Shut Out

Shut Out - Kody Keplinger 

For the past ten years, Hamilton High has had a constant rivalry between its Football and Soccer teams. Lissa's boyfriend, Randy, is the quarterback of the football team and she's sick and tired of Randy constantly putting this rivalry before their relationship. Lissa comes up with a plan to end this feud once and for all and she needs the help of the girlfriends of the football and soccer teams. And the plan... a SEX STRIKE! Lissa convinces the girls to not give in to temptation and sleep with their boyfriends for as long as the rivalry continues.

But the boys decide to get their own back. When Cash, a soccer player who Lissa has a history with, decides to lead the boys, the tables turn and a battle of the sexes ensues.

While I enjoyed this book I didn't feel that it was all that it could have been, there were some major issues that could of been covered in a more positive light. I don't fully understand why some of the more serious issues weren't covered, though I think it may have downtrodden the book and story as a whole.

While I loved the premise for the story I didn't really like the main character Lissa, I found her annoying and found her too caring for her own good. It was a little over the top that she would go mad at her brother for being a few minutes late even though he was years older than her. Though I didn't really like her I did feel empathy for her, her boyfriend wasn't the best boyfriend and it what sets her off on her quest to solve the major bug bearer in her relationship the football rivalry with the soccer team. No one knows really how it started but people are starting to get hurt and Lissa wants this to stop and feels the other girlfriends on both sides want it to stop. 

Her plan is simple, no sex until the boys call the rivalry off! However and this is where I kinda wanted to scream at the characters, one of the girls stands up and says she is a virgin, this is met with a very mixed reaction, most of the girls don't say anything and the others ask why not as she has been going out with her boyfriend for a long time. I think that this idea could of been expanded on but it really wasn't, while it wasn't essential to the plot I think the author could have spent more time on it. 

There is a lot of laughter and romance thrown in to soften the mood. Overall I would recommend the book. I did enjoy it and would recommend it for older teens as there are strong references to sex throughout.