Sloppy Firsts & Second Helpings – Megan McCafferty

Description – These two books are the first in series of five following the adventures of Jessica Darling.

In Sloppy Firsts Jesscia is 16, hyper smart and analytical and traumatized by her best friend Hope’s departure to Tennessee. Through diary entries we see her battle her way through a year of confusion and angst.

Second Helpings continues Jessica’s high school struggle and and takes us to the end of her senior year. With lots of introspection over boys, friends, sex, writing, college choices and who exactly she is and wants to be.

Review – I picked up Sloppy First because a lot of people have been getting very excited about the fifth and final book coming out and the title made me laugh.

I wanted to love them more then I did.

I liked Jessica, she’s funny and sarcastic and full of angst despite having nothing, really, to be angsty about. She’s the kind of character I normally adore. But although she made me laugh out loud, a lot, at other times I did want to shut the book on her.

My favourite parts were Jessica’s encounters with Marcus Flutie (or MARCUS FLUTIE, as she would say). He’s such a great character, I am a sucker for reformed bad boys though, and I loved the t-shirts and the poems. I’m hoping he has more page time in the next three books.

I also liked the secondary characters especially Bridget, Pepe and Jesscia’s Mom and Grandma.

I much preferred Second Helpings to Sloppy First so I’m hoping the books keep getting better. I’ll let you know.