Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Title: Perfect You
Author: Elizabeth Scott
Published: March 2008 by Simon Pulse

My Rating: 4.5 stars
Tags: YA | Realistic | Girls | Romance
Includes: Profanity, Sexuality

First Lines: Vitamins had ruined my life. Not that there was much left to ruin, but still.

Kate's life seems to be falling apart. Her dad quit his job so he could sell overpriced vitamins in a mall booth, and their family has gone so far in debt that they're asking the rich nightmare of a grandma to come live with them. Not to mention that her best friend, Anna, has completely ignored her ever since she became popular and pretty. And then the cute and popular Will comes into the picture. The guy who Kate pretends to hate and tease, yet secretly is crushing on. So when Will starts acting like he likes her back, Kate isn't sure whether it's real or if she's just his latest hook-up which he's known for.

This was my first novel I've read by Elizabeth Scott, and I have to say that I'm impressed. It was full of very distinct characters, each with their own personality. I instantly could feel for Kate, since I have either experienced what she was going through in the past, or in the present. However, it did get annoying sometimes when she'd continuously complain about her awful life.

From Page 276
"Well, I hate it. And this year, my life hasn't been change, Grandma. It's been an end. A long, horrible end. The life I had is gone. Over. Done."

As surprising as it might sound for those of you who have read it, I really liked Will's character the best! In so many books now a days, the guy/boyfriend is this 'perfect, gorgeous, flawless' boy that every girl wants. However, in this novel, he was completely realistic. He'd had his fair share of hook-ups and rumors spread about him, and there was a deeper side of him that not many people got to know. He had faults, which were exposed, yet I still was drawn to him.

On another note, the two people in the book I couldn't stand!? First of all, Anna. This so-called best friend of Kate's from the past, who now doesn't even acknowledge her, was so irritating! And it made me dig deeper into the novel. Throughout the story Kate repeatedly wishes more than anything that they can be friends again. And so when they finally do, the real, new Anna is exposed.

From Page 128
A part of me hated how pathetic I was around Anna, how desperate I was to have her talk to me. I couldn't help myself, though. I missed her enough to take crap from her that I wouldn't take from anyone else because I wanted her to come back to me for real.

The other character who got on my nerves, yet made the book that much better? Kate's dad. He was unbelievably immature, ignorant, and selfish. Really makes me appreciate my own father more. But on a brighter note, the book was filled with so many different emotions, that I felt right along with Kate. I laughed out loud at parts, cried near the end, got angry at her parents, and blushed during awkward scenes. Elizabeth Scott did a great job portraying the emotions, and I'll definitely be reading more books by her. The ending made me sigh with relief, and I was content with how it closed. A great book that I recommend reading.

Book Supplied by: Bought it at Borders! :)