Review by Masekake -- Perfection and Other Illusive Things

Masekake · Post by **Masekake** » 14 Nov 2020, 16:11

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

4 out of 4 stars

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Tired of her plain, dull and predictable everyday life, teenager Eden sets out to add some spark in her life and break some boundaries. Good grades, perfect friends, perfect life, a good example to her peers, Eden is a star in her mother's eyes. She is her younger brother's role model, a good girl that can't do any wrong, an admiration to many.

However, as admirable as all this is, Eden is unsatisfied with her life - stuck in a routine, no spark, no excitement, body image issues and insecurites lurking beneath. She decides to do away with her good girl image for once and delve into uncharted territory, be her own person with her own views and opinions and not always hide behind her friends' strong personalities. With a strong desire to explore more and get out of her shell, she misses a few steps and her life soon goes on a downward spiral threatening to ruin all her achievements thus far.

On her journey of self discovery she steps on a few toes, falls out with her friends leading her into more confusion. Her friends can't stand the new her, they claim that she now hangs out with the wrong crowd and are more concerned about their "image". This change threatens to break up an old friendship.

The new bold Eden asks the boy of her dreams out on a date, and soon they're entangled in a whirlwind romance that doesn't sit well with her old friends. She's a go getter and sets out to grab whatever she desires without any shame.

Hawk, her boyfriend is a typical example of not judging a book by its cover, rough on the outside but a sweetheart on the inside, with more potential than he lets on. Eden's life seems to get messier and more chaotic threatening to ruin all she has ever worked hard for.

J Mercer takes you back in time through the teenage years when everything was confusing for most people, Perfection and Other Illusive Things is a book people will relate to. It touches on issues about body image and insecurities which any teenager will find informative and eye opening.

Don't judge a book by its cover, treat others equally no matter their backgrounds, be bold and try new things, stand out and be yourself, these are valuable lessons J Mercer portrays in this book. Perfection and Other Illusive Things is a story about second chances, forgiveness, going for what you want fiercely and unapologetically. The storyline flows perfectly and keeps the reader hooked.

I rate Perfection and Other Illusive Things 4 out of 4 stars, it is well written and well edited, its an easy read and easy to get into. What I liked about the book is the mother-daughter relationship; open and warm. It has an important lesson, that children should be allowed to express themselves freely, they have a voice too, they deserve to be heard. The mother and daughter are more like friends, but with boundaries as it should be. It shows correct guidance. There's definitely nothing I disliked about the book.

People keen on romance and teenage fiction will take a liking to this book, it is definitely not a children's book as it contains some mild eurotic scenes.

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Perfection and Other Illusive Things
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