Review by Ktinajt -- Perfection and Other Illusive Things

[Ktinajt]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Perfection and Other Illusive Things" by J Mercer.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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“We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.” Anais Nin

Perfection and Other Illusive Things by J Mercer introduces us to Eden, a 17 year old High School Student who seems to have it all: good grades, co-Captain of the volleyball team and a group of friends she has known for years. Eden is reliable and always does the right thing but feels like there must be more to her and to life than meeting people’s expectations. Then one morning everything changes and she sees herself in a whole new and perfect way. Then follows a tale of highs and lows, love and friendship as Eden searches for who she truly is and perhaps find’s that perfection isn’t as perfect as it might appear.

I really enjoyed this book and found it highly relatable to my own life and also to the world that we find ourselves living in. Perfection is strived for on a daily basis on social media, in papers and in magazines but does that make us truly happy?

I found this book to be extremely well written and a really easy read that I could just sit back and enjoy in one sitting if I chose to. The characters are well rounded and you really experience the highs and lows as experienced through Eden. I smiled, sighed and cringed all the way through. I particularly liked the intriguing personality of Hawk, the poet, the quirkiness of Ivy the singer and her relationship with her family.

This book has a strong message about finding yourself, what perfection might truly mean and is clearly written for young adults. It also delves into life changing choices and the possible consequences of these choices, all through the eyes of High School Students finding their way. Swear words are used in places as the book goes on but I feel that they are appropriate in the context of the story and the way that the main character is being developed. I do not think that this book would be appropriate for young children due to the swearing or for older age groups as they may be offended by the swearing and may find the story too simplistic but for Young Adults it is ideal.

I give Perfection and Other Illusive Things by J Mercer 4 out of 4 stars. This book was edited extremely well with only one word missing and I have been able to draw life comparisons with this character, which was unexpected. I liked the format of this book, which enhanced my enjoyment of the story. My only criticism is that it wasn’t long enough purely because I enjoyed the read and its content and it left me wanting more. I would highly recommend this book.

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Perfection and Other Illusive Things
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