Review: Why I Loathe Sterling Lane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a hard book to write a review for because I felt at times revolted and other times angry when I read the book. Full disclosure, this was a free book I won at Shameless 2018. This is also a YA book which is not a genre I read anymore. Not because I'm older, but because most times, characters are designed to be drama llamas. This seems to be less in high fantasy, which is the only YA I look forward to read. I digress.
Harper Campbell is a much reviled snotty know it all. Most of her classmates dislike her at her boarding school. It comes across as if Harper is on the spectrum of autism. Her need for order and her rules to help guide her give this feel. Harper is a loner and isolated because of her social ineptitude. And quite frankly, she doesn't give a damn. She has a plan and it is going to get her through school and protect her beloved twin brother. Her come crashing down when a new kid transfers into the school, Sterling Lane.
Sterling comes with a notorious rule breaker reputation. His first interaction with Harper is a disaster. He comes across as a pompous arrogant spoiled rich kid. If he is supposed to be an anti-hero, he's been designed a bit too well as just the anti. For the first third or so of the book, it details the explosive battles between Sterling and Harper. Harper's twin is caught in the middle. At this point in the story, I'm about at a DNF with possible a zero star or 1 star review. The cruelty and sheer meanness is being passed off as "can't you just take a joke"? For those of us who loathe practical jokes and April Fool's day pranks, these so called "jokes" will only cause a feeling of outrage and murderous intent. The author excelled at creating a hostile bullying environment and then tried to convince both Harper and the readers that this is an acceptable behaviour because Sterling is "awesome" and popular. This is why I was revolted and angry throughout most of the book. I felt bad for Harper even if I didn't really like her character. The injustice of what was going on beneath the teachers' noses and condoned by other students is vile. If this were to happen in real life, other kids would be popping popcorn and watching the show. In real life, my bet would be Harper gets sexually violated and then blamed for being a slut. That's how bad in taste this book was going for me. Fortunately, that is not what happens.
As the two enemies fight, they start learning more about each other. Details are revealed about Sterling which help explain the reason for his madness. In summary, the characters in this book are petty assholes for the most part and they can't communicate directly and cut out the bullshit. Because if they state their true intent, the adults are even bigger assholes and will make sure what they want is denied. This entire world is a dysfunctional drama that seems to be carried over in reality. Our love for reality TV shows only reinforces this kind of bad human behaviour.
The last third of the book brings the story together if a little unbelievably. We need to suspend our disbelief and believe that under that nasty exterior, Sterling is an admirable guy with a noble reason. So is the message here looks can be deceiving. And that everyone has a deeper motive that if a patient and understanding person were to spend time to learn and listen, life would be better? Or perhaps the author just wanted to set up an enemies to lovers romance. Regardless of my ill at ease and disgust, this book is well written. The story flowed well and the characters are well designed if a bit despicable. The ending is a lovely conclusion. Sterling's uncle and father are intriguing and more interesting to me based on this small glimpse. Then again, they may just be older Sterling with the same lack of immaturity and convoluted style of communication. This book is for YA readers who enjoy drama, practical jokes and enemies to lovers themes.
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