Dating Game #2: Breaking Up Is Really, Really Hard to Do
Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at
10:15 am
Product DescriptionIs he “It?” You knowthe truly perfect guy? Suddenly Holly isn’t sure that her boyfriend is “It. ” Lina is so sure her teacher Dan is “It” that she begins a risky e-mail relationship with him. Madison’s “It” has always been Sean. . . until she met Stephen. Can there be two “Its?”. . . More >>
Dating Game #2: Breaking Up Is Really, Really Hard to Do
Tagged with: Breaking • Dating • Game • Hard • Really
Filed under: Dating Books
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The dating game continues in the sequel, Breaking Up is REally, Really Hard To Do. All in All I’d rate this book a three, the whole series is a three as well, i mean i’ve read better books but if you’re bored and looking for a quick read about teenagers and relationships it’ll serve it’s purpose fairly well.
Okay so the story basically continues about three best friends Holly, Lina, and Madision, and their lives. Lina is still madly obsessed with her teacher even though it is blatantly obvious Walker is interested in her, and that she actually has a chance with him. Personally the whole Lina thing really bores me and pisses me off, I think her crush on her teacher is extremely unhealthy and annoying. Especially when she creates a character Larissa and becomes e-pals/lovers with Dan. Madison is obviously stuck on Sean but also has this huge crush on Stephen, this was really funny to read about especially because Mads is extremely ignorant and shall we say clueless when it comes to really reading into things. Holly and Rob are still dating but she starts getting very critical of him and isn’t sure if he is her “IT” guy or not.
This book is very predictable, but it ends on a nice happy note. It’s cute, not amazing or anything, but if you’re looking for a cute mindless teenage book I’d definitely give this one a look over.
Rating: 3 / 5
Though not as good as the first book in the series, Breaking Up is Really, Really Hard to Do is still pretty good. Mads, Lina, and Holly are back, and so is the Dating Game. Mads uses an art project to try and get closer to Sean, Lina creates a fake identity in order to talk to Dan on a dating web-site, and Holly decides to break up with Rob, wondering if it’s the right decision. This series truly illustrates the hardships of high school.
Rating: 3 / 5
I am an adult who loves reading “teen fiction”. I picked up the first book in this series by fluke but I have found myself running after the second and third books.
This series is fun to read. While it does not really tackle many of the daily problems encountered by teens today – or should I say the book does tackle them, but never in any type of serious way, the storylines are cute and witty.
If I had a teen, I would have no problem suggesting these titles. I look forward to more in this series.
Rating: 4 / 5
Natalie Standiford’s second installment in her Dating Game series, BREAKING UP IS REALLY, REALLY HARD TO DO, is another example of fine realistic fiction, with a lot of humor thrown in for good measure.
Holly, Lina and Madison are enjoying the popularity that the success of their matchmaking project has brought them — Holly is still dating Rob; Lina is still in love with her young teacher, Dan; and Madison is still madly in love with the swim star, Sean. As the novel progress, teenage angst at its best occurs. Holly becomes increasingly annoyed with Rob, most notably because of the cheesy sayings on his T-shirts and the way he asks for Holly’s permission before kissing her. Lina discovers a personal ad that Dan has written. She answers, but not as herself — rather, she responds as a college student who’s studying film. Madison decides to use a portrait of Sean as the centerpiece for her art project, showing how her life revolves around her infatuation of him.
Returning are some minor characters, including Audrey, Madison’s kid sister; Ramona, the leader of the We Love Dan cult; and Sebastiano, Holly’s locker buddy. A new character is Stephen Costello, a fellow artist who becomes pals with Madison.
Like the first installment in the series, this book deals with relationships, friendships, self-esteem, confidence, and a host of other issues that teen readers will be able to relate to. Standiford’s strength is her characterization and the realistic voice she creates for her characters. The three main protagonists are likable, believable, and just flawed enough to make them real. There is a lot of humor here as well — the sayings on Rob’s shirts are cheesy but funny, the rapport between the girls is full of zingers, and Ramona’s saving of Dan’s used napkins is creepy but at the same time humorous.
Standiford already has written the third installment of The Dating Game, entitled CAN TRUE LOVE SURVIVE HIGH SCHOOL? I believe that Standiford’s series will survive much more than that.
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Rating: 5 / 5