The Boyfriend List by E.Lockhart

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Source: Purchased at Book Sale
Series: Yes, #1 of 4
Buy It: The Book Depository
Challenge: Off the Shelf

Ruby Oliver is 15 and has a shrink. She knows it’s unusual, but give her a break—she’s had a rough 10 days. In the past 10 days she:
lost her boyfriend (#13 on the list),

lost her best friend (Kim),

lost all her other friends (Nora, Cricket),

did something suspicious with a boy (#10),

did something advanced with a boy (#15),

had an argument with a boy (#14),

drank her first beer (someone handed it to her),

got caught by her mom (ag!),

had a panic attack (scary),

lost a lacrosse game (she’s the goalie),

failed a math test (she’ll make it up),

hurt Meghan’s feelings (even though they aren’t really friends),

became a social outcast (no one to sit with at lunch)

and had graffiti written about her in the girls’ bathroom (who knows what was in the boys’!?!). 

But don’t worry—Ruby lives to tell the tale. And make more lists.

     I had wanted to read this for a few months.  I picked it up in the bookstore once but, put it down.  Then I traded a fellow blogger for the paperback.  Then I bought a hardcover copy at a book sale and gave the paperback to a friend.  It's kind of funny because the story of how I came across the book is similar to my thoughts on the book.  I liked it, then I didn't like it, then I did and so on.   So, I pretty much had mixed feelings about the book.
     I loved the way the book was organized like a dictionary.  There was a chapter for each boy on the list.  I also loved the lists :).  Though, I must admit how the story was told was definitely confusing.  Ruby is telling the story to her shrink in the past tense but, at certain points she tells the story as it happens, so it was a little jumbled.  Therefore, the book did take me a while to read but, I was also very busy.
     The plot was definitely pretty interesting.  Ruby had so many misadventures (and boyfriends!)  that I was pretty surprised at everything that had happened to her!  E. Lockhart definitely threw in some quirky stories that I couldn't help but, smile at!  It's actually very funny to think back at everything Ruby Oliver had received in her mail cubby!
     I really liked Ruby and her family.  They were all so out of the ordinary.  They lived on a houseboat, her parents fought very funny, her mom was a comedian, there was even a taco costume in the book!  As you can tell, The Boyfriend List was definitely a funny book.  Ruby was a great character.  I loved how she told her stories to Dr. Z and her critical but, comical personality.
     The ending of the book tied up very nicely.  I'll definitely be reading the second book in the series.  I want to know what happens to Ruby this time!  If you've read the book, who's your favorite boyfriend?  I'm split between Noel, Angelo, and Gideon.  ;)
    The Boyfriend List is a quirky, funny, teenage book and you should definitely check it out!  Although it wasn't my favorite, you're guaranteed to laugh at least once!

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