This was beautifully written and the narrator was perfect for the characters and story. The concept is interesting and I would definitely recommend this to any teen who is questioning if they are “good enough” or comparing themselves to others. Through magical realism the reader gets to see what it is like for one character to walk in the shoes of another. There are moments where everything is just a little too coincidental and neatly wrapped up, but if you can look past that there is an important message.

Ann Liang is a genius. I first found her with A Song to Drown Rivers, but she’s now captivated this fantasy-lover to read more grounded speculative fiction. I’ll follow Ann Liang to any story she decides to tell.

I Am Not Jessica Chen is a story with heart. Jenna Chen, perpetually living in her cousin Jessica’s shadow, just wants to be valued. But after a string of rejections to every Ivy League school she applies to, including her first choice of Harvard, while her cousin Jessica is accepted, Jenna wishes on a falling star to be Jessica—only for it to come true. What follows is an emotional, rip-my-heart-from-behind-my-ribs, relatable story of a girl who never felt good enough, who didn’t attain what she thought was success no matter how hard she tried, and whose insecurities threatened to steal all the joys that made her, her. The prose was beautiful: lyrical, yet sharp; emotional, yet concise.

Katharine Chin’s audio narration was excellent. She became Jenna, and I noticed the slight changes when Jenna tried to be Jessica. An excellent performance that brought the story to life, even at high speed. I look forward to more books performed by this narrator.

I Am Not Jessica Chen is perfect for readers who like:
- Grounded stories with a hint of the speculative
- Private school stories
- Academia and the stresses and pressures that come with it
- Childhood-friends-to-lovers romance
- Lyrical yet concise prose
- Swapping places with someone you admire, only to realize it’s not entirely what you thought
- The bonds of family

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook ARC. I look forward to Ann Liang’s future projects.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook copy!
Rating: 3.5 stars
I have read and enjoyed this author's previous releases and couldn't wait to read "I am Not Jessica Chen". This story follows Jenna Chen, a girl striving to escape her cousin Jessica's shadow. Things come to a head when Jenna doesn't get into Harvard but Jessica does. Jenna wishes to become like her cousin and her wish is granted when she ends up in Jessica's body the next day. I enjoyed this story for the most part but I felt it was lacking when it came to the relationships. Jenna's relationship with Jessica and Aaron was more tell than show. I did not believe that Aaron liked Jenna or that Jenna cared for Jessica as a cousin. I liked that Jenna had moments where she was honest about her motivations and how that affected her character development. Just wished we had more background on the main three characters. Also, don't go into this story expecting an explanation of the body-swapping. The part of the story left me wanting more.

⤿ 💌 3.5 stars!

This book was absolutely beautifully written but unfortunately for me at times it feels quite repetitive. We know Jenna struggles with inferiority when it comes to Jessica but I wish the character development happened a bit quicker as I felt we don't see any strong development until more than 8-% into the book. Jessica's character also could have been delved into more, I wanted to really pick her brain and understand how life felt to her with all the pressure she was constantly under.

I enjoyed the romance and the fact it didn't take over the over arching plot line! People who struggle with academic pressure will definitely feel seen reading this book, Liang is able to really show that there's no winner in these situations. Overall still a good read and can't wait to keep reading more of her works!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Audio for the advanced listening copy in exchange for a honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! It’s my first read by Ann Liang, and I was captivated by how beautifully it was written. I really connected with Jenna Chen and her struggle with the pressure to succeed and live up to societal expectations. It reminded me of my own high school experience, where we were constantly told that getting into a good post-secondary school would guarantee a successful life.

I also felt for Jessica. The pressure to be perfect is incredibly tough. At first, Jenna is consumed by jealousy of Jessica and wishes she could have her life. But when she ends up stepping into Jessica’s shoes, she initially thinks it’s the greatest thing. As the story unfolds, Jenna comes to realize that the pedestal Jessica is placed on is suffocating and exhausting. This book really drives home the idea that sometimes, we think we want someone else's life, but the grass isn’t always greener.

This is definitely a story that will stick with me. I could picture it like a movie as I listened to it, and I really hope it gets adapted someday. The narrator did a fantastic job, and honestly, there wasn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. The ending was beautiful, and the romance between Jenna and Aaron was so sweet—I loved their chemistry. This won’t be my last read by Ann Liang. Bravo!


Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC!

. Someone described this to me as a freaky Friday situation and listen the way I loved that movie had me ESTATIC to read this. I was expecting to laugh my ass off and see the weird stuff that she would get into. Jokes on me tho lol I really need to start reading the synopsis because this was literally the opposite of me laughing.

This book had me in tears. I wanted to hug her so bad! I’m really big on support systems, and she didn’t feel like she had that at first. She was doing all of this just to feel the support that she thought someone else had. It was really sad. And this may be a bit of a spoiler, but it was even more sad when she had the chance to change back and she still felt the same way as the beginning. I felt so bad for her. I just wanted to hug her and let her know they were hard on her because they cared, but they would much rather have her as herself. She deserved so much more.

Ann is normally a hit or miss for me. I’ve only ever read her romances, so this really lit a fire under me to read her other books. This was about a romance, but it was so much deeper than that. The love interest saw her before the change and even with telling her, she didn’t believe him. The self hatred was deep in this one. I think anyone, teen or not would feel this. I hated that she felt like she had to resort to this. I know I was deep into this book when I realized I was talking about the future of a fictional character. I found muself wishing that she got into therapy later on and really talked about these issues lol And while I would wish that for a person in real life I realize me wishing that for a character was a little weird lol

As someone who’s not a sci fi person, I thank you Ann Liang lol I am NOT science person so I always head into sci fi books hoping the science lingo isn’t too heavy or hard to understand. But in this one, it’s mentioned, but when explained it doesn’t go into too much detail and I loved that. And that’s as an adult. I know there are some teens who will be happy about this as well lol (And for those that aren’t I know some good sci fi titles that have plenty of science in them. Don’t try to put words in my mouth) This book is definitely a great example of fantasy/sci-fi. It has both because of the body switch aspect and the way the switch happened.

There is romance in this one, but I don’t think it was a huge part of it. I think I would classify this as a like second chance romance. They almost had a thing before, but they were teens and obviously didn’t communicate their feelings to one another. When everything came out tho it was head shake worthy. They should have talked a long time ago and they might have saved this whole fiasco. She just needed something to look forward to. he could have helped with that. But I also know that she wasn’t ready for anything and she wouldn’t have really listened to him. She didn’t in the first place lol However, I didn’t care for her decision making. She was content with not caring about anything, but she was mad about this one person not remembering her. And I get it, she’s a teen, but REALLY? LOL That’s what’s important to them. But as a mom, that made me shake my head a bit lol

This was a really great read and I can’t wait to share more about it. I will definitely be putting this book into the hat for my library system’s ToB titles next year. Not only is it entertaining, but it also brings to light some amazing conversations of grades and mental health. This is going to be a book I talk about for a long time coming. Thank you, Ann Liang.

Wow. For young adult fiction this one’s a home run on so many levels. The narration was superb; Katharine Chin’s voice was like silk with excellent clarity at high speed on audio. This title was my first 5-star for the month and I am quite pleased.

The story is told through the eyes of Jenna Chen, Jessica’s not-so-perfect cousin. Jessica is flawless in beauty and grace. Her near immaculate grades and social status is the envy of students at Havenwood Private Academy. Everyone wants to be Jessica including Jenna herself but is it worth losing one’s own identity and possibly the love of your life?

This was such an inspiring and sensational read as we could all relate to the main character’s obsessions and shortcomings. I was secretly lying in wait for Jessica’s ultimate demise but it occurred to me Jenna had more to lose and her internal conflicts were far more valuable to the morale of the story. To sum it up, it was THE perfect ending to a highly and emotionally charged story within the context of Asian culture - reminding me both of my high school woes and the dangers of perfection.

as a devoted reader of all books by ann liang, i was not disappointed by this one. i have to say that aaron and jenna complete my soul, and that they will always have a special place in my heart. thank you for the arc! i look forward to her upcoming releases.

Jenna Chen has always lived in her cousin Jessica's shadow. Jessica's prettier, richer, smarter, more talented, and now, Jessica has gotten into Harvard while Jenna was rejected. On the night Jenna disappoints her parents with the news, she makes a wish: to be Jessica. When she wakes up as Jessica, at first it does seem like all her problems are gone. But soon she begins to realize that being Jessica Chen isn't all it's cracked up to be.

This story has familiar elements, with the added twist where there wasn't a body swap, and the memory of Jenna begins to disappear. It's easy to see why Jenna would enjoy being Jessica and finally having the life she has always been pressured to have come easily - as herself, she's had to work hard for her grades and to stay in shape. The romance with Aaron was a nice slow burn, and he helps Jenna come to several realizations, although she comes to others all on her own. Despite a somewhat familiar premise, Jenna's journey made this a compelling read.

Jenna Chen is a failure by her family’s standards and is constantly reminded of how she doesn’t measure up to her perfect, rich and brilliant cousin, Jessica. At the lowest moment, Jenna makes a wish to be her cousin, and the next morning she wakes up and is Jessica. But, she starts to realize that maybe Jessica perfect life isn’t so perfect, and bit by bit her family and friends begin to forget Jenna and her true self is being erased. Can she and is she willing to try and recover her true self and bring back the lost Jessica.

This was so good, and is a great story about how nobody had it all.

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Overall Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

Jenna Chen, a high school senior, is grappling with the pressures of college applications and the expectations of her Asian immigrant parents. Despite her hard work and good grades, the Ivy League rejections pile up, leaving her feeling inadequate, especially compared to her seemingly perfect cousin, Jessica, who's headed to Harvard.

In a classic case of “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side”, Jenna quickly realizes that life as Jessica isn’t everything she imagined. As she navigates Jessica's world, Jenna discovers hidden pressures and insecurities beneath the surface. The longer Jenna stays in Jessica’s body, the more her true self slips away.

Jenna was extremely relatable – she doesn’t see herself as positively as others see her. She’s also still finding herself and discovering what’s important to her during this instrumental period of life. It was great to see her appreciate her quirks, her relationships, and her perspective/attitude.

This read was quick and engaging and had such a sweet romance in it. I would have LOVED to read this when I was in high school. I can’t wait to get into Ann Liang’s backlog!

Thanks to Harper Collins publishing and the team at The Hive for providing the audiobook for review! All opinions are my own.

Jessica Chen is perfection. Jenna Chen is average. Follow along in this Freak Friday adjacent story that, instead of breaching the generational gap (both girls are the same age), reminds us that, while the grass may be greener on the other side, that doesn't mean it's always delicious.

This was a really good book! The style was fun and to the point, most of the characters were believably 17 without falling into the common trap of being annoyingly 17 (only minor caveat is Aaron, who seemed a little too mature/stoic for his years). All the things Jenna goes through after taking over her cousin's body are believable, and her reactions are understandable given her age. I couldn't really relate to her desire for fame/renown, but it's a fairly common thing for people to want recognition for their effort and the author handled the topic well. I also appreciated that the boy she likes couldn't immediately convince her to change course just because he was so gosh-darn handsome (even though he was right!). I LOVE romance novels, even romance for romances' sake, but I do not enjoy characters that are too easily guided by handsome young men. I also don't enjoy overly sassy characters, which is painfully common in modern novels. Thankfully, Jenna doesn't fall into either of these tropes. She's a fully fleshed out, individual character - with both annoying and endearing traits - and it's great!

The audiobook was also enjoyable. The narrator has a clean, easy to understand voice that wasn't too jarring when she transitioned between character voices (probably a personal problem, but still). All-in-all, I'd definitely recommend this book to any teens/young adults/young at hearts who are looking for a solid story with a solid theme and enjoyable characters.

The audiobook narrator was fantastic. I enjoyed her voice, pace and telling of the story.

The story was very interesting from the beginning. I could feel the stress and unrealistic expectations that parents, school and society are placing on both of the characters in the story. To experience someone else's life and realize that everyone struggles was very cool. I had not had academic pressure placed on me to this extreme, so I appreciated being in the character's shoes. There was a little romance in the story which I enjoyed too!

I enjoyed this book. It really did a great job touching on burnout, academic excellence, family expectations, jealousy, and self acceptance. I really enjoy Ann Liang’s writing and how she seems to write from a place of experience. She writes wonderful books with Asian American characters.

Jenna Chen has always felt like she doesn’t fit in, her cousin Jessica is “perfect” the model student the golden child and seems like her whole life is a fairytale. Jenna’s feelings are palpable. She’s easy to relate to and I think mirrors how many students feel. The burnout is real and pushing yourself for perfection and achieving success often leads to failure and never feeling good enough. I think this is a great coming of age story that helps us not feel so alone. Jessica’s life seems perfect but it’s easy to make assumptions and this story really does play into the walk a mile in their shoes to understand what others are dealing with. The romance was a small part of this story but I thought it brought a bit of lightness and childhood friends to lovers for YA just works so well.

Overall this was a really good book. If you’re looking for a book that touches on academic stress, chasing perfection and learning that you are more than enough then I highly recommend this.

Loved this audiobook and this story! Ann Liang writes a captivating story that dives into the intertwined lives of Jenna and Jessica Chen—cousins who couldn't be more different. Jessica, the superstar—beauty, brains, and charm all in one, a magnetic force that everyone admired. Meanwhile, Jenna is just…there, overshadowed, yearning for the glow of Jessica's spotlight. Jenna's intense desire to be seen and loved as Jessica set the stage for a magical twist: her wish comes true, and suddenly, she is Jessica. But as the old saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Will Jenna bask in the glory of her new life, or will she discover that the grass isn't always greener on the other side? This story dives into the complexity of identity, self-worth, and the realization that envy can blind us to our own unique shine.

This book beautifully illustrates that the high of being someone else can often come with unexpected lows. A thought-provoking story, Liang's narrative makes us reflect on our own lives and the value of embracing our true selves.

I enjoyed reading this novel. The perspective of Jenna was very realistic when coming of age and dealing with all the pressures of being what everyone wants you to be. Reminded me of parts of my childhood. Overall, good book.

This book left me conflicted. While I inhaled this book in 2 days, it was gripping—I couldn’t stop listening--it also frustrated me in some ways. In terms of the audiobook quality, the narration felt slow (I had to speed it up to 1.25x), though the voice differentiation was excellent and very engaging.

First off—Jenna’s constant complaints grew tiresome, making parts of the plot feel sluggish, though I understand why they were included. While I understand that Jenna was the main character, I really hoped for more from Jessica as her foil. I was disappointed that Jessica’s privilege and wealth were never addressed, nor did we get much insight into her motivations or desires. While the book highlights how she doesn’t have time for self-reflection because she is constantly setting these impossible standards for herself (and everyone around her), I wished there was more exploration of that lack. The book also brought up themes of Jessica blazing ahead while leaving others behind, but this was never fully explored.

I also thought some major plot points were just abandoned, for example the cheating scandal was left unresolved, which felt like a missed opportunity. The book also tries to tie in these bigger themes around immigration, assimilation, and racism, but some of these attempts fell flat for me. In particular, the discussion of racism seemed tacked on at the last minute—are we saying only the wealthy experience it, since we only see examples of it as Jenna?

I also wished Jenna's friends had remembered her more—why was Aaron the only one? Did he love her more, or just understand her best? Either conclusion feels disappointing. Similarly, the role of parents in setting impossible expectations was barely questioned. We can understand their struggles and motivations without absolving them entirely. I would’ve liked to see that examined more than just a tearful reunion that sweeps everything under the rug.

All in all, while the book celebrates Jenna’s character arc, I personally think there was a missed opportunity to also speak to the Jessicas of the world. Not merely as an goddess-like ideal torn down to human-size, but somehow giving space for both girls to forge their own path and identity while navigating similar pressures.

After being rejected by every single Ivy League school she applied to and falling short of her parents’ impossible expectations, Jenna Chen makes a wish: to be Jessica Chen, her perfect, beautiful cousin who just got accepted into her dream school, Harvard. To Jenna, Jessica seems to have it all. But what happens when that wish comes true? Jenna wakes up in Jessica’s body and quickly discovers that Jessica’s life isn’t as flawless as she thought. To make things worse, everyone—including her parents—starts forgetting Jenna Chen ever existed. The only person who still remembers her is Aaron. Can Jenna find her way back to herself? And does she even want to?

Let’s talk about how special Ann Liang’s writing is. This is the third book I’ve read by her, and she’s officially an auto-buy author for me. This book is for the girls who feel like they’re never enough—the ones trying desperately to meet impossible standards, only to feel like they’re always falling short. It’s for the “this is me trying” girls.

Jenna Chen is such a relatable character. She’s flawed, but that’s what makes her real. I felt every ounce of her frustration and longing, but I also understood how easy it is to put others on a pedestal without knowing their struggles. Through Jenna’s eyes, we see how difficult it is to be Jessica Chen, the “perfect” girl. This story reminds us that everyone is fighting their own battles, even if they seem to have everything.

And then there’s Aaron Cai. The man that you are. Even when Jenna wasn’t Jenna, he saw her. He remembered her, he understood her, and he believed in her when she didn’t believe in herself. I love a man who yearns. 🤪 He constantly reminded her how special, talented, and incredible she is. His love made me so emotional—you could feel how deeply he adored her in every moment.

This book is unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s got dark academia vibes, raw emotions, yearning, and so much heart. I loved it so, so much, and I know it’s going to stick with me for a long time. I alternated between the audiobook and the book and I had the best time!! Thank you for sending this my way!!

3.5/5 - This book started off really strong! I appreciated the core messages such as comparison being the thief of joy and the pressures of academic success. I think most people can relate to some of Jenna’s experiences and feelings. But eventually, this book started to get too repetitive for my liking. The twists were predictable too. I would have liked for Jessica to have a stronger presence in the story. If you enjoy magical realism and YA, this book may be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this advanced listener copy!

Is the grass really greener on the other side? I am not Jessica Chen explores the very human experience of wanting things to be different/better than they are. But sometimes we don't really understand how others feel about themselves or about us. This is an engaging book about a girl who wishes to be her cousin. The premise is not one that is unique, but the writing tells a unique story that so many young people (and maybe older people) could relate to.

I would highly recommend this book to high school students. It has a wonderful message about accepting yourself and helps develop empathy towards others. Even those who seem to have everything they could ever want. I listened to the audio, and I can't sing enough praises for the narrator. She was absolutely perfect for the book!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for an audio ARC of this book, Receiving the copy did not impact my review of the book. I really, really, loved the book and highly recommend it.