Charmed Thirds (Jessica Darling #3)

Charmed Thirds is basically what this “new adult” business is trying so hard to be, but hasn’t quite achieved. This book portrays the four years of Jessica Darling’s college existence, and it does it in an honest, uncomplicated way. Yes, she has sex—a lot of it, to be quite honest, and with more than one man, but this isn’t a romance novel for the ages. Because Charmed Thirds is also about other stuff. Stuff like paying tuition, getting internships, watching high school friends fall away, losing your first love (oh, Marcus Flutie), and making mistakes as you figure out who you’re supposed to be.

Over the course of the series (thus far), Jessica has certainly become her own person. She’s not the annoying teen I clashed so strongly with in Sloppy Firsts. She’s grown up, and the mistakes she makes are no longer trivial or inconsequential.

I must also mention how I love that people appear and reappear throughout the course of this series. McCafferty reintroduces characters Jessica came into contact with in high school, but she does it in a fresh, realistic way that was so true-to-life and perfect.

Reader reviewed by lia

This book Jessica had finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for New Yorks Columbia University; shes more into Marcus Flutie than ever (so what if hes at a Buddhist college in California?); and shes making friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved Hope.
Charmed Thirds is different from the first 2 book in many ways but mainly the love/hate thing with Marcus got old on this book and the crazy things she did too.

Reader reviewed by Holly

In this installment, you still see the ups and downs of being Jessica Darling. What gets me, though is the the whole Jessica and Marcus relationship. Love, hate, love, hate. It's getting a little old. I found myself skimming to see what would happen. I wish they would either stay together or stay away from each other.

Reader reviewed by Natalie

The third book in the series takes place during Jessica's college years. Despite what others say about this book, I love it as much as the other ones. This book deals with more adult issues (considering the fact that Jessica is an adult now)while still being honestly straightforwad as the previous ones.

Jessica's first year in college went okay considering the fact that she has a long distance relationsip with Marcus Flutie. Soon, their relationsip hits rock bottom and Jessica is once again alone. She goes through other relationships at the same time dealing with paying for college herself.

I liked that Marcus and Jessica broke up for a while because when they finally got back together, its because they still love each other, thus making their relationship and love even stronger.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

CHARMED THIRDS, the third book in Megan McCaffertys bestselling series, introduces a more insightful and pensive, though not necessarily more likable, Jessica Darling. Diehard fans of the first two books will have trouble coming to terms with Jessicas growth, though personally I think its fantastic.

College is supposed to be better for Jessica Darling. After all, she has escaped Pineville to attend prestigious Columbia University in the greatest city in the world, and she is still with Marcus.

However, things are not as great as it seems. Jessica and Marcus relationship seems to hit the rocks. She still cant escape her high school joke of friends, even with new college friends. She has unsatisfying flings with several different guys. But worst of all, her parents wont help her pay for college.

How will Jessica even survive her college years, let alone come out a better person?

Reader reviewed by bria

If your hoping for a marucs flutie filled book, thats just to bad. No this book doesnt have as much romance in the jessica darling marcus flutie department intell the end, but marcus's weird ways will keep you guessing tell the end of the book. Even if this book isnt what jessica darling readers are looking for, its still a book that will make you want to be older and expereince everything that jessica does. Cant wait for number four. Go marcus and Jessica!!!

Reader reviewed by safia

Charmed Thirds is the third novel of the Jessica Darling series and I have hugely anticipated it. What's going to happen to Jessica when she goes to college? What's going to happen to her and Marcus?

Well, Jessica and Marcus's relationship is definitely hitting the rocks especially due to the fact that he's west coast (California) and she's east coast (New York). And there are just so many reasons and opportunities to go astray...it's only inevitable they will split up, if only temporarily.

Jessica's stay at Columbia is just as filled with angst as her trips back home to Pineville, during her school breaks. At Columbia, she has met potential friends (called Hope sit-ins), has to actually struggle with her school work (unlike in high school), and fills her diary with several hopeful crushes. Back at home, she has to deal with her family and trys to avoid bumping into her old high school friends.

This new journal of Jessica's is a bit different from her previous high school ones. It contains Jessica's old sense of humor and wit, in a new college-girl perspective. Some may say it's not as satisfying as Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings. I may just agree.