You only get one first time...
From driving tests to relationships, Valentina Bell thinks she's a failure, with a big fat capital F. At this rate, she's certain she'll be a virgin forever. So Lena's friends plan Operation: Popping the Cherry to help her find the perfect first time. Yet somehow disastrous dates with bad boy musicians and fabulous evenings with secretly in-the-closet guys aren't quite working out how Lena planned. Soon Lena's avoiding Operation: Popping the Cherry to spend time with comforting, aloof Jake, her best friend's older brother ,who doesn't make her feel self-conscious about still clinging to her V card. But could Jake show Lena that sometimes what you're looking for most is right by your side?
I thought this was an interesting premise for a book and I definitely have not read anything like this before. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect and if I'm honest, I thought that I would not enjoy it as losing your virginity should not be at the top of any girls list. However I was pleasantly surprised.
So Lena thinks that she's a failure as she is the only one of her friends who has not lost her virginity. Not only this, she has just been dumped by her boyfriend because she would not put out; some boyfriend! Her friends then come up with Operation: Popping the Cherry and compile a list of boys that Lena could potentially have her first time with. But things are never that simple and after a disastrous date and a massive scare for Lena; Jake, Lena's best friend Gemma's brother comes to her rescue. They start spending more time together and Lena starts to feel something for Jake that she never felt before.
This was a nice, easy to read story that I could come back to at any time and pick up where I left off. I really liked Lena and felt like I could relate to her with her worries of wanting to fit in and not be left out. So I could see why she went along with her friends idea, but at the same time I thought it was a bit off of her friends to even suggest it in the first place.
I loved Jake! He sounded a complete heartthrob and I have now added him to my ever growing list of book boyfriends! I got frustrated with him and Lena as it was clear they had feelings for one another, but neither of them were taking the lead. I also didn't think that Lena's rationalising for not going out with him was great and thought that Gemma did not sound like much of a best friend if she would not like the idea of her brother and Lena being together.
I think some of the story dragged on a little more than was necessary towards the end and I did find myself getting increasingly frustrated with Lena, but apart from that I still wanted to read on.
I thought the author really captured all the inner turmoils a teenager goes through with the peer pressure and fitting in and the pressure to have sex. I definitely think that young girls reading this will take a great message from it and I particularly liked the lessons that Lena learns as she goes through this.
Overall I enjoyed this light, refreshing read and look forward to more from Aurelia Bowl!
7.5/10
No comments:
Post a Comment