Of All the Stupid Things

Title: Of All the Stupid Things

Author: Alexandra Diaz

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: December 22, 2009

Received From:  Around the World Tours


It really was a stupid thing that Brent Staple did – doing it (so the rumour goes) with Chris Sanchez, one of the guy cheerleaders. Who’d have thought that Brent, the school’s hottest jock, could be gay? But the doubt about Brent doesn’t just hurt Tara – it’s the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for the marathon, but also running from her father and her fear of ever being abandoned again. Beautiful Whitney Blaire’s got everything and nothing, because her parents have never had time for her. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she never stops missing. The girls couldn’t be more different, but doesn’t that just prove the strength of their friendship?

Then new-girl Riley arrives in school, wafting her long black hair and a scent of lilacs. Suddenly, Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl - and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay – or does she just love Riley? And can the map of her deepest friendships ever be redrawn in a post-Riley world? 

I enjoy reading books that are told from all different perspectives, so my view is not so jaded by 1 person's opinion. So I really liked that about this book. Many YA books are now dealing with same-sex relationships and while I don't do that, I appreciate this new level of YA lit.

This book had a good premise, maybe a little overdone, but the same-sex relationship part really saved it from being just another breakup book. Some of the characters were a little stereotypical but they were not really whiny which I appreciated. While the middle was really kind of boring this was a pretty good debut and I cannot wait for more from this author.

This is not by any means the best book I have read but it was ok, I recommend it for anyone who is struggling to find themselves because the main character does a lot of finding herself and not letting others' judgment cloud her decisions.

3.5/5