Finding Perfect by Kendra C. Highley

How far will you go for perfection?

For "Perfect Paige" Westfeld, today is "D" Day. As in, she just got one on her calculus test. With her dreams of Stanford, her reputation, and her parents' expectations at stake, Paige needs to find a way to save face before everything she's worked for goes up in flames.

Ben Franklin (yes, he's related) is from the wrong side of town, with the wrong clothes and the wrong kind of life. He also knows an opportunity when he sees one, and he'll be happy to tutor Paige-if she makes him into the kind of guy her best friend, the hottest girl in school, will date.

It's the perfect arrangement. And Paige is determined not even the inconvenient-and utterly imperfect-attraction simmering between her and Ben will ruin it...

This Entangled Teen Crush book contains swoony situations, adult language, and a perfectly imperfect hero with an eye for calculus and a heart of gold.

Book 1
Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4 Teenage Angst Stars

Perfect Paige's life is imploding from too much stress. Everyone asks her for help and expects her to, not only do it, but to do a perfect job. Committees, student council, volunteering, schoolwork, piano.

At 17, in the beginning of her senior year, her entire life is already mapped out for her by her parents. Her father wants her to take over his practice when he retires, and her mother sees Paige's accomplishments as her own – to do well is to make her parents proud. Set on the career path of neurology, Paige must be better than 4th in her class, because she needs to get into Stanford – her father's alma mater. Unlike the rest of her fellow students, Paige's course load is heavy, and Calculus is bringing down her GPA, especially with a D.

Ben is #3 in the senior class, smart but from the wrong side of the tracks, working several jobs to survive while working even harder in school for scholarships. He's a nice guy, labeled as a geek because he's intelligent. He's had a crush on Paige's best friend for two years, and he'd do anything to get a date with her.

Ben has what Paige needs, and she has what he wants. Ben will help Paige in Calculus, for payment: get him a date with her popular BFF.

We all see where this is going, right? Imagine The Duff mixed with She's All That, but in reverse, and you have a recipe for the perfect Young Adult novel.

Kendra C. Highley is a new-to-me author, and I found her writing style fluid, flowing rapidly and engaging, with realistic, age-appropriate characterization. Paige was written as an A-type personality, yet a people pleaser. She's always been in the shadows of her BFF. Ben was a boy, who wanted the popular girl because of her looks and status, coveting someone he didn't even know, as if only appearance matters, which is more insulting than flattering but that's classic guy behavior.

The conflict of the tale was Paige's parents, but I felt they were written realistically, and I could see both Paige's and their stance. The BFF was written as supportive instead of back-stabbing and manipulative.

Finding Perfect elicited the warm glow of a first crush, the fear of rejection, and unrequited love. I recommend this title to young adults and those young at heart, and I look forward to the next in the series.

Young Adult age-range: 13+. Kissing.


Jordan – ☆☆☆☆
Paige Westfield, also known as "Perfect Paige," has it all figured out: get into Stanford University, get into medical school, and take over her father's family practice. There's just one tiny hitch, she's failing calculus and she's starting to see her perfectly laid out future slipping through her fingers.

Ben Franklin is a smart guy, but he's from the wrong side of town and wearing the wrong kind of clothes. Fortunately, Ben has been crushing on Paige's best friend, Zoey, the hottest girl in school, for as long as he can remember, and he'll help Paige pass her calculus class if she can make him into the kind of guy Zoey would date.

I really liked Finding Perfect, it was a nice quick read with the perfect blend of romance! Paige is such an easy character to relate to, and Ben was just too cute! Also, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I ended up liking Zoey, her best friend, and I am totally looking forward to reading her own story in book two. I will say some of these YA books make me feel like I'm too old to be reading them, but this definitely isn't one of them. If you're looking for your next summer beach read, this one will be a perfect fit!

For fans of Kasie West and Jenny Han, this book is a must read!

Kendra C. Highley lives in north Texas with her husband and two children. She also serves as staff to four self-important and high-powered cats. This, according to the cats, is her most critical job. She believes in everyday magic, extraordinary love stories, and the restorative powers of dark chocolate.

Connect with Kendra

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Brought to you by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Finding Perfect (Finding Perfect #1) by Kendra C. Highley to read and review. Review copy was purchased by the blog.