Review- Second Helpings

Title: Second Helpings

Author: Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Three Rivers Press
Rating: 5/5
Find it here: Amazon, Goodreads

Blurb:

"Knowing that I've just done something that will take take decades off my parents' lives with worry, you'll excuse me for not getting into the fa-la-la-la-la Yuletide spirit this year...The only difference between Christmas 2001 and Christmas 2000 is that I don't have a visit from Hope to look forward to. And Bethany has already packed on some major fetal flab. Oh, and now Gladdie doesn't need to ask a bazillion questions about my boyfriend, because she's already gotten the dirt from you know who."

Jessica is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to Sloppy Firsts. This time the hyerobservant, angst-ridden teenager is going through the social and emotional ordeal of her senior year at Pineville High. Not only does the mysterious and oh-so-compelling Marcus Flutie continue to distract Jessica but her best friend Hope, still lives in another state and she can't seem to escape the clutches of the Clueless Crew, her annoying so-called friends. To top it off, Jessica's parents won't get off her butt about choosing a college and her sister Bethany's pregnancy is causing a big stir in the Darling household.

My thoughts:

In this fun and hilarious second installment of the Jessica Darling series, Jessica finds herself in her senior year of high school with little more than a clue of what she is going to do after she graduates. Marcus Flutie is even more confusing with his silently rebellious T-shirts and his inconspicuous signals that he still has feelings for her. The sexual tension is crazy thick between the two of them and I literally wanted to shout at the book for them to get together already!!

Second helpings is so funny that, again, I was laughing out loud, sometimes without even realizing it! There should be a warning on the cover of these books saying "WARNING: MAY CAUSE SUDDEN OUTBURSTS OF LAUGHTER! TAKE EXTREME CAUTION WHILE READING IN PUBLIC!!" I felt like I had to be careful of where I was reading in case I couldn't control my laughter.

I have really enjoyed being on this journey with Jessica and watching her learn how to stand up for herself. I have to say that one of my favorite characters is her grandmother Gladdie because she is just completely forward and in your face. She isn't afraid to tell Jessica that she needs to follow her heart no matter what her parent say. I also love that she is a big supporter of Marcus and their relationship.

Although this book can sometimes be frustrating because Jessica is her own worst critic, it has definitely become one of my favorite series right now. It's a great crossover from adult to young adult fiction that readers of both will love!

Review-Sloppy Firsts

Title: Sloppy Firsts

Author: Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Rating: 5/5

Find it here: Goodreads, Amazon

Blurb:

"My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don't they realize that Hope's the only person who keeps me sane?....I don't see how things could get any worse."

When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate is gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy-and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dad's obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethany's lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

My thoughts:

Sloppy Firsts is a prime example of why I started a blog. Throughout this book, Jessica is having trouble sleeping so she goes on night runs. While I was reading this I kept thinking that this reminded me a lot of another book I read where the main character goes on night runs and then she breaks her leg (not really a spoiler). Then sure enough, Jessica breaks her leg. But no matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't remember anything else about the book or how it ended from the first time I read it.

I loved this book both times that I read it! The main character, Jessica Darling (awesome name), has just had her life turned upside down when her best friend Hope moves away and leaves her to deal with her teenage life problems on her own. She's left at school to deal with the Clueless Crew (her other friends that she can't stand) and her middle school ex-boyfriend who still harbors feelings for her.

Sloppy firsts is set up in journal style and is all about Jessica's ramblings and observations during her sophomore and junior years in high school. I loved the witty humor and the smart rhetoric through the story. I literally found myself laughing out loud while reading and finding my roommate startled my sudden outbursts. Even though Sloppy Firsts is an adult fiction novel, I believe it could be enjoyed by young adult readers as well.

Sloppy Firsts is fun, hilarious and definitely a series I am glad to own.