REVIEW | Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas

Ask Again Later by Liz Czukas
March 1, 2014
Harper Teen
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Despite what her name might suggest, Heart has zero interest in complicated romance. So when her brilliant plan to go to prom with a group of friends is disrupted by two surprise invites, Heart knows there’s only one drama-free solution: flip a coin.

Heads: The jock. He might spend all night staring at his ex or throw up in the limo, but how bad can her brother’s best friend really be?

Tails: The theater geek…with a secret. What could be better than a guy who shares all Heart’s interests–even if he wants to share all his feelings?

Heart’s simple coin flip has somehow given her the chance to live out both dates. But where her prom night ends up might be the most surprising thing of all…

First sentence: [quote]Before she left, my mom gave me three things: (1) her wedding ring, (2) a closet full of kick-as vintage clothing, and (3) the worst name in the world.[/quote]

I enjoyed Ask Again Later more than I expected, but the ridiculous drama that happened to Heart made me irritated. How many bad things will happen to Heart throughout prom? A LOT. I found myself shaking my head. The book is formatted like Pivot Point and Just Like Fate, where it presents two different alternate realities based on Heart’s choices — the first is going to prom with her brother’s best friend, Troy, where Heart is plagued with disasters and the second is going to prom with Ryan, the Theater techie, who has a secret that he confides to Heart.

 IF I WERE IN HEART’S SHOES, I’D: 

• Definitely change my name.

Heart LaCoeur? Heart the heart? Seriously? It’s a unique name, but it is pretty ridiculous. Can you just imagine kids teasing you because of this name? (And y’know kids can be cruel.) No thanks!

• Go to prom with my friends (aka the No-Drama Prom crew)

Where’s that option? You’d want to have fun, and being with friends is fun. Going with your brother’s best friend to prom shouldn’t even be an option. You’re not obligated (especially since you don’t really have any romantic feelings for him, your brother volunteered you as the date without your permission, and you’re probably babysitting the dude). And you definitely wouldn’t want to hang out with people that you weren’t friends with. Why go with the theater techie when you’re gonna end up hanging with your friends? In the end, we know what Heart should’ve done in the first place, but then again, Heart may not of had that confrontation with Schroeder.

• Prepare myself for a possible dress disaster.

Heart knew of the dreaded “zipper disease” that plagues vintage clothing. I would think she’d be better prepared in case her zipper gives out (which it did by the way) since there’s a lengthy history of clothes doing that. I would’ve stocked myself with pins and a sewing kit just in case.

• Ask Ryan why he asked me to prom when all he wants to do is sit down during the dancing.

Like dude, I get you confided in Heart about this big secret of yours and that you feel comfortable with her, but to ask her to prom? I don’t see any reason why you would ask her. You can see her at prom and hang with her. You don’t have to be her date. (I know Ryan asking Heart to prom is a means of getting the plot going, but he’s pretty forgettable, which he shouldn’t be.)

• Totally not see that [spoiler]Schroeder[/spoiler] was into me.

I admit that I am totally clueless when somebody likes me. When somebody tells me what’s up, my eyes bug out, and I go, “really? But I thought this is how friends talk to each other.” I’m not great at reading the clues or reading between the lines. So, I would be in the same boat as Heart. We shall remain clueless until we get a ~real talk from our friends, or y’know, when the guy confesses.

• Kick both Troy and Phil in the balls.

Do you know how much I wanted Heart to kick Troy and Phil in the balls? A HUGE AMOUNT. Troy basically assaults Heart, and when Heart tells her brother Phil, Phil tells Heart she’s overreacting and blames her. UMMMMM. Really? This is your sister, who got assaulted, and this is how you’re gonna react? Yes, it’s prom and, apparently, you have your own shit to deal with, but your sister got assaulted. MAJOR SIDEEYE.

Heart, your brother’s an asshole. Don’t let him walk all over you. (Which she let him many times during the course of the book.)

• Lie and pretend to get a panic attack when friends do that thing at the end (as in [spoiler]locks me in a trunk[/spoiler]).

If you want your friends to let you out, complain you can’t breathe. Simple. (Telling them you can won’t work. They might use questionable tactics, but they care for your well-being. Lying in this

(I know if she did that, then she wouldn’t have resolved that one problem. Meh.)

Despite the fact that I found the drama to be eye-rolling worthy, I thought the story in Ask Again Later was realistic; I can see teenagers acting and reacting like Heart and the other characters. It also did the whole alternative realities better than Just Like Fate. If you’re looking for a light YA about prom, maybe this will be for you. (Just be aware there’s lots of drama, a bit of assault, and cute cheesiness.)