eGalley Review: The Breakup Artist

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Title: The Breakup Artist
Author: Philip Siegel
Series: None
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: 4/29/2014
Format: eGalley
Source: Netgalley(Harlequin Teen)

Synopsis:
Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.


One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.



Everyone had their own good and bad experience in school. Some may have been the popular kid and some may be otherwise(I won’t say “loser” because no one deserves to be called one.) But never in my entire school life have I experienced someone like the “Breakup Artist”. What was supposed to be a fun read turn out to be a nostalgic read to me, it brought back some memories from my high school life.

Rebecca Williamson was not your ordinary classmate in school, she was a hired breakup artist that you pay a hundred bucks via paypal. She doesn’t just break couples, she elaborately plans schemes and she’s good at it. Every school had it’s own power couple, and theirs was Steve and Huxley, and Becca was hired to break them apart. She hesitated at first, but when she was reminded with why she’s doing this very job she accepts it eventually. Even if she had to endure her ex-bestfriend Huxley, she’s determined to succeed in this biggest challenge as a break up artist.

“But now I know that once people get into relationships, friends-and rational thought-get tossed aside”

Most people would think, is Becca such a big bitter about relationship? Is she that pathetic to be someone who ruins other people’s relationship? But in just a few chapters, I saw the big picture why she does this. Becca was a good friend, she was so good that her friends took her for granted. She was tossed aside in exchange for a relationship bliss. Thus, her belief that love was just an excuse people made, that love doesn’t really exist. Aside from her career, Becca was actually a funny character. She wasn’t just anti-romance, she had realistic and reasonable thoughts. I almost had myself convinced with everything she said.

“Finding a suitable guy to date is a study in Darwinism. Survival of the hottest.”

Her sister, Diane, played a big part on her role as a break up artist. Becca saw her sister went through a terrible heartbreak and she was the one who witnessed it and one who helped her sister pick up the pieces. This was what moved her to be a break up artist, and I actually understand her reasons for being one. I liked how her backstory with her sister and ex-bestfriend moved the story. It was honest and you can actually relate to it. Honestly, I had the same situation years ago, but I was not Becca I was Huxley. My bestfriend and I almost drifted apart and up to this day I am lucky that although I lost the guy, my bestfriend never left me.

Let me tell you, this is not a romantic story. It was a contemporary story that taps our conscience with the question, who are you willing to give up? Everyone has been a Becca once in their life. We were not born with relationships waiting for us in the nursery. All of us had experienced feeling inferior or envy to those who are in a relationship. I know I do, that’s why I was able to relate with the story. The Breakup Artist was an entertaining read with a unique plot that makes it worth reading. It kind of had a “Mean Girls”(a 2004 Lindsay Lohan film) feel to it with a a little twist and I wish this has a sequel(PLEASE, THIS CAN’T BE THE END). It was relatable, fun, refreshing and definitely worth a try! I promise, you won’t get bored.

4 out of 5