You Asked For Perfect by Laura Silverman is wildly different from her debut, Girl Out of Water. Both SO good and the only similarities are being YA contemporary & including anxiety problems. I’m so impressed with her range and can’t wait to see what comes next.

THE GOODS –
Ariel’s pronounced AR-iel, like ARRR! pirate not the Little Mermaid.
Ariel’s little sister & their relationship is adorable. I love seeing positive brother/sister relationships.
Couple uses ‘dork’ and ‘nerd’ as affectionate teasing pet names.
Great, living, and involved parents all around
Love how it’s about the assumed, presumed, and societal pressure rather than direct stress from parental figures like stereotypical ‘Asian dad/tiger mom’ scenarios
Anxiety attacks are no joke. Ariel’s are enough to bring tears to my eyes. I had to take a break after the ‘I’m such a fuck up failure ruining everything’ one. Really makes me appreciate how I’ve tamed mine in the last two years.
Volunteering at a doggie shelter <3
I just learned a couple of months ago on Twitter that security is common for Jewish synagogues. Seeing it brought to life on the page really brings home the reality of the situation.
There’s this moment that Ariel could’ve skated by doing the easy thing and I was worried the story would turn predictable. But there wasn’t even a hesitation before doing the right thing. It’s the moment that took You Asked For Perfect from good to great for me.
Well-fitting and -meaning open ending. This isn’t a simple solution to be had and I’m just happy with the happy for now aspect. Sweet, reassuring, but not sugar coated.
LET ME EXPLAIN –
Yes, there was a point where I got tired of his shit. But it struck the right balance with Ariel’s unreasonable response to reasonable concerns. Not too much that I was driven away and not too little that it was pointless.

While there are reality check moments regarding class and financial privilege, it’s essential a bunch of rich kids. Decidedly, NOT spoiled stupid brats. They acknowledge their luck and position. I’m just saying, be careful about reading it if you’re going through a hard time. At different points in my teens, this book would’ve been a balm or salt in a wound for both reason.

I am ecstatic kids will seen themselves in You Asked For Perfect, but I also really hope it’ll get teachers and parents to clue in to these issues and make changes.

It’s been a handful of years now since I finished high school. I wasn’t an exceptional student, but I still remember most of it – the struggle to fit in, competing among with your classmates, balancing acads with extra curriculars, the pressure of maintaining high grades and a high weighted average to get into a good university. High school was tough and I was only happy, probably too happy, when I finally walked off with my diploma.

I guess, that’s what I was expecting from You Asked for Perfect when I started reading it: tackle high school life – the good, the bad and everything in between. And that was exactly what I got! A very likable set of diverse characters, an adorable M/M romance and a whole load of Harry Potter references, there’s just so much to love in this book.

Where was this book when I was in high school myself?

You Asked for Perfect was a refreshing yet still realistic take on academic anxiety and how the demand and struggle for perfection negatively affects young people. Laura Silverman explored this topic with much care and sensitivity while keeping the story fun and quirky.

Ariel was such a relatable character. Anyone, doesn’t matter how young or not young you are, will surely see a little of themselves in him (as well as the rest of the characters.) Ariel was smart, talented and funny; self-conscious and highly critical of himself. Reading his story took me back to the past and brought forth into memory a younger version of myself and of coffee-fueled late nights studying for an exam, cramming my head with information.

That I reminisced about high school, a part of my academic life that I’d much rather forget, was a testament to how well and effective Silverman crafted her characters. She brought to life colorful characters, characters that you can imagine living their own stories separate from Ariel’s. Rasha, Malka, Sook, Amir and (my namesake) Rachel – I was invested in what will happen to them and how well they will fare. It was just so much easier to care about a character when you feel like you know them, and that can only happen if they were fully fleshed out.

The romance part of this book was also another thing I loved. Ariel and Amir were ultra cute! These two totally had me shipping them together from the very first time they appeared on the same page. And it was so adorable, how they got together. But while Amir plays an important part in Ariel’s life, their relationship played out on the sidelines – a critical subplot there to support the main story – and I appreciate that Silverman remained true to the focus of her story.

There’s much, much more to love about You Asked for Perfect. Diversity and representation, for one, with all the mains and secondary characters coming from different cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations (Ariel, Amir, Rasha, Malka and Isaac are all Jewish, Pari is Muslim, and Sook is Korean. Ariel is bisexual, Amir gay and Sook, a lesbian) and I’m a 100% down for it. I also love all of parts involving the parents in this book. Supportive and still very human, very flawed parents – it’s something that I wouldn’t mind reading more in the future.

Overall, You Asked for Perfect is an honest and lighthearted YA contemporary. With a diverse cast of characters, adorable romance and a plot most would be able to relate to, this book is an awesome read. I definitely recommend it to anyone, but most especially to contemporary lovers.

High school no matter what generation you ascribe to is a pressure cooker. The expectations of our parents, our friends and our teachers is a lot to contend with at times especially if like Ariel you are a high achieving student.

His dream is to gain admittance to Harvard and he has spent much of his high school career working toward that. most if not all of his courses are AP and with such a high GPA he is gunning for valedictorian. He is no stranger to all-nighters and working super hard to reach his goals so when he starts struggling in calculus he finds himself in unfamiliar territory. This is where we meet Amir who along with being a fellow high achiever is an excellent photographer who challenges Amir and also confuses him.

I myself was not a AP level student so my pressure to achieve when I was in high school was not this high. I can relate however in the struggle and the realization that with time eventually the world after high school is more then tests and college and achievements.

I think that Laura did an excellent job showcasing that pressure in a character like Ariel. I warmed up to him pretty quickly and was rooting for him throughout his struggles hoping he would find true happiness whether it was getting into Harvard or maybe dating Amir. I am not going to tell you if those things happened though because then what would be the point of reading it yourself? I do suggest you pick up this book because I know you will enjoy it just as much as I did and be rooting for Ariel too.

Well, what can I say? This hit me really hard.

When I was in elementary school, I loved for school. Some could even say back-to-school was my favorite holiday. I adored school more than anything, and I always was a straight-A student. All I knew how to do was study and study and study. Do subject reviews for tests that hadn’t even been announced yet. For years, I was always the top student in my class, it was my reputation. I collected trophies year by year that proclaimed my perfect 4.0 GPA. I was every teacher’s favorite student.

But it was all I did, I didn’t have any other *real* passions. Sure, I sang, but I didn’t think I was that great. I danced, but only because I wanted to be like my sister. I liked crafting and dancing (still really do), but for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to pursue those things steadily.

It’s not like I could ever let my grades tank anyway, as my parents are very, very strict about grades, which is why I’ve always been obsessive about them. I can count the B’s and C’s I’ve had during my school career with my fucking hands, because I never let it happen. To this day, I still haven’t gotten an F in an exam. Ever. And I have never gotten anything less than an A as my final grade at the end of the school year.

It wasn’t until sixth grade, one of the worst and most emotionally-draining years of my life, that I realized I was tired. So, so tired. On the summer of 2015, I fell in love with The Flash; I became obsessed. And when I finally found that first real passion, I realized school wasn’t all that mattered.

And then finally, on the summer of 2016, I got into reading. I became a bookworm, got into YA, started watching booktube. Discovered this brand new world of fiction that for some reason I hadn’t ever even thought about exploring. When I entered eighth grade, t h a t was when I really started to give zero fucks. I started to hate school (but mostly my old school), and wanted every day to be immediately over. The only thing helping me make it through was my friends.

I’m still a relatively good student; I get all A’s and do all my homework, even though I have to drag myself to do it lol). Studying? Well, I sometimes barely do any of that anymore cause I was blessed with pretty awesome retention skills so I absorb information quickly, and leave my fate hanging because of it. But somehow, I still make it.

Now, the point of this story is not for me to brag, but to highlight how much I saw myself in Ariel as a protagonist. You Asked for Perfect essentially felt like a love letter to my elementary school self and how much I struggled to be perfect. To be at the top.

I really liked him as character, his determination and drive, were both motivational and fucking heart-wrenching. It jumped out of the page how much he was aching and how bad his mental health was slowly getting, but he simply didn’t want to acknowledge it, much like me, to be honest.

It took me a long time to come to terms with my anxiety, and I really saw myself in the representation in this novel. Plus, it also featured what I think is the most realistic depiction of academic stress I have ever read about. Even though it’s not a problem I face anymore, I sometimes can go back to my old ways, and it hurts. Not only that, but also not knowing what to do beyond high school.

Even though I already have many goals set, my anxiety can still kick in and it was nice to see something I go through in fiction. It was quite reassuring, and showed I’m not alone in this fucking ride.

With all that aside, I wanted to point out how great the family dynamics were. Ariel’s family was incredibly supportive and united. I would’ve liked to see more of them, but I think it was a great reflection of Ariel and everything that was going through his head and how it sent him on overdrive and had a hard time opening up. Specifically, I also saw myself a lot in Rachel, his younger sister, who in fifth grade, was going through a whole lot.

The romance wasn’t anything that particularly stood out; I sadly see myself forgetting about it in the future, but I still thought it was super, duper cute. I thought the whole tutor plot would end up playing a much bigger part in the story, but it didn’t, which was a little disappointing. The whole romance overall had a lot of potential, in my opinion. It could’ve become this fantastic enemies-to-lovers relationship full of tons of angst, but nope. Huge bummer.

But it was still adorable, don’t get me wrong! I lived for Ariel and Amir’s interactions, and the angst I did get was good, though again, I wanted more. But I understand it wasn’t the biggest nor most important part of the plot.

Amir’s family dynamics were also great, and I thought it was really nice that his sister Rasha was more religiously inclined than the rest of her family, which was really refreshing.

I have to say, Sook, Ariel’s best friend, gave me all the Leah Burke vibes, as she was a fat Korean lesbian who had a band called Dizzy Daisies, and was incredibly passionate about her music. She was great, and a lil’ bit too oblivious at times, but I liked her regardless. I think the only prominent difference between her and Leah besides their races, was that Sook loves pot, jkhdfbsdh.

Talking about representation, there was plenty of it in Silverman’s latest release. Ariel is a bisexual Jewish dealing with anxiety, Amir is gay and Muslim, Malka, Sook’s bandmate, was also Jewish, and Pari, Ariel’s academic rival, was also Muslim. It all felt very natural, and I loved it. (I’m only own-voices for the bi rep but I can confidently say it was *chef’s kiss* really good)

The writing was very heartfelt and I enjoyed it, so you will definitely see me reading everything Silverman puts out, including her debut, Girl Out of Water, which I’ve heard great things about and I am sure it will break me :))

Overall, this book felt like a breath of fresh air, and although it didn’t become a brad new favorite or anything, I wholeheartedly enjoyed my time reading it. It was a very high-quality contemporary and I highly, highly recommend it.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!

Ariel is a senior in high school whose main goal for the past four years has been to get into Harvard. He has taken as many classes as possible, dropped a sport he loved and pushed himself harder to get the best grades and to be the best academically. He's mostly accomplished that and why he knows he's almost reached his dream he also knows that this last year of school means more than the others combined. He has to keep his grades up and pack in as many AP classes as possible in order to make class valedictorian and make his application for Harvard standout.

As the school year starts though things start going wrong, and Ariel has to make some tough choices. This is when we get to meet Amir and see their friendship grow. Amir is without a doubt one of my favorite characters in this book. He is so sure of what he wants to do with his life, and has worked hard to do that, but isn't stressing himself out like Ariel is to reach that accomplishment. All of us need someone like Amir in our lives and I'm so glad Ariel had him.
Ariel also has good friendships with two other people that are both in a band and hope to make it big. These friendships we really see get tested throughout the time we have with Ariel, and they felt very realistic in my opinion as well.
Ariel also has an amazing family unit. His parent our loving and fairly involved in both Ariel's life and his younger sisters life. They are also big in their Jewish Community and that plays a big part in all of their lives. The talks we get with them around the family table were so nice to see. We also got to know Ariel's little sister who is also really great and I loved their interactions together.
Overall I really loved this story. It not only touches on the pressure that many high school students feel, and how that pressure is starting to be placed on kids younger and younger each year. While this book does go fairly in-depth with Ariel's schedule and AP classes it was never boring. In fact, at times a found myself being just as anxious as he was because of how stressed out he was. His relationship with Amir was so sweet and I loved how things weren't always perfect, it was realistic and I can't say enough good things about it. I also really loved how their families interacted with each other and were close and actually enjoyed spending time together. I feel like that's something we don't see a lot in books and I really hope it becomes a new trend because I am so here for it!
I cannot say enough good things about this book. Please read it and enjoy it!

Senior Ariel Stone is the perfect college applicant: first chair violin, dedicated community volunteer, and expected valedictorian. He works hard - really hard - to make his life look effortless. A failed Calculus quiz is not part of that plan. Not when he’s number one. Not when his peers can smell weakness like a freshman’s body spray.

Figuring a few all-nighters will preserve his class rank, Ariel throws himself into studying. His friends will understand if he skips a few plans, and he can sleep when he graduates. Except Ariel’s grade continues to slide. Reluctantly, he gets a tutor. Amir and Ariel have never gotten along, but Amir excels in Calculus, and Ariel is out of options.

Ariel may not like Calc, but he might like Amir. Except adding a new relationship to his long list of commitments may just push him past his limit.

Where do I even start with this book? How do I even begin to accurately explain to you how much this story struck me right in the heart? As readers, we talk about representation in books all the time. I know that I'm always looking for little pieces of myself in the stories that I read. In this case, Laura Silverman hit the overachiever/stress level through the roof nail directly on the head, and this book didn't just speak to me, it yelled at me. I won't even lie, this will be a super biased review. It's only fair of me to tell you that right off the bat. I loved Ariel, because I understood Ariel. I used to be Ariel. So this book wasn't just another amazing story that I smiled, sighed and sobbed through. This was personal, and I loved every single minute of it.

It's always refreshing to see realistic characters in stories, especially stories about high school. From the moment I met Ariel, and started to really feel the pressure that he was under, I immediately formed a bond with him. Silverman doesn't just explain the type of stress that Ariel subjects himself to. Oh, no. Ariel's feelings, especially his immense need to succeed, are palpable in this book. The chapters where things started to get really heavy, and the supposedly perfect tower that our main character had built for himself began to wobble, I could literally feel the pressure pushing down on my shoulders. This book can, admittedly, be a stressful read at times. If you've ever been in Ariel's shoes, like I have, you might feel slightly uncomfortable in certain chapters. That's the beauty of this story though. It completely immerses you and, before you know it, you're so involved that the pages just fly by.

Now, lest you think that this book is all stressful doom and gloom, I can assure you that there is plenty of levity here too. It's been a long time since I read a sweeter romance than this one, and I have no complaints at all. In fact, you should know that I audibly sighed more than once while reading this. A good sigh, mind you. The contented kind, that happens because what is written on the page is just too perfect and pure for any words to describe. Tears happened during this story too, both sweet ones and sad ones. Much like real life, the events in this story are a nice mix of good and bad. A beautiful balancing act, that never really feels weighted one way or the other. When Amir and Ariel were together, life was good. Things were sweet, and I was a happy reader. When they were apart? Well, you get the picture. Just trust me when I say that you'll be just as invested in their relationship as I was. Oh, and I could gush for ages about all the other relationships that are present in this book. Somehow this book feels too short, and yet manages to fit discussions on familial relationships, and friendships. There's even a look at the way that religion can help a young person really connect to others and themselves.

If I tried to fairly explain to you everything that is wrapped up in You Asked For Perfect, this review would be so long that you wouldn't read it. So, I'll tidy things up and just tell you that it's essential that you read this book. I don't hand out five star reviews lightly. A book has to really strike a chord with me. Laura Silverman's gorgeously written story did exactly that. This should be required reading for students in high school, especially those who are like Ariel and forget about the balance that we all need in life. Read this. Put it in the hands of others. It's absolutely worth your time.

This book sets off all the YA cliche's .

An awesome read with a refreshing romance.

Ariel stone is a bi who is under a lpt of pressure to get into harvard. When he fails BC calc , everything goes downhill .

This book has almost everything but not too much. Supportive parents , soft romance , real lifr pressure , poc , lgbtq rep and everything ❤.

I recommend this highly

Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

This book is an honor to every child and teenager who HAS to manage STRESS and meet their parents' expectations! I connected with Ariel instantly because he was ME IN HIGH SCHOOL! When tests were a menace, few teachers were supportive enough of our university and college choices and I also had the blessing to have the most supportive family ever.

The details on the Jewish rituals and gatherings were a rare sight (I don't think I've read anything similar in another book?) and I enjoyed Ariel's family, despite that even his little sister became a victim to stress and no one noticed.

The book is amazing, it moves at a steady pace and it's a great example of knowing that you have to do what to love in order to succeed.

You Asked for Perfect is an intensely relatable high school narrative that balances academic pressure with heartwarming romantic and familial relationships.

I think so many overachieving teens will be able to see themselves in Ariel's story. It talks about putting too much pressure on yourself and worrying about your future. My current workload it actually very manageable for me, but I still related to so much that Ariel experiences in this book (just maybe on a smaller scale). It was actually a little stressful to read sometimes, like I was vicariously getting stressed out, but it was worth it for me because the book is so good.

You Asked for Perfect explores many types of relationships, one of which is family. I loved seeing Ariel’s parents be so present in the book (for some reason I feel like parents in YA books are sometimes just nonexistent?), as well as his younger sister, Rachel. Their sibling relationship was so great and at times heartbreaking AND heartwarming.

I really liked the romance as well! Ariel and his love interest, Amir, are so cute together. I loved how their families are friends and how they get together after working on studying for a math test together. And on a semi-related note, all of the Harry Potter references (and general nerdiness) in Ariel and Amir's conversations made me so happy.

The book also has friendship vibes, which is another one of my favorite things to read about! Ariel has a few close friends (Sook and Malka) whom he sometimes plays music with, and I loved seeing his relationships with them change and grow over the course of the novel. Another relationship that I found interesting to read about was Ariel’s interactions with his sort-of-frenemy/competitor, Pari.

The incorporation of religion was also something that I found interesting. Ariel and his family are Jewish (as is his friend Malka), and I really liked seeing how Ariel’s religion intersected with his daily life. His rabbi is so awesome, and I loved seeing his conversations with her as well.

I really enjoyed You Asked for Perfect! Ariel could be a tad annoying at times, but I really felt for him, and I think lots of other people will too.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Rep: bisexual Jewish MC; gay Pakistani Muslim MC; plus size lesbian Korean SC; Muslim SC; anxiety

CW: drug use (pot); underage drinking, both as part of religious practices and not.

Where is the line between what we ask of ourselves and what is enough, what others ask of us and what we can give? These are questions that blur for Ariel in Laura Silverman's You Asked for Perfect. 

There's so much going on in high school, none more so for Ariel than getting into a good school, the right school, and it's of the utmost importance to get the best grades, be the best person, so that Harvard will choose him. Because if he isn't selected, what else is there?

I was not the kind of student that Ariel and his contemporaries were, but I do remember school being difficult for me. Reading this book reminded me of the pressure that, nonetheless, was still there. Remembering that was its own kind of horror because it could be all encompassing. 

You Asked For Perfect is told from the first person perspective of Ariel. Multiple times throughout, he mentions how he's concerned that any show of weakness and a fellow student, Pari, a girl whose grades, violin skills, etc., are all comparable to his, will take everything from him: first chair, valedictorian, everything. He does say, though, that she's also a good friend. It's was heart wrenching to imagine the setting in which these kids could be both good friends & sworn enemies. The toxicity that academia leached into their lives was frightening.

As the story unfolded, levels of Ariel's image of perfection unfolded, how he came to this stage in his life where there was such a precarious balance of GPA points and extracurriculars. School (his teachers, fellow students) was one thing, which I'll touch on later, but there are also something about his family. Even if it was an unintentional act by his parents, there is a scene that I think may have imprinted on him:

<blockquote>Some Friday nights we have matzo ball soup with dinner because my parents are superhuman, working hard all week and still providing home-cooked meals.</blockquote>

It was great to see Ariel's family come together, having a meal and talking about their day, sharing highlights and bloopers and so on. However, the point here is that Ariel sees his parents having these high powered jobs and still having the "perfect" homelife with home cooked meals. That image of perfection makes it seem, to him, like it is easy to have it all which I'm sure it's not. As lovely a family picture as that is, it speaks to an ideal that Ariel may have in his head, standards that he feels he needs to meet.

There are a lot of angles coming to Ariel: family, school, self, all of which converge to create pressure and anxiety. These end up coming together to show how one thought can spiral into an almost anxiety attack. This quite felt particularly familiar to me and highlighted the intensity of Ariel's situation:

<blockquote>The calculus test is Friday. If I fail, it will literally be impossible to get an A in the class. If I don’t get an A in the class, I won’t have a perfect record. If I don’t have a perfect record, I’ll be a less appealing applicant for Harvard. If I’m a less appealing applicant for Harvard, I won’t get in. If I don’t get in—</blockquote>

This continues to escalate in demonstrations from two educational figures in Ariel's life, a guidance counselor (Hayes) and a calculus teacher (Eller):

<blockquote>Ms. Hayes lowers her voice. “Look, I’m not supposed to share this, but I know Pari Shah is also applying early action to Harvard. If they only accept one student from here like last year, well, it’s tight competition . You can’t slip up.”</blockquote>



<blockquote>“Wait here, Ariel.” I shift on my feet, feeling the eyes of my classmates. Mr. Eller pulls out a red pen, and I take a sharp breath. Is he torturing me on purpose ? Grading mine right here?</blockquote>

Ms. Hayes and Mr. Eller add to the hyper intense level of pressure that not only Ariel, but even the reader might be feeling at this point. Ms. Hayes: why, WHY would she say this to a student? There's wanting your student to do well and then there's imparting a piece of information that could cause real harm, especially if he's already on the edge. And Mr. Eller, singling a student out who he knows is stressed out about a grade to stand at the front of the class and grading his important quiz. These two moments really stood out at straws that piled up on Ariel's back in anticipation of the climax.

Ariel, of course, is not the only one susceptible to pressure or potential anxiety spirals. His friend, Sook, is a member of a band called the Dizzy Daisies. 

<blockquote>“If I don’t pursue my dream now, I’ll lose it. I’ll go off to Dartmouth, and I’ll study and get a real job and pay bills and get married, and I’ll never prioritize my music again. I know I’m only in high school, but it’s like I’m already running out of time.”</blockquote>

Her parents, Dartmouth legacies if I remember correctly, want her to attend school while she wants to pursue a musical career. This passage highlighted a truly terrifying thought that felt incredibly true, like there could be no new possibilities once you're an adult. The future is a frightening thing, plus the assumption that you're supposed to have everything figured out for that future by the time you graduate (a ridiculously broad thought to have - could be fine for some but certainly not all).

Speaking of the future, Ariel's present and the future of his sister, Rachel, is haunting similar in many instances: 

<blockquote>When the food is ready, I call Rachel to the table. “Can we eat in here?” Rachel asks. “I want to keep working.”</blockquote>


Ariel knows what his habits are doing to him, what the studying is forcing him to sacrifice, but doesn't see the same habits forming in Rachel, that she's becoming just like him if not worse. I'm not saying that it is his responsibility to care for her, or for his contemporaries who would understand better than anyone what he's going through (Pari, for example, being on his level and what not), but it was incredibly sad to notice throughout the book the hints that Rachel was developing similar patterns that would lead her into a way of life very much like Ariel's.

I loved picking this book up because while it was rough seeing Ariel go through such intense, trying times, You Asked For Perfect was also an intensely enjoyable book. There were key moments that felt truly special, like when he was with his family, especially bonding with his little sister Rachel volunteering at the local animal shelter, or when he was spending time with his friends Sook and Masha, discussing their band the Dizzy Daisies.

The stress of studying, of trying to be perfect, of trying to be better and better and better until there's nothing left to attain and even then trying to be better still...all of it ached. It's such a relatable topic and being seen like that was one thing, but also having the balm of the interpersonal relationships was a perfect complement to the harshness that faced not just Ariel, but Pari and Isaac and every student that sees themselves in the students of Etta Fields High School.

<blockquote>At Etta Fields High School, becoming valedictorian is more complicated than perfect grades. We have weighted GPAs. We earn extra points for AP courses, a 5.0 instead of a 4.0 for an A . So the path to the top depends not only on the grades but also on signing up for the right classes.</blockquote>

There are some things I would have liked to see more of, such as time with Amir, his side of the story and such. I can admit, though, that considering this was Ariel's story and how insular his world became because of the pressure that was upon him why this might have been a choice made from the author's perspective.

DNF at 20%. Really tried to get into this book but I found it really boring and didn't like Ariel. Thank you for the review opportunity though!

While I was not nearly the level of ambitious that Ariel is, I put a lot of pressure on myself in high school. For me, it wasn't about perfection, it was about being better than people thought I was.

Ariel's school anxiety and the effect it had on his relationships rang painfully true for me. When Ariel gets one grade that's lower than what he wants, his academic life begins to fall apart. This book is a very well-written look at what it is to be a high-achieving high school student and the strain that the pressures of school can put on students' mental health.

I really enjoyed this one! Silverman perfectly captures how stressful it can be to be an over-achieving high school student. The narrative is anxiety-driven, which elicited my own anxiety while reading (but in a good way, which is exactly what I believe Silverman intended to do). Besides Ariel and Amir, the side characters, such as Sook, are characterized very well with what little time we spend with them. They don't blend together, and Silverman paints a vivid image of each of them in the most clever and indirect ways.

Some issues that I had with this was that the romance between Ariel and Amir was rather dry. It happens pretty quickly, but we aren't given many scenes with them together to evoke a strong emotional response to their relationship. It fell slightly flat, but of course, this was not the central focus of the story. It would have been nice, though, to focus a little more on their relationship. It may have made the ending a little more resonant.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

To most, Ariel Stone is an overachiever. He's an honor student, first-chair violinist, frequently volunteers, and is also an Ivy league prospect. However, Ariel knows how easily his luck can change. After failing a Calculus test, he begins to really feel the pressure of perfection, and realizes he needs to step up his game in order to get ahead of his peers. When canceling plans with friends and all-nighters doesn't seem to help, Ariel soon comes to the conclusion he needs a tutor.

While, Ariel and Amir's families have been friends for years, the two have never managed a friendship. Despite this, Ariel knows how well Amir does in calculus, and manages to enlist Amir's help. What neither expected was to hit it off as well as they have. But how could Ariel possibly manage a relationship when his spot as valedictorian, and his chance at an Ivy league education, is so precarious?

You Asked for Perfect is a pretty difficult novel for me to review, as it was at times a very difficult novel for me to read. There were so many elements to this novel I loved, such as the abundance of diversity and rep, and I really found Ariel to be a compelling main character, if incredibly flawed. Like many students nowadays, I could truly relate with Ariel's pressure for perfection, but often had to take a break from reading, as the author's portrayal of anxiety, admittedly, hit a little too close to home for me. Silverman managed to masterfully illustrate the demands of high school, displaying the sad and stressful reality of today's education system.

The one thing that disappointed me about this novel, however, was the romance. While listed as a contemporary, the description made me anticipate more romance than we were given. In addition, I just didn't love Ariel and Amir together. Amir was incredibly likeable, but the chemistry between the two was so. . . underwhelming. It could have just been me being picky, but I wanted more.

Overall, You Asked for Perfect was a gripping story that fans of young adult fiction and contemporary novels will enjoy, as well as anyone looking for a realistic account of mental illness. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this novel to anyone looking for a romance, but do feel readers could enjoy the slow-burn romance between Amir and Ariel. After reading this novel, and her debut, I look forward to Silverman's next release!

3.5/5

YOU ASKED FOR PERFECT follows Ariel Stone, an overachiever in his last year of high school He's determined to get into Harvard (though he has no idea what he wants to major in while there), but the academic pressure (and the appearance of a new romance with his tutor, Amir) may prove to be too much.

I loved this. I loved how perfectly (no pun intended) Laura Silverman captured the anxieties of high school and wanting to do your best. I loved the relationship between Ariel and Amir. And I loved how beautifully Judaism was woven throughout this story. I loved Laura Silverman's debut, GIRL OUT OF WATER, and I loved YOU ASKED FOR PERFECT. I cannot wait to see what she has in store for us next!

(Thank you, NetGalley, for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.)

Ariel is a senior in High school is working hard to make sure he's the perfect candidate for college. Between studying, volunteering and school band practice he doesn't have much time for himself but then he fails a calculus quiz and everything starts to feel like it's falling apart. He starts to miss plans with friends so he can study. He also enlists the help of Amir who isn't Ari's favorite person but he excels at calculus. As Ari's feelings for Amir grow something's got to give.

I've had Girl Out of Water by Laura Silverman on my list for a while as I have a few mutuals who love that book but I just haven't been able to pick it up yet. Then I saw this on netgalley and jumped at it!

Never have I read a book that summed up what academic pressure can do to a teenager so well. I related so much to it. I basically took exams every May from the age of 15 up to 22 and my mental health was so poor due to this pressure so to see that in a book and see the effects and how it can really mess up your life was super cathartic. There is so much pressure to be absolutely 100% perfect in education and I think this book could open a lot of discussion about this if enough people read it. Personally, I was never good at exams, I would put in so much work beforehand to come out with barely passing marks.  I left university with a third class honours, and it's very hard not to feel completely down on yourself in a world where most jobs are looking for a 2:1. But I try to remind myself that I have an honours degree from a very well distinguished university. So reading this book reminded me a bit of that; in the sense that I maybe have struggled mentally but at least I made it through.

The main character is not only Jewish but also bi and I really just loved him. I feel like we have great representation of gay male characters in YA, but not a whole lot of bi male character (I mean bi characters in general), so it was great to read. His relationship with his family was so front and center and made me really happy because so often in YA parents are abusive or barely around and given that the MC is bi the author could have chosen to have angst surrounding his sexuality and his parents with his religion but she didn't and I really appreciate that. I feel like it's important to have stories about LGBTQIA+ teens who don't have a lot of familial drama because more often that not this is what the plot of queer books focusses on.  And I loved Amir, he was such a little cinnamon bun.

I think one of the best messages this book conveys as well is to be open in communication with people. If you tell your family and friends that you're struggling, they would hopefully be there for you, teachers as well. Too often people, and teens, in particular, don't talk about their anxiety and stress and it leads down a long and winding road that takes a lot to get back from.

When this book comes out in March please pick it up because I think it's such a great step for the direction of contemporary YA.

It was really, really, weird reading a book about the stress of applying to college your senior year only a month after getting into college... my senior year.
"I think of all my classmates, bent over textbooks, shoulders strained under heavy backpacks, eyes hooded from lack of sleep. We’re all in it together, whether we want to be or not."

You Asked For Perfect follows Ariel, a bisexual Jewish boy trying to become class valedictorian and later get into Harvard. BUT: his best friend Sook wants him in her band, he has fierce competition from fellow amazing student Pari, a failed quiz grade has other plans for him, and to top it all off, his math tutor Amir is just really crushworthy.

This book did feel a little too slice-of-life for my personal tastes. The character arc is absolutely there, but it takes place over the course of a month, and it's honestly a fairly simple story in actual plot concept: boy can't be perfect, boy fails to be perfect and beats himself up over it, boy realizes he doesn't have to be perfect. What makes this stand out is the subject material, but I definitely wanted... a little bit more.

I think the reason this will work for so many people is because it's just so entirely relatable. And if you'll forgive me, I had a lot of thoughts about academic pressure and high school.

Ariel, the lead, is — I swear to god — so similar to many of my friends it kills me. But that's not to say I don't understand the academic pressure, because I completely do and I've been there in a lot of these situations. I've never been the friend who doesn't show up, but I've absolutely been the friend who doesn't make the effort, and who thinks too much about getting everything done.

And I've also been the inferiority.

I'm a really good student — I don't want to downplay that — but I've genuinely never been at valedictorian level grades. I go to an intense private school where being a good student makes you just sort of average and by those standards I'm not good at science and just okay at math, and reading this was so strange because a part of me almost felt jealous; not of the stress, because I've had that level of stress, but of the fact that valedictorian was a payoff in sight. And there is no part of me that wants to go to Harvard, and I'm actually ecstatic about the school that I'm going to, I think it would have been my favorite school whether it was an Ivy or not, and I am so glad that it wanted me in all of my humanities-student glory (I am, truly, a very good writer). But there's a part of me that was almost angry reading this book, that everyone is working so so hard and perfect is just what we expect from our students now.

It's not just Ariel's parents, who are fine, or his teachers, who are putting pressure on him but not malicious. It's the pressure we all put on ourselves.

And I know me ranting about this does absolutely nothing to solve the actual problem. But I think it might be worth considering, to the high school students that follow me — you don't have to go to Harvard to be the smartest person in any room. And it is amazing to ace classes, I completely understand just how important it feels, but no amount of acing your classes will make you the most interesting person in any room. And this sounds dumb, because you've heard it, but you really, really can get into college without being the valedictorian, and you really, really don't need to be at Harvard, or even be Harvard material, to be an incredibly brilliant, interesting person.

Can I tell you a secret? I never would have gotten into Harvard. And you know what, I could have tried, maybe. I could have dropped this blog and stopped reading and stopped doing the school shows and stopped talking to my friends and stuck with Mock Trial and done math homework in my English classes and gritted my teeth through that godawful biology class just to get an A. But instead, I took my SAT one time and wrote my common app on this blog and my essay on the legacy of being a very-out and super-friendly lesbian at the school, and I'm going to the right school for me. So maybe the real secret is that we all need to work on drawing our self-worth from school.

And maybe get a cute significant other, spend some time with our siblings, talk to our Rabbis, go to all our friend's band performances, and get some sleep.

**review is up on my goodreads; will go up on my blog on February 18th.

While this was a book that addressed some very relevant issues for teens, it wasn’t my favorite because it stressed me out to read. It wasn’t really a fun read, but the prose were well crafted. I thought this one would be more of a romance novel, but the romance was really only one small sliver of the plot. The Harry Potter bonding between the boys got old pretty quickly, and that trope in general is getting kind of old in YA. The Jewish and LGBT rep was great though, and I think this book will hit home for a lot of people. Personally, it’s not one of my favorites and I’ll probably forget most of the details in a couple months, but it was worth checking out. 3.75/5 stars.

This book took me back to high school! Great fast paced story that will hit home! Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book! Ariel and Amir are perfect and I love just how much this book mirrored my own high school experiences. Everything from the stress of trying to be the best while juggling friendships, sports, relationships brought back so many memories. Laura is an amazing author and I will definitely check out her other book!