Perfect on Paper: A Novel

Can I just start by saying that I appreciated the bi rep in this book so hard. I know not everyone is going to feel that way, but I am excited for it and I’m glad that someone will read this book and feel validated and seen by it.ANYWAY, Darcy is our main character, and I honestly enjoyed her so much. She’s relatable for me in so many ways and the fact that she screws up and makes some selfish decisions, but then learns from them... yes, we love a personal growth plot.Darcy secretly runs a sort of “Dear Abby” style love advice system through locker 89 of her high school. She’s not a professional by any means, but she has a 95% success rate. That being said, her own love life is pretty much nonexistent. She’s in love with her best friend, Brooke, but can’t pull the trigger on telling her. It doesn’t help that her friend starts dating someone else. Someone Darcy doesn’t like.When she’s caught by Alexander Brougham pulling love advice requests out of locker 89, he essentially blackmails her into helping him win back his ex-girlfriend. Yes, he’s paying her for her help, but she’s still annoyed he caught her and even more so that he’s forcing her to help him. She thinks Brougham is an aloof jerk, a spoiled rich boy who feels entitled to her help, but spending more time with him she realizes he’s more than what she assumed and what he presents to everyone in the halls of their high school. They form an unlikely friendship that started with blackmail, but ends with feelings Darcy is confused about. She’s been in love with Brooke for so long, and hasn’t had feelings for a guy since she joined her schools Queer and Questioning club. All worries about being judged by her friends for falling for a guy aside, things with the locker go left, like way left and she’s in big trouble.I don’t want to spoil too much, but yeah I just loved this read. I think that it represents a side of being bisexual that is often considered a co-opt when it comes to writing a queer story about a bisexual character, but I think it’s important that someone who falls in love with a person not a sex is represented fully. I do wish some of the relationships were fleshed out a little more, but I realize this story was more about Darcy figuring things out. I love that there is a variety of LGBTQ+ representation, and that it was easy to fall in love with even the side characters.All in all this was a great read. At first you’re going to want to shake Darcy a little bit, but she’s a good character that you will fall for. At least I did.

Darcy Phillips has a not-so-secret-crush on her best friend Brooke, and a well-kept secret on her lucrative relationship guru service Locker89. Yet everything begins to crack when a cute boy discovers her secrets and blackmails her for help on his own romantic problem, yet it turns out that's only scratching the surface.I absolutely adored this book, and this is not a typical genre for me at all. This book forced me—FORCED ME—to stay up to the early hours of the morning to finish it.Here's what I didn't like: I didn't care for Ray. I thought she was pretty manipulative through the book, and while it's shown she's working on her mistake, I secretly hoped it didn't work out for her.Here's what I liked: Honestly, the whole freaking book. I couldn't find anything I didn't like, not truly. It was funny, charming, engaging, the characters were fleshed out and felt real. Brougham's awesome car dancing. Oh. Best of all, no one was really that typical YA cheerleader bully type character. Such a RELIEF! I especially loved how self-aware Darcy became of herself, her flaws, and her fears.Overall, this is a great book and I highly recommend it.

Perfect of Paper earns that moniker page after page after page. Our protagonist is clever authentic, quirky, sassy, and lovable—even when she’s being certifiable.Darcy, our way-too-in-her-head main character has a secret so big she’s willing to endure being blackmailed by Alexander Brougham “pronounced Bro-uhm, not Broom,” arguable the school’s hottest senior.What’s great about this book:-incredible character development-tropes that are compellingly developed and executed without feeling overdone-excellent trans representation (about time!)-harrowing and realistic families with complex problems and dire consequences-the whole premise had me hooked (Darcy is just dang delightful) from page one-Darcy’s VOICE is clearer than a bell in my head; Gonzales just wrote her so, so well-the best friend breakup is definitely worse than any romantic relationship and it’s written with an air of authenticity that HAD to have been earnedFrom beginning to end, I couldn’t get enough of Darcy and Brougham and I 100% need Sophie Gonzales to give me a playlist of Brougham’s favorite jams ASAP!

Highly recommended LGBTQIA YA Contemporary read! I'm in love with this author's writing style and will gladly read anything and everything she ever writes. Following Darcy was a blast from start to finish and I wish we could keep following these witty, funny, and relatable characters. Looking forward to re-reading it soon. #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

I loved this book so much! It had great bisexual representation and was in the enemies to lovers trope. I learned a lot about internalized biphobia, which is a topic that I was not familiar with and enjoyed learning about so that I can be a better ally.It's a YA novel but I think all ages can get something out of this book. It was a quick read for me because I was really into it and very involved in the characters. It's not a very complex story line and I would definitely recommend this book to basically anyone!

I loved this so much. I loved the story because I felt Darcy grew as a character and learned a lot about her friends and herself as the story progressed. The characters were multi dimensional and I loved reading about them. The writing was perfect for what kind of story this was. The romance in this was sweet and as a reader, I was curious what direction this would go. The last star is for personal enjoyment.

It took me 80% of the book to be able to read it for an extended period of time. Felt like the plot took too long to build and then kind of rushed the conclusion. But the attachment style part was interesting

I absolutely ADORED Sophie Gonzales' 'Only Mostly Devastated.' You can read mine and Kelly's reviews here. So I was super giddy about picking up 'Perfect on Paper.' Can you feel the excited book squealing vibes that I have going on yet? It was most definitely a giddy book squealing, happy dancing, hugging book at the end kind of book.I instantly loved Darcy. Straight off the bat, I loved her humour. I loved that she wanted to help people. I loved that she liked to see people happy. I loved her relationship with her sister, Ainsley, the two of them were sister goals to be very honest, and I just loved everything that made her who she was, all her worries, doubts, interests, and loves too.I honestly laughed out loud so many times with the banter between Darcy and Broughman. The two of them were just so real with each other and that connection jumped off the pages and wrapped a hug around my heart. I adored that they could be so vulnerable with each other and I truly loved how they listened to each other and picked up on all these little and special ways to be there for each other. It was the absolute kindest, sweetest, purest thing that made me melt. The way Darcy was their for him in Disneyland, the birthday present he got her, uh!!! I loved their connection and their journey in friendship.When it comes to Locker eighty-nine, I was pretty darn impressed with Darcy. She really took her time answering people and it made me smile that she truly wanted to do good and make a difference. My heart strings tugged for her when it came to her best friend Brooke and the dilemma she faced when receiving Brooke's letter in the locker. Eeeek, what would you have done? I eagerly turned the pages, part of me feeling like Brooke would understand because she was so awesome and cute and sweet. I thought that she might let Darcy off because Darcy loved her and they did seem like they would make such a gorgeous couple, but the other part of me was like, no she has every right to be mad. Darcy should have been honest, they should have communicated!! Arrrgh! The same can be said for when Darcy received Ray's letter. My mind was torn. Did Darcy do the right thing at the party? Uh you will have to pick up a copy to find out!!The Q and Q club made my heart happy. I loved Finn, Alexei, Lily, Jason, Jaz and Mr Elliot, there really are so many awesome characters in this book, and I especially adored the meeting at the end when Darcy brings up Biphobia. I don't want to write any spoilers but I thought it was wonderful and brilliant and I just wanted to hug everyone in the classroom. The club was just awesome, supportive and inspiring and I loved that Ainsley had once been a part of it too. Did I mention I loved Ainsley? Everyone should read this bit, it was so important in making people feel seen, heard and valid and I just adored the positivity of it and think Sophie Gonzales is brilliant and wonderful for writing it.There were so many parts of this book that I loved, so I apologise if I'm jumping all over the place. I really don't want to ruin it and give anything away as I just implore you to read it now. But Darcy, Ainsley and Brougham had me in stitches at the end with their plan for Brooke and Ray, I really wanted to see the video they created because it just sounded awesome, sweet but hilarious at the same time. Also, Darcy and Brougham answering the questions...swoon!!!Oh how this book needs to be a movie! Sophie Gonzales is a genius and I'm honestly having a hard time with the fact that I have to wait until January for her next book!!This book really embraces learning about and loving who you are. It looks at unlikely friendships and giving people a chance, getting to know the real them and not being judgemental. It looks at honesty, communication, being there for your friends and family and it was just utterly beautiful. I highly recommend picking up a copy of 'Perfect on Paper' now!!!

I loved this book to begin with. I struggle to identify with non-queer books so I thought I’d give this a go. I love the characters and their identities but the ending ruined it for me. I ended up not being able to identify with the main character. I got my hopes up for a queer love story but was met by a typical, predictable one instead.

Good

From the very beginning I noticed how much I enjoyed the writing. The sass between the characters made me chuckle and smirk. The writing was smart, witty and authentic. Even if it was very YA at times I had a blast reading the book. It was a fast and easy read with many memorable and meaningful scenes, and fantastic representation,The set up was refreshingly unique. The story focused on a YA relationship column managed out of a high school locker with actual great relationship advice. The relationship advice was so on point and incredibly thoughtful, I just loved it. It made me actually think and reflect on what kind of a relationship person I am.There was not one character I didn’t enjoy in this book. Sure they weren’t perfect, actually a bit messy, and did some questionable things, but perfect characters are boring. Instead the book felt authentic, relatable, and young adult.I actually adored Darcy, the main character. She was a mess, and her journey was a bumpy one, but I liked her flaws. And although she made a couple dumb decisions, in the end she figured out a way to fix them.The novel had a couple really memorable moments that will stay with me for a long time. Also I absolutely adored the LGBTQI+ representation. It was really well done!

O livro é leve e da uma sensação de leitura rápida, a diagramação é boa.