Jessica Chan has it all—beauty, intelligence, wealth, and now, a coveted spot at Harvard. Her cousin, Jenna, has spent her life feeling like a disappointment, especially when she’s rejected by the same university. Jealous of Jessica’s seemingly perfect life, Jenna wishes to be her—and wakes up to find that wish granted.

Jenna wakes up in Jessica’s body, wrapped in silk sheets in a mansion that isn’t hers. At first, she assumes it’s a dream. But when the illusion refuses to fade, she realizes that Jessica’s life—her privilege, her success, the admiration she commands—is now hers to claim. For the first time, Jenna basks in the attention, the accomplishments, the effortless perfection she’s always longed for.

But beneath the glamour, she discovers the immense pressure Jessica hides. When ominous notes arrive, threatening to expose her, Jenna realizes her cousin was keeping a secret—one that could destroy them both. To make things worse, no one remembers the real Jenna as days go by, not even her own parents. The only person who sees through the illusion is Aaron, the brilliant and impossibly charming boy Jenna has loved for as long as she can remember. Together, they embark on a desperate journey to uncover the truth and restore Jenna to her rightful life.

This novel is a stunning exploration of envy, identity, and the hidden burdens of perfection. It reminds us that the grass is not always greener on the other side and that even those who seem to have it all carry unseen struggles. The author’s prose is beautifully poetic, compelling readers to reflect on their own lives and embrace their worth. Through the lens of two Asian girls raised with relentless expectations of success, the story shines a light on the cost of perfection and the pressure to live up to impossible standards.

I’ve already talked about this book to my high school students and can’t wait to add it to my classroom library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was released on January 28, 2025.

I am unwell. I am so unwell. After reading the bonus content? EVEN MORE UNWELL.

Going to try and put my thoughts into something coherent, because I still feel like I am having severe brain rot from this book (this is a good thing). I will be honest, I was worried I wasn't going to like this one as much as I hope this doesn't find you, but I ended up having a great time.

This story is for anyone who can relate to being constantly compared, being jealous of other's successes, hating yourself and finding yourself not enough, and constantly finding yourself wanting more. Jenna Chen finds herself lacking constantly, and wishes she could be as successful as her cousin Jessica, but what she doesn't know is how suffocating it could feel like to be "the best", the model student, the one that everyone is jealous of.

There were a lot of dark thoughts Jenna had that I couldn't completely relate with alllll of them, but I knew where she was coming from, and just from being raised in an asian-american household myself, it's something many of us could empathize with. The constant pressure of feeling like you have to do something more with your life for all that your parents have sacrificed for, and feeling like you are worth nothing if you aren't successful.

The progression of Jenna's growth wasn't linear, and I actually really loved that with this book. I think if any of us were put into her situation it wouldn't be that simple either, but gosh did I want to shake her at times and tell her to look at what was in front of her, but I think that just made watching her growth all that more enjoyable.

I also want to say, Aaron Cai? WHERE WERE BOYS LIKE THIS WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL?! I am sick, and just ate up any moments with him. I know, I know, this is a romance subplot, not the main plot blah blah, but you don't understand. I LOVE HIM.
Thoughtful? check.
Yearning? check.
Will do anything and everything for her? check.
DOESN'T EVEN JUDGE HER WHEN SHES HAVING HER WORST THOUGHTS? CHECKKKKK!

I really need to calm down, but I just can't. I am absolutely sold on anything Ann Liang writes moving forward, and cant wait to read the rest of her work soon ♥

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Audio for the audiobook arc!

I Am Not Jessica Chen is a young adult book about Jenna Chen, who wishes she could be like her perfect cousin, Jessica. After getting rejected by all the Ivy League schools that she has applied to, Jenna's wish comes true, and she becomes Jessica. But living as Jessica isn't as perfect as she thought.

The story is about Jenna learning to accept herself and realizing that everyone has their own problems. The writing is engaging and emotional, making it easy to connect with Jenna's struggles. The magical twist adds a fun element to the story.

Some parts of the book feel rushed, and the side characters aren't well developed. But overall, it's a thought-provoking and heartfelt read about the dangers of comparing yourself to others and the importance of self-acceptance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advanced audio book.

The angst of Jenna Chen, the main character of I AM NOT JESSICA CHEN is palpable in every chapter, in a way that sometimes made me want to put the book down (I was feeling so much with and for Jenna). Liang did an excellent job of making clear the adage that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Jenna is a messy, sometimes frustrating, and sympathetic main character. This is an easy and compulsive read.

I Am Not Jessica Chen is out January 28, 2025

Thanks to NetGalley for an ALC. I really enjoyed this for the most part- I really liked the premise. But the parts about the pressure of school and the treatment by everyone in school just felt SO toxic. I’m not sure if it was supposed to, but that stuff made me really uncomfortable.

3.75 stars

Many teens and even adults struggle with feeling inadequate, especially when they have an immediate foil who seems to excel in every way. This is exactly the scenario Jenna Chen finds herself in thanks to her extraordinarily high-achieving cousin, the titular Jessica Chen. With a dash of magic, Jenna Freaky Fridays into Jessica's body, and she learns firsthand about the perks and pressures of perfection, all while reflecting on her former life and trying to ascertain how this situation arose in the first place.

Though Jenna is a compelling character, her self-loathing, which is almost palpable, makes her difficult to read at times. It's easy to spiral into a space of simultaneous sympathy/empathy AND frustration with her. This isn't just a result of the genre in which she dwells. Even for a young adult protagonist, there are some particularly immature and less than insightful moments for this character.

Because of the magical realism, readers need to be prepared to suspend disbelief and to come out of this without some of the logistical answers they may desire. That noted, this is still an intriguing idea, an engaging read, and a set of motifs that both the target audience and those who have a few added years under their belts can equally appreciate.

Jenna feels as though she can never live up to the success of her cousin, Jessica, and when she gets her final Ivy League application denied, she struggles with the thoughts that she isn’t good enough, and makes a wish to become her perfect cousin.

This was a very relatable book about what defines success, the pressures (from teens themselves as well as their peers and parents) of performing in a competitive private high school, and loving yourself. I loved the growth of the MC, and it was done in a way that was realistic and genuine. I think this book will especially speak to those who had a similar experience in their teens, struggling with success and loving oneself.

This book starts with a crushing disappointment for Jenna Chen when she gets denied for acceptance to Harvard, her dream school. She wishes to have the life of her cousin, Jessica Chen, who seems to have it all - top of the school and the acceptance letter from Harvard that Jenna was desperate for.

When her wish comes true, she wakes up trapped inside Jessica's body. After the shock wears off, Jessica decides to embrace this new identity as it is all she ever wanted. She works hard to answer questions as Jessica and fit in with the more popular crowd that Jessica belonged to. It's not long before Jenna realizes that the pressure Jessica was under was unbearable, and that the grass is not greener in the other body. Teachers disappointed in her with a 91% instead of a 100%, friends confused by her lack of studying or stress before a big exam. Jenna finds Jessica's journal and reads into her inner most thoughts that change her whole perspective and how exhausted she was in her life. She also finds an entry about something Jessica did that she feels very guilty about.

Jenna starts getting notes that someone knows she she is up to and that she won't get away with things. Aaron is also a main character and lifelong friend of both Jessica and Jenna. He starts noticing something is off with "Jessica" and Jenna decides to confess things to him, even with the risk of sounding crazy. Slowly, Jenna's life starts slipping away - her paintings are fading, teachers stop remembering her, and even her parents are living as if they never had a daughter.

Is the risk and reality worth wishing for her life back? Or is she confident enough in her past life to let to al she has ever wanted with what she has in Jessica's life?

This was a beautifully written young adult story with self-discovery, coming of age, confidence, loving yourself, societal pressure, etc. I enjoyed this story and the side of romance that was there as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 1/28/25.

I picked this one up because it felt way too relatable. Jenna Chen feels like she’s always compared to her perfect cousin Jessica. And in a Wish Upon a Star/Freaky Friday movie moment, Jenna makes a wish to be her cousin Jessica. When Jenna’s wish comes true and she finds herself in Jessica’s body, she gets to experience life on the other side of the fence. But she soon starts to realize that her cousin may not have it as easy as she previously thought. Not to mention everyone else around her seems to be forgetting that Jenna even existed.

This one hit home on a very personal level. Growing up that’s something that was bound to happen when you grew up around extended family. So I could personally relate to the way Jenna felt like she wasn’t ever good enough, no matter how hard she tried. This was a really emotionally charged read for me, but definitely worth it. Jenna’s mind set by the end of it made me very proud of her.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang is an enchanting and heartfelt novel that brilliantly explores themes of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. Liang's masterful storytelling and richly developed characters make this book an absolute page-turner from start to finish. The vivid imagery and emotional depth of the story are so captivating that it undeniably demands a cinematic adaptation, making it a perfect candidate for a Netflix or Disney film. This remarkable tale has universal appeal which is a testament to Liang's extraordinary talent as a writer.

I Am Not Jessica Chen is a book for those of us chasing academic validation. Jenna is an extremely complex character, who needs to learn and accept that she has value outside of what she accomplishes at school. Following her point of view was extremely relatable as an eldest daughter. She’s an only child, but her reaction to her circumstances is relatable regardless.

You can definitely tell Jenna is an artist, especially living in her head for this book. She’s so descriptive and thorough in her observations of the world around her. She’s sees the world through a very specific lens. Her growth through this book into accepting herself is the best part of this book.

Both Jenna and Jessica are complex characters, and I loved learning about Jessica while following Jenna in her body. I really enjoyed the different perspective we get from that. Their interaction at the end was really sweet, and I love how Ann closed out this book.

Big fan of the romance being a subplot. I’m someone who strongly prefers romance in my books when I read fiction, but I loved how this romantic plot was on the back burner for this book. I still liked that it was there. I just liked that the focus was on Jenna and Jessica as they are the central characters in this book. I had gone into this with the expectation that the romance would be heavier based off some of the marketing I had seen for this book, so I was glad to see how it actually worked out.

Can’t wait to read more from Ann Liang soon!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

If I could describe this book in a phrase or two it would be the following: "the grass isn't always greener on the other side" and "be careful what you wish for". Those are two takeaways I got from this book. I should also clarify that I am a little older than the target audience for this book at the age of 26, but I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. One reason I liked this book is I really find magical realism books fascinating. Overall, I thought Jessica/Jenna was an interesting protagonist, and I felt for her.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

3.5 rounded up