Operation RR: Ten Idol (Meg Cabot)

Summary - High school junior Jenny Greenley is good at solving problems ... so good she's the school newspaper's anonymous advice columnist. Even if solving other people's problems doesn't make her own—like not having a boyfriend—go away, it's still fun. But when nineteen-year-old screen sensation Luke Striker comes to Jenny's small town to research a role, he creates havoc that even levelheaded Jenny isn't sure she can repair ... especially since she's right in the middle of it.

Can Jenny, who always manages to be there for everybody else, learn to take her own advice, and find true love at last?

Review - This was my first official Meg Cabot novel and it's still my favourite of all her YA titles. I couldn't even find it in Australia at the time so having been hooked on the description, I went book hunting on eBay.

What I love about this book is it didn't go the typical route of the girl falling in love with the undercover Hollywood star, appreciating him for his true self. Instead there are some couplings that surprise a little. That being said, there is a fair chunk of predictability in place but I enjoyed every second of it. Turns out that her crush is still into her and is totally hating the thought that she and Luke might be an item.

While Luke comes to town to learn how to be a typical teen, it's actually Jenny who learns to be her true self. Luke, it turns out, is pretty grounded and doesn't buy into all the star hype. I like that this goes against type and that they become friends instead of romantic interests.

If you haven't read Teen Idol, you totally need to give it a whirl. It's a modern day classic :)