Review: AIRHEAD by Meg Cabot

Title: Airhead

Author: Meg Cabot

Publication date: January 1st, 2008

Publisher: Point

EM WATTS IS GONE.

Emerson Watts didn’t even want to go to the new SoHo Stark Megastore grand opening. But someone needed to look out for her sister, Frida, whose crush, British heartthrob Gabriel Luna, would be singing and signing autographs there—along with the newly appointed Face of Stark, teen supermodel sensation Nikki Howard. 

How was Em to know that disaster would strike, changing her—and life as she’d known it—forever? One bizarre accident later, and Em Watts, always the tomboy, never the party princess, is no longer herself. Literally.

~*~

Meg Cabot, put simply, is wonderful. I've been a fan of her for years and have been going into bookish depression when I reach the last book of The Princess Diaries knowing that I can't read any more about Michael. While there isn't a Michael in this book, there is an Em. Or Nikki, I should say. 

Em is a video game playing, feminist teenager. She has one friend, Chris, who she's had a crush on since about seventh grade. Of course, does he know she exists in that way? Nope. Her little sister, on the other hand, is the opposite. Frida is obsessed with being popular, meeting celebrities, and becoming just like the Walking Dead (as Chris and Em have dubbed basically everyone in their school). Knowing that Frida is still too "silly" to be trusted by herself in a megastore, waiting for an autograph from her celebrity crush, Gabriel Luna, their mother makes Em go along with her. And Em makes Chris come too for moral support. 

Then everything goes haywire. When Nikki Howard, the supermodel, comes on to the scene, everyone suddenly diverts their attention to her. Frida is one of her biggest fans so she becomes a girl in a trance when she walks over to her to get an autograph. The chaos starts when a protestor shoots a paintball which then makes a TV from the ceiling come down. Em, being the big sister she is, throws herself to push Frida out of the way. 

The next time she wakes up, it's a month later and she's confused. She quickly learns about their brain transplant operation and that she suddenly has a different life. Emerson Watts is dead. She has to continue living Nikki's life along with her obligations, love life, and friendship with the adorable Lulu. 

The characters: I adored them. Meg Cabot always makes such great characters to fall in love with and it was the same with Airhead. Em is loyal and although pushy with Frida, you know she loves her. She's a great friend and has a backbone when she needs it. Gabriel? Still not sure about it, but he's growing on me. Chris? Loved him, grew suspicious of him, then my heart melted for him at the end. Gosh, I want more of Chris! 

And Lulu. I honestly didn't think I would like someone named "Lulu" but I did with this girl. She was so clueless and although I wanted HER to grow a backbone, you couldn't help than to love her. 

The plot: Loved. It. Modeling, brain transplants, body swapping of sorts. Added to that, Cabot's writing was so enjoyable as always. I loved where we ended off and craved for more. Did I mention that I read this in ONE sitting? The only time I took a break was too brush my teeth and even then, I still snuck glances at it. Utterly entertaining. 

The agony of waiting for the sequels to come in at the library because I'm going out of town and won't be able to read them until NEXT WEEK: Pretty much says it for itself. 

If you've read Cabot's other works, loved them, and haven't read Airhead yet, I suggest you remedy that ASAP, my friends. 

Verdict: A time-sucker that deserved it and gives Cabot another point in my opinion.