Blue is for Nightmares

So I read this when I was young, in middle school I believe, and I really liked it then. I was curious to see if one of my childhood favorites held up to my adult standards so I gave it another read. The verdict? It didn't. The plot was okay, but the ending wasn't surprising, in fact I was waiting for a twist the whole time, but it never came. The characters are all awful, very shallow, I know they are in high school but that doesn't mean they have to be terrible to each other.

Also the writing. Why were there so many weird descriptions when it came to Chad, lots of “scrumptious” and talk of bottling his scent and washing herself with it. And then this treat towards the end “five alarm hot wasabi sexalicious kiss”. I'm sorry, what? Did this really not bother me as a 13 year old? Because I know I didn't think like that about my crushes and it screams awkward to me now. There was also the gem of a line from Chad to Stacey on why he likes her “You're not like other girls”. Which of course is eye-roll worthy, especially considering he liked other girls enough to date Drea on and off for a couple years...

Anyway all and all, I didn't like this very much, and I will probably stop here in the series instead of continuing to reread even though I know I read at least the first two when I was a kid.