Denis Cooverman didn't want to give a typical graduation speech, cherishing memories and embracing challenges and crap. So, instead, he stood up in front of his 512 class-mates and their 3,000 relatives and said some-thing really important:

"I love you, Beth Cooper."

It would have been such a sweet, romantic moment. Except that:

Beth, the head cheerleader, has only the vaguest idea who Denis is.

And Denis, the captain of the debate team, is so far out of her league he is barely even the same species.

And then there's Kevin, Beth's remarkably large boyfriend, in town on furlough from the United States Army.

Complications ensue.

Denis comes of age overnight in this exhilar-ating, endearing novel that reminds us why we can't wait to escape high school but can never leave it behind.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.0 based on 50 reviews)

A fun ride!

I really enjoyed this book especially because I grew up in this area. It's strange to read all of the references to the local area. The writing is light, fun, and relate-able. A fun read and good for a lot of laughs.
November 30, 2008

a light, fun read with little depth

After hearing a lot of buzz about Larry Doyle's novel, "I Love you, Beth Cooper," I finally got around to reading it. As I understand, a film based on the book is currently in production, which makes a lot of sense. Throughout the book, I almost felt as if I was reading a screenplay more than a novel. On the plus side, I imagine it will make a hilarious film; on the negative, there was a lack of depth throughout that bugged me.

The jumping point to the story involves the geeky, super smart Denis Cooverman delivering his valedictorian speech at graduation. Among making other honest (and funny!) observations about his fellow classmates, he declares his love for the near mythic Beth Cooper - near mythic as in, he knows very little about her even though he's sat behind her throughout their school days.

As is typical for stories like this, we get to see what happens when folks from different social groups collide. Denis and Beth might have gone to the same high school, but they come from very different worlds. Beth, head cheerleader and part of the popular crowd, barely knows who Denis, the geeky and awkward valedictorian/debate champ is.

The story is very reminiscent of numerous teen 80s comedies like "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," "Pretty in Pink," etc., and borrows heavily from them. I don't want to give away too much, but the story is confined to a single night and revolves around all the zany things that happens as a result of Denis' declaration of love for Beth Cooper. Beth's angry Army boyfriend, for one, pops up again and again (and again!) throughout the book to pummel poor Denis. That was another thing that annoyed me about the book .. after the fourth or fifth time Kevin makes an appearance to cause trouble, the whole "dork gets beat up once again" thing was getting old.

To give Doyle credit, he writes with alarming accuracy about teens of today and how they talk and interact. I guess my main disappointment comes from the fact that I raced to finish this book ... not because it was all that great, but because I had started it and hate not finishing a book. If I had been watching the movie version, it would have taken much less time and probably would have been a more pleasing experience (assuming the film follows the book closely, which shouldn't be that hard since the book reads much like a screenplay).
November 30, 2008

It's that Teen Movie You Always Wanted to See!

I Love You, Beth Cooper reads just like a wild teen comedy or sitcom. This is no surprise when you consider the book's author, Larry Doyle, who is a former writer for The Simpsons TV show. Indeed if you enjoy raucous teen comedies like American Pie and the humor of The Simpsons, then you will enjoy Doyle's first effort.

Larry Doyle wrote for various TV shows and publications such as Beavis and Butthead and The New Yorker before landing a job as a writer on The Simpsons. He has also written for Comedy Central and the Los Angeles Times.

In I Love You, Beth Cooper; he delivers a teen movie on paper about a high school geek named Denis Cooverman who tells the head cheerleader, Beth Cooper, during his valedictorian speech, that he loves her. What follows is the graduation night of all graduation nights in which Denis survives Beth's crazy army boyfriend, Beth's terrible driving skills, and a drunken romp across town.

Doyle starts with the jokes and situational comedy immediately from the first page and doesn't slow down even at the end, allowing the reader to imagine what happens after the last page is read. Beth Cooper is also a smooth read that progresses well and doesn't bog you down with too many confusing details.

It is an effective ode to the teenager and all the accessories and media that surround them. Product placement and teen movie references abound everywhere. This is yet another detail that makes the book feel like an awesome teen comedy that you could watch over and over. At a mere 253 pages, it doesn't drag on longer than it should and it can easily be read in an evening. There is guaranteed to be a moment when you laugh out loud whether you are on the first page or the last.

Doyle also catches the sexually-charged raunchiness of the teen comedy within his novel, which may be a turn off for some readers. I often found myself wishing that I hadn't read that part or that I had skipped over that part. However, the book's risqué moments are offset positively by the sentimental coming- of-age story that is at the book's core. The most notable moments are when Denis has to deal with his false perceptions of Beth and when he finally receives closure from his high school years. It is a heartfelt moment when Denis admits to Beth that "all my memories from high school are from tonight."

In Denis Cooverman, Doyle creates the classic underdog character that is hopeless, and because he is hopeless, you want him to win. You want him to get the girl; you want him to have a great party and the night of his life. And Doyle delivers the happy ending, giving you exactly what you wanted all along. This book will cause those who experienced crazy times in high school to reminisce, and those who maybe have not the chance to live through it for the first time along with Dennis. I Love You, Beth Cooper is yet another vehicle of hope for geeks everywhere.

October 22, 2008

Brilliantly Funny, A coming of age story unlike others

I highly recommend this funny, brilliant book about the single-night coming of age of Denis Cooverman. Denis, high school valedictorian, persuaded by his close and only friend Rich Munsch, a gay (which he denies) movie buff who constantly quotes movies, decides to deliver a graduation speech to remember; he confesses his love for beautiful, sexy head cheerleader Beth Cooper. Not only does Doyle, in his debut novel, expertly craft the characters and their multiple dimensions that make the book near-impossible one to put down, but he also creates hilarious dialogue and situations the situations of Denis ("The Coove" as per his friend Rich) all in one night. Right from Denis, "all my memories from high school are from tonight". This book, soon to be a movie, is a you-can't-miss-it and is great for any teen girls or guys, even infrequent readers.

10 stars out of 10.

August 06, 2008

Clever and Hilarious!

Larry Doyle knows he's funny and here his sense of humor is on full display. Denis Cooverman concludes his high school career as valedictorian, declaring his love for head cheerleader Beth Cooper during his graduation speech. The night following is full of fighting, partying, breaking and entering, larceny, and all other kinds of trouble teenagers could possibly get into in one crazy night, with Denis following along with any of Beth's scheming.

My husband attended Buffalo Grove High School and his parents actually live on Hackberry Drive, two houses down from Doyle's prior residence, so I'm very familiar with the locations mentioned, which made it all the more enjoyable for me. The book drips with so many universal teenage emotions, especially insecurity. Denis's inner monologue is hilarious and Beth Cooper transforms before his eyes from the perfect image he has built up in his mind into a very human, very flawed and vulnerable girl as he gets to know her throughout the night. This was a well written comedic portrayal of the nerd's quest for the popular girl and I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys in-your-face, clever humor.

July 19, 2008

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