Flawless by Lara Chapman

Release date: 10th May, 2011

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 255pgs

The Story

Sarah Burke is just about perfect. She's got killers eyes, gorgeous blond hair, and impeccable grades. There's just one tiny-all alright, enormous-flaw: her nose. But even that's not so bad. Sarah's got the best best friend and big goals for print journalism fame.

On the first day of senior, Rock Conway walks into her journalism class and, well, rocks her world. Problem is, her best friend, Kristen, falls for him too. And when Rock and Kristen stand together, it's like Barbie and Ken come to life. So when Kristen begs Sarah to help her nab Rock, Sarah does the only thing a best friend can doe - she agrees. For someone so smar, what was she thinking?

This hip retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac is filled with hilariously misguided matchmaking, sweet romance, and a gentle reminder that we should all embrace our flaws.

The Review

FLAWLESS is the retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac and it's about a girl called Sarah who has an unusually large nose. While most people would find it horrifying and embarrassed, Sarah is content and happy with herself (nose and all). But when her classmates continue to snicker down the hallways, when her mother urges her to go under the knife to fix her and when an uber-hot new boy arrives in town, Rockford "Rock" Conway, she thinks she has a chance with him but wonders whether her nose is the problem. The thing that could change everything. However, the real problem is her best friend Kristen, who also falls head over heels for Rock, and urges Sarah to help, as she has a lot in common with him and a master of writing skills that could help Kristen win Rock's heart. Like according to plan, it looks like the guy of Sarah dreams is going to fall for her BFF!

I love the heart of the story, how it deals with true inner beauty and how two girls deal with the constant gawking and finger pointing due to Sarah's large nose - "Everyone take cover. She's gonna blow!" *smiles* When it comes to the main character, Sarah Burke, she was an interesting, intelligent, and a very likeable girl from the novel's beginning. Except she's shallow at times. Especially when it comes to her best friend, Kristen, who might annoy the hell out of you. Kristen on the other hand was not a likeable character and I don't know why, but maybe it's because she's the cliche dumb girl who get's all the guys to love her. Even though I loved how Kristen stuck up for Sarah when people made nasty comments about her nose, but I wanted to throw her off a building or at least SOMETHING that could make her see some sense in what she's making her friend do. She kind of reminds me of some people I went to school with, and sadly I won't mention names. *smirks* Anyway, not only did Kristen treat Sarah like a slave, but she also made her do things she didn't want to do and they both knew it was wrong . . . but they did it anyway. *fist shake* However, when it comes down to it, Sarah is the one to blame. I wanted her to come out of her shell and say NO for once. Mind you, I relate a lot to Sarah being the "good best friend" and all, because even I found it hard to say no but thankfully not anymore unless we're talking about my mother. *smirks again*

As for Rock (mind you it's a horrible nickname for a boy), the hot boy a book must always include, while I loved his literature hobbies and his overall personality, I however didn't like how he treated Sarah. From the very first meeting, you could definitely see he was into her and yet he took his damn time to admit it. Eh. *sigh* I hate it when guys go out with the wrong girl, especially if they know it too. Anyway, I love him as a character and I love the ending . . . except one thing ticked me off, something he said, "I've actually been thinking about what attracted me to Kristen. It really wasn't the way she looked, it was more about the attention she gave me" - really ROCK REALLY??? - "New kid in a big school getting lots of attention from someone like Kristen . . . it's pretty flattering." DIES. I seriously don't get guys. Of course looks are important when it comes to them. Attention is just a bonus . . . but pleassssseee boy! You can't tell me they don't consider good looks too? But anyway when I read this line I had an inner scream moment. Despite all this, he was an alright love interest. The only love interest really.

FLAWLESS offers a story about friendship, love, betrayal, and of course the most important, loyalty! It was definitely a great debut novel from Lara Chapman. Even with the predictable storyline, an easy following of words and a I-saw-this-coming-of-an ending, I loved this story through-and-through and the message it sent to young readers: Be happy with who you are, rather than what you look like.

The Rating

4/5 stars