Blog Tour Review: The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise

Welcome to the blog tour for The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise! I have an interview with Katie Sise HERE and a giveaway (PH only)! Check out my tour posts, and enjoy this review!

The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

Summary (from Goodreads):

In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can’t wait to get out of high school. Her father’s death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worst nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.

But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed by a high schooler—and the $200,000 that comes with it. She develops something she calls the Boyfriend App, and suddenly she’s the talk of the school and getting kissed by the hottest boys around. But can the Boyfriend App bring Audrey true love?

What I Liked:

This book was not what I expected AT ALL. I really thought this would be a cute, lighthearted, funny book that is contemporary and romantic and would make me laugh. Well, this book was humorous at times, and there was certainly some romance, but this book was surprising in many ways.

I thought this book would be a geeky contemporary book with some romance, but mostly, geekiness. Well. The first half of the book is a ton of programming and code and computer stuff, for Audrey to build her app. The second half of the book had more of a dystopia feel. It seemed like "Public" controlled everything technology-related, so like, the Internet, access to apps, music, and so on. 

That part of the book was really... dark. I did't expect things to get so violent and heavy. Seriously, there was blackmail and threats and serious government business. I have no idea if any of that could possibly happen in really life, especially referring to Audrey's deals with important government officials, but I will accept it and move on.

I really liked the programming and coding part of the book - the "geeky" part. It was very interesting to read about how the students created real apps that could be downloaded. Audrey's creation of her app was thorough and specific, and to me, was interesting to understand. 

Audrey is a great heroine. I liked that her point-of-view was dominant, as the book was in first person. Audrey isn't stupid, or wishy-washy, but she makes mistakes like any other person. I could really feel for Audrey, because it is definitely difficult to like the popular guy, and like your best friend at the same time, and you can't do anything about your feelings. Oh, insecurity.

I also liked that she had some personal issues from her past - with her father's death. It made her fight to be better and do more seem raw and, well, real. Audrey doesn't have those awful, heart-breaking problems that we see a lot in New Adult novels, but I think her problems propel her in this book. 

The love interests, Aidan and Xander, were both... interesting. I really liked Aidan, and I like how the author starts Audrey and Aidan's relationship as really good friends. When Audrey's app is perfected, well, let's just say Aidan is affected. And Xander gives Audrey attention at some points in the book, which makes things even more confusing for Audrey!

I knew where this romance was going, and I liked how it was going. Audrey has liked Xander for a very long time, yet she and Aidan have been friends for a very long time. So, neither love interest is really new to her. But, I'll just say, the ending is a good one, in terms of romance.

The ending, in general, is pretty good. The second half of the book is really dark, which sort of takes away from the ending, but everything wraps up well. Some things that needed to be atoned for are done. You'll be at peace with what you read!

What I Did Not Like:

I guess I really didn't like the second half of the book, how it turns dark and almost eerie. It was a massive shift in tone, and while it was unexpected, it was not really welcome, in my opinion. I liked the lighter feeling to the book. Every time Audrey would lash out or do something violent, I would cringe internally and think "Really? People my age act like this? Academically intelligent people, like me? UGH."

I think one of my biggest problems is that this book isn't really... realistic? I mean, it is supposed to be a contemporary novel, meaning it's modern-day written. Well. I really don't think that ANY school participates in a contest to build an app, and the prize would be free tuition to a wonderful technology-oriented school, like MIT. Not realistic at all. I also don't think that the resolution, with Audrey's agreements and whatnot, are realistic. Maybe a better label is needed for this book.

Would I Recommend It:

Yes. You would NOT be wasting your time with this book!

Rating:

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I enjoyed this book while I was reading it, and am glad that I got the chance to participate in the tour!

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