Dial That Number • Welcome Caller, This is Chloe

Welcome Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: May 1, 2012
Source/Format: Netgalley (Thanks!) || e-galley

[I received this from the publisher. This in  no way affects my review.]

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school's struggling radio station, where the other students don't find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams's mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

Funny, sassy, quirky and cute - those four words sum up WELCOME CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE in a nutshell. After reading a little too many paranormal tales, this contemporary novel was a welcome and wonderful break. It was a lovely, quick and very enjoyable read.

The Characters

Chloe, the star of this novel, is quite the character. She's got a strong personality, a big heart and also a love for quirky shoes. It was a lot of fun to read about her adventures, especially with the radio station. But it was her positivity that made me really like her. As a mostly positive person myself, it was cool for me to see that reflected in someone else.

Duncan, on the other hand, is the character that I fell in love with. He's got a ton of stuff on his plate, both enjoyable and not-so-fun stuff. The way he handled the pressure he faced was really admirable and watching him overcome his obstacles was definitely cool.

The Story

Though majority of the story revolves around the experience Chloe has at the radio station, it was definitely a story that contained much more than just that. The novel explores the many situations that Chloe is forced to deal with (with friends, family and her own JISP), as well as deftly intertwining it with Duncan's own life story.

One of my favorite parts of any book is being introduced to characters with distinct personalities - and Shelley Coriell does a great job providing a variety of personalities involved with the radio station. The diversity was a lot of fun to read about, as well as the kinship and little family that they've all formed through working at the station together. It reminded me a lot of what it felt like to share a camaraderie with people that shared my interests.

The scenes at the radio station, especially during Chloe's radio talk show, are some of my favorites. I've always been fascinated by the medium of radio, and I've had a couple of friends be DJs, so it's pretty cool to get to see Chloe do something similar. And I love a good talk show as well!

Personally, I say you should...

... read this novel if you're looking for a contemporary YA novel that's a quick read, with hints of darker issues in the story. I thought it was a cute, fun story.