Mary Hogan: About You

Monday, 14 September 2009

Perfect Girl by Mary Hogan

From Amazon: Out of the blue, Ruthie has fallen in love with the boy next door, Marcus. He's suddenly grown up and made her heart go thwang, and Ruthie has no idea what to do about it. Then new girl, Jenna, shows up at school, and Ruthie realizes she has to do something, and fast. Jenna is perfect, from her perfectly straight hair to her perfectly manicured toes. Marcus has noticed her, too, and worse, Jenna has noticed him right back. Ruthie knows she has to call her aunt, New York's "Goddess of Love." If Aunt Marty, romance columnist and woman of the world, can't turn Ruthie into a perfect girl, no one can... but she might also turn Ruthie's entire world upside down.

I really like Mary Hogan's books; they're short, fun and to the point. Although Perfect Girl's description puts a lot of emphasis on turning into a perfect person, there's not actually much focus on that in the book, and instead it's more about family and accepting yourself as you are.

Perfect Girl has quite a simple plot, but it's one that works well. The romance is sweet, the family relationships are realistic, and the small town life is endearing. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters well enough, although I did have a favourite: the mysterious old Mr. Arthur. He reminded me of a sweet old Grandad, and he provided some much needed company for Ruthie and her mother. Aunt Marty was also a well-rounded character, with hidden problems of her own to work through. I liked how she was supposed to have the perfect life, when in actual fact she was experiencing set backs just like everyone else.

Hogan's writing was humourous and enjoyable, and she's definitely got the knack when it comes to writing for teenagers. I finished this book with a smile on my face, just like I did when I read her previous novel The Serious Kiss, and am looking forward to seeing what this author comes up with next. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be an uplifting read that people of all ages will find themselves relating to.

Wondrous Reads


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