What has always stood out to me the most about Ann Liang’s writing is how she’s able to write stories that are so relatable and grounded in the struggles that a lot of young people deal with and yet completely far-fetched at the same time. I Am Not Jessica Chen is all about comparison and how you never know what someone else is going through until you’re in their shoes. In this case, literally in their shoes.

One aspect of this book that didn’t quite mesh with me was the pacing—it felt like it slowed down too much in the middle—but I do think that was partially my own fault as I read this over a somewhat long period of time for my standards. If I had sat down and read longer portions of it at once, the pacing likely wouldn’t have felt off. We also don’t get a literal, scientific explanation for how Jenna could end up in Jessica’s body—because that’s not the point of the story.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re not enough, or that there’s always going to be someone better than you no matter how hard you try, you’ll probably see pieces of yourself in this story. And I think it’s important that we keep telling these kinds of stories in an age where we’re constantly comparing ourselves to others online, the number of people struggling with their mental health is increasing, and access to support for these struggles is nowhere close to where it should be.

this book would've healed my high school self.

the "this is me trying" aspect is brilliantly explored. i felt like i was reading my own thoughts --- scary! the writing was fantastic in a lot of places and had an eerie atmospheric quality which made my heart race and kept me glued to the book.

but the rest of it was too rudimentary. the "picture of dorian gray" aspect did not have the same richness. the touch-and-go racism ticked off a box and nothing more. the romance and all the characters except for Jenna were underdeveloped.

also, a personal preference: i was irritated by how American the dialogues were >-< usually, this is subdued in written form, but not here. my rating would've been much lower if i had picked up the audiobook instead.

i'll still hand it to the author for making me feel seen. I Am Not Jessica Chen is an important book for anyone in academia.

I didn't quite get to this book on my endless TBR, but the cover, not picked here, is so good I'm giving five stars.

I Am Not Jessica Chen was one of the books I looked forward to for 2025, and it did not disappoint. I think it became my favorite by the author. It's a story that, despite its magical realism, is very real and you can identify a lot with Jenna; no matter how hard she tries, she is always second, never the best. That position is occupied by her cousin Jessica, whom Jenna considers perfect, she is the one with the highest grades, the one who gets invited to international competitions, the one with wealthy parents, a big house, designer clothes, and popular friends, while no matter how hard she tries, Jenna is always in the background.

It is a story for those who like school, and who try hard, but it seems like it is never enough, where getting the highest grade and winning prizes is the goal, but no matter how much you study, you are never good enough. Jenna is struggling and burned out, her last failure, is not having entered Harvard. One starry night, Jenna wishes to be Jessica and her wish is granted, now she lives in Jessica's body and little by little everyone is forgetting about Jenna.

After the first impression, Jenna loves being Jessica, she feels powerful, and everyone loves and envies her, everything it's perfect. Little by little Jenna loses a little perspective of who she is, her virtues, talent, and strengths, she finds herself in a dilemma, whether she should return to her body or continue being her cousin, she also discovers Jessica's secrets, it seems that she is not yet perfect as Jenna idolized her.

I Am Not Jessica Chen is a story that makes you think, try not to compare yourself with others, and appreciate your talents, nobody is perfect and not everything should be a competition. One of Jenna's talents is art, she paints with feeling and inspires emotions in those who see it, but for her, that is not enough achievement. The characters are realistic and raw, it's a little romance, is sweet, but not the main focus, Jenna first needs to learn to love herself and not to be so hard on herself.

Thank you so much HarperTeen for the ARC

Read it if you like:
YA Contemporary
Academic setting
Realist struggles with a touch of magic

I finished this book at 4 am this Morning and I still don't have enough words to express how I'm feeling. Miss Ann Liang never misses. It is a MASTERPIECE. The emotions I was feeling throughout the book omgg. it was such an emotional rollercoaster. I love aaron and jenna's bond so much. Jenna my girl, I relate to her so much. Reading her thoughts made me feel seen. I adore her so much.

Thank you so much netgalley and harper360ya for the earc in exchange of my honest review.

Excellent as always. Ann Liang is unnervingly good at depicting affluent, gifted teenagers' worst thoughts and insecurities, and her latest book is a thrill ride. I wasn't a Jessica or a Jenna as a teen, but I can certainly relate to the pointed jealousy and resentment that they hold. I only wish this book was a little longer so we could've delved more into their history; I feel like I got more of Jenna and Aaron's history than I did of Jenna and Jessica's.

“I am not Jessica Chen. And maybe Jessica Chen herself isn’t either. Maybe nobody is. The very idea of her is a construct, a myth, a distraction, the dream we’re forever reaching toward but can never quite grasp.”

3.5

On the day she gets rejected by Harvard, Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her cousin, Jessica Chen. The next morning her wish comes true, but not all wishes fulfilled are always a good thing. Being in Jessica’s shoes makes Jenna realize there’s so much more beneath the surface of perfection.

Before anything, I want to take a moment to appreciate how stunning this book cover is. The first time I saw it I immediately fell in love with it.

Ann Liang’s contemporary novels are really written for the burnt out people pleasers and this one just hits you right where it would definitely hurt. I Am Not Jessica Chen manages to capture how much pressure there is behind trying to be the best at something, if not at least good. This book voices out the ugly parts in trying to be perfect because that’s what people expect you to be.

I Am Not Jessica Chen felt a little underwhelming because it has the potential to be more but it was still a good read. It didn’t make me cry like Liang’s previous works but it sure did make me hella sad.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25✨
Jenna Chen works hard, studies hard, and tries her best to live up to her parent's expectations. No matter what she does she always feels that she falls short, especially when she is compared to her cousin Jessica. Jenna is tired of always being compared to her cousin and always feeling like she is second best. She is tired of never feeling like she is good enough. At a family gathering, when it is announced that Jessica got an acceptance letter to Harvard, Jenna's dream school, she finally gives up. She is embarrassed and ashamed, and she wishes with every fiber in her being that she can be her cousin. Never did she think that her wish would turn into reality until she wakes up the next morning in her cousin's body. She finally gets to see what it is like to be her cousin, where everyone notices her, and she is always the best. The question is at what cost?

Ann Liang has a way with words and her writing. The one thing I absolutely love about her books and her writing is that she finds ways to highlight topics or issues that so many of her readers go through and experience. She knows how to make sure her readers are heard or seen in her writing and because of this her writing is beautiful. I know when I was younger, I went through some of the same feelings or issues that Jenna went through. Trying to live up to perfection and falling short, allowing that to affect our sense of self-worth and validation. Ann Liang gives her readers a voice and because of that I will always read anything she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for access to this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

First off, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books, for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book definitely showed how intense academic pressure can be, and it becomes even more so when you remember the sacrifices your parents made for you to have the opportunities that you do. It shows how the expectation of perfection is debilitating because no one is perfect, and expecting that from a teen is highly unreasonable. Jenna constantly feels like she’s not enough because she equates her academic achievements to her self-worth, which is unfortunately very relatable. While I never felt it on the same level as Jenna, I could definitely understand why she felt that way.

Jenna is very flawed, and she knows she isn’t perfect. We see her deal with intense feelings of envy and constantly comparing herself to her cousin, Jessica. It got to the point where it felt like a lot. But it does make sense that she would do it so much since others are comparing them as well.

I definitely would’ve loved to see more of what their relationship was like before she was trapped in Jessica’s body. We, alongside Jenna, learn more about her based on how others treat her and her journal entries. Everyone, including Jenna, had her on this pedestal. It would’ve been nice to learn more about her before and after Jenna’s wish came true.

The romance was a subplot, so it’s not the main focus, but it was done in a way that definitely left you wanting to read more about them. Aaron and Jenna have so much history, and although this isn’t a romance, I think it would’ve been nice for them to have a few more scenes, especially since he was the only one who remembered her. I would’ve also liked to have seen more about Jenna’s friendship with Leela since we’re told about these things about their friendship from Jenna’s perspective, but we don’t see Leela talk much about Jenna. It was also weird to me that she would consider Leela her best friend but recalls how excluded she was from Leela, her cousin and their friend.

You do keep wanting to read more since you want to know how Jenna can reverse this, where Jessica is and what will happen now that she is Jessica. You could feel Jenna’s loneliness and envy, as well as obsession with comparing herself to Jessica. While this wasn’t my favorite of Ann Liang’s works, I did enjoy it overall.

3.75 rounded up to 4!

Being a HS librarian, I see all kinds of kids come in. They carry their burdens daily. Some are heavier than others. This is the perfect book for anyone who's ever felt that they were not good enough, that they were just the sum of someone's expectations. Someone who's struggled with being seen for who they are, and not what they have or have NOT accomplished. Someone who is more than their list of successes and failures.

Ann Liang writes books that resound so much with our young readers, so this is a much anticipated addition to our collection. Highly recommend!

4.75 stars

“you came over and stood next to me. and suddenly—suddenly I didn’t feel alone. I realized I would never have to be alone again, if you were there.”


Ann Liang’s novels possess a gift for igniting my love for the young adult genre, her plume having a manner of conjuring a spell that whisks me back to the golden days of high school (a time I remember fondly.)

but I Am Not Jessica Chen unveils so much more within its pages than a simple love story. It’s a dance between magical realism and raw, tender truths. It’s a journey of self-awareness and self-acceptance, a call to embrace who you are, not the glittering trophies of your achievements.

Jenna Chen always felt she lived in the shadows of her cousin Jessica. no matter how hard she tried, she could never outshine her—Jessica always had better grades, a stronger résumé. she was the role model everyone admired: kind, studious, unapologetically beautiful, and selfless. after receiving a rejection from Harvard, Jenna made a wish upon a meteor: to be Jessica Chen. to her astonishment, she woke up trapped in her cousin’s body.

life as she knew it changed. somehow, her own essence and Jessica’s spirit had vanished. now, no one remembered who Jenna Chen was—except Aaron.

but as Jenna stepped into Jessica’s life, she discovered that standing on a pedestal was far more suffocating than she had ever imagined. the weight of maintaining the flawless image Jessica had so meticulously crafted became an exhausting burden. then came the revelation of a hidden mistake, a crack in the perfect façade that now threatened to jeopardize everything. With everything on the line, Jenna and Aaron must uncover the truth before the delicate web of lies collapses, taking with it the life she had come to inhabit.

the romance, though a mere fragment of the narrative, enchanted me completely. Aaron, somehow, believed Jenna when she confessed she was trapped in her cousin’s body, and the way he knew her so profoundly—that he recognized her even in a different form, a different body—was everything. as the revelations and declarations of love unfolded in the final stretch of the novel, I found myself overwhelmed. Jenna’s confession of self-loathing, Aaron’s long monologue praising her and showing her how he saw her, and knew her better than she knew herself, the way he explained why he had rejected her years ago—it all moved me to tears. these two had me utterly enthralled, and it’s been a long time since I cried so hard.

It was a beautiful story and certainly my favorite read of the year. but more importantly Ann Liang’s prose doesn’t just tell a story; it reminds you to cherish your own.
_____
many thanks to netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review

I Am Not Jessica Chen is truly a contemporary, magical realism, YA fiction, with themes of Asian culture. Long story short, it's a slightly twisted Freaky Friday where Jenna Chen wishes to be her seemingly perfect cousin, Jessica Chen. Instead of being the light hearted Freak Friday where both characters explore themselves and who they are, Jessica Chen and Jenna's original body is nowhere to be found. In fact, Jenna's life and existence seem to have disappeared, and there is only one person who believes Jessica is truly not Jessica Chen.

This book also touches upon the stereotypes of first generation asian communities and families who sacrifice their all to have their children achieve greatness. It also speaks about the pressure to be high achieving versus understanding what makes ourselves happy and nurturing other goals in their lives.

Overall, I Am Not Jessica Chen is a quick read. I expected based upon social media hype that there would be more of a dark twist to the story, like on the side of dark academia, but it was not really there. One could argue that I need to remember that this is YA and not Adult, but there are so many other YA's that delve much deeper than this. I would rate this a 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounding up to 4 for goodreads sake). This is the second book by Ann Liang that I have read (other was A Song to Drown Rivers), and I still want to read her other works as they are rather well rated.

Thank you Netgalley, HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins, and the author for this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting to socials

Hmm, hmm, hmm. What to say about this one?

Even in the middle of a book slump, it captivated me quite quickly and impacted me emotionally. I felt the various scenes and their corresponding emotions quite deeply, which is always what I want most from a book.

I loved the themes of self and familial pressure, aligned with failure, self doubt, and imposter syndrome. I think so many of us have dealt with this one way or another, and it was incredibly to see is represented so thoroughly. It helped that the characters were also so personable and human in their flaws, desires, and personalities. The romance between characters also helped getting further swept away in the story. It was just such a consuming, sweet relationship. Aaron was such a sweet and supportive guy, I loved getting to know his character.

But it was truly the writing that made this story so impactful. The way our MC's emotions were depicted in such raw and honest ways hit me in the gut. The exquisite prose stacked on top of the indepth feelings really made for an incredible, heart pulling reading experience.

Overall, I really really enjoyed it. I loved watching the growth and connection between characters.

"It's my life, I think with amazement, and it's beautiful, and I can paint it any color I want to. Right now it's drenched in the brightest shade of gold. I have the brush in my hands, and the canvas is mine. It's all mine."

Ann Liang has done it again with I Am Not Jessica Chen! This book was such a relatable and emotional read—it honestly felt like parts of my life were scattered throughout the pages. As someone who often seeks pieces of themselves in the books they read, this story struck a chord with me in ways I didn’t expect.

The story follows Jenna Chen, who feels like she’s always in the shadow of her cousin Jessica. When her wish to become Jessica magically comes true, Jenna realizes that living the “perfect” life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Being the top student at an elite academy is exhausting, and the pressure to maintain Jessica’s flawless image is suffocating. And as if that’s not enough, people—including her own parents—start to forget Jenna ever existed.

What hit me the hardest were all the moments about burnout and the constant need for academic validation. There were so many quotes that I had to highlight (seriously, 164 highlights on my Kindle!) because they just spoke to me. The auther really gets what it’s like to feel like you’re not enough and to constantly compare yourself to others.😭

But this isn’t just a book about pressure and expectations. It’s also about self-acceptance and realizing that you don’t need to meet anyone else’s standards to be worthy. Jenna’s growth throughout the story was so inspiring. And the romance? Aaron was such a green flag—supportive, kind, and he saw Jenna for who she truly was. Their dynamic added so much heart to the story. :') 💞

I Am Not Jessica Chen isn’t just a story about switching lives; it’s a celebration of finding your voice and embracing your imperfections. Ann Liang’s prose is as stunning as ever, and I’m certain this book will stay with me for a long time. It’s a must-read for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the race for perfection or questioned their worth. The mix of magical realism and real, raw emotions made this book impossible to put down too! The only thing I’d mention is that the last few chapters felt a bit rushed—things wrapped up a little too quickly for my taste. But overall, if you’ve ever struggled with burnout, academic pressure, or finding your place in the world, this book will definitely speak to you.

─★ ˙🎨 ̟ 4.5 stars
ann liang has written another fantastic, jaw dropping, mind blowing, emotionally damaging book. she truly can never disappoint.

the prose of this book was truly soo well written. the style of writing here perfectly fits the dark academia vibes of the book. ann liang always knows how to write so that it perfectly captures the true essence of her book.

this book is about the burned out girlies who have tried their whole life to achieve something but in the end fall short. i loved to see how jealousy and envy was shown. even if it is someone who you are close with, you just can't seem to lock out that feeling of 'i just wish i could be them'. this aspect of the book hit me soo hard and oh my god was it an experience.

additionally, not only does this book show how the burned out girlies feel, it also shows the difficulties of being a top student; it isn't just straight A's and a good life. i was so happy to see how ann talked not just about those striving for the top, but also those who are at the top, who seem like they have it all figured out, but in reality, they are struggling just as much. often, this opposite perspective is not shown, but ann managed to potray both sides of the story sooo well.

lets talk about the characters of this book, because holyyy were they well written:
࣪𖤐.ᐟ jenna chen, the main character of the story. she truly represents what it means to be the child of an immigrant family and what a burden it can be to carry the weight of all those expectations. her character is so flawed, because she experiences that jealousy, the envy, the thing we all feel yet push it deep, deep down; her flaws are what make her an exceptionally well written character.

࣪𖤐.ᐟ aaron cai, LITERALLY MY MAN I NEED EVERYONE TO STOP BECAUSE WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN'T FIND SOMEONE LIKE HIM IN REAL LIFE? he could literally understand that jenna is jenna in another persons body, that is how well he knows her. he is... ugh. in a world of boys he truly is a gentleman i love him so much he is perfect. the angst, the YEARNING. i died reading about him and jenna.

ִ𖤐.ᐟ jessica chen, the top girl and havenwood, the girl who everyone wants to be, and who looks like her life is together. yet, beneath that cascade, when she is alone in her room, you see how she struggles to maintain that streak of being at the top. it's not as easy as it seems. as i said before, i really loved how ann wrote about the struggles of someone who also seems to have everything.

─★ ˙🎨 ̟
this book must truly be read by EVERYONE go pick up your copy right now!! i only wish we could have seen a little more about the ending, that my only complaint. i feel it was cut slightly short, but other than that this book has absolutely NO flaws go read it nowwww

Thanks so much to Netgalley and HarperCollins Press for giving me a complimentary eARC upon my request for review considerations!! All opinions are my own.
Rating
4.5/5 Stars
Review
Do you ever just wish you were someone else? If one day you just woke up in the body of the person who had everything you wanted, everything you ever dreamed of? Maybe it would end horribly, but maybe it wouldn’t be quite so bad. Ann Liang explores this concept in her latest young adult novel, I Am Not Jessica Chen. Everything always seems so perfect as an outsider. Sometimes it seems that everything is going right for everyone else while your world odd falling apart. For Jenna Chen, life seems to be falling apart, at least according to her father. While she’s gotten rejected from every Ivy League, her cousin, Jessica, just received her latest Ivy League acceptance from Harvard. Wishing that she could be little more like her cousin, she suddenly wakes up to a different reality. Jessica Chen’s reality. While at first it may seem like paradise, she begins to wonder where the real Jessica Chen is and if she will ever be herself again.
I Am Not Jessica Chen wonderfully blends contemporary themes with a side of the supernatural to create a powerful novel that explores the pressures of teenage life and the reality of living another persons life. Liang also combines themes of loneliness and expectation, while interweaving Asian culture and representation. Liang truly creates a powerful novel narrative when it comes to allowing readers to truly understand the modern teenage experience. Not only does this novel keep the reader entertained with the mystery behind Jenna’s “situation,” the constant pressures portrayed truly made me love this novel. Liang’s careful depiction of Asian parenting also allow for a true and respectful approach to allowing an outsider to better understand the culture and traditions they might not be familiar with. I Am Not Jessica Chen truly is a novel that is just as powerful as it is entertaining. With meaningful themes and complex, multifaceted characters, I Am Not Jessica Chen is a wonderful novel that explores perfection and the implications of striving for it.
Thoughts
Maybe everything does always seem a little more perfect from the outside than the inside does it not? Or maybe we truly are just self-deprecating creatures, wallowing in our own self-pity and romanticizing all of the lives we don’t live.

ann always has the ability to reach deep into my soul and address's some of the deepest insecurities i have and turn it into something beautiful. she's able to make a reader feel so seen in heard in her writing and i believe it's so rewarding.

i really loved these characters and this story as a whole and i can't wait for the whole world to read this one. jenna and aaron are amazing characters that i just wanted to hug the entire time. it is so beyond special.

I Am Not Jessica Chen took my heart and scooped it out. It's a tender, raw, and emotional story about expectation, about success, and sacrifice. For teens today, this is absolutely a must read. We can place so much pressure on ourselves, on perfect grades, the next milestone, and the upcoming award. Even more so, our family can rest their dreams, their sacrifices, on our shoulders. We can buckle under the weight of pressure. And under that burden, no one can survive. No piece of ourselves can escape. I felt Jenna's ambition, her desperation, her commitment.

Every time Ann Liang releases a new book, I say “omg this is her best book ever” but this time I truly mean it. I Am Not Jessica Chen (IANJC) truly feels like the culmination of everything that Ann Liang does best at poured out into a book.The plot is by far her most intriguing plot ever and it truly gripped me. The characterisation in this book is truly phenomenal and I loved every character. The pacing of this book was perfect and I never once felt like it was going too fast or too slow. IANJC has become a comfort book of mine and I think it’s the perfect book to begin with if you want to get into Ann Liang’s books.

I love Ann Liang and everything she writes! This was such a great and unique take on the “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side” lesson.

I loved that Jenna was not completely unfounded in her beliefs that she wasn’t good enough. I mean, she did fine in school and she had her artistic abilities, but there were times her family definitely made her feel like she wasn’t living up to their expectations. I loved that because it made you sympathize with the character from the very beginning.

I also loved that at no time was Jessica drug through the mud as a terrible person at her core. While her friends sometimes weren’t the nicest and while she was the prettiest/smartest/most successful blah, blah, blah, she was never rude or undeserving of the accolades she got before Jenna inhabited her body. She DID make one mistake that was really not good, but this served to humanize her and show just what kind of pressure she was under with everyone thinking she was perfect. She was not a bad person, she just had a terrible error in judgement.

I really liked that Jessica truly just disappeared when Jenna inhabited her body. She did not take over Jenna’s body, and no one could really even remember Jenna, so there was this mystery of where the heck was Jessica’s soul or whatever???

My main criticism was I assumed this had more romance than it did. That's on me.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Ann Liang for the opportunity to read this book. The thoughts and opinions expressed above are honest and my own.