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Book Review of Perfect Fifths (Jessica Darling, Bk 5)

Perfect Fifths (Jessica Darling, Bk 5)
GeniusJen avatar reviewed on + 5322 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

PERFECT FIFTHS gives the reader the conclusion to the ongoing highs and lows of the relationship between Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie. For those that have been with them from the beginning, you will recall that they met in high school. Marcus was the druggie best friend of Jessica's best friend, Hope's, brother. The couple, the most unlikely in the school, get together, and they make perfect sense. The rest of the series covers the ins and outs of their relationship. FOURTH COMINGS left the reader stunned when Jessica says "No" to Marcus's marriage proposal.

So, in PERFECT FIFTHS, it only makes sense that the two will have to run into each other at some point. They're from the same town and know the same people. But currently Jessica lives in New York City and Marcus is an undergraduate at Princeton. It's in the most unlikely place that their destined reunion occurs - the airport.

Marcus and his college roommate, Natty, have returned from New Orleans. They're in the airport when Marcus hears a Jessica Darling being paged for final boarding. He can't believe it could be her, but as he's checking the departure board to see where the called flight is headed for, he's literally run into. He's too stunned to discover that the person that has run him down is, in fact, HIS Jessica Darling.

Out of breath, late for her flight, and too confused with everything going on, Jessica is struck dumb when she sees who she's about to apologize to. She mumbles a quick conversation and is off for her gate again. But it's too late, and her flight is gone. When she learns that the chances of a flight that night are next to nil, she and Marcus begin their cerebral dance once again.

Marcus has no need to remain at the airport, but PERFECT FIFTHS seems to tell more of Marcus's side of the story than the past four novels. The reader gets to see his jumbled thoughts and undying loyalty to Jessica. His friend, Natty, tries to dissuade him from staying with Jessica until her later flight, but Marcus is too far gone.

PERFECT FIFTHS takes place in the course of one day in the lives of Marcus and Jessica. It's in their time together that they recount the events of the past three years. And as the evening goes on, Jessica begins to second guess her reasons for telling him "No" so long ago.

Personally, I found PERFECT FIFTHS a satisfying ending to a wonderful series. Both Jessica and Marcus have become like long-lost friends to me. I won't spoil the ending for anyone, but I think it's the right ending for the series. Some will say it's too tidy; others may think it's the wrong one. If nothing else though, Ms. McCafferty has finally tied up the loose ends that FOURTH COMINGS left out there.