― Cookie O'Gorman, Adorkable

Hello there fellow readers! I apologize for my leave of absence, I assumed I'd post MORE during quarantine rather than leaving a dry streak. This past weekend I read Adorkable by O'Gorman and the title is ever so accurate for my feelings about this novel. The characters were so cute and flawlessly written, with irresistible names! - C'mon, Sally Sue Spitz and Baldwin Eugene Charles "Becks" Kent? Best friends since ever! Simply charming. I also loved the clever word play through BFF characterization - the matchmaking best friend with the last name/nickname of "Hooker"- who's teamed up with Sally's mother the wedding planner to send Sally on countless blind dates with the hopes of finding her the man of her dreams.   

I really enjoyed the plot of this novel, it created a wholesome type of suspenseful reading experience, and had me jumping for joy and pausing in frustration at all the right moments. I'm a sucker for everything this book brought - best friends turned lovers, fake relationship into real relationship, nerd girl and jock guy, WOO my heart! Loved it. I think my favorite part about the way that O'Gorman created her own unique ending to this common story plot is how the love confession was played out very uniquely to the characters and wasn't super textbook cheesy. There was a bit of this present, but it definitely didn't hurt ;) And ok I loved it. 

Now, there were a few minor details that I would change about 'Adorkable', the first of which is how the title isn't incorporated into the story itself. While this can be common among YA novels, I think it would've really added to the story if the phrase "Adorkable" was something that Becks said in reference to Sally, as possibly a fond connection or inside joke between the two. Other than that, I'd maybe include a German to English translation reference in the back? It's equally tiring to either pretend I can read German, or copy the entire statement into Google translate to help a girl out. Besides these, the book was a total home run, I've already recommended it to some fellow book lovers, and it's very deserving of a 5 star rating. 

Ps. A little comment - the version I read was from Target, and included some bonus content that made my book worm heart so happy!! Poems that young Becks wrote to Sally, an excursion of the ending from his point of view, and even an Adorkable Book Playlist! I was in love. Cookie O'Gorman, wherever you are, you're doing awesome. Keep it up :) 

Sally AKA "Spitz" to most, is best friends with Becks.  They have been close since they were young children.  Too bad he has no idea she has been in love with him the whole time.  It is an unlikely pair, as he is the hottest guy in school, and she is a well known geek.

Baldwin AKA "Becks" is very glad to be Sally's best friend.  He has secrets of his own he has not shared.  When she asks him a favor, he has no problem saying yes.  Will it get even more complicated when the whole school finds out?

This was such an amazing story.  I found the characters to be rather deep and compelling.  I was absolutely enthralled and did not put the book down until I had read the entire thing.  Then I wanted to read it again.  This was a new author for me - but you can bet I will read all her works now.  I give this read a 5/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publishers.

This is the second book in this series that I began while doing Project Frankenstein. One of the quibbles that I complained about while I read the first one remains an issue in this one: Victor is everything bad. He was pals with Hitler and Stalin and such. But what exactly made him this way? It is hinted that when his first creation killed Victor’s wife, things started snowballing. But this deeply rooted hate of all things human couldn’t have sprung from that source. So far, the reason for Victor’s evil nature remains a mystery to me.

Maddison and Conor the two cops that we met in this last book are back in this one. They are funny and are slowly being fleshed out, so they look more human. 

Some quotes that I marked while reading:
Like all utopians, he (Victor Frankenstein) preferred obedience to independent thought.
I mean wow, sum up all the dystopian novels in one sentence, why don’t ya!

And I learned a few new words:

A fallen angel turned demon, a witch, a haunted house and ghosts.

Creepy goings on, the damned and the saved.

A little family of 3 to save them all.

Well, most of them.

Never judge a book by it's cover.

That person sitting next to you that seems oh so sweet as pie could be the devil incarnate.

The person you wouldn't give the time of day to could be an angel in disguise.

A slow start, with parts I either missed, or thought had no bearing on the story, coming together in an amazing ending.  With light bulbs going off in my head.  OH! That guy!  LOL

In case anyone one needs to know, the dogs survives.  Good girl!