The Boyfriend List

Review Quotes for Dramarama

"Very smart and very funny... theater lovers will swoon, and everyone else will appreciate the twists and the ending you don’t see coming." -- Booklist, starred review

"Jealousies swirl, talent shines and insecurities bloom amid the intense competition, reflected in Lockhart's zippy prose. The author deftly handles highly varied characterizations and vividly portrays the intense, sparkling and thorny aspects of the theater world. … Anyone with the acting bug will grab this and devour it in one bite. Exhilarating." -- Kirkus reviews

"Dramarama far surpasses other books that I have read. Aside from the hilarious plot and narration, E. Lockhart adds in issues that anyone who reads this novel is able to connect with." -- TeensReadToo.com

"Teens will identify strongly with both the heartbreak and the humor in this authentic portrayal of friendships maturing and decaying....An effervescent read, this is an excellent purchase." -- School Library Journal

"It is easy to get swept up with these enthusiastic students who hug and kiss "even when they're competing with each other," and who break out into an early-morning rendition of "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" on a dare....this production has more than enough energy -- and honesty -- to captivate its audience." -- Publishers Weekly

"E. Lockhart mixes summer camp, friendship, glitter, romance, dancing, singing and theater to make this book a Show Stopper! Brava!"
-- Cecil Castelluci, author of Boy Proof and Queen of Cool

Here's the review at Bookshelves of Doom.

Here's the review by Professor Nana.

More Quotes about The Boy Book

Most of the print reviews are listed along with The Boy Book description on this site, but here's a review/essay on The Boy Book from the children's and teen lit blog A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy.

Here is a review of The Boy Book in list form from Professor Nana's weblog on YA literature.

The review fromAvenging Sybil's Dawn Emerman.

Reviews of Fly on the Wall

From TeenReads:
"The novel is fast paced, hysterically funny, and a pleasure to read."

The Horn Book magazine says, of FLY ON THE WALL:
"This unexpectedly sharp comedy charts its own metamorphosis -- from teen angst ("Life as an Artificial Redhead") to surreal wish-fulfillment fantasy ("Life as a Vermin") and beyond ("Life as a Superhero"). Gretchen Yee, a well-intentioned but self-absorbed teen smarting over her parents' sudden divorce, wishes she could be "a fly on the wall of the boys' locker room" -- and then has to deal with the consequences when her wish inexplicably comes true. Stuck in observer mode (upon pain of squishy death), she learns to consider others' perspectives, enabling her to mend fences with her father, play matchmaker for her love-struck best friend, and connect with her own crush upon her return to human form."

From The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books:
"The stylish text (rendered nearly multivocal by the periodic font changes) combined with Gretchen's frank fascination with the oddity and then the humanity of the male body and psyche are a rare treat."

From Publishers Weekly:
"Narrator Gretchen Yee will grab readers from the first page with her snappy commentary."

From School Library Journal:
"When the insect character emerges, Lockhart's writing style moves from prose to near poetry as she weaves in and out of Gretchen's mind. This technique allows readers to know what the protagonist is thinking, keeps the pace of the quickly moving story, and suspends disbelief with the very absurd concept. Although containing some strong language and mature situations, this novel is a good choice for teens who are unsure of their place in the world, including reluctant readers."

Here's the review on Reading YA: Readers Response.

Early Quotes, Fly on the Wall

“A super-smart, super-sweet, and super-fantastic read.”
-- Sarah Mlynowski, author of Bras & Broomsticks and Milkrun

A review from Professor Nana, the goddess of YA literature.

A review by Suzi, aka Connorgal, who writes another weblog on YA literature.

Reviews, The Boyfriend List

Richie of the YA book review site Richie's Picks calls The Boyfriend List "a delightful and frequently achingly honest tale--warts and all--about what happens when girls and boys meet." He also put the book on his Best of 2005 List.

Novelist and children's lit blogger Cynthia Leitich-Smith (Rain is Not My Indian Name) writes: "The Boyfriend List is one of the best examples of the direction I'd like to see us going with race and ethnicity in books for kids and teens...I can't remember the last time I was so personally engaged with a novel."

The Boyfriend List is one of the American Library Association's Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers, and it was a Junior Library Guild selection. South Dakota Library Association's YARP reading list award, 2007.

Quotes on The Boyfriend List

Last night I reread The Boyfriend List--I needed a pick-me-up--and it is so amazing. It really is. So sweet and sad and funny and real."
--Lauren Myracle, NYTimes best-selling author of TTFN, TTYL and Rhymes with Witches

"Ruby's exploits are agonizingly funny as she learns there is life outside her high school universe."
-- Girls Life

"The book is spectacular, with a well-constructed story and deep, emotional significance."
-- Romantic Times

"Spot-on dialogue and details make this a painfully recognizable and addictive read."
-- Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Lockhart shines at depicting the all-encompassing microcosm of school social life."
-- Kirkus

"It's in Ruby's anguished and sincere account of confusion, hurt, and longing for the affectionate relationship she thought she'd found that the book really shines. There's a genuine appreciation of the
significance such a relationship can have and the stunned sorrow a breakup can leave in its wake, even as the confiding and rueful tone of Ruby's narration edges the story into comedy and away from tragedy."
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"The comedy of errors will have readers laughing out loud."
-- School Library Journal

Read an excerpt from The Boyfriend List

Some Hype, The Boyfriend List

Nice things people are saying about The Boyfriend List:

"I truly did enjoy The Boyfriend List—the book seemed so real it was like eavesdropping.  I think there are plenty of girls out there who will see themselves in this book and will gobble it down: not only as great entertainment, but as self-validation."
-- Annette Kurtis Clause, author of Blood & Chocolate, Alien Secrets and The Silver Kiss

"The Boyfriend List" is a wonderful comic exploration of:
-the maddening (but hilarious) world of mothers and fathers,
-the gut-wrenching politics (and excitement) of multiple crushes,
-and the complications (and kinship) of friendship.
Ruby Oliver is a winning girl (even if she doesn't realize it), whom we'd all befriend in a heartbeat (as long as she doesn't have eyes on our guy). A whole lot of fun.
-- Jill Davis, author of Girls' Poker Night

"Breezy and genuine, with a tender understanding of who really walks the halls in America's high schools. The Boyfriend List made me laugh and, yeah, I was kind of attracted to Kim."
-- Ned Vizzini, author of Be More Chill and Teen Angst? Nah

"Ruby Oliver's list of boyfriends is a wonderful and tragic document of our times. I felt kind of bad for some of the guys on the list -- but at the same time, while I read, I kept wishing I was on it."
-- J. Minter, author of The Insiders

Five Stars at YA Books Central

YA Books Central gives The Boyfriend List a shockingly lovely review, and five stars.