Rennison, Louise. On the bright side, I'm now the girlfriend of a sex god; further confessions of Georgia Nicolson.

Harper Tempest. 260p. c2001. 0-06-447226-4. $6.99. JS *

To quote KLIATT's July 2001 review of the hardcover edition:

Rennison follows up her hilarious Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging (a 2001 Best Book for YAs, reviewed in KLIATT in March 2000) with these new entries from 14-year-old Georgia's journal. Here she must contend with the ups and downs of her relationship with the boyfriend whom she refers to as Sex God (though kissing is as far as they get) as well as the antics of her vicious Scottish wildcat Angus, the tribulations of living with a little sister who likes to suck on Georgia's nose, her dim friends who are irritatingly absorbed in their own problems rather than hers, teachers who don't appreciate her pranks, and of course her relatives ("Honestly, what planet do these people live on? And why isn't it farther away?"). Georgia has decided to become a Zen Buddhist, as God isn't responding quickly enough. Her nose and her breasts seem to be growing quite out of control; a nose sling of her own creation isn't any help. Still, as Georgia puts it, "I can sometimes surprise myself with my own wisdomosity. And humorosity. Even in adversosity."

This fast and delightful read is a sort of Bridget Jones's Diary for the younger set. A funny glossary at the end will help American readers with the British slang ... the title alone should gain this a wide readership, and the book (which can stand on its own, without the prequel) should win Georgia many new fans. It's a good bet for reluctant readers, too. (Editor's note: the third book of Georgia's adventures, in hardcover, Knocked Out By My Nunga-Nungas (HarperCollins), was reviewed by KLIATT in May 2002).

Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT