The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett

I already wrote two posts that I could put up this week, but I read an actual book this week, so I thought that might be a little more relevant. I know. A post about a book? On my book blog? Shocking.

I was supposed to go dancing on Saturday night. There was this barnyard dance, but it was like an hour away, and I hadn't bought an advance ticket, and I wasn't sure if any of my friends were going... so instead, I decided to pick up a book. The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti. It was just published in January, and I managed to snag a proof copy from work, which was great because it looked super cute. Look at that cover! Adorable, young adult fluff.

The book wasn't exactly what I was expecting. There really no "lies" to uncover; just the lies Lizzie told to herself, making herself who she thought she was supposed to be, who everyone liked.

I really liked Hawthorne, the narrator. She had such a unique perspective on the world. At 17 she hadn't lost any of her childlike wonder. It was a refreshing and hilarious perspective to experience.

I think the most frustrating thing about the book for me was that Hawthorne was straight. She spent the whole book, and the years before it, obsessing over Lizzie Lovett. Wanting to be her best friend/kindred spirit, being jealous of her life, beauty, and charisma, and hating her. When Lizzie went missing, she spent hours obsessing daily, coming up with outrageous theories, getting Lizzie's old job, befriending her boyfriend.

When Hawthorne started questioning her feelings for Enzo, Lizzie's boyfriend, I was convinced that she was so in love with Lizzie that she wanted to experience being her, since she couldn't be with her. I was really hoping for some realization of that sort. Although, these types of books always try to set up the main character with someone, and none of the female characters would have been a good match with Hawthorne, and I could tell that the story arc was setting her up with Connor, her brother's friend, while she was all wrapped up in Enzo.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. I sat down and read it in one sitting, something I haven't done in a really long time. It was an enjoyable, quick read, with three-dimensional characters and a fresh perspective.