Strictly For Laughs

by Ellen Conford

Amateur comedienne Joey Merino sees her chance for a big break when her best friend Peter Stillman becomes a disc jockey, but Peter is more interested in giving beautiful Dinah Smythe a chance to sing.

Genres: Young Adult

155 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Ellen Conford was an author for children and young adults. Among her writings are the Annabel the Actress and Jenny Archer series. Her books have won the Best Book of the Year Citation, Best Book of the International Interest Citation, Best Book of the Year for Children, Parents' Choice Award, and more.

Reviews

[Katterley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Ellen Conford back in my school days, and when weeding the shelves at the library, I once again came across this old paperback and decided that my personal affinity with Ms. Conford's "zany" characters did not mean I should take up shelf space when I needed room for new material. However, after letting the paperback sit on our book sale cart for a week, I than bought it myself and read this one. Very dated for the 80s, no cell phones and the like, but always a fun, humorous, and sweet adventure when Ms. Conford tells a story. I recommend any of her titles to teens that would enjoy a humorous "historical" fiction.

[Chele Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly funny nor my favorite Ellen Conford book, but it had me craving McDonald's, Joey and Peter's every Monday haunt. Yet I kept reading to see how it panned out. The main character, Joey, was pushy and too confident but kudos for a strong female lead. Usually, the girls have wavering self-confidence as I did back then (and sometimes still do) but aspiring comedienne Joey Merino grabs the golden ring of opportunities when they glint her way!
Her crush, and best buddy, Peter, is wishy-washy and oblivious and has eyes only for his aspiring DJ career while temporarily derailed by Dinah, a popular girl with a shy musical talent.
I thought I'd like this book since I had a DJ stint in college and I love comedy but the jokes weren't funny, and I cringed at her ad-libbed ads for the crazy appliance man's commercials. They could have gotten her in trouble.
Joey's boy pining and Peter's oblivion were dragged out a bit too long as was the jealous snit over Dinah, but then revelations are unveiled. It was an okay story. As a fan of the author since my high school days in the 80s, several other books are so much better!
I highly recommend "Crush," intertwining short stories about a Valentine's dance, brilliantly written with wit and heart! (My favorite tale was the con artist date! So funny!) Also, as a school newspaper student in high school and two colleges, (one recently) I enjoyed "Dear Lovey Hart, I am Desperate" and its sequel, "We interrupt this Semester for an Important Bulletin."

[Laina SpareTime]

Cross-posted from my blog where there's more information on where I got my copy and links and everything.

This was fine, but not great. It’s very dated, very 80s, and I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, but I liked Conford’s voice. It’s very approachable and I can definitely see teens in the 80s and 90s loving their books, especially ones who were more selective readers. It’s easy to read, and I see the humour, even if it doesn’t do much for me.

I do remember reading To All My Fans, with Love, from Sylvie as a kid though! That book was wild. And I will say the books listed in this book as “other books you may enjoy” and “mail off this form to buy our books” have some real gems. Like Hard Times High, Vacation Fever, or In the Middle of a Rainbow?

Also this cover is hilarious. What is with the clown?

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is fun, and the main characters are seniors in high school, so it's a bit more mature than some of Conford's other work. Still appropriate for 12+, but with more substance.

The whole thing takes place over only a few weeks, so even at 155 pages, it drags a little at times. Lots of Joey being upset at Peter and yelling, etc.

But the end is just *good*, and *sweet* and nice and I liked it a lot. Joey realizes the thing that frustrates so many readers: if she and Peter would have just talked to each other, so much could have been avoided, so much more could have been known and understood.

This line at the end: "Maybe it had taken us awhile to get along, but years and years of utterly non-platonic friendship lay ahead of us" (154). I mean, *come on.* Be still my heart.

[Reading with Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh, I quite liked Joey but Peter is kind of a dick and not much actually happens in this story.

[Mary Duda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a bunch of times why I was a kid, but when I read it as an adult, I found Joey pushy and annoying.

[Janalynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a little out dated but still fun.