Gwendolyn (aka "Dough") has been working at her mother's bakery, going to school, and putting up with snide fat comments from other kids for years. Her best childhood friend, Philip Wishman (Wish), became her boyfriend after he moved to California three years prior. When he tells her that he is returning to New Jersey, she is horrified because she is not the same girl she was when he left. She has packed on the pounds, covers her overweight body in baggy clothes, and is as unpopular as they come. Wish has turned into a gorgeous, sought-after hunk and she just knows he will be disappointed when he sees her. He seems to overlook that though, and just sees her as he always did, which is the least of his strange behavior. When she learns that he may be part of some bizarre cult, she couldn't be more surprised.

This speed read has an interesting and mysterious premise. Typical teen issues are covered--mean girls, fat jokes, popularity, and parties--but there is a fantastical element as well. A cult called the Luminati are a group who manipulate the stars to improve their lives and their looks. They take power from the stars, cause strange weather patterns, and dangerous high fevers to occur in others. Main character Gwen discovers that her boyfriend is one of the Luminati and she has to figure out what to do to help him get out of it. The majority of the story focuses on Gwen and her lack of self-confidence because she is overweight, unattractive, and unpopular. Her dry, sarcastic sense of humor helps, but her story is downright painful to read at times. Language is mild (a-s, b-tch) but much sex talk takes place, including references to virginity and/or lack thereof. Kissing is about as far as anyone actually goes, but much is discussed. A wild party with underage drinking (Jello shots) leads to vomiting and a hangover. This story ends on a positive note, with Wish getting out of the Luminati, returning to his average guy looks, and he and Gwen happily together. Since the characters are juniors in high school, this book may be more appropriate for those fourteen and up as opposed to the publisher's recommended age of twelve and up.

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