I believe in books.: Deidra Reviews The Summer I Became a Nerd

Author: Leah Rae Miller
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Release Date: 7 May 2013
Source: NetGalley
Pages: 258

Summary: On the outside, seventeen-year-old Madelyne Summers looks like your typical blond cheerleader—perky, popular, and dating the star quarterback. But inside, Maddie spends more time agonizing over what will happen in the next issue of her favorite comic book than planning pep rallies with her squad. That she’s a nerd hiding in a popular girl's body isn’t just unknown, it's anti-known. And she needs to keep it that way.

Summer is the only time Maddie lets her real self out to play, but when she slips up and the adorkable guy behind the local comic shop’s counter uncovers her secret, she’s busted. Before she can shake a pom-pom, Maddie’s whisked into Logan’s world of comic conventions, live-action role-playing, and first-person-shooter video games. And she loves it. But the more she denies who she really is, the deeper her lies become…and the more she risks losing Logan forever.

I found that this story was just adorable. It was such a great summer read, and of course the nerd in my really enjoyed the story. Granted, I'm not a huge comic book person. My inner nerd comes from the kinds of movies/TV shows I like. And of course my friends call me a book nerd *but the truth is the truth*. Anyways, I can appreciate what Maddie, our main character, is experiencing through the story. There were a lot of times in high school that I didn't let people know how much I liked to read, and I didn't tell everybody that I loved Comic-Con. Eventually though I realized that being me was the most important thing.

Maddie goes through a journey to discover that for herself, but the journey is fun and full of humor and nerdiness. Logan is one of the cutest nerds I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy in a story. I'm so happy that we got to meet him early in the story. There wasn't all this tension in the story that drove me crazy. It was a fun friendship/relationship that I could root for.

The dialouge in this story was SO WELL-WRITTEN! I mean I laughed so hard at times, but Dan *Logan's best friend* was such a great character. His dialouge was fabulous! Here is a passage and example:

Dan drags his eyes from me to glare at Logan. "Well, excuse the hell out of me for trying to help. I heard a crash and thought someone was hurt. You could've fallen. On a pair of scissors. Slit your juglular. How was I to know? Next time you're in need of life-saving action, don't come crying to me, "he says, then his voice mimics a whiney child. '"Dan, help me, I've broken my spleen," because you know what I'm going to say? 'Sorry about the spleen, dude, I have to stay in the back room for all eternity.'" He finishes his tirade and crosses his arms.

Who Should Read It: For all the nerds out there, read this. For those mourning the end of summer, pick this up for your last hurrah!