Ann Liang once again proves that she has the ability to weave together a complex storyline in such an interesting and captivating manner. Jenna was such a relatable character and her constant desire to live up to her family's expectations is something a lot of kids can relate to. Seeing her character development through the story was really fun. Overall, this entire book kept me on my toes, and I couldn't put it down!

This was one of my more anticipated reads and oh my goodness, it was such a beautiful story! I’m such a fan of Liang’s writing style and I think this might be her best work. All Jenna wants is to be perfect like her cousin Jessica and after making a wish on a shooting star to become her, she wakes up the next morning literally as Jessica and soon finds the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. I found myself relating so heavily to Jenna as someone who has never been a natural, all she does is try, try, try. I loved how she finally saw how important she truly is to her loved ones and how she’s impressive and talented in her own way. Also, seeing her realize how much pressure Jessica is under from her teachers, friends and even herself was heartbreaking. I thought this book really showed the struggles and pressures of high school, no matter your talent or accomplishments. I also really liked the romance in the story, especially that it didn’t overpower the greater storyline. I’m so happy I got to read this one early and I can’t wait for others to enjoy this story.
CW:racism

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperTeen for an advanced digital readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book that stayed with me long after I turned the last page. Jenna Chen’s journey of waking up as her seemingly perfect cousin Jessica was both heart-wrenching and relatable. It made me reflect on the masks we all wear and the pressure to live up to others’ expectations. I loved how the story peeled back the layers of perfection to reveal Jessica’s hidden struggles, reminding me that no one’s life is as flawless as it seems. Liang’s writing is sharp, heartfelt, and filled with humor, making Jenna’s voice incredibly engaging. This book felt like a quiet reassurance to embrace who we are, flaws and all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an arc of this in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to HarperCollins for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4-4.5 stars!

TL;DR: This was my first YA contemporary by Ann Liang but it won’t be my last. I now understand why her books are so well-loved and always come highly recommended. This had strong characters, was packed with emotion, and had a high degree of relatability that I think will apply to all readers. In “I Am Not Jessica Chen”, Liang perfectly captures the highly competitive high school and academic experience, including the pressures teenagers face to do better and achieve more as they equate it to success. Jenna is a complex, relatable and realistic character and I enjoyed watching her journey of self-acceptance unfold. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to all readers!

The young adult experience is explored so well through Jenna’s character, as well as those of the other students she interacts with at school. I found Jenna to be a wonderfully complex and intriguing young woman who is caught up in the vicious cycle of comparison and wanting, and of never being and never having enough. There was a great quote (which of course meant I forgot to highlight it) that said something along the lines of she wanted more life and that was exactly it. It was actually heartbreaking to see how little Jenna thought of herself, her life and her talents because it didn’t fit her family’s and society’s traditional ideas of success. It wasn’t enough for her, especially when she had always been closely compared to her wealthy, can-do-no-wrong, model student, and effortlessly perfect cousin, Jessica Chen. So it’s no wonder that Jenna wanted to be her, but when her dreams come true and she finds herself occupying Jessica’s body, she comes to learn just how isolating achieving that level of perfection can be. Seeing how much Jessica achieved was honestly very tiring and overwhelming! I can't even imagine the mental fortitude it would take to endure such high-intensity pressure at such a young age!

Alongside Jenna’s journey of discovery and self-acceptance, a seemingly unrequited romance with old flame, Aaron Cai, is rekindled and I surprisingly loved their romance. It was a bit more tell than show seeing as everything that happened between them took place in the past but goodness, if this is how Liang writes all her MMCs, then I can understand why the romance aspects of her books are so popular! Aaron is a big-hearted and calming presence that contrasts with Jenna’s defensive and angry personality. The things this young man has the potential to melt all the hearts! He’s observant, thoughtful, and caring, which he proves time and again by being on Jenna’s side. I will admit though that the past conflict between them and the resulting action was a bit “eh” but also, teenagers, I guess?

This is a story that I think will be relatable for so many readers. I think everyone at some point in their life has felt that perceived inadequacy or lack of themselves, that desire to have someone else’s life because they have it better or easier. Jenna’s emotional and mental journey was so raw and often painful and confronting to read because of how relatable her experience was. I admit that I teared up pretty early on while reading this because of the emotions! Oh, the emotions got me good. I loved how the themes of belonging, identity, success, family and love were explored throughout the story. Liang explores these big themes in a simple and accessible way without shoving the moral of the story in the reader’s face.

Overall, I thought this was a great read that I think many readers will enjoy and connect with. Jenna’s journey was compelling, her character arc was strong, and I appreciated how her perceptions changed as the story progressed. This YA contemporary sprinkled with a bit of magic/magical realism is one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!

3.5 stars

Expectations from family, society and yourself are your worse enemy, in 'I am not Jessica Chen'.

No one truly can know what a person goes through until they experience it and I love books like these, whether supernatural, magical or mundane. Jessica Chen has always been the golden girl, the one who is smart, beautiful and the perfect model of what a student and daughter should be. Her cousin, Jenna has always felt she has fallen short of that mark.
Her family isn't as well off as her cousin and she doesn't have the right... well anything.
After being rejected by Harvard while Jessica once again succeeds, Jenna makes a wish to be her cousin.
...then she wakes up as Jessica Chen.

But as she becomes 'Jessica'; seeing her life, her friends dynamic and the pressures of being the perfect student/daughter begin to show the cracks beneath the armor of Jessica Chen. And as time continues and 'Jessica' refuses to undo her wish we see the presence of the original Jenna fade from the memories and heart of the world. Seeing her family forget was a special kind of hurt.

This was a interesting read. I always like the different interpretations that this idea has and think it's always something that can offer a new side.

Fantastic! Ann Liang is an author of the people! Whether you’re a Jenna, a Jessica, a Cathy, or a Leena, this book is so relatable!

Jenna gets rejected from all the Ivy League schools she applied for and is bearing the weight of her Chinese immigrant parents’ disappointment. Her self image has declined after years of living in her cousin Jessica’s shadow.

Jessica is perfect in every way. The perfect hair, perfect teeth, perfect grades, perfect social life. She has wealthy parents and lives in the perfect house. Jenna would give anything to be Jessica.

This is a fantastic study of the disease of constant comparisons. It is gentle and understanding - meaning it doesn’t condemn wishing for more - but it does make you pause and question. Does any of that matter? And would it be worth the cost? Maybe being perfect isn’t so wonderful anyhow.

The ending bordered on cheesy, and I loved every bit of how it was resolved. Can’t wait to read more Ann Liang!


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

From the moment I started reading the author's letter at the start of the book I said to myself, “I Am Not Jessica Chen is going to wreck me” and I was 100% correct. Something I’ve come to expect from Liang’s work are strong characters, emotional journeys and moments that’ll bring tears to your eyes; I Am Not Jessica Chen had all of those things and more.

Ann Liang says this book is about wanting, and I majorly felt that. The want that Jenna feels to be better, smarter, prettier, cooler, more popular, more everything soaks every page and really hits you in the face in the most understandable and relatable way.

We know that I love magical realism; I am a magical realism girlie, and honestly, Ann Liang does magical realism so freaking well, it’s amazing. It would’ve been so easy as a reader, to sit there and go “Okay, but like how exactly is this working” but that thought never once crossed my mind while I was reading. I just sat there thinking “Yup, this is how this world works, she made a flippant wish when they saw a shooting star and the next day she woke up in her cousin’s body, cool, sounds good, let’s see where this goes.” I didn’t have to suspend my disbelief while reading because it just felt like this was a natural thing that occurred in this world.

Ann Liang truly never misses, I Am Not Jessica Chen was another fantastic release from her. If you've loved her books in the past you'll definitely love this one as well!

This is one of the very few books to make me cry, which says enough about how much I loved it. I’m not one to cry easily when reading or watching something, but I felt so connected to the story and characters that it was hard not to 😭

I loved and related to Jenna so much. Trying your hardest yet still feeling inadequate is not fun, to say the least. From an outside perspective, you’re above average. From your parents’ perspective, you could do better. From your own, you aren’t and will never be enough. Relating to Jenna on such a level really made me excited to read this book. I wanted to see someone like me be happy. And seeing Jenna’s journey of learning to love herself was so heart wrenching, but exhilarating 😅. I was cheering Jenna on from the first page. I didn’t care if she made mistakes or wrong choices; I still supported her, because I thought she deserved happiness no matter what.

Seeing the people around Jenna begin to forget her was heartbreaking, especially her parents. (By the way, it was a scene at the end of the book of Jenna and her parents that made me cry 🥹.) And Aaron. Jenna and Aaron’s relationship was actually the sweetest ever. Throughout the book, it did go through a few ups and downs, but their unconditional, unwavering love and support for each other was incredible.

The development of the plot and message was so well-done. Not a single moment felt out of place. The paranormal features of the story made perfect sense, and I loved how they connected to and compared Jenna and Jessica’s lives.

Ann Liang’s writing was so beautiful! Jenna’s emotions were described so clearly that even if you didn’t relate to her, you knew exactly what she was going through. Despite the story only being told from Jenna’s POV, the feelings of the other characters were also beautifully expressed. I’ve always loved Ann’s writing style, but this work is my favorite of her writing!

Overall, I loved this so, so much, and I am confident it will be one of all time favorites for a long time! ❤️

Thank you to NetGalley and harper for the eARC! All opinions are my own.

My first book by Ann Liang was "I Hope This Doesn't Find You" and I gave it four stars as I really enjoyed it. This book went beyond my expectations and deserves all the stars.

Jenna Chen is hardworking and smart, but she pales in comparison to her cousin Jessica, who is seemingly perfect in every way. Unacknowledged for her efforts, she wishes to be Jessica - and quite literally does. As Jenna lives as Jessica while being forgotten herself, she learns about the other side of Jessica's achievements - the pressure of high expectations, having to focus on maintaining her image, etc. and just wishing to be free.

I loved seeing Jenna learn how it's okay to have flaws and weaknesses as she grows to appreciate her strengths. Her character and experiences felt very relatable as someone who grew up being constantly compared to my cousins. Her talent in art and painting may not be valued as much as her cousin's high grades, but she learns to love and accept herself and be thankful for what she has, such as her supportive parents who express their love through actions, Aaron who stays by her side and helps her in many ways, etc. Speaking of, I loved his relationship with Jenna although I wanted to see more of their relationship.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book and keep Ann Liang's future books on my radar - 5 stars

This book is so real and paints such an accurate picture of academic Asian American overachievers and feeling like you’re falling short of your peers and parents - I went to a school like this. I also like the author’s letter at the beginning stating that this book is for anyone who has ever wanted something. Very compelling and emotionally raw.

After getting rejected from all the ivy leagues, Jenna Chen wishes she was Jessica Chen, her wealthy cousin who seems to have a perfect life with perfect grades, friends, extracurriculars, athletic ability, and got into all the ivies. Until she actually becomes Jessica and her real self starts disappearing.

This book is fascinating in that the majority of it is about Jessica but actual Jessica actually shows up very little in it. The main issue I had was the romance part was unconvincing as the majority of events that connected the two occurred before the book’s events, so it’s like being told that they are deeply connected, instead of being shown. Sometimes, it was also hard to exhausting to read from the protagonist’s perspective. The protagonist’s self hatred runs so deep that she doesn’t want to return to herself and takes her so long to realize all the jealousy and toxicity that Jessica has to deal with takes a heavy toll.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are independently my own.

I discovered Ann Liang books just this month and have been reading as many as I can since they are all masterpieces! I can’t believe I got this arc so huge thank you to HarperTeen and Net Galley!

If you’re looking for a book that gives this is me trying by Taylor Swift look no further. I Am Not Jessica Chen is the perfect book for girls that’s think they never measure up whether that’s academically or to an impossible standard we’ve created. Jenna makes a wish to be her perfect cousin Jessica, and it magically comes true. But where is the real Jessica, and why do pictures of Jenna keep disappearing as well as everyone’s memory of her except for Aaron’s….

Once again Ann stuns me with her beautiful writing and story telling. I loved every second of this book and highly recommend it!

I wish I had liked it more. This novel had so much potential to be even better than it was.

I Am Not Jessica Chen starts with our protagonist, Jenna, in a family dinner. She has just received the news that her rich, beautiful, perfect cousin Jessica Chen has just been accepted to Harvard, and she didn't. To make things worse, her parents invited Aaaron, Jenna's neighbor and former best friend, to the reunion. Jenna hasn't been talking to him for a year, since she declared her love for him and Aaron not only rejected her, but moved to another country. Having been hating her own life for a long time, Jenna just wanted to disappear and be exactly like her perfect cousin Jessica. Until one day, she wakes up in Jessica's body.

When I read the synopsis, I thought it'd be an adult book following Jenna in Jessica's body while studing in Harvard, which would be way more interesting than a YA set in high school, in my opinion. But that's how things went.

I had a lot of issues with this novel, but first: it reminds me too much of Ann Liang's debut, If you Could See the Sun. I like her debut, but when I read from an author, I expect them to bring different stories to the table, not similar ones to what they have already published. Both are set in high school with follow protagonists who don't fit in the fancy, rich-kids environment, both have finantial-struggling immigrant parents who expect too much of them, academically speaking. The protagonists of each book are always comparing themselves with their colleagues, specially the top students, and both feel like they are living in the shadow of people who are better than them. And last, but not least: both want to disappear from their own lives, the only difference is that Alice turns invisible and Jenna Chen swaps bodies.

I also wasn't expecting this would be a "feel good" book. When I read that Jenna would swap bodies with Jessica and would finally know the "price" of being perfect, I thought the narrative would follow a darker path. Maybe Jessica was cheating all through high school, maybe she was using drugs to focus, maybe she was having a mental breakdown, or receiving unwanted attention from male counterparts, I don't know, something that would prove she was not perfect as she looked, or was paying a high price to be like that.

There were, in fact, signs that Jessica wasn't feeling well and had too much pressure at home, but these issues are only mentioned a few times in the book, and very briefly. The author doesn't go deeper on that. And in the end, we find out that Jessica isn't an arrogant girl like Jenna thought, she was just a nice person struggling with the pressure of excellence as much as her. Boring.

I understand that some of my disappointments were based on my own expectations, but even as I adjusted them as soon as I started reading it, there were still times when the narrative could've been better. Nothing interesting happens in the first half, and the story became repetitive as soon as Jenna swapped bodies with Jessica. We follow her everyday life as she tries to be like Jessica, sometimes succeding, sometimes failing, seeing people praise her, feeling good about it, rinse and repeat.

However, the novel does have some good parts. The writting style is fast-paced and very fluid - I read it in only 2 days, the romance is good (even though it took long to start), and I like Aaron and Jenna together. The conversations about imperalism, classism and racism against yellow people were well-done, and the story succeeds at talking about the pressure students go through to have academic excellence, and how sometimes money, knowing the right people or having the right connections is what will make you have success, not your intelligence or your hard work - as frustrating as it is, it's the reality.

You know those people who always have it all together? They're good at anything and everything, loved by everyone. Well, that's Jessica Chen - beautiful, smart, successful, and going to the college of her dreams. Unfortunately, for Jenna, she is not Jessica Chen.

But one day, when Jenna wakes up to find herself in Jessica's body, she'll get to live out her dream of being the girl she's always admired and envied.

This book was emotional for me. The universal struggle to feel like we're not living up to expectations - something I personally feel often - is indeed a theme that resonates deeply. In this book, we get to see the other perspective: someone who is great at everything and seems to have it all. But is their reality all it's cracked up to be? Maybe not. Perhaps true greatness lies in the imperfections, behind the polished facades. I highly recommend this book. It is beautifully written and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for anyone who struggles to love themselves - because sometimes, all it takes is someone else's perspective to help us see our own value.

This book was amazing and I'm so thankful to @annliangwrites (@harpercollins) and @netgalley for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book. It came at a time when I really needed something like this, and it made me feel so much better. Knowing that I'm not alone in feeling the way I do, and getting to see how I feel put into words was something I didn't know I needed. Understanding that being yourself is the best thing to be, and loving yourself even when you don't always hit the mark was truly liberating. We don't know other people's struggles. Just because someone seems like they have it all, and are doing it all, doesn't mean they don't have their own struggles. As the sayings go, the grass is always greener on the other side, you don't know what you have until it's gone, and walking a mile in someone else's shoes can be eye-opening. Be kind to yourself - you're trying your best.

My review will be posted on Instagram on 1/24/25, and on Goodreads and Amazon on 1/28/25

Ann Liang has a way of setting the reader in the middle of the story and making you feel sick when you are forced to come back to reality, I deeply enjoyed this one and I think it may be my favourite of hers

Ann Liang is cementing herself in with the greats of classic YA. A new Meg Cabot/Sarah Dessen mix for sure. I'm in love with the heart and teen voice she brings to the table.

Perfect for teens.

I was given I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Laing in exchange for my honest review by the publisher and NetGalley.

Jessica Chen has it all: grades, clothes, popularity, and an Harvard acceptance. Her cousin, Jenna, has average grades, few friends, and no Harvard acceptance letter. This novel was such a realistic view of the competitiveness of school and how everyone has their own insecurities. The story follows Jenna after she wished her life away for a chance to be her perfect cousin, Jessica.

I enjoyed this book and the Dorian Gray vibes it gives. A great read.

What would you do if you were given the chance to have the perfect life? Would you steal your cousin's life and inhabit her body??? Jenna Chen has spent her life in the shadow of her perfect cousin, Jessica Chen. Jessica is a top student, she's stunning, she's rich, she's everything that Jenna wishes she was. The last straw comes when Jenna gets rejected from Harvard while Jessica gets in. Jenna wishes with every fiber in her body to be Jessica... so when it does happen and she wakes up in Jessica's body and no idea where Jessica has gone or what has happened to her own body... Jenna is happy to finally get her chance at perfect... only she's beginning to realize that Jessica does not have it as easy as she assumed, to make matters worse she's going to have to actually maintain Jessica's high pressured life all the while the only person who remembers her is her childhood friend and crush who rejected her, Aaron Cai.... who reveals to her that he's always loved her as Jenna and will do anything to get her back to her real body, the question is, does Jenna even want that? Growing up in an asian household I can distinctly relate to Jenna, the pressure to be perfect, the constant comparing your achievements against someone who has done better, especially if they are your family member.... I've been there and done that. Jenna takes it to another level though, she's insecure and jealous, she's ungrateful for the things she already has in her life and this entire book is spent on her coming to terms with herself and learning to love herself and open her own eyes to the people and things in her life. I am going to be honest, I was more intrigued by Jessica than I was by Jenna, while reading this I just kept wanting to shake Jenna and tell her: girl get a GRIP. The romance definitely went from zero to 100 real fast, like Aaron starts off being standoffish and suddenly he's so desperately in love with her? His whole reasoning was interesting as to why he acted the way he did and he was a nice love interest for someone like Jenna. I just wish we got more of Jessica because honestly her storyline felt interesting and her struggles were interesting. I definitely think this would make a fun read for younger YA readers who want a unique story about learning to love yourself and a touch of body swapping but with a unique twist.

Release Date: january 28,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A love letter for those who think they aren’t enough.

“I Am Not Jessica Chen” follows seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen after she makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen—only for her wish to come true. Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, she discovers that being the top student isn’t quite what she imagined. She must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.

Liang’s vivid prose, integration of magical elements in a seemingly ordinary world, and flawed characters come together to tell a cautionary tale about the cost of perfection. This is one of those books that I wish I could give my younger self. The younger me that, like Jenna Chen, judged my self-worth based on unrealistically high standards and feared failure more than anything else. The younger me that couldn’t celebrate her successes because she was always looking to the next thing. I hold this book close to my heart because Jenna’s experience made me feel less alone.

I was captivated by Liang’s storytelling as she examines the age-old question “what if I could be someone else?” The longer Jenna navigates life through Jessica’s body, the more she realizes that everyone, no matter how perfect their life looks, is going through something—that perfection is a construct of our own making. Jessica—who supposedly has it all with the glittering mansion, doting parents, high marks, and respect of her classmates—reveals in her journal entries that striving for perfection has only led to burnout, self-doubt, and dissatisfaction. These words coming from Jenna’s “smarter, infinitely more successful” cousin only further emphasize the idea that we can’t fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others. At the heart of it, this book is about being enough in spite of the competition culture in the education system, social hierarchies, and pressure from family. Failure only makes us more human and helps us grow.

While Aaron and Jenna’s romance is more of a subplot, their love story is heart-stirring. He reminds her of her worth and helps her come back to herself when she gets caught up in Jessica’s life. Their development from childhood friends to strangers to lovers is truly one of my favorites.

This is a book that lives inside my head. I can’t wait for everyone to else to experience it for themselves.

I Am Not Jessica Chen is a book for those of us chasing academic validation. Jenna is an extremely complex character, who needs to learn and accept that she has value outside of what she accomplishes at school. Following her point of view was extremely relatable as an eldest daughter. She’s an only child, but her reaction to her circumstances is relatable regardless.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I got through about 30% of this book and realized that it's not for me. I cannot really relate to stories of people in high-school anymore. I had a feeling going in, but i just couldn't get past it.

No Fault of the book at all.