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Bad Kitty #2

Kitty Kitty

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Meet Jasmine Callihan 1, Supersleuth Extraordinaire.

What's about to happen is:

32% Thrilling Mystery 2
51% Gut-Churning Yearning 3
17% Clothes Crisis-slash-Hair Horror 4
100% Not Her Fault

1. Hi! Or rather, ciao bella!
2. If you can call it 'thrilling' when your only friend in Venice turns out to be in deadly peril, the only clue is inside a kitty, and your only chance to stop a murder is... what? Scary stuff goes inside the book? Oh, got it.
3.Hot rock-star boyfriend Jack in LA + Jas in Venice = NOT SUPER FUN.
4. And that's not including when my normally fab pals decided to dress me up as a giant mangy - Right, right, I know. Scary stuff? All inside.

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2008

8 people are currently reading
901 people want to read

About the author

Michele Jaffe

26Ìýbooks405Ìýfollowers
Michele Jaffe (b. March 20 in Los Angeles, California), is an American writer. She has authored novels in several genres, including historical romance, suspense thrillers, and novels for Young Adults.

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5 stars
547 (39%)
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443 (32%)
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304 (22%)
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51 (3%)
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33 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
Profile Image for Beth.
312 reviews581 followers
February 4, 2012
"Kitty Kitty", by Michele Jaffe, is a really mixed bag. On one hand, it's really funny in places, generally fun, light-hearted and fast-paced. It's also incredibly well-paced, in that there are genuine twists and turns at the each of every chapter and there is lots of genuine imagination and creativity. However, the imagination and creativity manifests in a way that is sorta over-quirky, in that practically all the characters talk the same kind of witty, OTT way. For instance, there is constant footnotes, references to characters in quirky ways like "Dadzilla", "Sherri", "Tyger's Eye*" (the star is silent) and "Sapphyre" (not Sapphire, which Jaffe obviously thought funny enough to repeat every five pages. Jasmine is a good heroine, though she's somewhat undermined by the fact that every one of her friends are quirks with legs, which also makes her feel like a quirk with long legs while reading, and not even a particularly unique one. However, she is funny, self-depracating and refreshingly short on the whininess.

I felt conflicted about what is obviously the overarching plot in these "Kitty" books, which is the Mysterious Death of Jas's mother when she was very young. This is very intriguing, but only shows up veeeeery sporadically in the novel and, even when it appeared, it wasn't remotely developed. Jas gets a few mysterious e-mails and her dad promises to tell her 'something' about her mother's death when they return to L.A. - which Jaffe all leaves for the third book, despite the fact that this third book has not materialised yet and it says on her website that "IT IS NOT SCHEDULED YET." So, great. Even though both "Kitty" books came out in quick succession of one another, this appears like an ongoing series which has just been...dropped? Gahhh. I feel really irritated by this because the mystery of Jas's mother's death is the only part of the novel that got me really, really invested, because I loved how Jas dealt with her more emotional moments for such a quirky character.

I even quite liked the 'romance' between Jack and Jas, though it pretty much takes a backseat for her weird dalliance with the sleazy/sexy Italian, Max, mainly due to Jas's interesting voice and treatment of it. But, overall, this book suffered from serious CHARACTER SOUP. We appear to have our heroine's sidekicks introduced in the first thirtyish pages - her cousin and her cousin's best friend, both of whom she dislikes so much, she calls them the Evil Hench-Twins - but then her three best friends pop up from L.A. and it just becomes a little overcrowded. Okay, really overcrowded. We now have five sidekicks even though it's blatantly obvious that Jas only needs two. And, honestly, if I hadn't read "Bad Kitty" (about a thousand years ago so I can't really compare the two), I would think that Jaffe created this mad plot and then these totally implausible characters to go along with it. Tom is apparently a mastaaaah (Jas's voice) of all things lock-picky and stuff, which is very convenient for Jas's detective work, but so is Roxy, Tom's twin sister, so Tom gets totally pushed to the back and is pretty much the third wheel throughout. Polly's quirk is the only one that gets real plot grounding - her fashion talent - but it's so overheated (like a lot of "Kitty Kitty", in all honesty), it gave me a bit of a headache.

"Kitty Kitty" is very implausible. This is not, in itself, a problem. I didn't read this book for a gritty, realistic picture of Venice. I read this for entertainment and giggles (both of which it provided consistently and well). And, so, even though I could accept the ridiculous way that Jas talks her way into Prada, and into a dead millionaire's home without comment, when it finally came time for the mystery to be revealed, I was left totally confused and feeling very stupid. I'm not quite sure how much of this I missed but, in the end, it turns out that Suspect #1 and Suspect #2 are NOT the killers, but Not Suspect #3 is. How did Jas know that Not Suspect was M.? I'm not sure. Also, if #1 and #2 were not the killers, why did they react so goddamn violently? #1 is not the killer and apparently was totally set up by #3 but still decides to kick Jas in the face when she discovers his next 'victim' (who has in fact staged this and set themselves up as the victim)? And apparently he's a total nice guy at the end and not remotely a creep or a violent asshole? Also, #2 is not the killer, but COMES AT JAS WIELDING A KNIFE with no motivation, until Thshe is 'saved' by #3. #3 is not planning to kill #2 until #3 makes it look like #2 and Jas were having an affair and then #3 can kill #2 six months later and stage it like a suicide. And at no point in the next six months will #2 happen to mention the fact that he and Jas were not having an affair? And what did The House That Kills article have to do with anything? There's a difference between a wild, implausible plot and a just plain stupid one. This difference was plain to see here. The ending becomes very rushed to the point where it is almost incoherent. I was really glad that it didn't turn out to be a certain somebody, which it almost was, and when the twist showed up, I was glad, yeah, but the solution was just so clichéd and rushed that I don't know how Jas figured out half of the things she supposedly did.

This book is also not for nitpickers. It is for anyone who can suspend their belief - preferably from the ceiling - but also their worry about cultural stereotypes. Every stereotype about Venice is present here. Jas's sort-of love interest, who is called Max (stereotypical Italian name!) uses no Italian except whatever it is for 'beautiful girl/woman' (he literally says it on every page). Jas's grasp of the Italian language fluctuates wildly. She goes from not sure how to answer a simple question to understanding a very complex sentence spoken by two native Italins while hiding in a cupboard. I get it, suspend disbelief, blah blah blah, but this was just so plain stupid. More stupid behaviour involves genre conventions: one minute, Jas is as savvy as they come about being in a mystery novel. The next minute, she lets her friends decide that it's a great idea for them all to SPLIT UP and search for the murderer. Except of course, for some reason, this overstuffed crowd of five does not split into three and two. Jas doesn't even get the majority group. In fact, for some moronic reason that isn't even mentioned in the text, Jas winds up alone. Yep. So forget the fact that she's the killer's target and the killer CAME TO SPEAK TO HER less than five minutes previously. Apparently it's a great idea for them all to split up and leave on her own to pursue him! The friends' super skills get to the point where they are no longer quirks and more like insane plot devices. For example, Alyson, Jas's arch-enemy, turns out to be great with computers despite appearing to be a traditional valley girl. This could be quite a neat twist if not for the fact that it comes up at the very moment that Jas needs a hacker. I'm not quite sure when else it was supposed to come up, but it really does reach ridiculous levels. Her friends have crazy skills (not a bad thing in themselves, given that this book is very much Not To Be Taken Serioiusly), but they have an abundance of crazy skills that always turn out to be a) totally logically impossible and b) exactly what is required to get them out of the latest impossible situation.

Still, if you want fun and funniness, you could do worse than "Kitty Kitty", if you're willing to ignore a pretty crap denouement.
Profile Image for Sara Grochowski.
1,142 reviews602 followers
November 19, 2009
Michele Jaffe's books totally rock my socks off! I don't know how she comes up with such great plot lines and hilarious dialogue, I just hope she never stops!

Kitty Kitty is the the continuation of Jas' story that began in Jaffe's first YA novel, Bad Kitty. While readers will most likely be able to follow Jas' story if they begin with Kitty Kitty, I recommend reading Bad Kitty first. Not only will you have a better idea of who the characters are and how they came to be in Venice, you'll also laugh your head off.

One of my favorite things about reading Jaffe's YA novels is the fact that when I'm reading, I constantly feel the need to find someone to read passages aloud to! These books are so funny that I must share them!

There isn't a lot of YA mystery out there - which is another reason to pick up Jaffe's books. She is a seasoned mystery author, as she writes adult romantic mysteries as well. I've read her adult novels and was pleasantly surprised to see that she wrote YA as well. The YA novels are completely different than the adult novels, but just as good: Jaffe's diverse writing talent astounds me!

Those of you who have read Bad Kitty will be happy to see all your favorite characters return for Kitty Kitty. Those of you who haven't read Bad Kitty... hurry up and read it: there are some characters you need to meet!

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!)

I can't imagine someone not laughing while reading Bad Kitty and Kitty Kitty - so if you need a laugh and are in the mood for a good book, be sure to check out Michele Jaffe's YA novels!
Profile Image for Jacob Proffitt.
3,248 reviews2,064 followers
April 16, 2012
Like , Kitty Kitty is non-stop fun and action. All of the elements that made Bad Kitty so fun are present in this sequel—and I devoured it in one big gulp as well.

My favorite part, this time, was the emergence of BadJas. Jas finally realizes that being Model Daughter isn't getting her anywhere in her Venetian exile, so she decides to go bad. But since this is Jas we're talking about, it's really hard to tell the difference—except in the footnotes. BadJas was awesome and even the Hench Twins were more fun in this book than the last.

Unfortunately, also like the last book, Jasmine's dad was a big disappointment. He's as actively evil here as he was there. Seriously, there's enough conflict in the plot that we don't need the Thwarter getting irrationally mad at her every time. And again, I don't care what he's trying to protect her from, she's 17 and proven herself capable in a wide range of situations. It's time to man-up and accept her for who she obviously wants to be.

Even more unfortunately, this appears to be the last in the series and that makes me sad. Jaffe appears to have moved on to more serious murder mystery type books. I'd love more stories with Jas and her friends and have little interest in the teen drama she's been writing since...
Profile Image for Greer.
425 reviews9 followers
April 18, 2018
Seventeen year old Jasmine is on an extended stay in Venice, Italy at the start for her senior year in high school. Unforntantly this is not the place she wants to be. She would rather be in the states where she has left her best buds and her boyfriend. Oh Heavens!!

While in Venice she befriends an odd bird of a girl who just happens to get her self killed. The police have decided it is suicide but Jas knows better. Using her sleuthing skills and the
unannounced arrival of her fab friends and not so fab cousins she uncovers the truth with a bit of hijinks and dodging near misses by the killer.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
AuthorÌý13 books91 followers
July 28, 2008
I really loved Bad Kitty so I was eagerly awaiting Kitty Kitty. It didn't disappoint. Jasmine is such a hilarious heroine that she just keeps me cracking up on every page. I highly recommend this series.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,534 reviews98 followers
June 11, 2009
You know what this series remind me of? The Nancy Drew series. Seriously. I keep feeling that Jasmine like this like modernized version of Nancy Drew. They both share the love of mysteries and they both love solving them. The only difference is that Jasmine is a more funnier version. She also has best friends who aid her in every possible ways (including fashion sense :).

The characters, as usual, were very entertaining. Polly, Jasmine's best friend, is ALWAYS there for her. Though not physically but at least spiritually. Haha. Her fashion sense is awesome and that's how she contributes to Jas - she helps her fashion. She's also really funny and their footnotes between each other show clearly that they adore each other.

Roxy, another Jas's best friend, is extremely smart. Though she may not seem like it because she's always looking for food, she also makes the technological stuff such as smoke bombs, etc. She's extremely sweet in her own way.

Tom, Roxy's older brother, Polly's boyfriend, and also one of Jasmine's best friend, is just there as a moral support. He supports whatever Jas, Polly and Roxy are doing and that makes him really likable. I adore him because he seems to know what a true friend means.

The plot, as usual, is hilarious. This time they race through Venice looking for a killer. They find friends, enemies and mystery. The BB guns were an added bonus.

Overall, Kitty Kitty is a refreshing and mysterious books, full of plot, wit and character.
Profile Image for Jill.
343 reviews49 followers
August 12, 2015
Once again, the title and cover leave much to be desired, but I need to read it. Like now. *grabby hands*

It was a really good mystery that didn't reveal the ending despite giving the reader all the clues, which I liked a lot. My issue: The Lack of Jack. You CANNOT introduce an amazingly hot and awesome boy in the first book then only have him show up for two pages in the second book.
Also, considering this was published seven years ago I conclude that there is not a third book, but there were some loose ends and a serious need for some Jack, which leads me to assume that the third book was planned but never happened. I. Need. Jack. Now.
4,011 reviews28 followers
May 23, 2008
OH NO! Poor Jaz has been yanked away from her hot boyfriend and California BFF's to spend her senior year in Venice. What to do?? Jas decides to be on her best behaviour so she can go home but in Bad Kitty fashion, Jaz falls into nefarious plots, wicked deeds and evil plots only to tumble out the other side victorious - and perfectly accessorized. Inspired silliness and great fun for summer reading.
Profile Image for Heather.
24 reviews
May 19, 2016
On the fun read scale this book is TNT.
Profile Image for Anka.
210 reviews11 followers
August 11, 2017
I wanted a fluff book and that's basically what this is.

Except it's a fluff book with a murder mystery.

I'm not sure how to review this because I know that there are people that this just won't work for. The writing is... not childish, I guess, but not formal-how-you-usually-write-a-book style either.

Actually, I had doubts in the beginning because of the writing. Once the story picked up and I actually started to understand it (I didn't read Bad Kitty first. I got this one at a sale and I was desperate as fuck since all my cousin had to read was Fallen by Lauren Kate. I'd rather fucking run into a brick wall at 90mph) so that's probably on me.

Whoops

Well the murder mystery wasn't crazy complicated or anything but it was enough to keep me enjoying it. Then again, I can't really judge thrillers since I hardly ever read them.

I'd say just read this if the blurb sounds good to you. It was a fun book so I'd recommend it if you're looking for something fluffy and fun with a little action mixed in.
58 reviews
February 25, 2024
A sequel to 'Bad Kitty', I went into this with high hopes and boy was I not disappointed. The writing, the footnote conversations, the pace, the plot - it was just as good as the first one, however this one seemed to have higher stakes and a bit more grittiness to it.

There is a romance for the main character, Jas, but I do like how it is not the main focus of the book. It's referenced and bubbling away in the background, which is just as well because there is SO much going on for the plot that focusing on some love affair with a boy would have taken away from the greatness of it all.

The ONLY (and I mean only) flaw is that there is a slight cliffhanger at the end, which wouldn't be a flaw in itself, but apparently there is no 3rd book in the works. Considering this was published in 2008, it makes me think the series was dropped, which is incredibly sad. The cliffhanger needs answering, and I need more Jas!
Profile Image for Amelia.
21 reviews
May 12, 2019
I liked the mc and feel like she was pretty entertaining for most of the book... sometimes a bit over the top and sometimes suddenly intellectual. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I feel as if some of the themes of the book just don’t flow throughout it? Like the mystery/detective aspect comes in quite suddenly and and the superpower (!!) was mentioned briefly at the start and then came in conveniently towards the end. One thing that confused my was the Dadzilla/mc relationship... I just thought it was a little over the top. I think the friends and their personality traits/talents are just a little too one dimensional and convenient. The footnotes and Random Capitalisation threw me off at first, but I go used to it after a bit, and I feel like I enjoyed the book more in the 2nd half. So overall, slightly cringey but also entertaining!
46 reviews9 followers
September 7, 2020
I enjoyed this one more than the first, and I have two silly contenders for the reason I liked this one better. The first being that I completely skipped the footnotes, two, the extra characters (sorry, but I am not a fan of the friends, probably because they keep feeling like tools instead of characters) made a late entry. Of course, it might have helped that the story is more gritty, there is no one you (the reader) can trust, and the mystery aspect is done really, really well. My only major complaint is that the ending is hasty (and a little messy), and the romantic sub-plot is boring to say the least, but other than that, this one is also an enjoyable read, both because of the plot and the treatment of the plot.
Profile Image for Aiysha.
144 reviews23 followers
November 21, 2021
A recommended quick read that stands solid as a sequel, however I believe Michelle Jaffe initially intended another book in the series as I feel there where so many questions unanswered surrounding Jasmine’s mother. The plot surrounds Jasmine’s adventures in Venice separated from her friends and family. Whilst, the character’s are still so hilariously fun, the escapades of Jasmine are embarrassingly humorous, I felt the plot was unnecessarily confusing and that there where times where I had to stop and read over the page.
Profile Image for Diana.
554 reviews39 followers
October 4, 2017
A fun murder mystery set in Venice.
Profile Image for Emma.
3,252 reviews453 followers
April 5, 2008


Jasmine Callihan is back and better than ever in “Kitty Kitty� by Michele Jaffe! And, boy am I excited about that. “Kitty Kitty� will be released in July 2008 by HarperTeen (part of HarperCollins coincidentally enough), so you’re seeing the review here first.

“Kitty Kitty� picks up a month or two after the ending of “Bad Kitty� (Jaffe’s madcap YA debut featuring Jasmine). This time around, Jasmine is in Venice, the most romantic city in the world, and in a beautiful hotel. The only problem is that Jasmine is there with her ogre-iffic father and her step-mother Sherri! In other words, Jasmine is really far away from her friends, her rock star boyfriend, AND the prestigious high school that would look great on her college applications.

Why you may ask? So Jasmine can be home-schooled (not from her actual home) while she takes intensive Italian lessons and her father writes his definitive book on the history of . . . soap. Jasmine is understandably put out by all of these abrupt life changes. But what really upsets her is the apparent suicide of her friend from Italian class–the mysterious and eccentric Arabella. Except Jasmine isn’t so sure that Arabella’s death really was a suicide.

Mayhem ensues as Jasmine begins to investigate Arabella’s life in order to understand what could have provoked her death. Atrocities include bangs on the head as well as an unfortunate encounter with a pair of white leather pants. Oh, and Jasmine turning to Mr. T as a new role model (although that last one might not be so bad depending on who you ask!).

Stylistically, Jaffe continues to use a variety of writing techniques to create a truly modern reading experience. Techniques that reappear in this volume include footnotes, e-mail and instant messaging excerpts as well as pictures created with words. These devices help keep the novel interesting–there’s a lot of information presented in a lot of different ways. At the same time, it makes readers extra aware that they are reading. But that’s okay here because it encourages a close reading of the text in some cases–an important skill found in what can be called a light read.

Some parts of the novel seem contrived, such as Jasmine’s friends coming to her rescue, but with blow dart pens and tricked out cowboy boots this novel, like “Bad Kitty� before it, is more cartoon than true-to-life-drama anyway. (A style that Jaffe once again pulls off very well.) And who wouldn’t want to read more about Jasmine’s motley group of friends? Best friend/fashion genius Polly; lock picking, wise-cracking twins Tom and Roxy; and even Jas� evil cousin Alyson and her evil sidekick Veronique reappear with just as many made up words and fashion faux pas as before. My only qualm about the novel is that the cat angle that was so crucial to “Bad Kitty� is also not as strong here since no cats feature as more than passing characters in the narrative.

Another odd addition is the presence of a mysterious sender of e-mails and an as yet undeveloped sub-plot involving Jasmine’s dead mother (this person and the fact that Jasmine’s mother died when she was six turn up more in this novel than the first, which didn’t mention mysterious e-mails at all). Aside from being a fine example of a writer spinning backstories into a series as she writes the series, this new plot thread suggests that Jasmine will return again soon.
20 reviews2 followers
January 24, 2011
This is a totally silly, over the top young adult fiction book. Which I adored because the author writes the heroine, Jas, pretty much just like my friend Angel talks. "I hightailed it back to my room, and, once the door was closed, did a very special dance for joy. Not only would I get to go to San Francisco with my pals, but Jack had said that if I made it back for the college trip he'd fly in from Los Angeles for a day or two to see me. San Francisco was like around the corner from him! He could come just for lunch! Where lunch means kissing! And dessert! Where dessert means ice cream! And also kissing!"

She takes Mr. T as her role model in order to be "Bad" (WWMrTD? Ha! Mr. T scoffs at trouble), writes casual poetry ("I am glad Trouble/is not ice cream because then/I could not have any"), runs around in white leather pants, hits her head and precipitates the emergence of "BadJas" who argues with her and mocks her in the footnotes (because there are footnotes! In which side dialogue happens, and BadJas causes trouble!: "BadJas: I pity the fool who takes my white leather pants away. Polly: What? Who said that? Jas: That's BadJas. She says things I'm thinking but don't want to be. And she might be right, P. I've been asked out twice since putting on my leather pants. Polly: Give me the guy's name so I can contact his parole officer. Jas: Ha ha. I'm not ever getting these pants back, am I? Polly: Of course you are, precious. You'll be able to console yourself at my funeral with the fact that you may have lost a friend but you've regained your leather pants. You see, I am doing you an Act of Kindness."), and uses her "surprising and muscular" vocab (from dubbed-into-Italian "CHiPs" episodes) to talk to Italian cops. Also her friends make the most amazing and hilarious outfits, including mind-control glasses, weaponized water wings that they make her wear while they're all running around Venice, and the conversion of the white leather pants into a white leather jacket. Because her friend Polly travels internationally with a Bedazzler, and biometric scanners, and a sense of righteousness where fashion and water safety are concerned.

They do battle against the forces of evil, and also the forces of terrible fashion from the Evil Hench Twin's aka Jas's shallow cousin Alyson/Sapphyre and Veronique/Tiger's*Eye (the * is silent). The writing is vivid, the footnotes are copious, and the squirrel costume is epic. Oh and the insanely privileged rich girl main character is biracial, accident-prone, and embroiled in wacky hijinx, rather than white and blond and innocent and concerned only with keeping her man, or white and brunette and manipulative and concerned only with getting a man. Kitty Kitty was delightful.
Profile Image for Liviania.
957 reviews75 followers
June 13, 2012
In BAD KITTY, Jasmine Callahan discovered a murderous plot afoot in Las Vegas. In KITTY KITTY, she leaves the canals of the Venetian to the canals of Venice, only to stumble across the path of another murderer. Only this time, she isn’t soon enough to prevent tragedy. She can track down the killer and prevent more murders, by following the guidance of Mr. T and using her Italian gleaned from Commissario Rex and translated episodes of CHiPs.

Little Life Lesson 1: Mr. T might not be the best role model. ESPECIALLY if white leather pants are involved.

Of course, the rest of the cast is still along for the ensuing mayhem. The Thwarter has morphed into Dadzilla, a more dangerous version of the breed. Jack just might be off with another girl who can stop a rhinoceros in its tracks with a single look. And while Polly, Roxy, and Tom are in the United States, they’ve just had a very worrying IM conversation with Jas. (Princess P: “Ah. I see that we are using the alternate universe definition of “plan� meaning “a massively horrible idea.�) Oh yeah, and there’s the Evil Hench Twins � call them Sapphyre and Tiger’s*Eye (the star is silent).

BAD KITTY knocked my socks off when I first read it. Hip, funny, and clever. Jaffe follows it with a sequel that’s every bit as fun. I want Polly as my fashion designer, with Roxy providing the armament. Jas’s horrible Italian adds to the book’s strong sense of language. Jaffe has a knack for teenage lingo. Instead of copying current slang, she - like any self-respecting teen � invents her own. The language Jas and her buds share, as well as that of the Evil Hench Twins, rings true with any teenager because it evokes the private words they share with their friends.

Many books aimed at young adult girls in the market today feature bad role models. Jas’s ideas of bad are incredibly funny because she’s such a good girl at heart. Reading a mainstream YA book where the teens use their brains and don’t smoke, drink, or do drugs is a pleasant change. So parents, don’t worry if you see your daughter or son reading KITTY KITTY.
246 reviews18 followers
July 23, 2008
Crime-solving Jasmine Callihan is back in Michele Jaffe’s Kitty Kitty, sequel to last year’s young adult novel Bad Kitty. This time, though, Jas is sleuthing in Venice, Italy where her father, a “genius,� is researching the history of soap.

Jas meets a quirky young woman, Arabella, in Italian class. When disaster strikes Arabella, Jas disagrees with the official investigation (and I can’t blame her for distrusting the Italian police force after reading The Monster of Florence). Instead, she decides to solve Arabella’s mystery on her own.

Naturally, Jas’s search leads her into multiple sticky situations, helps her meet several interesting young males, and causes her friends (who obviously have a different income than I did as a teen or do as an adult) to travel halfway around the world to come to her aid.

Of course, despite mishaps and mayhem, Jas is a top-notch heroine. She is smart, funny, and humble—plus she has a dreamboat boyfriend. Though lacking somewhat in substance, this series is harmless fun.

Jaffe’s writing is often witty—although it reminds me too much of a self-conscious, less-clever, wannabe version of the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson. Jaffe also walks a fine line between hip and horribly out-of-date. Hip: her use of footnotes to represent instant messages. Out-of-date: references to VH1’s Behind the Music and M*A*S*H. Does she think teenagers have the same interests as the middle-aged?

Jaffe does redeem herself, though, with multiple references to the Austrian television show Kommissar Rex, one of my favorite programs I watched while living in Paris (except Jas’s Italian version is called Il Commissario Rex, the French version is Rex, chien flic, and in English it's Inspector Rex). Anyone who enjoys a crime-fighting dog can’t be bad.
Profile Image for Nancy.
473 reviews10 followers
October 13, 2008
This book provided much needed laughter. It’s hilarious. A really awesome heroine who, despite her faults, I can’t help but fall in love with. It’s a fascinating idea, really. I’m usually the reader who jumps at the very opportunity to pinch and pick away the protagonists if I find annoying flaws, but not this time. I just laughed my whole way through it.

Jasmine is like a very hip Nancy Drew. (I know, my comparisons to Drew are very annoying, but she’s the girl who got me all hyped up for mysteries! She deserves all the mentioning she can get!) Uh, maybe not hip. But, like, a more modern version, complete with boyfriend problems, parent trouble, and very cool best friends. Like Polly. And Roxy. Polly is the fashion obsessed character, and while her maniac reactions to fashion No-No’s can get pretty awkward (read: unbelievable, read: so me! Polly doesn’t like Prada—I imagine the only other person who doesn’t like Prada is me), she’s very creative. Roxy, on the other hand, barely has things to say, but she’s still awesome when she talks. She seems almost sarcastic, but in a very sweet kind of way. So I give way thumbs up for characters. Oh, and I almost forgot about Max. He was the best! He made me laugh so hard I almost choked on my milk tea (yeah, while other people drink coffee when reading, I’m a milk tea kind of girl) and made my mother question my mental stability. Yup, that was hilarious.

The mystery, however. It was more like average. I mean, it kind of didn’t seem necessary. But that was just because I thought their motives were pretty petty and awkward. Illegitimate daughter? Yeah, only the rich would get that kind of storyline. Still, I liked the proper amount of scapegoats and BB gun attacks.
Profile Image for Nasty Lady MJ.
1,097 reviews16 followers
February 27, 2012
This book is complete whacky fun. The mysteries are well thought out and the characters are enjoyable as well. It's a shame that Jaffe hasn't been contracted to write anymore because I definitely am wondering what happened to Jas and her friends. There are a few problems with the book. Nothing too major, but I do feel that there were times the book came off a bit silly. Also, the footnotes that were used throughout the books became a little annoying at times. I still think though if you like light hearted mystery novels this book takes the cake.

Best Feature: Jas and her pals: I really loved Jaffe's characters. All of them had their own little quirks which made them hilarious. Jas was a great narrator, though I'd tell her to lay off the coffee time to time. But I always find that whenever I read a Bad Kitty novel I can't help but smile. And that's a really awesome thing, ya know?

Worst Feature: Too zany: At times the humor was just a bit too slapstick. Take the use of footnotes. There's only so much of a running gag that a person can take. I know that when my sister read these books, she got so annoyed with the footnotes that she stopped reading the book. Which was really a shame because they're such great books. The bad thing about the footnotes and for that matter the other runnings gags, is that they actually sort of play an important role to the books. So, you have to read them. There's no way of escaping them. So if they bother you, my recommendation is to read the book in small increments.

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Profile Image for Kelly.
23 reviews
January 20, 2011
I loved Kitty Kitty! Kitty Kitty is about a girl named Jasmine Callihan, who is forced to move to Venice with her family for her father to do research on soap, leaving her best friends and boyfriend back in Los Angeles. Jasmine is devastated, until she realizes that Venice isn't so bad. Jasmine is sent to an Italian class, where she becomes close friends with Arabella, and as much as Jas tries to stay out of trouble, it is impossible with Arabella as her friend. Soon enough, she finds herself wrapped up in a dangerous mystery when Arabella commits suicide. Well, at least thats what the police think. Jasmine, however, knows that Arabella would never commit suicide, and thinks that a very clever murderer set it up to look like Arabella committed suicide. Could it be? Could Arabella’s death be a clever elaborate murder? Read the book to find out!
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Kitty Kitty is the second book of the series. Bad Kitty is the first one, although I don’t think it really matters if you read it out of order. However, If you read Kitty Kitty first, then it will spoil Bad Kitty for you. I would recommend Bad Kitty and Kitty Kitty to girls twelve and up.
Profile Image for Crowinator.
863 reviews378 followers
January 2, 2009
Posted to my Livejournal in January 2009:

I loved Bad Kitty and its ridiculously funny plot and characters, so how could I resist a sequel? In this one, Jasmine Callihan has been forced to move to Italy with to her father Dadzilla and step-mother, Sherri! (yes, she spells her name with an exclamation point). While Jas plots out a way to return home to her friends and new boyfriend, she is of course embroiled in another mystery when one of her only friends in Italy is murdered right after confiding to Jas that she is being followed. Like the previous book, the plot is wonderfully ridiculous and the cast of characters (including the return of the Evil Hench Twins) is just as kooky, with Jas and her friends creating more MacGyver-esque spy equipment, speaking to each other in silly footnotes, and engaging in madcap hijinks. These books remind me of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series for teens, but Jaffe's series has more fast-paced zaniness and uniqueness.
Profile Image for Caprica.
103 reviews11 followers
August 4, 2015
Okay, I take back what I said at the end of Book One, this totally could get better. Loved it, laughed so hard reading it, I'd even have liked a third volume.
Knowing something is wrong, and knowing what it is, are like Ugg boots and Cuteness: unrelated.

Yes! Finally! 100% Agreed!
I was afraid Jas&Friends would become Jas&Jack+/-co. but Miss Jaffe managed to pull it off brilliantly without smothering us in sugary-coated-romance.
Like the first book, full of intrigue and useful fashion tips and more or less inward dialogues and funny language and major plot twists. And Little Life Lessons, of course, one of my favourite being:
Little Life Lesson 28: If you plan to lose control of your ability to crack up, try not to be stuck in an armoire that is already stuffed to the gills with someone else.

So le life-changingo.
Profile Image for Clare.
25 reviews
October 28, 2010
Jas had a perfect life after a not-so-perfect spring break. So, she wanted to enjoy her new boyfriend, and friends, but when her parents decide to move halfway across the world that is actually the last thing she gets to do. Jas hopes this vacation will just blow over and in a short year she will get to see her friends again, but if you know Jas her life always has to have a mystery, and this one might be the deadliest yet.
Kitty Kitty was one of those very few sequels that was actually just as good as the first book in the series. I loved the way Michele Jaffe turned it up a notch and made this book even more mysterious than the first one. I loved how she made it such a page turner with ever new page being better than the last.
If you read Bad Kitty, or even if you did not, I recommend Kitty Kitty. It was a great book.
77 reviews1 follower
Read
July 24, 2011
OMG, so good! This was everything i expected it to be: funny, cute, a little suspenseful, and a lot entertaining! I didn't like it quite as much as the first book, "Bad Kitty," but it was still amazing!

I don't think i realized how annoying the cutesy/ditzy writing was in the first book, but i definitely noticed in this one. I was surprised, however, to find that the annoying cutesy/ditzy writing didn't really annoy me (i know, ironic, right?) like similar wirting in other books does. That alone should be a testiment to how much i love these books.

The end of "Kitty, Kitty" made me think that Jaffe is going to write a thrid installment, however, because we were left with a little bit of a cliff hanger about Jas's mother...thus eluding to the possiblity of another book.



GOD i hope so!

=D
Profile Image for Jennifer Wardrip.
AuthorÌý5 books512 followers
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by The Compulsive Reader for TeensReadToo.com

Jasmine Callihan is back in yet another crazy and zany escapade!

This time Venice, Italy is her prowling grounds.

Despite her father's desperate attempts to keep her out of trouble, Jas finds herself entangled in yet another mystery. Trying to find out who killed her new friend, Arabella, will lead her from small, overstuffed apartments, to churches, and to large manors inhabited by the rich.

Luckily for her, she has many, many allies to help watch her back. And one of them includes a mysterious stranger who might know something about her history.

Full of convoluted mysteries, witty segues, and good fashion, KITTY KITTY is a glittering beach must-have, and the perfect follow-up to BAD KITTY.
Profile Image for Midnight.
191 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2009
Sometimes I think that Jas' real superpower is having friends who are on the extreme side of 'from another world.' If you haven't read either book, then you will not understand what I mean.

As to the story line, it was interesting. I loved that she referred to her dad as 'dadzilla;' his reaction to her last escapade was rather sever. Maybe the real problem for him is he does not spend enough time finding out who his daughter is as a person.

Anyway, I will admit that I did not figure out the ending until I reached it. I had good theories, and some I was hoping would not pan out, but overall, I liked the story. It does read fast once you get into it. Not everyone might enjoy the story, but for entertainment purposes, I did.
Profile Image for Ubalstecha.
1,612 reviews19 followers
January 2, 2013
Jas's dad has decided to move his family half-way around the world so he can research and write the definitive book on soap. Jas has been further humiliated by being locked in her room when she is not in Italian class. But trust Jas to find a mystery to solve, even under these circumstances. And when one of her classmates turns up dead of an apparent suicide, Jas is determined to prove the police wrong and find the real killer.

Another wonderfully frenetic mystery from Michele Jaffe full of the subtitles, wacky gadgets and witty repartee that readers have come to expect from this series.

Too bad this seems to be the last of Clamity Jas's adventures.
Profile Image for Rachel.
411 reviews
August 25, 2015
Jasmine was having a great time in California with her friends and her boyfriend, who is a rock star, when Dadzilla (dah, dah, dah) decides to pack up and move to Italy.
She's miserabe...until she meets Arabella, the girl from her Italian class with a questionable fashion sense.
Then Arabella's body is found. Jas's slightly crazy friends show up in Italy, along with all their homemade gadgets, and they set off on the trail of the mystery. The police say Arabella drowned in the canals, but Jas has evidence that says otherwise...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews

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