A drink-driving accident puts a dampener on things early on but soon Alex and the rest of the crew are boozing their way through the summer months.

Funnily enough, Gilligan captures the bravado and insecurity of the alpha males better than the dynamics of female relationships (maybe she doesn't want to offend her BFFs). "Man, you are the only person I know who would be out drinking and smoking only a week after a f***ing car accident, " one jock says to Alex as they booze it up at the Leaving Cert Ball.

The language is, predictably, incredibly accurate.

Gilligan perhaps unknowingly borrows largely from the 'f*** patois' first seen in the American college world of Tom Wolfe's I am Charlotte Simmons. Given that most Dublin southside teens act like American college students, this isn't entirely surprising.

What will remain a parallel universe to some, and achingly familiar to others, is all Jaeger-bombs, Lost boxsets, Justin Timberlake, Abrakebabra, txting, Dior dresses, the morning-after pill, L'Ecrivain, Toni & Guy, Aftershock, Ben & Jerrys and getting sloshed.

Parents are conspicuously absent, as are any emotional complexities beyond half-hearted D&Ms (that's deep and meaningful conversations).

The insular world is tapped with astounding accuracy and a lack of irony. Chloe is worried about studying a diploma in DIT, an acronym synonymous with the wrong side of the tracks in Ross O'Carroll-Kelly land. "The thought of ending up in Drama in DIT, outside the bubble in which she'd lived in for so long, was more daunting than she cared to admit." Yikes.

But that attitude is definitely one that exists.

For many, this is scoff territory and for others, it's life. The Leaving Cert results are followed by the obligatory piss-up in Ayia Napa. Vomit- and blackoutcausing drinking sessions are coupled with a ridiculously conflicting sanctimonious attitude towards drugs. All true of the bingeing nouveau riche Celtic cubs. Then the debs comes around, along with a few self-realisations.

Gilligan has certainly grown up. There's a sex scene early on (page 25, people) and plenty of swearing and other debauchery. Although a very telling snapshot of what life is like for thousands of Dublin teens, it's hilariously lacking in self-examination. Gilligan, like her characters, probably has the D4 blinkers on too.

She definitely has the limited inward-looking zeitgeist down. "OMG the cover looks truly smashing! ! Cannot wait to read it! Hope your having a fab holliers, love to all! XXxxxxxx El" Oh, sorry, that's not from the book, that's a comment left on Gilligan's Bebo page I, eh, accidently stumbled upon.

Life imitating art, imitating life? Other indecipherable ones include this gem from Ciara Rowe ". . i left u asleep under a trolley in a greek airport. . were such good mates! ! enjoy spain u ghealt. . . u heard me. . . franci says chillax mate! ! miss u Ps: Tubridy is a 5pointer all round. . sav! ! synie for life. . . oh and D is defo crashin the book launch. . . cheers for invitin her. . . .NOTxxxx" Wo t?

Anywhoo, Gilligan has certainly done well for herself, and it's readable stuff if you are capable of taking the gigantic leap of faith somewhere in the direction of Wesley. Anyway, two novels under the belt aged 19? Ledge.