I'm Good and Other Lies

by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Is it asking too much to live a typical twelfth grade existence? Kelsey Kendler just wants to earn some money for university, hang out with friends, maybe even snag a boyfriend. But her pill-popping mom and distant dad scare off anybody she tries to bring home, making those last two things feel impossible. As the lockdown takes its toll on Kelsey's mental health, she starts to see the appeal of her mom's pills. She hates what they do to her mom, but numbing herself to the world seems like a pretty good idea right about now. Horrified to find herself following in her mom's footsteps, she can only hope she'll eventually figure out some other way to cope . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Audiobook, Canada

224 pages, Paperback

Published September 25, 2021

About the author

Bev Katz Rosenbaum has written tons 'o fun books for tweens, teens and adults. (More info at http://bevkatzrosenbaum.com.)

A Senior Editor at Entangled Publishing, Bev lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Karen Upper · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the hand washing protocols on the cover of "I'm good and other lies" the reader will have a sense that this latest release would be focusing on COVID19. Although the pandemic is mentioned it is not the primary focus of the story.

Interspersed chapters of 'text conversations', the central character is Kelsey Kendler. A highschool teen in the last semester of highschool.

This period in any young person's life is always fraught with anxiety, however in Kelsey's case it is further compounded by an abrupt move across town and living in tighter quarters with a semi famous dysfunctional mother and not too present father.
Almost desperate at times, self preservation in the form of quirky banter becomes Kelsey's key to surviving school, home life and a long distance friendship.
The constant barrage of battles on the homefront and uncertainty leave Kelsey feeling a deep loneliness that only increases as Covid strikes.
A nightmare turning real, has Kelsey trying to come to grips with a spiraling out of control situation that eventually shows her that asking for help is OK.

The author has thoroughly captured the full range of angst and anxiety with a sensitivity that will have the reader rooting for Kelsey until the last page!

Kelsey embodies the realness of this present day life.
She struggles, but eventually learns, step by step to move forward with a newfound confidence in herself.
FIVE STARS !!!
Highly recommended for ages 12 to 18

Received this from the publisher DBC, in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you

[Maia Caron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read the author’s other (excellent) YA novels and she’s a master of weaving real life teen issues into a fast paced, entertaining story. Wish I’d had books like this when I was a teen reading voraciously and looking for myself in every protagonist. I might not have felt so alone.
What a great gift for the teen in your life still dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. Highly recommend!

[Raynah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book relatable seeing as I was also a grade twelve student in Canada at the start of the pandemic. This book gave me insight on how other people the same age as me experienced the pandemic. I enjoyed the atmosphere of the story and the writing was good. I also thought the plot was good but I wish the situations that the main character had to deal with were a bit more expanded upon.

[Marta Pona · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pandemic lockdowns affected everyone in different ways. Written from a twelfth-grader's perspective this is a story of how isolation, loneliness and lack of family support affect a young person's mental state and, if left undetected, can spiral out of control. Depression among students, even in elementary years, is very real, and was exacerbated by the lockdowns. Many families were unprepared to handle the stresses forced upon them; politicians, employers, schools. Forcing students to learn online was the best solution in politician's eyes, but with students unprepared to tackle school independently only resulted in adverse outcomes, leaving many students behind in their learning.
I'm Good and Other Lies captures the worst of the pandemic in the home of Kelsey Kendler, who hopes to graduate from high school in the year of much uncertainty (2020). Having parts of the story told via text messages between Kelsey and her friends is a welcome change from the typical narrative, and makes the book relatable to teen readers. Showing appreciation for the teachers, in Kelsey's case - Ms. Cole, her English teacher, illustrated how instrumental teachers are in nurturing our young generation, especially in the age when home life is so unpredictable.

[Angela Misri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Bev's work, especially when she brings me into the world of the teenage brain. I'M GOOD AND OTHER LIES is a compelling story with followable characters set against the backdrop of the pandemic we're all still living in. It's not an easy life for the protagonist, and she's dealing with all the things we all dealt with as teenagers while also navigating social distancing and the heartbreak of losing friends and family to COVID-19. Give this book to a young person who is struggling with this moment.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kelsey is 17, a grade 12 student in a new school. Her best friend has moved to LA and neither girl has a stable or happy home life. Just as Kelsey gets inspired by her English teacher, finds an OK part time job with quirky coworkers and lands a hot new boyfriend- COVID hits with lockdowns and asynchronous learning. Her home is rat infested hole made worse by her drunk, druggie mom- whose fall from fame and refusal to get help - makes for a tough home life. Dad hides because he has no idea what to do. Can Kelsey make it?

[Lemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

This being a book set in Covid times was very interesting and relatable in certain ways, but thankfully not in others. The main character went through so much in this book and it is very possible that a lot of people went through that as well and it hurts to know, but is also so important to acknowledge it.

[OjoAusana · Rating 4 out of 5]

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Pretty good read, liked the MC and the story. Reading this in 2022 hits a bit different but i can imagine reading this at the start of covid and wow!

[Kevin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read! Felt so authentic. Incorporated the pandemic well, showing how it changed the lives of the school aged children who had to struggle through it during such a vulnerable time of their lives. Well done!

[Cady · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well crafted look into the world of a teen during the early pandemic and how the social changes could impact those who already had unstable home environments. For such a brief novel, it’s very effective and paints a vivid and realistic picture of what this unprecedented time looked like.

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️: Review to come.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I did like this book, I felt like some of the plot points were abandoned midway through, and then very quickly resolved later.