My First Love and Other Disasters: My First Love and Other Disasters / Love & Betrayal & Hold the Mayo / My Mother Was Never a Kid

Victoria Martin #1-3

by Francine Pascal

Fun in the sun—and romance that might be a little shady—fills the pages of this beach-perfect collection from Sweet Valley High and Fearless author Francine Pascal.

For Victoria Martin, summer means sunbathing, swimming, wild parties, and…boys!

Completely in love with Jim, Victoria signs herself up for a summer job on Fire Island after hearing that Jim plans on spending his sunny days there. It’s the perfect plan—if only she can make Jim forget about his annoyingly gorgeous girlfriend Gloria. But if Victoria isn’t careful, the best summer of her life could become a total nightmare!

And the next summer isn’t looking any better either when Victoria accepts a job as a waitress at Camp Mohaph with her best friend Steffi. Thinking it’ll be the perfect time to relax and let loose, Victoria never expects to fall hard for Steffi’s boyfriend, Robbie. And he’s falling for her too. The last thing Victoria wants to do is hurt her best friend, but her feelings for Robbie may be too hard to resist…

This collection of sizzling summer romance includes a bonus book: in My Mother Was Never a Kid, you’ll get to meet Victoria when she’s just turned thirteen and is having Freaky Friday–style mother-daughter issues—and forms a friendship that transcends time!

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

672 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2014

About the author

Francine Paula Pascal was an American author best known for her Sweet Valley series of young adult novels. Sweet Valley High, the backbone of the collection, was made into a television series, which led to several spin-offs, including The Unicorn Club and Sweet Valley University. Although most of these books were published in the 1980s and 1990s, they remained so popular that several titles were re-released decades later.

Reviews

[Gena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this from my library for free, wasn’t the best.

[Annalisa Amato · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had much higher expectations for a book that was 600+ pages. I was bored out of my mind with the whole book and the stories in it. The events aren't even relevant. It suppose to be a teens book but I feel like I just read a book made for advanced 5th graders. only like 2 parts of the whole book where I wasn't bored out of my mind.

[Cameryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book I am reading is My First Love and Other Disasters by Francine Pascal, it is a realistic fiction book. This book has three different stories about a girl named Victoria, but I'm reviewing the 1st story.
The book is about a girl named Victoria. She has a major crush on this guy named Jim. She convinces her parents to let her go to Fire Island for the summer to work as a Mother's Helper (someone who takes care of the kids on vacation) and also because Jim goes there every summer. She has this big plans to make Jim fall in love with her, her only conflicts are Barry- Jim's best friend who says he's in love with Victoria, DeeDee and David- the kids she takes care of, being homesick and the biggest one of all, Gloria- Jim's perfect cheerleader girlfriend.
I really liked how the book was super funny and relatable, the only downside to the book for me is that it feels like it ended right in the middle of the book.
I really think that anybody would enjoy this book, especially if you like realistic fiction and romance books (like me). Also another great thing about this book is that there are three different stories about Victoria's summer adventures. I really hope you conceder this book because it really is a great book and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Now that I have finished this first story, I will be reviewing the second story called, Love and Betrayal and Hold the Mayo by, Fancince Pascal, realistic fiction.
This second part of the book was another summer story and was very good. It was about Victoria Martin again, but this time she's working at a summer camp with her BFF Stefani. Stefani has been at the came before and was not nervous at all. But Victoria was because she had not been and she didn't know anybody like Stefani did. Victoria ends up making many friends, but like any good book there is one cnflicts. Steffani's boyfriend, Robbie. He was coming to the camp later, to work the boys cabbin. Once Victorica met him, she instantly feel in love. Stefani really wanted them to friends, so they all 3 could hang out. But instead of having this grand summer with her BFF, she spends it all avoiding Robbie. Stefani kept saying that Victoria didn't like him, but Victoria always found a way to make her believe she does. Once Victoria goes through many opsticules to avoid Robbie. Some other counsler makes them be partners for somethng and that's when Robbie admits his feelings to Victoria and they end up kissing.
Two things I liked about the book is that is was funny and relatable. One thing I disliked about the book is once again it leaves you hanging. It was big in the middle then leaves you on a cliff-hanger at the end, but it was stilla good book.
Some people that like this book is, if you love to read about drama, definitely girls in general and mostly mature readers.

[Julianna Wagar · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was way too Immature for me. The character is 14 (at least in the parts I read because I could not finish this 600 page book) and INCREDIBLY annoying and immature and could not stand to waste time reading this book so I did not finish and will not finish.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read these three books when they were originally published. The one about going back in time and meeting her mother was called "Hangin' Out With Cici". I remember really liking all of these when I was 14. I had actually tried to find these books a few years ago to re-read them, but they seemed to be out of print.

[Ceska Padilla · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is by far, the most boring book I have ever read! So thick yet so full of non sense!

[Amalinaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's refreshing to read such youthful and energetic kind of novel. It sort of reminded you of all the mischievous behavior, awkward and self discovery stage we all go through as a growing teenager. It's a series of 3 different years in Victoria's life stage. Each telling us a heartfelt story of discovering the meaning of true love, companionship and motherhood.

Had a fair share of laughing uncontrollably while reading Love & Betrayal & Hold the Mayo. Absolutely enjoyed it.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay I read the first two books and just cannot bring myself to read the last one. When I got this, I was hoping for fun Sweet Valley High-esque summer reading. But no. It was boring and had no real conclusion in either story and I didn’t even know it was supposed to be set in 70s or so until I was a good way in. It just read kind of weird for awhile. I’m gonna have to go read some real SVH to get the taste of this out of my brain lol.

[Cristina Pitts · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first 2 stories were like a 3.5, but the 3rd story was so bad, it reduced the book to a 2 star. For one they should have been in chronological order; and this is not a science fiction book, so that 3rd story was just weird and disappointing.

[Katie Tomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book would be better for a middle schooler even though it is listed as YA. Every single thing was very predictable but I should of expected that from a cliche teenage romance book. Other than that I did read all of it and enjoy it.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much it has 3 books in it and they are amazing

[Cassidy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*

[Braelynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just so cute and relatable for me when I was a young teen

[Lizzie the Book Hoarder · Rating 3 out of 5]

"My First Love and Other Disasters"
Victoria thinks if she can just be a mother's helper on Fire Island for the summer she will end up with the love of her life Jimmy. However as the summer goes on Victoria may just find out that maybe Jimmy is not the guy she thought he was.

"Love & Betrayal & Hold the Mayo"
Again Victoria believes she is going to have the summer of her life working at a summer camp with her best friend. Instead the camp is not as posh as she believed, one of her bunk mates is a pain and her love life is a disaster again. Victoria has met a boy she is head over heels about only he already has a girlfriend who just happens to be her best friends. What will Victoria do?

"My Mother was Never a Kid"
This story takes place before the first two in the book. Victoria wants to be treated like an adult but keeps acting like a kid. Will she ever grow up? Maybe a freak accident will help change her perspective on life and her mother.

[Danisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've only read the my first love and other disasters title, it was ok. A little below my current level but an interesting story to read.

[TheReadingSiren · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a cute story following the life a young teen [13-16] through the average teenages struggles. Boys, friendship, siblings and parent issues.

[Mari · Rating 1 out of 5]

So boring - I could not get into it & could not finish it

[Mia]

I didn't like it as much as I thought I was going to.