Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Picture Perfect

3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 · rating details · 193 ratings · 39 reviews

So far, life for fourteen-year-old Phoebe Trask has been picture perfect. Her parents are successful; her older sister, Shyla, is on track to becoming the youngest lawyer in Texas; and her sixteen-year-old brother, Zane, the all-American best brother ever, is a star on the high school swim team. Then Phoebe's mother, Beth, becomes the traveling spokeswoman for Bee Beautifu...more

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published March 27th 2007 by Margaret K. McElderry

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 431)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 09, 2013 Grace F rated it 5 of 5 stars

Picture Perfect by D. Anne Love focuses on the life of Phoebe Trask during the summer between middle school and high school as well as her first year in high school. Phoebe’s father, Sumner Trask, is the most respected judge in the small town of Eden, Texas. Phoebe is the youngest Trask child at age 14; her older brother Zane, age 16, is now driving and the star swimmer on his high school team. The oldest Trask youth is Shyla, age 18, who is in college studying to become the youngest lawyer in T...more Picture Perfect by D. Anne Love focuses on the life of Phoebe Trask during the summer between middle school and high school as well as her first year in high school. Phoebe’s father, Sumner Trask, is the most respected judge in the small town of Eden, Texas. Phoebe is the youngest Trask child at age 14; her older brother Zane, age 16, is now driving and the star swimmer on his high school team. The oldest Trask youth is Shyla, age 18, who is in college studying to become the youngest lawyer in Texas. The story begins at the start of the summer before high school when Phoebe’s mother, Beth Trask, a saleswoman for the Bee Beautiful cosmetics company, wins the newest product naming contest and earns a trip to a convention in Las Vegas. At first her mother planned to stay for about a week, however she is promoted and was going to stay month; after she doesn’t come home she then tells the family that she doesn’t know when she’ll return. Phoebe realizes that while her mother is gone that she doesn’t have much to do over the summer. Almost as if Phoebe could control when change comes into her life, a new lady named Beverly Grace moves into the empty house next door. The new neighbor is a writer who had been living in Italy for the past two years; she is young, a widow, and very fashionable. In Phoebe’s opinion, Judge Trask and Beverly Grace developed an attraction to each other on their first meeting. On Beverly’s first day in town, the Judge invites her to breakfast the next morning. She accepts and promises to be over at 8 AM. The next morning Mr. Trask cleans the house for hours before his guest arrives, while Phoebe tells Zane what happened the day before and what she thinks about Beverly. Once Beverly comes over, she and the Judge talk for the entire morning. Beverly also gives Phoebe a seashell necklace from Tiffany & Co. and Mr. Trask informs them that Beth had phoned recently and wanted to meet up with the family next month. In addition, he invites Beverly to go with them on the mini trip. Phoebe is shocked that her mother called and that none of her siblings or herself knew about it. She becomes so worried and confused that she calls her older sister, Shyla, at college. Shyla told Phoebe to calm down because she knew that their parents weren’t breaking up. Phoebe, Zane, Mr. Trask, and Beverly travel to the Crawfish Festival in Louisiana the following week. While visiting, the two adults look around and talk together the whole time. They go to see Beth on the return trip because she was staying in Louisiana and were able to have a short family reunion before she had to leave again. Phoebe tried to think of something to say or do that would make her mother come back home. She tried to make her mom worry because a pretty widow was living next door, so she laid on the stress. At first Beth remains calm at her daughter’s concern, but when she sees the necklace that Beverly gave Phoebe she becomes enraged and makes Phoebe cry by criticizing the gold necklace.
The family endures more hardships during Beth’s absence. Zane is jailed because he drove a car that a gang used to smash mailboxes and now must perform community service at the library during the summer. Judge Trask presides over a controversial case about the people who burned down the court house prior to the Fourth of July. Many people disagree with Judge Trask’s ruling and someone throws a rock at the family’s home breaking a window. Now a police officer guards the house. On Halloween night when the Judge was leaving late from work, he was beat up by people who didn’t like what he thought of the case. He was in the hospital for a few days and then on bed rest for a few weeks. Beverly invites the family to Thanksgiving dinner and Beth finally returns home! As the Trask family is catching up with one another, Beth tells them a giant shock. She’s not going to go back to her job; she quit. When they ask why, she informs them that she has cancer; they all go silent. The mom begins chemotherapy by Christmas and the family has to do a lot to get her to take medicine and eat. Each day was tiring. Phoebe learns why her mother left when they have a talk on Christmas Day. Phoebe walks outside to ponder over her conversation with her mom. Beverly comes by to see what is wrong with Phoebe, but Phoebe screams at her neighbor because she’s tired of Beverly trying to act like her mother. Judge Trask later explains to Phoebe exactly what’s been going on between him and Beverly. As Phoebe learns the truth, she feels awful about thinking that he was cheating on her mom.
The whole family journeys to their beach house during spring break. They bond more than ever before because they are finally all together. Phoebe’s mother eventually explains why she left for the Bee Beautiful job. Everything seems perfect and normal at the end of the vacation. When the Trasks return home, they discover Beverly is moving back to Italy. Phoebe realizes that just because her family isn’t as perfect as they used to be, they still are a family and will always care about each other.
I think the message that D. Love is trying to convey is that family will always stick together and won’t ever turn their back on one another. Also, the underlying theme is that nothing is perfect no matter how hard you try, but sometimes perfect isn’t what you want.
(less)

like 1 like · see review

Jan 21, 2011 Mychaela rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Picture Perfect by D. Anne Love is about a young fourteen year old girl named Phoebe. Phoebe lives in the same town on Eden, Texas and will be attending her first year of high school. Phoebe's family consists of her dad Sumter, mother Beth, older sister Shyla, and her sixteen year old brother Zane. Phoebe's dad is a lawyer in Eden, Texas and her mother works for Bee Beautiful Company. Beth is called away from her family to work to go to a company convention in Las Vegas. Phoebe's mother has been...more

like · see review

Aug 04, 2011 Meghan Castiglia rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Young Adults

Recommended to Meghan by: Myself

This book remind me of my life, well kind of. I get ignored by my parents sometimes and make me think that I am alone with my sister and brother. And then her love with Nick reminds me of this boy that is tricky to figure out what pur relationship status is. Man boys are tricky. I love this book and I will recommend it to others that are interested in a book that talks about all types of relationships.
When I read the last sentence I had to use it as a status. I love this book, and will read it a...more

like · see review

Nov 15, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

PICTURE PERFECT is like a photo album depicting a year in the life of the Trask family. The family is headed by Judge Trask, a respected member of the Eden community. His wife, Beth, is a saleswoman for Bee Beautiful cosmetics. Shyla Trask is an honor student attending college in Austin. Zane is a popular high school student, and youngest sibling, Phoebe, has just turned fourteen.

Life is fairly typical for the Trask family until t...more

like · see review

Jun 05, 2011 Katie Fitzgerald rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed-on-blog, realistic-fiction, published-2000s

Oddly enough, I think this book would be great to suggest to kids who liked To Kill a Mockingbird. Like Atticus Finch, Judge Trask remains steadfast in his beliefs even as the community rejects him for it, and like Scout, Phoebe watches from the sidelines, but is ultimately changed by what she sees happening around her. I also think this book is pretty similar to Sarah Dessen's That Summer, which is another coming of age type story, where outside events influence the changes in the main characte...more

like · see review

Jun 14, 2009 Lisa Lewis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction

Phoebe Trask as too many different trials and tribulations with which to deal. Her mother has suddenly decided to work away from home, she's getting ready to start high school, a new neighbor has moved in and seems to have eyes for her father, her father, who is a judge, has been handed a volatile case that has people boiling mad, and she has a young, mysterious man interested her. She's about to explode! Follow Phoebe has she learns to cope with all of the different situations. She is a typical...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2009 Christen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: hell-yah-its-ya

The kids' dialogue was too grown-up sounding. Everyone acted way too maturely for their age (including the judge himself, there's no way I'm believing he and Bev were just friends) and I just don't buy how everything got tied up with a nice little bow at the end. The plot was just too shallow for what the author was trying to achieve. All in all, rather tame for a YA book.

like · see review

Jan 28, 2011 Novia Raihanah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like the way the author didn't try to pass off Phoebe as some kind of head-in-the-clouds teenager who completely misses everything except for the aspects of life concerning herself.
Or should that be the typical self-obsessed teenager?
Oh well, its a nice change.
And what's also a nice change is how Love didn't kill off the cancer stricken mother.

like · see review

Nov 16, 2011 Vivisawesome rated it 1 of 5 stars

What a terrible book. At the beginnig, it had dragged on and on with the judge and bev relationship. Then suddenly pops up Phobe's new boyfriend. (And- what- love at first sight? Bit childish.) and then everything happened so quickly compare to the long dreading intro.

You have no idea how glad I was went I've finished it.

like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 Deb rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was about a family that was struggling with being picture perfect, but came to terms with being not always camera ready. Good book, but still not one that I would give above 3 stars. Not a riveting or engrossing novel, but one that kept my attention for the most part.

like · see review

Mar 26, 2011 Joanne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Picture Perfect by: D. Anne Love is about a girl named Phoebe. Everything goes well until her mom decides to work in another state to fulfill her dreams of making her company's sales go up. Her family has just been wrecked and no ones cooperating. Now it's Phoebe's job to being them back together as a whole.

In my opinion, I thought this book could have been more interesting. I thought it was kind of bland and needed a touch of spice to it. Phoebe is my age, but according to the 1st person perspe

...more

like · see review

Jan 29, 2009 Ravegirl172 rated it 3 of 5 stars

phobee or feebs is 14 has a 16 yr old bro named zane and a older sister in college tht wants to b the yungest lawyer in texas. a judge 4 a father and a mother who leaves on business and never seems to be around much. a new neighbor moves in and it seems as shes moving right into the family.

like · see review

Nov 05, 2012 Lexy Maue rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thought this book was really good, the author did a really good job keeping your attention during the book. I thought it was riveting! I hope i can read another one of her books sometime.

like · see review

Sep 29, 2011 bekah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book seemed very...vanilla. Not bland, exactly, but just a little mundane. Don't get me wrong, the author did a fine job...but if you're looking for something exciting, this is not your book.

like · see review

Sep 26, 2011 Mimi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nice and neat plot, but I think there's much unnecessary dialogue and actions throughout the book. Still, it was a very nice story which a lot of people can relate to.

like · see review

Jul 23, 2012 Rachel Sharpe rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama, real-life, ya

If you have to name a town "Eden" to alert your readers that all is not well in the main character's life, you need to find a less obvious literary device.

like · see review

Jan 25, 2010 Shelby rated it 5 of 5 stars

I could really relate to this book i think any girl can. This book has many twists and turns and will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat Read it :)

like · see review

Dec 19, 2012 Lorretta Asantewaa rated it 5 of 5 stars

i loved this book from beginning to end! i mean love took over and at that point i knew love is strong but they separated at the end

like · see review

Sep 07, 2011 Meg rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people of all ages

Slow at first. A story about love, the lure of a glamorous life, and ultimately how to keep a family together.

like · see review

Mar 10, 2010 Elisemango added it

this was good i really liked it a real good life story about a teenage girl....

like · see review

Jun 28, 2011 Shekinah marked it as to-read · review of another edition

i havce yet to sttart this book but i think i will really like it

like · see review

Sep 27, 2012 Quetzal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-fav-books

Great book couldnt put it down. Loved it so much

like · see review

Nov 07, 2010 Caitlinleah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-o-week

it was fine, it was sweet, it was unmemorable.

like · see review

Jun 12, 2012 Haily Patel rated it 5 of 5 stars

It is an amazing book!! Love it!

like · see review

Jul 08, 2009 sunshine ☼ rated it 5 of 5 stars

i loved it i cried idk y though
lol

like · see review

Mar 23, 2011 Brynn added it

It was really good!!

like · see review

Apr 22, 2010 Hannah rated it 5 of 5 stars

My fav. book ever!!

like · see review

Apr 10, 2010 Savvy Jones rated it 5 of 5 stars

REALLY GOOOOOOOD!!!!!!!

like · see review

Jun 03, 2011 Grace rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

I related to this book. I really liked it.

like · see review

Sep 19, 2011 Taylor rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was really good. I think alot of us girls could relate to how it feels to being a freshman girl!

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 14 15 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (4)

Genres

Young Adult

8 users

Realistic Fiction

5 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Lifted
by Wendy Toliver
The Star Shack
by Lila Castle
Somebody Everybody Listens To
by Suzanne Supplee
Stranded
by J.T. Dutton
Watch for Me by Moonlight
by Jacquelyn Mitchard

About D. Anne Love

I was born in western Tennessee, the eldest of four children. My father was a lover of books who taught me to read even before I started school. My mother was (and still is!) the world’s best mom and a lover of music who sang in the kitchen as she taught me to cook.

I enjoyed playing games and riding bikes but my favorite activity was reading. Among my favorite authors were Lois Lenski, Louisa May...more

More about D. Anne Love...

Books by D. Anne Love

Of Numbers and Stars: The Story of Hypatia

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Picture Perfect

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Picture Perfect
avg rating	preview: Picture Perfect Goodreads rating: 3.77 (193 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1089486.Picture_Perfect?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348073929l/1089486.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1089486.Picture_Perfect?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Picture Perfect by D. Anne Love[/url]

Picture Perfect

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website