Perfect on Paper

Darcy Phillips secretly runs an anonymous relationship advice service from locker 89 at her high school. When Alexander Brougham catches her retrieving letters from the locker, he blackmails her into helping him win back his ex-girlfriend. As Darcy coaches Brougham on relationships, she must navigate her own complicated feelings for her best friend Brooke. Meanwhile, she keeps her bisexuality private while serving as president of her school's Queer and Questioning Club. The story explores themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the complexities of modern teenage relationships. Through Darcy's journey, the book examines how past experiences shape our approach to love and trust.

Readers highlight the book's authentic portrayal of bisexuality, with many noting how it addresses biphobia and internalized prejudice. The romance develops naturally according to reviews, with believable obstacles and character growth. Liked: - Strong LGBTQ+ representation - Complex family dynamics - Humor and witty dialogue - Discussion of serious topics while maintaining a light tone - Treatment of teen relationships and dating advice Disliked: - Some found the protagonist's actions frustrating - Plot predictability - A few readers felt the romance was rushed in later chapters - Some side characters needed more development Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.4/5 (100+ ratings) "The bi rep in this book hit so close to home" - Goodreads reviewer "Handles complex issues with care while still being fun" - Amazon reviewer "Character development felt authentic" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli A closeted teen grapples with his anonymous online romance while running his high school's relationship advice service.

Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales A gay teen navigates new love, family obligations, and identity at a school where his summer fling unexpectedly reappears as a closeted classmate.

You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson A queer Black girl runs for prom queen to win a scholarship while developing feelings for her competition.

Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye A secret romance develops when a closeted student participates in a dare where the popular boy must date someone new each week.

If This Gets Out by Sophie Gonzales, Cale Dietrich Two members of a boy band fall for each other while dealing with the pressures of fame and music industry expectations.

📚 Author Sophie Gonzales wrote this book while working as a psychologist, drawing from her professional experience with teens and relationships 🏳️‍🌈 The book tackles biphobia within the LGBTQ+ community, addressing stereotypes and misconceptions about bisexual individuals ✉️ The protagonist's secret business of giving relationship advice through locker 89 was inspired by real-life anonymous advice services that exist in many high schools 🌟 The novel was praised by critics for its authentic portrayal of bisexual identity without making the character's sexuality the main conflict of the story 💝 Perfect on Paper was selected as a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, recognizing its exceptional appeal to young readers and high literary quality