Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys

In order to stay in the states instead of leaving with her military lifer parents to go to South Korea, Megan Meade (also affectionately called Kicker) agrees to stay with family friends, Mr. and Mrs. McGowan&and their 7 boys! Sick of moving around all her life and never truly being able to settle down and make lasting friendships, Megan will now spend two years in Boston with the McGowansbut will it be boy heaven or just an ugly nightmare? Packing her things, Megan must leave behind everything in Texasfriends, her home, and her biggest shot to be team captain of the schools soccer team.

Upon arrival, Megan meets the boysfrom Mr. Hot and Popular Evan, to gangsta Doug, to artsy Finn and all the other boys. Although not all the boys are welcoming, at least Evan helps Megan carry her luggage and Mrs. McGowan, Regina, is extremely happy to have a girl companion. Regina promptly sets up a shopping date and buys heaps of cosmetics, new clothes, and school supplies for Megan (as she was unaware that Megan is a bit of a tomboy and is not one to wear make-up) Predictably, Megan falls for Evan and all his hotness, but is crushed to find that he already has a girlfriendpretty Hailey, also one of the best soccer players in the school. Although Megan makes some new friends, its obvious that other girls are jealous of her staying with the hot McGowan boys. Megan, on the other hand, doesnt feel so luckysome of the boys can be extremely rude and obnoxious! To think that she will have to put up with this for two years!

As a new life begins to unfold for Megan (and the McGowan family), getting to know some of the boys better hasnt been all that bad. Finn is an aspiring artist that enjoys to paint, Evan is&well, a boy that isnt always quite as well spoken or calm as hes thought to be, and Sean, who was mostly quiet and hid himself away has finally come out a bit more to talk and take part. Getting to know all the boys isnt that great thoughDougs attitude towards Megan does not change, even when she helps him out of a tight spot. Doug is still his usual, rude, slime ball-self, gangsta act and all. Megan also begins to try to get Miller, one of the boys that has Aspergers Syndrome (a type of Autism) to open up and talk a bit more. Often reciting much of what he knows about the Yankees, Miller now makes conversations with other people&even a certain girl at school! Megan begins to put together a book about the things shes learned about boys through the McGowans, and sends it off to her old friend back in Texaseverything from their behavior patterns and their soft spots!

After seeing Megans rivaling skill on the soccer field, and Evans offers to drive her home as well, jealous and suspicious Hailey tries to make Megans life miserable. As if Megan wasnt handling enoughdealing with some of the younger McGowans boys antics and trying to fit into a new school can sure be tough! However, some of the other soccer girls support Megan, knowing how snotty and rude Hailey is. With her newfound friends, Megan is starting to look up a bit more. She now has friends to sit with at lunch (who, by the way, all think shes the luckiest girl alive, shacking with the cute McGowan boys) and is invited to a party thrown by a member of the boys soccer team.

Action, harsh words, drama, and a big scandal all take stage during the party! After bad assumptions and bad timing, the rumors begin to fly thick just a day after! Doug slept with Hailey, Evans girlfriend because Hailey walked in on Megan and Evan talking in a room! When the word spreads, strengthened by Hailey's lies, even Megans friends turn against her! Even Evan eventually takes Haileys side, even though she did it with Doug! Can Megan be a little more confident and assertive to get the truth out and get her friends back?

Things take an unexpected turn when Mr. and Mrs. McGowan suddenly clamp down hard, enforcing rules and a curfew and making sure that Megan is treated like a sister in the house. Things dont get any better when Megan falls for a different McGowan brother. But now, with stricter parents and rules, even the other boys dislike Megan! There is only one thing Megan wants to do and will doshe calls up her parents and tells them that she wishes to join them in South Korea. But can Megan spread the truth to save her reputation before leaving? Can Megan really walk away from it all? Will she realize all that she has done for the boys and they for her?

Kate Brians novel is an enjoyable, quick read, but readers may find it a bit predictable in several places. The plot is not completely unique in some aspects, but it deserves a 3.5-4 stars out of five. Readers who enjoyed Kate Brians other novels (such as The Princess and the Pauper) may want to check this well expressed novel out as well! Girls may find that Megans guide about the boys can be pretty true in real life!