Review: Second Helpings by Megan McCafferty

Title: Second Helpings (Jessica Darling #2)
Author: Megan McCafferty
Release Date: April 22nd, 2003
Publisher: Broadway Books
Page Count: 357
Source: Borrowed from the New York Public Library
Rating: The best kind of old YA DramaCity there is. Plus a little Flutie Fever.

“Knowing that I’ve just done something that will 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 bizillion questions about my boyfriend, because she’s already gotten the dirt from you know who.”

Jessica Darling is up in arms again in this much-anticipated, hilarious sequel to Sloppy Firsts. This time, the hyperobservant, 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. 

With keen intelligence, sardonic wit, and ingenious comedic timing, Megan McCafferty again re-creates the tumultuous world of today’s fast-moving and sophisticated teens. Fans of Sloppy Firsts will be reunited with their favorite characters and also introduced to the fresh new faces that have entered Jess’s life, including the hot creative writing teacher at her summer college prep program and her feisty, tell-it-like-it-is grandmother Gladdie. But most of all, readers will finally have the answers to all of their burgeoning questions, and then some: Will Jessica crack under the pressure of senioritis? Will her unresolved feelings for Marcus wreak havoc on her love life? Will Hope ever come back to Pineville? Fall in love with saucy, irreverent Jessica all over again in this wonderful sequel to a book that critics and readers alike hailed as the best high school novel in years.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Jessica Darling and back and up to her old tricks. And when I say old tricks, I mean hellooooo DramaCity. But, like, would we want it any other way?

Let's break this down:

This book picks up no where near where the last book ended. I mean, it was winter break when the last book ended and now, suddenly, it's the start of summer. But, the way I understand it, all we missed was a lot of complaining about Marcus, and we definitely get more than enough of that at the start of book two (even though Jessica refuses to mention his name for the a solid chunk at the beginning).

ANYWAY. I think I should just say it now: I freaking loved the second installment of this series. I love how so many of this characters and themes developed in book one carry into book two. I mean, Paul Parlipiano makes a reappearance and steps down from the pedestal Jessica put him on and into real life. We also get to see more of Miss Hyacinth Anastasia Wallace and how her perceptions of Jessica war with Jessica's perceptions of herself. We also get more from Sara, Manda and Bridget - although Bridget is the only one of them worth mentioning. And y'know what, I LOVE that Bridget's become a character worth mentioning. She was on the verge of becoming a character worth mentioned last book, but she's really come into her own this book. Along with Percy (AKA Pepe).

I also really loved the whole Len/Marcus plot point. Was I VERY ANGRY at Marcus the whole book? Yes. Did the ending of the book make me less mad at him? I guess - although I think Jessica should have given him a harder time. But do I ultimately understand Flutie Fever? Hell yeah. He's patient and kind and understanding. I think we all kind of knew he was capable of such awesomeness, but considering he was a total burn out in the last book, it's all pretty impressive.

But like, it doesn't matter how mad I was at Marcus throughout the book. Because nothing compares to my anger towards Len. I mean, what is UP with Manda? It's like ruining relationships is her bread and butter. Or at the very least a favorite hobby. Is she a career homewrecker? I don't know. But I do know that girl is getting no where near any boyfriend I ever have.

Okay. MAYBE that was a little spoiler-y, but seriously, why would you ever want Jessica with Len? Obviously her end game is Tutti Flutie and no one else.

(It's also worth mentioning the Jessica's grandmother, Gladdie, is the best character in this book and UGH. Just UGH. She really did so much for Jessica - and not just in terms of her relationships. Seriously. Best Grandma Ever.)

Another reason I loved this book so much is because of the prose. In book, the prose was a little heavy handed, but since these books are written in first person, it makes sense because Jessica is so young (young relative to the series, that is). But in book two you can totally see how much Jessica's grown up by the maturing prose.

The long and short of it?

Plot: Jessica's stories take us where they want to. You can't predict it, you can only love the crazy shenanigan adventures she takes you on.
World Building: Yeah. This is what high school looks like. And college too, for the most part. I don't miss either so much.
Character Development: I love Jessica's growth. I also love that she's finally able to let Marcus off the hook - even if I couldn't. Wait. Does this mean a fictional character's more emotionally mature than I am even though she's fictionally 5 years young? *sigh*
Prose: Matures along with Jessica in the best way possible.
Would I Recommend This Book?: I'm really enjoying the series and I especially loved book two. However, I think book one is very much for the lover of older YA books. If you don't like the older YA book feel, book two might sit better with you, but I'd still recommend book one to get you started - reading the first one really helps you appreciate Jessica's growth. And it's pretty embarrassing/funny.

Do you ALSO have Flutie Fever? Or maybe you just love Jessica the way I love Jessica. Be sure to tell me all about your Darling Emotions in the comments below!

Review: Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty

Title: Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling #1)
Author: Megan McCafferty
Release Date: August 28th, 2001
Publisher: Broadway Books
Page Count: 298
Source: Borrowed from the New York Public Library
Rating: Old school YA brillaince 

“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.

[Summary Source: Goodreads]

THE REVIEW

Jessica's best friend moves away and, to say Jessica's totally depressed about this is such an understatement, I can't even tell you. Jessica tries to fake it until she makes it with just about everyone, including her parents, but she doesn't get very far. Then she meets Marcus Flutie and boy SHAKES. THINGS. UP.

Let's break this down:

I like Jessica. A lot. I really do. She's a PERSON. Like, she's angst-y and anguish-y at exactly the right proportions for a teen whose bestie's moved away. She's totally relatable and even though all of the things she does makes me all rage-y (STOP HATING THOSE ANNOYING GIRLS AND SEEKING THEIR APPROVAL ALL AT THE SAME TIME), it makes all kind of teenage sense. And I like teenage sense.

Okay, not only do I like Jessica, I also really like just about everyone in this book - even when I didn't (thanks Jessica's whole family - ESPECIALLY her older sister, ALL of her friends and even sometimes Marcus Flutie). I think that's a sign of a really good book, more than anything else. Like, can you make me care about a crazy overbearing father or a boy who's a pothead? Yeah? GOOD FREAKING JOB because those are usually the characters I'd be more than happy to kick to the curb. Although, I will say I'm not as crazy into Marcus Flutie as everyone else seems to be - at least, not yet. Maybe one day soon? I'm starting book 2 soon? DON'T HATE ME OKAY?

But yeah, I'm fairly sure my absolute favorite aspect of this book is the year it was published. I think it's pretty clear that I'm an "old soul" when it comes to YA. Yeah, there are A LOT of newer releases I love the pants of, but there's something about the YA books of 10 years ago from back when there wasn't a lot of YA and you didn't have to be super original and write about crazy things. Back when you could JUST write about true teenage angst and have that be enough.

Which is what this book is: True Teenage Angst and complete and utter Teenage Absurdity (re: constantly and casually getting cozier and cozier with the biggest pothead in school). It totally bleeds off the page and there's totally times when I wanted to shake Jessica, but at the same time you can understand. You can totally relate because it's a realistic situation that I'm sure a lot of readers have lived through themselves (if I made a checklist, I'd at least be able to mark off my sister getting married my junior year. But it was WAY less exciting than Bethany's wedding). I mean, I can't see you, but if you ever found yourself in a Jessica Darling situation in high school, raise your hand.

I feel like a bunch of you raised your hands. I just couldn't see it. But all I can say is that I hope you never had to deal with that Marcus Flutie in the nurse's office situation. That seems supremely sketch and unacceptable. But maybe that's just Sheltered Small Private High School Gaby talking (she does a lot of talking, even though she's technically Less Sheltered Private College Graduate Gaby now).

But I digress. Like big time. Which I think is the sign of a good book. If I can talk about a book and truly relate it to my like, like I can this one, then the author's done her job. And, just for the record, Teen Me (as described above) would have thoroughly enjoyed being Jessica's friend. If she'd have me, of course.

The long and short of it?

Plot: 100 percent believable.
World Building: Why yes, this IS how a teenager would behave and how a high school would work.
Character Development: By the end of Book 1, it's clear that Jessica's still a work in progress. And she IS making progress and there are 4 more books, so... SO.
Prose: This book is Jessica's voice and, as such, the prose couldn't be any truer to a teenage girl in crisis, which I love.
Would I Recommend This Book?: If you're looking to get back to the ABCs of YA (the contemporary ABCs to be more specific), this is one of the series you should definitely pick up!

Have you read Sloppy Firsts? What about Second Helpings or any of the other books in the series? Do you get the Marcus Flutie appeal? Or is it still a little bit of a mystery for you too? Make sure to make yourself heard in the comments below!