Book:  A Field Guide For Heartbreakers
Author:  Kristen Tracy
Published:  June 1, 2010 from Hyperion
My edition/number of pages:  HC/352

Age group:  Young adult
Source:  Publisher
Series?:  No.

Best friends Dessy and Veronica arrive in Europe with wildly different plans. Dessy hopes to heal her newly broken heart by diving into the creative writing workshop that brought the girls to Prague. Veronica’s plan, meanwhile, is to conquer as many hot-dudes as possible in one month—and help Dessy recycle her heart in the process. Her method:

· Dress like you are the party.

· Explore the terrain. (Moderate stalking is totally allowed.)

· Be adventurous. And that means being prepared to hide in your suitcase.

· Ask questions that make your hot-dude feel smart.

· Gloss early, gloss often, and bring bum. Because a kiss can happen when you least expect it!

At first, Veronica’s plan is working so well that Dessy thinks she might be a love genius. But soon it’s clear that Operation Maneater has a few holes. Like its failure to anticipate crazy mixed signals—and worse, its mysterious tendency to plague a friendship with secrets and lies.

Well, no one ever said breaking hearts was a simple craft.

A Field Guide For Heartbreakers was not a book for me.  I don’t feel like I ever got fully into the story and I am honestly just glad to be done with it.

Dessy Gherkin is going to Prague.  She and her best friend, Veronica, have been accepted into a month-long college writing program and it’s going to be great.  Too bad Dessy has a broken heart and Veronica has a goal to meet as many hot dudes as possible.  There are so many ways things can go wrong especially when you throw a homicidal roommate into the mix.

My main problem with this book was the character development.  I didn’t feel like I had enough background about any of the characters so I couldn’t understand their motives.  Dessy was weak and Veronica was a bitch.  That is honestly what I thought of them and my opinion did not change as I read the book.

The only redeeming thing about this book was the ending.  I thought it was hilarious.  I didn’t see it coming and I loved it.  It’s the one reason that I am glad I read through the book and didn’t give up.

Overall, I didn’t like A Field Guide For Heartbreakers but I know some people did.  If you are interested, give it a chance but I do recommend borrowing it from your library before buying it.

First line:  “Is that dust?” Veronica asked, reaching inside my giant duffel bag and running her finger along it’s flat bottom.

Writing:  4

Characters:  2

Plot:  4

Ending:  5

Originality:  4

Overall:  19=C

Cover:  5=A++