Sloppy Firsts

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."

Plot: The story started off slow in the beginning for me and maybe that was also because it begins in January. Which isn't nesicarily odd, but that means the story actual begins in the middle of the school year for Jessica. Though, by doing this McCafferty adds depth to Jessica's story. Which is a very contemporary and character based one. My only complaint with the plot is, I wish we had personally known Hope better, that way we could connect with Jessica missing her and we could connect with the e-mails Jessica was writing to her.

Characters: Oh, Jessica Darling, I was skeptical of you. Everyone said you were awesome and at first I couldn't see why. Then I saw some familiar qualities in you and you brash sarcasm was killer. Everyone else was really secondary to you. And Marcus Flutie, I am not sold on you yet. But man, did you break my heart.

Final Thoughts: Sloppy Firsts is the more realistic and teenager version of The Princess Diaries. As Jessica writes her thoughts and feelings in a journal, she doesn't hold back on the sexual jokes and adult topics that can sometimes be smoothed over in Young Adult books. As the story progressed, I somehow found myself more invested in the story and was really impressed with how much emotion I stored up in, once the book came to end. I can see why people are hooked. Cause once I stopped reading Sloppy Firsts, I knew I needed to read the rest of the series and I needed to read it A-SAP.