BR: Queen Kat, Carmel & St Jude Get a Life! - Maureen McCarthy

You know the book is a guaranteed good read when the author's name is much larger than the title itself. A McCarthy classic, what could possibly go wrong? Her name is like a stamp saying 'Read me, I won't disappoint' (if you fit her target audience..)
Teenage Australian girl who's been through high school/growing up/going through a phase? Then this book is for you!
This novel is basically about three teenage girl who have just received their year 12 ENTER/ATAR results and are about to embark on a journey into university. More nerve-racking than that is that they must all move away from their home town, into the city and create a new life for themselves. They all end up commuting in the same house which is how their fates intertwine etc you get the gist.
Admittedly, my own transition into university was very anti-climatic, but the change these girls go through resonates within you regardless. It's a lot about change, and finding your feet and where you fit into this giant puzzle that is society. If you're cringing at the thought of having to read about university/school, don't worry. This book isn't all 'Omg that tute was so boring' or 'Today, I got up early to attend my prac', university isn't really the central issue at hand. It revolves more around these girls maturing and 'coming of age'.
It is told through three personalities;
Queen Kat - Katerina- is a gorrrgeous girl from a rich family who is suddenly thrown into a bustling city where she finds that her beautiful face gets her places, gets her popular, and gets her used.
Carmel is your country bumpkin who meets the city of Melbourne for the very first time. She battles issues with lack of self confidence, uncertainty for the future and her size 18+ body (which she hates).
St Jude is a passionate, fiery girl who wears her heart on her sleeve. We see her fight her personal battles and come to terms with her family history.
We basically see these three girls learn about themselves and blossom and become young women who are proud and optimistic about their future :D.

I know it sounds very cliche. And it kind of is. But in that good way? These characters are cliche in the kind of way where they are the ones who set the standard for the cliche in the first place? Like how Dracula isn't your 'typical' vampire, he's the standard set for vampires! He's what you would compare other vampires to.
Likewise, these characters are one of the finest set of your contemporary teenage girls. :) I may be a bit biased in my opinion. But I refuse to see it any other way.

The writing was very straight forward. What you see is what you get. The apple fell onto the floor. NOT the succulent ripe, red apple plummeted from the mahogany table, landing graciously onto the tiled floor. None of that bullshit. Which is perfectly okay in setting the tone.

The characters are lovely. I don't really love them as people, because I didn't really find anything particularly extraordinary about them, but I really do adore and envy their relationship with each other. They're all like a perfect relationship stepped out of matchmaker.com. It's also very real, in that its relatable; that process of forming a friendship bond that will last a long time. *sigh, cups cheeks, smiles*


I'd read it previously about 8 years ago. Back then, I'd loved it. LOOOOVED it. The idea of growing up! Entering university and worrying about adults things! Like money and jobs and love and lectures! Reading it now makes me feel very sentimental and awwww and OLD. It's the strangest feeling! Reading a book you used to find awe-inspiring only to find that the feeling is now replaced with nostalgia and understanding.

This book is said to be her bestseller, with a TV show inspired from it as well. I don't find this her best book, simply because there wasn't anything stand-outish about it, but it is still a book worth keeping in your heart because the emotional journey is so precious! (I'm sorry I sound so soppy)
It's an easy read of 445 pages and divided into 5 parts. I also want to mention, in the latest publication that I had purchased, the chapter print is soooo pretty. It has like the chapter number in a really chill CAPS LOCKED print, and surrounding it is the stain from a cup of coffee. If that makes sense. Like, it has that ring of a coffee cup around the chapter number. Which looks really cool. And is appropriate. It looks beautiful. It's like art! And the cover has the cup of coffee too, and The Age (although they hid it) and cake! Like its from some scene in a Melbourne cafe somewhere. Ah so cool. It's like a whole set of something.
But anyways, yes.