Confessions of a Serial Kisser, Wendelin Van Draanen

Van Draanen, Wendelin (2008).
Confessions of a Serial Kisser
New York: Alfred A. Knopf
9780375942488
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Chick-Lit

After reading her mother’s secret collection of romance novels during her parents’ difficult separation, seventeen-year-old Evangeline Logan begins a quest for the prefect kiss.
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Music–loving Evangeline used to be happy-go-lucky until her father had an affair, and her parents separated. After months of wallowing in depression, Evangeline finds her mother’s secret stash of romance novels, and Evangeline decides to change her attitude. In particular, Crimson Kiss grabs Evangeline’s attention and after a do-it-herself makeover and the advice from one of her mom’s self help books, Evangeline decides to turn her fantasy into reality and seeks the passion of a crimson kiss. Unfortunately, Evangeline kisses one too many people- from the popular jock at school, the bookish quiet guy, the random guy at Starbucks, her best friend’s brother and even, unbeknownst to Evangeline, her best friend’s crush. As she flounders through her innocent kisses, Evangeline cannot understand why such perfect looking guys cannot deliver the crimson kiss and why she gains a bad reputation- even her teachers are talking! All the while Evangeline refuses to forgive her father even though her mother seems to be reconciling with him. Only when Evangeline’s best friend refuses to forgive her does Evangeline see any parallels between the two situations. Two thirds into the novel, I worried Evangeline was perpetuating dismal female stereotypes- the hysterical, emotional non-thinking female and/or the promiscuous whore. However, Van Draanen restores my faith as she reunites Evangeline with her love of music via the local record storeowner. Evangeline learns to channel her passion, forgive her father and regains her best friend. Van Draanen’s open ending with respect to two possible love interests for Evangeline is extremely realistic, and readers will overlook the didactic message because Evangeline’s voice is so endearing and likeable.