Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce for TeensReadToo.com

When Diego's plans to lose his virginity with his girlfriend, Roxy, don't go the way he wanted them to, he pushes her away. Too late, he realizes his mistake, but he has no idea how to get her back. She's a great girl, being chased by one of the hottest young athletes around, and Diego is a jazz-loving math geek--a jazz-loving math geek who understands Roxy like no one else, but still. There's no way, he thinks, that he can compete with popular, athletic John-John McAfee.

However, his boy J-Live has a plan. A rather insane plan, sure, but it's all Diego's got, so he agrees to go along with it. J-Live wants Diego to start writing an anonymous column about love and sex online. The plan, he says, is foolproof. Diego will learn his stuff from girly magazines, write it all as the anonymous Dr. Dexter Truelove, and then, at the height of his popularity, Diego's identity will be revealed, and Roxy, realizing that he really does have a way with the ladies, will want him back.

Any sensible person--Diego included--would realize the insanity of this plan, but Diego will do anything to get back with Roxy. Of course, like all good plans, it has serious potential to blow up in his face...

Derrick Barnes' smart, funny, debut novel will appeal to all teens. Barnes holds nothing back here, so in case the previous summary isn't enough, beware of some racy content. However, if you're comfortable with that, you will love this book! Barnes is a talented author who really brings his characters to life--my personal favorite is the always scheming J-Live. I can't wait to see what Derrick Barnes comes up with next! ( )

When Diego looses his hot girlfriend Roxy to the basketball star, he tries to win her back by starting a relationship advice column under the pen name Dr. Dexter Truelove. Abundant slang may quickly date the book, but the fresh voice of the narrator has great teen appeal as he deals with hookups and heartaches from across the dating field. Tina and J’s hypersexual behaviors contrast nicely with Diego’s more cautious approach to sex, though there are no heavy handed moralistic approaches that accompany their behaviors. The jock stereotype fits nicely over JJ, though it would be nice to see depth in the sexually villainous characters. Sex is not the answer for everything in Barnes’ tale, and readers from all stages of sexual experience will appreciate his advice. ( )