Author: Melissa Jensen
Pages: 380
Publication Date: 18th February 2012
Publisher: Speak
Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | The Book Depository
Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl? (Goodreads)
Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl? (Goodreads)
Looking at the cover and reading the blurb this book doesn’t
really inspire you to think it has much more content than a cheesy love story
with a sickly sweet ending. We’ll I’m glad to say you’d be wrong. I was
expecting that and was pleasantly surprised when I found myself loving the
characters and where the story was going.
Starting off I disliked Ella and found her narration a
little grating but as I read and learned more I found myself warming up to her.
As a child Ella was severely burned leaving her with scars that disfigure her
upper body making her insecurities even more believable and when I read what
the other people at her school called her, it made me incredibly empathetic and
I wanted to give Ella a big hug. But
instead of making this a pitiful tale Melissa Jenson turns Ella into a
believable heroine – not the typical all guns blazing with bravado type but the
one whose not afraid to put her heart on her sleeve.
As for Alex, what’s not to like? He was charming and
genuinely funny, and like Ella talented at art. I loved how despite wanting to
be with Ella he seemed to put her need for self belief first. I also applaud
him for knowing the French fry is from Belgium. Another plus point was the
progression of their relationship, I was glad it took a backseat sometimes to
Ella’s self discovery, but when it was in the forefront it was realistic and
natural.
As for Ella’s best friends Frankie and Sadie; I loved Sadie’s progression,
she, like Ella, seemed extremely shy and introverted – something I can definitely
relate to – but by the end she was coming out of her shell. Frankie I found a
little grating at times, he seemed the caricature of a gay best friend but I
saw that he had Ella’s best intentions at heart and I couldn’t help but love
him – warts and all. My favourite characters however had to be Ella’s family,
especially Nonna, and the crazy antics of their family restaurant.
Plot wise, despite seeming predictable, they’re were many
twists and turns that I was pleased to see and unable to guess their
intentions. Another great dynamic to the plot was the shadow plot with Ella
discovering the truth behind Edward Willing, her dead crush/obsession. I loved
that Ella was a fan girl for this dead painter and felt so enthusiastically
about it – we all have that one thing that we love dearly (Can anyone say
books?) and I found this added another realistic dimension to her character.
Open endings are one of my favourite ways of seeing a book
finish – The Fine Art of Truth or Dare didn’t disappoint with a realistic, yet
optimist, end. The main message I got from the book was that despite you
feeling scared that everyone hates you, you need to be brave enough to put
yourself out there. So yes it was a love
story but I found it to be more about being truthful to yourself and daring to
take a chance for you never know what might happen.
I’d recommend The Fine Art of Truth or Dare to anyone who
love a good contemporary and would love to read about a bittersweet discovery of embracing
yourself for who you are and facing your insecurities.
This sounds really cute, I didn't realize that such a big thing happened to the main character. This book definitely would be a great contemporary. I like your line that this book is "about being truthful to yourself and daring to take a chance" Sums it up perfectly.
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