A review by andrearbooks
500 Words or Less by Juleah del Rosario

3.0

This YA novel told in verse focuses on Nic. Nic is struggling in her senior year as everyone knows she cheated on her boyfriend, and other kids have taken to letting her know how they feel about it. Trying to figure out her place in things, she decides to get in the good graces of her classmates by writing their college admission essays for a fee. In doing this, she gets to know the stories of her classmates, but also realizes she doesn't really know her own. She's navigating grief and loss and general feels in a variety of ways. There were some really wonderful reflections about high school and relationships via Nic and ones about her finding her place that I especially related to. Also, the essays she wrote were really great - Certainly some concerns about the integrity of writing for others that need to be acknowledged though.