Beyond Cluless follows a girl named Marty and her adventures of starting (at a private) high school. Her best friend Jimmy is attending a public school far away from her, has come out and has a boyfriend, as well as a tight-knit crew of friends that causes Marty to be jealous. Her new school is completely different and she manages to make a new friend named Xiang. With all of these new changes thrown at her, Marty tries to navigate life and school while feeling like a “fish out of water”.

This book is definitely a coming of age story as Marty tries to find out who she is. Marty started out as a likable character, but she’s tends to be a little over dramatic and becomes so self-absorbed over the course of the novel that I started to dislike her. A lot of the problems that she runs into throughout the book could have been avoided if she just took the time to listen and pay attention to others.

The plot was predictable (to me) and I wasn’t surprised by what happened in the end. The book is also relatable to the YA audience because it’s centered on the high school experience. While humorous for the most part, I liked that it did delve into more serious topics such as peer pressure, sex, and identity issues. ( )

Fans who have outgrown Federle's NATE series or Keenan-Bolger and Wetherhead's JACK AND LOUISA will find CLUELESS, a story of best friends -- a straight girl and a gay guy -- dealing with the insertion of romance against the backdrop of a girls' high school production of INTO THE WOODS. Backstage romances, mistaken identities, and theatrical hijinks make this a welcome read for drama club members. Preview copy received from the publisher via NetGalley.com. (91) ( )