"Amy's Diary #2" is an okay read with good artwork and a decent story. It didn't leave a strong impression on me though.

I enjoyed reading this graphic novel. Amy was dreading visiting her grandma over the summer, but it ended up being more fun than she expected. She met a boy there, and they helped her forget about someone she couldn’t get out of her mind, at least for a little while. Once she gets back things really went crazy. Not only does she think about getting back with Nick, but it turns out her school is being closed. If that wasn’t enough, it looks like she may have a new admirer in her life. If you enjoyed the last Amy’s Diary then you will definitely want to read this one.

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first. The story, like the first, is told through Amy’s journal entries. The artwork throughout is fun and entertaining. I think middle grade girls will enjoy this one!
Thank you to NetGalley and Charmz for the advanced copy!

My 12 year old daughter really enjoyed this book and read it in one night. She’s a big fan of Dork Diaries and said this had a very similar feel to it and she enjoyed reading about Amy who’s a bit quirky and her adventures. The time she spent with her grandma was her favourite part of the book. She did find it a bit confusing in the beginning as she didn’t read the 1st book but once she figured out the characters it was a fun easy read for her. She’s looking forward to the third instalment in the series!

I enjoyed this reading about Amy and her adventures. The story is told in the first person and from Amy diary entries. The artwork and layout are nicely done. I'll be looking forward to reading more of Amy's adventures.

Thank you to the authors, NetGalley, and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If You Like High School Journals

I like high school journal/diary books. All kinds. From slice of life teen drama to silly and farcical. The "Amy's Diary" books are toward the cheerfully inane end of the scale, but they are so sly, good natured, and well-written, that they go down like iced tea, with a bit of lemon zest, on a hot summer's day.

The art and the layout work well. We have diary entries made up of notes, lists, colorful handwritten entries, and so on. These are slipped in between the comic panels. Because of that structure we get a first person view of Amy through the diary entries, and then we get to see her in the midst of her adventures with her friends in the comic strips. The view is both intimate and at a distance, and this somehow makes Amy feel very real and relatable.

The abandonment of just straight narrative in favor of a graphic treatment means you don't get a lot of depth or sustained monologues. You get bits and pieces and snapshots and episodes, but that is fine by me. There is sly humor here, and some insightful throwaways, and a bit of edge, all tied together with a wink, and a Gallic shrug, and a charming smile.

This time around Amy has a lot on her plate. Getting over a breakup, wrestling with her Mom's demonic boyfriend, spending the summer at Grandma's farm, dealing with a new school - the world is indeed upside down. Luckily, Amy has her best friend, a mellow guy pal, a cat, a reasonably understanding Mom, and a big heart. Usually I don't worry about whether I "like" or don't like the characters in a book; I don't think that's the point. But in this sort of book, liking a character can sometimes be the biggest treat. And I like Amy.

(Please note that I received a free advance will-self-destruct-in-x-days Adobe Digital copy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)