This was an absolute blast of a book! I really enjoyed the general vibe and everything about this book was just fun! These characters and their issues, the storyline itself was hilarious while also being hard hitting and touched on some great things. Fantastic YA contemporary.

Perfect on Paper, by Sophie Gonzales, tells the story of Darcy Phillips, a high school student who spends her time helping out her classmates by anonymously answering their relationship questions (for a small fee, of course) and pining after her best friend Brooke. When Brougham catches her in the act of running her legally questionable advice service, he agrees to keep her secret as long as Darcy will become his personal dating coach (for a larger fee this time). Brougham is pining himself, trying to get his ex-girlfriend back, and he is convinced that with Darcy's help, he can manage it.

Perfect on Paper is filled with characters who feel like real teenagers. They make mistakes -- lots of them. Darcy especially is a genuinely flawed person, who sometimes acts from a place of selfishness, sometimes assumes the worst intentions of the people around her, sometimes is simply not at her best. The characters all mess up in ways that feel true to their personalities, and their speech patterns are varied, giving the world a feeling of reality. The adults are no exception -- Darcy's parents mess up too, and Darcy's mom especially comes across as a real person with real issues and things to work through. No one in this book is perfect.

Perfect on Paper also has great rep, with characters of various sexual and gender identities, all handled with grace and kindness. One of the main supporting characters is trans, and Gonzales manages to hit a perfect note because this fact being baked into the world, rather than skated past or overlooked, without it becoming the focus of the book. The characters' various identities are important, just as they should be. There are moments when the book can start to slide into Queer 101, but this doesn't feel like a bad thing. An explanation of the differences between being aro and ace, affirmations about how great it is to be queer -- these feel like valuable additions to the text, even if they are sometimes put in slightly separately from the story itself.

Overall, this novel tells a fun story well, with characters that you root for even if their behavior sometimes makes you wince. This would make a wonderful addition to any library, especially for any teenagers who are questioning their sexuality or gender identity.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

This is a cute teen book. It was a quick read and kept me wanting to find out what would happen. I absolutely loved the descriptions of Disneyland and California Adventures. I felt like I was there. The last 15% of the book didn’t really seem to fit for me, but I enjoyed the book overall.

Darcy Phillips has been running a clandestine operation where she dispenses love advice to her school mates since her Freshman year. When Alexander Brougham catches her collecting the letters he wants to hire her to be his relationship coach and help him to get back together with his ex-girlfriend. While Darcy doesn't like Brougham, she desperate to keep her secret and agrees to help.

Overall a really great YA romance that dealt with themes of jealousy, family issues, and doing the right thing even when it's really hard. It almost felt like a contemporary mash-up Pride&Predjuce and Emma (with the protagonist's name being Darcy, I imagine the P&P part was intentional). I really appreciated that Gonzales took the time to unpack aspects of biphobia. Lots of curse words, drinking and drug use.

I loved the concept of this story. Brougham catches Darcy as she works anonymously giving relationship advice to their fellow high school students. And he asks her to help him get back together with his ex-girlfriend.

The letters and emails for relationship advice that started most chapters were fascinating. They drew from attachment theory and pop culture ideas of how to maintain healthy relationships. Seeing them in a YA book felt so positive because it validates the many feelings about romance. I also really appreciated the Queer and Questioning club and their discussions. 

Darcy grew during the story in ways that felt believable and age appropriate. I loved this as an adult, and I would strongly recommend it to the young people in my life.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

So I just finished Perfect on Paper by Sophie Gonzales. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ARC!

I liked this book. It reminded me a little of the TV show Sex Education on Netflix, but a little more wholesome. I liked the aspects of it that were very focused on queer folks, because the main character whose POV we’re in, is a bi girl, who worries about being seen as bi if she were to date a man, which is a very real problem with bisexual erasure that the bi community has to deal with.

Darcy anonymously accepts letters through a locker and gives advice back to the letter writers for a cool $10. It’s been happening for a few years now, and the kids trust her advice. She relies on a lot of psychology and self-help books and Youtube videos for a lot of her deeper advice related to how people work, but a lot of her advice was good. Of course, we needed a twist, so her identity is found out and a lot of the secrets she knows are compromised -- and Darcy is forced to figure out how to make it up to those people in her life she has let down.

Parts of this book I did not like: This was not the book’s fault, but perhaps my reader - the ARC downloaded strange onto my reader so there were moments with scene changes that were so abrupt and unexpected that it completely took me out of the story.

Despite that, this book is the perfect little YA book with good rep of many different types of people and sexualities. I didn’t super connect with this book, so I won’t be purchasing a copy, but I imagine it will be a good fit for many people who like this sort of story.

4 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars.

Perfect on Paper had so much LGBTQ+ representation but it didn’t feel gratuitous. I love how normalized it was. This didn’t feel like an exposé about LGBTQ+, it was just a story about teens.

Darcy is a bisexual teenager who has been running an anonymous relationship advice service from locker 89 for the past two years. Which is pretty ironic, if you think about it, since Darcy hasn’t ever been in a real relationship. She gets caught by a popular jock and gets “blackmailed” into helping him win back his ex-girlfriend. A relationship tutor, if you will.

Darcy’s advice is well researched; I recognized topics that I’ve only recently learned about myself. But she doesn’t come off as some love guru. She’s a teen and makes some major mistakes, but that made her so much more relatable. Often I’ve read YA and the characters read and sound like adults, so it was wonderful to read a story that legitimately shows mistakes I would have made back then. Darcy recognizes her mistakes as she’s making them but is unable to stop herself, just like I’ve done too.

Perfect on Paper really gives a voice and mimics the thoughts of anyone who has struggled with their sexuality, relationship, identity, consent, etc. The topic of biphobia is brought up and I thought it was handled very well. It’s not something that I think of often (as a heterosexual woman) but I can recognize the problems bisexual people face.

Perfect on Paper was such a great book. It handles delicate topics well and doesn’t shy away from any difficult issues. Darcy and Brougham’s relationship slowly morphs from annoyed acquaintances to friends and then to more. It felt realistic and was filled with the impulses and issues teenagers face.

The full range of emotions hit me with this one and I can’t wait to read more from Sophie Gonzales.

Don't you love it when you go into a book blind and find yourself thoroughly enjoying it? Perfect on Paper was one of those for me.

This YA novel takes us back to high school where Darcy is the relationship guru. Students anonymously ask her advice in letters they post to locker 89. No one knows who answers the letters in a form of an email and with Darcy's mother working as a teacher at the school, she's been able to keep this under wraps for a long time. Until she's caught by Brougham.....

Can I just say before anything else that all the Aussie slang and songs recommended in this book by Brougham really made me homesick. I even listened to a heap of the Aussie songs after finishing the book. This was an all round charming book portraying realistic relationships at high school and home. Great read!

Such a unique concept! LGBTQ representation. A blackmail attempt (...or success...*wink, wink*). I liked this book. It is not going on my “favorites list,” but it is nice and succinct. Entertaining. Enjoyable. And definitely unique. A secret relationship advisor who communicates through a special locker? Awesome!

Perfection!

Perfect on Paper is the YA rom-com with everything I could possibly want in a coming-of-age novel. It's vulnerable, genuine, tender, and quirky. A wonderful good-hearted light romance with a huge focus on LGBTQIA+ representation. Add in some normal high school angst, drama, and relationship woes, and you have a winner!

Just this basic plot would give this book 4 stars, but adding in such a wonderful diverse cast of characters, backgrounds, struggles, self-discovery, and rep gives this the boost to 5 stars.

Perfect on Paper was such a cute YA book! I felt like I was transported back to high school!

This story follows Darcy, kind of like a Dear Abby- but through Locker 89. Students put their letter into the locker asking for advise.

What's more important about this book is the fact that it shared perspectives with being bisexual, queer and exploring a male/female relationship. It digs deeper into relationships and who they are- who they identify as- and it's absolutely beautiful.

"It’s when bisexuals start to believe the biphobia they’re surrounded by. We’re told that our sexuality isn’t real, or that we’re straight if we’re with another gender, and that our feelings don’t count if we’ve never dated a certain gender, that kind of crap. Then we hear it so many times we doubt ourselves.”

Darcy Phillips runs an anonymous service for relationship advice at her school, and she agrees to help a classmate win back his girlfriend when he discovers her identity.

The representation in this book was great. Darcy is bisexual, her sister is trans, and the majority of Darcy's friends are fellow members of her school's Queer and Questioning Club. I've read other books with bisexual protagonists, but this book addressed biphobia in a very open way that I have never seen done before and I thought it was fantastic.

This was a fun story. There's some unrequited love (lusting over the best friend), some "enemies"-to-lovers, lots of self discovery, and a cute trip to Disney World. The writing was a little hit or miss for me--sometimes I found the humor genuinely funny and clever, other times it felt like it was trying too hard and cheesy. It balanced out enough for me to enjoy the book, and I think it would be very well-received by a younger audience.

Perfect on paper. Did not finish. Sorry for the short review but I just couldn’t get into this book. Thanks NG for letting me give it a try.

I loved this book so much--I binged it in one sitting.

Darcy has secretly been offering relationship advice to her high school peers via email after they drop anonymous letters into unassigned Locker 89. But when Alexander Broughman catches her emptying the locker and blackmails her into helping him win back his ex-girlfriend, things start to go awry. Meanwhile, Darcy can't stand to see her long-time crush and best friend, Brooke, develop feelings for another girl, yet she's incapable of expressing her own feelings to Brooke.

This book was so original and creative--I absolutely loved the premise. I loved all the characters, too. They, of course, had their flaws and secrets, but the author did such a great job of showing you their motivations and reasons, you still loved them. It would be remiss to not point out the great bisexual representation we get in Darcy, as well, who has some very real conversations surrounding sexuality that are perfect for YA audiences.

I'm an adult reading this, but I'll note for parents that the f word is said A TON in this book. Didn't bother me, and seemed realistic, and I'm sure the youths have heard it before, but I just wanted to note it.

I can't figure out why this book wasn't called "Dear Locker 89"??????? That would have been a fantastic title. When this is undoubtedly a Netflix movie, I hope that's the title. PLEASE LET THIS BE A NETFLIX MOVIE. I can see this being even bigger than "To All the Boys I Loved Before."

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review!

5 stars - 10/10

Such a great YA rom-com with strong queer representation! I didn't read much when I was an actual Young Adult, but I know a book like this would have definitely helped my HS friend group so much.

The story centers around Darcy, who's running a secret locker dating advice business at school. She's "hired" by Brougham, a hot swimmer who finds out she's running the locker and needs her help getting his ex back. Darcy agrees as she needs to keep her secret safe because it could cause her serious consequences with her best friend that she's also in love with.

This book hits on the YA elements I love but it goes deeper with character development and motivation, which I really enjoyed. It also drives awareness of biphobia and how Darcy internalizes that. I really appreciated Sophie Gonzales for educating me through this really enjoyable story!

Thank you to NetGalley, Wednesday Books and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this gem in exchange for my honest review.

Darcy Phillip is a sixteen year old bi-sexual junior who is in love with her best friend Brooke. Darcy is also the mastermind behind locker 89, an advice column started by Darcy as a freshman. Classmates write anonymous letters to locker 89 in hopes of getting some relationship advice. Darcy is discovered by Alexander Brougham who decides to blackmail into helping win back his girlfriend Winona. Darcy wants to keep the locker a secret otherwise her past might catch up to her and Brooke's friendship could be lost. Darcy just has to help sexy, entitled, and arrogant Brougham and the locker secret will be kept safe. Theres nothing that can go wrong with this plan.

Representation matters and this book has a whole lot of that. I found myself reflecting on my high school experience while reading this book. I appreciated that the characters had somewhere to go to feel safe and open about who they are. While I am a 36 (almost 37) year old cis heterosexual female, I do not recall my high school having an outlet for those looking for a safe space to talk about their sexual identity. My hope is that this book reflects many schools though out the world. Gonzales knows her target audience and writes it well. The characters are spot on with how high schoolers would act, feel, think and react. The experiences they face are authentic and real. The advice column added a nice touch too. I felt like Gonzales kept me in check with my assumptions on the gender of those seeking advice as my mind often went to a M/F relationship which I need to change. Overall this is a really cute and quick read that I feel every high schooler should read.

Run don’t walk to get Perfect On Paper as soon as it hit shelves. Sophie Gonzales just wrote the YA book every single teenager (and to be honest, human) needs to read.

Darcy Phillips loves romance. So, during her freshman year of high school she opens up Locker 89, an unused locker where other students drop in envelopes with $10 and a romantic problem they need her advice for. Noone knew who was behind locker 89 for years, until Alexander Brougham figures it out in desperate need of help.

Under the assumption that she is being blackmailed with her identity, Darcy gives in to help Alexander win back his ex-girlfriend.

Outside of her adventure with Alexander, Darcy is struggling because she’s in love with her best friend, Brooke. And she’s done some sketchy things (as locker 89) out of jealousy to make sure Brooke stays single. Of course, this backfires on Darcy in the long run.

Sophia Gonzales is the representation queen. She manages to write in representation for so many queer identities - Bi-Sexual, Lesbian, Gay, Aromantic, Asexual, Trans, Questioning. And she brings awareness to important topics like bi-phobia, drinking, drugs, toxic parents - but in a way thats completely naturally interwoven into the story so that it doesn’t even feel like you’re learning a lesson. I wish I had gone to this high school where the kids were so open, accepting, and watched out for each other like these characters do.

I’m definitely going to be thinking about this book for a while and recommending it to every single person I know. I loved Only Mostly Devastated, and I loved this one even more, so I can’t wait for Sophie’s next one.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sophie Gonzales and Wednesday Books for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!

A young adult novel full of solid love advice and learning to find and accept the relationship that's right for you. Darcy anonymously runs a dating advice program at her school, but is discovered one day by another classmate. She agrees to step up her game and help him win back his girlfriend if he keeps her secret.

Meanwhile, she's pining over her best friend and makes some ethically questionable decisions when Brooke starts dating someone else. Darcy can't seem to let go of her Brooke fantasy, but realizes the boy she's helping deserves more than a passing glance.

If you're looking for a diverse book, this is certainly it! There are lots of discussions about the different types of sexualities and they're treated in a respectful and knowledgeable manner.

Also, the relationship advice given throughout the novel is surprisingly accurate and well thought out! The actual plot wasn't terribly enthralling and there was a bit too much pining for people that are clearly wrong for the characters, it was a solid middle of the road YA read.

This reminds me of the Netflix series Sex Education, except that instead of sex advice, Darcy gives relationship advice to her classmates. It has a sweet story - Darcy and Brougham are both likable. I will say, considering she is so good at giving relationship advice, it's a little surprising/unbelievable how clueless Darcy is in realizing that Brougham likes her. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

After reading and enjoying "Only Mostly Devastated", I was thrilled to be afforded the opportunity to preview Sophie Gonzales's latest, "Perfect on Paper". Gonzales is talented when it comes to writing diverse, relatable characters that you would meet in the halls of any high school, but she truly shines when it comes to writing fast-paced, quick-witted, and realistic dialogue - I flew through this book in well under 24 hours because the writing is just that good.

The plot of "Perfect on Paper" is fun and fresh - Darcy Phillips is a 16 year old girl who sets up a locker that her classmates can drop letters (and payment) into in order to solicit advice about their love lives. Darcy is able to successfully conceal her identity until an older boy at school, Brougham, catches her at the locker and solicits her help winning back his ex-girlfriend. In the meantime, Darcy grapples with being in love with her best friend, Brooke, and doing some not so nice things to sabotage Brooke's love life.

Perhaps the most endearing part of the story is just how real Darcy is - she is a girl who could be your classmate, your neighbor, your friend. Darcy struggles with her identity in a variety of ways - from questioning what it means to her and the world to be bisexual to having friendship issues - which makes her relatable on different levels.

"Perfect on Paper" is indeed perfect for anyone who likes strong female characters, slow burn romances, and dialogue that is laugh-out-loud funny.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher, St.Martin's Press, for sending me an arc in exchange for an unbiased opinion.