In this second book in The Superlatives trilogy from Endless Summer author Jennifer Echols, Harper and Brody think they’re an unlikely match—but the senior class says they belong together.
As yearbook photographer, Harper is responsible for those candid moments that make high school memorable. But her own life is anything but picture perfect. Her parents’ bitter divorce left her wondering what a loving relationship looks like. And ever since the senior class voted her and star quarterback Brody “Perfect Couple That Never Was,” her friends have been pushing her to ask Brody out.
Brody doesn’t lack female admirers, but Harper can't see herself with him. He’s confused about the match too. Yet they find themselves drawn together—first by curiosity about why the class paired them, then by an undeniable bond.
The trouble is, though they’re attracted to each other, they have a hard time getting along or even communicating well. If they’re the perfect couple, this shouldn’t be so difficult! Soon it becomes clear their class was wrong, and they throw in the towel. But they feel so changed from making the effort, they can’t forget each other. What if this match made in hell is the perfect couple after all?
This book was utterly predictable and very superficial, but I enjoyed it enough to power through it. I read it without having read the prior book, and I didn't miss anything.
Harper was an interesting character with some dimension to her, but she definitely wasn't as 'unpopular' as she seemed. She started off being this super cool girl who sewed her own dresses etc., so I was a bit disappointed when she got contacts and a bikini and lost some of her originality. However, her drive was admirable.
I felt like she did play into gender roles a little too heavily at points. Kennedy is a total bleeeeep and I have no clue why she dates him. Her whole idea of beauty seems a little off, and Brody being the big football star was very cliche.
I also found myself rolling my eyes at points because I felt like Echols tried overly hard to make this an 'accepting' book by throwing in the token gay couple, but their whole big scenes felt very artificial to me.
The interactions between Harper and Brody were probably the best parts of this book--they were fun and flirty, and I enjoyed the bantering that took place.
I won't be reading the third book since I can basically predict everything that will happen now. Nonetheless, this book was a good way to kill time.
3
 - Jennifer Echols)
