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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

REVIEW: THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD


THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD BY LEAH RAE MILLER
Expected publication: May 7th 2013 

Publisher: Entangled Teen

**E-ARC copy provided by publisher in exchange of a review**

On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.


 



To quote Logan, “For all that’s good and holy!” This book is full of geeky awesomeness that can’t be fully described in a review.

Be ready to bring out your inner geek in full force. Get your reading glasses ready, your PJs and please, please get yourself some cookies (and something to drink!) because The Summer I Became a Nerd hit the fandom feeling right in the center and will have you geeking out along with her. 

Lea Rae Miller’s debut novel has clever dialogues, laugh out loud moments, super relatable characters and a summer romance that will have you looking into comics stores for your own Logan. 

What I really enjoyed about this book was the new take on the popular/nerdy dilemma. 
Maddie is your typical blond cheerleader. She has good grades, she knows everything about the latest TV drama, she loves the new “IT” singer and she has the star quarterback as boyfriend. But still she wants more. Maddie wants to enjoy a summer full of catching up to comics in the safety of her home, but the Lord of all that’s awesome has other plans… and that new comic issue she’s been dying to read? Yeah... out of stock, so she has to wait or venture into the comic store in town. 

Now, this is where all the fun begins and we meet Logan! Logan is your hometown nerd.

He also is the goalie in the soccer team (Hello, good body of Logan!) has blue – blue eyes and freckles… perfection, anyone?Logan is also one of the sweetest guys ever written. 

The summer I Became a Nerd is a beautiful story of self-discovery and finding real love. Maddie jumps into the full world of geekyness and she loves it. 
Logan takes her into the mysterious and fun world of role playing. He teaches her how good it feels to be herself and not pretend all the time. He gives a secret name during his radio show, because what kind of geeky book it would be if we didn’t have an indie radio show, uh?
But through it all we have Logan’s ex waiting to get her evil claws on him and the threat of the summer ending, or someone finding out about her dirty little secret. 

Maddie makes a lot of mistakes along the way. And she also hurts the same people she was trying to protect but what’s worse is that she hurts herself so much more by hiding than she can realize. 
And it’s all that what I think makes so believable and true. We’ve all been there, unsure of ourselves and trying to hide how much we rather be at home in PJs reading a book on Saturday night than going out with friends., while at the same time, we want to feel like we belong.
This is the heart of the book and what I really loved about it. 

“Be true to yourself and others will be true to you, too.” Yeah right, what a crock.
I’d be true to you no matter what.

The Summer I Became a Nerd is the perfect book for when you’re going through a rough patch of dealing with your nerdy life. While Maddie discovers who she is and learns to accept that, you see all this wonderful new world of awesomeness… and the world is again a happy place.  
Leah Rae Miller writes a wonderful story that will catch you from page one. I was cheering for Maddie and Logan since the moment she sets her foot into The Phoenix. 


   


ABOUT LEAH RAE MILLER

Mother, wife, and YA author living on a windy hill in Natchitoches, Louisiana. I love fuzzy socks, comic books, cherry coke, and brand new office supplies. THE SUMMER I BECAME A NERD coming Summer 2013 from Entangled Teen. Stay cool! Contact me at leahraewrites(at)gmail(dot)com 


     


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