Nothing is black and white here, and because Darcy is such a thoughtful person (especially one who is diligent in researching how to give advice, which includes learning about psychology as well as relationship dynamics, etc) we are treated to a lens to look at her world that is also thoughtful and smart. What I liked most about this book (besides how effortless the queer rep was) was its emotional nuance. Darcy agrees to help him, and they bicker and banter and slowly get to know one another. They have such a sweet sibling relationship.)Īll of that is tough enough, but soon popular kid Alexander Brougham (who is from Australia and goes by Brougham) finds out that Darcy is behind Locker 89 and blackmails her into helping him win back his ex-girlfriend, Winona, who dumped him for smothering her. (She’s a fashion YouTuber, and she’s over the top in the best way. Definitely my favorite side character, at the least. She’s also very active in the Queer & Questioning Club, a club started by her older (trans) sister Ainsley, who was maybe my favorite character. I loved those bits so much!) Darcy has also been in love with her best friend Brooke for ages, but can’t seem to take her own advice in how to win Brooke’s heart romantically and not just as a friend. (We get letters and her responses at the beginning of every handful of chapters. She is charging them $10 per advice, and offers refunds if her advice doesn’t work. Our main character, Darcy, runs a secret school-wide advice service called Locker 89 (because kids drop their questions into the forever-empty locker 89) and she sends them an email within 24 hours with her advice.
It certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s waving the queer flag hard on biphobia, either.
Perfect on Paper isn’t life-changing or anything, it’s just a really well done YA novel, a classic of the form. Actually, I just scrolled back through my GR reading challenges, and the last really good/great YA contemporary I read was Concrete Rose back in January 2021. I haven’t read a really solid, really good bordering on great contemporary YA novel in what feels like a really long time.
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