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A review by ablotial
The Opposite of Me by Sarah Pekkanen
4.0
This was a book chosen by my online book club. I wasn't expecting to like it -- based on the description on the back, I expected it to be one of those cliche "good sister, bad sister, bad sister gets sick, good sister has to give up everything to save her and no one cares" kind of books. But it's not like that at all. Well, not really.
Lindsay and Alex are twins by birth, but couldn't have more different personalities and priorities. While Lindsay focuses on good grades and success, most of Alex's accomplishments stem from her stunningly good looks. As the story unfolds, both girls end up needing to re-think their definitions of success and happiness.
I enjoyed watching Lindsay's transformation with her clothing and makeup. Having done something similar at one point, it really is amazing how much just changing your style can affect your self confidence. In a way, I really hate that people are so shallow and that looks can make so much of a difference -- why should I be treated differently for wearing a cute outfit and a little makeup than jeans and a baggy t-shirt while looking like I just rolled out of bed? -- But there it is. And not only do people treat you differently, but you feel different about yourself somehow, too. Stupid, but true.
And I loved the twist at the end about the test scores. It is so true how people end up in these categories. I kind of love the parents for not telling the girls about the scores. Or at least for not telling Lindsay. I do wonder if they had said something to Alex - maybe not the extent of the disparity between her and her sister or even that she was "gifted", but just that she is capable of doing better than she was and holding her to a little higher standard than they seemed to have held her through school. But maybe Alex really did enjoy modeling...
Anyway, it was a good story and really made me think. The writing style was a little simplistic at times, which annoyed me. But overall, enjoyable. I'll be keeping this around.
Lindsay and Alex are twins by birth, but couldn't have more different personalities and priorities. While Lindsay focuses on good grades and success, most of Alex's accomplishments stem from her stunningly good looks. As the story unfolds, both girls end up needing to re-think their definitions of success and happiness.
Spoiler
This book really hit a nerve for me. Or maybe a few nerves. For years I prided myself on being "the smart one" and my friendships and social life suffered greatly as a result. When I ended up living at home with my mother and working at McDonald's at 20, I was horrified and thought my life as I knew it was over. So Lindsay's predicament with getting fired and moving home was something I fully understood. I don't know that I could ever be truly happy running a dating service, and I'm glad I picked myself up and started over and have done things with my life that I am proud of -- but it did involve me re-evaluating what is really important in life.I enjoyed watching Lindsay's transformation with her clothing and makeup. Having done something similar at one point, it really is amazing how much just changing your style can affect your self confidence. In a way, I really hate that people are so shallow and that looks can make so much of a difference -- why should I be treated differently for wearing a cute outfit and a little makeup than jeans and a baggy t-shirt while looking like I just rolled out of bed? -- But there it is. And not only do people treat you differently, but you feel different about yourself somehow, too. Stupid, but true.
And I loved the twist at the end about the test scores. It is so true how people end up in these categories. I kind of love the parents for not telling the girls about the scores. Or at least for not telling Lindsay. I do wonder if they had said something to Alex - maybe not the extent of the disparity between her and her sister or even that she was "gifted", but just that she is capable of doing better than she was and holding her to a little higher standard than they seemed to have held her through school. But maybe Alex really did enjoy modeling...
Anyway, it was a good story and really made me think. The writing style was a little simplistic at times, which annoyed me. But overall, enjoyable. I'll be keeping this around.