Book Review: Babe in Boyland by Jody Gehrman

Babe in Boyland

Author: Jody Gehrman
Publisher: Dial Books
Published date: February 7, 2011
Hardcover, 304 pages
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Rating 3 stars
★★★☆☆

Summary: When high school junior Natalie-or Dr. Aphrodite, as she calls herself when writing the relationship column for her school paper-is accused of knowing nothing about guys and giving girls bad relationship advice, she decides to investigate what guys really think and want. But the guys in her class won't give her straight or serious answers. The only solution? Disguising herself as a guy and spending a week at Underwood Academy, the private all-boy boarding school in town. There she learns a lot about guys and girls in ways she never expected-especially when she falls for her dreamy roommate, Emilio. How can she show him she likes him without blowing her cover?

Review: The main character Natalie (who doesn't seem to have a personality beyond a superiority-but-also-a-victim complex and the "adorable quirk" of swearing in German...) disguises herself and goes undercover as "Nat" to an all-boys school with the help of her two best friends Chloe (the bitchy-but-really-has-a-heart-of-gold hit friend) and Darcy (the friend whose only distinguishing feature seems to be having pink hair, I don't even know.)

In the week undercover as a boy, Natalie learns a lot about men, women, gender roles, and herself. She has some good personal growth, and there are some touching moments with minor characters. Plus she has a hot roomie, Emilio (who is Hispanic so, y'know, diversity and stuff) that she has some crazy instalove stuff going on with.

Basically, if you want to read a book that's the Amanda Bynes movie "She's the Man" but with a play instead of soccer, this is the book for you! It's a fun, light read, but don't expect it to be more than it is.