Kody Keplinger

An irreverent and irresistible New York Times bestselling romance between the so-called Designated Ugly Fat Friend and the Hot Jock. Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest girl in her high school, but she has a loyal group of friends, a biting wit, and a spot-on BS detector. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush, who calls Bianca the Duff—the Designated Ugly Fat Friend—of her crew. But things aren't so great at home and Bianca, desperate for a distraction, ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

(Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

The DUFF

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.

The Duff

Kaitlyn Kuehn 

“This time, when our bodies connected, it didn't feel dirty or Wrong. It felt horrifyingly right.”

"The guy is a man-whore. I can't stand him. He sleeps with everything that moves, and his brain is located in his pants which means it's microscopic."

Chloé

reads like a wattpad book which no thank you.

Monicap

REALLY Good. Like, if you're not sure going into this because it sorta doesn't sound like there's a lot going on, read it anyway, because it IS. really good.

One thing about this book that I found really touching was the whole idea of how the word was DUFF was used. 
Throughout the book, Wesley ends up call Bianca the Duff or Duffy casually, never knowing how much that words HURTS her until she tells him exactly how hurtful that word is to her. 
That really touched me, because words like that should NEVER be thrown around casually, but in today's culture, most people forget that some words were designed to HURT people, and just use them casually anyway, not knowing that every time you use that word, you might be tearing someone down.

chloe rae

Now, I don't know about you, but I love car rides. I always have, probably always will. And on these car rides, I always take a book. It's easy to grab on the way out and is a suuuper easy way to pass time. This particular car ride was going to be 5 hours long (yay) and I decided to start reading about an hour into the drive. I remember stopping to get a pop from some random gas station but literally the next time I looked up after that, we'd arrived. This book is engrossing! I read the first sentence and couldn't stop. It's so funny (SO FUNNY) and sassy and sexy (just a warning) but you simply can't stop reading it. I fell in love with the main love interest right away, and was fighting it the whole time with Bianca. I just think the idea around this story is so new and different and I couldn't NOT be intrigued. Anyway, this book is at the top of my "read again" pile and is most certainly worth a read.

Zahra

It was such a fast read, I practically flew through it. I loved how realistic the story was, how the author portrayed high school life and the drama that comes with it. I usually despise high school drama but not in this case, the drama was written without being overdramatic. Afterall, what's high school without drama right? On top of that, the writing style made me love the book even more, it felt raw and honest.

Despite her witticism and being sarcastically funny, I couldn't stand Bianca at times. I mean, how could she abandon her friends for Wesley? And sometimes she made really dumb decisions. And she frustrated me when she ran away from all her problems and made a big deal out of it, when it could've been solved if only she wasn't so scared.

Maui S.

Honestly, I only got this book because of the movie but wow. I loved the book, it was a nice light read. I wouldn't mind reading it again and again.

The New York Times bestseller is now a major motion picture! Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest girl in her high school, but she has a loyal group of friends, a biting wit, and a spot-on BS detector. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush, who calls Bianca the Duff--the designated ugly fat friend--of her crew. But things aren't so great at home and Bianca, desperate for a distraction, ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him. Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

Briar's Reviews

** spoiler alert **
           Book Review:
Title: The Duff: Designated Ugly Fat Friend
Author: Kody Keplinger
Date Read: July 22-August 11th, 2016
Date Reviewed: September 4th, 2016

Introduction: I decided to read this book because I wanted to watch the movie, despite hearing that the movie is nothing like the book. I had seen this book on the shelves in my local bookstore for quite some time, but I just never felt the need to pick it up until the movie appeared. My friends who read the book gave mediocre reviews of the novel which made me unsure of whether it was worth it - but it was! I enjoyed this novel! 

Quick Summary: Bianca Piper is your average, everyday high school student. She deals with trying to get into college/university, family issues and friendships. When she has to work with the hot Wesley Rush (who also happens to get around the school) he mentions that she is a "Duff" - a designated, ugly, fat friend. Every group has one, and Bianca is apparently it! With the mixture of her home troubles and high school life, her and Wesley begin to get closer together...and this novel is their story.

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT! You've been warned.

Evaluations: I enjoyed this book. It definitely wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was a nice YA novel to just shut my brain off to. It has it's cliches, but it still is worthy in my mind. It wasn't a slow read either, the plot continued to move which made it enjoyable. I don't understand the high reviews the book received, since it wasn't a top tier, new idea kind of YA book. The appeal of the book for the YA audience is great - I think people who enjoy the Young Adult book scene will enjoy this book, although it wouldn't be the first YA book I suggest people to read. It's more of a soap opera, low key Pretty Little Liars kind of book.


Plot: The plot was pretty average - "Duff" friend gets hot guy. She deals with familial/romantic/friend issues and tells the guy, the guy feels for her and sleeps with her a lot, and eventually they get together. It is definitely a more "realistic" kind of YA novel, and I appreciate that, but there wasn't anything super, crazy new that made me think "Yes, this is the YA novel that ups my standards!". The plot did work well within itself though - Kody did not veer off in random directions, she continued chugging along the right way and kept her book going.

Characters: Bianca's a strong character, much like all the other YA heroines these days. She did have her flaws - there was a boy's over health matter that left me feeling a little stingy - but for a YA audience she definitely fit in. Headstrong female with some flaws to try to relate to the general audience. Pre-teens would definitely enjoy this character, but as an adult she wasn't totally fleshed out as much as I would have liked her to be. She is very obsessed with herself (but what YA character isn't, let's be honest), but in high school the world tends to revolve around high schoolers, not the bigger picture. If she were a college student or an adult, this type of character would be a much bigger issue. 
Bianca also ditched her friends as soon as she dated Wesley... 
Speaking of Wesley... He was the 'perfect' boy character, in my opinion. He was not very realistic - chasing after Bianca, and only staying with Bianca, and being generally the perfect, opposite character for her. While it's nice in fiction, I didn't see it realistic. I could not see any boys I know acting in his way. 

Themes/Creativity: Wuthering Heights is mentioned a lot and the boys are compared to Linton and Heathcliffe - This was okay, and I thought it was nice to mention a book like this so maybe more teenagers will read it, but it definitely did not fit in the story. A teenager wrote this, and I'm proud of her writing skill and getting published, but it felt out of place. Creativity? A+! Theme wise? Meh.
Feminism was clearly attempted, and I'm proud of that too! But...there's a but...it also felt very forced. Everyone loves the hot guys but not the main character? While everyone wants to think they are like that in high school, it's far out of reach. Not entirely realistic, and it kind of bugged me. It was your typical YA stereotype, and not a more realistic or unique take on it. And saying men can't be a feminist? *sigh*

Uniqueness:
Unique topic? Yes! The Duff is definitely a term I've heard before, and I've never seen it written the way it was in this novel. I appreciate that this was brought into terms, since girls (and everyone else for that matter! but in this book girls) feel like the Duff in their group of friends.
YA uniqueness? Meh. Not totally uniquely written as a YA novel. It was cookie cutter, had stereotypes, and was overall your typical YA. It didn't stand out for me, but that doesn't mean it won't be unique to a new YA reader. I've read YA for over 10 years, so at this point it doesn't seem all that new to me.

Strengths: Bringing up important topics - while they weren't all brought up in the best possible way (in my opinion) they were still discussed. Feminism, Wuthering Heights, feeling like "the Duff" - all of this is brought up and is discussed. It gets people thinking and starts a conversation, which is what we really need in today's society.

Weaknesses: Bianca. Yes, the main character is perhaps the biggest weakness - her ideas on feminism, her idea that sleeping with people means you are a slut, ditching her friends for Wesley, the world revolving around her...the list goes on. She was definitely a strong main character and Kody tried, but I found her to be the worst part of the novel.

Score: 4/5
I really enjoyed this novel, but it had it's weaknesses. Would I read it again? Probably not. Would I suggest it to others? Yes. It might not be the first book I suggest to people, but it's recommendation worthy. Kody was a teenager when she wrote this, and if other teenagers could read this book and realize they could write a great novel as well, then recommending it is my duty! 

Recommendations: I can't wait for Kody's next book! As she matures out of her teenage years, I'm sure her characters will grow as well! Life experiences can often help writers mature their characters! I would personally love for Kody to flesh out her characters more and explore new opportunities and situations in her books. This book was amazing for being written by a teenager!!

Gillian Rose

It was the first book I’ve ever read and it was in 2021 I thought it was quite good then but now that I have reread it I still think it’s good just not the best compared to others I’ve read however it is way better than any CoHo books 

Sophie Swinney 

Barbara Kovács

well, it was great.
There was a pont, when I stood up in my room, and said "No, Bianca. You're not doing this. You stop it, and go to Wesley."
Toby is a nice guy, but Wesley? OMG WESLEY!
Maybe, he did too many things with too many girls, but..I liked him.
it only took me 5 hours to read this book, I didn't even put it down.
thank you Kody Keplinger for writing this.

Designated Ugly Fat Friend

DUFF

Annabella

I read a free copy through NetGalley 
This is the perfect book to read when you need fluff -- which I did -- with a powerful message. Funny, sure. A bit... Okay, very clichéd. It had me giggling, though. And that is what I call a miracle. On to the movie now. YAY

Sara Gómez 

Sarah S

I have thought about giving this one four stars, but in the end I gave it three. And let me tell you something, it doesn't even deserve three stars. The first time I read this, I actually liked it (I DON'T KNOW WHY) but after every re-read I liked it less and less. This book is so problematic, sigh.

Jennifer Eggleston 

Designated Ugly Fat Friend. The title alone hooked me. I have felt like a DUFF my entire life. I understand being the girl in the background. Definitely enjoyable and proves that outward appearances are not all that matters.

Nadia Serrano

IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE AND THINK THE BOOK IS THE SAME YOU ARE WRONG. What the hell where they thinking when they made the movie! It's nothing like this book. I didn't really relate to Bianca that much because I'm not as bold as her but wow damn you go girl. Some parts seem really unnecessary and were extended to long. Overall the meaning of the book is really amazing and it's not just some stupid teen high school story (unlike the movie).

Bianca is too smart to fall for Wesley Rush's tricks. When he calls her Duff, a nickname used to refer the least hip girl, no one is more surprised than her when she ends up kissing him! Even though she can't stand him, the kiss was nice, and the two start a secret relationship. It turns out they have more in common than she thought.

More 

4,5⭐* Este libro lo leí a mis 15 años y ahora con 20 lo sigo amando como la 1ra vez

Debbi

All you need to know is that I love this book and the movie. Pretty good review, right? (;

Sarah Thieken

I read this book over and over again because I cannot get enough if this story

Shan

Cute and authentic YA book dealing with family, friends, relationships, and self esteem

Tameka Young

I liked this book but I didn't love it. I enjoyed the frank and open dialogue and I also liked the main character was comfortable enough in herself to take the lead in a sexual relationship. Often times in YA novels it seems as though female characters have to be coerced into intimacy by their male counterparts. I liked that the author did not shy away from this aspect of teen sexuality.

I did not enjoy how underdeveloped most of the characters seemed. I found myself not really liking Bianca that much despite her snark, wit, toughness, and vulnerability. I didn't understand the message of "we're all Duffs" because it seemed pasted on to the other character's experiences as opposed to organically developed.

**Mildly spoilerish stuff ahead**

Overall my biggest peeve with this book is the message that if you feel bad about yourself and your life the best way to combat it is to shag the guy who calls you fat and ugly over and over again until he falls in love with you. That left a really bad taste in my mouth because it's not a good message to send and it would rarely ever turn out that way.

I liked the pacing and overall plot of the book and think the author's youth gives her great insight into the genre and I would definitely be open to reading her next book.

Lucia silva

Esperaba decepción, muchas personas nombraban a Bianca como el peor personaje de la historia (mucho mas que el personaje de Fallen), y estaba asustada. Pero la verdad es que me gustó mucho. Porque me gustó? Ahi vamos.

Hay que recordar, primero que nada, que lo escribió una chica de 19 años en su ultimo año de secundaria. Y está mucho mejor escrito que los libros de señoras de 40 que quieren volver a la secundaria para estar con algun tipo (cuando en realidad deberian volver para mejorar su escritura, blah). Me pareció bien hecho, bien planteado. Los dialogos son graciosos, rapidos y faciles de querer. En este libro casi ni vemos al personaje masculino, me pareció a mi? Ni siquiera pude difrutar deWesley. Tampoco me pareció el tipico chico malo, sino el chico incomprendido, perdido y con ganas de llamar la atención. (consideró personaje malo a Patch o Travis, de última).

Me agradaron mucho las amigas de Bianca, Jessica y Cassey, me parecieron muy tiernas y memorables, a diferencia de ella. Porque si, no me gustó el personaje, pero tampoco la odie tanto. SI, es egoista, solo piensa en ella y blah, pero... no todas somos asi? A veces el muerto se asusta del degollado.

Un libro simple, facil de leer que se lleva mi pulgar arriba.

Jo Young

This is an amazing book. I loved Bianca's inner monologue and wit, how hard it was for her to deal with her family issues, and that she fell in love with Wesley. I have already seen the movie but reading the book makes me want to watch it again! Awesome book! :)

Kirsten

Haley Collier

I absolutely loved this book! It's fine and entertaining! Great read!

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend)

Reviews

Highlights