Thursday, February 14, 2019

Blog Tour: You Asked For Perfect


You Asked For Perfect
Laura Silverman
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Rating: 4  out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Senior Ariel Stone is the perfect college applicant: first chair violin, dedicated community volunteer, and expected valedictorian. He works hard - really hard - to make his life look effortless. A failed Calculus quiz is not part of that plan. Not when he’s number one. Not when his peers can smell weakness like a freshman’s body spray.

Figuring a few all-nighters will preserve his class rank, Ariel throws himself into studying. His friends will understand if he skips a few plans, and he can sleep when he graduates. Except Ariel’s grade continues to slide. Reluctantly, he gets a tutor. Amir and Ariel have never gotten along, but Amir excels in Calculus, and Ariel is out of options.

Ariel may not like Calc, but he might like Amir. Except adding a new relationship to his long list of commitments may just push him past his limit.
REVIEW

Ariel's life seemed perfect. He was valedictorian of his graduating class, scored a 1600 on his SAT, was first chair violin for his school orchestra, and appeared a shoe-in for admission to Harvard. However, things were not quite what they seemed, and Ariel's perfect veneer began to crack under the pressure of his senior year.

I love that Silverman took on this topic. I worked in a high school for over a decade, and I encountered many students, who like Ariel, were striving to be the best and to achieve perfection. The weight and the stress can take its toll on many, and that was what happened in You Asked For Perfect.

Something that immediately stood out to me was how spectacularly Silverman brought us into Ariel's chaotic world. One of the first notes I jotted down while reading this book, was how exhausted I felt after living one day with him. The pace, the planning, and the amount of things on his to-do list, all of it was overwhelming. Ariel unraveled slowly at first, but once he began to spin out, I was swept away in his whirlwind of emotions.

But Silverman didn't only explore the pressure Ariel was feeling and creating for himself, she also look at Pari, Isaac, Amir, Rachel, Malka, and Sook's stressors. Some of their stress came from similar sources, some were really different, but it was the ways they dealt with the pressure, which I found interesting.

Something I loved about this book was the connection Ariel had to his family. Maybe they didn't notice his downward spiral right away, but I would call his parent very present, and he shared the sweetest bond with his little sister. As busy as Ariel's parents were with their careers, they made time to sit down for Shabbot dinner each week and to attend temple together. They would also take time out to share what happened during the week via their "highlights and bloopers" game.

Can I just say, I loved the incorporation of Ariel's Jewish faith in this story. We spent serval Friday nights with the Stones, as well as the high holidays, and it was nice to see him in his community. I also thought it was wonderful that he found comfort in his faith.

Ariel grew quite a bit over this period of time. When his grip was slipping, Ariel let quite a few important people down. He let his emotions get the best of him, but when he stepped back, he saw and acknowledged the error of his ways. He also did some great things to atone for his mistakes, and it takes a pretty big person to do these things. I was proud of him, and the tough choices he made.

This would not be a typical review of mine, if I did not mention the romance. Let it be known, that I was a fan of this pairing. I actually thought it was fabulous the way the relationship sprouted so organically, and took root so well. Amir was very good for Ariel. I thought he balanced him out well, and pushed him to see things from a different perspective. It was cute, that they had a bit a history too, with their sisters' friendship and the closeness their families shared with one another.

Overall: An authentic look at the pressures teens face in the quest for that college acceptance, which incorporated family, faith, friendship, and romance.

* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

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BOOK LINKS


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My debut novel, GIRL OUT OF WATER, is a summery coming-of-age story about a California surfer girl sent to landlocked Nebraska for the entire summer. It debuted in May 2017. You can order it from most book retailers and of course request it at your local library! My second novel, YOU ASKED FOR PERFECT, is about the effects of intense academic pressure on a teenage Valedictorian-to-be. It comes out March 2019, and you can add it on Goodreads here.

I have degrees in English and Advertising from the University of Georgia, and I have an MFA in Writing for Children from the New School. While I lived in NYC, I interned at Penguin and two different literary agencies. In addition to writing, I also freelance edit manuscripts and query letters. Please check out my services if you’re interested! I particularly love helping with those query letters!




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32 comments:

  1. Looking back at those years, I can't imagine how kids now are going through those same years -- okay, I am going to stop there before I get ranty lol This sounds like an utterly gorgeous read, taking on tough topics and doing it well. already I feel sorry for Ariel.

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    1. I feel like the pressure is greater now, than when I was younger, and I think it's important to sometimes see that in books. I think I like reading about people pulling through tough situations, because it gives me comfort, in that, I can pull through something tough too. I am sure there are a few other people who feel like that too.

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  2. This sounds wonderfully done and timely for sure. I don't know how kids do it these days! Great review!

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    1. Just thinking about my daughter's course load compared to what I had to tackle in high school makes me sweat. The level of competition is that that much greater. Crazy!

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  3. This book sounds relatable. I was a huge slacker in high school, but in college, I tried to do EVERYTHING. I guess I was trying to get my money’s worth. Great review!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. I think I was the same way in college, but it was more about the environment. HP was such a small town, and I was a latecomer, so I kept on the DL. I felt like I was allowed to try more in college.

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  4. Yay! So glad this was a hit for you! I think I have a copy of it, so I need to read it. She always writes relevant and interesting stories!

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    1. She really does have a nice storytelling style, and I love that faith is portrayed in a positive way, because a lot of the books I read trash religion. I get that it's not for everyone, but some people do find comfort in it, like Ariel did.

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  5. This one sounds so relatable (no matter age the reader is). The pressure on high school kids in crazy now, but who can't relate at times to feeling stretched too thin and overwhelmed? Seems like almot any reader could get something from this. And the romance sounds so sweet. :)

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    1. I think it was interesting for me to read as someone, who went to engineering school (it was hard) and the parent of an overachiever (my kid was intense. I think she still is). It also showed that it was ok to slow down and rely on other people for some support, and that the world wouldn't end if you did that. That's an important message for all of us in this rat race.

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  6. I really want to read this one, so I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it. High school can definitely be FILLED with pressure, so it sounds like the author describes that really well. And the romance sounds really cute too.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. The first chapter is absolutely exhausting, and the thing is, I know it's realistic from working in a high school. And yes, the romance was a nice addition to the story, because Amir helped Ariel gain some perspective.

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  7. There are a lot of things I like about this. I think it is wonderful that the author took on this topic, I hope teens connect with it and learn. I also love that the main characters is Jewish and that his family plays a strong role. A lot of positives in this one!

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    1. I read this book after reading a book by Rachel Lynn Solomon and Natalie Blitt, and those authors also incorporated their Jewish faith into their stories, which I really enjoyed. And, Ariel's family was the best part of this book for me. They were simply wonderful.

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  8. Sounds like it reads as if it could be a true story.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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    1. I know there are kids out there dealing with this much stress. It's crazy.

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  9. I can relate too well to this book, so it's a must read for me. As someone who studies way too hard to get Salutatorian, I know what this character is going through and how kids jump on any flaw. BTW, it happens in adulthood too.

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    1. It is absolutely something that continues into adulthood, as people try to keep up with the Joneses and whatnot. Contentment is hard, when you are surrounded by such lofty expectations.

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  10. Wow, what a timely and relatable read. I'll be starting this one soon and I'm really looking forward to it Great review!

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    1. I really hope you enjoy Ariel's story, and I agree this is something people will be able to relate to, or perhaps, an adult reader will see their own child in there and maybe gain some insight.

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  11. We just truly never know what someone else is going through. I like when books have deeper meanings running alongside their stories. It really hits you when you least expect it. LOVELY review <3

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    1. There really was some food for thought in this one.

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  12. I love how realistic and honest this story sounds!

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    1. Definitely a lot of honesty in there, and it was especially effective to show several different teens dealing with common stressors.

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  13. I've been really curious about this book, so I'm happy to see that you really enjoyed it! I love that faith is woven into the story well. Thanks for sharing!!

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. Silverman does a great job creating characters you can care for, and both her books had a nice family focus and a teen, who experienced a lot of growth. And, seeing religion in a positive way is nice for a change.

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  14. I want to read this one. I love the name Ariel, and that is such a lovely choice. And I am glad you could sucked into the world and really feel like your in the characters shoes in this one. I am so ready to read it and that cover is beautiful.

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    1. I swear, I felt really anxious as I read the first chapter. High school is so much more intense than when I was a teen.

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  15. I think I would really love this one. I like how this one got you. I love books like that. =)

    Mary

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    1. I was surprised by how Ariel reminded me of quite a few of my former students. The pressure is real in high school.

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  16. I'd heard of the authors first book but hadn't really seen much about this one. It sounds like a very realistic portrayal of the struggles of teens and the pressure they are under. I also love the fact that religion (and not the usual Christianity) is incorporated in the story. I love seeing a characters personal faith included in a story, especially as it doesn't seem to involve a character struggling with their faith but instead finding comfort in it when it seems there is pressure on all sides. It sounds like a really brilliant story.

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    1. Usually when it's Christianity, it's always being represented in a bad way, so I am all for any positive religious rep.

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