The One That I Want
10. Jennifer Echols, The One That I Want
At the end of her sophomore year, fifteen-year-old Gemma is looking forward to a fresh start. She’s lost most of the extra weight that has plagued her since childhood, and now she’s trying out for her school’s majorette team, which includes some of the most popular girls in school. She even meets an adorable guy, Max, who seems to like her purple-streaked hair and quirky sense of humor. So when her best friend Addison reveals that Max asked her out, Gemma is crushed. She even reluctantly accompanies Addison and Max on a double date with Max’s friend Carter; but the more she gets to know Max, the more she knows that he’s the right guy for her. Now Gemma must figure out how to be with the guy she wants, without betraying her best friend.
I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy, and this one was pretty adorable. I loved Gemma’s spunk and the fact that she was a band nerd - I was a lot like her in high school (minus the baton-twirling ability!). Max was also an extremely cute hero; I liked the fact that had no filter and said everything that came into his head. I could totally understand their attraction to each other. What I didn’t get at first was why Gemma would be friends with Addison, who is so obviously a jerk. But when their shared back story was revealed, I found it much more understandable. I wanted to know more about Max and Carter’s friendship - which is every bit as dysfunctional as Gemma and Addison’s - but since Gemma is the protagonist, I guess I can see why the boys’ relationship takes a backseat. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to Echols’ next novel!