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Elouise (Lou) Parker is determined to have the absolute best, most impossibly epic summer of her life. There are just a few things standing in her way:
* She's landed a job at Magic Castle Playland . . . as a giant dancing hot dog.
* Her crush, the dreamy Diving Pirate Nick, already has a girlfriend, who is literally the Princess of the park. But Lou's never liked anyone, guy or otherwise, this much before, and now she wants a chance at her own happily ever after.
* Her best friend, Seeley, the carousel operator, who's always been up for anything, suddenly isn't when it comes to Lou's quest to set her up with the perfect girl or Lou's scheme to get close to Nick.
* And it turns out that this will be their last summer at Magic Castle Playland--ever--unless she can find a way to stop it from closing.
Jennifer Dugan's sparkling debut coming-of-age queer romance stars a princess, a pirate, a hot dog, and a carousel operator who find love--and themselves--in unexpected people and unforgettable places.
Review:
It's summer, and that means hot weather and, for many, fun at amusement parks. Hot Dog Girl, by Jennifer Dugan, delivers a fun reading experience with its setting, characters, and story. While I sometimes found the main character annoying, and the "best friends who actually are in love" premise a bit worn, there were some genuinely romantic moments that made this book worth picking up.
What I Liked:
Setting:I have great memories of summer days and nights at amusement parks. The author definitely plays on our nostalgia for those times in this book. Besides all the iconic amusement park rides, there are all the summer treats we have at amusement parks including popcorn, french fries, and (of course) hot dogs. Smaller amusement parks have the added bonus of being more community-based than the big mega resorts such as Disneyland.
Characters:
Although I found Elle to be annoying, I did really like her father, and her co-workers from the Magic Castle. Elle's father is always kind and accepting. He recognizes when Elle is upset about her missing mother, or when she is fighting with her friend Seeley. I like that the fun of working at an amusement park is shown, as well as the pitfalls. Special off hours access to the attractions, bonding over the sometimes ridiculous jobs they have, and enjoying all those french fries all contributed to the sense of the special nature of summer jobs. But there are also challenges for young summer workers such as heatstroke for workers, cleaning up vomit, and dealing with screaming children in the unrelenting heat.
Story:
The main story is how when one yearns for a crush, they might miss what's right in front of them. I have mixed feelings about using the "secretly in love with my best friend" scenario. It's been done too often. But the underlying message is still a good one. I also like how the story of the park closing plays out. I like that Elle starts to see beyond her own interests and thinks about the needs of others.
Romance:
There is a lot of sweet romance in this book between Elle and two different characters. Elle can't be sure if Nick likes her, but it sure seems so. He is constantly touching her, and finding excuses to hang out with her. She also has lots of romantic moments with a certain girl (Elle is bisexual). She goes swimming at midnight with one character, helps another character in a rainstorm, and shares a movie screen worthy kiss with someone during a fireworks display. Most of the romance happens at night. And what is more magical than a warm summer night? It is enchanting.
What I Was Mixed About:
Elle:I found Elle (or is it Lou or Eloise. It kept switching), to be a difficult character to like. She was often really mean to her father, seeming to blame him for her mother abandoning her. Elle seems eager to have any connection with her mother. When her mother simply sends a postcard to her every few months, instead of being angry at the mom, she takes it out on the dad. The father also doesn't seem angry with his ex-wife for leaving.
It was also rude of Elle to insist that she and Seeley be a pretend couple in order to hang out more with her crush, Nick. Was she hoping that Nick would cheat on his own girlfriend to be with Elle? What does that say about what she thinks is Nick's moral compass? Who would want to date a cheater like that?
Tired Trope:
I know that the "best friends who become more" trope is a popular one, but I find this really tiresome. I have NEVER seen this happen in real life. I have seen friends where one clearly would like to take it to the next level, but it never happens. Please tell me if you have ever seen this happen. I would love to be proven wrong, but I think a person knows who they are attracted to almost immediately. No one says, "Wow, I never realized I was attracted to ...".
Rating:
Release Date: April 30th, 2019
Author: Jennifer Dugan
Publisher: Putnam
Genre: YA Fiction
Pages Length: 320 Pages
Source: Public Library
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A quick, fun summer reading experience.
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