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Almost Perfect
368 pages
A messy, emotionally turbulent exploration of teenage heartbreak, prejudice, and the rocky road to genuine understanding.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like navigating the raw, unfiltered emotional turbulence of adolescence. It is a steady, character-driven experience that sits right in the messy intersection of heartbreak, prejudice, and vulnerability. The narrative doesn't shy away from the ugly, frightened reactions that stem from ignorance, making the emotional atmosphere feel tense and deeply conflicted before slowly pivoting toward a fragile hope. The prose is direct and earnest, capturing the authentic voice of a teenager forced to confront his own biases and the complexities of identity. It will deeply resonate with readers who appreciate contemporary YA that tackles difficult conversations head-on, offering a realistic, unvarnished look at what it takes to rebuild trust and forge a truly accepting friendship.
- Mood
- emotionally turbulent
- vulnerable
- tense
- fragile
- Tone
- earnest
- conflicted
- angsty
- raw
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- navigating identity · overcoming prejudice · rebuilding trust · teenage heartbreak · complexities of friendship
- The writing
- Direct and emotionally raw, capturing the messy, unfiltered reactions of a teenager navigating unfamiliar emotional territory.
- The arc
- Moves from raw heartbreak and explosive misunderstanding toward a fragile, hard-won attempt at empathy and reconciliation.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate character-driven YA contemporary fiction about flawed teens learning to confront their own biases.
Content notes
- transphobia
- infidelity
- emotional outbursts
About the book
You only hurt the ones you love.Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won't tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she's actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.
Description from Open Library.
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