Ann Liang

After getting rejected by every single Ivy League she applied to and falling short of all her Asian immigrant parents’ expectations, seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen—only for her wish to come true. Literally.
 
Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, with access to Jessica’s most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone—including her own parents—start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.

I Am Not Jessica Chen

i think all the asian kids will agree with this…

a terrible thought dawns on me: that failure is permanent, but success is always fleeting.

rilmin. kadang gedek sendiri kalo orang yang punya privilese dan banyak uang ngeluhin hal-hal remeh yang padahal tuh sebenernya… kagak perlu dikeluhin…

It’s all performance of relatability, without having to experience any of the actual struggles of the true working class.

ann liang will always be my favorite writer who writes relatable characters. i can feel all the characters emotions.

jenna & jessica are the depiction of a daughter from asian household. the ambition, competition, obsession, guilt for not being good enough for your family, fear of what if you’re future will be a failure (and all the efforts your parents pour for you would be nothing but a waste), the burnout (even it doesn’t really show, but i kinda guess jessica is having a burn out).

i’m happy that jenna & jessica can accept who they are after everything happened. although, i really wish i can see their school life after the event. what happen to jessica after she confess the plagiarism that she did? what’s next for jenna? is she still aiming for ivy league or what? how will jenna behave at school now she’s more confident than before? i think it’d be more complete(?) if there’s detail point of view of jessica when she was buried deep in the back of her own body (but since this book is jenna-centered, of course i understand the lack of detail from jessica pov).

and the romancee?????? i love love LOVE the romance in this book. not too heavy, but enough to make butterflies flying on your stomach (or biting your pillow because aaron cai is the sweetest man on earth).

ann liang will always be my favorite writer who writes relatable characters. i can feel all the characters emotions.

jenna & jessica are the depiction of a daughter from asian household. the ambition, competition, obsession, guilt for not being good enough for your family, fear of what if you’re future will be a failure (and all the efforts your parents pour for you would be nothing but a waste), the burnout (even it doesn’t really show, but i kinda guess jessica is having a burn out).

i’m happy that jenna & jessica can accept who they are after everything happened. although, i really wish i can see their school life after the event. what happen to jessica after she confess the plagiarism that she did? what’s next for jenna? is she still aiming for ivy league or what? how will jenna behave at school now she’s more confident than before? i think it’d be more complete(?) if there’s detail point of view of jessica when she was buried deep in the back of her own body (but since this book is jenna-centered, of course i understand the lack of detail from jessica pov).

and the romancee?????? i love love LOVE the romance in this book. not too heavy, but enough to make butterflies flying on your stomach (or biting your pillow because aaron cai is the sweetest man on earth).

౨ৎ | 'its cruel, really, how the world tends to present its most beautiful parts to you when youre so profoundly sad.'

i absolutely loved how complex jenna was. the way she felt her emotions and how she acted. while others may perceive her as annoying she was just to raw and real. i loved her and aaron and the crumbs we got, but i also loved how they weren't the main focus of the story.

jenna chen you are so dear to me i love you. 

౨ৎ | 'its cruel, really, how the world tends to present its most beautiful parts to you when youre so profoundly sad.'

— ★ 4.5/5

i absolutely loved how complex jenna was. the way she felt her emotions and how she acted. while others may perceive her as annoying she was just to raw and real. i loved her and aaron and the crumbs we got, but i also loved how they weren't the main focus of the story.

jenna chen you are so dear to me i love you. 

if this book had come out five years earlier, i probably would’ve had an internal crisis while reading. i have, unfortunately, been both jessica and jenna

(i hoped jessica would have a “little miss perfect” moment, but alas)

emily

if this book had come out five years earlier, i probably would’ve had an internal crisis while reading. i have, unfortunately, been both jessica and jenna

(i hoped jessica would have a “little miss perfect” moment, but alas)

Ann Liang's best work of all time. I am not Jessica Chen showcased Jenna's growth as a character and the book showcased the toxicity of expectations on teenagers from two different point of views. One thing i really loved about this book is how the story focused on both characters which are Jessica and Jenna through the eyes of Jenna. Despite the complexity of both characters and the explanation behind their actions, the story did not deviate from the plot and still sticked with the initial concept of putting Jenna as the main character while still focusing on Jessica's issues. One thing that is lacking is the build of the ml and mc which was understandable but it would have been nice to see the development of their relationship

Lane Loyola

and suddenly, i’m reminded of what doc once told us, non-verbatim: 

“you are not special. you are not better than anybody else. you might be the smartest one here, but you won’t be when the population multiplies tenfold.”

and he’s right. because at the end of the day, no matter how smart you think you are, there will always be someone out there who’s smarter. someone who does things better, faster, cleaner—even when you’re already trying your best. and that’s just how it is. 

there are days when you’re ahead, and there are also days when you’re not. sometimes you’re the top of the class, sometimes you’re just surviving. and maybe that’s okay. 

i think we need to redefine what happiness and success look like. maybe it was never really about the universities we get into, the straight A’s we chase, or the honors we receive. 

maybe it’s in the quiet victories. the ones no one applauds; the small acts of courage, the tears we wiped away in silence, the in-betweens where we choose to keep going. 

because at the end of it all, it’s not just the accolades that shape us, it’s the becoming. the growing. the slow, steady unfolding of who we are meant to be. 

maybe success is waking up and choosing to try again. maybe it’s allowing joy to find us in the most ordinary places; a shared laugh with friends and family, a breath of morning fresh air, the soft glow of a golden sunset we witness by quarter to five, the comfort of knowing that we are still here. 

and suddenly, i’m reminded of what doc once told us, non-verbatim: “you are not special. you are not better than anybody else. you might be the smartest one here, but you won’t be when the population multiplies tenfold.” 

and he’s right. because at the end of the day, no matter how smart you think you are, there will always be someone out there who’s smarter. someone who does things better, faster, cleaner—even when you’re already trying your best. and that’s just how it is. 

there are days when you’re ahead, and there are also days when you’re not. sometimes you’re the top of the class, sometimes you’re just surviving. and maybe that’s okay. 

i think we need to redefine what happiness and success look like. maybe it was never really about the universities we get into, the straight A’s we chase, or the honors we receive. 

maybe it’s in the quiet victories. the ones no one applauds; the small acts of courage, the tears we wiped away in silence, the in-betweens where we choose to keep going. 

because at the end of it all, it’s not just the accolades that shape us, it’s the becoming. the growing. the slow, steady unfolding of who we are meant to be. 

maybe success is waking up and choosing to try again. maybe it’s allowing joy to find us in the most ordinary places; a shared laugh with friends and family, a breath of morning fresh air, the soft glow of a golden sunset we witness by quarter to five, the comfort of knowing that we are still here. 

and maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.

I haven’t flown through a book like this in a while. Jenna Chen’s life although she works very hard is not what she wants it to be and definitely not as good as her cousin Jessica. After making a wish, her soul moves in Jessica’s body.

I think most people in high school or even as adults have wished they were someone else, but imagine having to live the life of someone was smarter and ambitious than you, and you have to try to keep up with that.

The book poses a lot of moral and philosophical questions about wants and needs.

Suzanne

I haven’t flown through a book like this in a while. Jenna Chen’s life although she works very hard is not what she wants it to be and definitely not as good as her cousin Jessica. After making a wish, her soul moves in Jessica’s body.

I think most people in high school or even as adults have wished they were someone else, but imagine having to live the life of someone was smarter and ambitious than you, and you have to try to keep up with that.

The book poses a lot of moral and philosophical questions about wants and needs.

Would definitely recommend this book.

“jealousy jealousy” and “lacy” by olivia rodrigo

“this is me trying” (jenna and jessica’s song)

ann liang once again writes a personal story with lyrical writing and storytelling that creates such magical imagery. her beautiful incorporation of literary devices such as metaphors not only brings jenna's story to life but also translates the characters' deep emotions through the pages

“I feel whole, the sense of solidity spreading down to my tingling fingers, my toes, as if I’m a sketch colored in at last. This is why I crave success, ”

initially thought this was going to be like a freaky friday moment where we would get to see both of the girls' povs when they switched bodies and see the girls bond and deepen their friendship. however, i still like the author's approach to the body-switching narrative. i would've liked to see what happened to jessica when jenna was in jessica's body though. i did love jenna's character arc and the book's overall message that no one's life is completely perfect/happy and everyone is going through struggles of their own despite appearances.

now on to the romance !!! okay i loveee aaron (he's so the bolter coded) like she falls first, he falls HARDER!! he remembers everything about her especially from childhood

also i love that there was more depth to aaron's character instead of just being the love interest. there was a part where aaron mentions his home life and mom which did make me tear up

"all you had to do was stay" by taylor swift

"nothing more than that" by stephanie poetri (jenna and aaron's song)

"i know it won’t work" by gracie abrams (this is definitely aaron’s song)

“jealousy jealousy” and “lacy” by olivia rodrigo

“she’s all i wanna be" by tate mcrae

“this is me trying” (jenna and jessica’s song)

"in my mind" by lyn lapid 

ann liang once again writes a personal story with lyrical writing and storytelling that creates such magical imagery. her beautiful incorporation of literary devices such as metaphors not only brings jenna's story to life but also translates the characters' deep emotions through the pages

“I feel whole, the sense of solidity spreading down to my tingling fingers, my toes, as if I’m a sketch colored in at last. This is why I crave success, ”

initially thought this was going to be like a freaky friday moment where we would get to see both of the girls' povs when they switched bodies and see the girls bond and deepen their friendship. however, i still like the author's approach to the body-switching narrative. i would've liked to see what happened to jessica when jenna was in jessica's body though. i did love jenna's character arc and the book's overall message that no one's life is completely perfect/happy and everyone is going through struggles of their own despite appearances.

now on to the romance !!! okay i loveee aaron (he's so the bolter coded) like she falls first, he falls HARDER!! he remembers everything about her especially from childhood

also i love that there was more depth to aaron's character instead of just being the love interest. there was a part where aaron mentions his home life and mom which did make me tear up

"all you had to do was stay" by taylor swift

"nothing more than that" by stephanie poetri (jenna and aaron's song)

"i know it won’t work" by gracie abrams (this is definitely aaron’s song)

I Am Not Jessica Chen

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