Book Review: Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

Title: Shut Out

Author: Kody Keplinger

Publisher: Poppy

Publication date: September, 2011

Hardcover: 288 pages

Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone (unfortunately)

How I got this book: Galley from Poppy

Why I chose this book: I was looking for something new in mainstream to read.

Synopsis:

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it’s a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy’s car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend’s attention.

Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players’ girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won’t get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don’t count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Review:

     Shut Out was epic.  I’m going to come out and admit that I’ve been in a real funk lately.  One where I just don’t feel like reading, and nothing tickles my fancy.  I’ve been in these before, and let me tell you–it takes a truly special book to bring me out of one of my funks.  Luckily for me, I found Shut Out.  I literally read this book in one sitting–I couldn’t put it down.  I’ve been thristing for an amazing mainstream book, and this book quenched my thirst. 
     Let me tell you this: this book has so much going for it.  Though I doubt guys will want to read it, even though it is about girls and sex.  This book brings up those taboo topics no one seems to ask, and says “Why Not?”  It compares how girls are treated compared to guys when sex is involved.  It brings up the frequent, “Am I normal?” card.  I found myself nodding along, wondering why these issues haven’t been brought up like this before.  I felt empowered. 
     Not to mention I laughed out loud about a million times.  Keplinger definitely wears her funny jeans when she’s writing, ’cause I was smiling like a bafoon the whole time. 
     And this has something for all girls.  Yes, there’s even the coveted romance that makes you go “aw”.  Cash is the sweetest! (The Star Game!!! So Cute!)

     So, bottom line–read this book girls! (And guys, if you want to learn a little something extra about the opposite sex.)

     It’s one of those got-everything-laugh-out-loud-can’t-believe-this-is-so-good-it’ll-bring-you-out-of-a-funk books. 

     The last thing I want to say is about the book as a whole.  I think the perfect book is when an author can bring the reader to such a desparation for the protagonist, screwing everything up for them so badly that it seems there is no way it could have a happy ending.  But somehow the author finds a loophole no one could have thought of, and brings it to an amazing conclusion.  This is what Shut Out  was like.  Perfect.

     I want to say more, I really do.  But my head’s so jumbled with how much I love this book that I can’t relate it all in words.  Hope this was enough.