Anatomy of a Boyfriend, by Daria Snadowsky

This book is a perfect example why you should sometimes judge a book by its cover - or, from the publisher's perspective, create a cover that will entice judgment. Daria Snadowky's Anatomy of a Boyfriend has a cover that does just that.

Although by running a cover like that, a publisher risks running the risk of offending some people - notably those book-burners who like to scream and holler about what their children are exposed to - they are also going to generate a lot of interest in their book. Too many book covers look the same - or enough of the same that they all blur together as you walk through the aisles of a bookstore. Lucky is the author whose cover breaks through that trance of sameness and jumps out at the consumer.

Equally important is that the cover is accurate in indicating what the book is about. Just as its cover, title, and genre (YA) suggests, Anatomy of a Boyfriend is about what it's like to be a teen. Snadowsky narrates realistically from a 17-year-old girl's point of view what it's like to dream about, and eventually have, your first sexual experience. The book also demonstrates some of the less pleasant realities, such as how prevalent "hooking up" is among some teens.

I'm only partway through the book - they haven't even "done it" yet - but so far it's a fun read.