Jessica Darling’s in college!
Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Col... read full description
Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Col... read full description
reviews
Sep 25, 2007
Jackie "the Librarian"
rated it: 
This book disappointed me. I had a hard time sympathizing with Jessica this time. Maybe now that she's in college, among her intellectual peers, complaints about how she's surrounded by morons just don't ring true.
Not that we saw much of her in class, or in college. All four years were crammed into this one book. I was looking forward to Jessica's wry observations about her fellow students and classes at Columbia University. How would it feel to no longer be the smartest person around, More...
Not that we saw much of her in class, or in college. All four years were crammed into this one book. I was looking forward to Jessica's wry observations about her fellow students and classes at Columbia University. How would it feel to no longer be the smartest person around, More...
Apr 11, 2011
Polina
rated it: 
I normally don’t write reviews but I just felt that I had to explain my huge disappointment with this book.
First, I have to say that I LOVED Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings. Perhaps that’s partly why I found the third installment in the series so disappointing. But there is more to it, I assure you! Indeed, when I began reading Charmed Thirds I had huge expectations but I as went through the first 50 pages I resigned myself to the fact that this wouldn’t be a 5-star book for me. Bu More...
First, I have to say that I LOVED Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings. Perhaps that’s partly why I found the third installment in the series so disappointing. But there is more to it, I assure you! Indeed, when I began reading Charmed Thirds I had huge expectations but I as went through the first 50 pages I resigned myself to the fact that this wouldn’t be a 5-star book for me. Bu More...
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Dec 16, 2007
Anna
rated it:
Maybe it's just me but after Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings I was pretty disappointed by this book.
The third in the Jessica Darling series, Charmed Thirds reads less smoothly (it took me a while to get used to the overly detailed -- and annoyingly wordy -- descriptions of everything) and is far less interesting than the previous books. I think the problem lies int he fact that Jessica is just much less likable for most of this book and the decisions she makes (about her college c More...
The third in the Jessica Darling series, Charmed Thirds reads less smoothly (it took me a while to get used to the overly detailed -- and annoyingly wordy -- descriptions of everything) and is far less interesting than the previous books. I think the problem lies int he fact that Jessica is just much less likable for most of this book and the decisions she makes (about her college c More...
Dec 17, 2009
Jennie
rated it: 
Our Not-so Darling Jessica is off to college. There's lots of touching stuff with her sister and her parents and Marcus and blah blah and if you liked the others, you'll like this one.
But what I really liked about this one is that it gave a really accurate picture of college life. There are a bunch of pissy reviews on Amazon of people who are obviously not in college about how Jessica changed to much and what happened and why didn't she stay in touch with blah blah blah... but that's More...
But what I really liked about this one is that it gave a really accurate picture of college life. There are a bunch of pissy reviews on Amazon of people who are obviously not in college about how Jessica changed to much and what happened and why didn't she stay in touch with blah blah blah... but that's More...
Jan 03, 2011
Heather
rated it: 
Oh how I laughed and laughed, cringed in shared mortification, laughed, despaired over mutual heartbreak, laughed, became over-wrought with neurosis, laughed, cringed, sympathized and laughed.
Jessica Darling says what most of us are shamed to think. She isn’t noble, far from it, but she’s deliciously flawed in a true, human way. We all say the wrong thing at inopportune times. Many of us, myself included don’t know when to shut up or back down. We may even jump in the sack with a sub More...
Jessica Darling says what most of us are shamed to think. She isn’t noble, far from it, but she’s deliciously flawed in a true, human way. We all say the wrong thing at inopportune times. Many of us, myself included don’t know when to shut up or back down. We may even jump in the sack with a sub More...
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Jan 28, 2009
Rachel
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Feb 02, 2012
After reading the synopses of Charmed Thirds, Fourth Comings, and Perfect Fifths, especially the line, which revealed <spoiler>that Jessica turned down Marcus' wedding proposal</spoiler>, I don't think I want to read this right now. Although the ending of Second Helpings is unsatisfying, I don't want to mess up the Flutie-Darling thing in my head - hearts-, balloons-, and candy-filled thoughts - by reading about <spoiler>their relationship's demise because I know it's going to
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Dec 13, 2011
Lauren
rated it:
This book covers Jessica Darling's college years and she narrates her (mis)adventures in the same caustically funny voice. McCafferty continues to use the concept of a journal and letters to tell Jessica's story and while I found that it is very true to life that months can sometimes go by without any journal writing, sometimes that left the reader out of the loop. Jessica tends to withdraw from people who are important in her life when she's processing big events, but she also sometimes withdra
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Jun 26, 2011
Deena
rated it:
I'm liking this series, but not for the usual reason of Marcus Flutie. Honestly, he ticks me off. But I completely empathize with Jessica on so many things. I swear, I've had the same thoughts and feelings about the same topics! I'm nowhere near as Ivy-smart as she is, but I have been there when it comes to trying to relate to your parents when you have nothing intellectually in common. And the job prospect angst--oh yeah, every time DH's job moves us around. There was one spot where she t
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Jun 22, 2011
Sam
rated it: 
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Feb 22, 2011
A.
rated it:
This is the third book in Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series. In terms of character development, Jessica is incredibly realistic. Jessica seems to go out of character, but in terms of how a young college aged woman would act, it's totally believable.
The book starts at the end of Jessica's first year at Columbia and chronicles the decline of her relationship with Marcus Flutie, her high school sweetheart. Jessica passes through relationships with other guys, ultimately being More...
The book starts at the end of Jessica's first year at Columbia and chronicles the decline of her relationship with Marcus Flutie, her high school sweetheart. Jessica passes through relationships with other guys, ultimately being More...
Jan 19, 2011
1-19-11
So I started this book a little less than a week ago, and i'm already almost done with it. During class, i can read almost 50 pages if i'm not distracted. This serious is something I'm totally into. I like the plot of the books, and the events that happen in between other major events. The suspense is what keeps me reading. The things that Marcus, Jessica's boyfriend/ex boyfriend/whatever you want to call him, I like the way he expresses himself to her, the way he talks and gi More...
So I started this book a little less than a week ago, and i'm already almost done with it. During class, i can read almost 50 pages if i'm not distracted. This serious is something I'm totally into. I like the plot of the books, and the events that happen in between other major events. The suspense is what keeps me reading. The things that Marcus, Jessica's boyfriend/ex boyfriend/whatever you want to call him, I like the way he expresses himself to her, the way he talks and gi More...
Dec 21, 2010
Michelle
rated it:
Finally free of dull Pineville, Jessica makes her way to prestigious Columbia University full of wide-eyed enthusiasm. Well as much enthusiasm Jessica is capable of when her boyfriend Marcus is also heading off to college, just all the way across the country in California. And once again, Jessica, who over-thinks everything, begins to over-think their odd relationship. Especially after Marcus begins sending cryptic one-word postcards does she feel like losing her sanity. But financial and family
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Oct 09, 2010
Jessica
rated it:
Charmed Thirds by Megan McCafferty is the third book in the wonderful Jessica Darling series. Book three opens the summer after Jessica’s freshman year at Columbia University.
We’re introduced to a whole new cast of characters since Jessica has a new group of college friends who are just as quirky as her. Jessica is still with Marcus, though she does not get to see him as much as she would like because he lives in California.
Jessica lands at an internship at a hip NY magaz More...
We’re introduced to a whole new cast of characters since Jessica has a new group of college friends who are just as quirky as her. Jessica is still with Marcus, though she does not get to see him as much as she would like because he lives in California.
Jessica lands at an internship at a hip NY magaz More...
Jun 07, 2010
Barky
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Apr 23, 2010
Lauren
rated it:
i loved sloppy firsts and second helpings. charmed thirds? notso.
mccafferty apparently has never met a plot device she didn't like. siigghh.
in the first two installments, jessica's life is metered out slowly in months, each month's end marked by a letter to hope. as in life, time flies in college and here the format alters, marking more the periods in between learning. poor hope gets ignored for huge chunks of time and the letters now are more based between marcus and j More...
mccafferty apparently has never met a plot device she didn't like. siigghh.
in the first two installments, jessica's life is metered out slowly in months, each month's end marked by a letter to hope. as in life, time flies in college and here the format alters, marking more the periods in between learning. poor hope gets ignored for huge chunks of time and the letters now are more based between marcus and j More...
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Apr 03, 2010
Anna
rated it:
*sigh*
I loved Sloppy Firsts. I loved Second Helpings even more. And I didn't like Charmed Thirds at all.
There were some good points--like the very, very beginning and the very, very end--but the entire middle was so boring. And Jessica, the main character who I loved so much, became annoying and made a bunch of incredibly stupid decisions. GAH. I skimmed like crazy through this, because I just didn't feel like reading pages of boring, inane nonsense. What happened to thi More...
I loved Sloppy Firsts. I loved Second Helpings even more. And I didn't like Charmed Thirds at all.
There were some good points--like the very, very beginning and the very, very end--but the entire middle was so boring. And Jessica, the main character who I loved so much, became annoying and made a bunch of incredibly stupid decisions. GAH. I skimmed like crazy through this, because I just didn't feel like reading pages of boring, inane nonsense. What happened to thi More...
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Nov 28, 2009
Julie
rated it:
This book was a bit of a disappointment after FIRSTS and SECONDS. Like a lot of other reviewers, I hated how all four years of college were crammed into one book. Not only were those years not fleshed out, we didn't even get a glimpse into those years. We're led to believe that Jessica Darling is only journaling on her school breaks? Because of this, most of her writing focuses on the people we knew in the first two books...Bridget, the Clueless Two, Len and of course Marcus. This feels like JD
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Jul 27, 2009
Laura
rated it:
The third book of the “Jessica Darling” series, Charmed Thirds takes off where Second Helpings left off–the likable, yet perpetually angsty and troubled, Jessica Darling is now attending college at Columbia University in New York City. She’s got her loving, long-distance relationship with high school boyfriend Marcus Flutie, a dream internship at an ironically hip magazine, and, of course, enough wit and sarcasm to make this book as fulfilling a read as the previous two.
Charmed Thir More...
Charmed Thir More...
Jan 12, 2012
Emma
rated it:
I absolutely ADORED the first two novels in this series. In the previous two novels I could really relate to Jessica but I lost all of that in “Charmed Thirds.” I really thought the voice changed tremendously between the second and third book and I know some would explain that as part of growing up. However, there was more to it than Jessica simply growing up. It just seemed to me that she really could not have grown so much when nothing happened plot-wise. She just went around in circles while
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Feb 23, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Blah, I hate to admit I read this book because it was trashy, and I almost made the decision not to even finish it. But the series, like this stupid book, pulled me in and now I feel compelled to read the rest of it, like with the Twilight ones. (How can this be more embarrassing than that??)
Really though, in the first book, I saw McCafferty as clever and entertaining, in the second one, it was waning, and the third was just ridiculous. I would give it one star because she was trying More...
Really though, in the first book, I saw McCafferty as clever and entertaining, in the second one, it was waning, and the third was just ridiculous. I would give it one star because she was trying More...
Dec 17, 2009
Jessica
rated it:
I loved Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, there were laugh out loud funny and all around great books. But unfortunately this one left a lot to be desired. It wasn't the worst book I have ever read but it wasn't the best. I think Megan McCafferty is an excellent writer and story-teller but this book was hard to get into and even harder to stay interested in. I did enjoy parts of the story but had to give it only 2 stars because this installment paled in comparison to the first 2.
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Jan 05, 2012
Pixie
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Jan 04, 2012
Beeks
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Jun 12, 2010
Janean
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May 01, 2009
Liz
rated it:
I am still a devoted fan of Jessica and Marcus, but this book was a bit of a let down. Charmed Thirds follows Jessica's entire collegiate experience. She has matured, but she isn't quite as likable and witty in this book as she was in both Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings.
I also feel as though many of the secondary characters in this book weren't as developed as those in the first two novels of this series. Many people come in and out of Jessica's life, but I didn't feel any so More...
I also feel as though many of the secondary characters in this book weren't as developed as those in the first two novels of this series. Many people come in and out of Jessica's life, but I didn't feel any so More...
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May 17, 2010
Bianca
rated it:
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.
One part o More...
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.
One part o More...
Dec 31, 2011
Leah
rated it:
While I still love Jessica Darling's voice, I connected with her less in this book than in the previous two. When she was in high school, my feelings and experiences mirrored hers very closely. In college, not so much. I was hoping to see her awaken more than she did - both through the people she met and through her classes. I thought she'd be more intellectually thirsty than she ended up being. Instead she still seemed caught in high school, both through Marcus and through a plot device that co
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May 28, 2009
laaaaames
rated it:
Sigh. Page 30:
"Women will always choose the man over the best friend."
WHY DO THESE BOOKS RESORT TO SHIT LIKE THIS? They are truly, er, charming otherwise.
Anyway, it's more of the same. And, god, do I mean that. Somehow Jessica goes to college and yet I am still stuck hearing about Manda and Sara and Len and Scotty and STFU I am so sick of these people. Thank god for Bridget and Percy. At least it makes sense they're still around.
It must b More...
"Women will always choose the man over the best friend."
WHY DO THESE BOOKS RESORT TO SHIT LIKE THIS? They are truly, er, charming otherwise.
Anyway, it's more of the same. And, god, do I mean that. Somehow Jessica goes to college and yet I am still stuck hearing about Manda and Sara and Len and Scotty and STFU I am so sick of these people. Thank god for Bridget and Percy. At least it makes sense they're still around.
It must b More...
Aug 20, 2010
Jillian
rated it:
Dear Jessica,
You know what your problem is? You are ungrateful and selfish. You mock people, they way they live, and the decisions they make...and then you hypocritically do. the. same. things. For instance, how many times did you mock Manda for her promiscuous behavior? Do you think your behavior is any better? And I love how you try to justify your ways. Unfortunately, I'm not buying it. You're a spoiled brat without a clue. I feel no sympathy for you. I feel no pity for you. I tho More...
You know what your problem is? You are ungrateful and selfish. You mock people, they way they live, and the decisions they make...and then you hypocritically do. the. same. things. For instance, how many times did you mock Manda for her promiscuous behavior? Do you think your behavior is any better? And I love how you try to justify your ways. Unfortunately, I'm not buying it. You're a spoiled brat without a clue. I feel no sympathy for you. I feel no pity for you. I tho More...
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