Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: A love letter for those who think they aren’t enough. 

 

“I Am Not Jessica Chen” follows seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen after she makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen—only for her wish to come true. Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, she discovers that being the top student isn’t quite what she imagined. She must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever. 

 

Liang’s vivid prose, integration of magical elements in a seemingly ordinary world, and flawed characters come together to tell a cautionary tale about the cost of perfection. This is one of those books that I wish I could give my younger self. The younger me that, like Jenna Chen, judged my self-worth based on unrealistically high standards and feared failure more than anything else. The younger me that couldn’t celebrate her successes because she was always looking to the next thing. I hold this book close to my heart because Jenna’s experience made me feel less alone. 

 

I was captivated by Liang’s storytelling as she examines the age-old question “what if I could be someone else?” The longer Jenna navigates life through Jessica’s body, the more she realizes that everyone, no matter how perfect their life looks, is going through something—that perfection is a construct of our own making. Jessica—who supposedly has it all with the glittering mansion, doting parents, high marks, and respect of her classmates—reveals in her journal entries that striving for perfection has only led to burnout, self-doubt, and dissatisfaction. These words coming from Jenna’s “smarter, infinitely more successful” cousin only further emphasize the idea that we can’t fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. At the heart of it, this book is about being enough in spite of the competition culture in the education system, social hierarchies, and pressure from family. Failure only makes us more human and helps us grow. 

 

While Aaron and Jenna’s romance is more of a subplot, their love story is heart-stirring. He reminds her of her worth and helps her come back to herself when she gets caught up in Jessica’s life. Their development from childhood friends to strangers to lovers is truly one of my favorites. 

 

This is a book that lives inside my head. I can’t wait for everyone to else to experience it for themselves.