Fun, fun, fun. - Rated 
Ed wants to go to Juilliard, but his Dad has just remarried and refuses to pay, so Ed and his wacky friends get creative to generate the funds.
The 17yr olds in this novel are so full of hormones, they have sex on the mind all the time - however they rarely get anywhere! What this bunch of arty and geeky types plus the jock who gets converted, do have is lasting friendship, which proves strong enough to get them through many scrapes as they try to raise $10,000 so Ed can go to college.
A quick, fun, frivolous and ultimately forgettable read.
Enjoyable - Rated
Genuinely witty, "How I Paid For College" is a book I enjoyed reading a great deal. Edward, the protagonist, is charming, bitchy, and earnest - often all at once! Acito's attention to detail is also delightful - for example, when Edward mentions "My Fair Lady", he name-checks Julie Andrews rather than Audrey Hepburn (who of course made the role her own in the famous film). This is of course spot-on for a musical theatre fan like Edward, for it was Andrews who first had the role in the Broadway production. Little things like this were woven throughout the novel and as such it was more enjoyable to read.
There were a few bumps along the way. The number of bisexual students at Edward's school surprised me - as did the lack of homophobia, especially considering that the story is set in 1983. The adult characters are mostly little more than stick figures and the end is unfortunately too obvious. Moreover, the plot itself was severely lacking - there was one there, but it was very weak. More rigorous editing could have tied things together more neatly.
What it lacks in terms of plot it makes up for by sheer amusement value. While there were no real "laugh out loud" moments throughout, it was a real pleasure to read, and while I can't imagine being very inclined to reread it, I have no hesitation in recommending it, especially to fans of films such as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Great fun indeed.
A good read - why has he not written more? - Rated 
One of the most puzzling things about 'How I Paid for college' is why it is so engrossing! It took me less than three days to complete and I enjoyed it immensely but even now I am not sure why. Its certainly not a unique formula - the coming of age of a teenager. Neither is it particularly funny, there are amusing parts, but I did not find it as humorous as I was lead to believe from the many positive reviews the book received.
It centres around a seventeen year old boy from Hoboken, New York (Edward Zanni) who finds in his final high school year that he needs to find $40,000 to pay for college. The story follows Zanni through that year as he explores his sexuality and by hook or by crook attempts to raise the necessary finances.
Perhaps the most appealing thing about the book is its simplicity. It does not feel the need to dash between different storylines or time periods as is the modern fashion, but instead follows Zannis gang as they progress through their various trials and tribulations. It is also a good size. Many modern authors seem to think they need to hit the 400 page mark before their book is taken seriously, but Acito settles for a modest 278, allowing the story to progress at a fair pace without appearing rushed.
The characters are well developed and you get great variations in character, lifestyles and culture. None of them are perfect, and refreshingly the main character is not the American 'golden boy' you might expect but rather a normal teenager.
In terms of realism there is a high number of homosexual or bisexual characters when you consider the setting is an average American high school. Whether this is Acito laughing at his own book or not I don't know, but its more than likely!
I would recommend reading this book. However, beware that is not roll-about-on-the-floor humour but rather a dark comedy-drama with a happy ending.
A good read and well worth the very reasonable price! - Rated 
This is a fantastic story! With wonderful twists here and there, this book makes for a fantastic read. For the only novel by Marc Acito that I can find one can't wait until he writes another one. The reader becomes ( it is written in the first person narrative) young Edward Zanni as he prepares to make it into Julliard, though everything is thrown into turmoil when his father refuses to foot the bill. Along with his friends Doug, Kelly, Ziba, Paula and the criminally intelligent Nathen Nudelman he tries to come up with the neccesary cash himself. Interwoven with this basic storyline is a strong sense of teenage angst as Edward slowly begins to realize he is bisexual and has fallen hook, line and sinker for Doug! Edward finds himself up against his father, his evil stepmother (or stepmonster as he terms it), a ceramic buddha, the police, his Julliard fees and eventually his sexuality. With settings from the homely exterior of Aunt Glo's pool (where this story begins) to just outside Frank Sinatra's car (where this story ends) Edward blunders his way through his life unable to hold down a job and unable ot pin down his sexuality. A reader might find this hard going for the first few chapters, but by chapter six if this novel hasn't made you laugh by then you haven't got a sense of humour. Unlike most funny stories the laughs come thick and fast in this and I couldn't stop roaring with laughter. A damn good book! Buy it! It is well worth it!
Great read! - Rated
I must confess, it took me a little while to get into this book. It starts quite slowly, setting the characters up and giving you a feeling for what's what.
But a couple of chapters in and you're hooked. It's rare for me to find a book that really grabs my attention and keeps me reading for hours, but this did exactly that.
Some parts made me laugh out loud (not good on a train for what it's worth), and I never stopped enjoying reading it. My dad read it after me and he loved it too.
You really can't go wrong, I'm looking forward to reading something else by the same author soon!
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