Review: Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

Title: Smart Girls Get What They Want
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Age Group: Young Adult
Category: Contemporary Romance
Release date: June 26th, 2012
Pages: 352 (ARC)
Rating: 4 out of 5
Source: Publisher
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Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren't the most popular girls in school, they aren't too worried. They know their "real" lives will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. There will be ivy, and there will be cute guys in the libraries (hopefully with English accents) But when an unexpected event shows them they're missing out on the full high school experience, it's time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. They make a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge--and they will totally "rock" it.

Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she'll have to get over her fear of public speaking--and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed. It could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes--until now.
These friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want--but that could mean getting way more attention than they ever bargained for. . .

Smart Girls Get What They Want is incredibly intelligent, fun-filled and heartwarming.  It's the story of three social nobodies wanting to become somebodies after realizing that getting perfect grades wasn't enough to get your peers to notice you.  It all began when they realized that Parad, Neerja's academically talented older sister left high school with a year book full of "I hope you have a nice life!"s and even a few "who are you?"s.  The story is admirable because even though Gigi, Neerja and Bea set out to make a difference in their social lives, they never lose sight of what's most important and what they've worked so hard for.

These three girls have been inseparable since kindergarten and it's very admirable to see them stick together throughout the book.  When Gigi is accused of cheating (which will screw up any chance of getting into an ivy league college), the girls help her with her campaign to run for student rep, which becomes much more important than Gigi ever expected it to be.  Over the school year, speaking in public goes from extremely nauseating to thoroughly exciting for her and I found that to be pretty interesting, because as a fellow shy girl, public speaking is one large fear of mine too.

What I enjoyed about this book was, even though I do love a good, romance-filled novel, Smart Girls Get What They Want was about so much more than just a boy.  Yes, there was enough of a love interest (or two) to hook and reel me in, but the lessons that these characters learned and the situations that they put themselves in for each other was inspiring.  I found myself especially attached to Gigi, but I also really enjoyed Mike's character because he was so much more than the author first lets on.  I really love those surprises you unwrap along the way.

Sarah Strohmeyer did an awesome job on creating a story about the loyalty of true friendship.  The characters are so diverse and lovable, that I believe that anyone can relate to someone while reading it.  Well-written and filled with hilarious and snarky dialogue, Smart Girls Get What They Want is the book that any contemporary YA lover needs to add to their wishlist.