Title:  Ditched [indie bound] [amazon]
Author: Robin Mellom [website] [twitter] [facebook]
Genre:  Contemporary
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Series: None
Format: eBook (ARC)
Source: Publisher (via Net Galley)
Parental Advisory: alcohol, drugs, language, criminal activity
Teachable Moments: peer pressure

“Just thinking about her almost makes me throw up in my mouth.  I mean, what was it exactly that he couldn’t resist?  Her strappy, silver Jimmy Choo pumps?  Or her pale pink lip gloss with a hint of glitter?  Surely it wasn’t her remarkable intelligence — the girl thinks monogamy is a type of dark wood.  Maybe he found her lack of common vocabulary terms adorable?”

Summary (from the publisher):
High school senior Justina Griffith was never the girl who dreamed of going to prom.  Designer dresses and strappy heels?  not her thing.  So she never expected her best friend, Ian Clark, to ask her.

Ian, who always passed her the baseball bat handle first.

Ian, who knew exactly when she needed red licorice.

Ian, who promised her the most amazing night at prom.

And then he ditched her.

Now, as the sun rises over her small town, and with only the help of some opinionated ladies at the 7-Eleven, Justina must piece together — stain by stain on her thrift-store dress 00 exactly how she ended up dateless.  A three-legged Chihuahua was involved.  Along with a demolition derby-ready Cadillac.  And there was that incident at the tattoo parlor.  Plus the flying leap from Brian Sontag’s moving car….

But to get the whole story, Justina will have to face the boy who ditched her.  And discover if losing out at prom can ultimately lead to true love.

Except June wasn’t the only one hiding something  Jake’s keeping a secret that has the power to turn Harper’s life upside down again.

Opinion:
I’m about to give Ditched some of the highest praise I can give.  Ready?

This book reminded me so much of a John Hughes movie.  I mean really, from the cast of characters to the situations they were placed in it was right out of an 80′s teen movie and I loved it!  Seriously, it was so funny and fun that I could sincerely see it on the big screen.

Hey, movie producers, get on this stat!

Besides the awesomeness that was bringing me back to the glory days of my 80s era high school experience Ditched also too and interesting look at how one girl wasn’t afraid to be herself, not succumb to peer pressure, and chase after what she wanted.  Or maybe I should say who she wanted.  Because after a very long and devoted friendship Justina finally goes out on the limb of trying to make her relationship with childhood friend Ian into more.  So when Ian asks her to the prom she sees it as the perfect opportunity to finally get those motors running and move to the next level.  For his part, Ian seems a bit aloof about it all though I didn’t perceive him as being completely shut off to the idea.  But then, he pretty much ditches Justina at the prom which doesn’t bode well for potential romance.  Know what I’m sayin’?

Here is the thing about this review, I can’t really tell you too much because honestly it’s one of those books that is just so worth experiencing for yourself.  It’s quirky, ironic, and full of fun  (and hysterical) only on prom night situations that shouldn’t be described.  I could go the cliche route and say it was a “wild ride” through motel parties and tattoo parlors and the like but really that doesn’t do the comedy of the story justice.  And it also gives the impression that there isn’t a lot of heart to it all, which is patently untrue.  There’s so much heart in this book it’s hard to tell who is the person who makes people happiest Justina or Ian.

Let me break it down for you on the characters.  Justina is a bit nerdy but so spectacular in her ability to be who she is and be comfortable with that.  Sure, she’s a typical teenager, she wants to have lots of good friends and the usual high school experience, but in the end isn’t willing to trade on her beliefs and fundamentally change herself to “fit in”.  Ian, is a mostly good egg too.  He doesn’t forsake Justina just because she’s not popular or the version of perfect and pretty that high school standards dictate.  He is a loyal and faithful friend to Justina in the same way she is for him.

Even though the bulk of the story is about Justina and Ian and their potential relationship there are a bevy of unique characters that they interact with along the way.  Well, Justina more than Ian but still.  The most interesting are the patrons of the 7-eleven that Justina finds herself in the morning after the prom.  With the ladies she ends up meeting she gets perspective on her relationship with Ian and a host of other interpersonal issues.

Like I said, I’m not going to spoil this one for you by going to deep into plot.  Just know it’s super fun and cute and definitely one of those reads that makes you feel good.