Name: Amanda 's review of Love and Other Theories by Alexis Bass
Item: Love and Other Theories
Rating: 2
Author: Amanda

Alexis Bass

Love and Other Theories is a fast-paced twist on the coming-of-age novel and the romantic comedy that Kirkus Reviews called "careful, subtle, and aching" in a starred review. Aubrey and her best friends made a pact to play by the guys' rules when it comes to dating. They're hoping the rules will keep them from experiencing high school heartbreak—they don't realize that these rules could just as easily keep them from opening their hearts and minds. And when new boy Nathan Diggs moves to town, Aubrey starts to think that some rules are meant to be broken. With equal parts bite and romance, topped off with an irresistibly engaging voice, Alexis Bass's novel is one you won't want to miss.

Love and Other Theories

Amanda 

Rachel

This book was not my favorite. In this book, you meet a group of girls who are "evolved", which means they have figured out the dating game. The girls have decided to date according to the boy's rules, and it supposedly makes them better than other girls in their school. When Nathan, the new boy, moves in Aubrey decides the rules can be broken. This book annoyed me a good bit because it has the girl-hate troupe for no reason. I do not think I would recommend this book because it has many problematic plot lines and subplots.

Love and Other Theories is a fast-paced twist on the coming-of-age novel . . . and the romantic comedy. Aubrey and her best friends made a pact to play by the guys' rules when it comes to dating. They're hoping the rules will keep them from experiencing high school heartbreak—they don't realize that these rules could just as easily keep them from opening their hearts and minds. And when new boy Nathan Diggs moves to town, Aubrey starts to think that some rules are meant to be broken. With equal parts bite and romance, topped off with an irresistibly engaging voice, Alexis Bass's debut novel is one you won't want to miss.

This book is NOT a romance and it's not funny. It's about mean girls drinking way too much, treating people like shit, realizing they also treat themselves and each other like shit, and saying goodbye to high school. That's about it.

Lisa ✩ @lifeinlit

I was so excited when this book arrived on my doorstep. I had participated in the cover reveal, and at first sight and reading of the synopsis it definitely sounded like a Lisa type of book.

Aubrey Housing and her group of besties have devised a way to remain heartbreak-free. You just need to follow a few simple rules. These “theories” of theirs seemed airtight. Get more when you give less. Don’t give them a chance to hurt you, and you can’t be hurt. This all seems fine and dandy until Nathan Diggs arrives at school. Aubrey starts having feelings for Nathan that she’s unable to combat, even knowing the rules. Knowing how anti-relationship Aubrey is, can she remain that way and fight off these feelings?

“1. Don’t expect anyone to fall in love with you, because even if they do, it doesn’t matter. They’re just going to leave you. You have to leave them first, or treat them so causally that there’s nothing for them to leave at all.” 

I don’t know how much I really agree with these theories, though they do kind of have a point with some of their rules. One I strongly disagree with though, and that’s that guys are free reign, meaning if you want to hook up with a guy, you can. It doesn’t matter if a friend of yours as dated him, or likes him currently, or even if he’s done something crappy to someone. If you’re interested in him, he’s all yours, and you never know if your BFF is having him at the same time. 0_0 I had a lot of trouble with the parts of the story that surrounded this, and I don’t want to give anything away so I won’t go into any major detail. But I can’t imagine a friend of mine dating a guy that I was dating, or interested in, or had been interested in. It just seems like overstepping, in my opinion.

Anyway, enough about that. :-P

Love and Other Theories was an entertaining contemporary read. It was more sad than I thought it would be from that adorable cover, and it definitely had an anti-relationship message included, as well as some bullying. I do have to say that parts of it dragged a bit and I found myself skimming here and there. But for the majority of the story I was interested and enjoyed the reading experience. It also had the normal high school drama we all love to hate: friends behaving badly, a bit of lying here and there, and a ton of parties and drinking. I don’t mind this type of behavior in my books, but I know others do, so be warned. There’s A LOT of it. 

Overall, a book I’m happy I read, and one that I think others will enjoy as long as they know what to expect going into it. It has a definite Mean Girls vibe, so be sure you want that type of angsty girl drama before jumping into this one. A great debut novel from an author I hope to read more from in the future. 

(Thanks to HarperTeen for the review copy!)


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