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samanthafondriest 's review for:
Cracked Up to Be
by Courtney Summers
Parker was perfect, but now she's not. After ODing on sleeping pills and liquor, Parker is doing her best to make sure the world gives up on her and leaves her alone. Being inside Parker's head as she silently suffers PTSD flashbacks, has panic attacks, and does her best to alienate herself from everyone who cares is painful. Parker is an incredibly unlikable protagonist, but that's the point. We know people care about her, and that her year of trying to be as unlikable as possible hasn't stopped the people who loved her before from continuing to love her now. There must be something redeemable about her if these characters still hold out hope for her, even if she's doing her best to prove she's beyond help.
This isn't for everyone, but it was for me. Parker is unlikable in a lot of the ways I think I can be unlikable. A stubborn perfectionist with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Black & white thinking. Believing you are the center of the universe and if you aren't perfect everything will fall apart. This book is messy and honest and hard to read, but it is so powerful. I think a lot of girls will recognize elements of themselves in Parker, and also recognize her foolishness in refusing help.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are, as always, my own.
This isn't for everyone, but it was for me. Parker is unlikable in a lot of the ways I think I can be unlikable. A stubborn perfectionist with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Black & white thinking. Believing you are the center of the universe and if you aren't perfect everything will fall apart. This book is messy and honest and hard to read, but it is so powerful. I think a lot of girls will recognize elements of themselves in Parker, and also recognize her foolishness in refusing help.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this novel. All opinions are, as always, my own.