So Yesterday by Scott Westerfeld

I found this book in the library and the premise was very intriguing.

“Ever wonder who was the first kid to keep a wallet on a big chunky chain, or wear way-too-big pants on purpose? What about the mythical first guy who wore his baseball cap backwards? These are the Innovators, the people on the very cusp of cool.”

Hunter is “cool hunter” and his job is to find people like those mentioned above. Armed with new knowledge, he then passes on this information so that it can be developed, packaged, and sold. It is the business of cool and it seems to explain why so many fads come and go. A group of people are always looking for the next big thing.

It could be shoes. Intrigued by a unique shoelace design, Hunter meets Jen and his life gets turned upside down when they inadvertently discover the coolest pair of shoes they have ever seen. The shoes don’t have a logo and are quite mysterious. And what’s the connection they have to  the disappearance of Hunter’s boss? Is it all a ploy to bring down consumerism as we know it? And why would anyone want to do that?

I love the concept behind this book. The characters are great and the writing is both suspenseful and humourous. However, it was a tall order to deliver. I lost interest in it as the story progressed. I wanted to learn more about the world of cool hunting and not just follow down a path about shoes. But perhaps, just perhaps, “It’s Gotta Be the Shoes!”

My List of 2018 Reads – Lots of comics, novels, and more for you to explore