Review: Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor

Better Than Perfect
by Melissa Kantor
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Publication Date: February 17th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 336
ISBN: 9780062279231
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss / From Publisher

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Juliet Newman has it all. A picture-perfect family; a handsome, loving boyfriend; and a foolproof life plan: ace her SATs, get accepted into Harvard early decision, and live happily ever after.

But when her dad moves out and her mom loses it, Juliet begins questioning the rules she’s always lived by. And to make everything even more complicated there’s Declan, the gorgeous boy who makes her feel alive and spontaneous—and who’s totally off-limits. Torn between the life she always thought she wanted and one she never knew was possible, Juliet begins to wonder: What if perfect isn't all it’s cracked up to be?

Melissa Kantor once again delivers a tale that is equal parts surprising, humorous, heartbreaking, and romantic. Powerful and honest, Juliet’s story brilliantly portrays the highs and lows of life in high school and will resonate with any reader who has experienced either. (Goodreads)

I’ve been pretty curious for a while now to read Better Than Perfect by Melissa Kantor, as I really loved Maybe One Day so very much, and I was pretty eager to see how new release was going to compare. While I didn’t love Better Than Perfect as much as Maybe One Day, I still found it to be an interesting read.

The main character in the story is Juliet. Juliet has her life already planned out: ace her SAT’s and get into Harvard, spend the rest of her life with the boy she’s been with for years, and have the perfect life, just like her parents. But life is not always perfect, which is proved to Juliet when her dad moves out, her mom falls apart, and her careful planned life starts to crumble. 

While I could relate with Juliet for some of the things she went through during the story, I couldn’t exactly connect with the character herself, and I can’t exactly put my finger on why that is. The girl had way too much going on in her life, and it left her completely oblivious to certain things that were happening around her. She learns the hard way that her life is not exactly how she’d always seen it. At times it felt like Juliet overdramatized situations that shouldn’t have been so dramatic, and then hardly reacted to things that should have been pretty dramatic.  Also, some of the choices she made throughout the book disappointed me in some ways.  However, I do empathize with her for all that she went through in the book, and I admire her for the decisions she made in the end as well.

I think a lot of readers will definitely be able to relate with the storyline for the book, especially teen readers. We’ve all been there at one point or another, and it’s nice to know there’s someone else out there going through something that you may be going through as well.

Overall; while Better Than Perfect didn’t top Maybe One Day for me, it was still an interesting read. I’m looking forward to reading more by Melissa Kantor in the future!


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Review: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

Maybe One Day
by Melissa Kantor
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Publication Date: February 18th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780062279200
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

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Critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship, the agony of loss, and the unique experience of being a teenager in this poignant new novel about a girl grappling with her best friend's life-threatening illness.

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might not be something that is actually happening to you. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe's unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. (Goodreads)

I was a little torn when I first decided to read Maybe One Day. The story sounded interesting, but I knew the book was going to be sad, and I make it a point not to read sad books very often. I put the book off a few times, afraid to start it, but I’m so glad that I finally decided to read it. This book was an excellent story of friendship and loss, and how quickly life can change in an instant.

Zoe and Olivia had always been friends. The friendship that these girls have is not one that happens for just anyone, and you can tell throughout the book that there it is more than just an average friendship. These girls are more like sisters, and they care for each other so very much. Through the book we get to see the girls tackle all the challenges that come with cancer, and I admire Zoe for standing by her best friend through it all. I really felt like I was going through everything right along with them. The characters are definitely not perfect, but they were perfect for each other, and they were there for each other, and I guess that’s all that really matters in friendships.

I read this book a lot faster than I expected to. I figured that with the sad storyline, that it would be something I would have to muddle through. But that wasn’t the case at all. Even though most of the story was everyday life of living with cancer, the story was still interesting, and I flew through the pages. While not everything in the book was realistic, it didn’t really take away from the story for me. There were some parts in the book that made me super ugly cry; I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t imagine what these girls and their families were going through, and I hope I never have to.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading this book, so much more than I expected to. You’ll definitely need some tissues available when you read it, because you definitely will feel the need to cry at some points. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!