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Mates, Dates #6
Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes
As soon as Mum dropped me off, I made a dive for the ladies room, where I trashed the sandwich she’d made me and reapplied my makeup. Mum really didn’t understand. I couldn’t possibly get up on stage in front of everyone looking like I was dressed for afternoon tea with my grandma.
Izzie is restless, and eager to be treated like an adult. So she decides it’s time to make some changes. But the new Izzie comes with new problems. First there is Josh Harper, an older, cute-but-wild boy. Then there is her mother, who is opposed to every part of the “new Izzie.”
How can Izzie learn about herself and what it means to be grown up—without upsetting everyone along the way?
Izzie is restless, and eager to be treated like an adult. So she decides it’s time to make some changes. But the new Izzie comes with new problems. First there is Josh Harper, an older, cute-but-wild boy. Then there is her mother, who is opposed to every part of the “new Izzie.”
How can Izzie learn about herself and what it means to be grown up—without upsetting everyone along the way?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 20, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
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March 26, 2012Michelle Kwait
Humor
(SPOILER ALERT)
Summary:
Izzie is a typical (if wittily observant) teenage girl: she lives (and fights) with her mom, hangs with her friends, and is just coming out of a relationship with her best friend and band mate, Ben. A little normal teenage rebellion comes when Izzie decides to get a belly piercing, causing a rift with her mom, that only gets worse as Izzie experiments with different substances. When Izzie meets Josh (park boy), she begins to feel the pressure to be even more cool and grown up-- the book follows Izzie as she tries drinking, smoking pot, and sneaking around with Josh-- all to her mother's dismay and Izzie's later regret. Josh subtly pressures her, by calling her "kid" when she has to leave for curfew, leaving her on the street at night, and even spiking her drink before she goes on stage. When he tries to go too far, she runs from the park to the station, calling Ben to come pick her up. Realizing how rotten Josh is, Izzie simply stops seeing him, to the happiness of her friends-- spotting him on the street later, and catching him in a lie, it's the best decision she's made for herself in the whole book.
Critique:
This book had a great message-- that doing something for a boy, like drinking or smoking, or abandoning your friends (something a lot of teen girls do) isn't really worth it at all. However, the message gets drilled in at every turn, and is somewhat distracting from the story itself.
Humor
(SPOILER ALERT)
Summary:
Izzie is a typical (if wittily observant) teenage girl: she lives (and fights) with her mom, hangs with her friends, and is just coming out of a relationship with her best friend and band mate, Ben. A little normal teenage rebellion comes when Izzie decides to get a belly piercing, causing a rift with her mom, that only gets worse as Izzie experiments with different substances. When Izzie meets Josh (park boy), she begins to feel the pressure to be even more cool and grown up-- the book follows Izzie as she tries drinking, smoking pot, and sneaking around with Josh-- all to her mother's dismay and Izzie's later regret. Josh subtly pressures her, by calling her "kid" when she has to leave for curfew, leaving her on the street at night, and even spiking her drink before she goes on stage. When he tries to go too far, she runs from the park to the station, calling Ben to come pick her up. Realizing how rotten Josh is, Izzie simply stops seeing him, to the happiness of her friends-- spotting him on the street later, and catching him in a lie, it's the best decision she's made for herself in the whole book.
Critique:
This book had a great message-- that doing something for a boy, like drinking or smoking, or abandoning your friends (something a lot of teen girls do) isn't really worth it at all. However, the message gets drilled in at every turn, and is somewhat distracting from the story itself.
January 2, 2018
I love these books so much!
June 11, 2012
I loved this book. I was really surprised at all the things that Izzie was getting into. This was unlike the characters we first fell in love with. But it s does make sense. Izzie wanted to seem more grown up and she thought by trying new things she could do this. I feel that this is a coming of age story that all teens should read! its a great lesson to be learned.
April 18, 2018
I love these books so much, I can't wait to continue on with the series!
February 25, 2025
I loved this book series as a child and have now come across it again. From today's perspective, the teenagers all behave completely stupidly, but that's exactly what makes it so authentic. Unfortunately, many things no longer work today, for example because now every teenager has a cell phone and always carries it with them, but otherwise the story is still surprisingly modern. (But even as a child I wondered how it was possible that Izzie and the others always “accidentally” meet their crushes when they live in LONDON...)
October 21, 2020
Three books in one night! I read too much 😮
The one where Izzie turns rebellious...belly piercings, alcohol, cigarettes & drugs!
Easy reading, highly relatable to most of us girls back in the day!
The one where Izzie turns rebellious...belly piercings, alcohol, cigarettes & drugs!
Easy reading, highly relatable to most of us girls back in the day!
April 4, 2019
CW: Alcohol consumption by minors, using alcohol to try to mellow out a girl into sex
In this book Izzie is looking for a change in her whole self: from material to immaterial things. In this search for change and maturity she ends up taking it too far.
Izzie has a lot of good advices to give in the books by the other girls, but when it comes to her own she changes into an idiot. Alcohol might take your mind off the fact you're starving. Are you daft? She talks about standing up, being yourself, then she is concerned about presenting herself as someone else for a boy. That is quite contradictory.
She wants to appear sophisticated, but does she even know what that word means? You don't need to drink alcoholic beverages to be sophisticated, and what do bellybutton piercings have to do with it? And look, I'm not even judging, I have 2 piercings in each ear. Someone please tell her beer is one of the least sophisticated beverages, it's a commoner's drink.
Her mother is too much, though. She doesn't understand that it is precisely due to how much she tightens her leash that her daughter's uncontrolled behaviour escalates in her escapes. And reading Izzie's diary is a complete lack of respect for privacy and space! My mother always respected my space, intimacy and possessions, and ta-da I was never a problematic child or teenager. And about the whole How am I supposed to know what's going with you?: for one, ask, lady, then there's the fact that even as a child I was a private little thing, so even though we can be chatty as kids and say a lot more, there's still a big chance we will speak nonsense instead of anything relevant to our feelings.
Your daughter is not some inanimate object you can control. The part about it being hard for parents as their children grow and become more distant is understandable. To a point. We don’t see these adults clinging to their own parents, now do we? Personally though, I’m into hugs and I’ll hug my own mother even now. At the same time, I don’t think I was spoiled at my own household and a lot of parents aren’t into regular shows of affection. I think it is precisely because society expects us to stop showing affection towards each other, specially physically that teenagers misunderstand and feel pressured to cut away ties. That and the fact parents get suddenly more clingy, when before they would get sick of the hugs and kids jumping onto them.
Also, please someone stop this madness about the streets being safer back in the day. That’s nonsense, the streets were always dangerous at night. There were less cars and everybody knew each other and were more willing to help in small towns, but there's always always been dangerous people at night. Rape, murder, robbery, kidnapping, violence aren't exclusives of this century.
I would have liked it if the author had made it clearer that Josh was trying to take advantage of Izzie through the use of light drugs and alcohol.
In this book Izzie is looking for a change in her whole self: from material to immaterial things. In this search for change and maturity she ends up taking it too far.
Izzie has a lot of good advices to give in the books by the other girls, but when it comes to her own she changes into an idiot. Alcohol might take your mind off the fact you're starving. Are you daft? She talks about standing up, being yourself, then she is concerned about presenting herself as someone else for a boy. That is quite contradictory.
She wants to appear sophisticated, but does she even know what that word means? You don't need to drink alcoholic beverages to be sophisticated, and what do bellybutton piercings have to do with it? And look, I'm not even judging, I have 2 piercings in each ear. Someone please tell her beer is one of the least sophisticated beverages, it's a commoner's drink.
Her mother is too much, though. She doesn't understand that it is precisely due to how much she tightens her leash that her daughter's uncontrolled behaviour escalates in her escapes. And reading Izzie's diary is a complete lack of respect for privacy and space! My mother always respected my space, intimacy and possessions, and ta-da I was never a problematic child or teenager. And about the whole How am I supposed to know what's going with you?: for one, ask, lady, then there's the fact that even as a child I was a private little thing, so even though we can be chatty as kids and say a lot more, there's still a big chance we will speak nonsense instead of anything relevant to our feelings.
Your daughter is not some inanimate object you can control. The part about it being hard for parents as their children grow and become more distant is understandable. To a point. We don’t see these adults clinging to their own parents, now do we? Personally though, I’m into hugs and I’ll hug my own mother even now. At the same time, I don’t think I was spoiled at my own household and a lot of parents aren’t into regular shows of affection. I think it is precisely because society expects us to stop showing affection towards each other, specially physically that teenagers misunderstand and feel pressured to cut away ties. That and the fact parents get suddenly more clingy, when before they would get sick of the hugs and kids jumping onto them.
Also, please someone stop this madness about the streets being safer back in the day. That’s nonsense, the streets were always dangerous at night. There were less cars and everybody knew each other and were more willing to help in small towns, but there's always always been dangerous people at night. Rape, murder, robbery, kidnapping, violence aren't exclusives of this century.
I would have liked it if the author had made it clearer that Josh was trying to take advantage of Izzie through the use of light drugs and alcohol.
Read
July 16, 2023#1 mates, dates, and inflatable bras unrated
#2 mates, dates, and cosmic kisses unrated
#3 mates, dates, and designer divas unrated
#4 mates, dates, and sleepover secrets unrated
#5 mates, dates, and sole survivors unrated
#6 mates, dates, and mad mistakes unrated
#2 mates, dates, and cosmic kisses unrated
#3 mates, dates, and designer divas unrated
#4 mates, dates, and sleepover secrets unrated
#5 mates, dates, and sole survivors unrated
#6 mates, dates, and mad mistakes unrated
September 15, 2020
Bastante bueno, este libro forma parte de la serie Amigas y amores de Cathy Hopkins, la cuál voy a recomendar por siempre.
Este libro se narra desde el punto de vista de Izzy, que casi siempre me sorprende con su manera de pensar y de ser. El libro toca temas como las drogas, la manipulación y la "rebeldía" por llamarlo de alguna manera.
Explora situaciones en la que uno se puede sentir desorientado y termina juntándose con gente que no aporta nada bueno. Muy interesante y super cortito.
Este libro se narra desde el punto de vista de Izzy, que casi siempre me sorprende con su manera de pensar y de ser. El libro toca temas como las drogas, la manipulación y la "rebeldía" por llamarlo de alguna manera.
Explora situaciones en la que uno se puede sentir desorientado y termina juntándose con gente que no aporta nada bueno. Muy interesante y super cortito.
May 13, 2018
I really enjoyed these books when I was younger. I’ve definitely matured, and not sure I’d enjoy them too much now. But great for younger readers, say about 11-14? Silly and fun but you get to love the main characters
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February 9, 2021I read these books because my cousin had borrowed them from the library and I had nothing better to do. Not bad YA chick lit. Anyways, Mimosas are still one of the like two drinks I know how to make, thanks to this book!
July 14, 2025
Con mình 10 tuổi
Sắp dậy thì
Vô tìn đọc được cuốn sách này thật thú vị
Và mình cũng nhớ lại quãng thời gian mình "tập trưởng thành"
Sách viết rất hay, đúng là teen thì tây hay ta đều giống nhau, đều nổi loạn
Sắp dậy thì
Vô tìn đọc được cuốn sách này thật thú vị
Và mình cũng nhớ lại quãng thời gian mình "tập trưởng thành"
Sách viết rất hay, đúng là teen thì tây hay ta đều giống nhau, đều nổi loạn
March 19, 2019
4, 5 en realidad
October 18, 2021
Characters and story line can be relatable
January 29, 2022
The first book that I read in Mates, Dates Series. I love the storyline but I don't like that it has no plot. It's just a cute story. But I can relate to the main character though.
March 29, 2022
IMHO je zbytečně mravokárná.
s. 55 Dirty Mother – Zlá matka
Zlá?
špatné dělení slov - s. 8
s. 55 Dirty Mother – Zlá matka
Zlá?
špatné dělení slov - s. 8
September 4, 2024
lo leí cuando era más chica y la verdad que lo disfruté mucho, se q si lo reeleo me seguirá gustando, ahora quiero leer toda la saga :D
February 7, 2017
Finished this in one day, cause I LOVE this series
March 3, 2017
It didn't actually take me this long to read this book. It was in my bedroom (bedtime reading) and I wasn't - lots of furniture rearranging meant I was sleeping in the living room.
May 22, 2019
Fun Brit chick lit. YA, very realistic. Four girls and their lives, quite funny.
Prolific British author Cathy Hopkins is back with another addition to her Mates, Dates, ... series, which features four friends and their adventures. In Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes, sixteen-year-old Izzie is desperate to change her image into something more grown-up.
During the summer before 'Year Ten' (as they say in England), Izzie puts a great deal of thought into reinventing herself into someone more mature. She weeds out her wardrobe, has her belly button pierced, and meets a mysterious new guy named Josh. In an attempt to impress Josh and to experience a more adult side of life, Izzie experiments with drinking, smoking, and general rebellion against her parents. When not all of these things have the desired results, Izzie starts to wonder whether growing up is all it's cracked up to be.
Full of humor and realistic situations, the book shows that teens are the same no matter which country they happen to live in. Izzie is fortunate to have a supportive group of friends who stick by her even when she makes questionable choices. Cathy Hopkins writes knowledgeably about teens and their struggles, with which girls of any age will be able to identify. There's a moral to this story, but it's not presented in a condescending way, so the reader doesn't feel lectured.
Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes stands alone. Even if you haven't read any of the previous books in the series, it won't feel like you've missed out on anything. The characters are easy to get to know, the plot moves quickly, and you'll be laughing out loud at the mistakes these girls make -- because they very easily could be your own!
Prolific British author Cathy Hopkins is back with another addition to her Mates, Dates, ... series, which features four friends and their adventures. In Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes, sixteen-year-old Izzie is desperate to change her image into something more grown-up.
During the summer before 'Year Ten' (as they say in England), Izzie puts a great deal of thought into reinventing herself into someone more mature. She weeds out her wardrobe, has her belly button pierced, and meets a mysterious new guy named Josh. In an attempt to impress Josh and to experience a more adult side of life, Izzie experiments with drinking, smoking, and general rebellion against her parents. When not all of these things have the desired results, Izzie starts to wonder whether growing up is all it's cracked up to be.
Full of humor and realistic situations, the book shows that teens are the same no matter which country they happen to live in. Izzie is fortunate to have a supportive group of friends who stick by her even when she makes questionable choices. Cathy Hopkins writes knowledgeably about teens and their struggles, with which girls of any age will be able to identify. There's a moral to this story, but it's not presented in a condescending way, so the reader doesn't feel lectured.
Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes stands alone. Even if you haven't read any of the previous books in the series, it won't feel like you've missed out on anything. The characters are easy to get to know, the plot moves quickly, and you'll be laughing out loud at the mistakes these girls make -- because they very easily could be your own!
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September 9, 2009 I read Mates, Dates, and Mad Mistakes as an IR book. This book was about Izzie. She was tired of being treated like a child. She wanted to be treated like an adult. But on her way a mad mistake comes up. She meets this boy named Josh and he is way different from other boys. He has a lot of problems and wants her to do things she doesnt want to do. Plus she gives in a times. But when he goes to far shes done. Can be be an adult and nt upset others with her decisions.
I have a text-to-world connection. A lot of times people give in to peer pressure. This connects to the world because teenagers go through this stuff as I've heard. Int he book she gives in because she doesnt want to disapoint Josh or be a wuss. But then she does realizes that she is making mistakes and upsetting people.
I give this book*****Stars. I gave this book 5 stars because i like the way i didnt know what Izzie was gonna do next. Plus with the behavior she had made more juicy cause when something happend something even bigger happend. So this book is recommended to someone who like continuing on this series.
I have a text-to-world connection. A lot of times people give in to peer pressure. This connects to the world because teenagers go through this stuff as I've heard. Int he book she gives in because she doesnt want to disapoint Josh or be a wuss. But then she does realizes that she is making mistakes and upsetting people.
I give this book*****Stars. I gave this book 5 stars because i like the way i didnt know what Izzie was gonna do next. Plus with the behavior she had made more juicy cause when something happend something even bigger happend. So this book is recommended to someone who like continuing on this series.
December 29, 2016
Collective Review
I first read a couple of these books in 2006. I had a long bus trip and grabbed a couple of the series from a local bookstore. I had no idea they were part of a huge series. Over the years I had forgotten the names of the books but every now and then would try to find them. I finally found them this year from a Goodreads list. Yay!
I really enjoyed this series. I think the main reason is because the books were released in 2001 and the girls are 14. I was 13 in 2001 so can connect with a lot of the pop culture aspects mentioned throughout the series. Even though the series is based in England I still feel a sense of nostalgia while reading it.
I really love the girls and their friendship. I never had a close knit group of friends like this when I was younger so I liked reading about it. They are a bit too boy crazy for my liking but I really did love this series.
I first read a couple of these books in 2006. I had a long bus trip and grabbed a couple of the series from a local bookstore. I had no idea they were part of a huge series. Over the years I had forgotten the names of the books but every now and then would try to find them. I finally found them this year from a Goodreads list. Yay!
I really enjoyed this series. I think the main reason is because the books were released in 2001 and the girls are 14. I was 13 in 2001 so can connect with a lot of the pop culture aspects mentioned throughout the series. Even though the series is based in England I still feel a sense of nostalgia while reading it.
I really love the girls and their friendship. I never had a close knit group of friends like this when I was younger so I liked reading about it. They are a bit too boy crazy for my liking but I really did love this series.
October 29, 2007
Being a teenager is not easy (and so is being a mother). The same thing happens to Izzie. She wants to change herself, as she wants to change her personality, to become more sophisticated. But in the process, she faces lots of problems. Fortunately, Izzie has friends who will always take care of each other, and of course, a mother who will always be there for her.
Reading this book, makes me think about my own daughters. They will be growing soon, and the problems teenagers faced will be the same all over the world. Curious about anything, trying new things, experimenting almost everything.. Scarry.
Hopefully I'll be ready for that when the time comes. Meanwhile, there's no manual on being a teeangers, and no manual either on how to be a mother. So, it's a life-time learning for all of us.
Reading this book, makes me think about my own daughters. They will be growing soon, and the problems teenagers faced will be the same all over the world. Curious about anything, trying new things, experimenting almost everything.. Scarry.
Hopefully I'll be ready for that when the time comes. Meanwhile, there's no manual on being a teeangers, and no manual either on how to be a mother. So, it's a life-time learning for all of us.
February 9, 2010
Izzie is pretty much the main character. Nesta, Lucy, TJ, and John are kind of important characters as well. This takes place in London. This book is about Izzie trying to grow up to fast. She maskes many mistakes and gets into very sticky situations. There was an external conlfict between Izzie and her mom.
I could make a text to world connection to this book. When Izzie got drunk with her friends, right away I thought 'how many people do I know that this has happened to?' So many teens around my age have already gotten drunk and had tried some kind of booze. So that made me easily connect to that.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book I could easily make connections to. This is a teen reality type book. So basically anything read, I could easily relate to. Since I could relate to it, I understood it better.
I could make a text to world connection to this book. When Izzie got drunk with her friends, right away I thought 'how many people do I know that this has happened to?' So many teens around my age have already gotten drunk and had tried some kind of booze. So that made me easily connect to that.
I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. This book I could easily make connections to. This is a teen reality type book. So basically anything read, I could easily relate to. Since I could relate to it, I understood it better.
June 5, 2011
The book that i read is mates, dates, and mad mistakes.The author of this book is Cathy Hopkins.The book about a girl that always make a mistakes that every time she said something she hurt someone...She like to hangout with her friends, but she doesn't even know what is she saying or doing to someone...
The best thing about this book is that the author has a good grammar...And how the author wright the book...
Another this is that when the character learns how to look on someone without hurting them.She also learn about when some one said something really mean to her.And she felt the same way like everybody else that she hurt...
I dislike about this book is the spelling of the author.How she spell the words wrong...
The characters are very interesting specially the main one's... It mostly take in the main characters house..
The best thing about this book is that the author has a good grammar...And how the author wright the book...
Another this is that when the character learns how to look on someone without hurting them.She also learn about when some one said something really mean to her.And she felt the same way like everybody else that she hurt...
I dislike about this book is the spelling of the author.How she spell the words wrong...
The characters are very interesting specially the main one's... It mostly take in the main characters house..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 16, 2013
I loved it, and i could relate to it a lot, because i think all teenage girls have been through the phase of doing stupid things and i loved all the positive messages through the book; it wasnt too preachy but i felt a lot wiser after reading it. I think its really good what Cathy Hopkins is doing: educating and entertaining. I think this is one of the best books a teen girl can read as it can help them whilst they make difficult choices in their lives. It was also really fun to read and all of the characters are so likeable, so i loved this book. It was like the book version of glee: really fun but also a positive message packed in. The plot was realy exciting and this book reminded me why i used to love reading as a kid.
June 2, 2008
this book is about izzie, she looks the youngest and somehow the shortest out of her friends. she is tired of everyone thinking that she is too little for this and that. she wants a major change in her life, where everybody doesn't treat her like a little kid anymore. that is when she meets this wild guy that can maybe change her. she want her mom to notice she can do things according to her own decisions. she wants to change, but will she want to hurt anybody like her mom. i guess not. change is a good thing sometimes, but it is the best when you change and not hurt anybody.
April 30, 2011
READ IN DUTCH
Maakte deel uit van de Tina Toppers. Die spaarde ik vroeger en heb er via internet en rommelmarkten uiteindelijk zo'n 70 verzameld. Ze lezen steevast makkelijk weg, het zijn leuke dunne boekjes om op een middagje uit te lezen. Ik denk dat ze het meest geschikt zijn voor de leeftijdscategorie 10 tot 13 jaar.
Dit specifieke boek Bijna Vijftien is deel van een serie van Cathy Hopkins rond vier vriendinnen, die elk boek wel iets beleven. Het was mijn favoriete serie binnen de Tina Toppers, waarschijnlijk speelde het mee dat een van de hoofdpersonages ook Marjolein heette...
Maakte deel uit van de Tina Toppers. Die spaarde ik vroeger en heb er via internet en rommelmarkten uiteindelijk zo'n 70 verzameld. Ze lezen steevast makkelijk weg, het zijn leuke dunne boekjes om op een middagje uit te lezen. Ik denk dat ze het meest geschikt zijn voor de leeftijdscategorie 10 tot 13 jaar.
Dit specifieke boek Bijna Vijftien is deel van een serie van Cathy Hopkins rond vier vriendinnen, die elk boek wel iets beleven. Het was mijn favoriete serie binnen de Tina Toppers, waarschijnlijk speelde het mee dat een van de hoofdpersonages ook Marjolein heette...
August 7, 2007
Izzie's sick of being treated like a little girl and takes on a whole new image, much to her mother's chagrin. She dumps Ben and starts dating this scally she thinks she can reform. She drinks. The boy smokes weed. This book irked me the most because it was the preachiest, and at the end, when Izzie has her little learning moment, she's talking about what she's learned about drugs and a lot of her information is just plain wrong.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews