I wasn’t exactly expecting this book to turn out as deep as it did. I thought it was just about the romance, and I was so happy to see that it was not the case. This book is mainly about being true to oneself, and dealing with the pressure and expectations that others will bestow on you. Peer and parental pressure can be a suffocating thing… The storyline in this was quite predictable. From the moment Ben asked Paige to set him up with her best friend Zoey it seemed obvious that it would be Paige and Ben who ended up together, and that he would tutor her in calculus as she was failing. This pair were quite cute together though, and there was some really sweet moments between them. The perfume smells like jasmine and mint. Mom said Dad had the scent made for her for their tenth anniversary. I spray my wrists with I Love You Forever and wonder if the bottle will last for the entire year. One of the big themes of this book was family. You get to see the big difference between Paige’s family and Ben and his mom. I absolutely loved Ben’s relationship with his mother. They are really close and they can talk about anything and she was such a voice of reason in this story. On the other side, Paige’s relationship with her parents are a little strained. Her parents have such high expectations for Paige and it creates conflict, but in the end they are still family and they love each other.

I don’t know why. I’ve never had a girl break up with me. I’m the one who broke up with Val, but I would think this is what it’s like just before a breakup. Less communication. Less making time for each other. Less making out. The bell sounds the end of the day, and I run home to tell Dad or Kate or Ian, but when I get there, the house is echo-empty. I take the stairs two steps at a time. In the mirror, I see my braces under my smile and I don’t even care. I love today. I spin sixteen times and fall onto my bed, dizzy. What’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are sometimes broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Poetry Slam Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with white tablecloths. Molly is sure her mother would never miss that. Right…? I chew on that suggestion. It’s good advice. I don’t know why I haven’t just straight-up asked her how I can help make it better for her. “I don’t know why I haven’t done that yet,” I admit. Then maybe she just wants to forget it ever happened, but you ask her too many questions about it.”

Diaries & Calendars

Kendra C. Highley is a new-to-me author, and I found her writing style fluid, flowing rapidly and engaging, with realistic, age-appropriate characterization. Paige was written as an A-type personality, yet a people pleaser. She's always been in the shadows of her BFF. Ben was a boy, who wanted the popular girl because of her looks and status, coveting someone he didn't even know, as if only appearance matters, which is more insulting than flattering but that's classic guy behavior. You need to go somewhere, he says. You’ve been playing video games for twelve hours. It’s starting to smell like a waffle cone in here.

Paige is a perfectionist with a seemingly perfect life. She has successful parents, a popular and beautiful best friend, and pretty much already has the rest of her life mapped out for her. My bedroom door opens and Chunk leans against the doorframe, arms folded. Why are you on the floor? You wouldn’t.” I hate those meetings. They always seem to be an intervention for me and my behavior, when they’re supposed to be about the entire family.Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Entangled Publishing, LLC, and NetGalley.) Paige Westfield is the popular girl in her high school and also the best friend to Zoey who is the hottest girl in her school. Perfect Paige is perfect in everything except for calculus in which she recently scored D that will definitely destroy her future dreams for applying to Stanford. Her parent’s are pretty much over protective who already made her future plans and she didn’t want to disappoint them. During her break-out session, she has an embarrassing moment when she tripped and fell flat on her stomach which was witnessed by a nerd boy who is passing by. He seems to be genuinely concerned about her well-being and surprisingly he is quite genius in Calculus. Understanding her situation, he makes a deal to help her out by being her tutor but in return she had to help him out with her best friend Zoey by turning him into someone that appeals her. Paige was reluctant at first but finally she gives in cause she had no other choice left. The great thing about Finding Perfect is that it mainly focuses on the relationship between Ben and Paige so Ben's feelings for Zoey are never front and center. I hate books like this when the guy or gal who wants the makeover spends too much time focusing on the person you know they won't end up with. It's a waste of time, kind of mean, and makes that character look like a flake who can't make up their mind. Paige Westfield is perfect. She’s the perfect daughter and perfect student. She’s 4th in her class and has her sights set on Stanford. Then she gets a D on her calculus test after getting C’s on previous tests and papers. Her perfect life alowly starts to unravel and the stress of being “Perfect Paige” starts to weigh very heavily on her.

While there are several good books about OCD for teen readers, few are available for middle graders, and this is a welcome addition to the fold."— Kirkus The ending to this was again a bit predictable, but I was happy that things worked out okay in the end. The cast is really great. The different parents were interesting as well. Highley managed to write them all with little judgment and more importantly showing each friends issues, insecurities and strengths due to their situation. Except I found Paiges mother too over the top. And the issues with her, extreme, but I would have been fine if the resolve would have given us some more insight why she acted that way? It was all over sudden all over.. and done. Everybody is happy the end.

Customer reviews

Ben’s offer to tutor Paige is met with reluctance at first, because in exchange he wants her to help him get a date with Zoey- the most popular girl in school, who has no use for high school boys. But in the end Paige decides to accept his offer and that’s where the fun begins. As they work together and get to know each other better they realize there’s more to the other person than meets the eye, and we’re treated to the sweet spectacle of them falling for each other.