This book was hilarious. High school geek and valedictorian Denis Cooverman veers from his speech to declare his love for head cheerleader Beth Cooper who he's been lusting after since 7th grade. It's news to her and as soon as his speech is over some crazy events are set into motion. This book had me trying to stifle giggles on the train (people were probably slowing inching away from me). It's a very fast read. I basically read it over the course of three days. It may possibly make it to the movies. Regardless, this was funny stuff. ( )

One question that kept flitting through my mind while reading this book was - what on earth is the intended demographic?

I enjoyed the beginning of the book very much. I thought the premise that kicks off the story was really funny and was convincingly written.

The story that ensues and becomes bigger and larger in its attempt at humor just didn't read smart or funny to me as it progressed. It had the feeling of someone getting more and more excited by the reaction of their audience and becomes sloppy and loud just trying to keep up their own momentum.

I *HATED* the pictures of the title character that take up the whole page of each chapter showing his condition worsening over the course of the night. Blech. Not funny - just icky.

Anyway - despite all this - there were a few moments that were funny sprinkled here and there - I just am pretty sure that for most people it isn't worth dredging through the other stuff to find them. ( )

Poor Denis...This is either the best or worst night of his life. After declaring his love for the head cheerleader in his valedictorian speech, Denis gets a taste of what life might be like with his "perfect" woman. This is a great example of being careful what you wish for. However, the book is wonderful and very funny...if a bit one note...It could have been alot shorter. ( )

One of my students suggested I read this book. Thrilled that I had a student who actually read books for pleasure, I ran off to Barnes and Noble immediately to have a look. Intrigued, I bought it, read it, and loved it. Reading I Love You Beth Cooper feels like a ride on the sizzler. You get on, pull down the bar, and go. Everything is moving fast; you are slammed into the outside edge of your cart, feeling you'll be thrown out at any moment. Laughing hysterically, you catch glimpses of others on the ride and those watching on the sidelines. Lights flash, music blares, someone pukes in the corner... Hey, reading this book is a bit like being one of the characters in it...

Many books have been written about high school seniors and their crazy antics on graduation night. Many a geeky virgin has fallen in love with the head cheerleader and waited until the end of the school year to tell her. But the way Doyle tells the story offers a new perspective on the coming-of-age tale. Simple, fast-paced, modern, and hilarious are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind. While the events of the night are a bit far-fetched, they never felt impossible. I literally laughed out loud - which my husband finds highly disturbing I might add.

The characters are easily recognizable as teen stereotypes, but each one has a quirk that makes him or her seem more real. For example, at graduation Denis doesn't just reveal his love for Beth, he also has a bit to say about other students at the school, sort of a 'get-it-off-your-chest' moment. Rich, Denis's sidekick in the book, quotes movie lines non-stop. And Beth doesn't play hard to get; in fact, she's the one taking Denis on his wild ride.

One thing I found particularly intriguing about Beth: Doyle doesn't set her up as a perky-idiot-slut who Denis can set straight. Instead, Denis is the geeky-idiot-virgin Beth has to teach. Beth knows exactly who and what she is, and she knows that while her high time is ending, Denis's is just beginning. ( )

I wanted to read this novel second because of two reasons. First, the movie was soon to come out into theatres and I might as well read the book and two, I thought it would lead me into the direction of what Candide may bring. I saw the movie previews that I Love You, Beth Cooper is actually a comedy and a story about a typical high school romance. I usually read the more serious and the more dramatic type of stories of what happens in the lives of actual teenagers. Larry Doyle a step into a completely different direction, making I Love You, Beth Cooper a clump of ridicule and poking fun at those serious teen relationships.
At first, I was hesitant to read this book because, what may be funny to an author, may not actually be funny for me to read on paper. That’s the number one reason why I was the most skeptical of reading this book. I also really wanted to read this novel because it was about time for me to read something that was not depressing. I needed a change and I thought Larry Doyle, a previous writer for “The Simpsons” would give me that chance.
I had mixed emotions while reading I Love You, Beth Cooper. The reasons why I enjoyed were because I could see why Chris Columbus would want to make this novel into a major motion picture. Its main audience would be teenagers and it probably would be a huge movie success amongst us. The storyline is also adorable and somewhat relatable. A nerd named Denis is in love with the most beautiful girl in school, Beth Cooper, who doesn’t know he exists. The characters were also believable in their attitudes. Their dialect was very much like how my friends and I talk to each other so it was very believable in that aspect. I also really enjoyed reading the resolution, which wasn’t your typical high school ending where the nerd does get the girl. Instead, the timeline moves ahead to where the main characters are adults and meet up with each other at a high school reunion. Denis becomes a successful doctor, and Beth Cooper because an ugly woman and gets the last laugh.
The reasons why I didn’t really enjoy it were because the situations the main characters got themselves into were very unreal and ridiculous. Even myself, who is a teenager, cannot relate to these characters. My parents discipline me and I would be in serious trouble if similar situations ever occurred to me. There were also some parts that I knew were meant to be funny, however, I did not laugh out loud like I thought this novel would make me do. Again, what the author might this is funny, was definitely not funny for me.
As I think about it, this book was not for kids my age. I believe this was book for an adult, so he can be reminded of the stupid stuff that he once did as a teenager. So, I’ll end with this: I can tell this book will probably make a successful film and get reviews saying it was a hysterical; but for a book, I honestly think I could have picked out a better one to read.