Fiona believes she has the worst luck ever, but little does she suspect that her luck will soon change…for the worst. On her first day of being a senior, she must endure the sight of her middle-aged (ancient) parents sucking face before breakfast, and she has to ride her bike to work since her “BFF” Marcie can’t make it in time to drive her to school thanks to excessive primping. Marcie has recently become a bit too concerned about her looks, which involve lots of makeup and hair tweaks, and it’s hard for Fiona (who is content with her frizzy braid of hair and her glasses) to understand this.

However, these are just minor indignities compared to what is unleashed into her life during the traditional first-day-of-school assembly. Principal Miller, devastated and possibly a wee bit emotionally unhinged by her own recent marital woes, is homed in on the national divorce rate. She is determined to make a strike against marital dissolution by making it mandatory for all seniors to participate in a marriage education course. This means none of the seniors will graduate unless they are paired off and “married” for the entire school year --- and, of course, the students don’t get to pick who they wed.

In spite of her terror, Fiona is momentarily cheered by the fleeting hope that perhaps her luck has turned. Maybe --- just maybe --- she will be paired up with the enticing Gabe, whom she has adored from afar since the third grade. But, alas, this happy outcome is not to be. In fact, her luck has bottomed out with the news that her faux husband-to-be is none other than the horrible jock star Todd Harding, real-life boyfriend of Barbie look-alike Amanda Lowell. Amanda and Todd are determined never to let Fiona forget that she wet her pants during a birthday party pony ride in the second grade. To add injury to insult, Fiona discovers that Gabe is to be “wed” to Amanda. Where is the justice?

Fiona’s entry into the world of fake marriage begins inauspiciously with a cartoon of a bespectacled female horse rider with urine running down her leg on the publicly-displayed counseling schedule. A helpful arrow to Fiona’s name with the notation “Pee-ona Horse” ensures that everyone will realize just who is being humiliated. This incident inspires Fiona to throw a hot dog at “fiancé” Todd, the smirking artist. And the game is on with Fiona and Todd working frantically to one-up each other in an ever-escalating volley of humiliations.

A MATCH MADE IN HIGH SCHOOL is an absolute treat. Fiona is a believable and appealing character, gifted with a tremendous sense of irony and a talent for self-deprecation. Her banter (particularly with arch-enemy/fake hubbie Todd) is laugh-out-loud funny. The cast is treated with respect; no one is stereotyped, and many deliver surprising personality aspects. Even Fiona’s parents are portrayed as three-dimensional characters who are witty, funny and passionate. The plot is nicely paced, with several well-played and unexpected twists. Even though this is a light and hilarious read, there is also real substance to the story as Fiona discovers truths about boys, friendship, love and, most importantly, herself.