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heyjadey's review against another edition
4.0
I thought it was good but nothing special. However after I finished reading it I couldn't stop thinking about how I wanted more, so I bought the rest of the series. Something about the book must have hit the right chord with me although I have no clue what it was.
mador96's review against another edition
1.0
I'm going to be bluntly honest. The narrator in this book was EXTREMELY annoying. She complained so much, it made me want to shoot myself. This girl as supposed to be 'smart', but I didn't see it. She seemed lame, unamusing, and superficial. Thank you.
yolibear's review against another edition
5.0
I'm shocked that an adult wrote so well about teenage angst. Can't wait to read the rest fo this series.
aurelyarose's review against another edition
This book really surprised me. In a lot of respects, it hasn't aged well with it's out of date technology and pop culture references. The main character more than once slut shames one of her "friends" and makes a fatphobic and a homophobic comment or two. Despite that though, I really enjoyed this book. The voice was authentic. I was torn between my teen-self feeling so understood and my adult-self dying at some of the more cringe-worthy teen moments that I had been apart of once upon a time.
And I am not really sure why but the line, "I'm not going to narc on you, Cuz." tickles me. Marcus in general kinda cracked me up.
But then the book had genuine moments. Jessica and her mom talking on her mother's birthday definitely brought a tear or two to my eye. That's my Achilles heel, mother/daughter heart to hearts.
I was a bit sad that one half of the primary female friendship was... A noncharacter so to speak. Jessica had such strained relationships I would say with other women and girls but it was everyone. It was nice that we saw more sides to Bridget. I would have liked to see more sides to Sara and Manda too.
I am frustrated with the ending. Granted I would be delighted if I read good things about the sequels, but I haven't. I really want to know more about Jessica Darling.
And I am not really sure why but the line, "I'm not going to narc on you, Cuz." tickles me. Marcus in general kinda cracked me up.
But then the book had genuine moments. Jessica and her mom talking on her mother's birthday definitely brought a tear or two to my eye. That's my Achilles heel, mother/daughter heart to hearts.
I was a bit sad that one half of the primary female friendship was... A noncharacter so to speak. Jessica had such strained relationships I would say with other women and girls but it was everyone. It was nice that we saw more sides to Bridget. I would have liked to see more sides to Sara and Manda too.
I am frustrated with the ending. Granted I would be delighted if I read good things about the sequels, but I haven't. I really want to know more about Jessica Darling.
janina_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Absolutely loved it. Jessica Darling has earned herself a spot on my list of favourite heroines. She is smart and clever, witty and sarcastic, thinks too much about everything and anything (I can relate to that pretty well) and despite her pessimistic attitude and her quick judgement of others, I couldn’t help but like her. I feel like basically everything has been said about this series already, you either like it or you don’t. Despite having heard not so good things about the later instalments, I ordered [b:Second Helpings|199687|Second Helpings (Jessica Darling, #2)|Megan McCafferty|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1279986321s/199687.jpg|2975812] right away. The only thing that annoyed me a bit in this one was the cliff-hanger-like ending, but because I loved the book so much, I decided to be forgiving about it.
A few notes on the German translation: After a while, I got used to it, but at the beginning the frequent use of English words like ‘prom’ (Although we don’t have proms in Germany the way they have them in the US, there is still a German word for it.) felt weird. Also, what was the thing about the abbreviations of the swear words Scotty uses? Until now I can only guess what Vau Ess (yes, that are the letters VS, but actually written how you pronounce them) is supposed to mean.
And because I can’t really pinpoint my feelings reading this wonderful book, I have decided to post the titles of my playlist I think go best together with the story.
1. 3 Doors Down – Here Without You
2. The Subways – I Want To Hear What You’ve Got To Say
3. Snow Patrol – Set Fire To The Third Bar
4. Oasis – Roll With It
5. Train – Hey Soul Sister
6. KT Tunstall – Suddenly I See
7. Amy MacDonald - Run
8. Linkin Park - Numb
9. Oasis – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
10. Snow Patrol – Crack The Shutters
11. 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite
12. The Cranberries – Just My Imagination
A few notes on the German translation: After a while, I got used to it, but at the beginning the frequent use of English words like ‘prom’ (Although we don’t have proms in Germany the way they have them in the US, there is still a German word for it.) felt weird. Also, what was the thing about the abbreviations of the swear words Scotty uses? Until now I can only guess what Vau Ess (yes, that are the letters VS, but actually written how you pronounce them) is supposed to mean.
And because I can’t really pinpoint my feelings reading this wonderful book, I have decided to post the titles of my playlist I think go best together with the story.
1. 3 Doors Down – Here Without You
2. The Subways – I Want To Hear What You’ve Got To Say
3. Snow Patrol – Set Fire To The Third Bar
4. Oasis – Roll With It
5. Train – Hey Soul Sister
6. KT Tunstall – Suddenly I See
7. Amy MacDonald - Run
8. Linkin Park - Numb
9. Oasis – Stop Crying Your Heart Out
10. Snow Patrol – Crack The Shutters
11. 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite
12. The Cranberries – Just My Imagination
redinteeth's review against another edition
4.0
I almost forgot I read this book; I couldn't remember the title for the life of me. A friend lent it to me when I was in middle school, and parts of the book have been stuck in my head since then. It's always a good sign if a book stays in my mind, even if I haven't read it in years. I remember laughing a lot and it's definitely on my list of things to read again, but I'm almost afraid I won't like it as much now that I'm older.
jeslyncat's review against another edition
5.0
Jessica Darling is a dynamic and very well-written leading lady that can easily be related to and believed. McCafferty has drawn a fitting location and history for all the incredible characters surrounding Jessica. Following Jessica through her depression over the move of her childhood best friend, being involved in a clique of girls that are both stupid and quite slutty, bad boys, and family drama, all signs point to superb choices on McCafferty's part. We experience a poor dynamic between Jessica and the people who are around her--a father who she has nothing in common with, a mother trying to make her into someone she isn't, a demanding and selfish sister, and friends she despises. However, this seclusion comes to a close when Jessica agrees to take a drug test for a pot head classmate names Marcus, and Jessica begins to question her decisions of who surrounds her and the actions that she takes. Marcus and Jessica begin a relationship and before the reader's eyes, we see Jessica's character mature and grow into who she really is.
chickenafraido's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. Honestly, when I was reading this book I had no idea how i'd feel about it when I turned the last page. But now I know. It was completely amazing in the most bizarro-cynical way.
Jessica frustrated me all the time, but I think that's what made her real to me. She made mistakes, and it humanized her. She wasn't just a character in a book. She was Jessica Darling, social-outcast extraordinaire. God, sometimes I hated her. But I loved her so much at the same time.
There are so many things I love about this book, and yet so many things I disliked. I truly am conflicted. But one thing I am absolutely sure of: this book is amazing in and of itself. It's raw. It's real. It's truly a story of "sloppy firsts".
Jessica frustrated me all the time, but I think that's what made her real to me. She made mistakes, and it humanized her. She wasn't just a character in a book. She was Jessica Darling, social-outcast extraordinaire. God, sometimes I hated her. But I loved her so much at the same time.
There are so many things I love about this book, and yet so many things I disliked. I truly am conflicted. But one thing I am absolutely sure of: this book is amazing in and of itself. It's raw. It's real. It's truly a story of "sloppy firsts".
ameserole's review against another edition
2.0
Okay, so I dove into Sloppy Firsts due to it being my pick of the month. It also doesn't hurt that I have an audio ARC for the sequel either. So, in some weird way, I was excited to dive into this book but after finishing this.. I'm not feeling the same way now. It doesn't mean that I wont dive into the audiobook because I completely will. I'm just saying that I didn't end up loving the book.
In this you will meet Jessica. Now her best friend, Hope, moves away and it basically means the earth is going to blow up. Yes, it sounds overdramatic but that's how it felt when it came to the MC. I just honestly wasn't a huge fan of hers for the entire book. At times, I wanted to slap her because of how she was acting. At other times? I got vibes from Easy A - which I actually like that movie.
Other than that, the romance was okay but I wasn't completely invested into it. It had potential to be okay or likable but I just ended up getting frustrated and annoyed quite easily. Maybe I'll have better luck with the sequel?
In this you will meet Jessica. Now her best friend, Hope, moves away and it basically means the earth is going to blow up. Yes, it sounds overdramatic but that's how it felt when it came to the MC. I just honestly wasn't a huge fan of hers for the entire book. At times, I wanted to slap her because of how she was acting. At other times? I got vibes from Easy A - which I actually like that movie.
Other than that, the romance was okay but I wasn't completely invested into it. It had potential to be okay or likable but I just ended up getting frustrated and annoyed quite easily. Maybe I'll have better luck with the sequel?
jmitschke's review against another edition
4.0
I kind of adore Jessica Darling: she is such a fresh and genuine combination of snark, brains and teenage cluelessness.
And Marcus Flutie, the brilliant, mysterious bad boy? Unf. Teen-Me would have been way into him.
And Marcus Flutie, the brilliant, mysterious bad boy? Unf. Teen-Me would have been way into him.