Faking Perfect by Rebecca Phillips

When Lexi Shaw seduced Oakfield High's resident bad boy Tyler Flynn at the beginning of senior year, he seemed perfectly okay with her rules:
 
1. Avoid her at school.
2. Keep his mouth shut about what they do together.
3. Never tease her about her friend (and unrequited crush) Ben.
 
 Because with his integrity and values and golden boy looks, Ben can never find out about what she’s been doing behind closed doors with Tyler. Or that her mom’s too busy drinking and chasing losers to pay the bills. Or that Lexi’s dad hasn’t been a part of her life for the last thirteen years. But with Tyler suddenly breaking the rules, Ben asking her out, and her dad back in the picture, how long will she be able to go on faking perfect?

Author: Rebecca Phillips (Website, Twitter, Facebook)
Publisher: Kensington Books
Buy online: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo


**The ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
(Actual) Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


First and foremost, all thanks to Kensington Books and the author of Faking Perfect for the opportunity to read and review the book!

I liked reading Faking Perfect and I had a pleasant time reading it in my own time. At first, I didn't exactly have a clear idea of how the book is going to be like, I just dive in the story. I was really enthusiastic about the book. Faking Perfect tells the story of Lexi Shaw and how she has to cope with the life secrets that's keeping her from overcoming the fear of having discovered about her true self.

I believe the focus of the book is not the romance per se, it's more than that. Probably the romance part of the blurb was the reason why I didn't have to know what the book is all about because I could guess that there's something more significant hidden in the book. I wanted it to be unexpected or something that would surprise me even more.

True enough, it's how the protagonist, Lexi Shaw, has a complicated life in front of her. Raised by her own mother, she's heavily affected by her mother's influence on her and the neglectful environment she grew up in. Moreover, the issue of her parents' separation that has her doubting everything she knows about herself and her relationship with her parents. It has been difficult for her as she felt she's been neglected at such early stage of life. She learned to face the challenges by hiding her insecurities and always careful with her words to her friends.

Somewhere in the middle part of story, I felt that it went long-winded and therefore mind-numbing. I struggled the most when Lexi was still in the process of becoming Ben's girlfriend but after that she became more positively settled and clear about her life. As if everything finally aligns where she's supposed to be.

I might not have given it a higher rating but I would like to encourage every YA Contemporary lovers to read Faking Perfect!