Diary of a Crush: French Kiss by Sarra Manning

Some of you may be familiar with Sarra Manning’s more recent work writing excellent adult fiction novels, the amazing Unsticky is my favourite, but before she took the step into more meaty writing, she penned a trio of young-adult novels in the Diary of a Crush series.

The trilogy all beings with French Kiss, in which we are introduced to Edie, also known as Edith, who is trying to adjust to her new life after moving to a new town. Things are helped somewhat by the attractive Dylan, who she admires from afar at her new college. Dylan is a messy-haired, elusive art student, and it just so happens that he’s noticed Edie around college, too.

As you might imagine, French Kiss is written in diary format; the first person point of view creates a few laughs and an insight into Edie’s world. I’ve found that the best book in the series is the last by far, and French Kiss is just the beginning. So stick with it, it improves as you get onto the second and third book! Not to say that the first isn’t any good, it may just a little too typical of a teenage book for some readers.

This is the kind of humorous girly teenage read that is perfect for fans of the Louise Rennison Confessions of Georgia Nicholson series. You may be familiar with Manning’s other young adult novel, Adorkable, which was nominated for various teenage book awards. I haven’t actually read Adorkable, but I have only heard good things!

Manning originally penned the Diary of a Crush for the teenage magazine she worked for, Just Seventeen. The editor gave our author the opportunity to write a weekly romance column, and it is here Edie and Dylan’s story began. You may have heard or even read them already; the books were released back in the 2000’s, but are now set for rerelease this year. Manning has updated the references to popular music, for a 2013 audience. With this in mind, the books have also been made available in e-book format for the first time.

Since I first read this series, way back in the noughties, young adult books have change dramatically. The plot of your typical YA book now involves vampires, werewolves and other supernatural characters all getting themselves into unrealistic situations. This trilogy takes me back to when girls used to enjoy reading about another girls love life. Diary of a Crush is how girly, teenage chick-lit used to be; a quick easy read, ideal for summer. Nothing too series, but enough to laugh at and pass onto your friends when you’re finished, and I miss that.

Sarra Manning is a brilliant author, able to engage her audience, whether through humor, a good romance and witty dialogue – or a mixture off all three. She hits the nail on the head with this series and I am desperately looking forward to reviewing her new adult fiction novel, It Felt Like a Kiss; due for release in February 2014.

You can purchase the first book in the Diary of a Crush series here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Diary-Crush-French-Kiss-Number/dp/0349001561/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375622614&sr=1-1&keywords=diary+of+a+crush

The following books are Kiss and Make Up and finally Sealed with a Kiss.