How Ya Like Me Now was about a boy named Eddie. Eddie's mom has spent all her time getting high on OxyContin, and always left Eddie to take care of himself. He doesnt have a father figure around either because his father passed away, so when Eddie's mom goes into rehab and his aunt and uncle take him away to Boston, everything changes. His new school, which he attends with his cousin Alex, there's a CEO instead of a principal, classes are held in an office building, and the students. As for Alex, it's bad enough that he has to share his bedroom with Eddie, but his parents are on his case about including his quiet cousin in his social life as well. As time goes on they learn to respect one another and look out for each other and become very close. ( )

I seriously considered giving this four stars, but it didn't quite meet my criteria for that. Does this have an unforgettable character, if not a MacBeth or Jean Valjean, then a Sherlock Holmes or Horatio Hornblower? Does it have a gorgeous prose style or unique voice that I feel writer's envy? Did I cry? Did it make me think? Show me a world I didn't know? Surprise me with an amazing plot twist? Make me laugh out loud? No.

But it did make me smile madly more than once and smile through a lot of passages. And if the teenaged Eddie and his cousin Alex aren't up there with the most memorable fictional characters, they are likeable and the voice and personalities do seem plausibly late adolescent. This young adult novel also did several things that pleased me. I liked how it built the bonds between the cousins and a group of young people that were relatable and that each had distinct personalities. I liked the low-key, low-angst take on race relations. (Eddie, a suburbanite, transfers into Alex's urban school.) As someone who spent three years in the area, I found it a pleasure to recognize the Boston setting. I liked that instead about being about the EVIL of American business, that in the subplot about the marketing class the book gives a glimpse of the adventure and creativity behind enterprise.

In other words, if I don't see this book as a keeper I'll be reading again and again, I can say I thoroughly enjoyed this light, quick read. It's sorta guy-lit only for the teen set. A good, fun read. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

HOW YA LIKE ME NOW by Brendan Halpin is the story of opposites. One boy - his father dead and his mother entering rehab to kick her OxyContin habit. Another boy - two caring parents and anything he needs and wants.

Eddie and Alex are cousins. They haven't seen each other much over the years, but that's all about to change.

Eddie's lost his dad unexpectedly, and he has found himself taking over for his mother more and more lately. She found that using his dad's leftover prescriptions helped dull her pain. Eddie hasn't had time to socialize. His focus is on keeping their home together and not falling behind in school. Unfortunately, her life spiraling out of control has left Eddie with the options of foster care or moving to live with relatives he barely knows.

Alex hears his cousin will soon be sharing his room. Used to being the only child in a pretty comfortable home environment makes Alex doubtful that the experience will be a pleasant one. Sharing is not something he is very accustomed to, including girls. Alex is gifted in the area of women. They gravitate toward him, so he's always with someone and is filled with quirky advice about how to make the right move to attract the right girl.

His relocation takes Eddie not only into a new home, but also into a new school setting. The school is a special private school with a focus on professionalism in every aspect of the students' lives. Although it is not what he is used to, Eddie finds that with the help and friendship of Alex, he becomes quite comfortable. In fact so comfortable, that when there is news his mother is recovering and wants to get in touch with him, Eddie battles mixed feelings about returning to his former life.

Told from alternating points of view, HOW YA LIKE ME NOW relates the inner feelings of both boys. The reader learns the inner workings of these two opposite characters. There are both serious moments and lighthearted comic relief. Most readers will choose a favorite character and cheer him on until the end. ( )

I loved this book so much, and I already do really like Brendan Halpin, but this one was great. It felt real, and knowing Halpin's history, this added to the realism of the book. Eddie has been living for a year basically on his own - his father died, and his mother got addicted to painkillers after his death. She was there, but Eddie was really being his own parent. When she is arrested and sent to rehab, Eddie moves into Boston to go to an alternative school with his cousin Alex. It is through school and his relationship with Alex that Eddie learns to go on with his life, and to try letting other people in. The school, which is based on a business model, is very real, and the other kids in Eddie and Alex's homeroom are well-drawn as well. This book rings true, and I think it would be interesting to many other kids - maybe even good enough to blog about. ( )

Eddie has been taking care of himself and the household for more than a year. After his dad died, his mom turned to painkillers and soon developed an addiction. When the whole situation unravels and Eddie's mom goes to rehab, Eddie moves in with his aunt, uncle and cousin, Alex, in Boston. He goes to school at CUE, an alternative high school where finally Eddie feels it is ok to be smart and achieve. This is a quick engaging read about Eddie's struggle to heal and fit in at a new school with friends and maybe even find romance. Both Eddie and Alex though really different at first find they have a lot to learn from each other and grow to rely on each other. ( )