Darcy has been giving anonymous advice to her fellow private school students for awhile, and it’s a great source of income for her since she’s a scholarship student whose mother works at the school. But when she agrees to help Alexander Brougham, it sets off a series of event that changes everything.  

Darcy specializes in relationships, and her advice is actually useful, focusing on setting boundaries and different attachment styles. But she ends up breaking her own rules in several different ways—this affects her relationships with her friends and loved ones, including her best friend Brooke, who Darcy has been pining over for years.

One of the best things about this book was its inclusiveness. Both the protagonist and the supporting characters represent the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community. However, that characterization represents only a small facet of their overall personalities rather than *the* defining characteristic. It was an especially moment to see Darcy’s friends validate her bisexuality even if she happens to like a straight guy. Quick aside—I’ve said many times that I don’t think teens are influenced by drinking/drug use in YA books. However, seeing messages combatting stereotypes are absolutely influential and bear repeating.

Darcy is a delightful protagonist. She means well, but she doesn’t always do the right thing, and over the course of the book, she faces the consequences of her actions. But she learns from her mistakes, and this makes her into a better person.    

I would totally recommend Perfect on Paper. This book is sweet and heartwarming and fun and quirky, and I could go on all day with positive adjectives to describe how much I enjoyed my reading experience. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I got a bit homesick during some of the scenes, especially the ones set in Disneyland. This is the second book I’ve read from Gonzales; I’m totally a fan, and I’m already looking forward to whatever comes next!

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin’s Press/NetGalley