Book Review: Sloppy Firsts
Book Title: Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling #1)
Author: Megan McCafferty
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Description from Goodreads:
“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.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
So, I love the Jessica Darling series. So, so much. I usually reread the series on an annual basis, but I lost my paperback cover a few years ago and I haven’t been feeling my Kindle lately. With summer fast approaching, I decided to buy a new copy and dive back into the world of Pineville High.
My number one question when embarking on my reread was…will the first book in the series still hold up? The later books have always been my favorite in the series, probably because I find them more relatable as an adult. I love the woman Jessica becomes…but I wasn’t sure I remembered liking teenage Jessica.
Turns out, I had nothing to fear! If you’re like me, I’m here to tell you this book still completely holds up in this day and age. And if you haven’t read Sloppy Firsts before…get yourself to a library ASAP! What are you even doing reading this review? There’s no time to waste — this is a five-book life-changing series we’re dealing with.
Jessica Darling has a lot on her plate. She’s a track star and a self-described brainiac; her period has disappeared and her parents don’t understand her; she feels like she’ll never live up to golden-sister Bethany in her parents’ eyes; Marcus Flutie will not stop messing with her; and to top it all off, her best — nay, only — friend has moved away to finish out high school in another state. Talk about stress.
Reading Sloppy Firsts brought me right back to high school, in a mostly good way. It felt like connecting with a long-forgotten part of myself. Jessica’s a deeply complex character, which helps move the reader past the fact that she’s a deeply judgmental teenager. These shallow and grating judgments are tolerable because Jessica questions everything around her, including herself, so you understand she’s well on her journey to personal growth. She’s also possibly dealing with undiagnosed depression and her mother thwarts Jessica’s doctor’s attempt to connect Jessica with a psychologist. She feels isolated at home and at school — of course that’s going to manifest in a little negativity and emotional whiplash. Taylor Swift could definitely relate:
Sloppy Firsts explores themes of identity, mental wellness, and family dynamics. Jessica feels authentic, and her wit, hyperbole, and honesty make her an enjoyable narrator. Megan McCafferty perfectly depicts the high school stratosphere and smartly deconstructs and reimagines stereotypes. Highlights include Jessica’s newspaper op-ed, her desire to form her own opinion on Marcus, her budding relationship with Bridget, and empathy for her mother. Overall, it was so much fun to dive back into Pineville High and I can’t wait to read more in the sequel.
While I’d recommend this book to teens and adults alike, I’d also specifically recommend it for parents of teenagers if you’re looking for a little extra perspective or maybe a reminder of what your own teenage years were like. This one definitely holds up over the many phases of life. You’ll only learn more from it — and, about yourself — as time goes on.
