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Testimony from Your Perfect Girl
A compulsively readable story that celebrates the awkward complexity of teenage relationships--with their families, and with each other, from the
New York Times
bestselling author of
The Descendants
.
Annie Tripp has everything she needs--Italian sweaters, vintage chandelier earrings, and elite ice skating lessons--but all that changes when her father is accused of scamming hundreds of people out of their investments. Annie knows her dad wasn't at fault, but she and her brother are exiled to their estranged aunt and uncle's house in a run-down part of Breckenridge--until the trial blows over.
Life with her new family isn't quite up to Annie's usual standard of living, but surprisingly, pretending to be someone else offers a freedom she's never known. As Annie starts to make real friends for the first time, she realizes she has more in common with her aunt and uncle than she ever wanted to know. As the family's lies begin to crumble and truths demand consequences, Annie must decide which secrets need to see the light of day . . . and which are worth keeping.
Annie Tripp has everything she needs--Italian sweaters, vintage chandelier earrings, and elite ice skating lessons--but all that changes when her father is accused of scamming hundreds of people out of their investments. Annie knows her dad wasn't at fault, but she and her brother are exiled to their estranged aunt and uncle's house in a run-down part of Breckenridge--until the trial blows over.
Life with her new family isn't quite up to Annie's usual standard of living, but surprisingly, pretending to be someone else offers a freedom she's never known. As Annie starts to make real friends for the first time, she realizes she has more in common with her aunt and uncle than she ever wanted to know. As the family's lies begin to crumble and truths demand consequences, Annie must decide which secrets need to see the light of day . . . and which are worth keeping.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published May 14, 2019
8 people are currently reading
1769 people want to read
About the author
Kaui Hart Hemmings
10 books519 followersI'm the author of The Descendants, House of Thieves, The Possibilities and Juniors, a YA novel. My next novel, How to Party with an Infant will be published August 9 2016. Visit my website:
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 1, 2022
Dnf at page 31. This is so bad, I'm sorry, I just can't stand the MC.
December 15, 2021
Published in May 2019, "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl," an adult contemporary novel by Kaui Hart Hemmings, has a much stronger opening than the other book I have read by this author: "The Possibilities."
But after 150 pages of this book, the story was really falling apart. I could not stay engaged. Every single main character in this book is so severely unlikeable, and then the story relies upon a couple of huge plot twists that feel like something out of a soap opera, or a low-budget Hollywood film, giving the reader a (supposedly) propulsive second-act twist, and the story just became unbearable. I couldn't continue. I DNF'd on page 190 (of 264 pages total).
I did read the Epilogue, and the ending of this book is so massively lackluster, ridiculous, and unrewarding, that I just feel angry I wasted even a minute of my life reading this novel.
One star DNF. I despised this book.
************
*spoilers*
Annie Tripp is one of the most myopic, clueless, and dull teenage protagonists I've ever read. The author gives Annie a lot of clever dialogue, which is completely at odds with how dense this character is. Domestic cattle are more intelligent than this girl. This novel reads like "Clueless" meets "Sideways," with none of Cher's sweetness, kindness, or redemption arc, and I wasn't a fan.
Annie never uses her phone to look up articles about her father, her father's business, interviews, court updates -- nothing. Instead, she goes to her best friend Cee's house -- and Cee *tackles her* like something right out of a Ben Stiller movie -- God, this plot point was aggravating. The tone of this prose is dark literary fiction, and then this kind of slapstick crap is happening, and I just wanted to scream.
I hated Cee, and I hated her attitude. If anyone should have understood how clueless and dense Annie was, it should have been *this* girl, her former best friend -- and yet Cee is using her 'karate skills' to beat the crap out of Annie and her brother in her own home, in front of her father -- it was f*cking ridiculous.
I skimmed to the part when Annie figures out (through authorial magical ass-pull) that Nicole (Annie's aunt) is really her mother -- magically figuring out (via the author's magical powers of ass-pull reasoning) that Nicole donated her eggs to her sister so she could have Annie and Jay -- and my intense dislike of the book turned into active hatred.
I *never* liked Nicole, as a character. Annie's first-person POV is so mean and harsh to begin with, Nicole is initially described as a highly unlikeable person, but Nicole also does the shittiest stuff in this novel. I just hated this woman, so the magical reveal that Nicole is actually Annie's mom just made me want to spit nails.
Thanks, I hated it.
The author states in the Acknowledgments: "Jim Burke, producer and friend extraordinaire: thank you for encouraging me to write a screenplay. I tried, stopped, and then turned it into this book."
It was the last thing I read in this book, and it sure explained a *lot.*
This novel is an absolute clusterf*ck. The mood of the story is dark and grim, starring a clueless young woman on a complete downward trajectory, and then the story veers sharply into the humor and plot shenanigans of "Dumb & Dumber." Like I'm supposed to find all of this very funny.
F*ck off, book.
I'm not even sure I can bear to pick up "The Descendants" now, after trying to read two of the author's follow-up books ("The Descendants" was her debut novel). "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl" required so much suspension of disbelief to begin with (Annie Tripp, more spoiled and clueless than Cher in "Clueless," starts working *in the kitchen* of her uncle's restaurant -- the whole situation was so what-the-f*ck-ever, I should have realized nothing good would come from this severe break with reality, that the story would just go downhill from there... but I wanted to trust this author, trust her literary prose to reward me for dealing with all of the ugly darkness she writes about -- but this book just screwed me; there was nothing here; nothing.)
(Just like there was nothing in "The Possibilities," either -- nothing to be gained from reading that book.)
I just hate feeling like an author has screwed me over like this.
Maybe "The Descendants" worked a lot better because Matt King (played by George Clooney) was given some likeable traits *because* he is a male character, and not a woman. This author makes all of her male characters so much more likeable and endearing than the female ones. Matt King's daughters were vicious, but they were also loyal to their dad; there were so many more redeeming traits for those female characters than anything I've seen in "The Possibilities" or "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl."
If you want every main character in a book to die in a fire, that's a problem. I've only seen the film adaptation of "The Descendants," but I genuinely like all of those main characters -- especially Matt King and his two daughters. I root for them, and I'm always happy when I see them cuddled up on the couch together at the very end.
I don't get *any* feelings like that in the two books I've read by this author. I've had "The Descendants" on hold at my library for a while now, waiting for it to come in, but at this point, I don't know if I can even check it out. My revulsion for this author's work is running so strong right now.
I would not recommend "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl" to anyone. It saddens me that this garbage even got published.
But after 150 pages of this book, the story was really falling apart. I could not stay engaged. Every single main character in this book is so severely unlikeable, and then the story relies upon a couple of huge plot twists that feel like something out of a soap opera, or a low-budget Hollywood film, giving the reader a (supposedly) propulsive second-act twist, and the story just became unbearable. I couldn't continue. I DNF'd on page 190 (of 264 pages total).
I did read the Epilogue, and the ending of this book is so massively lackluster, ridiculous, and unrewarding, that I just feel angry I wasted even a minute of my life reading this novel.
One star DNF. I despised this book.
************
*spoilers*
Annie Tripp is one of the most myopic, clueless, and dull teenage protagonists I've ever read. The author gives Annie a lot of clever dialogue, which is completely at odds with how dense this character is. Domestic cattle are more intelligent than this girl. This novel reads like "Clueless" meets "Sideways," with none of Cher's sweetness, kindness, or redemption arc, and I wasn't a fan.
Annie never uses her phone to look up articles about her father, her father's business, interviews, court updates -- nothing. Instead, she goes to her best friend Cee's house -- and Cee *tackles her* like something right out of a Ben Stiller movie -- God, this plot point was aggravating. The tone of this prose is dark literary fiction, and then this kind of slapstick crap is happening, and I just wanted to scream.
I hated Cee, and I hated her attitude. If anyone should have understood how clueless and dense Annie was, it should have been *this* girl, her former best friend -- and yet Cee is using her 'karate skills' to beat the crap out of Annie and her brother in her own home, in front of her father -- it was f*cking ridiculous.
I skimmed to the part when Annie figures out (through authorial magical ass-pull) that Nicole (Annie's aunt) is really her mother -- magically figuring out (via the author's magical powers of ass-pull reasoning) that Nicole donated her eggs to her sister so she could have Annie and Jay -- and my intense dislike of the book turned into active hatred.
I *never* liked Nicole, as a character. Annie's first-person POV is so mean and harsh to begin with, Nicole is initially described as a highly unlikeable person, but Nicole also does the shittiest stuff in this novel. I just hated this woman, so the magical reveal that Nicole is actually Annie's mom just made me want to spit nails.
Thanks, I hated it.
The author states in the Acknowledgments: "Jim Burke, producer and friend extraordinaire: thank you for encouraging me to write a screenplay. I tried, stopped, and then turned it into this book."
It was the last thing I read in this book, and it sure explained a *lot.*
This novel is an absolute clusterf*ck. The mood of the story is dark and grim, starring a clueless young woman on a complete downward trajectory, and then the story veers sharply into the humor and plot shenanigans of "Dumb & Dumber." Like I'm supposed to find all of this very funny.
F*ck off, book.
I'm not even sure I can bear to pick up "The Descendants" now, after trying to read two of the author's follow-up books ("The Descendants" was her debut novel). "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl" required so much suspension of disbelief to begin with (Annie Tripp, more spoiled and clueless than Cher in "Clueless," starts working *in the kitchen* of her uncle's restaurant -- the whole situation was so what-the-f*ck-ever, I should have realized nothing good would come from this severe break with reality, that the story would just go downhill from there... but I wanted to trust this author, trust her literary prose to reward me for dealing with all of the ugly darkness she writes about -- but this book just screwed me; there was nothing here; nothing.)
(Just like there was nothing in "The Possibilities," either -- nothing to be gained from reading that book.)
I just hate feeling like an author has screwed me over like this.
Maybe "The Descendants" worked a lot better because Matt King (played by George Clooney) was given some likeable traits *because* he is a male character, and not a woman. This author makes all of her male characters so much more likeable and endearing than the female ones. Matt King's daughters were vicious, but they were also loyal to their dad; there were so many more redeeming traits for those female characters than anything I've seen in "The Possibilities" or "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl."
If you want every main character in a book to die in a fire, that's a problem. I've only seen the film adaptation of "The Descendants," but I genuinely like all of those main characters -- especially Matt King and his two daughters. I root for them, and I'm always happy when I see them cuddled up on the couch together at the very end.
I don't get *any* feelings like that in the two books I've read by this author. I've had "The Descendants" on hold at my library for a while now, waiting for it to come in, but at this point, I don't know if I can even check it out. My revulsion for this author's work is running so strong right now.
I would not recommend "Testimony from Your Perfect Girl" to anyone. It saddens me that this garbage even got published.
December 5, 2022
4 stars. Am I the only one who loves the cover!?!?
February 5, 2019
* Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the advanced copy, in exchange for my honest opinion *
ACTUAL: 4.25/5
his novel follows Annie Tripp, a teenage girl who has everything she needs: designer clothes, elite figure skating lessons, and more. However, her precious world shatters when her father is accused of scamming hundreds of clients and investors. Temporarily living with her Aunt and Uncle is better than she expected, but soon family secrets start unraveling. Annie must focus on the truth, and which lies are better left alone.
This story really surprised me - the writing style was bolder than I expected, but that made it realistic. It was straight forward on topics that are everywhere in society (smoking, drinking, etc.), and did not sugar coat it. Annie was a bit hard to connect with at times, but I liked her development of down to earth qualities. It was a tad slow at times throughout, but the ending was great, a strong conclusion to the story. While I do wish some secrets were revealed, it would become a whole other story if they were haha.
ACTUAL: 4.25/5
his novel follows Annie Tripp, a teenage girl who has everything she needs: designer clothes, elite figure skating lessons, and more. However, her precious world shatters when her father is accused of scamming hundreds of clients and investors. Temporarily living with her Aunt and Uncle is better than she expected, but soon family secrets start unraveling. Annie must focus on the truth, and which lies are better left alone.
This story really surprised me - the writing style was bolder than I expected, but that made it realistic. It was straight forward on topics that are everywhere in society (smoking, drinking, etc.), and did not sugar coat it. Annie was a bit hard to connect with at times, but I liked her development of down to earth qualities. It was a tad slow at times throughout, but the ending was great, a strong conclusion to the story. While I do wish some secrets were revealed, it would become a whole other story if they were haha.
September 4, 2019
2.5 As with the other books Hemmings has written, I found the main character to be privileged and hard to like. The plot was overly simple and obvious. The relationships within the family and with new friends should have hooked me but dragged on in their unimaginative blathering.
I feel like her books are a lot of tell not show and just flat.
I did like how the relationships developed at the end, but I think one of the biggest plot points was left completely unresolved. Just because you say it's not your news to share, that doesn't mean you don't feel a certain way about the information. I think to have that be resolved a little more would have made it a 3⭐.
I feel like her books are a lot of tell not show and just flat.
I did like how the relationships developed at the end, but I think one of the biggest plot points was left completely unresolved. Just because you say it's not your news to share, that doesn't mean you don't feel a certain way about the information. I think to have that be resolved a little more would have made it a 3⭐.
April 9, 2019
*Review is of an advanced reader copy
Less than engaging story about a spoiled little rich girl. Annie Tripp Town's father is facing the possibility of prison following accusations he has scammed hundreds of people out of their investments. In an effort to save face, her appearance oriented parents send her and her older brother out of town to live with their estranged aunt and uncle. Whilst hiding out in Breckenridge, Annie uncovers long buried secrets about her parents. Additionally, whilst employed at her uncle's restaurant, Annie hooks up with a couple of coworkers but, this is understandable, because poor thing, she is so angry and confused. If I sound less than sympathetic, it is because I do not believe her actions are excusable. I am well aware teenagers have sex, drink, and use drugs. I also support books not shying away from realistic situations. However, I see no upside to describing oral sex and frequent drug and alcohol use with little to no negative consequences to young readers. Especially when there are already so many negative influences on today's youth. A resounding thumbs down from this prude.
Less than engaging story about a spoiled little rich girl. Annie Tripp Town's father is facing the possibility of prison following accusations he has scammed hundreds of people out of their investments. In an effort to save face, her appearance oriented parents send her and her older brother out of town to live with their estranged aunt and uncle. Whilst hiding out in Breckenridge, Annie uncovers long buried secrets about her parents. Additionally, whilst employed at her uncle's restaurant, Annie hooks up with a couple of coworkers but, this is understandable, because poor thing, she is so angry and confused. If I sound less than sympathetic, it is because I do not believe her actions are excusable. I am well aware teenagers have sex, drink, and use drugs. I also support books not shying away from realistic situations. However, I see no upside to describing oral sex and frequent drug and alcohol use with little to no negative consequences to young readers. Especially when there are already so many negative influences on today's youth. A resounding thumbs down from this prude.
January 3, 2022
I had been avoiding this book for months because it seemed kind of lame, but I was so wrong. It was pleasantly surprising, wonderful in so many ways. I loved watching Jay & Annie get to know their aunt & uncle, Skip & Nicole. The family dynamic was perfect. Just right. Annie became so much more levelheaded throughout the novel. She really got to learn who she was and decide who she would get to be. Her circumstances brought her some beautiful personal growth. Excellent read!
June 26, 2020
It took me a while to get around to this one. The main character is spoiled and difficult to like at first, but as she learns about her father's unethical real estate dealings and where her privilege comes from, she does learn and grow. It's not fast-paced or extremely compelling, but it is a nice, cute story.
June 19, 2019
I have never read anything from Kaui Hart Hemmings but I was a fan of the movie The Descendants mostly because I am from Hawaii, born and raised. I loved seeing Hawaii on the big screen and the story was so touching as it dealt with family issues and grief. I was going through some hard core grief at the time too.
So I borrowed this book not knowing much about it except the author’s name. I absolutely love how smooth the writing is in this book, it seems effortless and kind of just digs into somewhere nice in my head.
Annie Tripp, is a trip. She is spoiled, somewhat socially awkward and lives a very comfortable life that her wealthy parents provides for her and her older brother. She seems in control, a trait instilled by her mother. She is the perfect girl, the perfect daughter.
But a scandal rocks their lives when her father is on trial for scamming people out of their money in a real estate venture. Annie and her brother leave their wealthy town to hideout at their aunt and uncle’s house in Breckenridge, Colorado. Their perfect lives are ruined.
Annie and her brother Jay have a typical sibling relationship egging each other on. But they are close in the unique way siblings are close. Moving to their aunt’s house isn’t an experience I would say brings them closer but they learn to lean on each other in the only way they know how.
Annie learns a lot of things about herself: how fake she is, how she tries to fit in by trying to be someone she’s not, how rude and entitled she can be – and how a lot of her life is based on lies. And learning the truth about her dad, was a reality check – but if her dad loses his court case, they lose their lifestyle. Is it so wrong to want him to win?
I like how blunt she is though about her thoughts and feelings as she learns about her parents. I like that she experienced sexual situations that were awkward and not perfect. She’s a teenager making mistakes, wanting to escape her real life, thinking she knows what she is doing – I’ve definitely been there before! 😅 We watch Annie go from spoiled, blasé, rich girl to someone who has to strip away who she thinks she is and find out what kind of substance she’s really made of.
Seeing how the family navigates and deals with the “family secret” that gets exposed later in the book me made question what I would do in Annie’s place. I mean, it was a pretty heavy secret – I’m pretty impressed Annie didn’t go off the deep end. She dipped her toes in it for sure, but I liked how she faced things.
“The moment is caught. The people are revealed. They weren’t thinking of an audience. They were just being themselves.” - Testimony From Your Perfect Girl by. Kaui Hart Hemmings
Nothing is black and white in this story, just like in reality and that made me feel comfortable reading this. I like books that remind me that even if life gets hard, it will be okay. And that the answers we are searching for aren’t always so simple, and it’s okay to feel conflicted about a lot of things in life. This book reminded me that no one has a perfect family or life 🙋🏻♀️, no matter how much money they have and seem perfect on the outside – especially in this day and age of social media.
I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
So I borrowed this book not knowing much about it except the author’s name. I absolutely love how smooth the writing is in this book, it seems effortless and kind of just digs into somewhere nice in my head.
Annie Tripp, is a trip. She is spoiled, somewhat socially awkward and lives a very comfortable life that her wealthy parents provides for her and her older brother. She seems in control, a trait instilled by her mother. She is the perfect girl, the perfect daughter.
But a scandal rocks their lives when her father is on trial for scamming people out of their money in a real estate venture. Annie and her brother leave their wealthy town to hideout at their aunt and uncle’s house in Breckenridge, Colorado. Their perfect lives are ruined.
Annie and her brother Jay have a typical sibling relationship egging each other on. But they are close in the unique way siblings are close. Moving to their aunt’s house isn’t an experience I would say brings them closer but they learn to lean on each other in the only way they know how.
Annie learns a lot of things about herself: how fake she is, how she tries to fit in by trying to be someone she’s not, how rude and entitled she can be – and how a lot of her life is based on lies. And learning the truth about her dad, was a reality check – but if her dad loses his court case, they lose their lifestyle. Is it so wrong to want him to win?
I like how blunt she is though about her thoughts and feelings as she learns about her parents. I like that she experienced sexual situations that were awkward and not perfect. She’s a teenager making mistakes, wanting to escape her real life, thinking she knows what she is doing – I’ve definitely been there before! 😅 We watch Annie go from spoiled, blasé, rich girl to someone who has to strip away who she thinks she is and find out what kind of substance she’s really made of.
Seeing how the family navigates and deals with the “family secret” that gets exposed later in the book me made question what I would do in Annie’s place. I mean, it was a pretty heavy secret – I’m pretty impressed Annie didn’t go off the deep end. She dipped her toes in it for sure, but I liked how she faced things.
“The moment is caught. The people are revealed. They weren’t thinking of an audience. They were just being themselves.” - Testimony From Your Perfect Girl by. Kaui Hart Hemmings
Nothing is black and white in this story, just like in reality and that made me feel comfortable reading this. I like books that remind me that even if life gets hard, it will be okay. And that the answers we are searching for aren’t always so simple, and it’s okay to feel conflicted about a lot of things in life. This book reminded me that no one has a perfect family or life 🙋🏻♀️, no matter how much money they have and seem perfect on the outside – especially in this day and age of social media.
I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
June 6, 2022
This book was awful and I almost didn’t bother finishing it but it was in my bag and I was waiting for the train.
I hated everything in this book. Annie was so unlikable along with everyone else in this book. It’s really hard to not make a single character interesting or likable, but the author did it.
Annie is stuck up and snobby, and everyone at her fancy rich private school turns their back on her after her dad is accused of stealing money or something(but apparently the same thing didn’t happen to her brother).
Her and her not interesting brother, Jay, are sent to live in one horse town, state to live with her moms sister. But they tell everyone that they are from her husbands side of the family. And everyone in the town seems to know and hate her dad, why would they care about her dad?
After Annie is somehow shocked to find out people think she’s stuck up she decides to change. And by change she sucks a guys dick on New Years and loses her virginity to another guy, and brother walks in on them. So ReLaTaBlE!
Annie is also being ignored by her “best friend” Cece or ceci, who cares because what kind of best friend is she anyway? She doesn’t talk to Annie, and when Annie and Jay go to her house she karate chops the two of them with her state champion level skills, and blames them for what her dad did? Like wtf girl? Boohoo, you’re going to move to Kansas and live with your mom. Then 3 minutes later they are drinking beers and eating grilled hot dogs…
Then the dumbest plot twist happens. The aunt who is still trying to have a baby at 40 and reveals she donated eggs and her sister, Annie’s mom, used her eggs and jay and Annie’s real mom is their aunt.
Why would I care about that? We barely knew anything and Annie and her moms relationship? Okay, her mom liked everything to be just so, and Annie barely talks to her.
Why is Annie suppose to be so smart and so stupid about her dads trial? Google it!
So, overall I wouldn’t recommend. Reading this was kinda a waste of my time.
I hated everything in this book. Annie was so unlikable along with everyone else in this book. It’s really hard to not make a single character interesting or likable, but the author did it.
Annie is stuck up and snobby, and everyone at her fancy rich private school turns their back on her after her dad is accused of stealing money or something(but apparently the same thing didn’t happen to her brother).
Her and her not interesting brother, Jay, are sent to live in one horse town, state to live with her moms sister. But they tell everyone that they are from her husbands side of the family. And everyone in the town seems to know and hate her dad, why would they care about her dad?
After Annie is somehow shocked to find out people think she’s stuck up she decides to change. And by change she sucks a guys dick on New Years and loses her virginity to another guy, and brother walks in on them. So ReLaTaBlE!
Annie is also being ignored by her “best friend” Cece or ceci, who cares because what kind of best friend is she anyway? She doesn’t talk to Annie, and when Annie and Jay go to her house she karate chops the two of them with her state champion level skills, and blames them for what her dad did? Like wtf girl? Boohoo, you’re going to move to Kansas and live with your mom. Then 3 minutes later they are drinking beers and eating grilled hot dogs…
Then the dumbest plot twist happens. The aunt who is still trying to have a baby at 40 and reveals she donated eggs and her sister, Annie’s mom, used her eggs and jay and Annie’s real mom is their aunt.
Why would I care about that? We barely knew anything and Annie and her moms relationship? Okay, her mom liked everything to be just so, and Annie barely talks to her.
Why is Annie suppose to be so smart and so stupid about her dads trial? Google it!
So, overall I wouldn’t recommend. Reading this was kinda a waste of my time.
August 17, 2019
In material terms, sixteen-year-old Annie Tripp, Colorado high school junior, pretty much has it all. Her father is a millionaire property developer, she lives in a big, fancy house with a housekeeper and a cook, and there’s no limit on her credit card. But then criminal charges are brought against her father for various kinds of fraud, and she and her older brother are sent to live in Breckenridge with her mother’s sister and her husband, neither of whom she really knows. (Why her tightly-wound mother has kept her distance from her sibling is a major part of the story.) A lot of people have lost their savings in the scandal, so Annie also has to adopt her uncle’s surname until things blow over -- assuming it does, which she begins to doubt as she learns more about what her father has been up to.
The plot revolves around Annie becoming aware of just how privileged she’s been all her life -- she’s not a bad person, just naive -- and just how much she has to learn about the real world as she begins working part-time in her uncle’s restaurant and becomes involved with the other young employees. Her aunt is nothing like her mother, and that makes a big difference, too. And, of course, there are several deep family secrets that will change everything Annie thought she knew. The themes of the story are well-known but Hemmings does a good job of making the details unique.
The plot revolves around Annie becoming aware of just how privileged she’s been all her life -- she’s not a bad person, just naive -- and just how much she has to learn about the real world as she begins working part-time in her uncle’s restaurant and becomes involved with the other young employees. Her aunt is nothing like her mother, and that makes a big difference, too. And, of course, there are several deep family secrets that will change everything Annie thought she knew. The themes of the story are well-known but Hemmings does a good job of making the details unique.
July 31, 2019
The strengths of this novel lie in the character development and the humorous writing that captures adolescence with all of its awkward moments. Annie isn't the most likable or popular girl, though she may have been the wealthiest, but after her family's fall from grace she takes a turn as an average person and ends up much the wiser. The plot follows a predictable path, and there are elements of the story that remain on a superficial level. However Annie is the book's focus, and her character is well-developed, feels real enough, and undergoes a welcome transformation from where she begins to where the story ends. The relationships with her newfound aunt and uncle are fun to watch unfold, and the story is replete with awkward "firsts": kisses, friendships, sex, talks about sex, etc, that make one laugh out loud.
August 5, 2019
3.5 stars. While predictable and nothing terribly new, I appreciated the time and care spent on developing relationships and the fact that our teenage heroine's character arc concluded with finding strength in herself and her family relationships, rather than focusing on a romance, with family as a secondary concern. It's a refreshing, and too rare, thing to find in a book with a 16 year old female protagonist.
May 6, 2024
At 74% of the way in, I'd decided to rate this book 2 stars. Annie seemed detached, emotionless (I wondered if she might be neurospicy), making a laundry list of momentous life choices as if she were deciding what to have for breakfast. I also didn't feel like there was enough holding this book together aside from the initial premise of "Rich girl escapes town while embezzler father is on trial, discovers real life." I just couldn't get behind it.
But I ended up liking the rest of the book a lot more. Annie felt far more relatable after her character growth arc (I guess?), and I loved her tight bond with her older brother Jay. As strange as this book still feels, I upgraded the rating to 3 stars.
But I ended up liking the rest of the book a lot more. Annie felt far more relatable after her character growth arc (I guess?), and I loved her tight bond with her older brother Jay. As strange as this book still feels, I upgraded the rating to 3 stars.
October 24, 2019
I warmed up to this gradually. Maybe it was the growth of the character. Also, can I just say how crap the marketing is on this, which is surprising given that it’s the author who wrote “The Descendants” of Clooney/Woodley fame. I know you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but could you try just a little?
September 19, 2020
I really liked this book. I enjoyed seeing and experiencing the rich and famous and how messed up their lives can become. I liked the giving nature of the sunny and uncle and their love for the kids, despite their mom’s best efforts. I enjoy watching characters grow into who they should be. Great story!
January 27, 2024
It wasn't particularly groundbreaking, but a light read for the first book of the year. I didn't see the Annie as really spoiled, just very sheltered from what the plebs deal with everyday. It's a coming of age book that can show how people need to experience some life to really understand what others go through.
June 7, 2019
I liked this just fine, though I'm not sure I'll remember it. I thought the main character seemed pretty naïve, but perhaps that's a more realistic portrayal of someone her age than I'm used to. At any rate, I enjoyed it.
May 8, 2020
The book was okay it wasn’t anything special but still a good read. I found Annie pretty naive but she is young so it makes sense I’m just not used to it. I don’t really have anything to say except it was fine.
February 18, 2022
I dont really know where to start with this book I habe a love hate relationship with it there were some parts that were really deep and kept me completely in tact of not wanting to put my book down and then there was other parts that seemed dragged all in all a good book amd loved the ending
July 21, 2022
I had to DNF this book :(
The girl in it was such a brat and the characters didn't seem realistic AT ALL. I don't know if it was just the author's style of writing that put me over the edge, but after 60 or so pages in, I just couldn't with it anymore
The girl in it was such a brat and the characters didn't seem realistic AT ALL. I don't know if it was just the author's style of writing that put me over the edge, but after 60 or so pages in, I just couldn't with it anymore
December 10, 2023
Ebook. Dad on trial for white collar crime. Kids got to live with aunt and uncle they barely know even though aunt and uncle mom are sisters. Finished the book but it was just because I pushed through, not because it was great
May 19, 2025
2.5
I probably would have enjoyed this as a teen
I was annoyed by the conflicting descriptions of the main character-was she a naive prudish teen or was she just angsty and frustrated she hadn’t experienced enough life?
I probably would have enjoyed this as a teen
I was annoyed by the conflicting descriptions of the main character-was she a naive prudish teen or was she just angsty and frustrated she hadn’t experienced enough life?
May 9, 2019
I was going to rate this book 2 stars, but the epilogue was so damn good... so it shall be 2.25 stars. Review up tomorrow on my blog!!
May 10, 2019
Full review to come on BookedAllNight.blog
September 27, 2019
2.5 rounded up. Annie is unlikable, and moreover being in her head is uninteresting. Whatever compelling plot points the book has to offer gets undermined by surface level attention.
April 24, 2020
A predictable story about a snobby, spoiled, rich girl who has to deal with living a life without the luxuries she's used to. An entertaining story, but mostly surface level characters and themes.
September 21, 2020
This book was terrible
April 8, 2021
Dear Lord this book was painful because I saw its potential. It felt half-finished the last ten pages felt a bit like a joke. So much could have happened but no.
May 17, 2021
Not bad, I seemed flat in some places but enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews