I Love You, Beth Cooper Fiction Book Review
Denis Cooverman didn’t want to give a typical graduation speech, cherishing memories and embracing challenges and crap. So, instead, he stood up in front of his 512 classmates and their 3,000 relatives and said something really important: “I love you, Beth Cooper.” It would have been such a sweet, romantic moment. Except that: Beth, the head cheerleader, has only the vaguest idea who Denis is. And Denis, the captain of the debate team, is so far out of her league he is barely even the same species. And then there’s Kevin, Beth’s remarkably large boyfriend, in town on furlough from the United States Army. Complications ensue. Denis comes of age overnight in this exhilarating, endearing novel that reminds us why we can’t wait to escape high school but can never leave it behind.
Fiction Book Review: I Love You, Beth Cooper
Funny, funny, funny… at least 3/4 of the book anyway. The book follows a day in the life of Denis Cooverman, the unpopular, semi-sarcastic brainiac, on the day of his high school graduation and, as class valedictorian, Denis promises to deliver a speech that his fellow classmates would not soon be able to forget. With quips and blows that point to specific classmates (and they know who they are), Denis makes a bold (and cowardly) move by outing so many people on the last day of school. It is here where Denis, in front of parents, students, and faculty, proclaims his love to Beth Cooper, the head cheerleader, who has a vague idea of who Denis is.
It is after this proclamation that Denis’ night turns into one he would soon hope to forget (or not) that involves being chased, beaten, embarrassed, embarrassed some more, attacked by flesh-eating mosquitoes, using tampons to stop a nose-bleed; the list goes on. The good news, as hard as it is to believe, is that Denis gets to share these semi-adventures with the woman he loves, Beth Cooper (who has everything to do with these misadventures).
It is after this proclamation that Denis’ night turns into one he would soon hope to forget (or not) that involves being chased, beaten, embarrassed, embarrassed some more, attacked by flesh-eating mosquitoes, using tampons to stop a nose-bleed; the list goes on. The good news, as hard as it is to believe, is that Denis gets to share these semi-adventures with the woman he loves, Beth Cooper (who has everything to do with these misadventures).
The first half of the book reminded me of my high school days, not of my personal experience, but Larry Doyle was able to capture the essence of teenage drama and ridicule. However, about three-quarters into the book, the storyline takes somewhat of a nose dive. Up to this point, I was able to relate to poor Denis and his story was one that I’m sure many teenagers could connect to. There was a point where semi-fiction turned into complete ( and even utterly ridiculous) full-blown fiction. The humor remained consistent but I almost felt, at one point, that Larry Doyle was writing this novel with hopes that one day it would be picked up to be made into a movie. And it was!
In the end, I would recommend I Love You, Beth Cooper to anyone, teenagers and adults alike. Despite the Hollywood-like action that takes place in the book, it still makes for great entertainment and a classic nerdy boy-like hot cheerleader. Give it a read, you won’t be disappointed.