Charming as a Verb by Ben Philipe (Book review)

 

Young Adult|HighSchool|College pressure|American immigrants|Haitian| Boy likes girl first|Second chances| Teenage romance

Ben Philippe

BLAZER+BRAY

2022

240 pages.

33 chapters(excluding epilogue)

Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbours. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.

There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbour Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri’s less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself.

Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for. . . .

This is a sharply funny and insightful novel about the countless hustles we have to keep from doing the hardest thing: being ourselves.

       -Good reads.

Sigh…. I don't think I have enjoyed a book like this in the past month. Reading this was...very refreshing (a cliché I know, but it really was)

It was incredible, fresh,  and fast paced. 

I didn't really connect  intimately with the character. Henri Haltiwanger is not too open a character.  But I somehow liked reading his story and understood him to an extent.

  My prediction was that he gets into Columbia and McGills and then he has to make a decision between both schools. I liked the references to Glee and Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche! 

I can totally see this being on screen as an adorable teen romcom which will be very humorous. Plus we need more black love stories! And teen romcoms.

I liked the descriptions; they were witty and definitely funny.

     Omg… I love Corrine, Cori, Riri's character! I like the whole quirky, nerdy thing and her signature pink hats? Ummm a feminist nerdy blunt Jughead, who is not a glutton by the way... She is a totally loveable character. And her feminist comments, that she throws into conversations casually but are really worth thinking about.

   As Charming as a verb was a page turner, surprisingly, I didn't stop reading until I finished the second time I picked it up. I am not really sure if it was because it was a Friday and I didn't have anything planned for that Saturday. Plus I actually liked that tbs book wasn't all "light and fluffy". Or maybe it was because it was fast paced.

   In the end it was a lovely read. No happy ending or anything, everything doesn't end squeaky clean but it is satisfactory enough. Which I loveeeeeeeee.

On a scale of 1-20?

19!