Book Review: The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd
Author: Leah Rae Miller
Genre: contemporary, romance, 
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 2013
Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis (from goodreads):
On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl’s body isn’t just unknown, it’s anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

My Review:

I decided to do something special for today’s review. I present to you the very first (and possibly only ever) issue of Geek Girl! featuring the one and only, Madelyne Summers.

1 2 3 4

Okay – it’s fairly clear that I’m never going to become a comic book artist. But I thought Maddie wouldn’t mind me telling her story using my terrible artistic talent.

I found myself connecting with Maddie. I know what it’s like having older brothers and because of them finding a love of things others would find geeky or nerdy. But unlike Maddie – I never had a complete transformation like she did. Upon the biggest humiliation of her life, Maddie decides that popularity is the most important think to her and reinvents herself. No more Spectrum girl and the Pigments. Now it’s country music and cheerleading!

But one summer, and the delay of the final issue of her favourite comic, Maddie finds herself entering the local comic book store in disguise. And within the sacred sanctum of all things geektacular, Maddie finds her true self and a boy who just might bring out her best of her secret identity.

This book is cute. And it’s fun. And it’s a celebration of all things geeky – there’s comic books, mentions of anime and sci-fi AND LARPing (Live Action Role Playing). And I loved every moment of it. Maddie is learning to be true to herself and had a bit of difficulty finding the way but she makes it. I love the chemistry between her and Logan – bonefide nerd who has the geek chic thing going on in spade. The cheerleaders and football players for the most part are fairly stereotypical with the exception of Maddie’s best friend, Terra.

I think what I liked most about this book was the message – that no matter what your interests, you should accept yourself for who you are.

The Summer I Became a Nerd is a cute book that I had a lot of fun reading. And please – don’t hold my artistic stylings against what is a great summer read.

Thanks to Entangled teen for the review copy.

Purchase the novel from:

Amazon
Book Depository 

7 Comments

    • Have you ever LARPed? I haven’t but I whenever I watch shows or movies with it in – I always think it looks so geekish but so much fun!

      • Nope but I have friends who do. I think the thing that puts me off the most is that it usually happens in the dead of night in the middle of the woods around here!

  1. Hee, I love your comic! If you make more, you should keep adding them to reviews – so fun!

    And I like that this book is so cute and fun, I have been wanting to read it and now you’ve reminded me

    • Thanks 😀 When I was starting to read TSIBaN and saw a line from your review on the first page I was pretty excited! I was all – I read her blog! YAY… okay… I’ve had way too much caffeine so please forgive my exuberance but I thought it was cool.

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