One Seriously Messed-Up Weekend (Jack Samsonite)

by Tom Clempson

[Jo]

Originally published on Once Upon a Bookcase.

I was so super excited when OSMUWeekend came through my letter box,  and considering how much I loved the first book, I knew I had to read it ASAP. And it didn't disappoint!

Two years on from where book one left off, Jack is now 17 and has to think about his future. Which uni will he go to? What course does he want to study? What's he going to write in his personal statement Which girl is he going to kiss on film to get a good grade in Media Studies, which will allow him to go to uni? When is he going to kiss this still-to-be-decided girl? Jack has to get all these questions answered in two days, while covered in poo, wearing a gingerbread man costume, avoiding a French Nazi Zombie deputy head and a band of Pygmy Warriors, without flashing or crapping himself. So fairly easy, really.

I cannot tell you how much I laughed at this book. I was sniggering not as quietly as I would have liked while on the tube, giggling while in the staff room at work (so much so one of my colleagues asked "What are you reading?!"), and grinning away like a complete loon from page 1 to page 335. There is no end to the funny in this book, and even as I write this I'm remembering various parts of the story and laughing to myself again. Jack's life is like a comedic adventure story, but an everyday kind of adventure story, where everything goes wrong in surprising and unexpected ways. You never know what situation Jack will find himself in next, or what's waiting just around the corner, but what you can be certain of is that it will be ridiculously funny!

I love Jack. I do. I still want to adopt him. He may be two years older, but he's still just as clueless around girls as he was in the first book. He has no idea of the right things to say or how to explain himself properly, and what was intended to be cool, smooth and clever, ends up being offensive or makes him sound like a complete idiot. As stupid as he sounds, it's actually endearing. He needs an older friend who'll sit him down, not take the mick, and tell him where he's going wrong. But then again, maybe he doesn't. Perhaps just being himself, being honest, and not trying too hard is all he needs, and may realise that on his own. But still, I want to give him the biggest hug! Not the best idea, though, considering what he thinks of being hugged by girls.

I really don't know what else I can say without spoiling the story. It's awesome! Go read it! What I will say is that I really hope it doesn't end soon. I can see so much potential for this series! It could be the next Adrian Mole! I can so see us watching Jack grow up. Getting ready to get married, and having to help his fiancé choose between two practically identical looking wedding invitations, and having to write his speech. Having a baby and having no idea what to do with a pooey nappy. Trying to navigate the world of the employed. And all that after university! I can imagine Jack's university years being hilarious! I want to see him struggle with dating all that comes along with it! I do so hope that Tom Clempson carries this series on! He's made a life-long fan out of me, and I'll read whatever he writes, but as well as everything else he'll come up with, I do hope he continues with Jack. I'm not sure I'll ever want to see him go.

A hilarious, brilliant novel! Really can't wait to see what Clempson comes up with next!

FYI: For the purposes of full disclosure, I feel I should let you know that I have been thanked in the Acknowledgements of OSMUWeekend. Despite this, my review of this book is honest, based on my genuine enjoyment of the novel. I have not written a positive review because of the acknowledgement. Please check out other reviews if you're uncomfortable with basing your decision on whether to read OSMUWeekend or not on my review alone because of this.

Thank you to Tom Clempson for the review copy.