Jenna feels as though she can never live up to the success of her cousin, Jessica, and when she gets her final Ivy League application denied, she struggles with the thoughts that she isn’t good enough, and makes a wish to become her perfect cousin.

This was a very relatable book about what defines success, the pressures (from teens themselves as well as their peers and parents) of performing in a competitive private high school, and loving yourself. I loved the growth of the MC, and it was done in a way that was realistic and genuine. I think this book will especially speak to those who had a similar experience in their teens, struggling with success and loving oneself.

This book starts with a crushing disappointment for Jenna Chen when she gets denied for acceptance to Harvard, her dream school. She wishes to have the life of her cousin, Jessica Chen, who seems to have it all - top of the school and the acceptance letter from Harvard that Jenna was desperate for.

When her wish comes true, she wakes up trapped inside Jessica's body. After the shock wears off, Jessica decides to embrace this new identity as it is all she ever wanted. She works hard to answer questions as Jessica and fit in with the more popular crowd that Jessica belonged to. It's not long before Jenna realizes that the pressure Jessica was under was unbearable, and that the grass is not greener in the other body. Teachers disappointed in her with a 91% instead of a 100%, friends confused by her lack of studying or stress before a big exam. Jenna finds Jessica's journal and reads into her inner most thoughts that change her whole perspective and how exhausted she was in her life. She also finds an entry about something Jessica did that she feels very guilty about.

Jenna starts getting notes that someone knows she she is up to and that she won't get away with things. Aaron is also a main character and lifelong friend of both Jessica and Jenna. He starts noticing something is off with "Jessica" and Jenna decides to confess things to him, even with the risk of sounding crazy. Slowly, Jenna's life starts slipping away - her paintings are fading, teachers stop remembering her, and even her parents are living as if they never had a daughter.

Is the risk and reality worth wishing for her life back? Or is she confident enough in her past life to let to al she has ever wanted with what she has in Jessica's life?

This was a beautifully written young adult story with self-discovery, coming of age, confidence, loving yourself, societal pressure, etc. I enjoyed this story and the side of romance that was there as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 1/28/25.

I picked this one up because it felt way too relatable. Jenna Chen feels like she’s always compared to her perfect cousin Jessica. And in a Wish Upon a Star/Freaky Friday movie moment, Jenna makes a wish to be her cousin Jessica. When Jenna’s wish comes true and she finds herself in Jessica’s body, she gets to experience life on the other side of the fence. But she soon starts to realize that her cousin may not have it as easy as she previously thought. Not to mention everyone else around her seems to be forgetting that Jenna even existed.

This one hit home on a very personal level. Growing up that’s something that was bound to happen when you grew up around extended family. So I could personally relate to the way Jenna felt like she wasn’t ever good enough, no matter how hard she tried. This was a really emotionally charged read for me, but definitely worth it. Jenna’s mind set by the end of it made me very proud of her.

I Am Not Jessica Chen by Ann Liang is an enchanting and heartfelt novel that brilliantly explores themes of identity, belonging, and self-discovery. Liang's masterful storytelling and richly developed characters make this book an absolute page-turner from start to finish. The vivid imagery and emotional depth of the story are so captivating that it undeniably demands a cinematic adaptation, making it a perfect candidate for a Netflix or Disney film. This remarkable tale has universal appeal which is a testament to Liang's extraordinary talent as a writer.

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!

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