How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation by Simone Elkeles YP FIC ELKELES

Amy Nelson Barak is a spoiled princess about to learn that love can be war. Especially if your boyfriend is in the Israeli army and you decided to surprise him by going on a ten day boot camp trip at his base. Unfortunately for Amy, her boyfriend is her training officer and has to treat her like any recruit and to make things worse than terrible he has a secret that could rip their relationship apart. Amy will have to roll up her Gucci sleeves and trade in her Jimmy Choos for army boots to fight for her man.

How to Ruin Your Boyfriend’s Reputation is a cute and fun romantic comedy. It has a really good Legally Blonde in the Israeli Army feel to it. It's the third in a series, but it's very easy to pick up from this one and I never felt lost. Amy is a great narrator and very likable despite her materialism and childishness. The plot itself is predictable, but the characters and dialogue are good so it makes for a perfect light and romantic read. I also like the original and unique setting for the novel and it was interesting to learn about Israeli mandatory military service. If you want to read the first two books How to Ruin a Summer Vacation and How to Ruin my Teenage Life check them out in YP FIC ELKELES.

A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff (from the Bluford High Series)

A Matter of Trust, written by Anne E. Schraff, focuses on Darcy Wills, a high school student, who helps take care of her grandmother with her younger sister, while her mother works overnight at the local Emergency Room. Darcy was once close friends with Brisana Meeks, who stopped being her friend when Darcy started hanging out with Tarah, Copper, and Hakeem. Brisana sees these new friends are losers, and Darcy is missing out on a more popular high school experience. Darcy has been seeing Hakeem, who often gets made fun of by the other students because he stutters. When Brisana finds out that they are dating she tries to make Darcy jealous.

A Matter of Trust examines the trust we can or cannot place in people. Darcy is not only grappling with the drama started by a former friend but also trying to figure out if she can forgive her father, who walked out on her life when she was younger. Based on his track record she isn’t sure she can place her trust in him. The story also addresses violence acts, including fighting and a drive-by shooting.

The Bluford High Series focuses on the lives of high school students, their family, and friends in contemporary urban America. Many of the characters attend Bluford High School, which is named after Guion “Guy” Bluford, who was the first African-American astronaut. The stories focus on complicated issues that are relevant to many of today’s students, including love, friendship, family, peer pressure, violence, and jealousy. The series has male and female protagonist, who are primarily African-American, and contain elements of mystery, suspense, and romance.

The Bluford High Series is new to the Moore Memorial Public Library. Currently the library has nine of the fifteen books that have been published to date. Anne E. Schraff and Paul Langan are the authors. The books are located on the New Book Shelf area, but will eventually be located in the Young Adult section of the library. A Matter of Trust is the second book in the series. The following books in the series are currently available:

Books by Anne E. Schraff
Someone to Love Me
Until We Meet Again
A Matter of Trust
Secrets in the Shadows
Lost and Found

Books by Paul Langan
Payback
The Bully
Brothers in Arms
Summer of Secrets