FICTION

The Only Thing Worse Than Me Is You

by Lily ANDERSON
352p. ebook available. St. Martin's Griffin. May 2016. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781250079091.
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Gr 9 Up—Trixie Watson and Ben West have been rivals since first grade, and it is in her senior year that Trixie is resolved to get a higher class ranking than her adversary. However, as time goes by, Trixie and Ben realize that they may have more in common than they thought. They are interested in the same geeky characters, TV shows, and movies, and their best friends are dating each other. But when Trixie's best friend is accused of cheating, Trixie will have to decide whose side she's really on. Anderson's debut and Much Ado About Nothing update is full of modern-day fandoms, such as Doctor Who, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Star Wars, and Marvel comics. Readers interested in these topics might enjoy this novel, but the story line is drawn out, with a long overdue conclusion. However, the narrative makes up for its slow pace with its lovable, relatable, and realistic characters.
VERDICT A convoluted work full of contemporary fandoms that fans of Rainbow Rowell's Eleanor & Park or Fangirl will enjoy.
Reviewed by Caitlin Wilson, Brooklyn Public Library
In a modern Much Ado About Nothing takeoff, feuding seniors and comic-book fans Trixie and Ben are set up by their friends to believe that each loves the other. Witty wordplay infuses the teens' banter as the nerdy but mostly likable characters face common high-school issues. Pop-culture references, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Star Wars, abound in this long but enjoyable novel.
 , Apr 01, 2016

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