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theoglibrarianmom's review
5.0
One of my favorite series. I'm now 31 years old but often return to re-read and learn more when I do from this series. So much love for Jessica Darling.
pageinthebook's review
5.0
You know why I give this five stars? Aside from Harry Potter, this is my most reread series. I love Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie. When I can’t sleep at night, I read about Jessica writing about not being able to sleep at night. Jessica keeps me company.
patsmiles17's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Lesbophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
thelibrarianmom's review
5.0
One of my favorite series. I'm now 31 years old but often return to re-read and learn more when I do from this series. So much love for Jessica Darling.
ciannareider's review
5.0
This whole series is outstanding! The ups and downs of their relationship, the letters, the notes. It's such a good developing story and all the books are wonderful! I wish it would've gone on forever!
tiffanyrbrewer's review
3.0
This is a difficult review, because I loved the first 3 books so much. Fourth Comings was awful, and Perfect Fifths was neccessary, but not amazing. In many ways, I wish the author had stopped after the third book. Either way, I loved following Jessica and Marcus from high school through adulthood.
shutupnread's review
5.0
Fourth Comings had absolutely no point whatsoever. The whole book was written in this notebook format for Marcus to read that allowed him to understand the reason why she either declined or accepted the marriage proposal. To me, it was pretty obvious what her decision would be but the whole book gave "reasons" why she chose the way she did.
The plot was so random. There were a ton of random parts put together and basically Jessica rambled on and on throughout the entire novel.
The characters, Jessica and Marcus, are intense as usual. Jessica still has her cynical side though not as prominent as it was during high school. I love how she takes control of their relationship...finally!
Marcus was always the cryptic one that left her guessing what he really wanted over and over again. So Jessica taking control is refreshing. Her relationship with her friends and family also developed into a more mature standing which allowed the readers to see how much she had grown physically, emotionally and mentally. Marcus was cryptic as usual. In this book, he even has a beard which is just awkward to no end. He's also a college freshman which left me wondering what exactly he's been doing for the last four years. I thought he went to a buddhist college? Doesn't that still count as college? So with Jessica done with school and now starting her career and with Marcus still in college, her decision for whatever route their relationship will take is extremely difficult.
The ending, though disappointing, was inevitable. If Megan had changed it, it would be totally weird and not realistic. So I thought the ending had its good and bad points.
Overall, I thought Fourth Comings was lacking but it's a good "in-between" for the last and final book, Perfect Fifths.
The plot was so random. There were a ton of random parts put together and basically Jessica rambled on and on throughout the entire novel.
The characters, Jessica and Marcus, are intense as usual. Jessica still has her cynical side though not as prominent as it was during high school. I love how she takes control of their relationship...finally!
Marcus was always the cryptic one that left her guessing what he really wanted over and over again. So Jessica taking control is refreshing. Her relationship with her friends and family also developed into a more mature standing which allowed the readers to see how much she had grown physically, emotionally and mentally. Marcus was cryptic as usual. In this book, he even has a beard which is just awkward to no end. He's also a college freshman which left me wondering what exactly he's been doing for the last four years. I thought he went to a buddhist college? Doesn't that still count as college? So with Jessica done with school and now starting her career and with Marcus still in college, her decision for whatever route their relationship will take is extremely difficult.
The ending, though disappointing, was inevitable. If Megan had changed it, it would be totally weird and not realistic. So I thought the ending had its good and bad points.
Overall, I thought Fourth Comings was lacking but it's a good "in-between" for the last and final book, Perfect Fifths.
kellyhager's review
5.0
I first read this book when I was in college. I immediately fell in love with Jessica Darling (so much so that I bought each sequel on their respective release dates and read them immediately and I've even read the MG prequel and am excited to read that book's sequel as soon as I can).
But let's start discussing Sloppy Firsts, shall we? This is the book that introduces us to Jessica Darling, her parents and sister (wedding obsessed like the family in Sixteen Candles, one of Jessica's beloved "new classics"), her best friend Hope, her current "friends," who she has dubbed the "Clueless Crew" and possibly best of all Marcus Flutie.
This book is technically marketed as adult fiction, probably because when it was released, there really wasn't a thriving YA market like there is today. (Which is just as well; when it was released, I wouldn't have read it if it were marketed as YA.)
I feel like there are two things people discuss with this book. The first, of course, is Jessica and Marcus Flutie. (Oh God, it's highly possible that this is my literal favorite fictional relationship ever---more than Anna and Etienne, more than anything from Sarah Dessen, more than anything).
But the second---and this is even better than Jess and Marcus---is Jessica herself. She's got this very unique, very funny, VERY sarcastic voice. (Probably her closest comparison is to Olive from the movie Easy A and maybe a dash of Veronica from Heathers, but with a healthier love life.)
Bottom line, though---this book is perfect. If you've ever felt like you're in the wrong place or the wrong era, this book is for you. If you've ever felt even remotely like an outsider or misunderstood, this book is for you. (So basically if you've ever been a teenage girl---or are one now---this book is for you.)
Highly, highly, highly recommended.
But let's start discussing Sloppy Firsts, shall we? This is the book that introduces us to Jessica Darling, her parents and sister (wedding obsessed like the family in Sixteen Candles, one of Jessica's beloved "new classics"), her best friend Hope, her current "friends," who she has dubbed the "Clueless Crew" and possibly best of all Marcus Flutie.
This book is technically marketed as adult fiction, probably because when it was released, there really wasn't a thriving YA market like there is today. (Which is just as well; when it was released, I wouldn't have read it if it were marketed as YA.)
I feel like there are two things people discuss with this book. The first, of course, is Jessica and Marcus Flutie. (Oh God, it's highly possible that this is my literal favorite fictional relationship ever---more than Anna and Etienne, more than anything from Sarah Dessen, more than anything).
But the second---and this is even better than Jess and Marcus---is Jessica herself. She's got this very unique, very funny, VERY sarcastic voice. (Probably her closest comparison is to Olive from the movie Easy A and maybe a dash of Veronica from Heathers, but with a healthier love life.)
Bottom line, though---this book is perfect. If you've ever felt like you're in the wrong place or the wrong era, this book is for you. If you've ever felt even remotely like an outsider or misunderstood, this book is for you. (So basically if you've ever been a teenage girl---or are one now---this book is for you.)
Highly, highly, highly recommended.
bookappetit's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this. The protagonist was incredibly refreshing; witty, sarcastic & honest. Will definitely be giving the second book a go.