Tuesday, February 08, 2011

REVIEW: Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott


Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast.
Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them....

I adore Elizabeth Scott. I've loved everything she's written so far. And I think Perfect You might be my new favourite. The combination of Kate's relationship with her old best friend and her new semi-relationship with Will absolutely tore my heart out and broke it into little pieces. In the very best possible way.

Kate Brown is a typical teenage girl. A little on the whingey side, she's none too happy that her father has gone and shaken up the family dynamic by quitting his job in order to sell vitamins at the mall. Her best friend Anna has suddenly lost weight and joined the popular crowd, leaving Kate behind and sort of lost. The only bright side to her day is making out with Will in cupboards and behind the trash bins at the mall. She's convinced herself that she doesn't really like him, because Will doesn't really like her either. Right?

Lots going on here. The Kate/Will relationship was absolutely perfect. I loved those two together. Both unsure of where they stand in relation to the other. He gets around a bit, so she's sure that he's just after his latest conquest. She's pulled herself into herself so she doesn't get hurt again, so he thinks that she doesn't care or want anything from him. Love the tension and the misunderstandings and definitely, definitely loved all the making out.

But really, Kate is pretty broken up for the entire novel. Her 'break-up' with her old friend Anna really did a number on her, and Kate's trying to find her place in everything and realise her own self-worth. As much as it killed me, the comparison with Anna and Kate and another major character in the book mirrored each other quite well. As others have mentioned, Kate's woe-is-me routine is carried out a bit too far and she does end up being slightly irritating towards the end.

Still, I loved it. I loved Kate and her very sarcastic voice. She made me laugh more than once with her dry sense of humour. I loved the family dynamics, the way in which the Kate and Anna's friendship plays out and especially the pairing up of Kate and Will. Who is gorgeous and swoon-worthy.

Another fabulous read from Elizabeth Scott who firmly holds her place amongst my favourite YA authors. Perfect You is one I whole-heartedly recommend!

5 comments:

  1. Great review! I haven't had a chance to read Perfect You yet, but oh my gosh, I love Elizabeth Scott. Her books are amazing, and I always end up reading them in one greedy gulp.
    -Rachel Star

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  2. LOVE this book. Probably tied with Bloom as my favourite Scott novel. Kate and Will were fantastic I loved all of the sarcastic banter.

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  3. I think I have this on my wishlist already - if it isnt it is now ;D

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  4. I love this book - and it's my favourite Elizabeth Scott book, which is saying something! Thank you for the great review!

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  5. Rachel - I do so adore Elizabeth Scott. She writes so beautifully, and just like I read them far too quickly! I will always be excited at the thought of a new Elizabeth Scott novel, no matter where she takes her stories..

    Michelle - I really love this one AND Bloom. But I think Perfect You tips the balance with how heart-breaking it felt reading about Kate and Anna plus the tension between her and Will. Loved it so much.

    Emma - I think it IS on your wishlist and for good reason, it's amazing.

    Luisa - It IS saying something. She's a wonderful author. Love her.

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