Like any self-respecting girl her age, Jess wants to be devastatingly gorgeous, popular, and intelligent. But unfortunately, her best friend, Flora...
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reviews
Jun 30, 2011
Talyn
rated it: 
I'm not one for British literature, simply because I have a stigma against the stereotypical dry, oh so dry--oh God I'm gonna die from dehydration--humor. And usually, British people stay true to that stereotype and write in a way that I need to pause to breathe in some air from the mustiness of their prose.
Prejudices aside, I was actually surprised by this book. My classmate had to read it for a literature assignment with her group, and while I was supposed to be focusing on singing More...
Prejudices aside, I was actually surprised by this book. My classmate had to read it for a literature assignment with her group, and while I was supposed to be focusing on singing More...
Jul 25, 2010
Barky
rated it: 
Jess Jordan is a fifteen year old comedic genius. Unfortunately, her rapier wit is often eclipsed by her best friend Flora, who is gorgeous, brilliant, popular, and an expert in making Jess completely crazy. Jess finds refuge from the pains of her adolescence with her friend, Fred, but she’s dying (absolutely dying) to go out with the fantastically handsome Ben Jones. When Flora starts dating Ben’s best friend Mackenzie, Jess has an opportunity to hang out with Ben. He’s…a lot different than
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Feb 13, 2009
Theresa
rated it:
This one gets two thumbs up for the narrator who does a brilliant job. I thoroughly enjoyed this much more listening to it than I would have just reading it as it is British and the narrator (also British) makes it a really fun read.
Instead of describing the plot, I will just say that there were some very funny moments in this book, like: Jess, the 15 year old narrator, naming her breasts Bonnie and Clyde and using minestrone soup poured into bags as inserts in her bra to add more c More...
Instead of describing the plot, I will just say that there were some very funny moments in this book, like: Jess, the 15 year old narrator, naming her breasts Bonnie and Clyde and using minestrone soup poured into bags as inserts in her bra to add more c More...
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Oct 21, 2011
Mary
rated it:
Jess Jordan has a crazy wild imagination that amplifies ordinary situations into hilarious comedies. She's obsessed with the size of her rear end (massive) and her chest (minuscule) and loves her best friend Flora dearly--except that Flora's so beautiful Jess is sure she looks like a baboon in comparison. She rarely sees her father, but he sends her made-up horoscope text messages every day. Her mother works as a librarian by day and an activist the rest of the time, so she doesn't even notice
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Jan 02, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
Jess Jordan is a typical teenage girl who worries about looks and boys. All she wants to do is to get the guy of her dreams which just so happens to be Ben Johnson. she struggles with paying attention in class and getting good grades. Her mum is a librarian with a passion for causes, and her dad is an artist who lives 200 miles way in St. Ives, and he connects with her through text messages of daily horror scopes. Her best friend Flora is a beautiful rich girl who gets what she wants, Jess is al
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Aug 13, 2009
Joe
rated it:
Girl, 15, Charming but Insane follows the adventures of Jess Johnson, the self-described charming-but-insane 15 year old girl of the title. Jess is funny, intelligent beyond her years, and plagued by the same adolescent insecurities that affect us all at that age. Jess's best friend Flora is studious, blond and popular, and just happens to be dating the best friend of Jess's not-so-secret crush, Ben Jones! Will Jess win the affection of her crush, Ben Jones? Or will her world be turned upsid
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May 03, 2011
Trisha
rated it:
what a funny book. I love how neurotic her worrying could get and how much she could just wind up her own story. Very good at showing how your point of view can be total tunnel vision!!!
But, I am still floored by how many teen books there are where the main character is a habitual liar? What makes lying...pointless and, even, harmful to yourself! How is that easier than the truth? I know when I was younger (I know, a different time, different generation, yadda yadda) I loved the brut More...
But, I am still floored by how many teen books there are where the main character is a habitual liar? What makes lying...pointless and, even, harmful to yourself! How is that easier than the truth? I know when I was younger (I know, a different time, different generation, yadda yadda) I loved the brut More...
Jan 25, 2009
Jaemi
rated it:
I ran into this book while setting up one of the lists on the Read Something New page and the title cracked me up, so I went out front and picked it up.
Jess Jordan seems pretty sure of her station in life: she’s got a big bum, and no boy will ever notice her because her best friend, Flora, looks like a blonde goddess. Two goddesses, in fact. Venus and Flora. But this is alright by Jess, as she wants nothing to do with boys in that fashion anyway.
She’s rather fond of daydr More...
Jess Jordan seems pretty sure of her station in life: she’s got a big bum, and no boy will ever notice her because her best friend, Flora, looks like a blonde goddess. Two goddesses, in fact. Venus and Flora. But this is alright by Jess, as she wants nothing to do with boys in that fashion anyway.
She’s rather fond of daydr More...
Dec 17, 2011
Bricken
rated it: 
The book sweater reads FOR AGES 10 AND UP... though I am undecided that I’d recommend this book even for a twelve year old. Ha. It is an English book, maybe over there in England the children are much more mature. Most likely…
Jess (short for Jessica)- the main character who I am tremendously in love with, really likes this male boy called Ben. Though he’s a jerk so she really just fancies his looks… which is understandable… kind of. So Jess begins to question her own sexuality (as w More...
Jess (short for Jessica)- the main character who I am tremendously in love with, really likes this male boy called Ben. Though he’s a jerk so she really just fancies his looks… which is understandable… kind of. So Jess begins to question her own sexuality (as w More...
Jul 15, 2010
☛Posie♥
rated it:
OK. So today I went to the library today fully prepared to pick out a few light reading beach reads for my week long beach extravaganza starting tomorrow. I grabbed this book, along with a few others, and headed for the door. When I got home, if you know me, it's impossible to stay away from a book, so I started it. It's the kind of book that no matter how good it is, you're going to keep reading. Addictive.
Sooner or later I was finished, and this is what I thought: Nothing special. More...
Sooner or later I was finished, and this is what I thought: Nothing special. More...
Oct 08, 2010
Scoot
rated it:
I honestly had no idea what to expect when I picked up this book at the library. I just glanced at the back read a little of the synopsis and said, “Sure, why not”. I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the witty repartee of Jess, especially with ‘longtime friend Fred’. Jess had a huge imagination that leaked over into real her life in so many ways. It was a refreshing change of pace reading this obviously British book because of the different terms and slang used throughout the story. The
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Oct 18, 2009
Jana
rated it: 
I got this book for free. From the promo shelf at Border's. So, to quote my mother-in-law, "that (fill in the blank) doesn't owe you a thing!" In other words, I already got more than my money's worth.
I picked it because I love the title. I envy the title. And because coming-of-age stories are my genre. That said, I still love the title! But the story went badly wrong from chapter 3 to chapter 21. The rest of the story was completely engaging. The characters were charming. And More...
I picked it because I love the title. I envy the title. And because coming-of-age stories are my genre. That said, I still love the title! But the story went badly wrong from chapter 3 to chapter 21. The rest of the story was completely engaging. The characters were charming. And More...
Apr 01, 2010
sinta
rated it:
Jess Jordan, tokoh remaja dalam buku ini mengingatkan dengan Alice in [not:] Wonderland. Remaja yang sedang dalam krisis percaya diri, sekaligus memiliki imajinasi yang sangat liar. Alice dan Jess sama-sama memiliki cita-cita yang unik, Kritikus Budaya dan Stand-up Comedian.
Seperti Alice, Jess juga memiliki keluarga yang eksentrik. Jess tinggal bersama ibu dan Neneknya. Ibunya yang seorang feminis, penjaga perpustakaan sekaligus aktivis perdamaian, sedangkan neneknya adalah orang yan More...
Seperti Alice, Jess juga memiliki keluarga yang eksentrik. Jess tinggal bersama ibu dan Neneknya. Ibunya yang seorang feminis, penjaga perpustakaan sekaligus aktivis perdamaian, sedangkan neneknya adalah orang yan More...
Apr 02, 2011
Daisy
rated it:
Well this is about a girl who basically has alot of trouble with her self esteem. It talks about her crazy life like being caught on film topless and throwing away her fake breasts. (smh) But luckily her best friend takes the tape and gives it to her. She thinks she is in love with some guy in her school but doesnt realize that shes falling for her best friend. P.S. he is a guy. She also has to deal with her other best friend which she secretely hates because her friend is perfect.
I li More...
I li More...
Mar 25, 2010
Shannon
rated it:
I really enjoyed the humor in this book. Jess Jordan is a talented writer who finds school a bore; daydreams over her crush,Ben Jones; and secretly resents her skinny and popular best friend. A glimpse at the humor: When assigned to write an essay on why Charles I was unpopular, she lets her imagine wander and creates this list:
1. He never changed his pants.
2. He refused to grow.
3. He passed a law saying everybody taller than him had to have their legs cut off.
4. He sl More...
1. He never changed his pants.
2. He refused to grow.
3. He passed a law saying everybody taller than him had to have their legs cut off.
4. He sl More...
Apr 19, 2010
Sophie
rated it:
I thought the book was a good read. It was not amazing but not boring. Although, after reading the Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging series, and after Bridget Jones, I thought it was just a little too similar for my liking. The whole basis, big butt, obsessed best friend, hilarious main character, a somewhat hippie mom was just too similar. And the references to Pride and Prejudice did nothing but copy from Bridget Jones. I am not sure where this dates with Angus, Thongs, and Full-Front
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Apr 07, 2010
Similar to Rennison. British 15 year old Jess thinks she finally may have snagged the love of her life, Ben, but all he seems to be interested in is finding out more about her best friend Flora's budding relationship with his best friend. A series of humorous and embarrassing events lead Jess to belive she should swear off men forever (like her mom); what she never suspects is that, through all her troubles, she may actually be falling in love with her best guy friend, Fred. Does a good job of c
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Oct 19, 2011
Mea
rated it:
I literally laughed out loud with this book, in which Mom thought of me as a weirdo.
Wit aside, this is a genius novel. I am very fascinated with the book and the story itself. I like Jess Jordan to bits and her wit! The story is detailed and exact. The horrorscope, which are very insane, and the daily doze of drama she has in her life. Some people can actually relate to this, most especially the teenagers, because it deals with the uncertainty of a young female, but tries to out sta More...
Wit aside, this is a genius novel. I am very fascinated with the book and the story itself. I like Jess Jordan to bits and her wit! The story is detailed and exact. The horrorscope, which are very insane, and the daily doze of drama she has in her life. Some people can actually relate to this, most especially the teenagers, because it deals with the uncertainty of a young female, but tries to out sta More...
Apr 17, 2010
Eavan
rated it:
Delightful. Humorous, sympathetic, satisfying in both plot and characterization. Jess hits the highs and lows of being 15: boys who are alternately irritating and riveting; family members you love even though they can sometimes screw up your life (or so it seems); figuring out what you're good at.
The adults in her life are uniformly supportive, and she manages to get along with all her classmates. Not true for everyone, but I thought it was an interesting portrayal of some of th More...
The adults in her life are uniformly supportive, and she manages to get along with all her classmates. Not true for everyone, but I thought it was an interesting portrayal of some of th More...
Nov 09, 2011
Meghan
rated it:
I really enjoyed this book. I've been reading some pretty serious, boring, tedious textbooks of late and I really needed a break. This book had wit, humour and love (of course). I think anyone who has been a teenager can relate to Jess. Sue really brings me in close to the character and I felt her anxieties, her dreams, her wishes, her emotions. I really cheered for her when she was down and out, and laughed out loud, and screamed happily when she got her guy at the end. If only all of life's st
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Dec 20, 2011
Joanna
rated it:
9th-12th grade. This British young adult novel features the fearless, witty Jess who struggles her way through her fifteenth year, with the help of best friends Flora and Fred. The protagonist is hilarious, causing the reader to laugh out loud in various places. She faces many a debacle, including her grandmother moving in, the mystery of why her parents split up, whether Ben does or does not like her back, whether her bum or her cleavage will ever be satisfactory, and other incredibly important
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Jan 12, 2008
Ningerbil
rated it: 
As 15-year-old Jess goes through the school year, she realizes that she has her own gifts. A comic tale of a 15-year-old, her dissatisfaction with her looks, how she copes with a best friend whom she perceives as perfect and dealing with her high school crush.
This reads very much like a sitcom, or three or four episodes in that sitcom. It’s told third-person, but I kept wondering if it would have been better as first-person, the writing almost slips into first person at times. I tho More...
This reads very much like a sitcom, or three or four episodes in that sitcom. It’s told third-person, but I kept wondering if it would have been better as first-person, the writing almost slips into first person at times. I tho More...
Aug 19, 2007
Sookie
rated it:
I got this very charming (but insane!) book on a dare. I'm not usually a fan of chick-lit (with an exception with Meg Cabot's books though). But I have to admit-this one was pretty good!
It was fun reading about the hilarious situations Jess always gets herself into (also, her dad sends her hilarious joke horoscopes throughout, though he's sort of a mystery man because he doesn't show up at all in this book).
She wants to be a standd-up comedian-and appropriately so!
I did have a More...
It was fun reading about the hilarious situations Jess always gets herself into (also, her dad sends her hilarious joke horoscopes throughout, though he's sort of a mystery man because he doesn't show up at all in this book).
She wants to be a standd-up comedian-and appropriately so!
I did have a More...
Apr 16, 2011
Namratha
rated it:
You can read a multitude of truly bad books and wonder whether your ability to pick a decent read has become non-existent
OR
You can delve deep into your cupboard and unearth an old and reliable favourite and make up for reams of bad plot/prose/characters.
Girl 15, Charming but Insane belongs to the latter category.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
~ The title: It immediately grabs eyeballs. It’s quirky, hints at a teen who will r More...
OR
You can delve deep into your cupboard and unearth an old and reliable favourite and make up for reams of bad plot/prose/characters.
Girl 15, Charming but Insane belongs to the latter category.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
~ The title: It immediately grabs eyeballs. It’s quirky, hints at a teen who will r More...
Dec 28, 2010
Sandra
rated it:
A funny teen angst story filled with sharp British humor. Jess, a mini Bridget Jones, is trying to get her crush to notice her with much drama along the way including her best friend hating her, her grandmother moving in, her girlfriend making moves on he crush and her bra stuffing exploding minestrone soup all over her.
While this story is certainly funny, it starts to drag halfway through. Even though its another coming of age story, it could use more originality in the plot. Hop More...
While this story is certainly funny, it starts to drag halfway through. Even though its another coming of age story, it could use more originality in the plot. Hop More...
Jun 12, 2010
Kristina Marie
rated it:
This is an excellent YA book. The plot and characters are somewhat predictable, but the funny situations that the main character gets into excuses that. I found myself laughing quite a few times. I have only one big complaint about the book. That would be the whole incident where a boy set up a hidden camera in he girls bathroom. I don't see why no one was outraged or why the parents shrugged it off as boys will be boys. How very unrealistic. Despite this, I plan on reading the next insta
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Jan 19, 2010
Kathy
rated it:
Not quite as funny as Gerogia Nicolson but it has its laugh out loud moments. My particular favorite is when Jess decides to use minestrone soup in baggies as breast implants. Needless to say, this does not end well for Jess but who knew there would be a camera in the girl's restroom recording Jess cleaning up after one of her minestrone breasts explodes. Will her embarrassment never end? Would definitely recommend this to teen girls looking for a laugh.
Jan 14, 2008
treehugger
rated it:
This was a book that was rollicking good fun to listen to - the narrator is just FANTASTIC, the dialogue hilarious, and the characters so ordinary yet so over-the-top...I just loved them :).
If you liked Bridget Jones' Diary, and you appreciate British humor and some of the quirky language they use, you'll like this book. It's just about being a very imaginative teenager in suburban England with wacky parents, a too-perfect best friend, and a 'bum that's too big'.
I laug More...
If you liked Bridget Jones' Diary, and you appreciate British humor and some of the quirky language they use, you'll like this book. It's just about being a very imaginative teenager in suburban England with wacky parents, a too-perfect best friend, and a 'bum that's too big'.
I laug More...
Mar 03, 2011
Anna
rated it:
I thought about quitting this a little bit less than halfway through but I'm glad I didn't. The beginning of this is rough. It takes a while to get into the story. I think if it had been written in first person rather than third, you'd feel more connected to Jess. But still, if you stick with this, it gets to be quite funny. I came to like Jess and felt somewhat invested in her. The ending was cute. Not the best book and it's for sure a Georgia Nicholson copycat but it's not terrible either.
Oct 16, 2010
Tatiana
rated it:
I only got interested in this novel because someone on the boards compared it to Louise Rennison's Georgia Nicolson books. Big mistake. If Georgia books are juvenile but funny, this one is very juvenile and very unfunny. You can predict the ending after reading the 1st 5-page chapter. Plus the 3rd person type narration doesn't help the case.
P.S. This must be the ugliest cover ever.
P.S. This must be the ugliest cover ever.
