Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz

Release Date: Available Now from EgmontUSA

Source: From Publisher

Synopsis:

When a rumor starts circulating that Tara's boyfriend Brent has been sleeping with one of the guy cheerleaders, the innuendo doesn't just hurt Tara. It marks the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara's training for a marathon, but also running from her fear of abandonment after being deserted by her father. Whitney Blaire seems to have everything, but an empty mansion and absentee parents leave this beauty to look for meaning in all the wrong places. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she's never stopped missing. This friendship that promised to last forever is starting to break under the pressure of the girls' differences.

And then new-girl Riley arrives in school with her long black hair, athletic body, and her blasé attitude, and suddenly Tara starts to feel things she's never felt before for a girl--and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay--or does she just love Riley? And can her deepest friendships survive when all of the rules have changed?

I thought this was a great read. It painted the perfect picture of how one rumor can grow and grow until it literally changes everyone's life. The story felt very real to me and these characters seemed like a group that I might have hung out with in high school, although nothing near this exciting ever happened with my friends. Oh well....if I had it all to do over again, eh?

I loved the fact that the story was told from alternating viewpoints, because at times, I wanted to strangle one of the characters. It was nice at these times to be able to spend quality time with a different character. It made me not want to strangle that other girl so very much.

I continue to be impressed with the books that EgmontUSA is turning out. I think they've had such a phenomenal starting line up that I can't wait to see what they're going to turn out next. I know I'm looking forward to more from Diaz, in fact, I'd love to catch up with these characters a year or two later to see where they are in life.

Great read!!