Title: The Bermudez Triangle
Author: Maureen Johnson
Synopsis: What happens when your two best friends fall in love…with each other?
“Their friendship went so far back, it bordered on the Biblical — in the beginning, there was Nina and Avery and Mel.” So says high school senior Nina Bermudez about herself and her two best friends, nicknamed “The Bermudez Triangle” by a jealous wannabe back on Nina’s eleventh birthday. But the threesome faces their first separation when Nina goes away the summer before their senior year. And in ten short weeks, everything changes.
Nina returns home bursting with stories about Steve, the quirky yet adorable eco-warrior she fell for hard while away. But when she asks her best friends about their summer romances, an awkward silence follows.
Nina soon learns the shocking truth when she sees Mel and Avery…kissing. Their friendship is rocked by what feels like the ultimate challenge. But it’s only the beginning of a sometimes painful, sometimes funny, always gripping journey as three girls discover who they are and what they really want.
Review:
a.) Characters: 4/5 score. When I first started reading this, I was a little confused in the beginning. But with each page, each character grew. And with that growth, I loved them more and more. Even during some of the more painful growths the girls had to endure, I connected with them in a way I didn’t realize I could. Even the side characters, like the coworkers and parents, felt real and believable.
b.) Plot: 4/5 score. It’s contemporary, and I found myself pleasantly surprised by the ease of reading it. These girls are journeying on finding out who they are, something we all can relate to. I absolutely loved the concept of Avery and Mel experimenting, even when it became clear that Avery wasn’t sure. And Nina’s struggles with Steve frustrated the hell out of me!
c.) Writing style: 5/5 score. I am on the hunt for more of Maureen Johnson’s works. I found her writing style easy to read. The humor felt real and absolutely authentic. (This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who follows her on Twitter.) Some of her sentences were so delicious that I’d reread them a couple of time to feel the flow and rhythm of the words, the pulse that they gave, even when they were said out loud. Yes, I read a couple of the passages out loud to my bestie so she could understand what sent me into a squealing fit of laughter.
Rating: 13/15 total
Jessica G. Reads 