Book Review: Jagged Little Pill The Novel

Jagged Little Pill was the first CD I ever bought and I’m surprised I didn’t wear it out playing it so much on my discman in 6th grade.  Last summer I finally got the chance to see Alanis live on her Jagged Little Pill Anniversary tour.  I’ve yet to see the broadway show, so when I saw there was a novel based on the musical, I had to read it.

I went in to reading this book having 0 idea about what the musical plot was – just very much so knowing the album. (There were a few easter eggs of lyrics here and there, I noticed.)  Turns out it is about a family – Frankie is adopted and her brother Nick and their parents as well as some of the kids that they go to school with.

Each of them is dealing with their own struggles and trying to overcome them in a town in Connecticut that likes to keep all their troubles secret.  Some of them end up coming to light and the story details how they all deal with them and help each other deal with them.

This was a pretty quick read but I really enjoyed it and am hoping all the more that I’ll get a chance to see the musical in the near future!

I received a free e-copy of this book from NetGalley in order to write this review. I was not otherwise compensated.

 

About the Book

Swallow it down—what a jagged little pill . . .

Jagged Little Pill: The Novel follows the intertwining lives of five teens whose world is changed forever after the events at a party.

Adopted Frankie struggles to see eye-to-eye with her mother—who would rather ignore a problem and preserve their “perfect” life than stand up for what’s right. Jo just wants her mom to accept her queer identity—and is totally crushed when Frankie, the only person who really gets her, finds herself infatuated with someone new. Phoenix tries to find his place at the new school and balance wanting to spend time with Frankie but knowing he also has to help out with his sick sister at home. Bella wants to enjoy the end of high school and just head off to college without a hitch. Everyone expects Frankie’s brother Nick to be the golden boy, but even though he just got into his dream school, he’s not even sure he’s a good person. Each of their stories intersects when Bella is sexually assaulted at a party, and it looks like the perpetrator might get away with it.

Moving, heartfelt, and raw, Jagged Little Pill: The Novel draws on the musical’s story and gives readers deeper glimpses of the characters. It’s a story about the power of voicing your pain, standing up for what’s right, and finding healing and connection.

90s Con – Hartford, CT

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The second weekend in March, 90s Con made its debut at the Hartford Convention Center in Hartford, CT.  When it was first announced last summer, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be ok with going to a convention with such large crowds yet, but as they added more and more guests I ended up buying a Saturday ticket and would give it a go.  About a week before, we found out that Joey Fatone wouldn’t be able to be there on Saturday, but that he would be appearing Friday and Sunday, so we opted to buy a Friday pass and I decided to add a pro photo op with Rider Strong so on Saturday whoever we ended up meeting, we’d meet and I wouldn’t be in panic mode all day.

Friday finally came, and as we were pulling into the parking garage, we got word that Joey’s flight had gotten canceled and he would not be making it Friday OR Saturday.  We managed to get in an ADA entrance and grab a spot for the MMC panel at 5pm.  They held it for a while because so many people were stuck in line getting their credentials checked for their covid vaccines and weren’t making their way inside yet.  6-7 was supposed to be our Joey hour, so we just kind of wandered around a bit and then 7 was my photo op with Rider.  We didn’t hang around too much after that, but it was nice to get the layout.  I should have probably tried for another photo Friday to knock more off of my wish list, but I am very much so out of con shape.

Saturday we got in early, but again just kind of wandered around and did a few of the photo ops and the Spice Girls display.  At noon I made a voodoo doll and I started realizing time was running out if I wanted to meet everyone.  We got in line for Will Friedle, and then my friends had their Full House photo op so I was off to meet Matthew and Joey Lawrence on my own.  Danielle Fishel’s line got capped, so I got in line to see the Boy Meets World panel at 3 and was able to stay for the Full House panel at 4.  After we went back downstairs, and Daneille’s line was capped once again.  I did end up going in the order of how badly I wanted to meet them so I was ok with missing out on Danielle. (With any luck, next year they’ll be back AND with Ben so I can do a cast photo!)

Next year, I’m hoping to go again and I’ll have a better game plan figured out. And maybe I’ll stay on site as well to not have to drive back and forth an hour for 3 days straight.  It sounds like it’ll be back in CT – just waiting on dates!

 

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