Sloppy Firsts (Jessica Darling #1)

I just finished Sloppy Firsts and all I can think is “helloooo! Since when is it okay for contemporary novels to end in a cliffhanger?! Not cool Miss McCafferty, not cool.” But of course, the sequel was published years ago (seriously, I can’t believe this one came out 12 years ago) so I don’t really have to wait that long to read it, but that doesn’t change the fact that I do not, actually, currently have it in my possession. And I’m dying here. Oh, wait, you actually wanted a review? Okay, I suppose.


Honestly, for a little over half of Sloppy Firsts I was afraid I was going to come out feeling look warm about it causing half the YA blogosphere to throw virtual rotten fruit and hit me on the head with giant virtual books. But I was wrong. Oh so happily, wonderfully wrong.

As a 19-almost-20-year-old (not that this makes me sage or worldly or anything) a lot of Jessica’s problems seemed pretty trivial and sometimes I found myself wanting to tell her to just suck it up. But another part of me was right there with her screaming the “parents suck and my friends don’t understand me” mantra loud and proud for everyone [in my head] to hear. Sure, I may not have been right there with her on everything she ever thought, but I could commiserate with a great deal.

And then there’s Marcus. Freaking. Flutie. Sure, I’ve heard all about this guy since starting my blog, but I’ve always thought to myself “he can’t be that great.” Once again, I’ve been proven oh so very wrong. He had me all in a tizzy sometimes with his tension building and ear whispering and overly enigma status. And I hear it gets better. I’m really not sure if I can handle better, though. In fact, I’m slightly afraid :P
The Nutshell: Sure, the pop-culture references and the slang are outdated, but Jessica’s teenage feelings aren’t. She’s having normal (for the most part) teenage problems that most girls out there can relate to which makes Sloppy Firsts stand the test of time. This is a book about dealing with your best friend moving away, boy problems (and lack thereof), not-so friendly friends, how relationships grow and change (from mother-daughter to best friend relationships), and so. Much. More. I could never possibly sum up how great this book is. Just please, please, give it a chance.

You know how there are some books and some characters you just fall in love with immediately? And you want to re-read those books and stay connected to those characters as long as possible?

That is me with Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series. I'm not sure what I want more: to be Jessica Darling's best friend or Megan McCafferty's best friend. I think I'll settle for Megan McCafferty, because she's, you know, real.

We start with Sloppy Firsts, the first of the five-book series.

We meet sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling, the younger daughter of two parents who seem to continually disappoint her and us. Her mother, the only real caricature in the book, is obsessed with planning the wedding of Jessica's older sister, Bethany, to a guy called G-Money. Jessica, meanwhile, is forced to navigate her junior year of high school without her best friend, Hope, who has moved from Pineville, New Jersey, with her parents shortly after the death of Hope's older brother. Jessica soon becomes acquainted with Marcus Flutie, a friend of Hope's brother, and engages in a push and pull attraction to him. She likes him, she doesn't like him. She wants him, she is appalled by him. Marcus, you see, is Bad News, or at least he appears to be. He might or might not have engaged in some chemical extracurricular activities with Hope's brother, which might or might not have played a part in the brother's death, which might or might not cause some awkwardness with Hope.

Told in a journal form, Sloppy Firsts takes us along for Jessica's voyage from "lost without my best friend" to "oh, wow, I might have friends after all." She desperately wants to maintain her 99.66 GPA, form a relationship with Paul Parlipiano, and reclaim her period, which has gone MIA. And she wants Hope back, because Hope, Jessica believes, is the only person who understands her.

Then there is Marcus Flutie.

Oh, people. I think we all probably knew a Marcus Flutie in our time, and here we are confronted with him again. Marcus, aka Krispy Kreme, is every parent's worst nightmare, which makes him catnip for high school girls. Jessica crosses paths with him in the school office, and the two begin a relationship of sorts. Jessica is drawn to Marcus, but she can't figure out why. She wants Paul Parlipiano; she has wanted Paul Parlipiano for years. So why does she want Marcus Flutie so much? Why does she agree to help him fake a drug test? It's one thing for him to be everything Jessica isn't, but it's another thing entirely for him to hold any fault whatsoever in Hope's brother's overdose.

"I was feeling so optimistic that I made a vow to myself then and there: I will be normal. I will accept that Hope is gone. I will not be afraid of being friends with Hy. I will face up to the fact that Paul Parlipiano will not devirginize me. I will stop thinking that Marcus Flutie is trying to corrupt me. I will be normal."

This book is so good. As a high school teacher, I can tell you that it is as realistic a depiction of high school life as you're going to find. Kids struggle to fit in, and Jessica sure does once Hope leaves. They also struggle with their virginity and what it means to be a virgin today. They want to be successful and go to their college of choice, and they want their parents to appreciate them. As much as Jessica's mother drives her nuts, she does want a relationship with her. Her father's affectionate nickname for her, "Notso" (as in "Not so Darling") is sweet and dorky, as most fathers are.

Jessica herself is as flawed as they come, which is why I love her so much. She makes mistakes. Oy, does she make mistakes. There are times you will want to read this as you would watch a horror movie: your hands over your eyes, peeking between your fingers. I actually found myself occasionally saying out loud, "Oh, girl, no." But that's what makes her so real. Unlike for many YA heroines, nothing comes easily for Jessica Darling. She continually has to learn from her mistakes, and she continually screws up. You will cheer her on and want her to figure things out. You will want her to be happy.

If you want to take a trip down memory lane and revisit the high school experience, please read Sloppy Firsts. It is, quite simply, one of the best books I've ever read.

Reader reviewed by Kelly

After Jessica's best friend Hope Weaver moves away with her family, Jessica really has no one to turn to anymore.
" My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Don't they realize that Hope's the only one who keeps me sane?...I don't see how things could get any worse."

She's forced to deal with boy troubles, her family, and school all by herself, until dun dun dun she meets Marcus Flutie. Marcus is the bad boy in school, and always gets into trouble. Jessica is captivated by him, and thus their relationship begins. I love Jessica's sarcastic attitude about every little thing even her dad who is an obsessive track enthusiast, and forces her to run early every morning. Her dad calls her most unfortunate track experience the Jessica "not so" darling series(which is an ironic pun from her name Jessica Darling), and she wants nothing but to run away from it all. This book is about how she gets through her first year alone, oh and she's a chronic insomniac who loves cap'n crunch. What's not to love!

Megan Mccafferty has always held a special place in my heart. I've always loved the Jessica Darling series, and consider it to be what got me back into reading. I think why I like her so much is because she is so involved with her audience. She tours everywhere, she's on facebook, and twitter of course, and she even has a blog of some of her old journal entries as a child. I really like that about Authors, as it makes it easier I'd like to talk to them, about their books, and get updates.

This books is so much more then the typical love story boy meets girl. Their are so many twists and turns, that make you want more. The best part is that after you read this one there are 4 more books to read in the series!! Highly recommended to anyone looking for a heart warming but most of all hilarious story.

Reader reviewed by Sara

deas expressed/message/plot: From cover: My parents suck ass. Banning me from the phone and restricting my computer privileges are the most tyrannical parental gestures I can think of. Dont they realize that Hopes the only one who keeps me sane? . . . I dont see how things could get any worse.
When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyperobservant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dads obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethanys lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?
A fresh, funny, utterly compelling fiction debut by first-time novelist Megan McCafferty, Sloppy Firsts is an insightful, true-to-life look at Jessicas predicament as she embarks on another year of teenage torment--from the dark days of Hopes 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. Like a John Hughes for the twenty-first century, Megan McCafferty taps into the inherent humor and drama of the teen experience. This poignant, hilarious novel is sure to appeal to readers who are still going through it, as well as those who are grateful that they dont have to go back and grow up all over again.

Favorite characters, quotes/lines: Jessica: she reminded me of myself in so many ways, except for the fact that she was much, much more entertaining!; Marcus: I loved the parts where he had little comments or interacted with Jess he seemed to be the only one who really riled her

When I finished this book I felt: I couldnt wait to start Second Helpings, the next Jessica Darling novel I really want to see what happens with Marcus and the other characters& this book was addicting!

Other books to read by this author: Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, Perfect Fifths

I would recommend this book to: all teenage girls and their moms although there is some mature content

Reader reviewed by Ann

Sloppy First was one of those books that I could not put down. I really liked this book because I could really relate to what Jessica Darling was feeling. And the little "thing" that Marcus and Jessica had, I absolutely LOVED that. I loved how they both knew that they had sparks flying whenever they were around each other but they simply left it to fall in place. The ending of this book was really good and Megan McCafferty has left me in such suspension that I think I am going to pass out. Sloppy First is a must-read!

Reader reviewed by lia

This books is very good. At first i dint want to read it but my friends liked it and inspired me to read it.
Its When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyper-observant 16-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated.
Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone.
So she is troubled because how she supposed to deal with the boy-and-shopping-crazy girls at school, her dads obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethanys lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?

This book will make you fall in love with it and want to read the series which is very, very cool.

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

When her best friend, Hope Weaver, moves away from Pineville, New Jersey, hyper observant sixteen-year-old Jessica Darling is devastated. A fish out of water at school and a stranger at home, Jessica feels more lost than ever now that the only person with whom she could really communicate has gone. How is she supposed to deal with the boy- and shopping-crazy girls at school, her dads obsession with her track meets, her mother salivating over big sister Bethanys lavish wedding, and her nonexistent love life?


This novel was a little crazed at some points. But it was a great novel. The plot was very original and fun. Jessica Darling is a comical and savvy character. There was less dialog then I expected and some of the characters were unreal-ish. There were a lot of different things going on in this story, like two different plots in one.


I read it seven years after it was published so it was pretty fun remembering all the music sensations and styles in that time.


This was really just a fun, quick read. I loved it and I cannot wait to get the rest of the series read!

Reader reviewed by Natalie

Jessica Darling shows us a year in the life of a nightmarish year in high school. Her best friend, Hope, has moved away, leaving Jessica to brave 10th grade with the rest of her friends, with whom she's not really that crazy about to begin with. Her ex-boyfriend, Scotty, still follows her around like a puppy dog, even though they dated three years ago and only for eleven days in the first place. She feels alnoe with no one to talk to. She has to deal with being a track star and class valedictorian along with a quirky family.
Just when she things can't get worse, the dreg of society, Marcus "Krispy Kreme" Flutie, has chosen Jessica to bear the brunt of his mental games. What does Marcus Flutie want? and will he be the first person Jessica can connect with?

Reader reviewed by Rin

Jessica Darling's life sucks.

She's stuck in boring old Pineville, her best friend has moved away and her family doesn't understand her at all. Her friends are all airheads with whom Jessica has nothing in common at all.

And to add it on, the notorious dreg, Marcus Flutie has singled out Jessica for his mind games.

This book is completely relatable, all teens will find something of themselves with Jess. Jessica is wise beyond her years and her deeply set cynicism is endearing.

All teenagers who've ever felt out of place, and those adults who recall their high school days with pain, should pick up this book and read it.

It's a book that you just might want to read over and over again.

Reader reviewed by Brynna

There is nothing sloppy about this novel, the first in a series of four (so far) by Megan McCafferty.

Sloppy Firsts introduces us to Jessica Darling, a 16 year old girl who has just suffered the loss of her best friend (Hope) to another state. Through her diary and a few letters to Hope, we are given a look into the life Jessica. I don't think there's one girl in the world who can't identify with her on some level or another.

Over the course of the year we watch as Jessica traverses a world without her best friend and we see her discover a new friendship with Marcus Flutie, the reformed school druggie turned genius.

I've never come across a character quite so defined as Jessica Darling. I feel like I know her better than any other work of fiction out there. While sometimes I might think she's crazy or deluded, I never lose faith. She's the girl we all want to be. Smart, witty, and talented, to name a few things. Then there's Marcus, the boy we all want to love.

Sloppy Firsts is a fantastic book and I would suggest it to any female, and even some males, over the age of 14.