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A review by bookishbena
This Is Not a Personal Statement by Tracy Badua
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Thank you to Quill Tree Books and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to like this book. The premise of someone faking an acceptance to a college to the point of impersonating being a student there is such a fun, unhinged idea. And I really thought it could share an important message about the pressures the college application process can put on teenagers. However, the execution of it is so poor, I couldn't enjoy it.
This book is chock full of cliches and stereotypes without any nuance to it. The secondary characters are one-dimensional and forgettable, and Perlie's relationships with them are just as surface-level. She doesn't grow any believable meaningful connections. Perlie's growth is just as unbelievable, thrown in at any given point because it needs to happen and not because it organically flows within the story.
My biggest qualm, however, is how Perlie's parents' abusive behavior is never addressed as such, especially things just thrown in there for whatever reason. For the entirety of the book, I was wondering if how Perlie's mother controlling her diet so she would be the "perfect size" would ever be addressed again and unsurprisingly it wasn't.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, especially any young kid struggling with the pressures of college applications. 1.5 stars.
I really wanted to like this book. The premise of someone faking an acceptance to a college to the point of impersonating being a student there is such a fun, unhinged idea. And I really thought it could share an important message about the pressures the college application process can put on teenagers. However, the execution of it is so poor, I couldn't enjoy it.
This book is chock full of cliches and stereotypes without any nuance to it. The secondary characters are one-dimensional and forgettable, and Perlie's relationships with them are just as surface-level. She doesn't grow any believable meaningful connections. Perlie's growth is just as unbelievable, thrown in at any given point because it needs to happen and not because it organically flows within the story.
My biggest qualm, however, is how Perlie's parents' abusive behavior is never addressed as such, especially things just thrown in there for whatever reason. For the entirety of the book, I was wondering if how Perlie's mother controlling her diet so she would be the "perfect size" would ever be addressed again and unsurprisingly it wasn't.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this to anyone, especially any young kid struggling with the pressures of college applications. 1.5 stars.