Search - Sloppy Firsts

An atypicial telling of typical teenage angst. This is the story of Jessica Darling who writes in her journal about her life in high school, the somewhat popular but self-absorbed group she belongs to, and all her interactions with boys - which are very confusing. While there were some funny insights in the novel, I felt a sadness and loneliness hanging over everything that Jessica goes through. Her best friend Hope is always missing from her daily life, she feels alienated from her "friends", and hanging above her head are the expectations of her parents and the haunting sadness of her and Hope's dead older brothers. A very well-written and absorbing book.

16-year-old Jessica Darling is in hell. Her best friend and the only person who understands her, Hope, has moved away, leaving her to rot in the pathetic town of Pineville, NJ, with her pseudo-friends, a group of superficial girls whom Jessica christens the Clueless Crew, who speak in "omigod"s and "like"s. Her older sister Bethany, who was one of those extremely popular social butterfly types Jessica despises in high school, is getting married to the most boring moneymaker in the world. Marcus Flutie, a mysterious druggie and male slut, is sending Jessica mixed signals, signals that Jessica would rather ignore, but can't help responding to. Top it off with an absent period and A-level insomnia, and you've got a whangdoodle of an angsty teenage life.

It's a good thing Jessica has her unfailing sense of humor to help her get along. Often making up words such as "assplosion" (for a diarrhea attack) and accurately writing down the dialect of a summer beachgoer, Jessica's journal entries are nearly unmatched in wit and humor. Readers will kill themselves laughing, and then kill themselves again as they wait for the sequel.

At first I didn't enjoy the book, but then it did get better. I'm still not sure if I really enjoyed it. I already own the next two in the series so hopefully it gets better.

I began this series in high school and followed it until her last book during my 20s. Megan McCafferty created one of the most relatable and endearing characters in Jessica Darling. The diary format left you feeling so involved in the story that by the end, Jessica Darling feels like an old best friend. This is the beginning of one of my favorite series and I highly recommend it.

I think i am going to have to go against the norm of reviews here, I am not a prude by far but i am a mother. First of all i honestly do not know why i read this-- just because a friend told me it was good?? The name of the book should of told me this would not be my cup of tea, although it is well written and many seem to enjoy this, i found myself asking what teenager should be encouraged,-- if reading this-- to say, Their parents suck ass? Then i also found myself asking really now, what 16 year old needs a love life? Shouldn't she just be enjoying being a teenager and aren't we at the point in time when we are encouraging our children to refrain from a love life for a bit longer? I would not reccommend this to any young adult or read any more of the series.

This was a funny, witty, and realistic teenager book. It shows all the issues in high school and with your parents. I loved the dialogue!