Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith ZeitlinPublication Date: March 1st, 2012
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Format: E-ARC
Source: Publisher
Purchase: Amazon
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own*
Laugh-out-loud funny high school drama - perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Meg CabotDespite the fact that my Freshman year was nothing like Kelsey's, this book had me laughing and reminiscing the entire time I was reading it. Kelsey and her friends definitely go through some dramatic times, but Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters is a great example of really going out of your comfort zone to find yourself in high school. It was a quick, enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what Zeitlin comes up with next!
Let's say you're fourteen and live in New York City. You'd think your life would be like a glamorous TV show, right? And yet . . . You don't have a checking account, much less a personal Black American Express card. You've never been to a club, and the only couture in your closet is a Halloween costume your mom made from an old laundry bag.
In other words? You're Kelsey Finkelstein - fourteen and frustrated. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled. Kelsey wants to rebrand herself for high school to make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny. But just because Kelsey has a plan for greatness . . . it doesn't mean the rest of the world is in on it.
Kelsey's hilarious commentary and sardonic narration of her freshman year will have readers laughing out loud - while being thankful that they're not in her shoes, of course.
Kelsey and her friends are all pretty hilarious, but Kelsey really takes the cake. She's witty, snarky, ballsy, and pretty confident for a high school Freshman. Despite the bullies, embarrassing pictures, bff drama, and Typical Adolescent behavior, she doesn't get too down on herself and she doesn't take herself too seriously. I absolutely loved reading from Kelsey's POV just because she had such a (dare I say it again) HILARIOUS idea of life. She spent so much time having fun and making fun of herself that I wanted to be her friend!! Her friends are all pretty great too, Typical Adolescents, and I almost wish I had a group of friends like that in high school.
Zeitlin really knows how to get in the mind of a teenager, that's for sure. Her writing style is fantastic, and she manages to convey the thoughts and feelings that high school teens have and show. While all of the characters have pretty selfish tendencies, it's understandable because they're teens! The girls fight, make up, break up with boyfriends, go to parties, and just have a good time their first year of high school, which I think all teens should do! I also really liked that Zeitlin incorporated Kelsey's parents into the story somewhat. I feel like a lot of YA nowadays sort of leaves the parents out of the mix while the kids just go crazy and have a good time, which is completely unrealistic.
Overall, I enjoyed every minute of this book. It's funny, imaginative, ballsy, and (although a little over the top) pretty accurate. I know that maybe I didn't have the same experiences Kelsey did in high school, but I know plenty of people who did! Honestly, I wish someone had handed me this book before I started my Freshman year, I think it would have helped me break out of my shell a lot sooner! I definitely recommend this one to anyone and everyone! It's cute, funny, witty, and a great read!
