My So-Called Life

Angela Chase #1

by Catherine Clark

Based on the critically acclaimed television show, this stand-alone novel
boldly grapples with such vital teen issues as the price of popularity,
substance abuse, and relationships in the age of AIDS. The loves, losses, and
emotions of Angela Chase and her diverse group of friends are chronicled with
the same humor and sensitivity that have attracted a devoted teen following to
the TV series.
https://openlibrary.org/books/OL77176...

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Tv, School

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

I love reading books for children, young adults, new adults and all the old people after that.

I love writing for pretty much the same audiences.

Reviews

[Trisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the first book I've read that was based on a show instead of a show based on a book.
and, of course, I really enjoyed it. But, I remember loving the show. It was one of the first gritty teen "coming of age" shows that didn't have a perfect family or a perfect beautiful "I tell my mom everything and never get angsty" lead person. It had Rickie and Sharon and struggles with sex (ugh, Jordan is cute but I just want to slug him for treating her like that)! It has drug addiction and absentee parents and...all of it.
I will save this for my daughter. It may not have cell phones or computers or any other electronic devices, but it has true teens and their struggles. And THAT always stands the test of time

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words cannot express my love for this book/tv series.

[Stef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will I ever reread books over and over again like I did when I was a preteen? That phase may have come and gone -- there's too much ground to cover now, too many other things to do. But I remember this being one of those books that I kept returning to, over and over. It stays true to and captures the spirit of the show's first and only season, which I didn't see until after I read this. It even lent Jordan Catalano some depth. Did you think Angela Chase wasn't nearly introspective enough? This book should help you get your fill.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

for a book that is based on a tv series, this is surprisingly not bad at all. it fills in things that you missed, and allows you to relive favorite moments over and over again. i especially liked being able to read brian/jordan's letter. watching my so-called life always felt like reading a good book, so reading a good back based on the show seems only natural.

[Kris (My Novelesque Life) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

A great television show and companion book! I love Jordan! Angela is every teenager...

[Happy Scrappy Hero Pup]

OMG, sister!!! You absolutely MUST read this book! It’s like unironically completely relatable to real, lived experiences. I have avoided this book for years because the show is one of my absolute favorites of all time…but now that I’m reading the 3rd chapter, I’m already feeling those same feelings I felt in the early 90s watching the show. It just hits so hard giving “real” and “felt”. This book has Buffyspeak before Buffyspeak. Back when it was just how 90s kids talked. The author even changes subjects by starting a paragraph with “Anyway,…” It’s so real.

[Minervas Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The TV show helped me through the lonely months of early pandemics in 2020. I loved it so much that I bought this show-based book. It's awkward that I still hold coming-of-age stories dear to my heart at this stage of my life, but I'll be fine.

As for the book, it's a bit more than the show but not too much. But I am still glad that I got to revisit the story and save an item of memorabilia.

[Jadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a novelization of the show, but only parts of it. Mostly just Angela, but there were a few scenes where you were in someone else's head. Of course Angela is the reason I wanted to watch this show as a teen, so for me it was the best parts. But as I was reading I remembered other scenes (I had just rewatched the series maybe a year ago) so I was able to fill in the rest.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you were a fan of the show, this book will take you right back to some of your favorite moments! Follows the show, basically episode to episode. Time to re-watch the series so I can appreciate Jordan's leaning.

[RebelReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 90's were the superior decade.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a retelling of the TV series. Nothing extra, nothing different.

[Cheryl Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like watching the show, word for word! I loved it.

[Jami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never saw the show but really enjoyed this novelization of several episodes, & feel like it might read better than seeing it on TV. Looking forward to reading the second book!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was nine or 10 when this show first came out and I thought it lame, but then again, I was not the target audience. Fast-forward to this summer as a 23-year-old, and my friend told me I needed to check the show out and read the books as well (in fact, she lent me the books) because she said Angela reminded her of me. After watching (and enjoying)the show and thinking how very similar Angela and I are at times, I decided to read the book (not how I generally operate--I like to read the book THEN see the movie/show/whathaveyou) and the book closely followed the series and made for an enjoyable read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it.

[Lil mIZ suNshiNe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good even though it was written the same year i was born it still real down to earth and i really love that about it

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never watched the TV show - I don't know if it was even on in Australia? - and this book did not make me keen to ever seek it out.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overall summary of the tv show, but not nearly as good. It skipped a lot of stuff, a lot of those being my favorite moments from the show, but thats alright.

[Jeniree Betancourt pastrán · Rating 5 out of 5]

:)

[Cat]

i'm postponing this book for some other time.. :)

[Michelle Estella Usher-Grano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I related to it even in my thirties lol

[Joanne Pollock · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the show. book is just ok.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abandoned as I thought it's be a stand alone story but instead it's a scene for scene recount of what happens in the programme, so you might as well watch that instead!