The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson (Jessie Jefferson Novels, #1)

by Paige Toon

[Leah]

It was very exciting when Paige Toon revealed she was going to become a two-book-a-year author. This is the news I want every author to reveal, especially one that's such a great author as Paige. The even more delightful news is that her new series is not only about Johnny Jefferson's illegitimate daughter, Jessie, but it's a Young Adult novel, a genre I absolutely adore - almost as much as I adore Chick Lit! The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson is the first novel in the series, with a second to come next year, and it was a great opening to Paige's new series.

Of all of Toon's characters, Johnny and Meg are probably the most remembered (although, not to me personally - I still hanker for Lily and Ben, they're the two I love the most, I think) and they have multiple novels featuring them - Johnny Be Good, Baby Be Mine, Johnny's Girl and they're all super enjoyable although I did feel Johnny's Girl was a novella too far so to bring in Johnny's long-lost daughter was a tad worrying for me - I want Meg and Johnny to live happily ever after - I know Paige's fans love them, but I'd rather them be happy and not read another book about them than see them going through strife for the sake of a book. But I found that Jessie's arrival didn't really put them through any major strife - there are little bits, little niggles between the two, but Jessie's arrival was very welcome, and very enjoyable. It sort of felt like re-reading Meg's story from way back when - Jessie coming to LA, being starstruck, seeing Johnny's massive house, meeting Davey, the driver... It was a nice symmetry to Meg's story.

Jessie is a typical teenager - she's just lost her mum, and she's acting out; drinking, smoking, staying out late... and I wanted to love her, but I didn't warm to her quickly, it took a while. I found she was much, much nicer when she wasn't acting like a typical teenager (read: a brat), because the way she acts for the first half of the book is on purpose. She's purposefully being difficult, which made her seem much younger than fifteen. But I thought that when she went off to LA, it allowed her to be herself, she seemed to stop being so difficult. And so I warmed to her that much more when she was being herself. I very much enjoyed her journey to Los Angeles, I love hearing about Johnny's house (I want to live there myself). There's a typical love triangle (Toon's signature seems to be love triangles and it's apparent once again in her YA debut), but for me there was no contest. Jack, bad boy Johnny-like Jack, was way better than Tom. Tom seemed dull in comparison so I am definitely rooting for Jessie/Jack going forward in the series.

The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson was a good debut. I've read better young adult novels, I must admit, this was your typical young adult novel, hitting all the right places (it wasn't bad, but it didn't really blow me away as some young adult novels have), but Jessie seems like a good kid, and I'm definitely interested to see how her life is going to progress - will she stay in England or move to LA for good? What about all her English friends - I really hope Jessie and Libby can fix their relationship? What about her step-dad Stu? There are lots of questions going forward and, of course, the most important question of all: Jack or Tom. Toon's writing is as solid as ever, and I very much enjoyed the read. I can't wait until next year for Jessie's next adventure.

This review was originally posted on Girls Love To Read