If I'm Being Honest

Cameron Bright is a popular high school student known for her brutal honesty and sharp tongue. After her unfiltered comments drive away a potential love interest, she decides to remake herself by apologizing to those she has hurt in the past. Her quest for redemption leads her to Brendan, an academic overachiever she once tormented, who agrees to tutor her in exchange for help with his social skills. Cameron also works to repair her relationship with her former best friend Paige while navigating complex family dynamics with her distant father and image-conscious mother. As Cameron attempts to change herself for the better, she discovers that honesty and kindness aren't mutually exclusive. Her journey raises questions about authenticity, growth, and the true meaning of self-improvement in an image-driven world.

Readers appreciate the main character Cameron's growth from mean girl to more empathetic person, with many noting her sharp wit and authentic voice. The romance develops naturally, and several reviews highlight the Shakespeare-inspired plot elements as clever rather than forced. Readers praise the portrayal of complex family dynamics, especially Cameron's relationship with her father. Many point to the authentic depiction of high school social dynamics. Common criticisms include: - First few chapters make Cameron hard to root for - Some side characters feel underdeveloped - Pacing slows in the middle sections Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (27,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (500+ reviews) BookishFirst: 4.2/5 Reader quote: "Cameron starts off absolutely horrible but her journey to self-awareness feels earned and realistic. The romance is a bonus but the character development is the real story." - Goodreads reviewer

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🎭 The book is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew," set in a contemporary Los Angeles high school. 📚 Authors Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka are married in real life and met while performing in theater productions during high school. 🌟 The main character, Cameron Bright, is named after the actress Cameron Diaz, who starred in "10 Things I Hate About You" - another adaptation of "The Taming of the Shrew." ✍️ Emily and Austin wrote their first book together while maintaining a long-distance relationship during college, with Emily at Princeton and Austin at Harvard. 🎬 The authors draw heavily from their own experiences in the Los Angeles entertainment industry - Emily grew up in LA with parents in show business, while Austin worked as a film journalist.