Book Review: Smart Girls Get What They Want by Sarah Strohmeyer

Title: Smart Girls Get What They Want [ Excerpt ]
Author: Sarah Strohmeyer
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: June 26th 2012 
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Buy it: Barnes & Noble | Amazon
Summary from Goodreads: 
Gigi, Bea, and Neerja are best friends and total overachievers. Even if they aren't the most popular girls in school, they aren't too worried. They know their "real" lives will begin once they get to their Ivy League colleges. There will be ivy, and there will be cute guys in the libraries (hopefully with English accents) But when an unexpected event shows them they're missing out on the full high school experience, it's time to come out of the honors lounge and into the spotlight. They make a pact: They will each take on their greatest challenge--and they will totally "rock" it.
Gigi decides to run for student rep, but she'll have to get over her fear of public speaking--and go head-to-head with gorgeous California Will. Bea used to be one of the best skiers around, until she was derailed. It could be time for her to take the plunge again. And Neerja loves the drama club but has always stayed behind the scenes--until now.
These friends are determined to show the world that smart girls really can get what they want--but that could mean getting way more attention than they ever bargained for. . . .

Thoughts:
I had high expectations before I began Smart Girls Get What They Want. Guys, this book totally delivered! I was a bit hesitant in the beginning because of how the book sounded; it seemed to me that the girls would change their personalities and become popular in the sense that they'd try anything and eh.. it was nothing like that though! I really enjoyed the pace of the book because it was realistic and overall really enjoyable to read. I adored the ending, it was plain hilarious! I like the simplicity of the cover but adore the way the font contrasts against the girl and the blue background. 
Characters:
I really liked most of the characters in this novel because I could really relate to them. The main character and her friends are super smart yet they have a sense of humor which I enjoyed. A fact that I really enjoyed about these characters and book in general was how realistic everything and everyone was. The characters all had their own flaws but that was what gave them their own personality. There were a couple of characters that I had a love-hate relationship with and those were the male characters in the book. First, there was Chris who was charismatic at one moment yet completely annoying the other because of his "cocky" moments. Then there's Will, who has a girlfriend and is the new guy at school. I tend to dislike characters who have others eating off the palms of their hands and or characters swooning over him all the time and with Will it was like that. Both characters managed to surprise me with their development though and I ended up liking them both and understanding them.
Romance:
I really liked the romance in Smart Girls Get What They Want! The way the characters clicked was fantastic. It wasn't slow and boring but it wasn't love at first sight either. The pace and reactions from the characters were just perfect. I just adored the romance! ^-^
Ending:
After finishing Smart Girls Get What They Want, I tweeted the author, saying how much I really liked the ending and she replied with the following;

"It was the ending I wanted when I was in high school, for better or worse. Couldn't live the fantasy so I wrote it."

That's also the way I thought of this ending; a fantasy almost every girl has. I also loved the humor added into the ending, brilliant.
Recommendation:
I'd recommend Smart Girls Get What They Want to anyone looking for a light, fun read that has great characters, and is realistic and easy to read. 
First Sentence:

"Before Bea, Neerja, and I got everything we wanted from high school-- the adoration, the fun, the fame, and the super-hot boys-- all we did was study." 

Quotes:

"We dreamed of Gothic libraries and leafy green quads and romantic dorms with fireplaces and guys who were not only cute but also smart and charming and, quite possibly, British."