of genders and relationships. Now, you might say “This is meant for the youth! You can’t expect it to be so complex!” To which I say, the youth need realistic representations of characters and having a book that propagates stereotypes merely normalizes this treatment of women and does harm to the younger generation.
I usually don’t rate books lower than a 3, which represents a book that was OK, but I would not read again. This book is a solid 2, probably not the worst thing ever written, but pretty damn bad. It reminded me why I don’t read books written by cisgender straight men, as a general rule.
July 29, 2021
J'aurais peut-être pus apprécié plus ma lecture si je n'avais pas déjà vue le film, pour une fois je n'est pas accroché au livre comparé au film
October 3, 2020
Ok. Now I understand why this book is so underrated. Luckily, I’m not the kind of person who would DNF a book. Because if I would’ve been that kind of person, I would have DNFd this book when I was 100 pages in. It was that bad in the beginning. Somehow it changed in the last 100 pages. But it was still pretty bad... And all those references to places and people from the past were so bad for a person who is not from America. I mean... I had to Google search a lot of mentions from this book, which kind of made me lose interest.
May 5, 2019
This was bad. Like a 50 yr old trying to write a cut-rate late 90s/early 00s teen comedy movie based on really out-dated clichés bad. It is cliché after trope after nauseating dialog trying to be American Pie (I am really dating myself...) There are some quippy one liners but nothing else redeaming about this. Well, being a thirty-something librarian meant I could drink while reading, so there was that. The fact that this is going to be a movie does not surprise me, but does slightly depress me.
November 7, 2021
Rzadko mi się to zdarza, ale tym razem muszę przyznać, że film był lepszy niż książka :(
November 21, 2016
"Know how when you get high you think you're saying all sorts of super important crap, crap so heavy and mind-blowing that it would forever change your life if only you could remember exactly what it is you said?And those few times you do remember to write the crap down, the next morning you either can't understand what you wrote because your handwriting's totally illegible or if you do understand what you wrote you can't understand why you thought it was so incredible when you wrote it?"
Reveived at BEA Chicago!
I swear that quote was my life and at one point, stood true to what you were doing. This will make you see that sometimes even white lies can turn into a catastrophe.
Brooks Rattigan has a dead-end job, finishing his senior year of High School, lives at home with his stoner dad who doesn't care about the world around him, all while trying to get into Columbia University.
At work, he overhears that someone was stood up for a dance and Brooks accepts this stand-in date to the dance. After the shindig is over and making almost three hundred dollars from the occasion, he decides to put his name out there while helping these girls and himself into getting what they all want. With everyone being happy in the end, but we all know that this isn't how it all ends.
Date after date after date, he racks up a nice penny all while breaking hearts and falling in love.
With his underhanded business in full swing, he breaks hearts, throws rough patches into his dads face and alienates his only true friend.
Can Brooks see the true hurt he is causing people before it is too late? Will he overcome the need to impress the snob Shelby and find true love with someone who likes him for him?
Love always comes at a price. Be honest with the one you're with, the tiniest of lies can throw your life and the relationship off track.
And what you think might be a good dead, could actually harm those in the humiliating end.
On a side note, someone is a fan of A Christmas Story...
Farkus!!!!
Reveived at BEA Chicago!
I swear that quote was my life and at one point, stood true to what you were doing. This will make you see that sometimes even white lies can turn into a catastrophe.
Brooks Rattigan has a dead-end job, finishing his senior year of High School, lives at home with his stoner dad who doesn't care about the world around him, all while trying to get into Columbia University.
At work, he overhears that someone was stood up for a dance and Brooks accepts this stand-in date to the dance. After the shindig is over and making almost three hundred dollars from the occasion, he decides to put his name out there while helping these girls and himself into getting what they all want. With everyone being happy in the end, but we all know that this isn't how it all ends.
Date after date after date, he racks up a nice penny all while breaking hearts and falling in love.
With his underhanded business in full swing, he breaks hearts, throws rough patches into his dads face and alienates his only true friend.
Can Brooks see the true hurt he is causing people before it is too late? Will he overcome the need to impress the snob Shelby and find true love with someone who likes him for him?
Love always comes at a price. Be honest with the one you're with, the tiniest of lies can throw your life and the relationship off track.
And what you think might be a good dead, could actually harm those in the humiliating end.
On a side note, someone is a fan of A Christmas Story...
Farkus!!!!
Want to read
July 3, 2019So I just watched the movie of this book.
Different name altogether.
I think it was called The Perfect Date or something??
It had Laura Marano and Noah Centineo in it.
Anyways, I liked the movie
The reviews of this book however don’t seem too promising 😂
But I’m still putting it on my TBR 😂
Different name altogether.
I think it was called The Perfect Date or something??
It had Laura Marano and Noah Centineo in it.
Anyways, I liked the movie
The reviews of this book however don’t seem too promising 😂
But I’m still putting it on my TBR 😂
July 5, 2019
Słyszałam, że pozycja ta to nic wybitnego. Co więcej raczej każdy ją krytykował twierdząc, że jest zwyczajnie przeciętna i płytka.
Po części się z tym zgadzam. Książka to nic nie wnosząca do życia młodzieżówka, która momentami jest bardzo schematyczna i płytka. Jednak trzeba przyznać, że fajnie się ją czytało. Jest lekka i przyjemna, do przeczytania i zapomnienia i tak powinniśmy ją traktować.
Po części się z tym zgadzam. Książka to nic nie wnosząca do życia młodzieżówka, która momentami jest bardzo schematyczna i płytka. Jednak trzeba przyznać, że fajnie się ją czytało. Jest lekka i przyjemna, do przeczytania i zapomnienia i tak powinniśmy ją traktować.
May 30, 2019
honestly this is the worst YA book i’ve ever read. i picked it up after seeing the movie (which i thought was actually really cute and solid). that being said, all the things i liked about the movie were changed from the book and there was nothing redeeming here. none of the characters are relatable or even likable and it feels like this book was written by an older guy trying to be hip with the youngsters these days. also, there’s so much misogyny and just overall trashiness in this book that it was painful to read. i’m disappointed that these are the stories we’re putting out there for teens. my advice is find a different book.
September 27, 2017
A quick read about Brooks Rartigan and his life as a senior trying to get
into college and coming from the wrong side of town. This young man
Volunteers to be a stand- in for girls wanting to attend their prom. It is a
tale of the privileged and wealthy who want their daughters to have the
experience of their lives in the social world of their senior year. It is also
about Brooks finding himself and accepting his life and who he is. Be
true to yourself.
into college and coming from the wrong side of town. This young man
Volunteers to be a stand- in for girls wanting to attend their prom. It is a
tale of the privileged and wealthy who want their daughters to have the
experience of their lives in the social world of their senior year. It is also
about Brooks finding himself and accepting his life and who he is. Be
true to yourself.
February 24, 2023
1+/5
Film lepszy niż książka. Oglądałam go bodajże niedługo po premierze, więc trochę czasu już minęło. Największą wadą tej książki okazują się przemyślenia głównego bohatera. Film tego jest pozbawiony i wiele na tym zyskuje. Naprawdę. Tak niestosowne, tak żenujące, tak dziecinne, tak przedmiotowe, tak nastawione na jedno. Błagam, raz tylko powiedział coś odpowiedniego. A jedna z fajniejszych postaci z filmu tutaj jest wkurzająca. Plus za jej jedną wypowiedź, która była bardzo wartościowa. Niby czyta się szybko, ale co z tego, jak musisz przerywać czytanie przez ciarki żenady.
Film lepszy niż książka. Oglądałam go bodajże niedługo po premierze, więc trochę czasu już minęło. Największą wadą tej książki okazują się przemyślenia głównego bohatera. Film tego jest pozbawiony i wiele na tym zyskuje. Naprawdę. Tak niestosowne, tak żenujące, tak dziecinne, tak przedmiotowe, tak nastawione na jedno. Błagam, raz tylko powiedział coś odpowiedniego. A jedna z fajniejszych postaci z filmu tutaj jest wkurzająca. Plus za jej jedną wypowiedź, która była bardzo wartościowa. Niby czyta się szybko, ale co z tego, jak musisz przerywać czytanie przez ciarki żenady.
March 31, 2019
3.5 stars. This was a cute fast read. Storyline was a bit predictable, but it was nice reading a teen promish novel from a male's point of view. If this is how teens really think of college though I'm horrified by what our society has done to them.
May 8, 2023
I read this book because I thought the Netflix movie was cute ;). I think overall Brooks was a good guy, but he had some hard lessons to learn. This story is told from Brooks, teenage hero, perspective. I do wish the language and sexual innuendo could have been toned down. I really adored the ending and Cecilia’s evolution. I wish we could have learned more about Brooks father’s backstory. What showed me Brooks true character is his date with a special needs teenage girl and the way he defended her. Cute teenage read.
January 15, 2017
“That wasn't any act of God. That was an act of pure human fuckery.”
This book is by turns funny ('Quick! Pretend you like me!') and poignant ('I tag after them like a mutt which, let's face it, is what I am').
t manages to combine teenage angst -- trying to save face above all else, embarrassed about the entire state of New Jersey, painfully aware of his loser father's shortcomings -- with teenage desire and hope and ambition and ingenuity. The kid is hard on himself, but he's also a survivor, an entrepreneur.
He's a lot of contradictory things: a pretender, big-hearted and generous, courageous when he needs to be in spite of everything, and keenly aware of the humiliation of having less than the rich families around him.
Yet he survives and thrives and even manages to grow through the course of this book. Which is to say: he's a real, full-blown, imagined human being. If it isn't already in the works as a movie, it ought to be.
Great read.
Extremely engaging and a fun read.
Very much in the literary neighborhood of About A Boy. Highly recommended.
The Stand-In is a hilarious romp of a book. It will resonate with teens and tweens with it’s witty, knowing dialog and sharply-drawn scenes of angst, embarrassment, friendship, and desire.
The likeable, quasi-desperate hero is surrounded by a motley and hugely entertaining crew of friends and enemies, all of whom have to deal with adults displaying various degrees of dysfunction or battiness.
It’s a great read simply for the well-paced action and intrigue, but it’s also layered with keen-eyed observations about the pretensions and delusions of 21st-century upper-crust society...
A most enjoyable and entertaining novel!
This book is by turns funny ('Quick! Pretend you like me!') and poignant ('I tag after them like a mutt which, let's face it, is what I am').
t manages to combine teenage angst -- trying to save face above all else, embarrassed about the entire state of New Jersey, painfully aware of his loser father's shortcomings -- with teenage desire and hope and ambition and ingenuity. The kid is hard on himself, but he's also a survivor, an entrepreneur.
He's a lot of contradictory things: a pretender, big-hearted and generous, courageous when he needs to be in spite of everything, and keenly aware of the humiliation of having less than the rich families around him.
Yet he survives and thrives and even manages to grow through the course of this book. Which is to say: he's a real, full-blown, imagined human being. If it isn't already in the works as a movie, it ought to be.
Great read.
Extremely engaging and a fun read.
Very much in the literary neighborhood of About A Boy. Highly recommended.
The Stand-In is a hilarious romp of a book. It will resonate with teens and tweens with it’s witty, knowing dialog and sharply-drawn scenes of angst, embarrassment, friendship, and desire.
The likeable, quasi-desperate hero is surrounded by a motley and hugely entertaining crew of friends and enemies, all of whom have to deal with adults displaying various degrees of dysfunction or battiness.
It’s a great read simply for the well-paced action and intrigue, but it’s also layered with keen-eyed observations about the pretensions and delusions of 21st-century upper-crust society...
A most enjoyable and entertaining novel!
July 2, 2016
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is pretty unique among the other contemporary romance YA books out in there in having a male protagonist. I love that it has that male POV because it is so rare. The book also provides an interesting commentary on several topics: privilege and wealth, the desires of parents vs. the reality of what children want, parents living through their children, the high costs of college, the admission process, etc. I think it handles all of the issues/topics lightly enough to be a fun read, while still providing some excellent food for thought on the issues. Brooks can be infuriating at times, but what teenage boy isn't really. I think his characterization reads as authentic as a teen boy, and the girls in the story that he serves as a stand-in for are well developed and not just characterizations of stereotypes of girls who typically can't get a date for those big school dances. Bloom has written something that will stand-out in the sea of contemporary YA thanks to how unique it is. It's a title I will happily recommend to many readers.
This book is pretty unique among the other contemporary romance YA books out in there in having a male protagonist. I love that it has that male POV because it is so rare. The book also provides an interesting commentary on several topics: privilege and wealth, the desires of parents vs. the reality of what children want, parents living through their children, the high costs of college, the admission process, etc. I think it handles all of the issues/topics lightly enough to be a fun read, while still providing some excellent food for thought on the issues. Brooks can be infuriating at times, but what teenage boy isn't really. I think his characterization reads as authentic as a teen boy, and the girls in the story that he serves as a stand-in for are well developed and not just characterizations of stereotypes of girls who typically can't get a date for those big school dances. Bloom has written something that will stand-out in the sea of contemporary YA thanks to how unique it is. It's a title I will happily recommend to many readers.
August 10, 2016
I LOVED this book! So refreshing to come upon a YA novel that is not melodramatic and/or incredibly depressing (ie the fault in our stars, If I stay).
Read it in two days because I could not put it down -- I had to find out if Brooks Rattigan got into Columbia, if he ended up with Celia Lieberman, and if he would stay friends with The Murph (perhaps my favorite character). I really liked Brooks' voice -- honest, funny, and, from what I remember from high school, very accurate. The book was incredibly witty and fun, but also touched upon more serious subjects such as class and the incredibly unfair advantages the rich have when it comes to getting into college. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to YA readers -- both male and female. It is a wonderfully witty and honest portrayal of high school -- a rare occurrence nowadays. This is a gem of a book!
Read it in two days because I could not put it down -- I had to find out if Brooks Rattigan got into Columbia, if he ended up with Celia Lieberman, and if he would stay friends with The Murph (perhaps my favorite character). I really liked Brooks' voice -- honest, funny, and, from what I remember from high school, very accurate. The book was incredibly witty and fun, but also touched upon more serious subjects such as class and the incredibly unfair advantages the rich have when it comes to getting into college. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend this book to YA readers -- both male and female. It is a wonderfully witty and honest portrayal of high school -- a rare occurrence nowadays. This is a gem of a book!
June 12, 2021
I found the book fun and an easy read. It was reminiscent of a John Hughes era gone by with absent parents. The parents are there because it is in the now but with the way teens treat today’s parents teens know it all so the parents are just background (food and shelter providers). The main teen is worried about SAT scores while the rich kids just go about theirs life being provided for and not worrying about college decisions. Some kids over reach, have self image issues, and others just want to have someone/something so another cannot. The main character learns his lesson but others will take longer.
July 26, 2019
Not my cup of tea. I just really didn’t like any of the characters or care about what happened to them. Plus it just seemed to end a bit too happily-like the main character gets into the college he wanted to go to and his attitudes on life and his future really didn’t change. It seemed very shallow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2020
Inhalt:
Brooks größter Wunsch ist es Zugang zur prestigeträchtigen amerikanischen Elite-Universität Columbia zu bekommen. Bald lernt er, wie weit er gehen würde, um seinen Traum in Erfüllung gehen zu lassen. Sein moralischer Kompass scheint dabei etwas durcheinander geraten zu sein.
Brooks Vater Charlie war zwar einst selbst in Havard und hat einen Roman verfasst. Heute ist er aber nicht mehr die hellste Leuchte, macht sich keine Sorgen um seine Zukunft, oder die seines Sohnes und hat merklich Probleme mit der Körperhygiene. Nach Brooks Auffassung wirkt er auf den ersten Blick wie ein Serienkiller.
Brooks ist also eigentlich kein Ivy League Material. Da bedarf es schon den ein oder anderen Hingucker im Lebenslauf. Karriereratgeber predigen schließlich immer wieder, im Lebenslauf die fachlichen und persönlichen Stärken in den Vordergrund zu stellen.
Als Brooks an einem Arbeitstag im Diner ein Gespräch eines Mitschülers belauscht, ist er ganz Ohr. Burdette versucht seine Freunde zu überreden, seine Cousine Gina zum Homecoming-Ball zu begleiten. Doch statt Zusagen erntet er nur Lästereien. Brooks überkommt Mitleid. So sollte man nicht über ein Mädchen reden. Aus einem Affekt heraus bietet er seine Dienste als Ballbegleitung für Gina an.
Ein wenig später bereut Brooks diese Zusage. Eigentlich fehlt ihm die Zeit für den Ballbesuch. Denn er müsste dringend für die Schule lernen. Doch als er letztlich vor dem Haus von Ginas wohlhabender Familie steht, wird schnell klar, dass es für Brooks eine Belohnung geben wird. Die gesamte Familie begrüßt den Jungen voller Begeisterung. Burdettes Onkel leiht dem Jungen einen hochwertigen Anzug und drückt ihm sogleich ein Bündel Geldscheine in die Hand. Natürlich darf Brooks seine Tochter auch nicht mit seinem alten Electra zum Ball fahren. Diesen Abend über soll er den Lamborghini der Familie nutzen.
Für Brooks beginnt ein luxuriöser Abend, den er so schnell nicht vergessen wird, und der sogar mit einem großzügigen Trinkgeld endet.
Die Eltern sind begeistert von Brooks Diensten. Schnell spricht sich herum, dass dieser Junge ein idealer Begleiter ist. Bald schon kann sich Brooks vor Aufträgen nicht mehr retten. Auch andere Eltern suchen dringend eine Partybegleitung für die Tochter. Dafür sind sie bereit gut zu zahlen. Geld benötigt Brooks dringend. Auch, wenn die Zeit fürs Lernen darunter leiden muss, lässt er sich gerne auf den ein oder anderen Deal ein.
Alles hat seinen Preis und auch der neue Traumjob hat einen Haken. Denn als Brooks auf die reiche und gutaussehende Shelby trifft, merkt er schnell, dass sein Doppelleben als bezahlter Compagnon zu einem Problem werden könnte. Dieses Mädchen ist überdies Luxus gewöhnt und würde sich nicht mit einem Jungen aus einfachem Haus einlassen.
Und dann gibt es da noch Celia, das Mädchen, das kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt und Brooks eigentlich nur als eine Last empfindet, die sie tragen muss, um ihre Eltern zufriedenzustellen. Wenn diese beiden Mädchen aufeinanderträfen, und Brooks enttarnt würde, dann könnte das perfekte Leben schnell ein Ende finden. Die mögliche Konsequenzen einer Demaskierung reichen vom Ende seiner Beziehungsambitionen bis hin zum Versiegen der neu erschlossenen Geldquelle.
Im Detail:
Als das Durchbrechen der vierten Wand wird der Vorgang bezeichnet, wenn sich der Charakter einer Serie direkt an die Zuschauer richtet, diese direkt anschaut, und dann zu ihnen spricht. Wir kennen das zum Beispiel aus House of Cards.
Dass es sich bei The Perfect Date von Steve Bloom um eine Netflixverfilmung handelt, verrät nicht nur der aufgedruckte Sticker auf dem Buchcover. Bereits beim Lesen der ersten Seiten, hatte ich das Gefühl, dass dieses Buch für eine Verfilmung geschrieben worden ist. So spricht der Protagonist den Leser eben auch hier oft an.
Obwohl das Durchbrechen der vierten Wand ein charakterzentriertes Stilmittel ist, das viel über das Innenleben des Charakters verrät, trägt es in einem Buch meines Erachtens nicht dazu bei, dass die Identifikation mit dem Charakter gesteigert wird.
Brooks gibt den verführerischen, Hedonisten, dessen Selbstbezogenheit ebenso abstoßend, wie entwaffnend wirkt. Er möchte unbedingt eine Eliteuniversität besuchen, auch einem teuren Auto und einer anspruchsvollen Freundin ist er nicht abgeneigt. Kein Wunder, dass er sein aktuelles Umfeld kritisch betrachtet. Der Vater ist in seinen Augen ein absoluter Versager; sein bester Freund ein Verlierer. Murf trägt gerne zerlöcherte Jogginghosen und Batikshirts, ist einem Joint nicht abgeneigt, und bringt auch mal den ein oder anderen schlüpfrigen Spruch. Genau wie Brooks arbeitet er als Putzkraft in einem Diner. Doch im Gegensatz zu seinem besten Freund ist er mit seinem Leben durchaus zufrieden.
Brooks gelingt es zwar, seine Partybegleitungen als Menschen anzunehmen. Jedes Mädchen hat für ihn etwa Besonderes, was es zu schätzen gilt. Seine Freunde und seinen Vater jedoch betrachtet er umso kritischer. Für die Umsetzung seiner persönlichen Ziele ist Brooks durchaus bereit, seine Liebsten über die Klinge springen zu lassen. Dieses Verhalten macht den Protagonisten nicht zu einem Sympathieträger, verleiht dem Handlungsstrang im zweiten Teil des Buches aber Spannung.
Fazit:
Die amerikanischen Elite-Universität Columbia steht sinnbildlich für den amerikanischen Traum. Die Besten kommen nach ganz oben, verdienen genug Geld und müssen sich künftig keine Gedanken um ihre Finanzen machen. Und das Ticket zu dieser Welt ist der Abschluss. Auch Brooks möchte als ihr Absolventen in der gesellschaftlichen Hackordnung ganz weit oben stehen.
Zur Finanzierung seiner Bildungsambitionen gibt er die Datingbegleitung für Mädchen reicher Eltern. Das Buch diskutiert nicht über die Kategorien Stand oder Klasse. Brooks Aussicht auf den sozialen Emanzipationsprozess geht vielmehr Hand in Hand mit der Verachtung seiner sozialen Schicht. Dies muss man mögen. Es gibt auch wenige Ansätze von Reflektion und von Gefühlen bei dem Protagonisten.
Der Leser kann er sich auch nicht sicher sein, ob er es mit einem Roman oder einem Drehbuch zu tun hat. Es wirkt oft so, als wolle der Roman viel lieber ein Drehbuch sein.
Das Buch ist eine lockere Balkonlektüre und liest sich überaus flüssig. Es ist zum Schmunzeln, zum Kopfschütteln, aber auch mal zum Achselzucken. Insgesamt kann man das Buch als sehr kurzweilig bezeichnen.
Brooks größter Wunsch ist es Zugang zur prestigeträchtigen amerikanischen Elite-Universität Columbia zu bekommen. Bald lernt er, wie weit er gehen würde, um seinen Traum in Erfüllung gehen zu lassen. Sein moralischer Kompass scheint dabei etwas durcheinander geraten zu sein.
Brooks Vater Charlie war zwar einst selbst in Havard und hat einen Roman verfasst. Heute ist er aber nicht mehr die hellste Leuchte, macht sich keine Sorgen um seine Zukunft, oder die seines Sohnes und hat merklich Probleme mit der Körperhygiene. Nach Brooks Auffassung wirkt er auf den ersten Blick wie ein Serienkiller.
Brooks ist also eigentlich kein Ivy League Material. Da bedarf es schon den ein oder anderen Hingucker im Lebenslauf. Karriereratgeber predigen schließlich immer wieder, im Lebenslauf die fachlichen und persönlichen Stärken in den Vordergrund zu stellen.
Als Brooks an einem Arbeitstag im Diner ein Gespräch eines Mitschülers belauscht, ist er ganz Ohr. Burdette versucht seine Freunde zu überreden, seine Cousine Gina zum Homecoming-Ball zu begleiten. Doch statt Zusagen erntet er nur Lästereien. Brooks überkommt Mitleid. So sollte man nicht über ein Mädchen reden. Aus einem Affekt heraus bietet er seine Dienste als Ballbegleitung für Gina an.
Ein wenig später bereut Brooks diese Zusage. Eigentlich fehlt ihm die Zeit für den Ballbesuch. Denn er müsste dringend für die Schule lernen. Doch als er letztlich vor dem Haus von Ginas wohlhabender Familie steht, wird schnell klar, dass es für Brooks eine Belohnung geben wird. Die gesamte Familie begrüßt den Jungen voller Begeisterung. Burdettes Onkel leiht dem Jungen einen hochwertigen Anzug und drückt ihm sogleich ein Bündel Geldscheine in die Hand. Natürlich darf Brooks seine Tochter auch nicht mit seinem alten Electra zum Ball fahren. Diesen Abend über soll er den Lamborghini der Familie nutzen.
Für Brooks beginnt ein luxuriöser Abend, den er so schnell nicht vergessen wird, und der sogar mit einem großzügigen Trinkgeld endet.
Die Eltern sind begeistert von Brooks Diensten. Schnell spricht sich herum, dass dieser Junge ein idealer Begleiter ist. Bald schon kann sich Brooks vor Aufträgen nicht mehr retten. Auch andere Eltern suchen dringend eine Partybegleitung für die Tochter. Dafür sind sie bereit gut zu zahlen. Geld benötigt Brooks dringend. Auch, wenn die Zeit fürs Lernen darunter leiden muss, lässt er sich gerne auf den ein oder anderen Deal ein.
Alles hat seinen Preis und auch der neue Traumjob hat einen Haken. Denn als Brooks auf die reiche und gutaussehende Shelby trifft, merkt er schnell, dass sein Doppelleben als bezahlter Compagnon zu einem Problem werden könnte. Dieses Mädchen ist überdies Luxus gewöhnt und würde sich nicht mit einem Jungen aus einfachem Haus einlassen.
Und dann gibt es da noch Celia, das Mädchen, das kein Blatt vor den Mund nimmt und Brooks eigentlich nur als eine Last empfindet, die sie tragen muss, um ihre Eltern zufriedenzustellen. Wenn diese beiden Mädchen aufeinanderträfen, und Brooks enttarnt würde, dann könnte das perfekte Leben schnell ein Ende finden. Die mögliche Konsequenzen einer Demaskierung reichen vom Ende seiner Beziehungsambitionen bis hin zum Versiegen der neu erschlossenen Geldquelle.
Im Detail:
Als das Durchbrechen der vierten Wand wird der Vorgang bezeichnet, wenn sich der Charakter einer Serie direkt an die Zuschauer richtet, diese direkt anschaut, und dann zu ihnen spricht. Wir kennen das zum Beispiel aus House of Cards.
Dass es sich bei The Perfect Date von Steve Bloom um eine Netflixverfilmung handelt, verrät nicht nur der aufgedruckte Sticker auf dem Buchcover. Bereits beim Lesen der ersten Seiten, hatte ich das Gefühl, dass dieses Buch für eine Verfilmung geschrieben worden ist. So spricht der Protagonist den Leser eben auch hier oft an.
Obwohl das Durchbrechen der vierten Wand ein charakterzentriertes Stilmittel ist, das viel über das Innenleben des Charakters verrät, trägt es in einem Buch meines Erachtens nicht dazu bei, dass die Identifikation mit dem Charakter gesteigert wird.
Brooks gibt den verführerischen, Hedonisten, dessen Selbstbezogenheit ebenso abstoßend, wie entwaffnend wirkt. Er möchte unbedingt eine Eliteuniversität besuchen, auch einem teuren Auto und einer anspruchsvollen Freundin ist er nicht abgeneigt. Kein Wunder, dass er sein aktuelles Umfeld kritisch betrachtet. Der Vater ist in seinen Augen ein absoluter Versager; sein bester Freund ein Verlierer. Murf trägt gerne zerlöcherte Jogginghosen und Batikshirts, ist einem Joint nicht abgeneigt, und bringt auch mal den ein oder anderen schlüpfrigen Spruch. Genau wie Brooks arbeitet er als Putzkraft in einem Diner. Doch im Gegensatz zu seinem besten Freund ist er mit seinem Leben durchaus zufrieden.
Brooks gelingt es zwar, seine Partybegleitungen als Menschen anzunehmen. Jedes Mädchen hat für ihn etwa Besonderes, was es zu schätzen gilt. Seine Freunde und seinen Vater jedoch betrachtet er umso kritischer. Für die Umsetzung seiner persönlichen Ziele ist Brooks durchaus bereit, seine Liebsten über die Klinge springen zu lassen. Dieses Verhalten macht den Protagonisten nicht zu einem Sympathieträger, verleiht dem Handlungsstrang im zweiten Teil des Buches aber Spannung.
Fazit:
Die amerikanischen Elite-Universität Columbia steht sinnbildlich für den amerikanischen Traum. Die Besten kommen nach ganz oben, verdienen genug Geld und müssen sich künftig keine Gedanken um ihre Finanzen machen. Und das Ticket zu dieser Welt ist der Abschluss. Auch Brooks möchte als ihr Absolventen in der gesellschaftlichen Hackordnung ganz weit oben stehen.
Zur Finanzierung seiner Bildungsambitionen gibt er die Datingbegleitung für Mädchen reicher Eltern. Das Buch diskutiert nicht über die Kategorien Stand oder Klasse. Brooks Aussicht auf den sozialen Emanzipationsprozess geht vielmehr Hand in Hand mit der Verachtung seiner sozialen Schicht. Dies muss man mögen. Es gibt auch wenige Ansätze von Reflektion und von Gefühlen bei dem Protagonisten.
Der Leser kann er sich auch nicht sicher sein, ob er es mit einem Roman oder einem Drehbuch zu tun hat. Es wirkt oft so, als wolle der Roman viel lieber ein Drehbuch sein.
Das Buch ist eine lockere Balkonlektüre und liest sich überaus flüssig. Es ist zum Schmunzeln, zum Kopfschütteln, aber auch mal zum Achselzucken. Insgesamt kann man das Buch als sehr kurzweilig bezeichnen.
Read
September 1, 2017Graded By: Brian
Cover Story: Giant Teen Hands
Drinking Buddy: Yeah, Why Not?
Testosterone Level: I'm Trying to Think of a PG-13 Euphemism
Talky Talk: Loose Ends
Bonus Factors: The 1%, Academia
Bromance Status: Freshman Roommate
Read the full book report here.
Cover Story: Giant Teen Hands
Drinking Buddy: Yeah, Why Not?
Testosterone Level: I'm Trying to Think of a PG-13 Euphemism
Talky Talk: Loose Ends
Bonus Factors: The 1%, Academia
Bromance Status: Freshman Roommate
Read the full book report here.
July 31, 2025
sposób myślenia głównego bohatera jest obrzydliwy i nie wydaje mi się, że to celowy zabieg
September 1, 2021
I could give an entire semester long class about everything wrong with this book, but I'll keep it short. I picked it up because I watched the Netflix movie that it inspired. The movie was just okay, but i wanted to read the book because the book is pretty much always better. Not in this case.
This book is very clearly written by a middle aged white man who constantly thinks about how he didn't have a good time in high school but also doesn't remember how teenagers actually act and talk.
The way the main character talks about girls is so uncomfortable, and the author will randonly throw bits of "feminism" in there as if it makes up for it.
It's impossible to like the main character because he has absolutely no substance and he pretty much says, several times over, that he cares more about sex than anything else, and he cares about his trivial feelings over anyone else being hurt by his actions. Some quotes that show this: (and these are near the end of the book, when he's supposed to have grown) "I can't stop thinking about all the bad choices I've made. There are so, so many. The people I've hurt. A lot of them too. But mostly I can't stop thinking about poor little me, alone and friendless in a cold, cruel universe." At one point the main character is choking and as he thinks he's dying the things he regrets most in life is not being able to "bone" (yes the author uses that word. Several times) a girl he's into.
Everything that happens in this book feels like an overexaggerated cliche. It's so bad. Please don't waste your time. I only read all the way through because I'm a writer and i think bad writing can be just as much of a lesson as good writing.
This book is very clearly written by a middle aged white man who constantly thinks about how he didn't have a good time in high school but also doesn't remember how teenagers actually act and talk.
The way the main character talks about girls is so uncomfortable, and the author will randonly throw bits of "feminism" in there as if it makes up for it.
It's impossible to like the main character because he has absolutely no substance and he pretty much says, several times over, that he cares more about sex than anything else, and he cares about his trivial feelings over anyone else being hurt by his actions. Some quotes that show this: (and these are near the end of the book, when he's supposed to have grown) "I can't stop thinking about all the bad choices I've made. There are so, so many. The people I've hurt. A lot of them too. But mostly I can't stop thinking about poor little me, alone and friendless in a cold, cruel universe." At one point the main character is choking and as he thinks he's dying the things he regrets most in life is not being able to "bone" (yes the author uses that word. Several times) a girl he's into.
Everything that happens in this book feels like an overexaggerated cliche. It's so bad. Please don't waste your time. I only read all the way through because I'm a writer and i think bad writing can be just as much of a lesson as good writing.
June 14, 2023
Like most reviews on here, I found this through the Netflix movie and this is definitely a case where the movie is better than the book. Brooks in the book is just an asshole and there is no redemption, no matter how many times he tries to nudge the reader with a “you’d do it too”. The number of times the author mentioned the reaction of the main character’s dick was uncomfortably high. Even in the final moment when he gets with the character you know he’s supposed to be with, there’s this realization that she is suddenly hot, and after talking about her appearance and then kissing, the paragraph ends with “major major wood”….no joke. Fascinating because it says the author is a screenwriter, and yet the movie wisely cut most of the misogynistic crap and had more interesting developments and just…I think the second screenwriter must have been hired to fix the bad bits and thank god for that. Long story short, for the first time in a very long time (maybe ever) I will recommend this: Watch the movie, skip the book.
May 17, 2016
This teen romance features a leading man instead of a leading lady. Brooks is competing against all of the pressures and deadlines that supposedly determine one's fate in high school. Brooks' is stressed by his determination to get into Columbia. He's arguing with his father and growing apart from his best friend. And yet he's also dancing the night away, with so many different young women he has been hired to escort. The desperation of wealthy parents who dream of their daughters experiencing the defining moments of high school is well balanced with the reality of actual daughters. Brooks' perspective and voice make this story unique among others set against the backdrop of senior-year events, SAT scores and college applications.
Worth reading and re-reading.
Worth reading and re-reading.
July 18, 2020
Prawie dokładnie rok temu obejrzałam 'Wynajmij sobie chłopaka' z koleżanką w drodze na wakacje. 24h w autokarze, ciepło, potrzebowałyśmy odmóżdżenia. Film był głupiutki, beznadziejny, pozbawiony ciągu przyczynowo-skutkowego oraz podstawowych zasad logiki, ale szczerze? Nie sądziłam że cokolwiek z tego będzie zawierać.
I choć o istnieniu książki słyszałam, byłam przekonana że po nią nigdy nie sięgnę, bo po co.
No i patrzcie gdzie mnie to doprowadziło.
Powiem szczerze, że nie miałam żadnych oczekiwań wobec tego tytułu. A i tak jestem zawiedziona na całej linii.
Po pierwsze nadmienię, że film w porównaniu z tekstem źródłowym wypada o niebo lepiej, nawet jako głupia komedia młodzieżowa produkcji stacji na n. Dlaczego?
Bo odbiorca pozbawiony jest jakże genialnych przemyśleń bohatera.
(disclaimer: zaznaczam, że nie szukałam żadnych informacji o autorze, nie obrażam go tutaj ani nie przytaczam faktów, wszelkie zwroty mówiące że książkę napisał taki a taki są porównaniami tego, co czuje się podczas lektury, a nie odzwierciedleniem rzeczywistości. dziękuję za uwagę, wracamy do cierpienia)
Jestem w 99% przekonana, że 'Wynajmij sobie chłopaka' jest self-insertem czterdziestolatka, który z zawiścią patrzy na bogatych, pięknych i umięśnionych licealistów, gotując się bo w jego przeświadczeniu im wszystko jest podawane na tacy, a on należy do kategorii 'biednych dobrych chłopców, którzy nic nigdy nie osiągają bo świat jest taki zły i nie potrafi ich docenić'. Po tym zdaniu możecie już spokojnie domyślić się, czemu ta książka jest zła.
A mimo to pociągnę wątek, bo przypadek Brooksa Rattigana jest pewnego rodzaju fenomenem.
Chłopak jest typowym przedstawicielem grupy biały (nie doszukałam się w tekście informacji iż jego skóra ma inny kolor, jeżeli tak jest to przepraszam, ale nie jest to opisane w tekście) hetero młodzieniec, którego świat nie cierpi bo jest dla niego za dobry, więc co rusz rzuca mu kłody pod nogi. Dlatego też matka Brooksa jest dupkiem, ojciec jest dupkiem, najlepszy kumpel jest dupkiem, szkolna doradczyni jest dupkiem, drugoplanowa bohaterka jest dupkiem, profesor na uniwersytecie jest dupkiem.
I zaraz mi powiecie, no ale chwila jakoś dużo tych dupków.
I macie całkowitą rację. Bo każda postać, której imię nie zaczyna się na 'B' a kończy na 'rooks' jest dupkiem. Bo ten zabieg ma podkreślić, że tak zdolny i pracowity chłopak żyje w okropnie niewspierającym środowisku, i to dlatego wydaje się taki okropny i wredny.
Tylko że nie, nieważne gdzie chłopaka postawić jest on okropny i wredny. Bo nikt mi nie wmówi, że jego sposób bycia jest adekwatny do nastoletniego nastawienia, ba, nawet młodzieńczego buntu. Brooks jest dupkiem i koniec historii.
Wspominając historię - fabuła, mimo że dosyć prosta, w wielu momentach strasznie zjeżdża na dziwne tory. Bo z początku mamy zaaferowanego licealistę u progu szkoły, dzielnie walczącego o zdobycie minimalnej ilości punktów na swe wymarzone studia. Pomijając okraszenie tego wątku jakże błyskotliwymi myślami bohatera, z ręką na sercu muszę przyznać że to jedyny realistyczne i w miarę ujdzie poprowadzony wątek przez 400 stron.
Bo droga chłopaka, który poświęca wszystko w imię zdobycia miejsca na wymarzonej, prestiżowej uczelni, wymagającej 50 koła czesnego za semestr, który w końcu gdy się dostaje musi zrezygnować z owej szansy, bo nie ma takich funduszy nawet po przyznaniu stypendium, i świadomość że jego miejsce zajmie jakiś rozpieszczony duży dzieciak tylko dlatego że ma nadzianych rodziców-absolwentów JEST reprezentacją systemu szkolnictwa w Stanach. Smutną, realną reprezentacją, przez co jest to jedyny aspekt w którym szczerze możemy współczuć bohaterowi.
Tylko że nie do końca, bo wokół tej melancholijnej, szarej rzeczywistości chłopak nawywija takich głupot, a dodatkowo okrasi to przemyśleniami z cyklu 'ależ ja jestem taki super przecież ten świat jest taki niesprawiedliwy o ja nieszczęsny' że w momencie gdy Brooksowi odmawia się szansy na marzenia Ty krzyczysz entuzjastycznie KARMA S*KO, BU-YAH!
Wydawać by się mogło, że skoro posiadamy takie postaci jak ojciec dupek czy Celia dupek, epizodycznie przewijające się przez fabułę, to logicznie rzecz biorąc dostaniemy rozwinięcie ich historii i wyjaśnienie, czemu dupkami są.
O ile Celia doczekuje się jako-takiego backstory, tak Charlie będący rodzicem Brooksa absolutnie nie. Podkreślane jest tylko, jak żałosnym i wstydliwym wrakiem człowieka jest dla syna, z którego wyziera pogarda rodzicielem; i dopiero gdy ten sprzedaje swą wartościową kolekcję na poczet czesnego dla swego niewdzięcznego syna nagle wszystko jest okej, Brooks kocha ojca, ojciec kocha Brooksa, prawie dwie dekady totalnego olania i pogardy znika.
High fantasy mocniejsze niż największe tytuły z gatunku.
I to w zasadzie tyle, co o tej książce można powiedzieć. Oczywiście pozostaje kwestia "ponętnej" Shelby, którą Brooks próbuje poderwać, ale jeżeli z moich wcześniejszych ustaleń wyciągnęliście pewien wzór to doskonale sobie zdacie sprawę, jak to się potoczyło.
A w ciągu ostatnich 5 stron nagle mamy happy end. Wszystko się układa, choć kilka kartek wcześniej leżeliśmy pod gruzami i nic nie działało. Ale oczywiście bohater pokroju Brooksa nie może skończyć z brzydką panną, słabymi studiami i kryzysem egzystencjalnym.
Bogowie, jakie to było złe. Jeżeli choć przez myśl wam przeszło (tak jak mi) by sięgnąć po tytuł chociażby dla czystej radości ze śmiania się z beznadziejnego tworu to odpalcie sobie film. Traktuje tak samo, ino jest mniej szkodliwy. I mniej kretyńskich myśli Brooksa.
amen kochani
I choć o istnieniu książki słyszałam, byłam przekonana że po nią nigdy nie sięgnę, bo po co.
No i patrzcie gdzie mnie to doprowadziło.
Powiem szczerze, że nie miałam żadnych oczekiwań wobec tego tytułu. A i tak jestem zawiedziona na całej linii.
Po pierwsze nadmienię, że film w porównaniu z tekstem źródłowym wypada o niebo lepiej, nawet jako głupia komedia młodzieżowa produkcji stacji na n. Dlaczego?
Bo odbiorca pozbawiony jest jakże genialnych przemyśleń bohatera.
(disclaimer: zaznaczam, że nie szukałam żadnych informacji o autorze, nie obrażam go tutaj ani nie przytaczam faktów, wszelkie zwroty mówiące że książkę napisał taki a taki są porównaniami tego, co czuje się podczas lektury, a nie odzwierciedleniem rzeczywistości. dziękuję za uwagę, wracamy do cierpienia)
Jestem w 99% przekonana, że 'Wynajmij sobie chłopaka' jest self-insertem czterdziestolatka, który z zawiścią patrzy na bogatych, pięknych i umięśnionych licealistów, gotując się bo w jego przeświadczeniu im wszystko jest podawane na tacy, a on należy do kategorii 'biednych dobrych chłopców, którzy nic nigdy nie osiągają bo świat jest taki zły i nie potrafi ich docenić'. Po tym zdaniu możecie już spokojnie domyślić się, czemu ta książka jest zła.
A mimo to pociągnę wątek, bo przypadek Brooksa Rattigana jest pewnego rodzaju fenomenem.
Chłopak jest typowym przedstawicielem grupy biały (nie doszukałam się w tekście informacji iż jego skóra ma inny kolor, jeżeli tak jest to przepraszam, ale nie jest to opisane w tekście) hetero młodzieniec, którego świat nie cierpi bo jest dla niego za dobry, więc co rusz rzuca mu kłody pod nogi. Dlatego też matka Brooksa jest dupkiem, ojciec jest dupkiem, najlepszy kumpel jest dupkiem, szkolna doradczyni jest dupkiem, drugoplanowa bohaterka jest dupkiem, profesor na uniwersytecie jest dupkiem.
I zaraz mi powiecie, no ale chwila jakoś dużo tych dupków.
I macie całkowitą rację. Bo każda postać, której imię nie zaczyna się na 'B' a kończy na 'rooks' jest dupkiem. Bo ten zabieg ma podkreślić, że tak zdolny i pracowity chłopak żyje w okropnie niewspierającym środowisku, i to dlatego wydaje się taki okropny i wredny.
Tylko że nie, nieważne gdzie chłopaka postawić jest on okropny i wredny. Bo nikt mi nie wmówi, że jego sposób bycia jest adekwatny do nastoletniego nastawienia, ba, nawet młodzieńczego buntu. Brooks jest dupkiem i koniec historii.
Wspominając historię - fabuła, mimo że dosyć prosta, w wielu momentach strasznie zjeżdża na dziwne tory. Bo z początku mamy zaaferowanego licealistę u progu szkoły, dzielnie walczącego o zdobycie minimalnej ilości punktów na swe wymarzone studia. Pomijając okraszenie tego wątku jakże błyskotliwymi myślami bohatera, z ręką na sercu muszę przyznać że to jedyny realistyczne i w miarę ujdzie poprowadzony wątek przez 400 stron.
Bo droga chłopaka, który poświęca wszystko w imię zdobycia miejsca na wymarzonej, prestiżowej uczelni, wymagającej 50 koła czesnego za semestr, który w końcu gdy się dostaje musi zrezygnować z owej szansy, bo nie ma takich funduszy nawet po przyznaniu stypendium, i świadomość że jego miejsce zajmie jakiś rozpieszczony duży dzieciak tylko dlatego że ma nadzianych rodziców-absolwentów JEST reprezentacją systemu szkolnictwa w Stanach. Smutną, realną reprezentacją, przez co jest to jedyny aspekt w którym szczerze możemy współczuć bohaterowi.
Tylko że nie do końca, bo wokół tej melancholijnej, szarej rzeczywistości chłopak nawywija takich głupot, a dodatkowo okrasi to przemyśleniami z cyklu 'ależ ja jestem taki super przecież ten świat jest taki niesprawiedliwy o ja nieszczęsny' że w momencie gdy Brooksowi odmawia się szansy na marzenia Ty krzyczysz entuzjastycznie KARMA S*KO, BU-YAH!
Wydawać by się mogło, że skoro posiadamy takie postaci jak ojciec dupek czy Celia dupek, epizodycznie przewijające się przez fabułę, to logicznie rzecz biorąc dostaniemy rozwinięcie ich historii i wyjaśnienie, czemu dupkami są.
O ile Celia doczekuje się jako-takiego backstory, tak Charlie będący rodzicem Brooksa absolutnie nie. Podkreślane jest tylko, jak żałosnym i wstydliwym wrakiem człowieka jest dla syna, z którego wyziera pogarda rodzicielem; i dopiero gdy ten sprzedaje swą wartościową kolekcję na poczet czesnego dla swego niewdzięcznego syna nagle wszystko jest okej, Brooks kocha ojca, ojciec kocha Brooksa, prawie dwie dekady totalnego olania i pogardy znika.
High fantasy mocniejsze niż największe tytuły z gatunku.
I to w zasadzie tyle, co o tej książce można powiedzieć. Oczywiście pozostaje kwestia "ponętnej" Shelby, którą Brooks próbuje poderwać, ale jeżeli z moich wcześniejszych ustaleń wyciągnęliście pewien wzór to doskonale sobie zdacie sprawę, jak to się potoczyło.
A w ciągu ostatnich 5 stron nagle mamy happy end. Wszystko się układa, choć kilka kartek wcześniej leżeliśmy pod gruzami i nic nie działało. Ale oczywiście bohater pokroju Brooksa nie może skończyć z brzydką panną, słabymi studiami i kryzysem egzystencjalnym.
Bogowie, jakie to było złe. Jeżeli choć przez myśl wam przeszło (tak jak mi) by sięgnąć po tytuł chociażby dla czystej radości ze śmiania się z beznadziejnego tworu to odpalcie sobie film. Traktuje tak samo, ino jest mniej szkodliwy. I mniej kretyńskich myśli Brooksa.
amen kochani
March 20, 2018
This book is about a character named Brooks Rattigan raising money by becoming a stand-in for proms, homecomings, and other school dances and activities. He is, while being a stand-in, trying to get into a college. He struggles immensely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2019
Not my favorite book, when it comes to books I like my books to at least let me know what my characters looks like, not one single description. Its hard to keep up and some of the lines are confusing. Even though some scenes where my favorite but but not alot.
April 13, 2020
I really wanted to like this book a lot because I liked the movie. But unfortunately I just didn’t like it. Thankfully they made the movie cleaner than the book because the language was not good. The moral of the story was the one good thing.
April 25, 2017
This book is fabulous!! I couldn't put it down--lots and lots of laughs. I want a sequel!
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