My Desperate Love Diary

Diaries of Kelly Ann #1

by Liz Rettig, Elizabeth Rettig

Kelly Ann is fifteen and desperately in love with G - the biggest idiot in school. Her best friends Liz and Stephanie can see how awful G is - and also that Kelly Ann's quietly gorgeous friend Chris is madly in love with her. But Kelly Ann stumbles along blindly, unable to see what's right in front of her eyes. Navigating her way through teenage embarrassments, sick-filled parties, awful love poetry and green condoms, Kelly Ann is a hilariously endearing character and one every female reader, whatever age, will be able to relate to.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Teen, Childrens, Humor, Chick Lit

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2005

About the author

My name is Liz Rettig and I am an author. Luckily I had an unhappy childhood, an angst ridden adolescence, and my adult years have been characterised by an almost unremitting catalogue of failures. The ideal background then to nurture an author's talent. I write funny romantic novels mainly for teens but loads of adults read them so they can look back and laugh (or cringe). You can find out more about me and my books plus read some fun stuff about dating, love and writing on my website http://www.lizrettig.com

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love makes blind (and deaf + dumb) in this book as we meet Kelly Ann and see her tumultuous life!

I am so delighted with all the good reads I have had so far! All the books I bought and read at Boekenfestijn, and those bought on Saturday, are books I really liked! I still have more to go, but I have faith in them. :)

I spotted this book on Saturday during one of my miraculous rare bargain hunts, at first I wasn't sure if I should bring them with me, but I just couldn't leave them behind. And I am so happy I took them with me.

Sure, I was a bit annoyed at Kelly An at times. But mostly I just loved the girl a whole lot, I could relate with her. It is indeed true, blonde girls just have all the fun. :P I also saw it happen during my high school times.

I did feel sorry for her, and wanted to hug her at times, tell her things would be OK eventually, especially when all the family drama started. The mom leaving for Ibiza, finding a toyboy. The dad going depressed and drinking a lot. The sister's unexpected pregnancy (did it happen because Kelly An's friends blew up all the condoms during a party (no, don't ask)). It was chaos at home.

My annoyance with Kelly An was mostly found in her blind/dumb/idiotic love for G. Everyone, even the reader, can see that G is just a playboy tosser. But yet, no matter what happens, no matter how dickish he acts, Kelly An wants him. Doing his homework, almost having sex with him, cleaning up after him, and I could go on. If this only took a small part of the book, I would probably not have minded it that much, but this thing went on and on and on for the entire book.

And then there was her blatantly blindness for Chris, which was just painful. Yes, I didn't quite like Chris most of the book (he made some poor decisions and he would really need to find a better way to tell girls he likes them), but I still felt sorry for him. Eventually near the ending I started liking him more and more, to the point that I was hoping he would get the girl. And no, I won't spoil anything. :P

Kelly An's mates were terrific, though I did get a bit tired of Liz's psychobabble. And I was quite amazed at the patience they had for their weird friend. Quite a few people may just have given up, but they just diverted the topic, or they found something else that was interesting to her.

The book chronicles a year out of Kelly Ann's life. She writes almost daily in her diary, though sometimes the entries are very short. At the end she reflects back on her New Year's resolutions from the previous year.
I would have liked to see the new months start with a new chapter, instead of it being a continuous stream of entries.

I am not sure what to think of Ms. Connor, on the one hand I liked her, but on the other side I found her annoying. I didn't like how she was so hateful towards men.

Ah, and something that I missed, the exam grades. We do get them, but those are the wrong ones, we never really read about what the right ones were and if there was a public apology. Maybe I missed it, or maybe it really wasn't mentioned.

I really enjoyed this book. From hilarious situations to family drama to boys and romance, this book has it all!

I would recommend this one. As for me? I will be reading the next books very soon!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Filipa Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este foi o meu Harry Potter quando tinha 10 anos lol

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given this book from my mother and I think she got this from a book market. I normally don't read these kind of books and I can see why.

Typical characters, typical storyline and typical ending. You could predict everything in this book. I refuse to read it again so I can't remember the character's names. But I'll give you a run through:

Girl is extremly self-concious and has a crush on the popular guy.
Popular guy meets girl at a party and begins to flirt.
Girl invites him over and they are about to have sexual intercourse [peer pressure:].
[I think:] The girl's best guy friend interrupts because he has an obvious crush on her but the girl never noticed.
Girl realises Popular guy is an a-hole and realises the boy friend she's been waiting for has always been there.
Girl and guy fall in love and its happy ending.

I pretty much hated this book all the way through it, way to predictable. Something that would've been considered exciting in the 70s. But in this modern age... predictible and boring.
Maybe 10 to 12 year olds might like this but the sexual reference makes it suitable for 13-16. Too bad Rettig's targetted audience aren't interested in predictability.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF'd the title should have told me that i wasn't gonna like it.

[Gizelle Sookool]

Really funny and enjoyable

[SHR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is written in the form a diary by 15 year old Kelly Ann – it starts with New Year resolutions and ends a year later with new ones. She is like a teenage Bridget Jones - with less angst and more humour!

It was hard not to like Kelly Ann and her friends, Stephanie & Liz. Liz is an amateur psychologist, always dispensing advice but ignoring it herself. Stephanie is well-to-do and experienced; she sees things in a more realistic light than the other 2. Kelly Ann’s family are also entertaining and their situations give Kelly Ann some things to ponder as she grows.

The action of the book centres on Kelly Ann’s infatuation with G and Chris, her best male friend – who is totally in love with her. This situation gives rise to much irony as Kelly Ann “shakes her head” over people being in love with people who don’t notice – she can’t understand why they can’t they see what is in front of them – most amusing.

I am such a Mum and such a hopeless romantic that as I read this, I was worried she’d make the wrong choice… sad... (lol) but it does show I was involved in the unfolding story. Very entertaining.

[Sandra Sales · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Este livro foi oferta no Dia do Livro de 2013, distribuiram-no na estação dos comboios.)
HILARIANTE!! Não sei porque é que esperei tantos anos para o ler! O livro é o diário de uma adolescente e conta todas as peripécias dela e da sua família durante um ano inteiro. A história é super bem-disposta! Adorei!

[sedi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Kelly Ann was hilarious throughout and the romance was really cute and fun to read (especially the ending parts!). Although, at some points, I was really annoyed with the idea that she was in love with Gerry right up until the end. It felt WAYY TOO LONG!! Though, all honesty, this book was amazing with the goey romance-ness stuff.

[Cory · Rating 2 out of 5]

This ended up having a bit more depth than I had originally expected, but overall, I found it a bit repetitive. I think I may have been expecting another Louise Rennison, which is a bit unfair of me. I was bound to be disappointed.

[Mary gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best books I have ever read. Totally relates to a teenager

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

My copy was given to me by a friend, who wrote, "This is the funniest parody of teenage angst I have ever read. I hope you get as many laughs out of it as I did." I agree with her succinct review.

[A.E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to raise a toast to my boy Chris. God’s strongest soldier.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Desperate Love Diary follows fifteen-year-old Kelly Ann’s, well, disastrous, attempts to lure the boy of her dreams.

Liz Rettig has imagined a brilliantly memorable cast of characters to support Kelly Ann. Her best friends, Liz and Stephanie, are there for her every step of the way, but definitely keep her feet off the ground. Liz is always on a doomed-from-the-start diet and provides therapy sessions for anyone who’ll listen while Stephanie has gorgeous, not-so-clever boyfriend after gorgeous, not-so-clever boyfriend. Then there’s sweet and caring Chris and the arrogant, idiotic G.

However, I didn’t really gel with Kelly Ann. The way she pandered to G’s ever need and was convinced that the sun shone out of his ass even when he was being an ass really got on my nerves. Her inability to realise that he was not interested and being oblivious to Chris’s clear attraction to her wound me up. Open your eyes, girl! But the diary format was easy to read and I got the ending I wanted.

My Desperate Love Diary is a fun read for fans of diary books that follow the trials and tribulations of being a teenage girl.

[GiraffeAndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Deník mý zoufalý lásky" jsem četla poprvý už před nějákou dobou, ale protože jsem nedávno měla chuť na nějákou oddechovku a šáhla jsem po téhle knize znovu, rozhodla jsem se o ní něco napsat. Na první pohled totiž ta kniha málokoho zaujme - název a obálka svědčí spíš o nějáké jednoduché knížce pro malé holky, no prostě víte, jak to myslím...

Já sama jsem k té knize už když jsem jí četla poprvé byla dost skeptická. Ale ačkoliv už odzačátku víte, jak ta kniha dopadne, protože hlavní hrdinka je evidentně naprosto slepá a naivní, je to úžasně čtivá a vtipná kniha :D Je psána, jak je podle názvu zřejmé, formou deníkových zápisků v průběhu jednoho roku. Hlavní hrdince je zezačátku patnáct, později oslaví své šestnácté narozeniny.

Mrzí mě, že u nás nevyšly žádné další díly, protože tohle je přesně ten typ knihy, z který sice nebudete přímo paf, ale přečtete si ji klidně víckrát a pořád vás bude stejně bavit. I napodruhý jsem si ji užila!

[RYCJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

...And a desperate love diary this is. The humor and sarcasm was quite entertaining, as were the many (too numerous) laugh out loud moments. As the love diary heads to the middle of the book (Kelly Ann quantifying why the guy she is madly in love with is dodging her), the theme and sarcasm thins and wears a bit. The irony however is, I'm trapped and wrapped up in seeing how Rettig is going to package this piece. I can't close the book. I want to know what's going to be the quantum that brings Kelly Ann to her senses!

I really enjoyed this YA novel. Some of my favorite parts were the American teacher visiting Kelly Ann's class to teach abstinence. A real (hoot) that one was. Mum running off for a Sergio was a bigger (hoot). And Ms. Conner's replying to the Ad, oh!, I screamed out loud laughing!!!

A very enjoyable treat My Desperate Love Diary was.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Monica Sheffo for TeensReadToo.com

Kelly Ann is completely in love with the man of her dreams, whom she only refers to as "G". She's positive he also likes her.

If only things were that easy.

Kelly Ann's got a secret admirer, parents who are on the verge of a split, and a pregnant sister. Plus, high school! With the help of her friends, can she survive school and figure out her secret admirer's identity, as well as win the heart of the school's most notorious player?

As reliable as your best girl friend, Ms. Rettig delivers yet another chick lit hit. Her protagonist is relateable, like a girl who lives just down the street, and the British lingo adds a quirky twist. The plot, though familiar, is still enjoyable as you laugh along with Kelly Ann as she struggles with first love and loss.

Lighthearted and fun, MY DESPERATE LOVE DIARY is sure to please!

[miss vampire 101 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book i got when i was given money to go into town i got all three of the set ,my mind has really read all the trashy books about teenage love and love yada yada , this one is quite pointless not that it want good which it was but i mean the main character kelly ann falls for a complete sneb G all of her friends really annoy her telling her what a complete sneb he is but she never listens,until she finds out when she dates him he only only wants one thing (usally this is in evrey teen book now) so she dumps him and finds out the one she wants was her best friend chris after all ,allof this has minor things like ,sister getting preggers mum so depressed that shes gnna be an auntie that she dressers like an old slapper and goes on holiday leaving family

loved it

[Ivy ʕ•ᴥ•ʔ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I read this 3-4 years ago which was borrowed by a friend's friend. I saw her holding it and was attracted to the cover and right there and then I wanted to get my hands on it so I begged my friend to ask her friend to borrow it to me. Desperate much.
Anyways, I dont remember the story much but I do remember that I loved it a lot and I didn't want to return the book back. How young and selfish I was back then. Not that that's changed. Tehee.

Edit: I ordered the book. Wanted to read it again. Bought it for just GBP 0.99, it's used though. Oh well.

[Annabelle Laurance · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well I didnt actually finish reading this book cos it sucks. Sorry but ive read 3/4 and it still hasnt got any of my attention. It is very unrealistic and has very unrealistic stupid characters, ie kellie Annes mum, Kellie Ann herself. I dont recommend this to challenging readers. I might recommend it to the faint readers. Every diary entry, is about nothing in particular. Just her going on and on about how 'ugly' she looks. Maybe it has little events but its certainly straight down boring.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading young adult fiction and this book did not disappoint. This adorable book is the diary of a 15 year old Scottish girl--sort of a female "Diary of Adrian Mole". (And while Adrian Mole is superior and a classic, this is a worthy successor). Her chronicles of her crush, her family, friends, and teachers is hilarious and witty. Perfect light YA fiction.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny story, told in diary style, about a Scottish teenage girl, her dysfunctional family, her friends and her school crush.

So many funny things happen in this book - love, lust, pregnancy, mid-life crisis, feminism, computer hacking, divorce, alcoholism and the general over the top insanity that can only come from a teenager.

A cute, funny and fast read :)

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and clever. True, it's incredibly predictable, but I think that's the whole point. My Desperate Love Diary is definitely not your average romantic comedy--it's witty, adorable and incredibly original.

[Sofia Oliveira · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gostei deste livro pela visão realista da pré-adolescência/adolescência pela qual, também eu, já passei e que (in)felizmente me permitiu vivenciar estas coisas todas que a Kelly Ann nos vai descrevendo.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/2.5

Funny, light, easy read. Slightly disappointed with the characters. Recommend to beginner readers around my age.

Full review: http://threebookbloggers.tumblr.com/p...

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I flew through this book, I loved it!!! However, Kelly Ann constantly frustrated me. She couldn't read the signs about how Chris loved her the whole time, and she hardly had any idea she loved him (even though she did THE ENTIRE TIME).

[Emily Secher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it! It is so funny, especially because you can relate to the all awkward moments in the book! Kelly Ann is such a relatable character that you can't help but love her. Great book, I would definitely recommend it for a funny read!

[Dacil]

AHHHHH
this book is absolute rubbish
so predictable I just couldn't read it anymore after the 1st few chapters
It made me angry >0

cheerio!

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Couldn't really understand some of it because it's set in Britain, or some place like that, but i enjoyed it. It was a good read.

[Josefina Lizette a c e. [☮] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so awesome.

[Nav · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book but I just couldn't.