3.75 ⭐️
I resonated with Jenna at times especially with comparing yourself to others and not wanting to let down your loved ones for all their sacrifices. As well as wanting other people's acceptance and letting others define your worth. As for the plot, It felt a bit shallow for a dark academia but it got the point across. I didn't feel a lot of urgency for what would happen next. Once Jenna took over Jessica's body, it wasn't as brutal as I expected it to be. Jessica's friends and student body were a bit one-dimensional and just didn't come across as very compelling individuals to read about despite the competitive nature of the school. My favorite aspect was Jenna's character arc. Her internal struggles of wanting to be recognized and constantly comparing herself to others and then realizing not everything's as it seems. Jenna finally saw her worth and longed for the life she took for granted and realized she wanted to live as herself again with the knowledge that she ultimately dictated her life. The romance was wholesome and convincing to me. Aaron reminded Jenna of who she was and listed the things he loved about her including how she uplifted the people in her life including him. He was just the sweetest. And lastly, I agree that we need more Jessica! I was so interested in her character and her struggles to uphold everyone's expectations at the cost of her wants and needs. She wasn't treated like a human being and was always idolized when she just wanted to live. Her resolution was a bit abrupt so it'd be cool to see more of her growth.

Oh my gosh. I think this may be my favourite Ann Liang. I know i've rated almost all of her books 5 stars, but i think this one is just special. I've never felt so seen by a book, and I sped through it in a day. I could FEEL Jenna's joy and her pride and her want, and i could feel my own heart plummeting when things went wrong. I love the main characters—both Jenna and Jessica—so much. honestly i yearn for there to be a Jessica Chen spin-off because I truly adored her character from what we saw. Other than that, Aaron and Jenna's relationship was so sweet, and when the 80% twist hit I had my head in my hands. The fact that he remembered to get her a bookmark *in the first chapter* even though he'd been away for a year (hehe) was SO endearing and I almost immediately loved him.

But really my favourite part of this book is Jenna's coming-of-age. I wish I'd read this book when I was struggling through the worst years of my asian education system—I feel like both Jenna and Jessica at the same time.

Truly such a gem of a book. I adore it, and it has cemented its place as one of my top books of the year.

This story, at its very core, is about wanting so deeply. To be perfect. To be enough. To the point where it’s disastrously obsessive—but also viciously human. Not only does Ann perfectly capture this visceral feeling on the pages, but she does so in a way that makes you feel less alone for doing so. I truly mean this when I say this is Ann’s best work.

Thank you to Harpercollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! 5/5 stars.