Nothing Like You

Review of: Nothing Like You by Lauren Strasnick
Release date: October 20th, 2009
Pages: 209 (paperback version)
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Received to review for: TeensReadToo
Overall grade: B

During her Junior year Holly lost her mom to cancer. In her Senior year Holly loses her virginity to Paul. She assumes it's just a one time thing because Paul is pretty much out of her league and he also has a long time girlfriend, Saskia. But after that day Paul keeps trying to talk to Holly and pursue her further. Pretty soon they are regularly sleeping together and Holly feels awful about it knowing that Saskia is Paul's real girlfriend. But it's really nice to have someone show their feelings for her even if it is only in secret. Since her mom died she hasn't been to feel much until now.

While this is going on Holly's only guy friend, Nils, has yet another new girlfriend. Holly thinks he has intimacy issues but should she really be judging him when she is doing what she is doing?

Everything changes for Holly when she's partnered with Saskia in class one day. She realizes that Saskia isn't the rude girl that Holly has always believed her to be. Soon the two of them become best friends and Holly is in a tough spot and knows that she has to completely end things with Paul, but how? Things get even worse when suddenly Nils and Holly start having feelings for each other..

At first I wasn't sure this book would really go anywhere but after the first couple chapters I realized what a pickle Holly had gotten herself in. And when she started talking to Saskia I was basically holding my breath every page! Holly and Nil's relationship was pretty great too. He was always there for her trying to cheer her up and make her smile. I was rooting for them to end up together during most of the book. Paul was just a total sleazebag. I kept wanting Holly to just smack him in the face or something. If you're looking for a great contemporary book to read then this is definitely it. I couldn't wait to get to the end of the book to find out what happened and I'm sure you'll feel the same way too. This was definitely a great first novel from Lauren Strasnick, and now I can't wait to read her other book, Her and Me and You.