Shut Out
by Kody Keplinger
September 5, 2011
273 pages
Goodreads Summary:
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.
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
I have to say that I really enjoyed this book even though I wasn't sure at first because of all the sex talk. The message the book was trying to convey was a really good one. Girls should not have to feel pressured or embarrassed to do things they're not comfortable with. If it doesn't feel right, then don't do it! It's totally 100% fine to feel that way!
I can sympathize with Lissa's need to control everything around her. It is definitely understandable with what happened to her mom (and dad) and what an a-hole boyfriend Randy is for pushing her.
There were such cute scenes between the boys and the girls! I had such a fun time reading about the girls' plotting and seeing the moves the boys used to throw things back at the girls. Cash was dorky and undeniably adorable leading the boys. The seductive pool scene made me laugh so hard~
The only thing that kind of bugged me about Shut Out was the amount of sex talk. Yes it was realistic but these kids are only in high school yet they talk about sex in such a casual way. I guess that was the point of the book and it's better to be realistic with today's society than being completely unaware.
I really encourage girls to read Shut Out. I hope they can be inspired by these characters and can take a stand for themselves against pressure, no matter what form it comes in.
I can sympathize with Lissa's need to control everything around her. It is definitely understandable with what happened to her mom (and dad) and what an a-hole boyfriend Randy is for pushing her.
There were such cute scenes between the boys and the girls! I had such a fun time reading about the girls' plotting and seeing the moves the boys used to throw things back at the girls. Cash was dorky and undeniably adorable leading the boys. The seductive pool scene made me laugh so hard~
The only thing that kind of bugged me about Shut Out was the amount of sex talk. Yes it was realistic but these kids are only in high school yet they talk about sex in such a casual way. I guess that was the point of the book and it's better to be realistic with today's society than being completely unaware.
I really encourage girls to read Shut Out. I hope they can be inspired by these characters and can take a stand for themselves against pressure, no matter what form it comes in.
This book sounds really good. I like the message it sends about not feeling pressured to do things you don't want to do. I feel that message is very important (especially for girls) in our society today. Great review!
ReplyDelete~Chioma @ Blue Books and Butterflies
Yep, I think it's really encouraging for young girls to read this one!
DeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this so much. It sounds like it was a fun read even with all the sex talk, which, I agree with you on, it freaks me out to think about high schoolers being so casual about it. But I understand that it happens.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's kind of crazy.
DeleteGosh. I don't remember anything about this book. I know I have it somewhere. That's bad, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteLOL it's totally fine Joy! Too many other great books out there, nobody can help it ;)
DeleteSounds like a good read. I have to read something of hers one of these days!
ReplyDeleteYes you do!! She's great with her contemporary stories!
DeleteI need to pick up this one pronto! Kody writes such fun stories and I know this one won't disappoint!
ReplyDeleteI think you'll definitely love it Melissa :D
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