Blog Tour: The Fine Art of Pretending by Rachel Harris (Review)

Title: The Fine Art of Pretending
Author: Rachel Harris
Pages: 256
Genre: YA
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary 
Release Date:September 30, 2014
Buy: Amazon| Kobo| B&N|Book Depo

Summary (Goodreads)

According to the guys at Fairfield Academy, there are two types of girls: the kind you hook up with, and the kind you're friends with. Seventeen-year-old Alyssa Reed is the second type. And she hates it. With just one year left to change her rank, she devises a plan to become the first type by homecoming, and she sets her sights on the perfect date—Justin Carter, Fairfield Academy’s biggest hottie and most notorious player.

With 57 days until the dance, Aly launches Operation Sex Appeal and sheds her tomboy image. The only thing left is for Justin actually to notice her. Enter best friend Brandon Taylor, the school’s second biggest hottie, and now Aly’s pretend boyfriend. With his help, elevating from “funny friend” to “tempting vixen” is only a matter of time.

But when everything goes according to plan, the inevitable “break up” leaves their friendship in shambles, and Aly and Brandon with feelings they can’t explain. And the fake couple discovers pretending can sometimes cost you the one thing you never expected to want

Review:

I knew I had to read this book when I heard from a friend that she really loved it! It was definitely hooking and with Rachel Harris' writing style it made it all the better. The Fine Art of Pretending is now a favorite. Great contemporary read that will warm up your heart. Harris is an author to look out for! Swoon-worthy as well,  and even look at that beautiful cover!

Alyssa Reed has been a friend to all the guys at Fairfield Academy. But she has never been asked on dates, or any of them paying her attention that she really wants. She is a tomboy who loves sports and competition. For senior year she wants to change that by chancing into a girly-girl who has the eyes for the hottest guy, Justin. The only thing is that changes when her friend Brandon comes in to convince him to be her pretend boyfriend. But as their fake relationship starts, it has become real or not. 

The characters were just as great since both Aly and Brandon do have a connection from the beginning of the book. As any relationship starts to form there is a lot of ups and downs. It is also very realistic and many teenagers feel the same way. The message of the story would be to not try to change who you are and to be happy. 

This is going to be one of many first books that I have read from Rachel, but I will eventually read her other series. Perfect contemporary book that will have you think about it the next day! Aly does get to discover who she really is and it is easy to understand since at that age we all want to finish. Big thank you to SHP/KP Simmon for letting me read this great book!

4.5/5