My Flawless Life" by Yvonne Woon is a captivating novel that delves into the complexities of identity, family, and self-discovery. The story follows the protagonist, Ida, who appears to have the perfect life on the surface but struggles with feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction. As Ida embarks on a journey of self-exploration, she uncovers hidden truths about her family's past and begins to question the ideals of perfection that have shaped her life. With its thought-provoking themes and engaging narrative, "My Flawless Life" is a compelling read that explores the true meaning of happiness and fulfillment

The description of Yvonne Woon’s My Flawless Life is what drew me in. I have a pretty rocky relationship with books in the suspense and thriller genre, particularly in the young adult category, but I found this novel to be quite average. Nothing overly positive nor anything overly negative to say either way.

I did not have time to download and read this book before it was archived, so I'm unable to leave a review.

This book starts as if it's setting the scene for a mystery. Hana is walking around St. Francis dissecting the paintings, deciphering what each adult in the room is. An artist, Non-Profit head, you name it, but Hana is spot on.


While figuring out who does what, Hana is tasked with a job. While she doesn't accept from those she doesn’t know, a $5,000 payment sure changes that plan.


I do have to say that the first few chapters are hard to get through. It is detail heavy, which isn't too bad. But it reads at such a slow pace for me. The most annoying part was all the hints at what happened with her dad and it still hadnt been explained. But eventually got there.


I struggled to enjoy this book; it took me about 80% to finally be grabbed in. Which is tough because of just how much I loved her Dead Beautiful books. I really wanted this book to be so much more, but it just fell short for me.


I hope her next series will get me back to the same feeling as her Dead Beautiful books.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the early copt of this book.

Overall, I loved this book. I think it's a great YA thriller, and incredibly enjoyable. My only complaint is that some of the side characters' development felt lacking. The main character's arc is so well thought out and executed that it was a bit disappointing that the side characters felt a bit one dimensional. Overall, though, a very enjoyable read!

A solid story about privilege and when privilege goes too far. A teen female is known as the fixer at her elite private school, though she can't seem to fix her own life. When she gets a new job she has to come to terms with the life she has been forced to accept and the choices that led her there. An interesting take on appreciating the life you have.

It's possible this could be due to me not reading many mysteries/thrillers, but I found this book a little difficult to follow along with at times. I didn't always know what was going on, but that may have been the point. Though the romance was a side plot, it was my favorite aspect of the story. I thought it developed naturally, and it followed all of my favorite romance tropes. I know the main takeaway from this story from most readers will be the plot twist, and I thought it was well-executed and exciting. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers, such as A Good Girl's Guide to Murder.

- thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc to review!

- this story was a little awkward for me, and the whole plot of “secret digging” was a reason why. i don’t usually vibe with stories where people go and dig for secrets on others in order to use it against them, and so that deterred my reading experience.

Interesting story with an unreliable narrator but relatively predictable turn of events. Perfect for fans of Gossip Girl and thrillers.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

This is SO not what i had in mind, but my goodness, it’s great. The writing especially, it just hooked me from the start. It’s incredibly well-written and its vibe nailed that rich privileged people lifestyles (and aesthetic).

The romance, the friendships <33

Basically : I love me some childhood friends to lovers and this book ATE and left no crumbs (i’m sorry, i just got no other better expression for this, this is the most appropriate one).

I think this book explored the struggle of pressures and expectations really well. Whether it’s from your parents, peers, or even yourself. Not to add if you’re part of a display for the public eye.

I also really like how the main focus of this book is basically that anyone could get anywhere as long as they have the money. As long as they’re rich. The privileges of the rich i guess you could say.

That PLOT TWIST though?? The nervous anticipation i felt when we finally came to the end lmao.

That ending is cute though <3

Overall : 4.5

4.5 stars = I loved this! Would re-read.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fixer story, but there were a few surprises that really kicked up the quality of this story. The voice of the main character was great; I didn't want to put this down. Highly recommend! (Language)

Wow I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I started reading this but I binged it in one sitting. It’s one of those stories that will stick with me for awhile. I wouldn’t say it’s an overly happy book but it was really good. Hanna the main character had what appeared to be a flawless life before a horrible accident derailed her life and changed her family’s high society status.

I thought the pacing of this book was done really well. Right away the story had me intrigued with how Hanna “fixed” peoples problems. The thriller aspects were done well and at times it felt creepy reading her text exchanges with the mysterious person pushing her to uncover her peers darkest secrets and eventually her own. Hanna definitely is flawed but this story’s message felt really important. It’s never too late to want to be a better person and even if we make mistakes we aren’t solely defined by them. I think as a young adult book this is very powerful. I also appreciated the inclusion of not everyone gets a fairytale dreamy ending but it doesn’t mean you can’t make something good out of what you’re dealt.

Overall this was a great contemporary YA thriller. There was a tiny hint of romance that helped balance out the more serious parts. I also enjoy the that the main character was mixed race Asian American and included some experiences that come with being a member of the AAPI community. I highly recommend this book and I also recommend the audiobook version.

After her father was arrested for a hit-and-run two years ago, "fixing" has become Hana Yang Lerner's only relevance at St. Francis Academy. That isn't to say she's completely devoid of status: she can bury any secret, fix any mistake, anything that her client wants. So when she gets a job from the anonymous "Three" to tail her former best friend, she thinks it'll be another run-of-the-mill fix. Things become more complicated when another former friend gets involved, and then even moreso as the mystery drags them deeper and deeper into the secrets of St. Francis Academy. But the students of St. Francis aren't the only ones keeping secrets, and as the case progresses, Hana's own become closer to discovery than she expects.

Wow. Wow. This book... w o w. Reading this book most closely aligned with my experience reading Ace of Spades (by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, also a stellar book), which is to say, I was *freaking out* the whole time. The mystery of who Three was and what they wanted Hana to discover drew me in from the very beginning, and I actually yelled at the plot twists. I can't say much more than that without spoiling but oh lord. It was so engaging, I actually couldn't put it down (I read this book in three hours over two days, btw). The different elements and characters weaved together so perfectly, and I will definitely remember this as one of the tightest novels I've ever read. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend to anyone who likes mysteries, stories set at elite boarding schools, or explorations of what it means to be a good person.

(Also the relationship between James and Hana was so sweet and I love James so so much, the world doesn't deserve him <3)

While there is a lot to like about this book, I found that it, personally, was not for me. Though, I do believe many other readers will completely fall in love with it!

The biggest problem I had with this book was the pacing. It was really hard to get into when the mystery took over half the book to even unfold. Not only that but it wasn’t engaging enough to stretch out. Also I dont know if I’m the only one but I thought there was going to be some sort of magic because of how Hana’s job and Logan’s dobbleganger were introduced but I thought wrong and was disappointed because the explanation to both of those things were lackluster.

** This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, and congrats to the HarperCollins Union on their new contract!

It's been a minute since I actually read this since I was waiting on giving my review until the strike ended, but I still feel like it says a lot that I can't remember a ton about this book. Maybe it's because I've outgrown contemporary YA as a genre? But I just didn't really care about anything that happened here, I think mainly because caring about anything to do with this book required me to empathize with and care for the protagonist, and I just didn't. I will say that the mystery takes some interesting twists and turns that I wasn't expecting, and the writing was fast-paced and made it super easy to keep saying "just one more chapter." The action got started right off the bat, and while I think that definitely hooked me in, it definitely also contributed to my disconnect because there was literally no time to get to know the characters before being thrown into things.

In the end, I see what the author was trying to do with this story and I think it was a cool idea. But the characters just fell flat for me and I don't think I've thought about this book a single time since I finished it. Still giving it 3 stars though since I think a lot of that does come down to personal taste.

My Flawless Life was one hell of a wild ride to read.

I was instantly sold on the premise of a teenager ‘fixer’, solving all problems except her own, getting caught up in a web of dark secrets and earth-shattering truths. Hana is a fascinating and deeply flawed character with an intellect that is terrifying. She is intensely analytical, spotting every possible advantage and twisting it her way. The scenes where she mentally dissects people or situations were incredible and reminded me of the mind palace scenes from Sherlock. These ‘fixes’ were always so engaging and stimulating, unlike anything I think I have read before. They added this extra layer of puzzling to the story that I personally adored.

You become invested in her twisted view of the world and highly intrigued by the dark plot she has become enmeshed in. Woon plots perfectly here, with plenty of twists, turns and intrigue. The suspense is thick and there is always a relentless push towards that explosive conclusion. The pacing is incredibly compulsive and engaging. I really enjoyed how much the book is about manipulation and how the book itself manipulates you, pushing you into subtle assumptions and judgements. There is a total ambiguity and moral murkiness to the book. It allows for so much thought-provoking discussion and the type of nuance that I adore.

Throughout the book, there is an interesting thread surrounding privilege, particularly financial privilege. This added more social commentary about victimisation, exploitation and how those with more privilege are able to bend situations to their own advantage more easily. It becomes about who is able to have a seat at the table to plead their case and who cannot even get into the room.

My Flawless Life is fierce, fantastically plotted and full to the brim with twists and turns that will destroy you.

There are a lot of names for what Hana does, but she prefers the term fixer. She helps her classmates, who go to the private school for the elite, cover secrets, obtain information, and basically clear any disaster that might harm the image that they need to contain. Hana can fix anything, except her life, which was ruined when her dad, the beloved senator, hit a woman in a car accident and drove away. When she gets a message from Three, an anonymous client, she can't help but accept this case that follows her ex best friend and what she knows. Through the interlacing storyline of past and present, Hana not only reveals the secrets of the rich and powerful, but also hers.

This book is so, so smart, and I can't wait to read it again while knowing the ending and how the story unfolded! The writing and the narration is so good and pairs perfectly with the entire plot. <i>My Flawless Life</i> tackles with the desperation and guilt that simmers in all of us but is covered with a lid of falsity and lies. <spoiler>I loved the part when Hana and Logan were talking about the simplicity of being an animal rather than a human. I think that a lot of us are raised with the idea that we need to go to a good college, get a good internship, and get a great job so that we can get a lot of money in order to continue this cycle with future generations. To these kids, this is what seems to matter most for them, even though they haven't even ventured into adulthood yet.</spoiler> I loved the book for the mystery and narration, but also for the questions that it brings up as I try to understand Hana and her story from her point of view. This is definitely my favorite book so far for 2023!

<u>Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!</u>

this was a really good! I liked the characters, and they were super well-developed. the plot was super cool and fun to read, and the writing was also smooth and easy to understand
highly recommend

After being abandoned by her elitist friends when her dad gets involved in a huge scandal, Hana is forced to the outskirts of the rich social circles she used to rule. She is only let back in when there is someone, or something, that needs fixing, and Hana is just the girl for the job. When she is offered well above her normal rate to spy on her old best friend, Hana gets tangled up in a plot more sinister than she was prepared for, and an old friend just might be the help she needs to get out of it.

I loved that we have an unreliable narrator. It is often used as a fallback for lack of a good mystery, but in My Flawless Life, it only enhanced the book. Even without the unique narrating, the mystery held up well, with several layers to it. It was so messy, taking a close look at the ugly core of the elitist rich and the dark side of politics and money. Some of the plot twists felt predictable to me, but overall, I was pleased with how it came together in the end.

My only point of contention with the book is all of the relationships were lacking. Hana was so well done and fleshed out, but none of the side characters got the same treatment. All of the other characters' motivations and personalities were learned through telling, not showing. A closer look at a few other key characters would have made this book a brilliant five-star read.

Edit (February 14, 2023):

This review has now been posted to Amazon, Goodreads, and Barnes and Nobles as of today.