Confessions of A Triple Shot Betty

Author: Jody Gehrman

Pages: 255

Published: Dial, 2008

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Cover Score: A (double points for scratch-and-sniff)

Overall Grade: A-

Summary: Geena can't wait to spend summer vacation with her two best girls: her friend Amber and her cousin Hero. All three are working at the Triple Shot Betty coffee shop together in Sonoma Valley, California, but the moment Amber and Hero meet, the claws come out. Geena's dreams of a girl-bonding summer with her two besties fly out the window, and then threaten to disappear completely when a few cute guys come along to woo the Bettys. But all is not what it seems, and in a story of mistaken identities, crazy summer highjinks, romance, and more, Geena and her friends learn that when the Bettys unite, they can take on the most powerful forces in their world: guys, friendship, revenge, and what may be possibly the best summer of their lives...

My thoughts: If you're bored on a summer day, go and pick up a copy of Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty. Jody Gehrman's first novel for young adults is bursting with flavors of summer love, jobs, best friends, and is infused with a strong shot of girl power. Delicious!

First, the characters in Confessions were realistic and lovable: down-to-earth Geena, good girl Hero, and rebellious Amber made a perfect trio of friends that set the stage for drama, fun, and humor.

The dialogue between the characters was spot-on for a group of 16 year olds: readers that are teenage girls themselves will feel right at home amongst the pages of Confessions. I was surprised to later learn that the book's plot was based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which gave it a bit of a deeper meaning. Even though the plot is relatively light and breezy, the writing is impressive and fast-paced. However, Ms. Gehrman doesn't skimp on details, with the end result being a realistic storyline.

An engrossing, light, and hilarious read that is perfect for the poolside, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty will inspire summer fun and will invoke laughter. (And who can resist that yummy coffee-scented scratch n' sniff cover?). I recommend Confessions to girls 14 and older, due to some strong language in the book. Take a sip and enjoy! (:

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