Title: Better Than Perfect
Author: Melissa Kantor
Series: Standalone
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Release Date: February 17th 2015
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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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.



I fell in love with Melissa Kantor last yeats when I read her book One More Day and cried like a little baby for days. So when I saw that she was coming out with a new book this year I knew I had to read it. I went into this book blind, I hadn't read the synopsis or heard anyting about it from other bloggers. So when I got into the book I was surprised, and not really in a good way.

Juliet has the perfect life. The perfect family, the perfect grades and the perfect boyfriends. But when her dad moves out and her mother loses it everything around her falls apart. It doesnt help that her boyfriend is away on a family vacation when all of this happens. Juliet doesnt know what to do anyone, and then walks in Declan. Now here is where I had my issues with this book. I know there have been a lot of talk lately about cheating in YA and I will admit that there is some in this book and I was not okay with it. That is not to say that I ahe cheating in all books no matter the situation, if the story warrents it and it makes sense for the character then yes, I will look the other way. But for me, in this book it didn't make as much sense as it should have.

To me Juliet had hard situation to deal with, that much is crystal clear, and her wanting to escape that life is totally understandable. But for me she did not have to do anything with Declan. Having feeling for him is normal, she had been with her boyfriends for a long time, so seeing someone new and having attraction to them is normal, that is not my issue. My issue was that she never told her boyfriend. Never really felt it necessary to own up to her mistake. Another issue I had with this whoe senario was that she had every opportunity to tell her boyfriend that she needed space to figure stuff out, but she didn't. He was confirmatbale to her and so she stayed.

Although I liked the overall story, especially everything to do with Juliet's family, I just couldnt  get over her actions. I hate cheating in general, I am a product of such a relationhsip and honestly I have never been upfront with that, but it is what it is. It is the perogative of the people involved and for me these characters were not for me. I did not undertsand their relationhsip at all and in the end it wasnt for me. But that is not to say that this book washorrible. It was not, the writing was amazing as always and Melissa is still a favorite of mine, but this time it was just not for me.