Megan McCafferty's Blog

I’m a retired New York Times bestselling author. Current public library worker by day. Singer for New Yacht City by night. Thanks to The Flying Garter for the write up of our first show of the summer. So many gigs ahead! I can’t believe I get to perform with such a talented group of musicians.

Twenty-five years ago this week, the world exhaled a sigh of relief when clocks struck midnight…and nothing happened.

Courtesy of the Princeton Public Library blog…a life update.

Congratulations to the cast and crew of Theater CCNY’s production of SLOPPY FIRSTS. It was a beautiful full-circle moment because the show was directed by senior Daisy Bernabe-Duarte, who portrayed Jessica Darling in her high school production back in 2018. It was such a joy to spend the afternoon in Pineville! I laughed and (yes) even teared up a little. The entire cast had moments to shine but a special shout-out to Temima Hyman and Vincent Tulley who had maaaajor chemistry as Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie. If you’re involved in high school, college or community theater and want to stage your own production (and have as much fun as we’re having in these photos!) email megan@meganmccafferty.com with SLOPPY FIRSTS ON STAGE in the subject.

A post for the Princeton Public Library that sort of sums up where I’m at and what I’m doing.

I will be appearing at the adorable Red Balloon Bookshop with Kristin Nilsen, Crushologist and cohost of the phenomenal Pop Culture Preservation Society podcast to celebrate the launch of her debut MG novel, WORLDWIDE CRUSH. There will be games! There will be lots of talk about Shaun Cassidy, Barry Manilow and the phenomenon known as “nipple lightning!” Will I break out into the backseat-of-my-parents’-Chevy-NOVA-70s-AM-radio songs of my youth? Probably. So please join us on Wednesday, July 12th at 6:30 and I will be happy to overshare and sing and sign whatever copies of my books you may have! For details and registration go here.

As reported in Deadline, SLOPPY FIRSTS is in development with Nickelodeon and Awesomeness TV. This is the same team behind the brilliant PEN15 and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I am thrilled.

As reported in Deadline, SLOPPY FIRSTS is in development with Nickelodeon and Awesomeness TV. This is the same team behind the brilliant PEN15 and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I am thrilled.

ON SALE MARCH 2022

From mega-bestselling author Megan McCafferty—author of the beloved Jessica Darling series that The Wall Street Journal called “Judy Blume meets Dorothy Parker”—comes a hilarious love letter to the magic and heartache of middle school friendship.

Sophie Dailey is NOT looking forward to starting middle school. For one thing, she doesn’t look like other kids. Instead of trendy tank tops, she wears high tech shirts that block UV rays. (Sun protection is serious business!) And she definitely doesn’t sound like other kids either. (She can’t say “holla” or “hot take” without making a weird face.) Needless to say, this is probably why her best friend, Ella, ditched her for Queen Bee Morgan.

Sophie is comfortable with who she is and doesn’t want to change. But she’s also pretty lonely without Ella. Even worse, Morgan seems intent on making seventh grade miserable for Sophie, and Ella doesn’t bat an eye at the bullying. Then a new girl moves in next door to Sophie. Kaytee Ray is everything Sophie is not: fashionable and super-confident.

Sophie can’t believe Kaytee wants to spend the last days of summer with her. Determined to keep Kaytee as a friend, Sophie lies about her social status, claiming to be besties with Morgan and Ella. As long as Kaytee attends Villa Academy—a private school on the other side of town—she’ll never find out her first friend in New Jersey is a loser.

But can any friendship built on lies survive seventh grade?