Review: the beauty and the geek
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 18, 2012
Like a bolt out of the blue Fate steps in and sees you through When you wish upon a star Your dreams come true - Pinocchio, 1940 Walt Disney animated filmfrom across the universe, two teens get transferred when they make the same wish at the same time. Rhoe finds himself on Earth while Ashley lands on Rhoe's home planet Retha. the problem is that Rhoe takes on Ashley's physical form and Queen of Beverly Hills High Ashley is now an alien boy - parts and all.author Laura A.H. Elliott spins an interesting intergalactic tale of identity and corporeal switching reminiscent of the movies Freaky Friday and The Hot Chick.the adventure takes off when geeky Rhoe and popular Ashley literally find themselves in each other's shoes. their voices alternate in this book as each relates the challenges they face and how they deal with them in their new roles and bodies.i was impressed with the way Ms. Elliott drew her main protagonists and gave them their distinct personalities. she was able to capture very well how teenagers think, act and speak. even in an alien world, the language was hip and contemporary .incorporating actual locations around Los Angeles made some parts of the story conceivable. the descriptions of Retha and some of its history were also well-done.i also liked how the author focused on and played around with Rhoe's and Ahsley's favorite leisure activities which mirrored the other's interest albeit in a different form.i was amused by the awkwardness both teens displayed and by their physiological reactions when they were crushing on their respective best friends.there were some surprising sub-plots here that went well with the entire story too.the best part of the whole affair was how the beauty and the geek finally made it back home.i guess there is some truth to the adage that one should really be careful when wishing for anything. you never really know what you would get or where it might take you.overall, this was a fun and enjoyable book and i highly recommend it.Disclosure of Material Connection: i received an eARC of Transfer Student from the author herself. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising