My Review: Lots and Lots of Really Good Themes
Rep: LGBTQIA+

TW: biphobia, toxic parents, drugs, alcohol

The Pros: What Worked For Me

Confession time: yours truly used to be Top Advisor on Yahoo Dating for my relationship advice back in the day … which was when I was 12 years old. Even though I had no real experience with relationships, I loved being able to help people and give them advice on their love life. Reading about Darcy writing letters was just so nostalgic for me!
Although this book gives similar vibes to Simon vs the Homo Sapiens, I liked Darcy A LOT MORE than Simon!
One of the key things that made me love this novel was the way in which the author presents the idea of biphobia. I’ll be honest right now: I have struggled constantly with biphobia without even knowing that it was a thing. For years, I just thought there was something wrong with me and felt horrible about myself. It took this novel for me to realize that my fears, concerns, and struggles are valid and felt by others in the LGBTQIA+ community. I’m still coming to terms with it all, but I actually have to thank the author for finally giving the accurate representation I needed.
There is really good LGBTQIA+ representation and presentation of issues throughout the book!

The Cons: What I Didn’t Like

As someone who has studied psychology, I found the theories being quoted to be a bit of a stretch.
The novel was a bit too long and some of it could have been cut out to make the flow better – but this is me nitpicking.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It is important for what it does in terms of bisexual representation and the positive relationship advice that it promotes. If you’re looking for a sweet story with a really good message, check this one out for sure!

Thank you to St. Martin's press, NetGalley and Sophie Gonzales for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Darcy is our 16-year-old bi-sexual heroine of this adorable book. She runs Locker 89, which she started as a freshman. Her classmates put letters in the locker asking for relationship advice. Darcy is the mini Ann Landers of her generation. Her identity has been kept secret for two years until one day, Alexander Brougham (Bro-hum) discovers her retrieving letters from the locker. He asks for her help in getting his girlfriend, Winona, back and he will pay her.

What I enjoyed about the book; almost everything, but my favorite was the burgeoning friendship between Brougham and Darcy. I loved them together, and I enjoyed reading about her confusion when she started having feelings about him. I also really liked how supportive her Queer club was.

Four stars, as some parts were slower than others.

Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales is a light-hearted, funny, cute and queer rom-com. There is a variety of LGBTQ+ representation - bi, lesbian, gay, ace and trans characters.
I loved every part of this book. I loved the discussions about the internalized and the not so internal biphobia, the characters and their relationships, everything.
Darcy's responses to letters asking for relationship advice were really interesting to read and I really enjoyed them. I think they may help some readers who might be going through similar things.
I wish every school had a Queer and Questioning Club like the one in the book so everyone could openly and safely discuss their feelings and whatever makes them anxious about who they are.
The Chad and Ryan from High School Music reference was so funny. Yes, they were obviously dating and no one can tell me otherwise.
Sophie Gonzales keeps blowing up my expectations and I keep smiling every time I think about this book.

Wednesday Books gifted me a digital copy of Perfect on Paper in exchange for an honest review.

"You are queer enough"

Darcy Phillips is a bisexual girl who offers anonymous advice on the love lives of her schoolmates. Now she uses her powers for good (well, there was this time once… maybe twice), has a great big crush on her best friend Brooke, and tries to generally be a good person.
One day, a very attractive guy named Alexander Brougham catches her sneaking the letters out of the locker, locker 89, that holds all the letters she collects in order to answer. He hires her to help him get his ex-girlfriend back. What choice does she really have considering he’s the only one who knows who she is? If word got out who she was, Brooke would absolutely never speak to her again.
She knows she can help him out since his ex was once his girlfriend so it can’t be all that hard to get them back together, can it? Of course, she’s stuck with the ever annoying and oh so bratty Alexander in the process.
This book is much better than I’m making it sound. It’s got a lot of rep in it and it’s all done so well. I think you get a really good bi rep in this one that I haven’t encountered a whole lot of. Not that there aren’t characters who are bi but characters who question the way it’s done in this book. A lot of the representation here is just done very well.
This was a quick read as well. Mostly because it was nice and smooth reading. You start it and just keep going and don’t even realize how much of the book has passed when you go to put it down. It just flows so well. I really enjoyed it a lot.

Being a mood reader can be hard. I'm fairly certain I could love this book, however it wasn't grabbing my attention at the time I went to read it. Sadly I have not been vibing with YA as much as I use to, I'm still interested in this story but for now, it is a DNF from me. There is a chance I may come back to in it the future and will update my review at that time.

This book was fun and an easy read. It has intrigue and fun relatable characters. I can see my students really enjoying this book so I will pick up a copy for my classroom library.

A cute love story. It contains all your typical teen drama. Great for fans of Jenny Han. Some good advice about friendships and dating.

While Perfect on Paper admittedly did not live up to my expectations due to my dislike of the main character's tendencies towards secrecy and blaming, it was an entertaining read with fantastic bisexual representation that the YA genre needs. I also loved the way that Darcy's family played into the narrative, providing an outsider perspective that was understanding and supportive, while also causing her to question her sources and make sure that she was treating those who entrusted her fairly. More than anything though, I loved the way that Sophie Gonzales brings in commentary around YouTubers and how truly influential they can be in shaping the mindset of teenagers.

PERFECT ON PAPER is a delightful YA romantic comedy. Darcy has been operating Locker 89 at her school for years. Students leave notes and money with their email address, and Darcy takes the time to reply to their notes with an anonymous email of relationship advice. There is a money back guarantee that if her advice does not work, she will refund the money. Her anonymity is put into jeopardy when she is confronted by a senior, Alexander Brougham.

Brougham wants Darcy to help him get his ex-girlfriend back with personal counseling sessions. Out of fear for others finding out the secret that she is behind Locker 89, Darcy begins to help him. At the same time, she sees advice relating to her BFF and secret mega-crush, Brooke, that makes her act out of jealousy rather than the usual whole-hearted advice her secret agony aunt program gives. As time goes on and she spends more time with Brougham, she realizes that there is more to him than she would have expected, and maybe getting him back with his ex is not as high on her priorities. What could go wrong?

What I loved: This plot had me completely hooked to see how everything came together. I also really adore unexpected romance with some enemies-to-romantic flair, and this book delivered in a big way. The characters are unbelievably well-written and highly compelling. Aside from Darcy, who grows a lot as a character in the book, and Brougham, who is totally swoon-worthy, Ainsley is a character whose book I would happily devour. She's funny, clever, and makes her own clothes- plus gives her sister Darcy great advice. She was definitely one of my favorites in the book, and she had me literally laughing out loud with her antics at the end big friendship-related gesture. Ainsley was *chef's kiss.* I also had much love for Finn, who has his own conspiracy theories about High School Musical, and even Darcy's mother, who is doing her best and also evolving during the story.

Another great part of the book is all the representation of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the discussions around how different identities can be perceived (particularly bi, as per the main character) and related challenges. This was a really strong part of the story, and I also appreciated the importance of having safe spaces (like the Q + Q Club) demonstrated in a positive way.

I also really loved the inclusion of the letters and the advice Darcy gives sprinkled throughout the book. These sorts of additions just made the book even more fun. The writing style and pacing are really perfect in this book, and I never felt like there was a dull moment.

I would add some warnings for drug and alcohol use/abuse, parental neglect and abuse, and internalized biphobia.

Final verdict: With fantastic representation, strong love interests, and a bunch of personal growth, PERFECT ON PAPER was a compelling and charming read. Highly recommend for fans of ASK ME ANYTHING and FOLLOW YOUR ARROW.

This book is cute, funny and has all of the angst you could want in a YA romance. I liked the characters, especially Darcy's sister, and enjoyed reading the book. It's a quick read and I like the author's writing style. She does a great job writing conversations, and the sarcasm is witty without sounding too mean. I recommend

This was SO. GOOD. The queer, Sex Education vibes in this were immaculate and I can easily say that Sophie Gonzales has become a new favorite YA author for me and I will absolutely read anything she publishes in the future. I loved the messiness of the romance in this and how authentically teenage all of the hijinks in this felt. This was just so fun!!! Definitely recommend if you're looking for a new YA contemporary to dive into this summer

CW: biphobia

This book was so adorable. Perfect for fans of To All the Boys I’ve loved before. I’m not always a big fan of YA, but this book was more of a mature YA? I really enjoyed the bi representation as I think that’s something a lot of HS students can relate too.

I'm going to be honest here, my brain some how took the premise of this book and REALLY distorted it until I thought it was going to be completely different from what it was. That's not necessarily a bad thing though, because it was kind of fun to be surprised by what the story actually was. I'm pickier with my contemporary novels, but I loved Perfect on Paper for really capturing what it's like to be a bi teen, albeit with a bit more drama than you'd get in real life (which was awesome btw, it'd have been boring otherwise).

I loved Darcy, she felt really genuine as a character, from the way she wanted to help people to her annoyance at Brougham and her selfishness and jealousy. Which sounds like I'm putting a bunch of negative traits down for her, but what I'm trying to say is that Darcy felt very real, to the point where I could easily imagine having known someone like her in high school. The relationships she has with her sister, her best friend and even Brougham were all so realistic and touching to me because the characters really came across as caring about one another, both big picture wise and down to the little details of their interactions.

If you're looking for a fun, queer rom-com definitely pick this up! I loved Gonzales' use of tropes, the romance she built and the sheer amount of queerness (especially bi pride) in Perfect on Paper.

This was a super fun read that tugged at my heartstrings several times. I enjoyed the plot and really loved the characters!

Darcy thinks she knows exactly what she wants and believes that she is comfortable in her skin, but she is forced to really question her identity, as well, as her choices, as the story progresses. In the whole, Darcy is a likeable character and has good intentions, but she tends to make snap judgements about people (especially Brougham and Ray) and doesn’t always take other people’s feelings into account.

At first glance, Brougham appears to be egotistical, aloof and rather conceited. But as you dig deeper, there is a whole lot more to Alexander Brougham than meets the eye. He is incredibly loyal to his friends, open-minded, supportive, and really sweet. And he’s been hurt a lot by those that are supposed to care for him, so he hides behind walls you have to scale to find the real Brougham.

Brooke is Darcy’s best friend, she is sweet and flirty, super smart, but also a little shy. Until she learns something that Darcy has done behind her back that could ruin their friendship forever.

Darcy’s sister Ainsley always has her back and is really there for her no matter what. That have an exceptionally close sister-bond that I really almost envied. Ainsley is quirky and sweet and would really do just about anything for Darcy.

While Finn isn’t a main character, I decided to include him here because I felt he played a big role in both Darcy & Brougham’s lives. He’s Brougham’s best friend, but also moves in Darcy’s world as a friend as well. And he is incredibly supportive to both of them. When Darcy’s world collapses, he is one of the people who is there for her.

Ray, aka Reina, is somewhat Darcy’s nemesis, and through Darcy’s actions, she becomes more of a nemesis. On the surface she appears conceited, brash, and as though she thinks she’s better than everyone else. But, like everyone, Ray has her own insecurities and soft spots too.

This book covers some important LGBTQ issues, including Bi-erasure. All of the lead characters listed above, except for Brougham, are queer, and that plays a big role in the story line. I liked how the storyline progressed, touching on issues without making it feel like the author was trying to highlight it with big neon lights. That is to say, it fit the story perfectly.

I loved, loved, loved this story and can’t wait for the next Sophie Gonzales book!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher {St. Martin’s Press} in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Maybe "perfect in my head, mediocre on paper" would be a better title for this one?

This is one of those YAs that weren't really written for me. I loved how it tackled biphobia, had an extremely inclusive cast of characters, and the unique emails with advice at the beginning of each chapter, but the plot didn't interest me at all. There was (yet another) basic love triangle and a whole lot of conflict easily resolved with some basic communication. The romance wasn't particularly compelling either.

I ended up finishing the story via audio, which I enjoyed much more. I'm going to blame the pacing for making the ebook a slog. Very sad that this one fell flat for me compared to my absolute devotion to Only Mostly Devastated.

TW: biphobia (mostly internalized), implied child abuse

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I recently read Perfect on Paper as an ARC, and it was everything I could have ever wanted from a contemporary! It was light, fluffy, and included some of my favourite tropes – (hate-to-love and the grumpy x sunshine dynamic). Each of the characters were entirely different, and the stark contrast, and difference in personalities made their dynamics so much more interesting.

Each of the character relationships had so much depth to them, and all of them felt so three-dimensional and realistic. What I loved the most was how natural each of the interactions felt, because in so many books, you just get awkward conversation, but seeing supportive friends, who had realistic interactions helped make this book resonant.

Although the storyline was super fluffy, and cute, I loved seeing how it was balanced with heavy themes of internal biphobia, and finding yourself, even when you feel you’ve lost everything, and everyone around you.

The relationships that weren’t the center of attention, and ones featuring minor side characters were also given so much depth, and attention, which is something I would love to see so much more in the books I read. All of the relationships, whether they were parental, romantic, or friendly, had a certain past to them, and were never perfect. They all had their own unique flaws, much like relationships we have in real life, making this exemplary contemporary even better.

In this YA contemporary story, Darcy Phillips, a bisexual high schooler who gives anonymous relationship advice, is enrolled to help senior Alexander Brougham get his ex-girlfriend back after he finds out her secret. Darcy is willing to do anything to keep her secret from getting out, because if it did, her best friend and long-time crush, Brooke, would, without a doubt, hate her for something she did last year regarding advice she gave. As Darcy navigates her feelings for Brooke and her slowly budding friendship with Brougham, she works through feelings of internalized biphobia, because she is afraid she may be developing feelings for a certain boy and doesn't know what to do.

I don't read a lot of YA anymore, but I do tend to enjoy the books I do pick up from that genre. Perfect on Paper was a great summer read that left me smiling. I loved the LGBTQ+ rep and the discussions that happened in the Q&Q Club. I liked getting to see so many characters and the growth that several of them went through, especially Darcy. She was a really entertaining protagonist, and I was so happy to see her work through her mistakes and follow her heart. Perfect on Paper was a great read that I would absolutely recommend! And can we please appreciate how pretty the cover is for a moment?

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales!

Darcy Phillips has been giving anonymous advice to students who submit letters to locker 89. Not even her best friends know that she's responsible for the locker. But one afternoon she gets caught by Brougham who asks her to become his personal dating coach in exchange for keeping her secret.

I loved this story. Darcy is such a likeable character, and I loved watching her relationships with the other characters grow.

Darcy secretly runs locker 89. Her classmates pay her for relationship advice now if only she can get her own love life in order. Darcy has been in love with her best friend Brooke forever but a new guy Brougham asks for advice which leads Darcy to reflect on her true feelings. I liked the lgbtqia talk. Such a great open space of discussions which most of us never had in high school. Where the book fell short for me was the actual relationships. Never believed Darcy and Brougham were feeling it for each other.

This was such a good book! I really enjoyed the relationship advice letters because the advice was sound and just made the story a lot of fun with how Darcy had to navigate knowing the people she was giving advice to. I love the Q&Q club and that whole gang of characters were great.

The writing, the overall conflict, the romance, Darcy’s mistakes… everything about this story was perfect and I enjoyed it so much.