The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

Publisher: Harlequin Teen      

Publication date: April 29th 2014
My rating: 4 star

Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 


After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.
One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.
No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

Well hello there, Ms. Break-Up Artist! I want to have your carrier or at least see what it feels like to be wicked. 

When I first heard about this  book I was immediately interested. Who doesn't want to read about someone breaking up couples for money? For me it just screams Let's be bad together and Pick me! Pick me! And the hipster-ish cover looks great. 

The best thing about this books was the MC. I don't usually relate to characters and when I do I can't help but to fall in love with the story. Becca's the break-up artist. I've never destroyed someone else's relationship, just my own (haha) but I do think Becca and I have something really important in common. We both don't believe in love. It's strange to even say that. Becca's sister has been dumped on her wedding day and her parents don't show affection to each other easily so Becca doesn't believe people are meant to be together forever. Another thing that's great about Becca is that she's not afraid to do something bad. She's not bad and she's not good either. She's just a normal, regular person. We can read about 'perfect' characters but things aren't so easy in the real world. 

I also enjoyed the break-up process. Becca's newest target were the power couple in her school, Steve and Huxley. Huxley was a bitch but at the same time she wasn't altogether bad, just like Becca. Gosh! I liked every character in this book: the sleezebag boyfriend trying to fool around with other girls, the best friend who's desperate to find a boyfriend, a girl who changes herself completely when she's in a relationship and even Becca's mopey sister. 

I really want this book to get the attention it deserves. It's fresh and fun! So easy to read and the characters seem like real teenagers, not the whinny messes we've been fed for the last couple of years. And another thing, I had no idea the author's male. Oops. I didn't even see his name right up to the point when I started writing this review. I applaud him for writing teenage girls correctly. It was almost like he was a teenager himself. 

If you're looking for a book with different characters you came to the right place. Don't miss this exciting debut! If you're still not impressed, remember, Huntley Fitzpatrick, Hannah Harrington and Lauren Morrill liked it as well.