Rating: 2 1/2 stars
Carrie Pilby is a prodigy. Skipping three grades, she attended Harvard at the age of 15, where her father promised she would find her peers and hit her stride—Carrie refers to this as “the big lie”.
During her freshman year at Harvard, Carrie didn’t have any friends, but did have an affair with David, her 40+ English professor—things ended rather abruptly when Carrie couldn’t bring herself to say the phrase that pays during foreplay and David left her to find a more willing participant.
Having lost her mother at a young age, Carrie was raised by her oft absent father; though she mainly sees him on holidays, she sees her therapist regularly.
During a therapy session in October, Carrie is tasked with five things to do before the new year. 1. Make a list of things she loves; and do them. 2. Go on a date with someone she actually likes. 3. Join an organization and talk to people. 4. Tell somebody she cares about them. 5. Make plans for New Years with other people.
Though reluctant at first, Carrie soon begins to focus on her tasks. The list, coupled with a singles ad of genius seeking genius in the local paper, should net her a friend or two and maybe even a boyfriend. At the very least Carrie hopes that she will no longer feel so lonely in a city of millions.
Carrie Pilby was an interesting concept, but yet something was missing. Carrie is a prodigy, but she doesn’t do anything with it; her only talents seems to be: morally judging others, acting sullen and over analyzing things. Throughout most of the book Carrie is philosophizing about life, making others feel inferior to her intelligence or plotting to expose someone for whatever they’re doing that she deems morally reprehensible.
However, despite her shortcomings, Carrie can be funny and charming in her quirkiness. Her personal ad and excruciating date with one of the responders was not only relatable, but felt eerily familiar. Living in NYC and trying to find a mate is, ironically, one of the most difficult things to do—you’d think living on a small island that’s over-flowing with people would make dating a no-brainer…Sadly, one of the most fun and intellectually-equal guys she meets is openly cheating on his fiancé.
Overall, Carrie Pilby was an average read. Though there was an occasional snicker or laugh, there wasn’t enough of them to overshadow the often lagging storyline. The secondary characters were good for an occasional diversion, providing a reprieve from the monotony of Carrie’s issues; but, most of the time they felt more like filler, than something of substance.
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Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (July 1, 2010)
ISBN-13: 978-0373210107