Justine's Thoughts: Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Perfect You
By Elizabeth Scott

Source: Library
Pages: 282
Book Description:

Kate Brown’s life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate is invisible.

And then there’s Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can’t stand even though she can’t stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she’s sure she’s just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn’t realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them. . .

A quote:

"Cute" is one of those words people use when they know you're smart enough to realize "you've got so much personality" means "you're ugly."

Rating:

4/5

Any thoughts:

I love Elizabeth Scott. Every time I read her novels, I get sucked into the plots and its characters. This one was no different. I was hooked from the very start and I loved every single minute of it.

Like always, there are serious subjects beneath the light and sweet surface. Somehow, Elizabeth Scott makes it work with just the right amount of each. Kate Brown is going through a tough time with her family -- dealing with the return of Grandma (a very bad thing), her dad’s dream to sell vitamins at the mall even if it means quitting his job, her brother Todd living at home jobless after graduating college, and the money problem. Then there’s Kate’s ruined friendship with Anna and the complicated ‘thing’ going on with Will. It really does seem like the year for Kate is the worst ever.

But Kate has a strong attitude. She is determined to fix things and to go through whatever life throws at her. Her comebacks are the best, she analyzes a lot -- she’s just your typical teenage girl. But while she keeps to herself, thinking the worst of everything, she doesn’t learn a lesson until the end with the help of Grandma. Life can be lived happy if you let yourself be happy.

If I wasn’t a fan before, I’m definitely a fan now. (I’m kidding, I was already a big fan way back!) Elizabeth Scott successfully manages to insert cute and giggly moments (make out sessions!) as well as serious and sombre times (often with the family). Perfect You has the right balance -- a sharp, but amusing romance, all the drama in high school, a struggling family, and a non-existent friendship. It’s a novel that’s easy to love.