At the start of the novel, Jessica Darling's best friend Hope has recently moved away leaving her to face the prospect of Sophomore year alone. With her mother desperate to see Jess start dating and a sister who is getting married in a few short months, Jess has her hands full. Enter Marcus Flutie, the bad boy who seems to be paying Jess more attention than usual. Jessica must determine for herself what her future holds. Will it be romance? Will it be new friends? Readers will just have to read to find out.

It is hard to believe that Sloppy Firsts was first released in 2001. It has recently been updated and revamped with stunning new cover designs. This series was one of my first forays into teen fiction and was a favorite of mine throughout high school. I was excited to explore the series again and revisit all the drama and wry humor and of course Marcus and Jess. While the first in this series was originally released some time ago, Jessica Darling is a teenage girl many readers will be able to connect with and relate to on a deep level. From those just now entering their Sophomore year of high school to those, like myself, who are well past their school years, there are few who will not be utterly charmed by Jessica Darling. Jessica is a determined, fierce, but vulnerable heroine who finds herself at a crossroads in her life. This first book in a beloved series is only the start of her journey, and readers will be reaching for the next four books in the series with eager anticipation. Lucky for them they have all been updated with stunning new cover designs and update language to fit modern times.

I did not like much of this book, so please bear with me. The protagonist was too much to deal with. So, yeah. It seemed all shallow and nonsense to me.

"Sloppy Firsts" by Megan McCafferty is a refreshing and engaging coming-of-age novel that introduces readers to the witty and relatable Jessica Darling. The story begins with Jessica grappling with the departure of her best friend, Hope, which leaves her feeling adrift in the sea of high school life in Pineville, New Jersey.

McCafferty excels in capturing the authentic voice of a teenage girl, and Jessica's narrative is both fresh and funny. The author navigates the challenges of adolescence, friendship, and family dynamics with humor and poignancy, making Jessica a character readers can easily connect with. The exploration of Jessica's struggles with fitting in, dealing with her family's dynamics, and navigating the complexities of teenage romance adds depth to the narrative.

The character of Jessica Darling is a standout element of the novel. Her voice is both compelling and relatable, making readers invested in her journey of self-discovery and personal growth. The portrayal of Jessica's mixed-up feelings about her first love, Marcus Flutie, adds a layer of complexity to the story, making it more than just a typical coming-of-age tale.

The setting of Pineville, New Jersey, is vividly depicted, providing a rich backdrop to the unfolding events. The supporting characters, including Jessica's family and friends, are well-drawn, adding to the overall charm of the narrative.

While the title, "Sloppy Firsts," suggests a focus on initial romantic experiences, the novel goes beyond this theme to explore broader aspects of Jessica's life. The humor and wit employed by McCafferty make the book an enjoyable and compelling read.

Despite its strengths, the novel may not be everyone's cup of tea, as some readers might find certain elements of Jessica's character or the narrative pacing less appealing. However, for those who appreciate a well-crafted coming-of-age story with a strong, relatable protagonist, "Sloppy Firsts" is a modern classic worth revisiting or discovering for the first time.

This was an enjoyable book to read, it made me very nostalgic for the pop culture of my childhood that brought back some memories. It's hard for me to write a valid review on this when I'm not the targeted audience but it was an okay, quick read. It definitely makes me remember how much I hated the drama of high school and how much times have changed since then. I liked the main character okay, the love interest was pretty cute, it just got a little exhausting after awhile. Even though it was a quick read the book still felt longer than it needed to be.

Title: Sloppy Firsts
Author: Megan McCafferty
Release Date: May 4th, 2021
Page Count: 388
Format: Netgalley/Audiobook
Start Date: January 29th, 2023
Finish Date: January 30th, 2023

Rating: 3 Stars

Review:

I was really excited to read this. I didn't know much about it, but the cover is just so appealing. The idea behind the book is amazing. That's the only reason I was able to read it all the way through and not put it down. I didn't care for the main character at all. I think it's mainly because our personalities just aren't the same at all. I may continue the series just to see if my opinion of her changes. The writing style was good. The flow of the story was also good. I mean I do get some of her attitude, but some of it I just couldn't wrap my head around. Maybe a reread is in order for this. Just to see if I still feel the same. I'm not fully sure about that though.

A really cute coming-of-age story, rereleased with a new cover for new readers!

Jessica Darling is a likeable MC and I am excited to eventually pass on this entire series to my daughter!!

I received an advanced copy of this ebook from the publisher for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. I liked Jessica's character in this book. This is a fast paced young adult book. This was a 3 star read in my opinion. I would recommend reading it though. This book is in stores for CA$14.99 (CAD).

Absolute classic and perfect YA read. Highly recommend; especially to any millennials who want to relive high school, even with all its ups and downs.

This is one of my favorite books from when I was younger and after seeing some mixed reviews saying this did not age well I think I am going to leave those fond memories in place and not attempt a reread.

I can't believe I missed this series when it initially came out, because I would have loved it! I enjoyed reading this book, and I'm really excited to see where the rest of the series goes.

This was so much fun and I'm really excited to get to the rest of the series. I loved being brought back to high school and I loved the friendships in this book! It was a fun read!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I found this book to be okay, but I have read better ya novels about the same things.

I never read the original Jessica Darling series but having graduated highschool in New Jersey and in the 90’s I did get nostalgic feelings. This was super cute easy to fly through read.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eGalley. All opinions are my own.

For me personally, I was “too old” to be familiar with this series. In the 90’s I was a teenager and reading books that adults my age now would never imagine reading. Given that, I felt I was reading a book from before my pre-teen years and I have since expect more lol.

However, I would recommend this book and series to a pre-teen girl and would love to discuss what their viewpoint is about the world in c. 2000 compared to c 2020’s. How is it different/same. It would be a fascinating discussion

Loved this book so much. she is one of my fave Young Adult writers. Thanks for giving me a chance to read the revised, updated version.

This was a super cute story with easy to read writing! Definitely a little nostalgic though the updates are pretty well done. Overall, a fun read!

I originally read this in high school and I was worried that this wouldn't hold up in 2021. I'm happy to say for the most part it does, there are a few things that obviously make it dated and some wording choices that would maybe not fly today but I still enjoyed it.

I feel like I am the only one but I never read the Jessica Darling books growing up so I don't have the same nostalgic feelings as other readers. This book is very 1990s and 2000s but the author made some adjustments to bring them up to date. I am not sure it works in the newly redesigned format. I think I would have appreciated the original books more.

3.5🌟

So I had read this when it originally came out; also while I was a teenager. I do remember enjoying this series a lot back then. I will say that reading it now as an adult there were many times when Jessica’s character got on my nerves. However, looking back on my own experience as a teenager I can understand how I related to her at that time in my life. I would definitely recommend this to a teenager as I think they will be able to relate best to what she goes through.

I received an eARC via NetGalley and the publisher; all opinions are my own.

I never read this the first time around, so I was excited to get on the Jessica Darling bandwagon.. Jessica is a girl with all of the same insecurities that so many her age face. Add to that, her best friend moving away and her dysfunctional (to her) family and she is living a teenage nightmare. Jessica is written so "darlingly" that it makes her easy to relate to and to root for.