Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky very honestly details the life of an ordinary high school senior.

Dominique has her life planned out. She's doing well in school, and she will go to college to become a doctor and  then live happily ever after. The snag : she meets a boy, Wes. They fall in love, and everything looks bright for a while. But only for a while.

Snadowsky tells Dominique's story descriptively yet to the point. Emotions were honestly, realistically portrayed. I truly felt as though I could relate to Dom and what she goes through. The twists and turns of the story were somewhat predictable, but still interesting enough to keep me engaged to the end.

My only criticism relates to how graphic the book was at times. In general though, I would recommend Anatomy of a Boyfriend to any teenage girl who is looking for a pleasant read that will bring laughter and tears to her eyes.

The book itself is somewhat shallow and self-indulgent.  Snadowsky seems to revel in her creation of the Dominique character. “Dom” becomes just another teenage girl who eventually finds that she is willing to exchange all her bodily fluids with a boyfriend named Wes.

The irony is that Dom willingly loses her virginity to Wes, while actually believing that sex and long-term youthful relationships are grounded in unrequited love and commitment because of boyfriend and girlfriend anatomical intimacy. Dom’s ability to finally share bodily fluids with a boy becomes the catalyst for her tears. The book does reflect how young love sometimes causes heartbreak and shatters happily ever-after romantic endings.

But, please give us teens a reality break.  We are not naïve about sex escapades between our peers.  Sex peers out at us between the sheets of magazine covers and online YouTube and Facebook videos. Do any of us really believe that sex is always sacredly shared between star-crossed lovers as William Shakespeare portrayed in Romeo and Juliet? 

The book seems to be created from Snadowsky’s own personal sexual and emotional pitfalls. I honestly believe that many teens go through the “coming of age” sexual trial and error.  The life of a teenager is emotionally and anatomically complicated and sometimes “reality does bite.”

My recommendation is that Anatomy of a Boyfriend only be read if you want to relive someone else’s own horrific teenage love encounter. As for me, I think that being a teenager is overwhelming. We all make our own choices and then have to live with the consequences from our choices.  Personally, I would rather engage myself in a really good book such as Night by Ellie Wiesel, go to a movie, or enjoy the company of friends then to single out one guy friend for what could be a fleeting anatomical exchange resulting in the kind of emotional turmoil that ends being what I love being … a teenager.

- Alannah Abrams (US)

Dominique is a senior in her last year of high school, and she’s never been in love. She has her entire future planned out - she has no worries as she plans to graduate, attend medical school, and live happily ever after.

But her easygoing life is swept out the back door when Dom meets Wesley. He’s got magical blue eyes and a great personality. She falls in love, and experiences first everythings. But when the time comes for college and they have to go their separate ways, Dom begins to question her choices and her life. Dom hadn’t realized that falling in love, could mean falling apart.
 
Snadowsky’s portrayal of a teenage relationship resonates. I felt Dom's insecurities and her confusion over making the right choice. Each character is unique, from Dom's openly-sexual best friend to her controlling parents, and Dom's humour puts a light twist on every aspect of teenage life. Although a few events are easily anticipated by the reader,  teenagers can relate to Dom's mistakes, her aspirations, her achievements - and ultimately, to her love and heartbreak.

It's rare to encounter a book as open as Daria Snadowsky's Anatomy of a Boyfriend when it comes to certain topics, but I look forward to any future novels by her.

-Kenza Moller (Dominican Republic)

Snadowsky creates an engaging and believable character in Dominique Baylor. Dom’s frustration at feeling powerless to control her emotions is beautifully conveyed. Snadowsky’s crafting of Dom’s highs and lows rings truthfully and her eventual ability to refocus and find strength from her experience with Wes almost has you cheering out loud!

The usually problematic themes of sexual and emotional discovery are handled with incredible ease; often offering a humorous view to an uneasy situation. Anatomy of a Boyfriend is wonderfully entertaining, a must-read for anyone looking for an-un romanticised and honest account of teenage years.

- Lorna Nickson-Brown (UK)