The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

Walker, 2012.
Age: 13+) Recommended. Piper, Cassidy, Mei and Izzy are best friends living in the tiny town of Paris, Texas. When Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, all she wants to do is get out, and so she has an idea that the girls should all go on the school's international exchange program. Piper visits the real Paris, Cassidy goes to Australia, Mei explores China, and Izzy stays in Texas. To keep in touch while they're away, they start a group on Facebook called The International Kissing Club, where they anonymously update on all the guys they're meeting. And that's where the real fun begins.
The International Kissing Club is not a very serious book, but it is certainly fun to read. The narrative switches between the four viewpoints of the different girls, which helps to keep it interesting and fresh. In reality, the author Ivy Adams is a pseudonym and the book was actually written by three best friends, which is good because they are able to give each character a unique voice. This book would be great for teenage girls because of the constant references to social networks, fashion and friendship (not to mention the abundance of hot guys). It's quite a funny book at times as well. If there is one criticism about this book, it would be that there are almost too many hot guys, because virtually every boy these girls see is 'jaw-dropping' or 'stunning'. That's a minor flaw in an otherwise very enjoyable read though.
The International Kissing Club is a light-hearted, fun read that brings to mind classic friendship novels like Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)