Better Than Perfect

A poignant coming-of-age story that skillfully captures the singular experience of being a teenage girl

Juliet Newman has it all: a picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated, there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either.

1119613600

Better Than Perfect

A poignant coming-of-age story that skillfully captures the singular experience of being a teenage girl

Juliet Newman has it all: a picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard, and live happily ever after.

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Overview

A poignant coming-of-age story that skillfully captures the singular experience of being a teenage girl

Juliet Newman has it all: a picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard, and live happily ever after.

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About the Author

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781481533188
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/28/2015
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 6.10(h) x 1.30(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Melissa Kantor is the author of Maybe One Day; Confessions of a Not It Girl, an ALA Booklist Best Romance Novel for Youth; If I Have a Wicked Stepmother, Where's My Prince?, a YALSA Teens Top Ten Pick; The Breakup Bible, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults nominee; Girlfriend Material, a Junior Library Guild selection; and The Darlings Are Forever and The Darlings in Love, a Junior Library Guild selection. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.

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Editorial Reviews

02/16/2015
With affluent and supportive parents, a great boyfriend, a coveted internship, and a plan to attend Harvard, Juliet's future seems written in the stars. Then Juliet's father abandons the family, and Juliet finds her mother passed out from an overdose one night, covered in blood. Juliet's mother enters an inpatient psychiatric facility, and Juliet moves in with her boyfriend's charmed family. But the night of her mother's hospitalization, Juliet unexpectedly hooked up with a boy, Declan. Rather than regretting her decision, she finds exhilaration from straying off the path that has been so carefully laid out for her, questioning whether striving for perfection at all costs has allowed her to develop real self-awareness. Kantor (Maybe One Day) deals with the difficult topic of a parent's depression and recovery with sensitivity and grace. Juliet navigates complex and unfamiliar emotions, eventually arriving at the gratifying if predictable recognition that struggles and setbacks lead to growth. Juliet's attempts to meet the expectations of those around her will readily resonate with readers under similar strains. Ages 13-up. Agent: Rebecca Friedman, Rebecca Friedman Literary Agency. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Juliet Newman seems to be leading a charmed life, replete with a handsome, smart boyfriend; an early acceptance to Harvard; and what appears to be the perfect family. Everything begins unraveling when her dad moves out, however: her mother becomes addicted to pills and ends up in the hospital with a possible suicide attempt; she meets and begins to fall for a boy named Declan; and all of her best-laid plans come into question. The classic premise of good girl meets and falls for bad boy is definitely at the core of this coming-of-age novel; however, it becomes a modern, realistic novel when it addresses not only the topics of addiction, suicide, and relationships but also the pressures of having a life plan, performing well in school, and attending college. The themes of having a choice in decision-making and finding oneself will resonate with both boys and girls. Juliet and Declan face real-life struggles that may appeal to many different readers, and their relationship will make this a good choice for those who like romance. The seriousness of the topics addressed makes this a novel for older teens. Reviewer: Lona Trulove; Ages 12 to 18.

VOYA, April 2015 (Vol. 38, No. 1) - Lona Trulove

Juliet Newman is on the fast track to success. A straight-A student with a slate of extracurricular activities, Juliet is primed to accept early admission as a third-generation Harvard student. The only thing that seems to be standing in her way is the SAT. It’s no small barrier. Juliet’s parents are in the process of divorcing. Her mother’s “bad days” are outnumbering the good. Juliet’s distracted first run at the SAT produces dismal results. She knows she has to focus if she is to do better next time and secure the high score she knows she needs. But when Juliet finds her mother unconscious on the bathroom floor surrounded by scattered pills, the high school senior struggles to hold together the life she has always felt she wanted. Preoccupied with questions about whether her mother’s overdose was an accident or a suicide attempt, Juliet is overwhelmed by a complicated success-oriented schedule as well as her mother’s move to a long-term psychiatric facility. Expectations of her boyfriend of four years, fellow aspiring Harvard student Jason, and his parents (who take her in during her mother’s hospitalization) compound the problem, as do distant relationships with her largely absent father, Yale-student brother, and aunt. Exchange student Declan provides a catalyst for Juliet to consider her “perfect” life’s path—and make some surprising decisions. This is a compelling story of individual growth. There are no easy answers for Juliet in her current situation, but the final pages—with her mother’s return home, an agreement to see a therapist, and some tough decisions—show she is on the path to healing. School libraries should be aware that this book includes some controversial topics: suicide, substance abuse, underage drinking, and teen sex. Reviewer: Heidi Hauser Green; Ages 14 up.

Children's Literature - Heidi Hauser Green

11/01/2014
Gr 9 Up—Juliet has a charmed life. She is a high school senior with a perfect family, boyfriend, and most likely a perfect score on her SATs. Juliet wants to go to Harvard and has the perfect plan to achieve her goals. Then a bomb goes off in the teen's life. Her father moves out, and her mother ends up in psychiatric hospital. As she struggles with what is important and tries to rebuild her relationship with her parents, Juliet realizes that the life she perceived as flawless is a superficial ruse. Then the protagonist meets the less-than-perfect Declan, whose family encourages her to join their band. Spending time with Declan and the band has Juliet questioning her life choices. Perhaps there is a future for her that is "better than perfect." Kantor poignantly captures what a broken marriage can do to the whole family. The characters are well developed, and readers experience Juliet's pain as she realizes her parents' fallibility. The language is authentic and contains expletives along with references to sex and drugs. The narrative skillfully reflects the protagonist's ups and downs. However, the plot development and pacing at times feels slow and out of sync, not always accurately reflecting Juliet's turmoil. Give this to teens who enjoyed A Different Me by Deborah Blumenthal (Albert Whitman, 2014), another realistic novel that explores the theme of perfectionism and its costs.—Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX

School Library Journal

2014-11-18
A high school senior's Type A life implodes after her mother takes an overdose of pills. When Juliet finds her mother unconscious on her bathroom floor after her parents' separation, suddenly everything she used to value seems insignificant. She finds herself questioning her relationship with her longtime boyfriend, Jason, her parents' outwardly perfect marriage, even her determination to get into Harvard. She sleeps with Declan, a talented Irish musician she just met, cuts and dyes her hair, and starts singing with Declan's band. She still keeps studying for her SATs and other exams, but she soon realizes that she's only doing it to keep her friends and family happy. "In a horrifying waking nightmare, I saw Jason and my parents and all my future…mentors and bosses telling me to keep doing something I hated doing because someday I would be glad to have done it." As her mother recovers and she rebuilds her relationship with her father, Juliet learns how to ask what makes her happy instead of accepting others' definitions of success. With clear prose and realistic dialogue, Kantor perceptively illustrates the pressure that accomplished teens put on themselves to achieve perfection. This timely story will ring true for today's disillusioned young people, who are discovering that years of good grades, piano lessons and internships don't necessarily result in adult happiness. (Fiction. 13-18)

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