Sones, S. (2013). To be perfectly honest: A novel based on an untrue story. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Genre: Romance, realistic, verse

Intended audience: Teenage girls

Personal reaction to the book: Colette, the protagonist, is one of the most annoying characters it has ever been my displeasure to see through the eyes of. She’s even a failure as an unreliable narrator because she tells you when she’s lying and when she’s not. The whole point about an unreliable narrator (Pale fire) is that you can’t actually tell when they’re lying.

There are no characters in this book worth thinking about: Connor the Lying Boyfriend; Self-Absorbed Woman aka Mom & her thinly drawn boyfriend, Cardboard Man. Colette’s little brother (did he have to lisp? It’s such a cheap parody of a little kid) is obnoxious, but growing up in a train wreck of a family, it’s not his fault.

The “plot” centers around Colette, spoiled daughter of Hollywood royalty, deciding whether she’s really in love … LOVE!!! OMG!!! with the cute idiot boy on the motorcycle.

The writing is

in blank verse.

Just in case

the book could be

any worse

more pathetic.

The good thing about the verse style is it shrinks the massive book down to about two hours of reading. Still, that’s two hours of my life

I’ll never

get

back.

OMG!

Author facts: Sonya Sones is married to the head screenwriter on Saved by the bell. She sold hand-painted baby clothes through Neiman Marcus. She likes to hunt through vintage clothing stores in Southern California.

Related website: http://www.sonyasones.com/