Mitchell Kriegman

A fresh reimagining of Clarissa Explains It All, written by the creator of the groundbreaking Nickelodeon series.

A Clarissa Novel

Things I Can't Explain

Kourtney

It hurts my soul to rate this book as only 3 stars, but unfortunately that's what it is. I was, along with many other reviewers, a huge fan of Clarissa when I was 10 and she was 14. I looked up to her and envied her wardrobe. So how was it that I am now 30-something *cough cough* and yet she is only in her 20's? How is it that, even though she is older than me when the show started, she is now declaring herself a millennial when I'm too old for that? Somewhere in the Clarissa world, she paused time.

And what happened to Sam?? It felt like such a slap in the face to write the storyline the way he did and then not even resolve it. I felt like the author wrote about it, focused on everything else, got to the end and declared "oh shoot I need to say what happened to Sam...ummm...gee I just don't know." I'm sorry but I never liked this whole storyline - I won't say much more to not give it away but fans of the show won't be happy.

Then the references to Melissa Joan Hart's other TV shows was distracting. A cat with a magical portal for coming and going that she wanted to name Salem but instead named Elvis? AND WHAT HAPPENED TO ELVIS?! Another storyline that wasn't resolved! A plot line similar to her ABC Family movies? Calling a character Dr Hart? Thank you for taking me out of my headspace (!!) to remind me that she was only an actress. 

Overall? Was there a plot? I'm still not sure what the main meat of the story was. And the monologues that Clarissa used to give to us didn't translate well on paper. Neither did the diagrams. I wonder if the ebook would be worse... 

Fans of Clarissa? Hold back on your excitement to not have unrealistic expectations the way I did (didn't even know this was coming out - just happened to be browsing and saw it and then promptly freaked out when I realized that it was about Clarissa Darling!) If you don't know who Clarissa is enjoy the book, but know you've missed out on crazy early-90's fun!

A complete re-imagining of the 1990s television hit Clarissa Explains it All as 20-something Clarissa tries to navigate the unemployment line, mompreneurs and the collision of two people in love. She was a smart, snappy, light-hearted girl who knew it all at fourteen and let television audiences everywhere know it. Now a woman in her late twenties, her searching blue eyes are more serious, but mostly amused by the people around her. The gap-toothed smile that made her seem younger than she really was is gone, but she still lightens up the room. Her unpredictable wardrobe rocks just like when she was a kid, but her fashion sense has evolved and it makes men and women turn their heads. After leaving high school early, Clarissa interned at the Daily Post while attending night school. At the ripe old age of twenty- two she had it made - her own journalism beat (fashion, gender politics and crime), an affordable apartment in FiDi and a livable wage. She was so totally ahead of the game. Ah, those were the days! All three of them. Remember the Stock Market Crash of 08? Remember when people actually bought newspapers? All of Clarissa's charming obsessions, charts, graphs, and superstitions have survived into adulthood, but they've evolved into an ever-greater need to claw the world back under control. Her mid-twenties crisis has left her with a whole set of things she can't explain: an ex-boyfriend turned stalker, her parents' divorce, a micro relationship with the cute coffee guy, java addiction, "To-Flue Glue," and then there's Sam. Where's Sam anyway? Things I Can't Explain is about knowing it all in your teens and then feeling like you know nothing in your twenties. It is an entertaining and must-read sequel to all fans of Mitchell Kriegman's Nickelodeon TV show,Clarissa Explains It All.

Jessica 

Blog | Twitter | Instagram | As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Things I Can’t Explain is the highly anticipated modern day sequel to everyone’s favorite and quirky know-it-all narrated kids show, now considered a classic, Clarissa Explains It All. I can’t name a single person I know who isn’t familiar with the iconic and charming television series, whether they watched it as it aired or when it was put in syndication and reruns took over their summertime.

Regardless of the hows and the whens, a great deal of us grew up with Clarissa Explains It All; giggling and admiring the series in a way that only the young can. You couldn’t help but to love Clarissa and her long winded narration. I’ve often wondered what happened after the show ended, because it’s impossible to not enjoy yourself so Things I Can’t Explain has been on my mind for ages now.

But where is Clarissa Darling now, you ask?

New York City–jobless and searching for something, anything; like many people in their late twenties. Clarissa is just the same as ever, only more adult and slightly more polished–but she’s still our Clarissa, guys. Pretentious at times, funny and opinionated in other moments. Good news, too, guys: she is still a total badass in her fashion choices. 

Continued @ BOOKEDJ.

Things I Can't Explain A Clarissa Novel

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