Perfectly Dateless: A Universally Misunderstood Novel

Seventeen-year-old Daisy Crispin is a senior at the prestigious St. James Christian Academy. Daisy, a self-described “perfectionist,” maintains near-flawless grades and has advanced math skills. She feels alienated from her peers because her strict Christian parents do not allow her to date, wear makeup or buy clothes from a store. Daisy desires to break away from these strict guidelines and begins to keep a “prom” journal, in which she chronicles her secret search for a prom date.

Daisy’s best friend, Claire, has a much different home life. While Claire’s parents are going through a divorce, Claire is left at home with a nanny. Claire tries to garner attention from her parents and boys by dressing in odd styles.

On the first day of school, Daisy runs into a boy she likes, Chase, who she’s known since kindergarten. Chase gives Daisy a kiss on the cheek before Amber, a schoolmate who bullies Daisy and Claire, interrupts them. At the school assembly, Daisy’s parents perform a skit about peer pressure, and it embarrasses Daisy, who had no idea that they were performing that day.

Daisy works at Checks R Us, a check printing company. She answers phone calls and helps her young boss, Gil, with the finances. Gil convinces Daisy to buy new clothes and get a makeover from his sister before going to prom. Claire tells Daisy that she is on her way to the mall for a job interview because she wants to spend her own money, not her parents’ money. Daisy goes with her. Daisy’s mother overhears their plans and decides to give Daisy some money to shop at approved stores. At the mall, Claire introduces Daisy to her interviewer, Max Diaz. Max is from Mexico and is a new student at their school. Claire gets the job at Max’s lemonade stand. After talking to Max a few more times and after realizing that Chase didn’t seem attracted to her, Daisy starts to develop feelings for Max. Claire informs Daisy that her maid has quit, so Claire has the house to herself. Claire plans to throw a party at her parents’ house while her parents are away.

On their way to Claire’s house, Claire and Daisy stop by the home of Greg, a boy Claire likes. Greg’s science experiment goes wrong and sets his lawn on fire. The fire department and Daisy’s dad arrive at Greg’s house. Daisy’s dad is upset that she is with a boy. Daisy and her dad argue about her future. Daisy’s parents disapprove of her plan to get a neuroscience degree because it would mean that she has to attend a public university.

The day of the party, as Claire and Daisy prepare, Max shows up. He speaks with Daisy privately to tell her that Chase thought he was a drug dealer and tried to buy a roofie — a date rape drug — from him. Max says he gave Chase an unmarked Excedrin in place of a roofie. Daisy doesn’t believe him, so Max decides to stay at the party to look after her. Daisy is worried that Greg might have bought a roofie to use on Claire.

Later, Daisy and Max talk on the porch, and the party grows out of control. When Daisy realizes the late hour, she goes back inside and notices that the house is trashed and someone has brought a keg. She runs into a drunken Chase, who proposes they sleep together. After the keg is thrown onto the barbeque grill, it sets the house on fire. Chase runs away before the cops show up. Max goes inside to look for Claire; Daisy runs in after him, but burns herself in the process. She sees Max exit the house with someone in his arms before she passes out.

Daisy wakes up in the hospital with third-degree burns. Max is suffering from smoke inhalation. Daisy’s mother informs her that Amber was drugged at the party, and the police suspect Max. Daisy’s mother apologizes for making Daisy wear homemade clothes. She gives Daisy money for college and admits that she’s been hiding the money from Daisy’s father.

Daisy and Claire are punished for having the party. Claire’s parents get back together because they can’t afford a divorce after the fire. Claire and her mother temporally stay with Daisy’s family until Claire’s father returns and their house is fixed.

Back at school, Chase tries to explain his actions at the party, but denies buying drugs. Daisy calls him out on his lie, which causes to Chase storm off.

Daisy gets her hair done at Gil’s sister’s salon. Gil and her father show up. Her dad asks if she believes that Chase gave Amber the roofie, and Daisy replies that she does. Daisy and her father tell the principal about these suspicions, but the principal doesn’t believe her.

Daisy expresses a desire to take Max to prom, but he has been asked to return to Mexico, and she has to work at the prom. Daisy burns her prom diary and works the Breathalyzer station at prom with Claire. Daisy’s parents convince the principal to let them be chaperones. Max shows up at prom, and Daisy gets to dance with Max.