He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

He's So Not Worth It by Kieran Scott

Simon & Schuster, June 7, 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Ally Ryan, come on down to the Jersey Shore and forget your troubles!

Have you recently been humiliated in front of your friends and family at your former best friend's birthday party? Was your almost boyfriend partly responsible for that humiliation by withholding some vital information about where your estranged father is? Did you come home to find said estranged father sitting on your stoop?

If so, then it sounds like you could use a vacation! The Jersey Shore is the place to be. Your mother may be living with her boyfriend of only a few months, but at least the stunt Shannen pulled has put some of your friends back in your court. Even so, you're still angry and what better way to get over Jake than to blow off some steam with local guy, Cooper? People will hardly recognize your new attitude, but the old one wasn't getting you anywhere, so who cares!

Jake Graydon, an exciting opportunity is waiting for you in the service industry!

Are your grades so low your parents have grounded you for the summer? Did you the girl you really like unceremoniously leave you behind? Would you rather eat dirt than see your friends again? Then a job at the local coffee shop is just the ticket! Surprisingly, Ally's father is the new manager so you get to be reminded of her nearly every day. Maybe it's time to start flirting with your best friend's ex or even taking school a bit more seriously. Especially when you finally see Ally and she's hanging around with some loser and it's couldn't be more clear that she is over you.

Have a great summer!

This is the much-anticipated (to me, anyway) sequel to She's So Dead to Us, and I absolutely loved it! I had the pleasure of meeting Kieran Scott last fall--actually, she was supposed to do a library visit, but unfortunately had to cancel--I'm hoping she'll be willing to reschedule!--and she is just the sweetest person. And I've read a few of her books, but I'm particularly fond of SSDTU, and now He's So Not Worth It. I've said it before, I'm quite partial to books that take place in NJ, and this one is no exception,  although I *gasp* have never really spent any time on Long Beach Island (LBI). But hey, I grew up at the beach (NOT the Shore), and I can totally relate to being a local whose town is invaded by bennys every year.

This should go without saying, but don't read this review if you haven't yet read She's So Dead to Us. And if you haven't, well, why the hell not? Go!

Anyway, He's So Not Worth It begins right where SSDTU left us--right after the party that cemented Ally's humiliation, and destroyed any kind of a relationship she might have had with Jake. Ally's father is back, which has Ally both excited (he's been gone two years, after all) and angry (he's been gone two years, after all). I wanted so badly to be able to root for Dad in this story, but I just couldn't. How can you avoid your wife and daughter for TWO FREAKIN' YEARS, then swoop back in with a minimum-wage paying job and expect everyone to welcome you with open arms? Is he joking? Well, no. And he thinks that Ally should help him win Mom back. Even though he never, you know, apologized to Ally for abandoning her. Or for the fraud that got him in trouble in the first place. Loser.

Still, I can absolutely see Ally's conflict here, which drives a significant part of the storyline. Her feelings for Jake are the other main component. She likes him but won't call because of his behavior. He likes her but won't call, because of his behavior. It's so tragic that it's almost comical. So Ally escapes to LBI for the summer with Mom, Mom's BF and BF's daughter, while Jake is grounded in Orchard Hill, allowed to leave the house only for Mom-mandated summer classes and his job--working at a coffee shop for--are you ready?--Ally's father. 

And can I just say that I have a love-hate relationship with cliffhanger endings? I love them because they're awesome and definitely help keep me interested for the next book. I hate them because I HATE HAVING TO WAIT. And I read this book as an eGalley (that is, before its actual publication date), so my wait is now EVEN LONGER. 

But seriously, a really fun read. Definitely a great summer beach read, a must for NJ teens and any fans of contemporary fiction. You totes have to read She's So Dead To Us first, though!

eGalley received from Simon & Schuster's Galley Grab.

Enjoy your reading!

Christi