The Girlfriend Project
by Robin Friedman

    THE GIRLFRIEND PROJECT by Robin Friedman
    Category:  Contemporary
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  3/20/07
    Publisher:  Walker Books
    Reviewed by:  Amber Gibson
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Nice guys don't always have to finish last.

    In THE GIRLFRIEND PROJECT by Robin Friedman, Reed Walton is a slightly shy high school senior who
    understands his AP classes much better than girls. In fact, he's never had a girlfriend before in his life. But his best
    friends, Lonnie and Ronnie, have decided that this year is going to be different. They have put together a 'girlfriend
    project' with the ultimate goal of finding a girlfriend for Reed. It doesn't hurt that over the summer Reed has grown
    taller, gotten his braces off, and the girls at his school now think he is smokin' hot!

    Reed is pleasantly surprised by this change in attitude that the girls have towards him, but he adamantly maintains that
    he is still the same person. Watching Reed slowly morph from a completely awkward AP dork to a more confident
    and independent young man is amusing, with plenty of hilarious, embarrassing moments. It's great to get a look inside
    Reed's mind, and find out what high school guys are really thinking.

    The website Ronnie sets up for The Girlfriend Project serves as a place for Reed to pose questions to the student
    body, such as "If a guy doesn't kiss you on the first date, what does that mean?" and "How important are
    looks to you?" These questions are followed by several comical and some very honest answers hidden behind the
    veil of anonymity that an online screen name provides.

    After going out on a couple of unsuccessful dates, Reed realizes that maybe the girl he likes the most was right in
    front of him all along. Now, if only he could work up the courage to tell her how he feels about her.

    Reed really dispels the myth that high school boys are only interested in the physical part of a relationship. He is a
    surprisingly sensitive and sweet guy, and maybe after reading this book, girls will give that shy guy at the back of the
    class a chance when he tries to talk to you. This book addresses the whole issue of high school dating very clearly,
    with a lot of humor, but also with a lot of truth. Robin Friedman has a great understanding of how confusing the
    teenage years can be, especially when you are trying to figure out just what 'being yourself' really means.