— i am not jessica chen arc review 🪩🎀
As a girl in her early 20s who expresses herself through art and perfectionism, this book was like looking into a mirror. 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘯 is a heartfelt exploration of identity, belonging, and the complexities of cultural expectations. Ann Liang dives into the suffocating weight of familial pressures and aspirations and its effects on a teenage girl who already struggles with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the fear of failure.
This book is “this is me trying” x academia featuring a burnt out perfectionist, a failing art student, and the quiet prodigy. Jenna Chen wishes to have the perfect life, a perfect family, and a perfect future— just like her cousin, Jessica Chen. However, Jenna quickly learns how 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 her cousin’s life is once she steps into her shoes. Upholding Jessica’s seemingly pristine outward appearance may be the most difficult challenge she faces yet. Jenna loses herself in the glory of being Harvard-bound and top of her class. While she strives to keep Jessica’s grades up, maintain her friendships, and family obligations— she finds that the girl she used to be is quickly slipping away.
This story embraces the 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳 trope so well, I had the best time uncovering Aaron’s true feelings towards Jenna through his actions. Through it all, the most satisfying part is Jenna realizing that there is somebody who already loves her as she is. All she has to do is see that she is already the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girl for Aaron Cai.
“𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦
𝘍𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦”
If you relate to these lyrics— this book is for you.
If you’re a burnt out overachiever— this book is for you.
If you’re a mirrorball— this book is for you.
I cannot wait for 𝘐 𝘈𝘮 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘯 to be released and I hope you love it as much as I did. In the meantime I will be patiently awaiting Ann Liang's next release, 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘐’𝘥 𝘌𝘯𝘥 𝘜𝘱 𝘏𝘦𝘳𝘦. Lastly, I would like to thank the author, publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC.
