The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

For fans of smart romantic comedies, this is a clever Cinderella story with a tech twist.
When Public Corporation, a giant tech company, announces a contest for the best app developed by a high school student—with $200,000 in prize money—computer whiz Audrey McCarthy is all in. Audrey's been searching for her one ticket out of town ever since her dad died and her best friend, perfect and popular Blake Dawkins, turned into her worst nightmare—and this scholarship may be it.
Audrey comes up with an idea so simple, yet so brilliant, she can't believe it hasn't been done before: the Boyfriend App. With a simple touch of the screen, romance blooms among the unlikeliest couples at school—and people start to take notice. But it's not quite enough.
To beat out the competition, Audrey will have to dig deeper—right into a scandal that would rock Public to its core. Launched into unexpected fame and passionately kissed by the hottest guys in school, Audrey finds that her invention has thrown her life into complete chaos . . . but can it bring her true love?

The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise is a book that came highly recommended to me by my co-blogger, Allison, who seemed to really enjoy it. Of course, I decided to give it a whirl when I made this declaration to myself that February was going to be a month of reading only short books (under 325 pages – which I then broke to read the sequel, The Pretty App). I devoured The Boyfriend App. It’s one of those books that was the perfect sort of brain candy relaxing reads that I just needed. I’m in the middle of a lot of personal things right now and this was the exact read to help me unwind at night without asking a whole lot out of me as a reader.

Katie Sise’s The Boyfriend App is about this girl named Audrey who used to be really popular, but then her dad died and something in her changed. Audrey began hanging out with a group of programmers at her school nicknamed Trogs. She’s happy with this life even if it means her former best friend Blake is kind of super rude to her. Audrey’s from a poor background (which YAY FINALLY SOME CLASS DIVERSITY IN A YOUNG ADULT BOOK THAT IS NOT DEMONIZED).

So, she stresses about how she’s going to pay for college like any normal person without rich parents. Then, there’s this contest held by technology conglomerate Public, for an app design. Audrey gets the genius idea to develop an app for girls to find a boyfriend, called The Boyfriend App and like OkCupid, it connects people based upon a series of answers to questions. Anyways, eventually, Audrey finds out that maybe Public does not quite have the best interests of the people at heart. And let me tell you, I was glued to every single chapter of this book.

Audrey is my FAVORITE kind of main character. She is kind and fiercely loyal to her friends. She’s friendly with people who are considered school outcasts and she doesn’t mind. She is so smart and proud of that. I loved how determined Audrey was to win the competition. I loved that she was close with her cousin Lindsey who I totally want to have her own App book you guys. Lindsey, sidebar, is this girl who is a fashionista and who despite not being rich is pretty well liked at her school because she has one of those welcoming attitudes.

I pretty much loved every time Lindsey showed up and also — loved that this book made use of extended family. I do not often see that in YA so it’s sort of exciting when this happens. Anyways, so back to Audrey, she makes caring about the outcome of The Boyfriend App very easy to do.

Of course with a title like The Boyfriend App, you should really expect some romance to be happening within the pages of Katie Sise’s book. Your expectations would be correct. Of course, there is KISSING. Audrey has long nursed a crush on Xander, this kid who used to wear the same clothes to school a lot and was made fun of, but now has grown tall and is flourishing on the lacrosse team. Anyways, so Audrey has a thing for him, but unfortunately, her former best friend current mean girl Blake Dawkins has been dating him for awhile.

Alas, Xander is not Audrey’s only prospect. There’s also this guy named Aidan who is one of the Trogs and happens to be attractive. Audrey won’t let herself entertain that notion because she can’t stand the idea of tearing their group apart and ruining their friendship. LOVE IS IN THE AIR YOU GUYS AND IT IS THE BEST.

So, I have not even begun to cover all of the small little awesome elements of The Boyfriend App like the love and reverence Audrey has for Notre Dame or how this book is about a girl who does something and does it well. Or about the great friend group of Trogs. Or the diversity within this book beyond class diversity.Also, the technical intrigue involving Public. These are elements you need to discover yourself when you read this book. It’s one of those perfect contemporary young adult reads if you’re between series or on the beach or flying someplace or super stressed out. It is the definition of a fun read for sure.

Other reviews of The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise:

The Flyleaf Review – “a great premise and a lot of potential, but failed to deliver in the end”

Nose Graze – “this book was entertaining and it made me laugh”

Snuggly Oranges – “This book was entertaining FOR SURE, but also just a bit… odd.”

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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