Top Ten Clues You're Clueless - Liz Czukas

Top Ten Clues You're Clueless by Liz Czukas
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Source/Format: Edelweiss (Thanks Harper Collins!) || e-galley

[I received this book for review. This in no way affects the opinions expressed in this review.]

Top Five Things That Are Ruining Chloe’s Day

5) Working the 6:30 a.m. shift at GoodFoods Market

4) Crashing a cart into a customer’s car right in front of her snarky coworker Sammi

3) Trying to rock the “drowned rat” look after being caught in a snowstorm

2) Making zero progress with her crush, Tyson (see #3)

1) Being accused—along with her fellow teenage employees—of stealing upwards of $10,000 

Chloe would rather be anywhere than locked in work jail (aka the break room) with five of her coworkers . . . even if one of them is Tyson. But if they can band together to clear their names, what looks like a total disaster might just make Chloe’s list of Top Ten Best Moments. (from Goodreads)

Why hello there, fluffy read! Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless was an e-galley that I started completely on a whim on the subway, and it’s definitely a decision I don’t regret. Sometimes, fluff reads are really enjoyable while you read them, but forgettable weeks later. Well, I read Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless a while back, and I still think it’s one of the most fun reads I’ve had this year! It is another one of those novels that has the potential to be a great DCOM, if you ask me.

There are three key things about Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless that I really liked:

1. The story & its timeline – Chloe works in a grocery store, and comes in for a shift on Christmas Eve. When a sizable sum of money collected for donation disappears, Chloe and her fellow teen employees are suspected of taking it and find themselves stuck as the case is investigated. The novel follows their experience as they try to clear their names, and have fun + moments of honesty along the way! Everything takes place over the course of one day/night, so it feels like things are moving along at just the right pace with every chapter. 
2. The characters – Considering what a short time we spend with them, Czukas provided reader with characters that may seem stereotypical but turn out to be very real, very complex people. Each person involved – Chloe, Tyson, Micah, Sammi, Zaina & Gabe – is very different. In a way, it reminded me of that Dawson’s Creek episode where they all get stuck at the library, or even The Breakfast Club – a clashing of personalities confined to a small space. Of course, like with those two events, it definitely works out in their favor, as they slowly learn more about each other outside of their initial stereotypes. I wanted to be part of the gang by the time I’d finished the book!
3. Chloe Novak – She’s our main narrator, and her thoughts are pretty funny and authentic. I love that is constantly making lists, which is something I do a lot too! While I wasn’t happy about her being stubborn about not letting on that she’s got diabetes (not a spoiler! You learn this early on), I liked her otherwise. She seemed funny, awkward and a bit shy, so it was nice to see her sort of come out of her shell more!

I really enjoyed the plot (and it made me giggle a lot), and I absolutely loved these characters (and would totally like to be their friend in real life). If you’re looking for serious issues and hard-hitting plot, this might not be the book for you. But if you happen to be hunting down a fun, fluffy, fast read, well, Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless may just be your thing!