Charming as a Verb

Books | Young Adult Fiction / Humorous / General

3.7

(336)

Ben Philippe

From the award-winning author of The Field Guide to the North American Teenager comes a whip-smart and layered romantic comedy. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han. Henri “Halti” Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbors. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.There is only one person who seems immune to Henri’s charms: his “intense” classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri’s less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself.Soon what started as a mutual hustle turns into something more surprising than either of them ever bargained for. . . . This is a sharply funny and insightful novel about the countless hustles we have to keep from doing the hardest thing: being ourselves.

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More Details:

Author

Ben Philippe

Pages

334

Publisher

HarperCollins

Published Date

2020-10-13

ISBN

0062824279 9780062824271

Community ReviewsSee all

"A fun and quick read!"

Jonathan Kent

"This was such an enjoyable and funny read. It struck a great balance between being lighthearted and including moments of seriousness and insightfulness, which I love in YA novels. Henri is a genuine and relatable character, but he struggles with feeling like he can't fully be himself around others. With Corinne, however, he finds someone who truly sees him. The pressures Henri faces—both external and internal—are immense, leading him to compromise his ethical code at one point, a choice with real consequences that ripple beyond just himself. The characters, even the minor ones, were well-developed and integral to Henri’s story. Corinne stood out to me; while Henri initially sees her as intense and unlikable, she surprises both him and the reader with her humor, kindness, and depth. I also loved Henri’s best friend, Ming, who is chill, intellectually advanced, and always supportive—a perfect counterbalance to Henri. Henri’s family dynamic added another layer to the story. Although the pressure his father places on him was frustrating, it was clear that his family is close and deeply cares for one another. The story also thoughtfully explores the societal and academic pressures Henri experiences as a first-generation American. His dream of attending Columbia feels more like his father’s dream than his own, something highlighted when Henri can’t even articulate to his interviewer why he truly wants to go there. His lack of personal drive for Columbia contrasts with another school he researches, where his interests seem more aligned. I appreciated how the story didn’t solely focus on the romance between Henri and Corinne but also tackled broader themes like academic pressure and the pursuit of identity and purpose. The romance was sweet, but it was Henri’s growth and the exploration of his struggles that made the story resonate. Overall, this was a great read for me. I think it will appeal to anyone who loves funny dialogue, a cute romance, and a thoughtful, lighthearte"

Z G

Zariah Grant

"Witty and entertaining"

J C

JeLlana C

"Beautiful. So stunningly written. It made me fall in love with the characters then left me broken. How the end turned out is up for you to find out. 5 stars! 100% would recommend!"