ARC Review: Uses for Boys

Author: Erica Lorraine Scheidt
Received From:  Publisher via NetGalley
Genre:Contemporary
Release Date: 1/15/2013
Summary From B&N.com:  

Anna remembers a time before boys, when she was little and everything made sense. When she and her mom were a family, just the two of them against the world. But now her mom is gone most of the time, chasing the next marriage, brining home the next stepfather. Anna is left on her own—until she discovers that she can make boys her family. From Desmond to Joey, Todd to Sam, Anna learns that if you give boys what they want, you can get what you need. But the price is high—the other kids make fun of her; the girls call her a slut. Anna's new friend, Toy, seems to have found a way around the loneliness, but Toy has her own secrets that even Anna can't know.

Then comes Sam. When Anna actually meets a boy who is more than just useful, whose family eats dinner together, laughs, and tells stories, the truth about love becomes clear. And she finally learns how it feels to have something to lose—and something to offer. Real, shocking, uplifting, and stunningly lyrical, Uses for Boys by Erica Lorraine Scheidt is a story of breaking down and growing up.

My Thoughts:

Uses for Boys was just not for me. This book is not bad, I just personally had issues with it. I was for the most part frustrated with this book. I enjoyed it more towards the end of the book.

In my opinion this book is to graphic to count as YA, it is more New Adult. I had personal issue with the things Anna was doing at such a young age. Her mother should have pulled herself together and raised her daughter. Her mother's action highly effected Anna and Anna's actions. Her mother frustrated me so much. Anna followed in her moms footsteps, filling her life with boys. This made me angrier at the mom, and a bit angry with Anna.

Later in the book Anna starts to pull herself together a bit. I liked the stronger more independent Anna better. Then Sam comes along, and the book gets better. The way Anna acted was even different she was trying not just expecting a happy full life. The book change so much it felt like a different book.


This book was okay for me. I had a lot of personal issues with it. I enjoyed the last part of the book better than the rest of it. This is not a bad book; I just had personal issues with it. This book maybe more suitable and more enjoyable for a bit older audience than me.