Perfect On Paper

4.75

this is so cute and wholesome and i loved every second of reading this book

rep: bisexual mc w male&female love interests, trans mtf sc, lesbian vietnamese-american sc, gay korean-american sc, pansexual rep, aro/ace rep, nonbinary rep i feel like i’ve been chewed up and spit back out, in the best way possible. coming up for air from this story was probably the best yet most painful thing. i didn’t want it to end, but it was such a satisfying read that i couldn’t be too upset that it was over. while perfect on paper was the perfect fast paced summer read, this book didn’t fail to touch on many important topics and not only that, but handled them all with finesse based upon personal experience and research. i related to darcy in so many ways, and she was such a lovable yet flawed character. imperfect and full of mistakes, but good and beautiful and determined and smart. to me, she was real. she was real in the ways that she threw herself into something she knew she was good at, even if others didn’t. in the ways that she doubted herself, and battled with herself over the bigoted notions that were being pushed onto her. the issues she was dealing with, how she felt she had to deal with them. the way she was too aware, and yet so oblivious to her own life because she was far too wrapped up in other peoples well being. biphobia and bi erasure is real and it’s rampant, and being bisexual myself i cried buckets reading the scene with Q&Q in chapter 20. IFYKYK. this was a raw and emotional story, and the plot was immersive and entertaining. i loved reading about locker 89 and the additional letter/email format both kept my interest and, admittedly, i picked up a lot of vital information and advice given from our main character herself. the characters had a depth i was surprised the author was able to construct within only 342 pages. ainsley, brougham, and finn were my favorites outside of darcy. i enjoyed ray’s grit and brookes honesty, and the side characters were great additions to the story. the truth was laid flat in so many parts of this book, and it was almost refreshing to read a book the way Sophie Gonzales writes it. the sentiments that darcy, our MC, shared in the pages about her own identity and life will forever sit with me; it’s opened up new questions and reliefs for my own self. so grateful to have read this, and i binged it in only a few hours too! side note: the bisexuality in this book was written IMPECCABLY. it resonated with me and my own experience being bisexual, SO SO SO much. highly recommend for anyone who needs some accurate bi rep on their shelves

superloved. i have no words to express everything i loved about this book. just read it, dammit. yes it has it's flaws and it has a lot of corny and unrealistic moments but I DON'T CARE. I LOVE SLOW BURN, ENEMIES TO LOVERS, AND PLATONIC LOVE IN BOOKS. you'd think i, think a bi person with a girlfriend, would root for the sapphic couple but MISTER ALEXANDER BROUGHAM !!!! THE MAN THAT YOU ARE!!!! 😩😩😩 i also really love that the author was able to talk about so many topics without it feeling forced. and OH MY GOSH THE RELATIONSHIP ADVICE!!!! got me wanting a locker89 in real life :sobs: anyway, i'd probably read this book again because it was such a serotonin boost! 😁

🦇 Perfect on Paper Book Review 🦇

❓ #QOTD What's the best advice you've ever received or given? ❓

🦇 High school junior Darcy Phillips has a secret identity as the relationship advice expert behind Locker 89. Leave a letter along with $10 and she'll provide the perfect solution to your relationship woes. So far, she hasn't been caught...that is, until Alexander Brougham catches her collecting letters. He'll keep her secret...if she can fix his relationship post-break-up, that is. Can Darcy help Brougham win his girlfriend back (without strangling the entitled, rich, yummy-Australian-accent-slinging swimmer) in the process?

💜 Perfect on Paper was nominated for a Goodreads Choice Award (Best Young Adult Fiction - 2021) and it's no wonder. This was the exact book bisexual baby me needed a decade ago. Though I've read a multitude of books featuring bisexual FMCs, Sophie Gonzales is the first to capture the authenticity of internalized biphobia. I'll admit I was sheltered enough that it took me a while to realize bi was even an option for me. Bisexual erasure didn't help; once I self-identified, I was given the oh-so-cliche, "that's not real," and "it's just a phase." Bitch, I'm a moon goddess; I'm in a new phase every day of my life. ANYWAY. Darcy is authentic in her concern that a crush over a guy invalidates her bi-ness. The Queer & Questioning Club scene where Darcy's community validates her was everything (and truly got me misty-eyed).

💜 The advice column aspect of the story was brilliant. Darcy's letters are written in a tone that's patient and empathetic yet informative and encouraging. She'd obviously done her research and it shows, but you see her mentally unravel the moment there's personal bias and it's BEAUTIFUL. Darcy isn't perfect. She's a high schooler, still figuring herself out. Yes, she's flawed, but she's also self-aware, willing to grow and change and take her own advice (or the advice she gets from her AMAZING trans big sister, who I adored).

💜 While this is a queer YA romance, there are so many layers beyond that. There's a mixed bag of diversity and personal trauma (and with that, potential for growth) to explore.

💙 The story DID take a minute to pick up speed, so the beginning left me waiting for a catalyst for momentum. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I'm no a fan of the miscommunication trope. HOWEVER, it does fit here, and proves how easily a tiny moment of misunderstanding can completely alter the course of a friendship. I did have to put the book down at one point, when Darcy's best friend outs her (I was super frustrated on Darcy's behalf because that betrayal was intense). I was disappointed that no one stepped forward and THANKED Darcy for her advice when she was getting attacked as the person behind Locker 89. People were upset BEFORE their letters were taken, but no one thanked Darcy until LONG after the situation cooled. Given Darcy's self-proclaimed success rate (was there a mention of HOW she knew she was successful, beyond the lack of refunds?), I expected a lot more praise for her abilities beyond one person.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Leah on the Offbeat and Imogen, Obviously, with a hint of To All the Boys I've Loved Before and Netflix's Sex Education.

✨ The Vibes ✨
💌 Bisexual FMC (w/ Internalized Biphobia)
💌 Queer Young Adult Rom-Com
💌 Lots of Rep
💌 Hate-to-Love
💌 Friends to Lovers
💌 POC Sapphic Side Characters

💬 Quotes
❝ "Do you think there’s a chance that [...] you’re intellectualizing things so you don’t have to, you know, feel them?" ❞
❝ I was sitting in the space between a sound and its echo. Brougham had asked a question, and I had to answer it. It was that, or keep dreaming about love, and working toward helping others find it, while never letting myself risk it. ❞
❝ In some ways, we mirrored each other. We shared cracks in complementary places. ❞
❝ Bi people are part of the queer community, and their identity does not change depending on who, if anyone, they happen to have feelings for or date at any given moment. ❞

she's so like me

i started this book on a whim in between tons of my current read (cough) , though i regret nothing because this was so so cute! and i learn so much about relationships lots of thing from darcy's experience. darcy and brougham are sweethearts too ❤️

The main character, Darcy Philips, reminded me a lot of Devi from "Never Have I Ever" (since they like to messed up everything). I liked the story and the character development of Darcy and Brougham, even though I don't really like the miscommunication trope but this one was okay and enjoyable, somehow I felt like the title "Dear Locker 89" would be better???, lol idk. Overall, if you like YA-romance stories like "To All The Boys I've Loved Before", then you should totally read this.

this is such a cute and fun read and it helped me to figure out some personal issues I have been struggling with for months.

Okay so, I will admit, when I started reading Perfect On Paper, I didn't expect to like this book soo much. No specific reason for why I assumed that, but I'm so glad I was proven wrong. I even ended up rooting for Darcy and her now boyfriend because they were just so amazing. That guy wasn't some cold stoic person who treated Darcy or other people awfully, his friends weren't assholes too and they both compliment each other nicely. Darcy was being messy when it came to her best friend but I was very glad it all worked out in the end. I also was very surprised when I didn't ship Brooke and Darcy at all because I love wlw stories. All I can say is that the author did an amazing job with this book and Darcy and her relationships with others. I can't think of anything I didn't like or something I wish was different. Overall, 5 stars for such an amazing book.

this book talked about internalized biphobia and it was hitting a bit too close to home i wish i had this book when i was younger 💗💜💙

this book was okay, but the pacing was awful. the first half of the book is so slow to get into and then within the last half everything is happening all at once

i loved it! this is the second Sophie Gonzales book i’ve read(i just read OMD), because If this gets out is on the way in the mail and i wanted to see how i liked her other books first:) and i really like her writing! it’s pretty simple but not a bore and i like how she brings up topics and stuff in a natural way in her books. i think Perfect on Paper is a perfect read for someone who’s just stated reading(and if you’ve been reading for 10 years) especially since it’s a fiction. i loved the characters and how she gave them debt and made a lot them lgbtq+ in a way that felt natural i didn’t think i would like it that much because it’s a fiction, but i hardly noticed it! and i love how the romance was kinda a big sub-lot but not that it was everything you thought/read about. i loved the relationship between Darcy and Brougham(I LOVE BROUGHAM❤️❤️❤️) - and a lot of people have said that the way she wrote Darcy’s bisexuality was very good - just everything was relatively great and it was fast and cute and funny:) (btw I LOVE AINSLEY❤️❤️❤️Please marry me)

the way that darcy gives really good relationship advice to literally everybody but is so bloody obtuse when it comes to her own relationships honestly makes me want to scream

I loved how open they are about LGBTQIA+ and how normal it is in their daily life to be part of this community.

(4/5) 2 hours 57 minutes - A fun lighthearted read that provides a fresh view on bisexuality where the protagonist ends up in a straight-passing relationship, and issues surrounding this are discussed. I found all the character's likeable, although some of the side characters did feel slightly 2-dimensional. Brougham was a really good character in my opinion. The plot was engaging, if a little unrealistic. On the whole, I really liked reading this book.

The discussions of biphobia and bisexuality in general hit kinda close to home and, in my opinion, were amazingly written and handled in the book <3

reread: this book hits a lot harder now knowing things about myself that i didn’t know the first time I received an ARC through net galley. I honestly can't put into words how good this book is, it's just so good. The book is very lighthearted and fun but also had very serious moments and topics. I loved when they took the time in the Q&Q club to talk about biphobia, it's very serious and I'm glad that the book addressed it. Their relationship was just so fun and relatable. She was so scared because she thought she was in love her best friend and she didn't even realize she liked him. They are so cute.

idk i tried to like this one cause messy bi girl mc but also i think i just didn't rlly connect with any of the characters...they're fine ig. 2.5

When asked about Perfect on Paper, I've pitched it as queer-centric Sex Education but with a lot more relationship advice carried out in complete secrecy. As someone going through a tough time, who latched onto attachment styles and intellcutalising everything to fit into boxes so things make more sense, this read came at a perfect time. Our main character identifies as bisexual, going through a tough time of her own - dealing with a crush on her best friend who doesn't seem to reciprocate - with another problem headed her way in the form of Brougham, a fellow student looking to fix his relationship with his ex-girlfriend in exchange for maintaining Darcy's secret of locker 89. The conversations revolving around queer teens, especially in the context of both sexuality and identity, were essential and were done with utmost respect and care, which I greatly enjoyed. The Queer Questioning Club felt like an actual integral part to Darcy's growth as a character, with a focus of its own, giving readers insight into problems queer teens may face at school and the author did a great job at making it a device important to both them and the story as opposed to having it feel like a throwaway, mentioned here and there, to move the plot forward. Similarly, Darcy's responses to questions sent in by her peers were, not included at the start of most chapters, but referenced and used to further the plot in a way that felt meaningful. As someone, again, going through a tough time, in the context of the 'love/romance' department, this was actually super helpful. I am not too great at contexualising cues other people may give and it helps to see other characters, even fictional, deal with problems similiar to my own as a way to move forward, partly inspired by them. Additionally, yes, the one part where Darcy's sister calls her out for intellecualising everything to avoid feeling the emotions attached felt like a callout and I am thankful to the author because I needed to hear that, yep. Also the 36 questions to feel closer to someone? As someone who's not great at conversations or moving it along, I again thank the author for introducing me to this gem. The banter between Brougham and Darcy was to die for, balanced equally with tender moments of vulnerability between the two. They got enough time together as they did apart, for it to still be Darcy's story as much as it was the story of her romance. I loved how the author integrated some very cute moments (cue: the rain scene followed by the movie) with moments where the characters opened up, let their guard down and just talked. As I grow older, I find myself wanting more and more of characters that just connect and this definitely served its purpose. Also that one chapter on biphobia and feeling not 'queer enough' for dating someone of the opposite gender was just TOO real and i am really happy the author addressed biphobia, rampant both in and outside the community. Sidenote because I am kinda tired of how much I've written but Brooke was just not it, idc.

this is such a cute and fun read and it helped me to figure out some personal issues I have been struggling with for months.

A fun and important YA contemporary I loved this so much. I loved the story because I felt Darcy grew as a character and learned a lot about her friends and herself as the story progressed. The characters were multi dimensional and I loved reading about them. The writing was perfect for what kind of story this was. The romance in this was sweet and as a reader, I was curious what direction this would go. The last star is for personal enjoyment.

He really was beautiful. And despite what I’d thought of him when I met him, now that I knew him, I was quite sure he might be the most beautiful person I’d ever met in my life. 4.5 stars I cried exactly 4 times while reading this book. Which is a lot for me, considering I usually shed tears like one or zero times while reading. Whelp! I really need to get back to reading more YA books because I didn't realise how much I miss those good old days. Saying this book was good would be understatement. This book was amazing. Like really. I felt so... Seen? Understood? Loved? All of the above, while reading it. It deals with some very interesting and helpful topics. This is one of the rare books where I actully got interested in the plot. I really liked it and thought that the whole locker thing was very much unique. I don't even want to get started with Darcy and Brougham because this review would be too long... to summarize my feelings towards them: THEY HAVE MY WHOLE HEART I LOVE THEM SO MUCH I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW MUCH!!!! okay now quotes! i just picked out a few so this review won't contain actual spoilers You don’t *need* anything from your boyfriend. You want it. Saying we *need* something from someone else makes us feel like we can’t live without them, or they completely control how we feel, which is not true. When you say you *need* him to do xyz, what I’m hearing is that your real need is to feel loved, and special, and wanted. Brougham watched me intensely, not reacting, but not breaking eye contact, either. For the first time, I understood why Ainsley found him attractive. That stare made me feel like I was telling the most interesting story in the world. “Okay. Well. What color are his eyes?” “This really pretty dark-blue color. Navy, I think.” “What does he think of Phish Food?” “He prefers tiramisu.” “When was the last time you saw him smile?” I responded without missing a beat. “When he asked if I’d be upset if he didn’t get back with Winona.” Ainsley went silent for a while. When I peeked back at her, she was staring at me with one knowing eyebrow raised. Then I got it. “Oh wow. I might like him.” “Yeah, I think you might.” Okay. Shit. I might. I might like Alexander Brougham. I had feelings for Alexander Brougham. Alexander Brougham, with his arguments and his perpetually serious face and his rudeness. Alexander Brougham, with his vulnerability, and his perceptiveness, and his ability to make everything I said feel weighted and important. Alexander Brougham with his too-blue eyes and the prettiest, rarest smile and delicate fingers. Alexander Brougham, with his wild car karaoke, and his love of horror movies, and his impulsive decisions to sit in a tree on a cliff in the rain. “And I guess I could technically choose to just never act on my crushes when they’re not on a guy, but what the fuck? And the implication is that I’m less queer than others, because, you know, I can just go straight and not deal with any oppression at all, easy. Like being with a guy magically makes me straight. Like it’s a competition, or a ranking, and I need to stop speaking on queer issues because am I really queer? Really, though? And I want to clarify that this person didn’t say any of that, but that’s just how it felt. And maybe I don’t know what it’s like to be gay or lesbian, but I do know some people will never understand what it’s like to be queer and to blush every time you join in on a conversation about it because you feel like you’re treading on people’s toes, because when they say ‘queer’ they don’t mean you.”