I just have a soft spot for Daniel Handler's writing. I know he's often too clever for his own good, and the writing is very pretentious (especially here, since he's narrating for a high-school student), but I can't help it. I really enjoyed The Basic Eight, liked Watch Your Mouth despite its absurdity, and really enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would, despite the completely generic plot and concept. Handler's writing is witty in a way that I love, and the plot, while generic, still hit home. I was pretty crushed by the time I finished it... Every time I write a book review, I think to myself "Boy, that wasn't helpful at all!" and this is no exception. All I can say is that I liked it a lot. All of the fake film references and bizarre lingo somehow seemed to fit, and by the end of it, I appreciated it all (almost). 
 (view spoiler)[Not a very satisfying ending, though. (hide spoiler)]