Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes

Reader reviewed by allire

This book is part of a series, involving four girls named TJ, Izzie, Lucy and Nesta. It's similar to The Sisterhood of The Traveling pants, in the way that each book is narrated by a different girl. In this book, Izzie is the narrator/main character. Izzie makes lots of bad choices after meeting this boy named Josh. She smokes, drinks, sneaks out and does other various 'looked down upon' activities. Soon, her friends get tired of Izzie's new attitude and behavior and they start to avoid her, and try to stay away.


This was the first book that I read out of the series, and I liked it. I liked how everything Izzie went through, other teenagers go through too. From the drinking, sneaking out, and from even having our mothers reading our journals. I think that it can teach the reader a good life lesson, that sometimes we get so caught up in something, that we tend to ignore the rest. And how we should be careful of what we're doing, because it could turn out to be destructive behavior.

Reader reviewed by K. Hager

I absolutely love the books in this series. The characters are realistic and the plots are never forced with the author trying to hard. In this book, Izzie is tryingto act more grownup and rebellious and she's piercing her navel and drinking a lot. The way this unfolds is realistic and not one of those books where the character goes out of their norm and completely loses control. Izzie justifies what she's doing and you understand why she doesn't see a problem or why she starts drinking in the first place.

In the end, it's resolved without Hopkins preaching at the reader. The character realizes what she's done isn't right, but it's done in a realisitc way and not in an overly dramatic, phony moralistic way. An excellent book.

Reader reviewed by Shabnam Gould

The story line of this teenage fantasy book is a bit weird. its meant to be about girls going through adolesence and having crushes on boys etc. but i found it a bit excessive. It was too silly to make any sense really, and it was all too fake for my liking. Thats why i gave it 3 outnof 5.

Reader reviewed by Dylana

I have enjoyed every book in this series that I have read so far. They may seem like you average British teen books, but they are fun and are filled with friendship and humor. It was quick read and very relaxing.
This book was about Izzie, a 14 year old vegetarian qith a very strict mother. She wants to change and be seen as more grown up. So she tries to take more chances, like getting her tummy pierced. Then she starts to go around with this biker boy she meets. She tries drinking and smoking. These things get her in trouble, but she's determined to show that she's not a baby anymore. Her firends are wary about her now and her mom becomes even more protective.
Izzie learns from her friends and family that she is the only one with the right to make her own decisions and not to do things just to be cool in front of others. This book teaches a good lesson and its very fun to read. Many teen girls will love these books. Especially recommended for those who love the Princess Diaries and books like Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging. Read this book and definitely check out the rest of the series!