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    Shut Out
    Shut Out
    Shut Out
    Audiobook7 hours

    Shut Out

    Written by Kody Keplinger

    Narrated by Kate Reinders

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other Schools. At Hamilton High, it’s a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight or haze a freshman. And on three separate occasions Randy’s car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend’s attention.

    Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: she and the other players’ girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won’t get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don’t count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming. In this hilarious and romantic reimagining of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, the battle of boys against girls is on.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateSep 5, 2011
    ISBN9781441858306
    Shut Out
    Author

    Kody Keplinger

    Kody Keplinger grew up in a small Kentucky town. During her senior year of high school she wrote her debut novel, The DUFF, which is a New York Times bestseller, a USA Today bestseller, a YALSA Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and a Romantic Times Top Pick. It has since been adapted into a major motion picture. Kody is also the author of Lying Out Loud, a companion to The DUFF; Run; Shut Out; and A Midsummer's Nightmare, as well as the middle-grade novel The Swift Boys & Me. Kody currently lives in New York City and writes full-time. You can visit her online at www.kodykeplinger.com.

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    Reviews for Shut Out

    3.5/5

    190 ratings34 reviews

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    • 1/5
      (No spoilers) This book is a no Go Read 180 SECONDS now that was a good book.
    • 2/5
      Lissa is tired of ranking second to her boyfriend, Randy - right below the rivalry the high school football team has against the soccer team. No one can remember why the feud started, but players are starting to get hurt, and Lissa doesn't approve. She organizes all the girlfriends of the football and soccer players into a sex strike - no action until the two teams stop the rivalry. Things seem to be working until secrets start flying: some girls are virgins, some are worried their boyfriends will turn elsewhere, and finally, the rivalry turns into boys against girls. At first the book was hard to get into - Lissa's family problems play a role, but aren't really prevalent enough to matter to the reader, and it's hard to keep track of all the characters' names, since so many play minor roles in the strike. The story hits its stride about halfway through, and comes together more at that point. The family issues should have been fleshed out more or removed completely, because they fell flat for me.
    • 3/5
      This reminded me of the rivalry between our soccer and football teams in high school. They were not mean to each other like this and did not pull pranks like this, but they definitely were entertaining when it came to each team and who they thought was better. This was a battle of the sexes story with high schoolers. You had the jocks who were going too far with each other and their girlfriends who were sick of it. The girls made a pact to not have sex with the boys until they ended their feuding. This was ok. I did not love it, and I did not hate it. Just a middle of the road read for me.
    • 2/5
      Predictable as it was, this did get better as it kept going, but I'm not sure that's saying all that much. Really, I just wanted more... depth? Thought? Something? Maybe partly because it was a re-imagining, the book was just so focused on the main plot that there wasn't a lot of depth to anything but the main theme. Especially the main character felt too easy, and too silly at various points, to be really engaging (and yes, I would have felt this way if I'd been a teen reading it, also). And, for a book that had a lot of conversations between girls... well, it would have been nice if they'd at Some point talked about something other than boys and sex. Main point aside, the telescope focus of it gave the impression that boys and sex were the only things that mattered, which grew stale pretty quickly.So, if you're looking for a contemporary re-telling of Lysistrata, I guess I'd have to recommend reading this, but otherwise, I probably wouldn't. I certainly wouldn't recommend it to teens--if anything, it just reinforces the idea that sex and relationships are all-important in high school. Honestly, that just got more annoying than anything. So, yeah... this one was a bit of a disappointment.
    • 3/5
      Lissa Daniels, 18, is dating the captain of the football team, Randy Vincent. The match seems a bit odd, since Lissa is smart and Randy is beyond dumb, but Randy is nice to her older brother and her paraplegic dad. Her dad barely survived the car accident that killed her mom five years earlier, the aleatory nature of which turned Lissa into a nervous control freak.Lissa’s relationship with Randy is not without problems, however, one of which is the fallout from the ongoing rivalry between the football and soccer teams, which has progressed beyond harmless pranks. Lissa, inspired by the play "Lysistrata" by Aristophanes, decides to get together with the girlfriends of the football and soccer teams and call for a “sex strike” until the boys agree to stop the fighting. A few of the girls admit to not having sex, but they agree to boycott any physical activity. Further, they decide to have frequent slumber parties to compare notes and provide support for one another.As the strike goes on, the girls learn the true nature of their boyfriends' feelings for them, and they learn a lot about sexuality and the nature of double standards too. The friendships they forge turn out to be more important than the strike, but it still has to continue until one side gives up….Discussion: The author (who also wrote The DUFF), has her characters discuss attitudes and approaches to teen sexuality, which may benefit many readers. She portrays high school life with candidness and humor, and in addition imbues high school “stereotypes” with much more nuance than the average book for young adults. As for Lissa, she discovers that trying to keep everything under control and everyone “safe” is condemning her to missing out on the best parts of life.Evaluation: Lissa can be pretty annoying, while her BFF Chloe seems perhaps too mature and sophisticated, but the book is more engaging that I thought it would be from the plot line, and has a lot of interesting discussions that will interest teens.
    • 4/5
      For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.I’d been reserving Shut Out for a rainy day. See, Kody Keplinger is one of those authors where not having any books left to read makes me feel a bit twitchy. What is life without any new to me Rainbow Rowell or Kody Keplinger or Courney Summers in the world? Obviously, this is all in my head and there are always rereads available, but still. Of course, Kody has a middle grade out now, so the time had come to read Shut Out, especially with Debby encouraging me that I really needed to read Shut Out posthaste. That Snuggly Orange can be mighty pushy until she gets her way. Then again, it’s not like you have to twist my arm too hard to make me want to read Keplinger. While I do agree with the majority that Shut Out is her weakest novel of her first three, I also think that’s a bit like saying it’s the least influential Jane Austen novel, because it’s still damn good.Shut Out feels like it was written primarily to convey a message and, while I think it could definitely be interpreted as preachy, it’s a message that very much needs to be conveyed. There’s a lot of YA that tackles the unhealthy nature of slut-shaming on the minds of young women, but Keplinger goes many steps further. She considers virgin-shaming too, as well as the shame for those who enjoy sex too much or not enough. Basically, Shut Out is looking into the clusterfuck that is American society’s attitude towards female sexuality. You’re supposed to have sex, but not too much and you’re only supposed to enjoy it a certain amount. Have too much and you’re a slut; have too little and you’re a prude. Like it too much and you’re trashy; dislike it and you’re frigid.Keplinger’s using the Lysistrata-like situation to throw a spotlight on this and to help make people aware that these attitudes really do permeate our lives. Personally, I’ve seen these things in action in my life. Though my eyes have been open to it for a while, I still can’t toss off a lot of the internalized shaming. Shut Out is a very important book and teens should be reading it. If I had the power, I’d probably assign Shut Out and Anatomy of a Boyfriend to all teen Health classes, and do not even think that I am kidding about that. Books like these are crucial, because they show that the reader isn’t alone and isn’t weird. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I always feel like I’m strange and these would have helped teen me immensely.The romance is pretty swoonworthy, though it’s less the focus of this Keplinger novel than her others. If that’s what you’re primarily interested in, Shut Out might be a bit of a letdown. There are a couple of hot scenes, but it’s more about sexuality and friendship than romance. First off, I hated Randy, but I really appreciated that Keplinger made me understand why Lissa went for him. He’s an ass mostly, but he treats her wheelchair-bound father really well; it would have been easy for him to be all villain, but it’s good to see that even he has nice qualities. Then there’s Cash Sterling, aka Money Money as I affectionately call him. I definitely ship it and he’s great, in spite of his name. Also, love love love that he’s not wealthy and a genuinely good guy helping out his family.My favorite aspect from a character perspective is the kinship that arises between the girls. As the sex strike happens, they regularly meet up for sleepovers, where they swap stories and realize all of that stuff about sex. They learn to be honest with one another and it’s so beautiful. Even Kelsey, the mean girl of the opening, becomes a true friend and I love that so much. My personal favorite is Chloe, who openly admits her love for sex and that she has absolutely no desire for a relationship; she won’t let anyone bully her out of what she enjoys, which is casual sex with boys. She’s a goddess, basically. There’s some fighting as they get to know one another aside from the reputations, but ultimately a whole lot of supportiveness.Where Shut Out lacked for me was in the emotional connection aspect. The book verges on preachy and Lissa didn’t really feel like a person so much as a mouthpiece much of the time. She did liven up a bit in her conversations with Cash, who makes her feel more comfortable with who she is, but most of the time I really didn’t have a good sense of who she was. I really liked most of the characters, but they didn’t have the vibrancy that the characters in The DUFF or A Midsummer’s Nightmare did for me; they didn’t become real in my head.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely loved DUFF and I was expecting Shut Out to be just as good. Although it definitely was not as good as DUFF it was a great book. It was amazing in the beginning, and it got a little slow in the middle but it got better towards the end. The only reason it didn't get five stars was because it I didn't finish it as quickly as I hoped. I was actually okay with putting it down. Overall it was a great book and I definitely recommend it if you like the DUFF.
    • 3/5
      I really wanted to like this more than I did, but the main character is just so unlikeable. Her boyfriend's a douche, her best friend's hilarious but a little too self-aware for an 18 year old, and her post-boyfriend love interest is too unbelievable. 2.5 stars.
    • 4/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Very funny contemporary with great drama and an engaging story. I loved the underlying message and really enjoyed this book.Opening Sentence: There is nothing more humiliating than being topless in the backseat of your boyfriend’s car when someone decides to throw an egg at the windshield.The Review: Hamilton High has a serious school rivalry, but unlike most schools it is between two of their own teams. The football players and the soccer players have hated each other ever since the soccer program was started 10 years ago. Lissa is so tired of the rivalry and getting ditched by her long time boyfriend. Randy is the quarterback for the football team and the rivalry always seems to come first to him. Then things really start to get out of hand and people start to get hurt. Lissa knows that something has to be done or things are going to get way to out of control. So Lissa comes up with a brilliant plan that is sure to be a success.Lissa and the girlfriends from both teams gang up and go on a sex strike. They have told their boyfriends that they won’t be having sex with them or doing any other kind of sexual favor until the football and soccer players can get along. But they weren’t expecting a new rivalry to form one between the boys and girls. The ultimate battle of the sexes has begun and only one race can rain supreme.Lissa is the protagonist and I had a little bit of a hard time with her, but by the end I liked her. At first she comes across as a high maintenance snob. She gets mad at her boyfriend for everything, but she won’t talk to him about it. She is very standoffish toward people and doesn’t know how to communicate very well. But as the story unfolds she starts to change and become a much more likable character. She starts to open up to others and express some of her concerns. She goes from being an annoying character to a very likable one by the end of the book. My only problem was that it took a little longer to connect with her than I like.This was a fun book to read. There is lots of good drama, funny moments, sexual tension, and an engaging story. There was also a good message about how important communication is in a relationship. If you can’t be honest with someone and open about who you are then you shouldn’t be dating them. You should feel comfortable with yourself and the person you are with. I really enjoyed watching the characters grow and learn about life, friendship, and love. This is the first book that I have read by Keplinger, but it will not be my last. Her writing is entertaining and I loved that she took on a subject that is very serious, but can be really fun as well. While this is a young adult book I would recommend that you be an older teen to read it. As you can see from the description it does have sex in it and I think it is meant for a little older audience. I would highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys a funny contemporary with a good underlying message.Notable Scene:“Okay, so the thing is to get control of our boys, and to do it all together, as a unified force,” I continued. “Because when it was just football versus soccer, it was a stalemate and a never-ending cycle. But add in an extra party –the girls- and it’s possible to totally upend the balance. Finding our leverage is the hard part, and like you, I didn’t think it was possible, I thought we were all just screwed. But last night, I figured it out. I know exactly how we can get control of the boys and end this war for good.”“Out with it already,” Chloe urged.I grinned. “It’s the one thing they could never say no to. The one thing they beg and pled and cajole for. Up until now, I didn’t realize we could use it to our advantage. But last night, I realized that it’s our best shot.” I paused, took a breath. “We go on … a sex strike!”FTC Advisory: Poppy/Hachette Book Group provided me with a copy of Shut Out. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 2/5
      Review from ARC from publisher.

      I've heard some great things about this book, but I don't think it was really for me. The whole thing just left me feeling morally icky for everybody.
    • 2/5
      Anyone can guess how this book ends after the first chapter or two. So predictable.
    • 3/5
      This book was a mixed bag for me. On the one hand, there were several aspects that I really liked. Keplinger is much more sex-positive (and realistic, I think) than many writers in this genre. One of the characters, Chloe, loves sex without apology (although that doesn't stop some slut-shaming from happening). Others are virgins or don't particularly like sex all that much. I like that. The dialogue is really well done and, once again, feels very realistic. All of that aside, I had some issues with this book. The first is that this book DRAGS until about halfway through. I also had a hard time connecting with the main character, Lissa (although I loved that her name is Melissa and she goes by "Lissa" too - there aren't many of us! :) ), because she was really just defined by her relationships for the first sixty or so pages - Randy's girlfriend, Logan's sister, a daughter. There's not a spark of personality until it's revealed that she works at the library. The characters are very, very homogeneous. They're all white and straight. The boys are athletes and the girls are athletes' girlfriends. It would have been a lot more interesting, I think, to mix some things up - how about some gay characters, and a few female athletes (would their boyfriends abstain as the athletes' girlfriends did?). Plus, I just don't like sex being used as a weapon or leverage. Still, the book was okay. It just had potential to be a lot better.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed the issues and entertainment of the source material for this one, reading “Lysistrata” was a highlight of my Greek Literature class in college, so I knew that combining that with Keplinger’s honest and open dialogue about teenage issues would result in a book that I would love.The characters felt so real. Lissa just wants peace in the school…and to come before a stupid feud that has been raging for a decade. People are starting to get hurt and she won’t stand for it anymore. And she does something. I knew someone in high school just like that. She didn’t just sit and wait for things to change, she made them change. What makes Lissa even better though, is that she really has to work to be a leader. She isn’t naturally a public speaker, she finds her voice over the course of the book, showing that all women can lead, especially when it is about a cause they care about.This was another very honest book about sex and teens. That means this book is probably best for 16+. There is nothing graphic at all, but it is open to what is going on in high schools everywhere. But it is done in a really good way that shows all levels of sexual experience and can lead to young women being able to talk openly and honestly. Some of the girls are virgins. Some don’t like sex. Some love it and are not ashamed. Some love doing certain things, some hate it. Just like in life. They all learn how to talk about it, not only with each other, but also with their boyfriends. It also talks about how women shouldn’t use their bodies as a weapon. It is one thing to go on strike to end fighting, it is a whole other to use it to manipulate and deceive. I wish there were honest and open books like this when I was a teenager.his book was all around wonderful. The other characters sparkle, and the excellent retelling is full of twists and surprises. The male lead is swoon worthy and a great guy who makes the romance fun.
    • 3/5
      Things I did not like about this book*:

      I didn't find it as funny as I wanted it to be
      The "battle of the sexes" was, approximately, one afternoon (in the book's defense, this was not the book's fault. It was the advertising's fault.)
      The plot was a bit slow. I mean, I read it in just a few days, but it was more because I knew something good was coming, not because something good was happening until about half-way through the book.

      Things I really liked about this book:

      The frank discussion of sex, from a teenage girl point of view. (Others far smarter than me have discussed this on GoodReads, so I'll leave it to them. For me I'm just please to see it happening in print.)
      An interesting look at current friendships and former friendships aka Keplinger didn't turn the former friend into a Bitch. (I approve!)
      The boys discussed** had both good sides and bad sides.
      Soccer. And Football. Well, a bit of them, anyway.

      In sum, I liked this book and thought there were some pretty valid Good Things about it, but it wasn't my all-consuming favorite read of the year.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed The Duff, so I was looking forward to Keplinger's re-telling of Lysistrata. While I felt it wasn't as strong as The Duff, I still really enjoyed it. Part of it has to do with how refreshing Keplinger approaches young female sexuality, especially in comparison to a lot of young adult books out there. It's nice to see double standards and the way female sexuality is portrayed to young women questioned. While at times it was rather heavy-handed I'm still glad there are books like this out there for teen girls.

      On a different note, I did like Lissa and Cash a lot, but they didn't resonate with me the way the characters in Keplinger's debut did. Probably comparisons I shouldn't have been making, yet I couldn't help myself. That combined with some of the clunkier aspects of the plot make the book more a 3.5, but the issues Keplinger addresses elevates it for me.
    • 3/5
      Originally posted at The Wandering Fangirl.While it seems totally superficial and maybe a tiny bit ridiculous at first, I enjoyed Shut Out enough to read it in one full sitting. It was a breezy, fun way to spend a couple of hours, and I was totally immersed in Lissa's world and what she was doing for herself and for the girls at her school.Lissa is a smart girl, full of neuroses but still popular and surrounded by friends anyway. She's tired of a stupid feud between sports teams because it means her boyfriend makes her feel used, and her brilliant idea is to propose a sex strike. So much of this is plucked from the play Lysistrata, which Cash even points out to Lissa. (Juuuust because you point it out in the book doesn't mean you didn't yank the idea wholesale from the play, Keplinger. Just saying.)Keplinger is a decent writer, but maybe not quite as fantastic as she could have been for writing this book. It didn't really need flowery prose or navel gazing, but something a little stronger would have made the book have more of an impact than it did when I finished reading. At times, it felt like Lissa was simply Keplinger's soapbox as she ranted about sexual stereotypes and patted herself on the back for questioning them and having Lissa's fellow classmates begin to find their own sexual identities along the way.It was still a whole boatload of fun, however. I had my problems with parts of it, but I have to at least shake Keplinger's hand for writing a YA novel all about sex -- and not just about sex, but girls talking about and discussing what sex means to them so openly.
    • 2/5
      I enjoyed THE DUFF, despite my minor concerns that sometimes, the language and characters felt a bit young, but it bothered me a lot more in SHUT OUT. I never connected with any of the characters--in fact, found myself rolling my eyes every other page--and that's when I knew that it would be more of a chore to finish this book than a joy. Situations and encounters between important characters felt forced. And that's never a good sign for me.
    • 4/5
      I can tell you the exact day I fell in love with Kody Keplinger (and her writing): June 21, 2009. That post by Janet Reid, including Keplinger's query for her debut novel, The DUFF, had me head over heels. Once I was finally able to read The DUFF, I fell in love again. In fact, The DUFF was my very first #yabookoftheday on twitter (tagged old school as #ya #bookoftheday). So, you can imagine the anticipation I had for Shut Out.And that's the thing about sophomore novels...I get nervous. If the debut was only so-so, I anticipate that maybe the writing has gotten better, stronger, etc. and I might like the second book more. However, when I absolutely adore the first book, I get really nervous that book two won't be able to live up to it. After all, how could it? How could it possibly get better than that amazing first book I'd read?Well, I'll tell you this up front. I liked Shut Out even more than The DUFF. Here's why: Shut Out had all the same great aspects as The DUFF (full-fledged characters, language and dialogue that's very true and real for today's teen, covering complex relational dynamics, etc.) AND I loved the story from the very first page. Don't get me wrong, I can't say enough good stuff about The DUFF, but I wasn't so sure about it when I read the first few chapters. Bianca was kind of whiny and annoying. It wasn't till I got into the groove of the writing that I really felt connected to her character. With Shut Out, I fell right into the story and characters immediately.Reader warning: This book is all about sex. BUT! It's probably not what you think after reading that sentence. Shut Out is a modern reimagining of Lysistrata by Aristophanes. The women, tired of a seemingly stupid rivalry between two sports teams, decide to hold off on having sex until their male counterparts end the war. As far as Shut Out goes, the "sex" can be anything from sex to kissing. Whatever sexual was happening between two people will not be happening until "the war" is over.That summary was enough to get me excited about the book. Once I read through that pages, what I found was a very honest, nonjudgemental, and critical examination of teenage sex in today's society. Double standards for the boys and girls were explored, but it was more than that. Comparisons of what's "normal" and who should do what and when were explored. These are the kind of questions every teen asks themselves at some point, but may never be able to voice. Shut Out not only voices the opinions, but explores them with a very positive message: Whatever your choice is and however you feel about sex is okay. You don't have to conform to what everyone else is doing, or act like you think the same way, or try to act a certain way to avoid a label. Figure out what you want based on how you feel and stick to it.Overall, Shut Out had a great story, fleshed out characters, strong writing, and incredible content. It's a book I think every teen should read (*adults also welcome*).Final thoughts: Buy it.
    • 5/5
      Wow! The young and (obviously) amazingly talented Kody Keplinger has really struck again with Shut Out! Once again, Kody has created an amazing story and really portrayed teenaged life in a realistic light. As a teenager myself, being able to read a book that perfectly captures what it is like to be this age is really special.Lissa, the main character, was definitely a character that I really liked and connected too. One of the many things that I liked about her was the fact that she really wanted her relationship to be about more than just physical contact and sex She wanted it to be about making the other feel loved and special. I liked how she didn't just have sex with her boyfriend just because he wanted her to and was pressuring her about it, but that she was waiting until the time felt right for her. I think that this is a good message to be sending out to teenagers; that you should wait until you are truly ready to have sex and not just because you feel like you have to or that it's what everyone else is doing. I also loved the fact that Lissa was so caring. Her parents were in an accident that killed her mother and that caused her father to spend his life in a wheelchair, and I liked that Lissa really steps up and does so much to take care of her father and brother. As well as having so many wonderful traits, Lissa definitely had some problems, but I was really impressed with how well she dealt with them and worked through with them. As a whole, I think that Lissa was a great character!Another character that I really, really liked was Lissa's best friend Chloe. I was a little bit unsure about Chloe at the beginning of the book, but I came to love her almost immediately! She is known at her school for being the promiscuous girl and it was really sad how the other girls judged her and hated her because of it, but what I liked about Chloe was the fact that what others thought about her didn't stop her from being herself. I also liked that she stood up for herself! As the book progressed, I found Chloe to be really smart and such a great friend to Lissa. I think that she was such a great best friend and awesome character to read about!Cash! I loved Cash and thought that he was such a cutie! He is also known as Mr. Unattainable because he isn't the type of guy who dates a lot, if any, girls even though he's a guy that a lot of girls want. I think that Cash was such a good, sweet hearted and smart guy and that way that he acted around Lissa was beyond adorable. I have nothing bad to say about him!One of the many things that I really love about Kody's books is that they really teach you something about life. I felt like Shut Out taught us about waiting until we're ready before we have sex, as well as to not let what others think of us control who we are, but that we should just be ourselves, no matter what people think of us. I think that these are both great messages! I also love the fact that Kody gets these messages by through such fun, hilarious and sweet books!I really love Kody Keplinger and think that she is beyond talented! I love how well she writes and that she can capture teenaged life on paper like no other author I've ever read! I'm really looking forward to reading more of her books in the future!I really loved this book and think that it's one that should definitely be read! The only thing that I have to say is that this book does involve a lot of sexual content and cursing, but if you are unbothered by that, then go pick this one up! I really don't think that you will be disappointed!
    • 5/5
      I devoured THE DUFF like a cream puff, and naturally I pounced on Kody Keplinger’s sophomore release SHUT OUT with glee. The cover may remind me of those beauty makeover books or facial wash commercials, but I definitely would welcome SHUT OUT to make itself a home on my bookshelf because I adored it!THE GOOD BITS{Cash + Lissa sitting in a tree…} With a more-than-dreamy library scene that made this bookworm sigh contentedly, Lissa and Cash totally aced their chemistry test in the romance department! I loved how Kody Keplinger strung the reader along with tasty flashback tidbits that never fully revealed what Cash was thinking. These two were awfully adorable – and they may possibly have earned a spot on my all-time favorite YA couples.{Girls just wanna have fun.} This book was pure fun – and I loved all the different girl personalities that joined forces against the boys. I could relate to their complaints about being overlooked by the boys. Who has not been in a similar situation – passed over for a football game, video game marathon, etc? SHUT OUT had an interesting premise, and while the topic of teenagers having sex may be taboo, I think Kody Keplinger makes some excellent points that perhaps someone needs to be talking about it. The girls had varying levels of experience, but all had doubts and questions that felt too embarrassing to share. However, the “battle” brought them together in a way that they had honest discussions.THE BAD BITS{Delayed battle.} The battle of the sexes started off mostly one-sided with the boys in the dark about the girls’ intentions and, once they found out, did not really believe the girls would pull it off. When the football and soccer boys get their act together in the second half of the book, there were a few skirmishes – but nothing to write home about. I guess I expected more head-butting and cheek-slapping, but overall the story was still pretty enjoyable.THE OVERALLIrreverent, funny, honest, and a shout-out to all library-lovers and star-gazers out there, SHUT OUT is definitely a rock-my-socks favorite! Once again, the main character is one tough Twinkie, and the love interest has the same insufferable adorability as Logan Echols (altough a hundred times more good-hearted). I suggest, dear Readers, to clear your sleep schedule because SHUT OUT will be worth the all-nighter!
    • 5/5
      I became an instant fan of Kody Keplinger after reading her debut novel, "The Duff"; so I wasn't surprised when I fell in love with her newest book, "Shut Out". If you like reading books that are very real, believable and honest, then I definitely recommend this one. The storyline in this book is a clever way to reveal and talk about the realities of sex, and how everyone is different-- there is no "normal" or "abnormal" when it comes to the subject, as indicated in the book. Also, aside from the serious subject matter, there are also a lot of laughs to be had from this book! The author's sense of humor is great. I really enjoyed and appreciated Lissa's character. She had her idiosyncrasy's and insecurities, but she was overall a great person and her character really grew throughout the book. She proved to be someone that her fellow classmates could admire. I also really liked her relationship with her dad, and how much she took care of him. Her best friend, Chloe, is hilarious! I loved how she was very open and honest about herself, and how good of a friend she was to Lissa. The other female characters in this book were fun to read about as well, all of them dealing with different issues. Each character paints a different picture, which I liked. Lissa's boyfriend, Randy, and her other love interest, Cash, are like night and day. It was interesting to see how Lissa's relationship progressed with these two. I just loved Cash, he sounded so adorable and his personality was just so likable. Randy........well, let's just say that he was kind of a manipulating smooth-talker. His character reminded me a lot of someone I dated several years ago (see, I'm not lying when I say this book is believable!). I feel like there is so much more I could say about this novel, praising it, but I am not as good with words as the great, Kody Keplinger. So, you'll just have to get yourself a copy of "Shut Out" and trust me when I say that it's fantastic!
    • 4/5
      Who doesn’t love to read about battle of sexes? I loved Kody’s debut novel The DUFF. So I waited anxiously for her second book to come out and I was so happy when I got my hands on a copy. SHUT OUT is a wonderful story told in the fresh voices of Lissa. I absolutely loved the take on Battle of Sexes. I loved the main character Lissa; she’s fantastic, likeable, neurotic and bossy character. I really enjoyed reading this book. I also liked Cash (I really like the name.) I liked that Kody brought up guys choosing football or in this book rivalry over their girlfriends. It’s realistic! It happens in real life; husbands choosing sport over their wives, boyfriends choosing sports over their girlfriends. The one thing that really irked me about Lissa was why she even bothered with Randy at all; he was a complete jerk. The plot of this book might be the same as The Duff but it have different concept than The Duff. It was my second time reading about battle of sexes and its good lesson. While reading this book, I can’t help comparing the characters of The Duff, Bianca, and Lissa. It was really interesting to me because it felt like two different authors wrote those two characters, in my opinion. That’s how much different the characters are. I liked the ending but I wanted the books to have more in depth battle of sexes not just Lissa not wanting Cash to win because of her emotions/feelings for him. The cover is just pretty. Overall, Kody did an amazing job and I would be reading more of her work. I recommend this book for everyone.
    • 5/5
      Shut out! Love it! I loved the girl power and the proof that there are moments that you can take something into your own hands and change the balance of a situation. Life gives you lemons you make lemonade! Like the old saying goes and this is definitely one of those stories that leaves you feeling empowered you laugh , you cry, you even find a moment where you want to shake Lissa and other moments where you want to cheer her on and tell her YOU GO GIRL! And shout out with glee. I would definitely show this book to my daughter when she gets older and suggest it to her. I like how it will help some of the younger girls with their sexuality and let them know that it’s ok to feel how they want to feel and be and do what they want to do and most of all to say no when they want to say no to any situation. The story starts out with Lissa and her boyfriend at the time Randy , having a heated make out session in the back of his car right before the rivalry between the soccer and football teams interrupts that for several chapters you read how this rivalry has went on for ten years and is getting progressively more dangerous for the boys of both teams. Till Lissa tired of being ignored and abandoned for said rivalry gathers all the girlfriends of the opposing teams and sets them down for a discussion. All pledge to a no sex rule, no anything with their boyfriends until the rivalry comes to and end and the boys learn to work together. This works out for the best for them all but not without some surprising consequences leading to the girls all banding together to support one another, and realize that they have the support and tight nit friendship they all need to make it through even when close to the end Lissa starts to loose her way a little as well…
    • 4/5
      This was a light and funny read, easy to enjoy in fact. I read it in one single night because, besides having a lot of free time the book really engaged me and kept me turning pages non stop.So, this is the deal: Lissa is sick of being interrupted every single time she and her boyfriend Randy are making out because, let's face it, we girs don't like to be second in anything... specially if we are half naked and your boyfriend instead of ignoring the idiots that, most likely ran away already, goes after them...Wouldn't you be tired of something like that?! I'm sure I would be... And this is when Lisa takes a huge decision: she is going to convince the other girls to stop having sex with their athletics and yummy boyfriends until the silly rivalry stops.The only thing is: how is she going to convince the other girls to do so?! I mean, like her best friend pointed out, they are young people full of hormones, right? And of course, when she proposed her idea most of the girls said something like "are you nuts?!" But this is the funny and cool part about this book, these girls who were also sick of the rivalry between the teams had a secret: sexuality wasn't easy. Some of them were ashamed about being still virgins, some enjoyed sex too much, some didn't enjoy it at all and some were simply clueless about it.Anyway, everything comes with ups and downs and Lissa was about to discover a huge down... But when a door closes a window is open (I wonder if that makes sense at all in English... I assure you it does in Spanish xD) and in this case this window turns out to be Cash, a hot, HOT, HOT guy who had a past with Lissa and decides to take the roll of leader when the teams discover the girl's plan.In a personal note most of you know I love Greek mythology and for this book the author's inspiration was "Lysistrata" by Aristophanes, have you read it? Because it's a very interesting way to discover how they used to live.Oops, sorry, going back to the book now^^U The relationships forged in this book, the relationships that are broken, the background story of the main characters and the amazing way the secondary characters are not forgotten is awesome. And yes, the tension between Cash and Lissa is priceless... Everything that Cash did made me smile, made me laugh and made me like him little by little.
    • 4/5
      Shut Out was a nice change from all the paranormal I've been reading lately. Lissa was an interesting character - one that I thought seemed very realistic. Sure, she wasn't perfect, and I know some people think she handled the sex strike in the wrong way, but I think it's the same way plenty of other people would have handled it.Randy, Lissa's boyfriend, is always putting her second to the rivalry between the soccer and football teams. And when Lissa decides to start the sex strike and get all the other girls who are girlfriends of guys on the teams, well, Randy isn't very happy. I hate the name Randy. I'm glad he was an ass >_>Cash Sterling made me happy ^-^ He was not a man-whore who'd slept with half the female population like too many boys in YA fiction. He was just a boy who wanted Lissa's attention, and that I was something I really liked.However, I do feel like all of the characters were a little . . . skimmed over, I guess. They weren't developed enough, except maybe Lissa. As for Randy and Cash and some of Lissa's other friends? You know approximately two things about their lives, and that's it. i wish there could have been a little more about their families or their hobbies or something like that.And another thing that was skimmed over was the details and descriptions. I wanted to know what her house looked like, the people, anything. I don't want to discriminate or anything, but I feel like most YA contemp. books leave out those details. That's not to say paranormal and fantasy and other novels don't do that, too; I think I just notice it less because there's too many other things to think about.Overall: The plot was something I thought was fairly original - I've never read anything where so many people come together and go on a sex strike :P While I think the writing needed some work, Shut Out was a fast-paced novel I read in one sitting. I'd definitely recommend it for those days when you want to read a fast book that doesn't involve too much thinking. 4 stars.
    • 4/5
      Retelling the Lysistrata? Genius. There were definitely a couple of problems with this book, however. The main character kind of annoyed me with her little habits (it wasn't annoying that she had them, it was annoying how it played in the book. Almost like the author had a little buzzer next to her at all times. "Oh, it's been 45 minutes since I had her do something OCD! Time to throw another mention in there!"). The whole subplot with the brother seemed really pointless, as did the tragic (was it tragic? It didn't seem like it in the book) of her mother. The slumber parties, though, were awesome. You really felt like you were there with the rest of the girls and you just wanted to spill your guts. This book seems like a great conversation starter and I wish I had read it when I was a teenager. One review mentioned that they never talk about safe sex in this book, which they didn't, but this book does a great job at delving into the deeper issues associated with being young and.... lustful. Have sex or not have sex? Like it or not like it? Talk about it or not talk about it? Like I said, I see it really making girls think and starting some great conversations!
    • 4/5
      Shut Out is a cute, funny contemporary read with a surprising amount of substance. Of course, Kody Keplinger’s debut novel, The DUFF, was similar in that respect, so I shouldn’t have expected any less. Shut Out calls out boys on the double entendre, discusses whether or not it’s okay to think about or participate in sex, and navigates the gray area of women using their wiles to manipulate men. What a doozy! Keplinger manages to keep Shut Out addicting and hilarious while simultaneously giving her readers things to really think about.Lissa, a somewhat anal-retentive feminist, is a fantastic protagonist. She’s driven and confident, yet still deeply flawed. Unlike some characters, Lissa doesn’t overcome all of her flaws; she accepts some of them as parts of herself. This really makes her a believable and likable heroine.Another character of note is Cash, who sometimes serves as a sort of temptation while Lissa is taking part in the strike. He’s well-read and intelligent, but he’s also funny and so, so attractive. Despite his corny name (seriously, “Cash”? I can’t help but think of wads of bills), Cash is actually a really interesting character. It’s easy to like him and enjoy what he does to Lissa (namely, make her frustrated, but he also helps her accept herself and make good choices).One of the greatest things about Kody Keplinger’s books is that in them, she isn’t afraid to push boundaries. Some serious stuff goes down in Shut Out, and Keplinger writes all her “questionable” topics and scenes with finesse. There is no “fade to black” in Shut Out, but Keplinger doesn’t turn her book into a bodice-ripper, either. She keeps things real, which is a really respectable thing.If you’re a fan of realistic fiction, Shut Out is a novel not to be missed. It’s poignant, hilarious, addicting, and overall just plain awesome. I look forward to reading more from Kody Keplinger; she’s definitely a voice to watch!
    • 4/5
      This is one of the books that makes me smile when it comes to women. Taking power in what we have. Now, I can tell you right off the bat that this book is not recommend for younger teens. There are mature issues in it. (Sex, not told, just implied) But anyways, besides that, I thought this book really hit the spot on that we women have the power the change things we if really put our mind to it.What I loved about this book is the plot line. Ms. Keplinger did an amazing job capturing the teens voices when it comes to the issues at hand. I like that the characters, even the minor ones, played such a big role in the change that is coming. I like how the young ladies gathered together, made plans, and stuck to it. It showed how mature and smart they were.The main character, Lissa is one tough smart cookie. I loved her willingness to help not only herself but others as well. I like that she is great leader and made excellent points. Cause when a man let things go to his head, you have to show them that you have options. That is what these girls do. They give them ultimatums. And this part just made me giddy and happy. Girl power!The love interest caught my by surprise! At first I thought she really loves this guy and then another swoops on in. I love how the other guy slowly crept his way into Lissa heart. I loved how kind and gentle he was.If you want a funny, girl power book read this! I loved reading it cause it gave such power to women. Though it may be in the way that you expect. It just goes to show that women can do anything if we put our mind to it.
    • 4/5
      Lissa is sick of the rivalry between the football and soccer teams at her school. It's lasted for years, kids are starting to get hurt, and it's interfering with her relationship with her quarterback boyfriend, Randy. So Lissa decides to do something about it. She and all the other athletes' girlfriends decide to withhold the one thing the boys can't get without them - sex. But they don't count on the boys-versus-girls showdown that ensues, running deeper than just a silly team rivalry, nor does Lissa expect the sexual tension that will crop up between her and the leader of the guys, Cash Sterling.The first half of Shut Out was pretty mediocre. I enjoyed reading it, the pages went by fast, but the characters and plot seemed stereotypical for the most part. Sure, Lissa has some unexpected characterizations - rather than being a preppy cheerleader, she's a control-freak, OCD bibliophile - but Randy is the average dumb jock. I had problems seeing how their relationship lasted, much less why control-freak Lissa would consent to doing certain things with him. Well, mysteries began to be explained by the middle of the novel.Several surprises came out of the text past about the mid-way point. The weirdness of Randy and Lissa's relationship came out, a new, less stereotypical guy entered the picture, and Keplinger added some new meaning to the book. Rather than be all about high school rivalries and sexual tension, the novel begins to explore gender relations and what's "normal" for teen sexual activity - no sex? Enjoying it? Participating but not enjoying it? In this way, Shut Out becomes a great novel for older teens who are wondering about sexuality and unsure about what feelings and drives are normal for their age.Content: Despite being about a sex strike, there's no content that I considered explicit. Sexual situations and discussions are present, of course, but there's nothing my mother would be mad about me reading as an older (15/16+) teenager.
    • 4/5
      I read Kody Keplinger’s debut novel The DUFF and loved it! Of course when I found out about her sophomore novel Shut Out, it was a no-brainer… I had to read it! I think I may have said in my review of The DUFF some of the same things I may be saying now. Kody Keplinger writes teens in a very real way. I remember being in similar situations as some characters in Shut Out, which at least proves to me, that the characters in Shut Out have realistic feelings and put themselves in realistic decision making situations. Kody touches on subjects regarding teens and sex. She shows teenagers (and adults) to not be ashamed by how you feel in regards to sex and we all shouldn’t try and force ourselves to fit into a mold. She also tackles stereotypes with males and females in regards to sex. Lissa in Shut Out has other problems besides sex and boys to deal with. Her mother passed away five years prior and she also deals with has some obsessive compulsive tendencies. Her mother passing away has shaped many things in Lissa’s life since then; you get to see how she notices these things and eventually tries to overcome them. I was engrossed in Shut Out. I easily finished it in one day. I love those books you enjoy reading and are finished with rather easily! Kody Keplinger approaches the topic of sex and teens in a way I like seeing in young adult books.