Review: The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

Title: The Education of Hailey Kendrick
Author: Eileen Cook
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: January 4, 2011
Links: Amazon | Goodreads
Source: Purchased

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her.  She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.  

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life - and her reputation - are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

The Education of Hailey Kendrick is a cute and fun story. I like the characterization in it. Hailey's character is quirky - she's got this thing for safety and knows the potential dangers associated with just about everything. One of the things that I like about her is that she craves a relationship with her dad, who sent her to boarding school after her mother died. A lot of teens are struggling for independence, but Hailey is craving a connection to her father and I appreciate that. The secondary characters show emotion and depth, and even though they are mostly in the background I sympathized with and related to them.  

The plot is really predictable. I think most readers should be able to guess exactly how the story plays out because it isn't exactly a unique concept. But it is fun and adorable, and since I like the characters the plot's predictability is not something that disappointed me. It just never surprised me either. I was able to kick back and just enjoy the story and the characters.

Regardless of its predictable story arc (and maybe a little bit because of it), The Education of Hailey Kendrick is a incredibly fun book. I'd recommend it if you are looking for a quick, light, enjoyable read with quirky, entertaining characters.