Review: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Publication Date: 8-28-2001

Publisher: Broadway

Pages: 297

Format: Paperback

Source: Library

Challenge: N/A

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Goodreads Summary:

“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 one 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 has 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?

A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessica’s predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hope’s departure through her months as a type-A personality turned insomniac to her completely mixed-up feelings about Marcus Flutie, the intelligent and mysterious “Dreg” who works his way into her heart. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they don’t have to go back and grow up all over again.

I have to admit, I had never heard of this book until reading some blog reviews about it.  I’ve read that other people didn’t know why it took them so long to read this series, so I thought I should really pick it up and see what it’s about.  I’m so freaking glad that I did.  I think I read this book at the exact time I needed to, because it made me laugh when I most needed it.

Jessica Darling had one best friend in school, Hope Weaver.  Now, Hope has moved away and Jessica is left to fend for herself.  She doesn’t know how to survive this high school life without her only best friend around.  Her Dad stresses over her track meets while her Mom pays more attention to her older sister.  She doesn’t feel like the other boy-crazed girls at her school and this is her diary of trying to make it through life without Hope. 

I felt like I could completely relate to Jessica’s life and understand what she was going through.  Reading her thoughts made me feel like I knew her more.  When Marcus finally comes into her life and works his way closer to her, I was hooked.  Marcus seems like such a great guy that I wanted him for myself! Jessica is such a pessimistic person at times and doesn’t’ believe that anything good can happen to her.  She is surprised by the actions of her so-called “friends” as well as her mother.  Jessica grows a lot in this novel and the ending left me wanting more! I can’t wait to pick up the second in this series and learn more about Jessica and her crazy, hilarious, screwed-up at times life!