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

Title: The Summer I Became a Nerd

Author: Leah Rae Miller

Release Date: May 7th 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Source: ecopy from publisher

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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.

Oh, The Summer I Became a Nerd. Where to start? Hmm. It was so good that even a day after finishing it, I'm still in awe, and at times I find myself grinning like a lunatic when remembering the story of a girl who struggled to hide her real interests in order to fit in. The story sounded quite dramatic at first, but this book actually kept it light and funny while still managing to provoke my thoughts. All the nerdiness also reminded me of my high school years, especially of when I'd gone to cosplay conventions (where I dressed up. Twice.)

From page one, I knew Maddie was the kind of girl I'd be best friends with because I identified with her so much, except for the double-identity thing because, thankfully, I give less thought to what others think of me and I have an amazing group of friends who share my nerdy interests. I usually hate cowards, both in books and real life, and sure, Maddie hurt a lot of people by lying to them for a long time, but her case was presented so well that I couldn't find her completely guilty.

And then there was Logan who I also totally loved—and not just because he has the same name as my favorite X-Men member. He was honest, sweet, and smart, and he made me swoon at first read with all his hot nerd glory. His romance with Maddie was built up very well, and I felt like my face would break with my huge smile every time they were together, even when there was trouble in paradise.

I admit, I went into this book with apprehension because I've read—and hated—a book that also dealt with being a nerd, but I think what made this book for me was the writing and how it made all the nerdiness feel very real and natural, never forced. The pacing also helped; the book never bored me and I devoured it in two sittings. And I'm totally not lying when I say that I felt physical pain when I saw "Acknowledgements". I want more Maddie/Logan!

MY FAVORITE PART was the bring-the-bitch-down confrontation, LARP-style.

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