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19paws's review against another edition
2.0
None of these characters or the dialog seemed especially believable to me, and I somehow missed the build-up to Carrie’s angst over her column. It seemed like there was a beginning and an end, but no middle!
kricketa's review against another edition
4.0
so many editions of this fine piece of literature in goodreads, and yet i can't find the cover of my own copy- in which chip looks like a total dreamboat. (UPDATE: I FOUND IT.) this is one that i checked out over and over from the public library as soon as i graduated to the "YA browsing" room. i found it hopelessly romantic. upon re-reading as an adult it is surprisingly subtle- the romantic leads don't even kiss- but reading it was still a dreamy trip down memory lane. now to get my hands on a copy of the sequel, which i recall loving even more. (brandy alexanders!!)
panda_incognito's review against another edition
4.0
I learned about this vintage YA novel because a Goodreads friend added this to her to-read list. (If you're reading this, hi, Kathryn!) The title and premise appealed to me immediately, and I got this from ThriftBooks. On the night that I started it, I was planning to just read a chapter or two and then go to bed, but I ended up reading the whole thing. The first-person narrator is hilarious, self-aware, and clever, and the advice column plot was realistic, showing how a teenager running an anonymous column could both help people and find herself totally over her head.
This book will appeal to people looking for humorous vintage reads, and because it focuses on unchanging elements of human nature, it doesn't feel especially dated. In terms of content notes, there isn't anything in this book that would be considered offensive now. Most notably to me, although there are some realistic references to teen girls feeling unhappy with their weight, this only comes up a few times and isn't a running joke. Some characters use mild profanities. There are some extremely mild sexual references, to the point where they wouldn't even qualify as such in today's world.
One thing I appreciated is how the author handled the subplot about one of Carrie's friends feeling like she's in love with a young teacher. The book makes it very clear that dating a teacher is never a good possibility, that you have to let feelings like this pass, and that when you're under someone's authority and not their peer, a romantic relationship is not an acceptable thing to pursue. I appreciate how the book acknowledges the reality of how a teenage girl might feel about a teacher while still outlining clear boundaries, and without telling a horror story to make the point.
This book will appeal to people looking for humorous vintage reads, and because it focuses on unchanging elements of human nature, it doesn't feel especially dated. In terms of content notes, there isn't anything in this book that would be considered offensive now. Most notably to me, although there are some realistic references to teen girls feeling unhappy with their weight, this only comes up a few times and isn't a running joke. Some characters use mild profanities. There are some extremely mild sexual references, to the point where they wouldn't even qualify as such in today's world.
One thing I appreciated is how the author handled the subplot about one of Carrie's friends feeling like she's in love with a young teacher. The book makes it very clear that dating a teacher is never a good possibility, that you have to let feelings like this pass, and that when you're under someone's authority and not their peer, a romantic relationship is not an acceptable thing to pursue. I appreciate how the book acknowledges the reality of how a teenage girl might feel about a teacher while still outlining clear boundaries, and without telling a horror story to make the point.
satyridae's review against another edition
3.0
Snappy dialogue couldn't save this for me- I found Chip too obnoxious to bear. The premise is cute, the writing is good, and the plot bears one along at a satisfactory clip. I like the parents in this book, and think the fine line that the father must walk is really well-done.
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