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Review: Faking Perfect

by Rebecca Phillips

faking perfection

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
Publish Date: 30th June 2015

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“There were two sides to everything and everyone, and somewhere in the middle was the truth.” Loc 2393

Title: Faking Perfect
Author: Rebecca Phillips
Published by: Kensington Books
Book:  Stand-alone

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Found: Netgalley
Rating: 3 Voodoos

When Lexi Shaw seduced Oakfield High’s resident bad boy Tyler Flynn at the beginning of senior year, he seemed perfectly okay with her rules:

1. Avoid her at school.

2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together.

3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben.

Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she’s been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom’s too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi’s dad hasn’t been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect?

-Netgalley

I really enjoyed Faking Perfect. It was a wonderful look at teenagers and the difficulties of fitting in. Mix this with a sweet and touching romance and you have a winner in my eyes. It’s short and fast paced, and will be a great summer read as its not to heavy.

This book really hit a cord with me. I used to judge myself on how other people perceived me and, believe me, it’s a difficult habit to shake off. Lexi was a teen determined to be the perfect girl. She wanted to be the A-star student who dated the popular ‘good-boy’ and had the popular people as her friends and had the perfect life, and yet she wasn’t happy. Because it was all a lie.

I loved Lexi. I found her really easy to relate too. She was trying to appear like one person and fought to hide who she really was, something I think all teens go through, and I include myself it that. I think we all have an idea of what we think is perfect and yet its not always what’s perfect for you. I felt for her, as she started to see the cracks forming in her idea of perfection and yet persisted on trying to plaster over it and hold onto her aim, it’s hard to let go of something that you’ve wanted for so long. There were some horrible characters like Emily, Ben, Jesse and even Lexi’s mum, but they were well developed and I found myself think, ‘Yep, I know someone exactly like that…’. I loved Nolan and Shelby. They were true friends who stood up for Lexi even when she couldn’t do it for herself and Tyler was amazing.

I liked that the story had the extra dynamic of the family issues, abandoned by an alcohic/drugged up father, and living with a mother who doesn’t seem to care about anyone or anything. I think the story needed it, as it rounded out Lexi as a character and explained her fears and anxiety for perfection. I really hated her Mum. Her mum whines on about how she feels like a failure as a mother, and to be honest, she has failed… because she gave up trying. Mum’s aren’t perfect and they get things wrong all the time, but you have to keep trying to do what’s best for your child, not give up and basically abandon them because you can’t deal with the guilt. I’m sorry but that’s just selfish and her mum is lucky to even have her still talk to her.

Overall I really loved this and I’ll be adding Rebecca Phillips to my watch list.
The sneak peek of Any Other Girl provided at the end of Faking Perfect sounds (similar but) really good. So I will probably end up getting that when its realised in February 2016!

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