Perfect on Paper: A Novel

by Sophie Gonzales

Overview

“Perfectly wonderful.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times–bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

“An electrifying love story.” —Booklist

In Sophie Gonzales' Perfect on Paper, Leah on the Offbeat meets To All the Boys I've Loved Before: a bisexual girl who gives anonymous love advice to her classmates is hired by the hot guy to help him get his ex back

Her advice, spot on. Her love life, way off.

Darcy Phillips:
• Can give you the solution to any of your relationship woes—for a fee.
• Uses her power for good. Most of the time.
• Really cannot stand Alexander Brougham.
• Has maybe not the best judgement when it comes to her best friend, Brooke…who is in love with someone else.
• Does not appreciate being blackmailed.

However, when Brougham catches her in the act of collecting letters from locker 89—out of which she’s been running her questionably legal, anonymous relationship advice service—that’s exactly what happens. In exchange for keeping her secret, Darcy begrudgingly agrees to become his personal dating coach—at a generous hourly rate, at least. The goal? To help him win his ex-girlfriend back.

Darcy has a good reason to keep her identity secret. If word gets out that she’s behind the locker, some things she's not proud of will come to light, and there’s a good chance Brooke will never speak to her again.

Okay, so all she has to do is help an entitled, bratty, (annoyingly hot) guy win over a girl who’s already fallen for him once? What could go wrong?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250769787
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/09/2021
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	23,834
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	13 - 18 Years

About the Author

SOPHIE GONZALES is a YA contemporary author. She graduated from the University of Adelaide and lives in Melbourne, Australia, where she currently works as a psychologist. When she isn’t writing, she can be found ice skating, performing in musical theater, and practicing the piano. She is also the author of Only Mostly Devastated and The Law of Inertia.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Perfect on Paper

“Didn’t know it was possible to pack a book with this much charm, humor, sincerity, and wisdom, but then again, it’s Sophie Gonzales. Perfect on Paper is perfectly wonderful.” —Becky Albertalli, New York Times–bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

"Packed with humor, romance, and wisdom but most of all a wonderful sense of queer pride. Perfect on Paper reads a bit like what you’d get if you mixed Leah on the Offbeat and Netflix’s Sex Education.... This book absolutely won my heart!” —Shelf Awareness

“Sophie Gonzales, who wrote last year’s charming Grease takeoff Only Mostly Devasted, pens another high school romance.... Twists and turns and hate-to-love ensue.” —Forbes, “10 Of The Most Notable YA Books Of 2021 (So Far)”

“Gonzales has crafted a lively story with multilayered appeal...then wraps it all up in an electrifying love story.” —Booklist

“A highly inclusive read with many characters identifying as LGBTQ+, this delightful foray into the world of high school relationships is a fantastic read for romance fans.” —School Library Journal

“I devoured this book in one lovely day! Perfect on Paper is full of the kind of sharp wit, keen insight, and hilarious rom-com shenanigans that make it a heartfelt reminder that love may come in infinite and unexpected ways, but is still the one thing we all have in common.” —Emma Lord, New York Times bestselling author of Tweet Cute

“Charming and compulsively readable.... Equal parts heady and heartfelt, it’s perfect not only on paper, but in every way it works itself in and hangs on past the final page.” —Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, authors of If I’m Being Honest

“Full of swoons and angst and packaged carefully with heart, Perfect on Paper was a brilliant study on the complications of first loves.” —Erin Hahn, author of You’d Be Mine and More than Maybe

“With plenty of swoons and off-the-charts chemistry, Sophie Gonzales has delivered a rom-com that is the perfect blend of humor, heart, and truth. Perfect on Paper is a must read for all rom-com fans!” —Kevin van Whye, author of Date Me, Bryson Keller

~~~
Praise for Sophie Gonzales's Only Mostly Devastated

“Only Mostly Devastated is the kind of book I wish existed when my kids were younger—a charming, funny, laugh-out-loud teen romance that reminds all readers love comes in a multitude of flavors, and they are ALL sweet.” —Jodi Picoult, New York Times–bestselling author of Small Great Things and A Spark of Light

“A delightful, heartwarming, heartrending story about family, love, friendship, and living your most authentic life. I couldn't put it down.” —New York Times–bestselling author Sandhya Menon

From the Publisher

01/01/2021

Gr 8 Up—Darcy Phillips excels at giving others relationship advice. Her anonymous Locker 89 advice business is booming, despite the fact that she can't seem to admit her own feelings to her best friend Brooke. However, when Alexander Brougham (whom Darcy can't stand) catches her taking letters out of Locker 89, he convinces Darcy to help him win his ex-girlfriend back, threatening to out her as the locker's owner. And if there's one thing Darcy doesn't want, it's Brooke finding out about Locker 89. Gonzales creates a cast of characters whose relationship woes are painfully relatable, yet satisfying to devour. Darcy is not an expert when it comes to relationships, but she does her research, which makes her success rate much more believable. She applies relationship theories and practices in her advice letters (seen between chapters) and with Brougham, highlights that tone and intent are the main foils in these characters' relationships. There's a strong suggestion of seeking advice when one's personal insight may be compromised, as seen through Darcy and Brooke's interactions. Most importantly, as Darcy struggles with her evolving feelings for Brougham, she confronts her own internalized biphobia to understand that it's completely valid to be attracted to someone who identifies as another gender and still be bi. Darcy has shoulder-length blond hair and a gap between her front teeth. Brougham has blue eyes, dark brown hair, and an Austrian accent, and Brooke has a Vietnamese surname. VERDICT A highly inclusive read with many characters identifying as LGBTQ+, this delightful foray into the world of high school relationships is a fantastic read for romance fans.—Emily Walker, Lisle Lib. Dist., IL

School Library Journal

2021-01-12
A teenage relationship expert deals with some tricky situations.

Every student at St. Deodetus’ school in California knows about locker 89: Slide $10 and a note confessing your relationship woes inside, and you’ll get an email with personally tailored advice. The anonymous proprietor, junior Darcy Phillips, enjoys crafting letters and has a high customer satisfaction rate. She’s always been careful to collect the letters after school, when no one’s around, and has managed to escape detection until Australian rich kid Alexander Brougham catches her in the act. Instead of spilling her secret, he hires her as a private coach to help him rekindle things with his ex-girlfriend. Darcy agrees—as a faculty kid on scholarship, the extra cash is welcome—but finds that dealing with a customer face to face has unique challenges, particularly given Brougham’s curt demeanor and reluctance to share basic information. Meanwhile, Darcy’s own love life (crushing on her best friend, Brooke Nguyen) continues to stump her expertise. This story is a classic teenage rom-com packed with misunderstandings and slow-burn attraction. The culmination of the main storylines is more than satisfying. In contrast to the unsuccessful parental relationships on display, Darcy gives well-researched advice that prioritizes communication, consent, and healthy realism. Gonzales similarly presents mature perspectives on recreational drug use and biphobia. There is strong representation of various queer identities, with some racial diversity implied through names; Darcy is bisexual and presumed White.

Thoughtful and well executed. (Romance. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews