This wasn't a terrible book, but it is one of those YA books that is specifically meant for the YA crowd. It's not hard hitting, there isn't any personal growth or realizations that can come from it, and honestly no one really 'learns' anything. It's just a light fluffy romance where the geeky girl gets the jock guy.

One thing that was really tedious is that it read like a 1980's or 1990's teenage movie set in times. So a lot of the plot devices and developments that would work in those movies and those times didn't work here. The whole mentality of the 'popular' kids having to get back when they finally got dished what they had been serving, the animosity between them and the 'geeks', etc; it seemed to unbelievable for the modern world. Even factoring in the small town setting in places it read hokey. Maybe I'm too far removed from high school but I really don't think kids care that much especially seniors.

And then there's the mystery of who put the infamous picture in the slide show which was completely unbelievable. I refuse to believe that a teacher didn't give those submissions one final viewing. Maybe it comes up later who did it, and I have my suspicions. but that alone kind of set this story up with "Okay I'm going to have to take more than the proverbial grain of salt with this story." Also I feel these parents went way overboard with how 'shocked' they were it's like come on. It's a small town where football reigns. Do you really your kids aren't drinking? *rolls eyes* Even if it was the fact that it was the 'good' girls it seemed overblown.

There was a moment where I thought there was going to a whole 'Carrie' spin to it which I am glad didn't pan out. Because that combined with all the other stuff may have made it completely unbearable. Oh and again I'm fairly confident you can decline a Homecoming Nomination. It's high school not a real royal situation.

I clearly cared enough to finish but there were pockets of time it was grudge reading. And I don't care enough to finish the series unless I can borrow it or get it for free like I did this one. I wanted something light since I'm reading and have read heavier stuff and I got it. It was just a little to light and fluffy for my cynical behind which is fair because I'm not the intended audience. Teenage me would have eaten this up with a spoon and asked for more. Middle age me is less impressed.