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    The Duff
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    The Duff
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    The Duff
    Ebook302 pages4 hours

    The Duff

    By Kody Keplinger

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Bianca no se considera la más guapa del instituto, pero sí demasiado lista para dejarse engañar por el atractivo y mujeriego Wesley Rush. Por eso, cuando Wesley la llama Duff -apodo que utiliza para referirse a la chica menos agraciada de un grupo de amigas-, lo último que ella espera es acabar besándose con él. Pero ha pasado y, aunque lo odia con todas sus fuerzas, el beso le gusta. Y sin apenas saber cómo, empiezan una relación secreta de amigos (o enemigos) con derecho a roce.
    LanguageEspañol
    PublisherPlataforma Neo
    Release dateOct 21, 2013
    ISBN9788415880639
    Unavailable
    The Duff
    Author

    Kody Keplinger

    Kody Keplinger grew up in a small Kentucky town. During her senior year of high school she wrote her debut novel, The DUFF, which is a New York Times bestseller, a USA Today bestseller, a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and a Romantic Times Top Pick. It has since been adapted into a major motion picture. Kody is also the author of Lying Out Loud, a companion to The DUFF; Run; Shut Out; and A Midsummer's Nightmare, as well as the middle-grade novel The Swift Boys & Me. Kody currently lives in New York City and writes full-time. You can visit her online at www.kodykeplinger.com.

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    Reviews for The Duff

    3.5/5

    544 ratings81 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I'll admit that I didn't want to read The DUFF. Not one little bit. I kept hearing people talk about it and how excited they were and I just wanted to run in the opposite direction. The fact of the matter was, I didn't want to read a book about a "designated ugly fat friend," not when I felt like one myself. I suppose you could say that I was a bit afraid of Kody Keplinger's debut novel. I can now say that I would have been kicking myself forever if I hadn't given this novel a chance. Before I'd even finished reading, I realized that The DUFF is one the best contemporary YA novels I've ever read and that I may never be able to get it out of my head. There were so many aspects of this novel that touched me emotionally. It feels cheesy to say that The DUFF inspired me, but there really is no other way to put it. As far back as elementary school, I've felt like the DUFF. Of course, I knew that my friends, who I think are gorgeous, intelligent girls, didn't like things about themselves, but, for the most part, I dismissed their complaints and insecurities. In my mind, they had nothing to complain about... at least not compared to me. I knew that my insecurities were magnified by my negative body image and self-esteem issues, but I could never truly bring myself to turn this self-destructive behavior around. Somehow, Keplinger's words and Bianca's story finally allowed me do this. For years, I've been putting myself down by comparing myself to my friends, when, in reality, we have all have flaws and characteristics that make us amazing and unique. Seeing how Bianca puts herself down, when the reader can clearly see that she's an amazing, vibrant person with so much to offer, really drove this truth about myself home. I truly believe that every girl, and many boys. have felt like or will feel like the DUFF at some point in their lives, and I applaud Kody Keplinger for having the guts - and the wisdom - to write Bianca's story because it's a story everyone can relate to.I was surprised, but unbelievably happy to find that Keplinger tackles teen sex in The DUFF. Her treatment of the controversial topic is honest and, in my opinion, perfectly done. I can sincerely say that I have never read a sex scene in a YA novel that I believed as much as those found in The DUFF. I didn't feel that Keplinger condoned or discouraged teen sex, she merely presented a realistic portrayal, and, for that, I'm extremely grateful. I have no problem with sex in YA, but I firmly believe that if it's going to be incorporated, it must be done with tact. In my mind, Keplinger has written successfully what many seasoned writers cannot.It was the romantic plot line that finally convinced me to pick up The DUFF. I can never resist a good love story and Keplinger did a phenomenal job. I find that I like my main character and her romantic interest to bicker and fight and sometimes flat our hate one another before they realize that, against all odds, that hate may have transformed into love - with some passion in between. I'm a huge fan of tension and denial and grand gestures and Keplinger's romance left me sighing happily. I'm especially impressed by the author's ability to nearly make me hate Wesley as much as Bianca does (at the beginning of the novel) and still have me completely in love with him by the end. I was terrified that he was just as bad as Bianca thought he was. And, in ways, I suppose he was. He was definitely flawed, he is, after all, a teenage boy, but he has so many wonderful qualities as well. Bianca and Wesley's romance is will and forever be one of my favorites.I'll definitely be buying myself a copy of The DUFF. And I'll definitely be recommending [forcing] my sisters and friends to read it as well. I'm in awe of this remarkable debut novel and I urge each and every one of you to read it, especially if you can say that you've ever felt like the a DUFF.
    • 4/5
      I have heard mixed reviews about this. Some said it was horrible, some great. Some said you could tell it was written by a teenager. To be honest, some parts were great and others were terrible. I didn't like the constant use of the f-bomb and the casual sex. I did like the depth of the character though, but Kody took away from Bianca as she slowly made her behavior terrible. And to be honest, the romance felt fabricated. However, I would recommend this to a friend, just a more mature one.
    • 3/5
      Read by Ellen Grafton. Bianca has teen troubles. Her parents are getting divorced, her dad is drinking again, her old boyfriend is in town with his fiance, and she's suddenly insecure about being the DUFF (designated ugly fat friend) as described by Wesley Rush, the school hottie and slimeball, and a boy she can't stand. But as her father finds escape from his divorce in drink, she finds her own escape by having casual sex with, shockingly, Wesley himself, who actually turns out to be the friend she needs. Lib notes: swearing, sexual activity (not too graphic but not euphemistic, either), drinking.
    • 5/5
      I sat here and started to read this book this morning and finished it a few hours ago. All the messages and situations are things that I have gone through and just the message this book gives is something that I stand behind. No one needs should judge you because everyone makes mistakes and if they do judge you you shouldn't pay them attention because they may not know you or the situation you are in. Over all I loved the book!
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars. Cute, very quick read, but overall a little disappointing. The whole DUFF thing got tied up a little too neatly at the end, and I sort of felt like I'd been transported into an after school special.

      Not bad for an evening read, but not something I'd read again.
    • 5/5
      Bianca is sarcastic and bitchy, but she's an excellent friend. So excellent, in fact, that she lets her two best friends drag her to the local under-21 club at least once a week so that she can watch them have a great time and make sure they don't do something stupid. For the purposes of this discussion, something stupid = sleeping with Wesley, the hottest guy in school. (He's also kind of a jerk.)And then one night, he talks to her at the club. He tells her that he likes her friends and has determined that the best way to hook up with them is to let them see him talking to her, because she's their DUFF. (DUFF = Designated Ugly Fat Friend.) Bianca throws her drink in his face.Except things in her life are kind of crappy (her mom's been out of town for ages and her dad's depressed about it). And so she ends up kissing Wesley. And then she ends up hooking up with Wesley.I absolutely adored this (all too short, unfortunately) book. Bianca is the kind of girl I'd want my daughter to be (if I had a daughter). She's smart and funny and a good friend, plus she's a Democrat and ultimately secure with herself and her body.There's a lot of sex in this book (well, maybe not a LOT, but it's there), which might cause some people to be a little nervous. But on the plus side it's all safe sex. So there's that. :)And I think what I liked most about the book (besides Bianca and her unexpected love story) is the moral that pretty much every girl is insecure and that even Bianca's hot friends feel like they're unattactive. I wish that went away as we got older.Smart, fun book with an incredibly awesome, kickass heroine. Recommended.
    • 5/5
      Though the language and sexuality of The Duff is unrestrained it did nothing to deter from the greatness of the story being told. Let's be honest, I'm not too old to know that this is realistic. Do I cringe that this is the norm, yes, but why put the truth of today's youth under the rug? Bianca is a teenage girl with some self esteem issues. She feels she is the ugly duckling of her set of friends, and is not fond of Wes, the man slut, saying such out loud and to her. His words impact her, though she hates that it is affecting her. Things at home are not so great either, her mom is gone, and her dad refuses to see the reality of his situation. Somehow escaping a couple of hours with Wes makes her numb to her surrounding problems. Wes becomes her escape, but what starts off as a past time quickly changes when she begins to feel something..something real.
    • 5/5
      I actually really enjoyed this book. It was a nice refreshing reality of what goes on in high school. And it showed a perfect example of the 'underdog' managing to eventually come out on top. Bianca (main character) is easy to relate to and Wesley is very blunt yet sweet in the best way possible. Their dynamic is plain adorable.
    • 5/5
      Bianca Piper isn't peppy, cheery or flirty. She'd rather stay home on a Friday night binge watching old TV shows than being dragged to a crappy club and forced to dance to music that she hates. But that is exactly where we find her at the beginning of the book. Sitting alone at the bar, nursing a Cherry Coke and watching the minutes tick by so agonizingly slow that she is almost tempted to go out on the dance floor. Almost. Cue Wesley Rush. Bianca is less than thrilled when he starts chatting with her, so much so that she doesn't even try to hide her distaste for him, but that doesn't stop Wesley. After all if he talks to her (The DUFF (designated ugly fat friend) of the group) that will make him more appealing in the eyes of her two hot friends. After processing what Wesley said and what he called her all Bianca can do it throw her Cherry Coke in his face, find her friends and leave. But Bianca can't get that four letter word out of her head, no matter how hard she tries she keeps thinking of herself as the DUFF. When her home life gets to be too much and a blast from the past shows up the only thing Bianca can do to distract herself is... Well... Wesley. Suddenly she finds herself addicted to him, needing him to keep her mind off of all the drama unfolding in her life. It's nothing real, they aren't dating, it's simply a friends with benefits situation, minus the friends part. But after a series of rather unfortunate events Bianca realizes that Wesley isn't as bad as she thought he was and that maybe, just maybe she's falling for him. Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Book Depository--------------------------------------------------I don't know why I'm so surprised that I loved this book as much as I did. I think this is the first time ever that I watched the movie adaptation before reading the book so maybe that has something to do with it but let me just be clear- THE BOOK IS ALWAYS BETTER!While the movie was all fun and games and centered mostly around the DUFF and what it meant, the book was so much deeper and felt much more real then it's counterpart. I instantly felt a connection to Bianca, her snarky comments and constant cynicism spoke to my soul- or the lack there of. I've never been a fan of 'insta-love' but after reading The DUFF I can say that I'm a HUGE fan of 'insta-hate'. From the beginning Bianca despises Wesley and everything he stands for, he's a man-whore, nothing more. But slowly she comes to realize that there is so much more to him than what she previously thought and that you can't judge a book by it's (seriously toned) cover. One of my favorite parts is when Wesley tells Bianca "No matter where you go or what you do to distract yourself, reality catches up eventually." I instantly had a flash back to Paul Varjack telling Holly Golightly that "No matter where you run you just end up running into yourself." Distractions are just that, they don't make the problems go away, they don't make them any smaller or easier to deal with. Whether our problems center around being a DUFF, divorced parents or alcoholism. Soon or later we have to face them head on. For a man-whore Wesley had some pretty good advice. ;)Simply put I adored this book. I'm a little pissed at myself for having put off reading it for so long and I fully intend on making up for that with quite a few re-reads in the near future. Until next time, Ginger In compliance with FTC guidelines I am disclosing that this book was given to me for free to review. My review is my honest opinion.
    • 4/5
      I first saw this book about 2 years ago and the title of it really turned me off from reading it. After watching the movie trailer and seeing that it was more of a comedy, I decided to pick it up. The story was fun and I honestly wasn't expecting the more "adult" type content in this book: alcoholism, sex, etc. The book was cute and I ended up enjoying it overall.
    • 3/5
      The premise of The Duff by Kody Keplinger is that Bianca is the DUFF of her circle of friends according to Wesley, this guy she meets in a teen club. DUFF meaning designated ugly fat friend. Interwoven throughout the novel are issues Bianca must deal with such as self-esteem, weight, alcoholism, and expression of sexuality.I didn't like the writing style at first. Mainly because an action would occur, then it would be explained. I.e. Bianca stabbed Wesley with a pen. She was angry. She was enraged. Perhaps my tastes have evolved, so this is not really my sort of thing. Maybe, I just prefer to be trusted to understand what is going on.Unfortunately, Bianca spends much of the book pissed off. She's jealous of skinny girls. If she sees a certain guy talking to a skinny girl, I noticed she'd call the girl names. Then she wants to 'kill' Wesley. Then she's pissed at her mom. She's very hot and cold which does irritate me. I guess I'm past those teenage hormones.However, certain elements trumped my distaste. I emotionally connected with this book. I read this on the bus back from BEA and I had to dart my eyes around to make sure no one could see me getting misty-eyed. I'll admit, certain scenes felt real and like such, were an emotional punch in the gut.I loved that despite the sexual choices Bianca made, there was no slut shaming. She was never punished for getting her love on. Rather, it was a conscious decision and she seemed quite in control of her actions.Clearly, this is upper YA as there are lots and lots of swears and sexying. I didn't love it, but maybe you will
    • 4/5
      Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper starts sleeping with Wesley Rush, a notorious womanizer who disgusts her, in order to distract her from her personal problems, and to her surprise, the two of them find they have a lot in common and are able to help each other find more productive ways to deal with their difficulties.
    • 3/5
      The Duff is the debut novel of another young adult on the rise in the literary arena: eighteen-year-old Kody Keplinger.What is a Duff you may ask? That is a most important question. The Duff is an acronym of sorts. It stands for the Designated Ugly Fat Friend. Huh? Still not sure what that's about? It means the ugly girl in the group. The girl that makes all the other girls look pretty and feel better about themselves, because the Duff is clearly not as attractive as the rest.Bianca Piper, seventeen, is the Duff in her group. She didn't know it until rich, super hot, gets-in-everyone's pants Westly Rush tells her so. Romantic wisdom according to Westly says that a guy always has a better chance of getting with the gorgeous girls he desires if that guy makes nice with the group's Duff.Bianca has always despised Westly and his man-whoring ways. His insult adds fuel to the caustic, bone-cutting barbs that she is more than willing to throw at him or anyone else who gets on her last nerve. Then things begin to spiral out of control with her family and Bianca finds herself taking refuge in the most unlikely of places: Westly Rush's bed. Could a super hottie like Westly ever feel anything remotely real for a girl like Bianca?Kody Keplinger has made what sounds like a fairly simple premise resonate with depth, wit and a realistic teen point of view. Her characters are well fleshed out and even her minor characters manage to highlight issues that are pertinent to teen girls today, indeed such concerns are timeless: sex, casual and otherwise, it's consequences, fear of losing your friend when she finds love of the male persuasion, love and what exactly is it? Even using sex as a form of self-medication. All of these are themes woven throughout the story among others.There is a significant use of profanity utilized by Bianca, the protagonist. This reader works with teens on a regular basis and grasps that profanity is often a large part of their verbal repertoire, but initially the "F" bombs and fairly regular use of other such language was rather distracting. Teens may not feel this way at all, and granted, Bianca's sharp wit and cutting bite, made this reader smile more often than not as well as laugh out loud on more than a few occasions.The Duff had a resounding story arc. It was a pleasure to follow the characters as they navigated through the teen minefields of high school, love, lust, and the hunt for self-affirmation and self-esteem.Comment
    • 4/5
      Right from the beginning Bianca is harassed by the school playboy Wesley. He tells her he only talks to her, the "Duff" to get in bed with her friends. And thus the giant whirlwind of problems begin to occur for poor Bianca.To escape the problems at home, at school, and with her love life she seeks solace in a relationship with Wesley. Purely sexual, nothing more. Or so it starts.But what happens when the escape turns into just another thing piled up in her life she can't understand? How will she handle it all when it comes crashing down?Wow. Really. All I can still think is wow.I have to be honest, when this book first came out I thought it was going to be a stinker. I myself was a Duff (or so I thought in high school) and the idea of the MC falling in love with the guy who called her that? Not realistic to me in any way and it bothered me.But it didn't turn out that way. I started it today and finished it today. I couldn't put this book down even if there were a fire in the house. It pulled me in and I couldn't get enough.Bianca and her friends are real and true characters. I could see them perfectly, and they never stopped being amazing. Bianca, despite her image about herself hides in this shell and never lets anyone see who she really is. And it worked, and I loved her.I was surprised by Wesley. I hated him right there with Bianca. But as the book progresses he starts to grow on me, and by the end, I really liked him. I even rooted for him and I felt for him when you find out what's going on in his life.And being the sap that I am, I cried in a part (or two). I wanted Bianca to stand up for herself, and when she did I bawled like a baby.It might have had about 20 or more "f" bombs, and the sex scenes might be a little graphic, but it didn't matter. Take them out and it still was book I will never forget. And I will read again and again.
    • 5/5
      Bianca a troubled teen finds her life crumbling under the pressures of family and self-esteem issues. She makes unexpected decisions that forever change her view of others and herself . Incredibly realistic and powerful novel that questions how others see each other and how young love really is. Just, wow, it was really well-written. *Sex, violence & profanity occasionally.*
    • 4/5
      This is a bold book. The author pushed the limits of what you typically see in YA literature. There was a great deal of potential in this book and it could have been wonderful if the characters had a bit more depth. I applaud the author, though, for her bravery in addressing issues related to sex and body image.
    • 5/5
      I was very happy with this book, it was fast moving, it showed alot of sexual relations with a female who had very low selfestem, i felt thought we as females whether skinny or fat could relate to some if not all of the issues the main character was having. I give this book 2 thumbs up and a piece of pie ot the author!
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this book! Bianca is sassy, Wesley doesn't tip-toe around anything and together they are quite entertaining. I adore books that have a main theme that you can really relate to, and this is a prime example of just that. I think everyone has felt like the "DUFF" (designated ugly fat friend) at least once in their life. It may sound cheesy, but I felt a little bit better about myself and my insecurities after finishing this story. I will also say that I really appreciated the flow of the entire book/plot. Some books can get really boring in some places but this one kept me interested the entire time. I am very impressed with the author's first novel and I can't wait for her next one!
    • 2/5
      One of my least favorite things about having a book blog is writing a negative review. I especially hate it when I've come to really love the author (via social media - twitter/facebook) and that the novel has received a bunch of positive press. So, regretfully, I have to say that The DUFF was just not the book for me.First let me start with the positive: I absolutely love Bianca. She's the first YA character I've come across that has the exact same opinion on love as I do. That made me super excited - her tangent about it not necessarily being real love in high school, and that it takes time to develop was just so amazing. Mind blowing actually. After all the books I've read, to finally meet a character that views love (at least from a high school perspective) the same as myself, was super refreshing. I can also say that I really adore her personality, she doesn't take any crap, and she gives it as much as she takes it. However, she's not as strong as I'd like her to be when it came to her family. Which is understandable, you don't want to hurt ones you love... but I have to say that doesn't mean you can go and hurt yourself as well. This is where I start to dislike some of the message the books sends.I probably should say I'm not a fan of teenagers having sex (at least, I don't like it when they don't really have a connection - if they've at least been together for some period of time (Rose/Dimitri) I'm really okay with it). I know this happens, I understand that it's real... but it doesn't mean I like it. So, as strong of a person I see Bianca as, the fact that she jumps into bed with Wesley... makes me sad. First, we're introduced to Wesley as a player - a man of many women, and for some reason none of them seem to care. So, Bianca decides to kiss him during a fight... and then later decides to sleep with him (a lot) to sort of "forget" about her situation at home. That... is just unhealthy. Why kiss the boy you just publicly tore apart? I don't know... their relationship just didn't do it for me. I can understand why she ended up liking him - he stood up for her, and was there for her even if it was in the mode of comfort and sex. I'm just still not a fan. Though I can say (spoiler) that at the end, I love, love, loved that she didn't tell Wesley that she loved him. Cause, lets be honest, they were in super-like, not love.Then there is this underlying plot of being "The DUFF" (Designated Ugly Fat Friend). I wasn't aware this term existed till this book, and I still have yet to actually hear someone use it. Which is a good thing - it's a ridiculous term. My problem with this aspect of the plot is that it wasn't really a shock as to how it would turn out, especially if you read Keplinger's little author blurb on the book flap. She basically took her real life experience with the term and put it in this book. It's a great message (spoiler) - that every girl feels like a DUFF depending on the day, time, you're not alone, etc... it's just not a new one.The last part I want to talk about, and I'm ending this on a high note, is the plot with Bianca's parents. That was the dynamic I was most interested it. From my past reviews and posts I'm guessing you may know how much I love tough subjects - and divorce definitely falls into that category (and so does dealing with an alcoholic parent, but I digress...). So seeing how Bianca deals with this (even if it is by having sex with Wesley) is interesting for me. So this part of the plot was good to go with me, it was a bit of extra goodness I hadn't been expecting.To wrap this up, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I would not hand this to anyone younger than a freshman in high school - and some parts of me feels like that's pushing it. I rarely feel this way about books, but there was such an emphasis on sex... I know I wouldn't want my little brother and his friends (be it the girls or the boys) picking it up, that's for sure.So this book didn't do it for me, but I still love Kody - she's adorable. While The DUFF didn't really "turn my brain" it doesn't mean it won't turn your's - I encourage you to give it a try.
    • 5/5
      Its about damn time I read this book. I added it so long ago, around the time I pretty much started my Goodreads account...yea. And thanks to this book being in paperback, I was able to get two more books as well!Truth be told, I did not expect a lot from this book. In fact, pretty much all of the events that happened took me by surprise. I can honestly see why this book isn't for everyone but the message is something everyone should know: love yourself cause you only live once!...moreIts about damn time I read this book. I added it so long ago, around the time I pretty much started my Goodreads account...yea. And thanks to this book being in paperback, I was able to get two more books as well!Truth be told, I did not expect a lot from this book. In fact, pretty much all of the events that happened took me by surprise. I can honestly see why this book isn't for everyone but the message is something everyone should know: love yourself cause you only live once!Honestly, Bianca Piper is not your typical heroine. She is cynical, a little insecure with her looks, and dare I say it (view spoiler)[a little easy when it came to having sex with Wesley. It went from a kiss here and there to full on action in less than a 100 pages! (hide spoiler)]. It was difficult to read at times simply because I couldn't relate to Bianca as a character.But then it hit me. Everything that Bianca and Casey/Jessica went through, is something I went through with one of my best friends. I realized why I was getting so stick to my stomach reading about Bianca's actions because in a way, my friend did the exact same stuff as Bianca and pushed me away without so much as a word. And even though I can't possibly relate to Bianca, because our situations are so much different, I do understand her and where she is coming from. And I do like how in the end, she came to terms with herself and her image and all that blah stuff.I wasn't too crazy about Wesley for the first 70% of the book simply because he was taking all of Bianca's time away from her friends. But then I realized I couldn't blame him for her actions anyway. And in the end, seeing him mature was a pleasant surprise. So yeah, not my favorite guy in the world but lets face it, I've never been good with his type.Overall, I really liked this book in the end and I have to say, definitely a shocker. Kody Keplinger wrote an amazing debut and even though I'm a little nervous to approach any of her other books just yet, I know for sure that I will. :)What's next on the reading agenda? Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan!Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
    • 4/5
      This book certainly opened with a bang--Bianca's sitting at a bar in a teen club, waiting for her two friends to stop dancing when the school's "man-slut" Wesley tries to chat her up. Bianca's having none of it, especially considering she knows how he operates. And then he calls her The Duff, explaining it means the "Designated Ugly, Fat Friend". Bianca tosses a drink in his face and drives her friends home.The relationship between the characters really made this book so realistic and such an interesting read. I loved how the girls all looked out for one another and how snarky Bianca was about Wesley--even after she kisses him (and more. Much more.). There was even some good parental interaction, which you don't always see in YA (parents tend to be absent parents in YA more often than not). And Bianca's problems at home, with her mom and dad, are what lead her to turn to Wesley for comfort.I wasn't so sure about the Wesley-Bianca relationship. I mean, once for whatever reason (in Bianca's case, she needed the comfort of being wanted and to erase her home stress), I guess I can understand it. But again and again and again? Okay, I can see Wesley letting it go on with no need for an explanation. He's a stereotypical guy (at least, at first) who just wants to get some action. But Bianca? She seemed to be too smart and self-confident to do that to herself. However, without going into too much detail, I did like how Bianca and Wesley's relationship continued to develop (sex aside).All in all, a well-constructed story--very enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      I had put off reading this one for awhile because I was afraid that it was over-hyped. Boy, was I wrong! This book was fantastic. The main character, Bianca, was funny, snarky and and just fragile enough to really have me invested in her story. The character building in general is great in this book. Aside from Bianca we also have the nasty, but seriously hot, Wesley, her two best friends (who just happen to be gorgeous and popular) and her father who is a recovering alcoholic. We watch Bianca as her parents' marriage falls apart and she has to deal with her father's grief as well as a developing "no-strings-attached" relationship with Wesley and all the consequences it comes with. Wesley is definitely a nasty person, but we also get to see his softer side which is nice. The best part about Wesley, though, is that we don't see his good side until Bianca does. Next there are her friends, Casey and Jessica. It would have been easy for Keplinger to write them as Mean Girls or bimbos, but they are true friends who have Bianca's back and really care about her. Finally there is Bianca's dad. He and Bianca are very close, but his downward spiral throws a serious wrench in their relationship and the author does a fabulous job of writing his character so that I felt for him, but maintained the fear and anger that Bianca feels.The best part about this book, though, is the message. This is a book about words, and more than that, labels. It is a story of what happens when we put each other in boxes and how our thoughtless words can seriously damage someone else's psyche. More importantly, though, it is a book about not letting someone else's words take your power away and being good to yourself. I truly love this book and I think it is something everyone should read.
    • 5/5
      I relate to this book so much as I am sure that many if not all girls can. It deals with being the designated ugly fat friend, and I know that I often feel out of place, not right in my own skin, wonder why people hang out with me, and think that my looks are inferior to my friends. Bianca's character could pretty much be me, pessimistic, sarcastic but funny in that dry quirky way, loyal, insecure, smart, too trusting at times, not trusting enough others. It was a breeze to be in her head, and to understand her feelings and reactions. Her family life is going through a rough patch and she is looking for an escape- and finds it in the jerk- hot jerk nonetheless- Wesley. But what happens if she develops feelings that she feels will never be returned? (I have been there too) Spoiler paragraph-- This book should only be for older teens, because she does use sex as an escape. It is not overly explicit, but there are sexual situations, and even though B realizes what she is doing is wrong and inappropriate- and makes the decision in the end to slow things down, it still happens. There is also some curse words- it does not distract from the story, but also disclaimer. There is also an instance of domestic violence but it is not a continued thing and the involved party gets help. This looks at some of the gritty parts of being a teenager, but does not glorify it, and explores reasons, reactions, emotions, guilt, etc. Her friends are amazing, and I have a few like that-- who will tell me like it is, who know my moods, and who are there. They are the best kind! There is also a love triangle, one of course is the bad-boy, bad a**, womanizer with the soft side and the hidden fears and insecurities- Wesley. The other is a perfect gentlemen, but a nerd-Toby. (Not judging- my hubby is a nerd, but Wesley (types) makes me melt in ways Toby can't begin to... but can't say any more without spoiling). And to think that I almost dismissed this book without even reading the synopsis because I thought it was about or written by Hilary Duff. Yes, you can laugh and point now :) On a more serious note, some of the revelations that B comes to made me almost shiver. It conveys a rough image to start, but she realizes some fundamental truths, and she has an important message to get across. I really enjoyed this one!
    • 4/5
      This is a wonderful book about acceptance of self and others. Bianca is called a "Duff" by Wesley, the high school womanizer. She is offended but thinks that its true. With difficulties at home, she turns to Wesley for escape. She learns through all these experiences that every one is in the same boat regarding how they feel about self and others. Good read for all on acceptance.
    • 5/5
      This book definitely doesn't pull any punches and was a bit shocking to me for a YA book but I loved it. I don't agree with all the behaviors in the book but the story sucked me in and I did not want to put it down (although I must say parts of it had me blushing reading it in the middle of the train on my commute to & from work). Bianca's character is so cynical and judgmental that she is almost hard to like but she comes across as very real. The problems she faces are ones that teens everywhere face. This book deals with issues about self confidence, sex, drinking, divorce, etc. You name it and it probably is at least mentioned in passing in this story. Unfortunately Bianca does not deal with the stresses she is facing in life well but to be honest a lot of people don't and we all have our vices. For her she turns to sex with Wesley to get her "high" to carry herself through the hard times she is going through. It's definitely not a healthy way to deal but I loved seeing the progression of the relationship between Bianca and Wesley.Wesley was probably my favorite character in the book. Despite being labeled a "man whore" by Bianca he is refreshingly honest even to the point of being cruel when he tells Bianca that she is the duff in her group. As we see more and more of Wesley we realize that he isn't the superficial, skirt chasing jerk that he first appears to be. He is having his own problems and is using the constant flings as his own way to deal with those issues. Underneath it all he actually has a heart of gold and really I am a sucker for those types of guys.While I may not agree with how the characters in this book seem to try and avoid their problems with the constant sex I do like the message that at some point in time everyone feels like the "duff". Just because you may feel like that it doesn't define who you are and that others probably are not viewing you as harshly as you view yourself. And those that do judge you are probably trying to hide their own insecurities. This is definitely not a book for the prudish reader but I loved it.
    • 4/5
      *** yes, some spoilers here ***Bianca is a witty, snarky senior, her mother is a motivational speaker, her father works at a computer repair shop and they are not getting along. She has extremely loyal friends that are both cheerleaders, blonde and gorgeous. Well, according to Bianca they are, Jessica and Casey don't think that about themselves. Welsey is the school heart throb and bad boy with a love em and leave em attitude. When the two meet at the local all ages club, Wesley calls Biana Duffy and them explains exactly what it mean...Designated Ugly Fat Friend, Bianca reacts by throwing her drink in his face. And thus begins a romantic entanglement that turns out to be something neither one of them planned. Bianca is out to "use" Wesley for just one thing: sex with no strings.I am glad this book took on the issue of sex and love and how those actions impact teens today. I don't think that teens are especially sexually active with AIDS and the spread of other STDs and this story actually says that if you are having sex, make sure it is safe. I felt so sad for Bianca when her parents were breaking up. Neither of them took her feelings into consideration and she didn't open up at all to her friends even when they asked and tried to push her for answers. She instead retreats into what starts out as meaningless sex in order to fill the gap of her parents' love. Except then the sex starts to mean something.I really wanted to hate Wesley but found that he had the same endearing qualities as Bianca. He was also trying to fix the loss of his parents (they traveled a lot) with sex. Bianca called him a man whore which was probably appropriate, but she soon realizes she is just as bad as he is. The whole premise of the Duff having sex the Hot Guy seems far fetched at first, but when you think about the size of the school (small) and they are such opposites, well, the whole thing just comes together and works. This book is best suited for older teens since there is language and sexual situations.
    • 5/5
      DUFF, Designated, Ugly, Fat, Friend, the title of this book is perfect for the story within it from front cover to back cover. Bianca Piper is basically like any teenage girl, she has plenty of insecurities about her body and she isn't afraid to admit them, she knows that between Casey and Jessica and their beauty she is a plain jane, but she never would have thought of herself as a DUFF unless one Wesley Rush, a pretty boy with a misguided sense of humor hadnt told her that she was one and that by being nice to her he was helping his image out with her friends who were smoking hot. Biana is repulsed by Wesley but even through her repulsion she can't deny that Wesley is gorgeous, but the very fact that she thinks he is gorgeous adds to the reason why she hates him. Bianca believes in personality over looks, Wesley doesnt know what he believes in. Either way these two have a love hate relationship, then slowly turns into something more, this is a story about a girl learning to love herself and about a boy learning to love period. The story is realistic mostly and the characters usually stay true to themselves. DUFF had me laughing out loud and hoping Kody Keplinger would write something else and fast. This book is a good fun read.
    • 5/5
      This is not a book I would normally read, but found it in the fantasy section. I found it very enjoyable and it carries a great lesson for all.
    • 5/5
      Let me preface this by voicing a sentiment that is not unfamiliar to YA readers: I am not big on Contemporary Fiction. I am much more of a fantasy, paranormal, supernatural girl. My heart lies therein. Always has, and I suspect that it always will. Not that I don't enjoy a good contemp every now and then, because I most certainly do. Overall, though, my experience with this genre hasn't been anything mind-blowing. That was before I read The DUFF. This book has made me a believer. For the past couple of months The DUFF has been one of those books that seemed to follow me around wherever I went, nagging me to read it, latching itself into the back of my mind. We all have a few of those books in our lives, right? The book your real-life friends won't stop talking about, the one that seems to pop up on every single In My Mailbox post you come across, the one your goodreads friends have been sending you recommendations for non-stop. It seems to me like this book is everywhere. As crazy and egotistical as it sounds, it's like the universe has been conspiring to bring more awesome into my life in the form of one very persistent book. All I can say is well done, universe. Well done. I adored this book from the very first page. Adored it, adored it, adored it. It was a frank and refreshing look into the lives of high schoolers that doesn't shy away from the hard topics like sex and alcohol. It felt so real. The characters came to life for me. They really leapt off the pages. They felt like people I could run into on the street outside. They are the kids I went to high school with and the people in my college classes now. Bianca is a wonderful, engaging narrator. She is clever, fierce, headstrong, wonderfully complex, and, if I'm being honest, a little bitchy. Her growth as a character was really well done, and I loved seeing her learn more about herself and finally face her own fears and problems. I have a tendency to run away from my problems and push them away without dealing with them just like Bianca did in the story (well, minus all of the mindless hate sex), so I felt a very real connection to her character. One of the most annoying things that I tend to come across in YA books nowadays is dialogue that is stiff, unnatural, unrealistic, and just all around cringe-inducing. I'm always wary of that coming into books, especially those of the contemporary/realistic fiction genre. Dialogue problems are not limited to this genre by any means, but there's more pressure there to be realistic and get it right, I think. The DUFF had no problems delivering on this front. The banter was searing and funny and never once felt forced. There is swearing, too. Lots and lots of it. This doesn't bother me at all, but I realize that it will probably be an issue for quite a few people, so you have been warned. Along with the swearing there is also a bit of sex and other mature content and themes that might be a little much for younger YA readers. I do believe all of the themes explored are worthy of this exploration, of course, but I know many parents might disagree with me here. To each their own.CONCLUSION: Refreshing, sizzling, and unapologetically honest, this book is a must-read for lovers of the YA Contemporary Fiction genre and even for readers who are a bit pickier with their contemps (like I am). I couldn't put it down!
    • 5/5
      I wasn't sure what to expect from this one, I've seen a lot of mixed reviews. Some people loved it, some people really didn't. I'm in the "loved it" camp. Big time. Seriously, I'm going to be on the over-enthusiastic Kody Keplinger cheerleading squad. I think it was a ballsy book to write, I can already see the Judy Blume-hating parents and librarians descending on her like a big juicy porterhouse. Lots of sexy hijinks - in a YA book. Not quite as rare as it used to be, but most YA authors don't tackle the "no strings attached - no feelings involved" side of things. Miz Keplinger has done it, and done it well. I love the way the relationship(s) were handled. I mean...come on. There is even a love letter. It doesn't get any better than that (hello? Captain Wentworth!). I wasn't so crazy about how Bianca's relationships with her parents was handled. It seems like their problems were just plastered in there so she'd have something to run away from. It wasn't really tackled that well, in my opinion. Keplinger was such a great writer in every other regard, I think she could have done it better. But - I can kinda understand why she didn't focus on it much since it wasn't meant to be the big issue in the book. I love having a heroine that isn't gorgeous or sure of herself. She might be a little chubby, and she might have a big attitude...but it is still easy to fall for Bianca. Sometimes authors overwrite characters like this and make them annoying or hard to relate to, but Bianca was written very well. I also loved her friends and how loyal they were. Even if Bianca felt like the DUFF...they never ever treated her like one. Yay for good BFFs. So, seriously. Pick this book up and get ready to fall in love with Bianca and get a nice hefty dose of teenage angst. I can't wait to see what Kody Keplinger does next!