Dating Game #2: Breaking Up Is Really, Really Hard to Do

I am an adult who loves reading "teen fiction". I picked up the first book in this series by fluke but I have found myself running after the second and third books. This series is fun to read. While it does not really tackle many of the daily problems encountered by teens today - or should I say the book does tackle them, but never in any type of serious way, the storylines are cute and witty. If I had a teen, I would have no problem suggesting these titles. I look forward to more in this series.

Natalie Standiford's second installment in her Dating Game series, BREAKING UP IS REALLY, REALLY HARD TO DO, is another example of fine realistic fiction, with a lot of humor thrown in for good measure. Holly, Lina and Madison are enjoying the popularity that the success of their matchmaking project has brought them --- Holly is still dating Rob; Lina is still in love with her young teacher, Dan; and Madison is still madly in love with the swim star, Sean. As the novel progress, teenage angst at its best occurs. Holly becomes increasingly annoyed with Rob, most notably because of the cheesy sayings on his T-shirts and the way he asks for Holly's permission before kissing her. Lina discovers a personal ad that Dan has written. She answers, but not as herself --- rather, she responds as a college student who's studying film. Madison decides to use a portrait of Sean as the centerpiece for her art project, showing how her life revolves around her infatuation of him. Returning are some minor characters, including Audrey, Madison's kid sister; Ramona, the leader of the We Love Dan cult; and Sebastiano, Holly's locker buddy. A new character is Stephen Costello, a fellow artist who becomes pals with Madison. Like the first installment in the series, this book deals with relationships, friendships, self-esteem, confidence, and a host of other issues that teen readers will be able to relate to. Standiford's strength is her characterization and the realistic voice she creates for her characters. The three main protagonists are likable, believable, and just flawed enough to make them real. There is a lot of humor here as well --- the sayings on Rob's shirts are cheesy but funny, the rapport between the girls is full of zingers, and Ramona's saving of Dan's used napkins is creepy but at the same time humorous. Standiford already has written the third installment of The Dating Game, entitled CAN TRUE LOVE SURVIVE HIGH SCHOOL? I believe that Standiford's series will survive much more than that. [...]