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I Am Not Jessica Chen
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jan 25Win a free print copy of this book!
28 days and 20:59:24
5 copies available
U.S. only
After getting rejected by every single Ivy League she applied to and falling short of all her Asian immigrant parents’ expectations, seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen—only for her wish to come true. Literally.
Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, with access to Jessica’s most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone—including her own parents—start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.
Now trapped inside Jessica’s body, with access to Jessica’s most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn’t quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone—including her own parents—start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.
384 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 28, 2025
About the author
Ann Liang
9 books7,128 followersAnn Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn't Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia, but somehow ended up with an American accent. She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 290 reviews
Shelved as 'not-released-yet'
July 2, 2022apparently this is about burnt-out kids with 'this is me trying' with the dark academia aesthetic so im in love already <3
July 27, 2024
finished on 07┆︎26┆︎24 - spectacular give me 14 of them right now, rtc <3
ᝰ.ᐟ ⊹ started on 07┆︎25┆︎24 - I GOT THE ARC I GOT THE ARC I GOT THE ARC
--
cover reveal - YOU GUYS WHAT IF I CRIED HYPOTHETICALLY it’s so pretty my eyes have been blessed ! ann liang books are girl dinner (confirmed)
ᝰ.ᐟ ⊹ started on 07┆︎25┆︎24 - I GOT THE ARC I GOT THE ARC I GOT THE ARC
--
cover reveal - YOU GUYS WHAT IF I CRIED HYPOTHETICALLY it’s so pretty my eyes have been blessed ! ann liang books are girl dinner (confirmed)
August 15, 2024
5⭑ | This book was so relatable on such a personal level, I feel so seen. This is the reason I love Ann Liang’s books so much. She gets it. She understands. And I think she writes these books so that her readers know they’re not alone. Like Ann said in her authors note, sometimes it means the most just to know other people are going through it too. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate this gorgena cover?? I loved how it talked about Jenna actually painting it in the book, that was so cool! I can’t wait for I Am Not Jessica Chen to be officially released into the world, so everyone can experience this freaking masterpiece.
જ⁀➴ our stars:
*ੈ🎨 Jenna:
I love love loved her. I was only five pages in when I got the urge to give her a hug. That may be a record. I know what it feels like to think you’re not good enough, but I can’t imagine having everyone around you constantly reminding you that you aren’t. Even her own parents! But she had so much character growth. Also it’s so cool how she’s an artist!! I hope she goes to art school or something.
*ੈ🫂 Aaron: If Ann Liang’s other fictional men are green flags, he’s the whole dang forest. I mean, he wants to be a doctor! To help people! Because he cares that much. He’s literally perfect, argue with the wall. And I loved the way he wasn’t afraid to tell Jenna everything about how he felt, it made everything so much easier lol.
જ⁀➴ the soundtrack:
jealously, jealously: the comparison is killing me slowly… I’m so sick of myself, I’d rather be anyone else
you’re on your own kid: I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this
seven: love you to the moon and to Saturn
────୨ৎ────
post read:
HAHA so much for trying to savor it. What the heck am I supposed to do with my life now tho 😭. rtc!!!
pre read: IgotthearcIgotthearcIgotthrarc!!!!!!!! I GOT THE ARCCC. I got the arc. I. Got. The. ARC!!!! (hopefully that communicated my excitement) After reading the authors note, I already know this is a masterpiece. I’m going to do my best to savor it, but that’s going to be hard lol. SO LETS GET INTO IT 🤭🫶🏻
જ⁀➴ our stars:
*ੈ🎨 Jenna:
I love love loved her. I was only five pages in when I got the urge to give her a hug. That may be a record. I know what it feels like to think you’re not good enough, but I can’t imagine having everyone around you constantly reminding you that you aren’t. Even her own parents! But she had so much character growth. Also it’s so cool how she’s an artist!! I hope she goes to art school or something.
*ੈ🫂 Aaron: If Ann Liang’s other fictional men are green flags, he’s the whole dang forest. I mean, he wants to be a doctor! To help people! Because he cares that much. He’s literally perfect, argue with the wall. And I loved the way he wasn’t afraid to tell Jenna everything about how he felt, it made everything so much easier lol.
જ⁀➴ the soundtrack:
jealously, jealously: the comparison is killing me slowly… I’m so sick of myself, I’d rather be anyone else
you’re on your own kid: I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this
seven: love you to the moon and to Saturn
────୨ৎ────
post read:
HAHA so much for trying to savor it. What the heck am I supposed to do with my life now tho 😭. rtc!!!
pre read: IgotthearcIgotthearcIgotthrarc!!!!!!!! I GOT THE ARCCC. I got the arc. I. Got. The. ARC!!!! (hopefully that communicated my excitement) After reading the authors note, I already know this is a masterpiece. I’m going to do my best to savor it, but that’s going to be hard lol. SO LETS GET INTO IT 🤭🫶🏻
August 9, 2024
5 ✩
₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪
this book is for the people who are never good enough. for the people who always feel like there’s someone better than them, the people who idolize others in their heads, the people who want with their entire being but when they get what they were craving, it’s never enough. people who don’t even know themselves because all they can see is their own failures.
even if some of us are better at hiding it, or feel it less, we can all relate to jenna chen in some way. and that is the beauty of this book. it’s not a cure for the feeling, but a balm. it tells you that you are not alone, and it gets better. it will remind you that there are more beautiful things in life than a gold medal or a shiny trophy.
ann liang did it again, you guys. I loved this so much that I read it twice back-to-back and loved it even more because of it. I will be counting down the days until this releases and I can share my favorite quotes. until then, do yourself a favor and put I am not jessica chen on your tbrs <3
₊˚🎧⊹ playlist
this is me trying
seven
mirrorball
gold rush
fresh out the slammer
clara bow
the prophecy
let it happen
I love you, I'm sorry
jealousy, jealousy
making the bed
₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪
this book is for the people who are never good enough. for the people who always feel like there’s someone better than them, the people who idolize others in their heads, the people who want with their entire being but when they get what they were craving, it’s never enough. people who don’t even know themselves because all they can see is their own failures.
even if some of us are better at hiding it, or feel it less, we can all relate to jenna chen in some way. and that is the beauty of this book. it’s not a cure for the feeling, but a balm. it tells you that you are not alone, and it gets better. it will remind you that there are more beautiful things in life than a gold medal or a shiny trophy.
ann liang did it again, you guys. I loved this so much that I read it twice back-to-back and loved it even more because of it. I will be counting down the days until this releases and I can share my favorite quotes. until then, do yourself a favor and put I am not jessica chen on your tbrs <3
₊˚🎧⊹ playlist
this is me trying
seven
mirrorball
gold rush
fresh out the slammer
clara bow
the prophecy
let it happen
I love you, I'm sorry
jealousy, jealousy
making the bed
August 14, 2024
꒰🏛️꒱ ⁺˖ જ⁀➴ thank you to NetGalley and the publishers (HarperCollins Children's Books) for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
꒰🩰⌗₊꒱ ········· i am not jessica chen - stars 4.25 ☆⁺˖
°˖➴ ꒰🪐꒱ plot 〰️: jenna chen is always second place to her cousin, jessica chen. her [jennas] grades are always good but not good enough, while jessica is always top of the class and getting all awards possible. one day, jenna wishes to be jessica and surprisingly, her wish comes true. the next day, jenna wakes up in jessicas body and has her life.
౨ ✉️ ৎ my opinion ✔️: SO SO GOOD!! this may be my favorite ann liang book? like ever? this felt so different than her other books - ann liang always has a mc who is the best, whose top of her class, who wins all the awards. this time, we got an mc who wishes she could be like that. jenna is like the song 'this is me trying' by taylor swift and i relate to her SO MUCH - here is a note i took while only being on page 12.
not only that but i loved all the other characters as well - aaron, in usual ann liang fashion, was amazing 🤭 another thing that was different was there was no enemies to lovers storyline - instead it was more of a second chance? i dont really know how to explain it but i really enjoyed the romance regardless. ANOTHER THING - that ending. when i tell you cried till my eyes hurt. i know i was promised a heartbreaking ending from ann liang herself : (click here) - im just so glad that everything worked out in the end 🙈🤍
°˖➴ ꒰🪐꒱ what i didn't like✖️: honestly? there was nothing that i didnt like. the only reason this wasnt five stars was because it didnt have that five star feeling for me, but still - it was an amazing book, easily one of my favorite reads of the year. im so exited to see everyones reviews and reactions when this is released!!
········· ꒰🏹꒱ recommend❔ 👍🏻∿👎🏻
જ⁀➴ ···· ౨ 📖 ৎ ⤳ yes!
i 100% recommend this. for me, this was such a relatable book - i felt so seen, and i feel like it could be the same for so many people. to the 'this is me trying' (by taylor swift) girlies - this book is for you <3
౨ৎ release date: 1/28/25 ⁺˖ ✉️❕
────────
pre-review: i cried and my eyes hurt and ann liang needs to pay for my therapy. anyway, rating and review to come!
ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read: AA i still cant believe i got the arc 🤭 i am SO exited to start this!! 🙈💗
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE ARC GODS BCS I JS GOT APPROVED FOR THIS ONE TOO 😧 I THINK I MAY CRY HAPPY TEARS?
oh my days ANOTHER ann laing that i didnt know about??!?
꒰🩰⌗₊꒱ ········· i am not jessica chen - stars 4.25 ☆⁺˖
°˖➴ ꒰🪐꒱ plot 〰️: jenna chen is always second place to her cousin, jessica chen. her [jennas] grades are always good but not good enough, while jessica is always top of the class and getting all awards possible. one day, jenna wishes to be jessica and surprisingly, her wish comes true. the next day, jenna wakes up in jessicas body and has her life.
౨ ✉️ ৎ my opinion ✔️: SO SO GOOD!! this may be my favorite ann liang book? like ever? this felt so different than her other books - ann liang always has a mc who is the best, whose top of her class, who wins all the awards. this time, we got an mc who wishes she could be like that. jenna is like the song 'this is me trying' by taylor swift and i relate to her SO MUCH - here is a note i took while only being on page 12.
pg 12 | • i already relate to jenna chen SO MUCH. she is me, i am her. always trying your hardest but never being/feeling as good as everyone else is honestly so true. every single one of my friends are so smart, theyre always above average while i am just average. its honestly exhausting always giving my all and it never being enough. so, i strongly believe that ann liang wrote a book about me.
not only that but i loved all the other characters as well - aaron, in usual ann liang fashion, was amazing 🤭 another thing that was different was there was no enemies to lovers storyline - instead it was more of a second chance? i dont really know how to explain it but i really enjoyed the romance regardless. ANOTHER THING - that ending. when i tell you cried till my eyes hurt. i know i was promised a heartbreaking ending from ann liang herself : (click here) - im just so glad that everything worked out in the end 🙈🤍
°˖➴ ꒰🪐꒱ what i didn't like✖️: honestly? there was nothing that i didnt like. the only reason this wasnt five stars was because it didnt have that five star feeling for me, but still - it was an amazing book, easily one of my favorite reads of the year. im so exited to see everyones reviews and reactions when this is released!!
········· ꒰🏹꒱ recommend❔ 👍🏻∿👎🏻
જ⁀➴ ···· ౨ 📖 ৎ ⤳ yes!
i 100% recommend this. for me, this was such a relatable book - i felt so seen, and i feel like it could be the same for so many people. to the 'this is me trying' (by taylor swift) girlies - this book is for you <3
౨ৎ release date: 1/28/25 ⁺˖ ✉️❕
────────
pre-review: i cried and my eyes hurt and ann liang needs to pay for my therapy. anyway, rating and review to come!
ᝰ.ᐟ pre-read: AA i still cant believe i got the arc 🤭 i am SO exited to start this!! 🙈💗
I HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE ARC GODS BCS I JS GOT APPROVED FOR THIS ONE TOO 😧 I THINK I MAY CRY HAPPY TEARS?
oh my days ANOTHER ann laing that i didnt know about??!?
November 21, 2024
4.5 ☆
♫ | lacy by olivia rodrigo
aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?
🦢 ᯓ opening thoughts :
this book reminds me of a hazy painting. while the plot and characters are clear, there was a sort of blurriness to the background. it never gives any specifics or names the town/state the story is set in. there are also hardly any reference to the outside world. I must admit, it threw me off. I love Ann Liang w all my heart, but it almost seems like she only focused on the immediate story and not any of the small, yet important, details. however, this book touched me deeply.
🌸 ᯓ plot & writing :
I binged this book, thanks to the amazing fast moving plot. it never dragged once! and the air of creepiness it had was perfect. because you might like to live someone else’s life for a day, but what happens if your stuck in their body forever? that’s horror right there hehe. the writing ate, ofc. I will be adding quotes to my review after the book is published <3
🎓 ᯓ characters :
↳ ★ Jenna :
her take on life was a bit disturbing, tbh. thankful for character development! but I couldn’t imagine being that obsessed with someone that you spent your entire life trying, and failing, to be like them. I think if she’d just embraced her own talents and personality, she probably would’ve had her own life and friend group instead for trailing Jessica around. still, I loved her a lot!
↳ ★ Aaron :
big thanks to him for saving Jenna from herself. also, if a fictional man is named Aaron, he’s automatically the hottest one around. I don’t make the rules. I might be in love with him. he is so charismatic and caring ahh <3 and the way he loved Jenna had me sobbing.
🎀 ᯓ romance :
shut upppp! these two have my whole heart. they are the definition of to be loved is to be known. childhood friends to lovers is such an underrated trope! <3
↳ 🎧 jenna+aaron playlist :
mirrorball
seven
this is me trying
right where you left me
afterglow
I knew it, I knew you
I love you, I’m sorry
we can’t be friends
ꕤ PS :
I was deeply touched by this story, as I relate to Jenna on a certain level. and maybe you do too. so I want you to know that you don’t have to be the best at everything. you don’t have to be someone else. you are YOU, and that’s more than enough <3
xoxo, Ava
⊱✿⊰
-
ᯓ★ pre read !
screaming crying throwing up bc I got the arc!!!! the way my heart stopped when i opened gmail and saw the email from netgalley 🥹 im so excited, Ann Liang is a queen and everything she writes is always amazing! hoping for a five star <3
♫ | lacy by olivia rodrigo
aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?
🦢 ᯓ opening thoughts :
this book reminds me of a hazy painting. while the plot and characters are clear, there was a sort of blurriness to the background. it never gives any specifics or names the town/state the story is set in. there are also hardly any reference to the outside world. I must admit, it threw me off. I love Ann Liang w all my heart, but it almost seems like she only focused on the immediate story and not any of the small, yet important, details. however, this book touched me deeply.
🌸 ᯓ plot & writing :
I binged this book, thanks to the amazing fast moving plot. it never dragged once! and the air of creepiness it had was perfect. because you might like to live someone else’s life for a day, but what happens if your stuck in their body forever? that’s horror right there hehe. the writing ate, ofc. I will be adding quotes to my review after the book is published <3
🎓 ᯓ characters :
↳ ★ Jenna :
her take on life was a bit disturbing, tbh. thankful for character development! but I couldn’t imagine being that obsessed with someone that you spent your entire life trying, and failing, to be like them. I think if she’d just embraced her own talents and personality, she probably would’ve had her own life and friend group instead for trailing Jessica around. still, I loved her a lot!
↳ ★ Aaron :
big thanks to him for saving Jenna from herself. also, if a fictional man is named Aaron, he’s automatically the hottest one around. I don’t make the rules. I might be in love with him. he is so charismatic and caring ahh <3 and the way he loved Jenna had me sobbing.
🎀 ᯓ romance :
shut upppp! these two have my whole heart. they are the definition of to be loved is to be known. childhood friends to lovers is such an underrated trope! <3
↳ 🎧 jenna+aaron playlist :
mirrorball
seven
this is me trying
right where you left me
afterglow
I knew it, I knew you
I love you, I’m sorry
we can’t be friends
ꕤ PS :
I was deeply touched by this story, as I relate to Jenna on a certain level. and maybe you do too. so I want you to know that you don’t have to be the best at everything. you don’t have to be someone else. you are YOU, and that’s more than enough <3
xoxo, Ava
⊱✿⊰
-
ᯓ★ pre read !
screaming crying throwing up bc I got the arc!!!! the way my heart stopped when i opened gmail and saw the email from netgalley 🥹 im so excited, Ann Liang is a queen and everything she writes is always amazing! hoping for a five star <3
September 18, 2024
4.7 ˖⁺‧✮
“Success is such a beautiful thing. It’s so intimate, so heartachingly personal, I can feel it in my very blood.”
i couldn’t relate more to jenna. she’s everything i’ve been trying to deny; trying to hide or mask. i couldn’t understand why i felt so emotional the whole time i’ve been staring at my kindle. reading this book felt like rereading your old diary. the one that’s so painful to open, you just forget about. every detail in the story felt too personal and too close.
jenna became my favorite character from all of the books. her experience was so right and well written that sometimes it was hard to continue without taking a break.
always feeling not enough; seeing people live your dream life; comparing yourself to everyone around you; and always working so hard for someone else to take all the fame; you constantly drown yourself in thoughts, making it impossible to survive.
“I can never just be okay. I have to be perfect. I have to astound them. I have to prove that I’m intelligent or I’ll stop mattering.”
i’ve always thought to myself that you have to be the best or it won’t matter. this prospective is very painful and weird. i couldn’t let myself do any sports as a teenager. why? because i understood that i can’t achieve as much as other teens my age. my head wouldn’t accept me as an average. and looking back, i lost so many opportunities because of it. i really wish i could talk to jenna. i think it would be one of the best dialogues. (haha, little diary paragraph)
“But I couldn’t think of any good reason, other than who I was. Jenna Chen. Always the second one, the afterthought, the girl not good enough for anybody.”
jenna is creative, smart, passionate and independent. i truly admire the way she works and makes everything interesting to look at. she had so many prospectives on same situation. her creativity and hard working was overflowing and exiting to watch. i enjoyed reading about the way she was fighting her jealousy and excitement. how feelings of being someone who’s on the winning side were in a battle with her old self.
““Because I don’t want a quiet life, I want a brilliant one,” I say at last. “Because I need to know what it’s like to win. To be the best.””
it was easy for me to understand jenna’s point at the end. when she just couldn’t get back into previous “jenna”. i’m sure we all wish sometimes to be someone else. to see how it’s to be someone who’s always winning.
other characters: i liked aaron and his actions to change jenna’s thinking. but i can’t understand why earlier situation (rain scene) even happened. jessica was a turning character for me. i started with having no feelings to her - to feeling a little hate (because were reading from jenna’s prospective) - to liking her. she made wrong decisions but she’s same as jenna. i didn’t like her doing what she did… but she was so deep into being this amazing girl that it felt like the only decision for her.
i have so many quotes i want to include, but i’ll wait until the release.
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for approving my request for an arc!
pre-read
another beautiful arc!😭🙌🏻
SO EXITED🥹
“Success is such a beautiful thing. It’s so intimate, so heartachingly personal, I can feel it in my very blood.”
i couldn’t relate more to jenna. she’s everything i’ve been trying to deny; trying to hide or mask. i couldn’t understand why i felt so emotional the whole time i’ve been staring at my kindle. reading this book felt like rereading your old diary. the one that’s so painful to open, you just forget about. every detail in the story felt too personal and too close.
jenna became my favorite character from all of the books. her experience was so right and well written that sometimes it was hard to continue without taking a break.
always feeling not enough; seeing people live your dream life; comparing yourself to everyone around you; and always working so hard for someone else to take all the fame; you constantly drown yourself in thoughts, making it impossible to survive.
“I can never just be okay. I have to be perfect. I have to astound them. I have to prove that I’m intelligent or I’ll stop mattering.”
i’ve always thought to myself that you have to be the best or it won’t matter. this prospective is very painful and weird. i couldn’t let myself do any sports as a teenager. why? because i understood that i can’t achieve as much as other teens my age. my head wouldn’t accept me as an average. and looking back, i lost so many opportunities because of it. i really wish i could talk to jenna. i think it would be one of the best dialogues. (haha, little diary paragraph)
“But I couldn’t think of any good reason, other than who I was. Jenna Chen. Always the second one, the afterthought, the girl not good enough for anybody.”
jenna is creative, smart, passionate and independent. i truly admire the way she works and makes everything interesting to look at. she had so many prospectives on same situation. her creativity and hard working was overflowing and exiting to watch. i enjoyed reading about the way she was fighting her jealousy and excitement. how feelings of being someone who’s on the winning side were in a battle with her old self.
““Because I don’t want a quiet life, I want a brilliant one,” I say at last. “Because I need to know what it’s like to win. To be the best.””
it was easy for me to understand jenna’s point at the end. when she just couldn’t get back into previous “jenna”. i’m sure we all wish sometimes to be someone else. to see how it’s to be someone who’s always winning.
other characters: i liked aaron and his actions to change jenna’s thinking. but i can’t understand why earlier situation (rain scene) even happened. jessica was a turning character for me. i started with having no feelings to her - to feeling a little hate (because were reading from jenna’s prospective) - to liking her. she made wrong decisions but she’s same as jenna. i didn’t like her doing what she did… but she was so deep into being this amazing girl that it felt like the only decision for her.
i have so many quotes i want to include, but i’ll wait until the release.
Thank you Edelweiss and HarperCollins for approving my request for an arc!
pre-read
another beautiful arc!😭🙌🏻
SO EXITED🥹
November 17, 2024
5 stars <𝟑
⤷ this is a literal masterpiece. im in awe ꨄ
💌 ”maybe a miracle will happen. maybe the universe will be kind for once, and when i reach up, the stars will fall into my palms. maybe…” 💌
ohmygosh. this hit too hard. ann liang truly never misses with these incredible standalones— never ever. jenna chen is the representation I needed. the neglected daughter that can never be quite enough for her parents. its nice to be acknowledged, despite how much this book hurt bc i felt it on an insanely deep level that i needed to step away and wipe my tears.
🥀 ”the books i find myself thinking about long after turning the last page are not necessarily the ones that say “here’s how to stop feeling like this,” but instead, “you’re not alone in feeling this way.” whether you find yourself relating more to jenna chen or jessica chen, i can only hope that’s what this book does for you.” 🥀
I truly hope anyone that ever feels like they’re not enough, or feel so jealous of someone else’s achievements that you don’t even wanna be you anymore— please, pleasee, read this book. it healed me like no other book has before. because there is always someone who’s proud of you and sees you as the most precious thing in the world <3 never compare yourself!
📖 plot:
jenna chen is sick and tired. tired of never being enough to please her parents. tired of never being smart enough, or good enough, to receive the offers and awards her cousin jessica so easily does every single day. when she gets rejected for her dream ivy league college, harvard, and finds out jessica got accepted— it’s her last straw. she feels so ashamed, so embarrassed that her cousin can receive everything so easily, and she continues to be a failure. so she wishes. she closes her eyes and wishes with all want and desperation.
”I wish I was Jessica Chen.”
she goes to sleep sad. knowing it will never happen— that she’ll never be anything like her successful cousin. but when she wakes, in jessica chen’s body, she thinks she’s got everything she ever wanted. she can finally be seen— recognised for her talents, praised, adored. it’s everything she ever wanted.. right? but when everyone else starts forgetting jenna chen, she wonders, was this all worth it?
🫶🏼 characters:
🎨 jenna chen. she was so easy to relate to. I saw a lot of me in her, as im sure many will, and im sure reading this will help a lot of people realise they’re not alone in feeling not good enough, or finding that you compare yourself to others from time to time. it’s completely normal, but i want you to know that you are enough, you are perfect <3 im happy to see her character develop when she realised sometimes it’s okay to not excel at everything, and that things have a way of working out in the end… (i did sob violently when i came to this conclusion last night)
🩺 aaron cai. ahh new book bf alert!! whilst romance was not exactly the main focus of this story, i still adored him so much. ann’s fictional men never ever fail me. they’re always so sweet, so romantic, so adorable!! and when he was telling jenna how incredible and talented she was, I literally wanted to cry for her because that’s all she ever wanted. he’s a cutie pie for sure.
☄️ jessica chen. i literally don’t know why i used that emoji but whatever. seeing jenna live her life made us see how much she struggles— the way she’s so harsh on herself because everything is expected to be perfect from her. her grades, her mannerisms, her accomplishments. and if she fails, the disappointment just hits even harder bc no one expects it. so I really feel for her even though i admit i have a few ‘jessica chens’ in my life that i wanted to be like.
🧸 quotes i loved:
ᯓᡣ𐭩 this is a book about wanting. wanting to be prettier, smarter, cooler, more popular, more confident, more talented. wanting someone so desperately down to your bones that you fear and hope they’ll be the end of you. wanting to scrub your insecurities away and try on another life like a brand-new dress.
ᯓᡣ𐭩 i’m simply not that good. not in academics. not in extracurriculars. not as a student, or a daughter, or a human.
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “..you hate me.” his brows drew together. “No,” he said firmly, despite his confusion. “I could never hate you.” “Really?” “I swear it.”
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “You’re so talented you don’t even have to try, while all i do is try,”
💐 conclusion:
sorry for the yap overload, but this book just means sooo much to me, I can’t even explain how healing and beautiful and helpful and amazing this was. i’m omw to preorder it rn bc I need this in my possession the second it comes out!! so, so good. pls go read it <3 ann liang i love you so much.
thank you to harpercollins publishing and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!
…..
4.75 ✰ omg this was so freaking good but i absolutely sobbed my eyes out. rtc tomorrow bc i need sleep so bad.
⤷ this is a literal masterpiece. im in awe ꨄ
💌 ”maybe a miracle will happen. maybe the universe will be kind for once, and when i reach up, the stars will fall into my palms. maybe…” 💌
ohmygosh. this hit too hard. ann liang truly never misses with these incredible standalones— never ever. jenna chen is the representation I needed. the neglected daughter that can never be quite enough for her parents. its nice to be acknowledged, despite how much this book hurt bc i felt it on an insanely deep level that i needed to step away and wipe my tears.
🥀 ”the books i find myself thinking about long after turning the last page are not necessarily the ones that say “here’s how to stop feeling like this,” but instead, “you’re not alone in feeling this way.” whether you find yourself relating more to jenna chen or jessica chen, i can only hope that’s what this book does for you.” 🥀
I truly hope anyone that ever feels like they’re not enough, or feel so jealous of someone else’s achievements that you don’t even wanna be you anymore— please, pleasee, read this book. it healed me like no other book has before. because there is always someone who’s proud of you and sees you as the most precious thing in the world <3 never compare yourself!
📖 plot:
jenna chen is sick and tired. tired of never being enough to please her parents. tired of never being smart enough, or good enough, to receive the offers and awards her cousin jessica so easily does every single day. when she gets rejected for her dream ivy league college, harvard, and finds out jessica got accepted— it’s her last straw. she feels so ashamed, so embarrassed that her cousin can receive everything so easily, and she continues to be a failure. so she wishes. she closes her eyes and wishes with all want and desperation.
”I wish I was Jessica Chen.”
she goes to sleep sad. knowing it will never happen— that she’ll never be anything like her successful cousin. but when she wakes, in jessica chen’s body, she thinks she’s got everything she ever wanted. she can finally be seen— recognised for her talents, praised, adored. it’s everything she ever wanted.. right? but when everyone else starts forgetting jenna chen, she wonders, was this all worth it?
🫶🏼 characters:
🎨 jenna chen. she was so easy to relate to. I saw a lot of me in her, as im sure many will, and im sure reading this will help a lot of people realise they’re not alone in feeling not good enough, or finding that you compare yourself to others from time to time. it’s completely normal, but i want you to know that you are enough, you are perfect <3 im happy to see her character develop when she realised sometimes it’s okay to not excel at everything, and that things have a way of working out in the end… (i did sob violently when i came to this conclusion last night)
🩺 aaron cai. ahh new book bf alert!! whilst romance was not exactly the main focus of this story, i still adored him so much. ann’s fictional men never ever fail me. they’re always so sweet, so romantic, so adorable!! and when he was telling jenna how incredible and talented she was, I literally wanted to cry for her because that’s all she ever wanted. he’s a cutie pie for sure.
☄️ jessica chen. i literally don’t know why i used that emoji but whatever. seeing jenna live her life made us see how much she struggles— the way she’s so harsh on herself because everything is expected to be perfect from her. her grades, her mannerisms, her accomplishments. and if she fails, the disappointment just hits even harder bc no one expects it. so I really feel for her even though i admit i have a few ‘jessica chens’ in my life that i wanted to be like.
🧸 quotes i loved:
ᯓᡣ𐭩 this is a book about wanting. wanting to be prettier, smarter, cooler, more popular, more confident, more talented. wanting someone so desperately down to your bones that you fear and hope they’ll be the end of you. wanting to scrub your insecurities away and try on another life like a brand-new dress.
ᯓᡣ𐭩 i’m simply not that good. not in academics. not in extracurriculars. not as a student, or a daughter, or a human.
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “..you hate me.” his brows drew together. “No,” he said firmly, despite his confusion. “I could never hate you.” “Really?” “I swear it.”
ᯓᡣ𐭩 “You’re so talented you don’t even have to try, while all i do is try,”
💐 conclusion:
sorry for the yap overload, but this book just means sooo much to me, I can’t even explain how healing and beautiful and helpful and amazing this was. i’m omw to preorder it rn bc I need this in my possession the second it comes out!! so, so good. pls go read it <3 ann liang i love you so much.
thank you to harpercollins publishing and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review!!
…..
4.75 ✰ omg this was so freaking good but i absolutely sobbed my eyes out. rtc tomorrow bc i need sleep so bad.
Want to read
July 18, 2024OMG THIS COVERRR- I am gagging.
Also not the author saying this is one of the saddest books she has ever written 😭🤚
Also not the author saying this is one of the saddest books she has ever written 😭🤚
July 30, 2024
gang that was so good
Want to read
August 16, 2024GOT THE ARC 🥂🤭 the cover is stunning !!
Currently reading
August 3, 2024₊˚ପ⊹ 𝟎𝟕/𝟐𝟔/𝟐𝟒
I got the Arc to this beauty!
Hopefully this gets me back into reading again <3
｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ
I got the Arc to this beauty!
Hopefully this gets me back into reading again <3
｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈• ｡ﾟ
Want to read
July 6, 2022the fact that this is my best friend's exact name and she loves art and is in a cutthroat program & school??? this is scarily accurate and she gets to be in a dark academia setting?? jealous IM SO EXCITED
get to see how this book predicts her future too hehe
August 12, 2024
I’ve always had this theory that if I want something badly enough, the universe will make sure to keep it just out of my reach—either out of boredom, or cruelty, like an invisible hand dangling stars on a string.
ann liang, i am awed by your ability to seamlessly switch between genres while maintaining your expertise storytelling. with IANJC, liang genre bends dark academia, magical realism, and romance into an impactful YA story.
this is for everyone who's struggled for perfection.
Success is only meant to be rented out, borrowed in small doses at a time, never to be owned completely, no matter what price you’re willing to pay for it.
jenna chen is not the model student, the perfect daughter, the girl everyone loves - but her cousin jessica is. jessica has it all - the mansion, the doting parents, the perfect grades, she never even needed braces. what jenna would give to be her...
until she becomes her.
It was perfect. For those first ten minutes, everything was perfect. And now I’m up here alone in my room, the same as always, and the thrill has faded, and I know it sounds awful and so very ungrateful, but all I can think is: that’s it?
an emotional story about the fallacy of perfection and success, the ever-moving marker post for it and its inevitable fruitlessness and inescapable dissatisfaction. it's about how you are worthy as you are, with perfectly imperfect flaws and all.
“You make me feel the same joy just by looking at you.”
the romance subplot was also surprisingly breath-taking; ms liang pls give me more fictional men with this devotion 😩
i can't wait for you all to enjoy this.
It’s my life, I think with amazement, and it’s beautiful, and I can paint it any color I want to.
an honest arc review ♡
_____________________
that cover is STUNNINGGGGG 💙
ann liang, i am awed by your ability to seamlessly switch between genres while maintaining your expertise storytelling. with IANJC, liang genre bends dark academia, magical realism, and romance into an impactful YA story.
this is for everyone who's struggled for perfection.
Success is only meant to be rented out, borrowed in small doses at a time, never to be owned completely, no matter what price you’re willing to pay for it.
jenna chen is not the model student, the perfect daughter, the girl everyone loves - but her cousin jessica is. jessica has it all - the mansion, the doting parents, the perfect grades, she never even needed braces. what jenna would give to be her...
until she becomes her.
It was perfect. For those first ten minutes, everything was perfect. And now I’m up here alone in my room, the same as always, and the thrill has faded, and I know it sounds awful and so very ungrateful, but all I can think is: that’s it?
an emotional story about the fallacy of perfection and success, the ever-moving marker post for it and its inevitable fruitlessness and inescapable dissatisfaction. it's about how you are worthy as you are, with perfectly imperfect flaws and all.
“You make me feel the same joy just by looking at you.”
the romance subplot was also surprisingly breath-taking; ms liang pls give me more fictional men with this devotion 😩
i can't wait for you all to enjoy this.
It’s my life, I think with amazement, and it’s beautiful, and I can paint it any color I want to.
an honest arc review ♡
_____________________
that cover is STUNNINGGGGG 💙
Want to read
August 5, 2024PreRead Review: OMG I GOT THE ARC TO THIS ONE!!!!
The cover is simply stunning and I can't wait to start it soon!❤️❤️
The cover is simply stunning and I can't wait to start it soon!❤️❤️
August 18, 2024
I Am Not Jessica Chen is this is me trying and academic validation as a book. The cover is so pretty🧸🍓
Shelved as 'anticipated'
July 17, 2024OMG THE COVERRR IS SO GORGG😍😍
"The Picture of Dorian Gray x this is me trying, about a failing art student who makes a wish to become her perfect cousin—but when her wish magically comes true, she discovers firsthand the price of being the top student at an elite academy."
WE HAVE A SYPNOSIS!!! (i had to copy-paste it from amazon bcuz liang's website had a shorter+slightly different one and there's literally no details on the gr website abt this)
After getting rejected by every single Ivy League she applied to and falling short of all her Asian immigrant parents' expectations, seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen--only for her wish to come true. Literally.
Now trapped inside Jessica's body, with access to Jessica's most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn't quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone--including her own parents--start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.
AAAAAAA OMG ANN LIANG'S NEW DARK ACADEMIA RELEASE!! this will literally be the best book of 2025
from liang's instagram:
"i’m SO thrilled to announce my YA speculative dark academia novel, I AM NOT JESSICA CHEN.
it’s about glory, envy, imposter syndrome (both in the literal & metaphorical sense), and paintings with disappearing faces. it’s also about the craving for academic validation, the myth of the “model minority”, and the desire to be more like someone else’s child (aka 别人家的孩子)."
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
⤿ if you could see the sun - 3✩ review here
⤿ this time it's real- 2.25✩ review here
⤿ i hope this doesn't find you - 4.5✩ pre-review here
⤿ a song to drown rivers - ?✩ arc pre-review here
⤿ i could give you the moon - pre-release review here
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
"The Picture of Dorian Gray x this is me trying, about a failing art student who makes a wish to become her perfect cousin—but when her wish magically comes true, she discovers firsthand the price of being the top student at an elite academy."
WE HAVE A SYPNOSIS!!! (i had to copy-paste it from amazon bcuz liang's website had a shorter+slightly different one and there's literally no details on the gr website abt this)
After getting rejected by every single Ivy League she applied to and falling short of all her Asian immigrant parents' expectations, seventeen-year-old Jenna Chen makes a wish to become her smarter, infinitely more successful Harvard-bound cousin, Jessica Chen--only for her wish to come true. Literally.
Now trapped inside Jessica's body, with access to Jessica's most private journals and secrets, Jenna soon discovers that being the top student at the elite, highly competitive Havenwood Private Academy isn't quite what she imagined. Worse, as everyone--including her own parents--start having trouble remembering who Jenna Chen is, or if she ever even existed, Jenna must decide if playing the role of the perfect daughter and student is worth losing her true self forever.
AAAAAAA OMG ANN LIANG'S NEW DARK ACADEMIA RELEASE!! this will literally be the best book of 2025
from liang's instagram:
"i’m SO thrilled to announce my YA speculative dark academia novel, I AM NOT JESSICA CHEN.
it’s about glory, envy, imposter syndrome (both in the literal & metaphorical sense), and paintings with disappearing faces. it’s also about the craving for academic validation, the myth of the “model minority”, and the desire to be more like someone else’s child (aka 别人家的孩子)."
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
⤿ if you could see the sun - 3✩ review here
⤿ this time it's real- 2.25✩ review here
⤿ i hope this doesn't find you - 4.5✩ pre-review here
⤿ a song to drown rivers - ?✩ arc pre-review here
⤿ i could give you the moon - pre-release review here
───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────
Want to read
July 28, 2024so jealous of everyone that got this arc �� this cover, stunning! synopsis, stunning! 🤭
Shelved as 'countdown-collection'
July 21, 2024update: OMFG GUYS I LITERALLY JUST SAW THE COVERR ITS LITERALLY SO GORGEOUSSSS
i read one book by Ann Liang and i am her loyal follower
i read one book by Ann Liang and i am her loyal follower
Want to read
July 26, 2024What is this ridiculously beautiful cover😩🤭💗💘💖🩷😍 plus the blurb is 👏🤌💸
Want to read
July 15, 2024THIS COVER IS SO GORGEOUS OMG I CAN'T
Want to read
August 6, 2024got the eARC 🙈
Want to read
July 15, 2024T-T-T-THE COVER??? HELLO?? ON MY KNEES FROM AWE
Want to read
October 16, 2024i physically cannot wait this long.
August 18, 2024
ann liang has yet to disappoint me! her ideas are so unique whilst her romances are so swoon worthy. this is my third book by her and i’ve given them all 5 stars. there’s some logistics in here that kinda don’t make sense but actually i don’t care. jenna chen is so damn relatable!
Want to read
March 28, 2023HE WAS SUNSHINE I WAS MIDNIGHT RAIN?!?!?! SCREAMINGGG🪦🪦
———
Just found out Ann has written FIVE BOOKS so there will be TWO MORE AFTER THIS ONE!!!
I am not ok🥰 *proud fan moment🥹*
———
Just found out Ann has written FIVE BOOKS so there will be TWO MORE AFTER THIS ONE!!!
I am not ok🥰 *proud fan moment🥹*
August 7, 2024
I enjoy Ann Liang’s engaging writing style and her well-developed, relatable characters. "If You Could See the Sun" was one of my favorite fantasy works by her, and I was thrilled to discover she has returned to that genre with another unputdownable YA fantasy titled "I Am Not Jessica Chen." I eagerly got my hands on it and devoured it in one sitting. The mystery, character development, and exploration of issues such as success pressure, rivalry, and high competition in high school are approached realistically. The character development is well-rounded. The only thing that confused me was the similarity between the names Jenna and Jessica. Perhaps the author chose them specifically to emphasize the body change element!
The plot reminds me of a "Freaky Friday" style body switch with one twist: one girl's soul invades the other's body, but we have no idea what happened to the other girl's soul and body! Confusing? Let me start from the beginning.
Jenna Chen thinks she's mediocre at everything, which worries her parents. She is artistic and creative, drawing great portraits, but she's not good at school and has been rejected by nearly all the Ivy League colleges. She's not good at extracurriculars or sports. Recently, she found out that Harvard also rejected her application, which was the last straw. On the other hand, her cousin Jessica is worshipped by the entire high school for her beauty and intelligence. She’s valedictorian, great at sports, and wins trophies in every category, from math competitions and debate to swimming contests. Can a person be perfect at everything? Yes, Jessica is the proof of pure excellence, and now she’s been accepted to Harvard. Everyone at the academy adores her, including Jenna’s longtime crush Aaron, who has just returned from school in Paris and might have a crush on Jessica.
Jenna wants to know what it feels like to be perfect like her cousin: to be adored, seen, applauded, and to shine. She wishes to be her cousin, and the next day, she wakes up in Jessica's body. Her dream has come true. She’s now Jessica, the smartest, most popular, and most successful student at the academy, friends with the most popular girls in school. She catches the spotlight and, for once in her life, doesn’t feel like a failure. But what happened to her own body? What happened to her cousin’s soul? And what if being Jessica Chen comes with a high price, revealing that her perfect cousin is hiding a big secret?
Jenna starts receiving threatening messages that her cousin did something really bad, and she has to uncover Jessica's dirty secret before it ruins her life. Interestingly, she finds help from the person she least expected: her longtime crush Aaron. He might be the only one who knows what happened to Jenna, as the real Jenna hides in Jessica Chen’s body. He may be the only person who can see the truth about herself and help her face the reality of her life.
Overall, this is a riveting fantasy with inspirational messages, questioning the pressures students face during their school life, which threaten their mental health. I also adore the love story between Jenna and Aaron, which is one of the best parts of the book and pushes me to give it five blazing, fantasy, Freaky Friday-ish stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for sharing this adorable fantasy’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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The plot reminds me of a "Freaky Friday" style body switch with one twist: one girl's soul invades the other's body, but we have no idea what happened to the other girl's soul and body! Confusing? Let me start from the beginning.
Jenna Chen thinks she's mediocre at everything, which worries her parents. She is artistic and creative, drawing great portraits, but she's not good at school and has been rejected by nearly all the Ivy League colleges. She's not good at extracurriculars or sports. Recently, she found out that Harvard also rejected her application, which was the last straw. On the other hand, her cousin Jessica is worshipped by the entire high school for her beauty and intelligence. She’s valedictorian, great at sports, and wins trophies in every category, from math competitions and debate to swimming contests. Can a person be perfect at everything? Yes, Jessica is the proof of pure excellence, and now she’s been accepted to Harvard. Everyone at the academy adores her, including Jenna’s longtime crush Aaron, who has just returned from school in Paris and might have a crush on Jessica.
Jenna wants to know what it feels like to be perfect like her cousin: to be adored, seen, applauded, and to shine. She wishes to be her cousin, and the next day, she wakes up in Jessica's body. Her dream has come true. She’s now Jessica, the smartest, most popular, and most successful student at the academy, friends with the most popular girls in school. She catches the spotlight and, for once in her life, doesn’t feel like a failure. But what happened to her own body? What happened to her cousin’s soul? And what if being Jessica Chen comes with a high price, revealing that her perfect cousin is hiding a big secret?
Jenna starts receiving threatening messages that her cousin did something really bad, and she has to uncover Jessica's dirty secret before it ruins her life. Interestingly, she finds help from the person she least expected: her longtime crush Aaron. He might be the only one who knows what happened to Jenna, as the real Jenna hides in Jessica Chen’s body. He may be the only person who can see the truth about herself and help her face the reality of her life.
Overall, this is a riveting fantasy with inspirational messages, questioning the pressures students face during their school life, which threaten their mental health. I also adore the love story between Jenna and Aaron, which is one of the best parts of the book and pushes me to give it five blazing, fantasy, Freaky Friday-ish stars!
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for sharing this adorable fantasy’s digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
August 6, 2024
this books has shook me and i will not be the same person i was before reading it. i know it sounds dramatic, but oh my goodness i have never related to a book like this one before. i still need to process everything wow.
—————————
I GOT THE ARC EEEE!! !!!
—————————
I GOT THE ARC EEEE!! !!!
Shelved as 'walk-of-shame-dnf'
October 27, 2024( dnf, will pick back up )
﹙started﹚ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ 1 0 / 1 5 / 2 4 ⊹
will i finish this book ? or will this book finish me ??? keeping ingrid in my thoughts as I read this !!!
﹙started﹚ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ 1 0 / 1 5 / 2 4 ⊹
will i finish this book ? or will this book finish me ??? keeping ingrid in my thoughts as I read this !!!
August 16, 2024
Thank you so much to Netgally for providing me with this ARC!
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 4 starssss ⊹ ࣪ ˖
This book. This BOOK. THIS BOOK!!!!
I was actually crying because this book was SO FREAKING RELATABLE!!!
I am literally a mix of Jenna and Jessica! I just felt so seen whilst reading about them!!! 😭
And the ROMANCE!!! Omg it was SOOOO CUTE!!! 🥰
I throughly enjoyed this and honestly I would 100% recommend this to anyone I know, I loved it SO SO SO MUCH!!! ♥️
⊹ ࣪ ˖ 4 starssss ⊹ ࣪ ˖
This book. This BOOK. THIS BOOK!!!!
I was actually crying because this book was SO FREAKING RELATABLE!!!
I am literally a mix of Jenna and Jessica! I just felt so seen whilst reading about them!!! 😭
And the ROMANCE!!! Omg it was SOOOO CUTE!!! 🥰
I throughly enjoyed this and honestly I would 100% recommend this to anyone I know, I loved it SO SO SO MUCH!!! ♥️
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