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Boys on the Brain
Cresta's diary "My mum! She has boys on the brain!" This is a fun, pacey diary-based story told through the eyes of a typical contemporary girl of 14 in an 'AB FAB' kind of family. Cresta and Charlie are seriously embarrassed by their parents who insist on behaving like teenagers... Cresta's mother and her boyfriend play loud music when she's trying to work, and keep her awake at night with their noisy parties. Charlie, who's a bit plump, complains that her mum keeps nagging her to go on a diet. "Hasn't she ever heard of anorexia?" she complains. Cresta and Charlie are serious about their schoolwork and their careers and they are not going to waste their time thinking about boys... at least until they've taken their A levels... But then they meet some seriously cool guys.
210 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
5 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Jean Ure
266 books122 followersProlific English children and young adult author.
Had her first book published while still in high school, then studied theater at Webber-Douglas in London. Her most well-known work is the Point Crime novel Dance with Death. Others include Plague 99, After the Plague (previously "Come Lucky April"), Big Tom, Family Fan Club and Shrinking Violet, as well as the fantasy The Wizard In the Woods.
Today, Ure is very popular with British female teenage readers with novels such as Shrinking Violet, Family Fan Club and Passion Flower.
Ure has also translated Danish writer Sven Hassel's WWII novels to English.
Had her first book published while still in high school, then studied theater at Webber-Douglas in London. Her most well-known work is the Point Crime novel Dance with Death. Others include Plague 99, After the Plague (previously "Come Lucky April"), Big Tom, Family Fan Club and Shrinking Violet, as well as the fantasy The Wizard In the Woods.
Today, Ure is very popular with British female teenage readers with novels such as Shrinking Violet, Family Fan Club and Passion Flower.
Ure has also translated Danish writer Sven Hassel's WWII novels to English.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 27, 2026
I first read this book a few years ago when I was about 15 and decided to update my review based on how I feel about it now (and the fond memories I have of it)
Cresta is such a cool main character (at least I thought she was!) She's bookish and bright but still lots of fun to read about. I enjoyed reading about her and her best mate Charlie's antics. I absolutely adored their friendship and felt a little sad when Cresta mentions at the end of the book that they've drifted apart. Hopefully they find each other again!
They deal with snarky mean girls, their crushes on the boys at the record store (and their fictional crushes!) and school. The two girls (as I mentioned just now) go to an all girls school (the horror!) and create their own fictional ideal boyfriends. Looking back, these bits were so hilarious and exactly the dorky kind of thing I would've done at age 15.
It's funny though because the blurb makes it sound like the boys they like go to their school or something, then I read it and was rather surprised!
Cresta's mum is sometimes seriously embarrassing (especially the incident with the jeans!) but is also shown to be a loving mother (even though she acts more like a party-loving teenager!)
This book perfectly highlights those early teenage years: where we were simply trying to fit in and have fun with our friends, even though we were super awkward, dorky and had no clue how to talk to boys. Such fond memories! (and the book)
Cresta is such a cool main character (at least I thought she was!) She's bookish and bright but still lots of fun to read about. I enjoyed reading about her and her best mate Charlie's antics. I absolutely adored their friendship and felt a little sad when Cresta mentions at the end of the book that they've drifted apart. Hopefully they find each other again!
They deal with snarky mean girls, their crushes on the boys at the record store (and their fictional crushes!) and school. The two girls (as I mentioned just now) go to an all girls school (the horror!) and create their own fictional ideal boyfriends. Looking back, these bits were so hilarious and exactly the dorky kind of thing I would've done at age 15.
It's funny though because the blurb makes it sound like the boys they like go to their school or something, then I read it and was rather surprised!
Cresta's mum is sometimes seriously embarrassing (especially the incident with the jeans!) but is also shown to be a loving mother (even though she acts more like a party-loving teenager!)
This book perfectly highlights those early teenage years: where we were simply trying to fit in and have fun with our friends, even though we were super awkward, dorky and had no clue how to talk to boys. Such fond memories! (and the book)
December 10, 2013
want to reread this!!
July 12, 2014
The first book I ever read by Jean Ure when I was 10 and it's what hooked me on her. 10 years later and I still love it.
July 19, 2014
Book I read when I was a preteen
November 12, 2016
A teen read; well written, humorous, with a fun storyline.
April 19, 2014
Really good book
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews