My favorite book of all time. Gawd the memories reading this! I related so hard to Jessica and her misanthropic ways. There were so many events in this book that were similar to events in my own life (minus Marcus Flutie and the running career) and so many things Jessica said that could've been lifted from my own journals back then.

In the author's note at the end, she said that the books had been edited to keep up with modern times. As there are two black characters in this, I'm guessing some racial slurs were removed. But the Backstreet Boys and TRL references were all left in there! Now I have to go reread my original copy to see how it differs.

There's also a new introduction added to the book that talks about how Jessica Darling isn't for everyone. She's not exactly likable at times. She's super angsty and judgmental (but aren't we all?). She makes plenty of mistakes. But I think the portrayal of a super smart, high achieving teen girl who doesn't always relate to her peers is so well done in this. And I forgot how genuinely funny this book is! Oh so many puns! And the push and pull relationship she has with Marcus Flutie, the reformed bad boy? Sa-woon.

I first read this book years ago when I was in high school. When I saw it on NetGalley I knew I had to read it again and man, did it hold up!

I still love this book! Jessica is so witty and sassy. She is such a relatable character with very relatable problems. I think it resonates to much with me because it focuses on just normal high school problems and situations. Almost everyone should be able to connect to Jessica in some way.

I also love the slow relationship that builds between Jessica and Marcus Flutie. I can’t wait to continue rereading the series and follow their relationship!

Overall I recommend this book to readers to all ages. There really is something for everyone in this fun, heartfelt YA book!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the ARC.

I initially read this so many years ago-when the series was pretty new. It had been so long that all I remembered was how much I liked the first one so much. I am glad that I was able to revisit it as older and wiser. I still really enjoyed it for what it is-a coming of age story.

Hooray, hooray, hooray for young adult fiction that is actually relatable for the average person.

I loved Megan McCafferty’s The Mall, so I was very excited for the opportunity to read an advance copy of the re-release of the first book in the Jessica Darling series.

There was much to love about The Mall, but the thing I loved the most about it was how relatable it was for the average teenager. Most YA, despite supposedly being all about relatability, focuses on a character who has truly tragic circumstances or unusually difficult obstacles to overcome.

While I’m glad such books exist for the people those parameters do apply to, for most of us, our problems as teenagers were much less unusual and catastrophic.

Enter Jessica Darling, whose problems (by her own account) are petty and small, but they’re hers and they matter.

In YA literature, not enough attention is paid to the things that—while they might not be anyone’s version of an epic tragedy—feel life-and-death important when you’re in high school.

High school me had more in common with Jessica than any other YA protagonist that I’ve encountered, both in terms of how she thinks to what her life is like on a day-to-day basis.

I’ve been out of high school for quite a number of years now, yet this book still made me feel understood because once upon a time, I was a bit of a Jessica Darling too. And I expect many readers were as teenagers, which is what makes this so relatable for so many.

I love McCafferty’s sense of humor, her nuanced and realistically conflicted characters, and her ability to capture those moments that for many of us were so big, even if the world tells us they’re small.

Jessica’s best friend has moved away and she is left with the Clueless Crew, as she calls them. As Jessica spends time with them, she feels she’s wasting her life just moping it away. She wonders how do others get happy? She realizes she keeps her feelings inside and decides to finally speak up about things she never dared to before. To add to all of this, Jessica starts talking to a boy who has been nothing but trouble but has changed. Does she have feelings for him? No. Well, maybe... Enjoyed this 1st book in a series of 5 about Jessica.

Well this was a trip down memory lane for me. I thought I recognized this title and I was right. It came out in 2001. Great read both times. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this title.

Unfortunately, I just could not get into this book. Jessica Darling is completely unlikable and there's quite a few things that just did not age wel.

I LOVE Jessica Darling - she's got a razor sharp tongue and is so quick witted, I am obsessed with her - and with Marcus Flutie. Absolutely OB.SESSED.

Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty follows Jessica Darling after her best friend moves away leaving Jessica to navigate boys and high school by herself. 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.

I loved this book so much and find that Jessica Darling is one of the most relatable protagonists I've ever read. Her relationship with Marcus Flutie is so adorable and watching her in her daily shenanigans is always entertaining. This is the perfect book to read if you are looking for a John Hughes' movie in book form. Highly recommend!

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Wow! After the first release in 2001 it seems like nothing much changed with the dynamics in a impressively witty and sarcastic high school girl’s life.

Jessica definitely not so Darling (she’s definitely not a sweet girl next door! She has sharper claws than wild tiger )reminded me of Easy A’s Olive and Never Have I Ever’s Devi: sassy, smart, entertaining who has hard time to blend in school, ignored by the boy she has big crush on, surrounded by dumb girls crew ( a.k.a Clueless Crew) , trying get approval of her parents as she’s overshadowed by the brilliance of her older sister!

This book is sweet, tasty, enjoyable combination of high school movies! Jess reminds you of the cool, smart ass girls you want to be or you hang out with! And the best trait about her: she never makes irritating mistakes, making dumb choices. She’s so mature and clever enough for that! I also enjoy reading her truly complicated relationships with charming Marcus!

It was easy to read, easy to relate with Jess’ world, fast pacing, funny, emotional, heartfelt, feel good YA realistic fiction with romantic vibes which earned my four humorous, clever, hooking, engaging four stars!

Don’t forget to read new foreword the author shared at the beginning of the book!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

OMG has it really been TWENTY YEARS since I have first met Jessica Darling (aren't you Jess Darling as Marcus Flutie says to her) Get it Jess Darling? Jess, I feel like I can call her Jess after knowing her for 20 years, We begin her story with her best friend Hope' moving away from Pineville NJ . Ahhh good old NJ and the mention of Seaside Heights (before the Jersey Shore kids took it over).

Jess is the type of girl who gets it. She gets that high school is a game and she hates that she has to play into it with the Clueless Crew, (Bridget, Manda, and Sara). The clueless crew is more or less, those "girls" from high school. Pretty, popular etc. Then we have Marcus Flutie. Forming a friendship with him caused some conflict for Jess, because she knows that Marcus was one of Hope's older brother's friends. Her brother died from a drug over dose. Marcus's nickname is Krispy Kreme because he's always half baked. So yeah there is that.

It was a blast to join Jess on her journey through high school and her first love.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wednesday books for allowing me to revisit Jessica Darling's life!

i seem to have the worst luck with arcs lately because I'm not connecting with any of them!!! and I had such high hopes for this one(pretty cover hehe), but the writing was not captivating at all and it felt like required reading. dnf from me.

When this book released when I was a teen... it was my favorite. I loved Jessica, hope and Marcus

Can’t wait to reread these