Overview

Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early action, and live happily ever after. But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she's always lived by. Suddenly it's difficult for her to remember why she cared so much about rocking Latin exams or snagging elite internships . . . or if her family was ever as happy as she thought they were. And then there's Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous--and who's totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it's cracked up to be?

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9781481533188

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Reviews

"Kantor deals with the difficult topic of a parent's depression and recovery with sensitivity and grace. Juliet navigates complex and unfamiliar emotions, eventually arriving at the gratifying if predictable recognition that struggles and setbacks lead to growth. Juliet's attempts to meet the expectations of those around her will readily resonate with readers under similar strains. -- ""Publishers Weekly"" Kantor poignantly captures what a broken marriage can do to the whole family. The characters are well developed, and readers experience Juliet's pain as she realizes her parents' fallibility...The narrative skillfully reflects the protagonist's ups and downs. -- ""School Library Journal"" Kantor has created an authentic, complex, and not always entirely likable protagonist...Kantor stays true to the story, which is ultimately a narrative of self-discovery on the brink of a huge life change...Readers will find much to enjoy in Juliet's journey toward realizing that perfect isn't everything. -- ""Booklist"" A high school senior's Type A life implodes after her mother takes an overdose of pills...With clear prose and realistic dialogue, Kantor perceptively illustrates the pressure that accomplished teens put on themselves to achieve perfection. This timely story will ring true for today's disillusioned young people, who are discovering that years of good grades, piano lessons, and internships don't necessarily result in adult happiness. -- ""Kirkus Reviews"""

A high school senior's Type A life implodes after her mother takes an overdose of pills...With clear prose and realistic dialogue, Kantor perceptively illustrates the pressure that accomplished teens put on themselves to achieve perfection. This timely story will ring true for today's disillusioned young people, who are discovering that years of good grades, piano lessons, and internships don't necessarily result in adult happiness. -- Kirkus Reviews Kantor has created an authentic, complex, and not always entirely likable protagonist...Kantor stays true to the story, which is ultimately a narrative of self-discovery on the brink of a huge life change...Readers will find much to enjoy in Juliet's journey toward realizing that perfect isn't everything. -- Booklist Kantor poignantly captures what a broken marriage can do to the whole family. The characters are well developed, and readers experience Juliet's pain as she realizes her parents' fallibility...The narrative skillfully reflects the protagonist's ups and downs. -- School Library Journal Kantor deals with the difficult topic of a parent's depression and recovery with sensitivity and grace. Juliet navigates complex and unfamiliar emotions, eventually arriving at the gratifying if predictable recognition that struggles and setbacks lead to growth. Juliet's attempts to meet the expectations of those around her will readily resonate with readers under similar strains. -- Publishers Weekly

Author Information

Melissa Kantor is the author of Maybe One Day; Confessions of a Not It Girl, an ALA Booklist Best Romance Novel for Youth; If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?, a YALSA Teens Top Ten Pick; The Breakup Bible, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults nominee; Girlfriend Material, a Junior Library Guild selection; and The Darlings Are Forever and The Darlings in Love, a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family. Caitlin Davies is a New York City-based actor and audiobook narrator who studied acting at the Eugene O'Neill National Institute, the British American Drama Academy, and the Barrow Group. She specializes in audiobooks for teens and young adults.

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