Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

Kate Brown's life has gone downhill fast. Her father has quit his job to sell vitamins at the mall, and Kate is forced to work with him. Her best friend has become popular, and now she acts like Kate's invisible.

And then there's Will. Gorgeous, unattainable Will, whom Kate acts like she can't stand even though she can't stop thinking about him. When Will starts acting interested, Kate hates herself for wanting him when she's sure she's just his latest conquest.

Kate figures that the only way things will ever stop hurting so much is if she keeps to herself and stops caring about anyone or anything. What she doesn't realize is that while life may not always be perfect, good things can happen -- but only if she lets them....

This was my first novel by Elizabeth Scott, and I can tell you I'm looking forward to reading more in the near future. This was a story that felt realistic. The descriptions and dialogue felt true to teenagers, not overly dramatic or far fetched. Kate is a character I think many teenage girls can easily relate to; with embarrassing parents, a friend she feels betrayed by, and that one boy who you can't help crushing on.

While reading this book I found that I could place myself in Kate's shoes without any difficulty, feeling what she felt when reacting to what was going on around her. I cringed at the bee costume and the carrot hat. I got butterflies when Will grinned at her. I felt a bitter knot in my stomach when Anna blew her off.

Elizabeth Scott has a real talent at creating characters that are rich and complex. I loved Will and Grandma, who both unfolded in a way throughout the story that allowed my appreciation for them to grow. Characters are the most important aspect of a novel to me, and in this instance they definitely built the story.

I loved this book, and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to read it yet.