Jessica's back and it's senior year!! You know what that means... College choice time!!! After visiting NYC she has this giant epiphany, realizing Columbia is the place for her... and then 9/11 happens and it's back to the drawing board.
School starts and she actually may have a crush on someone (other than Marcus!). It's newly zit-free Len. Same old Len, but new face! Could Jessica actually get her first boyfriend since Scotty????

What I LOVED:
Grandma Gladdie was awesome in this book!!! She had cute nicknames (JD and Tutti Flutti)... she had a new man (Moe). She was just the cutest grandma ever!
Jessica finally realized that Bridget is good enough for her... it's about time she got off her high horse!
Jessica actually got out and socialized more often in this book!!

What was kind of annoying:
She was SO full of herself... in the brainiac sense. I know that she's "gifted" or whatever you want to call it, but she needs to get over it. Just because you may do better on the SAT's than someone doesnt mean they are beneath you! So SNOBBY!
She was sex-obsessed!! Hard Core. I seriously thought she was going to sleep with the first guy to give her an opportunity (oops she kind of did).
She should've just got with 'Tutti Flutti' after the damn funeral... how much more did she want? oh yeah she wanted a you. yes. you.



http://pinkpolkadotbookblog.blogspot.com/ ( )

In the equally charming sequel to Sloppy Firsts, Jessica Darling is back and chattier than ever. Second Helpings follows Jess as she goes through the dramas of summer camp, senior year, and the looming terrors of college. Jess seems to undergo any and all trials that a senior in high school wants to avoid (class superlatives, team sports, an overbearing mother) as well as pressure from her parents about college.

For a work originally published in the early 2000s, this book stands the test of time. Almost 20 years later, and Jess's struggles (while perhaps a tad more dramatic than real life) are ones that stand the test of time. It was super interesting to see how McCafferty covered the topic of 9/11, especially as Second Helpings was originally published soon after the event. McCafferty notes that she wanted to release the Jessica Darling series that a new generation can relate to, and I, for one, think she did a great job of doing so. The audiobook version of this book is performed super accurately, with the narrator possessing the voice I could imagine Jess having. Overall, this book encapsulates the teenage experience well and made me feel like I was back in high school (without that crazy pressure that accompanies being in high school). This book is perfect for fans of the content and nostalgia of the Alice series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and the nostalgia and drama of the Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal.

Overall rating: 3.5/5 (rounded to 4)

Second Helpings is available for purchase now. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads shelf. Also, be sure to check out Megan McCafferty’s website!
I was lucky enough to be able to listen to this Advanced Reader's Copy through my partnership with NetGalley. All opinions are my own. ( )

"...all I can say it I LOVED IT/THEM!!!!!!!"

Read my full review for the Jessica Darling Series here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2009/10/book-report-jessica-darling-s... ( )

First read in 2004 ( )

How can you not love reading the hidden thoughts of another person? I must be extremely nosy because the thought of reading someone else’s journal just makes me excited beyond words. I guess what makes this so appealing is just the chance that perhaps there is someone else out there who can relate to you. At times Jessica Darling is that person for me. I understand her difficulty finding her place and I can remember so well her college dilemma. I first read this novel when I was a tad younger than Jessica and at that time I loved the story because it seemed so scandalous and exciting to me. Reading it now I still find it slightly scandalous however, I see a different side to Jessica. I guess the reason why is because now I have been through these types of situations myself.

I kind of feel like this is the “Alice” series for the girls who have grown out of Alice. Reading the pages makes you feel as if you have just discovered a new friend and you can’t help but want travel along with her as she makes her place in the world. Since it is in journal format there is a bias to everything and not every character is incredibly developed, but for me that is okay. The story isn’t really about everyone else anyway. My only issue with Jessica is that she seems so wishy-washy in her morals. As someone who is very opinionated and very decided with where I stand, I sometimes find that quality slightly obnoxious. However, she is still very young so I’m sure that plays a large role.

Overall, I thought this book was a great read and now I’m off to read “Charming Thirds.”
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