A review by jillyjpeg
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld

emotional reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lee’s character is so over the top dramatic sometimes, but in a way that i think the majority of teenagers feel. especially teenagers who don’t experience a lick of social interaction throughout high school. everything is the end of the world when the context of your world is encompassed in 15 years. it is also heartbreaking at times - the cringe of parents not understanding your generation’s social codes, the disgusting lengths we go to for our crushes to notice or care about us, the paranoia of someone always hating you or making fun of you. what the book did pretty well for its time was diving into the class and racial divides that white rich people think they can ignore and poc are forced to pretend doesn’t exist for survival. what the book does not do well is succinctly explain any of lee’s various observations of other people; i had to skip entire paragraphs sometimes because i don’t care about nick chaffee’s glances at other girls and what that means. another reviewer wrote that this author overwrites - yes, this book could’ve been 150-200 pages less. i also appreciated the perspective of lee as an adult, it created a lot more meaning to lee’s difficult experiences.