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Chocolates for Breakfast: A Novel Kindle Edition

3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 142 ratings

“A gem of adolescent disaffection featuring a Holden Caulfield-like heroine.” — Vogue.com

“Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to stop. . . . If your all-time favorite books include works of young-adult fiction (like Catcher), I strongly urge you to take a look." — USA Today/Pop Candy

A riveting coming-of-age story, Chocolates for Breakfast became an international sensation upon its initial publication in 1956, and still stands out as a shocking and moving account of the way teenagers collide, often disastrously, against love and sex for the first time. This edition includes an introduction by author Emma Straub.

Courtney Farrell is a disaffected, sexually precocious fifteen-year-old. She splits her time between Manhattan, where her father works in publishing, and Los Angeles, where her mother is a still-beautiful Hollywood actress. After a boarding-school crush on a female teacher ends badly, Courtney sets out to learn everything fast. Her first drink is a very dry martini, and her first kiss the beginning of a full-blown love affair with an older man.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Timeless. . . . Will surely continue to resonate with audiences for years to come.” — Publishers Weekly

“In Moore’s resonating classic, sexually precocious 15-year-old Courtney, a bit of a female Holden Caulfield, copes with her parents’ divorce and the splitting her life between New York and California. . . . It’s poignant, edgy, and utterly readable.” — The Atlantic Wire

“This long-overdue reprint of a scandalous 1950s coming-of-age novel chronicles the exploits of a 15-year-old girl living very much beyond her years.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Permeated with sadness and existential longing, Chocolates for Breakfast is about the disillusionment of wealth and the desire to find something real in a society that is constantly pretending.” — Los Angeles Review of Books

“Themes of sex, love, identity and friendship withstand time. Moore may no longer be with us, but her first novel is, rightfully, back on the shelves.” — Chicago Tribune

“Charming, substantive, and smart.” — The Rumpus

“A gem of adolescent disaffection featuring a Holden Caulfield-like heroine.” — Vogue.com

“Once I started reading it, I didn’t want to stop, and it’s certainly one of the best books I’ve read all year. . . . If your all-time favorite books include works of young-adult fiction (like Catcher), I strongly urge you to take a look.” — USA Today/Pop Candy

“Enduring edge.” — Barnesandnoble.com

“A new (well, not new, but new to most of us) addition to the smart, edgy coming-of-age female lexicon. . . . Especially perfect for any too-cool Class of 2013 high school girl in your life, or someone who just is one at heart. . . . Totally unputdownable in the best way.” — Jezebel

“Shocks and shocks again.” — Glamour

“[An] appallingly frank first novel by an extraordinarily precocious artist.” — Chicago Tribune

“Not very long ago it would have been regarded as shocking to find girls in their teens reading the kind of books they’re now writing.” — New York Times

“This book is a sexier more cosmopolitan Bell Jar--young girl, manic depression, New York, LA. It is amazing. Everyone who loves The Dud Avocado will go crazy for this novel.” — Emma Straub, author of Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures

“Found this book long ago in my parents’ library, a risqué looking paperback--and read it so many times I had to tape the pages back in. It was every naughty thing I hoped life would be like.” — Janet Fitch, author of White Oleander

“A coming-of-age novel of the most interesting variety. . . as relevant today as it did when published nearly 60 years ago, proving as shocking and important to today’s world as it did in the 1950s.” — Shelf Awareness

“In a lot of ways, Courtney Farrell is on par with Lena Dunham’s Hannah. She’s learning how to live in New York City, indulging in a mindfully crafted martini or two, and engaging in affairs with older men.” — Village Voice

From the Back Cover

Courtney Farrell is a disaffected, sexually precocious fifteen-year-old. She splits her time between Manhattan, where her father works in publishing, and Los Angeles, where her mother is a still-beautiful Hollywood actress. After a boarding-school crush on a female teacher ends badly, Courtney sets out to learn everything fast. Her first drink is a very dry martini, and her first kiss the beginning of a full-blown love affair with an older man.

A riveting coming-of-age story, Chocolates for Breakfast became an international sensation upon its initial publication in 1956, and it still stands out as a shocking and moving account of the way teenagers collide, often disastrously, against love and sex for the first time.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B009NFH9AM
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (June 25, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 25, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 9059 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 300 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 142 ratings

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Pamela Moore
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Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
142 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2014
    I happened on this book because it was the book chosen for book club. Once I started reading it I just couldn't put it down and was finished well in advance of the book club meeting so I read it again, trying to absorb any details that I may have missed in the first go of it!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2021
    As I'm not a very seasoned reader, some things others picked up on didn't really occur to me. But as I read it I thought it was very good. As the beginning of the story Courtney is 15 and at the story's end she's 17. I have read in certain places that before this book was written Courtney really wasn't used as a woman's name, but after it came out and was a best seller I figured no matter how good or bad it was the fact that it sort of changed America was enough reason to buy it. But I do tend to enjoy an author's first book more than other readers do. An experienced reader might say the first book of whatever author they're reading wasn't that great, but I enjoy them.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2014
    I will admit that it is the title of this book that first sparked my attention. Never judge a book by its cover, right? Well, never judge a book by it's title either. Based on the title, I thought it might be a light hearted book about a couple of socialites trying to make their way. Instead, it was a much more intense and somewhat dark tale of coming of age.

    Courtney is hidden away at boarding school for most of her childhood due to her folks' lack of interest in putting aside their needs in order to parent her. As she is actually brought to live with her mother, a struggling actress living the party life, she grows up rather quickly. Her friend, Janet, quickly brings her into the fold of her "friends" and the girls live a fantasy life of sorts.

    This book was written in the 50's, I believe, and it very much speaks to that time period as far as insinuations and misconceptions. It was not necessarily my favorite, but for the time it was written, it was done so quite well. Just when you think the story will maintain it's stays quo, a shock is thrown in that actually leaves you wanting more.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018
    I ordered this because I read it when I was 17 and remembered it making an impression on me. I just wanted to have it for memorabilia.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014
    I hoped to like this book. I'm a big fan of boarding school books and coming of age novels. Unfortunately, the style of this one seemed very dated. I couldn't get beyond the first two chapters.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2014
    Over all, I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

    I enjoyed this book very much. I think this book is one of those book that will always be relevant. Being that the subject matter will always be relevant, this book is about depression, the struggle to find yourself, sexuality and the very real struggle in life to grow up.

    I was surprised when Janet ended her life and of course sadden. I was secretly rooting for Anthony and Courtney to some how work out but you can't "change a tiger's stripes" and I suppose he was just to damaged.

    This is such a great book! It is really worth the read and I would read it again in a heart beat!

    See my full review here
    [...]
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2015
    If every there could be said to be a Great Gatsby by a woman, this would be it. Chocolates For Breakfast was a a fantastic read from beginning to end.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2014
    Teenagers who talk and act like 30 year olds........who drink like 50 year olds????? A reader couldn't possibly believe this....and their unhappiness....those inexperienced teens.....all that mumbo jumbo that was supposed to be real angst....this book made me realize how trite literature can be.Nonsense...read a comic book.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Mena Calabrese
    3.0 out of 5 stars Too one note
    Reviewed in Canada on August 22, 2020
    I wanted to read this book because of the comparison to "Bonjour Tristesse " by Francoise Sagan. While I enjoyed "Bonjour Tristesse", I did not like "Chocolates for Breakfast" at all. Way too depressing and the main character is listless. Actually none of the characters in this book have any life in them at all. I don't think the author knew how to bring them to life.
  • crebby
    5.0 out of 5 stars A must read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2016
    Ordered this second hand and before started reading I was intrigued in the foreword how the story was lost for over 40 years I can't believe this record in the 50s is so modern halfway through and honestly can't put it down a must read for anyone who enjoys books
  • bovril74
    4.0 out of 5 stars Quite good actually!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2018
    Enjoyed the teen angst! Can relate to that.
  • Anne Gilmore
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2015
    I first read this when I was in my teens and it still stands up today.
  • The Editor - New London Writers
    2.0 out of 5 stars contrived
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2014
    contrived narrative suspect ghost written by an older male figure, concepts are sexist 1960's man's interpretation of female emancipation yet startlingly right wing

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