Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters

I recommend Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disaster’s

I recommend Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disaster’s to anyone who wants a fun escape. I think readers will identify with Kelsey and find her delightfully different than the teen characters that are trying to save the world. Kelsey is just a girl trying to get through the freshman year that didn’t quite go as planned and will satisfy your funny bone.

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Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters

I remember freshman year like it was yesterday. I thought that it was the beginning of something big. I had some of the greatest friends in the world and we were about embark on a pretty awesome time....well that is what we thought. What did we know we were freshman. My freshman year was not as bad as Kelsey's. She had it pretty bad. I can relate to her on somethings but not much. And I am okay with that.

Kelsey is starting what she thinks is going to be one of the best years of her life. She is entering her freshman year with her best friends. This is going to be epic! But it turns out to be far from it. Everything that you can imagine that could be bad happened to her. From being mad fun of in the school newspaper, to having a the popular girl in school make fun of her. This could really make or break someone in high school. But also during this time she finds out who her true friends are and also she finds out that she is not the only one having a rough year.

During my high school years you really find out who your true friends are. I thought that these friends are just going to be around until the friends you are going to be friends with for the rest of your life come around. Boy was I wrong. I am still best friends with the same girls that I have been friends with since freshman year. They understand me and they get everything that I am about. That is a true friendship and this is how Kelsey and her friends are.

This book was so good that I could not put it down. Now I am not going to lie it took me awhile to read it just because my life has been crazy lately. But this book helped me laugh during the rough times I have been having lately in my laugh. And that is what makes a book great!

I absolutely loved this! Kelsey is about to start high school as

I absolutely loved this! Kelsey is about to start high school as a freshman and she's hoping to stand out and make it her year. She has big hopes on getting a good position on the school's soccer team and maybe going for that guy she's been crushing on forever. Of course, things don't always go as planned, but especially not in Kelsey's case... a lot of the time.

Kelsey and her three best friends - Em, JoJo, and Cass - are hilarious! I loved the banter between them all and Kelsey's train of thought as the narrator had me laughing my ass off. Even the short interactions with her annoying little sister were cracking me up. I loved Kelsey's sarcasm, neurosis, and resiliency. It was super-easy to relate to her. I also loved JoJo who was quick-witted, funny, and easy-going. I kinda wished I was part of the BFF crew! I loved the awkward situations and seeing how Kelsey was going to bounce back from them. Definitely go pick up a copy of this book! You'll love it.

FRESHMAN YEAR & OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS- A fun read about friendship, first love and the proof that life- especially freshman year- doesn¿t always play out as planned.

The story around Kelsey Finkelstein is obviously set in high-school, a beloved scenery of mine. And just like other high-school stories FRESHMAN YEAR & OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS has the enormous conflict potential of a bunch of growing up, hormonal kids.

It’s just like in real life, because Kelsey expects her new school year to be epic and what does she get? An epic fail! There are a few very funny things happening to Kelsey and I totally felt with her. The chase after her crush keeps her mind occupied and Meredith Zeitlin doesn’t make it that easy for her to find Mr. Right.

I would have wished for a profound romance between Kelsey and Mr. Right as I call him, but there simply wasn’t enough time for one to develop, because the story concentrates on the failures of Kelsey’s freshman year in the first place. One of Kelsey’s goals is to score her preferred position on the soccer team and I can tell you that much... it won’t be easy for her to play a successful season. Some people in the story are exactly who you think they are, others are not.

Many moments of FRESHMAN YEAR & OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS are about the bonds of friendship between the four girls, Kelsey, Cassidy, JoJo and Emily. All four are very different characters and throughout the story we learn more about Kelsey’s friends and their lives, too. FRESHMAN YEAR & OTHER UNNATURAL DISASTERS is about first experiences in love and sex for all of them.

Of course there needs to be a family that Kelsey is embarrassed and annoyed of. They dare to ruin her social life in school and even her private life thanks to hideous outfit suggestions and a little star of a sister. This story is about lessons to learn and Kelsey’s really doing a good job to keep up with every social obstacle thrown in her way. Get into Kelsey’s head, she’s fun!

THE VERDICT

I give it 3,5/5 stars.

The story offers typical freshman year elements like a prom, a school play, high-school parties, annoying siblings, a bubbling mix of teenage hormones and the crazy incidents resulting from them.
And the story is totally riddled with these hilarious, embarrassing, pitiful incidents. I was entertained, but I didn’t feel a very deep connection to the characters. I think there should be a sequel to Kelsey’s story so we could get to know the characters some more and be part of a more detailed view on the blooming romances.

Oh Kelsey, Kelsey, Kelsey. Try as she might to make these great

Oh Kelsey, Kelsey, Kelsey. Try as she might to make these great plans about her freshman year of high school, she just keeps getting knocked down again and again. Just when she thinks one thing is pulling through, pffft there is goes down the drain. However, this story is a great reminder that when you are so focused on one thing, the thing that’s staring you in the face can often be overlooked. This story has the best relationships and at times the worst betrayals, but it is definitely about friendship and making it through everything together…eventually.

The moments that Kelsey is clueless have a great payoff in the end and there was a bit of a twist to the story that I never expected. Kudos to Zeitlin for that bit, it made me a very happy reader. This story is full of laughs and some heartbreak for Kelsey and I think that everyone can relate to some part of her life. And the things that I can’t relate to are ones that I am grateful for. This would make a great read for anyone entering (or in) high school and anyone that still remembers what it was like to be thrown into that foreign land!

Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.

My freshmen year in high school....I can totally relate to every

My freshmen year in high school....I can totally relate to every aspect of this book. A new girl, starting at a new school, friends and of course boy drama. I really like the feel of this book. It took to my heart right away and I could not put it down.

What I enjoyed most about this book is the great characters. Kelsey is a freshmen. Bent on setting a name for herself, Kelsey is determine to do things a certain way. I loved Kelsey. She reminded me of me when I was young. Over dramatic, heart-broken , embarrassing moments, anyone can relate to this girl. I loved that Kelsey feels real. She's not perfect. She just a girl in this world trying desperately to find her place.

I really loved the plot line. It was simple yet a wonderful journey to walk in. To see Kelsey grow with every mistake made her such a better person. Yes, she got all teenageary and cried, got attitude, but who wouldn't? I like that her character feels real. She captured the voice a teenage girl beautifully.

Freshmen Year & Other Unnatural Disasters is a cute coming of age book. Ms. Zeitlin has a way of writing everyday situations that everyone can relate to and enjoy.

3 STARS

I would like it to be known that I was stepping outside of my comfort zone when I accepted 'Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters' by Meredith Zeitlin for review. I don't usually read contemporary/realistic fiction/or chick lit, but I tend to give a go at it once in a while for books who receive a lot of buzz or good reviews.
I think 'Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters' rubbed me the wrong way. Either from my excess amount of maternal hormones, a lack of common interest, or it was not in the stars for me and this book to get along. =)
The first time I tasted alcohol was when I was 18 and same goes about sex education, yes, I was pretty much sheltered which probably is majority of why I teeter on enjoying this book. It was like a big "WHOA!" reaction to read a 14 year old, namely Kelsey and her friends, to be drinking and talking about sex. I couldn't really enjoy her character because she was too obsessed and narrow minded on constantly thinking and talking about boys. Kelsey rambles on and complains too much in every scene. I couldn't really get hooked on anything, or find a common ground.
The Likes: There were two occasions where a passage had me in laughing stitches. Everyone enjoys a good laugh. If with the right audience the writing is true to life and elaborately detailed and can be entertaining. With all the drama and on getting to know kelsey, I feel like the ending wouldn't last, or the ending felt more like a consolation prize. Even though, the ending was likeable in a cliche kind of way.
Freshman Year and Other Unnatural Disasters was not my cup of tea, but don't let me spoil it for you because it might just be your brand! I'm more of a para-dystopian-fantasy java kind of chick.

Delightful!

In Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters, we follow new Freshman Kelsey Finkelstein through her first year of high school. All Kelsey wants is to make her mark and to have a really great first year. Unfortunately for Kelsey, things do not work out exactly as she has planned them to.

I really love Kelsey’s character. She kept me in stitches with all the mishaps that happen on her first year of high school. I can totally sympathize with her on some of the things that happened; as I definitely remember my freshman year all too well. Her best friends; Cass, JoJo and Em were all wonderfully well thought out characters as well! I really enjoyed the relationships that these four girls had.

All of the ‘disasters’ that poor Kelsey went through definitely make the book a hilarious read. From her first kiss, to being back-stabbed by her best friend over a boy, to a school play gone wrong; it all adds up to some really funny situations. Add in some pretty emotional teenage drama, a great storyline and it all comes together into a really fun read.

The only part in the book that I had an issue with was all the underage drinking. Call me a prude, but I am not a fan of drinking at all. And being a mom of a 13 year old, I would definitely not want my daughter drinking at that age. I understand that all kids experiment, and that’s ok, but I just felt that it went a little overboard. I do, however, think that the author sent out a good message about the other issues that teen’s face; sex, drugs, homosexuality, etc. (Please keep in mind that this is just me, and I know many people will not feel this way!)

Overall, this book is definitely one of the funniest books I’ve read so far this year. The teenage drama and the fun characters definitely kept me hooked. I am definitely looking forward to reading more work by this author in the future. This really was a great read!

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