The Secret Life of a Teenage Siren by Wendy Toliver

author’s website: Wendy Toliver
release date: December 26, 2007
appeals to: YA (ok for younger teens)
genre: romance
length: 280 pages
publisher: Simon Pulse
overall rating: 3.5

*the back cover*
Geeky to gorgeous in sixty seconds . . .
Roxy’s about to turn sixteen, but life isn’t so sweet. As a band geek, roxy can barely get the cute guys to notice her, much less go out with her. Then, on her birthday, Roxy is transformed into a Siren: seductively beautiful with the power to control all men. She thought Sirens were an ancient myth, but suddenly Roxy can get any guy she wants with just a few notes on her flute.
There are only two rules: don’t tell anyone about being a Siren, and don’t fall in love. When she starts dating Zach, the guy everybody’s crushing on, Roxy realizes she could get used to this Siren thing . . . but how can she keep herself from falling in love?

*my review*
This book is lighthearted, cute, and fun to read. It is basically a romance novel, but with the twist that Roxy can’t fall in love because of Siren Rule Number Two! Roxy begins the book as a normal 15-year-old high school sophomore who is ready for her 16th birthday to come. She is a flute player in the band, accepts the fact that she isn’t gorgeous, but still has a huge crush on the school heartthrob, Zach Parker. Roxy and her best friend, Natalie, are self proclaimed BeeGees (band geeks), and are constantly frustrated, mocked, and lightly tormented by the snobby members of the Proud Crowd.
When Roxy’s grandmother comes for her sixteenth birthday, and explains the transformation into a Siren that takes place, Roxy changes from invisible to unforgettable in one evening. She has gets the things that she always thought she wanted: attention from boys, a place in the Proud Crowd, and a good looking boyfriend. But she also realizes that the “perks” don’t always outweigh the costs related to them.
While the book was slightly predictable, the story was cute and it was nice to see a story about how the unpopular kids can be much more fun than the divas of the Proud Crowd. It was also fun to read about a flute player, since I spent my high school years dealing with the same flute-player jokes (…especially after American Pie came out my junior year). This would be a great choice for a beach read (or a snow day read)!

*short and snappy*
writing: light and fun
plot: slightly predictable, but very fun to read
characters: realistic and likable (except for the Proud Crowd divas, but you’re supposed to hate them)
judging by the cover: the bright cover is actually what made me pick up the book :)
miscellaneous: there is a trailer for the book here (on Wendy's site)