Review: She Drives Me Crazy by Kelly Quindlen

 

She Drives Me Crazy is a young adult queer romance novel that centres on Scottie Vajac and her arch-enemy, Iris Abraham, as they team up to make Scottie’s ex jealous. While the book features popular tropes (such as fake dating and enemies to lovers) and predictable plot points, it still manages to be a fun and entertaining read. It pays tribute to iconic 80s movies Say Anything and Dirty Dancing, but the clearest influence is much loved rom-com 10 Things I Hate About You, which receives a mention from the main character herself.

Described by the author as “goofy, campy and ridiculous”, the book definitely delivers. Toxic relationships are a recurring theme, and the author skilfully shows Scottie’s healing process after breaking up with her manipulative ex-girlfriend. Although the constant back and forth banter can become tiring at some points, the author does a brilliant job of displaying the dynamics of each relationship between characters.

The supporting characters are just as strongly written as the main characters, and have diverse and distinctive personalities, such as the sweet and caring Honey-Belle and serious and assertive Danielle. The dialogue is witty, and the humour is used as a way of progressing the story, rather than being there just for decoration. All in all, She Drives Me Crazy is the perfect book for any rom-com fan. By the end of this book, you will have witnessed a funny and heartwarming story of teenage love, and it’s well worth a read.

Clara Moynihan, 13