The Summer I Became A Nerd

by Leah Rae Miller
Published: Entangled Teen
Pages: 267

Maddie Summers is a typical high school cheerleader - popular, pretty and dating the quarterback.  But what people don't realize is that she is a closet nerd.  When Maddie meets Logan, the guy behind the local comic book shop, her love for comics and sci-fi threatens to spill out.  The life that she has carefully spun starts to unravel and the lies quickly become harder to control.  She risks hurting everyone she cares about, including herself.

First things first.  Anything that references Harry Potter is okay in my book. Aside from that, there were so many wonderful references to books, movies and comics that I couldn't help but enjoy reading this book.  I also loved that there were multiple LARPing scenes, it just made me excited to be a nerd.  I don't think there are quite enough outlets for geeks/nerds to be proud.  This book definitely allows for people to declare their love loud and clear. It's refreshing.

The characters were also highly believable and well rounded.  Although, I did have issues with Maddie at certain points.  I'll be the first to admit I was irritated that she ran around in secret, doing the exact opposite thing I would do if a nerd boy declared his feelings for me.  The lying thing was perhaps the most irritating thing about her.  I didn't see the need for her to have lied so much and about the things she did.  Some of them (well all of the lies, really) didn't seem necessary to me. However, from a character stand point, I thought she was well written, the popular girl who's secretly in love with comics and sci-fi and LARPing.

The whirlwind romance of nerdiness is the icing on the cake.  I had a hard time putting this book down once I picked it up.  Leah Rae Miller has stormed onto the scene with The Summer I Became a Nerd, and I hope she will continue to make nerdy books as amazing as this one.


Stars: 4/5

Praise:

"Leah Rae Miller's debut is charming, funny, clever and utterly geek-tastic! Beyond that, I appreciated the book's message that the road to happiness is to be true to yourself first."
     --The FlyLeaf Review

"Between the laugh out loud dialogue and Mddie and Logan's pulse-skipping romance, I longed for the Flash's speed so I could read the book over again and again!"
     --Cole Gibsen, author of the KATANA series

"A sweet and fun summer read that turns the tables on the popular guy/nerdy girl scenario and refreshingly features a popular girl who wants to let her nerd flag fly."
     --Just a Couple More Pages