Rating: 
Summary: Better than the First
Review: Usually sequels are never as good as the first book, however this is a rare case. Every teenager on AMAZON.com recommends that you read Sloppy Firsts (the first book). So I finally bought it, and I could not see what all the hype was. Sure it was funny at times, but other then that, I didnt think it was that great. Then when I finally read Second Helpings, I realized what the hype was. This sequel was way better then the first. The various storylines between Jessica Darling, her grandmother, and HE WHO SHALL REMAIN NAMELESS, who she refers to as ,Marcus, are all hilariously funny and at times believeable. The only downfall of this sequel is the happily ever after ending. Jessica is such a cynical, real character whose life and way of thinking mirrors a lot of us teenagers. However, in the end, when everything magically works out beautifully for her and she gets almost everything she wants and was complaining about throughout the book, sucks.She gets the guy, she sees her best friend and their friendship is better then ever, she makes up with her dad, etc, etc. It doesn't follow with the rest of the book. It kinda makes it into a fairy taleish, unrealistic book, since we all know that in real life, things almost never turn out picture perfect and things in life never fall into place as they should. Overall though, good book if you need a few laughs in your life.....which I'm sure many of us do.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing
Review: Jessica Darling is now a senior at Pineville High School, where she is dealing with the oh-so-alluring Marcus Flutie, the guy who she's trying to stay away from, but is finding it quite hard; trying to find a way to visit her best friend, Hope, but is never able to; and dealing with the Clueless Crew, whom she is still hanging out with, even though she, to put it bluntly, loathes them. Not to mention that her aggravating parents are trying to choose what college she should attend, and bad-mouthing the one college that she REALLY wants to attend, and her older sister, Bethany's, pregnancy is throwing the house into an uproar. When all Jessica wants to do is escape from her life, before she goes insane.McCafferty has created another novel filled with true ups and downs in a teenage girls life. Girls of all ages will be able to find ways to relate with this poignant character, as she goes through crazy high school problems, that readers have experienced themselves. A must-have. Erika Sorocco
Rating: 
Summary: A sour taste in my mouth...
Review: After reading so many raving reviews about this book I can't believe so many people actually like it and worse can relate to it. To say this book over-exaggerates the clique scene in highschool would be an understatement. "Upper Crust, 404s, Dregs, Jocks, Geeks, Wiggaz, etc" are all certain cliques described in this book. Now let me remind you what a clique is. A clique is a group of friends who only talk to other people on their own social level because if they talk to a person lower than them 'social wise' then they'll risk looking uncool. Now what does that remind you of? Middleschool or highschool? Middleschool!!!! From what I got out of the book, there are all these little subcultures in highschool and no one ever associates with each other outside of their little clique. Um, no!!! Being a 15 year girl and living through both middle school and my freshmen (and partially sophomore) year of highschool I can compare the two and tell you what it's like. In highschool there are still some cliques but people aren't so 'immature' as they were in middle school. Meaning people actually step outside of their circle to *gasp!* talk to each other. Another reason why I hated this book so much was the whole 'sex' thing. It was once again WAY over-exaggerated. Yes, there are some people like that in highschool but geez, not ALL of them. What this author did was she over-emphasized the whole teen scene. She hyped everything up and thought we could relate to it. Well, that may have worked for some people but it certainly didn't work for me. Lastly the reason why I hated this book was because I couldn't stand the main character's attitude. Jessica is such a bitch. Always complaing about the dumbest things. "Oh I'm still a virgin and no one understands me." Oh shut up. Atleast in books like 'The Princess Diaries' and 'Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging' when the main characters complain, it's funny. And when they end, those books leave you with a good feeling. Not in this book. Jess is so cynical and pessimistic it rubs off on you. "No matter which way I choose to move, death will always come out the victor, so I should just try to enjoy the game of life as I'm playing it." Wow. Makes me feel great. Thanks for reminding me that we're all gonna croak someday. Thanks a lot. This book will put you in a bad mood and not make you laugh at all. It is one of the worst teen books out there right up with 'Gingerbread' and 'What My Mother Doesn't Know'. People don't be fooled. Megan McCafferty isn't an author who's work you can relate to. She's just a 30 something woman trying to be hip.
Rating: 
Summary: as hot as snow
Review: this is filth. it has the depth of mooch, the cat. i loath the book with characters this dull. give me liberty, or give me this book. it reeks of a horrible stench of unoriginality. find it, read it, and be released to a new perspective. that these books well...you know.
Rating:
Summary: Best book I have ever read
Review: I have read a ton of books but this one exceeded the normal teen coming-of-age book standard so far that I have to share its excellence with the world!
Jessica Darling is a down-to-earth, realistic, highly-intelligent and also hyper-observant teen. I found myself relating to her in so many ways. There is no one on earth who couldn't benefit from reading this novel. Megan McCafferty's writing style is to the point; Jessica thoughts are anything but. Struggling to cope with the loss of her best friend, Jessica shuts herself off from the world emotionally and misses out. I don't think the book ended up to neatly as another reviewer said (for example, Jessica and Marcus heading off to different colleges, her grandmother's death) but it also doesn't end in a complete shambles or anything. I was very very glad that I hadn't read the first book, Sloppy Firsts, before Second Helpings was published because I don't think I could have possibly withstood the wait.
Basically, get out there and read it right this instant!!!
Rating: 
Summary: cute
Review: it's a little hard to believe that jessica darling is in high school. her comments on life, albeit immature at times (and rightfully so), read a bit too adult, and i had a difficult time buying into her eighties obsession- i was a teen in the 80's, and listened to the synth pop she idolizes- i don't know, it just seemed like the author was trying too hard to make jessica soooo cool/uncool. her life 'sucks,' yet everything she wants to happen happens: she gets the guy, inherits 500,000 dollars, loses her virginity, is portrayed wonderfully in the book whose publication she feared, is asked out by the king of poular (even though she is full of disdain for him, bonds with both of her parents, keeps her best friend... all in all the book was overly 'neat'. it was entertaining though! i read it in a day. so, if you're looking for a silly, fun book- read it- it's VERY MUCH geared at teens (i read it to keep in touch with the world of teen books), but don't expect any kind of reality. as much as the author seems to be going for the sardonic- this is what it's like to be a misunderstood, smart teen- it comes off way too pat.
Rating:
Summary: I Came For Second Helpings
Review: This book was, by far, just as good as the first one. I'm a big fan of Jessica Darling's first encounters with Hy (the social light from New York), Scotty (the jock ex boyfriend turned stud), Sara (the gossip queen of Pineville), Bridget (the ex best friend turned best looking female), Manda (the B.J. queen slash feminist hoochie), Pepe (the scrawny turned buff token black friend from french class), Len (the class nerd with a unhealthy obsession with dead & suicidal rock stars), and Marcus Flutie (the dreg turned super genius who taunts Jessica's sexual awakening). The first book was quickly added onto my favorites list shortly after reading it, and when I heard she was making a sequel, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I am proud to say that "Second Helpings" quote lives up to the original unquote. (Sara's annoying tendencies to quote things can attach to you). Book two of Jessica's every day life written in journal format is both detailed and hilarious. She has a witty, yet sarcastic sense of humor that was able to draw me in within simple reading the first few pages. In this book, its been several months since the New Years Eve incident with Marcus and nothing much has changed in her new social life, apart from being forced to now keep a Journal after so many months of not writing and erasing Marcus name from her vocabulary. The school year starts with all the old stereo types either being pushed up a notch more or being changed completely and drastically. This book made me laugh, smile, and on even one occasion made me cry... but that is just me. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of Jessica, a first time reader of Megan McCafferty's work, looking for a good read on a rainy day, or a coming of age novels addict like me.
Rating:
Summary: You won't be disappointed when you come back for more
Review: After reading this 349 page novel, I was not sorry that I came back for seconds of Jessica Darling's diary. Second Helpings is truly an inside view of what it is like to be a high schooler. In this novel, Jessica Darling goes through her last year of high school with all the trappings that come with growing up. College decisions, what to do about her former (?)crush, Marcus Flutie, and becoming an aunt are just a few of Notso Darling's tribulations this year. Through it all, Jessica makes the important revelations every young person needs to become who they really are. When it all ends, readers are left with one question: can we come back for thirds?
Rating:
Summary: AWESOME
Review: This book is one of the best novels for girls and women alike that I have read in a very long time. In most books about teens, they are portrayed as silly, clean, perfect little virgins who are always out to please others. This book strips those steryotypes clean and tells about what truly happens in the sometimes hellish halls of high school. This book deals with sex, drugs, popularity, and all the things we hated and loved about high school. Great job, Megan! The sequel is just as exciting and well written as the first! I pray for a 3rd in this series!
Rating:
Summary: Can I get a THIRD helping please? :)
Review: I anxiously awaited the sequel to Sloppy Firsts featuring a story of a teenager girl named Jessica Darling. Second Helpings was like looking in the mirror. I could relate a lot to Jessica's feelings and adventures. S.H. takes you back to high school and reminds you what it was like. With all of Jess's boy issues and friend troubles, it felt like I was reading my OWN diary! I HIGHLY recommend this book and Megan's first book, Sloppy Firsts to anyone, but especially teenage girls. You will fall in love with Jessica and her crazy adventures!
|
