What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know

What My Mother Doesn't Know #2

by Sonya Sones

A teen boy confronts the complications of love in this relatable free verse novel featuring a new cover and larger trim size.Don’t get me wrong—my girlfriend’s amazing. But the way things have been going lately, I’m starting to believe that the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is getting it. Picking up where What My Mother Doesn’t Know leaves off, this is the story of what happens next—told from the perspective of Murphy, Sophie’s new boyfriend. And even though Murphy’s thrilled to be with Sophie, the consequences of their relationship—and the temptations outside of it—force him to consider everything he knows about love. Told in free verse and brimming with authenticity, this novel provides unique insight into the mind of a young man.

Genres: Young Adult, Poetry, Romance, Realistic Fiction, Contemporary, Fiction, Teen

314 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 5, 2007

About the author

SONYA SONES has written seven young adult novels in verse: Stop Pretending, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know, One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies, To Be Perfectly Honest, Saving Red, and The Opposite of Innocent.

Her books have received many awards, including a Christopher Award, the Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Poetry, the Claudia Lewis Poetry Award, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize nomination and a Cuffie Award from Publisher’s Weekly for Best Book Title of the year. But the coolest honor she ever received was when her novel, What My Mother Doesn’t Know, landed her a spot on the American Library Association’s list of the Most Frequently Banned Authors of the 21st Century. (To find out why, see page 46.)

Sonya has also written a novel in verse for grownups—the Los Angeles Times bestseller The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus, a coming of middle-age story about learning to grow old disgracefully, which was optioned by Michelle Pfeiffer, and has contributed poems and short stories in verse to lots of anthologies.

Her books have been recognized by the American Library Association as Best Books for Young Adults and Quick Picks For Reluctant Young Readers, and have received a dozen state awards for Best Young Adult Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Gray Cox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up from the library for the trip to my grandparent’s house for Thanksgiving, I have this habit of reading mushy YA romance books on trips and plus it was also around that more emotional time of the month for me so I just wanted to get lost in a stupidly cute story.

"Yup," I say. "It's pretty amazing, all right. Amazing that my own girlfriend couldn't care less that she's going to be away from me all weekend." -Robin after his girlfriend excitedly tells him she's going to Bermuda with her best friend for the weekend. (pg. 212)

This ain’t it chief.

Meet Robin, your typical perverted fourteen-year-old nerd. You can find him in the back of the classroom sniveling and being creepily anti-social.

My first complaint about this story other than the fact that the whole time I wanted to punch Robin, was the logic, or lack of it.

So Robin and his life-long crush Sophie get together and the whole school shuns them.

Who cares that much?
WHO?

WHO IS GOING TO GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE T-SHIRTS AND SLOGANS MOCKING A COUPLE IN HIGHSCHOOL?!?!

Apparently everyone in this story.

Listen, asides from a couple of jerks and maybe your friends thinking you're gross (as in the case of Sophie’s friends, and I agree with them, Robin is disgusting. I was in his head for 291 godforsaken pages, I would know). No one cares about your relationship!!

Honey, if you were making out in the middle of the hallway I would give you a judgmental glance as well, it doesn’t mean you’re persecuted or “outlaws”.

SECONDLY WHERE THE FREAKING FRICK FRACK ARE THE PARENTS?!?!

These kids are hanging out every day after school, going on full fledge dinner dates, and going to museums and they’re fourteen, it’s not like they can drive or anything, so I’m really confused???

The only parent we really see in this story is Sophie’s mom and of course she is portrayed as a villain just because she doesn’t want Sophie to spend every hour after school with Robin and she… wants Sophie to eat dinner with the family instead of going out with Robin every night *gasps* OH THE HORROR.

As for Robin’s parents they let him take this college art class where they have nude models. First off, what college class just casually lets fourteen-year-olds in? Secondly, why are his parents okay with this?? WHY.

I found it hilarious that none of the other classmates realized Robin is fourteen, has this author ever talked to a fourteen-year-old boy? Their excuse for facial hair is this scratchy peach fuzz, their faces are covered in acne, and their voices break every other sentence (not shaming fourteen-year-old boys, I’ve been on the girl’s side of that and it isn’t fun, sis, I know). I’m just wondering what idiots would think this kid is over seventeen??? They take him out partying for goodness sakes.

"It is amazing you'd rather talk on the phone to Rachel than makeout with me."

Did I mention that Robin is crazy possessive? Like, so possessive that he throws a tantrum when Sophie goes out of town for the weekend because “WHAT ABOUT US??”

You’ll see her on Monday, you’ll be fine.

OH AND THEN HYPOCRISY REACHES THE ROOF WHEN ROBIN CHEATS ON HIS GIRLFRIEND AND EXPECTS HER TO FORGIVE HIM INSTANTLY.

Like, BOI. You still haven’t forgiven her for spending time with people other than you.

And then she forgives him and the story is over, and the abusive relationship continues.

This is the worst book I’ve read so far in 2018.

Step on a lego, Robin. You wet sock.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off saying this cover is so completely misleading. It looks like an adult kissing another adult. The women is wearing a fancy looking blouse, hair up in a bun, and the man has a beard. (not typical looking freshman if you ask me, I happen to be a freshman!) Which, the guy in the story has a beard, but it's red/orange, not brown. So all in all, the cover looks like two adults kissing. And NO, the story is not about that. Kissing, yeah it's involved, but that's not what this is about!
And then the title, What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know.
Sounds scandalous, doesn't it.
And then the 4 naked women mentioned in the inside cover.
Even more scandalous, yes?
But did the author mention, there's also a naked man?
No, she did not.
Why?
Cause that could go in many different directions.
There's nothing quite as scandalous as you're thinking.
No need to worry.
Or question my taste in books.

Meet Robin Murphy.
But everyone calls him Murphy.
Except Sophie.
Who calls him Robin.
You know what a Murphy is to the people at their school?
Loser.
Failure.
Outcast.
No quality.
Stupid. Moron.
Nerd. Geek. Dweeb. Freak.
Not so nice is it?

Sophie isn't the kind of person who would be seen associating with him.
She's beautiful, popular, smart, and nice.

And then winter break happened, Sophie turned into Robin's girlfriend.
School started again.
Sophie's friends ditched her. Random acts of unkindness were made to the couple.
People thought Sophie had gone insane.

Told in poem format, Robin tells of how he struggled agianst bullies in school. How it hurt him to see his girlfriend, eyes not shinning as bright as before with happeniness. How he wanted to break up with her, just so she would be happier without people making fun of her. And how they promised, needed to get through this together, people would hopefully accept them eventually.
This is their story.

Friends make all the difference in the world. Remember that.


******
1/4/13 Hey they changed the cover!!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told from the point of view of Robin, this book was every bit as engaging as its predecessor, "What My Mother Doesn't Know." Like 'Mother,' I read this book in one night because I did not want to put it down until I found out what happened.

It's both funny and terribly sad at times, and perfectly captures how difficult adolescence is. Even though Robin and Sophie were happy in their own 'outlaw' world, the reader acutely felt Robin's pain as the outcast of his school. It was a happy moment when he found solace auditing a college art class.

I highly recommend both "What My Mother Doesn't Know" and "What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know." It brings back memories of high school and our own Murphys and Steins, as well as the hope that they turned out ok.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, we're back with Sophie and Robin. I admit that I had to re-read What My Mother Doesn't Know and I don't regret it for a single moment. This book is from Robin's point of view and written in the same short poem style and with as much poignancy, maybe even more since you see how tortured it was to be Robin and how cruel high school can be. I think that almost everyone in high school had their own 'Murphy' to remember. I asked my husband and it took him less than a minute to remember his. I won't lie, there were times that I had to put this book down and cry. Sonya Sones, in my opinion, captures this alienation perfectly and my heart surged when he found people that were bright and mature enough to look at Robin as an equal. Bravo.

[Manybooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Boston (and also involving Harvard University and artistically talented main protagonist Robin Murphy as a high school student taking a university level drawing course, wonderfully and delightfully discovering life drawing, the beauty of the human body au naturel, without clothing and realising that even though at his school Robin is routinely and all generally denigrated and ridiculed, everyone accepts and even appreciates him at Harvard), Sonya Somes' 2007 novel in verse What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know (the sequel to her 2001 What My Mother Doesn't Know, which I have actually and unfortunately not yet read but hope to remedy as son as possible) Somes delivers an easy reading and powerfully, delightfully engaging young adult novel in verse about teenage love (about love in general). And indeed, and in my opinion, having Sonya Somes write What my Girlfriend Doesn't Know from a male perspective totally and delightfully textually works for me, as I most certainly do not find fourteen year old Robin Murphy's first person narration for What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know in any way artificial, but relatable, intriguing, tugging at me emotionally and also never ever feeling awkward, stagnant or proceeding in a forced manner, and not to mention that even though Robin is of course male, I (as a female reader) actually do feel considerably closer to him emotionally and spiritually in What My Girlfriend Doesn't Known than I in any way manage to accomplish with his girlfriend (with Sophie Stein), and that frankly, Robin's experiences at school (and this includes concerning questions love) definitely rather tend to mirror my own.

And while I was (just like Robin does himself) at the beginning of What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know totally worrying that he would as soon as the school year starts be unceremoniously dumped by his popular (and also first) girlfriend, since the main protagonist of What My Mother Doesn't Know, since Sophie Stein is being totally ostracised all round because she is with Robin Murphy supposedly dating the school looser and scapegoat, thankfully, wonderfully (and even if perhaps also a bit of textual wishful thinking) Sophie sticks with Robin and together they manage to rise above the universal derision by laughing both at themselves and also at everyone else to make their budding relationship mostly work, something that in particular my inner teenager really appreciates regarding What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know (since I had something rather similar happen to my during high school but with a very much different outcome, with the popular boy in fact dumping me as soon as the you know what hit the proverbial fan so to speak and rumours and innuendo started flying, so that yes, Sophie not letting Robin go certainly hits a sweet spot for me and makes much of What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know into a bit of fantastical and delightful wish fulfillment for me and even more so for myself as a teenager).

But although Robin and Sophie's romance in What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know does at times therefore feel almost too good to be true and to last, Robin Murphy as a character (and also a bit more than Sophie Stein for me), he comes across as believable, with Sonya Somes (in Robin's narrational voice) realistically, lyrically, poetically and with empathy and understanding exploring his nascent sexuality and Robin's attraction to Tessa (a university student in his art class at Harvard who is refreshingly unaware that he is usually mostly the butt of jokes at his high school but that she, that Tessa simply does not and would not care about this anyhow). And while I am of course majorly textually glad that Sophie and Robin's relationship in What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know is shown by Somes as lasting and as even overcoming Robin's attraction to Tessa, personally, and as someone who really only started feeling comfortable in an educational setting once I was no longer at school, was attending university and realsing that I was in fact both liked and appreciated at university and not a constant object of and four bullying like at school, honestly and also a bit guiltily, part of me kind of wishes that Robin would end up with Tessa and not with Sophie.

Five stars What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know has been for me, emotionally satisfying and as such really and utterly textually delightful and wonderful (and quite surprisingly so, I should add, since I am usually not that much a fan of stories that focus mostly on romance, and therefore kudos to Sonya Somes for writing with What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know a YA story of romance that I actually have found enjoyable and also on every level). And while I certainly can and do respect that not everyone will enjoy What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know, I do have quite a bit of trouble even somewhat understanding those reviewers who are finding Robin Murphy and his parents supposedly "perverted" and horrid simply because of the life drawing aspect of What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know and that Robin is discovering the beauty of the unclothed human body and the artistic pleasures of drawing this and is also encouraged by his family and also his art teacher.

But be that as it may, I also do not and will never even remotely respect anyone who wants to see What My Mother Doesn't Know banned or restricted and I will therefore and forcefully say to the hatefully brainless, worthless "persons" (quotes are mine) who have sadly managed to get What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know banned from many school libraries and classrooms in states like Texas, Florida and the like (and yes this certainly includes politicians, school board members, lawmakers and special interest groups like that utterly putrid nanny state collectivism supporting Moms for Liberty), that book bans and cancelling (and coming from either the right or from the left), they are a sure sign of overt and dangerous dictatorial overreaching (of basically and utterly disgusting, despicable Nazism and/or Stalinism) and that ANYONE who actively supports books being banned/restricted (and is helping with this happening) is obviously totally philosophically, politically and immorally linked to such evil entities as Adolf Hitler, Hermann Goering, Josef Goebbels, Francisco Franco, Josef Stalin, Chairman Mao, Kim Jong Un, and last but not least Vladimir Putin.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like this book kind of ruined the sweet ending that What My Mother Doesn't Know had. It was like "happily ever after until reality smacks you in the face". If you liked the first one, its worth checking this one out but the first one is definitely better.

The writing in this book is nice, I liked these poems and the book was interesting enough and often funny, though not as much as the first in the series. She handled a male narrator pretty well but I just didn't like his personality.

In the beginning it was nice. Their relationship was believable and I liked the idea of showing how Sophie's social status was destroyed by her revealing that her boyfriend was Robin. But after the beginning is over and Sophie manages to feel better about her social situation and regain one of her friends the book kind of takes a 180. It goes from being cute and about them being against the world to the narrator becoming incredibly jealous and slightly aggressive towards his girlfriend and I hated that. He annoyed me so much when he couldn't just be happy for his girlfriend and tried to make everything about himself and expected her to spend all of her time with him.

I also was dissatisfied with the ending, it tried to end on a happy note [like all of her books] but I didn't want to believe it because he had turned into such a jerk. It felt like throwing a gift at the wall and then trying to wrap up the broken pieces in a pretty bow and still giving it to someone as if it weren't broken.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book immediately after finishing "What My Mother Doesn't Know" and again, didn't stop until I had finished. Sonya Sones has again captured the emotion and angst of being a teenager in high school - and an outcast, at that.

This book is written from Robin's perspective, and we see his relationship with Sophie (and others) evolve. But we also see Sophie's relationships with her friends deteriorate, as they dump her because of her ties to Robin.

High school can suck. But hang on! Hopefully you'll find your Robin or Sophie, and everyone else can eat it.

I'm with Stein!

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

You wont find alot of books like this. What i realy like about this book is that it is from a guys point of view. It is very intresting to read feelings that I've had but never knew how to put it in words. If i remember correctly, the guy in this does something very bad. Like "Stop Pretending" this book is also a collection of poems, COOL!

[Claire Hutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good. The main theme was, if you love someone enough you can overcome anything. For example a girl named Sophie and a boy named Robin started dating. Robin was disliked in their school because of his looks. However over winter break, Sophie and Robin started to talk and she saw past his looks. They started dating and everyone stopped talking to Sophie even her 2 best friends. The 2 of them pushed through the hatred anyways and eventually people started to realize he wasn't that bad.

[Claire Ho]

This book is basically a guy point of view for "What My Mother Doesn't Know" It's in the voice of Murphy or Robin. The nerdy geeky new guy of Sophie's. Sophie basically dumped the "hottie" for him. Murphy is so lovestruck. He doesn't understand how someone like Sophie could be with him. He is in a dream. Its actually interesting to see a guys point of view though. But in a sense it sort of gets me mad because it seems like all guys are the same. Murphy while being with his girlfriend he's thinking of another girl. I guess you can never really stay committed to one without having complications. Throughout the story though he keeps talking about how lucky he is to be with her and how in love he is. But his thoughts wander and I'm actually sort of scared to keep reading but I dont want Murphy to split with Sophie. Sophie had to go through tremendous bullying just to be with him. In all honesty, I would never do that. Im a teenager anyways. It's not like I will marry him. I feel like it's always really tricky when a female author tries to write a story from a guy's perspective because she doesn't truly know what a guy is thinking. She can only interpret and come up with thoughts that will hopefully match up. But other than that, this book was a good time killer.

[Erica Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Siena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay don't be deceived by the title. It sounds pretty weird. But it's not half bad for a total chick lit book. I first picked it up when I went wandering through the uni high library, looking for a free reading book. This one caught my eye, it's colorful spine sticking out among the drab novels. The book itself is written in a way I've never seen. It's essentially a book of short poems that tell a big story. The title is the first sentence of the poem, and then the poem continues with 5 or 7 word sentences. I really enjoyed the unique format of the novel, it really made it a fast and engaging read. What I really didn't like, and why this book only got 3 stars, was the typical and kind of unoriginal plot. Granted, I knew it was a chick lit book when I picked it up, but I mean, have some standards. It was about a popular girl who meets the awkward outcast over winter break, and they fall in looooveee. Then of course her friends don't want to associate with her now that she's dating this dork, and she choses to stay with the guy, blah, blah, blah. It was pretty predictable. But all and all, if you're looking for a simple brainless book to enjoy reading in your free time, this is a good bet.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

"What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know" is a sequel to "What My Mother Doesn't Know." It is told from Robin's POV and tells us what happens to Sophie and Robin after Sophie finds courage to make their relationship official.

This book is just as good as the first one. I think Sones knows what is going on in teenage boys' heads very well. Robin is not a perfect boy we saw through Sophie's eyes in the first book. He has his flaws, he makes awful mistakes, he struggles with his desires, and yet his love for Sophie is undeniable. The book made me laugh and cry, it made me mad at both Sofie and Robin, and at the same time their relationship touched me.

I found the ending of this book a little less satisfying than the ending of the first one and hope the book Sones is writing now is a continuation of these two, because in my eyes Robin has a lot of making up to do.

Reading challenge: #26, 2 of 2

[Nomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, I just loved it.

First off, it is a verse novel. And I find most verse novels to be compelling and richly drawn. I read this curled up in bed on a rainy day and flew through the pages. The thing about this book is it gets cooler and cooler as it goes on.

There were parts in it where my heart just ached for Robin and Sophie. I was definitely cheering them on. And, some events in the book filled me up with warmth in the best kind of uplifting way. Other events broke my heart and had me holding my breath - I definitely felt the tension and Robin's pain.

This book feels like high school and reminds me why teenagers are so cool and such an incredible age-group to read about. It reminds me how hard it is to be a teenager - but also how awesome it feels.

By the end, I just had this happy feeling :) In fact I have a happy feeling now just thinking about it.

[nidah05 (SleepDreamWrite) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poor guy. So many questions running through his mind. This one I found a little, well, a lot, better. And its from Murphy's POV. There's moments that was adorable, like the two communicating with each other through their sketching, drawing. Did it remind anyone of that music video for Bad Day? Anyway, this one also had its share of the angst moments as well. And the ending, I liked because with other books I've read, you have endings that are either too wrapped with a bow, or left at a point where it doesn't feel like one or ones like this where it ended at the right time. But you still wanted the story to keep going. If any of that makes sense. So these were interesting verse novels and the writing was pretty good in this one.

[Delaney Bella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok, so at first I was feeling sorry for this guy since he was bullied and everything, only to realize he's a total jerk face! He felt so sorry for himself, that he had to fantasize about other girls when he had a GIRLFRIEND! Then he starts going out with another chick, and then his girlfriend catches him, and he expects for her to forgive him and everything. WOW. JUST WOW. He was a total...ugh...I don't even want to say it! The book just gets worse and worse, after the only girl who ever LOVED HIM, he has to think about other things! It's wrong, disgusting, and I HATED this book!

gtg, I will finish later..

[cporterr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is realistic fiction. I DIDN'T like this book. I guess I was expecting more from Sonya Sones, since I have read all of her other books in verse. This book was a major let down for me. The character Robin wasn't strong at all. Sonya Sones characters aren't usually strong stand outty type of characters but I was finding it pretty hard to remember this characters name. So overall I wouldn't recommend this book to a friend. I would give this book 1 star but I didn't want to be mean so I leveled It up a bit. The type of reader that would like this book is the type of reader that likes books in verse and quick reads.

[Tzippy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hey jerkface, you're a jerkface.

Show us the scene where he admits to his girlfriend that he promised the girl he cheated on her with that they'll stay friends no matter what; I can't wait to see how she'll react to that.

[Tanvi Mittal · Rating 1 out of 5]

From a writers perspective the writing style is just amazing. But the plot is terrible. But then again that’s just my opinion. I feel like the fact that they’re just 14 is a major problem in the plot. It would make more sense if they were 16 or 17.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked What My Mother Doesn't Know? I even sort of fell in love with Robin, but after reading this book, I think he's a total Murphy.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first book as a teenager and finally picked up the sequel as an adult. Maybe its just my age, but many events felt overdramatic. YA novels usually have more emotional content, but this was too much.
Still, I enjoyed the characters and Robin's new friends.

[Reagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

no thanks

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story for young adults. I was a bit annoyed by the "poetic" style of writing at first, but I ended up appreciating it as the character's way of communication. It made for a very fast read.

[Jersey]

This couple dates they get bullied at school. He goes to college and talks to girls and lies to his gf that he inst seeing anyone.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original post at One More Page

I like reading novels in verse when I feel like I'm reading too slow, like how I have been doing lately. I figured reading this book right after I finish the chunkster that is Jane Eyre would help me cleanse the palate a bit and make me feel better because I read a book a bit faster than how I am currently doing. That's probably just me, though, so don't mind that quirk.

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones is the sequel to What My Mother Doesn't Know, another novel in verse that I read and liked last year. Spoiler warning for the first novel starts here. This book is Robin's story -- Robin, the art geek who Sophie falls for at the end of the first book. Robin has always had a crush on Sophie, but he never thought she'd fall for him, until she does. He was ecstatic, of course, until he realizes that Sophie being his girlfriend wouldn't change his life as much as him being Sophie's boyfriend rocked her world -- in a not so good way. Here the book tries to answer a question that fairy tales with their happily-ever-after's don't really get to answer: what happens next?

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know is both cute and painful. I know that's a strange combination, but really, those are the two things I thought of while reading it. Robin is a cute narrator, sounding exactly like how I imagined a teenage guy would sound, with all the hormones and insecurities and girls and all that. He's a good guy, really, but again, he's also a guy, and the reactions and comments he had here with Sophie and their relationship, and yes, the naked women were very...well, boyish. Robin is not just the art geek who fits the mythological perfect guy who never makes mistakes or never looks at other girls or women -- he's human, but he's trying his best to be the best person he can be for his girlfriend, even if she doesn't know so many things about what he's going through.

And that's the painful part. Robin and Sophie's relationship isn't all rainbows and butterflies. Sophie's reputation suffered because of Robin, and it was painful for Robin to see and hear the things people say about her because of him. I felt their pain, too, and it was just...sad because it wasn't supposed to be that way. And it was messy, too, because Robin felt that it was all his fault, when really, it's not. What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know showed that life goes on after the fairy tales end, and it's not always "happily" ever after.

A favorite passage that pretty much summarizes the happiness and paint that I felt while reading this:

Maybe,
if we can just laugh
instead of shattering,

we can somehow
keep all of it
from mattering.

What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know is cute and fun and sometimes painful, but it's a very quick and readable novel in verse. I'd recommend reading What My Mother Doesn't Know first before getting into this so you'd appreciate this more. This is a very teenage novel, though, so don't expect deep, life changing, earth-shattering revelations to come to you while reading it. If anything, this book gave me a reason to look back at my own high school years with a smile, and then sigh with relief and say, "Thank goodness I'm over that already."

[Autumn]

What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know
This guy Murphy likes this girl Sophie. But she never new he excised, but one day she starts talking to him and before he knows it there dating. And she doesn’t care who knows. Because most people HATE Murphy and use his name as an insult. So when Sophie’s friends see her and Murphy together they can’t believe what there seeing. So they confront her about it, so she tells them that she likes him and nobody can change that. When finally everyone is talking about her and Murphy together she gets upset. So Murphy talks to Sophie about it and asks if she wants to break up with him, but she says no and that she doesn’t care who knows about her and Murphy dating she could care less about other peoples opinions.
When Murphy comes over to Sophie’s house and they go in her room there all over each other and kissing and making out and Sophie’s mom walks in and catches them. She doesn’t know what to say so she says “hi.” Then Murphy says “Hey Mrs. Stein.” So then after that she keeps walking in on them and makes up stupid excuses of why she’s checking up on them. So when Murphy goes home his parents are jamming out to some rock n roll. He goes in his room and looks up the word Murphy to see what it comes up as in the dictionary. It says it’s used as an insult or to call someone ugly or stupid or a failure.
So when Murphy goes to school he’s for sure that Sophie isn’t going to sit next to him at lunch….. But she does! He can’t believe it! She comes up to him and kisses him. They start holding hands in the lunch room and people start looking at Sophie like she’s crazy for dating him. But she doesn’t care. (: They try to see each other as much as possible during school, because it seems like days without each other. And they both think there in “love” with each other…. But there not. Then Murphy meets another girl named Tessa…. And they start talking, hanging out. And they start liking each other, Even though Murphy is still dating Sophie. So he makes up excuses of why he’s busy so much. And then he goes over to Tessa’s house and things happen that should have never happened… But if you read the book you’ll find out yourself.

[Megan Nehring · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal Response: I enjoyed this book because it was very easy to get into. There wasn't much depth in the book though; it was very basic. I feel like Robin's situation with Tessa wouldn't have ended so quickly in real life. Sophie also probably wouldn't have gone back to him so soon. I loved how real art was incorporated in the book.

Plot Summary: Robin begins dating Sophie and suddenly both their worlds change. Now Robin has a friend, but Sophie is an outcast. They begin doing everything together, including ignoring all of the crap they get from everyone. Robin started a new advanced art class at Harvard and immediately fits in. He has so many friends there, including the hot models the class draws. He can't help but feel guilty about looking at other naked women while he is dating Sophie. When his art friend, Tessa, makes a move on him, he doesn't know what to do. He doesn't reject her offer and ends up cheating on Sophie. After a day or two his guilt has taken over and he ends things with Tessa, but not before Sophie catches them kissing. Robin tries everything to try to get Sophie back, and at the end of the book, their love overpowers everything that has happened.

Characterization: Robin started out as the kid who no one liked. He was always teased and was everyone's punching bag. When he starts dating Sophie, one of the most popular girls in school, it him and her against the world. Sophie is Robin's first girlfriend and she gives him hope that things will change because "Sometimes she just knows things". Robin begins to make more friends outside of school. He and Sophie are the social outcasts and put together a group to try to end that. Few people join but its enough to create a change and Robin and Sophie are once again considered normal.

Recommendations: I would recommend this book to both genders. There is a bit of profanity in the book though. It should probably be for ages 15-17. Nothing extremely 'girly' or 'boyish' happens at all during the book. It's just typical high school.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know.

I am swept away again. :) Sonya Sones, how do you that?!

This time, it's about Robin. And I adore this boy!

What happens next when you finally get the girl of your dreams? Robin is clueless. But as he navigate his way through Sophie's heart, he realized that she might be suffering socially from their relationship. Sounds absurd, right? But where Robin is coming from, it sounds very legit, and very scary.

I think I enjoyed Robin's POV a little bit more than Sophie's (from What My Mother Doesn't Know). I found his thoughts spot-on with his feelings: raw, in awe, in love! The verse here in What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know is more honest, more romantic, and sometimes more painful.

The swoon you will get from Robin and Sophie will come from reading between the beautiful lines of Sonya Sones's writing =) The rush of falling in love is here, together with the classic mistake one makes when you have the everything you want.

I think I'm going to buy my own copies of this series, because these books are worth a reread. :D

[katyjanereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. What?? How can Robin not be perfect?! UGHHHHH.
2. Most of the time there is one big fight in a love novel/movie that the main character's have to go through. This one just kept coming.
3. In a way, this sequel had better depth of character than Sophie's point of view.
4. Freaking Robin was just sexed crazed.
5. Lines I loved:
"A Partial List of Mrs. Stein's Excuses for Coming into the Kitchen Every Five Minutes After That t Spy on Us
-she needs to put the roast in the oven
-she needs some bottled water from the fridge
-she needs to add Post-its to the shopping list
-she needs to recycle the junk mail
-she needs to check on that roast
-she needs to search for some toothpicks
-she needs a sheet of paper and a pen
-she needs an envelope and a stamp
-she needs to check on that roast again
-she needs to get the laundry out of the dryer
-she needs the iron and the ironing board
-she needs to make sure that we aren't having sex
-she needs to check on that roast again"

"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors." -Jim Morrison
6. I take huge offense to the part where Robin is describing the heavy woman that he has to draw.
7. I'm very surprised that sex did not happen in this book.
8. I did like all of the art references.
9. I can't even decide if I like this book or not.
10. Also, if he was such a pariah, I feel like there should have been more in the book about his self esteem.
11. He became a huge jerk in this book, which I hated, especially because I loved him in the other book.

[jaesine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book many times. Its about this girl named Sophie is one of the most popular girls. She's beautiful, all the boys want her, including Murphy. And Murphy (Robin) is one of the nerds, the kids no one likes, one of the kids you'd always bully on. Eventually, him and Sophie end up dating. But you'd think everything would change once they began dating, right? Wrong. Everyone tags up on Sophie for dating Murphy, calling her crazy. Her best friend even betrays her, saying she doesn't even know who Sophie is anymore. Robin ends up getting a chance to go off to a art school, where they don't only draw pictures of apples and grapes. They draw pictures of nude woman. He has a couple females in his class that also draw with him. But everything turns wrong after the first session. One of Robins classmates ends up trying to get closer than just friends. But Sophie has no idea whats going on inside the classroom. He doesn't know what to do. Stay loyal or give into temptation. What do you think he's going to do?

I personally think anyone could read this book. It's a little graphic and sexual. But if they're into fantasy and dragons, this wouldn't be the book for them. It's a lot of temptation and real life issues. It's very realistic. I'd consider many people to read this, I've had a lot of friends read it after I told them about it. They loved it.