4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and HarperCollins Children's Books for this advanced copy! You can pick up I Am Not Jessica Chen on January 28, 2025.

What a gorgeous and haunting tale about identity and the intense WANTING that can drive our behavior. Jenna Chen knows she can never live up to her perfect cousin, Jessica Chen. But when wishes come true and she actually BECOMES her cousin... it's all she ever wanted, right?

WRONG.

This book is the perfect encapsulation of the pressure we put on students nowadays to achieve perfection and how devastating it can be when you don't measure up to others' expectations (or when they don't have expectations for you in the first place). Jenna steps into Jessica's perfect life and sees how NOT perfect it can actually be, and how much she took her own life for granted. Ann Liang drops some truly banger lines about how Jenna's wanting her controlled her life, how potential "simply meant you didn't live up to the idea somebody else had of you," and more. I was honestly blown away by the writing and how Liang summarized Jenna's pain (both as herself and as Jessica).

And let's not forget the delicious romance Liang wove into this story. Aaron being the only one to not forget about Jenna was top tier. And seeing him advocate for the girl he's always been close to and grew to love was swoonworthy. We needed more scenes of Aaron and Jenna when she wasn't Jessica!

All in all, if you want a slightly spooky, definitely emotional, Freaky Friday-esque contemporary story, this is your book!

I jumped into this one without reading anything about it, because I love Ann Liang's books, and it did not disappoint.

Jenna Chen is jealous of her cousin Jessica's life and makes a wish to be her. All the usual sayings apply here - the grass is always greener, be careful what you wish for etc etc. I love how Ann has put us in Jenna's head though, because it really does seem like Jessica has it better, the Harvard acceptance, the big mansion, the respect at school and the cool friends. There are a few things that are a little weird, but they are ignorable... for awhile. And when Jenna woke up in Jessica's body - where did Jessica go?

Ann's style of magic never has the characters questioning that something has happened or how. They witness the impossible happening and roll with it and I love that. What would you do if you could walk in someone else's shoes for a day... could take their place forever? In some ways this story veered sharply towards horror - what if no one remembered who you were and you could totally disappear into someone else? Who are you anyway? The forgotten one or the person you took control of?

I resonated a lot with Jenna, and therefore found the entire book quite stressful. While I didn't always agree with Jenna's decisions I totally understood them. How do we measure our worth? Jenna ignored her strengths and only ever examined herself by other's metrics, but what she had in spades, Jessica lacked. The relationship between the two cousins is really at the heart of the book even if we don't get to see them interact much at all. Their history, shared values, and nearly sisterly bond holds the story together.

While there was obviously a romance subplot, it felt like a subplot, which was perfect for Jenna's story. Aaron's love was obvious to me from the very start, and although it wasn't revealed until late in the book what happened to break the bond between Aaron and Jenna - it was so sweet when we do find out. And it makes the heartbreaking moment when Aaron forgets her so much stronger.

I believe this is my new favourite Ann Liang - Jenna's story is everything.

Thanks to Harper Collins Children’s for letting me read this book early. All thoughts are my own!

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.

You can definitely tell Jenna is an artist, especially living in her head for this book. She’s so descriptive and thorough in her observations of the world around her. She’s sees the world through a very specific lens. Her growth through this book into accepting herself is the best part of this book.

Both Jenna and Jessica are complex characters, and I loved learning about Jessica while following Jenna in her body. I really enjoyed the different perspective we get from that. Their interaction at the end was really sweet, and I love how Ann closed out this book.

Big fan of the romance being a subplot. I’m someone who strongly prefers romance in my books when I read fiction, but I loved how this romantic plot was on the back burner for this book. I still liked that it was there. I just liked that the focus was on Jenna and Jessica as they are the central characters in this book. I had gone into this with the expectation that the romance would be heavier based off some of the marketing I had seen for this book, so I was glad to see how it actually worked out.

Can’t wait to read more from Ann Liang soon!

This is a new take on an old theme of two people switching places. But the author took it to a new place by exploring how it would play out if they didn't want to switch back.
It was interesting to see what life would be like as someone you admire and would like to be. The reality isn't as simple as it seems.
There were some times where you had to just accept how it all worked but it was entertaining and inciteful.
Enjoy!

this is my second time receiving an ARC of ann's work, and.... wow. this one hits rlly close to home.

we've all wanted to be another girl at some point of our lives; whether it's because they're prettier, smarter, richer, more sociable, or simply because they seem to hold the key to whatever we believe will make us happy.

our girl jenna chen is the same: she believes that being better than everyone else is the key to reaching happiness — which is something that her picture-perfect cousin jessica chen effortlessly does. jenna wanted to be jessica so much that one day, her wish came true. all at the cost of her original self slowly being forgotten by those around her.

i think many asian kids would be able to relate to her like i did bc from my experience, we often grow up believing the same thing as jenna. the competitiveness is literally built into the culture — ann liang truly captured this mindset perfectly, because most of the "asian parents comments" in this book are something i've personally heard growing up.

despite having a darker premise than her other books, it was an heartwarming reading experience for me, as it has all the things i love in a book: lively characters, bittersweet family dynamics, and the romance — read it for yourself & you'll know why i'm obsessed with jenna & aaron's relationship (hint: it's childhood friends to lovers🌝✨) another thing i rlly love is how the book implied that even if our parents may seem coarse/demanding, most of the times it comes from a place of unspoken love.

overall, i totally loved this! it's the kind of book that brings you through an emotional whirlwind, but will leave you with a full heart afterwards❤️

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

"You know, I used to have this theory that if I wanted something badly enough, the universe would make sure to keep it just out of my reach. Like a cruel joke, or a trick. But...maybe the cruelest trick the universe can play on us is to give us exactly what we wish for."

This is the second Ann Liang novel in a row that just didn't really do it for me, and that's so disappointing.

Her writing is beautiful, and the message in this story was really important, and these points helped me to keep reading. But I was not connecting to the character at all.

In the beginning of the story, we don't see her at school, we only see her at home with her parents and then over at Jessica's and her family and Aaron. So I thought the story would center more around not only her thoughts on herself, but her relationship with her family. And that didn't seem to factor in at all, at least not until the very end.

It was mostly about things happening at school and people there, but we didn't see anything about this setting or these characters when she was herself, so it was hard to connect, but the ending was good and enjoyed the resolution for all the main characters involved.

Fingers crossed my next AL read is better 🤞

Ann Liang has delivered another incredible book, and it’s no surprise I gave it 5 stars. I loved everything about it. The story feels so raw and real, focusing on the struggles students face with failure, success, and the pressure to be the best. It dives into how these things shape our mindset and how we often believe others have it all figured out when, in reality, they don’t.

I connected deeply with Jenna’s journey, especially her wish to be like Jessica, the smartest student in school. That wish led her into a life she thought she wanted, only to discover the challenges and sacrifices that came with it. Watching Jenna navigate her struggles and face her own insecurities reminded me of my high school years, when I felt the same pressure to succeed. Liang captured those emotions so beautifully—it was like she understood exactly how I felt back then.

The romance was subtle but perfect. Aaron Cai was kind, supportive, and such a sweetheart. I loved how he was always there for Jenna, especially when things got complicated. Their connection was sweet and heartfelt, giving just the right touch of young love to the story.

This is easily my favorite book by Ann Liang. It’s more than just a story—it’s a reflection of what so many people go through, a reminder that success isn’t everything, and that failure doesn’t define who you are. It’s a book I wish I’d had during my own school years. It’s healing, thoughtful, and something I think everyone should read.

I enjoyed I Am Not Jessica Chen from beginning to end. Wishing on a star and waking up as the person you wished to be is one of my favorite tropes, and I was so excited to see how Ann Liang would make it her own. This story had major Disney Channel Original Movie vibes—specifically Wish Upon a Star (1996)—and I loved every second of it.

Liang approached this trope a bit differently than I expected. Jenna Chen wishes on a star to become her smarter, prettier, wealthier, more popular, and successful cousin, Jessica Chen. When she wakes up as Jessica, she realizes Jessica hasn’t woken up as her. While this twist kept the story fresh, I found myself wishing for Jessica’s perspective and voice. It would have been predictable to see Jessica navigate Jenna’s life, but I think it could have added depth. Ultimately, though, this was Jenna’s story.

While the romance subplot is top-tier, at its heart, this book is about a girl discovering her worth and finding her voice. It tackles deeply relatable struggles like comparison, self-doubt, self-hatred, wanting what we can’t have, the desire for validation, and the cost of chasing what society defines as success.

The book is filled with heartfelt, thoughtful moments, and Ann Liang proves, once again, she knows how to write a solid YA story. I can’t wait to see what she does next. Highly recommend this one!

Thank you, HarperTeen and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this gem in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars rounded up. This is the third book I've read by Ann Liang and although it's not my favorite of her novels, I did enjoy it. It was a quick read with a good message. Without giving any spoilers, an issue I had was that the relationship between the three main characters felt confusing throughout the span of the book. I understand that the main female character has mixed feelings because she is a teenager experiencing jealousy and myriad other feelings but it just felt off that she had spend such a significant part of her developing years with Aaron and Jessica but all of their interactions felt surface level. The ending, which again had a good message to YA readers, felt anticlimactic to me. I love how the author explores magical realism in her works and the storyline kept me interested, I'll definitely be on the lookout for more books she's written.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ann Liang, and Harper Collins Children's Book for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel hit me hard. It’s a raw, emotional look at the pressure to be perfect and what it costs to chase that impossible standard. Jenna Chen, tired of living in her cousin Jessica’s shadow, wakes up one day in Jessica’s body. For a moment, it feels like everything she’s ever wanted—until she realizes Jessica’s perfect life comes with dark secrets Jenna now has to unravel.

Jenna’s struggle with self-worth and comparison felt so real. That crushing need to prove yourself, to feel like you matter—it’s written with such honesty it left me gutted. Her journey to embrace her messy, imperfect self was as painful as it was beautiful. And Aaron Cai? He’s everything. Supportive, kind, and quietly devoted—truly the ultimate book boyfriend.

Liang blends dark academia, magical realism, and romance seamlessly, creating a story that’s addictive and deeply moving. It’s a love letter to anyone who’s ever felt not enough and a reminder that you don’t have to be perfect to be worthy.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

If I could describe this book in a phrase or two it would be the following: "the grass isn't always greener on the other side" and "be careful what you wish for". Those are two takeaways I got from this book. I should also clarify that I am a little older than the target audience for this book at the age of 26, but I still enjoyed this book quite a bit. One reason I liked this book is I really find magical realism books fascinating. Overall, I thought Jessica/Jenna was an interesting protagonist, and I felt for her.

Thank you again to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

3.5 rounded up

I absolutely loved this book! The feelings of Jenna and Jessica both really resonated with me, and I think many high-schoolers will also be able to relate to those types of feelings. I loved the childhood friends-to-lovers romance arc of Jenna and Aaron and I loved all their interactions together. I wish the ending was a little bit more developed, but I think the author still did an amazing job wrapping everything up plot-wise.

1 Sentence Summary: Jenna Chen is a failure, and after being rejected from every Ivy League she applied to, she makes a wish to become her smarter, prettier, and more successful cousin, Jessica Chen—and then, impossibly, her wish comes true, but the longer she spends as Jessica, the more people start to forget about the real Jenna.

My Thoughts: This was AMAZING!!! How is Ann Liang so good at writing?!?!

Everything was perfection from the prose to the character development to the romance to the emotion. This was so well written and I was so invested, I read it all in one sitting. I just loved all of the characters and oh my gosh my heart was breaking for them the whole time.

I loved the speculative/magical realism aspects, too, and the little hint of mystery. This story was just so unputdownable and unique yet relatable at the same time.

The exploration of the education system today—all of the competition and pressure and the negative impact on teenagers and young adults—it was so well done and such a relevant and important topic. I think a lot of teenagers and young adults will be able to relate to Jenna and Jessica (I definitely did) and their impossible quest for perfection.

Recommend to: People who enjoy well written speculative YA romances that explore important topics.

(Warnings: swearing)

I Am Not Jessica Chen explores themes of validation, not only in the academic sense but also in every social interaction and moment of self-reflection. I do wish the ending had more content with the characters futures and relationships moving forward but it was still a great read. Ann Liang is an author I can always count on for an engaging read.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

i'm a prety big fan of ann liang so ofcofc i was looking forward to getting my hands on this one (thanks to harlequin and netgalley for the arc) and it was very very cool and well-written! i loved the chars and everything. 5 stars.

This was a super satisfying read that I really enjoyed from start to finish. The story was super engaging, and I loved how it explored identity, family dynamics, and the journey of self-discovery. I really appreciated how relatable the themes felt.

That said, I would have loved to see more of Jenna's life and relationships with others explored in greater depth. I get that the focus on Jessica’s life was intentional, but I still wanted a more. Maybe even a "one year later" epilogue to see how everything turned out for both characters.

As a fellow Chinese American, I felt inclined to request this arc because this concept was soooo relatable to me when I was Jenna’s age. This describes how I felt as a teenager, when you’re dealing with constant comparisons to other Chinese Americans who are deemed better, smarter, and more capable than you. Feeling like you’re falling short of the impossibly high expectations set on Chinese children from a young age. This all hit close to home. In the author’s note, she talks about how this book is about wanting to be prettier, cooler, smarter…essentially wanting to be someone else. Something we all struggle with, but something Chinese Americans struggle with especially, dealing with the enormous expectations that are often set on us, alongside dealing with looking and feeling different from the people around us when we just want to feel like we fit in. Also, I saw the words “Chinese school” by page 2 and it gave me war flashbacks. If you know, you know.

I appreciated the relatability of this book as a fellow Chinese American, but the part where this books shines is the magical realism part. This could be due to bias because I generally dislike and avoid contemporary, and I absolutely hate anything coming of age, so the magical mystery aspect is what kept me reading. You find out at the beginning that wishing on a shooting star is what causes Jenna to wake up in Jessica’s body (cliche, I know lol) but the whole mystery after that is not only how to switch back, but also, where did the real Jessica’s soul go?

Was this the most original book in the world? Not really. Things played out exactly like I’d expect it to with the standard, girl gets someone else’s life and it isn’t what she expected, trope. While this wasn’t the most exciting book in the world, this book did fly by very quickly and I was never bored either. The ending was too convenient and predictable for my taste. The whole book was kind of giving, Disney channel original movie which isn’t a bad thing but just isn’t what I was expecting. But, I’ve decided to give this a 4 star rating because of all the Chinese representation of the food and culture in this, which is so refreshing in YA. Though, I far preferred If You Could See The Sun to this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Teen for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

I finished this in one day. One.

Are the MCs in highschool? Yes.

Am I in my late forties? Yes.

Was it still a great read for me? Absolutely yes.

This book was sad and eye-opening not only as a parent but personally. So many times we try to live up to other people's expectations. We never can. We also try to live up to the strict expectations we put on ourselves. These expectations are impossible at any age. The MC Jenna had expectations put on her by her parents, but she also heaped on even more impossible expectations for herself. We so often do that. Not realizing that those who love us, truly love us as we are and that they too are imperfect.

As a parent reading this book broke my heart to hear about how these students feel in these situations where it's all about how your grades are, if you're in enough extracurriculars, are they the right extracurriculars, I just felt so bad for these kids. I wanted to scoop them up and comfort them. I also was angry at the environment that was made for some to succeed regardless of the effort they put in, while also being a place for others to potentially succeed if they don't rock the boat.



From the Publisher

Harlequin Teen, Jan 29, 2025 - Young Adult Fiction - 384 pages

Jenna Chen has spent her life in the shadow of her flawless cousin. Jessica Chen is so smart she gets the top score on every test. Jessica Chen is so beautiful people stop in the hallway to stare at her. Jessica Chen is so perfect she got into Harvard.

And Jenna Chen will only ever be a disappointment.

So when Jenna makes a desperate wish to become her cousin, the last thing she expects is for it to come true — literally. All of a sudden she gets to live the life she’s always dreamed of...but being the model student at cutthroat Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she’d imagined. Worse, people seem to be forgetting that someone named Jenna Chen ever existed. But isn’t it worth trading it all away — her artistic talent, her childhood home, even the hope of golden boy Aaron Cai loving her back — to be Jessica Chen?

HarperCollins Children's Books | HarperCollins | Harlequin Teen

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

I am a huge Ann Liang fan. I find her books to be beautifully written and her characters to be messy, real, and complex. I Am Not Jessica Chen is fantastic! A granted wish finds Jenna Chen in the body of her "perfect" cousin Jessica, and she gets to experience what that life is like. The story explores many of the pressures faced by teens today and the belief that they must be the best to be successful at all. I think many of my high school students will see themselves in the characters in this story and will hopefully internalize the message that they are all amazing, regardless of if they get into Harvard.

Genre 📚: YA Contemporary/Fantasy, Dark academia, Romance, Coming-of-age
Tropes 💁‍♀️: Body swapping, Hidden identity, Friends to lovers
Rep ✔️: Chinese American main characters, POC and queer side characters
CW ⚠️: Depression, Self-loathing, Grief, Off-page death of a parent
Rating ⭐️: 5/5

Jenna Chen is me. She’s my spirit animal, my soul sister, all of the above. She just never feels good enough for her parents, her teachers — anyone. Not with her beautiful, rich, all-around perfect cousin Jessica around. She’s always wanted to be her cousin, and one day, after making a wish on a star, she gets that chance. She wakes up the next day in Jessica’s body.

Amazing, right? Who wouldn’t want to jump into a life of constant success and praise? There have definitely been times I wished I was a celebrity or that one perfect girl in school. Not just in a curious way but a desperate I-need-to-escape-myself kind of way. To see those feelings explored on the page with Jenna… it struck a nerve. Her own self-worth is so low that the idea of returning to her old life legitimately scares her. Even when she realizes people are forgetting the real Jenna ever existed.

My favorite parts had to be when Jenna “bonded” with Jessica by gradually understanding her perspective. And whenever Jenna bumped into her green flag of a love interest, Aaron. There’s one scene, with Jenna and Aaron in a car, that absolutely gutted me. It was raw, heartbreaking, and downright suffocating. Like when you’re struggling to hold back tears, your body screaming at you to let it out. It’s not often a book has that strong of an effect on me, yet Ann Liang succeeds every damn time.

So, good job, Ann — you’ve gripped me with yet another round of perfectly imperfect characters. Hell, Jenna might be my favorite heroine of the year, and the year has barely started! 🙈