The Jerk Magnet by Melody Carlson

Melody Carlson does it again. The Jerk Magnet is her latest book geared towards teen girls and this one is by far my favorite of her YA books. Chelsea Martin is your average wallflower. She is geeky and awkward and prefers to stay in the background where she'll blend in. The only thing she really craves is a true friend but no one seems to want to be around her because she is so plain. Enter her widowed father's new fiance, Kate. Kate sees beyond the plain and at the end of Chelsea's sophomore year, right before Chelsea and her dad move to San Jose, gives Chelsea a complete makeover, hair to pedicure. Chelsea has gone from slumming to stunning overnight and Kate even provides confidence lessons. Chelsea embraces her new look and meets a few jerks along the way. Will she find what she craves, a true friend, or will her new "hot girl look" scare people away?

Melody always delivers a strong novel with a positive message. She writes truth and includes a gospel message without coming across as preachy. This is an author that you can feel confident about sharing with your favorite teen girls. I know I plan to pass this copy that I received from the Baker Publishing House (for review purposes only) on to one of my favorite girls.

Available January 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
This book was provided for review by Revell.