B. T. Gottfred's The Nerdy and the Dirty promised a unique and perhaps unconventional contemporary story, likely exploring the complexities of teenage relationships and identity through contrasting personalities. As a reader who appreciates quirky characters and narratives that delve into the awkwardness of adolescence, I was drawn to its intriguing title and the potential for a humorous and heartfelt read. The book certainly has a distinct voice and some genuinely funny moments.

The strengths of The Nerdy and the Dirty lie in its original premise and its attempt to explore the dynamics between two seemingly opposite individuals. Gottfred creates a relatable high school setting and the often-messy realities of teenage social lives. The characters, particularly the "nerdy" and "dirty" protagonists, are distinct and offer contrasting perspectives, which can lead to some amusing situations. There are moments of genuine humor and sincerity, particularly in the dialogue and the internal thoughts of the characters as they navigate their burgeoning connection. The themes of self-acceptance, breaking stereotypes, and finding common ground are present.

However, despite its promising premise and unique voice, I found that The Nerdy and the Dirty didn't quite fully coalesce. The pacing, while attempting to capture the chaotic energy of adolescence, sometimes felt a little uneven, with some sections dragging or feeling overly repetitive, while others rushed through important developments. While the characters are interesting, I wished for a bit more depth in their emotional arcs, particularly as their relationship evolved. The romance, while central, occasionally felt a little forced or underdeveloped, lacking the genuine chemistry needed to be truly impactful. Some of the plot developments, while intended to be quirky, felt a little predictable or leaned too heavily into caricature.

Overall, The Nerdy and the Dirty is a quirky and often humorous contemporary novel that offers a unique look at teenage relationships. It's a solid choice for readers who appreciate unconventional characters and a focus on the awkwardness and humor of growing up. While it didn't completely captivate me from start to finish, it's a well-intentioned story that shows promise and explores interesting themes with a distinct voice.

This just wasn't my type of book! Which is totally okay. I appreciate what the author is trying to do, and hey, I don't think there are a ton of books out there that really capture teen sex--but this whole thing didn't click for me at all.

I really appreciated the frankness of both characters as they learned to love and be their true selves. While there was a lot of sex which might make some readers uncomfortable, it was presented in a very sex positive way that could really help teens. My only complaint is that the minor characters -especially the parents- didn't feel nearly as well developed as Benedict and Pen.

A slow read with unlikeable main characters. I really did not care for them or their outcomes. Honestly I just skimmed through the last 50 pages.

Benedict Pendleton is the socially awkward son of an equally socially awkward, but professionally prominent, psychologist, and there are expectations. Benedict will be brilliant, he will go to a good college, and he will make an excellent husband to the perfect wife who will NOT be Penelope Lupo. Penelope Lupo is a not-so-good Catholic girl who loves to masturbate…a lot. She has frequent, but unsatisfying, sex with her popular Catholic boyfriend who fully intends to marry her and do all the expected things. Benedict’s best friend is pining for Penelope, and Benedict is quick to point out that she is the absolute wrong kind of girl for either of them. All that changes when Benedict and Penelope meet up at Wild Wolf Resort. Both of these characters have issues, but they find that in each other they don’t match, they fit. While there are heart warming moments as these two quirky characters meet one another and navigate a new relationship, I have read few stories that feature the words “orgasm,” “penis,” and “vagina” so prominently. Gottfred accurately captures the awkwardness of a couple’s first sexual encounter and emphasizes the theme that finding one’s soul mate means accepting and appreciating the whole person rather than seeking a few specific qualities. The gratuitous masturbation and explicit sex acts are likely to lose less mature readers in the titillating details and are bound to make school librarians cautious about adding this definitely more mature title to their collections.

My reason for DNFing this one are simple: it made me uncomfortable.

While I have no problems with sex or discussions of it in books, its a natural thing, it was too much in this book, especially for a YA novel.

Of the 5% (and really, I skipped pages at a time thats how awkward they were - not in a character story sense, in a me sense - if that makes sense) I got through, I think at least 3% was discussions of/thinking of sex and masterbation. And the views of sex were very "stereotypical teen" written by someone obviously not a teen.

While I did like the writing style and the humor, and I thought the characters had great potential, I couldn't get past the awkwardness. I did like the sex wasn't portrayed as something only the boys like, as is often in teen fiction, but honestly? It was too much, the other plot points revolved around dating entirely, and it made me uncomfortable and a little nauseas. I might read something else by this author.

If sex in book doesn't both you, and you like YA romances (in dual POV), then you'll like this. It does after all have pretty good reviews and rating. It just wasn't for me.