Review of Perfect Fifths

Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Crown (April 14, 2009)

Hardcover: 272 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult/Adult

"Captivated readers have followed Jessica through every step and misstep: from her life as a tormented, tart-tongued teenager to her years as a college grad stumbling toward adulthood. Now a young professional in her mid-twenties, Jess is off to a Caribbean wedding. As she rushes to her gate at the airport, she literally runs into her former boyfriend, Marcus Flutie. It’s the first time she's seen him since she reluctantly turned down his marriage proposal three years earlier–and emotions run high. Marcus and Jessica have both changed dramatically, yet their connection feels as familiar as ever. Is their reunion just a fluke or has fate orchestrated this collision of their lives once again? Told partly from Marcus’s point of view, Perfect Fifths finally lets readers inside the mind of the one person who’s both troubled and titillated Jessica Darling for years. Expect nothing less than the satisfying conclusion fans have been waiting for, one perfect in its imperfection. . . ."

Review: I was quite anxious to read Perfect Fifths, mostly because I needed to find out how the series was going to end.

Perfect Fifths is written in a different style than the other books in the series. The story takes place within 2 days and yet this book is able to bring back a lot of the past characters, which is completely awesome. Half the book is in Marcus' POV and it was great to finally get the chance to read what went on inside his head.

Jessica and Marcus literally run into each other at the Newark Airport after not having seen each other in 3 years. From that point on, the book is spent pretty much on them catching up. I found myself actually enjoying the dialogue. They talked and talked and some parts, I didn't even understand what they were talking about! Still, I found all of it interesting. I liked what Jessica was doing for a living, I thought it was perfect for her.

Parts of the book were really funny. Like, every scene where there was some sort of Barry Manilow reference or song, I laughed. Jessica's ramblings to herself were humorous as well.

I was a bit disappointed with how it ended. There were a lot of questions left unanswered and I wasn't sure exactly where Marcus and Jessica stood. However, the ending was nothing bad. If you've read the previous 4 books, be sure to read this last one!

Other things I liked about the series as a whole (since I probably won't review the first 2 books):

• I REALLY loved the fact that Jessica was a cross-country/track runner during high school. I pretty much am obsessed with XC and I loved reading about a character who has the same interests as me. Well, actually, Jessica wasn't a fan of running, as it was her father who pushed her into it....but oh well.
• I liked how she's always been a writer/journalist. I think that's pretty rad. That's another one of my interests.
• There were a lot of good quotes in this series. I liked the You. Yes. You and all of that.
• I liked how all the titles of the books were explained. Especially, Sloppy Firsts and Fourth Comings.
• I liked how Jessica's best friend, Hope, remained throughout the series. I was actually kind of surprised, because after she moved in the first book, I just figured they would only just email each other and see each other occasionally. I'm glad they actually remained close.

Review of Charmed Thirds and Fourth Comings.

Rating:

Characters: 8/10pts

Originality: 7/10pts

Ending: 7/10pts

Writing: 9/10pts

Voice: 8/10pts

Plot: 7/10pts

Favorite characters: Marcus. I'm so glad that in this book we got to hear what he was thinking. I enjoy his personality.

Cover: C. Not really a fan, but it's not too bad.

Overall: I think that fans of the series will enjoy this book. It wasn't the best in the series, but it's enjoyable. Can not wait for whatever Megan McCafferty has in store for us next!

Fourth Comings Review

Fourth Comings by Megan McCafferty Publisher: Crown (August 7, 2007)

Hardcover: 320 pages

Reading Level: Young Adult

"Jessica Darling, last seen in Charmed Thirds (2006), is finally a college graduate, but other than her brand-new degree, nothing has changed. She still overanalyzes everything, including her relationship with Marcus Flutie, her on-and-off-again love, who has finally settled down and is about to start school at Princeton. Jessica is just about to end their relationship when Marcus shocks her with a marriage proposal. Most of the novel covers Jessica's musings during the week she takes to decide whether or not to say yes. Like any recent graduate, she is struggling to make the rent, find a job that will pay the bills, and, basically, grow up. Charming and fitting as it was in McCafferty's earlier tales, when Jessica was in school, her protagonist's ponderous examination of her life, friendships, and relationship with Marcus is a bit tiresome this time around. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing Jessica and her friends coping with the real world, but here's hoping that if there is a fifth installment, Jessica will have matured. (Huntley, Kristine-Booklist)"

Review: 


After reading the last installment in the series, I was a bit worried that this one would be like it as well -not as good as the first two. However, this one was better than the third book.

Like the past three books in the series it was written in journal/notebook entries in the course of months. This time, however, she is writing in the journals to give to Marcus about her decision on his marriage proposal. It is crazy how that she writes all of stuff within two weeks. I'll admit, half the time I felt like some of the stuff was....receptive or just a lot of ramblings.

I did like seeing how her best friend, Hope, was her roommate in the Brooklyn apartment they lived in. Along with Manda and a character named Shea. There were some funny scenes in this book, some that even had me laughing out loud. I liked that Marcus had gotten accepted into Princeton University and I did enjoy the scenes with him and his roommate Natty.

Megan McCafferty still incorporated some emails, which I love. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the last page of the book. It's an email from Marcus and I love what he has to say to her. I don't want to give anything away, but I don't know, I thought it was a bittersweet moment.

*I have to say that this book and the third book in the series are for a more mature young adult audience, if not adult. There is a lot of cussing and sexual situations....

Review of Charmed Thirds

Rating:

Characters: 7/10pts

Originality: 7/10pts

Ending: 10/10pts

Writing: 9/10pts

Voice: 8/10pts

Plot: 7/10pts

Favorite characters: Marin, Jessica's young niece. I love her questions and answers, I liked the parts that had her in them. And as the story has progressed, I am really liking Bethany's character.

Cover: B. It's alright. The colors a pretty.

Overall: I thought it was good. Not the best in the series, but okay. 3.5 Stars

"Charmed Thirds" Review

Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty

Publisher: Crown (April 11, 2006)

Hardcover, 368 pages

Reading Level: YA

Jessica Darling’s in college! Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Columbia University in New York City; she’s more into her boyfriend, Marcus Flutie, than ever (so what if he’s at a Buddhist college in California?); and she’s making new friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved best friend, Hope. But Jessica soon realizes that her bliss might not last. She lands an internship at a snarky Brooklyn-based magazine, but will she fit in with the überhip staff (and will she even want to)? As she and Marcus hit the rocks, will she end up falling for her GOPunk, neoconservative RA . . . or the hot (and married!) Spanish grad student she’s assisting on a summer project . . . or the oh-so-sensitive emo boy down the hall? Will she even make it through college now that her parents have cut her off financially? And what do the cryptic one-word postcards from Marcus really mean? With hilarious insight, the hyperobservant Jessica Darling struggles through her college years—and the summers in between—while maintaining her usual mix of wit, cynicism, and candor. 

I recently started reading the Jessica Darling series. I loved the first 2 books, Sloppy First and Second Helpings! I was really excited to start reading this book. The first part of the book was okay, but I didn't really like the rest of it.
Now, I know that the Jessica is in college, but it was just: sex, sex, and more SEX! I mean, I guess I'm still looking for those bashful guys in the stories and awkward girls, and the first kiss is always hesitant and sweet. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with sex in YA, it was just unexpected.
One part of the book, I really loved however, was when Marcus sends Jessica a couple of through a course of a couple of years, while he is away in California at a 'college' and is going through some sort of phase. On these postcards are just one word and I really like what it spells out in the end.
And all though, I think this will probably be my least favorite book of the series, it was still an okay read! I look forward to reading the other two.
Writing: 7/10
Voice: 5/10
Plot: 7/10
Originality: 7/10
Ending: 8/10

Overall: I give this book ★★★ stars
Will have the 4th and 5th book reviews up in the next couple of weeks!
Edit: Review of Fourth Comings.